bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The substrate-binding domains of the osmoregulatory ABC importer OpuA physically interact
Authors: van den Noort Marco , Drougkas Panagiotis , Paulino Cristina , Poolman Bert
Published: December 2023

Bacteria utilize various strategies to prevent internal dehydration during hypertonic stress. A common approach to countering the effects of the stress is to import compatible solutes such as glycine betaine, leading to simultaneous passive water fluxes following the osmotic gradient. OpuA from
Lactococcus lactis
is a type I ABC-importer that uses two substrate-binding domains (SBDs) to capture extracellular glycine betaine and deliver the substrate to the transmembrane domains for subsequent transport. OpuA senses osmotic stress via changes in the internal ionic strength and is furthermore regulated by the 2
nd
messenger cyclic-di-AMP. We now show, by means of solution-based single-molecule FRET and analysis with multi- parameter photon-by-photon hidden Markov modeling, that the SBDs interact in an ionic strength-dependent manner. The smFRET data are in accordance with the apparent cooperativity in transport and supported by new cryo-EM data of OpuA. We propose that physical interactions between SBDs and cooperativity in substrate delivery could be more widespread than recognized thus far.
Analysis and pollution evaluation of heavy metal content in soil of the Yellow River Wetland Reserve in Henan
Authors: Chen Xiaolong , Wong Cora Un In , Zhang Hongfeng
Published: December 2023

Objective

This study aims to assess the contamination levels of six heavy metals, namely arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), mercury (Hg), and lead (Pb), in the soil of the Henan Yellow River Wetland Reserve. It seeks to reveal the spatial distribution and trends of heavy metal pollution, providing a scientific basis for the rational utilization and effective protection of soil. Additionally, it aims to propose targeted management and remediation recommendations to mitigate or prevent soil pollution.

Method

A total of 706 soil samples were collected in this area in combination with the land use type map. As and Hg were determined by atomic fluorescence spectrometry, and Cr, Cu, Pb and Cd were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Taking the soil pollution risk screening value of agricultural land (GB15618-2018) as a reference value, the sample data were statistically analyzed, and the Nemerow comprehensive pollution index method combined with ArcGIS technology was used to evaluate the soil environmental quality.

Result

The comprehensive pollution index of the soil in the Yellow River Wetland Reserve was 0.42, ranging from 0.17 to 2.38, which was safe and not polluted (I grade). Out of 706 sampling locations, 674 remained uncontaminated, while 26 exhibited cleanliness. Although they were in the warning line, they did not exceed the standard, accounting for 3.68% of the total number of sampling points. Five sample points were slightly polluted, accounting for 0.71% of the total sample points, and one sample point was moderately polluted, accounting for 0.14% of the total sample points. It can be seen that there are few agricultural land pollution points in the Yellow River Wetland Reserve, and the soil environment quality is generally good.

Conclusion

The soil in the Yellow River Wetland Reserve in Henan has a very small amount of mild and moderate pollution, and there is no severe pollution. The cleanliness is currently high.
Living on the edge: urban fireflies (Coleoptera, Lampyridae) in Morelia, Michoacán, Mexico
Authors: Pérez-Hernández Cisteil X. , Gutiérrez Mancillas Ana María , del-Val Ek , Mendoza-Cuenca Luis
Published: December 2023

Fireflies (Coleoptera, Lampyridae) are a globally threatened group of insects due to habitat loss and fragmentation, light pollution, climate change and pesticides. However, against all odds, some firefly populations persist in urbanized environments where all four of these factors are present simultaneously. In this work, we compiled several data sources to document the diversity of fireflies in the urbanized area of Morelia, characterize their current habitats, and determine the main stressors affecting these bioluminescent insects. We found seven genera and 26 species of fireflies (19 nocturnal, seven diurnal) associated with 32 urban, peri-urban and extra-urban areas; at least, 14 are new records for Michoacán, and the list for the state now includes nine genera and 41 species. Five additional sites were documented as extinction sites. We compared the characteristics of these five sites with those of the sites with extant populations. We found that in Morelia, fireflies are mainly associated with areas that have high to moderate proportions of vegetation cover, are near water bodies, have very gentle to moderate slopes, and are exposed to low levels of light pollution. In contrast, the extinction sites showed high proportions of artificial surfaces and high levels of light pollution. Because some fireflies are considered bioindicators of ecosystem integrity as they are associated to specific habitats, are highly diverse and due to their sensitivity to environmental changes, we consider that sites from Morelia’s urban core and extinction sites show the highest levels of environmental degradation, threatening most fireflies and other insects living in the urban core with local extinction. At the same time, our results also suggest that implementing conservation strategies and sustainable planning for the urban development of Morelia in the short term could allow fireflies and other vital elements of the city’s insect communities to persist for future generations. Restoration and conservation of green areas and nighttime environments are essential for biodiversity and human health, especially in intra-urban zones.
“Implementação” da Logística Hospitalar 4.0 no Brasil: benefícios e desafios
Authors: Cabral Gabrielle Ferreira , Da Silva Josivaldo Godoy
Published: December 2023

