bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Objectified quantification of uncertainties in Bayesian atmospheric inversions
Authors: Berchet A. , Pison I. , Chevallier F. , Bousquet P. , Bonne J.-L. , Paris J.-D.
Published: May 2015

Abstract. Classical Bayesian atmospheric inversions process atmospheric observations and prior emissions, the two being connected by an observation operator picturing mainly the atmospheric transport. These inversions rely on prescribed errors in the observations, the prior emissions and the observation operator. When data pieces are sparse, inversion results are very sensitive to the prescribed error distributions, which are not accurately known. The classical Bayesian framework experiences difficulties in quantifying the impact of mis-specified error distributions on the optimized fluxes. In order to cope with this issue, we rely on recent research results to enhance the classical Bayesian inversion framework through a marginalization on a large set of plausible errors that can be prescribed in the system. The marginalization consists in computing inversions for all possible error distributions weighted by the probability of occurrence of the error distributions. The posterior distribution of the fluxes calculated by the marginalization is not explicitly describable. As a consequence, we carry out a Monte Carlo sampling based on an approximation of the probability of occurrence of the error distributions. This approximation is deduced from the well-tested method of the maximum likelihood estimation. Thus, the marginalized inversion relies on an automatic objectified diagnosis of the error statistics, without any prior knowledge about the matrices. It robustly accounts for the uncertainties on the error distributions, contrary to what is classically done with frozen expert-knowledge error statistics. Some expert knowledge is still used in the method for the choice of an emission aggregation pattern and of a sampling protocol in order to reduce the computation cost. The relevance and the robustness of the method is tested on a case study: the inversion of methane surface fluxes at the mesoscale with virtual observations on a realistic network in Eurasia. Observing system simulation experiments are carried out with different transport patterns, flux distributions and total prior amounts of emitted methane. The method proves to consistently reproduce the known "truth" in most cases, with satisfactory tolerance intervals. Additionally, the method explicitly provides influence scores and posterior correlation matrices. An in-depth interpretation of the inversion results is then possible. The more objective quantification of the influence of the observations on the fluxes proposed here allows us to evaluate the impact of the observation network on the characterization of the surface fluxes. The explicit correlations between emission aggregates reveal the mis-separated regions, hence the typical temporal and spatial scales the inversion can analyse. These scales are consistent with the chosen aggregation patterns.
Improved simulation of precipitation in the tropics using a modified BMJ scheme in WRF model
Authors: Fonseca R. , Zhang T. , Koh T. Y.
Published: May 2015

Abstract. The successful modelling of the observed precipitation, a very important variable for a wide range of climate applications, continues to be one of the major challenges that climate scientists face today. When the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model is used to dynamically downscale the Climate Forecast System Reanalysis (CFSR) over the Indo-Pacific region, with analysis (grid-point) nudging, it is found that the cumulus scheme used, Betts–Miller–Janjić (BMJ), produces excessive rainfall suggesting that it has to be modified for this region. Experimentation has shown that the cumulus precipitation is not very sensitive to changes in the cloud efficiency but varies greatly in response to modifications of the temperature and humidity reference profiles. A new version of the scheme, denominated "modified BMJ" scheme, where the humidity reference profile is more moist, was developed and in tropical belt simulations it was found to give a better estimate of the observed precipitation, as given by the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) 3B42 dataset, than the default BMJ scheme for the whole tropics and both monsoon seasons. In fact, in some regions the model even outperforms CFSR. The advantage of modifying the BMJ scheme to produce better rainfall estimates lies in the final dynamical consistency of the rainfall with other dynamical and thermodynamical variables of the atmosphere.
Shallow groundwater thermal sensitivity to climate change and land cover disturbances: derivation of analytical expressions and implications for stream temperature modeling
Authors: Kurylyk B. L. , MacQuarrie K. T. B. , Caissie D. , McKenzie J. M.
Published: May 2015

Abstract. Climate change is expected to increase stream temperatures and the projected warming may alter the spatial extent of habitat for cold-water fish and other aquatic taxa. Recent studies have proposed that stream thermal sensitivities, derived from short-term air temperature variations, can be employed to infer future stream warming due to long-term climate change. However, this approach does not consider the potential for streambed heat fluxes to increase due to gradual warming of the shallow subsurface. The temperature of shallow groundwater is particularly important for the thermal regimes of groundwater-dominated streams and rivers. Also, recent studies have investigated how land surface perturbations, such as wildfires or timber harvesting, can influence stream temperatures by changing stream surface heat fluxes, but these studies have typically not considered how these surface disturbances can also alter shallow groundwater temperatures and streambed heat fluxes. In this study, several analytical solutions to the one-dimensional unsteady advection–diffusion equation for subsurface heat transport are employed to estimate the timing and magnitude of groundwater temperature changes due to seasonal and long-term variability in land surface temperatures. Groundwater thermal sensitivity formulae are proposed that accommodate different surface warming scenarios. The thermal sensitivity formulae suggest that shallow groundwater will warm in response to climate change and other surface perturbations, but the timing and magnitude of the subsurface warming depends on the rate of surface warming, subsurface thermal properties, bulk aquifer depth, and groundwater velocity. The results also emphasize the difference between the thermal sensitivity of shallow groundwater to short-term (e.g., seasonal) and long-term (e.g., multi-decadal) land surface-temperature variability, and thus demonstrate the limitations of using short-term air and water temperature records to project future stream warming. Suggestions are provided for implementing these formulae in stream temperature models to accommodate groundwater warming.
Using high-frequency water quality data to assess sampling strategies for the EU Water Framework Directive
Authors: Skeffington R. A. , Halliday S. J. , Wade A. J. , Bowes M. J. , Loewenthal M.
Published: May 2015

