bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Performance of an aptamer‐based neuropeptide Y potentiometric sensor: dependence on spacer molecule selection
Authors: Richardson Hayley , Kline Alex , Pavlidis Spyridon
Published: June 2024

Neuropeptide Y (NPY) plays a central role in a variety of emotional and physiological functions in humans, such as forming a part of the body′s response to stress and anxiety. This work compares the impact of MCH and PEG spacer molecules on the performance of a potentiometric NPY sensor. An NPY‐specific DNA aptamer with thiol termination was immobilized onto a gold electrode surface. The performance of the sensor is compared when either an MCH‐ or PEG‐based self‐assembled monolayer is formed following aptamer immobilization. Backfilling the surface with alkanethiol spacer molecules like these is key for proper conformational folding of aptamer‐target binding. Non‐specific adhesion of NPY to the MCH‐based sensor surface was observed via surface plasmon resonance (SPR), and then confirmed via potentiometry. It is then shown that PEG improves the sensor′s sensitivity to NPY compared to the surfaces with an MCH‐based SAM. We achieve the detection of picomolar range NPY levels in buffer with a sensitivity of 36.1 mV/decade for the aptamer and PEG‐based sensor surface, thus demonstrating the promise of potentiometric sensing of NPY for future wearable deployment. The sensor′s selectivity was also studied via exposure to cortisol, a different stress marker, resulting in a 13x smaller differential voltage (aptamer‐specific) response compared to that of NPY.
Development of a Vanadium Redox Flow Battery Operating with Thin Membrane Coupled with a Highly Selective and Stable Silica‐Based Barrier Layer
Authors: Cecchetti Marco , Ebaugh Thomas A. , Bonville Leonard , Maric Radenka , Casalegno Andrea , Zago Matteo
Published: June 2024

Vanadium redox flow battery (VRFB) is a very promising solution for large‐scale energy storage, but some technical issues need to be addressed. Crossover, i.e., the undesired permeation of vanadium ions through the cell separator, causes capacity loss and self‐discharge. Low‐cost and highly selective separators are thus required to improve the competitiveness of this technology. This work investigates the use of silica nanoparticles in an innovative selective layer to improve membrane selectivity and reduce its thickness. 1.5 μm thick barrier layers composed of 1100EW Nafion ionomer with silica (≈3–13 nm diameter) and Vulcan XC‐72R (≈40 nm) nanoparticles in different proportions are directly deposited on 50 μm thick Nafion membranes. The barrier layer composed only of silica nanoparticles reduces the self‐discharge due to crossover by 5 times and increases the average efficiency of the battery. Finally, during more than 1000 h of operation, the barrier layer on a 25 μm Nafion membrane demonstrates excellent stability, working with a constant coulombic efficiency higher than 99% and a capacity decay rate comparable with a thicker Nafion membrane, thus enabling the use of thinner membranes in VRFB, allowing an estimated 8% stack costs reduction with respect to NR212.
Nucleotide‐Based Carbon Dot‐Assisted Synthesis of High Surface Area Porous α‐Ni(OH)2 as an Efficient Battery‐Type Supercapacitor Electrode
Authors: Atika  , Dutta Raj Kumar
Published: June 2024

Herein, a method for synthesizing highly porous single phase of α‐Ni(OH)2 via hydrothermal route is presented. Nitrogen‐ and phosphorous‐functionalized carbon dots (N,P‐CDGMP) are first synthesized by thermal refluxing of 1,5′‐guanosine monophosphate (GMP) in ethylene glycol. Then Ni(OH)2 is synthesized in the presence of N,P‐CDGMP by hydrothermal method. Microflower‐like morphology of porous nanocomposite of Ni(OH)2‐[N,P‐CDGMP] with significantly enhanced Brunauer–Emmett–Teller surface area (454 m2 g−1) is formed, which is 32 times higher than that of the pristine Ni(OH)2. The cyclic voltammetry plot suggests battery‐type supercapacitor with a specific capacity of 632 C g−1, which is 6 times higher than the pristine Ni(OH)2 (107 C g−1). The enhanced specific capacity of Ni(OH)2‐[N,P‐CDGMP] is attributable to better intercalation–deintercalation of electrolyte ions in the suitable pore volumes. Electrode kinetic studies measured at a scan rate of 0.005 V s−1 suggest that about 86% of charge is stored via diffusion‐controlled process and the charge storage by surface‐controlled capacitive process is higher at higher scan rate (e.g., at 0.1 V s−1). The application of Ni(OH)2‐[N,P‐CDGMP] is demonstrated by fabricating a hybrid supercapacitor device Ni(OH)2‐[N,P‐CDGMP]//porous activated carbon from eucalyptus wood. The retention of specific capacitance of the device is 75% after 3000 cycles with maximum energy density of 31 Wh kg−1 and power density of 0.76 kW kg−1.
Recent progress on battery thermal management with composite phase change materials
Authors: Kumar SR Shravan , Rao G. Amba Prasad
Published: June 2024

