bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Associations between Autistic and ADHD Traits and Well-being of Secondary School Students in South Wales
Authors: Smith Andrew P. , Garcha Japnoor , James Arwel
Published: May 2023

Background: There has been considerable research on Autism and ADHD, which are recognized as significant special educational needs. Many studies use samples which have been diagnosed with these conditions, but there is also a growing trend to focus on these traits among community populations rather than just among the individuals diagnosed. Recent research has examined the well-being of students using the "well-being process" framework. The present study examined the association between well-being, measured by the Well-being Process Questionnaire and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, and the autistic and ADHD traits of secondary school students.

Aims: The study first examined the associations between autistic and ADHD traits in secondary school students. The second aim was to examine the associations between well-being outcomes and these traits. Finally, analyses controlling for established predictors of well-being examined whether associations between autism and ADHD traits and well-being outcomes remained significant.

Methodology: An online survey was carried out. The participants were 155 students from a Welsh Secondary School and represented various year groups. Correlations and regressions were conducted to examine associations between variables.

Results: Autistic and ADHD traits were found to be significantly correlated. Both sets of traits were also significantly correlated with well-being outcomes. When autistic and ADHD traits were included in the same regression, ADHD was found to be associated with most outcomes, whereas autistic traits were only associated with hyperactivity, peer problems and reduced prosocial behaviour. When established predictors of well-being were also included in the model, ADHD traits were only associated with hyperactivity and autism with prosocial problems and hyperactivity. There were no significant effects on physical health.

Conclusion: Autistic and ADHD traits overlap. Univariate analyses show significant associations between these traits and well-being. However, when established predictors of well-being were included in the analyses, only hyperactivity and reduced prosocial behaviour were still associated with autistic and ADHD traits. The psychosocial profiles of autism and ADHD may help design interventions to increase well-being. For example, both autism and ADHD are associated with high stress and poor coping, both of which may be improved by training.
Ensuring Safe and Effective Sterilization in the Healthcare Industry: Best Practices and Technologies
Authors: Sharma Akash , Sharma Nishant , Upadhyay Roshani K. , Gamta Vriti , Badyal Rahul , Luthra Gaurav
Published: May 2023

Sterilization is a critical aspect of the medical device industry, as the use of improperly sterilized devices can have serious consequences for patients. This article provides an overview of the risks of inadequate sterilization, the methods of sterilization commonly used in the industry, and best practices for ensuring safe and effective sterilization. The article also explores emerging sterilization technologies and their potential impact on the industry. The importance of quality assurance and control procedures, validation, and testing in the sterilization process is emphasized. By following best practices and staying up-to-date with technological advancements, the medical device industry can continue to ensure that sterilization is performed safely and effectively to protect patients and maintain industry standards.
Negative Velocity Characteristics in Electromagnetism
Authors: Huang Zhi-Xun
Published: May 2023

Newton mechanics is great, Newton's contribution is indelible. But from Newton's classical mechanics, the definition of velocity (=) must mean that this physical parameter is a vector, so "negative velocity" only means the opposite direction of motion, no other meaning. It is difficult to understand negative velocity within the framework of classical mechanics. However, wave is a special form of material motion, wave mechanics has a unique method and meaning, and its concept and connotation are significantly different from classical mechanics. For example, wave velocity (whether phase velocity or group velocity) is a scalar quantity. "Negative wave velocity" does not mean that the direction of motion is reversed, but a special phenomenon that does not accord with causality from the surface view. In any case, research in recent decades has shown that negative wave velocity is not only theoretically possible, it has also been repeatedly shown to exist experimentally. Moreover, negative wave velocity is a special form of superluminal speed; The wave with negative velocity is the advanced wave. It corresponds to the leading solution of the basic equation of electromagnetic field and electromagnetic wave. The past practice (discarding the advanced solution) is wrong! As for causality, scientists have provided a new definition and interpretation. In short, both wave mechanics and quantum optics take a different approach from classical mechanics.

This paper points out that it is unusual for the 2022 Nobel Prize in Physics to be awarded to Alain Aspect and two others, since Aspect's experiments on the Bell inequality were completed in 1982, Which still stands today as a crucial experiment that proved Einstein's EPR paper wrong and quantum mechanics (QM) correct. Aspect's award in 2022 showed that mainstream physical community had been forced to accept that quantum entanglement existed and that the "light-speed limit" theory of SR was a mistake.

This paper discusses the proposition "negative characteristic motion of electromagnetic wave" put forward by the author in 2013, pointing out that it is an inherent physical phenomenon reflecting symmetry in nature. In this paper, the faster-than-light motion of waves found in the near-field of antennas is discussed. In addition, the realizability of "time travel" is also discussed.
mFast‐SeqS‐based aneuploidy score in circulating cell‐free DNA is a prognostic biomarker in prostate cancer
Authors: Isebia Khrystany T. , Mostert Bianca , Deger Teoman , Kraan Jaco , de Weerd Vanja , Oomen‐de Hoop Esther , Hamberg Paul , Haberkorn Brigitte C. M. , Helgason Helgi H. , de Wit Ronald , Mathijssen Ron H. J. , Lolkema Martijn P. , Wilting Saskia M. , van Riet Job , Martens John W. M.
Published: May 2023