Abstract. The EU Water Framework Directive (WFD) requires that the ecological and chemical status of water bodies in Europe should be assessed, and action taken where possible to ensure that at least "good" quality is attained in each case by 2015. This paper is concerned with the accuracy and precision with which chemical status in rivers can be measured given certain sampling strategies, and how this can be improved. High-frequency (hourly) chemical data from four rivers in southern England were subsampled to simulate different sampling strategies for four parameters used for WFD classification: dissolved phosphorus, dissolved oxygen, pH and water temperature. These data sub-sets were then used to calculate the WFD classification for each site. Monthly sampling was less precise than weekly sampling, but the effect on WFD classification depended on the closeness of the range of concentrations to the class boundaries. In some cases, monthly sampling for a year could result in the same water body being assigned to three or four of the WFD classes with 95% confidence, due to random sampling effects, whereas with weekly sampling this was one or two classes for the same cases. In the most extreme case, the same water body could have been assigned to any of the five WFD quality classes. Weekly sampling considerably reduces the uncertainties compared to monthly sampling. The width of the weekly sampled confidence intervals was about 33% that of the monthly for P species and pH, about 50% for dissolved oxygen, and about 67% for water temperature. For water temperature, which is assessed as the 98th percentile in the UK, monthly sampling biases the mean downwards by about 1 °C compared to the true value, due to problems of assessing high percentiles with limited data. Low-frequency measurements will generally be unsuitable for assessing standards expressed as high percentiles. Confining sampling to the working week compared to all 7 days made little difference, but a modest improvement in precision could be obtained by sampling at the same time of day within a 3 h time window, and this is recommended. For parameters with a strong diel variation, such as dissolved oxygen, the value obtained, and thus possibly the WFD classification, can depend markedly on when in the cycle the sample was taken. Specifying this in the sampling regime would be a straightforward way to improve precision, but there needs to be agreement about how best to characterise risk in different types of river. These results suggest that in some cases it will be difficult to assign accurate WFD chemical classes or to detect likely trends using current sampling regimes, even for these largely groundwater-fed rivers. A more critical approach to sampling is needed to ensure that management actions are appropriate and supported by data.
Hybrid Levenberg–Marquardt and weak constraint ensemble Kalman smoother method
Authors: Mandel J. , Bergou E. , Gürol S. , Gratton S.
Published: May 2015

Abstract. We propose to use the ensemble Kalman smoother (EnKS) as the linear least squares solver in the Gauss–Newton method for the large nonlinear least squares in incremental 4DVAR. The ensemble approach is naturally parallel over the ensemble members and no tangent or adjoint operators are needed. Further, adding a regularization term results in replacing the Gauss–Newton method, which may diverge, by the Levenberg–Marquardt method, which is known to be convergent. The regularization is implemented efficiently as an additional observation in the EnKS. The method is illustrated on the Lorenz 63 and the two-level quasi-geostrophic model problems.
Cell-Phone Related Injuries in the United States from 2000‒2012
Authors: Saltos Andreas , Smith Daniel , Schreiber Kristin , Lichenstein Sarah , Lichenstein Richard
Published: May 2015

Background: The incidence of injuries sustained by cell phone users other than drivers and pedestrians is not well characterized.

Methods: The National Electronic Injury Surveillance (NEISS) database was searched to identify injuries involving cell phone use in all settings. The study period was January 2000 to December 2012.

Results: We identified 515 records of ED visits related to cell phone use. 48% of injuries occurred in the home setting. Sixty-two percent of the patients were female; 55% were younger than 40. National estimates, derived from weighted case incidence, revealed statistically significant increases in the number of annual cases, particularly for injuries sustained while texting. Most injuries were minor, but 11% of patients required hospitalization.

Discussion: The estimated national number of injuries associated with cell phone use is increasing annually in all scenarios studied, particularly among pedestrians and while texting.

Conclusion: Distraction is inherent during cell phone use. The injury risk posed by cell phone use must be an integral component of prevention strategies and product design.
Identification of Implanted Mesh After Incisional Hernia Repair Using an Automated Breast Volume Scanner
Authors: Wu Jun , Wang Yuanyuan , Yu Jinhua , Chen Yue , Pang Yun , Diao Xuehong , Qiu Zhiying
Published: May 2015

Objectives

This study aimed to evaluate the utility of an automated breast volume scanner (ABVS) versus handheld ultrasound (US) for identifying implanted mesh after incisional hernia repair.

Methods

In vitro, the appearances of 3 samples of different flat mesh and a mesh plug on both ABVS and handheld US examinations were evaluated. In vivo, 97 patients received both ABVS and handheld US examinations in the incisional region. The frequency used for handheld US was 11 MHz. The presence of the previously implanted mesh in the incisional region was evaluated and compared between the US modalities. The identified results were confirmed by surgical findings.

