bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Stochastic Controllability of Linear Systems With State Delays
Authors: Klamka Jerzy
Published: April 2007

Stochastic Controllability of Linear Systems With State Delays

A class of finite-dimensional stationary dynamic control systems described by linear stochastic ordinary differential state equations with a single point delay in the state variables is considered. Using a theorem and methods adopted directly from deterministic controllability problems, necessary and sufficient conditions for various kinds of stochastic relative controllability are formulated and proved. It will be demonstrated that under suitable assumptions the relative controllability of an associated deterministic linear dynamic system is equivalent to the stochastic relative exact controllability and the stochastic relative approximate controllability of the original linear stochastic dynamic system. Some remarks and comments on the existing results for the controllability of linear dynamic systems with delays are also presented. Finally, a minimum energy control problem for a stochastic dynamic system is formulated and solved.
Equivalence and Reduction of Delay-Differential Systems
Authors: Boudellioua Mohamed
Published: April 2007

Equivalence and Reduction of Delay-Differential Systems

A new direct method is presented which reduces a given high-order representation of a control system with delays to a first-order form that is encountered in the study of neutral delay-differential systems. Using the polynomial system description (PMD) setting due to Rosenbrock, it is shown that the transformation connecting the original PMD with the first-order form is Fuhrmann's strict system equivalence. This type of system equivalence leaves the transfer function and other relevant structural properties of the original system invariant.
A New Fuzzy Lyapunov Approach to Non-Quadratic Stabilization of Takagi-Sugeno Fuzzy Models
Authors: Abdelmalek Ibtissem , Goléa Noureddine , Hadjili Mohamed
Published: April 2007

A New Fuzzy Lyapunov Approach to Non-Quadratic Stabilization of Takagi-Sugeno Fuzzy Models

In this paper, new non-quadratic stability conditions are derived based on the parallel distributed compensation scheme to stabilize Takagi-Sugeno (T-S) fuzzy systems. We use a non-quadratic Lyapunov function as a fuzzy mixture of multiple quadratic Lyapunov functions. The quadratic Lyapunov functions share the same membership functions with the T-S fuzzy model. The stability conditions we propose are less conservative and stabilize also fuzzy systems which do not admit a quadratic stabilization. The proposed approach is based on two assumptions. The first one relates to a proportional relation between multiple Lyapunov functions and the second one considers an upper bound to the time derivative of the premise membership functions. To illustrate the advantages of our proposal, four examples are given.
Application of Bearing and Distance Trees to the Identification of Landmarks on the Coast
Authors: Praczyk Tomasz
Published: April 2007

Application of Bearing and Distance Trees to the Identification of Landmarks on the Coast

The problem of continuous position availability is one of the most important issues connected with the human activity at sea. Because the availability of satellite navigational systems can be limited in some cases, e.g. during military operations, one has to consider additional methods of acquiring information about the ship's position. In this paper one of these methods is presented, which is based on exploiting landmarks located on a coastline. A navigational radar is used to obtain information about these points. In order to estimate the ship's position by means of a set of landmarks, it is necessary to know their accurate locations. The paper presents a landmark identification method based on the comparison of bearing and distance trees representing pattern points generated from a chart, as well as points extracted from a radar image.
A Federated Approach to Parallel and Distributed Simulation of Complex Systems
Authors: Sikora Andrzej , Niewiadomska-Szynkiewicz Ewa
Published: April 2007

A Federated Approach to Parallel and Distributed Simulation of Complex Systems

The paper describes a Java-based framework called ASimJava that can be used to develop parallel and distributed simulators of complex real-life systems. Some important issues associated with the implementation of parallel and distributed simulations are discussed. Two principal paradigms for constructing simulations today are considered. Particular attention is paid to an approach for federating parallel and distributed simulators. We describe the design, performance and applications of the ASimJava framework. Two practical examples, namely, a simple manufacturing system and computer network simulations are provided to illustrate the effectiveness and range of applications of the presented software tool.
Data Probes, Vertical Trajectories and Classification: A Tentative Study
Authors: Pearson David
Published: April 2007

Data Probes, Vertical Trajectories and Classification: A Tentative Study

In this paper we introduce a method of classification based on data probes. Data points are considered as point masses in space and a probe is simply a particle that is launched into the space. As the probe passes by data clusters, its trajectory will be influenced by the point masses. We use this information to help us to find vertical trajectories. These are trajectories in the input space that are mapped onto the same value in the output space and correspond to the data classes.
A Proposition of Mobile Fractal Image Decompression
Authors: Nikiel Sławomir
Published: April 2007

A Proposition of Mobile Fractal Image Decompression

Multimedia are becoming one of the most important elements of the user interface with regard to the acceptance of modern mobile devices. The multimodal content that is delivered and available for a wide range of mobile telephony terminals is indispensable to bind users to a system and its services. Currently available mobile devices are equipped with multimedia capabilities and decent processing power and storage area. The most crucial factors are then the bandwidth and costs of media transfer. This is particularly visible in mobile gaming, where textures represent the bulk of binary data to be acquired from the content provider. Image textures have traditionally added visual realism to computer graphics. The realism increases with the resolution of textures. This represents a challenge to the limited bandwidth of mobile-oriented systems. The challenge is even more obvious in mobile gaming, where single image depicts a collection of shots or animation cycles for sprites and a backdrop scenery. In order to increase the efficiency of image and image texture transfer, a fractal based compression scheme is proposed. The main idea is to use an asymmetric server-client architecture. The resource demanding compression process is performed on the server side while the client part decompresses highly packed image data. The method offers a very high compression ratio for pictures representing image textures for natural scenes. It aims to minimize the transmission bandwidth that should speed up the downloading process and minimize the cost and time of data transfer. The paper focuses on the implementation of fractal decompression schemes suitable for most mobile devices, and opens a discussion on fractal image models for limited resource applications.
Spatial and temporal variability of Copepoda in the pelagic zone of the Pomeranian Bay (2001-2003)
Authors: Chojnacki Juliusz , Machula Sylwia , Orłowski Andrzej
Published: April 2007