Electric mobility decarbonizes the transportation sector and effectively addresses sustainable development goals. A good battery thermal management system (BTMS) is essential for the safe working of electric vehicles with lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs) to address thermal runaway and associated catastrophic hazards effectively. However, PCMs suffer from low thermal conductivity issues, and hence, enhancement techniques include the use of fins, nano‐additives, extended graphite powder, and so forth. The use of composite phase change materials effectively addresses LIB thermal management widely used in electric vehicles while mitigating thermal runaway, besides providing flame retardancy, thermal/mechanical stability, and electrical insulation, and preventing leakage. It is noted that no single strategy of BTMS is brought down to a safe zone of temperature, and hybrid BTMSs are being employed, invariably involve phase change materials (PCMs) to a large extent. It is essential to utilize CPCMs to address the effects of low‐temperature environments and vibrations considering vehicle driving cycles and operating conditions. It is observed from the review that ultrasonic monitoring and early detection of internal short circuits are the steps towards mitigation of thermal runaway propagation. It is required to utilize optimization methods, machine learning and IoT tools for a feasible PCM based BTMS work. Present review briefly describes potential methods for effective utilization of PCMs, comparison among different methods, challenges associated and potential solutions. It is highly essential to develop compact and economical BTMS with effective CPCMs for better and safer LIB operation to attract large‐scale commercialization of electric vehicles.
Kinetics of EBV antibody‐based NPC risk scores in Taiwan NPC multiplex families
Authors: Hsu Wan‐Lun , Tao Jun , Fu Sheng , Yu Kelly J. , Simon Julia , Chen Tseng‐Cheng , Chen Chien‐Jen , Goldstein Alisa M. , Yu Kai , Hildesheim Allan , Waterboer Tim , Wang Cheng‐Ping , Liu Zhiwei
Published: June 2024

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) risk prediction models based on Epstein–Barr virus (EBV)‐antibody testing have shown potential for screening of NPC; however, the long‐term stability is unclear. Here, we investigated the kinetics of two EBV‐antibody NPC risk scores within the Taiwan NPC Multiplex Family Study. Among 545 participants with multiple blood samples, we evaluated the stability of a 2‐marker enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay score and 13‐marker multiplex serology score using the intra‐class correlation coefficient (ICC) by fitting a linear mixed model that accounted for the clustering effect of multiple measurements per subject and age. We also estimated the clustering of positive tests using Fleiss's kappa statistic. Over an average 20‐year follow‐up, the 2‐marker score showed high stability over time, whereas the 13‐marker score was more variable (p < .05). Case–control status is associated with the kinetics of the antibody response, with higher ICCs among cases. Positive tests were more likely to cluster within the same individual for the 2‐marker score than the 13‐marker score (p < .05). The 2‐marker score had an increase in specificity from ~90% for single measurement to ~96% with repeat testing. The 13‐marker score had a specificity of ~73% for a single measurement that increased to ~92% with repeat testing. Among individuals who developed NPC, none experienced score reversion. Our findings suggest that repeated testing could improve the specificity of NPC screening in high‐risk NPC multiplex families. Further studies are required to determine the impact on sensitivity, establish optimal screening intervals, and generalize these findings to general population settings in high‐risk regions.
Digital strategy in Brazilian family business
Authors: Oro Ieda Margarete , Begnini Sérgio , Cassaro Edna , Scherner Taís Trevisol
Published: June 2024

The study aimed to analyze the effect of digitalization strategies on business performance, mediated by organizational innovation in Brazilian family Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). This research adopted a descriptive approach with a quantitative methodology, using a sample of 301 Brazilian family MSMEs. Data were collected from studies by the Foundation for Strategic Analysis and Development of Small and Medium Enterprises (FAEDPYME). The theoretical model generated four research hypotheses. Data were processed and analyzed using the structural equation method in SmartPLS 4.0 software. The results confirm the existence of a positive and significant relationship between digitalization strategies, business performance, and organizational innovation, including the mediating effect. The findings highlight the importance of digitalization strategies and organizational innovation in driving the business performance of Brazilian family MSMEs. This study contributes to strategic management practices in family businesses by identifying that effective digitalization strategies and innovation practices allow significant advancements in business performance and subsequent organizational innovation. Thus, they can guide the development of more effective business policies and practices, contributing to the competitiveness of family businesses in the contemporary market.
A perspective on downstream processing performance for recovery of bioalcohols
Authors: Janković Tamara , Straathof Adrie JJ , Kiss Anton A
Published: June 2024

