bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Seismic damage and functional loss of ceiling systems: Observation in shaking table test of hospital specimen
Authors: Qi Liangjie , Kurata Masahiro , Huang Jiantao , Kawamata Yohsuke , Aida Shinji , Cho Kosai , Kanao Iori , Takaoka Masashi
Published: April 2023

This paper presents seismic damage to continuous ceiling systems and the impact of damage on functionality in the hospital specimen tested at the E‐Defense shaking table. The specimen had four ceiling systems with different peripheral constraint conditions, coverage areas, suspended lengths, and ceiling panel materials. The test results demonstrate that the continuous ceiling system is less susceptible to collapse than the lay‐in ceiling system. However, medical facilities require maintaining functionality after earthquakes, and the consequence of damage as functional deterioration needs discussion. The two‐elevation ceiling system across two rooms with different ceiling heights sustains severe damage at the rise‐up part and the partition wall separating the rooms. The damage becomes severe when the ceilings at different heights vibrate at separate frequencies. The results highlight the enhancement of the lateral stiffness of the suspended ceiling at the rise‐up part, such as by adding bracing bars. In the case of long‐duration shakings assumed for far mega‐earthquakes, damage accumulates with repeated loadings, and the functional loss by the damage becomes intense. This observation indicates that peak‐related parameters (peak floor acceleration or peak floor velocity) do not comprehensively reflect the degree of damage in ceiling systems. The proposed functionality loss matrix highlights that the damage to the ceiling harms the aseptic environment for key medical rooms, especially for the cleanroom with extremely strict requirements on the air environment.
Simultaneous working fluid and expander selection method for reaching low‐threshold technology organic Rankine cycle (ORC) design
Authors: Groniewsky Axel , Kustán Réka , Imre Attila R.
Published: April 2023

Maximizing the utilization of an available source serves as the ideal approach, provided that only technical factors are considered. For sources with low heat flux, however, cost‐effective solutions are more suitable due to the minimal net power generated, regardless of the effectiveness of the energy conversion. In such cases, utilizing low‐threshold technology may be the most fitting solution, the layout of these cycles should be simple and inexpensive. In the case of organic Rankine cycles (ORCs)‐based power cycles, this means the omission of superheaters or recuperative heat exchangers and the use of simple expanders and small heat exchangers. Simplifying the design, however, requires additional considerations about the elementary steps of the cycle. This work presents a procedure to select favorable working fluids for ORC while considering the expander's internal efficiency. The criteria for favourability is to have a nonideal expansion process starting and ending in (or very near) saturated vapor states to avoid problems related to wetness/dryness between the given maximal and minimal expansion temperatures. It is demonstrated that the design can be simplified under the simultaneous working fluid and expander selection method presented in this study, regardless of the type and isentropic efficiency of the expander. The resulting methodology applies the novel classification of working fluids using the sequences of their characteristic points on temperature‐entropy space. The proposed approach is illustrated with a case study finding optimal working fluid for an ORC system fitted to industrial waste heat, a low‐temperature geothermal, and a cryogenic heat source.
Data‐driven snapshot methods leveraging data fusion to estimate state of health for maritime battery systems
Authors: Vanem Erik , Bruch Maximilian , Liang Qin , Thorbjørnsen Kristian , Valøen Lars Ole , Alnes Øystein Åsheim
Published: April 2023

The number of fully electric or hybrid ships relying on battery power for propulsion and maneuvering is growing. In order to ensure the safety of these ships, it is important to monitor the capacity that can be stored in the batteries, and classification societies typically require that this can be verified by independent tests—annual capacity tests. However, this paper discusses data‐driven alternatives based on operational sensor data collected from the batteries. There are different strategies for such data‐driven state of health (SOH) estimation. Some approaches require full operational history of the batteries in order to predict SOH, and this may be impractical due to several reasons. Thus, methods that are able to give reliable estimation of SOH based on only snapshots of the data streams are more attractive from a practical point of view. In this paper, data‐driven snapshot methods are explored and applied to degradation data from battery cells cycled in different laboratory tests. Hence, data from different sources are fused together with the aim of achieving better predictions. The paper presents the battery data show how relevant features can be extracted from snapshots of the data and presents data‐driven models for SOH estimation. It is discussed how such methods could be utilized in a data‐driven classification regime for maritime battery systems. Results are encouraging, and yields reasonable degradation estimates for nearly 40% of the tested cells, although the fusion of data from different laboratory tests did not improve results significantly. Results are greatly improved if data from the actual cell is included in the training data, and indicates that better results can be achieved if more representative training data is available.
Utilization and cost of outpatient services: A cross‐sectional study on the Iran Health Insurance Organization insurees in Fars province
Authors: Mohammadi Ali , Lotfi Farhad , Ravangard Ramin , Emadi Mehrnoosh , Bayati Mohsen
Published: April 2023

Background and Aims

Analyzing the utilization of health services is necessary for allocating the resources and planning the provision of health services. The present study aimed at investigating the utilization and cost of outpatient services and the factors affecting it among the insurees of the Iran Health Insurance Organization in Fars province in 2019.

