bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Injectable, Self‐Healing and Multiple Responsive Histamine Modified Hyaluronic Acid Hydrogels with Potentialities in Drug Delivery, Antibacterial and Tissue Engineering
Authors: Zhou Sijie , Yang Dejun , Yang Dong , Guo Yan , Hu Ronggui , Li Yuan , Zan Xingjie , Zhang Xingxing
Published: October 2022

Hydrogels are 3D network structures composed of physically or chemically crosslinked, hydrophilic molecules. Compared with conventional hydrogels with static and permanent network structures, injectable and responsive hydrogels generated from dynamic networks, have attracted increasing attention from various disciplines due to their wide‐ranging applications in tissue engineering, drug delivery, soft robotics, etc. Herein, an injectable self‐healing and multiple‐responsive hyaluronic acid (HA)‐ histamine (His)/metal hydrogel is developed by modifying His onto HA and the subsequent, dynamic coordination between imidazole and metal ions. The pH‐responsive and mechanical behaviors exhibited by the HA‐His/metal hydrogels are tunable with the kinds and the concentrations of metal ions. The HA‐His/Zr4+ hydrogels demonstrate a moldable capability at a neutral pH and a multi‐stimulus‐responsive capability when exposed to a weak alkaline environment and hyaluronidase, which inhibits bacterial growth and biofilm formation. Biocompatibilities and accelerated wound healing are demonstrated in vitro and in vivo and are thoroughly investigated and well characterized. The HA‐His/Zr4+ hydrogel has great potential in various biomedical applications, such as pH‐ and hyaluronidase‐responsive sustained release, antibacterial, and implantable materials for tissue engineering.
Fused deposition modelling (FDM) process parameter optimization to minimize residual stresses of 3 d printed carbon fiber nylon 12 hip joint implant
Authors: Nyiranzeyimana G. , Mutua J.M. , Ochuku Mbuya T. , Mose B.R. , Bisengimana E.
Published: October 2022

Residual stresses induced during the layer‐by‐layer fabrication process affect mechanical properties and dimensional accuracy of additively manufactured components. Some of these effects cannot be corrected by post processing like heat treatment. This work aims at optimizing fused deposition modelling process parameters for the least residual stresses during 3D printing of carbon fiber reinforced nylon 12 hip implant. Taguchi design of experiment was used to study the effect of printing temperature, layer thickness and print speed on the residual stresses using the Digimat‐ additive manufacturing software. The results show that the optimal factor setting levels for minimizing part residual stresses were printing temperature of 255 °C, layer thickness of 0.3 mm, and a print speed of 50 mm/s. Printing temperature has the most significant influence on the residual stresses. The combination of the optimum parameter levels yielded the least simulation residual stresses of (41.75
6.53) MPa while the experimental residual stress results were (40.7
7.7) MPa. The simulated and experimental results agreed with minimal percentage difference of (2.51
0.04) %. Tensile and compressive properties of 3D printed carbon fiber nylon 12 composite hip implant matched those of cortical bone. The fracture surface of failed tensile specimens revealed that failure occurred through fiber pull‐out and matrix fracture
Effect of chromium content on microstructure and properties of casting Al‐7Si‐0.35Mg‐0.02Sr alloy
Authors: Ling H. , Shi H. , Du X. , Zan J. , Liu J.
Published: October 2022

The effect of the addition of chromium between 0.1 % and 0.3 % on the structure and properties of Al‐7Si‐0.35Mg‐0.02Sr alloy was studied. The results show that as the chromium content increases, the alloy grains are refined, and the grains appear fine equiaxed after 0.2 % chromium addition. At the same time, chromium combines with iron to form AlCrFeSi phase, which significantly improves the iron phase morphology, making it change from needle shape to fish bone shape. In the aging stage, the Al13Cr4Si4 phase is dispersed in the alloy, and its phase relationship with the matrix is semi‐coherent and non‐coherent. When the chromium content continues to increase, the degree of dispersion of the Al13Cr4Si4 phase is higher, but the performance of the alloy decreases, because the chromium containing precipitate phase consumes magnesium and silicon solute atoms from the nearby melt, making the amount of magnesium silicide decrease. The Al‐7Si‐0.35Mg‐0.02Sr alloy with 0.2 % chromium showed the best mechanical properties (ultimate tensile strength, yield strength, elongation and hardness).
Particle formation in thermally initiated radical‐mediated thiol‐ene emulsion polymerizations
Authors: Cassidy Kyle J. , Shipp Devon A.
Published: October 2022

Radical‐mediated thiol‐ene polymerizations (RMTEPs) conducted under typical emulsion polymerization conditions were studied with the aim of determining how various experimental parameters impact particle nucleation and growth. These colloids are unusual since they are made by step‐growth polymerizations, which can be thermally initiated in an aqueous emulsion system. Four pairs of thiol‐ene monomers were used to probe how composition impacts the nucleation loci. Kinetic studies were carried out to understand how monomer conversion, molecular weight, and particle size change throughout the reaction. Additionally, the number of particles formed as a function of surfactant and initiator concentrations were studied and this data, along with information from dye partition experiments, were used to determine polymer colloid nucleation mechanisms and how monomer/polymer structure impacts nucleation processes. Within the four pairs of monomers studied, three proceeded via homogeneous nucleation (via chain collapse in the aqueous phase), while one pair, which gave the highest degree of crosslinking, underwent heterogeneous nucleation (nucleation occurs in the micellar phase). Possible factors that impact which nucleation mechanism dominates a given set of monomers, such as crosslink density, water solubility, and thiol/ene reactivity, is discussed, although no clear set of delineating guidelines can be offered with this current set of data.
Parent's report on oral health‐related quality of life of children with cystic fibrosis
Authors: Ilgin Sisman Hande , Peker Sertac , Gokdemir Yasemin , Erdem Eralp Ela , Karadag Bulent , Kargul Betul
Published: October 2022