Multiple prognostic biomarkers, including circulating tumour cell (CTC) counts, exist in metastatic castration‐resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) patients, but none of them have been implemented into daily clinical care. The modified fast aneuploidy screening test‐sequencing system (mFast‐SeqS), which yields a genome‐wide aneuploidy score, is able to reflect the fraction of cell‐free tumour DNA (ctDNA) within cell‐free DNA (cfDNA) and may be a promising biomarker in mCRPC. In this study, we investigated the prognostic value of dichotomized aneuploidy scores (< 5 vs. ≥ 5) as well as CTC counts (< 5 vs. ≥ 5) in 131 mCRPC patients prior to treatment with cabazitaxel. We validated our findings in an independent cohort of 50 similarly treated mCRPC patients. We observed that, similar to the dichotomized CTC count [HR: 2.92; 95% confidence interval (CI);1.84–4.62], dichotomized aneuploidy scores (HR: 3.24; CI: 2.12–4.94) significantly correlated with overall survival in mCRPC patients. We conclude that a dichotomized aneuploidy score from cfDNA is a prognostic marker for survival in mCRPC patients within our discovery cohort and in an independent mCRPC validation cohort. Therefore, this easy and robust minimally‐invasive assay can be readily implemented as a prognostic marker in mCRPC. A dichotomized aneuploidy score might also be used as a stratification factor in clinical studies to account for tumour load.
Self‐Assembled Molecule Doping Enables High‐Efficiency Hole‐Transport‐Layer‐Free Perovskite Light‐Emitting Diodes
Authors: Zhou Lingfeng , Yan Minxing , Luo Guangjie , Xu Li , Fang Yanjun , Yang Deren
Published: May 2023

Hole‐transport‐layer‐free (HTL‐free) perovskite light‐emitting diodes (PeLEDs) are attracting increasing research attention because of their simplified device structure, fast preparation process, and high cost effectiveness. However, their much lower external quantum efficiency (EQE) as compared with the conventional p‐i‐n type ones has considerably limited their application prospects. Here, a self‐assembled molecule (SAM) doping strategy is proposed by introducing [4‐(3,6‐dimethyl‐9H‐carbazol‐9‐yl) butyl] phosphonic acid (Me‐4PACz) containing PO functional groups into the perovskite precursor solution and preparing the HTL‐free quasi‐2D perovskite films through the one‐step spin‐coating process. The doped Me‐4PACz molecules can not only accumulate at the ITO/perovskite interface to lower the hole injection barrier, but also extend deep into the perovskite layer to suppress the trap density in perovskite films and regulate the crystallization process for monodispersed phase composition. With the further addition of ethoxylated trimethylolpropane triacrylate small molecule containing CO groups to passivate the defects synergistically with Me‐4PACz, the EQE of the corresponding device is boosted from 1.5% to 16.7% together with a 3.5‐fold increase in operational stability, which is the highest efficiency reported so far for HTL‐free PeLEDs. The results demonstrate that the SAM doping strategy can be a viable and facile way to prepare high‐performance HTL‐free PeLEDs for practical applications.
Antibacterial Carbon Dots: Mechanisms, Design, and Applications
Authors: Zhao Wen‐Bo , Liu Kai‐Kai , Wang Yong , Li Fu‐Kui , Guo Rui , Song Shi‐Yu , Shan Chong‐Xin
Published: May 2023

The increase in antibiotic resistance promotes the situation of developing new antibiotics at the forefront, while the development of non‐antibiotic pharmaceuticals is equally significant. In the post‐antibiotic era, nanomaterials with high antibacterial efficiency and no drug resistance make them attractive candidates for antibacterial materials. Carbon dots (CDs), as a kind of carbon‐based zero‐dimensional nanomaterial, are attracting much attention for their multifunctional properties. The abundant surface states, tunable photoexcited states, and excellent photo‐electron transfer properties make sterilization of CDs feasible and are gradually emerging in the antibacterial field. This review provides comprehensive insights into the recent development of CDs in the antibacterial field. The topics include mechanisms, design, and optimization processes, and their potential practical applications are also highlighted, such as treatment of bacterial infections, against bacterial biofilms, antibacterial surfaces, food preservation, and bacteria imaging and detection. Meanwhile, the challenges and outlook of CDs in the antibacterial field are discussed and proposed.
Biodegradable, Self‐Reinforcing Vascular Grafts for In Situ Tissue Engineering Approaches
Authors: Rohringer Sabrina , Grasl Christian , Ehrmann Katharina , Hager Pia , Hahn Clemens , Specht Sophie J. , Walter Ingrid , Schneider Karl H. , Zopf Lydia M. , Baudis Stefan , Liska Robert , Schima Heinrich , Podesser Bruno K. , Bergmeister Helga
Published: May 2023

Clinically available small‐diameter synthetic vascular grafts (SDVGs) have unsatisfactory patency rates due to impaired graft healing. Therefore, autologous implants are still the gold standard for small vessel replacement. Bioresorbable SDVGs may be an alternative, but many polymers have inadequate biomechanical properties that lead to graft failure. To overcome these limitations, a new biodegradable SDVG is developed to ensure safe use until adequate new tissue is formed. SDVGs are electrospun using a polymer blend composed of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) and a new self‐reinforcing TP(U‐urea) (TPUU). Biocompatibility is tested in vitro by cell seeding and hemocompatibility tests. In vivo performance is evaluated in rats over a period for up to six months. Autologous rat aortic implants serve as a control group. Scanning electron microscopy, micro‐computed tomography (µCT), histology, and gene expression analyses are applied. TPU/TPUU grafts show significant improvement of biomechanical properties after water incubation and exhibit excellent cyto‐ and hemocompatibility. All grafts remain patent, and biomechanical properties are sufficient despite wall thinning. No inflammation, aneurysms, intimal hyperplasia, or thrombus formation are observed. Evaluation of graft healing shows similar gene expression profiles of TPU/TPUU and autologous conduits. These new biodegradable, self‐reinforcing SDVGs may be promising candidates for clinical use in the future.
Transdermal Delivery of Photosensitizer‐Catalase Conjugate by Fluorinated Polyethylenimine for Enhanced Topical Photodynamic Therapy of Bacterial Infections
Authors: Wang Hairong , Xie Yi , Chen Yanling , Zhao He , Lv Xinjing , Zhang Zimu , Li Gen , Pan Jian , Wang Jian , Liu Zhuang
Published: May 2023

