bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Association of sleep traits with benign prostatic hyperplasia in middle‐aged and elderly men: A prospective analysis in UK Biobank
Authors: Wu Yougen , Wang Wei , Wang Yang , Zhao Yang , You Dongfang , Zhang Wei , Xia Ju , Gu Yuting , Qian Qingqing , Hong Yang , Sun Guangchun
Published: May 2024

Aims

The association of sleep traits (insomnia, sleep duration, chronotype, daytime sleepiness, and snoring) with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is unclear. This research aimed to examine the effects of sleep traits on BPH risk.

Methods

A total of 170 241 men aged 38 to 73 years from UK Biobank were included. An overall healthy sleep score was created based on five sleep traits. A Cox regression model was utilized to compute adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and population attributable fractions (PAFs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for BPH risk in relation to sleep traits.

Results

During a median of 12.0 years follow‐up, 13 026 incident BPH cases occurred. We observed that sleep duration (7–8 h/d; HR 0.95; 95% CI 0.92–0.99), no frequent insomnia (HR 0.71; 95% CI 0.69–0.74), and no frequent daytime sleepiness (HR 0.86; 95% CI 0.79–0.93) were significantly related to reduced BPH risk. Each one‐point increment of the healthy sleep score was related to a decreased BPH risk, with an adjusted HR of 0.90 (95% CI 0.89–0.92). The multivariable‐adjusted HR in men adopting five versus zero to one low‐risk sleep traits was 0.68 (95% CI 0.61–0.75) for BPH risk. Estimates of the PAF indicated that 9.1% (95% CI 5.8–12.5%) of BPH cases would be prevented if all individuals had adopted all five low‐risk sleep traits, assuming causality.

Conclusions

Our study indicates an association between a healthy sleep pattern and a lower risk of BPH, emphasizing the importance of adhering to such patterns for potentially reducing BPH risk. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2024; 24: 675–682.
ZWEI ‘ACHTUNDVIERZIGER VON ALTEM SCHROT UND KORNʼ SCHREIBEN ÜBER DEN VÖLKERFRÜHLING: LOUISE ASTON, MAX RING UND IHRE DARSTELLUNG DER MÄRZREVOLUTION
Authors: Krisch Marek
Published: May 2024

The following article compares two novels whose plots are set during the March Revolution of 1848. Berlin und Breslau, 1847–49 is the novel debut of Max Ring, a now largely forgotten writer and doctor of Jewish origin who came from Upper Silesia and became the author of numerous stories, novels and non‐fiction books in the second half of the nineteenth century. He often uses the location of Berlin. In the novel Revolution und Contrerevolution, Louise Aston – poet, author and women's rights activist from Gröningen – deals with revolutionary issues. Both books were published in 1849, at a time when the consequences of these events for the future were not yet entirely foreseeable. Both Aston and Ring were supporters of the revolution. In this paper, the perspectives and views of their characters or narrators as well as the issues of narrative strategies and focalisation are analysed and discussed. Of importance here are not only the gender‐specific differences between Louise Aston and Max Ring, but primarily, in addition to similarities such as generational affiliation, the differences in their literary expression and the articulation of their political views.
Probiotics for maintaining oral health during fixed orthodontic treatment: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Robin Vincken , Wim Teughels , Maria Cadenas de Llano‐Pérula , Isabelle Laleman
Published: May 2024

Introduction

To systematically review the effect of probiotics on oral health during treatment with fixed orthodontic appliances.

Methods

PubMed, Embase and the Cochrane Library were searched up to August 2022 using broad MeSH terms and keywords. Randomized clinical trials comparing a probiotic with a control/no treatment; at least 10 patients/group undergoing fixed orthodontic therapy; and reporting at least one oral health‐related parameter were included.

Results

The most reported parameters in the 14 included studies were the microbiological counts of mutans streptococci and lactobacilli, microorganisms associated with white spot lesions (WSL). A meta‐analysis of these showed a positive effect of probiotics on mutans streptococci. Probiotic treatment led to significantly less patients with high counts and significantly more with low counts of these bacteria. An effect on the lactobacilli counts was not seen. However, the sole clinical study investigating WSL could not demonstrate a clinical effect of probiotics on these lesions. Additionally, one study reported encouraging results of probiotics on bad breath and one on the occurrence of traumatic oral lesions. One study found reduced counts of Porphyromonas gingivalis in the probiotic group. The clinical results of probiotics on plaque index were ambiguous: one study reported that probiotics reduce the plaque and gingival index, and two that probiotics had no significant influence on plaque index.