Results

In the in vitro study, the ABVS had more visualized and efficient imaging results for implanted mesh than handheld US. In the in vivo study, among 97 cases, 39 and 32 were identified as regions with mesh by the ABVS and handheld US, respectively. The ABVS had better identification performance than handheld US in terms of accuracy (94.8% versus 83.5%), sensitivity (90.5% versus 69.0%), and specificity (98.2% versus 94.5%). The κ values showed that handheld US had substantial agreement with surgical findings (κ = 0.78; 95% confidence interval, 0.66–0.90), whereas the ABVS had almost perfect agreement with surgical findings (κ = 0.93; 95% confidence interval, 0.86–1.00). More importantly, the ABVS could display the texture of lightweight mesh in the coronal plane. The specificity and sensitivity for mesh texture were 100.0% (55 of 55) and 94.4% (17 of 18), respectively.

Conclusions

The use of an ABVS may help identify the presence of implanted mesh after incisional hernia repair in some cases in which the implant is difficult to appreciate on handheld US imaging with an 11‐MHz transducer.
Shear Wave Dispersion in Lean Versus Steatotic Rat Livers
Authors: Barry Christopher T. , Hazard Christopher , Hah Zaegyoo , Cheng Gang , Partin Alexander , Mooney Robert A. , Chuang Kuang-Hsiang , Cao Wenqing , Rubens Deborah J. , Parker Kevin J.
Published: May 2015

Objectives

The precise measurement of fat accumulation in the liver, or steatosis, is an important clinical goal. Our previous studies in phantoms and mouse livers support the hypothesis that, starting with a normal liver, increasing accumulations of microsteatosis and macrosteatosis will increase the lossy viscoelastic properties of shear waves in a medium. This increase results in an increased dispersion (or slope) of the shear wave speed in the steatotic livers.

Methods

In this study, we moved to a larger animal model, lean versus obese rat livers ex vivo, and a higher‐frequency imaging system to estimate the shear wave speed from crawling waves.

Results

The results showed elevated dispersion in the obese rats and a separation of the lean versus obese liver parameters in a 2‐dimensional parameter space of the dispersion (slope) and shear wave speed at a reference frequency of 150 Hz.

Conclusions

We have confirmed in 3 separate studies the validity of our dispersion hypothesis in animal models.
The Irregular Diaphragmatic Pleural Interface
Authors: Avila Jacob O. , Noble Vicki E.
Published: May 2015

Pneumonia, a disease that has been reported to be the sixth leading cause of death in the United States, has worsening mortality with delays in diagnosis. As the history and physical examination are excessively inaccurate in the diagnosis of pneumonia, we often rely on chest radiography to rule in or out disease. However, it is found to lack sufficient accuracy when computed tomography is used as the reference standard. Sonography has emerged as a viable alternative to chest radiography in the diagnosis of pneumonia. Here, we describe a novel sonographic sign that can be used to assist in the diagnosis of pneumonia.
Fetal Weight Estimation in Diabetic Pregnancies Using the Gestation‐Adjusted Projection Method
Authors: Moore Gaea S. , Post Annalisa L. , West Nancy A. , Hart Jan E. , Lynch Anne M.
Published: May 2015

Objectives

The gestation‐adjusted projection method extrapolates birth weight using third‐trimester sonography. This technique is shown to be more accurate for sonographic examinations from 34 weeks to 36 weeks 6 days than 37 weeks to 38 weeks 6 days. Our objective was to determine whether even earlier sonographic examinations (31 weeks–33 weeks 6 days) further improves birth weight prediction in patients with diabetes.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective cohort analysis of 388 pregnant women with pregestational or gestational diabetes who delivered at 37 weeks or later and had a sonographic examination performed between 31 weeks and 36 weeks 6 days. Sonographic examinations were categorized as “early” if performed at 31 weeks to 33 weeks 6 days or “late” if performed at 34 weeks to 36 weeks 6 days. We estimated birth weight using the gestation‐adjusted projection method, compared errors in prediction of birth weight using the t test and Mann‐Whitney U test, and performed a 2‐sample test of proportions to compare prediction of macrosomia (birth weight >4000 g).

Results

The early and late groups had similar mean gestational ages at birth (38 weeks 4 days versus 38 weeks 5 days; P = .13) and rates of macrosomia (10.7% versus 12.4%; P = .63). The early group had a greater mean absolute error (336 versus 297 g; P = .03) and percent error (9.9% versus 7.9%; P = .01) in birth weight prediction but a lower mean birth weight (3303 versus 3426 g; P = .02). Sensitivity for prediction of macrosomia was 19% in the early group versus 45% in the late group (P = .07), whereas specificity was similar (98% versus 96%; P = .27).

Conclusions

Using the gestation‐adjusted projection method in our patients with diabetes, we found that sonographic examinations performed at 34 weeks to 36 weeks 6 days better predicted birth weight than those performed at 31 weeks to 33 weeks 6 days.
Performance of Venous Port Catheter Insertion by a General Surgeon: A Prospective Study
Authors: Aziret Mehmet , İrkörücü Oktay , Gökler Cihan , Reyhan Enver , Çetinkünar Süleyman , Çil Timuçin , Akpınar Edip , Erdem Hasan , Değer Kamuran Cumhur
Published: May 2015