Pathogenic bacteria induce subcutaneous infections pose serious threats to global public health. Recently, photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been proposed as a non‐invasive approach for anti‐microbial treatment without the risk to induce drug resistance. However, due to the hypoxic environment of most anaerobiont‐infected sites, the therapeutic efficacy of oxygen consuming PDT has been limited. Herein, a transdermal delivery system is reported to allow effective delivery of photosensitizers into infected skin for PDT treatment of skin infections by bacteria. Considering the overproduction of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in the abscess area, catalase (CAT), an enzyme that triggers H2O2 decomposition to generate O2, is conjugated with chlorine e6 (Ce6) to form a photosensitizer conjugate (Ce6‐CAT) as an enhanced PDT agent against Staphylococcus Aureus. After screening a series of fluorinated low molecular weight polyethylenimine (F‐PEI) with different fluorination degrees, the optimized F‐PEI formulation is identified with the best transdermal delivery ability system. Upon mixing, the formed Ce6‐CAT@F‐PEI nanocomplex shows effective transdermal penetration after being applied to the skin surface. With light exposure of the infected skin, highly effective in vivo anti‐bacterial PDT therapeutic effect with Ce6‐CAT@F‐PEI is observed. This work proposes a transdermal PDT therapeutic nanomedicine particularly promising for the anti‐bacterial treatment of skin infections.
Toward Sustainable All Solid‐State Li–Metal Batteries: Perspectives on Battery Technology and Recycling Processes
Authors: Wu Xiaoxue , Ji Guanjun , Wang Junxiong , Zhou Guangmin , Liang Zheng
Published: May 2023

Lithium (Li)‐based batteries are gradually evolving from the liquid to the solid state in terms of safety and energy density, where all solid‐state Li–metal batteries (ASSLMBs) are considered the most promising candidates. This is demonstrated by the Bluecar electric vehicle produced by the Bolloré Group, which is utilized in car‐sharing services in several cities worldwide. Despite impressive progress in the development of ASSLMBs, their avenues for recycling them remain underexplored, and combined with the current explosion of spent Li‐ion batteries, they should attract widespread interest from academia and industry. Here, the potential challenges of recycling ASSLMBs as compared to Li‐ion batteries are analyzed and the current progress and prospects for recycling ASSLMBs are summarized and analyzed. Drawing on the lessons learned from Li‐ion battery recycling, it is important to design sustainable recycling technologies before ASSLMBs gain widespread market adoption. A battery‐recycling‐oriented design is also highlighted for ASSLMBs to promote the recycling rate and maximize profitability. Finally, future research directions, challenges, and prospects are outlined to provide strategies for achieving sustainable development of ASSLMBs.
Nanomaterials‐Based Biosensors for the Detection of Prostate Cancer Biomarkers: Recent Trends and Future Perspective
Authors: Singh Baljit , Ma Shiliang , Hara Tony O. , Singh Sargun
Published: May 2023

Cancer is among the leading causes of death and an important barrier to improving life expectancy globally. Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men worldwide. The detection of biomarkers in body fluids is the key topic for the diagnosis and prognosis of prostate cancer. Despite advances in prostate cancer detection methods, therapeutic agents and new biomarkers, prostate cancer remains a serious challenge. Prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) is widely recognized as an important biomarker for the diagnosis of prostate cancer although researchers have also investigated the use of alternative biomarkers. Design and development of novel biosensors for prostate cancer detection has become a hot research area with advances in nanotechnology aiding biosensor development. This article reviews recent achievements and progress that nanomaterials and nanotechnology have made in biomarkers based biosensors for prostate cancer detection and covers: i) PSA‐targeted biosensors (immunosensors, aptamer‐based, peptide‐based and nanopore‐based biosensors), ii) sarcosine oxidase‐targeted biosensors, iii) other biomarkers based biosensors (prostate cancer antigen 3 (PCA3), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and prostate‐specific membrane antigen (PSMA)) including dual biomarkers based biosensors (PSA‐VEGF, PSA‐PSMA, PSA‐PCA3 and PSA‐sarcosine). The aim of this review is to provide insights into how nanomaterials in combination with various biomarkers are now aiding biosensor development in prostate cancer diagnostics.
Recent Advances in 2D Wearable Flexible Sensors
Authors: Aftab Sikandar , Al‐Kahtani Abdullah A. , Iqbal Muhammad Zahir , Hussain Sajjad , Koyyada Ganesh
Published: May 2023