This investigation of Pomeranian Bay waters was conducted from March 2001 to August of 2003 from aboard the r/v Nawigator XXI, which is owned by the Maritime Academy in Szczecin. A total of 147 water samples were collected at 15 stations on three transects in the Pomeranian Bay from Świnoujście, Międzyzdroje, and Dziwnów to the Odra Bank. Zooplankton was sampled with a Bongo type planktonometer Ø = 20 cm with a mesh size of 80 μm during 10 min. filtering hauls in the pelagic zone from the bottom to the surface at an average vessel speed of 3 - 4 knots. The method developed and published by Orłowski was used to transform the large amount of seasonal data for the entire study period into isoline illustrations of the spatial structures in the Pomeranian Bay of mesozooplankton and selected species, namely Acartia bifilosa, Acartia longiremis, Pseudocalanus elongatus, and Temora longicornis. The average mesozooplankton aggregations in ten consecutive seasons at the 15 stations investigated from 2001 to 2003 in the entire Odra estuary area fluctuated from 2,442 to 92,200 ind. m-3. The highest species variety was noted among marine Copepoda, which was the dominant group in virtually every season investigated. Their maximum abundance reached as much as 213,493 ind. m-3. The euryhaline species A. bifilosa occurred throughout the research period and at all stations at an abundance that reached 210,443 ind. m-3. The seasonal succession series were as follows: in spring, the dominants were Acartia spp. and Evadne nordmanni; in summer - Keratella cochlearis, Bosmina coregoni maritima, and A. bifilosa; in fall - T. longicornis and Acartia spp.; in winter - T. longicornis and Centropages hamatus.
Microbiological changes in the environment caused by deep dredging. A case study: post-dredging pit Kuźnica II (Puck Bay)
Authors: Graca Bożena , Dudkowiak Maria
Published: April 2007

In this study psychrophilic, mesophilic and denitrifying bacterial abundances were studied seasonally (summer, autumn, winter and spring) in the water column and surface sediment layer (0-5 cm) in the post dredging pit Kuźnica II and natural areas of Puck Bay. The research was conducted between VI 2001 and III 2003.

In the pit area an increase in mesophilic bacteria and a decrease in denitrifying bacteria numbers were observed, when compared to the natural areas. In the case of the mesophilic bacteria, the increase was visible in the near-bottom waters and surficial sediments during the period of well developed vegetation - in summer and autumn. In the case of denitrifying bacteria, the decrease of number concerned the sediments. Numbers of psychrophilic bacteria in both the natural and dredged areas did not differ significantly over the course of the study.

These results suggest that deep dredging can cause the self-purification potential of the ecosystem to be diminished and induce strong bacteriological pollution.
Sulfur Cycling and the Sulfurization of Humic and Fulvic Acids in the Sediments of the rivers Rupel (Belgium) and Authie (northern France)
Authors: Lojen Sonja , Čermelj Branko , Wartel Michel
Published: April 2007

Sulfur cycling and the sulfurization of humic and fulvic acids were compared in recent sediments from two western European rivers (the heavily polluted River Rupel in Belgium and the pristine River Authie in northern France). The sulfurization of humic and fulvic substrates occurs in both sediments irrespective of organic loading, but the sulfur species added to the organic substrate differ. Some sulphurization of fulvic acid by oxidized S was observed in the strongly reducing sediment of the River Rupel. Humic acids were sulfurized in the sediments of both rivers in these segments with prevailing reducing conditions by reduced S.
The transport and distribution of the river load from the Reda River into the Puck Lagoon (southern Baltic Sea, Poland)
Authors: Szymczak Ewa , Piekarek-Jankowska Halina
Published: April 2007

The main aim of this study was to determine the size of the load carried by the Reda River that was discharged into the sea and the load distribution on the bottom of the Puck Lagoon. Water exchange with the open sea was limited in this shallow reservoir where the average depth was 3.13 m. The input of material was dominated by river transport, whereas abrasion and aeolian processes were insignificant in the total sediment inflow. The Reda River, one of the main rivers flowing into the lagoon, is 44.9 km long and has a catchment area of 485.2 km2. The investigations were conducted between 2001 and 2004 at the Mrzezino hydrological cross-section and at the river mouth in the Puck Lagoon.

