bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Empowering TiO2–coated PVDF membranes stability with polyaniline and polydopamine for synergistic separation and photocatalytic enhancement in dye wastewater purification
Authors: Le Thi My Hanh , Chuchak Rasika , Sairiam Sermpong
Published: July 2024

Photocatalytic membranes are effective in removing organic dyes, but their low UV resistance poses a challenge. To address this, self-protected photocatalytic PVDF membranes were developed using polyaniline (PANI) and polydopamine (PDA), whaich are anti-oxidation polymers, as interlayers between the membrane and TiO2. PVDF membranes were first modified by a self-polymerization layer of either PANI or PDA and then coated with titanium dioxide (TiO2). The TiO2 remained firmly attached to the PANI and PDA layer, regardless of sonication and prolonged usage. The PANI and PDA layers enhanced the durability of PVDF membrane under UV/TiO2 activation. After 72 h of irradiation, PVDF–PDA–TiO2 and PVDF–PANI–TiO2 membranes exhibited no significant change. This process improved both separation and photocatalytic activity in dye wastewater treatment. The PVDF–PDA–TiO2 and PVDF–PANI–TiO2 membranes showed enhanced membrane hydrophilicity, aiding in the rejection of organic pollutants and reducing fouling. The modified membranes exhibited a significant improvement in the flux recovery rate, attributed to the synergistic effects of high hydrophilicity and photocatalytic activity. Specially, the flux recovery rate increased from 17.7% (original PVDF) to 56.3% and 37.1% for the PVDF–PDA–TiO2 membrane and PVDF–PANI–TiO2 membrane. In dye rejection tests, the PVDF‒PDA‒TiO2 membrane achieved 88% efficiency, while the PVDF‒PANI‒TiO2 reached 95.7%. Additionally, the photodegradation of Reactive Red 239 (RR239) by these membranes further improved dye removal. Despite an 11% reduction in flux, the PVDF–PDA–TiO2 membrane demonstrated greater durability and longevity. The assistance of PANI and PDA in TiO2 coating also improved COD removal (from 33 to 58–68%) and provided self-protection for photocatalytic membranes, indicating that these photocatalytic membranes can contribute to more sustainable wastewater treatment processes.
L-shaped association between serum chloride levels with 90-day and 365-day all-cause mortality in critically ill patients with COPD: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Wang Shidong , Li Dai , Wang Yaokun , Lu Linmin , Hu Xiaoyan , Wang Weibiao
Published: July 2024

This study aimed to investigate the association between serum chloride levels and all-cause mortality in critically ill patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Data from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care IV (MIMIC-IV) database were extracted for analysis. Demographic information, laboratory results, medical histories, vital signs, and prognosis-related data were collected. Cox proportional hazard models were used to assess the relationship between serum chloride levels and 90-day and 365-day mortality. Subgroup analyses were conducted to explore potential interactions between serum chloride levels and various factors. The study included patients with a median age of 72.00 years, of whom 52.39% were male. Higher quartiles of serum chloride levels were associated with significantly lower levels of weight, RBC, platelet, hemoglobin, and other variables (P < 0.05), accompanied by lower 90-day and 365-day mortality (P < 0.05). Cox proportional hazard model indicated that the risk of death was significantly lower in the fourth quartile of serum chloride levels compared with the first quartile after adjusting for confounders (90-day HR = 0.54, 365-day HR = 0.52, both P < 0.05). An L-shape relationship was observed, with risks of death decreasing as serum chloride levels increased, although the magnitude decreased when levels reached 102 mmol/L. This study demonstrated an independent L-shaped association between serum chloride levels and all-cause mortality in critically ill patients with COPD. This finding helps us to understand the prognostic value of serum chloride levels in critically ill patients with COPD.
Micro-stress pump with stress variation to boost ion transport for high-performance sodium-ion batteries
Authors: Jin Xin , Pei Mengfan , Liu Dongming , Song Zihui , Jiang Wanyuan , Mao Runyue , Li Borui , Jian Xigao , Hu Fangyuan
Published: July 2024

The kinetics of Na+ are boosted by micro-stress, which results from the self-regulation of liquid metal during redox reaction. The smart response correlation of micro-stress and electrochemistry is analyzed by in situ technology for the first time.
Triphenylphosphonium-modified catiomers enhance in vivo mRNA delivery through stabilized polyion complexation
Authors: Norimatsu Jumpei , Mizuno Hayato L. , Watanabe Takayoshi , Obara Takumi , Nakakido Makoto , Tsumoto Kouhei , Cabral Horacio , Kuroda Daisuke , Anraku Yasutaka
Published: July 2024

mRNA-based nanocarriers are made of amine-derived cationic materials. Here, we showed the potential of cationic tirphenylphosphonium (TPP) for developing nanocarriers with improved mRNA delivery efficiency.
Friction heat-driven robust self-lubricity of n-alkanols/epoxy resin coatings enabled by solid–liquid phase transition
Authors: Li Hao , Cao Cheng , Li Yuting , Fan Xiaoqiang , Sun Junhui , Zhu Minhao
Published: July 2024

