bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparison of Medical and Mental Health Sequelae Following Hospitalization for COVID-19, Influenza, and Sepsis
Authors: Quinn Kieran L. , Stukel Thérèse A. , Huang Anjie , Abdel-Qadir Husam , Altaf Azmina , Bell Chaim M. , Cheung Angela M. , Detsky Allan S. , Goulding Susie , Herridge Margaret , Ivers Noah , Lapointe-Shaw Lauren , Lapp John , McNaughton Candace D. , Raissi Afsaneh , Rosella Laura C. , Warda Nahrain , Razak Fahad , Verma Amol A.
Published: June 2023

Importance

People who survive hospitalization for COVID-19 are at risk for developing new cardiovascular, neurological, mental health, and inflammatory autoimmune conditions. It is unclear how posthospitalization risks for COVID-19 compare with those for other serious infectious illnesses.

Objective

To compare risks of incident cardiovascular, neurological, and mental health conditions and rheumatoid arthritis in 1 year following COVID-19 hospitalization against 3 comparator groups: prepandemic hospitalization for influenza and hospitalization for sepsis before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This population-based cohort study included all adults hospitalized for COVID-19 between April 1, 2020, and October 31, 2021, historical comparator groups of people hospitalized for influenza or sepsis, and a contemporary comparator group of people hospitalized for sepsis in Ontario, Canada.

Exposure

Hospitalization for COVID-19, influenza, or sepsis.

Main Outcome and Measures

New occurrence of 13 prespecified conditions, including cardiovascular, neurological, and mental health conditions and rheumatoid arthritis, within 1 year of hospitalization.

Results

Of 379 366 included adults (median [IQR] age, 75 [63-85] years; 54% female), there were 26 499 people who survived hospitalization for COVID-19, 299 989 historical controls (17 516 for influenza and 282 473 for sepsis), and 52 878 contemporary controls hospitalized for sepsis. Hospitalization for COVID-19 was associated with an increased 1-year risk of venous thromboembolic disease compared with influenza (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.77; 95% CI, 1.36-2.31) but with no increased risks of developing selected ischemic and nonischemic cerebrovascular and cardiovascular disorders, neurological disorders, rheumatoid arthritis, or mental health conditions compared with influenza or sepsis cohorts.

Conclusions and Relevance

In this cohort study, apart from an elevated risk of venous thromboembolism within 1 year, the burden of postacute medical and mental health conditions among those who survived hospitalization for COVID-19 was comparable with other acute infectious illnesses. This suggests that many of the postacute consequences of COVID-19 may be related to the severity of infectious illness necessitating hospitalization rather than being direct consequences of infection with SARS-CoV-2.
Efficacy and Safety of Panax notoginseng Saponins in the Treatment of Adults With Ischemic Stroke in China
Authors: Wu Longfei , Song Haiqing , Zhang Chi , Wang Anxin , Zhang Bowei , Xiong Chiyu , Zhuang Xianbo , Zang Yingzhuo , Li Chenghao , Fang Qi , Qu Chuanqiang , Wang Lihua , Zhang Mei , Li Hao , Wang Xiaoli , Li Yanan , Xia Lei , Yao Zhigang , Nie Zhi , Gao Ying , Ji Xunming
Published: June 2023

Importance

Preclinical and clinical studies have suggested the neuroprotective effect of Panax notoginseng saponins (Xuesaitong soft capsules). However, robust evidence in patients with ischemic stroke is lacking.

Objective

To assess the efficacy and safety of Xuesaitong soft capsules in patients with ischemic stroke.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial was conducted at 67 tertiary health centers in China from July 1, 2018, to June 30, 2020. Included patients were aged 18 to 75 years with a diagnosis of ischemic stroke and a National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score between 4 and 15.

Interventions

Eligible patients were randomly assigned within 14 days after symptom onset to receive either treatment with Xuesaitong soft capsules (120 mg orally twice daily) or placebo (120 mg orally twice daily) for 3 months.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The primary outcome was functional independence at 3 months, defined as a modified Rankin Scale score of 0 to 2.

Results

Among 3072 eligible patients with ischemic stroke who were randomized, 2966 (96.5%) were included in the modified intention-to-treat cohort (median [IQR] age, 62 [55-68] years; 1982 male [66.8%]). The number of patients who achieved functional independence at 3 months was 1328 (89.3%) in the Xuesaitong group and 1218 (82.4%) in the control group (odds ratio, 1.95; 95% CI, 1.56-2.44; P < .001). In the safety cohort, serious adverse events occurred in 15 of 1488 patients (1.0%) in the Xuesaitong group and 16 of 1482 (1.1%) in the control group (P = .85).

Conclusions and Relevance

In this randomized clinical trial, Xuesaitong soft capsules significantly increased the likelihood of functional independence at 3 months in patients with ischemic stroke, indicating that this may be a safe and effective alternative therapy to improve prognosis in this population.

Trial Registration

Chinese Clinical Trial Registry Identifier: ChiCTR1800016363
Parental Preferences for Mental Health Screening of Youths From a Multinational Survey
Authors: Kass Mirelle , Alexander Lindsay , Moskowitz Kathleen , James Najé , Salum Giovanni Abrahão , Leventhal Bennett , Merikangas Kathleen , Milham Michael Peter
Published: June 2023

Importance

Screening youths for mental disorders may assist in prevention, promote early identification, and be associated with reduced related lifetime impairment and distress.