Background

Health‐related quality of life (HRQoL) scales are now widely used in children with cystic fibrosis (cwCF) which reflects the course of the disease. In this cross‐sectional study, our primary aim was to compare the Pediatric Oral Health‐Related Quality of Life (POQL) and Oral Health Score (OHS) between cwCF and healthy group. Our secondary aim was to evaluate the association between Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) colonization, pulmonary function test, OHS and POQL in cwCF.

Methods

The study population (age ranging 6–14) included 55 cwCF followed at the Marmara University Division of Pediatric Pulmonology compared with 50 healthy peers. A survey consisted of general questions (age, sex, etc.) and the POQL instrument were filled by parents. The decayed, missing, and filled teeth for both primary (dft) and permanent dentition (DMFT) was detected according to WHO criteria. Data like current body mass index (BMI z score), colonization status with PA, predicted value for forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1pp), and any hospitalizations during the previous year were obtained from their medical. Differences between the groups were evaluated using Chi‐square and Mann–Whitney U test with a significance level set at 0.05.

Results

There was no significant difference between PA‐colonized cwCF and healthy controls in DMFT (p = 0.916). For all domains of POQL (emotional function, social function, role function), scores of cwCF were significantly better than healthy controls (p < 0.05). There were no statistically significant differences between all domains of POQL scores in PA colonized and non‐PA colonized cwCF' POQL scores (p > 0.05).

Conclusion

Although POQL scores of cwCF were encouraging, dental caries prevention and regular follow‐ups should be taken into consideration.
The effects of fenugreek seed extract supplementation in patients with Alzheimer's disease: A randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial
Authors: Foroumandi Elaheh , Javan Roghayeh , Moayed Leili , Fahimi Hossein , Kheirabadi Fereshteh , Neamatshahi Mahboubeh , Shogofteh Fazeleh , Zarghi Azam
Published: October 2022

The aim of the current randomized control trial (RCT) study was to investigate the effects of fenugreek seed extract on memory, depression, quality of life, blood pressure, and serum malondialdehyde (MDA) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) levels in adult AD patients. This randomized clinical trial was conducted in geriatric homes in Iran. The study participants included 82 AD patients with mild‐to‐moderate memory deficit. Patients in the intervention group received 5 cc of fenugreek seed extract for 4 months and subjects in the control group received a placebo. Memory, depression, quality of life, and BP levels, as well as serum MDA and TAC, were assessed before and after the intervention. There was a significant increase in serum levels of TAC (p < 0.001) and a reduction in serum MDA status (p < 0.001) after 4 months of fenugreek seed extract supplementation. In addition, increasing levels of memory (p < 0.001) and quality of life (p < 0.001), as well as reduction of depression (p = 0.002), systolic BP (p < 0.001), and diastolic BP (p < 0.001) levels were detected in the intervention group compared with baseline. Fenugreek seed extract supplementation in AD patients shows promising positive effects on memory, quality of life, BP, and selective oxidative indices levels.
Finite‐time tracking control for second‐order nonlinear systems with prescribed performance subject to mismatched disturbances
Authors: Wang Xinming , Wang Zuo , Sun Haibin , Li Shihua
Published: October 2022

In this article, a composite finite‐time control scheme with prescribed performance is investigated for a class of second‐order nonlinear system in presence of both matched and mismatched time‐varying disturbances. Under the prescribed performance control framework, asymmetric dynamic and steady performances are explicitly considered by selecting related performance functions. Then, based on the adding a power integrator technique and the finite‐time disturbance observers, a composite finite‐time prescribed performance tracking controller is designed such that the system output can track the desired reference signal in finite time even in presence of mismatched disturbances. The finite‐time stability of the closed‐loop system is analyzed rigorously. Finally, comparative numerical simulations are conducted to verify the effectiveness of the proposed control scheme.
Photocatalytic Degradation Properties of Nano‐lignocellulose⋅NiNiO/GR‐TiO2 Hollow Rod Composite for Methylene Blue
Authors: Pan Yanfei , Guo Qiang , Hu Shuaiqi , Zheng Xin , Yin Dingwen , Zhou Songran , Hu Nianguang , Qiu Fengqi , Yun Lei , Yu Huan , Hao Yinan , Huang Jintian
Published: October 2022

