bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Nickel-copper-cobalt mixed oxide electrode material for high performance asymmetric supercapacitor
Authors: Manikandan M. , Manikandan E. , Swetha V. , Kurpaa S. , Vijay Sukkrishvar , Kiruthika V.
Published: May 2024

Nickel copper cobalt oxide (NiCuCoO) ternary metal oxide nanoparticles were synthesized by employing the hydrothermal method. NiCuCoO electrode demonstrates a specified capacity of 596 C g−1 at 1 A g−1, high capacitance retaining of 99% even if 1000 sequences at the density of current 10 A g−1, and significant extended cyclic strength over 1000 sequences. The gathered asymmetric supercapacitor (ASC) tool via NiCuCoO as the cathode and activated carbon as anode materials achieve a specified capacity of 168 C g−1 at a current density of 1 Ag−1, an excellent capacity retaining of 95% even later than 5000 sequences at a density of current 10 A g−1. The fabricated device exhibits a high density of energy and power is 96 Wh kg−1 and 841 W kg−1. The prepared material confirms an excellent capacitance routine, so this work represents for a next-generation energy storage device.
PEG-crosslinked O-carboxymethyl chitosan films with degradability and antibacterial activity for food packaging
Authors: Yang Bing , Liu Baoliang , Gao Yuanyuan , Wei Junjie , Li Gang , Zhang Hui , Wang Linlin , Hou Zhaosheng
Published: May 2024

This study developed a kind of PEG-crosslinked O-carboxymethyl chitosan (O-CMC–PEG) with various PEG content for food packaging. The crosslinking agent of isocyanate-terminated PEG was firstly synthesized by a simple condensation reaction between PEG and excess diisocyanate, then the crosslink between O-carboxymethyl chitosan (O-CMC) and crosslinking agent occurred under mild conditions to produce O-CMC–PEG with a crosslinked structure linked by urea bonds. FT-IR and 1H NMR techniques were utilized to confirm the chemical structures of the crosslinking agent and O-CMC–PEGs. Extensive research was conducted to investigate the impact of the PEG content (or crosslinking degree) on the physicochemical characteristics of the casted O-CMC–PEG films. The results illuminated that crosslinking and components compatibility could improve their tensile features and water vapor barrier performance, while high PEG content played the inverse effects due to the microphase separation between PEG and O-CMC segments. The in vitro degradation rate and water sensitivity primarily depended on the crosslinking degree in comparison with the PEG content. Furthermore, caused by the remaining –NH2 groups of O-CMC, the films demonstrated antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. When the PEG content was 6% (medium crosslinking degree), the prepared O-CMC–PEG−6% film possessed optimal tensile features, high water resistance, appropriate degradation rate, low water vapor transmission rate and fine broad-spectrum antibacterial capacity, manifesting a great potential for application in food packaging to extend the shelf life.
Moisture-induced power generator fabricated on a lateral field-excited quartz resonator
Authors: Baek Hyerim , Choi Jihun , Jeon Sangmin
Published: May 2024

We fabricated a moisture-induced power generator on a lateral field-excited quartz resonator to simultaneously measure changes in mass and voltage generation during water vapor adsorption. Circularly interdigitated gold electrodes were vacuum deposited on the top surface and used to measure changes in mass, and two symmetric semicircular gold electrodes were vacuum deposited on the bottom surface and used to measure changes in voltage generation. After coating a thin film of a mixture comprising sodium alginate, carbon black, and polyvinyl alcohol (SCP) on the top surface, an electric field was applied to create a concentration gradient of sodium ions between the interdigitated electrodes. The changes in the resonant frequency and voltage generation of the SCP-coated quartz resonator were measured simultaneously under various relative humidity conditions. The results revealed, for the first time, three distinct voltage-generation regions during moisture adsorption: (i) a region of negligible voltage generation, (ii) that of an increase in voltage generation, and (iii) that of a decrease in voltage generation.
A DFTB study on the electronic response of encapsulated DNA nucleobases onto chiral CNTs as a sequencer
Authors: Monavari Seyyed Mostafa , Memarian Nafiseh
Published: May 2024

Sequencing the DNA nucleobases is essential in the diagnosis and treatment of many diseases related to human genes. In this article, the encapsulation of DNA nucleobases with some of the important synthesized chiral (7, 6), (8, 6), and (10, 8) carbon nanotubes were investigated. The structures were modeled by applying density functional theory based on tight binding method (DFTB) by considering semi-empirical basis sets. Encapsulating DNA nucleobases on the inside of CNTs caused changes in the electronic properties of the selected chiral CNTs. The results confirmed that van der Waals (vdW) interactions, π-orbitals interactions, non-bonded electron pairs, and the presence of high electronegative atoms are the key factors for these changes. The result of electronic parameters showed that among the CNTs, CNT (8, 6) is a suitable choice in sequencing guanine (G) and cytosine (C) DNA nucleobases. However, they are not able to sequence adenine (A) and thymine (T). According to the band gap energy engineering approach and absorption energy, the presence of G and C DNA nucleobases decreased the band gap energy of CNTs. Hence selected CNTs suggested as biosensor substrates for sequencing G and C DNA nucleobases.
Effect of nano-graphene lubricating oil on particulate matter of a diesel engine
Authors: Kuang Xin , Yang Xiping , Fu Hao , Li Shengyong , Bian Hua
Published: May 2024