Even though industrial biotechnology is successfully used for the production of some chemicals, for many other chemicals it is not yet competitive with conventional petrochemical production. Usually, fermentation as well as downstream processing requires improvement. Downstream processing has to deal with low product concentrations, microorganisms, impurities and thermodynamic constraints (e.g., azeotropes), which often makes it very challenging and expensive, especially on a large scale. However, downstream processing of biochemicals has not attracted as much attention as upstream fermentation processes. In that context, this perspective paper offers a lightly referenced scholarly opinion about the downstream processing performance of different bioalcohols after fermentation. Due to the stronger toxicity effects on microbes, the achievable concentrations of monohydric aliphatic alcohols in the fermentation broth decrease with the increasing chain length. Specifically, the concentrations used here are 6.14, 5.00, 1.61 and 0.24 wt% of ethanol, isopropanol, isobutanol and hexanol, respectively. More dilute fermentation broths lead to more complex recovery processes. According to our previous work, the total purification costs increase from 0.080 USD kg−1 for ethanol, 0.109 USD kg−1 for isopropanol and 0.161 USD kg−1 for isobutanol to 0.529 USD kg−1 for hexanol. A similar trend is noticeable for the energy usage (0.960, 1.348, 2.018 and 3.069 kWthh kg−1, respectively) and the related CO2 emissions (0.164, 0.221, 0.449 and 0.555 kgCO2 kg−1, respectively). This work shows that advanced separation and purification based on process intensification principles are crucial for overall efficient production processes. The achievable product concentration in the fermentation broth – and not so much the alcohol chain length – has the biggest influence on the performance of downstream processing. Therefore, simultaneous development of both upstream and downstream processing is necessary to ensure the competitiveness and viability of industrial fermentation processes. © 2024 The Author(s). Journal of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry (SCI).
Policy and laboratory practice: How quality control procedures for genetic testing perpetuate biological essentialism and discrimination against transgender, gender diverse, and intersex people
Authors: Dusic Emerson J. , Powers Lex N. , Clowes Candadai Sarah V. , Fullerton Stephanie M.
Published: June 2024

Transgender, gender diverse, and intersex (TGDI) individuals face significant health disparities due to individual and systemic experiences of discrimination, impacting their access to healthcare. While clinical genetic testing has become increasingly accessible to the general population, the field of clinical genetics perpetuates a narrative of biological essentialism, which creates barriers for TGDI patients. Biological essentialism upholds that sex is a binary, fixed, and innate characteristic, a misconception that has been historically weaponized against the TGDI community in both individual experiences of discrimination and anti‐trans legislation, among other systemic forms of oppression. Rejecting this discriminatory framework requires careful consideration of, and changes to, long‐established practices that often go unquestioned, such as quality control metrics in genetic testing, in order to improve TGDI patients' outcomes and access to genetic services. The sex‐check, comparing an individuals reported sex against their sex chromosomes, is an example of how laboratory genetics practices reinforce the narrative that sex is determined purely by chromosomal composition. Additionally, the sex‐check “outs” TGDI people in clinical settings, creating a discriminatory and unsafe environment for these patients. Alternative quality control procedures and inclusive practices, such as clearer delineation of sex and gender on test requisition forms, are proposed to improve TGDI patient experiences. Genetic counselors and other clinical providers have a responsibility to address historical discrimination and advocate for changes to laboratory practice, so as to create affirming experiences for TGDI patients.
Amide Proton Transfer‐Weighted Imaging in Assessing the Aggressive and Proliferative Potential of Bladder Cancer
Authors: Kong Lingmin , Li Hui , Cai Qian , Cao Wenxin , Chen Yanling , Weng Bei , Li Meiqin , Zhang Min , Qian Long , Guo Yan , Ling Jian , Wen Zhihua , Wang Huanjun
Published: June 2024

Background

Ki‐67 and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) are known oncogenes involved in bladder cancer (BCa) patient risk stratification. Preoperative assessment of their expression level can assist in clinical treatment decision‐making. Recently, amide proton transfer‐weighted (APTw) MRI has shown promising potential in the diagnosis of several malignancies. However, few studies reported the value of APTw imaging in evaluating Ki‐67 and HER2 status of BCa.

Purpose

To investigate the feasibility of APTw MRI in assessing the aggressive and proliferative potential regarding the expression levels of Ki‐67 and HER2 in BCa.

Study Type

Retrospective.

Subjects

114 patients (mean age, 64.78 ± 11.93 [SD] years; 97 men) were studied.

Field Strength/Sequence

APTw MRI acquired by a three‐dimensional fast‐spin‐echo sequence at 3.0 T MRI system.

Assessment

Patient pathologic findings, included histologic grade and the expression status of Ki‐67 and HER2, were reviewed by one uropathologist. The APTw values of BCa were independently measured by two radiologists and were compared between high−/low‐tumor grade group, high−/low‐Ki‐67 expression group, and high−/low‐HER2 expression group.

Statistical Tests

The interclass correlation coefficient, independent sample t‐test, Mann–Whitney U test, Spearman's rank correlation, and receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis were used. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results

Significantly higher APTw values were found in high‐grade BCa patients (7.72% vs. 4.29%, P < 0.001), high‐Ki‐67 expression BCa patients (8.40% vs. 3.25%, P < 0.001) and HER2 positive BCa patients (8.24% vs. 5.40%, P = 0.001). APTw values were positively correlated with Ki‐67 (r = 0.769) and HER2 (r = 0. 356) expression status. The area under the ROC curve of the APTw values for detecting Ki‐67 and HER2 expression status were 0.883 (95% CI: 0.790–0.945) and 0.713 (95% CI: 0.592–0.816), respectively.

Data Conclusions

APTw MRI is a potential method to assess the biological and proliferation potential of BCa.

Level of Evidence

4.

Technical Efficacy

Stage 2.
Performance and protein conformation of thermally treated silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) and scallop (Argopecten irradians) blended gels
Authors: Fan Xinru , Geng Wenhao , Li Meng , Wu Zixuan , Li Ying , Yu Shuang , Zhao Guanhua , Zhao Qiancheng
Published: June 2024

BACKGROUND

The quality of surimi‐based products can be improved by combining the flesh of different aquatic organisms. The present study investigated the effects of incorporating diverse ratios of unwashed silver carp (H) and scallop (A) and using various thermal treatments on the moisture, texture, microstructure, and conformation of the blended gels and myofibrillar protein of surimi.