Informações recentes apontam que a Logística Hospitalar Convencional apresenta dificuldades para garantir a eficiência e a receita, o controle de estoque, a minimização de erros na seleção de medicamentos e o desempenho dos profissionais no hospital, etc. Ademais, pesquisas sugerem que a Logística Hospitalar 4.0 seja mais adequada. Esta pesquisa se caracterizou como qualitativa e exploratória e teve como objetivo pesquisar a Logística Hospitalar 4.0 para conhecer os benefícios e desafios em relação à Logística Convencional para a “implementação” no Brasil. Recursos como o uso da comunicação digital, da Inteligência Artificial, do Big Data, viabilizam a interação com qualidade e rapidez entre profissionais dos diversos setores, aumenta a eficiência dos processos de distribuição e armazenamento de medicamentos e demais suprimentos hospitalares, etc. No entanto, entre os desafios encontrados destacam-se a necessidade de adequação e/ou inclusão de novas formas de trabalhar, disponibilidade para investimentos na aquisição de novos materiais e equipamentos, capacitação dos profissionais, entre outras. A comparação realizada permite afirmar que a Logística Hospitalar 4.0 beneficia ainda mais as atividades do hospital pois gera maior eficiência e beneficia a saúde do paciente. No entanto, atualmente o Brasil apresenta um déficit  nas contas públicas, o que potencializa os desafios à “implementação” da Logística Hospitalar 4.0 principalmente em hospitais públicos. Enfim, entende-se que os resultados apresentados poderão estimular a realização de novas pesquisas em Logística Hospitalar 4.0 e favorecer o surgimento de áreas multidisciplinares nos cursos de Engenharia de Produção, Engenharia Elétrica e Ciências da Computação.
Comparison of financial results of companies with different production systems: a case study of lean manufacturing and industry 4.0
Authors: De Carvalho Cleginaldo Pereira , Machado Marcela Aparecida Guerreiro , De Medeiros Felipe Alexandre Malheiros , Gomes Fabrício Maciel , Andrade Herlandi de Souza , Sampaio Nilo Antonio de Souza
Published: December 2023

This research article aims to compare two companies, one in the commercial aviation segment (E) and the other in the cosmetic segment (N), considering the differences presented between them in relation to their production systems using lean manufacturing tools and perspective on the technologies of industry 4.0. The methodology to be used is the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF), applying the method to the two companies and performing the analysis, discussion, and comparison of projections and enterprise value obtained for each one. In the end, company N obtained growth projections and enterprise value significantly higher than the results obtained by E, whose enterprise value presents a negative sign. The present research compared only two companies in one specific market segment. It is important to amplify the field of investigation for others and compare companies that belong to the same segment. As the implication, we have the fact that the figure of the COVID-19 pandemic period considered, and the answers from each company could be different to recover from the pandemic. This research work presents as originality the methodology of evaluating the financial impact of the companies which apply lean and Industry 4.0 tools in the open capital enterprise.
HALK MUTFAĞINDA KIŞ HAZIRLIĞI: ÇORUM ÖRNEĞİ
Authors: ORTAKCI Altuğ
Published: December 2023

Halk mutfağında kış hazırlığı olarak bilinen süreç, ağustos ayı ortalarından başlayarak kasım ayının ilk haftalarına kadar süren yoğun birtakım işlemleri beraberinde getirmektedir. Birçok yörede olduğu gibi bu çalışmanın alan araştırması olarak seçilen yörede de kurutmalık, kaynatmalık ve hamur işlerine yönelik birçok işlemin yaz aylarının bitimiyle başlandığı ve dört ay boyunca sürdürüldüğü tespit edilmiştir. Bu çalışmada, Çorum’da kış hazırlığı süreci halkın kolektif belleğinde yer alan biçimleriyle geçmişten günümüze değişen ve dönüşen unsurlarıyla ele alınacaktır. Kış hazırlığı aşamalarında ortaya çıkan kültürel birikim, hammaddenin elde edilmesi, üretimi ve muhafaza edilmesi süreçleriyle ilişkilidir. Tespit, derleme ve aktarma üzerine inşa edilen bu çalışma alan araştırması verileri içermektedir. Doğal ortamda katılımlı gözlem ve yönlendirilmiş görüşme teknikleri ile şekillendirilmiştir.
TÜRKÇEDE NEDEN ULAÇLARI: -(y)AcAğI için ve -(y)AcAğIndAn
Authors: ASLAN Ezgi
Published: December 2023

Bu çalışmanın amacı; Türkçede iki olay arasındaki nedensellik ilişkisini gösteren neden ulaçlı karmaşık tümceleri, yapısal ve anlamsal ilişkileri açısından incelemek ve çalışma kapsamına alınan neden ulaçlı tümcelerin benzerlik ve farklılıklarını ortaya koymaktır. Aynı ya da benzer ilişkileri gösteren neden ulaçlı yapılar arasındaki anlamsal ve kullanımsal farklılıkların ortaya çıkarılmasının Türkçenin betimlenmesine katkıda bulunacağı düşünülmektedir. Çalışmada neden ulaçlarıyla oluşturulmuş bitimsiz belirteç yan tümcelerini içeren karmaşık tümceler ele alınmıştır. Bu karmaşık tümcelerde yalnızca temel tümce bölümü ve ana eylem incelenmiştir. Çalışmanın kısıtlı kapsamında neden ulaçları, -(y)AcAğI için ve -(y)AcAğIndAn birleşik ulaç ekli tümcelerle sınırlandırılmıştır. Kaynaklarda eş görevli olarak betimlenen bu iki yapının benzer ve farklı yönlerini ele almak çalışmanın temel amacıdır. Çalışma; derlem tabanlı olması ve nedenselliğin ulaçlar üzerinden değerlendirilmesi ile bu iki ulaçlı yapının pek çok yönden nicel bir incelemesi olması bakımından diğer çalışmalardan ayrılmaktadır. İncelenecek olan ulaçların her biri için Boğaziçi Üniversitesi derleminden (BoUn Corpus) ilgili yapıların geçtiği 200’er tümce, rastgele örneklem yöntemiyle çekilmiş ve bu tümceler Spooren vd. (2010)’nin öznellik ve nedensellik ilişkisi bakımından oluşturduğu dört ölçekten yola çıkılarak işaretlenmiştir. Veriyi zenginleştirmek için ayrıca temel tümce eylemindeki çokluk, çatı, olumsuzluk, yeterlilik, bildirme ve kiplik gibi işaretleyiciler ve bunlarla ilgili istatistikler de tespit edilmiş olup bu istatistikler de incelemeye dâhil edilmiştir. Sonuç olarak -(y)AcAğIndAn ulaç ekinin nesnel nedensellik aktarımında daha sık kullanıldığı görülmüştür. Bu nesnellik; edilgen çatı, bildirme eki ve geniş zaman kipi kullanımıyla da desteklenmektedir. Öte yandan -(y)AcAğI için ulaç ekinin daha öznel nedensellik aktarımı olan ifadelerde tercih edildiği tespit edilmiştir. Bu öznellik, açık ve örtük göndermeler, etken çatı, olumlu ve yeterlilik işaretleyicileriyle ilişkilendirilmektedir.
DİSTOPİK İLK TÜRK ROMANI: YAŞAR KEMAL’İN FİLLER SULTANI İLE KIRMIZI SAKALLI TOPAL KARINCA
Authors: DEMİR İpek , TEKŞAN Mesut
Published: December 2023