Nano-graphene lubricating oil with appropriate concentration shows excellent performance in reducing friction and wear under different working conditions of diesel engines, and has been widely concerned. Lubricating oil has a significant impact on particulate matter (PM) emissions. At present, there are few studies on the impact of nano-graphene lubricating oil on the physicochemical properties of PM. In order to comprehensively evaluate the impact of nano-graphene lubricating oil on diesel engines, this paper mainly focused on the effects of lubricating oil nano-graphene additives on the particle size distribution and physicochemical properties of PM. The results show that, compared with pure lubricating oil, the total number of nuclear PM and accumulated PM of nano-graphene lubricating oil is significantly increased. The fractal dimension of PM of nano-graphene lubricating oil increases and its structure becomes more compact. The average fringe separation distance of basic carbon particles decreases, the average fringe length increases. The degree of ordering and graphitization of basic carbon particles are higher. The fringe tortuosity of basic carbon particles decreases, and the fluctuation of carbon layer structure of basic carbon particles decreases. Aliphatic substances in PM are basically unchanged, aromatic components and oxygen functional groups increase. The initial PM oxidation temperature and burnout temperature increase, the maximum oxidation rate temperature and combustion characteristic index decrease, and the activation energy increases, making it more difficult to oxidize. This was mainly caused by the higher graphitization degree of PM of nano-graphene lubricating oil and the increased content of aromatic substances.
Association of hepatic steatosis and liver fibrosis with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults
Authors: Zheng Dayang , Liu Xiang , Zeng Wei , Zhou Wangyan , Zhou Chunxiang
Published: May 2024

With high prevalence and substantial mortality, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are significant public health concerns. Utilizing a large, population-based dataset from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, our study probes the relationship between COPD prevalence and hepatic steatosis and fibrosis, as measured by Vibration-Controlled Transient Elastography. We analyzed data from 693 individuals with COPD and 7229 without. Through weighted multivariate logistic regression analysis, a restricted cubic spline curve, and threshold effect analysis, we investigated the correlation between the severity of hepatic steatosis and fibrosis and the presence of COPD. Our findings revealed a positive correlation between the controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) and COPD prevalence [OR = 1.03 (95% CI 1.01, 1.05)], even after multivariate adjustment. Furthermore, we observed a U-shaped association between CAP and COPD, where the inflection point, CAP value of 264.85 dB/m, corresponded to the lowest COPD prevalence. Our study emphasizes a substantial and complex link between hepatic steatosis and COPD. These findings urge healthcare professionals to factor liver health into COPD management and prompt further exploration into the underlying mechanisms. This could pave the way for the development of improved prevention and treatment strategies.
Conservation units alone are insufficient to protect Brazilian Amazonian chelonians
Authors: Sousa Loyriane Moura , Correia Letícia Lima , Alexandre Rafaela Jemely Rodrigues , Pena Simone Almeida , Vieira Thiago Bernardi
Published: May 2024

The creation of protected areas (PAs) is not always based on science; consequently, some aquatic species may not receive the same level of protection as terrestrial ones. The objective of this study was to identify priority areas for the conservation of chelonians in the Brazilian Amazon basin and assess the contribution of PAs, distinguishing between Full Protection Areas, Sustainable Use Areas, and Indigenous Lands for group protection. The entire species modeling procedure was carried out using Species Distribution Models. Location records were obtained from platforms such as SpeciesLink, GBIF, the Hydroatlas database, and WorldClim for bioclimatic variables adjusted with algorithms like Maximum Entropy, Random Forest, Support Vector Machine, and Gaussian-Bayesian. Indigenous lands cover more than 50% of the distribution areas of chelonian species in the Brazilian Amazon. Protected areas with higher conservation importance (Full Protection Areas and Sustainable Use Areas) hold less than 15% of the combined species distribution. Researchers face significant challenges when making decisions with models, especially in conservation efforts involving diverse taxa that differ significantly from one another within a group of individuals.
Coinfection frequency in water flea populations is a mere reflection of parasite diversity
Authors: Halle Snir , Hirshberg Ofir , Manzi Florent , Wolinska Justyna , Ben-Ami Frida
Published: May 2024

In nature, parasite species often coinfect the same host. Yet, it is not clear what drives the natural dynamics of coinfection prevalence. The prevalence of coinfections might be affected by interactions among coinfecting species, or simply derive from parasite diversity. Identifying the relative impact of these parameters is crucial for understanding patterns of coinfections. We studied the occurrence and likelihood of coinfections in natural populations of water fleas (Daphnia magna). Coinfection prevalence was within the bounds expected by chance and parasite diversity had a strong positive effect on the likelihood of coinfections. Additionally, coinfection prevalence increased over the season and became as common as a single infection. Our results demonstrate how patterns of coinfection, and particularly their temporal variation, are affected by overlapping epidemics of different parasites. We suggest that monitoring parasite diversity can help predict where and when coinfection prevalence will be high, potentially leading to increased health risks to their hosts.
MSC-derived exosomal miR-140-3p improves cognitive dysfunction in sepsis-associated encephalopathy by HMGB1 and S-lactoylglutathione metabolism
Authors: Ma Ying , She Xingguo , Liu Yang , Qin Xian
Published: May 2024