The NiNiO/GR‐TiO2 magnetic hollow rod composites based on lignocellulose was prepared via electroless Ni and sol‐gel method to effectively solve that the composites were difficult to recycle and reuse. Rapid degradation of organic dyes was conducted. The element distribution, surface morphology, and functional groups were characterized via SEM, TEM, LSCM and FT‐IR, respectively. The structure was characterized by XRD and XPS. The photocatalytic properties were tested via TU‐1950 UV spectrophotometer. The EDS demonstrated the increase of S and N elements and FT‐IR results, indicating that methylene blue has been degraded by ring‐opening reaction. The results showed that the surface elements of the hollow rod structure were evenly distributed. The composite catalytic efficiency could reached 57.65 % and catalytic material prepared in vacuum was 93.34 % when the dosage of graphene was 50 mg. The composite materials photocatalytic system with addition of 20 mL EDTA could greatly improve the catalytic efficiency, which was up to 97.43 %.
Characteristics and Properties of Myristic Acid‐Stearic Acid Based Ternary Composite Phase Change Materials for Thermal Energy Storage
Authors: Pan Yucheng , Fei Hua , He Qian , Wang Linya , Liang Ximei , Zhou Jiahong
Published: October 2022

In this work, melt blending method was used to prepare two composite phase change materials of myristic acid‐stearic acid (MS) and myristic acid‐stearic acid‐lauric acid (MSL). The optimum mass ratios of MS and MSL were 77 : 23 and 28 : 9 : 63 by step cooling curve assay, respectively. The phase transition temperature of MS and MSL were 47.13 °C and 28.81 °C by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and the latent heat of phase transition of MS and MSL were also measured to be 153.3 J/g and 143.3 J/g, respectively. On the other hand, the phase transition temperature of MSL had little change after 300 cycles, indicating that it had good stability. In addition, the structure characteristics of MSL was found to be the same as that of pure material by FTIR, which indicates that materials are interacted by molecular force. Therefore, MSL can be used in construction and has a good application prospect.
Chemoselective Hydroboration of Isocyanates Catalyzed by Commercially Available NaH
Authors: Ni Congjian , Ma Xiaoli , Yang Zhi , Roesky Herbert W.
Published: October 2022

A simple, efficient, and economical method for the chemoselective hydroboration of isocyanates is reported. Commercially available NaH, at very low loadings, efficiently catalyzes the selective conversion of isocyanates to N‐boryl formamides, bis(boryl)hemiaminals, and N‐boryl methyl amines. NaH catalyzes isocyanates to controllably open the N=C bond to build an amide bond, and can also remove the C=O bond to obtain N‐boryl methyl amines. Both aliphatic and aromatic isocyanates can be quantitatively converted to the corresponding hydroboration products. Furthermore, there is excellent functional group selectivity over imines, nitriles, and olefins. Additionally, through in situ monitoring, a possible reaction mechanism is proposed. And the chemical intermediates generated by NaH and HBpin are responsible for all the reduction steps.
Bifunctional Squaramide‐Catalyzed Asymmetric [3+2] Annluation Reactions of 2‐Isothiocyanato‐1‐indanones with 2‐Arylidene‐1,3‐indanediones
Authors: Zhai Jiang‐Song , Xie Dong‐Hua , Du Da‐Ming
Published: October 2022

A squaramide‐catalyzed asymmetric Michael/cyclization tandem reaction between 2‐isothiocyanato‐1‐indanones and 2‐arylidene‐1,3‐indanediones was developed. Under this strategy, the corresponding chiral bispirocyclic indanone compounds containing two contiguous stereocenters were obtained under mild conditions in moderate to excellent yields (up to 99 %) and enantioselectivities (up to 98 % ee). In addition, further transformation experiments were achieved through the oxidation and methylation reactions of the product, which also confirmed the synthetic practicality of this synthetic strategy.
Arylated Quinoline and Tetrahydroquinolines: Synthesis, Characterization and Their Metabolic Enzyme Inhibitory and Antimicrobial Activities
Authors: Koçyiğit Ümit Muhammet , Ökten Salih , Çakmak Osman , Burhan Gizem , Ataş Mehmet , Taslimi Parham , Gülçin İlhami
Published: October 2022

The aims of this study are to synthesize and characterize some new phenyl quinoline derivatives and to determine the activities of them and the recently prepared substituted phenyl quinolines against Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and Charbonic anyhydrase (CA) enzymes and some microorganisms. The 6‐phenyl‐ (3a) and 6,8‐diphenyl‐(4a) tetrahydroquinolines were prepared by treatment of 6‐bromo and 6,8‐dibromo‐1,2,3,4‐tetrahydroquinoline with phenylboronic acids in the presence of Pd catalyze in high yields with respect to our reported procedure. Then, bromination of the 6‐phenyl‐ (3a) and 6,8‐diphenyl‐(4a) tetrahydroquinolines furnished novel 3‐bromo phenyl substituted quinolines14and11and 8‐bromo‐6‐pheyltetrahydroquinoline (13) in excellent yields (91, 99 and 92 %, respectively). Structures of all prepared compounds were characterized by1H NMR,13C NMR, FTIR spectroscopy and elemental analysis. Both novel prepared and recent synthesized phenyl substituted tetrahydroquinolines and quinolines were screened for human carbonic anhydrase I, II isoenzymes (hCAs I and II) and AChE inhibitory and antimicrobial activities. Results indicated that all the synthetic compounds exhibited potent inhibitory activities against all targets as compared to the standard inhibitors, revealed by IC50values. Kivalues of novel substituted (trifluoromethoxy, thiomethyl and methoxy) phenyl quinolines3a–d,4a–c,8–12, and14for hCA I, hCA II and AChE enzymes were obtained in the ranges 0.31–12.44, 0.92‐12.45, and 8.56–27.05 μM, respectively. Moreover, phenyl quinolines3a–b,10,11,14displayed antifungal effect against yeasts in the range of 125–15.62 μg/mL.
Interfacial Engineering for High‐Performance PTAA‐Based Inverted 3D Perovskite Solar Cells
Authors: Li Yang , Liao Jin-Feng , Pan Hui , Xing Guichuan
Published: October 2022