A variety of wearable technology for detecting human safety as well as environmental conditions have new research directions owing to 2D heterostructured transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), graphene (Gr), and reduced graphene‐oxide (rGrO). This in‐depth review article compiles the most recent and effective methods for ultrathin, large‐area flexible sensors with conformal adhesion to human skin that are essential for the development of wearable electronic skins. The results presented in this review aim to design flexible, comfortable wearable devices to monitor users’ continuous health conditions and to show the essential parameters (vital human activity signals such as heartbeat and pulse rate, expressions, and voice recognition) on smartphones in real‐time, allowing users to monitor their health issues in a convenient setting. When used to detect gases, higher selectivity biomolecules, and other organic and inorganic molecules, 2D TMDs can produce superior sensitivities and stability due to their unique and fascinating properties that result from the close interaction between the components. The understanding and control of excitonic effects and associated wearable applications in van der Waals heterostructures over a wide spectral response range is also encouraged. The review concludes by summarizing the present difficulties and opportunities.
Dual‐Phosphorescent Heteroleptic Silver(I) Complex in Long‐Lasting Red Light‐Emitting Electrochemical Cells
Authors: Lipinski Sophia , Cavinato Luca M. , Pickl Thomas , Biffi Giulia , Pöthig Alexander , Coto Pedro B. , Fernández‐Cestau Julio , Costa Rubén D.
Published: May 2023

The design of red‐emitting silver(I) complexes and their implementation in thin‐film lighting are still challenging as (i) their high ligand‐field splitting energy leads to high‐energy emissions with a controversial mechanism (thermally activated delayed fluorescence vs fluorescence/phosphorescence), and (ii) their low electrochemical stability leads to the formation of silver nanoclusters, limiting device stability to a few seconds. Herein, a thoughtful complex design [Ag(xantphos)(deebq)]PF6 combining a large‐bite angle diphosphine ligand (xantphos), a rigid, sterically hindered, π‐extended biquinolin (deebq) is reported. In contrast to prior‐art, this complex possesses (i) efficient red‐emission (λem = 660 nm; photoluminescence quantum yield of 42%) assigned to a thermally equilibrated dual‐phosphorescent emission based on spectroscopic/theoretical studies and (ii) stable reduction behavior without forming silver nanoclusters. This results in the first red light‐emitting electrochemical cells featuring (i) improved stability of two orders of magnitude compared to prior‐art (from seconds to hours) at irradiances of 20 µW cm−2, and (ii) a new degradation mechanism exclusively related to p‐doping as confirmed by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy analysis. Indeed, a multi‐layered architecture to decouple hole injection/transport and exciton formation enables a further 2‐fold enhanced irradiance/stability. Overall, this work illustrates that deciphering the rules for silver(I) complex design for lighting is tricky, but worthwhile.
Exploring the Key Factors of TADF Materials as Sensitizers: Toward High‐performance Triplet Fusion Upconversion
Authors: Tian Ye , Shi Yi‐Zhong , Fan Xiao‐Chun , Wan Shi‐Gang , Wang Xiao‐Mei , Wang Kai , Yu Jia , Zhang Xiao‐Hong , Ye Chang‐Qing
Published: May 2023

Employing metal‐free thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) materials as novel photosensitizers (PSs) for triplet–triplet annihilation upconversion (TTA‐UC) systems has received great attention. Nevertheless, how to choose suitable TADF materials is still a gap that deserves further in‐depth research. Herein, by systematically investigating the three TADF‐based TTA‐UC systems, it is found that TADF materials with multiple resonance (MR) effect are more suitable PSs for high‐performance TTA‐UC systems than those with intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) properties. Therefore, unlike a negligible maximum UC quantum efficiency (ΦUC’, with a theoretical maximum of 100%) of 0.05% for ICT‐1 with a highly twisted molecular structure, MR‐TADF materials MR‐1 and MR‐2 offer superior UC performance with ΦUC’ values above 12.7%. All these results suggest that employing MR‐TADF materials as the PS is the key to achieving efficient TTA‐UC performance.
Mono‐ and Bi‐Dentate Chiral Ligands Lead to Efficient Circularly Polarized Luminescence in 0D and 3D Semiconducting Copper(I) Iodides
Authors: Ji Xiaoqin , Liu Yang , Li Ruiqian , Zhang Zixuan , Zhang Xuanyu , Chen Congcong , Chen Jian , Lu Haipeng , Chen Rui , Mao Lingling
Published: May 2023

Chiral hybrid Cu(I)‐based iodides with d10 closed shell demonstrate great potential for circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) because of high photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY). Herein, by incorporating mono‐ or bi‐dentate coordination mode ligands as chiral source, the self‐assembly of four pairs of chiral hybrid Cu(I)‐based iodides, namely, (R/S)‐Cu4I4(Hmpy)4·H2O (R/S‐1), (R/S)‐Cu4I4(3Hpy)4 (R/S‐2), (R/S)‐Cu4I4(2MePI)4 (R/S‐3), and (R/S)‐Cu4I4(3AD)4 (R/S‐4) (where R/S‐Hmpy = R/S‐2‐pyrrolidinemethanol, R/S‐3Hpy = R/S‐3‐hydroxypyrrolidine, R/S‐2MePI = R/S‐2‐methylpiperazine, and R/S‐3AD = R/S‐3‐aminopiperidine), are reported. With the monodentate and bidentate ligands, these materials belong to two different structural types: 0D molecular clusters (R/S‐1, R/S‐2) and 3D porous metal–organic frameworks (R/S‐3, R/S‐4). These materials all crystallize in non‐centrosymmetric space groups containing similar basic Cu4I4 cubane tetramer building units but with different coordination modes. They are also semiconductors, with optical bandgaps ranging from 2.70 to 2.94 eV. The photoluminescence (PL) and circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) emissions are further characterized, where the highest PLQY of ≈95% and CPL dissymmetry factor (glum) of ≈7 × 10−3 are achieved in R/S‐1. This work offers a systematic comparison between different structural types with similar building blocks, bridging by the flexible chiral ligands, and shows that the hybrid copper iodides are highly promising candidates for next‐generation optoelectronics and chiroptics.
Hybridization of Salt Hydrates with Solid–Solid Phase Change Materials: A Novel Pathway to Sorption Thermochemical Materials Manufacturing
Authors: Palacios Anabel , Navarro Maria Elena , Barreneche Camila , Ding Yulong
Published: May 2023