Studies revealed that our n-alkanols/EP coatings comprised n-alkanols particles encapsulated in a 3D EP network. The EP improved the load-bearing capacity of the coating, and n-alkanols decreased friction by releasing a liquid lubricant.
Photoredox-enabled ring-opening of cyclobutanes via the formation of a carbon radical
Authors: Zhao Chunhang , Ma Wenjing , Liu Kairui , Xu Ruoyang , Ma Xiuya , Zhang Yan
Published: July 2024

The high strain energy of cyclobutanes has been utilized for selective ring-opening, enabling the synthesis of valuable linear aliphatic compounds.
A Novel Missense Heterozygous Mutation in NKX2-5 Gene in a Family with Congenital Septal Defects and Cardiomyopathy: Case Series and Literature Review
Authors: Zubaidi Abdulqader Al , Al-Shamsi Aisha
Published: July 2024

Single-gene mutations are important causes of congenital heart defects in children. Mutations in the NKX2-5 gene have been recently described in the literature as a cause of septal defects and cardiomyopathy. However, the spectrum of cardiac disease associated with NKX2-5 gene mutations is variable, ranging from asymptomatic septal defects to cardiomyopathy and sudden death. In this case report, we describe a case of 2-year-old child, along with two other family members, with a novel missense heterozygous (c.544G > T p.[Val182Phe]) mutation in NKX2-5 gene consistent with the diagnosis of autosomal dominant atrial septal defects with cardiomyopathy. This report can contribute to the understanding of genotype–phenotype correlations; it emphasizes the significant clinical relevance of NKX2-5 gene defects for congenital heart defects, sudden death, and cardiomyopathy, especially in multiple affected family members. It also suggests that individuals with NKX2-5 mutations are at risk of lethal arrhythmias and conduction disorders, that is why they should be evaluated routinely to assess the need for implantable cardioverter-defibrillator or pacemaker implantation.
Assignments of vibrational lines to OD-impurity complexes for adventitious impurities in β-Ga2O3
Authors: Venzie Andrew , Stavola Michael , Fowler W. Beall , Glaser Evan R. , Tadjer Marko J. , Forbus Jason I. , Zvanut Mary Ellen , Pearton Stephen J.
Published: July 2024

Hydrogen in β-Ga2O3 passivates shallow impurities and deep-level defects and can have a strong effect on conductivity. More than a dozen O–D vibrational lines have been reported for β-Ga2O3 treated with the heavy isotope of hydrogen, deuterium. To explain the large number of O–D centers that have been observed, the involvement of additional nearby defects and impurities has been proposed. A few O–H centers have been associated with specific impurities that were introduced intentionally during crystal growth. However, definitive assignments of O–H and O–D vibrational lines associated with important adventitious impurities, such as Si and Fe, have been difficult. A set of well-characterized Si-doped β-Ga2O3 epitaxial layers with different layer thicknesses has been deuterated and investigated by vibrational spectroscopy to provide new evidence for the assignment of a line at 2577 cm−1 to an OD–Si complex. The vibrational properties of several of the reported OD-impurity complexes are consistent with the existence of a family of defects with a VGa1ic−D center at their core that is perturbed by a nearby impurity.
The West Nile virus genome harbors essential riboregulatory elements with conserved and host-specific functional roles
Authors: Huston Nicholas C. , Tsao Lucille H. , Brackney Doug E. , Pyle Anna Marie
Published: July 2024

West Nile virus (WNV) is an arthropod-borne, positive-sense RNA virus that poses an increasing global threat due to warming climates and lack of effective therapeutics. Like other enzootic viruses, little is known about how host context affects the structure of the full-length RNA genome. Here, we report a complete secondary structure of the entire WNV genome within infected mammalian and arthropod cell lines. Our analysis affords structural insights into multiple, conserved aspects of flaviviral biology. We show that the WNV genome folds with minimal host dependence, and we prioritize well-folded regions for functional validation using structural homology between hosts as a guide. Using structure-disrupting, antisense locked nucleic acids, we then demonstrate that the WNV genome contains riboregulatory structures with conserved and host-specific functional roles. These results reveal promising RNA drug targets within flaviviral genomes, and they highlight the therapeutic potential of ASO-LNAs as both WNV-specific and pan-flaviviral therapeutic agents.
Structure of the flotillin complex in a native membrane environment
Authors: Fu Ziao , MacKinnon Roderick
Published: July 2024

