bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Health technology assessment for oral health in the past decade: a scoping review
Authors: Bhatia Sonal , Mohanty Vikrant , Balappanavar Aswini Y. , Chahar Puneet , Rijhwani Kavita , Gupta Radhika
Published: March 2023

Background

Health technology assessment (HTA) is the systematic evaluation of various properties and effects of a health technology. HTA can serve as a bridge between the world of knowledge and that of decision making, offering decision makers the best summary of scientific evidence. Scoping HTA reports in the context of dentistry can help researchers identify grey areas; help practitioners make evidence-based decisions and further initiate better policy making.

Aim

To provide an overview on HTAs pertaining to oral health and dentistry in the past decade, map the extension and scope of the methodological practices, key findings, and limitations.

Methodology

A scoping review was conducted using the Joanna Briggs Institute framework. A comprehensive search for HTA reports was done through the International Network of Agencies for Health Technology Assessment Database from January 2010 to December 2020. Consecutively, electronic databases (PubMed and Google Scholar) were searched. Finally, thirty-six reports were included in this review and analyzed.

Results

A total of 709 articles were initially identified, of which thirty-six met the inclusion criteria. Reviewed HTAs focused on various specialties of dentistry worldwide. Maximum number of reports (N = 5) were related to “prosthodontics and dental implants” and technologies related to preventive dentistry were most commonly assessed (N = 4).

Conclusion

Functional, appropriate, and evidence-based information provided through HTA pertaining to oral health on a regular basis will enable decision makers to have enough data to make decisions on the future use of new technology, modify existing policies, accelerate its translation into practice, and ensure provision of robust dental healthcare services.
The relevance of the African regional human rights system in the urban age
Authors: Pieterse Marius
Published: March 2023

In an attempt to reassert the relevance of international human rights law in contemporary urban contexts, this article considers the extent to which the provisions of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights lend themselves to fruitful application in African cities, appropriation by African cities and the development of rights to African cities. The article ultimately argues that, despite the rural inclinations of its drafting context, certain textual shortcomings and the existence of major political hurdles to its effective implementation, the African Charter, as interpreted and applied by the African Commission and African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights, is well-placed for the regional human rights system’s adaptation to the urban age.
Tone-Deaf Propaganda: American Perceptions and Misperceptions of Italy during the Great War
Authors: Fazzi Dario
Published: March 2023

One of the ways in which Wilsonianism permeated Europe during the Great War was through the activities of the Committee on Public Information (CPI). Historians are still discussing the effectiveness of the CPI's propaganda abroad. This article contributes to this debate by focusing on and problematising the case of Italy. The Italian scenario confronted the CPI with a series of challenges that exposed the limits of America's germinal public diplomacy. The author's argument is that, in spite of its numerous attempts, the CPI's activities in Italy resulted in a substantial failure, which was mostly due to an inter-institutional conflict of interests and competences between the CPI and the US embassy in Rome. Such a short-circuit prevented US propagandists from developing a genuine understanding of the Italian public's preferences and resulted in what people in the Peninsula perceived as a general lack of empathy.
A bibliometric analysis on the agricultural use of biochar in Brazil from 2003 to 2021: research status and promising raw materials
Authors: Arias Candela Mariel , da Silva Laura Fernanda Simões , Soares Marcio Roberto , Forti Victor Augusto
Published: March 2023

Biochar is considered a promising option for the development of sustainable agroecosystems, due to its diverse agronomic and environmental benefits. In this context, the aim of this study was to carry out a bibliometric analysis on biochar research in Brazil within an agricultural context, including investigating the raw materials most employed for its production in the country. The analysis was conducted based on a search for scientific articles (peer-reviewed papers) at the Web of Science database (WoS Core Collection) from 2003 to 2020 specifically in Brazil. A performance analysis was carried out by applying a descriptive and metric approach concerning research constituents (authors, institutions, countries and keywords) and science mapping to clarify scientific collaborations and cognitive and intellectual structure patterns regarding the biochar domain in Brazilian research, using the VOSviewer software. The obtained studies were also analyzed individually to classify the different raw materials employed in biochar production. A total of 261 scientific articles met the screening criteria, indicating that the beginning of biochar publications in Brazil took place in 2003, increasing until 2015 and peaking in 2021. Institutions and authors with the highest publication contributions were the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (EMBRAPA) (Novotny E.), São Paulo University (USP) (Cerri C.) and Federal Lavras University (UFLA) (Melo L.). The United States, Spain, Australia, Germany and the Netherlands present the most collaborations on biochar research with Brazil. The biochar domain was highly associated with the following keywords: biochar, pyrogenic carbon, pyrolysis, charcoal, immobilization, black carbon, soil fertility and soil and characterization. Raw materials of plant origin were the most employed in biochar research in Brazil, with wood residues being the most studied and residues originated from the sugar-energy industry (straw, bagasse and filter cake) identified as exhibiting high potential for future studies. Poultry litter is the most promising animal waste for biochar production, while the use of biosolids can be innovative, contributing to the consolidation of biochar as an option for serious urban waste sanitary management problems.
Multistability and Transient Response of the Greenland Ice Sheet to Anthropogenic CO2 Emissions
Authors: Höning Dennis , Willeit Matteo , Calov Reinhard , Klemann Volker , Bagge Meike , Ganopolski Andrey
Published: March 2023