Objective

To assess parents’ and caregivers’ comfort with and preferences for pediatric mental health screening and factors associated with these preferences.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This survey study used an online survey available from July 11 to 14, 2021, through Prolific Academic. Analyses were conducted from November 2021 to November 2022. The survey was administered to English-speaking parents and caregivers in the US, UK, Canada, and 16 other countries who were aged 21 years or older and had at least 1 child aged 5 to 21 years living at home.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The main outcomes were parental preferences regarding content, implementation, and review of the findings of pediatric mental health screening. Parental comfort with screening topics was reported on a 6-point Likert scale with 6 indicating highest comfort. Mixed-effects logistic regression models were used to evaluate factors associated with parental comfort levels.

Results

Of 1200 survey responses requested, data were collected from 1136 participants (94.7%). The final sample meeting the inclusion criteria comprised 972 parents and caregivers aged 21 to 65 years (mean [SD] age, 39.4 [6.9] years; 606 [62.3%] female). A total of 631 participants (64.9%) supported annual mental health screening for their child, and 872 (89.7%) preferred reviewing the screening results with professional staff (eg, physicians). Participants reported significantly decreased comfort with child self-report compared with parent-report screening assessments (b = −0.278; SE = 0.009;P < .001), although they were generally comfortable with both options. Despite slight variations based on country of residence, screening topic, and child’s age, participants were generally comfortable discussing all 21 screening topics on the survey. The greatest comfort was with sleep problems (mean [SE] score, 5.30 [0.03]); the least comfort was with firearms (mean [SE] score, 4.71 [0.05]), gender identity (mean [SE] score, 4.68 [0.05]), suicidality (mean [SE] score, 4.62 [0.05]), and substance use or abuse (mean [SE] score, 4.78 [0.05]).

Conclusions and Relevance

In this survey study of parents and caregivers, parent-reported and child self-reported mental health screening in primary care settings was supported by the majority of the sample, although comfort levels differed according to various factors (eg, screening topic). Participants preferred to discuss screening results with professional health care staff. In addition to parental need for expert guidance, the study findings highlight the growing awareness of child mental health needs and the importance of addressing mental health concerns early via regular mental health screenings.
Deep learning‐based body weight from scout images can be an alternative to actual body weight in CT radiation dose management
Authors: Ichikawa Shota , Itadani Hideki , Sugimori Hiroyuki
Published: June 2023

Purpose

Accurate body weight measurement is essential to promote computed tomography (CT) dose optimization; however, body weight cannot always be measured prior to CT examination, especially in the emergency setting. The aim of this study was to investigate whether deep learning‐based body weight from chest CT scout images can be an alternative to actual body weight in CT radiation dose management.

Methods

Chest CT scout images and diagnostic images acquired for medical checkups were collected from 3601 patients. A deep learning model was developed to predict body weight from scout images. The correlation between actual and predicted body weight was analyzed. To validate the use of predicted body weight in radiation dose management, the volume CT dose index (CTDIvol) and the dose–length product (DLP) were compared between the body weight subgroups based on actual and predicted body weight. Surrogate size‐specific dose estimates (SSDEs) acquired from actual and predicted body weight were compared to the reference standard.

Results

The median actual and predicted body weight were 64.1 (interquartile range: 56.5–72.4) and 64.0 (56.3–72.2) kg, respectively. There was a strong correlation between actual and predicted body weight (ρ = 0.892, p < 0.001). The CTDIvol and DLP of the body weight subgroups were similar based on actual and predicted body weight (p < 0.001). Both surrogate SSDEs based on actual and predicted body weight were not significantly different from the reference standard (p = 0.447 and 0.410, respectively).

Conclusion

Predicted body weight can be an alternative to actual body weight in managing dose metrics and simplifying SSDE calculation. Our proposed method can be useful for CT radiation dose management in adult patients with unknown body weight.
Engineered Oxygen Factories Synergize with STING Agonist to Remodel Tumor Microenvironment for Cancer Immunotherapy
Authors: Zhang Xiangkai , Yang Yangzi , Li Jiaxin , Xie Xinru , Hao Yongqiang , Zhu Yingchun , Zhang Zhiyuan , Fu Jingke , Ma Hailong
Published: June 2023

Immunotherapy is a revolutionary achievement in cancer treatment. However, inadequate immune cells infiltration in tumor microenvironment (TME) always leads to treatment failure. Moreover, hypoxic TME hampers normal functions of immune cells. Here, it is found that hypoxia suppresses the STING signaling and immune cells activation in the work. Remodeling tumor immune microenvironment and relieving hypoxia are thus essential for enhancing immunotherapy efficiency. Herein, a spirulina platensis (SP)‐based magnetic biohybrid system is constructed as an oxygen factory and loaded with stimulator of interferon genes (STING) agonist ADU‐S100 (ADU@Fe‐SP) for tumor immunotherapy. Magnet‐guided biohybrid SP can actively target tumor tissues and produce oxygen in situ through photosynthesis, which reverses the hypoxic TME and facilitates the function of immune cells. Besides, the targeted delivery of ADU‐S100 can activate the STING/TBK1/IRF3 signaling and boost cytokines production in tumor and innate immune cells. The ADU@Fe‐SP system thus induces efficient immune cells infiltration in TME, which efficiently inhibits tumor progression and significantly enhances anti‐PD‐1 therapy efficiency in SCC VII‐bearing tumor xenograft. ADU@Fe‐SP exerts antitumor effect in a STING‐dependent manner by in vivo STING‐knockout mice model. The efficiency of this immunotherapy strategy is also demonstrated in patient‐derived xenograft model originating from oral cancer, showing great clinical potential.
Photo‐Stimuli Smart Supramolecular Self‐Assembly of Azobenzene/β‐Cyclodextrin Inclusion Complex for Controlling Plant Bacterial Diseases
Authors: Yang Jie , Ye Hao‐Jie , Xiang Hong‐Mei , Zhou Xiang , Wang Pei‐Yi , Liu Shuai‐Shuai , Yang Bin‐Xin , Yang Hong‐Bo , Liu Li‐Wei , Yang Song
Published: June 2023