As part of the vascular access procedures, venous ports, commonly referred to as catheters, are placed under the skin to enable safe and easy vascular access for administration of repeated drug treatments. 122 patients who had received a venous port catheter insertion procedure in the general surgery department between January 1012 and January 2014 were involved in this study. Patients were divided into two groups: those who had undergone a fluoroscopy (group 1) and those who had not undergone a fluoroscopy (group 2). Complications that emerged during and after the port catheter insertion procedure and successful insertion rates were recorded in the database. Data of these patients were presented in a prospective manner. There were 92 to 30 patients in groups 1 and 2, respectively. In group 1, the mean age was approximately 56.8, total catheter stay time was 20,631 days, and mean time of port use was 224.2 days. In group 2, the mean age was approximately 61.2, total catheter stay time was 13,575 days, and mean time of port use was 452.5 days. Successful insertion rate was 100% and 90% in groups 1 and 2, respectively (P < 0.05). The proper insertion of the port catheter accompanied by monitoring methods can decrease procedure-related complications. Statistical comparisons between the two groups in terms of malposition and successful insertion rates also support this view (P < 0.05). The findings support the view that in cancer patients, a venous port catheter insertion accompanied by a fluoroscopy can be safely performed by general surgeons.
An Unusually Large Cavernous Hemangioma of Retropharyngeal Space: A Rare Case
Authors: Tian Linli , Zhang Jiarui , Jiao Yufei , Liu Tianyi , Liu Ming
Published: May 2015

Hemangiomas rarely occur in the retropharyngeal space with only several cases reported in the current literature. This article reports the hemangiomas of retropharyngeal space. A 55-year-old woman was referred to our institution for dysphagia. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging of the neck and spine revealed a large, well-circumscribed, dense mass that extended from the retropharyngeal space to the sides of the neck. Patient underwent direct excision of the lesion. Complete regression of symptoms was observed after surgery, with no lesions found on routine 24-month follow-up. Although hemangiomas are relatively common in the head and neck, those that originate in the retropharyngeal space are very rarely observed. These benign tumors have the potential to compress adjacent tissues or organs and thereby produce associated symptoms like dysphagia and dyspnea. We present the reported case of larger hemangiomas of the retropharyngeal space and detail their management.
Management of Granulomatous Mastitis: A Series of 13 Patients Who Were Evaluated for Treatment Without Corticosteroids
Authors: Yukawa Masao , Watatani Masahiro , Isono Sayuri , Fujiwara Yoshinori , Tsujie Masanori , Kitani Kotaro , Hara Johji , Kato Hiroaki , Takeyama Hiroshi , Kanaizumi Hirofumi , Kogata Shuhei , Ohta Yoshio , Inoue Masatoshi
Published: May 2015

Granulomatous mastitis (GM) is a rare chronic inflammatory breast condition with unknown etiology. There is still no generally accepted optimal treatment for GM. Corticosteroid treatment and/or wide excision is most commonly reported in the literature. Incision and drainage or limited excision alone has little benefit because of a strong tendency of recurrence. Corticosteroids also have a high failure rate and possible side effects. In the current series, we treated GM patients without corticosteroids, except for one patient. We also devised multidirectional deep drainage for advanced and complicated abscesses, which are characteristic of GM. This retrospective study included 13 women who met the required histologic criteria of GM. The mean age of the patients was 41 years. All of the patients were premenopausal. Six patients had breast-fed in the last 5 years. Five patients were under medication with antidepressants. A total of 11 patients developed abscesses during the clinical course, and the abscesses penetrated the retromammary space in 4 patients. We treated 2 of these 4 patients with multidirectional deep drainage and obtained complete remission in 5 and 6.5 months, respectively. These times were much shorter than those in the other 2 patients. The time to resolution in 11 patients was 4 to 28 months. This overall outcome was comparable with that of corticosteroid treatment reported in the literature. Because the natural history of GM is thought to be self-limiting, close observation and minimally required drainage of abscesses without corticosteroid administration remain the treatment modality of choice.
Gallstone Ileus With Jejunum Perforation Managed With Laparoscopic-Assisted Surgery: Rare Case Report and Minimal Invasive Management
Authors: Lee Cheng-Hung , Yin Wen-Yao , Chen Jian-Han
Published: May 2015

Gallstone ileus is an uncommon complication of cholelithiasis. Most patients affected by gallstone ileus are elderly and have multiple comorbidities. Symptoms are vague and insidious, which may delay the correct diagnosis for days. Here we are reporting an uncommon complication of gallstone ileus. We report on a 70-year-old man with small bowel obstruction at the jejunum due to an impacted stone, which led to necrosis and perforation of the proximal bowel wall. Laparoscope-assisted small bowel resection with enterolithotomy was used to successfully treat the patient's perforation and obstruction. His recovery was uneventful. Gallstone ileus commonly presents with bowel obstruction, but intestinal perforation occurs very rarely. A laparoscopic approach can provide both diagnostic and therapeutic roles in management.
Screening and Supplementation for Iron Deficiency and Iron Deficiency Anemia During Pregnancy
Authors: Cantor Amy G. , Holmes Rebecca , Bougatsos Christina , Atchison Chandler , DeLoughery Thomas , Chou Roger
Published: August 2024

Importance

In 2015 the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) found insufficient evidence to assess the balance of benefits and harms of routine screening and supplementation for iron deficiency anemia during pregnancy.

Objective

To update the 2015 review on screening for iron deficiency anemia, in addition to iron deficiency during pregnancy, to inform the USPSTF.

Data Sources

Ovid MEDLINE and Cochrane databases through May 24, 2023; surveillance through May 24, 2024.

Study Selection

Randomized clinical trials of iron supplementation, screening effectiveness, treatment, and harms; observational studies of screening.

Data Extraction and Synthesis

Dual review of abstracts, full-text articles, study quality, and data abstraction. Data were pooled using a random-effects model.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Maternal and infant clinical outcomes, hematologic indices, and harms.

