bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Green Thermochromic Materials: A Brief Review
Authors: Crosby Patrice H. N. , Netravali Anil N.
Published: July 2022

Green thermochromic materials are of great interest in many applications. Thermochromic and phase change materials are commonly used as smart devices to facilitate temperature sensing and passive heating/cooling systems, respectively. Since most of the current thermochromic materials are nondegradable, toxic, and/or nongreen, there is great opportunity to develop greener materials with high performance considering the wide range of materials that can exhibit thermochromism. This concise review distinguishes the different forms, phases, and chemical structures of thermochromic materials. A brief history of thermochromism is reviewed and a general distinction between reversible and irreversible thermochromism is provided. A general definition of green materials is provided, recent advances in the emerging field are critically discussed as well as future applications. This review also provides brief but thorough understanding of mechanistic pathways of this phenomenon in materials and the constituent requirements of green materials such that new systems can be designed using nontoxic, biobased, and/or biodegradable materials. Such green thermochromic materials will expand their use significantly.
Fluid Layered Ferroelectrics with Global C∞v Symmetry
Authors: Kikuchi Hirotsugu , Matsukizono Hiroyuki , Iwamatsu Koki , Endo Sota , Anan Shizuka , Okumura Yasushi
Published: July 2022

Ferroelectricity in fluid materials, which allows free rotation of molecules, is an unusual phenomenon raising cutting‐edge questions in science. Conventional ferroelectric liquid crystals have been found in phases with low symmetry that permit the presence of spontaneous polarization. Recently, the discovery of ferroelectricity with high symmetry in the nematic phase has attracted considerable attention. However, the physical mechanism and molecular origin of ferroelectricity are poorly understood and a large domain of macroscopically oriented spontaneous polarization is difficult to fabricate in the ferroelectric nematic phase. This study reports new fluid layered ferroelectrics with the C∞v symmetry in which nearly complete orientation of the spontaneous polarization remains stable under zero electric field without any orientation treatment. These ferroelectrics are obtained by simplifying the molecular structure of a compound with a known ferroelectric nematic phase, although the simplification reduced the dipole moment. The results provide useful insights into the mechanism of ferroelectricity due to dipole–dipole interactions in molecular assemblies. The new ferroelectric materials are promising for a wide range of applications as soft ferroelectrics.
Bubble breakup and boiling heat transfer in Y‐shaped bifurcating microchannels
Authors: Yan Zhe , Huang Haoxiang , Pan Zhenhai
Published: July 2022

Three‐dimensional simulations are performed to study the bubble breakup and boiling heat transfer in Y‐shaped bifurcating microchannels with different heat fluxes and bifurcating angles. Results show that the breakup regime for continuously growing bubble changes from tunnel breakup to obstructed breakup as the heat flux increases. Interestingly, the pinch‐off stage of bubble breakup becomes inconspicuous in small acute‐angle bifurcating microchannel. The flow structure changes from smooth mode to twining mode as the bifurcating angle increases. The bubble transit leads to the shrink or disappearance of vortex. The heat transfer is tightly associated with bubble dynamics. The negative heat transfer enhancement is observed at low heat flux and it is eliminated at high heat flux. The heat transfer is enhanced with the increase in heat flux, while the effect of bifurcating angle is relatively complex. The present study provides new insights into the two‐phase flow in bifurcating structures.
Paid sick leave among US private sector employees
Authors: Johnson Candice Y. , Said Kristen , Price Ashley E. , Darcey Dennis , Østbye Truls
Published: July 2022

Background

Inequities in US employees' access to paid sick leave are known, but it is not clear whether they are increasing or decreasing over time. More than two dozen state and local paid sick leave laws were recently enacted, many with the stated goal of reducing inequities in access to paid sick leave. We examined how inequities in access to paid sick leave have changed over time, focusing on the years when these laws were coming into effect.

Methods

Private sector employees participating in the National Health Interview Survey between 2006 (before laws came into effect) and 2018 (after most came into effect) reported if they had paid sick leave in their main job. We examined how differences in access to paid sick leave by Census region, race/ethnicity, work hours, and educational attainment changed over time.

Results

The percentage of employees with access to paid sick leave increased from 56% in 2006 to 61% in 2018, with most of the increases in access occurring in the West. Inequities by race/ethnicity decreased substantially between 2015 and 2018, the years when most paid sick leave laws came into effect. This change was driven by Hispanic and Latino workers rapidly gaining access to paid sick leave during this time. Differences in access to paid sick leave by work hours and education attainment remained stable over time.

Conclusions

Inequities in access to paid sick leave remain. Paid sick leave laws could be effective means to increase access to paid sick leave and equalize access.
Iodocyclization of 2‐Methylthiophenylacetylenes to 3‐Iodobenzothiophenes and their coupling Reactions under More Sustainable Conditions
Authors: Mancuso Raffaella , Lettieri Melania , Strangis Romina , Russo Patrizio , Piccionello Antonio Palumbo , De Angelis Sara , Gabriele Bartolo
Published: July 2022