Conclusion

Probiotics are a promising option to lower mutans streptococci counts in patients undergoing fixed orthodontic therapy. However, due to the heterogeneity of the studies, it is not possible to draw conclusions about one specific probiotic.
SPOUSAL LABOR SUPPLY, CAREGIVING, AND THE VALUE OF DISABILITY INSURANCE
Authors: Lee Siha
Published: May 2024

This article evaluates the insurance value of the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program among married households when wives face a trade‐off between market hours and spousal care following their husbands' disability. Event study analyses show that wives' labor supply responses to their husbands' disability are small, and instead, a considerable amount of time is spent in spousal care. Using a dynamic structural model, I find that incorporating time loss due to spousal care increases the insurance value of SSDI relative to its costs. Finally, budget‐neutral policy reforms that subsidize the cost of care can improve social welfare.
Improving structured interview acceptance through training
Authors: Baumgartner Steve , Bartels Lynn , Levashina Julia
Published: May 2024

Despite having predictive validity above other selection methods, structured interviews are not always used. Using the Theory of Planned Behavior as a framework, this study examines the role of interview training in increasing structured interview acceptance (SIA). Based on a survey of 190 practitioners in the fields of Human Resources, I‐O Psychology, and other professionals who conduct employment interviews, our results show that not all interviewer training programs are equally effective in increasing SIA. While participation in formal interviewer training is related to SIA, SIA could be influenced more by incorporating certain training components, including training on how to avoid rating errors (r = .21), learning how to evaluate interview answers (r = .19), interview practice/roleplaying (r = .17), training on job analysis (r = .15), legal issues (r = .15), background and purpose of the interview (r = .13), job requirements for the position(s) being filled (r = .13), and a discussion about interview verbal and nonverbal behaviors to avoid (r = .13). Additionally, we found that training components display different relationship with SIA across our two sub‐samples. For example, in the MTurk sample (i.e., composed primarily from a managerial population) including job analysis, how to evaluate answers, and how to avoid rating errors correlated significantly with SIA. However, in the non‐MTurk sample (i.e., composed primarily from a HR professional population), interview practice/role playing, rapport building, use of a videotaped interview to guide instructions, and how to make decisions from interview data correlated significantly with SIA. This highlights the importance of training needs analysis to better understand the audience before training. We suggest that organizations incorporate the identified components into interviewer training to enhance the structured interviews acceptance and ensure that interviewers are more likely to implement structured interview techniques in practice.
Role of ammonia and glutamine in the pathogenesis and progression of metabolic dysfunction‐associated steatotic liver disease: A systematic review
Authors: Njei Basile , Al‐Ajlouni Yazan A. , Ameyaw Prince , Njei Lea‐Pearl , Boateng Sarpong
Published: May 2024

Metabolic dysfunction‐associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) affects over 30% of the global population, with a significant risk of advancing to liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. The roles of ammonia and glutamine in MASLD's pathogenesis are increasingly recognized, prompting this systematic review. This systematic review was conducted through a meticulous search of literature on December 21, 2023, across five major databases, focusing on studies that addressed the relationship between ammonia or glutamine and MASLD. The quality of the included studies was evaluated using CASP checklists. This study is officially registered in the PROSPERO database (CRD42023495619) and was conducted without external funding or sponsorship. Following PRISMA guidelines, 13 studies were included in this review. The studies were conducted globally, with varying sample sizes and study designs. The appraisal indicated a mainly low bias, confirming the reliability of the evidence. Glutamine's involvement in MASLD emerged as multifaceted, with its metabolic role being critical for liver function and disease progression. Variable expressions of glutamine synthetase and glutaminase enzymes highlight metabolic complexity whereas ammonia's impact through urea cycle dysfunction suggests avenues for therapeutic intervention. However, human clinical trials are lacking. This review emphasizes the necessity of glutamine and ammonia in understanding MASLD and identifies potential therapeutic targets. The current evidence, while robust, points to the need for human studies to corroborate preclinical findings. A personalized approach to treatment, informed by metabolic differences in MASLD patients, is advocated, alongside future large‐scale clinical trials for a deeper exploration into these metabolic pathways.
Conjoint analysis of nitrogen and phosphorus metabolism in urban system: A case study of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Authors: Guo Zheng , Chen Sophia Shuang , Xiong Chuanhe , Mkumbo Anna Charles , Gao Qun , Shen Qiushi , Kattel Giri R.
Published: May 2024

Nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) metabolism is becoming an increasingly complex process during urbanization due to increasing rates of consumption and emission worldwide. Understanding the urban N and P metabolism helps identifying production capacity, consumption demand, and the impact of N and P emissions on the environment, providing a scientific basis for decision‐making in sustainable utilization of N and P resources. Quantifying and mapping the source, path, and sinks of N and P in an urban system is the premise of controlling emissions. In this paper, we used the substance flow analysis (SFA) method to describe the N and P metabolism processes in the urban system of Dar es Salaam (Tanzania) in 2017, and used the scenario‐based analysis method to understand the impact of different N and P metabolisms on potentially recoverable N and P sources by 2030. The results showed that the urban system of Dar es Salaam receives a total input flow of 28,101.8 tN/year and 3,379 tP/year, with a total output flow of 18,859.6 tN/year and 1,849.3 tP/year with net stock changes of 9,242.2 t/year for N and 1,529.7 t/year for P, respectively. We noticed that increased human activities largely represented the city's waste released after the household consumption, and would become the main causes of N and P emissions. In addition to this, 59.38%, 31.25%, and 9.38% of N flow quantification quality were at high, medium, and low levels, respectively, while 74.07%, 11.11%, and 14.81% of P flow quantification quality were at high, medium, and low levels, respectively. Our results suggest that implementing integrated nutrient management measures, such as changes in people's diets and the use of washing products, and improved management and technologies of manure, sewage, and landfill leachate treatment, would be the most effective approach to resolve the urban nutrient emissions in Dar es Salaam.
Understanding the evolution of cities through urban stocks: A comparative analysis of Andean and coastal urban areas in Peru
Authors: Cucchi Claudia , Kahhat Ramzy , Gutiérrez Matías , Dueñas Alexis , Mesta Carlos , García Samy , Fellner Johann
Published: May 2024