The study demonstrated that the Reda River discharged annually approximately 9,900 tons of sediments into the Puck Lagoon, 73% of which was the bed load that in the final course of the river created an underwater accumulation form. The granulometric composition of the deltaic deposits, similar to the bed load, was dominated by coarse-grained sand fractions. The proportion of the aleurolite and pelite fraction was insignificant at less than 1%. The suspended sediment was composed of particles that ranged in size from 0.00045 mm to 0.25 m. Mineral particles were more common than organic ones in the load discharged by the Reda River into the Puck Lagoon and constituted 99% of the bed load.
Cost-Effectiveness of Parathyroid Cryopreservation and Autotransplantation
Authors: Frye C. Corbin , Sullivan Janessa , Sanka Sai Anusha , Smith Eileen R. , Goetz Brian , Brunt L. Michael , Gillanders William , Brown Taylor C. , Olson John A. , Hall Bruce , Pandian T. K.
Published: March 2024

Importance

Delayed autotransplantation of cryopreserved parathyroid tissue (DACP) is the only surgical treatment for permanent postoperative hypoparathyroidism. Studies suggest that only a small minority of cryopreserved samples are ultimately autotransplanted with highly variable outcomes. For these reasons, many have questioned the economic utility of the process, although, to the authors’ knowledge, this has never been formally studied.

Objective

To report the clinical outcomes of parathyroid cryopreservation and DACP at a large academic institution and to determine the cost-effectiveness of this treatment.

Design, Setting, and Participants

An institutional review board–approved, retrospective review of patients at a single institution who underwent DACP over a 17-year period was conducted with a median follow-up of 48.2 months. A forward-looking cost-utility analysis was then performed to determine the economic utility of cryopreservation/DACP vs usual care (monitoring and supplementation). Patients who had parathyroid tissue in cryopreserved storage between August 2005 to September 2022 at a single-center, academic, quaternary care center were identified.

Exposure

Parathyroid cryopreservation and DACP.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Graft functionality, clinical outcomes, and cost utility using a willingness-to-pay threshold of $100 000 per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY).

Results

A total of 591 patients underwent cryopreservation. Of these, 10 patients (1.7%; mean [SD] age, 45.6 [17.9] years; 6 male [60%]) underwent DACP. A minority of autografts (2 [20%]) were subsequently fully functional, one-half (5 [50%]) were partially functional, and 3 (30%) were not functional. The cost-utility model estimated that at a large academic center over 10 years, the additional cost of 591 patients undergoing cryopreservation and 10 patients undergoing autotransplantation would be $618 791.64 (2022 dollars) and would add 8.75 QALYs, resulting in a cost per marginal QALY of $70 719.04, which is less than the common willingness-to-pay threshold of $100 000/QALY.

Conclusions and Relevance

The reimplantation rate of cryopreserved tissue was low (<2%), but when implanted, autografts were at least partially functional 70% of the time. In the first-ever, to the authors’ knowledge, formal cost analysis for this treatment, results of the current model suggest that cryopreservation and autotransplantation were cost-effective compared with the usual care for hypoparathyroidism at a large, academic institution. It is recommended that each surgical center consider whether the economic and logistical commitments necessary for cryopreservation are worthwhile for their individual needs.
Morbidity After Mechanical Bowel Preparation and Oral Antibiotics Prior to Rectal Resection
Authors: Koskenvuo Laura , Lunkka Pipsa , Varpe Pirita , Hyöty Marja , Satokari Reetta , Haapamäki Carola , Lepistö Anna , Sallinen Ville
Published: March 2024

Importance

Surgical site infections (SSIs)—especially anastomotic dehiscence—are major contributors to morbidity and mortality after rectal resection. The role of mechanical and oral antibiotics bowel preparation (MOABP) in preventing complications of rectal resection is currently disputed.

Objective

To assess whether MOABP reduces overall complications and SSIs after elective rectal resection compared with mechanical bowel preparation (MBP) plus placebo.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial was conducted at 3 university hospitals in Finland between March 18, 2020, and October 10, 2022. Patients aged 18 years and older undergoing elective resection with primary anastomosis of a rectal tumor 15 cm or less from the anal verge on magnetic resonance imaging were eligible for inclusion. Outcomes were analyzed using a modified intention-to-treat principle, which included all patients who were randomly allocated to and underwent elective rectal resection with an anastomosis.

Interventions

Patients were stratified according to tumor distance from the anal verge and neoadjuvant treatment given and randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive MOABP with an oral regimen of neomycin and metronidazole (n = 277) or MBP plus matching placebo tablets (n = 288). All study medications were taken the day before surgery, and all patients received intravenous antibiotics approximately 30 minutes before surgery.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The primary outcome was overall cumulative postoperative complications measured using the Comprehensive Complication Index. Key secondary outcomes were SSI and anastomotic dehiscence within 30 days after surgery.

Results

In all, 565 patients were included in the analysis, with 288 in the MBP plus placebo group (median [IQR] age, 69 [62-74] years; 190 males [66.0%]) and 277 in the MOABP group (median [IQR] age, 70 [62-75] years; 158 males [57.0%]). Patients in the MOABP group experienced fewer overall postoperative complications (median [IQR] Comprehensive Complication Index, 0 [0-8.66] vs 8.66 [0-20.92]; Wilcoxon effect size, 0.146; P < .001), fewer SSIs (23 patients [8.3%] vs 48 patients [16.7%]; odds ratio, 0.45 [95% CI, 0.27-0.77]), and fewer anastomotic dehiscences (16 patients [5.8%] vs 39 patients [13.5%]; odds ratio, 0.39 [95% CI, 0.21-0.72]) compared with patients in the MBP plus placebo group.