In recent years, poly[bis(4‐phenyl)(2,4,6‐trimethylphenyl)amine] (PTAA)‐based inverted perovskite solar cells (IPSCs) have gained tremendous attention due to their simple device structure, easy fabrication process, and suitability for roll‐to‐roll process for fabricating flexible devices. With the recent years’ rapid progress, PTAA‐IPSCs have achieved higher efficiency than other IPSCs, revealing great potential for future applications. Among various strategies to enhance the performance of PTAA‐IPSCs, interfacial engineering has been highlighted with comprehensive merits, including improving the wettability of PTAA, enhancing the crystallinity of perovskite, modifying energy levels, and reducing defect traps at interfaces for enhancing charge transfer and reducing nonradiative recombination. Although extensive review articles have been published on PSCs, little attention has been focused on interfacial engineering of PTAA‐IPSCs. It is believed that it is of great importance to summarize the fruitful breakthroughs in recent years in this area and give some prospective. In this review, the development of PTAA‐IPSCs is summarized, and then interfacial engineering processes on perovskite, PTAA, and electron transport layer is systematically discussed, respectively. In addition, current challenges associated with the rapid developments in the field of PTAA‐IPSC have been pointed out and insightful outlooks for the future design and commercial development of PTAA‐IPSCs have been provided.
Facile Synthesized Acetamidine Thiocyanate with Synergistic Passivation and Crystallization for Efficient Perovskite Solar Cells
Authors: Wang Xinxin , Huang Hao , Du Shuxian , Cui Peng , Lan Zhineng , Yang Yingying , Yan Luyao , Ji Jun , Liu Benyu , Qu Shujie , Zhang Qiang , Yue Xiaopeng , Zhao Xing , Li Meicheng
Published: October 2022

Further performance enhancement of perovskite solar cells (PSCs) is limited by the defect‐assisted recombination losses. The approaches employed to decrease the losses contain defect passivation, perovskite crystallization control, interface engineering, etc. Herein, a new material of acetamidine thiocyanate (AASCN) via a facile method is synthesized, which exhibits dual functions combining a cation with passivation and an anion with crystallization. The iodine vacancies in the perovskite can be effectively passivated through hydrogen bonds formed by the NH bonds of the polar cation AA+. Furthermore, the pseudo‐halide anion SCN− can coordinate the Pb–I octahedrons, improving the perovskite film crystallization. Through vaporing the AASCN on perovskite films during the secondary crystal growth process, the defects mitigation and crystallization improvement are synergistically achieved. As a consequence, the FA0.25MA0.75PbI3 PSCs with AASCN achieve a power conversion efficiency of 23.17%, which is higher than that (21.43%) of untreated PSCs. In detail, the open‐circuit voltage has also a significant advancement from 1.095 to 1.167 V after the AASCN treatment. The design and synthesization of the multifunctional materials are supposed to provide a feasible approach for the performance improvement of PSCs.
Formate as Anti‐Oxidation Additives for Pb‐Free FASnI3 Perovskite Solar Cells
Authors: Jang Hyungsu , Lim Hyeong Yong , Yoon Yung Jin , Seo Jongdeuk , Park Chan Beom , Son Jung Geon , Kim Jae Won , Shin Yun Seop , An Na Gyeong , Choi Seung Ju , Kim Su Hwan , Jeong Jaeki , Jo Yimhyun , Kwak Sang Kyu , Kim Dong Suk , Kim Jin Young
Published: October 2022

Pb‐free Sn‐based perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have significant potential for application in photovoltaic devices because of their suitable bandgap, low exciton binding energy, high carrier mobility, and long diffusion length. However, their performance is hampered by several issues. Sn‐based perovskites are highly susceptible to oxidation, which induces a high concentration of defects and degrades the chemical stability of the perovskite crystals. Herein, the anion formate (HCOO−) can effectively suppress the oxidation of Sn in the pure formamidinium tin triiodide (FASnI3) perovskite without using A‐site cationic additives. Moreover, the presence of formate results in a uniform pinhole‐free perovskite film with a low trap density, reduced charge carrier recombination, and improved charge extraction. Density functional theory calculations show that formate‐treated FASnI3 has improved stability against oxidative Sn degradation. The formate‐treated PSC achieves a power conversion efficiency of 12.11% at a high open‐circuit voltage of 0.71 V. The device exhibits improved stability in ambient air in which it maintained over 80% of its initial power conversion efficiency after 180 min because oxidation is inhibited owing to the strong interaction between Sn and formate.
Synthesis and Characterization of Medium‐/High‐Entropy M2SnC (M=Ti/V/Nb/Zr/Hf) MAX Phases
Authors: Chen Lu , Li Youbing , Chen Ke , Bai Xiaojing , Li Mian , Du Shiyu , Chai Zhifang , Huang Qing
Published: October 2022