Methods

The study population consisted of all Iran Health Insurance Organization insurees in Fars province in 2019 (n = 2,618,973). The data on the utilization and cost of the services were extracted from the information systems of Fars Health Insurance Organization. The descriptive statistics of the utilization and cost of outpatient services were provided by gender, age, and type of insurance fund. The effects of different factors on the utilization and cost of various services were also investigated using univariate analysis as well as cross‐sectional regression. The data analysis was done using EXCEL and STATA 15 software as well.

Results

The average utilization rates of laboratory, drug, and radiology services were 0.940, 0.945, and 0.108 prescriptions per year, respectively. In addition, the mean costs of laboratory, drug, and radiology services were $1.13, $7.44, and $2.26 per year, respectively. The univariate and multivariate analyses showed that gender, type of insurance fund, and age had significant effects on the utilization and costs of laboratory, drug, and radiology services (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

The utilization and expenditure of outpatient services were higher among the elderly and women. To control the costs of insurance organizations, it is helpful to identify the effective factors. In addition, due to the increasing trend of aging in Iran, it seems necessary to periodically monitor the pattern of the elderly people's utilization of health services and to plan to increase sustainable resources for insurance financing in the coming years.
US and international per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances surface water quality criteria: A review of the status, challenges, and implications for use in chemical management and risk assessment
Authors: Ruffle Betsy , Archer Christine , Vosnakis Kelly , Butler Josh D. , Davis Craig W. , Goldsworthy Belinda , Parkman Rick , Key Trent A.
Published: April 2023

Regulation of per- and polyfluorinated substances (PFAS) in surface water is a work-in-progress with relatively few criteria promulgated in the United States and internationally. Surface water quality criteria (SWQC) or screening values derived for perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) by Australia, Canada, the European Union (EU), and four US states (Florida, Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin), and the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board (SFB RWQCB; California) were compared. Across these eight jurisdictions, promulgated numeric criteria for the same compound and receptor span over five orders of magnitude as a result of different approaches and data interpretations. Human health criteria for PFOS range from 0.0047 to 600 ng/L depending on route of exposure (e.g., fish consumption or drinking water) and are lower than most ecological criteria for protection of aquatic and wildlife receptors. Data gaps and uncertainty in chronic toxicity and bioaccumulation of PFOS and PFOA, as well as the use of conservative assumptions regarding intake and exposure, have resulted in some criteria falling at or below ambient background concentrations and current analytical detection limits (around 1 ng/L for commercial laboratories). Some jurisdictions (e.g., Australia, Canada) have deemed uncertainty in quantifying water-fish bioaccumulation too great and set fish tissue action levels in lieu of water criteria. Current dynamics associated with the emerging and evolving science of PFAS toxicity, exposure, and environmental fate (i.e., data gaps and uncertainty), as well as the continuous release of scientific updates, pose a challenge to setting regulatory limits. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2024;20:36–58. © 2023 AECOM Technical Services, Inc and The Authors. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC).
Evaluating the perceptions of pesticide use, safety, and regulation and identifying common pesticide-related topics on Twitter
Authors: Jun Inyoung , Feng Zheng , Avanasi Raghavendhran , Brain Richard A. , Prosperi Mattia , Bian Jiang
Published: April 2023

Synthetic pesticides are important agricultural tools that increase crop yield and help feed the world's growing population. These products are also highly regulated to balance benefits and potential environmental and human risks. Public perception of pesticide use, safety, and regulation is an important topic necessitating discussion across a variety of stakeholders from lay consumers to regulatory agencies since attitudes toward this subject could differ markedly. Individuals and organizations can perceive the same message(s) about pesticides differently due to prior differences in technical knowledge, perceptions, attitudes, and individual or group circumstances. Social media platforms, like Twitter, include both individuals and organizations and function as a townhall where each group promotes their topics of interest, shares their perspectives, and engages in both well-informed and misinformed discussions. We analyzed public Twitter posts about pesticides by user group, time, and location to understand their communication behaviors, including their sentiments and discussion topics, using machine learning-based text analysis methods. We extracted tweets related to pesticides between 2013 and 2021 based on relevant keywords developed through a “snowball” sampling process. Each tweet was grouped into individual versus organizational groups, then further categorized into media, government, industry, academia, and three types of nongovernmental organizations. We compared topic distributions within and between those groups using topic modeling and then applied sentiment analysis to understand the public's attitudes toward pesticide safety and regulation. Individual accounts expressed concerns about health and environmental risks, while industry and government accounts focused on agricultural usage and regulations. Public perceptions are heavily skewed toward negative sentiments, although this varies geographically. Our findings can help managers and decision-makers understand public sentiments, priorities, and perceptions and provide insights into public discourse on pesticides. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2023;19:1581–1599. © 2023 The Authors. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC).
Butterfly, Vinylidene‐Like, Monobridged and Trans Structures of Si2H2+: Comparison to the Well‐Characterized Neutral Si2H2
Authors: Schueller Kailyn M. , Mull Henry F. , Turney Justin T. , Schaefer Henry F.
Published: April 2023

This paper investigates four of the constitutional isomers of Si2H2+, namely the butterfly, vinylidene‐like, monobridged, and trans structures. These isomer geometries were all studied using the CCSD(T) method with basis sets as large as cc‐pV5Z. Higher level methods CCSDT and CCSDT(Q) were used for final energetics. It is found that the butterfly isomer has the lowest energy, followed by vinylidene‐like and monobridged structures; the trans structure has the highest energy of the four. All structures were compared with their neutral counterparts. Partial charges are computed and it is found that all isomers share the positive charge between the silicon atoms. NBO analysis shows that the cation Si−Si bond order is reduced by 0.5 relative to the neutral versions of the same isomer in the case of the butterfly, vinylidene‐like, and monobridged; and reduced by 0.6 for the trans isomer. Vibrational frequencies, infrared intensities, and dipole moments are predicted to encourage the spectroscopic identification of Si2H2+.
Incidence of maternal venous thromboembolism in China: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Luo Xingrong , Shan Dan , Zhang Lin , Wu Yuxia , Li Tao , Ren Yu , Hu Yayi
Published: April 2023

Background

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is one of the primary causes of maternal death. Although many studies have reported maternal VTE, no study has estimated the incidence of it in China.