Türk edebiyatında 90’lı yıllardan sonra rağbet görmeye başlayan distopya edebiyatının Türkiye'deki gelişimine bakıldığında ilk distopik romanın 1977 yılında Yaşar Kemal tarafından yazıldığı görülmektedir. Toplumcu gerçekçi romancı olarak bilinen Yaşar Kemal’in Filler Sultanı ile Kırmızı Sakallı Topal Karınca adlı eseri, Türk edebiyatında ilk distopik roman olarak tespit edilmiştir. Yaşar Kemal’in ciddi bir toplumsal eleştiri olarak kaleme aldığı bu romanda tıpkı George Orwell’in Hayvan Çiftliği’nde olduğu gibi hayvanlar âleminden yola çıkılarak insanlar âlemindeki toplumsal çarpıklıklar, distopik bir kurguyla işlenmiştir. Yaşar Kemal, bu romanında güç ve tüketim tutkusunun ne gibi kayıplara yol açabileceğinin altını çizmektedir. Söz konusu roman, uyarıları dikkate almayan toplumların yaşadıkları dünyayı kendi elleriyle nasıl cehenneme çevirebileceğini ve toplumları bir arada tutan temel değerlerin korunması gerektiğini vurgulamaktadır. Bu çalışmada Yaşar Kemal’in Filler Sultanı ile Kırmızı Sakallı Topal Karınca romanı gerek kurgu unsurları ve gerekse tematik bağlamda distopik roman ekseninde incelenmektedir.
ROMA’NIN KURULUŞ MİTİNİN MOZAİK SANATI ÜZERİNDE GÖSTERİMİ VE DİŞİ KURT TASVİRİNİN ARKETİPİ
Authors: AKIN Murat
Published: December 2023

Roma’nın kuruluşuyla ilgili bilinen en önemli örnek olan Romulus ve Remus’un dişi bir kurt tarafından emzirilerek hayatta tutulması hikâyesi, “Lupa Romana” olarak adlandırılmaktadır. Roma mozaik sanatı örneklerinde özellikle sivil mimaride karşımıza çıkan tasvirin bir propaganda unsuru olarak kullanıldığı anlaşılmaktadır. Ayrıca Roma, Etrüsk ve Türk mitolojisi söylencelerinden hareketle dişi kurt tasvirinin ilk olarak Orta Asya’da kullanıldığı tespit edilmiştir. Kurt imgesinin dünya mitolojilerindeki kullanımı da incelenerek arketip belirlenirken tek bir kültüre odaklanmanın önüne geçilmiştir. Sonuç olarak farklı kültürlerde işlenen kutsal kurdun kültürleri etkilediği noktalar analiz edilmiş ve Orta Asya’daki tasvirler arketip olarak kabul edilerek Roma kültürüyle birlikte diğer topluluklara da yayıldığı anlaşılmıştır.
The Dhikr and Healthy aging in Indonesia: A Literature Review
Authors: Anwar Sufyan , Marniati  , Putri Enda Silvia , Khairunnas  , Mulyani Itza , Is Jun Musnadi , Duana Maiza
Published: December 2023

Introduction: The increasing elderly population poses a unique challenge to countries, particularly in the field of healthcare. This study aims to identify evidence of the connection between dhikr and health among the elderly in Indonesia.

Study Design: A literature review of research articles utilizing quantitative approaches, including observational and experimental studies. Article searches were conducted using data from PubMed, ProQuest, and Google Scholar, with publication limits set from 2013 to June 21, 2023. The research was conducted in Indonesia, and the participants were Indonesian Muslims aged 60 years or older.

Results: A total of 25 articles were found through ProQuest, 115 through Google Scholar, and none through PubMed. Sixteen articles met the predetermined criteria, including one observational study and 15 experimental studies. Some researchers in the experimental studies combined dhikr with other interventions, including breathing exercises, ablution, and prayer. The phrases uttered during dhikr varied, including Surah Al-Fatihah, Astaghfirullah, Subhanallah, Alhamdulillah, La Ilaha Illallah, Allah Akbar, Ya Rahman, Ya Rahim, and blessings upon the Prophet.