In this study, we used cryoelectron microscopy to determine the structures of the Flotillin protein complex, part of the Stomatin, Prohibitin, Flotillin, and HflK/C (SPFH) superfamily, from cell-derived vesicles without detergents. It forms a right-handed helical barrel consisting of 22 pairs of Flotillin1 and Flotillin2 subunits, with a diameter of 32 nm at its wider end and 19 nm at its narrower end. Oligomerization is stabilized by the C terminus, which forms two helical layers linked by a β-strand, and coiled-coil domains that enable strong charge–charge intersubunit interactions. Flotillin interacts with membranes at both ends; through its SPFH1 domains at the wide end and the C terminus at the narrow end, facilitated by hydrophobic interactions and lipidation. The inward tilting of the SPFH domain, likely triggered by phosphorylation, suggests its role in membrane curvature induction, which could be connected to its proposed role in clathrin-independent endocytosis. The structure suggests a shared architecture across the family of SPFH proteins and will promote further research into Flotillin’s roles in cell biology.
Additive manufacturing of bioactive and biodegradable poly (lactic acid)-tricalcium phosphate scaffolds modified with zinc oxide for guided bone tissue repair
Authors: Harb Samarah V , Kolanthai Elayaraja , Pinto Leonardo A , Beatrice Cesar A G , Bezerra Ewerton de O T , Backes Eduardo H , Costa Lidiane C , Seal Sudipta , Pessan Luiz A
Published: July 2024

Bioactive and biodegradable scaffolds that mimic the natural extracellular matrix of bone serve as temporary structures to guide new bone tissue growth. In this study, 3D-printed scaffolds composed of poly (lactic acid) (PLA)-tricalcium phosphate (TCP) (90–10 wt.%) were modified with 1%, 5%, and 10 wt.% of ZnO to enhance bone tissue regeneration. A commercial chain extender named Joncryl was incorporated alongside ZnO to ensure the printability of the composites. Filaments were manufactured using a twin-screw extruder and subsequently used to print 3D scaffolds via fused filament fabrication (FFF). The scaffolds exhibited a homogeneous distribution of ZnO and TCP particles, a reproducible structure with 300 μm pores, and mechanical properties suitable for bone tissue engineering, with an elastic modulus around 100 MPa. The addition of ZnO resulted in enhanced surface roughness on the scaffolds, particularly for ZnO microparticles, achieving values up to 241 nm. This rougher topography was responsible for enhancing protein adsorption on the scaffolds, with an increase of up to 85% compared to the PLA-TCP matrix. Biological analyses demonstrated that the presence of ZnO promotes mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) proliferation and differentiation into osteoblasts. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, an important indicator of early osteogenic differentiation, increased up to 29%. The PLA-TCP composite containing 5% ZnO microparticles exhibited an optimized degradation rate and enhanced bioactivity, indicating its promising potential for bone repair applications.
Asymptotic teleportation scheme bridging between standard and port-based teleportation
Authors: Eum Kim Ha , Jeong Kabgyun
Published: July 2024

Various modified quantum teleportation schemes are proposed to overcome experimental constraints or to meet specific application requirements for quantum communication. Hence, most schemes are developed and studied with unique methodologies, each with its own inherent challenges. Our research focuses on interconnecting these schemes, which appear to be unrelated to each other, based on the idea that the unique advantages of one scheme can compensate for the limitations of another. In this paper, we introduce an asymptotic teleportation scheme that requires the receiver to complete a classical selection task before performing a quantum correction. This scheme bridges standard teleportation with port-based teleportation through the transformation of joint measurements. Specifically, we categorize and analytically investigate protocols within this scheme for qubit systems. Given that the linear optics teleportation protocol without ancilla qubits is contained in the two non-trivial groups, we provide a novel perspective on its expansion. Furthermore, we discuss the potential application of a protocol from one of these groups as a universal programmable processor and extend these protocols to higher-dimensional systems while maintaining the same properties and potential, providing the analytic form of the joint measurement and its performance. These results thereby propose new avenues for developing a quantum network in higher-dimensional systems.
Experimental realization of active nonlinear feedback control from hot rubidium vapor
Authors: Pan Xiaozhou , Wei Tianxiang , Zhang Kai , Jing Jietai
Published: July 2024

Feedback control plays a crucial role in preparation and manipulation of quantum states, to evolve the quantum system towards a desired result. Here we report a novel feedback control system utilizing two four-wave mixing (FWM) processes, in which the first FWM process functions as an amplifier while the second FWM process serves as an active nonlinear controller. We experimentally investigate the classical properties of the output states, and demonstrate the manipulation of quantum states through the active nonlinear controller. Remarkably, we observe that the quantum correlation of the quantum states can be efficiently controlled and enhanced, even when the amplifier operates at a significantly low level of pump power. Furthermore, we identify an optimal intensity gain for the active nonlinear controller, which maximizes the quantum correlation of the system. These findings present a new strategy employing an active controller to enhance quantum correlation, which holds the potential to improve the communication fidelity of quantum information processing and enhance the measurement precision of quantum metrology in future applications.
Pulmonary matrix-derived hydrogels from patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis induce a proinflammatory state in lung fibroblasts in vitro
Authors: Fernandez Davila Jorge G. , Singh Amit K. , Moore Durwood W. , Kim Joseph , Khan Jawad A. , Lemma Merte , King Christopher S. , Nathan Steven D. , Rodriguez Luis R. , Grant Geraldine M. , Moran Jeffrey L.
Published: July 2024