Controllable and on‐demand delivery of supramolecular systems have received considerable attention in modern agricultural management, especially for managing intractable plant diseases. Here, an intelligent photoresponsive pesticide delivery system is reported based on β‐cyclodextrin (β‐CD) and azobenzene, which overcomes the resistance of phytopathogens caused by the irrational use of conventional pesticides. Antibacterial bioassays illustrated that designed azobenzene derivative 3a possesses the most efficient bioactivity with EC50 values of 0.52–25.31 µg mL−1 toward three typical phytopathogens. Moreover, the assembly of the supramolecular binary complex 3a@β‐CD is successfully elucidated and displays exceptional inhibitory activity on biofilm formation. Of note, this supramolecular binary complex significantly improves the water solubility, foliar surface wettability, and shows marked light‐responsive properties. In vivo anti‐Xoo assays reveal that 3a@β‐CD has excellent control efficiency (protective activity: 51.22%, curative activity: 48.37%) against rice bacterial blight pathogens, and their control efficiency can be elevated to values of 55.84% (protective activity) and 52.05% (curative activity) by UV–vis exposure. In addition, the 3a@β‐CD are non‐toxic toward various non‐target organisms. This study therefore offers new insights into the potential of host‐guest complexes as a feasible pesticide discovery strategy characterized by a safe, biocompatible, light‐responsive release, and antibiofilm properties for overcoming intractable plant bacterial diseases.
Local Oxidation Induced Amorphization of 1.5‐nm‐Thick Pt–Ru Nanowires Enables Superactive and CO‐Tolerant Hydrogen Oxidation in Alkaline Media
Authors: Wang Shupeng , Fu Luhong , Huang Hongpu , Fu Miao , Cai Junlin , Lyu Zixi , Wang Qiuxiang , Kuang Qin , Xie Zhaoxiong , Xie Shuifen
Published: June 2023

Low‐dimensional amorphous metallic nanomaterials provide great possibility for creating high‐performance electrocatalysts owing to their conspicuous reacting merits derived from the flexible coordination structures, but remain extremely challenging in synthesis. Herein, this work reports a facile synthesis of carbon‐loaded amorphous 1.5‐nm‐thick Pt–Ru nanowires (NWs) through a local oxidation induced amorphization process. During annealing premade crystalline Pt–Ru NWs/C in air, a local‐oxidation of the oxyphilic Ru generates abundant random Ru–O bonds and disturbs the order bimetallic lattices. The as‐prepared amorphous Pt53Ru47 (a‐Pt53Ru47) NWs/C exhibits an extremely high activity (13.7 A mg−1 at 25 mV overpotential) and an excellent CO‐tolerance for alkaline hydrogen oxidation reaction (HOR) electrocatalysis, drastically outperforming the crystalline counterpart and commercial benchmarks. Mechanism studies indicate the Pt–Ru bimetallic effects as well as the rich disordered “Pt–Ru–O” and/or “Pt–O–Ru” atomic heterojunctions can weaken the *H binding energy and inversely strengthen the *OH adsorption, thus promoting the alkaline HOR kinetics. More uniquely, the small interatomic spaces derived from the disordered bond nets present a H2/*H‐selected permeability, which spatially obstruct the relatively larger CO molecules to poison the internal catalytic sites during HOR. The CO‐shielded internal catalytic sites and the enriched surface *OH jointly upgrade the CO‐tolerance of the a‐Pt53Ru47 NWs/C catalysts.
Single‐Ion‐Conducting Hydrogel Electrolytes Based on Slide‐Ring Pseudo‐Polyrotaxane for Ultralong‐Cycling Flexible Zinc‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Xia Huan , Xu Gang , Cao Xin , Miao Chunyang , Zhang Hanning , Chen Pengyu , Zhou Yang , Zhang Wei , Sun ZhengMing
Published: June 2023

Flexible zinc‐ion batteries (ZIBs) with high capacity and long cycle stability are essential for wearable electronic devices. Hydrogel electrolytes have been developed to provide ion‐transfer channels while maintaining the integrity of ZIBs under mechanical strain. However, hydrogel matrices are typically swollen with aqueous salt solutions to increase ionic conductivity, which can hinder intimate contact with electrodes and reduce mechanical properties. To address this, a single‐Zn‐ion‐conducting hydrogel electrolyte (SIHE) is developed by integrating polyacrylamide network and pseudo‐polyrotaxane structure. The SIHE exhibits a high Zn2+ transference number of 0.923 and a high ionic conductivity of 22.4 mS cm−1 at room temperature. Symmetric batteries with SIHE demonstrate stable Zn plating/stripping performance for over 160 h, with a homogenous and smooth Zn deposition layer. Full cells with La‐V2O5 cathodes exhibit a high capacity of 439 mA h g−1 at 0.1 A g−1 and excellent capacity retention of 90.2% after 3500 cycles at 5 A g−1. Moreover, the flexible ZIBs display stable electrochemical performance under harsh conditions, such as bending, cutting, puncturing, and soaking. This work provides a simple design strategy for single‐ion‐conducting hydrogel electrolytes, which could pave the way for long‐life aqueous batteries.
Integrated Construction of a Long‐Life Stretchable Zinc‐Ion Capacitor
Authors: Wang Wenqiang , Gao Lu , Kong Zimeng , Ma Bochao , Han Mingyu , Wang Gengchao , Li Chunzhong
Published: June 2023