Entropy stabilization is an effective method to design and explore MAX phases with outstanding properties via tuning constituent elements and crystal structures, which have received considerable critical attention. Currently, some medium‐/high‐entropy (ME/HE) MAX phases, whose A layers are composed of Al, S, and magnetic elements, are reported, while few discussions about ME/HE‐MAX phases with other A elements (e.g., Sn) are conducted. Herein, fully dense ME/HE‐MAX phase bulks ((TiVNb)2SnC, (TiVNbZr)2SnC, and (TiVNbZrHf)2SnC) are designed and synthesized because of the chemical diversity of MAX phases. The results of Rietveld refinement of X‐ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and high‐resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy‐affiliated energy‐dispersive spectrometer analysis comprehensively verify the crystal structure of ME/HE‐MAX phases. Both the electrical conductivity and the charge carrier mobility are significantly lower than the reported correlation ternary MAX phases, due to the electron scattering and structural defects in ME/HE‐MAX phase crystal structures. Similarly, the electron contribution of thermal conductivity is gradually declining; on the contrary, the phonon plays an increasingly dominant role as temperature increases. Owing to the richness in composition of MAX phases, herein, a composition design route for discovering new MAX phases and tuning their properties is indicated.
Modelling overdose case fatality rates over time: The collaborative process
Authors: Slade Emily , Mangino Anthony A. , Daniels Lara , Liford Madison , Quesinberry Dana
Published: October 2022

This study describes the collaborative process undertaken to study trends in the overdose case fatality rate (the proportion of drug overdoses resulting in death) in Kentucky from 2018 to 2021. Rather than separately tracking counts of fatal and non‐fatal overdoses, studying the overdose case fatality rate gives insight into issues related to the severity of drug overdoses and the efficacy of overdose response resources. We found that the overdose case fatality rate increased across the study period at a rate of approximately 1.19 percentage points per year, and in addition to this annual trend, it is expected to peak 1.26 percentage points higher in the wintertime and lower in the summertime than what would be expected from the overall annual trend. Modelling trends in the overdose case fatality rate over time in a way that is methodologically sound and easily interpretable to community stakeholders was a challenge, and the solution to utilize Bayesian beta regression was made possible by effective team science between domain experts and methodological experts. In this work, we describe our collaborative process, including the team structure and communication strategies, that ultimately led to these novel findings regarding seasonal and annual trends in the overdose case fatality rate.
C−Br Bond Activation of Bromoalkanes with Gallanediyl LGa
Authors: Li Bin , Wölper Christoph , Schulz Stephan
Published: October 2022

Monovalent group 13 diyls are promising reagents for C−X bond activation. We here report on C−Br bond activation reactions of gallanediyl LGa (L=HC[C(Me)NAr)]2, Ar=2,6‐i‐Pr2C6H3)) with a variety of bromoalkanes. Reactions with alkylbromides R−Br gave the corresponding LGa(Br)R (R=Et 1, n‐Pr 2, i‐Pr 3), while the reaction with dibromomethane in 2 : 1 molar ratio occurred with geminal C−Br bond addition and formation of [LGa(Br)]2CH2 (4). In contrast, equimolar reaction of LGa with CHBr3 yielded LGa(Br)CHBr2 (5), which reacted with another equiv. of LGa with decomposition and formation of LGaBr2. Compounds 1–5 were characterized by heteronuclear (1H, 13C) NMR and IR spectroscopy, as well as single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction (sc‐XRD).
Adding Flavor to the SMEFT
Authors: Greljo Admir , Palavrić Ajdin , Thomsen Anders Eller
Published: October 2022

Abstract

We study the flavor structure of the lepton and baryon number-conserving dimension-6 operators in the Standard Model effective field theory (SMEFT). Building on the work of [1], we define several well-motivated flavor symmetries and symmetry-breaking patterns that serve as competing hypotheses about the ultraviolet (UV) dynamics beyond the SM, not far above the TeV scale. In particular, we consider four different structures in the quark sector and seven in the charged lepton sector. The set of flavor-breaking spurions is (almost) always taken to be the minimal one needed to reproduce the observed charged fermion masses and mixings. For each case, we explicitly construct and count the operators to the first few orders in the spurion expansion, providing ready-for-use setups for phenomenological studies and global fits. We provide a Mathematica package SMEFTflavor (https://github.com/aethomsen/SMEFTflavor) to facilitate similar analyses for flavor symmetries not covered in this work.
Grand Color axion
Authors: Valenti Alessandro , Vecchi Luca , Xu Ling-Xiao
Published: October 2022

Abstract

We present a model that solves the strong CP problem via an axion parametrically heavier than the standard one. Within this picture the Standard Model quarks are embedded into a larger non-abelian Grand Color group that at high scales splits into ordinary QCD and an additional confining dynamics under which exotic chiral fermions are charged. Crucially, the vacuum expectation value of the axion is automatically relaxed to zero because the only renormalizable source of explicit CP violation, beyond those encoded in the topological angles, is contained in the Standard Model Yukawa couplings, and is therefore very suppressed. The Grand Color axion potential is controlled by the scale of the new confining group and is much larger than the QCD contribution, such that its dynamics is less exposed to the so-called “axion quality problem”. Potentially observable corrections to the effective topological angle can also arise, in our model as well as in a large class of heavy axion scenarios, from non-renormalizable Peccei-Quinn-conserving interactions, which introduce a new “heavy axion quality problem”. Our model has a very minimal field content, it relies entirely on gauge invariance and does not require the introduction of additional symmetries beyond the usual one postulated by Peccei and Quinn. The phenomenology is very rich and can be tested at colliders as well as via cosmological observations. A particularly interesting portion of parameter space predicts a visible Grand Color axion of mass above the GeV and decay constant larger than a few TeV.
Holographic RG flow and reparametrization invariance of Wilson loops
Authors: Gutiez Diego , Hoyos Carlos
Published: October 2022