Objectives

The aim of this work was to estimate the incidence of maternal VTE in China and to compare the risk factors for it.

Search strategy

The authors searched eight platforms and databases including PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library from inception to April 2022, with the search terms “venous thromboembolism” AND “puerperium (pregnancy)” AND “incidence” AND “China.”

Selection criteria

Studies provide data to calculate the incidence of maternal VTE among Chinese patients.

Data collection and analysis

The authors made a standardized table to collect data and calculated the incidence and 95% confidence intervals (CIs), founding source of heterogeneity by subgroup analysis and meta‐regression and judging publication bias by funnel plot and Egger test.

Main results

The included 53 papers with a total sample size of 3 813 871 patients had 2539 cases of VTE, and the incidence of maternal VTE in China was 0.13% (95% CI, 0.11–0.16; P < 0.001).

Conclusions

The trend in the incidence of maternal VTE in China is stable. Cesarean section and advanced age are associated with a higher incidence of VTE.
Are ureterolysis for deep endometriosis really all the same? An anatomical classification proposal for ureterolysis: A single‐center experience
Authors: Ianieri Manuel Maria , Nardone Alessandra De Cicco , Pavone Matteo , Benvenga Greta , Pafundi Maria Pia , Campolo Federica , Foschi Nazario , Greco Pierfrancesco , Brutto Mariafrancesca , Scambia Giovanni
Published: April 2023

Objective

Ureteral endometriosis has an incidence of 0.1% to 1%. The type of surgery required is either conservative (ureterolysis) or radical treatment, depending on the degree of ureter infiltration. The incidence of intraoperative and postoperative complications is heterogeneous. Thus, the aim of the current study was to propose a classification of ureterolysis based on the anatomical structure of the ureter and differing complication rates with procedures.

Methods

A total of 139 ureterolysis procedures were included in the study. Patients were divided into three groups according to the depth of ureterolysis required. Differences were recorded across the three types of ureterolysis in terms of intraoperative and postoperative complications.

Results

The incidence of ureteral fistula was reported in 0.7% of cases, with postoperative ureteral stenosis in 2% of type 2 ureterolysis. In the case of type 3 ureterolysis, after conservative procedures, 52.9% of patients required an ureteroneocystostomy to solve the ureteral stenosis.

Conclusion

The risk of ureteral injury and ureteroneocystostomy after conservative procedures appears to be associated with type 3 ureterolysis, probably due to excessive devascularization, secondary to the incision of adventitia. Obviously, these data should be confirmed through a prospective study of a larger number, but our proposed classification can provide the basis for making data from future studies more comparable.
Video‐based fast image set classification for IoT monitoring system
Authors: Gao Xizhan , Liu Yongkang
Published: April 2023

At present, the development of the Internet of Things (IoT) has become a significant symbol of the information age. And the video monitoring system is an important basic work in the IoT system. However, many existing video monitoring system usually use feature embedding method to learn more discriminative feature representation, while this manner is very time‐consuming. And the learned features usually do not match the subsequent classifiers. To solve these issues, this paper proposes a new video‐based fast image set classification framework, which consists of fast feature learning part and representation learning based classifier part. Extensive experiments on several well‐known benchmark datasets demonstrate the effectiveness and efficiency of the proposed framework.
Acanthoscurria gomesiana spider‐derived Mygalin in the prelimbic prefrontal cortex modulates neuropathic pain and depression comorbid
Authors: Medeiros Ana Carolina , Medeiros Priscila , Ruggiero Rafael Naime , De Gregorio Danilo , Gobbi Gabriella , Silva Júnior Pedro Ismael , dos Santos Wagner Ferreira , Coimbra Norberto Cysne , de Freitas Renato Leonardo
Published: April 2023

Depression has a high rate of comorbidity with neuropathic pain. This study aims to investigate the effect of Mygalin, an acylpolyamine synthesized from a natural molecule in the hemolymph of the Acanthoscurria gomesiana spider, injected into the prelimbic (PrL) region of the medial prefrontal cortex on chronic neuropathic pain and depression comorbidity in rats. To investigate that comorbidity, neuropathic pain was induced by chronic constriction injury (CCI) of the sciatic nerve in male Wistar rats. The biotinylated biodextran amine (BDA) bidirectional neural tract tracer was microinjected into the PrL cortex to study brain connections. Rodents were further subjected to von Frey (mechanical allodynia), acetone (cold allodynia), and forced swim (depressive‐like behavior) tests. BDA neural tract tracer‐labeled perikarya were found in the dorsal columns of the periaqueductal gray matter (dPAG) and the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN). Neuronal activity of DRN neurons decreased in CCI rats. However, PrL cortex treatment with Mygalin increased the number of spikes on DRN neurons. Mygalin treatment in the PrL cortex decreased both mechanical and cold allodynia and immobility behavior in CCI rats. PrL cortex treatment with N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate (NMDA) receptor receptors attenuated the analgesic and antidepressive effects caused by Mygalin. The PrL cortex is connected with the dPAG and DRN, and Mygalin administration into the PrL increased the activity of DRN neurons. Mygalin in the PrL cortex produced antinociceptive and antidepressive‐like effects, and the NMDA agonist reversed these effects.
Sudden gains and deteriorations: Modeling the impact across outcomes with university counseling center clients
Authors: Drinane Joanna M. , Owen Jesse , Kopta S. Mark
Published: April 2023