The evolution of cities follows distinct patterns that connect to the cultural and socioeconomic aspects of their populations and can be understood by studying their urban stocks. This paper examines the evolution of construction materials stocks (MS) in the building sector in five urban areas in Peru. The study employed a bottom‐up methodology and focused on the city of Abancay in the Peruvian Andes, comparing it to the coastal cities of Chiclayo, Tacna, and San Isidro, as well as Lince. Additionally, regression models were employed to examine the influence of socioeconomic factors associated with urban stock. The research highlights a transition from residential building stock to distinct patterns of socioeconomic development, with urban population and economic growth emerging as pivotal drivers of material stock variation. Notably, large coastal cities like Chiclayo, Tacna, San Isidro, and Lince exhibit significantly higher concrete MS per capita, albeit with varying growth rates. In contrast, Abancay, with lower income levels, displays a higher per capita level of adobe MS, reflecting its historical connection to Peru's heartland. The correlation of urban stock components with the human development index (HDI) emphasizes the latter's significance in understanding the trends of the stocks of the different construction materials that constitute a city. By examining MS in various locations, unique Peruvian traits are unveiled, offering insights for urban development in the Global South. These findings provide valuable guidance for aligning urban stock growth and related environmental burdens with socioeconomic development, fostering sustainability, and promoting rational planning for economic growth.
Chewing ability and its associated factors among community‐dwelling older adults in Chengdu, China: A cross‐sectional study
Authors: Ji Hongmiao , Tang Sikai , Liu Xing
Published: May 2024

Aim

To investigate the current status of chewing ability and analyze the risk factors among Chinese community‐dwelling older adults.

Methods

In this cross‐sectional study, color‐changeable gum and a color difference meter were used to assess chewing ability in the population. The statistical analysis employed multivariate logistic regression models to identify and quantify the factors influencing chewing ability.

Results

A total of 373 community‐dwelling adults aged 65 and older in Chengdu, in the west of China, were included in this study; 64 individuals (17.2%) exhibited signs of poor chewing ability. Female (odds ratio [OR]: 0.124, 95% CI: 0.057–0.268, p < .001), education level with college degree and above (OR: 0.114, 95% CI: 0.030–0.434, p = .001), number of teeth less than 20 (OR: 5.401, 95% CI: 2.509–11.626, p < .001), and decreased oral diadochokinesis (OR: 4.445, 95% CI: 1.775–11.132, p = .001) were significant factors in chewing ability in this study, after adjustment for potential variables.

Conclusions

The prevalence of decreased chewing ability among Chinese community‐dwelling older adults was 17.2% and decreased chewing ability was associated with men, lower education level, less than 20 teeth and decreased oral diadochokinesis.
Tracheostomy care of non‐ventilated patients and COVID considerations: A scoping review of clinical practice guidelines and consensus statements
Authors: Mu Juan , Wang Tongyao , Ji Mengmeng , Yin Qian , Wang Zhiwen
Published: May 2024

Background

The purpose of this study is to examine and evaluate the existing clinical practice guidelines and consensus statements regarding tracheostomy care for non‐mechanically ventilated patients.

Methods

A systematic search of databases, and professional organisations was conducted from inception to 19 March 2023. Two appraisers evaluated each guideline using the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research & Evaluation II (AGREE II) and the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Critical Appraisal Checklist for Text and Opinion Papers.

Results

No specific clinical guidelines exist on airway management in non‐mechanically ventilated patients. Of 6318 articles identified, we included 12 clinical practice guidelines, and 9 consensus statements, which were from China, the US, the UK, South Korea, Australia, France and Belgium. The AGREE II scores in six domains are (1) the scope and purpose, 70.30%; (2) stakeholder involvement, 37.61%; (3) rigor of development, 33.97%; (4) clarity of presentation, 68.16%; (5) applicability, 44.23% and (6) editorial independence, 40.06%. The overall quality of evidence was level B. The summarised recommendations for clinical practice encompass the following six areas: airway humidification, management of the trach cuff, management of inner cannula, tracheostoma care, tracheostomy suctioning and management and prevention of common post‐operative complications.

Conclusions

The overall quality of the clinical guidelines on non‐ventilated tracheostomy care was moderate, and further improvements are needed in domains of stakeholder involvement, applicability, clarity of presentation and editorial independence. Recommendations on non‐ventilated tracheostomy care are often embedded in the guidelines on ventilated tracheostomy. Specific clinical guidelines are needed to provide a standardised approach to tracheostomy care for non‐ventilated patients.

Relevance to clinical practice

Patients with non‐ventilated tracheostomy need specialised airway management. Improving patient outcomes requires standardised protocols, patient involvement, quality evaluation, and interdisciplinary approaches.