Conclusions and Relevance

Findings of this randomized clinical trial indicate that MOABP reduced overall postoperative complications as well as rates of SSIs and anastomotic dehiscences in patients undergoing elective rectal resection compared with MBP plus placebo. Based on these findings, MOABP should be considered as standard treatment in patients undergoing elective rectal resection.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04281667
Shorebird habitat selection and foraging behaviour have important implications for management at an internationally important non‐breeding wetland
Authors: Jackson Micha V. , Mott Rowan , Delean Steven , Hunt Brayden J. , Brookes Justin D. , Cassey Phillip , Prowse Thomas A. A.
Published: March 2024

It is imperative to manage wetlands appropriately in the non‐breeding range of migratory shorebirds because their habitat quality impacts survival and reproductive performance. However, it is challenging to measure and relate these parameters to the habitat quality of individual sites because they are influenced by a composite contribution to fitness across all sites used in the annual cycle. Identifying important habitat quality features for shorebirds, and assessing whether management actions aimed at improving habitat quality are effective, poses a substantial challenge. Nonetheless, within a site, shorebird subsite selection and foraging behaviour could reveal variation in habitat quality proxies and suitability.

We developed a field study to investigate habitat selection and habitat quality proxies for shorebirds in the Coorong, an internationally important non‐breeding site in Australia. We examined the abundance of shorebirds among multiple subsites in the wetland and their foraging behaviour in relation to multiple variables (potential habitat area, salinity, prey density, wind, temperature), the first three of which can be influenced by management.

Larger potential habitat area, defined as the combined area of bare mud/sand and shallow water (<20 cm depth), was associated with higher shorebird abundance across subsites with the same shore length, suggesting this is the most important site feature for habitat selection.

Shorebird step rate, which reflects the effort associated with catching prey, was higher at subsites with lower prey density. This suggests that step rate can be used as an indicator of prey availability.

Potential habitat area is strongly positively correlated with shorebird abundance. At sites where water levels can be managed, flows should be regulated so that water levels are not too high (limiting habitat area) or too low (drying out mudflats). However, it is critical that large potential habitat areas that attract shorebirds are productive so that they do not become ecological traps. Management should aim to maintain healthy prey abundance on areas attractive for shorebirds, while also minimising predation and disturbance of shorebirds. Monitoring prey abundance directly can be challenging, but our study shows that shorebird step rate provides a low‐cost indicator of relative macroinvertebrate prey abundance.
Engineering Spin‐Orbit Interactions in Silicon Qubits at the Atomic‐Scale
Authors: Hsueh Yu‐Ling , Keith Daniel , Chung Yousun , Gorman Samuel K. , Kranz Ludwik , Monir Serajum , Kembrey Zachary , Keizer Joris G. , Rahman Rajib , Simmons Michelle Y.
Published: March 2024

Spin‐orbit interactions arise whenever the bulk inversion symmetry and/or structural inversion symmetry of a crystal is broken providing a bridge between a qubit's spin and orbital degree of freedom. While strong interactions can facilitate fast qubit operations by all‐electrical control, they also provide a mechanism to couple charge noise thereby limiting qubit lifetimes. Previously believed to be negligible in bulk silicon, recent silicon nano‐electronic devices have shown larger than bulk spin‐orbit coupling strengths from Dresselhaus and Rashba couplings. Here, it is shown that with precision placement of phosphorus atoms in silicon along the [110] direction (without inversion symmetry) or [111] direction (with inversion symmetry), a wide range of Dresselhaus and Rashba coupling strength can be achieved from zero to 1113 × 10−13eV‐cm. It is shown that with precision placement of phosphorus atoms, the local symmetry (C2v, D2d, and D3d) can be changed to engineer spin‐orbit interactions. Since spin‐orbit interactions affect both qubit operation and lifetimes, understanding their impact is essential for quantum processor design.
Corrosion Engineering of Part‐Per‐Million Single Atom Pt1/Ni(OH)2 Electrocatalyst for PET Upcycling at Ampere‐Level Current Density
Authors: Song Minwei , Wu Yufeng , Zhao Ziyi , Zheng Mengting , Wang Changlong , Lu Jun
Published: March 2024

The plastic waste issue has posed a series of formidable challenges for the ecological environment and human health. While conventional recycling strategies often lead to plastic down‐cycling, the electrochemical strategy of recovering valuable monomers enables an ideal, circular plastic economy. Here a corrosion synthesized single atom Pt1/Ni(OH)2 electrocatalyst with part‐per‐million noble Pt loading for highly efficient and selective upcycling of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) into valuable chemicals (potassium diformate and terephthalic acid) and green hydrogen is reported. Electro‐oxidation of PET hydrolysate, ethylene glycol (EG), to formate is processed with high Faraday efficiency (FE) and selectivity (>90%) at the current density close to 1000 mA cm−2 (1.444 V vs RHE). The in situ spectroscopy and density functional theory calculations provide insights into the mechanism and the understanding of the high efficiency. Remarkably, the electro‐oxidation of EG at the ampere‐level current density is also successfully illustrated by using a membrane‐electrode assembly with high FEs to formate integrated with hydrogen production for 500 h of continuous operation. This process allows valuable chemical production at high space‐time yield and is highly profitable (588–700 $ ton−1 PET), showing an industrial perspective on single‐atom catalysis of electrochemical plastic upcycling.
3D Printed Gelatin Methacrylate Hydrogel‐Based Wearable Thermoelectric Generators
Authors: Hsu Ching‐Chieh , Lin Yen‐Ting , Hong Shao‐Huan , Jeng U‐Ser , Chen Hsin‐Lung , Yu Jiashing , Liu Cheng‐Liang
Published: March 2024