MiRNAs in mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs)-derived exosome (MSCs-exo) play an important role in the treatment of sepsis. We explored the mechanism through which MSCs-exo influences cognitive impairment in sepsis-associated encephalopathy (SAE). Here, we show that miR-140-3p targeted Hmgb1. MSCs-exo plus miR-140-3p mimic (Exo) and antibiotic imipenem/cilastatin (ABX) improve survival, weight, and cognitive impairment in cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) mice. Exo and ABX inhibit high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), IBA-1, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, iNOS, TNF-α, p65/p-p65, NLRP3, Caspase 1, and GSDMD-N levels. In addition, Exo upregulates S-lactoylglutathione levels in the hippocampus of CLP mice. Our data further demonstrates that Exo and S-lactoylglutathione increase GSH levels in LPS-induced HMC3 cells and decrease LD and GLO2 levels, inhibiting inflammatory responses and pyroptosis. These findings suggest that MSCs-exo-mediated delivery of miR-140-3p ameliorates cognitive impairment in mice with SAE by HMGB1 and S-lactoylglutathione metabolism, providing potential therapeutic targets for the clinical treatment of SAE.
Structural basis for the regulation of plant transcription factor WRKY33 by the VQ protein SIB1
Authors: Dong Xu , Yu Lulu , Zhang Qiang , Yang Ju , Gong Zhou , Niu Xiaogang , Li Hongwei , Zhang Xu , Liu Maili , Jin Changwen , Hu Yunfei
Published: May 2024

The WRKY transcription factors play essential roles in a variety of plant signaling pathways associated with biotic and abiotic stress response. The transcriptional activity of many WRKY members are regulated by a class of intrinsically disordered VQ proteins. While it is known that VQ proteins interact with the WRKY DNA-binding domains (DBDs), also termed as the WRKY domains, structural information regarding VQ-WRKY interaction is lacking and the regulation mechanism remains unknown. Herein we report a solution NMR study of the interaction between Arabidopsis WRKY33 and its regulatory VQ protein partner SIB1. We uncover a SIB1 minimal sequence neccessary for forming a stable complex with WRKY33 DBD, which comprises not only the consensus “FxxhVQxhTG” VQ motif but also its preceding region. We demonstrate that the βN-strand and the extended βN-β1 loop of WRKY33 DBD form the SIB1 docking site, and build a structural model of the complex based on the NMR paramagnetic relaxation enhancement and mutagenesis data. Based on this model, we further identify a cluster of positively-charged residues in the N-terminal region of SIB1 to be essential for the formation of a SIB1-WRKY33-DNA ternary complex. These results provide a framework for the mechanism of SIB1-enhanced WRKY33 transcriptional activity.
Growth phase-dependent reorganization of cryptophyte photosystem I antennae
Authors: Zhang Shumeng , Si Long , Su Xiaodong , Zhao Xuelin , An Xiaomin , Li Mei
Published: May 2024

Photosynthetic cryptophytes are eukaryotic algae that utilize membrane-embedded chlorophyll a/c binding proteins (CACs) and lumen-localized phycobiliproteins (PBPs) as their light-harvesting antennae. Cryptophytes go through logarithmic and stationary growth phases, and may adjust their light-harvesting capability according to their particular growth state. How cryptophytes change the type/arrangement of the photosynthetic antenna proteins to regulate their light-harvesting remains unknown. Here we solve four structures of cryptophyte photosystem I (PSI) bound with CACs that show the rearrangement of CACs at different growth phases. We identify a cryptophyte-unique protein, PsaQ, which harbors two chlorophyll molecules. PsaQ specifically binds to the lumenal region of PSI during logarithmic growth phase and may assist the association of PBPs with photosystems and energy transfer from PBPs to photosystems.
Self-reverting vortices in chiral active matter
Authors: Caprini L. , Liebchen B. , Löwen H.
Published: May 2024

There is currently a strong interest in the collective behavior of chiral active particles that can propel and rotate themselves. In the presence of alignment interactions for many chiral particles, chiral self-propulsion can induce vortex patterns in the velocity fields. However, these emerging patterns are non-permanent, and do not induce global vorticity. Here we combine theoretical arguments and computer simulations to predict a so-far unknown class of collective behavior. We show that, for chiral active particles, vortices with significant dynamical coherence emerge spontaneously. They originate from the interplay between attraction interactions and chirality in the absence of alignment interactions. Depending on parameters, the vortices can either feature a constant vorticity or a vorticity that oscillates periodically in time, resulting in self-reverting vortices. Our results may guide future experiments to realize customized collective phenomena such as spontaneously rotating gears and patterns with a self-reverting order.
Teleconnection of the Quasi-biennial oscillation with boreal winter surface climate in Eurasia and North America
Authors: Kumar Vinay , Hitchman Matthew H. , Du Wenyuan , Dhaka S. K. , Yoden Shigeo
Published: May 2024

