bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Obsolescence of the Arme Blanche and Technological Determinism in British Military History
Authors: Phillips Gervase
Published: July 2002

This article examines the tendency of many historians of the late nineteenth- and early twentieth-century British military to be dismissive of both the potential for cavalry action on the battlefield and the capacity of the mounted arm to reform. This tendency is rooted in an overemphasis on the impact and effectiveness of new weapons technologies. By drawing not just on historiographical evidence but also on the works of contemporary theorists, a case is made that the supposedly reactionary adherents of the arme blanche proved, in fact, the most practical reformers, creating an arm capable of fighting effectively both mounted and dismounted. Their doctrine was vindicated during the First World War; neither the sometimes confused posturing of the advocates of mounted infantry nor the advent of the clumsy and unreliable tank provided a genuine alternative to the highly mobile and tactically flexible British cavalry arm. Overall, this case might serve as a warning against prioritizing technologically based explanations of changes in the conduct of warfare.
Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of subcutaneous interferon beta-1a in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: a categorical disability trend analysis
Authors: Liu C , Blumhardt L D
Published: July 2002

The treatment effects of recent immunomodulatory therapies on disease progression in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) have been mostly established from ‘confirmed progression’ endpoints. However, the reliability of this outcome measure is poor and a significant proportion of patients may be erroneously classified. We previously proposed the area under disability/time curves to quantify in-trial disability changes, but although these have advantages, they lack information on the direction of change. We have therefore performed disease trend analyses and categorical classifications using serial Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) scores from the 533 complete datasets in a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, phase III trial of subcutaneous interferon β-1a (IFNβ-1a) (PRISMS study). We found significant treatment benefits for IFNβ-1a on in-trial disability course (P=0.002). Therapeutic advantages remained when relapse-related assessments were excluded (P=0.018). Post hoc analyses demonstrated that IFNβ-1a was mainly effective in both increasing the proportion of patients with a ‘stable’ course and reducing those with prolonged, disabling deteriorations. Baseline disease duration and EDSS levels, but not MRI lesion load, predicted the subsequent disability trends. Mean ‘numbers needed to treat’ (NNTs) to obtain preferred disability courses were reduced in patients with shorter disease duration. These results have important implications for the targeting of immunomodulatory therapies in MS.
Effects of a short-term exercise training program on aerobic fitness, fatigue, health perception and activity level of subjects with multiple sclerosis
Authors: Mostert S , Kesselring J
Published: July 2002

Multiple sclerosis (MS) patients of an inpatient rehabilitation program have been randomly assigned to an exercise training (MS-ET) or nontraining group (MS-NI). Before and after 4 weeks of aerobic exercise training, a graded maximal exercise test with measurement of gas exchange and a lung function test was administered to all 26 patients fulfilling the inclusion criteria. Activity level, fatigue and health perception were measured by means of questionnaires. Twenty-six healthy persons served as control group and were matched in respect of age, gender and activity level. Training intervention consisted of 5×30 min sessions per week of bicycle exercise with individualised intensity. Compared with baseline, the MS training group demonstrated a significant rightward placement of the aerobic threshold (AT) (VO2+13%; work rate [WR])+11%), an improvement of health perception (vitality+46%; social interaction+36%), an increase of activity level (+17%) and a tendency to less fatigue. No changes were observed for the MS-NI group and the control groups. Maximal aerobic capacity and lung function were not changed by either training or nontraining in all four groups. Overall compliance to the training program was quite low (65%), whereas incidence of symptom exacerbation by physical activity has been lower than expected (6%).
Hearing grass, thinking grass: postcolonialism and ecology in Aotearoa-New Zealand
Authors: Dominy Michèle D.
Published: July 2002

This article examines the land and its biota as actors in colonialist and postcolonialist processes in Aotearoa-New Zealand. It provides a cultural analysis of Monday’s warriors, Maurice Shadbolt’s novel of cultural encounter between Maori prophet Titokowaru and nineteenth-century colonials, Herbert Guthrie-Smith’s environmental history Tutira: the story of a New Zealand sheep station, and the author’s ethnographic fieldwork in the South Island pastoral high country. These narratives of Aotearoa provide an opportunity for a productive convergence of modes of discursive analysis and detailed observation. They suggest how textual, historical and ethnographic analysis can examine the significance of land and place in relation to biogeophysical and cultural components. The article argues that introduced grass as a material commodity with social value, and as an instrument of colonial domination and its accompanying agricultural conquest, is an ecological signifier through which identity can be emplaced and land embodied for pakeha and Maori actors. Thinking through grasslands better enables us to consider the mixed authenticities of place and identity. This works as a device for revealing the twisted entanglements within emergent postcolonialism, as Aotearoa, like other settlement nations, collectively invents itself and discovers that there is no fixed place to which one can return.
Colonialism’s afterlife: vision and visuality on the Northwest Coast
Authors: Braun Bruce
Published: July 2002