No patient or public contribution

The study reviewed clinical practice guidelines and consensus statements, therefore patient or public input was not needed.
A balance of unsafe care incidents and interactive cooperative care: A constructivist grounded theory study of safe care ecosystem for older inpatients
Authors: Yan Lupei , Wu Xiaorong , Liu Li , Wang Fang , Hu Xiuying
Published: May 2024

Aims

To explore older inpatients and their caregivers' care experience and how this relates to the gerontology care practice.

Background

Research interest in the conceptualization of safe care for older inpatients was growing, and these studies were predominantly reported from a single or healthcare perspective. There is a shortage of literature on how patients and their caregivers conceptualise safe care.

Design

Constructivist grounded theory.

Methods

Stage 1 included semi‐structured interviews with inpatients. Stage 2 included semi‐structured interviews with caregivers and six field notes. Purposive and theoretical sampling were used to recruit 61 participants across six healthcare institutions. Data analysis included initial coding, focused coding, and theoretical coding using constant comparative, field notes and memo writing.

Results

The substantive theory to emerge from the data was A balance of unsafe care incidents and interactive cooperative care. This core concept was informed by four categories: unsafe care incidents, interactive cooperative care, person‐centred care, contextual conditions, and one care outcome. The relationships between these categories constituted a balance in which patient‐centred care was the core, unsafe care incidents were the barriers, interactive cooperative care was the facilitator, and the result of the balance was the care outcome. The balance constituted a safe care ecosystem under the interaction of contextual conditions.

Conclusions

Interactive cooperative care is vital in enabling care stakeholders to reduce unsafe care incidents, which facilitates them in achieving safe care and further constructing a healthy care ecosystem.

Relevance to Clinical Practice

This theory identifies barriers and facilitators encountered by care stakeholders to cope with everyday problems and guides them in developing personalised care plans to ensure patient safety.
Association between quality of discharge teaching and self‐management in patients after percutaneous coronary intervention: A chain mediation model
Authors: Yang Jin , Pu You , Jiang Xia , Yao Qian , Luo Jian , Wang Tianyi , Zhang Xianqin , Yang Zheng
Published: May 2024

Aims

To examine chain mediating effect of discharge readiness and self‐efficacy between quality of discharge teaching and self‐management in patients after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Background

Although self‐management after PCI has significant benefits in controlling risk factors and delaying disease progression, the status of self‐management remains unoptimistic. A large number of studies have explored the close relationship between the quality of discharge teaching and patients self‐management, but little is known about the underlying mechanisms.

Methods

The cross‐sectional samples was collected from a tertiary hospital in China. Self‐reported questionnaires were used to assess quality of discharge teaching, discharge readiness, self‐efficacy and self‐management. Pearson correlation analysis and mediation effect analysis were used for statistical analysis.

Reporting Method

The study used the STROBE checklist for reporting.

Results

A total of 198 patients with a mean age of 64.99 ± 11.32 (34–85) were included. The mean score of self‐management was 88.41 ± 11.82. Quality of discharge teaching, discharge readiness, self‐efficacy and self‐management were all positively correlated. Mediation effect analysis showed that the mediating effects of discharge readiness, self‐efficacy, discharge readiness and self‐efficacy between quality of discharge teaching and self‐management were 0.157, 0.177 and 0.049, respectively, accounting for 21.96%, 24.76% and 6.85% of the total effect.

Conclusion

The quality of discharge teaching for patients after PCI not only directly affects self‐management, but also can indirectly affect self‐management through discharge readiness and self‐efficacy.

Relevance to Clinical Practice

To improve the life quality of patients after PCI, medical staff should pay attention to the influence of self‐management of quality of discharge teaching, and develop intervention strategies based on the path of discharge readiness and self‐efficacy.

Patient or Public Contribution

Questionnaires filled out by patients were used to understand the association between quality of discharge teaching, discharge readiness, self‐efficacy and self‐management.
Phylogenomic analyses re‐examine the evolution of reinforcement and hypothesized hybrid speciation in Phlox wildflowers
Authors: Garner Austin G. , Goulet‐Scott Benjamin E. , Hopkins Robin
Published: May 2024

The tree of life is riddled with reticulate evolutionary histories, and some clades, such as the eastern standing Phlox, appear to be hotspots of hybridization. In this group, there are two cases of reinforcement and nine hypothesized hybrid species. Given their historical importance in our understanding of plant speciation, the relationships between these taxa and the role of hybridization in their diversification require genomic validation.

Using phylogenomic analyses, we resolve the evolutionary relationships of the eastern standing Phlox and evaluate hypotheses about whether and how hybridization and gene flow played a role in their diversification.

Our results provide novel resolution of the phylogenetic relationships in this group, including paraphyly across some taxa. We identify gene flow during one case of reinforcement and find genomic support for a hybrid lineage underlying one of the five hypothesized homoploid hybrid speciation events. Additionally, we estimate the ancestries of four allotetraploid hybrid species.