An improved understanding of dynamical coupling from regional to global scales via tropospheric or stratospheric region can be helpful in improving seasonal forecasts for a given region of interest. Here we investigate dynamical coupling between the equatorial stratospheric Quasi-biennial oscillation and the boreal winter surface climate of the Northern Hemisphere mid and high latitudes using 42 years of data (1979–2020). For neutral El Niño Southern Oscillation periods, the Quasi-biennial oscillation westerly phase at 70 hPa favors high sea level pressure in the polar region, colder conditions and deeper snow over Eurasia and North America, and the opposite effects for the easterly phase. When Quasi-biennial oscillation anomalies arrive near the tropopause, it is observed that planetary wave activity is enhanced towards to extratropical region during westerly phase and reduced during easterly phase. This teleconnection pathway via the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere to the high latitude surface is independent of the “stratospheric pathway” (Holton-Tan mechanism). Diagnosis of this pathway can help to improve understanding of sub-seasonal to seasonal variations, and long-range forecasting over Eurasia and North America.
A theoretical study on the activity and selectivity of IDO/TDO inhibitors
Authors: Wujieti Baerlike , Feng Xinping , Liu Erxia , Li Deqing , Hao Mingtian , Zhou Luqi , Cui Wei
Published: May 2024

This research constructed a complete process from enzyme (IDO/TDO) conformational activation to inhibitor binding/dissociation and used the thermodynamic and kinetic data as clues to verify the control mechanism of IDO/TDO on inhibitor selectivity.
A metal–phenolic coordination framework nanozyme exhibits dual enzyme mimicking activity and its application is effective for colorimetric detection of biomolecules
Authors: Chigozie Aham Emmanuel , Ravikumar A. , Yang Xiaofeng , Tamilselvan G. , Deng Yibin , Arunjegan A. , Li Xuesong , Hu Zhang , Zhang Zhen
Published: May 2024

Biomolecules play vital roles in many biological processes and diseases, making their identification crucial.
In-depth characterization of phosphate intercalated Mg Al Layered double hydroxides and study of the PO4 release properties
Authors: Jourdain Alexandra , Taviot-Gueho Christine , Nielsen Ulla Gro , Prévot Vanessa , Forano Claude
Published: May 2024

Phosphate-loaded MgAl LDH demonstrates adjustable and consistent phosphate release properties, which are heavily influenced by various physicochemical parameters.
Advancements in the synthesis of polyoxygenated oxepanes and thiepanes for applications to natural products
Authors: Pote Aditya R. , Weierbach Shayne M. , Peczuh Mark W. , Lambert Kyle M.
Published: May 2024

Oxepanes and thiepanes are central motifs and tenants of many biologically important molecules. This comprehensive review covers synthetic methods for their preparation and use in the total synthesis of polyoxygenated oxepane natural products.
Rapid solar-driven atmospheric water-harvesting with MAF-4-derived nitrogen-doped nanoporous carbon
Authors: Feng Jin-Hua , Lu Feng , Chen Zhen , Jia Miao-Miao , Chen Yi-Le , Lin Wei-Hai , Wu Qing-Yun , Li Yi , Xue Ming , Chen Xiao-Ming
Published: May 2024

A MOF-derived nanoporous carbon (NPCMAF-4-800) with multiple N-doped sites, considerable porous characteristics and inherent photothermal properties demonstrated a superior water-production rate under a relatively arid climate.
Semi-crystalline polymers with supramolecular synergistic interactions: from mechanical toughening to dynamic smart materials
Authors: Shi Chen-Yu , Qin Wen-Yu , Qu Da-Hui
Published: May 2024

The synergy of supramolecular interactions and covalent polymer chains enables semi-crystalline polymers with enhanced mechanical performance and dynamic adaptivity.
Investigation of a chondroitin sulfate-based bioactive coating for neural interface applications
Authors: Dhawan Vaishnavi , Martin Paige Nicole , Hu Xiaoming , Cui Xinyan Tracy
Published: May 2024

Chondroitin sulfate-based bioactive coating improves neuronal density and decreases biofouling and acute inflammation of neural interface devices.
Boosting the Transferability of Ensemble Adversarial Attack via Stochastic Average Variance Descent
Authors: Zhao Lei , Liu Zhizhi , Wu Sixing , Chen Wei , Wu Liwen , Pu Bin , Yao Shaowen
Published: May 2024

Adversarial examples have the property of transferring across models, which has created a great threat for deep learning models. To reveal the shortcomings in the existing deep learning models, the method of the ensemble has been introduced to the generating of transferable adversarial examples. However, most of the model ensemble attacks directly combine the different models’ output but ignore the large differences in optimization direction of them, which severely limits the transfer attack ability. In this work, we propose a new kind of ensemble attack method called stochastic average ensemble attack. Unlike the existing approach of averaging the outputs of each model as an integrated output, we continuously optimize the ensemble gradient in an internal loop using the model history gradient and the average gradient of different models. In this way, the adversarial examples can be updated in a more appropriate direction and make the crafted adversarial examples more transferable. Experimental results on ImageNet show that our method generates highly transferable adversarial examples and outperforms existing methods.
Interactive learning of natural sign language with radar
Authors: Kurtoğlu Emre , DeHaan Kenneth , Pezzarossi Caroline Kobek , Griffin Darrin J. , Crawford Chris , Gurbuz Sevgi Z.
Published: May 2024