We report the first example of iodocyclization of readily available 2‐methylthiophenylacetylenes in a deep eutectic solvent (ChCl/urea 1/2, mol/mol) as recyclable and more sustainable solvent with respect to the classical VOCs employed so far. The process successfully afforded a variety of 3‐iodobenzothiophenes in good to high yields starting from differently substituted substrates, with the possibility to recycle the DES several times without appreciable lowering of the product yield. The 3‐iodothiophenes thus synthesized are known to be important precursors of biologically active molecules and functionalized heterocycles, and were successfully employed for performing representative Sonogashira and Suzuki cross‐coupling reactions. The solvent‐catalyst system could be conveniently recycled several times without any loss of activity in both coupling processes, thus further demonstrating the practical usefulness of our approach.
Blood‐based bioenergetic profiling reveals differences in mitochondrial function associated with cognitive performance and Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Mahapatra Gargi , Gao Zhengrong , Bateman James R. , Lockhart Samuel Neal , Bergstrom Jaclyn , DeWitt Amber Renee , Piloso Jemima Elizabeth , Kramer Philip Adam , Gonzalez‐Armenta Jenny L. , Amick Kimberly Allison , Casanova Ramon , Craft Suzanne , Molina Anthony J. A.
Published: July 2022

Introduction

Despite evidence for systemic mitochondrial dysfunction early in Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathogenesis, reliable approaches monitoring these key bioenergetic alterations are lacking. We used peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and platelets as reporters of mitochondrial function in the context of cognitive impairment and AD.

Methods

Mitochondrial function was analyzed using complementary respirometric approaches in intact and permeabilized cells from older adults with normal cognition, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and dementia due to probable AD. Clinical outcomes included measures of cognitive function and brain morphology.

Results

PBMC and platelet bioenergetic parameters were lowest in dementia participants. MCI platelets exhibited higher maximal respiration than normocognitives. PBMC and platelet respiration positively associated with cognitive ability and hippocampal volume, and negatively associated with white matter hyperintensities.

Discussion

Our findings indicate blood‐based bioenergetic profiling can be used as a minimally invasive approach for measuring systemic bioenergetic differences associated with dementia, and may be used to monitor bioenergetic changes associated with AD risk and progression.

Highlights

Peripheral cell bioenergetic alterations accompanied cognitive decline in older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) and related dementia (DEM).

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and platelet glucose‐mediated respiration decreased in participants with dementia compared to normocognitive controls (NC).

PBMC fatty‐acid oxidation (FAO)‐mediated respiration progressively declined in MCI and AD compared to NC participants, while platelet FAO‐mediated respiration exhibited an inverse‐Warburg effect in MCI compared to NC participants.

Positive associations were observed between bioenergetics and Modified Preclinical Alzheimer's Cognitive Composite, and bioenergetics and hippocampal volume %, while a negative association was observed between bioenergetics and white matter hyperintensities.

Systemic mitochondrial dysfunction is associated with cognitive decline.
Regulatory effect of gut microbes on blood pressure
Authors: Yan Dong , Sun Ye , Zhou Xiaoyue , Si Wenhao , Liu Jieyu , Li Min , Wu Minna
Published: July 2022

Hypertension is an important global public health issue because of its high morbidity as well as the increased risk of other diseases. Recent studies have indicated that the development of hypertension is related to the dysbiosis of the gut microbiota in both animals and humans. In this review, we outline the interaction between gut microbiota and hypertension, including gut microbial changes in hypertension, the effect of microbial dysbiosis on blood pressure (BP), indicators of gut microbial dysbiosis in hypertension, and the microbial genera that affect BP at the taxonomic level. For example, increases in Lactobacillus, Roseburia, Coprococcus, Akkermansia, and Bifidobacterium are associated with reduced BP, while increases in Streptococcus, Blautia, and Prevotella are associated with elevated BP. Furthermore, we describe the potential mechanisms involved in the regulation between gut microbiota and hypertension. Finally, we summarize the commonly used treatments of hypertension that are based on gut microbes, including fecal microbiota transfer, probiotics and prebiotics, antibiotics, and dietary supplements. This review aims to find novel potential genera for improving hypertension and give a direction for future studies on gut microbiota in hypertension.
A novel n‐type poly(sulfonic acid diphenyl aniline) and its nanocomposites with large Seebeck coefficient enhanced with external magnetic fields
Authors: Huner Keziban , Karaman Ferdane
Published: July 2022

Most of the polymeric thermoelectric materials represent p‐type conductivity; however, those of n‐type are very few. We report some novel n‐type polymeric materials, which are poly(sulphonic acid diphenyl aniline) (PSDA) and its nanocomposites with polythiophene (PTh). They were synthesized in aqueous media using chemical oxidation polymerization process under the external magnetic field where the flux intensities are 0, 1.5, 2.5, and 4.6 kGauss. As the magnetic flux density increases, absolute values of Seebeck coefficient of PSDA and PSDA/PTh nanocomposite films increased however their conductivity did not changed. The negative sign of Seebeck coefficients indicated that PSDA and PSDA/PTh nanocomposites have n‐type conductivity. The highest Seebeck coefficient and power factor were obtained as −2535 μV/K and 0.031 μW/mK2, respectively, for PSDA synthesized under 4.6 kGauss magnetic flux. Changes of the Seebeck coefficient were examined in detail with XPS analysis. FTIR, UV–vis spectroscopy, DLS, and XRD analyzes were also performed for the characterization of the polymers. Their surface morphologies were examined by STEM.
Modified hydroxyapatite improves the corrosion resistance of the epoxy coating
Authors: Peng Bokai , Yu Zongxue , Chen Legang , Liao Kexi , Chen Haidong , Guo Yuchi , Liu Yucheng
Published: July 2022

