bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Molecule Anchoring Strategy Promotes Vertically Homogeneous Crystallization and Aligned Interfaces for Efficient Pb–Sn Perovskite Solar Cells and Tandem Device
Authors: Xing Gang , Li Changbo , Gao Weiyin , Yang Jianxiong , Zhao Xiaojia , Wang Jinpei , Ran Xueqin , Chao Lingfeng , Huang Hai , Zhou Yipeng , Chen Yonghua , Wu Zhongbin , Ran Chenxin , Huang Wei
Published: August 2024

Narrow‐bandgap (NBG) Pb–Sn perovskites are ideal candidates as rear subcell in all‐perovskite tandem solar cells. Because Pb–Sn perovskites contain multiple components, the rational regulation of vertical structure and both interfaces of the film is primarily crucial to achieve high‐performing NBG perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Herein, a molecule anchoring strategy is developed to in situ construct Cs0.1MA0.3FA0.6Pb0.5Sn0.5I3 perovskite film with vertically aligned crystals and optimized interfaces. Specifically, l‐alanine methyl ester is developed as an anchoring additive to induce the vertical crystal growth, while PEA2PbI3SCN film is introduced to promote the homogeneous crystallization at the buried interface via SCN− anchoring with cations. Further ethylenediamine dihalides (EDA(I/Cl)2) post‐treatment leads to the gradient energy level alignment on the film surface. Pb–Sn PSCs based on such film show efficient charge transport and extraction, producing a champion power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 22.3% with an impressive fill factor of 82.14%. Notably, combining with semitransparent 1.78 eV wide‐bandgap PSCs, the four‐terminal all‐perovskite tandem device achieves a PCE of 27.1%. This work opens up a new pathway to boost the performance of Pb–Sn PSCs and their tandem devices.
Tellurene Polymorphs: A New Frontier for Solar Harvesting with Strong Exciton Anisotropy and High Optical Absorbance
Authors: Grillo Simone , Postorino Sara , Palummo Maurizia , Pulci Olivia
Published: August 2024

By using ab initio simulations based on density functional theory and many‐body perturbation theory, a comprehensive analysis of the distinct optical signatures of various tellurene polymorphs and their associated unique anisotropic excitonic characteristics is presented. Despite the atomic thickness of these materials, these findings reveal that their optical absorbance reaches as high as 50% in the near‐infrared and visible range. This investigation highlights the exceptional potential of these 2D semiconducting materials in the development of ultra‐thin and flexible homo‐ and hetero‐junctions for solar light harvesting, achieving photoconversion efficiencies up to 19%, a performance level comparable to current silicon technologies.
Actuarial implications of prevented planting coverage
Authors: Turner Dylan , Tsiboe Francis , Biram Hunter , Connor Lawson
Published: August 2024

Within the Federal Crop Insurance Program (FCIP), prevented planting (PP) coverage provides payments for pre‐planting costs associated with crops that ultimately cannot be planted due to adverse weather. PP indemnities, which are not considered production losses within the FCIP rating methodology, influence premium rates differently than typical losses. This study utilizes a panel data set consisting of approximately 77,697 county level observations from RMA's summary of business to identify the relationship between the prevalence of prevent plant use and a number of actuarial related outcomes. Overall, we find that increases in the share of total indemnities attributable to PP claims over the preceding 10 years produce generally negligible changes to loss ratios, but can significantly increase loss ratios among subsets of the FCIP that heavily utilize PP coverage (greater than 20% of total indemnities). This suggests that, despite loss ratios being robust to typical rates of PP claims, actuarial performance can degrade when PP payments are high relative to indemnities from all other perils. Additionally, a simulation is conducted in which prevent plant indemnities are counterfactually treated as production losses when pricing FCIP contracts as opposed to current practice of recovering prevent plant costs via a fixed rate load. Doing so suggests significant improvements in loss ratios for crops that have historically had high shares of prevent plant indemnities, however, these improvements come at the expense of higher premiums and reduced demand for crop insurance.
Small Molecule RNA Degraders
Authors: Bonet‐Aleta Javier , Maehara Tomoaki , Craig Benjamin A. , Bernardes Gonçalo J. L.
Published: August 2024

RNA is a central molecule in life, involved in a plethora of biological processes and playing a key role in many diseases. Targeting RNA emerges as a significant endeavor in drug discovery, diverging from conventional protein‐centric approaches to tackle various pathologies. Whilst identifying small molecules that bind to specific RNA regions is the first step, the abundance of non‐functional RNA segments renders many interactions biologically inert. Consequently, small molecule binding does not necessarily meet stringent criteria for clinical translation, calling for solutions to push the field forward. Converting RNA‐binders into RNA‐degraders presents a promising avenue to enhance RNA‐targeting. This mini‐review outlines strategies and exemplars wherein simple small molecule RNA binders are reprogrammed into active degraders through the linkage of functional groups. These approaches encompass mechanisms that induce degradation via endogenous enzymes, termed RIBOTACs, as well as those with functional moieties acting autonomously to degrade RNA. Through this exploration, we aim to offer insights into advancing RNA‐targeted therapeutic strategies.
Progress Decisions Involving Time: Sunk Cost or Completion Effects
Authors: Thorsteinson Todd J. , Billings Christian G.
Published: August 2024