RESULTS

A mixture ratio of A:H = 1:3 yielded the highest gel strength, which was 60.4% higher than that of scallop gel. The cooking losses of high‐pressure heating and water‐bath microwaving were significantly higher than those of other methods (P < 0.05). Moreover, the two‐step water bath and water‐bath microwaving samples exhibited a more regular spatial network structure compared to other samples. The mixed samples exhibited a microstructure with a uniform and ordered spatial network, allowing more free water to be trapped by the internal structure, resulting in more favorable gel properties. The thermal treatments comprehensively modified the tertiary and quaternary structures of proteins in unwashed mixed gel promoted protein unfurling, provided more hydrophobic interactions, enhanced protein aggregation and improved the gel performance.

CONCLUSION

The findings of the present study improve our understanding of the interactions between proteins from different sources. We propose a new method for modifying surimi's gel properties, facilitating the development of mixed surimi products, as well as enhancing the efficient utilization of aquatic resources. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.
Study on the effect of enzymolysis combined fermentation on reducing the off‐flavor of egg white powder
Authors: Chen Yujie , Ma Lulu , Liu Ying , Huo Jiaying , Gao Ying , Dong Shijian , Li Shugang
Published: June 2024

BACKGROUND

The application of egg white powder (EWP) was subject to its off‐flavor. In the present study, flavourzyme and lactic acid bacteria were used to treat egg white powder (EWP) and the mechanism effects of enzymolysis–fermentation were explored.

RESULTS

Compared with the control group, enzymolysis combined with fermentation treatment group (EW‐EF) reduced the four‐representative off‐flavor compounds (geranyl acetone, 1‐octen‐3‐ol, octanal and nonanal) by more than 62.66%. Fermentation produced esters with good flavor, and enzymolysis produced fresh amino acids. Characterization of protein structure indicated that fermentation decreased both fluorescence intensity and surface negative charges, accelerating the aggregation of proteins; enzymolysis promoted aggregation and degradation, improving the stability of the egg white proteins. Meanwhile, enzymolysis broke down the hydrophobic cavities bound to off‐flavor compounds, releasing protein‐bound off‐flavor compounds and removing them through fermentation.

CONCLUSION

EW‐EF had the best effect of off‐flavor removal on EWP. The results of the present study could provide a green and effective method for improving the flavor of EWP. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.
Improvement of oligonucleotide separation using a repetto high‐performance liquid chromatography recycling approach
Authors: Fiserova Barbora , Minarik Milan , Nahunek Michal , Kysilka Roman , Minarik Marek
Published: June 2024

A new approach for the improvement of separation of oligonucleotides by recycling ion‐pairing chromatography is described. In the so‐called repetto process, segments of separated compounds are sequentially returned to the inlet for multiple passages through the column without a need to pass a pump and with the possibility of detecting the level of separation between individual passages. Unlike in the recently described twin‐column recycle approach in which eluents are repeatedly transferred between two separation columns, with the repetto method a single column is sufficient, and the detector is not exposed to high back pressure. The repetto principle was used for the separation of synthetic oligonucleotides, resulting in a multi‐fold improvement in single nt resolution of long (> 50 nt) synthetic oligonucleotide fragments with high gas chromatography (guanine‐cytosine) content > 40% and their separation from impurities of the original synthesis.
Deep Learning‐Based Segmentation and Risk Stratification for Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors in Transabdominal Ultrasound Imaging
Authors: Zhuo Minling , Chen Xing , Guo Jingjing , Qian Qingfu , Xue Ensheng , Chen Zhikui
Published: June 2024

Purpose

To develop a deep neural network system for the automatic segmentation and risk stratification prediction of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs).

Methods

A total of 980 ultrasound (US) images from 245 GIST patients were retrospectively collected. These images were randomly divided (6:2:2) into a training set, a validation set, and an internal test set. Additionally, 188 US images from 47 prospective GIST patients were collected to evaluate the segmentation and diagnostic performance of the model. Five deep learning‐based segmentation networks, namely, UNet, FCN, DeepLabV3+, Swin Transformer, and SegNeXt, were employed, along with the ResNet 18 classification network, to select the most suitable network combination. The performance of the segmentation models was evaluated using metrics such as the intersection over union (IoU), Dice similarity coefficient (DSC), recall, and precision. The classification performance was assessed based on accuracy and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC).

Results

Among the compared models, SegNeXt‐ResNet18 exhibited the best segmentation and classification performance. On the internal test set, the proposed model achieved IoU, DSC, precision, and recall values of 82.1, 90.2, 91.7, and 88.8%, respectively. The accuracy and AUC for GIST risk prediction were 87.4 and 92.0%, respectively. On the external test set, the segmentation models exhibited IoU, DSC, precision, and recall values of 81.0, 89.5, 92.8, and 86.4%, respectively. The accuracy and AUC for GIST risk prediction were 86.7 and 92.5%, respectively.