The present study focuses on the utilization of a hydrogel consisting of gelatin methacrylate (GelMA) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as a matrix for hosting the redox couple Fe(CN)63−/4−. The hydrogel exhibits a discernable thermopower (Src) of 3 mV K−1. The beneficial effect of the hydrogel microstructure on the mechanical robustness is demonstrated by small‐angle X‐ray scattering (SAXS). Moreover, the hydrogel is used to construct a 3D printed thermoelectric generator (TEG) consisting of eight p‐type thermoelectric legs, which exhibits commendable thermoelectric properties, including an open‐circuit voltage of 64 mV and a power density of 4.0 mW m−2 under a temperature gradient (ΔT) of 2.5 K. These findings demonstrate that 3D printing both enhances the quality of the interface between the hydrogel and electrode and provides a promising method for a more facile TEG fabrication process with the potential for further applications in low‐grade waste heat harvesting.
Reshaping Phosphatase Substrate Preference for Controlled Biosynthesis Using a “Design–Build–Test–Learn” Framework
Authors: Lu Jiangong , Lv Xueqin , Yu Wenwen , Zhang Jianing , Lu Jianxing , Liu Yanfeng , Li Jianghua , Du Guocheng , Chen Jian , Liu Long
Published: March 2024

Biosynthesis is the application of enzymes in microbial cell factories and has emerged as a promising alternative to chemical synthesis. However, natural enzymes with limited catalytic performance often need to be engineered to meet specific needs through a time‐consuming trial‐and‐error process. This study presents a quantum mechanics (QM)‐incorporated design–build–test–learn (DBTL) framework to rationally design phosphatase BT4131, an enzyme with an ambiguous substrate spectrum involved in N‐acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) biosynthesis. First, mutant M1 (L129Q) is designed using force field‐based methods, resulting in a 1.4‐fold increase in substrate preference (kcat/Km) toward GlcNAc‐6‐phosphate (GlcNAc6P). QM calculations indicate that the shift in substrate preference is caused by a 13.59 kcal mol−1 reduction in activation energy. Furthermore, an iterative computer‐aided design is conducted to stabilize the transition state. As a result, mutant M4 (I49Q/L129Q/G172L) with a 9.5‐fold increase in kcat‐GlcNAc6P/Km‐GlcNAc6P and a 59% decrease in kcat‐Glc6P/Km‐Glc6P is highly desirable compared to the wild type in the GlcNAc‐producing chassis. The GlcNAc titer increases to 217.3 g L−1 with a yield of 0.597 g (g glucose)−1 in a 50‐L bioreactor, representing the highest reported level. Collectively, this DBTL framework provides an easy yet fascinating approach to the rational design of enzymes for industrially viable biocatalysts.
Enhanced Thermoelectric Performance of MnTe by Decoupling of Electrical and Thermal Transports
Authors: Basit Abdul , Xin Jiwu , Luo Yubo , Dai Ji‐Yan Y. , Yang Junyou
Published: March 2024

Lead‐free polycrystalline manganese telluride holds great potential in the development of waste heat recovery due to its fascinating physical properties. However, the poor thermoelectric (TE) performance in the p‐type MnTe alloys always results from their inferior carrier concentration, leading to low power factor and high thermal conductivity which restrict the overall thermoelectric performance. In this work, the problem is solved by decoupling its electrical and thermal transports through the hole donor Ge‐deficiency in MnTe + x mol.% GeTe (0 ≤ x ≤ 4) compounds. Intrinsically, extra GeTe in MnTe + x mol.% GeTe compound offers free charge carriers due to a narrow bandgap comparatively, realizing not only a full assessment of stimulated electrical performance but also an enhanced power factor. Moreover, benefiting from the nano‐precipitates and tweed microstructures, the lattice thermal conductivity effectively reduces due to the intensive phonon scattering accordingly. Ultimately, a maximum ZT of ≈1.2 at 873 K in the 3 mol.% GeTe doped MnTe sample is realized.
Simulating empathy: A qualitative experiential study of embedded resident learners in an empathy curriculum
Authors: Culhane Anna , Martin Jerome , Huston Zachary , Hock Sara M.
Published: March 2024

Objectives

Physician empathy and communication skills are crucial parts of a successful emergency department (ED) interaction. This study aimed to evaluate whether these skills can be improved through a novel curriculum where interns act as patients for their senior residents during simulated ED cases.

Methods

Twenty‐five residents participated in the curriculum. Prior to the cases, participants filled out the Toronto Empathy Questionnaire (TEQ). They then completed three simulated cases, with the 11 interns portraying the patients and the 14 seniors (postgraduate year [PGY]‐2 and PGY‐3 residents) in the physician role. Following the cases, the residents participated in a recorded, structured focus group. At the conclusion of the session participants again filled out the TEQ and answered a Likert questionnaire on their thoughts about the curriculum. Qualitative analysis was used to determine themes from the debriefs.