Five studies involving seven samples were conducted to examine the effects of sunk time in progress decisions. Previous research on sunk time in progress decisions has failed to control for completion effects. Studies 1a and 1b found strong evidence for completion effects and weaker effects for sunk time effects on probability of continuing. In Studies 2a and 2b, we expanded our sunk time scenarios to use multiple types. We found evidence for sunk time and completion effects on probability of continuing. An additional analysis, however, found that the sunk time effect was larger when the progress decision involved a goal focused on the accomplishment of a project (e.g., writing a paper for class), as opposed to a goal focused on enjoyment (e.g., watching a television show). Study 3 found that both sunk time and completion effects were present in progress decisions focused on the accomplishment of a project. These effects were present even when participants were informed that there was sufficient time to complete an alternative project. Study 4 failed to find a sunk time effect in a behavioral study, and Study 5 replicated Study 4 using a vignette format. Overall, these results provide some evidence of sunk time effects in progress decisions, but the effect appears to be small and may be due, at least partially, to completion effects.
Does sustainable development matter for initial public offering underpricing?
Authors: Boulton Thomas J.
Published: August 2024

While many countries have made significant strides toward meeting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), others continue to struggle to make progress. We connect progress toward the SDGs with capital market outcomes for firms going public. We find that the degree of underpricing in initial public offerings (IPOs) is lower in countries that are closer to achieving the SDGs, particularly those focused on economic and social outcomes. The relation between SDG progress and underpricing is sensitive to IPO characteristics associated with uncertainty, and country‐level indicators of democracy and cultural attributes. SDG progress is also associated with important IPO characteristics correlated with uncertainty, including offer prices, underwriter reputation, VC backing, offer size, and underwriter spreads. Together, our results support the hypothesis that SDG progress reduces uncertainty for investors, which lowers the cost of capital for IPO firms.
Factors shaping Estonian entrepreneurs' green transition awareness
Authors: Pesor Renee , Täks Marge , Kekkonen Aleksandra
Published: August 2024

This study explored factors shaping Estonian entrepreneurs' green transition awareness. Employing mixed methods, it included an online survey (532 enterprise representatives) and focus groups/interviews (42 experts). Findings showed that less than half of Estonian companies were aware of the green transition. Based on proportional odds logistic regressions, factors contributing to this low awareness included a perceived lack of necessity, limited exposure to green regulations, demand for information on green initiatives and absence of an established green transition plan. Entrepreneurs acknowledged the importance of sustainable practices yet lacked expertise in their implementation. Policymaker‐driven targeted communication and training are key for bridging this gap, emphasizing benefits and encouraging green plans. Collaboration and knowledge‐sharing, especially with foreign trade‐linked companies, may foster green practice adoption. These findings aid in understanding awareness gaps and guiding support systems. Policymakers can create effective strategies, training and plans, promoting awareness of Estonia's sustainable goals and eco‐conscious business landscape.
Digital transformation and environmental information disclosure in China: The moderating role of top management team's ability
Authors: Chen Yongxin , Zhang Min , Matthews Lane , Guo Hangfei
Published: August 2024

Companies rely on advanced digital technologies to empower their operations and sustainable development. Environmental information disclosure (EID) by companies is critical in achieving net zero goals and sustainability. This study empirically investigates the impact of digital transformation (DT) on EID and how the ability of the top management team affects the relationship. We build a model based on the information processing theory and test it using panel data collected from 929 listed companies in China. The findings show an inverted U‐shaped relationship between DT and environmental information disclosure, and the top management team's ability weakens the relationship. The study provides empirical evidence that DT is a double‐edged sword for environmental information disclosure. Also, the results suggest that the top management team may substitute or complement digital technologies in EID during the different stages of DT.
Optimizing the selection of the endoscopically assisted supracerebellar transtentorial approach to the medial temporo‐occipital region: Clinical application of one novel grid coordinate system
Authors: Lin Bon‐Jour , Ju Da‐Tong , Lin Chin , Hueng Dueng‐Yuan , Chen Yuan‐Hao , Ma Hsin‐I , Liu Ming‐Ying
Published: August 2024

The endoscopically assisted supracerebellar transtentorial (eSCTT) approach is advocated for managing pathologies of the medial temporo‐occipital region, but quantitative analysis is currently lacking. The aims of this study were to establish a grid coordinate system on the tentorium to model the anatomical relationship between medial temporo‐occipital region pathology and the slope of the tentorium, and then to compare the paramedian eSCTT and extreme‐lateral eSCTT approaches quantitatively. Bilateral paramedian and extreme‐lateral eSCTT approaches were used to dissect three adult cadaveric heads anatomically. A grid coordinate system was established on the tentorium, and the angles of attack and depth of the surgical corridor of each coordinate point were obtained so that the two eSCTT approaches could be compared statistically. The measurements were then analyzed to determine the condition for selecting each eSCTT approach, and its clinical feasibility was assessed in three patients with large tumors in the medial temporo‐occipital region. For coordinate points where the X‐coordinate on the grid coordinate system was 1 cm outside the apex of the tentorium, the paramedian eSCTT approach had a significantly wider angle of attack and shorter depth of surgical corridor than the extreme‐lateral eSCTT approach. In contrast, the extreme‐lateral eSCTT approach was better for coordinate points where the Y‐coordinate on the grid coordinate system was 1 cm in front of the apex of the tentorium. The long axis of each patient's tumor was projected on to the tentorium and its corresponding coordinate points were used to match the more appropriate eSCTT approach. Preliminary results for three patients treated with the eSCTT approach for large tumors in the medial temporo‐occipital region were encouraging. When the eSCTT approach is applied to manage a large tumor of the medial temporo‐occipital region, assessment of the long axis of the tumor and knowledge of the selective condition for each eSCTT approach can help in clinical decision‐making.
Radiotherapy and chemoradiotherapy for postoperative recurrence in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Liu Qing , Tu Xue‐Hua , Yu Rui‐Xuan , Wen Hong‐Ying , Guo Xiao‐Guang , Ma Dai‐Yuan , Jiang Kai‐Yuan , Tian Dong
Published: August 2024