Conclusion

This two‐stage SegNeXt‐ResNet18 model achieves automatic segmentation and risk stratification prediction for GISTs and demonstrates excellent segmentation and classification performance.
Convergence analysis of enhanced Phragmén–Lindelöf methods for solving elliptic Dirichlet problems
Authors: Peng Siyao
Published: June 2024

In this paper, we explore the ball convergence properties of enhanced Phragmén–Lindelöf type methods for solving the Dirichlet problem with an elliptic operator. By placing requirements on the elliptic operator and auxiliary points, we characterize the ball limit of a series of elliptic operators in non‐divergence form. Considering all dimensions, it becomes apparent that dealing solely with measurable and bounded coefficients for this class of operators is insufficient, necessitating additional regularity assumptions on them. We find the radii of convergence balls using recurrence relations, so as to guarantee the convergence of iterative reconstruction techniques, beginning from any point inside the ball centered on an auxiliary point.
Etiology of Childhood Profound Sensorineural Hearing Loss: The Role of Hearing Loss Gene Panel Testing
Authors: Rajput Kaukab , Akhtar Umar , Pagarkar Waheeda , Rajput Sarah , Walder Claire , D'Arco Felice , Cochrane Lesley , Nash Robert , Bitner‐Glindzicz Maria , Omar Rohani
Published: June 2024

Objective

Establishing the cause of hearing loss (HL) is important and rewarding, though not without its challenges. While our ability to identify the etiology for HL has improved with advances in scientific knowledge, a significant proportion of cases remain of unknown etiology. Recent protocol changes within the NHS Genomic Medicine Service support the utilization of the HL gene panel test, rather than individual gene tests. In light of these changes, determining the yield of these more extensive panel tests is important in informing future practice.

Study Design

Retrospective study.

Setting

The Cochlear Implant (CI) Department at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH).

Methods

Four hundred seventy‐six children with profound HL were identified from a database of referrals to the GOSH CI Department. Data on etiology of HL including genetic diagnosis was collected from hospital notes on an electronic patient records system and hospital genetics database.

Results

We identified a positive result in 163/476 (34%) cases through the gene panel test, representing an additional 19% yield to current level 1 investigations. Genetic HL, including both syndromic (including those not covered by the HL gene panel) and nonsyndromic (209/476, 44%) was the most common etiology in our cohort. Perinatal, intrauterine, ototoxicity, meningitis, and encephalitis categories altogether comprised 97/476 (20%) cases.

Conclusion

Gene panel testing provides significant additional yield over current level 1 investigations which include GJB2 testing only. This has far‐reaching implications for how we optimize investigations into HL in children and counsel families, and for future early interventions.
Prevalence of and Barriers to Health Disparities Education Among Otolaryngology Residency Curricula
Authors: Snee Isabel , Hakimi Amir , Malekzadeh Sonya
Published: June 2024

Objective

To assess the prevalence of health disparities curricula in otolaryngology residency programs and identify implementation barriers.

Study Design

Cross‐sectional survey.

Setting

National otolaryngology residency programs.

Methods

A survey based on published literature discussing the incorporation of health disparities curricula, educational design, quality, barriers to implementation, and patient demographics was sent to US otolaryngology residency program directors (PDs). Otolaryngology programs excluded from consideration included those of osteopathic recognition, programs outside of the United States, and military programs. In excluding osteopathic, international, and military‐based residency programs from our survey, we aimed to maintain sample homogeneity and focus our analysis on allopathic programs due to potential variations in demographic compositions and practice settings. This decision was made to ensure a more targeted examination of health disparities within a specific context, aligning with our research objectives and resource constraints. Anonymous survey results were collected and analyzed to determine the prevalence of health disparities curricula as well as their effectiveness and standardization across residency programs.

Results

A total of 24 PDs (response rate, 23%) responded to the survey. Half of the PDs reported having a health disparities curriculum, among whom only 25% felt the quality of their curriculum was very good or excellent. All institutions with an explicit health disparities educational program reported having developed their own curriculum, 75% of which changed annually. However, 92% of these programs reported not measuring outcomes to assess their curriculum's utility. The most reported barriers to curriculum development for all programs included insufficient time (63%), limited teaching ability specific to health disparities education (54%), and faculty disinterest in teaching (33%).

Conclusion

Very few of the surveyed otolaryngology residency programs have implemented a health disparities curriculum. A comprehensive and standardized health disparities curriculum would be beneficial to ensure that residents can confidently develop competency in health disparities, aligning with the Clinical Learning Environment Review mandate and Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education expectations.
Long‐term follow‐up of patients with intermediate‐risk neuroblastoma treated with response‐ and biology‐based therapy: A report from the Children's Oncology Group study ANBL0531
Authors: Barr Erin K. , Naranjo Arlene , Twist Clare J. , Tenney Sheena C. , Schmidt Mary Lou , London Wendy B. , Gastier‐Foster Julie , Adkins E. Stanton , Mattei Peter , Handler Michael H. , Matthay Katherine K. , Park Julie R. , Maris John M. , Desai Ami V. , Cohn Susan L.
Published: June 2024

Background

We previously reported excellent three‐year overall survival (OS) for patients with newly diagnosed intermediate‐risk neuroblastoma treated with a biology‐ and response‐based algorithm on the Children's Oncology Group study ANBL0531. We now present the long‐term follow‐up results.