The major challenge in achieving high‐performance stretchable zinc‐ion energy‐storage devices is the combination of stretchable dendrite‐free zinc negative electrodes and sufficient bonding between components (current collector, electrode, separator, and package). Herein, based on a series of physicochemically tunable self‐healing polyurethanes, an elastic current collector is prepared through a swelling‐induced wrinkling method, and then a stretchable zinc negative electrode prepared through in situ confined electroplating. The elastic current collector has a nano‐network structure with polyurethane encapsulation, and exhibits both geometric and intrinsic stretchability. The stretchable zinc negative electrode formed in situ has high electrochemical activity and exhibits an excellent cycle life under the protection of a Zn2+‐permeable coating. Furthermore, fully polyurethane‐based stretchable zinc‐ion capacitors are assembled through in situ electrospinning and hot‐pressing techniques. Due to the high stretchability of the components and the interfusion of the matrixes, the integrated device exhibits excellent deformability and desirable electrochemical stability. This work provides a systematic construction plan for stretchable zinc‐ion energy‐storage devices in three aspects: material synthesis, component preparation, and device assembly.
M2 Macrophage Hybrid Membrane‐Camouflaged Targeted Biomimetic Nanosomes to Reprogram Inflammatory Microenvironment for Enhanced Enzyme‐Thermo‐Immunotherapy
Authors: Chen Ran , Yang Jie , Wu Mingjun , Zhao Dezhang , Yuan Ziyi , Zeng Linggao , Hu Juan , Zhang Xinping , Wang Tingting , Xu Jingxin , Zhang Jingqing
Published: June 2023

Excessive inflammatory reactions caused by uric acid deposition are the key factor leading to gout. However, clinical medications cannot simultaneously remove uric acid and eliminate inflammation. An M2 macrophage‐erythrocyte hybrid membrane‐camouflaged biomimetic nanosized liposome (USM[H]L) is engineered to deliver targeted self‐cascading bienzymes and immunomodulators to reprogram the inflammatory microenvironment in gouty rats. The cell‐membrane‐coating endow nanosomes with good immune escape and lysosomal escape to achieve long circulation time and intracellular retention times. After being uptaken by inflammatory cells, synergistic enzyme‐thermo‐immunotherapies are achieved: uricase and nanozyme degraded uric acid and hydrogen peroxide, respectively; bienzymes improved the catalytic abilities of each other; nanozyme produced photothermal effects; and methotrexate has immunomodulatory and anti‐inflammatory effects. The uric acid levels markedly decrease, and ankle swelling and claw curling are effectively alleviated. The levels of inflammatory cytokines and ROS decrease, while the anti‐inflammatory cytokine levels increase. Proinflammatory M1 macrophages are reprogrammed to the anti‐inflammatory M2 phenotype. Notably, the IgG and IgM levels in USM[H]L‐treated rats decrease substantially, while uricase‐treated rats show high immunogenicity. Proteomic analysis show that there are 898 downregulated and 725 upregulated differentially expressed proteins in USM[H]L‐treated rats. The protein‐protein interaction network indicates that the signaling pathways include the spliceosome, ribosome, purine metabolism, etc.
Efficient Tandem White OLED/LEC Hybrid Devices
Authors: Luo Dian , Hou Min‐Chih , Wang Kang‐Yu , Chang Chih‐Hao , Liu Shun‐Wei , Lu Chin‐Wei , Su Hai‐Ching
Published: June 2023

Organic light‐emitting diodes (OLEDs) attract much research attention owing to their superior device characteristics in display and lighting applications. However, multi‐layered organic thin films deposited by thermal evaporation in a high‐vacuum chamber complicate the fabrication processes and increase the production costs. Alternatively, solution‐processable single‐layered light‐emitting electrochemical cells (LECs) possess easy fabrication and good device performance due to in situ electrochemical doping. To take advantages of both types of devices, the study proposes an efficient tandem white OLED/LEC hybrid device by stacking a red OLED on top of a blue LEC with a sophisticatedly designed charge‐generating layer (CGL). The proposed tandem device exhibits a high external quantum efficiency (EQE) of 21.53%, which is almost the sum of the EQEs of the two stacked devices. When fabricated on the diffusive substrate to recycle the trapped light in the substrate, the EQE can be further enhanced to reach 37.88%. Besides connecting the two stacked devices, the CGL improves the carrier balance of the blue LEC due to enhanced electron injection. This study demonstrates that the white tandem OLED/LEC hybrid device has a simpler device structure than all‐vacuum‐processed tandem OLEDs but it still delivers high device efficiency, revealing its potential in lighting applications.
Affordable Smart Windows with Dual‐Functionality: Electrochromic Color Switching and Charge Storage
Authors: Mondal Indrajit , Ganesha Mukhesh K. , Singh Ashutosh K. , Kulkarni Giridhar U.
Published: June 2023

Excessive cost, insufficient optical modulation, and limited functionality are major drawbacks that presently exist in electrochromic smart windows (ECSWs) that are the backbone of zero‐energy buildings. Herein, a solution toward this niche is provided by optimizing various deposition conditions for WO3 sputtering on crackle lithographically fabricated, cost‐effective Al‐mesh overlayed with SnO2. Ultra‐high switching contrast of 90% is accomplished by a decisive choice of parameters i.e., deposition power (5 W cm−2), oxygen flowrate (46 sccm), pressure (2.7 × 10−2 mbar), and film thickness (530 nm) that are imperative for achieving enhanced oxygen deficiency and film porosity. The ECSW displays fast switching with response and recovery time of 11 and 5 s, respectively, which are nearly twice as fast as control ITO‐based device. Additionally, the film holds good cyclic stability with an excellent coloration efficiency of 47 cm2 C−1. As the state‐of‐the‐art, a large‐area smart window (10 × 10 cm2) operable at 2 V is devised engaging WO3 coated Al_SnO2 electrode. The dual‐functionality is demonstrated by employing four series‐connected (5 × 4 cm2, charging time ≈1.5 min) devices to operate a display for 70 min. A device with a quasi‐solid electrolyte is also fabricated, exhibiting improved cyclic stability beyond 2000 cycles.
Birefringent Glass‐Engraved Tilted Pillar Metasurfaces for High Power Laser Applications
Authors: Ray Nathan J. , Yoo Jae‐Hyuck , Nguyen Hoang T. , Johnson Michael A. , Feigenbaum Eyal
Published: June 2023