Background

The optimal treatment for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) patients with postoperative recurrence remains controversial. We aimed to evaluate the effects of radiotherapy (RT) and chemoradiotherapy (CRT) on postoperative recurrence in ESCC patients.

Methods

Recurrence ESCC patients who received salvage RT and CRT from January 2015 to January 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. Post‐recurrence survival (PRS) and prognostic factors were evaluated by Kaplan–Meier and Cox proportional hazards models, respectively. Subgroup analyses were performed based on pathological lymph node (LN) status (negative/positive) to evaluate the differences in salvage treatments and toxic reaction.

Results

A total of 170 patients were enrolled, with a median age of 60 years (range 43–77). No significant difference was found in the median PRS between the salvage RT and CRT groups (p > 0.05). Multivariate analysis revealed that TNM stage III and IV, macroscopic medullary type, and distant metastasis recurrence pattern were independent prognostic factors (all p < 0.05) for PRS. Salvage treatment was not associated with PRS (p = 0.897). However, in patients with negative LN, CRT was associated with prolonged survival (p = 0.043) and had no significant differences in toxic reactions compared to RT (p = 0.924). In addition, RT showed better prognoses (p = 0.020) and lower toxic reactions (p = 0.030) than CRT in patients with positive LNs.

Conclusions

Based on prognosis and toxic reactions, ESCC recurrence patients with negative LNs could benefit from CRT, but RT should be recommended for patients with positive LNs.
Left atrial compression syndrome secondary to coronary artery perforation: Pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management strategies
Authors: Masoomi Reza , Burke Christopher R. , Del Cid Fratti Juan , Azzalini Lorenzo , Kearney Kathleen E. , Lombardi William
Published: August 2024

Coronary perforation (CP) poses a significant risk of morbidity and mortality, particularly, in patients with a history of cardiac surgery. The occurrence of loculated pericardial effusion presents distinctive challenges in these postcardiac surgical patients. This study delves into the complexities arising from the formation of loculated pericardial effusions subsequent to CP, with a specific focus on the loculated effusion in the posterior wall leading to left atrial compression syndrome. This analysis is dedicated to elucidating pathophysiology diagnostic and treatment strategies tailored for addressing left atrium compression syndrome, providing invaluable insights into the intricacies of diagnosing, treating, and managing this entity in the postcardiac surgical patient.
UoC‐10: Exploring the Packings of Chiral Copper(II) Paddle‐Wheel Based Metal‐Organic Cages (MOCs)
Authors: Sebastian Sean S. , Lee Hyunsong , Badarukhiya Satish , Christoffels Ronja K. , Gebauer Jan M. , Ruschewitz Uwe
Published: August 2024

The fluorination of the central ring of 1,3,5‐benzene‐tris‐(meta‐benzoate) (referred to as BTMB) leads to a twisted tritopic linker which reacts with copper(II) ions to assemble into octahedral (pseudospherical) metal‐organic cages (MOCs) with paddle‐wheel units at their vertices. In this work, the different sphere packings of these MOCs are explored in detail together with their material properties, which closely resemble those of copper‐based metal‐organic frameworks (MOFs). Theoretical investigations of the linkers are carried out to analyze the energetic barrier imposed by the fluorine substituents to form the observed atropisomers.
How Fluid Pseudoplasticity and Elasticity Affect Propeller Flows in Biogas Fermenters
Authors: Kolano Markus , Ohnmacht Benjamin , Lemmer Andreas , Kraume Matthias
Published: August 2024

Mixing in biogas fermenters is complex due to the non‐Newtonian rheology of biogenic substrates, which exhibit both pseudoplasticity and elasticity. It is yet unclear how these non‐Newtonian properties affect propeller flows and the mixing behavior in fermenters. Therefore, propeller flows in Newtonian as well as shear‐thinning inelastic and elastic fluids are compared numerically and validated against particle image velocity (PIV) data. Elastic normal stresses lead to an increase of pumping rates in the laminar regime and a suppression of the formation of a propeller jet in the transitional regime. Thus, flow rates are severely overestimated by the inelastic, shear‐thinning model in this regime. The results indicate that elasticity is critical for an accurate modeling of flows of biogenic substrates.
Personalized optimization strategy for electrode array layout in TTFields of glioblastoma
Authors: Wang Liang , Chen Chunxiao , Xiao Yueyue , Gong Rongfang , Shen Jun , Lu Ming
Published: August 2024