Major advancements are needed in the thermochemical energy storage (TCES) field to bring the technology to commercial levels. The current research strategies are focused on improving heat and mass transfer using different supporting materials to achieve mechanical integrity during storage. However, these strategies are still under development, and they have not overcome the lab scale yet. This work explores novel matrices to expand the material database for TCES composites. Pure structural matrices (cellulose) and novel matrices with storage potential (polymeric solid–solid phase change materials) are selected and combined with three well‐known thermochemical materials (TCMs) (MgSO4·6H2O, SrBr2·6H2O and MgCl2·6H2O), providing evidence of hybridized composites with storage capacity up to 2.4 GJ m−3with a 25–20 wt% of polymeric matrix. The polymer content is found to act as a nucleating agent in the magnesium sulfate crystallization process forming a synthetic monohydrate crystalline phase (Kieserite) and inhibiting the formation of the amorphous phase. The effect of the matrix is proved to induce certain structural deformation or changes not observed in the pure TCM sorption process. This phenomenon has the potential to benefit the stabilization of the TCM, e.g., inhibition of the formation of amorphous phase in magnesium sulfate composites.
CsPbI3 Based All‐Inorganic Perovskite Solar Cells: Further Performance Enhancement of the Electron Transport Layer‐Free Structure from Device Simulation
Authors: Qin Zhiwei , Zhou Hao , Li Site , Xiang Junxin , Guan Ziyu , Zhang Hai , Ma Xinxia , Zhang Meilin , Wu Jiang , Yang Haoyan
Published: May 2023

Cesium lead iodide (CsPbI3) has attracted a great deal of attention as an absorption layer material for perovskite solar cells (PSCs) with high stability and suitable band gap (1.72 eV). In response to the problems of defect‐induced nonradiative compounding and voltage loss caused by the common perovskite layer, the common strategies of interfacial engineering, altering crystal equivalence, and other modifications involve more complex processes and higher fabrication costs. In order to simplify the process and save costs, this work has omitted the electron transport layer (ETL), while still maintaining a high power conversion efficiency (PCE). This work has simulated PSCs with CsPbI3 (electron transport layer free) and have matched Cu2O as the most suitable hole transport layer (HTL) material. By simulating and optimizing the thickness and defect density of perovskite absorption layer and the defect density of interface defect layer (IDL1, IDL2), and determining the most suitable operating temperature, the PCE of the device can reach 18.8%, which is consistent with the experimental data. The asymmetric effect of the interface defect layer obtained in this work is similar to previous research reports. This research provides an economical solution for high‐performance inorganic perovskite solar cells.
Recent Progress in the Emerging Modification Strategies for Layered Oxide Cathodes toward Practicable Sodium Ion Batteries
Authors: Peng Bo , Wan Guanglin , Ahmad Nazir , Yu Lai , Ma Xinyi , Zhang Genqiang
Published: May 2023

Low‐cost sodium‐ion batteries (SIBs) have been extensively considered as a supplement or even a replacement for successful lithium‐ion batteries. However, the practical application of SIBs is limited by their energy density and cyclic performance, which are mainly constrained by the cathode side. Therefore, the development of advanced cathode materials is essential for the practical application of SIBs. Among the various cathode materials, layered transition metal oxides (LTMOs) are highly promising candidates due to their compact crystal structure, low‐cost, ease of preparation, and similarities to successful Li‐based LTMOs. Unfortunately, the bottleneck issues faced by Na‐based LTMOs, such as severe phase transitions, sluggish diffusion kinetics, and interface deterioration, pose significant challenges in achieving high‐performance cathodes. In this review, a comprehensive overview and summary of recently reported modification strategies for layered oxides are provided and the structure–function–performance relationship is refined. A perspective on the outlook and development direction for Na‐based LTMOs cathodes is also provided. This review comprehensively explores the modification strategies of Na‐based LTMOs, providing a new horizon for future research on Na‐based LTMOs.
Zinc‐Supported Nitrogen‐Rich Carbon Catalyst for Efficient Carbon Dioxide Cycloaddition with Epoxides under Solvent‐Free Conditions
Authors: Huang Yifei , Fan Limao , Cai Zhenyu , Zhang Lei , Huang Kai
Published: May 2023

Developing carbon‐based catalyst with both high efficiency and stability presents an enticing prospect for CO2 cycloaddition. In this work, zinc‐loaded nitrogen‐rich carbon catalyst (Zn−NC) was fabricated facilely through the wet impregnation and one‐pot pyrolysis method. The Zn−NC coupled with tetrabutylammonium bromide (TBAB) could achieve the high catalytic efficiency with 93% or 98.1% yield of propylene carbonate (PC) in solvent‐free system under mild condition or traditional heating conditions. Excellent recyclability and versatility of Zn−NC catalyst were also observed. Moreover, the influence of calcination temperature on catalyst structure, composition and catalytic performance were investigated, and the catalytic mechanism of CO2 cycloaddition with Zn−NC and TBAB was legitimately proposed. Herein, this work provided a promising and sustainable insights to prepare high‐efficient and low‐cost carbon‐based catalysts for CO2 conversion.
Catalytic Synthesis of Phthalide Derivatives via Asymmetric Bromolactonization of Stilbene‐type Carboxylic Acids usingN,N‐Dibenzyl Diaminomethylenemalononitrile as Organocatalyst
Authors: Matsushima Yasuyuki , Fukuda Shunsuke , Kobayashi Yusuke , Nezu Hiroyasu , Nakashima Kosuke , Hirashima Shin‐ichi , Miura Tsuyoshi
Published: May 2023