Methods

All patients who met the age, stage, and tumor biology criteria for intermediate‐risk neuroblastoma were eligible. Treatment was based on prognostic biomarkers and overall response. Event‐free survival (EFS) and OS were estimated by the Kaplan‐Meier method.

Results

The 10‐year EFS and OS for the entire study cohort (n = 404) were 82.0% (95% confidence interval (CI), 77.2%‐86.9%) and 94.7% (95% CI, 91.8%‐97.5%), respectively. International Neuroblastoma Staging System stage 4 patients (n = 133) had inferior OS compared with non–stage 4 patients (n = 271; 10‐year OS: 90.8% [95% CI, 84.5%‐97.0%] vs 96.6% [95% CI, 93.9%‐99.4%], p = .02). Infants with stage 4 tumors with ≥1 unfavorable biological feature (n = 47) had inferior EFS compared with those with favorable biology (n = 61; 10‐year EFS: 66.8% [95% CI, 50.4%‐83.3%] vs 86.9% [95% CI, 76.0%‐97.8%], p = .02); OS did not differ (10‐year OS: 84.4% [95% CI, 71.8%‐97.0%] vs 95.0% [95% CI, 87.7%‐100.0%], p = .08). Inferior EFS but not OS was observed among patients with tumors with (n = 26) versus without (n = 314) 11q loss of heterozygosity (10‐year EFS: 68.4% [95% CI, 44.5%‐92.2%] vs 83.9% [95% CI, 78.7%‐89.2%], p = .03; 10‐year OS: 88.0% [95% CI, 72.0%‐100.0%] vs 95.7% [95% CI, 92.8%‐98.6%], p = .09).

Conclusions

The ANBL0531 trial treatment algorithm resulted in excellent long‐term survival. More effective treatments are needed for subsets of patients with unfavorable biology tumors.
Effects of adding nanodiamonds in mechanical properties of jute and ramie fiber reinforced epoxy composites
Authors: Arun Kumar M. , Selvaraj Senthil Kumaran , Kanniyappan Sudhakar , Karthikeyan B. , Chadha Utkarsh
Published: June 2024

The objective of this research is to investigate the potential impact of nanodiamond filler particles on the mechanical and morphological characteristics of epoxy composites that are fortified with ramie and jute fibers. Composed of composite laminates containing nanodiamonds at concentrations of 0.1, 0.3, and 0.5 wt. %, the laminates were produced via vacuum‐assisted resin infusion (VARI to evaluate the alterations in mechanical properties, Vickers hardness, tensile, and flexural tests were conducted on the prepared composites). The findings showed that adding 0.3 wt. % nanodiamonds to epoxy composites significantly improved the hardness of the composites about 18.56% and 34.38%, the tensile strength of the composites about 19.1% and 28.01%, and the flexural strength of the composites about 17.7% and 21.12% for ramie/epoxy and jute/epoxy, respectively. The optimal concentration of nanodiamonds for both types of fibers in order to optimize these properties was calculated to be 0.3 wt. % of nanodiamonds. A micro‐x‐ray CT scan was performed to determine the percentage of porosity in composites. The utilization of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) demonstrated that an increase in the nanodiamond content led to enhanced fiber dispersion and reduced interfacial voids. In contrast, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis unveils the hydrophobic characteristics, cellulose content, and improved interfacial bonding between the fibers and the epoxy matrix, which is attributed to the robust covalent bonding enabled by the nanodiamonds.

Highlights

Adding nanodiamonds (NDs) improved adhesion at fiber‐matrix interface.

Mechanical properties peaked for composites with 0.3 wt. % of NDs.

Beyond 0.3 wt. % of NDs, agglomerates in composites were observed through SEM.

Void percent increased for composites with 0.5 wt. % of NDs.
Cryogenics performance enhancement of epoxy resin composites through negative expansion nanomaterials: Mechanism and predictive modeling
Authors: Jin Runze , Xu Baosheng , Qu Lijie
Published: June 2024

The matrix cracking of carbon fiber reinforced epoxy resin based composites (CFRPs) at cryogenics (such as liquid nitrogen temperature) is a major issue affecting the normal operation of deep space and deep‐sea detectors, as microcracks caused by the thermal residual stress of both can reduce the structural integrity of the devices. In this work, we report an epoxy (EP) nanofiller CuO nanorods (CuO NRs) with negative thermal expansion properties at cryogenics. Experiments showed that CuO NRs can effectively inhibit the shrinkage of EP at cryogenics and improve the mechanical properties of EP at cryogenics. A temperature dependent prediction model for the tensile strength of EP/CuO NRs was proposed, and the predicted results were in good agreement with experimental results. Finally, through a combination of experiments and theory, it was demonstrated that the tensile strength of EP/CuO NRs at cryogenics is jointly enhanced by the enhancement effect of the nanomaterials and the axial compressive thermal residual stress between EP and CuO NRs.

Highlights

Successfully prepared CuO nanorods with negative expansion properties at low temperatures, and found that they can effectively inhibit the shrinkage of epoxy resin at cryogenics.

At cryogenics, the expansion of CuO nanorods enhances their interface effect with epoxy resin and improves the tensile strength of epoxy resin composites.