Tumor treating fields (TTFields) is a novel therapeutic approach for the treatment of glioblastoma. The electric field intensity is a critical factor in the therapeutic efficacy of TTFields, as stronger electric field can more effectively impede the proliferation and survival of tumor cells. In this study, we aimed to improve the therapeutic effectiveness of TTFields by optimizing the position of electrode arrays, resulting in an increased electric field intensity at the tumor. Three representative head models of real glioblastoma patients were used as the research subjects in this study. The improved subtraction‐average‐based optimization (ISABO) algorithm based on circle chaos mapping, opposition‐based learning and golden sine strategy, was employed to optimize the positions of the four sets of electrode arrays on the scalp. The electrode positions are dynamically adjusted through iterative search to maximize the electric field intensity at the tumor. The experimental results indicate that, in comparison to the conventional layout, the positions of the electrode arrays obtained by the ISABO algorithm can achieve average electric field intensity of 1.7887, 2.0058, and 1.3497 V/cm at the tumor of three glioblastoma patients, which are 23.6%, 29.4%, and 8.5% higher than the conventional layout, respectively. This study demonstrates that optimizing the location of the TTFields electrode array using the ISABO algorithm can effectively enhance the electric field intensity and treatment coverage in the tumor area, offering a more effective approach for personalized TTFields treatment.
HybGBS: A hybrid neural network and grey wolf optimizer for intrusion detection in a cloud computing environment
Authors: Sumathi S , Rajesh R
Published: August 2024

The cloud computing environment is subject to unprecedented cyber‐attacks as its infrastructure and protocols may contain vulnerabilities and bugs. Among these, Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) is chosen by most cyber extortionists, creating unusual traffic that drains cloud resources, making them inaccessible to customers and end users. Hence, security solutions to combat this attack are in high demand. The existing DDoS detection techniques in literature have many drawbacks, such as overfitting, delay in detection, low detection accuracy for attacks that target multiple victims, and high False Positive Rate (FPR). In this proposed study, an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) based hybrid GBS (Grey Wolf Optimizer (GWO) + Back Propagation Network (BPN) + Self Organizing Map (SOM)) Intrusion Detection System (IDS) is proposed for intrusion detection in the cloud computing environment. The base classifier, BPN, was chosen for our research after evaluating the performance of a comprehensive set of neural network algorithms on the standard benchmark UNSW‐NS 15 dataset. BPN intrusion detection performance is further enhanced by combining it with SOM and GWO. Hybrid Feature Selection (FS) is made using a correlation‐based approach and Stratified 10‐fold cross‐validation (STCV) ranking based on Weight matrix value (W). These selected features are further fine‐tuned using metaheuristic GWO hyperparameter tuning based on a fitness function. The proposed IDS technique is validated using the standard benchmark UNSW‐NS 15 dataset, which consists of 1,75,341 and 82,332 attack cases in the training and testing datasets. This study's findings demonstrate that the proposed ANN‐based hybrid GBS IDS model outperforms other existing IDS models with a higher intrusion detection accuracy of 99.40%, fewer false alarms (0.00389), less error rate (0.001), and faster prediction time (0.29 ns).
Assessment of sedative activity of fraxin: In vivo approach along with receptor binding affinity and molecular interaction with GABAergic system
Authors: Mukty Sonaly Akter , Hasan Rubel , Bhuia Md. Shimul , Saha Anik Kumar , Rahman Umme Sadea , Khatun Mst Muslima , Bithi Sumaya Akter , Ansari Siddique Akber , Ansari Irfan Aamer , Islam Muhammad Torequl
Published: August 2024

Insomnia is a sleep disorder in which you have trouble falling and/or staying asleep. This research aims to evaluate the sedative effects of fraxin (FX) on sleeping mice induced by thiopental sodium (TS). In addition, a molecular docking study was conducted to investigate the molecular processes underlying these effects. The study used adult male Swiss albino mice and administered FX (10 and 20 mg/kg, i.p.) and diazepam (DZP) (2 mg/kg) either separately or in combination within the different groups to examine their modulatory effects. After a period of 30 min, the mice that had been treated were administered (TS: 20 mg/kg, i.p.) to induce sleep. The onset of sleep for the mice and the length of their sleep were manually recorded. Additionally, a computational analysis was conducted to predict the role of gamma‐aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors in the sleep process and evaluate their pharmacokinetics and toxicity. The outcomes indicated that FX extended the length of sleep and reduced the time it took to fall asleep. When the combined treatment of FX and DZP showed synergistic sedative action. Also, FX had a binding affinity of −7.2 kcal/mol, while DZP showed −8.4 kcal/mol. The pharmacokinetic investigation of FX demonstrated favorable drug‐likeness and strong pharmacokinetic characteristics. Ultimately, FX demonstrated a strong sedative impact in the mouse model, likely via interacting with the GABAA receptor pathways.
A semen‐specific deoxyribonucleic acid methylation model for epigenetic age estimation and its robustness under environmental challenges
Authors: Er Sena , Abik Zehra , Ersoy Gokhan , Filoglu Gonul , Ozkara Hamdi , Bulbul Ozlem
Published: August 2024