Over the past decade, there have been great advancements in radio frequency sensor technology for human–computer interaction applications, such as gesture recognition, and human activity recognition more broadly. While there is a significant amount of study on these topics, in most cases, experimental data are acquired in controlled settings by directing participants what motion to articulate. However, especially for communicative motions, such as sign language, such directed data sets do not accurately capture natural, in situ articulations. This results in a difference in the distribution of directed American Sign Language (ASL) versus natural ASL, which severely degrades natural sign language recognition in real‐world scenarios. To overcome these challenges and acquire more representative data for training deep models, the authors develop an interactive gaming environment, ChessSIGN, which records video and radar data of participants as they play the game without any external direction. The authors investigate various ways of generating synthetic samples from directed ASL data, but show that ultimately such data does not offer much improvement over just initialising using imagery from ImageNet. In contrast, an interactive learning paradigm is proposed by the authors in which model training is shown to improve as more and more natural ASL samples are acquired and augmented via synthetic samples generated from a physics‐aware generative adversarial network. The authors show that the proposed approach enables the recognition of natural ASL in a real‐world setting, achieving an accuracy of 69% for 29 ASL signs—a 60% improvement over conventional training with directed ASL data.
Exploration of morphological coherence in open clusters with a “core-shell” structure
Authors: Hu Qingshun , Zhang Yu , Qin Songmei , Zhong Jing , Chen Li , Luo Yangping
Published: May 2024

Context. The morphology of open clusters plays a major role in the study of their dynamic evolution. The study of their morphological coherence, namely, the three-dimensional (3D) difference between the inner and outer morphologies of open clusters, allows us to obtain a better understanding of the morphological evolution of open clusters.

Aims. We aim to investigate the morphological coherence of 132 open clusters with up to 1 kpc from the Sun in the three-dimensional (3D) space within the heliocentric cartesian coordinate frame. The 132 open clusters have a 3D core-shell structure and conform to the ellipsoidal model, with all of them coming from a catalog of publicly available clusters in the literature.

Methods. We employed the ellipsoid fitting method to delineate the 3D spatial structure of the sample clusters, while using the morphological dislocation (MD) defined in our previous work and the ellipticity ratio (ER) of the clusters’ inner and outer structures to characterize the morphological coherence of the sample clusters.

Results. The results show an inverse correlation between the ER of the sample clusters and the number of their members, indicating that sample clusters with a much more elliptical external morphology than internal shape generally tend to host a large number of members. Meanwhile, a slight shrinking of the MD of the sample clusters with their members’ number may shed light on the significant role of the gravitational binding of the sample clusters in maintaining their morphological stability. Moreover, there are no correlations between the MD and ER of the sample clusters and their age. They are also not significantly correlated with the X-axis, the Y-axis, their orbital eccentricities, and the radial and vertical forces on them. However, the ER of the sample clusters displays some fluctuations in the distributions between it and the above covariates, implying that the morphologies of the sample clusters are sensitive to the external environment if sample effects are not taken into account. Finally, the analysis of the 3D spatial shapes of sample clusters with a small ER or a large ER demonstrates that the number of members lays an important foundation for forming a dense internal system for sample clusters. At the same time, the MD of the sample clusters can serve well as an indicator of their morphological stability, which is built upon a certain amount of member stars.

Conclusions. We present a new insight into the morphological coherence of open clusters, attributed to the combination of their gravitational binding capacity and external environmental perturbations.
Time-dependent, long-term hydrodynamic simulations of the inner protoplanetary disk
Authors: Cecil M. , Gehrig L. , Steiner D.
Published: May 2024

Context. The final stages of a protoplanetary disk are essential for our understanding of the formation and evolution of planets. Photoevaporation is an important mechanism that contributes to the dispersal of an accretion disk and has significant consequences for the disk’s lifetime. However, the combined effects of photoevaporation and star-disk interaction have not been investigated in previous studies.

Aims. A photoevaporative disk evolution model including a detailed formulation of the inner star-disk interaction region will improve the understanding of the final stages of disk evolution.

Methods. We combined an implicit disk evolution model with a photoevaporative mass-loss profile. By including the innermost disk regions down to 0.01 AU, we could calculate the star-disk interaction, the stellar spin evolution, and the transition from an accreting disk to the propeller regime self-consistently. Starting from an early Class II star-disk system (with an age of 1 Myr), we calculated the long-term evolution of the system until the disk becomes almost completely dissolved.

Results. Photoevaporation has a significant effect on disk structure and evolution. The radial extent of the dead zone decreases, and the number of episodic accretion events (outbursts) is reduced by high stellar X-ray luminosities. Reasonable accretion rates (>10−8 M⊙yr) in combination with photoevaporative gaps are possible for a dead zone that is still massive enough to develop episodic accretion events. Furthermore, the stellar spin evolution during the Class II evolution is less affected by the star-disk interaction in the case of high X-ray luminosities.

Conclusions. Our results suggest that the formation of planets, especially habitable planets, in the dead zone is strongly impaired in the case of strong X-ray luminosities. Additionally, the importance of the star-disk interaction during the Class II phase with respect to the stellar spin evolution is reduced.
Synergistic anxiolytic efficacy exploring the combined effects of
diazepam and zinc chloride in wistar albino rats
Authors: Naik Vishwani V. , Desai Vedita Hegde , Noronha Sam
Published: May 2024

Combinations of medications are frequently employed when their effects are
similar. Beyond aiding in the reduction of medication dosages, this approach may
yield additional positive outcomes. Studies have shown that zinc can mitigate
anxiety-related behavior in laboratory animals. This study aimed to investigate
the potential stabilizing effects of zinc chloride and diazepam in Wistar albino
rats.