Understanding the future fate of the Greenland Ice Sheet (GIS) in the context of anthropogenic CO2 emissions is crucial to predict sea level rise. With the fully coupled Earth system model of intermediate complexity CLIMBER‐X, we study the stability of the GIS and its transient response to CO2 emissions over the next 10 Kyr. Bifurcation points exist at global temperature anomalies of 0.6 and 1.6 K relative to pre‐industrial. For system states in the vicinity of the equilibrium ice volumes corresponding to these temperature anomalies, mass loss rate and sensitivity of mass loss to cumulative CO2 emission peak. These critical ice volumes are crossed for cumulative emissions of 1,000 and 2,500 GtC, which would cause long‐term sea level rise by 1.8 and 6.9 m respectively. In summary, we find tipping of the GIS within the range of the temperature limits of the Paris agreement.
Effects of Typhoon In‐Fa (2021) and the Western Pacific Subtropical High on an Extreme Heavy Rainfall Event in Central China
Authors: Rao Chenhong , Chen Guanghua , Ran LingKun
Published: March 2023

An extreme heavy rainfall event in Henan Province (HnHRE) of central China in July 2021, which is jointly affected by the western Pacific subtropical high (WPSH) and Typhoon In‐Fa (2021), is comprehensively studied through five experiments conducted using the Weather Research and Forecasting Model (WRF). The patterns of the WPSH, In‐Fa, and precipitation are well reproduced in the control experiment. The magnitude of potential vorticity (PV) anomaly associated with the WPSH (In‐Fa) is increased and decreased by 50% in the initial condition based on the piecewise PV inversion method, namely, SH150 and SH050 (TC150 and TC050), respectively. The analysis shows that the 54‐hr rainfall accumulations in TC150 and TC050 are reduced by 39.5% and 31.8%, respectively, more than 28.8% in SH150 and 20.1% in SH050, indicating that Typhoon In‐Fa plays a more critical role in the rainfall amplification than the WPSH. This result also confirms that the HnHRE occurs within the quite favorable configuration of WPSH and In‐Fa circulations. The WPSH and In‐Fa majorly control the meridional and zonal moisture transports, respectively. The diagnosis of moist ageostrophic turns out that diabatic heating is closely related to the vertical motion during the HnHRE. Besides, the heavy rainfall region is also closely attributed to the distributions of equivalent potential temperature and divergence.
Seismic Efficiency and Seismic Moment for Small Craters on Mars Formed in the Layered Uppermost Crust
Authors: Rajšić A. , Miljković K. , Wójcicka N. , Collins G. S. , Garcia R. F. , Bredemeyer C. , Lagain A. , Daubar I. J. , Lognonné P.
Published: March 2023

Seismic activity generated by impacts depends on impact conditions and properties of the impact site. Here, we combined mapping of the regolith thickness with numerical impact simulations to better estimate the seismic efficiency and seismic moment generated in small impact events in the uppermost crust on Mars. We used mapping of crater morphology to determine the regolith thickness that craters formed in. We found that local regolith thickness in the late Amazonian units is between 4 and 9 m. Combined with previous estimates for the NASA InSight landing site, we composed a more realistic uppermost crust analog and implemented it in numerical impact simulations. We estimated the seismic efficiency and seismic moment for small craters on Mars impacting a non‐porous or fractured bedrock overlaid by 5, 10, or 15 m thick regolith. Seismic energy showed more dependence on target properties. Three orders of magnitude more energy were produced in stronger targets. The seismic moment does not depend on target properties, and we confirm that seismic moment is almost proportional to impact momentum. The resulting seismic moment is in agreement up to a factor of 4 between different target types. We improved the scaling relationships developed from numerical simulations used in seismic moment approximations by constraining its dependence on more realistic target properties.
Impact of preeclampsia on cardiovascular events: An analysis of the Generation Scotland: Scottish family health study
Authors: Brown Catriona E. , Casey Helen , Dominiczak Anna F. , Kerr Shona , Campbell Archie , Delles Christian
Published: March 2023

Preeclampsia is a recognised cause of an increased risk of major adverse cardiovascular events when compared to the background risk in women who did not have hypertensive disorders during pregnancy. The Generation Scotland: Scottish Family Health Study (GS:SFHS) is a population cohort of more than 20,000 members of the Scottish population. Using the Scottish Morbidity Records, we linked the women in the GS:SFHS cohort to validated maternity and inpatient admission data. This allowed us to robustly identify cardiovascular outcomes in the form of inpatient admission for cardiovascular events, We also aimed to explore the risk of pregnancy on future cardiovascular events, using data from nulliparous and parous women.In total, 9732 women were selected. 3693 women were nulliparous, and after study exclusion, 5253 women with 9583 pregnancies remained. Pregnancies from 1980 until the end of the study period of 1st of July 2013 were included. Cardiovascular events occurred in 9.0% of nulliparous women, 4.2% of women with pregnancies and in 7.6% of women with a history of preeclampsia. A total of 218 parous women experienced cardiovascular events, 25 in the preeclampsia group and 193 in the normotensive group.Survival analysis was undertaken, with index pregnancy taken as first pregnancy in normotensive controls and first preeclampsia pregnancy in cases. Endpoint of interest was admission to hospital with first cardiovascular event. After further exclusions a total of 169 cardiovascular events occurred in the normotensive pregnancy group and 20 in the preeclampsia group. Women with a history of preeclampsia were more likely to have cardiovascular events later in life than women with normotensive deliveries., This was statistically significantly different on Kaplan Meier survival analysis, (log rank Mantel-Cox p-value < 0.001). The women in our study were middle-aged, within 33 years of pregnancy, with a mean age of 53 years in the preeclampsia cardiovascular events group.Our study supports the urgent need for uniform guidelines and implementation to improve the health in women with this medical history. Increased awareness among the public of the cardiovascular risk associated with PE is vital to aid uptake of cardiovascular prevention programmes.
Subtyping-based platform guides precision medicine for heavily pretreated metastatic triple-negative breast cancer: The FUTURE phase II umbrella clinical trial
Authors: Liu Yin , Zhu Xiu-Zhi , Xiao Yi , Wu Song-Yang , Zuo Wen-Jia , Yu Qiang , Cao A-Yong , Li Jun-Jie , Yu Ke-Da , Liu Guang-Yu , Wu Jiong , Sun Tao , Cui Jiu-Wei , Lv Zheng , Li Hui-Ping , Zhu Xiao-Yu , Jiang Yi-Zhou , Wang Zhong-Hua , Shao Zhi-Ming
Published: March 2023