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), one of the most common forms of interstitial lung disease, is a poorly understood, chronic, and often fatal fibroproliferative condition with only two FDA-approved medications. Understanding the pathobiology of the fibroblast in IPF is critical to evaluating and discovering novel therapeutics. Using a decellularized lung matrix derived from patients with IPF, we generate three-dimensional hydrogels as in vitro models of lung physiology and characterize the phenotype of fibroblasts seeded into the hydrogels. When cultured in IPF extracellular matrix hydrogels, IPF fibroblasts display differential contractility compared with their normal counterparts, lose the classical myofibroblast marker α-smooth muscle actin, and increase expression of proinflammatory cytokines compared with fibroblasts seeded two-dimensionally on tissue culture dishes. We validate this proinflammatory state in fibroblast-conditioned media studies with monocytes and monocyte-derived macrophages. These findings add to a growing understanding of the lung microenvironment effect on fibroblast phenotypes, shed light on the potential role of fibroblasts as immune signaling hubs during lung fibrosis, and suggest intervention in fibroblast-immune cell cross-talk as a possible novel therapeutic avenue.
Simple aneuploidy evades p53 surveillance and promotes niche factor-independent growth in human intestinal organoids
Authors: Johnson Blake A. , Liu Albert Z. , Bi Tianhao , Dong Yi , Li Taibo , Zhou Dingjingyu , Narkar Akshay , Wu Yufei , Sun Sean X. , Larman Tatianna C. , Zhu Jin , Li Rong
Published: July 2024

Aneuploidy is nearly ubiquitous in tumor genomes, but the role of aneuploidy in the early stages of cancer evolution remains unclear. Here, by inducing heterogeneous aneuploidy in non-transformed human colon organoids (colonoids), we investigated how the effects of aneuploidy on cell growth and differentiation may promote malignant transformation. Previous work implicated p53 activation as a downstream response to aneuploidy induction. We found that simple aneuploidy, characterized by 1–3 gained or lost chromosomes, resulted in little or modest p53 activation and cell cycle arrest when compared with more complex aneuploid cells. Single-cell RNA sequencing analysis revealed that the degree of p53 activation was strongly correlated with karyotype complexity. Single-cell tracking showed that cells could continue to divide despite the observation of one to a few lagging chromosomes. Unexpectedly, colonoids with simple aneuploidy exhibited impaired differentiation after niche factor withdrawal. These findings demonstrate that simple aneuploid cells can escape p53 surveillance and may contribute to niche factor-independent growth of cancer-initiating colon stem cells.
Religious Life in Late Classical and Hellenistic Rhodes
Authors: Zachhuber Juliane
Published: July 2024

The ancient state of Rhodes was famous for many things in the Hellenistic period; it emerged as an economic powerhouse thanks to its strategic position on maritime trade routes, its status further bolstered by its proud independence in an era of great kings, and its cultural successes and heritage celebrated by contemporaries as well as later writers. But what did this state look like on the inside, and what social and religious forces contributed to its success? This book explores the origins of the Rhodian state in the late fifth century bc, a union born out of three separate city-states, Lindos, Cameiros, and Ialysos. By digging deep into the abundant epigraphic culture that survives, narratives emerge that tell the stories of these Rhodians and their communities. The religious dynamics of this tripartite state are considered through the development and interaction of local pantheons, the social and religious importance of priesthood, and the lived experience of Rhodian religious associations. The resulting picture offers a nuanced insight into the religious life and history of a Hellenistic city-state.
Introduction: Tracing Religious Narratives
Authors: Zachhuber Juliane
Published: July 2024

The introduction explores the local divergences in religious narratives told by ancient Rhodian communities over time and sets these against the changes in the political meaning of ‘Rhodes’. It then lays out the spatial and chronological parameters of the book, gives a brief overview of the scholarship on Rhodian epigraphy and history, and outlines the structure of the work and the main questions and themes it addresses. The first section of the monograph establishes the regional, chronological, and societal framework of this study of Rhodian religion; the second section examines the evidence for cults and pantheons in different Rhodian communities, and over time; and the third section explores the two religious institutions that left the largest mark on the epigraphic material: priesthoods and associations. Finally, the introduction stresses the importance of telling religious histories alongside political, social, and economic histories.
Cults of Rhodes-town; Cults of the Polis: A Religious History of Hellenistic Rhodes
Authors: Zachhuber Juliane
Published: July 2024

This chapter pulls together the detailed evidence from Chapters 4 to 5 and sets out a religious history of Rhodes after the synoecism. It breaks the period under question down into four major phases, demonstrating the impact of major political and environmental factors on the religious life of the island. Within this framework, it considers the evidence for the cults of Rhodes-town, the capital city and political and economic hub of the Rhodian state, and chronicles their developments over time, and against the backdrop of the local pantheons considered in the previous chapter. This diachronic approach allows the religious life of Rhodes to be seen in its historical context, and further highlights the tensions between traditionalism and innovation that characterize much Greek religion.
Being Free, Feeling Free: Race, Gender, and Republican Domination
Authors: Laborde Cécile
Published: July 2024