Objective

This study examines the longitudinal impact of sudden gains/deteriorations across the outcomes associated with the phase model.

Method

In a sample of 16,657 clients who completed the Behavioral Health Measure‐20, we identified sudden gains/deteriorations and employed multilevel piecewise analyses to assess their impact on subsequent treatment phases.

Results

We found that: (1) Following a sudden gain in the well‐being outcome, the mean‐level for the symptom outcome increased (meaning symptoms improved), and the rate of change decreased, (2) Following a sudden gain in the symptom outcome, the mean‐level for the life functioning outcome increased, (3) Following a sudden deterioration in the well‐being outcome, the mean‐level and rate of change for the symptom outcome decreased, and (4) Following a sudden deterioration in the symptom outcome, the mean‐level for the life functioning outcome decreased.

Conclusions

These findings reveal that sudden gains/deteriorations function and occur at different rates across phases of change in psychotherapy.
A 3‐year qualitative evaluation of interprofessional team‐based clinical education at an Australian dental school
Authors: Storrs Mark J. , Henderson Amanda J. , Kroon Jeroen , Evans Jane L. , Love Robert M.
Published: April 2023

Purpose/Objectives

This article describes a qualitative evaluation of interprofessional (IP) team‐based treatment planning (TBTP) involving dentistry, oral health therapy, dental prosthetics, and dental technology students at the Griffith University School of Dentistry and Oral Health (DOH). Using the same data from a recently published article that looked solely at the quantitative evaluation of TBTP, this article focuses on the qualitative evaluation of TBTP. This evaluation explores the contextual meaning related to the previously published aspects of TBTP that contributed positively toward oral health students’ IP clinical learning and identifies themes reflecting students’ IP clinical experience.

Methods

Thematic analysis of transcripts from nine focus groups, comprised of 46 final year students and open‐ended questions collected from 544 students through an online instrument from 2012 to 2014, explored the question: “What is the contribution of IP student team‐based processes on students’ perceptions of IP learning and practice at DOH?”

Results

Responses from online participants and student focus groups revealed three major themes: useful role learning, communication confidence, and pro‐active collaborative teamwork. Throughout each of these themes, students stated they possessed a confidence in collaborating with other oral health students as exhibited through an understanding of profession‐specific and IP roles, self‐assurance in communicating, and teamwork skills.

Conclusion

Aspects of TBTP that contributed positively toward students’ IP clinical learning and practice were meaningfully identified.
Controlled self‐cleaning aluminum surfaces mediated by anodic aluminum oxide
Authors: Zhang Qi , Huang Zhichao , Shao Ruijuan , Chen Junjie , Zang Dongmian
Published: April 2023

Special porous anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) membranes are created on Al in a phosphonic acid electrolyte solution through one‐step anodic oxidation and modified with polydimethysiloxane using a vapor deposition technique. In this context, the anodic oxidation time is tuned during its process. As such, the Al surface's wettability, and self‐cleaning property are controlled by the tunable anodic oxidation time, for the anodic oxidation, time can regulate the structure of the AAO and the proportion of the air‐liquid interface.
Application of oncolytic virus in tumor therapy
Authors: Huang Zhijian , Guo Hongen , Lin Lin , Li Shixiong , Yang Yong , Han Yuanyuan , Huang Weiwei , Yang Jialiang
Published: April 2023

Oncolytic viruses (OVs) can selectively kill tumor cells without affecting normal cells, as well as activate the innate and adaptive immune systems in patients. Thus, they have been considered as a promising measure for safe and effective cancer treatment. Recently, a few genetically engineered OVs have been developed to further improve the effect of tumor elimination by expressing specific immune regulatory factors and thus enhance the body's antitumor immunity. In addition, the combined therapies of OVs and other immunotherapies have been applied in clinical. Although there are many studies on this hot topic, a comprehensive review is missing on illustrating the mechanisms of tumor clearance by OVs and how to modify engineered OVs to further enhance their antitumor effects. In this study, we provided a review on the mechanisms of immune regulatory factors in OVs. In addition, we reviewed the combined therapies of OVs with other therapies including radiotherapy and CAR‐T or TCR‐T cell therapy. The review is useful in further generalize the usage of OV in cancer treatment.
A machine learning model for predicting serum neutralizing activity against Omicron SARS‐CoV‐2 BA.2 and BA.4/5 sublineages in the general population
Authors: Camacho Jorge , Albert Eliseo , Álvarez‐Rodríguez Beatriz , Rusu Luciana , Zulaica Joao , Moreno Alicia Rodríguez , Peiró Salvador , Geller Ron , Navarro David , Giménez Estela
Published: April 2023