Birefringent materials—which are highly needed in high power laser systems—may be limited in usage due to the laser‐induced damage threshold of traditional birefringent materials. This work reports here on all‐glass metasurfaces, fabricated by angled etching through sacrificial metal nanoparticle (NP) etching masks, for generation of effective birefringence in the formed layer. As a result, a fused silica metasurface, monolithic to the underlying substrate, is demonstrated to exhibit a birefringence of 6.57° under 375 nm illumination. Full‐wave analysis shows a good agreement with the measurement and presents potential paths forward to increasing the effective metasurface birefringence. This is the first demonstration, to the best of knowledge, of an etching technique to obtain the resulting tilted pillar‐like nanofeatures. The anisotropy of the metasurface nanoelements along the two window in‐plane major axes presents different effective paths for the two polarizations and thus generates birefringence in a nonbirefringent material. Additionally, the imparted anisotropy lends itself to manipulation of physical properties of the surface as well, with metasurface feature orientation suppressing water flow along one principal axis and giving rise to water flow steering capabilities.
Memory and Synaptic Devices Based on Emerging 2D Ferroelectricity
Authors: Joo Yanggeun , Hwang Eunji , Hong Heemyoung , Cho Suyeon , Yang Heejun
Published: June 2023

Memory devices are an essential part of modern electronics. Efforts to move beyond the traditional “read” and “write” of digital information in volatile and non‐volatile memory devices are leading to the rapid growth of neuromorphic technology. There is a growing demand for memory devices with continuous memory states with various retention times and greater integration density with more energy‐efficient mechanisms. Two types of memory devices (i.e., non‐volatile digital memory and neuro‐synaptic devices) have been extensively investigated with emerging materials. Among numerous materials for such memory devices, in this review, the authors focus on 2D ferroelectric materials for promising memory and synaptic devices. Three types of memory devices based on 2D ferroelectric materials are classified and discussed here: 1) ferroelectric gating of semiconducting channels, 2) active ferroelectric channels, and 3) ferroelectric tunnel junction devices. It is known that atomically thin geometry competes with ferroelectricity, which can degrade the quality of the devices based on atomically thin ferroelectric materials. Various efforts to resolve the fundamental issue with emerging 2D ferroelectric materials and how they can be used as a critical element for memory and synaptic devices are surveyed.
Long‐Lived Charges in Y6:PM6 Bulk‐Heterojunction Photoanodes with a Polymer Overlayer Improve Photoelectrocatalytic Performance
Authors: Lee Tack Ho , Hillman Sam A. J. , Gonzalez‐Carrero Soranyel , Difilippo Alessandro , Durrant James R.
Published: June 2023

Photogenerating charges with long lifetimes to drive catalysis is challenging in organic semiconductors. Here, the role of a PM6 polymer overlayer on the photoexcited carrier dynamics is investigated in a Y6:PM6 bulk‐heterojunction (BHJ) photoanode undergoing ascorbic acid oxidation. With the additional polymer layer, the hole lifetime is increased in the solid state BHJ film. When the photoanode is electrically coupled to a hydrogen‐evolving platinum cathode, remarkably long‐lived hole polaron states are observed on the timescale of seconds under operational conditions. It is demonstrated that these long‐lived holes enable the organic photoanode with the polymer overlayer to show enhanced ascorbic acid oxidation performance, reaching ≈7 mA cm−2 at 1.23 VRHE without a co‐catalyst. An external quantum efficiency of 18% is observed using 850 nm excitation. It is proposed that the use of an organic overlayer can be an effective design strategy for generating longer charge carrier lifetimes in organic photoanodes for efficient oxidation catalysis.
Differential resilience effects of everyday political engagement against heterosexist victimization among sexual minority youth: The importance of identity‐based action
Authors: Chan Randolph C. H. , Leung Janice Sin Yu
Published: June 2023

Everyday forms of political engagement, such as civic participation and collective action, have been recognized as a crucial factor for positive youth development, but less is known about their resilience effects on youth from marginalized populations, especially in less democratic societies. The present study investigated experiences of everyday political engagement among sexual minority youth in China and examined their compensatory and protective effects against heterosexist victimization. A sample of 793 Chinese sexual minority youth was included in the study. The results showed that collective action operated as a protective factor in buffering the effect of heterosexist victimization, such that its association with academic engagement was not significant among those with higher levels of collective action. In contrast, civic participation served the compensatory function and was associated with greater academic engagement, a stronger sense of school belonging, and fewer depression symptoms, but it did not protect against the negative effects of heterosexist victimization. The findings highlight the importance of identity‐based action among sexual minority youth and provide insight into the differential resilience effects of everyday political engagement. The study has implications for fostering resilience among sexual minority youth with victimization experiences in school and counseling settings.
Bifunctional modification of graphene by phosphorus/nitrogen‐containing silane compounds for smoke suppression and flame retardancy of epoxy resins
Authors: Huang Ziqin , Li Fangli , Liu Changjiang , Yang Meini , Pan Bingchan , Rao Wenhui , Lei Yuan , Yu Chuanbai
Published: June 2023