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a heterogeneous disease and lacks effective treatment. Our previous study classified TNBCs into four subtypes with putative therapeutic targets. Here, we report the final results of FUTURE, a phase II umbrella trial designed to explore whether the subtyping-based strategy may improve the outcomes in metastatic TNBC patients. A total of 141 patients with a median of three previous lines of therapies in the metastatic setting were enrolled in seven parallel arms. Confirmed objective responses were achieved in 42 patients (29.8%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 22.4–38.1). The median values of progression-free survival and overall survival were 3.4 (95% CI: 2.7–4.2) and 10.7 (95% CI: 9.1–12.3) months, respectively. Given Bayesian predictive probability, efficacy boundaries were achieved in four arms. Furthermore, integrated genomic and clinicopathological profiling illustrated associations of clinical and genomic parameters with treatment efficacy, and the efficacy of novel antibody–drug conjugates was explored in preclinical TNBC models of subtypes for which treatment was futile. In general, the FUTURE strategy recruits patients efficiently and provides promising efficacy with manageable toxicities, outlining a direction for further clinical exploration.
Home vision monitoring in patients with maculopathy: current and future options for digital technologies
Authors: Balaskas Konstantinos , Drawnel Faye , Khanani Arshad M. , Knox Paul C. , Mavromaras George , Wang Yi-Zhong
Published: March 2023

Patients with macular pathology, including that caused by age-related macular degeneration and diabetic macular oedema, must attend frequent in-clinic monitoring appointments to detect onset of disease activity requiring treatment and to monitor progression of existing disease. In-person clinical monitoring places a significant burden on patients, caregivers and healthcare systems and is limited in that it only provides clinicians with a snapshot of the patient’s disease status. The advent of remote monitoring technologies offers the potential for patients to test their own retinal health at home in collaboration with clinicians, reducing the need for in-clinic appointments. In this review we discuss visual function tests, both existing and novel, that have the potential for remote use and consider their suitability for discriminating the presence of disease and progression of disease. We then review the clinical evidence supporting the use of mobile applications for monitoring of visual function from clinical development through to validation studies and real-world implementation. This review identified seven app-based visual function tests: four that have already received some form of regulatory clearance and three under development. The evidence included in this review shows that remote monitoring offers great potential for patients with macular pathology to monitor their condition from home, reducing the need for burdensome clinic visits and expanding clinicians’ understanding of patients’ retinal health beyond traditional clinical monitoring. In order to instil confidence in the use of remote monitoring in both patients and clinicians further longitudinal real-world studies are now warranted.
Differences in laboratory versus field treatment performance of point-of-use drinking water treatment methods: research gaps and ways forward
Authors: Zimmer C. , Dorea C. C.
Published: March 2023

In this Perspective, we present evidence that indicates a discrepancy between laboratory and field performance of point of use water treatment (POUWT) techniques, identified via a narrative review process to investigate the origin of the LRV comparison estimates reported by the WHO. We considered only peer-reviewed articles that reported laboratory and field log reduction values (LRVs) for the same POU technology. We will present a summary of explanations that have been offered by the literature regarding such discrepancies; the potential implications of the “laboratory versus field” data discrepancy; and potential risks posed by conflating the two. Finally, in view of this discussion, we propose a strategy to help mitigate the research gap and explore the potential to improve current health risk assessments and ultimately, recommendations by public health entities and manufacturers of POUWT products.
Current levels of microplastic pollution impact wild seabird gut microbiomes
Authors: Fackelmann Gloria , Pham Christopher K. , Rodríguez Yasmina , Mallory Mark L. , Provencher Jennifer F. , Baak Julia E. , Sommer Simone
Published: March 2023