Conclusion: Dhikr has a positive impact on improving the health of the elderly, particularly in enhancing psychological well-being and reducing blood pressure.
Problems in Starting Business in Mysore District: A Study on Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe Women Entrepreneurs
Authors: Rajashekar H. , Nikhilavathi S.
Published: December 2023

Women entrepreneurs encounter numerous challenges throughout the entire process of establishing and managing their businesses, starting from the inception stage. Scheduled caste and scheduled tribe women entrepreneurs often face social and cultural barriers that can make it difficult to start and run a business. These barriers include prejudice, lack of support from family and community, and limited mobility. This study is an attempt to identify and analyse the problems faced by scheduled caste and scheduled tribe women entrepreneurs in the process of starting their business in Mysore district. This study is based on primary data from forty SC/ST women entrepreneurs based on convenience sampling method and their problems were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics method. It is concluded that the SC/ST women entrepreneurs are facing problems at a moderate level in starting their business in Mysore district.
Facial Recognition-Based Entry System for Student Residence Halls: Enhancing Security and Accessibility
Authors: Ejaz Md. Sabbir , Debnath Sourav , Hasan Mohammad Kamrul , Alam Md. Mahbubul
Published: December 2023

Protecting an organization from numerous threats both inside and outside is the primary function of the security system. Automated embedded systems have come a long way in the contemporary era and have shown to be highly beneficial in applications related to security and surveillance. Face recognition is one of the study fields in computer vision, which is commonly used in security systems for video surveillance. Even though facial recognition technology has advanced significantly and is employed in several significant applications, numerous challenges need to be solved. These challenges include changes in posture, occlusions, expression, aging, lighting, and other elements. Deep learning can be useful in these situations. By using several processing layers to develop data representations with multiple feature extraction layers, deep learning may achieve higher accuracy. With the purpose of providing better security for student residence halls, in this work, we present a real-time deep learning-based facial recognition system that can be used to identify an individual's identity and give a warning when the individual's face is not recognized in front of the system. Here, faces from the face database are matched in order to identify students based on a video of their arrival into the residence halls. This process begins with face detection and ends with face recognition. We used a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) based model Multi-Task Cascaded Convolutional Neural Networks (MTCNN) for face detection and recognizing faces using the Google FaceNet model. The model was trained on around 3000 photos, taken by 30 distinct people.
Impact of Diverse Agricultural Land Uses on Soil Organic Matter Fractions: A Comprehensive Evaluation
Authors: Bincy B. , Gladis R. , Rani B. , Aparna B. , Sandeep S. , Bindhu J.S.
Published: December 2023

Organic matter is a crucial component of soil that influences various soil properties and functions, including nutrient cycling, soil structure, water holding capacity and microbial activity. Different agricultural land uses significantly influence the quantity and quality of soil organic matter (SOM) fractions. The primary constituent of SOM is humic substances, also known as humus. These are stable compounds originating from the decomposition of organic matter derived from plants, animals, and microorganisms. The soil humic fraction is categorized into humic acid (HA), fulvic acid (FA) and humin (HN) based on the solubility in acid and alkaline medium. The structural arrangement, chemical constitution and stability of the humic substances in soil are affected by various factors, including climate, parent material, altitude, vegetation and the management practices employed in the area. In this context the present study was proposed to assess the impact of various agricultural land use systems on humic acid, fulvic acid and humin fraction in soils of different agro-ecological units (AEUs) of southern Kerala. The study focused on specific AEUs in southern Kerala, including the southern coastal plain (AEU 1), Onattukara sandy plain (AEU 3), southern laterites (AEU 8), south central laterites (AEU 9) and southern and central foothills (AEU 12). Within each AEU, various agricultural land use categories such as, coconut, rice, rubber and uncultivated land were selected as specific focal points for this investigation. The HA, FA and HN content in soil exhibited varying ranges across different AEUs, ranging from 0.57 to 2.06, 0.73 to 2.33, and 0.62 to 1.59 per cent respectively. Among the various land uses, rubber exhibited significantly higher levels of HA (1.72%), FA (2.01%) and HN (1.44%) compared to coconut, rice and uncultivated land. Among the different organic matter fractions, FA (32.30-36.18 %) contributed more towards SOM than HA (29.40-32.51 %) and HN (26.43-29.25 %).
Potential Pathogenicity of Escherichia coli Isolated from the Stools of Healthy Children Suffering from Diarrhea Admitted to Hospitals in Southern Benin
Authors: Dah-Nouvlessounon Durand , Sina Haziz , Yakoubou Annatou , Boya Bawa , Azatassou Scylax , N’tcha Christine , Noumavo Agossou Damien Pacôme , Assouma Funkè F. , Adjanohoun Adolphe , Baba-Moussa Lamine
Published: December 2023

Aims: Infant mortality linked to infectious diseases remains a major public health concern, especially in the context of antibiotic resistance. This work aimed to study the potential pathogenicity of Escherichia coli strains isolated from the stools of children suffering from diarrhea and healthy from 0 to 15 years old admitted to hospitals in southern Benin.

Methodology: The isolation and characterization of the strains were carried out according to standard microbiology methods. Molecular characterization was carried out by searching for eight virulence factors (Stx1, Stx2, eaeA, bfpB, LT, InVE, IpaH, AggR) and three antibiotic resistance genes (blaTEM, blaSHV, blaCTX -M) by the PCR technique.

Results: This study shows that 47.06% of the children sampled suffered from diarrhea, against 52.94% who were healthy. A total of 9 species of Enterobacteriaceae were identified in different proportions: Escherichia coli (66.66%), Klebsiella ornithinolytica (13.72%), Klebsiella pneumonia (5.88%), Enterobacter aerogenes (3.92%), Escherichia vulneris (1.96%), Salmonella arizonae (1.96%), Salmonella spp (1.96%), Enterobacter sakazakii (1.96%), Serratia fonticola (1.96%). All E. coli showed total resistance to amoxicillin, ceftazidime, and cefotaxime. In addition, they showed variable resistance to norfloxacin (95.33%), trimethoprim (83.33%), and sulfamethoxazole (95.24%). 70.83% of E. coli strains isolated from apparently healthy children carry resistance genes blaTEM (12.5%), blaSHV (25%), and blaCTX-M (33.33%). While 66.67% of strains of E. coli isolated from children with diarrhea carry resistance genes blaTEM (12.5%), blaSHV (37.5%), and blaCTX-M (16.67%). Only EPEC was isolated and only in diarrheal children, with a frequency of 20.83%.