Five groups, each comprising six animals. Test groups included two combinations
of zinc chloride and diazepam, each with two different doses of diazepam (1 and
2 mg/kg) and 10 mg/kg of zinc chloride. Four established anxiety models—the
Elevated Plus Maze (EPM), the hole board, the light and dark box, and the mirror
chamber—were employed to assess the anxiolytic effects. The combination of zinc
chloride and diazepam proved to be more effective than the individual doses of
zinc chloride and diazepam, indicating enhanced anxiolytic effects.
Remote-Carbonyl-Directed Consecutive Arylation of Terminal Alkenes for the Synthesis of Tetrasubstituted Olefins
Authors: Du Yu , Su Weiping , Li Kun , Luan Runze
Published: May 2024

The highly efficient synthesis of all-carbon tetrasubstituted olefins has been a challenge for decades, especially of multi-aryl-substituted olefins which are widely used in functional organic materials and pharmaceuticals. This work presents a carbonyl-directed palladium-catalyzed consecutive arylation of terminal alkenes with aryl iodides under mild conditions, in which a series of triarylated tetrasubstituted olefins were obtained in moderate yields. Because a weak chelation effect is generally difficult to support such a thorough trifold Heck arylation, and β-trans-selective alkenyl C–H activation cannot be achieved via a twisted endo-metallocyclic intermediate, the key to success is the compatibility between several mechanisms, including Heck reaction, C–H activation and E/Z-isomerization. Here, the judicious selection of a flexible-alkyl-chain-tethered carbonyl group seems to be critical, as it provides a proper chelation effect that not only assists distal alkenyl functionalization or isomerization, but also avoids byproducts caused by other possible β-H elimination or migration. The strategy developed herein greatly streamlines the preparation of the target molecules, and the protocol covers a range of readily available terminal alkenes bearing a native directing group (i.e., aldehyde, ketone and ester) and aryl iodides.
Synthesis of Dibenzo[b,h][1,5]naphthyridin-7(12H)-ones: The Pictet–Spengler Reaction versus a Rearrangement of 4-Phenyl[1,3]oxazolo[4,5-c]quinolines
Authors: Fisyuk Alexander S. , Shatsauskas Anton L. , Kirnosov Sergey A. , Keyn Ekaterina S. , Shuvalov Vladislav Yu. , Kostyuchenko Anastasia S.
Published: May 2024

Two approaches were proposed for the synthesis of dibenzo[b,h][1,5]naphthyridin-7(12H)-ones. The one-step method based on the Pictet–Spengler reaction of 3-amino-2-phenylquinolin-4(1H)-one with aromatic aldehydes requires heating in a strong acidic media, which leads to significant limitations on the possible products. The second approach is based on the conversion of 3-amino-2-phenylquinolin-4(1H)-one to 4-phenyl[1,3]oxazolo[4,5-c]quinolines followed by rearrangement under the action of AlCl3. A significant advantage of the two-step synthesis is the possibility of obtaining a wider range of dibenzo[b,h][1,5]naphthyridin-7(12H)-ones, including those not available using the Pictet–Spengler reaction.
Brain Drain: A Cross-Sectional Study Evaluating Migration Intentions of Neurosurgery Trainees in Pakistan
Authors: Shakir Muhammad , Altaf Ahmed , Irshad Hammad Atif , Khan Muhammad Ali Akbar , Enam Syed Ather
Published: May 2024

Background Pakistan has a significant proportion of medical graduates who intend to leave the country for better opportunities abroad, leading to a brain drain. However, the push and pull factors within neurosurgery remain unexplored, emphasizing the need for evaluation to enact policy changes.

Materials and Methods We conducted a nationwide survey across 22 College of Physicians and Surgeons of Pakistan accredited neurosurgery training centers in all provinces of Pakistan. SPSS version 26 and STATA 15 were used for data analysis.

Results We collected responses from 120 neurosurgery trainees across Pakistan. Trainees were categorized into two groups: those intending to leave (64%) and those intending to stay (36%) in Pakistan. A significant association was observed between the availability of fellowship training in the residents' hospital and the decision to leave or remain in Pakistan (p = 0.034). About 67.5% of our respondents did not have any publication, and among the intention to leave group, a greater percentage had academic involvement, when compared with the stay group. A significant association (p = 0.012) was also observed between the decision to leave or remain in Pakistan and the number of publications in nonindexed journals.