This paper explores the relationships between landscape and power, colonialism and its aftermaths, and state territoriality and its contestation, in the work of two popular Northwest Coast landscape painters: Emily Carr and Lawrence Paul Yuxweluptun. The work of both artists is explored in terms of their representation of relations between indigenous peoples, physical landscapes, state power, and modernity, and in the context of ongoing political struggles over land, resources and the environment between First Nations and the Canadian government. The paper also calls attention to the multiple and fractured nature of postcolonial visualities, to the discursive, social, technological and institutional relations that shape how landscapes are experienced and represented, and, ultimately, to the trace of colonial pasts in the environmental and political imaginaries of a postcolonial present.
Child Pedestrian Injury in an Urban Setting Descriptive Epidemiology
Authors: DiMaggio Charles , Durkin Maureen
Published: July 2002

Objective: To describe the epidemiology of pedestrian injuries to children and adolescents (ages <20 years) in an urban setting, providing analyses of environmental and pedestrian variables. Methods: Anonymous data were obtained for all motor vehicle crashes occurring in New York City over a seven‐year period (1991‐1997). Results: Among 693,283 crashes, 97,245 resulted in injuries to 100,261 pedestrians, of whom 32,578 were under the age of 20. Using census counts for the denominator, the overall incidence of pediatric pedestrian injuries was 246/100,000 per year, and the case fatality rate was 0.6%. Incidence rates peaked in the 6‐14‐year age group, and showed a modest annual decline during the study period. Younger children were more likely to be struck mid‐block and during daylight hours, whereas adolescents were more likely to be struck at intersections and at night. For younger children, there was a sharp peak in incidence during the summer months. Road and weather conditions did not appear to affect injury risk. Conclusions: These results help identify priorities for child pedestrian injury prevention and education, inform public health policy, and direct emergency medical health services resource allocation.
Shock Index in the First Trimester of Pregnancy and Its Relationship to Ruptured Ectopic Pregnancy
Authors: Birkhahn Robert H. , Gaeta Theodore J. , Bei Robert , Bove Joseph J.
Published: July 2002

The shock index (SI), the ratio of heart rate to systolic blood pressure, has been reported to be a useful tool in the evaluation of trauma patients presenting to the emergency department (ED). Objectives: To determine the range of values for SI seen in first‐trimester patients presenting to the ED, and to estimate the ability of the SI to predict ruptured ectopic pregnancy (EP). Methods: This was a prospective cohort study enrolling all patients in the first trimester of pregnancy presenting to the ED with abdominal pain and/or vaginal bleeding. Patients had a SI calculated based on their presenting vital signs, and were followed longitudinally to determine a final diagnosis. Ectopic pregnancies were categorized based on surgical pathology. Mean levels for SI were determined for each group, and ruptured EPs were compared with all other pregnancies using a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Results: The study enrolled 280 patients, 24 ruptured EPs, 28 unruptured EPs, and 228 non‐EPs. The means for SI were 0.67 (95% CI = 0.65 to 0.68) for non‐EPs, 0.64 (95% CI = 0.61 to 0.67) for unruptured EPs, and 0.84 (95% CI = 0.77 to 0.9) for ruptured EPs. The ROC curve for SI, heart rate, mean arterial pressure, and systolic blood pressure demonstrated areas under the curve (AUCs) of 0.84 (95% CI = 0.78 to 0.88), 0.74 (95% CI = 0.67 to 0.79), 0.63 (95% CI = 0.67 to 0.79), and 0.70 (95% CI = 0.64 to 0.77), respectively. Conclusions: The range of values for SI for patients being evaluated for pain and/or vaginal bleeding within the first trimester of pregnancy, who do not have a ruptured EP, are within the previously reported range of 0.5‐0.7 for nonpregnant patients. A SI > 0.85 made the diagnosis of ruptured EP 15.0 (95% CI = 5.6 to 40.4) times more likely. This study suggests that SI could impact directly on the diagnostic and therapeutic course of the patient.
A Fifth Mechanism of Lightning Injury
Authors: Cooper Mary Ann
Published: July 2002

The four classic electrical mechanisms of lightning injury cannot account for all injuries. A fifth mechanism, injury by a weak upward streamer that does not become part of a completed lightning channel, has long been postulated in the engineering literature by lightning researchers. This paper reports a case of death where injury from a weak upward streamer is strongly suspected following forensic investigation. Neither high voltage nor any of the previously accepted mechanisms of lightning injury can explain this incident.
Determination of Left Ventricular Function by Emergency Physician Echocardiography of Hypotensive Patients
Authors: Moore Christopher L. , Rose Geoffrey A. , Tayal Vivek S. , Sullivan D. Matthew , Arrowood James A. , Kline Jeffrey A.
Published: July 2002

Objective: To determine whether emergency physicians (EPs) with goal‐directed training can use echocardiography to accurately assess left ventricular function (LVF) in hypotensive emergency department (ED) patients. Methods: Prospective, observational study at an urban teaching ED with >100,000 visits/year. Four EP investigators with prior ultrasound experience underwent focused echocardiography training. A convenience sample of 51 adult patients with symptomatic hypotension was enrolled. Exclusion criteria were a history of trauma, chest compressions, or electrocardiogram diagnostic of acute myocardial infarction. A five‐view transthoracic echocardiogram was recorded by an EP investigator who estimated ejection fraction (EF) and categorized LVF as normal, depressed, or severely depressed. A blinded cardiologist reviewed all 51 studies for EF, categorization of function, and quality of the study. Twenty randomly selected studies were reviewed by a second cardiologist to determine interobserver variability. Results: Comparison of EP vs. primary cardiologist estimate of EF yielded a Pearson's correlation coefficient R = 0.86. This compared favorably with interobserver correlation between cardiologists (R = 0.84). In categorization of LVF, the weighted agreement between EPs and the primary cardiologist was 84%, with a weighted kappa of 0.61 (p < 0.001). Echocardiographic quality was rated by the primary cardiologist as good in 33%, moderate in 43%, and poor in 22%. The EF was significantly lower in patients with a cardiac cause of hypotension vs. other patients (25 ± 10% vs. 48 ± 17%, p < 0.001). Conclusions: Emergency physicians with focused training in echocardiography can accurately determine LVF in hypotensive patients.
The Epidemiology and Diagnosis of Penetrating Eye Injuries
Authors: Smith David , Wrenn Keith , Stack Lawrence B.
Published: July 2002