Microplastics contaminate environments worldwide and are ingested by numerous species, whose health is affected in multiple ways. A key dimension of health that may be affected is the gut microbiome, but these effects are relatively unexplored. Here, we investigated if microplastics are associated with changes in proventricular and cloacal microbiomes in two seabird species that chronically ingest microplastics: northern fulmars and Cory’s shearwaters. The amount of microplastics in the gut was significantly correlated with gut microbial diversity and composition: microplastics were associated with decreases in commensal microbiota and increases in (zoonotic) pathogens and antibiotic-resistant and plastic-degrading microbes. These results illustrate that environmentally relevant microplastic concentrations and mixtures are associated with changes in gut microbiomes in wild seabirds.
A solar wind-derived water reservoir on the Moon hosted by impact glass beads
Authors: He Huicun , Ji Jianglong , Zhang Yue , Hu Sen , Lin Yangting , Hui Hejiu , Hao Jialong , Li Ruiying , Yang Wei , Tian Hengci , Zhang Chi , Anand Mahesh , Tartèse Romain , Gu Lixin , Li Jinhua , Zhang Di , Mao Qian , Jia Lihui , Li Xiaoguang , Chen Yi , Zhang Li , Ni Huaiwei , Wu Shitou , Wang Hao , Li Qiuli , He Huaiyu , Li Xianhua , Wu Fuyuan
Published: March 2023

The past two decades of lunar exploration have seen the detection of substantial quantities of water on the Moon’s surface. It has been proposed that a hydrated layer exists at depth in lunar soils, buffering a water cycle on the Moon globally. However, a reservoir has yet to be identified for this hydrated layer. Here we report the abundance, hydrogen isotope composition and core-to-rim variations of water measured in impact glass beads extracted from lunar soils returned by the Chang’e-5 mission. The impact glass beads preserve hydration signatures and display water abundance profiles consistent with the inward diffusion of solar wind-derived water. Diffusion modelling estimates diffusion timescales of less than 15 years at a temperature of 360 K. Such short diffusion timescales suggest an efficient water recharge mechanism that could sustain the lunar surface water cycle. We estimate that the amount of water hosted by impact glass beads in lunar soils may reach up to 2.7 × 1014 kg. Our direct measurements of this surface reservoir of lunar water show that impact glass beads can store substantial quantities of solar wind-derived water on the Moon and suggest that impact glass may be water reservoirs on other airless bodies.
Hybrid 2D–CMOS microchips for memristive applications
Authors: Zhu Kaichen , Pazos Sebastian , Aguirre Fernando , Shen Yaqing , Yuan Yue , Zheng Wenwen , Alharbi Osamah , Villena Marco A. , Fang Bin , Li Xinyi , Milozzi Alessandro , Farronato Matteo , Muñoz-Rojo Miguel , Wang Tao , Li Ren , Fariborzi Hossein , Roldan Juan B. , Benstetter Guenther , Zhang Xixiang , Alshareef Husam N. , Grasser Tibor , Wu Huaqiang , Ielmini Daniele , Lanza Mario
Published: March 2023

Exploiting the excellent electronic properties of two-dimensional (2D) materials to fabricate advanced electronic circuits is a major goal for the semiconductor industry1,2. However, most studies in this field have been limited to the fabrication and characterization of isolated large (more than 1 µm2) devices on unfunctional SiO2–Si substrates. Some studies have integrated monolayer graphene on silicon microchips as a large-area (more than 500 µm2) interconnection3 and as a channel of large transistors (roughly 16.5 µm2) (refs. 4,5), but in all cases the integration density was low, no computation was demonstrated and manipulating monolayer 2D materials was challenging because native pinholes and cracks during transfer increase variability and reduce yield. Here, we present the fabrication of high-integration-density 2D–CMOS hybrid microchips for memristive applications—CMOS stands for complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor. We transfer a sheet of multilayer hexagonal boron nitride onto the back-end-of-line interconnections of silicon microchips containing CMOS transistors of the 180 nm node, and finalize the circuits by patterning the top electrodes and interconnections. The CMOS transistors provide outstanding control over the currents across the hexagonal boron nitride memristors, which allows us to achieve endurances of roughly 5 million cycles in memristors as small as 0.053 µm2. We demonstrate in-memory computation by constructing logic gates, and measure spike-timing dependent plasticity signals that are suitable for the implementation of spiking neural networks. The high performance and the relatively-high technology readiness level achieved represent a notable advance towards the integration of 2D materials in microelectronic products and memristive applications.
SEACells infers transcriptional and epigenomic cellular states from single-cell genomics data
Authors: Persad Sitara , Choo Zi-Ning , Dien Christine , Sohail Noor , Masilionis Ignas , Chaligné Ronan , Nawy Tal , Brown Chrysothemis C. , Sharma Roshan , Pe’er Itsik , Setty Manu , Pe’er Dana
Published: March 2023

Metacells are cell groupings derived from single-cell sequencing data that represent highly granular, distinct cell states. Here we present single-cell aggregation of cell states (SEACells), an algorithm for identifying metacells that overcome the sparsity of single-cell data while retaining heterogeneity obscured by traditional cell clustering. SEACells outperforms existing algorithms in identifying comprehensive, compact and well-separated metacells in both RNA and assay for transposase-accessible chromatin (ATAC) modalities across datasets with discrete cell types and continuous trajectories. We demonstrate the use of SEACells to improve gene–peak associations, compute ATAC gene scores and infer the activities of critical regulators during differentiation. Metacell-level analysis scales to large datasets and is particularly well suited for patient cohorts, where per-patient aggregation provides more robust units for data integration. We use our metacells to reveal expression dynamics and gradual reconfiguration of the chromatin landscape during hematopoietic differentiation and to uniquely identify CD4 T cell differentiation and activation states associated with disease onset and severity in a Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) patient cohort.
Determinants of COVID-19 vaccine fatigue
Authors: Stamm Tanja A. , Partheymüller Julia , Mosor Erika , Ritschl Valentin , Kritzinger Sylvia , Alunno Alessia , Eberl Jakob-Moritz
Published: March 2023