Conclusion There remains a need for improvement in the standard of training provided by neurosurgery programs across the country. Our study found that disparities in research and academic exposure, as well as the lack of fellowship opportunities, may serve as stimuli for residents to leave Pakistan.
Charcot Arthropathy of the Shoulder Associated with Syringomyelia: A Report of 2 Cases
Authors: Rodrigues Mateus de Sousa , Coelho Camila Maciel Martins , Pereira Alexsandro da Silva , Neto Fernanda Tavares , Silva Wanderson Ricardo Serapião da , Neto Heverty Rocha Alves , Maciel Cícero do Juazeiro Job , Lima Cícero Santos de , Feitosa Randson Ranilson Modesto
Published: May 2024

Charcot arthropathy of the shoulder caused by syringomyelia is a unusual degenerative disorder, frequently misdiagnosed and with few cases described in the literature. The diagnosis is made by clinical evaluation and radiological examinations with radiography and magnetic resonance imaging. However, the correct diagnosis and treatment is possible by carefully medical evaluation and can improve patient symptoms. Therefore, this study aimed to report two cases of Charcot arthropathy caused by syringomyelia. After achieving correct neurosurgical evaluation and magnetic resonance imaging, the diagnosis was made. The first case is a 53-year-old man with a click on his right shoulder for at least 12 months, associated with local edema, pain and limitation of joint range of motion. The second is a 45-year-old man with pain in the right upper limb and difficulty moving the joint for at least 24 months, associated with progressive worsening of the collection and edema in the ipsilateral upper limb. Posterior fossa decompression was performed, with symptoms relief after surgery. Posterior fossa decompression is a treatment that seems to be effective in reducing symptoms, especially when the diagnosis is early. However, this type of treatment still remains controversial, requiring further studies.
Is Obstructive Sleep Apnea Associated with Higher Covid-19 Severity?
Authors: Zacarias Laíla Cândida , Torres Danielle Mesquita , Magalhães Samir Câmara , Sobreira-Neto Manoel Alves , Leite Camila Ferreira
Published: May 2024

Objective To investigate the associations between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) severity.

Methods Twelve individuals hospitalized in a Brazilian tertiary hospital diagnosed with COVID-19 by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) underwent respiratory polygraphy.

Results Polygraphic records identified seven participants without obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) (OSA-) and five with OSA (OSA + ). The OSA+ group presented worse peripheral oxygen saturation (77.6% ± 7.89%) than the OSA- group (84.4% ± 2.57%) (p = 0.041). Additionally, the OSA+ group showed greater COVID-19 severity (100%) than the OSA- group (28.57%) (p = 0.013) and required longer oxygen therapy (p = 0.038), but without difference in the length of hospitalization. The OSA+ group also presented higher rates of platelets (p = 0.008) and D-dimer (1,443 ± 897) than the OSA- group (648 ± 263 ng/mL) (p = 0.019).

Conclusion Obstructive sleep apnea in individuals hospitalized due to COVID-19 was associated with higher COVID-19 severity, worse peripheral oxygen saturation, longer oxygen therapy time, and higher platelet and D-dimer rates.
Female Surgeons in Cardiac Surgery: Does the Surgeon's Gender Affect the Outcome of Routine Coronary Artery Bypass Graft and Isolated Aortic Valve Surgery?
Authors: Sido Viyan , Schröter Filip , Rashvand Jacqueline , Ostovar Roya , Chopsonidou Sofia , Albes Johannes M.
Published: May 2024

Background The increasing presence of female doctors in the field of cardiac surgery has raised questions about their surgical quality compared to their male colleagues. Despite their success, female surgeons are still underrepresented in leadership positions, and biases and concerns regarding their performance persist. This study aims to examine whether female surgeons perform worse, equally well, or better than their male counterparts in commonly performed procedures that have a significant number of female patients.

Method A retrospective cohort of patients from 2011 to 2020 who underwent isolated coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) and aortic valve surgery was studied. To compare the surgical quality of men and women, a 1:1 propensity score matching (two groups of 680 patients operated by men and women, respectively, factors: age, logarithm of EuroSCORE (ES), elective, urgent or emergent surgery, isolated aortic valve, or isolated CABG) was performed. Procedure time, bypass time, x-clamp time, hospital stay, and early mortality were compared.

Results After propensity score matching between surgeons of both sexes, patients operated by males (PoM) did not differ from patients operated by females (PoF) in mean age (PoM: 66.72 ± 9.33, PoF: 67.24 ± 9.19 years, p = 0.346), log. ES (PoM: 5.58 ± 7.35, PoF: 5.53 ± 7.26, p = 0.507), or urgency of operation (PoM: 43.09% elective, 48.97% urgent, 7.94% emergency, PoF: 40.88% elective, 55.29% urgent, 3.83% emergency, p = 0.556). This was also the case for male and female patients separately. Female surgeons had higher procedure time (PoM: 224.35 ± 110.54 min; PoF: 265.41 ± 53.60 min), bypass time (PoM: 107.46 ± 45.09 min, PoF: 122.42 ± 36.18 min), and x-clamp time (PoM: 61.45 ± 24.77 min; PoF: 72.76 ± 24.43 min). Hospitalization time (PoM: 15.96 ± 8.12, PoF: 15.98 ± 6.91 days, p = 0,172) as well as early mortality (PoM: 2.21%, PoF: 3.09%, p = 0.328) did not differ significantly. This was also the case for male and female patients separately.

Conclusion Our study reveals that in routine heart surgery, the gender of the surgeon does not impact the success of the operation or the early outcome of patients. Despite taking more time to perform procedures, female surgeons demonstrated comparable surgical outcomes to their male counterparts. It is possible that women's inclination for thoroughness contributes to the longer duration of procedures, while male surgeons may prioritize efficiency. Nevertheless, this difference in duration did not translate into significant differences in primary outcomes following routine cardiac surgery. These findings highlight the importance of recognizing the equal competence of female surgeons and dispelling biases regarding their surgical performance.
Achilles Tendon Rupture Treated with Flexor Digitorum Lateralis Tendon Transposition and Transarticular External Skeletal Fixator in Ouessant Sheep
Authors: Schreiber Kévin , Haudiquet Philippe , Hamon Martin
Published: May 2024

Objective To describe the appositional augmentation of a complete Achilles tendon rupture in Ouessant sheep, using the intact flexor digitorum lateralis tendon, and immobilization with a type II transarticular external skeletal fixator.