It is estimated that there are 3.1 penetrating eye injuries per 100,000 person‐years in the United States. Objectives: To evaluate the epidemiology of penetrating eye injuries and to identify physical examination findings that facilitate the diagnosis and ophthalmologic referral of patients with these injuries. Methods: This was a retrospective chart review of emergency department patients with penetrating eye injuries seen for evaluation from July 1987 to January 1999. The setting was a tertiary referral, university hospital. Three hundred eighty‐four patients with 390 penetrating eye injuries were enrolled; 56% were transferred from outlying hospitals. Results: Penetrating eye injuries were seen almost three times per month. Eighty percent of the injuries occurred in males, and the mean age was 29 years. Twenty‐five percent of the patients had used alcohol in the period immediately preceding the injury. Final visual outcome was 28% with enucleation, “no light perception” (NLP) in 10%, light perception to 20/200 in 24%, and light perception of 20/200 or better in 38%. Poor visual outcome was associated with poor initial visual acuity, alcohol use, and delayed presentation (p = 0.036, 0.025, 0.036, respectively). Gun‐related injuries caused 33% and motor vehicle crashes (MVCs) caused 21% of the worst outcomes (enucleation or NLP). In MVCs where seat belt use was reported, 71% of injured patients were unrestrained. The most common initial physical findings were hyphema (76%), abnormality of the pupil or uvea (94%), and initial visual acuity worse than 20/200 (77%). All patients had at least one of these findings. Complications occurred in 25% of cases, most commonly traumatic cataract or infection. Complications occurred more commonly in those patients transferred than in those presenting directly (p = 0.002). Conclusions: Penetrating eye injuries are relatively common, occur predominantly in young males, and often result in poor visual outcome in the affected eye. Motor vehicle crashes, alcohol use, and fire‐arm use are associated with more severe injuries.
The Day That the START Triage System Came to a STOP: Observations from the World Trade Center Disaster
Authors: Asaeda Glenn
Published: July 2002

The Fire Department of the City of New York—Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Operations is one of the largest EMS systems in the country. On a daily basis, this system responds to approximately 3,000 to 3,500 calls for ambulance requests. This equates to 1.2 to 1.5 million calls annually. As part of its response, EMS deals on a daily basis with multiple casualty and disaster‐type situations. The magnitude of the attacks on the World Trade Center, however, was on a scale not previously seen by any system. This article is a case report of the September 11, 2001, incident.
Effects of Delaying Fluid Resuscitation on an Injury to the Systemic Arterial Vasculature
Authors: Holmes James F. , Sakles John C. , Lewis Greg , Wisner David H.
Published: July 2002

Abstract. Objectives: To determine the effects of delaying fluid on the rate of hemorrhage and hemodynamic parameters in an injury involving the arterial system.

Methods: Twenty‐one adult, anesthetized sheep underwent left anterior thoracotomy and transection of the left internal mammary artery. A chest tube was inserted into the thoracic cavity to provide a continuous measurement of blood loss. The animals were randomly assigned to one of three resuscitation protocols: 1) no fluid resuscitation (NR), 2) standard fluid resuscitation (SR) begun 15 minutes after injury, or 3) delayed fluid resuscitation (DR) begun 30 minutes after injury. All of the animals in the two resuscitation groups received 60 mL/kg of lactated Ringer's solution over 30 minutes. Blood loss and hemodynamic parameters were measured throughout the experiment.

Results: Total hemorrhage volume (mean ± SD) at the end of the experiment was significantly lower (p = 0.006) in the NR group (1,499 ± 311 mL) than in the SR group (3,435 ± 721 mL) or the DR group (2,839 ± 1549 mL). Rate of hemorrhage followed changes in mean arterial pressure in all groups. Hemorrhage spontaneously ceased significantly sooner (p = 0.007) in the NR group (21 ± 14 minutes) and the DR group (20 ± 15 minutes) than in the SR group (54 ± 4 minutes). In the DR group, after initial cessation of hemorrhage, hemorrhage recurred in five of six animals (83%) with initiation of fluid resuscitation. Maximum oxygen (O2) delivery in each group after injury was as follows: 101 ± 34 mL O2/kg/min at 45 minutes in the DR group, 51 ± 20 mL O2/kg/min at 30 minutes in the SR group, and 35 ± 8 mL O2/kg/min at 60 minutes in the NR group.