Results

Seventeen trials (N = 24 023) on maternal iron supplementation were included. Iron supplementation was associated with decreased risk of maternal iron deficiency anemia at term (4 trials, n = 2230; 8.6% vs 19.8%; relative risk, 0.40 [95% CI, 0.26-0.61]; I2 = 20.5%) and maternal iron deficiency at term (6 trials, n = 2361; 46% vs 70%; relative risk, 0.47 [95% CI, 0.33-0.67]; I2 = 81.9%) compared with placebo or no iron supplement. There were no statistically significant differences in maternal quality of life, rates of gestational diabetes, maternal hemorrhage, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, cesarean delivery, preterm birth, infant low birth weight, or infants small for gestational age for maternal iron supplementation compared with placebo or no supplementation. Harms of iron supplementation included transient gastrointestinal adverse effects. No studies evaluated the benefits or harms of screening for iron deficiency or iron deficiency anemia during pregnancy. Data on the association between iron status and health outcomes, such as hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and preterm birth, were very limited.

Conclusions and Relevance

Routine prenatal iron supplementation reduces the incidence of iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia during pregnancy, but evidence on health outcomes is limited or indicates no benefit. No studies addressed screening for iron deficiency or iron deficiency anemia during pregnancy. Research is needed to understand the association between changes in maternal iron status measures and health outcomes.
Sacubitril-Valsartan in Patients Requiring Hemodialysis
Authors: Le Dustin , Grams Morgan E. , Coresh Josef , Shin Jung-Im
Published: August 2024

Importance

Randomized clinical trials have shown that sacubitril-valsartan reduces the risks of mortality and hospitalization in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), but patients with kidney failure requiring dialysis were excluded.

Objective

To investigate the comparative effectiveness of sacubitril-valsartan vs angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers (ACEIs or ARBs) in patients with HFrEF requiring hemodialysis.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This retrospective, 1:1 propensity score–matched comparative effectiveness study included patients who were 18 years or older with HFrEF, enrolled in Medicare Parts A, B, and D, and survived at least 90 days receiving in-center hemodialysis from July 8, 2015, to December 31, 2020. Patients were excluded for less than 180 days of continuous Medicare Parts A, B, and D primary payer coverage or prior dispensing of sacubitril-valsartan. Data analysis was conducted from September 23, 2023, to June 25, 2024.

Exposures

New use of sacubitril-valsartan vs new or continued use of ACEIs or ARBs.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The associations between initiation of sacubitril-valsartan therapy and all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, all-cause hospitalization, and HF hospitalization were assessed using Cox proportional hazards regression models in a propensity score–matched sample.

Results

Participants included 1:1 matched pairs of 1434 sacubitril-valsartan users and 1434 ACEI or ARB users (mean [SD] age, 64 [13] years). Of the 2868 matched participants, 996 (65%) were male; 987 (34%) were Black or African American and 1677 (58%) were White; and median dialysis vintage was 3.8 (IQR, 1.8-6.3) years. The median follow-up was 0.9 (IQR, 0.4-1.7) years. Sacubitril-valsartan (vs ACEI or ARB) therapy was associated with a reduction in all-cause mortality (hazard ratio [HR], 0.82 [95% CI, 0.73-0.92]) and all-cause hospitalization (HR, 0.86 [95% CI, 0.79-0.93]) but not cardiovascular mortality (HR, 1.01 [95% CI, 0.86-1.19]) or HF hospitalization (HR, 0.91 [95% CI, 0.82-1.02]). There was a decrease in hyperkalemia (HR, 0.71 [95% CI, 0.62-0.81]) and no difference in hypotension (HR, 0.99 [95% CI, 0.83-1.19]). Only 195 participants (14%) ever received the maximum combination dose of sacubitril (97 mg twice daily) and valsartan (103 mg twice daily).

Conclusions and Relevance

In this comparative effectiveness study of patients with HFrEF requiring hemodialysis, sacubitril-valsartan therapy was associated with beneficial effects in all-cause mortality and all-cause hospitalization.
Effect of Fatigue and Precorrosion Fatigue on Fatigue Crack Propagation and Fracture Failure Behavior of 5B70 Aluminum Alloy
Authors: Zhang Yupeng , Jin Guo , Di Yuelan , Guo Weiling , Huang Yanfei , Gao Chong , Wang Haidou , Dong Lihong
Published: August 2024

Aluminum alloys are ideal lightweight structural materials for spacecraft, but they are susceptible to local corrosion during service. Herein, a systematic investigation is carried out to determine the fatigue behavior of 5B70 aluminum alloy under salt spray precorrosion. The mechanism of salt spray corrosion, fatigue life, crack propagation, and failure fracture mechanism of 5B70 aluminum alloy are studied. Under the salt spray corrosion, 5B70 aluminum alloy mainly undergoes pitting corrosion via a galvanic corrosion mechanism. After precorrosion, the formation of macroscopic fatigue cracks is accelerated, which significantly reduces its fatigue life. Fracture occurs due to single crack initiation and propagation under fatigue conditions. The fatigue crack tip undergoes a mixture of intergranular and transgranular modes, but mainly transgranular mode. Multiple strain localization phenomena occur during precorrosion fatigue, and corrosion pits on the surface provide a tortuous crack propagation path; the fatigue crack tip is mainly transgranular mode.
High Performance All‐Solid‐State Lithium Batteries: Interface Regulation Mechanism
Authors: Luo Haili , Guan Zhixi , Wu Chuanhuang , Zhu Yuchuan , Wang Cong , Wang Xueyu , Guo Daying , Chen Xi'an , Wang Shun
Published: August 2024