The theory of tensile strength of epoxy resin at cryogenics was proposed for the first time. Theoretical analysis shows that the low temperature residual thermal stress between CuO nanorods and epoxy resin is the main factor to improve its tensile strength.
Studying the effect of polycarbonate sheet integration on glass fiber‐epoxy hybrid composite performance for automotive applications
Authors: Seif Amr , Awd Allah Mahmoud M. , Megahed M. , Abd El‐baky Marwa A.
Published: June 2024

Thermoplastic polycarbonate provides minimal structural weight and ductility and is a recyclable material. However, investigation of the characteristics of hybrid composites reinforced with woven glass and polycarbonate sheets is limited. This current study investigated the effect of integration of polycarbonate sheets on glass fiber‐epoxy hybrid composite performance. Non hybrid laminate was fabricated from eight layers of woven glass fiber impregnated with epoxy resin (NG). However, the hybrid samples utilized various symmetric stacking patterns which were made by alternating two processed polycarbonate (PC) sheets with six layers of woven glass fiber embedded with epoxy matrix. The manufacturing was made using the hand layup procedure. Mechanical testing includes compressive, tensile, bearing, and hardness was performed on hybrid and non‐hybrid composites. The results showed that employing PC sheets instead of fibers affect the laminate's strength, ductility, bearing capacity, and hardness. Utilization of PC sheets reduces both compressive and tensile strength. However, an enhancement in tensile, compressive, and bearing failure strain was achieved by 2.5%, 31.25% and 31.7%, respectively with hybrid composite having PC in the skin layers as compared with NG. The extent of failure damage is correlated with the position of the PC sheets in the tested samples.

Highlights

Novel hybrid composites of woven glass fiber and polycarbonate sheet as reinforcement with various stacking orders were successfully prepared by the hand lay‐up method.

The compressive strain of hybrid PC samples are higher than NG sample.

The hybrid PC composites showed an improved bearing strength and strain performance.

The influence of sample configuration on the damage mechanisms has been investigated.
Irrigation impact on boundary layer and precipitation characteristics in Weather Research and Forecasting model simulations during LIAISE‐2021
Authors: Udina Mireia , Peinó Eric , Polls Francesc , Mercader Jordi , Guerrero Iciar , Valmassoi Arianna , Paci Alexandre , Bech Joan
Published: June 2024

The Land Surface Interactions with the Atmosphere over the Iberian Semi‐arid Environment (LIAISE) campaign examined the impact of anthropization on the water cycle in terms of land–atmosphere–hydrology interactions. The objective of this study is to assess the effects of irrigation on the atmosphere and on precipitation in Weather Research and Forecasting model simulations during the LIAISE special observation period in July 2021. Comparisons between simulations and observations show better verification scores for air temperature, humidity, and wind speed and direction when the model included the irrigation parametrization, improving the model warm and dry bias at 2 m over irrigated areas. Other changes found are the weakening of the sea breeze circulation and a more realistic surface energy partitioning representation. The boundary‐layer height is lowered in the vicinity of irrigated areas, causing a decrease in the lifting condensation level and the level of free convection, which induce increases in convective available potential energy and convective inhibition. Precipitation differences between simulations become relevant for smaller areas, close to the irrigated land. When convection is parametrized, simulations including irrigation tend to produce a decrease in rainfall (negative feedback), whereas convection‐permitting simulations produce an increase (positive feedback), although the latter underestimates substantially the observed precipitation field. In addition, irrigation activation decreases the areas exceeding moderate hourly precipitation intensities in all simulations. There is a local impact of irrigated land on model‐resolved precipitation accumulations and intensities, although including the irrigation parametrization did not improve the representation of the observed precipitation field, as probably the precipitation systems during the LIAISE special observation period in July 2021 were mostly driven by larger scale perturbations or mesoscale systems, more than by local processes. Results reported here not only contribute to enhance our understanding of irrigation effects upon precipitation but also demonstrate the need to include irrigation parametrizations in numerical forecasts to overcome the biases found.
How broadband infrastructure development impacts green innovation? A corporate financialization mediated perspective
Authors: Dong Hanghang , Tao Miaomiao , Wang Jianda , Baiocchi Giovanni
Published: June 2024

Digital technologies constitute a critical enabler for attaining a net zero target. However, how digital infrastructure, the material infrastructure that underpins digital technologies, shapes firms' green innovation remains uncertain. The uniqueness of this analysis lies in evaluating the causal implications of the Broadband China policy on corporate green innovation using a staggered difference‐in‐differences technique. Our study indicates that the Broadband China policy robustly boosts corporate green innovation. However, treatment impacts vary across calendar times, entry cohorts, and exposure durations, with most estimates exhibiting powerful and positive effects. Further analysis indicates that the Broadband China policy boosts green innovation indirectly through financialization by increasing corporate operating income and total asset turnover while minimizing management operating costs. The findings endorse that the corporate green innovation process requires more long‐term, stable, and continuous financial support due to its high information asymmetry, high‐risk nature, and long‐term investment cycle.
Modeling intra‐individual inter‐trial EEG response variability in autism
Authors: Dong Mingfei , Telesca Donatello , Guindani Michele , Sugar Catherine , Webb Sara J. , Jeste Shafali , Dickinson Abigail , Levin April R. , Shic Frederick , Naples Adam , Faja Susan , Dawson Geraldine , McPartland James C. , Şentürk Damla
Published: June 2024