The asymmetric 5‐exobromolactonization of stilbene‐type carboxylic acids could be achieved using aN,N‐dibenzyl diaminomethylenemalononitrile organocatalyst with high yields and excellent enantioselectivities (up to 92% ee) of the corresponding phthalide derivatives. This is the first report where the successful synthesis of the phthalide derivatives as the main product, with high optical purity, could be achieved using the asymmetric 5‐exobromolactonization of the stilbene‐type carboxylic acids with various substituents.
Connectivity Profile for Subthalamic Nucleus Deep Brain Stimulation in Early Stage Parkinson Disease
Authors: Hacker Mallory L. , Rajamani Nanditha , Neudorfer Clemens , Hollunder Barbara , Oxenford Simon , Li Ningfei , Sternberg Alice L. , Davis Thomas L. , Konrad Peter E. , Horn Andreas , Charles David
Published: May 2023

Objective

This study was undertaken to describe relationships between electrode localization and motor outcomes from the subthalamic nucleus (STN) deep brain stimulation (DBS) in early stage Parkinson disease (PD) pilot clinical trial.

Methods

To determine anatomical and network correlates associated with motor outcomes for subjects randomized to early DBS (n = 14), voxelwise sweet spot mapping and structural connectivity analyses were carried out using outcomes of motor progression (Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale Part III [UPDRS‐III] 7‐day OFF scores [∆baseline➔24 months, MedOFF/StimOFF]) and symptomatic motor improvement (UPDRS‐III ON scores [%∆baseline➔24 months, MedON/StimON]).

Results

Sweet spot mapping revealed a location associated with slower motor progression in the dorsolateral STN (anterior/posterior commissure coordinates: 11.07 ± 0.82mm lateral, 1.83 ± 0.61mm posterior, 3.53 ± 0.38mm inferior to the midcommissural point; Montreal Neurological Institute coordinates: +11.25, −13.56, −7.44mm). Modulating fiber tracts from supplementary motor area (SMA) and primary motor cortex (M1) to the STN correlated with slower motor progression across STN DBS subjects, whereas fiber tracts originating from pre‐SMA and cerebellum were negatively associated with motor progression. Robustness of the fiber tract model was demonstrated in leave‐one‐patient‐out (R = 0.56, p = 0.02), 5‐fold (R = 0.50, p = 0.03), and 10‐fold (R = 0.53, p = 0.03) cross‐validation paradigms. The sweet spot and fiber tracts associated with motor progression revealed strong similarities to symptomatic motor improvement sweet spot and connectivity in this early stage PD cohort.

Interpretation

These results suggest that stimulating the dorsolateral region of the STN receiving input from M1 and SMA (but not pre‐SMA) is associated with slower motor progression across subjects receiving STN DBS in early stage PD. This finding is hypothesis‐generating and must be prospectively tested in a larger study. ANN NEUROL 2023;94:271–284
A Deep Learning Framework for Deriving Noninvasive Intracranial Pressure Waveforms from Transcranial Doppler
Authors: Megjhani Murad , Terilli Kalijah , Weinerman Bennett , Nametz Daniel , Kwon Soon Bin , Velazquez Angela , Ghoshal Shivani , Roh David J. , Agarwal Sachin , Connolly E. Sander , Claassen Jan , Park Soojin
Published: May 2023

Increased intracranial pressure (ICP) causes disability and mortality in the neurointensive care population. Current methods for monitoring ICP are invasive. We designed a deep learning framework using a domain adversarial neural network to estimate noninvasive ICP, from blood pressure, electrocardiogram, and cerebral blood flow velocity. Our model had a mean of median absolute error of 3.88 ± 3.26 mmHg for the domain adversarial neural network, and 3.94 ± 1.71 mmHg for the domain adversarial transformers. Compared with nonlinear approaches, such as support vector regression, this was 26.7% and 25.7% lower. Our proposed framework provides more accurate noninvasive ICP estimates than currently available. ANN NEUROL 2023;94:196–202
A Concerted Enzymatic and Bioorthogonal Approach for Extra‐ and Intracellular Activation of Environment‐Sensitive Ruthenium(II)‐Based Imaging Probes and Photosensitizers
Authors: Shum Justin , Lee Lawrence Cho‐Cheung , Chiang Michael Wai‐Lun , Lam Yun‐Wah , Lo Kenneth Kam‐Wing
Published: May 2023

In this article, we report a novel targeting strategy involving the combination of an enzyme‐instructed self‐assembly (EISA) moiety and a strained cycloalkyne to generate large accumulation of bioorthogonal sites in cancer cells. These bioorthogonal sites can serve as activation triggers in different regions for transition metal‐based probes, which are new ruthenium(II) complexes carrying a tetrazine unit for controllable phosphorescence and singlet oxygen generation. Importantly, the environment‐sensitive emission of the complexes can be further enhanced in the hydrophobic regions offered by the large supramolecular assemblies, which is highly advantageous to biological imaging. Additionally, the (photo)cytotoxicity of the large supramolecular assemblies containing the complexes was investigated, and the results illustrate that cellular localization (extracellular and intracellular) imposes a profound impact on the efficiencies of photosensitizers.
Radical Coupling Initiated by Organophosphine Addition to Ynoates
Authors: Cao Jing , Seitz Antonia , Forni José A. , Polyzos Anastasios , Lupton David W.
Published: May 2023