All‐solid‐state lithium batteries (ASSLBs) can overcome many problems in cathode and lithium anode, and it is a very promising safe secondary battery. However, unstable interface problems between electrolyte and electrode and within the electrolyte still restrict its commercial development. Herein, the interface problems are first revealed in ASSLBs and highlight the need to deeply explore the intrinsic failure mechanisms to solve these problems. Subsequently, the three failure mechanisms of ASSLBs: chemical, electrical, and electrochemical failure are broken down, and focus on the impact of the space charge layer problem on the cathode‐electrolyte interface. The effect of the anode physical contact problem on the anode‐electrolyte interface is discussed. Then, recent advances in ASSLBs, cathode and anode interface optimization strategies, and their corresponding electrochemical properties are discussed. Finally, the interface challenges faced by ASSLBs and feasible interface modification strategies are summarized, which provide references for subsequent studies and insights into the design of interface structures for the new generation of high‐performance ASSLBs.
Single‐Particle Electrochemical Cycling Single‐Crystal and Polycrystalline NMC Particles
Authors: Min Jinhong , Suk Wonjoon , Wong Sabrina Chun Yan , Li Yiyang
Published: August 2024

Li(Ni,Mn,Co)O2 (NMC) is one of the most widely used cathode materials for lithium‐ion batteries. Most commercial cathodes utilize polycrystalline particle morphologies, which have a characteristic “meatball” shape. Recently, there has been interest in replacing polycrystalline particles with single‐crystal particles, which are believed to have improved cycle life due to the absence of intergranular cracking. However, the effects of single‐crystal particles on rate capability show conflicting results. In this work, single‐particle electrochemistry using a microelectrode array to test the kinetics of 40 polycrystalline (3–12 µm) and 13 single‐crystal (2–4 µm) NMC cathode particles is conducted. The results show that single‐crystal particles have much higher reaction overpotentials than polycrystalline ones. Moreover, larger single‐crystal particles show higher overpotentials than smaller ones, while the polycrystalline particles display no size effects despite the greater variability. These findings are attributed to intergranular cracking and the penetration of the liquid electrolyte, which enables much faster reaction kinetics. In characterizing the electrochemistry of individual particles, the results confirm that these single‐crystal particles would have much poorer rate kinetics and more challenges with fast charge and discharge compared to polycrystalline particles of the same composition.
Unveiling the Synergistic Mechanism of Atomic Rh on Couple Phase CoSe2/CoSeO3 for Enhanced Alkaline Water Electrolysis Devices
Authors: Balaji Ravichandran , Nguyen Thanh Tuan , Ngo Quynh Phuong , Kim Nam Hoon , Lee Joong Hee
Published: August 2024

Electrochemical water splitting stands out as a highly effective and environment‐friendly strategy for generating pure hydrogen. However, the expensive catalyst required, and the low efficiency of water electrolysis, are still of concern. Herein, a novel Rh–CoSe2/CoSeO3 nanocubes heterostructure is designed with a successful robust coupling between CoSe2 and CoSeO3, and employed as a bifunctional electrocatalyst for the water splitting system. The interaction enhances metal–substrate bonding and generates the anchor sites for intermediate species, which increases the electrocatalytic efficiency and mass transport kinetics, and offers exceptional stability. The water‐splitting device demonstrates remarkable performance, with a low voltage of 1.62 V at a current density of 20 mA cm−2 and long‐lasting durability for ‐100 h. This study opens a new avenue toward the creation of extremely effective and long‐lasting catalysts to be used at an industrial scale to allow alkaline water splitting and for other energy conversion devices. The Rh–CoSe2/CoSeO3 heterostructure offers promising prospects for advancing sustainable energy technologies and positively impacting the clean energy of the future.
A Molecular Engineered Strategy to Remolding Architecture of RuP2 Nanoclusters for Sustainable Hydrogen Evolution
Authors: Cao Li‐Ming , Yu Li‐Hong , Huang Hui‐Bin , Gao Cheng‐Juan , Huang Xia , Zhang Xue‐Feng , Zhang Xiao‐Han , Du Zi‐Yi , He Chun‐Ting
Published: August 2024

Transition metal phosphides (TMPs) are promising hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) electrocatalysts, but the unsatisfying activity and durability at industrial‐scale current densities hinder their application. Downsizing TMPs to nanoclusters can substantially enhance their activity; yet, the high surface free energy tends to initiate agglomeration thereby limiting their service life. Herein, a molecular engineering strategy to synthesize robust sulfur‐doped RuP2 (S‐RuP2) nanoclusters, which can continuously provide ampere‐level current densities of 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0 A cm−2 for at least 480 h with low overpotentials of 55.6 ± 1.0, 90.6 ± 1.2, and 122.8 ± 1.0 mV, respectively, is proposed. In particular, it exhibits a remarkable charge transfer amount (representing a long service life), outperforming all reported alkaline HER electrocatalysts. Remoulding the RuP2 architecture by sulfur atom can significantly lift the d‐band center of Ru and the p‐band center of P, therefore strengthening the adsorption of H2O, H, and OH to reduce the barriers of water dissociation and H migration. The authors‘ research unveils the enormous potential of molecule‐based porous materials for designing high‐performance nano‐structured catalysts.
Nitrogen‐Doped Indium Oxide Electrochemical Sensor for Stable and Selective NO2 Detection
Authors: Mo Xichao , Zhu Chonghui , Zhang Zhaorui , Yan Xiaohui , Han Chenshuai , Li Jiaxin , Attfield J. Paul , Yang Minghui
Published: August 2024