In this study, HAp(hydroxyapatite) was prepared by hydrothermal method and was successfully modified by APTES (aminopropyltriethoxysilane) to obtain APTES‐HAp nanomaterial. Firstly, the microstructure and surface morphology of HAp and APTES‐HAp were studied by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and scanning electron microscope (SEM), and it was confirmed that HAp and APTES‐HAp composites were successfully synthesized. Secondly, SEM analysis is used to study the dispersion of APTES‐HAp in epoxy resin, and it is proved that the dispersion of HAp modified by APTES is greatly improved. Finally, the corrosion resistance of the composite coating was studied in detail by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The results show that the APTES‐HAp /EP composite coating impedance modulus remains 107. The breakpoint frequency (fb) is always the minimum after 30 days of immersion, which proves that the corrosion resistance of APTES‐HAp /EP composite coating is significantly improved APTES‐HAp/EP. The improvement of corrosion resistance is mainly attributed to the following two points: APTES‐HAp has good uniform dispersion and interfaces compatibility in epoxy resin, forming an effective barrier network. On the other hand, layered HAp forms physical barriers and maze effects on corrosive media.
Preparation of a water‐dispersible nano‐photoinitiator oriented towards 3D printing hydrogel with visible light
Authors: Gu Xiang , Shi Xiaokun , Wu Jiadong , Zhang Yiming , Dong Lize , Gong Yuxuan , Meng Qinghua , Zhang Chongyin
Published: July 2022

In this article, a preparation method of a water‐dispersible photoinitiator, which can be used for three‐dimensional (3D) printing of the hydrogel and can be initiated under visible light is proposed. The oil‐soluble photoinitiator 2,4,6‐trimethylbenzoyl‐diphenylphosphine oxide (TPO) is nano‐wrapped with surfactant Tween 20 to obtain the oil‐in‐water (O/W) miniemulsion, and then it is successfully transformed into water‐dispersible nanospheres without the use of organic solvents or crystallization inhibitors. The morphology and optical properties were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), particle size analysis and ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis) spectroscopy. Subsequently, the water‐dispersible nano‐photoinitiator was used to realize the photopolymerization of acrylamide/N,N′‐methylenebisacrylamide hydrogel under visible light (405 nm). Then, the micromorphology of the photocuring process of the hydrogel was observed by TEM and the photocuring activity of the initiator was evaluated. Finally, a viscosifier suitable for AM/MBA hydrogel system was screened out, and the direct ink writing (DIW) 3D printing of the hydrogel was successfully realized by using this nano‐photoinitiator.
Microencapsulation of bisphenol A‐bis(diphenyl phosphate) by Pickering emulsions polymerization and its application in water‐borne polyacrylic acid coatings
Authors: Zhao Yunting , Gao Jing , Dong Chen , Ning Kegong , He Yongjun
Published: July 2022

For improving the compatibility of oil‐based flame retardants and waterborne substrates, Bisphenol A‐bis(diphenyl phosphate) (BDP) is used as the dispersed phase, sodium alginate (SA) solution as the continuous phase, and hydrophilic silica as the emulsifier in the preparation of stable oil‐in‐water (O/W) Pickering emulsions. Then, the emulsions are added into CaCl2 solution in the atomized form to polymerize the aqueous phase to calcium alginate (CA) and to obtain BDP/SiO2/CA microcapsules. BDP/SiO2/CA microcapsules are used as a flame retardant to improve the fire safety of waterborne polyacrylic acid (PAA) coatings. To verify that BDP/SiO2/CA is successfully prepared, Fourier‐transform infrared spectra (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) are used after microencapsulation. The results show that the physical barrier formed by the SiO2 particle layer has successfully stabilized the BDP in the CA gel network. Subsequently, the flame retardance of PAA with BDP/SiO2/CA is tested using limiting oxygen index (LOI) test and cone calorimeter(CONE) test. Compared with pure PAA, when BDP/SiO2/CA (4:6) microcapsules are added at 20 wt %, the LOI of the PAA coating is increased from 18.6% to 28.4%, the peak heat release rate (PHRR) value of that is reduced by 52.66%. The microcapsules endow oily BDP hydrophilicity and good compatibility with waterborne PAA coatings.
Enhanced thermal conductivity of polycarbonate‐based composites by constructing a dense filler packing structure consisting of hybrid boron nitride and flake graphite
Authors: Bai Yang , Zhou Shengtai , Lei Xue , Zou Huawei , Liang Mei
Published: July 2022

In this work, thermally conductive yet electrically insulative polycarbonate (PC)‐based composites with hybrid boron nitride (BN) and flake graphite (Gt) network structure were prepared by high shear injection molding process. A synergy in improving the thermal conductivity of PC was observed with the hybrid loading of BN and Gt. Results showed that the in‐plane thermal conductivity of PC/BN 30 wt%/Gt 16 wt% composite reached as high as 4.08 W/mK, which were 189% and 358% higher than that of PC/BN 30 wt% and PC/Gt 16 wt% composites, respectively. The preferred orientation of planar fillers and interconnection between added fillers were indispensable to the significant increase of in‐plane thermal conductivity, as corroborated by X‐ray diffraction, rheology and scanning electron microscope observations. Moreover, the electrical resistivity of PC/BN 30 wt%/Gt composites was higher than 1014 Ω cm, which shows potential application in thermal management areas such as advanced electronic devices and battery units among others.
Superior stretchable and tough P(AA‐co‐AAm)/silica hybrid hydrogels enabled by acid‐mediated radiation polymerization
Authors: Tian Yukun , Hong Yongzhi , Wang Yunlong , Tian Yuan , Wang Zhihao , Ai Meixing , Ma Jun
Published: July 2022