Members of racial and sexual minorities often live in the fear of arbitrary interference from others—rogue police officers or sexual harassers. Are they unfree by dint of believing they are unfree? I draw on the republican theory of freedom—according to which we are unfree if we are subjected to a risk of arbitrary interference—to offer a qualified positive answer. I clarify the role of probabilistic judgements about risk in republican political theory. I argue that under specific circumstances, diagnoses of republican freedom can be indexed to a certain belief about probability—what it is warranted for someone to believe in light of their distinctive epistemic perspective.
Digital Tuvalu: state sovereignty in a world of climate loss
Authors: Rothe Delf , Boas Ingrid , Farbotko Carol , Kitara Taukiei
Published: July 2024

In a widely shared video, the government of the island state of Tuvalu posed an imaginary of Tuvalu as a digital nation in a situation of unabated climate change. In this article, we take the example of Digital Tuvalu as a paradigmatic case to advance the debates on international relations in the Anthropocene, demonstrating how the processes of climate catastrophe and digital state formation juxtapose. In linking climate loss and state extinction to notions of virtual sovereignty and cyber statehood, we are attentive to the infrastructural power of large information and communications technology companies, while at the same time acknowledging the agency of the Tuvaluan state in navigating the challenges of the Anthropocene. We discuss how a virtual deterritorial state mobilizes the Tuvaluan indigenous philosophy of fenua, to link land, sea, people and culture in a relational understanding of territory and sovereignty. Digital Tuvalu in this way envisions emerging digital technologies to rebuild Tuvaluan fenua in virtual space, thereby regaining agency in the face of existential climate threats. This, we argue, signals a new and highly relational model of digital state preservation, having profound implications for international relations in the Anthropocene.
What is race? Epistemic ambiguity and liberal international order
Authors: Abraham Kavi Joseph
Published: July 2024

There is increasing interest in how anticolonial actors advanced a norm of racial equality in mid-century formations of liberal international order (LIO). Less attention, however, is afforded to simultaneous epistemic conflicts over the scientific object of ‘race’ and their political effects. During postwar order-building and alongside political struggles for racial equality, there was wide and deep scientific debate on the analytical utility of race as a means to categorize human diversity. Race, I demonstrate, was rendered as epistemically ambiguous, caught between social scientists and philosophers who understood it as a social construct akin to ethnicity and natural scientists who maintained a biological basis. This split was not confined to academic debate but shaped political and normative struggles over the institutionalization of racial equality in LIO. Adopting an object-oriented approach, I argue that the epistemic ambiguity of race generated political effects, at once permitting the reproduction of colonial logics in LIO as well as providing latitude for strategies of resistance. Rather than a linear causal effect, I empirically map the work that epistemic ambiguity performed in the creation of mid-century international order.
Swiping to end hunger: the problematic politics of humanitarian donation apps
Authors: Ølgaard Daniel Møller , Richey Lisa Ann
Published: July 2024

The emergence of humanitarian donation apps promises to revolutionize aid by making it easier for people to give to humanitarian causes with just a few swipes on the smartphone in the palm of their hands. Yet, little is known about the implications of this for the politics and ethics of contemporary aid. This article explores the politics of humanitarian donation apps through an in-depth study of the World Food Programme's donation app ShareTheMeal. By analysing data from a detailed app walkthrough and documentation in a user journal of the experiences of a sample of app users, the article shows how ShareTheMeal is designed to afford specific forms of everyday humanitarianism, and how users adopt, appropriate or resist these affordances. Doing so we find that, while ShareTheMeal affords a convenient and gratifying donation experience, it also reinvigorates racial and paternalistic divisions between donors as benevolent saviours and recipients as voiceless victims, and integrates users into an extractivist data economy. Hence, rather than revolutionizing aid, ShareTheMeal instead sediments unequal relationships of agency and dependency in and through everyday acts of helping. Yet, because of apps' openness to user resistance and change, another politics of humanitarianism is nevertheless possible.
The Silverjaw Minnow, Ericymba buccata: An Extraordinary Lateral Line System and its Contribution to Prey Detection
Authors: Jones Aubree E , Maia Anabela , Conway Kevin W , Webb Jacqueline F
Published: July 2024