Dual nucleophilic phosphine photoredox catalysis is yet to be developed due to facile oxidation of the phosphine organocatalyst to the phosphoranyl radical cation. Herein, we report a reaction design that avoids this event and exploits traditional nucleophilic phosphine organocatalysis with photoredox catalysis to allow the Giese coupling with ynoates. The approach has good generality, while its mechanism is supported by cyclic voltametric, Stern–Volmer quenching, and interception studies.
Probability of jet roping in solution blowing of multiple jets
Authors: Balakrishnan Vinod Kumar , Pourdeyhimi Behnam , Yarin Alexander L.
Published: May 2023

This study describes the development and implementation of a lab‐scale four‐needle nosepiece for solution blowing, which enabled the investigation of the roping probability of four polymer jets at different inter‐needle distances and air velocities. The roping probabilities of the four jets were compared to the corresponding roping probabilities of two jets previously established by the present group. The comparison revealed that at the relatively low air velocities (pressures), the four‐jet configuration reduces roping relative to the two‐jet case, which stems from the reduction of the end effect. However, at relatively high air velocities (pressures), turbulent pulsations in the surrounding air become more dominant than the end effect. Accordingly, the four‐jet case reveals a higher probability of roping at higher air velocities (pressures). The findings shed light on the behavior of multiple solution‐blown jets and the impact of the end effect on roping. The severity of roping in the case of four jets at diminishing inter‐needle distances and increasing air velocity was analyzed using recordings of polymer jets in flight by a high‐speed camera and scanning electron microscopy of the corresponding laydown structure.
Enantioselective Intramolecular Decarboxylative C−H Bond Func‐tionalization of Quinazolinones with Amino Acids by Visible Light Photoredox Catalysis
Authors: Sonavane Sameer R. , Mhaske Santosh B.
Published: May 2023

The direct visible light‐mediated intramolecular decarboxylative C−H functionalization of Csp2−H bond adjacent to the nitrogen of a heteroarene has been achieved by iridium‐catalyzed photodecarboxylative radical cyclization. This method offers rapid entry to the synthesis of quinazolinone scaffolds from easily accessible starting materials. The newly developed protocol is mild, operationally simple, oxidant free and general. The utility of this unique Csp3−Csp2 bond forming reaction has been demonstrated in the syntheses of Circumdatin, Sclerotigenine and Benzomalvin A class of quinazolinone natural products and their congeners. The present work represents an interesting example of use of memory of chirality in decarboxylative C−C bond forming enantioselective photoredox reaction.
A note on integrating the Clapeyron equation without neglecting the specific fluid volume
Authors: Swanson Richard M.
Published: May 2023

Under certain approximations, the Clapeyron equation can be integrated to yield a simple exponential relation giving the saturation vapor pressure over a condensed phase as a function of temperature. The derivation usually assumes that the vapor behaves as an ideal gas with constant specific heat, and that the fluid also has constant specific heat. In addition, the specific fluid volume is neglected in comparison with the specific vapor volume. In this case, the Clapeyron equation is separable and readily integrable in closed form. It is shown here that this latter assumption is not required. A simple closed‐form relation between saturation vapor pressure and temperature is derived which includes the condensed phase‐specific volume. Two examples of the use of this result are presented.
Lückenschluss an der Havel
Authors: Richter Torsten , Haas Holger , Dietrich Rolf , Meister Andreas
Published: May 2023

Die Staustufe Steinhavel bei OHW‐km 64,3 ist ein wichtiger Bestandteil des Wasserwegs zwischen Berlin, Brandenburg und der Müritz und war noch bis vor Kurzem in einem desolaten Zustand. Daher schrieb das Wasserstraßen‐Neubauamt Berlin (WNA) den Ersatzneubau der Staustufe aus. Insgesamt werden in Steinhavel fast 38 Mio. Euro investiert. Die Planungs‐ARGE Ersatzneubau Staustufe Steinhavel, bestehend aus der IPROconsult GmbH und der PTW Planungsgemeinschaft Tief‐ und Wasserbau GmbH, hat im Auftrag des Wasserstraßen‐Neubauamts Berlin die Ausführungsplanung und Vorbereitung der Vergaben für die Ingenieurbauwerke, Verkehrsanlagen, technische Ausrüstung und Freianlagen sowie die Tragwerksplanung einschließlich Planung des Schleusenbetriebsgebäudes erbracht. Die bauliche Umsetzung erfolgt in drei Baulosen, um bei kontinuierlichem Baubetrieb die Schifffahrt möglichst wenig zu beeinträchtigen. Im Baulos 1 erfolgte die Erschließung der Baustelle und im Baulos 2 wurden unter Beachtung des laufenden Schiffsverkehrs die Vorhäfen grundlegend erneuert und erweitert. Zurzeit laufen die Bauarbeiten des Bauloses 3. Dieses Baulos ist vom Leistungsumfang das größte Los und umfasst die Schleuse, das Wehr mit Fischaufstiegsanlage sowie die Bootsschleppe. Mit der rechtzeitigen Inbetriebnahme der Schleuse nach nur neunmonatiger Bauzeit Ende Mai 2022 wurde bereits eine wichtige Bauetappe umgesetzt. Bis 2025 sollen alle Wasserbauwerke an der Steinhavelmühle bei Fürstenberg erneuert sein.
Estimating the prevalence of two or more diseases using outcomes from multiplex group testing
Authors: Warasi Md S. , Tebbs Joshua M. , McMahan Christopher S. , Bilder Christopher R.
Published: May 2023