Results

Twenty‐two residents completed all components of the study. The mean (±SD) TEQ scores pre‐ and postcurriculum for all residents were 46.2 (±4.64) pre and 47.9 (±6.03) post (ns). On qualitative analysis, we derived four major themes: empathy, communication, feedback, and physician experience. The most common subthemes discussed were empathy for the patient situation and the importance of communicating visit expectations. On a 5‐point Likert survey related to the simulated cases, respondents rated comfort providing feedback to their peers (mean ± SD 4.41 ± 0.95) and gaining insight into the patient experience (mean ± SD 4.27 ± 0.83).

Conclusions

The embedded intern exercise was rated well by resident participants, with no observed change in empathy scores. Qualitative analysis identified empathy and communication as major themes. Residents enjoyed this style of simulation and found it realistic.
Benefit of axicabtagene ciloleucel versus chemoimmunotherapy in older patients and/or patients with poor ECOG performance status with relapsed or refractory large B‐cell lymphoma after 2 or more lines of prior therapy
Authors: Lunning Matthew A. , Wang Hai‐lin , Hu Zhen‐Huan , Locke Frederick L. , Siddiqi Tanya , Jacobson Caron A. , Ahmed Sairah , Miklos David B. , Lin Yi , Hill Brian T. , Ghobadi Armin , Neelapu Sattva S. , Westin Jason , Dieyi Chrisopher , Field Polly , Miao Harry , Shahani Shilpa A. , Patel Anik , Spooner Clare , Fu Christine , Muramoto David , Xu Hairong , Pasquini Marcelo C.
Published: March 2024

Axicabtagene ciloleucel (axi‐cel) in trials has demonstrated favorable efficacy compared with historical controls after ≥2 lines of therapy for the treatment of relapsed or refractory (R/R) large B cell lymphoma (LBCL). Herein, we compared the real‐world effectiveness of axi‐cel with efficacy and effectiveness of chemoimmunotherapy (CIT) in patients aged ≥65 years and patients with Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (ECOG PS) of 2. A total of 1146 patients treated with commercial axi‐cel for R/R LBCL with ≥2 lines of prior therapy were included from the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplantation Research prospective observational study, and 469 patients treated with CIT for R/R LBCL after ≥2 lines of prior therapy were included from SCHOLAR‐1 (an international, multicohort, retrospective study). After propensity score matching, at a median follow‐up of 24 months for patients receiving axi‐cel and 60 months for patients receiving CIT, 12‐month overall survival rates were 62% and 28%, respectively (hazard ratio, 0.30 [95% CI, 0.24–0.37]). Objective response rate (ORR) was 76% (complete response [CR] rate 58%) in patients receiving axi‐cel versus 28% (CR rate 16%) for those receiving CIT. A 57% difference in ORR (55% difference in CR rate) favoring axi‐cel over CIT was observed among patients aged ≥65 years. Increased magnitude of benefit in response rates for axi‐cel versus CIT was also observed among patients with ECOG PS = 2. These findings further support the broader use of axi‐cel in older patients and patients with ECOG PS = 2 with R/R LBCL.
Optimized Multilayer Perceptron for Sensorimotor Functional Mapping Based on a Few Minutes of Intracranial Electroencephalogram Data
Authors: Iktimal Alwan , Spencer Dennis D. , Alkawadri Rafeed
Published: March 2024

Using 6‐minute free‐running intracranial‐electroencephalogram (icEEG) during sleep, an optimized multilayer perceptron (MLP) neural network accurately maps the sensorimotor cortex (SM) and identifies the anterior lip of the central sulcus (CS) in intractable epilepsy patients. We calculated 6 performance metrics to evaluate the MLP's efficacy: accuracy, area under the curve (AUC), recall, precision, F1‐scores, and specificity. Each layer had 4 neurons with hyperbolic TanH activation function and 4 with Gaussian distribution function. Conventional 10‐fold cross‐validation was used. Feature extension (ε) and weighted imbalanced data (w) improved MLP performance. ANN NEUROL 2024;96:187–193
Crystal Engineering of MOF‐Derived Bimetallic Oxide Solid Solution Anchored with Au Nanoparticles for Photocatalytic CO2 Reduction to Syngas and C2 Hydrocarbons
Authors: Huang Ning‐Yu , Li Bai , Wu Duojie , Chen Zhen‐Yu , Shao Bing , Chen Di , Zheng Yu‐Tao , Wang Wenjuan , Yang Chunzhen , Gu Meng , Li Lei , Xu Qiang
Published: March 2024

Considering that CO2 reduction is mostly a multielectron reaction, it is necessary for the photocatalysts to integrate multiple catalytic sites and cooperate synergistically to achieve efficient photocatalytic CO2 reduction to various products, such as C2 hydrocarbons. Herein, through crystal engineering, we designed and constructed a metal–organic framework‐derived Zr/Ti bimetallic oxide solid solution support, which was confirmed by X‐ray diffraction, electron microscopy and X‐ray absorption spectroscopy. After anchoring Au nanoparticles, the composite photocatalyst exhibited excellent performances toward photocatalytic CO2 reduction to syngas (H2 and CO production rates of 271.6 and 260.6 μmol g−1 h−1) and even C2 hydrocarbons (C2H4 and C2H6 production rates of 6.80 and 4.05 μmol g−1 h−1). According to the control experiments and theoretical calculations, the strong interaction between bimetallic oxide solid solution support and Au nanoparticles was found to be beneficial for binding intermediates and reducing CO2 reduction, highlighting the synergy effect of the catalytic system with multiple active sites.
Homochiral π‐Rich Covalent Organic Frameworks Enabled Chirality Imprinting in Conjugated Polymers: Confined Polymerization and Chiral Memory from Scratch
Authors: Zhang Xiaofeng , Chen Xinfa , Fu Shiguo , Cao Ziping , Gong Wei , Liu Yan , Cui Yong
Published: March 2024