Clinical Report A 1-year-old neutered male Ouessant sheep was presented for Achilles tendon rupture and multiple bite wounds, secondary to a dog attack. The Achilles tendon was torn entirely, and a significant 3-cm gaping defect was present. The remnants of the Achilles tendon were debrided and attached using locking-loop and epitendinous sutures. The intact flexor digitorum lateralis tendon was then transposed and secured over the tendinous repair to increase the tendon strength. The bite wounds were closed with a primary repair. Finally, a type II transarticular external skeletal fixator was used to immobilize the tarsocrural joint for 6 weeks.

Results A mild lameness, associated with a decreased range of motion of the tarsocrural joint, was present at the time of external skeletal fixator removal. Four months postoperatively, the lameness had completely resolved. A slight decrease in the range of motion of the tarsocrural joint was conserved.

Clinical Significance In a small ruminant, transposition of the flexor digitorum lateralis was successful for the repair of an Achilles tendon rupture with a large musculotendinous gap and infected open wounds. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first such case described in sheep.
Complete Agenesis of Right Half of Soft Palate—A Case Report
Authors: Agnihotri Ishan , Nayak Bibhuti Bhusan
Published: May 2024

Agenesis of soft palate is an extremely rare occurrence and is usually seen in conjunction with other congenital anomalies like Nager syndrome, Treacher Collins syndrome, and multiple congenital anomalies. Only a handful of isolated complete agenesis of one half of the soft palate has been reported in literature. Despite extensive literature review, incidence of such a case is practically unheard of. We present to you a case checking all the above boxes. We present this case of agenesis of right half of soft palate that was managed by our technique.
Crohn's-like Ileal Pouch Illness and Ileal Pouch Salvage Strategies
Authors: Huang Alex L. , Abeshouse Marnie , Lee Katherine C. , Rinebold Emily , Kayal Maia , Plietz Michael C.
Published: May 2024

De novo Crohn's disease (CD) of the pouch or Crohn's-like Ileal Pouch Illness (CLIPI) is an increasingly common occurrence in an ever-growing ileal pouch population. Although currently undetermined if a subset of classic CD or a completely new entity, it primarily affects the prepouch afferent limb, pouch, and rectal cuff. Symptoms can mimic other more common disorders, such as pouchitis, and requires a thorough workup, including pouchoscopy with biopsy and often cross-sectional imaging, for the diagnosis to be made. There is an increased risk of long-term pouch failure in this population. Treatment is typically dependent upon the disease phenotype with surgical management considered in a step-up fashion. Medical management is primarily performed with “biologics,” such as antitumor necrosis factor agents, although data are limited due to the lack of randomized controlled trials. Surgical management for CLIPI can include endoscopic, anorectal, and abdominal approaches to assist as “pouch-salvage strategies.” The performance of advanced pouch-salvage techniques in the CLIPI population requires careful patient selection and should preferably be performed at high-volume pouch centers.
Concept Recognition and Characterization of Patients Undergoing Resection of Vestibular Schwannoma Using Natural Language Processing
Authors: Marcus Hani J. , Grover Patrick , Williams Simon C. , Noor Kawsar , Sinha Siddharth , Dobson Richard J.B. , Searle Thomas , Funnell Jonathan P. , Hanrahan John G. , Muirhead William R. , Kitchen Neil , Kanona Hala , Khalil Sherif , Saeed Shakeel R.
Published: May 2024

Background Natural language processing (NLP), a subset of artificial intelligence (AI), aims to decipher unstructured human language. This study showcases NLP's application in surgical health care, focusing on vestibular schwannoma (VS). By employing an NLP platform, we identify prevalent text concepts in VS patients' electronic health care records (EHRs), creating concept panels covering symptomatology, comorbidities, and management. Through a case study, we illustrate NLP's potential in predicting postoperative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks.

Methods An NLP model analyzed EHRs of surgically managed VS patients from 2008 to 2018 in a single center. The model underwent unsupervised (trained on one million documents from EHR) and supervised (300 documents annotated in duplicate) learning phases, extracting text concepts and generating concept panels related to symptoms, comorbidities, and management. Statistical analysis correlated concept occurrences with postoperative complications, notably CSF leaks.

Results Analysis included 292 patients' records, yielding 6,901 unique concepts and 360,929 occurrences. Concept panels highlighted key associations with postoperative CSF leaks, including “antibiotics,” “sepsis,” and “intensive care unit admission.” The NLP model demonstrated high accuracy (precision 0.92, recall 0.96, macro F1 0.93).

Conclusion Our NLP model effectively extracted concepts from VS patients' EHRs, facilitating personalized concept panels with diverse applications. NLP shows promise in surgical settings, aiding in early diagnosis, complication prediction, and patient care. Further validation of NLP's predictive capabilities is warranted.