In forensic investigations, semen samples are a common form of biological evidence, especially in cases involving sexual assault. Therefore, accurately estimating the age of an individual is crucial in criminal cases. This study presents a novel age estimation model based on semen‐specific CpG methylation patterns. A multiplex panel was developed, consisting of 12 CpG sites (PARP14, C5orf25, cg23488376, MXRA5, PFKFB3, DLL1, NOX4, cg12837463, TTC7B, KCNA7, NKX2‐1, and SYNE4), which exhibit strong correlations with age. Additionally, this study investigates the resilience of these methylation markers under simulated environmental challenges. We collected ejaculate samples from a diverse cohort of 115 male individuals, aged 20–71 years, who underwent deoxyribonucleic acid extraction and bisulfite conversion. Methylation levels of the selected CpG sites were assessed using a SNaPshot assay, which revealed significant correlations with chronological age. We developed and validated two robust age estimation models through stepwise and enter regression analyses, achieving reliable accuracy with mean absolute errors ranging from 3.81 to 4.1 years. Additionally, the study also investigated the robustness of semen stains under diverse environmental conditions, including fabric type, washing, hematin exposure, and UV‐C light. The selected methylation markers demonstrated remarkable resilience despite the challenges posed by washing procedures and environmental exposure, confirming their potential for age estimation in forensic genetics. This research presents successful age estimation models, emphasizing the strong correlations between methylation levels and chronological age. The proposed methodology's accuracy is affirmed through model validation on an independent test set, while also highlighting the resilience of semen stains on fabrics under varying storage and washing conditions.
Would reducing chlorophyll content result in a higher photosynthesis nitrogen use efficiency in crops?
Authors: Mao Linxiong , Song Qingfeng , Li Xiaoya , Zheng Huiqiong , Zhu Xin‐Guang
Published: August 2024

Decreasing antenna size is considered a potential option for improving photosynthesis and increasing yield potential. Reducing chlorophyll content has been employed as a strategy to decrease antenna size. One of the commonly mentioned advantages of this approach is its ability to enhance crop nitrogen use efficiency (NUE); however, there is limited field evidence supporting this claim. In this study, we utilized a rice mutant called p35s‐Ami‐YGL1, which exhibits lower chlorophyll content and smaller antenna size, to investigate the effects of modifying leaf chlorophyll content on tissue nitrogen content and NUE. Our results demonstrate that the nitrogen contents in various tissues, including seed tissue, increased on a weight basis in p35s‐Ami‐YGL1 mutants while exhibiting a decrease in C:N ratio. Simultaneously, we observed a reduction in tissue carbon content along with an increase in the levels of chlorophyll precursors such as Proto IX. Specifically, we observed an upregulation in the expression of genes associated with photosynthetic light reactions and chlorophyll metabolism, while there was no increase in the expression of genes involved in the CBB cycle and nitrogen metabolism. In addition, p35s‐Ami‐YGL1 experienced increased photodamage. These findings suggest that the alterations in the C:N ratio and nitrogen content in plants may be attributed to Proto IX‐mediated photodamage and chloroplast reverse transduction signaling. Besides, these results suggest that the observed increase in tissue nitrogen content in p35s‐Ami‐YGL1 does not reflect an increase in plant nitrogen absorption or use efficiency, rather it is a result of stunted carbon fixation capacity.
Research status of fetal hydrocephalus from 2003 to 2022 based on bibliometric analysis
Authors: Li Qian , Song Zheyu , Zhai Chenyang , Hussain Sajid , Zhao Wenxue , Xiao Shunwu
Published: August 2024

Hydrocephalus is the most common and devastating condition affecting the fetus. The aim of this study was to provide a comprehensive overview of the relevant literature through bibliometric analysis. The survey covers the articles related to congenital hydrocephalus published in the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) database from January 1, 2003 to December 31, 2022. In addition to repeated literature, reviews and articles are included. We visualized the annual publication number, citation frequency, country/region, institution, author, periodical, and keywords with a range of software such as VOSviewer (1.6.18), Microsoft Excel 2019 (Redmond) and online analysis platform (https://bibliometric.com/ document). The results showed that the United States made the most important contribution to the research on fetal hydrocephalus. China's contribution has grown and developed strongly in recent years. The key words were mainly divided into four categories: basic research, epidemiology, treatment, and diagnostics. The number of publications related to fetal hydrocephalus has increased significantly, and it has a good development prospect in prenatal diagnosis and treatment.
Inorganic surface passivation strategies of metal halide perovskites
Authors: Gui Yang , Shen Jiahui , Zhou Yuxuan , Wang Rui , Yang Yang , Xue Jingjing
Published: August 2024

Metal halide perovskites have demonstrated considerable promise across various optoelectronic applications. Surface passivation serves as a pivotal strategy to obtain high‐quality perovskite materials, either in a manner of bulk thin film or nanocrystal, with superior optoelectronic properties and stability. The current research focus in this regard primarily revolves around the use of organic molecules to passivate the surface of perovskites. However, organic passivation molecules always suffer from chemical instability and weak secondary bonding modes, resulting in an unstable surface passivation motif. Inorganic materials, possessing more stable chemical structures and stronger chemical bonding than their organic counterparts, offer the opportunities to construct more robust passivation for the perovskite surfaces. Herein, in this review, we summarized and assessed recent advancements in inorganic surface passivation strategies for perovskite materials and devices, ranging from nanocrystals to bulk films. By discussing the mechanisms behind various inorganic passivation strategies, we aim to offer mechanistic insights and guidelines for future developments of more targeted surface passivation approaches tailored for perovskite materials and devices.
Time for a renovation? A case study on the recruitment and retention of women into the turfgrass industry
Authors: Letot Carson , Merrick Brandi , Cho Joseph
Published: August 2024