Enhancing the flame retardancy with minimal impact on the mechanical and thermal performances of polymers remains a challenge. This study synthesized a phosphorus/nitrogen‐containing silane compound (D) using polyformaldehyde, KH‐550, and 9,10‐dihydro‐9‐oxa‐10‐phosphaphenanthrene‐10‐oxide (DOPO) as raw materials through the Kabachnik‐Fields reaction. After that, D was grafted onto the surface of graphene after hydrothermal treatment to obtain a nano hybrid flame retardant (D‐GR). And D‐GR/EP composites exhibited good flame resistance (LOI = 30.1% and UL‐94 reaches the V‐1 rating) even if the load on D‐GR was 1 wt%. Indeed, the total heat release, the peak heat release rate (PHRR), and the total smoke release of 1% D‐GR/EP dropped by 13.54%, 28.62%, and 44.32%, respectively, in comparison to pure EP. The mechanical performance of 1% D‐GR/EP was effectively maintained, as indicated by the results of impact, tensile and flexural tests. A systematic evaluation indicated that the accession of D‐GR effectively inhibited smoke and heat releases that are ascribed to the synergistic effect of phosphorus/nitrogen‐containing silane compound and graphene. In this study, a facile method was provided for the synthesis of halogen‐free flame‐retardant epoxy composites with superior performances. The combustion products of the as‐prepared composites complied with green and environmental protection standards.
Undergraduate medical student perceptions and learning outcomes related to anatomy training using Thiel‐ and ethanol‐glycerin‐embalmed tissues
Authors: Antipova Veronica , Niedermair Julian F. , Siwetz Martin , Fellner Franz A. , Löffler Sabine , Manhal Simone , Ondruschka Benjamin , Pietras Sandra M. , Poilliot Amélie J. , Pretterklieber Michael L. , Wree Andreas , Hammer Niels
Published: June 2023

Anatomical dissection is known to serve as an integral tool in teaching gross anatomy, including postgraduate training. A variety of embalming techniques exist, resulting in different haptic and optical tissue properties. This study aimed to objectify learning outcomes and medical student perceptions related to the use of two widely used embalming techniques, namely Thiel and ethanol‐glycerin embalming. Between 2020 and 2022, first‐ and second‐year medical students enrolled in the course on topographic anatomy participated in this study. Objective structured practical examinations were carried out for the head, neck, thorax, abdomen, pelvis, and extremity regions following regional dissection just before the oral examinations began. Six to ten numbered tags were marked in prosections of each region in Thiel‐ and ethanol‐glycerin‐embalmed specimens. Following the examinations, the students were surveyed regarding the suitability of the two embalming techniques with respect to preservation, colorfastness, tissue pliability, and the suitability in preparing for their anatomy examinations. Consistently higher scores were achieved for the thoracic and abdominal regions in ethanol‐glycerin‐embalmed specimens when compared to Thiel. No benefit was found for Thiel‐embalmed upper or lower extremities. Tissues embalmed with ethanol‐glycerin were rated higher for preservation and suitability to achieve the learning objectives, tissue pliability was rated higher for Thiel‐embalmed tissues. Ethanol‐glycerin embalming appears to offer certain advantages for undergraduate students in recognizing visceral structures, which may align with students’ ideas on tissue suitability for their learning. Consequently, the benefits reported for Thiel embalming for postgraduate study unlikely reflect its suitability for novices.
Increasing trend of extreme winter warm spells in China and the intra‐seasonal differences
Authors: Ding Ting , Gao Jing , Gao Hui
Published: June 2023

Based on the daily temperature observation data at 1992 stations in China, this study investigates the intra‐seasonal variations and trends of extreme warm spells during 1981–2022. The results indicate that the nationwide extreme cold and warm spells have both increased rapidly since the 21st century. However, different from cold extremes which occur evenly in winter months, the nationwide super warm spells have distinct intra‐seasonal differences, with more occurrences in February. The number of nationwide extreme warm spells has increased from 8 during 1981–2001 to 14 during 2002–2022, and the intensity has also increased obviously. Due to the spatial differences, the study area is divided into three regions to reveal the detailed features. It is found that the warm spell frequencies in most of China increase from December to February while decrease in northeastern China. Results demonstrate that extreme warm spells are concentrated in late winter in most regions (stations). The significant increasing trends are widespread from northern China to most parts of southern China, and the areas with increasing trend exceeding +0.6 day/decade are concentrated in North China and the middle reaches of the Yangtze River. Linear trends indicate that the significantly increasing trends in late winter contribute a major part to the variation in the whole winter in China.
Deep partial least squares for instrumental variable regression
Authors: Nareklishvili Maria , Polson Nicholas , Sokolov Vadim
Published: June 2023

In this paper, we propose deep partial least squares for the estimation of high‐dimensional nonlinear instrumental variable regression. As a precursor to a flexible deep neural network architecture, our methodology uses partial least squares for dimension reduction and feature selection from the set of instruments and covariates. A central theoretical result, due to Brillinger (2012) Selected Works of Daving Brillinger. 589‐606, shows that the feature selection provided by partial least squares is consistent and the weights are estimated up to a proportionality constant. We illustrate our methodology with synthetic datasets with a sparse and correlated network structure and draw applications to the effect of childbearing on the mother's labor supply based on classic data of Chernozhukov et al. Ann Rev Econ. (2015b):649–688. The results on synthetic data as well as applications show that the deep partial least squares method significantly outperforms other related methods. Finally, we conclude with directions for future research.
Enhancing the organic solvent resistance of ω‐amine transaminase for enantioselective synthesis of (R)‐(+)‐1(1‐naphthyl)‐ethylamine
Authors: Wang Chun‐Ning , Qiu Shuai , Fan Fang‐Fang , Lyu Chang‐Jiang , Hu Sheng , Zhao Wei‐Rui , Mei Jia‐Qi , Mei Le‐He , Huang Jun
Published: June 2023