The emerging stretchable and tough hydrogels find their extraordinary contributions in widespread use. However, the applicability of existing tough hydrogels in harsh environments like highly acidic stomachs has remained a challenge. Here, we develop superior stretchable and tough P(AA‐co‐AAm)/SiO2 hybrid hydrogels through radiation‐induced polymerization and crosslinking in the presence of acids. The performance of the nanocomposite gels was optimized by altering fabrication variables including acid concentration, monomer composition and absorbed dose. The mechanic tests show that the protonated hybrid hydrogels displayed a high elongation at break (1919%), fracture strength (117 kPa), and compressive strength at 50% strain (126 kPa). These values are superior to those of conventional polyelectrolyte hydrogels and expect to significantly broaden the application. The proposed strategy is quite general and offers an alternative strategy to develop tough hydrogels.
Feedback‐Error Learning for time‐effective gait trajectory tracking in wearable exoskeletons
Authors: Figueiredo Joana , Fernandes Pedro Nuno , Moreno Juan C. , Santos Cristina P.
Published: July 2022

The use of exoskeletons in gait rehabilitation implies user‐oriented and efficient responses of exoskeletons' controllers with adaptability for human‐robot interaction. This study investigates the performance of a bioinspired hybrid control, the Feedback‐Error Learning (FEL) controller, to time‐effectively track user‐oriented gait trajectories and adapt the exoskeletons' response to dynamic changes due to the interaction with the user. It innovates with a controller benchmarking analysis. FEL combines a proportional‐integral‐derivative (PID) feedback controller with a three‐layer neural network feedforward controller that learns the inverse dynamics of the exoskeleton based on real‐time feedback commands. FEL validation involved able‐bodied subjects walking with knee and ankle exoskeletons at different gait speeds while considering gait disturbances. Results showed that the FEL control accurately (tracking error <7%) and timely (delay <30 ms) tracked gait trajectories. The feedforward controller learned the inverse dynamics of the exoskeletons in a time compliant for clinical use and adapted to variations in the gait trajectories, such as speed and position range, while the feedback controller compensated for random disturbances. FEL was more accurate and time‐effective controller for tracking gait trajectories than a PID control (error <27%, delay <260 ms) and a lookup table feedforward combined with PID control (error <17%, delay >160 ms). These findings aligned with FEL's time‐effectiveness favors its use in wearable exoskeletons for repetitive gait training.
Design and Synthesis of Ag‐based Catalysts for Electrochemical CO2 Reduction: Advances and Perspectives
Authors: Yang Hu , Huang Jialu , Yang Hui , Guo Qiyang , Jiang Bei , Chen Jinxing , Yuan Xiaolei
Published: July 2022

Ag‐based nanocrystals have emerged as an important candidate for CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) owing to the increasing amount of CO2 in the atmosphere, which has shown a propensity to alleviate environmental problems and produce high value‐added chemicals. This paper reviews the surface and interface engineering of Ag‐based catalysts towards CO2RR, which involve in the morphology control, composition manipulation, and support effects. Various synthesis approaches are presented to discuss their influence on the size, crystal structure and morphology of Ag‐based catalysts, including pure Ag NPs, Ag‐based alloys, Ag/metal oxides composites as well as Ag/carbon materials. Next, the development of Ag‐based surface and interface engineering that is essential to accelerate the formation of CO and its further conversion to C1 or even multicarbon products is systematically discussed. Finally, we give a short conclusion, and perspectives on the rational design of Ag‐based catalysts based on surface and interface engineering will be discussed.
The diagnostic value of exosomal circular RNAs in cancer patients: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Zhang Yang , Yang Xuyang , Zhuang Zixuan , Wei Mingtian , Meng Wenjian , Deng Xiangbing , Wang Ziqiang
Published: July 2022

Background

Recently, serum exosomal circular RNAs (circRNAs) were applied to discriminate cancer patients from healthy individuals, indicating that exosomal circRNAs have the potential to be novel biomarkers for cancer diagnosis. This study aims to summarize the role of exosomal circRNAs in cancer diagnosis by a meta‐analysis.

Methods

A comprehensive literature search was conducted up to July 2021 in PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, and Cochrane Database. To evaluate the diagnostic value, the sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio (PLR), negative likelihood ratio (NLR), diagnostic odds ratio (DOR), and area under the curve (AUC) were pooled. Threshold effect followed by subgroup analysis and meta‐regression were performed to explore the source of heterogeneity. Sensitivity analysis was performed to assess the stability of this meta‐analysis model. Fagan plots and likelihood ratio scattergrams were used to explore the potential clinical significance.

Results

Ten eligible studies with 514 controls and 557 patients were included in this diagnostic meta‐analysis. The pooled sensitivity, specificity, PLR, NLR, and DOR were 0.75 (95% CI: 0.65–0.83), 0.84 (95% CI, 0.78–0.89), 5.87 (95% CI, 3.67–9.38), 0.28 (95% CI, 0.19–0.40), and 21.15 (95% CI, 10.25–43.68), respectively. The AUC was 0.89 (95% CI, 0.86–0.91). Sensitivity analysis showed that four studies had an impact on the pooled results and mainly contributed to the heterogeneity. Fagan's nomogram revealed that the prior probability of 20%, the post probability positive, the post probability negative were 59% and 6%, respectively.