Supervised machine learning (ML) methods have been used to predict antibody responses elicited by COVID‐19 vaccines in a variety of clinical settings. Here, we explored the reliability of a ML approach to predict the presence of detectable neutralizing antibody responses (NtAb) against Omicron BA.2 and BA.4/5 sublineages in the general population. Anti‐SARS‐CoV‐2 receptor‐binding domain (RBD) total antibodies were measured by the Elecsys® Anti‐SARS‐CoV‐2 S assay (Roche Diagnostics) in all participants. NtAbs against Omicron BA.2 and BA4/5 were measured using a SARS‐CoV‐2 S pseudotyped neutralization assay in 100 randomly selected sera. A ML model was built using the variables of age, vaccination (number of doses) and SARS‐CoV‐2 infection status. The model was trained in a cohort (TC) comprising 931 participants and validated in an external cohort (VC) including 787 individuals. Receiver operating characteristics analysis indicated that an anti‐SARS‐CoV‐2 RBD total antibody threshold of 2300 BAU/mL best discriminated between participants either exhibiting or not detectable Omicron BA.2 and Omicron BA.4/5‐Spike targeted NtAb responses (87% and 84% precision, respectively). The ML model correctly classified 88% (793/901) of participants in the TC: 717/749 (95.7%) of those displaying ≥2300 BAU/mL and 76/152 (50%) of those exhibiting antibody levels <2300 BAU/mL. The model performed better in vaccinated participants, either with or without prior SARS‐CoV‐2 infection. The overall accuracy of the ML model in the VC was comparable. Our ML model, based upon a few easily collected parameters for predicting neutralizing activity against Omicron BA.2 and BA.4/5 (sub)variants circumvents the need to perform not only neutralization assays, but also anti‐S serological tests, thus potentially saving costs in the setting of large seroprevalence studies.
Long‐term risk of herpes zoster following COVID‐19: A retrospective cohort study of 2 442 686 patients
Authors: Chen Yi‐Chen , Ho Chung‐Han , Liu Ting‐Hui , Wu Jheng‐Yan , Huang Po‐Yu , Tsai Ya‐Wen , Lai Chih‐Cheng
Published: April 2023

The long‐term risk of herpes zoster (HZ) after recovery from a SARS‐CoV‐2 infection is unclear. This retrospective cohort study assessed the risk of HZ in patients following a COVID‐19 diagnosis. This retrospective, propensity score‐matched cohort study was based on the multi‐institutional research network TriNetX. The risk of incident HZ in patients with COVID‐19 was compared with that of those not infected with SARS‐CoV‐2 during a 1‐year follow‐up period. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of HZ and its subtypes were calculated. This study identified 1 221 343 patients with and without COVID‐19 diagnoses with matched baseline characteristics. During the 1‐year follow‐up period, patients with COVID‐19 had a higher risk of HZ compared with those without COVID‐19 (HR: 1.59; 95% CI: 1.49–1.69). In addition, compared with the control group patients, those with COVID‐19 had a higher risk of HZ ophthalmicus (HR: 1.31; 95% CI: 1.01–1.71), disseminated zoster (HR: 2.80; 95% CI: 1.37–5.74), zoster with other complications (HR: 1.46; 95% CI: 1.18–1.79), and zoster without complications (HR: 1.66; 95% CI: 1.55–1.77). Kaplan–Meier curve analysis (log‐rank p < 0.05) results indicated that the risk of HZ remained significantly higher in patients with COVID‐19 compared with those without COVID‐19. Finally, the higher risk of HZ in the COVID‐19 cohort compared with that in the non‐COVID‐19 cohort remained consistent across subgroup analyses regardless of vaccine status, age, or sex. The risk of HZ within a 12‐month follow‐up period was significantly higher in patients who had recovered from COVID‐19 compared with that in the control group. This result highlights the importance of carefully monitoring HZ in this population and suggests the potential benefit of the HZ vaccine for patients with COVID‐19.
Exosomes loading Tapasin enhance T cell immune response by autophagy to inhibit HBV replication
Authors: Lv Mengjiao , Yao Ting , Zhang Yi , Ma Siyuan , Chen Jinmei , Tang Zhenghao , Zang Guoqing , Chen Xiaohua
Published: April 2023

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) specific T cell immune response plays a vital role in viral clearance. Dendritic cell derived exosomes (Dexs) can activate T cell immunity effectively. Tapasin (TPN) is involved in antigen processing and specific immune recognition. In the present study, we elucidated that Dexs loading TPN (TPN‐Dexs) could enhance CD8+ T cell immune response and inhibit virus replication in HBV transgenic mice. T cell immune response and the ability of inhibiting HBV replication were measured in HBV transgenic mice immunized with TPN‐Dexs. Meanwhile, CD8+ T cell autophagy and specific T cell immune responses were measured in vitro and vivo, and the mechanisms probably involved in were explored. Purified TPN‐Dexs could be taken up into the cytoplasm of DCs and upregulate CD8+ T cell autophagy to enhance specific T cell immune response. In addition, TPN‐Dexs could increase the expression of AKT and decrease the expression of mTOR in CD8+ T cells. Further research confirmed that TPN‐Dexs could inhibit virus replication and decrease the expression of HBsAg in the liver of HBV transgenic mice. Nevertheless, those also could elicit mice hepatocytes damage. In conclusion, TPN‐Dexs could enhance specific CD8+ T cell immune responses via the AKT/mTOR pathway to regulate the autophagy and exert the antiviral effect in HBV transgenic mice.
Association between skeletal muscle index prior to liver transplantation and 1‐year mortality posttransplant
Authors: Bot Daphne , Klerks Suzanne , Leistra Eva , Tushuizen Maarten E. , van Hoek Bart
Published: April 2023