Our results are consistent with hybridization contributing to diverse evolutionary outcomes within this group; although, not as extensively as previously hypothesized. This study demonstrates the importance of phylogenomics in evaluating hypothesized evolutionary histories of non‐model systems and adds to the growing support of interspecific genetic exchange in the generation of biodiversity.
Synthesis of special feature —Tailored Restoration Response: Predictions And Guidelines For Wetland Renewal
Authors: Waryszak Pawel , Asbridge Emma
Published: May 2024

Growing understanding of decision‐making and environmental science is essential to carry out a successful wetland renewal. To foster this understanding and integrate knowledge on wetland renewal, we convened a diverse group of researchers, policymakers, and practitioners at an online symposium held on 23 November 2021. Following the symposium, we curated 22 papers from a global community of wetland experts for the special feature on “Wetland Renewal” in Restoration Ecology. This special feature encompasses findings from 15 field‐based experiments and 7 data‐based papers (P). The research spans various scientific fields such as: Biodiversity Conservation (P15), Coastal Engineering (P4, P8, and P9), Plant Ecology (P1, P2, P10, P12, and P13), Invasion Ecology (P7), Social Science (P3), Peat Soil Science (P6), Wildlife Ecology (P5, P11, and P22), Ecological Modeling (P16, P17, P18, P19, and P20), Microbiology (P22), and Policy and Law (P21).
Histone lactylation regulates autophagy of hyperplastic scar fibroblasts by inhibiting the transcriptional activity of phosphatase and tensin homologue
Authors: Liu Xiaosong , Wang Biao
Published: May 2024

Hyperplastic scar (HS) is an overreaction of tissue to skin injury caused by local fibroblast proliferation and excessive collagen production. Histone posttranslational modification patterns are important epigenetic processes that control various biological activities. This study was designed to investigate the effects of histone lactylation on HS and the underlying mechanism. Western blot was used to analyse the lactylation level in HS patients and fibroblasts (HSFs). In vitro experiments, western blot, cell counting kit‐8, and immunofluorescence staining were performed to detect the collagen level, cell viability, and autophagy, respectively. The relationship between snai2 (SLUG) and phosphatase and tensin homologue (PTEN) was assessed by RNA immunoprecipitation and dual‐luciferase reporter assays. The results showed that the histone lactylation level was upregulated in HS tissues and HSFs. HSFs showed increased collagen production and cell viability, and decreased autophagy. Silencing of lactate dehydrogenase A (LDHA) promoted the transcription of PTEN by inhibiting SLUG, thus promoting autophagy. Knockdown of LDHA inhibited collagen deposition and cell viability, and increased autophagy in HSFs, and the results were reversed after PTEN inhibition. In summary, histone lactylation inhibited the transcription activity of PTEN by promoting SLUG, thereby suppressing autophagy and promoting collagen deposition and cell viability of HSFs, which might provide effective therapeutic strategies in HS.
Trade Liberalization, International Relocation of Firms, and Economic Growth
Authors: Johdo Wataru
Published: May 2024

This paper presents a framework for understanding the role of global tariff rate reductions in affecting the world growth rate, given knowledge spillovers in research and development (R&D) and the relocation of firms. In particular, we highlight one aspect of the model: the international relocation of firms associated with a reduction in world tariff rates. This paper shows that, given the spillover effect of localized R&D knowledge, a simultaneous multilateral reduction in the common tariff rate increases the world growth rate through the relocation of firms.
Decentralized Swarm Control in Communication-Constrained Environments Using a Blended Leader Follower-Artificial Potential Field With Biologically Inspired Interactions
Authors: Goodin Christopher , Henley Greg , Cagle Lucas , Black Brandon , Carrillo Justin , McInnis David
Published: May 2024

This paper presents a study of how communication ranges influence the performance of a new decentralized control method for swarms of autonomously navigating ground vehicles that uses a blended leader–follower/artificial potential field approach. While teams of autonomous ground vehicles (AGVs) that can navigate autonomously through off-road terrain have a variety of potential uses, it may be difficult to control the team in low-infrastructure environments that lack long-range radio communications capabilities. In this work, we propose a novel decentralized swarm control algorithm that combines the potential field planning method with the leader–follower (LF) control algorithm and biologically inspired inter-robot interactions to effectively control the navigation of a team of AGV (swarm) through rough terrain using only a single lead vehicle. We use simulated experimentation to demonstrate the robustness of this approach using only point-to-point wireless communication with realistic communication ranges. Furthermore, we analyze the range requirements of the communication network as the number in the swarm increases. We find that wireless communication range must increase as the number of agents in the swarm increases in order to effectively control the swarm. Our analysis showed that mission success decreased by 40% when the communication range was reduced from 100 m to 200 m, with the exact reduction also depending on the number of vehicles.
Effect of Substrate Temperature on the Electrochemical and Supercapacitance Properties of Pulsed Laser-Deposited Titanium Oxynitride Thin Films
Authors: Chris-Okoro Ikenna , Som Jacob , Cherono Sheilah , Liu Mengxin , Nalawade Swapnil Shankar , Lu Xiaochuan , Wise Frank , Aravamudhan Shyam , Kumar Dhananjay
Published: May 2024