There is a labor shortage in the turfgrass industry due to a decline in interested applicants, as well as a lack of gender diversity. Women make up roughly 2%–4% of the entire membership in the major professional associations for turfgrass managers in North America. There are many barriers that stand in the way of fixing the shortage and diversifying the workforce, but before interventions can be initiated, the current pathways of entry and sentiments held by those women in the industry must be investigated. A case study approach was used to assess the recruitment and retention of women in the golf course maintenance industry through a survey instrument administered to a sample of women who have volunteered on the golf course maintenance crew at the Women's United States Open Championships from 2021 to 2023. Results indicated a lack of exposure to the turfgrass industry for recruiting women, as well as insufficient support for mentorship and significant harassment events for those already in the industry. The current study offers a baseline to begin targeted work investigating specific challenges in the turfgrass industry that will improve the experience for women and promote future diversification and mentorship initiatives.
Exploring enhanced syngas production via the catalytic performance of metal‐doped X‐Ni/CeO2 (X = Zr, La, Sr) in the dry reforming of methane
Authors: Manan Wan Nabilah , Isahak Wan Nor Roslam Wan , Yaakob Zahira , Samidin Salma , Ahmad Khairul Naim , Latif Mohd Nor , Aldoghachi Ali Faris , Taufiq‐Yap Yun Hin
Published: August 2024

Background

The quest to manufacture large amounts of syngas to bridge fossil fuels and the renewable energy ecosystem stimulates the creation of efficient and stable heterogeneous catalysts. The NiCeO2 catalysts, synthesized via ultrasonic‐assisted citric acid complexation, are highly efficient for the dry reforming of methane (DRM) reaction. Different promoter metals (Zr, La and Sr) were tested for catalytic performance and syngas production. A range of analyses, including X‐ray diffraction (XRD), N2 physisorption, H2 temperature‐programmed reduction, CO2 temperature‐programmed desorption, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, were employed to characterize the physicochemical properties of the catalysts.

Results

XRD results indicated the formation of NiO, CeO2, solid solution ceria–zirconia, perovskite LaNiO3 and SrNiO3 crystalline phases. FESEM results showed the promoted catalysts (Zr, La, Sr) produce large pores to facilitate reactant diffusion, with zirconia specifically creating a spiderweb morphology. At 800 °C, the CH4 and CO2 conversions follow the sequence of NiCeO2 catalyst (CH4 = 54%, CO2 = 45%) < Sr/NiCeO2 (CH4 = 60%, CO2 = 67%) < La/NiCeO2 (CH4 = 85%, CO2 = 84%) < Zr/NiCeO2 (CH4 = 95%, CO2 = 87%). The integration of promoters in DRM catalysts has notably improved carbon formation resistance, as evidenced by the following ranking: Zr/NiCeO2 (5.1 wt%) < commercial catalyst (6.0 wt%) < La/NiCeO2 (7.85 wt%) < Sr/NiCeO2 (10.9 wt%) < NiCeO2 (11.3 wt%).

Conclusion

This study demonstrates that incorporating promoters, particularly Zr, in NiCeO2 significantly enhances resistance to carbon formation. It offers valuable insights into selecting metal catalyst promoters for excellent catalytic performance in DRM. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI).
Amino acid surface modified bioglass: A candidate biomaterial for bone tissue engineering1
Authors: Özkabadayı Yasin , Türk Mustafa , Kumandaş Ali , Karahan Siyami
Published: August 2024

Bioglasses are solid materials consisted of sodium oxide, calcium oxide, silicon dioxide and phosphorus in various proportions and have used in bone tissue engineering. There have been ongoing efforts to improve the surface properties of bioglasses to increase biocompatibility and performance. The aim of the present study is to modify the bioglass surface with an amino acid mixture consisting of arginine, aspartic acid, phenylalanine, cysteine, histidine and lysine, to characterize the surface, and to evaluate the performance and biocompatibility in vitro and in vivo. The untreated bioglass, bioglass kept in simulated body fluid (SBF), and modified bioglass were used in further evaluation. After confirmation of the surface modification with FT‐IR analyses and SEM analyses, MC3T3‐E1 preosteoblasts adhesion on the surface was also revealed by SEM. The modified bioglass had significantly higher ALP activity in colorimetric measurement, rate of calcium accumulations in Alizarin red s staining, lower rate of cell death in Annexin‐V/PI staining to determine apoptosis and necrosis. Having higher cell viability rate in MTT test and absence of genotoxicity in micronucleus test (OECD 487), the modified bioglass was further confirmed for biocompatibility in vitro. The results of the rat tibial defect model revealed that the all bioglass treatments had a significantly better bone healing score compared to the untreated negative control. However, the modified bioglass exhibited significantly better bone healing efforts especially during the first and the second months compared to the other bioglass treatment treatments. As a result, the amino acid surface modification of bioglasses improves the surface biocompatibility and osteogenic performance that makes the amino acid modified bioglass a better candidate for bone tissue engineering.