Conclusions: Rates of hemorrhage from an arterial injury are related to changes in mean arterial pressure. In this animal model, early aggressive fluid resuscitation in penetrating thoracic trauma exacerbates total hemorrhage volume. Despite resumption of hemorrhage from the site of injury, delaying fluid resuscitation results in the best hemodynamic parameters.
Response Time Effectiveness:Comparison of Response Time and Survival in an Urban Emergency Medical Services System
Authors: Blackwell Thomas H. , Kaufman Jay S.
Published: July 2002

Abstract. Emergency medical services (EMS) administrators seek methods to enhance system performance. One component scrutinized is the response time (RT) interval between call receipt and arrival on scene. While reducing RTs may improve survival, this remains speculative and unreported.

Objective: To determine the effect of current RTs on survival in an urban EMS system.

Methods: The study was conducted in a metropolitan county (population 620,000). The EMS system is a single‐tier, paramedic service and provides all service requests. The 90% fractile RT specifications required for county compliance include 10:59 minutes for emergency life‐threatening calls (priority I) and 12:59 minutes for emergency non‐life‐threatening calls (priority II). All emergency responses resulting in a priority I or priority II transport to a Level 1 trauma center emergency department over a six‐month period were evaluated to determine the relation between specified and arbitrarily assigned RTs and survival.

Results: Five thousand, four hundred twenty‐four transports were reviewed. Of these, 71 patients did not survive (1.31%; 95% CI = 1.04% to 1.67%). No significant difference in median RTs between survivors (6.4 min) and nonsurvivors (6.8 min) was noted (p = 0.10). Further, there was no significant difference between observed and expected deaths (p = 0.14). However, mortality risk was 1.58% for patients whose RT exceeded 5 minutes, and 0.51% for those whose RT was under 5 minutes (p = 0.002). The mortality risk curve was generally flat over RT intervals exceeding 5 minutes.

Conclusions: In this observational study, emergency calls where RTs were less than 5 minutes were associated with improved survival when compared with calls where RTs exceeded 5 minutes. While variables other than time may be associated with this improved survival, there is little evidence in these data to suggest that changing this system's response time specifications to times less than current, but greater than 5 minutes, would have any beneficial effect on survival.
Atrasentan, an Endothelin-Receptor Antagonist for Refractory Adenocarcinomas: Safety and Pharmacokinetics
Authors: Carducci Michael A. , Nelson Joel B. , Kathy Bowling M. , Rogers Theresa , Eisenberger Mario A. , Sinibaldi Victoria , Donehower Ross , Leahy Terri L. , Carr Robert A. , Isaacson Jeffrey D. , Janus Todd J. , Andre Amy , Hosmane Balakrishna S. , Padley Robert J.
Published: July 2002

PURPOSE: Endothelin receptors, particularly the ETA receptor, have been shown to participate in the pathophysiology of prostate and other cancers. Atrasentan, an endothelin antagonist, binds selectively to the ETA receptor. This study evaluated the safety, pharmacokinetics, and maximum-tolerated dose of atrasentan in cancer patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients who were 18 years or older and had histologically confirmed adenocarcinoma refractory to therapy enrolled in this 28-day, open-label, phase I study. Enrollment was planned for cohorts of three patients at doses escalating from 10 to 140 mg/d. When any patient had dose-limiting toxicity, that cohort was expanded. The primary outcome variable was safety; secondary outcome variables were pharmacokinetics, tumor response, and pain relief.

RESULTS: Thirty-one cancer patients (14 prostate) were treated at daily atrasentan doses of 10, 20, 30, 45, 60, and 75 mg (n = 3 to 8 per cohort). The most common adverse events, such as rhinitis, headache, asthenia, and peripheral edema, were reversible on drug discontinuation and responded to symptom-specific treatment. Reversible hemodilution was apparent in laboratory findings and weight gain. Clinically significant headache was the dose-limiting adverse event; the maximum-tolerated dose was 60 mg/d. Pharmacokinetics were dose-proportional across the 10- to 75-mg dose range. Atrasentan was rapidly absorbed; the time to maximum observed concentration was approximately 1.5 hours. The terminal elimination half-life was approximately 24 hours, and steady-state plasma concentrations were achieved within 7 days. Decreases in prostate-specific antigen and pain relief were noted in a patient subset.

CONCLUSION: Adverse events were consistent with atrasentan’s pharmacologic vasodilatory effect. Linear, dose-proportional pharmacokinetics suggest that atrasentan can be easily and consistently dosed.
Leading Causes of Death in the US, 2019-2023
Authors: Ahmad Farida B. , Cisewski Jodi A. , Anderson Robert N.
Published: August 2024

This Viewpoint from the National Center for Health Statistics reports the leading causes of death in the US from 2019 to 2023, including the emergence of COVID-19 and shifts in other top causes as pandemic deaths decreased.
Planned Dental Extractions After Radiation Therapy
Authors: Ward Matthew C. , Petersen Cathleen M. , Noll Jenene , Bernard Matthew S. , Kuremsky Jeffrey G. , Patel Anita , Baldwin Carrie , Morgan Jackson , Thakkar Vipul V. , Atlas Jennifer L. , Carrizosa Daniel R. , Prabhu Roshan , Moeller Benjamin J. , Milas Zvonimir L. , Brickman Daniel S. , Frenkel Catherine H. , Brennan Michael T.
Published: August 2024

Importance

Nonrestorable teeth are recommended to be extracted prior to radiation therapy (RT). Occasionally, preradiation extractions introduce unacceptable delays in treatment initiation. Planned dental extractions immediately postradiation presents an alternative strategy, though outcomes are uncertain.