There is growing concern that Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine fatigue will be a major obstacle in maintaining immunity in the general population. In this study, we assessed vaccine acceptance in future scenarios in two conjoint experiments, investigating determinants such as new vaccines, communication, costs/incentives and legal rules. The experiments were embedded in an online survey (n = 6,357 participants) conducted in two European countries (Austria and Italy). Our results suggest that vaccination campaigns should be tailored to subgroups based on their vaccination status. Among the unvaccinated, campaign messages conveying community spirit had a positive effect (0.343, confidence interval (CI) 0.019–0.666), whereas offering positive incentives, such as a cash reward (0.722, CI 0.429–1.014) or voucher (0.670, CI 0.373–0.967), was pivotal to the decision-making of those vaccinated once or twice. Among the triple vaccinated, vaccination readiness increased when adapted vaccines were offered (0.279, CI 0.182–0.377), but costs (−0.795, CI −0.935 to −0.654) and medical dissensus (−0.161, CI −0.293 to −0.030) reduced their likelihood to get vaccinated. We conclude that failing to mobilize the triple vaccinated is likely to result in booster vaccination rates falling short of expectations. For long-term success, measures fostering institutional trust should be considered. These results provide guidance to those responsible for future COVID-19 vaccination campaigns.
Interhemispheric interplay between the left and right premotor cortex during grasping as assessed by dynamic causal modelling
Authors: Bencivenga Federica , Tullo Maria Giulia , Sulpizio Valentina , Galati Gaspare
Published: March 2023

Research on the contribution of the ipsilateral hemisphere to unilateral movements, and how it is mediated by transcallosal connections, has so far provided contradictory findings. By using dynamic causal modelling (DCM) and Parametric Empirical Bayes analyses applied to fMRI data, we sought to describe effective connectivity during pantomimed and imagined right-hand grasping within the grasping network, namely the anterior intraparietal sulcus, ventral and dorsal (PMd) premotor cortex, supplementary motor area and primary motor cortex (M1). The two-fold aim of the present work was to explore a) whether right and left parieto-frontal areas show similar connectivity couplings, and b) the interhemispheric dynamics between these regions across the two hemispheres. We detected a network architecture comparable across hemispheres during executed but not imagined grasping movements. Furthermore, during pantomimed grasping the interhemispheric crosstalk was mainly driven by premotor areas: we found an inhibitory influence from the right PMd toward the left premotor and motor areas and excitatory couplings between homologous ventral premotor and supplementary motor regions. Overall, our results support the view that dissociable components of unilateral grasping execution are encoded by a non-lateralized set of brain areas complexly intertwined by interhemispheric dynamics, whereas motor imagery obeys different principles.
Screening for or diagnosing medial meniscal root injury using peripheral medial joint space width ratio in plain radiographs
Authors: Asawatreratanakul Pasin , Boonriong Tanarat , Parinyakhup Wachiraphan , Chuaychoosakoon Chaiwat
Published: March 2023

To evaluate the sensitivity and specificity for screening and diagnosis of medial meniscal root injury using the distance ratio of medial joint space width between affected and unaffected knees in patients with potential medial meniscal root injury (MMRI) using plain radiographs, the study enrolled 49 patients with suspected MMRI who were then evaluated for MMRI using plain radiographs of both knees in the anteroposterior view and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings. The ratios of peripheral medial joint space width between the affected and unaffected sides were calculated. The cut point value, sensitivity and specificity were calculated according to a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. In the study, 18 and 31 patients were diagnosed with and without MMRI, respectively. The mean peripheral medial joint space width ratios comparing the affected side to the unaffected side in the standing position of the anteroposterior view of both knees in the MMRI and non-MMRI groups were 0.83 ± 0.11 and 1.04 ± 0.16, respectively, which was a significant difference (p-value < 0.001). The cut point value of the peripheral medial joint space width ratio between the affected and unaffected sides for suspected MMRI was 0.985, with sensitivity and specificity of 0.83 and 0.81, respectively, and for diagnosis was 0.78, with sensitivity and specificity of 0.39 and 1.00, respectively. The area under the ROC curve was 0.881. Patients with a possible MMRI had peripheral medial joint space width ratios less than patients with non-MMRI. This test can be used for reliably screening for or diagnosing medial meniscal root injury in primary or secondary care settings.
Wearable coupled-quarter-mode SIW antenna platform with hybrid kinetic and ambient-light energy harvesting
Authors: Jocqué Jelle , Verhaevert Jo , Van Torre Patrick , Rogier Hendrik
Published: March 2023