Synopsis

Fishes use their mechanosensory lateral line (LL) system to detect local water flows in different behavioral contexts, including the detection of prey. The LL system is comprised of neuromast receptor organs on the skin (superficial neuromasts) and within bony canals (canal neuromasts). Most fishes have one cranial LL canal phenotype, but the silverjaw minnow (Ericymba buccata) has two: narrow canals dorsal and caudal to the eye and widened canals ventral to the eye and along the mandible. The ventrally directed widened LL canals have been hypothesized to be an adaptation for detection of their benthic prey. Multiple morphological methods were used to describe the narrow and widened canals and canal neuromasts in detail. The primary distribution of hundreds of superficial neuromasts and taste buds ventral to the eye and on the mandible (described here for the first time) suggests additional sensory investment for detecting flow and chemical stimuli emanating from benthic prey. The hypothesis that the LL system mediates prey localization was tested by measuring five parameters in behavioral trials in which the combination of sensory modalities available to fish was manipulated (four experimental treatments). Fish detected and localized prey regardless of available sensory modalities and they were able to detect prey in the dark in the absence of LL input (LL ablation with neomycin sulfate) revealing that chemoreception was sufficient to mediate benthic prey detection, localization, and consumption. However, elimination of LL input resulted in a change in the angle of approach to live (mobile) prey even when visual input was available, suggesting that mechanosensory input contributes to the successful detection and localization of prey. The results of this study demonstrate that the extraordinary LL canal system of the silverjaw minnow, in addition to the large number of superficial neuromasts, and the presence of numerous extraoral taste buds, likely represent adaptations for multimodal integration of sensory inputs contributing to foraging behavior in this species. The morphological and behavioral results of this study both suggest that this species would be an excellent model for future comparative structural and functional studies of sensory systems in fishes.
The Countercyclical Benefits of Regulatory Costs
Authors: Mechanick Alexander , Weber Jacob
Published: July 2024

Legal academics, journalists, and senior executive branch officials alike have assumed that the cost of imposing new regulatory requirements is higher in severe recessions that drive the central bank’s policy rate to zero than in other times. This is not correct; the aggregate output costs of regulatory requirements decrease, not increase, in such recessions. This article is the first to analyze how this effect arises in conventional macroeconomic models and its empirical support in the econometrics literature. Scholars and policymakers have likely missed the countercyclical benefits of regulatory costs because of informal, ad hoc macroeconomic assumptions embedded in regulatory analysis (JEL classification: E02, E6, K23).
Bedside manufacturing as the next step in personalized medicine: medical progress and legal challenges
Authors: El Saadany Tämer , Seitz Claudia , Bräm Corina , Szucs Thomas
Published: July 2024

Bedside manufacturing is having a revival in healthcare, with a promise to revolutionize personalized medicine through on-site drug production. While this concept holds considerable promise, it also encounters a complex web of legal uncertainties. The current regulatory framework in Switzerland and the EU, which includes the Swiss Therapeutic Products Act and the EU directives, regulations, and guidelines, fails to adequately address its distinct challenges. Rising new technologies underscore the urgent need for regulatory reform. These technologies highlight the pressing demand for comprehensive legal frameworks that can reconcile the rapid pace of innovation with the imperatives of patient safety and product efficacy. Legal concerns extend beyond mere compliance; they encapsulate quality assurance, and liability in cases of human error. This study outlines the call for a recalibrated legal landscape that prioritizes patient-centered care while fostering the growth of bedside manufacturing. It is crucial for the legal system to evolve in tandem with these medical advancements, ensuring a secure, efficacious, and equitable integration of bedside manufacturing into healthcare.
Technologies for investigating single-molecule chemical reactions
Authors: Gao Chunyan , Gao Qinghua , Zhao Cong , Huo Yani , Zhang Zhizhuo , Yang Jinlong , Jia Chuancheng , Guo Xuefeng
Published: July 2024

Single molecules, the smallest independently stable units in the material world, serve as the fundamental building blocks of matter. Among different branches of single-molecule sciences, single-molecule chemical reactions, by revealing the behavior and properties of individual molecules at the molecular scale, are particularly attractive because they can advance the understanding of chemical reaction mechanisms and help to address key scientific problems in broad fields such as physics, chemistry, biology and materials science. This review provides a timely, comprehensive overview of single-molecule chemical reactions based on various technical platforms such as scanning probe microscopy, single-molecule junction, single-molecule nanostructure, single-molecule fluorescence detection and crossed molecular beam. We present multidimensional analyses of single-molecule chemical reactions, offering new perspectives for research in different areas, such as photocatalysis/electrocatalysis, organic reactions, surface reactions and biological reactions. Finally, we discuss the opportunities and challenges in this thriving field of single-molecule chemical reactions.
Transgender, Gender-Diverse, and Nonbinary Experiences in Physical Therapy: A Descriptive Qualitative Study
Authors: Aird Madelaine , Walters Julie L , Ker Alex , Ross Megan H
Published: July 2024

Objective

The objective was to explore experiences with and identify barriers and facilitators of utilizing physical therapy for people who identify as transgender, gender diverse, and nonbinary (TGNB).

Methods

A qualitative descriptive design was employed using semistructured interviews conducted in New Zealand. Eligible participants were individuals who were 12 years old or older, who self-identified as TGNB, and who had accessed physical therapy at a community-based clinic that also provides a gender-affirming service. Participants were recruited via email invitation to the clinic database. Interview data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. Demographics are reported descriptively.