Optically active π‐conjugated polymers (OACPs) have garnered increasing research interest for their resemblance to biological helices and intriguing chirality‐related functions. Traditional methods for synthesizing involve decorating achiral conjugated polymer architectures with enantiopure side substituents through complex organic synthesis. Here, we report a new approach: the templated synthesis of unsubstituted OACPs via supramolecularly confined polymerizations of achiral monomers within nanopores of 2D or 3D chiral covalent organic frameworks (CCOFs). We show that the chiral π‐rich nanospaces facilitate the in situ enantiospecific polymerization and self‐propagation, akin to nonenzymatic polymerase chain reaction (PCR) system, resulting in chiral imprinting. The stacked polymer chains are kinetically inert enough to memorize the chiral information after liberating from CCOFs, and even after treatment at temperature up to 200 °C. The isolated OACPs demonstrate robust enantiodiscrimination, achieving up to 85 % ee in separating racemic amino acids. This underscores the potential of utilizing CCOFs as templates for supramolecularly imprinting optical activity into CPs, paving the way for synthetic evolution and advanced functional exploration of OACPs.
A facile and efficient strategy for fabrication of silicone rubber foam based on in situ precuring‐supercritical CO2 foaming technology
Authors: Li Donglin , Wei Zi , Li Lifen , Peng Chang , Xu Lunneng , Bi Siwen , Chen Xuhuang , Yu Peng
Published: March 2024

In this work, a facile in situ precuring and supercritical CO2 (sc‐CO2) foaming technology is proposed to fabricate silicone rubber foam (SRF) with a tunable cell structure. Uncured silicone rubber is put into the autoclave to saturate sc‐CO2 directly, which not only shorts the saturation time but also accelerates the curing reaction in the precuring process. In the foaming process, cell nucleation is triggered by rapid release of pressure. The cell structure of SRF samples with cell size range of 9.45 to 128.09 μm, cell density range of 3.5 × 105 cells/cm3 to 5.7 × 108 cells/cm3, and porosity range of 28.35% to 77.28% are successfully fabricated by controlling of precuring time, saturation pressure and foaming temperature. To guarantee the dimensional stability and optimize surface quality of SRF samples, in situ post‐curing process is implemented within the foaming mold. With the increase of cell size from 9.91 to 128.09 μm, the compressive stress at strain of 75% decreases from 2.19 to 0.61 MPa, while the energy loss coefficient reduces from 35.4% to 16.9%, exhibiting excellent compression recovery steady. The new technique integrates the precuring, foaming process and post‐curing into an autoclave to simplify the SRF procedure.
Extrusion and thermoforming of poly(butylene succinate–co‐butylene adipate)/poly(3–hydroxybutyrate–co–3–hydroxyhexanoate) bio‐based blends for the fabrication of disposable packaging
Authors: Genovesi Annalisa , Koca Nazan , Barletta Massimiliano , Aversa Clizia
Published: March 2024

Thermoformed fossil‐based disposable packaging is widely used in everyday life but it represents a serious environmental problem, as it is often incorrectly dispersed or destined to landfills. Bio‐based and biodegradable materials can constitute and effective solution to this issue. Two different blends of poly(butylene succinate‐co‐butylene adipate) (PBSA) and Poly (3‐hydroxybutyrate‐co‐3‐hydroxyhexanoate) (PHBH) were studied as constituents for disposable packaging production. The blends were produced via twin screw extrusion. Sheets were cast extruded and then thermoformed into trays. A rheological, thermal and mechanical characterization was performed on compounds and manufacts. Both blends presented a good processability and interesting properties for packaging application, which can be tailored by varying the percentage of constituent polymers.
Three new red neutral and ionic iridium(III) complexes based on the same main ligand and auxiliary ligand but with different counterions for solution‐processed organic light‐emitting diodes
Authors: Zhou Weiqiao , Zhang Zihao , Li Lixiang , Xu Jing , Gong Yongyang , Guo Song , Liu Yuanli
Published: March 2024

Three new neutral and ionic phosphorescent iridium(III) complexes were successfully prepared using 1‐(6‐methoxynaphthalen‐2‐yl)isoquinoline as the main ligand, while the auxiliary ligand was 2‐(2‐1H‐imidazolyl)pyridine. Three complexes (Ir1, Ir2, Ir3) showed red emission, peaking at 610, 609, and 615 nm, respectively, and they exhibited good solubility and excellent photophysical properties in different solvents, which is suitable to prepare organic light‐emitting diodes (OLEDs) by solution method. Among the three OLEDs prepared by iridium(III) complexes using the solution method, the device based on Ir2 possessed better electroluminescent properties, and its maximum brightness, current efficiency (CE), power efficiency (PE), and the maximum external quantum efficiency (EQE) were 507.2 cd m−2, 0.14 cd A−1, 0.06 lm W−1, and 0.14%. respectively, proving that the three complexes have a certain of potential for OLEDs applications and are expected to expand the applications of iridium(III) complexes for OLEDs.
Hydrogen peroxide fluorescent probe–monitored butyric acid inhibition of the ferroptosis process
Authors: Hua Yuanqing , Si Xianghuan , Li Dongna , Li Zhen , Xu Tianshu
Published: March 2024