Background

Liver transplantation is the only curative therapy for end‐stage liver disease (ESLD). Sarcopenia is often defined as the loss of muscle quantity (skeletal muscle index [SMI]), but muscle attenuation (MA), a surrogate marker of muscle quality, is also decreased in ESLD. We assessed pre–liver transplant SMI and MA and their association with posttransplant mortality, complications, and length of intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital stay.

Methods

In 169 consecutive patients with ESLD who underwent a liver transplantation between 2007 and 2014, SMI and MA were measured on computed tomography scans at time of placement on the waiting list for liver transplantation. The primary outcome of interest was 1‐year posttransplant mortality. Secondary posttransplantation outcomes of interest were complications within 30 days and length of stay in the ICU > 3 days and in the hospital >3 weeks. Logistic and Cox regression analyses were performed.

Results

MA was associated with 1‐year posttransplant mortality rate (hazard ratio=0.656, 95% CI=0.464–0.921, P = 0.015). The highest quartile of SMI had a lower odds for the total length of stay in the hospital lasting >3 weeks (odds ratio=0.211, 95% CI=0.061–0.733, P = 0.014). MA was associated with a prolonged ICU stay; this was, however, not statistically significant after adjustment for age, sex, and Model for ESLD score.

Conclusion

Lower MA is associated with a longer length of ICU stay and 1‐year mortality after liver transplantation, whereas low SMI was associated with a total length of hospital stay.
Assessment of titanium release following non‐surgical peri‐implantitis treatment: A randomized clinical trial
Authors: Daubert Diane , Lee Eddie , Botto Antonella , Eftekhar Mojdeh , Palaiologou Archontia , Kotsakis Georgios A.
Published: April 2023

Background

Peri‐implantitis is a frequent finding. Initial treatment involves non‐surgical debridement of the implant surface. Recent studies have found a correlation between titanium (Ti) particle release and peri‐implantitis, yet there is a dearth of information regarding the effect of various non‐surgical instrumentation on particle release or peri‐implantitis resolution.

Methods

Patients with peri‐implantitis were recruited for a randomized, blinded, parallel‐group clinical trial. The implants were randomized to treatment composed of Ti curettes (“Mech” group) or implant‐specific treatment composed of rotary polymer microbrushes (“Imp” group). Ti release in submucosal peri‐implant plaque pre‐ and 8 weeks posttreatment was assessed as the primary outcome. Peri‐implant probing depth, bleeding on probing, and suppuration on probing were evaluated and compared between groups.

Results

Thirty‐four participants completed treatment; 18 were randomized to the Mech group and 16 to the Imp group. The groups were comparable for Ti levels and probing depths at baseline. A trend was noted for 10‐fold greater Ti dissolution in the Mech group posttreatment compared to the Imp group (p = 0.069). The Imp group had a significant reduction in probing depth posttreatment (p = 0.006), while the Mech group reduction was not significant.

Conclusion

Peri‐implantitis treated non‐surgically with implant‐specific instruments (Imp group) had a significantly greater decrease in probing depth versus the Mech treatment group. This improvement was linked with a trend for less Ti release to the peri‐implant plaque by the non‐abrasive treatment.
Differing local‐scale responses of Bolivian Amazon forest ecotones to middle Holocene drought based upon multiproxy soil data
Authors: Hill James , Black Stuart , Soto Daniel , Chavez Ezequiel , Vos Vincent , Mayle Francis
Published: April 2023

Uncertainty remains over local‐scale responses of ecotonal Amazonian forests to middle Holocene drying due to the scarcity, and coarse spatial resolution, of lacustrine pollen records. This paper examines the palaeoecological potential of soil phytoliths, stable carbon isotopes and charcoal for capturing local‐scale ecotonal responses of different types of Bolivian Amazonian forest to middle Holocene climate change. Soil pits 1 m deep were dug at ecotones between rainforest, dry forest, Chaco woodland and savannah, and sampled at 5–10 cm resolution. Both phytolith and stable carbon isotope records indicate stability of dry forest–savannah ecotones over the last ca. 6000 years, despite middle Holocene drought, revealing the dominance of edaphic factors over climate in controlling this type of ecotone. In contrast, δ13C data reveal that rainforest–savannah ecotones were more responsive to climate change, with rainforest likely replaced by drought‐tolerant dry forest or savannah vegetation during the mid‐Holocene, consistent with regional‐scale lacustrine pollen records. However, such shifts are not apparent in most of our phytolith records due to insufficient taxonomic resolution in differentiating rainforest from dry forest. Charcoal data show that ecotonal dry forests experienced greater fire activity than rainforests and that recent high fire activity at all forest sites is unprecedented since at least the middle Holocene.
Design optimization of polarization volume gratings for full‐color waveguide‐based augmented reality displays
Authors: Ding Yuqiang , Li Yannanqi , Yang Qian , Wu Shin‐Tson
Published: April 2023