Conclusion: The relatively high prevalence of ECD in this study is remarkable, and it highlights the fact that E. coli is an important agent of infectious diarrhea and could be the leading cause of gastroenteritis in Benin.
Increasing Telehealth Access Through Licensure Exceptions
Authors: Shachar Carmel , Wilson Kaylee , Mehrotra Ateev
Published: December 2023

This Viewpoint explains how exceptions can be used to connect patients via telehealth with a physician in another state, why this is a more practical and effective strategy, and what needs to happen for this to be a feasible solution.
Sleep Disturbances and Emotional and Behavioral Difficulties Among Preschool-Aged Children
Authors: Deng Yujiao , Zhang Zichen , Gui Yiding , Li Wen , Rong Tingyu , Jiang Yanrui , Zhu Qi , Zhao Jin , Zhang Yunting , Wang Guanghai , Jiang Fan
Published: December 2023

Importance

Sleep disturbances and mental health problems are highly comorbid and bidirectionally correlated across childhood. The association between the natural history of sleep disturbances and the transition of mental health problems has not been quantified.

Objective

To examine the association between the natural history of sleep disturbances and resolved and incident emotional and behavioral difficulties (EBDs).

Design, Setting, and Participants

This cohort study used data from the Shanghai Children’s Health, Education and Lifestyle Evaluation–Preschool (SCHEDULE-P), a prospective and population-based longitudinal cohort study of children enrolled in preschools in Shanghai, China, from November 10 to 24, 2016. A total of 20 324 children aged 3 to 4 years were recruited from the junior class of 191 kindergartens, of whom 17 233 (84.8%) participated in the 2-year follow-up. A multilevel regression model was used to evaluate the association between the development of sleep disturbances and the occurrence of resolved and incident EBDs. The data analysis spanned from August 4, 2021, to October 31, 2023.

Exposures

Sleep disturbances were assessed using the Children’s Sleep Habit Questionnaire; EBDs were assessed using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Occurrence of incident and resolved EBDs at the 2-year follow-up.

Results

The cohort included 17 182 participants, with a mean (SD) age of 3.73 (0.29) years at enrollment; 52.0% were boys. The prevalence of EBDs at school entry and graduation years was 27.8% and 18.7%, respectively, while the prevalence of sleep disturbances was 41.3% and 31.5%, respectively. Among those with EBDs at the entry year, 35.0% maintained stability in the graduation year, while sleep disturbances were stable in 50.0% of those with sleep disturbances. After controlling for confounding factors, the odds ratio (OR) for resolved EBDs was lower in the incident sleep disturbance (ISD) group (OR, 0.50 [95% CI, 0.41-0.62]; P < .001) and stable sleep disturbance (SSD) group (OR, 0.47 [95% CI, 0.40-0.56]; P < .001) compared with the group with no sleep disturbances. The ORs for incident EBDs among the ISD group (OR, 2.58 [95% CI, 2.22-3.01]; P < .001) and SSD group (OR, 2.29, [95% CI, 1.98-2.64]; P < .001) were higher than among the group with no sleep disturbances.

Conclusions and Relevance

In this prospective cohort study, the natural history of sleep disturbances among preschool-aged children was associated with both resolved and incident EBDs. Routine screening and precise intervention for sleep disturbances may benefit the psychosocial well-being of this population.
Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy Before Nephrectomy for Locally Advanced and Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Ghoreifi Alireza , Vaishampayan Ulka , Yin Ming , Psutka Sarah P. , Djaladat Hooman
Published: December 2023

Importance

The therapeutic landscape of advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) has rapidly evolved in the past 2 decades, with the advent of cytokines therapy followed by targeted therapies and novel immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI). This article aims to review the current evidence and ongoing trials of neoadjuvant or prenephrectomy ICI therapy in patients with locally advanced and metastatic RCC.

Observations

A literature search was performed using the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, ClinicalTrials.gov, and PubMed as well as relevant medical society meetings for English-language studies, articles, and abstracts published before January 31, 2023. Currently, level I evidence supports the use of ICI-based combination therapy as the first-line treatment of patients with metastatic RCC with the potential option of deferred nephrectomy in those who respond to treatment. Nevertheless, limited prospective data are available regarding the role and outcomes of nephrectomy (cytoreductive or consolidative) in conjunction with ICI therapy in both metastatic and locally advanced RCC. Although data from retrospective case series confirmed the feasibility and safety of deferred nephrectomy in this setting, the sequence of nephrectomy and whether it should be considered in patients with metastatic RCC is a common clinical dilemma. However, although neoadjuvant targeted therapy for nonmetastatic RCCs has been associated with some advantages yet not accepted as a standard, current data from a phase 3 randomized clinical trial failed to demonstrate the oncologic benefit of neoadjuvant nivolumab for locally advanced RCC.