Conclusion

Our results suggested that exosomal circRNAs might serve as powerful biomarkers in detecting cancers with high sensitivity and specificity. However, more well‐designed and multicenter diagnostic tests are needed to validate our results.
MoFiM: A morphable fish modeling method for underwater binocular vision system
Authors: Yin Jingfang , Zhu Dengming , Shi Min , Li Zhaoxin , Duan Ming , Mi Xiangyuan , Wang Zhaoqi
Published: July 2022

Fish morphology is an essential basis for fishery management, as it can reflect the growth status of fishes. Noncontact 3D reconstruction of underwater fish is a new way to obtain fish morphology. While it is difficult to reconstruct fish on account of the inadequate information caused by fish swimming and poor underwater imaging. This article introduces a morphable fish modeling method for the underwater binocular vision system. First, we define a fish representation based on selected landmarks. Then, we propose a chirality‐supervision incorporated hourglass network to estimate fish orientation and fish 2D landmarks simultaneously, and calculate fish 3D landmarks by triangulation. Next, we propose a fish modeling method which is based on 3D landmarks and introduce the optimization procedure of fish modeling. Finally, we obtain the complete 3D fish model corresponding to the input images. To train our network and build a parametric model, we constructed an underwater vision dataset and fish instance dataset respectively. We conducted experiments with grass carp as an example, and the experimental results show that our method can achieve effective fish modeling and is useful for noncontact measurement of underwater fish.
Oxytocin suppresses CXCL10 production in TNF‐α‐stimulated human dental pulp stem cells
Authors: Kumagai Tomoki , Shindo Satoru , Takeda Katsuhiro , Shiba Hideki
Published: July 2022

Oxytocin (OX) is a posterior pituitary hormone secreted into the blood from axon terminals projecting from the posterior pituitary. Recent reports indicate OX plays an important role in the progression of inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. Pulpitis is caused by the activation of the biological defense mechanism of the dental pulp against cariogenic bacteria. However, the role of OX in the pathogenesis of pulpitis remains unknown. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of OX on CXC chemokine ligand 10 (CXCL10) production in human dental pulp stem cells (HDPSCs). Expression of the oxytocin receptor (OXR) on HDPSCs was detected by Western blot analysis and immunofluorescence. CXCL10 production in HDPSCs was measured using an enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay kit. Western blot analysis was performed to determine the phosphorylation levels of signal transduction molecules, including nuclear factor kappa B, mitogen‐activated protein kinases (MAPKs), and Akt in HDPSCs. HDPSCs expressed OXR. OX significantly decreased CXCL10 production in tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐α‐stimulated HDPSCs. The p38 MAPK and Akt pathways were related to the OX‐suppressed CXCL10 production in TNF‐α‐stimulated HDPSCs. These results indicate that OX appears to modulate the immune response in pulpitis via suppression of CXCL10 production by HDPSCs.
Metastatic renal cell carcinoma presenting as a duodenal mass
Authors: Vrakas Spyridon , Skouloudis Epameinondas , Koutoufaris Georgios , Manoloudaki Kassiani , Karapiperis Dimitrios , Xourgias Vasilis
Published: July 2022

We report a case of renal cell carcinoma metastasis to the duodenum.
Successful management of scalp avulsion with full‐thickness graft
Authors: Almoshantaf Mohammad Badr , Swed Sarya , Hajjar Abdulkader , Alshawaf Ala’a , Nabhan Ahmad , Zetani Bayan , Etr Aladdin
Published: July 2022

Scalp avulsion injuries are one of the life‐threatening traumatic injuries. Rapid management in the emergency department is vital to the successful rescue of an avulsed scalp. There are many replantation methods to treat scalp avulsion, so the best aesthetic and functional results are achieved. Skin grafting, free flaps, microvascular surgery, and hyperbaric oxygen are all suitable for reconstructive plans. We report a rare case of a scalp avulsion injury in a female due to an entanglement of a headscarf in a motorized machine resulting in defects and tissue loss of the hair‐bearing skin, nasal area, forehead, left ear, and bilateral eyelids and eyebrows. Preoperative management included early blood transfusion, intravenous fluids, and wound compression after rapid physical examination. Reconstructive surgery was performed using a full‐thickness skin graft and the outcomes were pristine. There are no clear guidelines to determine which reconstructive method is superior to another in each condition. Our case demonstrates that relatively primitive methods like skin grafting can give greater results if done with circumspection.
COVID‐19‐associated facial cutaneous mucormycosis superinfection: A potentially life‐threatening disease
Authors: Zareshahrabadi Zahra , Emami Amir , Pakshir Keyvan , Roudgari Amir , Ghaffari Behzad , Rezaei Tahere , Shekarkhar Golsa , Zomorodian Kamiar
Published: July 2022

A 49‐year‐old male was involved in an accident and an abdominal computer tomographic examination revealed papillary renal cell carcinoma of the right kidney. During hospitalization, the patient was infected with COVID‐19. In the following COVID‐19 treatment, a black dot developed on the right side of the head and face. Antifungal therapy and surgical debridement were initiated and gradual improvement was observed.
Delayed COVID‐19‐induced cytokine storm after root canal therapy with favorable response to plasmapheresis, tocilizumab, and methylprednisolone pulses therapy: A case report
Authors: Aghaeimeybodi Fatemeh , Derakhshan Barjoei Mohammad Moein , Mohammadi Mohammad , Ghasemirad Hamidreza , Mehrabi Samrad
Published: July 2022