Research Highlights

Bioglass surface modification with amino acids contributes to bioglass‐tissue interaction with an improved cell attachment.

Modified bioglass increases in vitro Alp activity and calcium accumulation, and also positively affects cell behavior by supporting cell adaptation.

Bioglass exerts osteogenic potential in vivo especially during early bone healing.
TP53 variants underlying pediatric low‐hypodiploidy B‐cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia demonstrate diverse origins and may persist as a hematopoietic clone in remission
Authors: Itov Albert , Ilyasova Karina , Soldatkina Olga , Kazakova Anna , Kozeev Vladimir , Semchenkova Alexandra , Osipova Elena , Boichenko Elmira , Volchkov Egor , Popov Alexander , Zerkalenkova Elena , Roumiantseva Julia , Novichkova Galina , Karachunskiy Alexander , Olshanskaya Yulia
Published: August 2024

Pediatric low‐hypodiploidy B‐cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (LH‐ALL) with TP53 variants has been proposed to be considered a manifestation of Li‐Fraumeni syndrome (LFS). However, our study demonstrates that of the majority the pathogenic variants in the TP53 gene are somatic (70.5%), and only 12.5% of patients with germline fulfilled the criteria of LFS. We also describe the first case of hypodiploid BCP‐ALL with a mosaic pathogenic mutation in TP53 and the first case of the persistence of clonal hematopoiesis with the TР53 gene mutation in the child during 3‐year minimal residual disease‐negative remission, similar to what has been described in adults.
The association of hospitalist medical procedure service with operational efficiency at an academic medical center
Authors: Curtis Brett R. , Tian Shuo , Shrestha Sachita , Denton Trevor , Haller Blake , Sebolt Jonathan , Adams Michael , Taylor Stephanie P. , Paje David
Published: August 2024

We examined the impact of a hospital medicine medical procedure service (MPS) on hospital length of stay (LOS), postprocedure LOS, and completion of procedures on weekends. We included 4952 patients admitted to our large academic hospital between July 1, 2021 and July 31, 2023 who underwent thoracentesis, paracentesis, or lumbar puncture (LP). MPS performed 30% (1499) of these procedures. After adjusting for age, sex, body mass index, Charlson comorbidity score, and procedure type, procedure performance by MPS was associated with a shorter total hospital LOS (incidence rate ratio [IRR]: 0.93; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.87–0.99) and postprocedure LOS (IRR: 0.82; 95% CI: 0.76–0.88). Also, MPS‐performed procedures were twice as likely to occur on weekends compared to non‐MPS‐performed procedures (odds ratio [OR]: 2.05; 95% CI: 1.75–2.41). These findings support the beneficial impact of MPS on operational efficiency, an important outcome for both patients and hospitals.
Relevance of physical activity with decrease in minimal joint space of the nonoperative hip in female patients after unilateral THA
Authors: Sekita Junya , Takahira Naonobu , Watanabe Hiroyuki , Kusaba Atsushi , Kondo Saiji
Published: August 2024

To clarify the relevance of physical activity (PA) with respect to a decrease in minimal joint space (MJS) of the nonoperative hip in female patients at 24 months post‐contralateral total hip arthroplasty (THA). This prospective cohort study was conducted from six to 24 months post‐THA. The subjects were 85 female patients with hip osteoarthritis (OA) who had undergone unilateral THA. The primary outcome was a change in MJS (ΔMJS). Daily step counts and moderate to vigorous physical activity were measured. To identify factors related to ΔMJS, a generalized linear model approach was used, with adjustment factors, Kellgren–Lawrence (KL) grade, PA, and interaction terms between PA and KL grade as explanatory variables. The interaction term between daily step count and KL grade was significant. The regression coefficient of the daily step count for ΔMJS was significant in the KL ≥ 1 group, but not in the KL = 0 group. A model with adjustment factors, an interaction term, and PA showed that the daily step count increased ΔMJS. PA was related to ΔMJS of the nonoperative hip in female patients with KL grade ≥1, but was not related to ΔMJS in patients without OA post‐THA. Excessive daily step count may be a risk factor for a decrease in MJS of the nonoperative hip.
Bimodal Magneto‐Luminescent Response of Lanthanide Metallopolymers for Distinguishing of Phosphates in Aqueous Solutions
Authors: Dovzhenko Alexey P. , Vasilyev Vadim A. , Kornev Timur A. , Chinarev Alexander A. , Nizovtsev Alexey V. , Zairov Rustem R. , Sinyashin Oleg G. , Mustafina Asiya R.
Published: August 2024