Conclusion and Relevance

The findings of this review suggest that ICI-based combination therapy is the standard of care as the first-line treatment of patients with metastatic RCC. However, the role of neoadjuvant ICIs in locally advanced RCC is an active area of investigation. Deferred nephrectomy after ICI-based immunotherapy for metastatic RCC is feasible and safe yet should be performed in high-volume health centers by experienced surgeons. The multidisciplinary and careful approach is critical for treatment decisions.
Tracheal Chondrosarcoma—A Novel Presentation of Lynch Syndrome
Authors: Bhat Akash M. , Gerndt Sophie , Sandhu Ariel , Helfand Alexander M. , Jiwani Rahim , Low Garren M. I.
Published: December 2023

This case report describes a man in his 60s with no cancer history who presented with 2 weeks of dysphagia, dysphonia, and a left neck mass.
Lignin‐Derived Ionic Conducting Membranes for Low‐Grade Thermal Energy Harvesting
Authors: Muddasar Muhammad , Nasiri Mohammad Ali , Cantarero Andres , Gómez Clara , Culebras Mario , Collins Maurice N.
Published: December 2023

Wood‐based ionic conductive membranes have emerged as a new paradigm for low‐grade thermal energy harvesting applications due to their unique andtailorable structures. Herein, a lignin‐derivedionic conducting membrane with hierarchical aligned channels is synthesized viaa double network crosslinking approach. Their excellent thermal stability andsuperior swelling ratio allow their optimization as low‐grade heat recovery technologies. Several vertically aligned nanoscaleconfinements are found in the synthesized membranes, contributing towardenhanced ionic diffusion. Among all the combinations, the membrane comprising69.2 wt.% of lignin and infiltrated with 0.5 m KOH exhibits anexceptional ionic figure of merit (ZTi) of 0.25, relatively higher ionic conductivity(51.5 mS cm‒1), lower thermal conductivity(0.195 W m‒1·K), and a remarkable ionic Seebeck coefficientof 5.71 mV K‒1 under the application of an axialtemperature gradient. A numerical model is also utilized to evaluate theveracity of experimental observations and to gain a better understanding of thefundamental mechanisms involved in attaining such values. These results displaythe potential of lignin‐basedmembranes for future thermal energy harvesting applications and are a new facetin thermoelectric energy conversion which is certain to pave the way forfurther investigations on sustainable ionic conductive membranes.
A Chelating‐Agent‐Passivated Electron Transport Layer for Efficient Perovskite Solar Cells with Enhanced Reproducibility
Authors: Wang Shuihu , Dai Runying , Meng Xiangchuan , Yang Jia , Chen Yiwang
Published: December 2023

Substandard printing quality of electron transport layers (ETLs) always leads to non‐ideal nucleation crystallization and bottom interface contact of the perovskite, followed by the formation of poor‐quality perovskite films with severe heterogeneity, which is the major source of non‐radiative recombination loss and environmental sensitivity of perovskite solar cells (PVSCs). These often result in serious photovoltaic performance loss, significant instability, and negative fabrication reproducibility. Herein, sodium phytate is proposed as a chelating agent for passivating the tin oxide (SnO2) ETLs to enable the stabilization of SnO2 nanoparticles and facilitate the printing of pinhole‐free films, thereby realizing the controlled nucleation crystallization in perovskite precursor. Thus, the printed PVSCs exhibit a champion power conversion efficiency up to 23.77% with negligible hysteresis effect. The unencapsulated devices demonstrate outstanding long‐term stability, which maintains over 80% of their initial efficiency under exposure to atmospheric environment (50% relative humidity) for 1500 hours, and a consistent and centralized distribution of efficiencies across all seasons, indicating their good reproducibility in diverse climatic atmospheres.
Atomically Confined Ru Sites in Octahedral Co3O4 for High‐Efficiency Hydrazine Oxidation
Authors: Zhai Yanjie , Jin Chengkai , Xia Qing , Han Wenkai , Wu Jie , Zhao Xunhua , Zhang Xiao
Published: December 2023

Hydrazine‐assisted water electrolyzer is a promising energy‐efficient alternative to conventional water electrolyzer, offering an appealing path for sustainable hydrogen (H2) production with reduced energy consumption. However, such electrolyzer is presently impeded by lacking an efficient catalyst to accelerate the kinetics of pivotal half‐reaction, that is, hydrazine oxidation reaction (HzOR). Herein, a ruthenium (Ru) single‐atom on an octahedral cobalt oxide (Co3O4) substrate (Ru‐Co3O4) catalyst, guided by theoretical calculations is developed. Those lattice‐confined Ru sites within octahedral structure of spinel Co3O4 effectively lower the energy barrier required for the formation of N2H2* intermediate and desorption of H* species in HzOR. As a result, the Ru‐Co3O4 catalyst achieves superior HzOR performance with a low potential of −0.024 V versus (vs.)reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE) at 100 mA cm−2 and remarkable stability for over 200 h at 200 mA cm−2. Importantly, a modular H2 production achieves an output of 0.48 kWh electricity per m3 H2 by decoupling and pairing the HzOR and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) half‐reaction with a Zinc (Zn) redox reservoir. The work represents a significant advancement in the field, offering substantial flexibility for on‐demand H2 production and energy output.
“Soggy‐Sand” Chemistry for High‐Voltage Aqueous Zinc‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Deng Rongyu , Chen Jieshuangyang , Chu Fulu , Qian Mingzhi , He Zhenjiang , Robertson Alex W. , Maier Joachim , Wu Feixiang
Published: December 2023

The narrow electrochemical stability window, deleterious side reactions, and zinc dendrites prevent the use of aqueous zinc‐ion batteries. Here, aqueous “soggy‐sand” electrolytes (synergistic electrolyte‐insulator dispersions) are developed for achieving high‐voltage Zn‐ion batteries. How these electrolytes bring a unique combination of benefits, synergizing the advantages of solid and liquid electrolytes is revealed. The oxide additions adsorb water molecules and trap anions, causing a network of space charge layers with increased Zn2+ transference number and reduced interfacial resistance. They beneficially modify the hydrogen bond network and solvation structures, thereby influencing the mechanical and electrochemical properties, and causing the Mn2+ in the solution to be oxidized. As a result, the best performing Al2O3‐based “soggy‐sand” electrolyte exhibits a long life of 2500 h in Zn||Zn cells. Furthermore, it increases the charging cut‐off voltage for Zn/MnO2 cells to 2 V, achieving higher specific capacities. Even with amass loading of 10 mgMnO2 cm−2, it yields a promising specific capacity of 189 mAh g−1 at 1 A g−1 after 500 cycles. The concept of “soggy‐sand” chemistry provides a new approach to design powerful and universal electrolytes for aqueous batteries.
Micromachined Mechanical Resonant Sensors: From Materials, Structural Designs to Applications
Authors: Dinh Toan , Rais‐Zadeh Mina , Nguyen Thanh , Phan Hoang‐Phuong , Song Pingan , Deo Ravinesh , Dao Dzung , Nguyen Nam‐Trung , Bell John
Published: December 2023