Reflective polarization volume gratings (PVGs) can be used as input and output couplers in a diffractive waveguide‐based augmented reality (AR). To improve the stability and wearing comfort, a thin and lightweight full‐color waveguide display is needed. In this paper, we propose a single full‐color waveguide AR display based on PVGs. By analyzing the optical system, we derived the field of view limit by optimizing a three‐layer PVG as an in‐coupler. Pairing with a single‐layer, thin PVG as an out‐coupler, we can achieve a relatively uniform exit pupil of 8 mm at horizontal pupil expansion direction.
Perovskite quantum‐dots glasses with excellent stability and optical properties for laser projection
Authors: Du Aochen , Zhao Wenxiao , Ye Yun , Chen Enguo , Xu Sheng , Guo Tailiang
Published: April 2023

Due to the instability of perovskite quantum‐dots (PQDs), their applications in optoelectronic devices, in reality, are limited. In this paper, Cs(Pb,Sb)Br3 PQDs@glasses were successfully prepared by traditional melting quenching and heat treatment methods. The optical characterization shows that Cs(Pb0.7Sb0.3)Br3 PQDs@glasses has an emission peak of 518 nm and a full width at half maximum of 20 nm, and the photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) is 58%. The electronic structure of Cs(Pb0.875Sb0.125)Br3 has been studied by first principles. The stable range of chemical potential of each element in CsPbBr3 is calculated by first principles. It is proved that CsPbBr3 is an excellent PQDs luminescent material. The thermal analysis and temperature‐dependent photoluminescence spectra prove the stability of the PQDs@glass within 200°. The thermal distribution of the sample under laser irradiation is measured by a finite element method. In addition, Cs(Pb,Sb)Br3 PQDs@glasses are combined with AlN‐(Ca,Eu)AlSiN3 ceramic phosphors to prepare phosphor wheels, which shows that these materials have potential application prospects in the field of display.
Integrated gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry and ultra‐high‐performance liquid chromatography‐mass spectrometry renal metabolomics and lipidomics deciphered the metabolic regulation mechanism of Gushudan on kidney‐yang‐deficiency‐syndrome rats
Authors: Lu Qing , Zhang Jing , Xin Ling , Lou Yanwei , Qin Feng , Zhao Longshan , Xiong Zhili
Published: April 2023

Kidney‐yang‐deficiency‐syndrome is a neuroendocrine disease caused by the dysfunction of the adrenal‐pituitary‐target gland axis. Gushudan is a traditional Chinese medicine prescription with the functions of tonifying the kidney and strengthening bone, and its bone‐strengthening effect has been confirmed by previous anti‐osteoporosis research. However, its kidney‐tonifying mechanism has not been clear so far. In this study, renal metabolomics and lipidomics based on gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry and ultra‐high‐performance liquid chromatography‐high resolution mass spectrometry were integrated to find the metabolic disorders in kidney‐yang‐deficiency‐syndrome rats. Protein precipitation and liquid‐liquid extraction were used to extract metabolome and lipidome from the kidney. Gushudan regulated abnormal levels of amino acids, lipids, purines, and carbohydrates, such as L‐arginine, hypoxanine, stearic acid, and phosphatidylethanolamine (P‐18:1/20:4), which had effects on many metabolic pathways, such as glycerophospholipid metabolism, sphingolipid metabolism, glycine, serine and threonine metabolism and purine metabolism, and so forth. By integrating metabolomics and lipidomics, this study comprehensively revealed the abnormal metabolic activities of amino acids, lipids, and nucleotides in kidney‐yang‐deficiency‐syndrome, and the metabolic regulation mechanism of Gushudan in preventing kidney‐yang‐deficiency‐syndrome, as well as the improvement of Gushudan in maintaining renal cell structure, mitochondrial function, and energy supply, which also provided some new evidence and connotation for “kidney‐bone” axis.
Novel HPV Associated Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Surveillance DNA Assay Cost Analysis
Authors: Lin Michael G. , Zhu Alexander , Read Paul W. , Garneau Jonathan , McLaughlin Christopher
Published: April 2023

Objectives

We aim to propose a modified surveillance strategy using a novel blood assay that detects plasma circulating tumor‐specific HPV DNA with reported 100% NPV and 94% PPV as the main method of detection to understand the cost implications of potentially avoiding routine imaging and surveillance visits at our institution.

Methods

We performed a retrospective chart review focusing on recurrences in p16+ patients with OPSCC and defined two surveillance strategies: “Strategy A", follow‐up visits with flexible laryngoscopy (FL) plus regular imaging studies; “Strategy B", follow‐up visits with FL plus regular NavDx assays and imaging used at the discretion of the physician(s) in cases of high clinical suspicion.

Results

Of the p16+ OPSCC patients (n = 214), 23 had confirmed recurrence (11%). Standard work‐flow model determined 72 imaging studies and 2198 physical examinations with FL were needed to detect one recurrence. Potential individual patient cost reduction during surveillance was 42%.

Conclusion

Implementing NavDx for HPV + OPSCC surveillance would benefit patients by reducing costs and unnecessary diagnostic testing.