COVID‐19 showed different characteristics, and many cases showed clinical manifestations that could not be attributed to other conditions. We present a 22‐year‐old woman who had an uneventful recovery from COVID‐19, and after that, she developed a cytokine storm and a worsening clinical condition 2 days after dental root canal therapy.
Cardiopulmonary arrest caused by nafamostat mesylate during hemodialysis
Authors: Shioya Nobuki , Inoue Nozomu , Sato Hiroki , Iwahara Motoko , Sato Tomohiro , Tsukamoto Yuki , Naito Yuki , Hazama Kohji , Shichinohe Yasuo
Published: July 2022

Dialysis‐related adverse reactions can be serious and difficult to predict. In our case, nafamostat mesylate (NM) was thought to be the cause of cardiopulmonary arrest (CPA) due to NM‐induced anaphylaxis but was not reflected in the allergy tests. Rare but life‐threatening drawbacks occur immediately after hemodialysis initiation.
Large, calcified aneurysm of the left ventricle: Case report of an incidental finding
Authors: Georgiev Aleksandar , Tsvetkova Silvia , Goranov Georgi , Nikolov Petar
Published: July 2022

The case is of an 88‐year‐old female patient with an accidental finding of a large, calcified aneurysm near the cardiac apex. Differential diagnoses can be made with false aneurysms and congenital diverticulums. Imaging modalities beneficial for diagnosing LVA are ultrasound, X‐rays, CT, MRI, including PET/CT for oncology patients.
The Role of Hydroxide Binding Energy in Alkaline Hydrogen Oxidation Reaction Kinetics on RuCr Nanosheet†
Authors: Yang Chaoyi , Li Yunbo , Ge Chuangxin , Jiang Wenyong , Cheng Gongzhen , Zhuang Lin , Luo Wei
Published: July 2022

Comprehensive Summary

Unveiling the role of adsorbed hydroxide involved in the hydrogen oxidation reaction (HOR) under alkaline electrolyte is crucial for the development of advanced HOR electrocatalysts for the alkaline polymer electrolyte fuel cells (APEFCs). Herein, we report the synthesis of amorphous RuCr nanosheets with different molar ratios and their HOR performances under alkaline media. We find a volcano correlation between the Cr content in RuCr nanosheets and their alkaline HOR performance. Experimental results and density functional theory (DFT) calculation reveals that the optimized Cr content in RuCr nanosheets could lead to the optimum hydroxide binding energy (OHBE), contributes to their remarkable alkaline HOR performance with mass activity of 568.1 A·gPGM–1 at 50 mV, 13‐fold higher than that of Ru catalyst. When RuCr nanosheet is further used as the anodic electrocatalyst, a peak power density of 1.04 W·cm–2 can be achieved in an APEFC.
Intracranial hemorrhage subtype classification using learned fully connected separable convolutional network
Authors: Korra Sampath , Mamidi Ravikanth , Soora Narasimha Reddy , Kumar Kotte Vinay , Kumar Naliganti Cornel Santosh
Published: July 2022

In recent decades, intracranial hemorrhage detection from computed tomography (CT) scans has gained considerable attention among researchers in the medical community. The major problem in dealing with the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) dataset is a three dimensional representation of CT scan, where the labeled data are scarce and hard to obtain. To highlight this problem, a novel learned fully connected separable convolutional network is proposed in this research article. After collecting the CT scans, data augmentation is used to generate multiple image variations to improve the capacity of the proposed model generalization. Based on the albumentations library, the transformations are selected for data augmentation such as brightness adjustment, horizontal flipping, shifting, rotation, and scaling. The intracranial hemorrhage subtype classification is accomplished utilizing a learned fully connected separable convolutional network which significantly classifies six classes as any, intraparenchymal, subarachnoid, epidural, intraventricular, and subdural. In the resulting phase, the learned fully connected separable convolutional network obtained an average accuracy of 98.63%, sensitivity of 73.32%, specificity of 99.49%, and area under the curve of 98.98%, where the obtained results are effective compared with ResNet‐50, SE‐ResNeXt‐50, ResNeXt‐101, and ResNeXt‐101 with bidirectional long short term memory network.
Adaptive regulation based on the spatio‐temporal distribution of ecological flow surplus and deficit in the Hanjiang River basin
Authors: Song Xinxin , Zhuang Yanhua , Li Enhua , Zhang Yingying , Wang Xuelei
Published: July 2022

Ecological flow has attracted considerable attention because intensive dam construction can cause changes in the hydrological situation and subsequent ecological environment problems. In the Hanjiang River basin, 15 cascade reservoirs are due to become operational in the main stream in the coming years. In this study, the calculation method of ecological flow surplus and deficit was proposed, and the key periods (KPs) and key areas (KAs) of ecological flow deficits were identified. Adaptive regulation strategies were proposed based on a new method. Results show that (1) the wet and normal years are in a state of ecological surplus. In the dry year, there is an ecological flow deficit of 370 million m3. The off‐stream ecological water shortage is at its most serious in June. In the river channel, the ecological flow deficit usually appears in the winter. The Xiantao section in the lower reaches has a deficit every month in the typical water years. (2) In the off‐stream region, the KPs cover months 6 to 9, and the KAs are the southeastern Hanzhong plain, Shiyan City, southeastern Nanyang basin, and the midwest of Xiangyang City. In the river channel, the KPs cover months 12 to 2 above the Shayang section, while in the downstream Xiantao section KA, the KP covers the whole year. The cooperative analysis of KPs and KAs can effectively improve the pertinence of watershed ecological flow regulation. Priority for water resources regulation in water deficient areas should be given to key areas in the key periods.
FishShapes v1: Functionally relevant measurements of teleost shape and size on three dimensions
Authors: Price Samantha A. , Friedman Sarah T. , Corn Katherine A. , Larouche Olivier , Brockelsby Kasey , Lee Anna J. , Nagaraj Maya , Bertrand Nick G. , Danao Mailee , Coyne Megan C. , Estrada John R. , Friedman Rachel , Hoeft Evan , Iwan Mikayla , Gross Dominique , Kao Jo Hsuan , Landry Brian , Linares Monica J. , McGlinn Carley , Nguyen Jennifer A. , Proffitt Allison G. , Rodriguez Sierra , Rupp Maxwell R. , Shen Erin Y. , Susman Victoria , Tovar Angelly J. , Vary Laura L. J. , Zapfe Katerina L. , Wainwright Peter C.
Published: July 2022