Abstract

We study the fate of reparametrization invariance of Wilson loops, also known as ‘zig-zag’ symmetry, under the RG flow using some simple cases as guidance. We restrict our analysis to large-N, strongly coupled CFTs and use the holographic dual description of a Wilson loop as a fundamental string embedded in asymptotically AdS spaces, at zero and nonzero temperature. We then introduce a cutoff in the holographic radial direction and integrate out the section of the string closer to the AdS boundary in the spirit of holographic Wilsonian renormalization. We make explicit the map between Wilson loop reparametrizations and conformal transformation of the string worldsheet and show that a cutoff anchored to the worldsheet breaks conformal invariance and induces an effective defect action for reparametrizations at the cutoff scale, in a way similar to nearly-AdS2 gravity or SYK models. On the other hand, a cutoff in the target space breaks worldsheet diffeomorphisms and Weyl transformations but keeps conformal transformations unbroken and does not generate a non-trivial action for reparametrizations.
A new method for the measurement of the Michel parameters that describe the daughter muon polarization in the τ− → μ−$$ \overline{\nu} $$μντ decay
Authors: Bodrov D. , Pakhlov P.
Published: October 2022

Abstract

This paper provides a detailed description of the method for the first direct measurement of all Michel parameters in the τ−→ μ−$$ \overline{\nu} $$

ν
¯

μντ decay related to the polarization of the daughter muon. An application of the suggested method in the existing and future experiments at e+e− colliders is considered. We have performed a feasibility study for the future Super Charm-Tau Factory and Belle II experiments. For the first one, the sensitivity to the Michel parameters ξ′, ξ′′, η′′, α′/A, and β′/A is estimated. For the latter, only one Michel parameter, ξ′, for which the sensitivity is maximum, is considered.
Long-Time Behavior of Global Weak Solutions for a Beris-Edwards Type Model of Nematic Liquid Crystals
Authors: Climent-Ezquerra Blanca , Guillén-González Francisco
Published: October 2022

We consider a Beris-Edwards system modeling incompressible liquid crystal flows of nematic type. This system couples a Navier–Stokes system for the fluid velocity with a time-dependent system for the Q-tensor variable, whose spectral decomposition is related to the directors of liquid crystal molecules. The long-time behavior for global weak solutions is studied, proving that each whole trajectory converges to a single equilibrium whenever a regularity hypothesis is satisfied by the energy of the weak solution.
Immediate Prosthesis Breast Reconstruction: A Comparison Between Ambulatory Surgery Versus Traditional Hospitalization Based on the Propensity Score Matching Method
Authors: Chen Xiao , Chen Aoxiang , Liu Chaoqi , Zhang Bin
Published: October 2022

Background

The positive benefits of immediate prosthesis breast reconstruction (IPBR) are incontrovertible. During the COVID-19 pandemic, health care resources became scarce. The implementation of outpatient immediate prosthesis breast reconstruction (OIPBR) can improve the efficiency of medical care and reduce viral exposure. Very few studies have focused on OIPBR and this study aimed to fill this gap by evaluating outcomes of OIPBR compared with traditional hospitalization IPBR (THIPBR) in terms of complications and quality of life.

Material and Methods

The study enrolled patients undergoing IPBR at Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital between January 1, 2020, and September 30, 2021. Outcomes were defined as postoperative complications and quality of life before reconstruction and at 3-month follow-up. Quality of life was assessed by BREAST-Q questionnaire. Inverse probability of treatment weighting and propensity score matching (PSM) were applied to adjust for confounders.

Results

A total of 135 patients were enrolled, including 110 with THIPBR and 25 with OIPBR. After matching, baseline characteristics were well balanced. Patients with OIPBR had lower rates of lymphedema on the surgery side (p = 0.041) and readmission (p = 0.040) than patients with THIPBR. No statistically significant differences in the quality of life metrics of psychosocial well-being, sexual well-being, satisfaction with breast and physical well-being of the chest were found between the two groups.

Conclusion

OIPBR is a safe and efficient alternative to THIBPR during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is recommended when medical conditions allow to conserve medical resources. Accelerated technical training for the performance of OIPBR at the hospital level should be expedited.

Level of Evidence III

This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266.
COVID-19 pandemic affects STEMI numbers and in-hospital mortality: results of a nationwide analysis in Germany
Authors: Oettinger Vera , Stachon Peter , Hilgendorf Ingo , Heidenreich Adrian , Zehender Manfred , Westermann Dirk , Kaier Klaus , von zur Mühlen Constantin
Published: October 2022

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic led to extensive restrictions in Germany in 2020, including the postponement of elective interventions. We examined the impact on ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) as an acute and non-postponable disease.

Methods

Using German national records, all STEMI between 2017 and 2020 were identified. Using the number of STEMI cases between 2017 and 2019, we created a forecast for 2020 and compared it with the observed number of STEMI in 2020.