When screening a population for infectious diseases, pooling individual specimens (e.g., blood, swabs, urine, etc.) can provide enormous cost savings when compared to testing specimens individually. In the biostatistics literature, testing pools of specimens is commonly known as group testing or pooled testing. Although estimating a population‐level prevalence with group testing data has received a large amount of attention, most of this work has focused on applications involving a single disease, such as human immunodeficiency virus. Modern methods of screening now involve testing pools and individuals for multiple diseases simultaneously through the use of multiplex assays. Hou et al. (2017, Biometrics, 73, 656–665) and Hou et al. (2020, Biostatistics, 21, 417–431) recently proposed group testing protocols for multiplex assays and derived relevant case identification characteristics, including the expected number of tests and those which quantify classification accuracy. In this article, we describe Bayesian methods to estimate population‐level disease probabilities from implementing these protocols or any other multiplex group testing protocol which might be carried out in practice. Our estimation methods can be used with multiplex assays for two or more diseases while incorporating the possibility of test misclassification for each disease. We use chlamydia and gonorrhea testing data collected at the State Hygienic Laboratory at the University of Iowa to illustrate our work. We also provide an online R resource practitioners can use to implement the methods in this article.
Demographic and clinical factors associated with recovery of poststroke dysphagia: A meta‐analysis
Authors: Wang Lian , Qiao Jia , Sun Fang , Wei Xiaomei , Dou Zulin
Published: May 2023

Background

Poststroke dysphagia (PSD) recovery depends on various factors. We aimed to provide evidence concerning predictive variables for the recovery of PSD.

Methods

PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang Database, VIP database of Chinese periodicals, Chinese biomedical literature service system (SinoMed), and Cochrane Library databases were systematically searched up to September 21, 2022. According to the inclusion criteria, the literature searched in the database was screened. The methodological quality of included studies was assessed using the Newcastle‐Ottawa Scale (NOS). Meta‐analysis was performed to identify the factors prognostic for PSD.

Results

Twenty‐eight studies were eligible, and pooled analyses were allowed for 12 potential prognostic factors. We identified older age, higher National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score, lower activities of daily living (ADL) score, lower body mass index (BMI), severe dysphagia on admission, aspiration, brainstem stroke, severe cognitive impairment, and bilateral hemispheric stroke were negative factors for the recovery of PSD, while early intervention and Modified Rankin Scale (mRS) = 0 before onset were protective factors for the recovery of PSD. There was no significant association between stroke type and prognosis of PSD.

Conclusion

Prognostic factors of PSD summarized in this meta‐analysis could be useful for developing reasonable treatment plan to better promote recovery of swallowing function after stroke.
Increased serum prolactin level may indicate more migraine attack frequency
Authors: Togha Mansoureh , Nematgorgani Shiva , Ghorbani Zeinab , Rafiee Pegah , Haghighi Samaneh
Published: May 2023

Objectives

Migraine is a common, multifactorial disorder. The exact pathomechanism of migraine remains unclear. Studies have revealed changes in serum prolactin (PRL) levels in relation to migraine, although the results have been inconsistent. The present case‐control study assessed the serum level of prolactin in migraine patients.

Materials and methods

In this case‐control study, participants were divided into chronic migraine (CM; n = 39), episodic migraine in ictal (during an attack), and interictal (between attacks) phases (n = 63, n = 37, respectively) along with 30 age‐ and sex‐matched headache‐free controls. After obtaining demographic, anthropometric data, and headache characteristics, blood samples were gathered and analyzed to evaluate the serum levels of prolactin (ng/mL).

Results

A significant difference was observed between the control, CM, and ictal EM, and interictal EM groups. The mean ± SD serum prolactin levels of the chronic migraineurs (1.82 ± 0.94) and those with ictal EM (1.93 ± 1.70) were comparable and were significantly higher than for interictal EM patients (0.82 ± 0.46) and the headache‐free control subjects (0.49 ± 0.15; p < .001). Although the mean serum concentration of prolactin for the interictal EM group tended to be higher than for control individuals, this difference was not statistically significant. The Spearman's correlation test also showed significant correlations between the serum prolactin levels and the number of headaches days among migraineurs.

Conclusion

The findings suggest that there might be an association between increased prolactin concentrations and migraine headache induction and progression. Further detailed and well‐designed studies are needed to confirm the importance of serum prolactin levels in the pathogenesis of migraine headaches.
The intestinal mucosal barrier – A key player in rheumatoid arthritis?
Authors: Li Jing , Jia Nini , Cui Mengyao , Li Yaqing , Li Xiang , Chu Xiaoqin
Published: May 2023

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a recurrent chronic autoimmune disease, which is not only difficult to treat, but also has a great adverse impact on the physical and mental health of patients. The intestinal mucosa barrier has some relationship with RA and it consists of mechanical barrier, chemical barrier, immune barrier, and microflora barrier. It is a dynamic system that contributes to the stability of the intestinal environment by regulating the absorption of relevant substances from the lumen into the circulation, while limiting the passage of harmful substances. This article summarizes the connection between the intestinal mucosa barrier and RA, and proposes the role of relevant Chinese medicines on RA from the point of improving barriers, to provide new perspectives on the pathogenesis and therapeutic strategies of RA.