As key enablers for smart fabric interactive textile (SFIT) systems, textile antenna systems and platforms need to be energy-efficient, low-profile and should guarantee a stable wireless body-centric communication link. Using multiple energy harvesters on and in the antenna platform is highly recommended to enable autonomous SFIT systems. Different sensors could be added to the system for monitoring the environmental and/or biophysical parameters of rescue workers, military personnel, and other safety workers. Therefore, a wearable coupled-quarter-mode (coupled-QM) substrate-integrated waveguide (SIW) antenna with optimally, seamlessly integrated hybrid kinetic and ambient-light energy harvesters is proposed. Two QM cavities are coupled via a non-resonant slot to create a compact antenna covering the [2.4; 2.4835] GHz Industrial, Scientific and Medical (ISM) band. The antenna platform fully consists of textile materials, being protective rubber foam and copper taffeta, enabling its unobtrusive integration into protective clothing. A novel, compact way of deploying a kinetic energy harvester inside the substrate, combined with flexible power management electronics on the antenna feed plane and a flexible ambient-light photovoltaic cell on the antenna plane, is proposed. The integrated antenna platform exhibits a measured impedance bandwidth of 307 MHz, a radiation efficiency of 88.57% and maximum gain of 3.74 dBi at 2.45 GHz. Wearing the antenna platform around a person’s wrist resulted in an average harvested power of 229.8 µW when walking in an illuminated room.
Dynamic changes in Shiga toxin (Stx) 1 transducing phage throughout the evolution of O26:H11 Stx-producing Escherichia coli
Authors: Yano Bungo , Taniguchi Itsuki , Gotoh Yasuhiro , Hayashi Tetsuya , Nakamura Keiji
Published: March 2023

Shiga toxin (Stx) is the key virulence factor of Stx-producingEscherichia coli(STEC). All known Stxs (Stx1 and Stx2) are encoded by bacteriophages (Stx phages). Although the genetic diversity of Stx phages has frequently been described, systematic analyses of Stx phages in a single STEC lineage are limited. In this study, focusing on the O26:H11 STEC sequence type 21 (ST21) lineage, where thestx1agene is highly conserved, we analysed the Stx1a phages in 39 strains representative of the entire ST21 lineage and found a high level of variation in Stx1a phage genomes caused by various mechanisms, including replacement by a different Stx1a phage at the same or different locus. The evolutionary timescale of events changing Stx1a phages in ST21 was also determined. Furthermore, by using an Stx1 quantification system developed in this study, we found notable variations in the efficiency of Stx1 production upon prophage induction, which sharply contrasted with the conserved iron regulated Stx1 production. These variations were associated with the Stx1a phage alteration in some cases but not in other cases; thus, Stx1 production in this STEC lineage was determined by differences not only in Stx1 phages but also in host-encoded factors.
Comparison of posterior vitreous detachment-related and glaucomatous optic disc hemorrhage
Authors: Jin Cho , Park Gi Seok , Kim Kyung Nam , Song Mi Yeon , Hwang Young Hoon
Published: March 2023

This study compared the characteristics of posterior vitreous detachment (PVD)-related and glaucomatous optic disc hemorrhage (DH). Fundus photographs of eyes with PVD-related DH (PVD group) and glaucomatous DH (glaucoma group) were reviewed. The shape, type, layer, location (clock-hour sector), and DH/disc area (DH/DA) ratio of DH were investigated. In the PVD group, DH presented as a flame (60.9%), splinter (34.8%), and dot or blot (4.3%) shape. However, most of the glaucomatous DH revealed a splinter shape (92.3%), followed by a flame shape (7.7%, p < 0.001). In the PVD group, the most common type of DH was cup margin type (52.2%), whereas, in the glaucoma group it was disc rim type (53.8%, p = 0.003). Both PVD-related and glaucomatous DH were most commonly observed in the 7 o’clock sector. In the PVD group, DH was also found in the 2 and 5 o’clock sectors (p = 0.010). Mean DH/DA ratio in PVD group (0.15 ± 0.19) was greater than in glaucoma group (0.04 ± 0.04, p < 0.001). PVD-related DH showed a higher frequency of flame shape, cup margin type, nasal location, and greater area compared to the glaucomatous DH.
Large-area synthesis of high electrical performance MoS2 by a commercially scalable atomic layer deposition process
Authors: Aspiotis Nikolaos , Morgan Katrina , März Benjamin , Müller-Caspary Knut , Ebert Martin , Weatherby Ed , Light Mark E. , Huang Chung-Che , Hewak Daniel W. , Majumdar Sayani , Zeimpekis Ioannis
Published: March 2023

This work demonstrates a large area process for atomically thin 2D semiconductors to unlock the technological upscale required for their commercial uptake. The new atomic layer deposition (ALD) and conversion technique yields large area performance uniformity and tunability. Like graphene, 2D Transition Metal Dichalcogenides (TMDCs) are prone to upscaling challenges limiting their commercial uptake. They are challenging to grow uniformly on large substrates and to transfer on alternative substrates while they often lack in large area electrical performance uniformity. The scalable ALD process of this work enables uniform growth of 2D TMDCs on large area with independent control of layer thickness, stoichiometry and crystallinity while allowing chemical free transfers to application substrates. Field effect transistors (FETs) fabricated on flexible substrates using the process present a field effect mobility of up to 55 cm2/Vs, subthreshold slope down to 80 mV/dec and on/off ratios of 107. In addition, non-volatile memory transistors using ferroelectric FETs (FeFETs) operating at ±5 V with on/off ratio of 107 and a memory window of 3.25 V are demonstrated. These FeFETs demonstrate state-of-the-art performance with multiple state switching, suitable for one-transistor non-volatile memory and for synaptic transistors revealing the applicability of the process to flexible neuromorphic applications.
Heavy metal removal from coal fly ash for low carbon footprint cement
Authors: Deng Bing , Meng Wei , Advincula Paul A. , Eddy Lucas , Ucak-Astarlioglu Mine G. , Wyss Kevin M. , Chen Weiyin , Carter Robert A. , Li Gang , Cheng Yi , Nagarajaiah Satish , Tour James M.
Published: March 2023