Teleost fishes account for 96% of all fish species and exhibit a spectacular variety of body forms. Teleost lineages range from deep bodied to elongate (e.g., eels, needlefish), laterally compressed (e.g., ribbonfish) to globular (e.g., pufferfish), and include uniquely shaped lineages such as seahorses, flatfishes, and ocean sunfishes. Adaptive body shape convergence within fishes has long been hypothesized but the nature of the relationships between fish form and ecological and environmental variables remain largely unknown at the macroevolutionary scale. To facilitate the investigation of the interacting factors influencing teleost body shape evolution we measured eight functionally relevant linear traits on adult‐sized specimens along with specimen mass. Linear measurements of standard length, maximum body depth, maximum fish width, lower jaw length, mouth width, head depth, minimum caudal peduncle depth, and minimum caudal peduncle width were taken in millimeters with calipers, or tape measures for oversized specimens. We measured these traits on a total of 16,523 specimens (1–3 specimens per species) at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History and took approximately 7000 person hours of data collection to complete. The data went through a three‐step error‐checking process to clean and validate the data and then species averages were calculated. We present the complete specimen data set, which encompasses approximately one‐fifth of extant teleost species diversity, spanning ~90% of teleost families and ~96% of orders. The species and family names are compatible with the taxonomy used by FishBase and the order information with the phylogenetically informed taxonomy of Betancur‐R and colleagues published in 2014. This dataset is licensed under Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) but please cite this paper when using the data or a subset of it.
Impact analysis of heart failure across European countries: an ESC‐HFA position paper
Authors: Rosano Giuseppe M.C. , Seferovic Petar , Savarese Gianluigi , Spoletini Ilaria , Lopatin Yuri , Gustafsson Fin , Bayes‐Genis Antoni , Jaarsma Tiny , Abdelhamid Magdy , Miqueo Arantxa Gonzalez , Piepoli Massimo , Tocchetti Carlo G. , Ristić Arsen D. , Jankowska Ewa , Moura Brenda , Hill Loreena , Filippatos Gerasimos , Metra Marco , Milicic Davor , Thum Thomas , Chioncel Ovidiu , Ben Gal Tuvia , Lund Lars H. , Farmakis Dimitrios , Mullens Wilfried , Adamopoulos Stamatis , Bohm Michael , Norhammar Anna , Bollmann Andreas , Banerjee Amitava , Maggioni Aldo P. , Voors Adriaan , Solal Alain Cohen , Coats Andrew J.S.
Published: July 2022

Heart failure (HF) is a long‐term clinical syndrome, with increasing prevalence and considerable healthcare costs that are further expected to increase dramatically. Despite significant advances in therapy and prevention, mortality and morbidity remain high and quality of life poor. Epidemiological data, that is, prevalence, incidence, mortality, and morbidity, show geographical variations across the European countries, depending on differences in aetiology, clinical characteristics, and treatment. However, data on the prevalence of the disease are scarce, as are those on quality of life. For these reasons, the ESC‐HFA has developed a position paper to comprehensively assess our understanding of the burden of HF in Europe, in order to guide future policies for this syndrome. This manuscript will discuss the available epidemiological data on HF prevalence, outcomes, and human costs—in terms of quality of life—in European countries.
Impact of ischaemic aetiology on the efficacy of intravenous ferric carboxymaltose in patients with iron deficiency and acute heart failure: insights from the AFFIRM‐AHF trial
Authors: Metra Marco , Jankowska Ewa A. , Pagnesi Matteo , Anker Stefan D. , Butler Javed , Dorigotti Fabio , Fabien Vincent , Filippatos Gerasimos , Kirwan Bridget‐Anne , Macdougall Iain C. , Rosano Giuseppe , Ruschitzka Frank , Tomasoni Daniela , van der Meer Peter , Ponikowski Piotr ,   the AFFIRM‐AHF Investigators
Published: July 2022

Aims

In AFFIRM‐AHF, intravenous ferric carboxymaltose (FCM) reduced heart failure (HF) hospitalisations and improved quality of life versus placebo in iron‐deficient patients stabilised after an acute HF episode. This analysis explored the effects of FCM versus placebo in patients with ischaemic and non‐ischaemic HF aetiology.

Methods and results

We included 1082 patients from AFFIRM‐AHF: 590 with ischaemic HF (defined as investigator‐reported ischaemic HF aetiology and/or prior acute myocardial infarction and/or prior coronary revascularisation) and 492 with non‐ischaemic HF. The prevalences of male sex, comorbidities, and history of HF were higher in the ischaemic versus non‐ischaemic HF subgroup. Annualised event rates for the primary composite outcome of total HF hospitalisations and cardiovascular death with FCM versus placebo were 65.3 versus 100.6 per 100 patient‐years in the ischaemic HF subgroup (rate ratio [RR] 0.65, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.47–0.89, p = 0.007) and 58.3 versus 52.5 in the non‐ischaemic HF subgroup (RR 1.11, 95% CI 0.75–1.66, p = 0.60) (pinteraction = 0.039). An interaction between HF aetiology and treatment effect was also observed for the secondary outcome of total HF hospitalisations (pinteraction = 0.038). A nominal increase in quality of life, assessed using the 12‐item Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire, was observed with FCM versus placebo, within each subgroup.