Results

From 2017 to 2020, 248,062 patients were treated for STEMI in Germany. Mean age was 65.21 years and 28.36% were female. When comparing forecasted and observed STEMI in 2020, a correlation can be seen: noticeable fewer STEMI were treated in those weeks respectively months with an increasing COVID-19 hospitalization rate (monthly percentage decrease in STEMI: March − 14.85%, April − 13.39%, November − 11.92%, December − 22.95%). At the same time, the crude in-hospital mortality after STEMI increased significantly at the peaks of the first and second waves (relative risk/RR of monthly in-hospital mortality: April RR = 1.11 [95% CI 1.02; 1.21], November RR = 1.13 [1.04; 1.24], December RR = 1.16 [1.06; 1.27]).

Conclusion

The COVID-19 pandemic led to a noticeable decrease in the number of STEMI interventions in Germany at the peaks of the first and second waves in 2020, corresponding to an increase in COVID-19 hospitalizations. At the same time, in-hospital mortality after STEMI increased significantly in these phases.

Graphical abstract

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on STEMI numbers and in-hospital mortality in Germany. Relative difference between forecasted and observed STEMI numbers (above figure), the relative risk of in-hospital mortality (middle figure) as well as number of new hospital admissions for COVID-19 per million inhabitants according to Roser et al.27 (bottom figure).
Dystonia management across Europe within ERN-RND: current state and future challenges
Authors: Centen Liesanne M. , Pinter David , van Egmond Martje E. , Graessner Holm , Kovacs Norbert , Koy Anne , Perez-Dueñas Belen , Reinhard Carola , Tijssen Marina A. J. , Boesch Sylvia
Published: October 2022

Background

Since the first European-wide evaluation of dystonia management in 2016, several efforts have been made to improve dystonia-care. One of these was the development of the Dystonia Disease Group as a part of the European Reference Network for Rare Neurological Diseases (ERN-RND) that implemented several initiatives based on the recommendations made in 2016.

Aim

To evaluate the current state of dystonia management across Europe.

Methods

Twenty-four countries were surveyed via 62 dystonia-experts from 44 ERN-RND-related centers.

Results

Dystonia-experts for adult patients were available in all surveyed countries. However, almost half of the countries evaluated accessibility as merely ‘satisfactory’. Access to genetic and neurophysiological testing was challenging to varying degrees in over half of countries. Main oral medications and botulinum toxin were available in all countries. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) was easily accessible in one-third of the countries. Dystonia research was conducted in 20/24 countries. Trainings on dystonia for general practitioners (GPs) were available in 11/24 countries. However, lack of trainings for other professionals was almost general. For pediatric dystonia, experts and specific training were available in over half of the countries.

Conclusions

In this overview, we present the current state of dystonia management within ERN-RND. Management has slightly improved since 2016 in several fields, including diagnostics, availability of DBS, and research. The results highlight that future challenges in dystonia management are accessibility of experts, and diagnostic tools and treatments, education on adult and childhood dystonia, and optimization of referral pathways. These findings are important for improving dystonia care across Europe.
Risk factors for ocular hypotony after XEN Gel Stent implantation
Authors: Galimi Maria E. , Weller Julia M. , Kruse Friedrich E. , Laemmer Robert
Published: October 2022

Purpose

To investigate the incidence of postoperative hypotony, and risk factors for the development of hypotony in eyes who had undergone XEN Gel Stent implantation.

Methods

In this retrospective, single-centre case series, medical records of 170 consecutive eyes who had undergone XEN Gel Stent implantation with or without simultaneous phacoemulsification for primary or secondary open angle glaucoma were analysed. Primary outcome parameters were the incidence of postoperative hypotony and potential risk factors for its development, and secondary parameters were pre- and postoperative visual acuity, intraocular pressure (IOP), and number of IOP-lowering eye drops.

Results

Postoperative hypotony ≤ 6 mmHg occurred in 57% of eyes. Hypotony was without complications in 70.1%, 13.4% had transient complications with spontaneous resolution, and 16.5% had complications requiring treatment. Mean visual acuity logMAR before surgery accounted for 0.47 ± 0.46 in all eyes and 0.47 ± 0.48 at the 4-week visit. There was no significant difference of BCVA in the group of eyes with and without postoperative hypotony before and after surgery. The mean IOP before surgery was 24.6 ± 8.4 mmHg and decreased significantly to 18.4 ± 10.2 after 4 weeks.

Eyes with an axial length over 24.3 mm had a threefold increased risk for postoperative hypotony (OR 3.226, 95% confidence interval 1.121–9.279). This risk was decreased in eyes with simultaneous cataract surgery (OR 0.483, 95% confidence interval 0.258–0.903).