Electrocatalytically active titanium oxynitride (TiNO) thin films were fabricated on commercially available titanium metal plates using a pulsed laser deposition method for energy storage applications. The elemental composition and nature of bonding were analyzed using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) to reveal the reacting species and active sites responsible for the enhanced electrochemical performance of the TiNO electrodes. Symmetric supercapacitor devices were fabricated using two TiNO working electrodes separated by an ion-transporting layer to analyze their real-time performance. The galvanostatic charge–discharge studies on the symmetric cell have indicated that TiNO films deposited on the polycrystalline titanium plates at lower temperatures are superior to TiNO films deposited at higher temperatures in terms of storage characteristics. For example, TiNO films deposited at 300 °C exhibited the highest specific capacity of 69 mF/cm2 at 0.125 mA/cm2 with an energy density of 7.5 Wh/cm2. The performance of this supercapacitor (300 °C TiNO) device is also found to be ∼22% better compared to that of a 500 °C TiNO supercapacitor with a capacitance retention ability of 90% after 1000 cycles. The difference in the electrochemical storage and capacitance properties is attributed to the reduced leaching away of oxygen from the TiNO films by the Ti plate at lower deposition temperatures, leading to higher oxygen content in the TiNO films and, consequently, a high redox activity at the electrode/electrolyte interface.
Separate-Layer Injection Scheme Optimization Based on Integrated Injection Information With Artificial Neural Network and Residual Network
Authors: Lizhi Yan , Hongbing Zhang , Dailu Zhang , Zuoping Shang , Han Xu , Qiang Guo
Published: May 2024

Separate-layer injection technology is a highly significant approach for enhancing oil recovery in the later stages of oilfield production. Both separate-layer and general injection information are crucial parameters in multi-layer oilfield injection systems. However, the significance of general injection information is usually overlooked during the optimization process of separate-layer injection. Moreover, conventional optimization schemes for separate-layer injection fail to meet the immediate and dynamic demands of well production. Consequently, a separate-layer injection optimization method based on artificial neural network and residual network (ANN-Res) model was proposed. Firstly, the primary controlling factors for production were identified through grey correlation analysis and ablation experiments. Then, a data-driven model was established with an artificial neural network (ANN), in which the residual block was utilized to incorporate general injection information, eventually forming an ANN-Res model that integrates separate-layer and general injection information. Finally, a workflow for separate-layer injection optimization was designed in association with the ANN-Res model. Analysis of primary controlling factor for production shows that the combination of separate-layer and general injection information for production prediction leads to redundancy. The results of injection–production prediction demonstrate that the ANN-Res model is significantly better than that of the ANN model which only inputs separate-layer or general injection information. Furthermore, the result of optimization proves the proposed method can be successfully applied to injection optimization, realizing the purpose of increasing oil production and decreasing water cuts, thereby improving oilfield development.
Closed Cracks Characterization in a Steel Sample Applying a Pump Probe Waves Ultrasonic Method
Authors: Perrin A. , Gueudré C. , Ploix M. A. , Corneloup G. , Ulrich T. J. , Beardslee Luke , Recolin P. , Payan C.
Published: May 2024

Ultrasonic measurements are commonly used for crack sizing in the industrial context, but due to potential partial crack closure, the crack depth can be underestimated. It could be of importance regarding the prediction of remaining service life and maintenance scheduling of industrial components. In the literature, nonlinear ultrasonic methods have proven efficient for this issue. Among them, a pump probe waves method is investigated here for possible use in an industrial context. In this article, an industrial steel component with several partially closed fatigue cracks is studied. First, a three-point bending test associated with digital image correlation is performed with ultrasonic measurements to obtain reliable indications about the crack’s closure state. A three-dimensional laser vibrometry experiment shows the possibility of opening the crack using a pump wave. The pump probe waves method is conducted using a standard 45 deg shear wave transducer in echo mode as a probe. The results allow to discuss physical mechanisms in play. It also shows the possibility to detect the closed nature of all of the cracks even if the full opening state is not reached. Moreover, a coherent crack profile is found compared to the mechanical test. The results are validated on a notched sample for which the nonlinear response is negligible. Industrial application as well as possible improvement are discussed.
How Irregular Geometry and Flow Waveform Affect Pulsating Arterial Mass Transfer
Authors: Strasser Wayne
Published: May 2024

Alzheimer's disease is a progressive degenerative condition that has various levels of effect on one's memory. It is thought to be caused by a buildup of protein in small fluid-filled spaces in the brain called perivascular spaces (PVS). The PVS often takes on the form of an annular region around arteries and is used as a protein-clearing system for the brain. To analyze the modes of mass transfer in the PVS, a digitized scan of a mouse brain PVS segment was meshed and used for computational fluid dynamics (CFD) studies. Tandem analyses were then carried out and compared between the mouse PVS section and a cylinder with commensurate dimensionless parameters and hydraulic resistance. The geometry pair was used to first validate the CFD model and then assess mass transfer in various advection states: no-flow, constant flow, sinusoidal flow, sinusoidal flow with zero net solvent flux, and an anatomically correct asymmetrical periodic flow. Two mass transfer situations were considered, one being a protein build-up and the other being a protein blend-down using a multitude of metrics. Bulk arterial solute transport was found to be advection-controlled. The consideration of temporal evolution and trajectories of contiguous protein bolus volumes revealed that flow pulsation was beneficial at bolus break-up and that additional local wall curvature-based geometry irregularities also were. Using certain measures, local solute peak concentration blend-down appeared to be diffusion-dominated even for high Peclet numbers; however, bolus size evolution analyses showed definite advection support.
Monitoring of rapid thermal anneal with secondary ion mass spectrometry
Authors: Jiang Z. X. , Ravi A. , Breeden T. , Khmelnitskiy K. , Duncan A. , Huynh D. , Butler S. , Granados B. , Acker D. , Luebbe J. , Sieloff D. , Bolton S. , Prieto G.
Published: May 2024