Driving a micro and nanomechanical structure to resonance and observing its resonant motion in the physical world have led to numerous fundamental discoveries in physics, sciences, chemistry, biology, and engineering, as well as device commercialization. Scaling down mechanical structures from micrometric to nanometric size has enabled the utilization of resonant motions to probe material properties and various dynamical phenomena in quantum coherence and squeezing. Recent advances in material sciences and nanofabrication resulted in successful demonstration of ultra‐high frequency operation (GHz range) and ultra‐high quality factor (10 billion) micromachined mechanical resonators (MMRs). The resonant motion of these structures has been utilized as an indispensable tool to weigh biological and chemical species at resolution of atomic mass unit, sense a force as small as zepto‐newton, and to detect numerous other physical parameters. Here, a systematic view on the resonant sensing transduction is provided, underlying physics, and sensing structures realized with micro/nano‐electromechanical systems (MEMS/NEMS) technologies. It is also describe the roles of nanomaterials and structures, nano‐fabrication and rational designs on the resonance frequency and quality factor of MMRs toward high‐performance sensing. This paper discusses the most recent advances in the development of MMRs for material characterization as well as biological, chemical, and physical sensing. Finally, the paper discusses the challenges and perspectives on design, fabrication, and developments of resonant sensors with high quality factor toward quantum sensing, and ultra‐high sensitivity and resolution for classical sensing applications.
Reprogramming Macrophage Polarization, Depleting ROS by Astaxanthin and Thioketal‐Containing Polymers Delivering Rapamycin for Osteoarthritis Treatment
Authors: Li Huiyun , Yuan Yusong , Zhang Lingpu , Xu Chun , Xu Hailin , Chen Zhiwei
Published: December 2023

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic joint disease characterized by synovitis and joint cartilage destruction. The severity of OA is highly associated with the imbalance between M1 and M2 synovial macrophages. In this study, a novel strategy is designed to modulate macrophage polarization by reducing intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and regulating mitochondrial function. A ROS‐responsive polymer is synthesized to self‐assemble with astaxanthin and autophagy activator rapamycin to form nanoparticles (NP@PolyRHAPM). In vitro experiments show that NP@PolyRHAPM significantly reduced intracellular ROS levels. Furthermore, NP@PolyRHAPM restored mitochondrial membrane potential, increased glutathione (GSH) levels, and promoted intracellular autophagy, hence successfully repolarizing M1 macrophages into the M2 phenotype. This repolarization enhanced chondrocyte proliferation and vitality while inhibiting apoptosis. In vivo experiments utilizing an anterior cruciate ligament transection (ACLT)‐induced OA mouse model revealed the anti‐inflammatory and cartilage‐protective effects of NP@PolyRHAPM, effectively mitigating OA progression. Consequently, the findings suggest that intra‐articular delivery of ROS‐responsive nanocarrier systems holds significant promise as a potential and effective therapeutic strategy for OA treatment.
Study on pyrolysis behavior of agricultural and forestry wastes using thermogravimetric‐Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (TG‐FTIR)
Authors: Liu Na , Li Jishuo , Liu Jia , Xu Kaili , Ren Fengyu , Yao Xiwen
Published: December 2023

To investigate the effective utilization of agricultural and forestry wastes for mitigating the shortage of primary energy and environmental pollution, the pyrolysis behavior of corn straw (CS), wheat straw (WS), and poplar sawdust (PS) was studied using thermogravimetric–Fourier transform infrared (TG‐FTIR) analysis. The activation energies and pyrolysis mechanism functions of different biomass types were calculated. The results showed that the functional group structures of the gaseous products generated from the pyrolysis of different biomass types were similar, mainly including OH, aliphatic CH, CO, aromatic ring skeleton, aromatic CH, and CO groups. These functional group structures mainly existed in oxygen‐containing compounds such as phenols, ketones, aldehydes, acids, esters, alcohols, and ethers. The pyrolysis process of agricultural and forestry wastes exhibited certain differences, with the PS undergoing thermal decomposition more easily, while the thermal decomposition mechanism functions of the two agricultural wastes (CS and WS) were similar. PS had a later initial release time for volatile matter, and the oxygen compounds produced by its pyrolysis were the highest, followed by WS and CS.
Dendrobium officinale polysaccharides—chemical properties and pharmacodynamic effects on the airways in experimental conditions
Authors: Šutovská Martina , Mažerik Jozef , Kocmálová Michaela , Uhliariková Iveta , Matulová Mária , Capek Peter
Published: December 2023