Efficient gas sensors are critical for environmental monitoring and industrial safety. While metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) sensors are cost‐effective, they struggle with poor selectivity, high operating temperatures, and limited stability. Electrochemical sensors, though selective and energy‐efficient, face high costs, and stability issues due to precious metal catalysts like platinum on carbon (Pt/C). Herein, a novel, cost‐effective electrochemical sensor using nitrogen‐doped indium oxide In2O3−xN2x/3Vx/3 (0.01≤x≤0.14), synthesized with varying nitriding times is presented. The optimized In2O3 N‐40 min sensor demonstrates a remarkable response current of 771 nA to 10 ppm nitrogen dioxide (NO2) at ambient temperature, with outstanding long‐term stability (over 30 days) and rapid response/recovery times (5/16 s). Compared to Pt/C sensors, it shows 84% and 67% reductions in response and recovery times, respectively, and maintains 98% performance after a month, versus 68% for Pt/C. This cost‐effective sensor presents a promising alternative for electrochemical gas sensing, eliminating the need for precious metal catalysts.
GJB2 Promotes HCC Progression by Activating Glycolysis Through Cytoplasmic Translocation and Generating a Suppressive Tumor Microenvironment Based on Single Cell RNA Sequencing
Authors: Liu Hanyuan , Li Xiao , Zhang Chenwei , Hao Xiaopei , Cao Yongfang , Wang Yuliang , Zhuang Hao , Yu Na , Huang Tian , Liu Chuan , Cao Hengsong , Lu Zhengqing , Song Jinhua , Liu Li , Wang Hanjin , Li Zhouxiao , Tang Weiwei
Published: August 2024

Despite substantial breakthroughs in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in recent years, many patients are diagnosed in the middle or late stages, denying them the option for surgical excision. Therefore, it is of great importance to find effective therapeutic targets of HCC. In this study, it is found that Gap junction protein beta‐2 (GJB2) is highly enriched in malignant cells based on single‐cell RNA sequencing and higher expression of GJB2 indicates a worse prognosis. The localization of GJB2 in HCC cancer cells is changed compared with normal liver tissue. In cancer cells, GJB2 tends to be located in the cytoplasm and nucleus, while in normal tissues, GJB2 is mainly located on the cell membrane. GJB2 is related to glycolysis, promoting NF‐κB pathway via inducing the ubiquitination degradation of IκBa, and activating HIF‐1α/GLUT‐1/PD‐L1 pathway. In addition, GJB2 knockdown reshapes tumor immune microenvironment and Salvianolic acid B inhibits the activity of GJB2. In conclusion, GJB2 promotes HCC progression by activating glycolysis through cytoplasmic translocation and generating a suppressive tumor microenvironment. Salvianolic acid B inhibits the expression of GJB2 and enhances the sensitivity of anti‐PD1 therapy, which may provide insights into the development of novel combination therapeutic strategies for HCC.
Metamaterial‐Assisted Illumination Nanoscopy with Exceptional Axial Resolution
Authors: Lee Yeon Ui , Li Shilong , Zhao Junxiang , Posner Clara , Zhang Jin , Liu Zhaowei
Published: August 2024

Recent advancements in optical metamaterials have opened new possibilities in the exciting field of super‐resolution microscopies. The far‐field metamaterial‐assisted illumination nanoscopies (MAINs) have, very recently, enhanced the lateral resolution to one‐fifteenth of the optical wavelength. However, the axial localization accuracy of fluorophores in the MAINs remains rarely explored. Here, a MAIN with a nanometer‐scale axial localization accuracy is demonstrated by monitoring the distance‐dependent photobleaching dynamics of the fluorophores on top of an organic hyperbolic metamaterial (OHM) substrate under a wide‐field single‐objective microscope. With such a regular experimental configuration, 3D imaging of various biological samples with the resolution of ≈40 nm in the lateral dimensions and ≈5 nm in the axial dimension is realized. The demonstrated imaging modality enables the resolution of the 3D morphology of nanoscopic cellular structures with a significantly simplified experimental setup.
Zinc supply effects on wheat production in a low precipitation zone
Authors: Lutcher L. K. , Hagerty C. H. , Kroese D. R.
Published: August 2024

Zinc (Zn) fertilization of hard red and soft white winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is uncommon in the low precipitation zone of the inland Pacific Northwest. It is uncommon because there have been no indications of deficiency. Soil test data, however, show Zn levels have been declining over time. We conducted a four‐site‐year experiment to evaluate effects of fertilization on early‐season tissue Zn concentration (TZC), dry matter accumulation (DMA), Zn uptake (ZNU), the grain test weight (TWT), protein content (PRO), and yield (YLD) of two regionally adapted cultivars. Planting occurred late in September or early in October. Zinc fertilizer, placed with the seed while planting, was applied at rates of 0 and 5 kg Zn ha−1. Application of 5 kg Zn ha−1 increased TZC and ZNU at one of two sites. There were corresponding trends of increased DMA and improved YLD. Response to fertilization occurred on a relatively shallow soil that had a diethylenetriamine‐pentaacidic acid–extractable Zn test level of 0.3 mg kg−1.
Diverse clinical presentation of SPTBN1 variants: Complex versus primary attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder
Authors: O'Connell Mia , Harstad Elizabeth , Aites Jennifer , Hayes Katheryn , Arnett Anne B. , Scotellaro Julia , Patel Soleha , Brewster Stephanie J. , Barbaresi William , Doan Ryan N.
Published: August 2024

Attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) belongs to a phenotypically broad class of mental health disorders impacting social and cognitive functioning. Despite heritability estimates of 77%–88% and a global prevalence of up to 1 in 20 children, most of the underlying genetic etiology of the disorder remains undiscovered, making it challenging to obtain a clinical molecular genetic diagnosis and to develop new treatments (Biological Psychiatry, 2005, 57, 1313; Psychological Bulletin, 2009, 135, 608; Psychological Medicine, 2014, 44, 2223). Here we report the identification of a novel ultra‐rare heterozygous loss‐of‐function (p.Q1625*) variant in a child with complex ADHD (i.e., comorbid mild intellectual disability [ID]) and a missense (p.G1748R) variant (allele frequency of 4.7 × 10−5) in a child with primary ADHD (i.e., absence of comorbid autism spectrum disorder [ASD], ID, or syndromic features) both in the SPTBN1 gene. Missense variants in SPTBN1 have been reported in individuals with developmental disorders, language and communication disorders, and motor delays in recent publications (Nature Genetics, 2021, 53, 1006; American Journal of Medical Genetics Part A, 2021, 185, 2037) and ClinVar, though most variants in ClinVar have uncertain disease associations. The functional impact of these 135 variants, including from the current study, were further assessed using prediction scores from the recently developed AlphaMissense tool and benchmarked against published functional studies on a subset of the variants. While heterozygous SPTBN1 variants have recently been associated with neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by global developmental delay, intellectual disability, and behavioral abnormalities, the two patients in the current study expand the phenotypic spectrum to include ADHD in the absence of more severe neurodevelopmental disorders, such as ASD and moderate to severe ID. Furthermore, the culmination of these data with existing reported cases suggests that variation including loss of function and missense events underlie a broader clinical spectrum than previously understood.
Visible‐Light Photodetection by Zero‐Dimensional Hybrid Indium‐Halide with Minimal Structural Distortion and Reduced Band Gap
Authors: Mondal Anamika , Ubaid Mohammad , Gupta Shresth , Pal Koushik , Bhattacharyya Sayan
Published: August 2024

Perovskite‐inspired zero‐dimensional (0D) hybrid halides exhibit impressive light emission properties; however, their potential in photovoltaics is hindered by the absence of interconnection between the inorganic polyhedra, leading to acute radiative recombination and insufficient charge separation. We demonstrate that incorporating closely‐spaced dissimilar polyhedral units with minimal structural distortion leads to a remarkable enhancement in visible‐light photodetection capability. We designed 0D C24H72N8In2Br14 (HIB) with a tetragonal crystal system, replacing the Cs+ of Cs2InBr5.H2O (CIB) with 1,6‐hexanediammonium (HDA) cation. HIB comprises [InBr6]3− octahedra, and [InBr4]− tetrahedra units spaced 3.9 Å apart by the HDA linker. The [InBr4]− unit is additionally linked to HDA via intercalated bromine through hydrogen and halogen bonding interactions, respectively. This structural arrangement lowers the dielectric confinement, thereby enhancing carrier density and mobility, and increasing the diffusion coefficient compared to CIB. With 3.6 % bromine vacancy within the [InBr4]− block, mid‐gap states are created, reducing the direct band gap to 2.19 eV. HIB demonstrates an unprecedently high responsivity of 9975.9±201.6 mA W−1 under 3 V potential bias at 485 nm wavelength, among low‐dimensional hybrid halides. In the absence of potential bias, the self‐powered photodetection parameters are 81.2±3.0 mA W−1 and (6.98±0.21)×109 Jones.
Self‐Assembled Nanohelixes Driven by Host‐Guest Interactions and Metal Coordination
Authors: Lou Xin‐Yue , Zhang Kun , Bai Yujie , Zhang Siyuan , Li Yuanyuan , Yang Ying‐Wei
Published: August 2024

Helical nanostructures fabricated via the self‐assembly of artificial motifs have been a captivating subject because of their structural aesthetics and multiple functionalities. Herein, we report the facile construction of a self‐assembled nanohelix (NH) by leveraging an achiral aggregation‐induced emission (AIE) luminogen (G) and pillar[5]arene (H), driven by host–guest interactions and metal coordination. Inspired by the “sergeants and soldiers” effect and “majority rule” principle, the host–guest complexation between G and H is employed to fixate the twisted conformation of G for the generation of “contortion sites”, which further induced the emergence of helicity as the 1D assemblies are formed via Ag(I) coordination and hexagonally packed into nano‐sized fibers. The strategy has proved feasible in both homogeneous and heterogeneous syntheses. Along with the formation of NH, boosted luminescence and enhanced productivity of reactive oxygen species (ROS) are afforded because of the efficient restriction on G, indicating the concurrent regulation of NH′s morphology and photophysical properties by supramolecular assembly. In addition, NH also exhibits the capacity for bacteria imaging and photodynamic antibacterial activities against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Escherichia coli (E. coli).