Conclusions

Heart failure hospitalisations and cardiovascular deaths occurred at a higher rate in patients with ishaemic versus those with non‐ischaemic HF and were reduced by FCM versus placebo only in ischaemic patients. Further studies are needed to assess the role of aetiology in FCM efficacy.
Ecological transition in a World Heritage City: The case of San Cristóbal de La Laguna (Canary Islands)
Authors: Santamarta Juan C. , Cruz‐Pérez Noelia , Rodríguez‐Martín Jesica , Beltrán Rubén Fuentes , de Gracia Mª Dolores Storch , García‐Gil Alejandro
Published: July 2022

The city of La Laguna is one of the largest urban areas of the Canary Islands archipelago, located on the volcanic island of Tenerife (Spain), whose energy demand results in a large carbon footprint due to the typical fossil fuel dependency of oceanic islands. In 2019, La Laguna joined the initiative under the new Climate and Energy Pact and has been working ever since to achieve the EU target of reducing by 55% greenhouse gases emissions by 2030. In this work, we present the results obtained from the study conducted of emissions of the city, focused on buildings, equipment and facilities (1), public lighting (2), transportation (3) and agriculture, forestry and fishing (4) sectors. To this end, emissions in 2009 were studied and compared with those in 2019, resulting in a 4% to 48% carbon dioxide emissions reduction in the last decade. To achieve the goal of reductions of more than 55% by 2030, the city council prepared a Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plan (SECAP), in which they propose that successfully implemented measures would achieve a 64% reduction in emissions in the municipality.
Age, formation and significance of loess deposits in central Sweden
Authors: Stevens Thomas , Sechi Daniele , Tziavaras Charilaos , Schneider Ramona , Banak Adriano , Andreucci Stefano , Hättestrand Martina , Pascucci Vincenzo
Published: July 2022

Loess deposits are common in the mid‐latitudes and are excellent records of past climate, landscape change and dust. However, loess deposits are seldom reported from Fennoscandia. Here we investigate two former glaciofluvial areas in central Sweden, Brattforsheden and Bonäsheden, where post‐glacial loess and sand dune activity have been documented previously. Based on detailed mapping, grain size, scanning electron microscopy and optically stimulated luminescence dating analyses, we confirm the presence of loess deposits at the sites and extend the known area of loess coverage. Our results suggest that loess deposits are more common than previously thought in Sweden. The results also demonstrate that basal parts of the loess are often mixed with underlying sediment, which may be a common feature of thin loess deposits close to former ice margins. Quartz luminescence is well suited for dating these deposits, but ages from the mixed basal loess layers are older than expected, while ages from undisturbed loess extend to c. 5 ka. The loess ages contrast with the timing of main dune activity in these areas, which is dominantly in the 1–3 kyr post‐deglaciation (c. 10.9–10.5 cal kyr BP). We suggest that either sediment mixing during soil formation is responsible for the mid‐Holocene loess ages, or that the loess deposits record periodic landscape destabilization into the mid‐Holocene. Furthermore, there is a clear topographic control on aeolian sedimentary facies, with loess mantling high ground and dunes restricted to valleys. Loess deposits are also primarily found to the south and southwest of source areas, implying transport from the north and east. This pattern contrasts with evidence for NW winds inferred from associated sand dunes. At present, the reasons for this mismatch are unclear, although one possible explanation is that silts deposited at higher elevations were affected by Ekman flow deflection of NW surface winds.
Preparation and antibacterial and antioxidant ability of β‐cyclodextrin complexes of vaporized Illicium verum essential oil
Authors: Wu Kegang , Zhang Tong , Chai Xianghua , He Dong , Duan Xuejuan , Yu Bingying , Chen Yongqi , Huang Yuqiang
Published: July 2022

Compared with traditional liquid–liquid embedding method and solid–liquid embedding method of inclusion complexes of β‐cyclodextrin (β‐CD) inclusion of essential oil to form stable properties, the gas–liquid embedding method was applied to encapsulate vaporized illicium verum essential oil (IvEO), with β‐CD as wall materials so that core and wall materials molecules are in active state during complexing process. At optimal conditions with a mass ratio of 1:10, temperature of 80°C, time of 1 h, the β‐CD‐IvEO inclusion complexes (β‐CD‐IvEO‐ICs) had an encapsulation efficiency (EE) of 84.55 ± 2.31%. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) revealed the encapsulation of IvEO into inclusion complexes, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) demonstrated the enhanced thermal stability of IvEO after embedding. Furthermore, the reducing power and 2‐phenyl‐4,4,5,5‐tetramethylimidazoline‐1‐oxyl‐3‐oxide (PTIO)‐scavenging capacity displayed certain capacity of antioxidation in a short time but stronger antioxidative activities as reaction time was extended. The diameter of growth zone (DGZ) indicated stronger antibacterial activity of β‐CD‐IvEO‐ICs against Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Staphylococcus aureus. Moreover, the β‐CD‐IvEO‐ICs could induce the bacteria producing more reactive oxygen species (ROS) than IvEO, resulting in bacterial death.