Conclusion

In our sample, postoperative hypotony was a common complication after XEN Gel Stent implantation, but serious, persistent complications were rare. A longer axial length predisposes the eye for the development of hypotony.
Optimized virtual reality-based Method of Loci memorization techniques through increased immersion and effective memory palace designs: a feasibility study
Authors: Moll Brigham , Sykes Ed
Published: October 2022

For most, an improvement in memory would always be desirable, whether from the point of view of an aging individual with declining memory, or from the perspective of someone seeking to memorize large amounts of information in the shortest period of time. One way for people to improve upon their memory performance is by using the Method of Loci (MoL), a famously complex, ancient memorization technique for non-spatial information recall. With the use of virtual reality technology, this technique can finally be easily taught to individuals for use in their daily lives. In this paper, we present an exploration into this avenue of using MoL in virtual reality and report on the design and evaluation of our new virtual memory palace that aims to prove the feasibility of improving upon designs from other studies to optimize memory recall performance. An experiment was conducted to evaluate our VR MoL environment. The results from week 1 on the pre-test (M = 62.55, SD = 24.01) and post-test (M = 82.91, SD = 15.99) memory task showed an increase in the number of words remembered was statistically significant, t(20) = -2.34, p = 0.014 where participants were able to remember approximately 20.4% more non-spatial information, when compared to traditional memorization techniques. After a second use, participants improved, remembering 22.2% more non-spatial information on the pre-test (M = 63.44, SD = 26.64) and post-test (M = 85.67, SD = 16.10) memory task, indicating that the increase in number of words remembered was statistically significant, t(16) = -2.142, p = 0.024. The results suggest that the virtual memory palace experience could be optimized to help participants learn the MoL technique with very little training time and potentially produce significant improvements in recall performance as a result.
Authority gradients between rail network controllers, train crew and track workers in Australia and New Zealand: motivations and behaviours
Authors: Luva Bridie , Naweed Anjum
Published: October 2022

The underlying relationship dynamics leading to authority gradients between frontline rail workers are being overlooked despite rail incident investigation reports pointing to the contrary. The aim of this study was to understand how the power disparities across multidisciplinary rail frontline workers can lead to authority gradients from the perspective of network controllers—the group at the apex of the operational hierarchy. A scenario generation technique was used to scaffold interviews with 55 rail network controllers from eight organisations across Australasia and identify how they perceived risky situations with all data thematically analysed. Authority gradient generation was found to be defined through: (1) motivations for network controllers to retain a position of authoritarianism toward train crew and track workers; and (2) behaviours that reinforced a power differential by curtailing their empowerment. Network controllers feared the probability and consequence of error and mistrusted in the capabilities of train crew and track workers, questioning their honesty, levels of competence, and believing they wanted to inherently cut corners. These motivations created a contemptuous regard that bred hostility and disparaging language, and engendered intimidation tactics where network controllers acted punitively and pressured train crew and track workers into compliance. The results from the scenarios point to perceptions of risk as the catalyst for fear and mistrust, with heightened perceptions of risk associated with increased vigilance and hostility across groups. This insight into how authority gradients are generated across operational teams in rail provides a new dimension to understanding teamwork error.
Efficacy of laparoscopic fundoplication in patients with chronic cough and gastro-oesophageal reflux
Authors: Frankel Adam , Ong Hock Soo , Smithers B. Mark , Nathanson Les K. , Gotley David C.
Published: October 2022

Background

The outcome of anti-reflux surgery in patients with suspected gastro-oesophageal reflux-induced cough is frequently uncertain. The aims of this study were to assess the efficacy of laparoscopic fundoplication for controlling cough in patients with chronic cough without asthma, who have pathologic gastro-oesophageal reflux, and to identify predictors of response.

Methods

From a prospective database of 1598 patients who have undergone laparoscopic fundoplication, 66 (4%) with proven gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) and chronic cough without asthma were studied. All patients underwent gastroscopy and 24-h pH monitoring before operation. Heartburn and regurgitation were assessed using a modified DeMeester score. Severity of cough before and after surgery was self-assessed by the patient using a visual analog scale at a minimum of 12 months post-operatively (median 43 mo; range: 14–104 mo). Patients were considered to have responded to fundoplication if they had no cough or the cough had improved by 50% or more after operation.

Results

Cough and heartburn/regurgitation were relieved in 61% (40/66) and 90% (44/49) of the patients, respectively. The presence of typical GORD symptoms or oesophagitis, and pH study variables did not predict the response of the cough to fundoplication.

Conclusion

Refinement in the aetiological diagnosis of chronic cough due to GORD is necessary for improved outcome. Patients diagnosed with GORD-related chronic cough need to be counseled regarding their expectations from anti-reflux surgery.
The Effectiveness of Psychological Interventions Delivered in Routine Practice: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Authors: Gaskell Chris , Simmonds-Buckley Melanie , Kellett Stephen , Stockton C. , Somerville Erin , Rogerson Emily , Delgadillo Jaime
Published: October 2022

This review presents a comprehensive evaluation of the effectiveness of routinely delivered psychological therapies across inpatient, outpatient and University-based clinics. This was a pre-registered systematic-review of studies meeting pre-specified inclusion criteria (CRD42020175235). Eligible studies were searched in three databases: MEDLINE, CINAHL and PsycInfo. Pre–post treatment (uncontrolled) effect sizes were calculated and pooled using random effects meta-analysis to generate effectiveness benchmarks. Moderator analyses were used to examine sources of heterogeneity in effect sizes. Overall, 252 studies (k = 298 samples) were identified, of which 223 (k = 263 samples) provided sufficient data for inclusion in meta-analysis. Results showed large pre–post treatment effects for depression [d = 0.96, (CI 0.88–1.04), p ≤ 0.001, k = 122], anxiety [d = 0.8 (CI 0.71–0.9), p ≤ 0.001, k = 69], and other outcomes [d = 1.01 (CI 0.93–1.09), p ≤ 0.001, k = 158]. This review provides support for the effectiveness of routinely delivered psychological therapy. Effectiveness benchmarks are supplied to support service evaluations across multiple settings.