Development of cementitious materials with low carbon footprint is critical for greenhouse gas mitigation. Coal fly ash (CFA) is an attractive diluent additive in cement due to its widespread availability and ultralow cost, but the heavy metals in CFA could leach out over time. Traditional acid washing processes for heavy metal removal suffer from high chemical consumption and high-volume wastewater streams. Here, we report a rapid and water-free process based on flash Joule heating (FJH) for heavy metals removal from CFA. The FJH process ramps the temperature to ~3000 °C within one second by an electric pulse, enabling the evaporative removal of heavy metals with efficiencies of 70–90% for arsenic, cadmium, cobalt, nickel, and lead. The purified CFA is partially substituted in Portland cement, showing enhanced strength and less heavy metal leakage under acid leaching. Techno-economic analysis shows that the process is energy-efficient with the cost of ~$21 ton−1 in electrical energy. Life cycle analysis reveals the reuse of CFA in cement reduces greenhouse gas emissions by ~30% and heavy metal emissions by ~41%, while the energy consumption is balanced, when compared to landfilling. The FJH strategy also works for decontamination of other industrial wastes such as bauxite residue.
Ion engines in hydrogels boosting hydrovoltaic electricity generation
Authors: He Nan , Wang Haonan , Li Fan , Jiang Bo , Tang Dawei , Li Lin
Published: March 2023

We propose an ion-engine hydrovoltaic electricity generator by constructing an ionisation-group concentration gradient in hydrogels, effectively accelerating ion migration to achieve high current performance.
Planar aromatic anchors control the electrical conductance of gold|molecule|graphene junctions
Authors: O'Driscoll Luke J. , Jay Michael , Robinson Benjamin J. , Sadeghi Hatef , Wang Xintai , Penhale-Jones Becky , Bryce Martin R. , Lambert Colin J.
Published: March 2023

Alkanethiol molecules with planar aromatic head groups were synthesised and assembled on gold surfaces. The conductance properties of the resulting monolayers were measured using conductive atomic force microscopy with Pt and graphene coated tips.
Microfluidic-based colorimetric nucleic acid detection of pathogens
Authors: Yedire Sripadh Guptha , Khan Haleema , AbdelFatah Tamer , Siavash Moakhar Roozbeh , Mahshid Sara
Published: March 2023

In this review, we highlight the most recent advances in the nucleic acid detection of viruses, bacteria, fungi, and protozoa in a portable fashion using colorimetric-based microfluidic devices.
Cove-region O-annulation of arylene diimide enables ambipolar transport of a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon with strong NIR absorption
Authors: Zhang Kaihua , Guo Jing , Liu Hao , Wang Xiaofeng , Yao Yifan , Yang Kun , Zeng Zebing
Published: March 2023

A novel NIR-absorbing O-doped polyaromatic hydrocarbon was developed based on a cove-region O-annulation strategy, showing ambipolar charge transport with improved charge mobilities and enhanced photothermal conversion efficiencies.
Construction of trifluoromethyl-containing heterocycles from trifluoroacetimidoyl chlorides and derivatives
Authors: Yang Zuguang , Wei Guangming , Chen Zhengkai , Wu Xiao-Feng
Published: March 2023

Recent advances in the direct synthesis of trifluoromethyl-containing heterocycles from trifluoroacetimidoyl chlorides (TFAICs) and derivatives, including trifluoroacetimidohydrazides (TFAIHs) and CF3–imidoyl sulfoxonium ylides (TFISYs), are systematically summarized and discussed.
Towards an active droplet-based microfluidic platform for programmable fluid handling
Authors: Cao Xiaobao , Buryska Tomas , Yang Tianjin , Wang Jing , Fischer Peter , Streets Aaron , Stavrakis Stavros , deMello Andrew
Published: March 2023

We present a microfluidic platform that combines the capabilities of valve-based microfluidics with droplet-based sample compartmentalization to realize programmable fluid handling.
NiCo composite catalysts for CO2methanation: the effect of preparation methods on catalyst structure and activity
Authors: Deng Lidan , Tan Yuhang , Chen Chong , Li Fukun , Zhang Xianming
Published: March 2023

Ni–Co alloy catalysts with spherical clusters or a developed bimodal mesoporous structure feature higher activities for CO2methanation.
Tetrathiafulvalene and π-extended tetrathiafulvalene pillar[5]arene conjugates: synthesis, electrochemistry and host–guest properties
Authors: Dekhtiarenko Maksym , Mengheres Gabriel , Levillain Eric , Voitenko Zoia , Nierengarten Iwona , Nierengarten Jean-François , Goeb Sébastien , Sallé Marc
Published: March 2023

Pillar[5]arene derivatives decorated with ten peripheral TTF or exTTF subunits were prepared and their electrochemical properties investigated. These electron-rich macrocyclic systems are suitable receptors for a fullerene guest.
Facile electrochemical affinity measurements of small and large molecules
Authors: Zaree Pouya , Tomris Ilhan , de Vos Sander D. , van der Woude Roosmarijn , Flesch Frits M. , Klein Gebbink Robertus J. M. , de Vries Robert P. , Pieters Roland J.
Published: March 2023