Results

Seventeen individuals (15–64 years old and identifying as 11 different genders) participated. All participants reported physical therapy experiences relating to 1 or more of the following 4 themes: challenging cisnormativity at policy, environmental, clinic, and therapist levels; safety and trust throughout the clinical experience, including clinic credibility for being a safe provider, clinic displays of TGNB inclusivity, implementation of safe clinic processes, and respectful therapist interactions; inclusive experiences in a clinic that provided affordable care and took active steps to understand and affirm TGNB identities and with physical therapists who had a high level of knowledge of TGNB-specific health issues and took a biopsychosocial approach to care; and sensitivity to body discomfort or dysphoria triggers. Barriers to and facilitators of care were identified at policy, environmental, clinic, and therapist levels.

Conclusion

People who identify as TGNB face challenges to accessing safe and culturally sensitive physical therapy. However, there are achievable areas for improvement at policy, environmental, clinic, and physical therapist levels to gain trust and engagement in care for the TGNB community.

Impact

This study provides a detailed exploration of TGNB physical therapy experiences and identifies specific areas of improvement for TGNB physical therapy care to provide clinicians and physical therapy clinics insights into the provision of safe and culturally sensitive physical therapy.
Education and Religion in Shaping Support for Same-Sex Relations: Considering Differences Over Time and Across Geographical Areas
Authors: Adamczyk Amy , French Ashley
Published: July 2024

Across the world, attitudes about same-sex relationships have become rapidly more supportive. While education is typically viewed as a liberalizing force, religious beliefs are often seen as restricting more tolerant perspectives and contributing to more conservative attitudes in general. Focusing on the United States, this study examines the roles of religion and education, as individual and group properties, for understanding disapproval of same-sex relationships. Drawing on restricted information that makes it possible to identify where General Social Survey respondents lived, we find that graduating from college is associated with more support, but has less of an effect on Evangelicals and more religiously engaged people. Moreover, we find that residents in areas with higher overall levels of education became liberal faster, irrespective of whether or not they had a college degree. Our findings speak to the power of education and religion, as micro and macro forces, for understanding public opinion about same-sex relations over time.
A Multiplex RT-qPCR Assay for Simultaneous Detection of Cucurbit Viruses from Individual Whitefly and Plant Samples
Authors: Kader Jailani A. Abdul , Paret Mathews L.
Published: July 2024

Whiteflies (Bemisia tabaci) are a significant pest of cucurbits and vector many viruses, leading to substantial economic losses. Modern diagnostic tools offer the potential for early detection of viruses in the whiteflies before crop production. One such tool is the multiplex reverse transcriptase quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) probe-based technique, which can detect multiple targets in a single reaction and simultaneously quantify the levels of each target, with a detection limit of 100 copies per target. In this study, a multiplex RT-qPCR–based detection system capable of identifying one DNA virus and three RNA viruses in whiteflies—cucurbit leaf crumple virus (CuLCrV), cucurbit chlorotic yellows virus (CCYV), cucurbit yellow stunting disorder virus (CYSDV), and squash vein yellowing virus (SqVYV)—was developed. To ensure the reliability of the assay, an internal gene control as the fifth target to monitor false-negative results was incorporated. This newly developed molecular diagnostic tool possesses several advantages. It can detect up to five desired targets from a single whitefly RNA sample, even at concentrations as low as 1 ng/μl. To evaluate its sensitivity, we conducted experiments using serially diluted cloned plasmids and in vitro transcribed RNA transcripts of the target viruses. We also assessed the specificity of the assay by including aphid-transmitted viruses and other viruses known to infect cucurbits. The diagnostic method successfully detected all five targets simultaneously and allowed for the quantification of up to 100 copies using a mixture of healthy RNA and in vitro transcribed RNA. Our aim with this study was to develop a highly specific and sensitive one-step multiplex RT-qPCR system for the simultaneous detection of viruses transmitted by whiteflies in cucurbits. This system offers significant advantages for early detection, enabling prompt control measures to mitigate the further spread of viral infections and reduce yield losses. Additionally, we demonstrated the ability to simultaneously detect mixed viruses (CCYV, CYSDV, CuLCrV, and SqVYV) in individual whiteflies and quantify the number of viral copies carried by each whitefly. The multiplex RT-qPCR assay outperforms currently available techniques for detecting many samples at a given time and can be effectively utilized for early monitoring of plant viruses in individual whiteflies and symptomless plants.
Impact of Combined Phototherapy and Melanocyte Transplantation on Indicators of Vitiligo Activity
Authors: Wang Junlong , Luo Hongyu , Zhao Xiaoling , Wang Chengcheng , Yang Linfang
Published: July 2024

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effect of phototherapy combined with melanocyte transplantation on the activity index of vitiligo.