Accurate monitoring and, thus, control of rapid thermal anneal (RTA) are critical for manufacturing semiconductor devices. In this work, we developed a method by using secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) aimed to improve long-term repeatability in monitoring RTA. We used a test wafer in a batch implant as SIMS reference for the remaining wafers in the same batch and eliminated the impact from wafer aging and test wafer variation from lot to lot as often encountered in sheet resistance monitoring. In addition, the use of the normalized peak concentration of boron as measured by SIMS allows for repeatable analyses to capture 1 °C or lower drift in an RTA temperature higher than 1000 °C. The benefit of this SIMS approach has been validated by improvement in the device yield since the implementation of monitoring.
Scaling of the linear viscoelasticity of entangled poly(ethylene oxide) aqueous solutions
Authors: Lee Heeyeol , Lee Junghaeng , Ahn Hye-Jin , Hwang Wook Ryol , Cho Kwang Soo
Published: May 2024

The dynamic modulus of polymer solutions and melts can be expressed as a universal function of reduced frequency when the modulus is scaled by a characteristic value according to the scaling theory of polymer physics. Although the plot of the scaled modulus as a function of the scaled frequency supports the theory, it suffers from considerable scattered distribution of data points around the hypothetical master curve. Compared with the master curve of the time–temperature superposition (TTS) of polymer melts, the master curve of polymer solutions has poor quality. Furthermore, the scale factors of polymer solutions may not show a clear dependency on molecular weight and concentrations. Experimental errors and molecular weight distribution appear to enhance the inaccuracy of the master curve. Therefore, we apply a global optimization for the superposition of the viscoelastic data of polymer solutions with various molecular weights and concentrations. The global optimization resulted in the superposition of data as accurate as that of TTS. Furthermore, the numerically determined shift factors, which were relative scale factors, showed clear dependences on molecular weight and concentrations. We compared our global optimization with previous scaling methodologies.
Complete genome sequence of
Bacillus subtilis
NA05 (=NBRC 116153), a phosphate-solubilizing bacterium isolated from crop field soil
Authors: Guo Kerui , Kunito Takashi , Otsuka Shigeto
Published: May 2024

We report the complete genome sequence of the phosphate-solubilizing bacterium
Bacillus subtilis
NA05 (=NBRC 116153), consisting of a circular chromosome of ~3.8 M bp and two circular plasmids. The data presented here provide further insight into the genetic and functional potential of
B. subtilis
and the mechanism of phosphate solubilization.
The complete coding sequence of Influenza A/Unknown/Chelyabinsk/206/H7N4
Authors: Feoktistova S. , Degtyarev E. , Abramov I. , Artemyev V. , Osipova Alena V. , Baratova Irina V. , Kholodkova A. , Rudev N. , Volchkov P. , Deviatkin A.
Published: May 2024

An influenza virus strain was obtained during a bird surveillance study in 2023 near Lake Chebarkul in the Chelyabinsk region, Russia. This complete coding genome sequence of the virus sampled from the Ural region significantly expands the knowledge about the spread of the H7N4 subtype of the influenza A virus.
Wind Speed Variations at the Venus Cloud Top above Aphrodite Terra According to Long-term UV Observations by VMC/VENUS Express and UVI/AKATSUKI
Authors: Patsaeva M. V. , Khatuntsev I. V. , Titov D. V. , Ignatiev N. I. , Zasova L. V. , Gorinov D. A. , Turin A. V.
Published: May 2024

Series of consecutive UV (365 nm) images of Venus cloud coverage provide a way to investigate dynamics of the mesosphere. An unprecedented series of such images was obtained by the VMC/Venus Express (ESA) and UVI/Akatsuki (JAXA) cameras from 2006 to 2022. At 10°S long-term variations in the mean zonal and meridional wind speed are observed with a period of 12.5 ± 0.5 years. Analysis of the of the mean zonal wind behavior around noon (12 ± 1 h) at phase angles of 60°–90° in limited observation time intervals shows that near the minimum of the long-term dependence the deceleration of the horizontal flow is observed above the highest part of Aphrodite Terra, Ovda Regio, for both VMC and UVI. Conversely, acceleration is observed above the Ovda Regio near the maximum of the long-term dependence. The considered longitudinal variations of the zonal wind speed extend from the equator to middle latitudes (0°–40°). The meridional wind speed shows longitudinal variations associated with the topography of the underlying surface, regardless of whether the horizontal flow is slowing down or accelerating above the highlands of Aphrodite Terra.
Acute eosinophilic pneumonia
Authors: Akkanti Bindu , Gentry Brandon , Kesavan Ramesh , Kar Biswajit
Published: May 2024

We report the case of an 18-year-old woman who presented to an outside hospital in respiratory distress and was found to have pulmonary eosinophilia. She remained profoundly hypoxaemic despite maximal ventilatory strategies and underwent cannulation for veno-venous extra corporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). The respiratory failure improved with time, using corticosteroids, and the veno-venous ECMO helped in stabilisation of the patient in the setting of profound hypoxaemia.
Ethnic variation in access to publicly funded care for unintentional injuries in older adults in Aotearoa New Zealand: a retrospective study
Authors: Cavadino Alana , Te Ao Braden , Kerse Ngaire , Kool Bridget , Parsons John , Hikaka Joanna
Published: May 2024

Background

Māori (the Indigenous people of Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ)) are more likely to experience injury than non-Māori, but less likely to have effective access to publicly funded injury care services. It is unknown if this pattern extends into older age. This retrospective study analysed Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC; national no-fault injury compensation scheme) claims data to investigate ethnic variation in unintentional injury claims and related costs for older adults (≥50 years).