Autism spectrum disorder (autism) is a prevalent neurodevelopmental condition characterized by early emerging impairments in social behavior and communication. EEG represents a powerful and non‐invasive tool for examining functional brain differences in autism. Recent EEG evidence suggests that greater intra‐individual trial‐to‐trial variability across EEG responses in stimulus‐related tasks may characterize brain differences in autism. Traditional analysis of EEG data largely focuses on mean trends of the trial‐averaged data, where trial‐level analysis is rarely performed due to low neural signal to noise ratio. We propose to use nonlinear (shape‐invariant) mixed effects (NLME) models to study intra‐individual inter‐trial EEG response variability using trial‐level EEG data. By providing more precise metrics of response variability, this approach could enrich our understanding of neural disparities in autism and potentially aid the identification of objective markers. The proposed multilevel NLME models quantify variability in the signal's interpretable and widely recognized features (e.g., latency and amplitude) while also regularizing estimation based on noisy trial‐level data. Even though NLME models have been studied for more than three decades, existing methods cannot scale up to large data sets. We propose computationally feasible estimation and inference methods via the use of a novel minorization‐maximization (MM) algorithm. Extensive simulations are conducted to show the efficacy of the proposed procedures. Applications to data from a large national consortium find that children with autism have larger intra‐individual inter‐trial variability in P1 latency in a visual evoked potential (VEP) task, compared to their neurotypical peers.
Streamlined Formation and Manipulation of Charged Polymersomes
Authors: Lai Rebecca Y. , Wong Chin Ken , Stenzel Martina H.
Published: June 2024

Charged polymersomes are attractive for advanced material applications due to their versatile encapsulation capabilities and charge‐induced functionality. Although desirable, the pH‐sensitivity of charged block copolymers adds complexity to its self‐assembly process, making it challenging to produce charged polymersomes in a reliable manner. In this work, a flow approach to control and strike a delicate balance between solvent composition and pH for self‐assembly is used. This allows for the identification of a phase window to reliably produce of charged polymersomes. The utility of this approach to streamline downstream processes, such as morphological transformation or in‐line purification is further demonstrated. As proof‐of‐concept, it is shown that the processed polymersomes can be used for surface modifications facilitated by charge complexation.
Unified Crystal Phase Control with MACl for Inducing Single‐Crystal‐Like Perovskite Thin Films in High‐Pressure Fusion Toward High Efficiency Perovskite Solar Cell Modules
Authors: Zhang Hanhong , Hou Wenjing , Hao Yuying , Song Jun , Zhang Fan
Published: June 2024

Perovskite solar cells, recognized for their high photovoltaic conversion efficiency (PCE), cost‐effectiveness, and simple fabrication, face challenges in PCE improvement due to structural defects in polycrystalline films. This study introduces a novel fabrication method for perovskite films using methylammonium chloride (MACl) to align grain orientation uniformly, followed by a high‐pressure process to merge these grains into a texture resembling single‐crystal perovskite. Employing advanced visual fluorescence microscopy, charge dynamics in these films are analyzed, uncovering the significant impact of grain boundaries on photo‐generated charge transport within perovskite crystals. A key discovery is that optimal charge transport efficiency and speed occur in grain centers when the grain size exceeds 10 µm, challenging the traditional view that efficiency peaks when grain size surpasses film thickness to form a monolayer. Additionally, the presence of large‐sized grains enhances ion activation energy, reducing ion migration under light and improving resistance to photo‐induced degradation. In application, a perovskite solar cell module with large grains achieve a PCE of 22.45%, maintaining performance with no significant degradation under continuous white LED light at 100 mA cm−2 for over 1000 h. This study offers a new approach to perovskite film fabrication and insights into optimizing perovskite solar cell modules.
Stabilizing and Activating Active Sites: 1T‐MoS2 Supported Pd Single Atoms for Efficient Hydrogen Evolution Reaction
Authors: Zhao Lu , Liang Shaojie , Zhang Li , Huang Haoliang , Zhang Qing‐Hua , Ge Weiyi , Wang Shuqi , Tan Ting , Huang Linbo , An Qi
Published: June 2024

Metallic 1T‐MoS2 with high intrinsic electronic conductivity performs Pt‐like catalytic activity for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). However, obtaining pure 1T‐MoS2 is challenging due to its high formation energy and metastable properties. Herein, an in situ SO42−‐anchoring strategy is reported to synthesize a thin layer of 1T‐MoS2 loaded on commercial carbon. Single Pd atoms, constituting a substantial loading of 7.2 wt%, are then immobilized on the 1T‐phase MoS2 via Pd─S bonds to modulate the electronic structure and ensure a stable active phase. The resulting Pd1/1T‐MoS2/C catalyst exhibits superior HER performance, featuring a low overpotential of 53 mV at the current density of 10 mA cm−2, a small Tafel slope of 37 mV dec−1, and minimal charge transfer resistance in alkaline electrolyte. Moreover, the catalyst also demonstrates efficacy in acid and neutral electrolytes. Atomic structural characterization and theoretical calculations reveal that the high activity of Pd1/1T‐MoS2/C is attributed to the near‐zero hydrogen adsorption energy of the activated sulfur sites on the two adjacent shells of atomic Pd.