Objective

To evaluate the feasibility and safety of dental extractions immediately postradiation.

Design, Setting, and Participants

A prospective cohort study including patients planned for curative-intent RT but unable or unwilling to proceed with 1 or more extractions recommended pretreatment was carried out. From January 2020 to September 2022, 58 patients were screened and 50 enrolled. The dental care was performed at a single academic department and the cancer care at regional centers. Analysis took place between September 22, 2023, and June 10, 2024.

Exposure

On completion of RT, patients were recommended to complete extractions as soon as feasible, and ideally within 4 months.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The primary end point was the actuarial cumulative incidence of exposed alveolar bone noted by any practitioner at any time after extraction, calculated using Gray method with death as a competing risk. As a pilot study, no formal power calculation was performed; resources allowed for 50 evaluable patients.

Results

Among the 50 participants enrolled, RT was nonoperative for 32 patients (64%) and postoperative for 18 patients (36%). Intensity-modulated RT (IMRT) was delivered in all patients. Of the 50 patients, 20 (40%) declined dental extractions immediately postradiation and the remaining 30 (60%) underwent a median (range) of 8.5 (1-28) extractions at a median (range) of 64.5 (13-152) days after RT. The median (IQR) follow-up for survivors without exposed bone was 26 (17-35) months from the end of RT. The 2-year cumulative incidence of any exposed bone was 27% (95% CI, 14%-40%). The 2-year incidence of exposed bone for those who underwent dental extractions immediately postradiation was 40% (95% CI, 22%-58%) and 7% (95% CI, 0%-22%) for those who did not. Of the 13 who developed exposed bone: 4 resolved, 1 was lost to follow-up, and 8 were confirmed as osteoradionecrosis.

Conclusions and Relevance

This cohort study found that postradiation dental extractions incur considerable risk, even if performed within a 4-month window.
Better environments for better AI
Authors: Keren Sarah
Published: August 2024

Most AI research focuses exclusively on the AI agent itself, that is, given some input, what are the improvements to the agent's reasoning that will yield the best possible output? In my research, I take a novel approach to increasing the capabilities of AI agents via the use of AI to design the environments in which they are intended to act. My methods identify the inherent capabilities and limitations of AI agents and find the best way to modify their environment in order to maximize performance. With this agenda in mind, I describe here several research projects that vary in their objective, in the AI methodologies that are applied for finding optimal designs, and in the real‐world applications to which they correspond. I also discuss how the different projects fit within my overarching objective of using AI to promote effective multi‐agent collaboration and to enhance the way robots and machines interact with humans.
Consumer choice of compromise option and activated styles of thinking: Experimental evidence
Authors: Choi Byung‐Joon
Published: August 2024

Choice preferences for the compromise option are one common way to make decisions which has received a great deal of research attention to seek a richer understanding of consumers' product choices. Prior research has focused on investigating the various factors underlying the compromise choice. Given that the literature on cognitive style provides considerable evidence of how a holistic‐analytic thinking style influences consumers' decision‐making processes, this article applies an individual‐differences perspective to examine the influence of consumers' situationally activated styles of thinking on their choice of compromise option. We conduct two separate experimental studies in Korea and in France, as representatives of holistic‐and analytic‐thinking culture, respectively, and identify whether priming consumers to think either holistically or analytically induces the shift in their thinking tendencies and consequently in their choice behavior. The results demonstrate a significant interaction between consumers' culture and the priming condition; French consumers have a greater tendency to select compromise option in holistic‐prime condition, while Korean consumers have a lower tendency to select compromise option in analytic‐prime condition. Contributing to literature not only on compromise choice, but also on priming effects of thinking style, the findings provide useful managerial insights into implementing effective global strategies for compromise‐option product ranges.
A Bayesian transfer sparse identification method for nonlinear ARX systems
Authors: Zhang Kang , Luan Xiaoli , Ding Feng , Liu Fei
Published: August 2024

In this paper, we design a transfer sparse identification algorithm under the Bayesian framework through introducing other system knowledge into the system to be identified. This method provides a new identification solution for a nonlinear autoregressive model with exogenous inputs (NARX). The estimates of the transferred parameters are calculated by adding the transfer correction term to the un‐transferred estimates. To achieve this, a joint prior distribution is devised for the parameters, ultimately enhancing the efficient utilization of existing data, reducing the reliance on new data, and achieving more accurate identification. The maximized marginal likelihood method is used to find the transfer gain and the transfer information matrix in the transfer correction term. Meanwhile, in order to make the algorithm automatically adapt to different data, we design an automatic structure detection method based on the transfer framework. The method automatically determines the sparsity threshold based on the maximum inter‐class variance. Two examples are provided to demonstrate the advantages of our algorithm.
Edible and Biodegradable Wearable Capacitive Pressure Sensors: A Paradigm Shift toward Sustainable Electronics with Bio‐Based Materials
Authors: Basarir Fevzihan , Haj Yazan Al , Zou Fangxin , De Swarnalok , Nguyen An , Frey Alexander , Haider Ijlal , Sariola Veikko , Vapaavuori Jaana
Published: August 2024