Methods

Injury claims data for older adults residing in two regions of NZ between January 2014 and December 2018 were reviewed. Age-standardised claims rates (per person year) standardised rate ratios were calculated and compared between Māori and non-Māori. ACC claim costs (medical treatment; earning-related compensation) were estimated, with total and average costs per claim compared between the two groups.

Results

There were 149 275 ACC claims (18 369 Māori; 130 906 non-Māori) among 64 238 individuals (9284 Māori; 54 954 non-Māori). The age-standardised rate of ACC claims for unintentional injury was 46% higher among non-Māori (95% CI 44% to 48%) than Māori. The ACC spend for non-Māori was NZ$155 277 962 compared with NZ$30 446 673 for Māori. Māori had a significantly higher average cost per claim (NZ$1658 vs NZ$1186, p<0.001).

Conclusions

Results of this study highlight differences in the manner in which different groups of older adults access injury compensation in NZ, indicating the need to invest in injury prevention initiatives that target older Māori, as well as initiatives supporting improved ACC access for older Māori.
Associations of early retirement and mortality risk: a population-based study in Taiwan
Authors: Wang Tsui-Hung , Chien Shao-Yun , Cheng Wan-Ju , Huang Ya-Wen , Wang Shi-Heng , Huang Wei-Lieh , Tzeng Ya-Ling , Hsu Chih-Cheng , Wu Chi-Shin
Published: May 2024

Background

Early retirement is highly prevalent in Taiwan. This study assesses the association between early retirement and all-cause and cause-specific mortality risks while exploring the modifying effect of sociodemographic factors.

Methods

Using Taiwan’s National Health Insurance Research Database between 2009 and 2019, 1 762 621 early retirees aged 45–64 and an equal number of employed comparators were included. The date and cause of death were identified using the National Death Registry. Cox regression models were used to estimate HRs of early retirement for all-cause mortality and cause-specific mortality. To explore modifying effects, we conducted subgroup analyses based on age groups, sexes, occupation types and general health status (Charlson Comorbid Index score).

Results

The analysis revealed that early retirees, compared with their concurrently employed counterparts, had a higher mortality risk (adjusted HR (aHR) 1.69, 95% CI (1.67 to 1.71)). Specifically, younger individuals (aged 45–54) (aHR 2.74 (95% CI 2.68 to 2.80)), males (aHR 1.78 (95% CI 1.76 to 1.81)), those in farming or fishing occupations (aHR 2.13 (95% CI 2.06 to 2.21)) or the private sector (aHR 1.92 (95% CI 1.89 to 1.96)), and those with the poorest health conditions (aHR 1.79 (95% CI 1.76 to 1.83)) had higher mortality risks of early retirement. Regarding specific causes of death, the top three highest risks were associated with gastrointestinal disorders, followed by suicide and neurological disorders.

Conclusions

This study underscores the substantial mortality risk increase linked to early retirement, emphasising the importance of policy considerations, particularly regarding vulnerable populations and specific causes of death potentially linked to unhealthy lifestyles.
Motherhood, wet-nursing and nation: nineteenth-century Brazilian medical perspectives
Authors: Fernandes Maranhão Tiago
Published: May 2024

This paper explores the viewpoints of nineteenth-century Brazilian physicians regarding women’s roles as the ‘propagators of the race’. It emphasises their perspectives on reproduction, breast feeding, and the involvement of enslaved wet nurses in a society grappling with significant paradoxes and conflicts as it sought to embrace modernisation. It also examines various aspects of women’s health and childcare, encompassing topics like miscarriage andpuériculture. Through an analysis of medical discourse, this paper underscores physicians’ profound influence in shaping societal assumptions surrounding maternal roles in Brazil. These understandings were instrumental in shaping the expectations for a ‘modern nation’, where racial considerations intertwined with broader discourses about female bodies. Drawing on diverse sources from the latter half of the nineteenth century, including newspapers and medical records, this paper also highlights the lived experiences of mothers—both tangible realities and imagined constructs. It emphasises how these experiences became integrated in ideological debates that centred on maternity, race, nationhood and modernity within a South Atlantic context. Conducting a discourse analysis of published medical sources, the paper finally uncovers the intricate interplay between reproductive politics, biological risk perceptions and national defence. It dissects how these elements coalesced into the language of biopolitics, moulding regulations and institutional control over the bodies of both white and black women. This exploration aims to enrich discussions about the intricate dynamics shaping institutional actions within the realms of reproductive health and national interests.