Short‐chain fatty acids, such as butyrate, play pivotal roles in various physiological processes within the human body. Recent advances in understanding cell death pathways, specifically ferroptosis, have unveiled unique opportunities for therapeutic development. Ferroptosis is linked to iron accumulation and oxidative stress, whereas butyrate has emerged as a cellular protector against oxidative stress, potentially inhibiting ferroptosis. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is a key player in oxidative stress, and its monitoring has gained significance in disease mechanisms. We present an innovative fluorescent probe, HOP, capable of dynamically tracking intracellular H2O2 levels, enabling spatial and temporal visualization. The probe exhibits high accuracy (limit of detection = 0.14 μM) and sensitivity, paving the way for disease diagnosis and treatment innovations. Importantly, HOP displayed minimal toxicity, making it suitable for cellular applications. Cellular imaging experiments demonstrated its ability to penetrate cells and monitor intracellular H2O2 levels accurately. The HOP probe confirmed H2O2 as a critical marker in ferroptosis. Our innovative HOP provides a powerful tool for tracking intracellular H2O2 levels and offers insights into the modulation of ferroptosis, potentially opening new avenues for disease research and therapeutic interventions.
Indicators describing the tumor lesion aggregation and dissemination and their impact on the prognosis of patients with diffuse large B cell lymphoma receiving chimeric antigen receptor T cell therapy
Authors: Dang Xiuyong , Li Ping , Shen Aijun , Lu Yan , Zhu Zeyu , Zhang Min , Qian Wenbin , Liang Aibin , Zhang Wenjun
Published: March 2024

Introduction

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy has markedly improved the prognosis of patients with diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma (DLBCL). The relative positioning of tumor lesions in lymphoma varies among patients, manifesting as either aggregation (clumped together) or dissemination (spread throughout the body). Prognostic significance of factors indicating the relative positioning of tumor lesions in CAR T cell therapy remains underexplored. For aggregation, prior research proposed the tumor volume surface ratio (TVSR), linking it to prognosis in chemotherapy. Regarding dissemination, indicators such as disease stage or extranodal involvement, commonly used in clinical practice, have not demonstrated prognostic significance in CAR T cell therapy. This study aims to analyze current indicators of tumor aggregation or dissemination and introduce a novel indicator to assess the prognostic value of tumor lesions' relative positioning in DLBCL patients undergoing CAR T cell therapy.

Methods

This retrospective study included 42 patients receiving CAR T cell therapy. Lesion image information was obtained from the last PET/CT scan prior to CAR T cell infusion, including total metabolic tumor volume, total tumor surface, diameter of lymphoma masses, and the sites of tumor lesions. We evaluated TVSR and bulky disease as descriptors of tumor aggregation. We refined existing indicators, stage III&IV and >1 site extranodal involvement, to distill a new indicator, termed ‘extra stage’, to better represent tumor dissemination. The study examined the prognostic significance of tumor aggregation and dissemination.

Results

Our findings indicate that TVSR, while prognostically valuable in chemotherapy, lacks practical prognostic value in CAR T cell therapy. Conversely, bulky disease emerged as an optimal prognostic indicator of tumor aggregation. Both bulky disease and extra stage were associated with poor prognosis and exhibiting synergistic prognostic impact in CAR T cell therapy.

Conclusions

Overall, the relative positioning of tumor lesions significantly influences the prognosis of patients with DLBCL receiving CAR T cell therapy. The ideal scenario involves tumors with minimal dissemination and no aggregation.
Body composition change indices combined with Prognostic Nutritional Index predicts the clinical outcomes of patients with gastric cancer treated with immune checkpoint inhibitor
Authors: Deng Guiming , Zhu Dayong , Du Zhongze , Xue Yingwei , Song Hongjiang , Li Yuanzhou
Published: March 2024

Objective

This study aimed to investigate the prognostic significance of the Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI) in conjunction with body composition change indices, namely subcutaneous fat area (SFA) and skeletal muscle index (SMI), with regard to clinical outcomes in patients with gastric cancer (GC) undergoing immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) treatment.

Methods

This retrospective investigation encompassed patients with comprehensive clinical and pathological data, inclusive of portal phase enhanced CT images. Continuous variables underwent analysis utilizing the Student t‐test or Mann–Whitney U‐test, while categorical variables were assessed employing the Pearson chi‐squared test or Fisher test. Survival outcomes were evaluated using Kaplan–Meier survival curves and the Log‐rank test. Independent prognostic indicators were determined through Cox regression analysis, and a nomogram predicting survival probability for progression‐free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) was constructed.

Results

Within the PNI‐SFA groups, patients in Group 1 exhibited inferior PFS and OS compared to the other two groups. Similarly, among the PNI‐SMI groups, Group 1 patients demonstrated poorer PFS and OS. PNI‐SMI and Eosi were identified as independent prognostic factors through Cox regression analysis. Furthermore, positive associations with patient prognosis were observed for BMI, SAF, SMI, and PNI.

Conclusion

The comprehensive consideration of PNI‐SFA and PNI‐SMI proved to be a superior prognostic predictor for GC patients undergoing ICI treatment.