This study presents a significant advancement in sustainable electronics, introducing an innovative capacitive‐type wearable pressure sensor crafted entirely from edible and biodegradable biomaterials. The sensor's constituents, encompassing the substrate, electrode, and dielectric elements, are obtained using edible and renewable sources, specifically cellulose and pectin. Leveraging their non‐metallic properties, these materials facilitate natural biodegradation, effectively reducing the environmental impact of electronic waste. Employing green chemistry principles during material preparation ensures the exclusion of critical raw materials. The resulting sensors showcase a versatile pressure detection range, from subtle pressures of 100 Pa to a maximum threshold of 100 kPa. Demonstrating a sensitivity of 0.0294 kPa−1 in the subtle pressure regime, the sensors exhibit a low detection limit of 10 Pa and a fast response time of 118 ms. The sensors exhibited notable repeatability and robustness, enduring over 10 000 loading‐unloading cycles without succumbing to fatigue. Applied in real‐time human motion detection, the sensors prove their potential applicability. In a biodegradability assessment, all sensor elements exhibit rapid degradation by various fungi, marking a significant stride toward a high‐performance, edible, and wearable capacitive pressure sensor that can be deposited as biowaste at the end of its lifecycle.
Antibiotic TMA (Therapeutic Methacrylic) Comonomers: Synergizing Mechanical Integrity with Infection Control in Bone Cement
Authors: Singh Juhi , Mandell Jonathan B. , Scheidt Josef , Orlando Jason D. , Kadir Jacob C. , Ribnick Whitney B. , Brothers Kimberly M. , Urish Kenneth L. , Sydlik Stefanie A.
Published: August 2024

Bone infections are common complications of joint replacement surgeries. Standard antibiotic therapies often fail due to compromised blood supply and bacterial growth on prosthetics. Currently, localized antibiotic delivery is accomplished by antibiotic‐loaded bone cements (ALBCs). However, ALBCs lack the required mechanical strength. To address these limitations, therapeutic gentamicin methacrylic comonomers (gMAs) are developed. These comonomers use a methacrylic carbonyl bond for hydrolytically controlled drug release, and actively contribute to poly (methyl methacrylate) cement curing, enhancing strength. Structure‐property relationships evaluate mechanical properties of fresh and aged cements, release behavior, and antibacterial performance with respect to type of tether bond, and gMA loading percentage (3–10%). gMA‐loaded cements match clinical strength, even at 10% loading, with threefold higher drug release than ALBCs. In vitro studies show effective biofilm inhibition when challenged with E. coli and B. subtilis for 7 days. Initial in vivo testing of gMA‐loaded cement against methicillin resistant S. aureus reveals a notable decrease in bacterial count on both implant surface and in femur homogenate, surpassing the impact observed with systemic antibiotic treatment in mice. This innovative approach shows promise to transform the treatment of implant‐associated infections by providing bone cements that are both mechanically robust and able to treat infections.
Control Over the Non‐Classical Crystallization of Calcium Sulfate by Rationally Selected Self‐Assembling Peptides
Authors: Madeja Benjamin , Wilke Patrick , Ott Andreas , Rückel Markus , Van Driessche Alexander E. S. , Kellermeier Matthias
Published: August 2024

In a recent study, we have used phage display screening to identify peptide motifs with strong and selective affinity to bind to the surfaces of gypsum, an inorganic mineral of high abundance in geo(bio)chemical environments and large‐scale industrial use for construction purposes. The goal of the present work was to investigate the influence of such engineered peptides on the formation of gypsum crystals under different conditions. To establish a holistic picture, the previously discovered multi‐stage mineralization pathway of gypsum was scrutinized in detail by a combination of complementary characterization techniques, including potentiometric titration and cryogenic transmission electron microscopy. The results provide clear evidence that the added peptide interferes with practically all precursor and intermediate species on the way from dissolved ions to solid crystals. Key to this multifunctional behavior is the self‐assembly of the peptides to filamentous colloidal aggregates in the presence of calcium ions, which depends on peptide molecular weight and related changes in secondary structure formation. Overall, the findings made in this work highlight the potential of biotechnological selection techniques for the design of advanced concepts for crystallization control, including supramolecular peptide self‐assembly as a principle known from natural biomineralization and of utmost value for bioinspired material science.
MXene and Polymer Collision: Sparking the Future of High‐Performance Multifunctional Coatings
Authors: He Xiaoling , Cui Chengqiang , Chen Ying , Zhang Li , Sheng Xinxin , Xie Delong
Published: August 2024