Background

Biocatalysis in high‐concentration organic solvents has been applied to produce various industrial products with many advantages. However, using enzymes in organic solvents often suffers from inactivation or decreased catalytic activity and stability. An R‐selective ω‐amine transaminase from Aspergillus terreus (AtATA) exhibited activity toward 1‐acetylnaphthalene. However, AtATA displayed unsatisfactory organic solvent resistance, which is required to enhance the solubility of the hydrophobic substrate 1‐acetylnaphthalene. So, improving the tolerance of enzymes in organic solvents is essential.

Main Methods and Results

The method of regional random mutation combined with combinatorial mutation was used to improve the resistance of AtATA in organic solvents. Enzyme surface areas are structural elements that undergo reversible conformational transitions, thus affecting the stability of the enzyme in organic solvents. Herein, three surface areas containing three loops were selected as potential mutation regions. And the “best” mutant T23I/T200K/P260S (M3) was acquired. In different concentrations of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), the catalytic efficiency (kcat/Km) toward 1‐acetylnaphthalene and the stability (half‐life t1/2) were higher than the wild‐type (WT) of AtATA. The results of decreased Root Mean Square Fluctuation (RMSF) values via 20‐ns molecular dynamics (MD) simulations under 15%, 25%, 35%, and 45% DMSO revealed that mutant M3 had lower flexibility, acquiring a more stable protein structure and contributing to its organic solvents stability than WT. Furthermore, M3 was applied to convert 1‐acetylnaphthalene for synthesizing (R)‐(+)‐1(1‐naphthyl)‐ethylamine ((R)‐NEA), which was an intermediate of Cinacalcet Hydrochloride for the treatment of secondary hyperthyroidism and hypercalcemia. Moreover, in a 20‐mL scale‐up experiment, 10 mM 1‐acetylnaphthalene can be converted to (R)‐NEA with 85.2% yield and a strict R‐stereoselectivity (enantiomeric excess (e.e.) value >99.5%) within 10 h under 25% DMSO.

Conclusion

The beneficial mutation sites were identified to tailor AtATA's organic solvents stability via regional random mutation. The “best” mutant T23I/T200K/P260S (M3) holds great potential application for the synthesis of (R)‐NEA.
Intracellular transformation and disposal mechanisms of magnetosomes in macrophages and cancer cells
Authors: Gandarias Lucía , Gubieda Alicia G. , Gorni Giulio , Mathon Olivier , Olivi Luca , Abad‐Díaz‐de‐Cerio Ana , Fdez‐Gubieda M. Luisa , Muela Alicia , García‐Prieto Ana
Published: June 2023

Magnetosomes are magnetite nanoparticles biosynthesized by magnetotactic bacteria. Given their potential clinical applications for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer, it is essential to understand what becomes of them once they are within the body. With this aim, here we have followed the intracellular long‐term fate of magnetosomes in two cell types: cancer cells (A549 cell line), because they are the actual target for the therapeutic activity of the magnetosomes, and macrophages (RAW 264.7 cell line), because of their role at capturing foreign agents. It is shown that cells dispose of magnetosomes using three mechanisms: splitting them into daughter cells, excreting them to the surrounding environment, and degrading them yielding less or non‐magnetic iron products. A deeper insight into the degradation mechanisms by means of time‐resolved X‐ray absorption near‐edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy has allowed us to follow the intracellular biotransformation of magnetosomes by identifying and quantifying the iron species occurring during the process. In both cell types there is a first oxidation of magnetite to maghemite and then, earlier in macrophages than in cancer cells, ferrihydrite starts to appear. Given that ferrihydrite is the iron mineral phase stored in the cores of ferritin proteins, this suggests that cells use the iron released from the degradation of magnetosomes to load ferritin. Comparison of both cellular types evidences that macrophages are more efficient at disposing of magnetosomes than cancer cells, attributed to their role in degrading external debris and in iron homeostasis.
Genome‐wide association and replication studies for handedness in a Korean community‐based cohort
Authors: Song Youhyun , Lee Dasom , Choi Ja‐Eun , Lee Ji Won , Hong Kyung‐Won
Published: June 2023

Introduction

Handedness is a conspicuous characteristic in human behavior, with a worldwide proportion of approximately 90% of people preferring to use the right hand for many tasks. In the Korean population, the proportion of left‐handedness is relatively low at approximately 7%–10%, similar to that in other East‐Asian cultures in which the use of the left hand for writing and other public activities has historically been oppressed.

Methods

In this study, we conducted two genome‐wide association studies (GWASs) between right‐handedness and left‐handedness, and between right‐handedness and ambidexterity using logistic regression analyses using a Korean community‐based cohort. We also performed association analyses with previously reported variants and our findings.

Results

A total of 8806 participants were included for analysis, and the results identified 28 left‐handedness‐associated and 15 ambidexterity‐associated loci; of these, two left‐handedness loci (NEIL3 [rs11726465] and SVOPL [rs117495448]) and one ambidexterity locus (PDE8B/WDR41 [rs118077080]) showed near genome‐wide significance. Association analyses with previously reported variants replicated ANKS1B (rs7132513) in left‐handedness and ANKIB1 (rs2040498) in ambidexterity.