Linear N‐substituted polyacrylamides bearing tricarboxylic moieties pendant to the backbone are synthesized, and coordinative binding approach is developed to convert them into Gd3+/Eu3+‐metallopolymers. Inner‐sphere coordination of the lanthanide ions with the pendant chelating moieties, together with their outer‐sphere stabilization by the randomly coiled backbone, are the reasons for peculiar water proton relaxation and luminescence properties of the metallopolymers obtained. Indeed, for Gd3+‐metallopolymer, the values of longitudinal and transverse relaxivity (r1 and r2) are 50 and 60 mm−1·s−1, respectively, while for the Eu3+‐counterpart, Eu3+‐centered luminescence is significantly raised compared to Eu3+ aquaions. Coil‐like conformation of the metallopolymer molecules undergoes a swelling at pH values above 5.0 as evidenced by transmission electron microscopy TEM and dynamic light scattering (DLS) data, which is followed by the changes in the Eu3+‐centered luminescence and r1(2)‐values of Gd3+/Eu3+‐metallopolymers. The phosphates additives (adenosine monophosphoric acid (AMP), adenosine diphosphoric acid (ADP), HPO42− and adenosine triphosphoric acid (ATP) induce well detectable changes in both water proton relaxation and luminescence of Gd3+/Eu3+‐metallopolymers. The luminescent changes distinguish AMP from the other phosphates, while the changes in water proton relaxation are greater for HPO42− and ATP compared to AMP and ADP. This study explains this by interplay of the effects associated with the formation of ternary phosphate‐lanthanide‐polymer complexes and stripping of lanthanide ions from the polymer molecules.
Synthesis and Characterization of Copper‐Crosslinked Carbon Dot Nanoassemblies for Efficient Macrophage Manipulation
Authors: Girma Wubshet Mekonnen , Zhu Zewen , Guo Yunqi , Xiao Xianghao , Wang Zhiqiang , Mekuria Shewaye Lakew , Hameed Meera Moydeen Abdul , EL‐Newehy Mohamed , Guo Rui , Shen Mingwu , Shi Xiangyang
Published: August 2024

Nanomedicines loaded in macrophages (MAs) can actively target tumors without dominantly relying on the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect, making them effective for treating EPR‐deficient malignancies. Herein, copper‐crosslinked carbon dot clusters (CDCs) are synthesized with both photodynamic and chemodynamic functions to manipulate MAs, aiming to direct the MA‐mediated tumor targeting. First, green fluorescent CDs (g‐CDs) are prepared by a one‐step hydrothermal method. Subsequently, the g‐CDs are complexed with divalent copper ions to form copper‐crosslinked CDCs (g‐CDCs/Cu), which are incubated with MAs for their manipulation. Experimental results revealed that the prepared g‐CDCs/Cu displayed good aqueous dispersibility and fluorescent emission properties. The nanoassemblies can be activated to deplete the overexpressed glutathione (GSH) and generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the presence of laser irradiation through the combined Cu‐mediated chemodynamic therapy and CD‐mediated photodynamic therapy. Furthermore, the ROS produced in MAs enabled polarization of MAs to antitumor M1 phenotype, suggesting the future potential use to reverse the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. These results obtained from the current study suggest a significant potential to develop g‐CDCs/Cu for GSH depletion, ROS generation, and MA M1 polarization as a theransotic agent to tackle cancer.
Vertical Partial Laryngectomy With Temporoparietal Free‐Flap Reconstruction for Recurrent Laryngeal Cancer: Long‐Term Study
Authors: Tzelnick Sharon , de Almeida John R. , Gilbert Ralph , Goldstein David
Published: August 2024

Objective

Treatment options for recurrent early glottic carcinoma's include conservative and radical surgical options. These options offer similar survival benefits with different impacts of patient's quality of life. We previously present our experience with vertical partial laryngectomy (VPL) and showed high locoregional control rates with high‐quality voice results and normal swallowing.

Study Design

A long‐term retrospective review.

Setting

Tertiary Care Center.

Methods

We analyzed all patients underwent VPL between the years 1995 to 2018. Long‐term oncologic and functional outcomes were collected.

Results

A total of 40 patients were included. The majority of whom were male (n = 38, 95%) with a mean age of 64.9 years (SD ± 9.5). With a median follow up time of 12 years (range 0‐24), 9 patients (22.5%) had disease recurrence; the majority of whom (8 patients), had local recurrence and all were salvaged with total laryngectomy. Eight patients (20%) developed second primaries in the head and neck region with a median time to diagnosis of 77 months (range 8‐227 months). Ten‐years overall survival, disease specific survival, and local disease‐free survival were 80%, 90%, and 80%, respectively. Five patients had postoperative laryngeal dysfunction with a total 10‐years laryngectomy free survival of 70%.

Conclusion

VPL has a sustainable oncologic outcome with a high long‐term laryngectomy free survival rate. This entity is an acceptable conservative salvage option for selected postradiated recurrent laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma patients.
Are public housing projects good for kids after all?
Authors: Han Jeehee , Schwartz Amy Ellen
Published: August 2024

Is public housing bad for children? The net effect of moving into public housing on children's academic outcomes is theoretically ambiguous and likely to depend on changes to neighborhood and school characteristics. Drawing on detailed individual‐level longitudinal data on New York City public school students, we exploit plausibly random variation in the precise timing of entry into public housing to estimate credibly causal effects of public housing residency on academic outcomes. Both difference‐in‐differences and event study analyses suggest positive effects of public housing on test scores, with larger effects after the initial year. Stalled academic performance at entry may reflect disruptive effects of residential and school mobility. Effects on test scores are larger among students who move from lower‐income neighborhoods due, perhaps, to increases in neighborhood and school quality. For some subgroups, attendance improves and the incidence of obesity declines. Our results contradict the popular belief that public housing is bad for kids.