METHODS

One hundred twenty patients with stable vitiligo were selected and divided into 2 groups: phototherapy group (n = 60) and phototherapy combined with melanocyte therapy group (n = 60). Patients’ vitiligo activity scores before and 6 months after treatment, patients’ skin pigmentation responses 6 months after treatment, and patients’ new Koebner cases 6 months after treatment were compared. The expression of tyrosinase and Melan-A in the skin samples was analyzed by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS

The effect of skin surface repigmentation in the observation group was better than that in the control group (p < .05). The expression of tyrosinase and Melan-A in the observation group was higher than that in the control group (p < .05), indicating that the combined treatment could enhance the function of melanocytes. After 6 months of treatment, the incidence of the Koebner phenomenon in the observation group was lower than that in the control group (p < .05).

CONCLUSION

The combination of phototherapy and melanocyte transplantation can obviously improve the activity index of vitiligo, slow down the spread of white spots, reduce the formation of new white spots, and reduce the occurrence of the Koebner phenomenon.
Mesh-like External Suture Splint: A Way to Improve Results and Reduce Postoperative Complications after High-definition Liposculpture
Authors: Hoyos Alfredo E. , Perez Pachon Mauricio E. , Benavides Jorge E. , Borras-Osorio Mariana
Published: July 2024

High-definition liposculpture with variable degrees of muscular definition allows both patients and surgeons to broaden the procedure to fit almost any individual preferences; however, skin laxity and those secondary cases still represent a big challenge for the surgeon to achieve optimal outcomes. We are reporting our experience with a new suture-splint procedure to reduce edema, avoid skin laxity, and increase muscular definition after liposculpture. We enrolled patients undergoing HDL with any risk factor that could compromise aesthetic outcomes. Tumescent technique with VASER fat emulsification and power-assisted liposuction were used to complete HDL. We performed a continuous suture over the midline and other areas of muscular definition right before patients awakened from anesthesia. Real-time ultrasound imaging was performed to ensure the safety of the procedure. A total of 52 consecutive patients were treated with MesHD in our study. Only two patients voluntarily dropped off from postoperative analysis due to geographical limitations. Postoperative edema was referred by only one patient after surgery. No major complications were reported. Three patients complained of stabbing pain over one of the stitches, which resolved completely after suture removal. All patients were satisfied with postoperative results. Mesh suture-splint at body areas with high risk of adverse effects after body contouring surgery may be an effective procedure to improve recovery by decreasing edema formation, enhancingmuscular definition, decreasing risk of fibrosis, and avoiding skin laxity postoperative appearance.
Dermoscopy Education for Plastic Surgery Residents: How a Brief Theoretical Course and Practical Training Have an Impact
Authors: Brambullo Tito , Carpenito Roberta , Ricci Federico , Vindigni Vincenzo , Bassetto Franco
Published: July 2024

Background:

Currently, the evaluation of pigmented skin lesions relies on dermoscopy, which has become the standard of care. As melanoma is one of the principal areas of expertise in plastic surgery, it is essential that diagnostic skills be acquired during the course of specialization. This study aimed to assess the impact and effectiveness of a brief and intensive dermoscopy training program for plastic surgery residents.

Methods:

This study was carried out on a group of 41 doctors, who were divided into three categories based on their experience in dermoscopy (none, intermediate, and advanced). A preliminary assessment of each participant’s baseline knowledge was conducted by using a 15-query test. Subsequently, the participants attended a 90-minute lecture on diagnostic techniques and the process of differentiating between various skin lesions. To determine the effectiveness of the lecture in improving diagnostic skills, the participants were tested immediately after the lecture and again after a 3-month period.

Results:

At the conclusion of the final examination, all three groups achieved an accuracy rate of at least 80% for dermatoscopic diagnosis. However, none of the groups was completely successful. The variations in diagnostic accuracy among the three groups are presented, and P values were calculated for each group.

Conclusion:

The short, intensive course of dermoscopy has proven to have a significant positive impact on plastic surgeons in their postdegree training program.
The Role of Denosumab Treatment in Recurrent Giant Cell Bone Tumor of the Orbit
Authors: Gupta Arjav , Colwell Bruce , Clarke David B. , Massoud Emad A. , Croul Sidney , Hussain Ahsen
Published: July 2024

Giant cell tumor of the bone (GCTB) is a rare primary bone neoplasm, representing about 5% of all primary bone tumors. Most GCTBs are found in the epiphysis of long bones, with only 2% of GCTBs involving the skull. In recent years, the receptor activator of nuclear factor Kappa ligand monoclonal antibody denosumab has been demonstrated as a promising therapeutic option for GCTB; however, this is an evolving field. We present a case of a 57-year-old female with a rare GCTB in the right orbit and sinuses, originally thought to be an aneurysmal bone cyst. Her symptoms included proptosis, intermittent blurry vision, sinus congestion, and frontal headaches. After excision, the tumor recurred within 18 months. Upon repeat excision, a diagnosis of GCTB was made. The patient started denosumab therapy and had no tumor growth over the ensuing 2 years, with stability of symptoms and clinical signs on follow-up.