The development of nanomaterials is crucial to upgrading of modern industry. MXene nanosheets have attracted significant attention due to their superb resistance to permeation, diverse surface chemical properties, impressive mechanical properties, and metal‐like electrical and thermal conductivity, etc., providing unique advantages in various technical fields. When MXene nanosheets are combined with polymers to form functional coatings, their applications span multiple fields, including anticorrosion, wear resistance, flame‐retardancy, electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding, and de‐icing. This review, in conjunction with MXene's barrier property, lubricity, thermal stability, conductivity, and photothermal conversion property, discusses in detail the various applications of MXene‐based polymer coatings. Additionally, it examines the dispersion and interaction of MXene within polymer coatings and the role of functionalized MXene in polymers. Finally, based on the current research status and emerging needs, the development challenges and future research opportunities of MXene‐based polymer coatings in a targeted manner are discussed. This review aims to summarize the existing research results and put forward an objective and fair point of view, providing a constructive reference for upgrading modern nanofunctional polymer coatings.
Precise Regulation of Reactive Oxygen Species in Tumor Microenvironment for Alleviating Inhibitory Immunogenic Cell Death
Authors: Xu Zichuang , He Yuchu , Zhang Xuwu , Tu Wenkang , Li Xiaoling , Wang Dong , Yan Yaqian , Gao Jiajun , Wang Desong , Gao Dawei
Published: August 2024

High level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) within the tumor microenvironment (TME) not only damage tumor cells but also diminish the efficacy of immunogenic cell death (ICD) and the activity of tumor‐infiltrating T lymphocytes, thereby limiting the effectiveness of immunotherapy. Therefore, precise modulation of ROS level is crucial to effectively eliminate tumor cells and activate ICD‐induced immunotherapy. Here, an intelligent yolk shell nanoplatform (SPCCM) that features calcium carbonate shells capable of decomposing under acidic TME conditions, thereby releasing the natural antioxidant proanthocyanidins (PAs) and the photosensitizer Ce6 is designed. PAs scavenge ROS within tumors, extending the survival time of T lymphocytes, while Ce6, as an ICD inducer, generates high ROS concentrations upon laser irradiation, thus reaching the toxic threshold within tumor cells and inducing apoptosis. The resulting apoptotic cells serve as tumor‐associated antigens, promoting dendritic cells (DCs) maturation, and activating ICD. By effectively neutralizing ROS in the TME, PAs sustainably reduce ROS level, thereby enhancing DCs activation and restoring antitumor immune cell activity suppressed by ROS (resulting in an eightfold increase in DCs activation). This study demonstrates effective synergistic effects between photodynamic therapy and immunotherapy by precisely modulating ROS level.
Unraveling the Solution Aggregation Structures and Processing Resiliency of High‐Efficiency Organic Photovoltaic Blends
Authors: Gao Mengyuan , Sun Chunlong , Li Yiwen , Li Na , Jiang Hanqiu , He Chunyong , Chen Yu , Zhao Wenchao , Hou Jianhui , Ye Long
Published: August 2024

The solution aggregation structure of conjugated polymers is crucial to the morphology and resultant optoelectronic properties of organic electronics and is of considerable interest in the field. Precise characterizations of the solution aggregation structures of organic photovoltaic (OPV) blends and their temperature‐dependent variations remain challenging. In this work, the temperature‐dependent solution aggregation structures of three representative high‐efficiency OPV blends using small‐angle X‐ray/neutron scattering are systematically probed. Three cases of solution processing resiliency are elucidated in state‐of‐the‐art OPV blends. The exceptional processing resiliency of high‐efficiency PBQx‐TF blends can be attributed to the minimal changes in the multiscale solution aggregation structure at elevated temperatures. Importantly, a new parameter, the percentage of acceptors distributed within polymer aggregates (Ф), for the first time in OPV blend solution, establishes a direct correlation between Ф and performance is quantified. The device performance is well correlated with the Kuhn length of the cylinder related to polymer aggregates L1 at the small scale and the Ф at the large scale. Optimal device performance is achieved with L1 at ≈30 nm and Ф within the range of 60 ± 5%. This study represents a significant advancement in the aggregation structure research of organic electronics.
Viruses and Non‐Woven Polymers: Surface Properties and Future Perspectives in Sampling for Wastewater‐Based Epidemiology
Authors: Ahmedullah Mayisha , Whiley Harriet , Fallowfield Howard , Köper Ingo
Published: August 2024

Environmental disease monitoring initiatives such as wastewater‐based epidemiology can offer a unique perspective on the health status of a population. Such efforts are being increasingly utilized to guide public health initiatives and to aid in controlling the spread of infectious diseases. Key to these approaches is the sampling and identification of viruses, bacteria, and other pathogens. Advanced material technologies can be explored for the development of materials suitable for sampling, leading to the retention and detection of viruses. Here, how the surface interactions between viruses and adsorbent materials can inform the future development of effective, novel materials to aid in sampling viruses for wastewater‐based epidemiology are considered. This review provides a summary of the surface properties of viruses along with their physiochemical interactions with adsorbent materials at the solid‐water interface. Also discussed are the properties of non‐woven polymer membranes, a newer material technology being employed for the retention of viruses, with a focus on virus‐capture applications in aqueous environments.
Solid–Liquid Elastic Pendulum Triboelectric Nanogenerator Design for Application to Omnidirectional Blue Energy Harvesting
Authors: Zhang Xinyao , Su Yuxiang , Dong Xin , Wu Jinlin , Su Xiaonan , Dai Guanyu , Liu Anguo , Feng Wuwei , Zhao Keyang , Lei Bangjun , Li Zhenhua
Published: August 2024