The study aimed to analyze the effects of Dendrobium polysaccharides on the cough and airway reactivity and compare them with the effects of clinically used antitussives (codeine phosphate and butamirate citrate) and bronchodilators (salbutamol), using the guinea pig test system. Dendrobium officinale polysaccharides contained proteins (4.0 wt%) and phenolic compounds (1.7 wt%) with a molecular weight of 25,000 g/mol. The sugar analysis revealed a dominance of glucose (93.7 wt%) and a lesser amount of mannose (5.1 wt%) while other sugar quantities were negligible. Methylation analysis indicated the presence of highly branched polysaccharides. Glucose was found mainly as terminal, 1,4‐ and 1,6‐linked. Furthermore, some 1,4‐ and 1,6‐linked glucose units were found branched at O2, O3, and O6/O4. Mannose was terminal and 1,4‐linked. NMR spectra signals indicate the presence of the (1→4)‐linked α‐d‐glucan, (1→4)‐linked β‐d‐glucan branched at position O6, (1→6)‐linked β‐d‐glucan branched at position O3 and (1→4)‐linked glucomannan. Pharmacological studies showed statistically significant antitussive activity of Dendrobium polysaccharides, exceeding the effect of clinically used antitussives, which may be partially associated with confirmed bronchodilation and the ability of polysaccharides to increase the threshold of cough receptor activation. Dendrobium polysaccharides may increase the possibility of symptomatic treatment of cough, especially in asthmatics.
Water Solubilization and Guest Molecule‐Induced Fluorescence Changes of Porous Host Molecules via Complexing with Polysaccharide or Polypeptide
Authors: Umezane Sota , Ono Toshikazu , Kawasaki Riku , Ikeda Atsushi
Published: December 2023

To detect small aromatic molecules in water, we prepared functional host molecules based on water‐soluble N,N’‐bis(2‐aminobenzophenone)‐1,4,5,8‐naphthalenetetracarboxylic diimide (1) and a solubilizing agent using a high‐speed vibration milling apparatus. The fluorescence response of host 1‐solubilizing agent complexes before and after extraction of small aromatic guest molecules was large and the fluorescence maxima were dependent on the small aromatic guest molecules.
Modellbasierte Etagenlogistikplanung für die Ausbauphase im Hochbau – Teil 2: Strukturierte Herleitung am Beispiel des Trockenbaus
Authors: Jaster Isabell , Placzek Gerrit , Schwerdtner Patrick
Published: December 2023

In diesem Beitrag erfolgt eine strukturierte Herleitung für eine modellbasierte Etagenlogistikplanung am Beispiel des Trockenbaugewerks. Im vorangegangenen ersten Teil des Beitrags wurde zunächst das Konzept zur modellbasierten Planung der Etagenlogistik entwickelt und vorgestellt. Es gliedert sich in die vier Bestandteile Grundlagen, Flächendimensionierung, Layout und Zeitkopplung. Im zweiten Teil wird das Konzept anhand eines Beispielprojekts und ‐gewerks (Trockenbau) diskutiert. Dabei werden insbesondere die erforderlichen Vorarbeiten und ‐kenntnisse detailliert beleuchtet und bestehende Hürden erläutert. Das entwickelte Konzept bietet viele Möglichkeiten zur teilautomatisierten Planung, erfordert jedoch hinsichtlich anderer Ausbaugewerke und Gebäudelayouts weitere Forschung.
Anwohner‐Informations‐ und Feedbacksystem für Baustellen
Authors: Bender Anna‐Lena , Weissinger Marcel , Jünger Hans Christian
Published: December 2023

Angesichts der wachsenden Weltbevölkerung und des zunehmenden Urbanisierungsgrads sind zukünftig viele Hochbaubaustellen in innerstädtischen Gebieten zu erwarten. Durch deren Einflüsse auf die Umgebung werden die Baustellen von der Öffentlichkeit und dem umgebenden Quartier überwiegend als Belastung wahrgenommen. Dies kann die Akzeptanz von Bauvorhaben negativ beeinflussen und interne Baustellenabläufe beeinträchtigen. Um diesen Herausforderungen zu begegnen, wurde im Rahmen einer Forschungsarbeit ein digitales Anwohner‐Informations‐ und Feedbacksystem für Baustellen entwickelt. Die Nutzungsanforderungen und Perspektiven „Bauleitung“, „Projektentwicklung“, „Projektmanagement“, „Baukommunikation“ und „Nachbarschaften“ wurden empirisch untersucht und in ein partizipatives Softwarekonzept überführt. In diesem Aufsatz werden die Herausforderungen und Potenziale untersucht, eine Gestaltungsvariante für ein digitales System präsentiert sowie Handlungsempfehlungen für den erfolgreichen Einsatz von Beteiligungsinstrumenten auf Baustellen ausgesprochen.
Grenzen des Korrosionsmonitorings zum Wirksamkeitsnachweis des Instandsetzungsprinzips 8.3 (W‐Cl)
Authors: Zausinger Christoph , Osterminski Kai , Gehlen Christoph
Published: December 2023

Korrosion von Stahl in kurzzeitig tausalzexponiertem und gerissenem Stahlbeton ist ein seit Jahrzehnten bekanntes und kontrovers diskutiertes Problem in der Instandhaltung von Infrastrukturbauwerken. Zum Erhalt dieser Bauwerke bietet die Technische Richtlinie Instandhaltung von Betonbauwerken das Instandsetzungsprinzip 8.3 (W‐Cl). Hierbei wird die gerissene Stahlbetonoberfläche mit einem Oberflächenschutzsystem versehen, um weiteren Schadstoffeintrag zu unterbinden und langfristig eine Austrocknung des Betons zu erreichen. Es wird gezeigt, ob der bereits eingetretene Schadstoffeintrag in Form von Chloriden aus Tausalzen innerhalb einer Winterperiode ein überkritisches Maß erreichen kann und anhand welcher Parameter sich der Bauteilzustand festmachen lässt. Der Verlauf der Korrosionsströme und der Polarisationswiderstände sowie die Chloridkonzentration im Rissbereich auf Bewehrungshöhe sind dabei die wichtigsten Parameter. Die Untersuchungen zeigen, dass nur die Korrelation dieser Parameter den Instandsetzungsnachweis ermöglicht. Ohne Kenntnis über diese Werte ist die Vorhersage über den Bauteilzustand nicht sicher möglich und fortlaufendes, vielseitiges Korrosionsmonitoring deshalb unabdingbar.