A novel miniaturized sensor for electrochemical detection that contains graphene- and gold nanoparticles was functionalized with proteins and used for determining their binding affinities for small molecules and proteins.
Magnetic nanoparticle loaded biodegradable vascular stents for magnetic resonance imaging and long-term visualization
Authors: Li Mingxi , Deng Dongwen , Chen Zhe , Liu Wentao , Zhao Gutian , Zhang Yu , Yang Fang , Ni Zhonghua
Published: March 2023

Fe3O4 superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) were synthesized to modify the BDS by ultrasonic spraying. The fabricated SPION-BDS can be entirely visualized under MR imaging, and the stent degradation can also be long-term monitored.
Molecular engineering of naphthalene spacers in low-dimensional perovskites
Authors: Mitrofanov Andrei , Berencén Yonder , Sadrollahi Elaheh , Boldt Regine , Bodesheim David , Weiske Hendrik , Paulus Fabian , Geck Jochen , Cuniberti Gianaurelio , Kuc Agnieszka , Voit Brigitte
Published: March 2023

A series of hybrid organic–inorganic perovskites, based on naphthalene ammonium cations have been investigated. All materials exhibit edge- or face-sharing 1D chain structures and broadband light emission arising from the self-trapped excitons.
Vertical organic transistors with a permeable base: from fundamentals to performance prediction
Authors: Lee Hyuna , Lim Kyung-Geun , Kim Chang-Hyun
Published: March 2023

A combined experimental and theoretical investigation establishes rational design rules for high-performance vertical organic permeable-base transistors (OPBTs).
Outcomes of a Remote Mindfulness Program for Adults Who Stutter: Five Case Studies
Authors: Medina Angela M. , Mead Jean S. , Comas Kristen , Perez Gretel , Prieto Janna , Valencia Ingrid
Published: March 2023

Purpose:

The use of mindfulness-based practices has increased in the field of fluency disorders over the past several years and has been implicated as a viable complement to traditional stuttering therapy. The purpose of this study was to explore the outcomes of an 8-week remote mindfulness program delivered to adults who stutter.

Method:

Five adults who stutter completed pre- and posttest questionnaires as well as weekly postsession surveys. Questionnaires included open-ended questions regarding participants' perceptions of their stuttering severity and their perceptions of mindfulness. The Overall Assessment of the Speaker's Experience of Stuttering (OASES) was incorporated to measure quality of life in both the pretest and posttest. Postsession surveys prompted participants to reflect on the topic presented each week. These data were used to develop individual case studies.

Results:

Pre- and posttest OASES scores revealed improvement in three participants' quality of life rating scores, while two participants remained within the same range. None of the participants' perceptions of their stuttering severity changed after participating in the program; however, participants who responded to postsession surveys reported that they planned to apply mindfulness knowledge in their personal lives and noticed positive changes within themselves.

Conclusions:

These preliminary findings revealed that even though perceptions of stuttering severity did not change, benefits were still gained by the participants. Future research should include a larger sample and content that is specifically tailored for people who stutter.
Deciphering the nature and age of the protoliths and peakP−Tconditions in retrogressed mafic eclogites from the Maures-Tannneron Massif (SE France) and implications for the southern European Variscides
Authors: Jouffray Fabrice , Lardeaux Jean-Marc , Tabaud Anne-Sophie , Corsini Michel , Schneider Julie
Published: March 2023

We present new constraints on the age, nature, and tectonic setting of mafic eclogite protoliths from the Maures-Tanneron Massif, southern Variscan belt. Whole-rock major and trace element geochemistry was combined with zircon dating using206Pb/238U by LA‒ICP‒MS to improve the understanding of this key-target of the European Southern Variscides. Geochemical data show that protoliths of the mafic eclogites are typical MORBs, while REE and HFSE patterns suggest an E-MORB affinity. However, the geochemical study shows several signs of crustal contamination that increases with the degree of retrogression. A comparison with Sardinian eclogites, which belong to the same Variscan microplate, namely, “MECS” (Maures-Estérel-Corsica-Sardinia), demonstrates that the eclogites are included in migmatites, which is the case for the studied samples, are the most contaminated. The Maures-Tanneron mafic eclogites represent the remnant of an oceanic basaltic crust. Zircon cores display homogeneous Th/U ratios (0.3–0.4), which are consistent with a magmatic origin, and define an age peak at 499.5 ± 2.9 Ma that is interpreted as the most likely emplacement age of the basaltic protolith. This age suggests that this protolith was part of an oceanic floor that was older than the Rheic Ocean and located to the north of the Gondwana active continental margin as predicted by recent unified full plate reconstruction models. Although the studied eclogites are retrogressed, the study of mineral inclusions trapped in garnets combined with thermodynamic modelling yields aP−Trange of 17.2–18.5 kbar and 640–660 °C, which is consistent with the standard oceanic subduction palaeo-geotherm. These new data suggest that eclogites recognized in the “MECS” Variscan microplate represent the closure of oceanic domains of different ages (Cambrian or Ordovician).
Research on AGC control performance optimization and application of 135MW coal-fired unit
Authors: Ding Yuming , Zhang Li , Cheng Weikun , Zhang Fang
Published: March 2023

This paper studies the corresponding performance optimization of unit coordinated control system. Combined with the actual operation of the unit, targeted optimization strategies are formulated and implemented for the main parameters such as active power, main steam pressure, feed water flow, main steam temperature and furnace pressure. After long-term tracking of operation and repeated adjustment of relevant control parameters, a more reasonable optimization effect is finally obtained, and the regulation performance of the unit coordinated control system meets the AGC input conditions.