Level of Evidence

Step/Level 3 Laryngoscope, 133:3006–3012, 2023
Longitudinal and Transverse Optical Beam Shifts Show Non‐separability
Authors: Modak Niladri , Ashutosh Swain , Guchhait Shyamal , Das Sayantan , Pan Alok Kumar , Ghosh Nirmalya
Published: April 2023

Under the introduction of any tilted interface in its trajectory, an optical beam experiences polarization‐dependent deflections in the longitudinal and transverse directions with respect to the plane of incidence. The physics of such optical beam shifts are connected to profound universal wave phenomena governed by the fine interference effects of wave packets and have opened up avenues toward metrological applications. Here, the inherent non‐separability of the longitudinal and transverse optical beam shifts is revealed by considering a rather simple case of a partially reflecting Gaussian laser beam from a dielectric interface. This non‐separability appears substantially at some particular regions in the corresponding experimental parameter space. This manifests as a position–position non‐separable state of classical light field. The tunability of the related experimental parameters offers control over the degree of non‐separability. These findings are expected to be a step forward in the exploration of optical beam shifts and a number of analogous universal phenomena. The initial observation also indicates its practical impact on metrology and generation of high‐quality tunable position–position non‐separable states of classical light fields.
Mass spectrometry of polymers: A tutorial review
Authors: Wesdemiotis Chrys , Williams‐Pavlantos Kayla N. , Keating Addie R. , McGee Andrew S. , Bochenek Calum
Published: April 2023

Ever since the inception of synthetic polymeric materials in the late 19th century, the number of studies on polymers as well as the complexity of their structures have only increased. The development and commercialization of new polymers with properties fine‐tuned for specific technological, environmental, consumer, or biomedical applications requires powerful analytical techniques that permit the in‐depth characterization of these materials. One such method with the ability to provide chemical composition and structure information with high sensitivity, selectivity, specificity, and speed is mass spectrometry (MS). This tutorial review presents and exemplifies the various MS techniques available for the elucidation of specific structural features in a synthetic polymer, including compositional complexity, primary structure, architecture, topology, and surface properties. Key to every MS analysis is sample conversion to gas‐phase ions. This review describes the fundamentals of the most suitable ionization methods for synthetic materials and provides relevant sample preparation protocols. Most importantly, structural characterizations via one‐step as well as hyphenated or multidimensional approaches are introduced and demonstrated with specific applications, including surface sensitive and imaging techniques. The aim of this tutorial review is to illustrate the capabilities of MS for the characterization of large, complex polymers and emphasize its potential as a powerful compositional and structural elucidation tool in polymer chemistry.
A novel de novo TP63 mutation in whole‐exome sequencing of a Syrian family with Oral cleft and ectrodactyly
Authors: Simpson Claire L. , Kimble Danielle C. , Chandrasekharappa Settara C. ,   NISC Comparative Sequencing Program, Alqosayer Khalid , Holzinger Emily , Carrington Blake , McElderry John , Sood Raman , Al‐Souqi Ghiath , Albacha‐Hejazi Hasan , Bailey‐Wilson Joan E.
Published: April 2023

Background

Oral clefts and ectrodactyly are common, heterogeneous birth defects. We performed whole‐exome sequencing (WES) analysis in a Syrian family. The proband presented with both orofacial clefting and ectrodactyly but not ectodermal dysplasia as typically seen in ectrodactyly, ectodermal dysplasia, and cleft lip/palate syndrome‐3. A paternal uncle with only an oral cleft was deceased and unavailable for analysis.

Methods

Variant annotation, Mendelian inconsistencies, and novel variants in known cleft genes were examined. Candidate variants were validated using Sanger sequencing, and pathogenicity assessed by knocking out the tp63 gene in zebrafish to evaluate its role during zebrafish development.

Results

Twenty‐eight candidate de novo events were identified, one of which is in a known oral cleft and ectrodactyly gene, TP63 (c.956G > T, p.Arg319Leu), and confirmed by Sanger sequencing.

Conclusion

TP63 mutations are associated with multiple autosomal dominant orofacial clefting and limb malformation disorders. The p.Arg319Leu mutation seen in this patient is de novo but also novel. Two known mutations in the same codon (c.956G > A, p.(Arg319His; rs121908839, c.955C > T), p.Arg319Cys) cause ectrodactyly, providing evidence that mutating this codon is deleterious. While this TP63 mutation is the best candidate for the patient's clinical presentation, whether it is responsible for the entire phenotype is unclear. Generation and characterization of tp63 knockout zebrafish showed necrosis and rupture of the head at 3 days post‐fertilization (dpf). The embryonic phenotype could not be rescued by injection of zebrafish or human messenger RNA (mRNA). Further functional analysis is needed to determine what proportion of the phenotype is due to this mutation.
Generalized finite difference method applied to solve seismic wave propagation problems. Examples of 3D simulations
Authors: Flores Jesús , Salete Eduardo , Benito Juan José , Vargas Antonio M. , Conde Eduardo R.
Published: April 2023

The simulation of seismic wave propagation generally requires dealing with complex tridimensional geometries that are irregular in shape and have non‐uniform properties, features that make the application of the generalized finite difference method in this field interesting. This work continues the extensive developments by the research team focused on the simulation of seismic wave propagation in two‐dimensional domains. In this new contribution, the general formulation and the treatment of free surface boundary conditions are extended for the three‐dimensional case, and the results obtained from different examples are analyzed.