The ocean is regarded as a significant resource for renewable energy development. The use of triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) provides an effective approach to capturing energy from low‐frequency, random, and disorganized water waves. In this paper, the solid–liquid elastic pendulum (SLEP)‐TENG is designed for omnidirectional blue energy harvesting applications. Differentiating from traditional designs, the proposed TENG has a simple, reliable, and durable flexible pendulum structure with a spherical shell and a solid counterweight at the bottom that can absorb the impact of ocean waves efficiently. The structure also has a hollow hexagonal space that allows it to generate a larger contact area when it is subjected to wave impacts from different directions. Under low‐speed lateral motion conditions (at frequencies below 0.83 Hz), its open‐circuit voltage VOC, short circuit current ISC, and power density Pm can reach up to 486.8 V, 16.9 µA, and 10.26 W m−3, respectively, which is sufficient to power more than 450 commercial light‐emitting diodes. By storing electrical power in small capacitors, the TENG can support small power‐consuming devices, e.g., thermometers and calculators. Therefore, the SLEP‐TENG has great potential for use in combination with Internet of Things devices to enable self‐powered sensing system construction in complex ocean areas.
Amplitude‐Phase Independently Encoding Space‐Division Multiplexed Wireless Communication Using Beamforming Reconfigurable Metasurfaces
Authors: Xiong Qi , Zhang Zuojun , Huang Cheng , Pu Mingbo , Luo Jun , Guo Yinghui , Ye Jia , Pan Wei , Ma Xiaoliang , Yan Lianshan , Luo Xiangang
Published: August 2024

Wireless communications utilizing reconfigurable metasurfaces have garnered significant attention due to their capability to transmit information without traditional radio‐frequency chains. Space‐division multiplexing techniques, in particular, can be utilized to improve their channel capacity. However, most of them are only implemented through either amplitude or phase encoding. Here, a space‐division multiplexed wireless communication system with amplitude‐phase independent encoding is proposed. By designing dual beams with varying power intensity ratios, dual channels that allow for independent amplitude modulation are established. The phase between the two channels can be independently modulated based on the pattern synthesis algorithm. By using the pattern nulling technique, independent modulation between amplitude and phase can be achieved in each channel. Compared to amplitude‐only modulation, amplitude‐phase modulation offers an additional degree of freedom for carrier wave modulation, which not only increases system capacity but also enhances physical layer security through directional modulation (DM) techniques. To demonstrate this approach, sixteen scattering beams are generated using a beamforming reconfigurable metasurface, and a dual‐channel 4 amplitude phase‐shift keying (4APSK) wireless communication system is experimentally realized. This work paves the way for establishing multiple channels, potentially applicable in multi‐user wireless communications.
Thermally‐Induced Reentrant Order‐Disorder‐Order Transitions in ALa9(GeO4)6O2 Apatites
Authors: Chufarov Alexander Yu. , Tyutyunnik Alexander P. , Tarakina Nadezda V. , Fortes A. Dominic , Melkozerova Marina A. , Enyashin Andrey N. , Lipina Olga A. , Baklanova Yana V. , Kiryakov Arseny N. , Surat Ludmila L. , Zubkov Vladimir G.
Published: August 2024

Oxyapatites A10(GeO4)6O2 (A – alkaline, rare‐earth elements) are considered promising materials for applications in solid‐state lighting and non‐contact thermometry. The temperature dynamics of the oxygen sublattice have a crucial influence on the luminescent properties of these optical hosts. Here, the structural evolution with temperature of germanates with the general formula ALa9(GeO4)6O2 (A – Li, Na, K, Rb) is investigated, using X‐ray and neutron powder diffraction methods. These compounds crystallize in space‐group P63/m. NPD experiments helped to determine the oxygen and alkaline metal positions. Thermally‐induced reentrant structural transitions relating to the oxygen in the apatite channel are discovered for the first time. In the example of Eu‐doped RbLa9(GeO4)6O2 and KLa9(GeO4)6O2, it is demonstrated that the luminescence of the Eu3+ ion is influenced by small changes in the crystal structure.
Dynamic Long‐Afterglow Materials with Ultralong Lifetime for Advanced Message Encryption
Authors: Tang Zhaorun , Zeng Jianwen , Zheng Yuewei , Guan Zhihao , Liu Xinghai
Published: August 2024

Ultralong afterglow materials has special optical properties and a broad application prospect in the field of information encryption. A single afterglow color largely limits the application of afterglow materials in the direction of advanced encryption, and materials with dynamic afterglow are more popular. However, most of the dynamic afterglow materials are doped with multiple chromophores, and these materials with a single chromophore are rarely reported and have low lifetimes. Herein, a series of dynamic afterglow materials with time‐dependent phosphorescence is obtained by a simple one‐step strategy, and the longest lifetime reached 1.39 s, the maximum PLQY reached 85.9%, and the naked‐eye duration reached 20 s, which is the best level reported so far. The dynamic afterglow phenomenon is attributed to the multiple phosphorescence emission centers of the guest molecule with different decay rates, which results in a dynamic shift of the phosphorescence color. It is demonstrated through a series of characterizations that the covalent bonding interaction between the guest molecule and the host boric acid largely inhibits the nonradiative leaps of the guest molecule and provides it with a rigid matrix environment. Crucially, the dynamic afterglow material has been successfully applied in the field of displays and advanced information encryption.