Conclusion

The variants and positional candidate genes identified and replicated in this study were largely associated with brain development, cerebral asymmetry, neurological processes, and neuropsychiatric diseases in line with previous findings. As the first East‐Asian GWAS related to handedness, these results may provide an intriguing reference for further human neurologic research in the future.
Agmatine improves liver function, balance performance, and neuronal damage in a hepatic encephalopathy induced by bile duct ligation
Authors: Ganjalikhan‐hakemi Sepideh , Asadi‐Shekaari Majid , Pourjafari Fahimeh , Asadikaram Gholamreza , Nozari Masoumeh
Published: June 2023

Introduction

In the current study, we investigate whether oral administration of agmatine (AGM) could effectively reduce motor and cognitive deficits induced by bile duct ligation (BDL) in an animal model of hepatic encephalopathy (HE) through neuroprotective mechanisms.

Methods

The Wistar rats were divided into four groups: sham, BDL, BDL+ 40 mg/kg AGM, and BDL+ 80 mg/kg AGM. The BDL rats were treated with AGM from 2 weeks after the surgery for 4 consecutive weeks. The open field, rotarod, and wire grip tests were used to assess motor function and muscle strength. The novel object recognition test (NOR) was performed to evaluate learning and memory. Finally, blood samples were collected for the analysis of the liver markers, the animals were sacrificed, and brain tissues were removed; the CA1 regions of the hippocampus and cerebellum were processed to identify apoptosis and neuronal damage rate using caspase‐3 immunocytochemistry and Nissl staining.

Results

The serological assay results showed that BDL severely impaired the function of the liver. Based on histochemical findings, BDL increased the neuronal damage in CA1 and Purkinje cells, whereas apoptosis was significantly observed only in the cerebellum. AGM treatment prevented the increase of serum liver enzymes, balance deficits, and neuronal damage in the brain areas. Apoptosis partially decreased by AGM, and there were no differences in the performance of animals in different groups in the NOR.

Conclusions

The study suggests AGM as a potential treatment candidate for HE because of its neuroprotective properties and/or its direct effects on liver function.
Optimization of mRNA extraction from human nasal mucosa biopsies for gene expression profile analysis by qRT‐PCR
Authors: Bräuer A. U. , Sevecke‐Rave J. , Gläser A. , Nahrath P. , Hummel T. , Witt M.
Published: June 2023

Quantitative real‐time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR) is the gold‐standard method for analyzing modifications in gene expression in cells and tissues. However, large quantities of high‐quality RNA samples are needed for analyzing the expression of multiple genes from one human tissue sample. Here, we provide an optimized protocol for extracting large amounts of RNA from human nasal mucosal biopsies. The quality and quantity of samples were sufficient for qRT‐PCR analyses of the expressions of various genes, in duplicate. In contrast to other protocols, we optimized RNA isolation to increase the amount from nasal biopsy samples for analyses of multiple genes. In most previous publications, expressions of only one or a few genes, including housekeeping genes, were analyzed because the amount of biological material was small. We were able to improve our protocol with respect to the yield and quality of RNA. This is likely to produce better results from molecular analyses of very small biopsy samples of human nasal mucosa.
Der Rote Keulenkopf
Authors: Petersen Frank
Published: June 2023

„Fehlgeschlagene“ Versuche führen manchmal zu überraschenden Erkenntnissen, die bedeutender sein können als die beabsichtigten Resultate. Henry Dales genaue Beobachtungsgabe und wissenschaftlicher Instinkt, aus seinen „misslungenen“ Versuchsdurchführungen richtige Schlüsse zu ziehen, sind Paradebeispiele für die Innovationskraft der Zufallsbeobachtung, der Serendipität. Als er 1906 die bekannte blutdrucksteigernde Aktivität des Adrenalins durch Ergotalkaloide umkehren konnte, erklärte er den beobachteten Effekt mit der Existenz zweier entgegengesetzter Wirkungen des Hormons. Sein Postulat zweier Typen von receptive Substances, die in den Arterien lokalisiert seien, wurde erst vierzig Jahre später mit der Entdeckung der α‐ und β‐Adrenorezeptoren bestätigt. Bei der Verabreichung eines Ergotextraktes und der dadurch induzierten Reduktion der Herzrate stieß Dale auf die Aktivität des Acetylcholins, das sein Projektteam erstmalig aus einer biologischen Quelle isolierte. Der deutsch‐US‐amerikanische Pharmakologe Otto Löwi, Henry Dale und Wilhelm Feldberg zeigten die Übereinstimmung des Acetylcholins mit dem unbekannten „Vagusstoff“, den Löwi zuvor in seinem historischen Froschherzexperiment entdeckt hatte, womit er die chemische Signalübertragung von Nervenreizen bewies. Das uterotone Ergotoxin hingegen geriet zu einem herben Rückschlag für Henry Dale und Burroughs, Wellcome & Co., da es die Erwartungen der britischen Mediziner nicht erfüllte. Erst 1918 gelang dem schweizerischen Naturstoffchemiker Arthur Stoll bei der Sandoz AG in Basel die Isolierung des ersten reinen Ergotalkaloids, des Ergotamins. Der Metabolit wurde 1921 in die Gynäkologie und Geburtsheilkunde eingeführt und wenig später zur Behandlung des akuten Migräneanfalls zugelassen. 1922 konnte Dale nicht mehr ausschließen, dass andere Substanzen als Ergotoxin und Ergotamin die eigentlichen therapeutisch relevanten Wirkstoffe des Mutterkorns sein könnten. 1932 war die Sensation perfekt, als der junge schottische Frauenarzt Chassar Moir die uterotone Aktivität eines Moleküls des Mutterkorns nachwies, das bis dahin unentdeckt geblieben war.