bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Oil dispersing and adsorption by carboxymethyl cellulose–oxalate nanofibrils/nanocrystals and their kinetics
Authors: Tohamy Hebat‐Allah S.
Published: September 2023

The aim of our work is the preparation of cellulose nanofibrils or nanocrystals made from cellulose that is recovered from sugarcane bagasse agricultural waste (SC) as a dispersant instead of commercial cellulose for oil spill cleanup. In the current study, carboxymethyl cellulose was prepared by cellulose mercerization, which was then esterified by oxalic acid to create nanocellulose. Incorporation of oxalate into carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) was verified by 1H‐NMR spectroscopy by the appearance of a new peak at 8.15 ppm for CMC–oxalate. The degree of substitution (DS) of oxalate was 0.17. The synthesized nanocellulose formed particles were roughly the same size and shape as both cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) and cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs): measuring 321–480 nm in length and 4–5 nm in width. Emulsions of paraffins made from CMC–oxalate are stable up to 10 months without undergoing precipitation. CMC–oxalate had great thermal stability and worked well as a paraffin oil dispersant. CMC–oxalate provided a barrier around the oil droplet surface, which prevented droplets from coalescing. This hypothesis is supported by the contact angle measurement for the O/W emulsion formed by CMC–oxalate being 0°, which is lower than the value for emulsions formed by underivatized CMC, 37.20°. From transmission electron microscopy observations, O/W emulsions of paraffin oil were spherical in shape, and separated from each other by a distance of 30–100 nm. This study shows that CMC–oxalate can be prepared by a low‐cost method, yielding nanocellulose with characteristics that resemble CNFs and CNCs, thereby opening up new potential applications for cellulose nanomaterials.
In Vivo Fluticasone Absorption in Surgical Patients
Authors: Lee Saangyoung E. , Ritter Elizabeth , Nguyen Tuong T. , Onuorah Princess C. , Ebert Charles S. , Senior Brent A. , Thorp Brian D. , Kimple Adam J.
Published: September 2023

Background

Intranasal corticosteroids (INCS) are a treatment mainstay of chronic rhinosinusitis and allergic rhinitis. Current computational models demonstrate that >90% of INCS drug deposition occurs on the head of the inferior turbinate and nasal valve, rather than the actual sinuses. These models do not consider mucociliary clearance which propels mucus posteriorly, nor do they consider the absorption of the drug. The purpose of this study is to better understand the exact anatomical location where INCS are absorbed.

Methods

Patients with chronic rhinosinusitis and allergic rhinitis taking fluticasone pre‐operatively who were scheduled for functional endoscopic sinus surgery and inferior turbinate reduction, respectively, were recruited. Intra‐operative tissue samples were obtained from predetermined locations within the sinonasal cavity. Mass spectrometry was then used to quantify the amount of absorption in each specific anatomic location to determine the largest amount of absorption.

Results

Eighteen patients were included in our study. The greatest fluticasone absorption levels across the sinonasal anatomy were at the anterior inferior turbinate (5.7 ngl/mL), ethmoid sinus, (4.4 ng/mL), posterior inferior turbinate (3.7 ng/mL), maxillary sinus (1.3 ng/mL), and the sphenoethmoidal recess (0.72 ng/mL) respectively. Absorption was significantly higher in revision surgery compared to surgically naïve patients.

Conclusions

Computation fluid dynamic models of the nasal passage are useful models to help predict intranasal particle flow. However, these models do not incorporate or consider the important mucociliary clearance system, leading to absorption of fluticasone throughout the sinonasal cavity far beyond that predicted by these models.

Level of Evidence

2 Laryngoscope, 134:1551–1555, 2024
Açaí palm intensification reorganizes woody plant assemblages at multiple spatial scales in an Amazonian estuarine forest
Authors: Barros Maria Fabíola , Jardim Mário Augusto Gonçalves , Soares Victor Fernando da Silva , Menezes Paula Maria de Melo , Guimarães Vieira Ima Célia , Tabarelli Marcelo
Published: September 2023

The exploitation of nontimber forest products has been proposed as a sustainable way to exploit tropical forests, but such an opportunity remains to be examined case‐by‐case. We examine the impact of the intensification of the açaí palm (Euterpe oleracea) management for fruit production via increments in palm clumps/stems density on the woody plant assemblages (adult and regenerating) in an estuarine forest landscape in the eastern Amazon region, Brazil. Across 30 forest stands açaí stem density correlated negatively with stem density and taxonomic diversity considering both adult and regenerating woody plant assemblages, but it posed a positive effect on beta diversity via species turnover. Soil fertility and forest stand accessibility played a complementary role. Moreover, açaí clump density affected the abundance of particular woody plant species, including a set of species declining before the 400‐açaí clump density threshold imposed by current regulation. Accordingly, açaí clump density influenced the taxonomic organization of woody plant assemblages at the landscape spatial level. Finally, it is worth mentioning a group of 105 species, which were recorded across the regenerating assemblages but not in the adult assemblages. Among them, a large number of small‐statured woody plant species typical from the forest understory (i.e., the shade‐tolerant assemblage), such as those from Miconia, Piper, Bactris, Anonna and Geonoma genera. As intensification is still spreading it can be considered a threat to the integrity of the Amazon estuarine forest and thus questions the ecological sustainability through which the current Amazonian “black gold” is now produced.
Shortwave‐Infrared Line‐Scan Confocal Microscope for Deep Tissue Imaging in Intact Organs
Authors: Lingg Jakob G. P. , Bischof Thomas S. , Arús Bernardo A. , Cosco Emily D. , Sletten Ellen M. , Rowlands Christopher J. , Bruns Oliver T. , Chmyrov Andriy
Published: September 2023

The development of fluorophores with photoemission beyond 1000 nm provides the opportunity to develop novel fluorescence microscopes sensitive to those wavelengths. Imaging at wavelengths beyond the visible spectrum enables imaging depths of hundreds of microns in intact tissue, making this attractive for volumetric imaging applications. Here, a novel shortwave‐infrared line‐scan confocal microscope is presented that is capable of deep imaging of biological specimens, as demonstrated by visualization of labeled glomeruli in a fixed uncleared kidney at depths beyond 400 µm. Imaging of brain vasculature labeled with the near‐infrared organic dye indocyanine green, the shortwave‐infrared organic dye Chrom7, and rare earth‐doped nanoparticles is also shown, thus encompassing the entire spectrum detectable by a typical shortwave‐infrared sensitive InGaAs detector.
Evaluation of intensity‐modulated electron FLASH radiotherapy in a clinical setting using veterinary cases
Authors: Konradsson Elise , Szecsenyi Rebecka Ericsson , Adrian Gabriel , Coskun Mizgin , Børresen Betina , Arendt Maja Louise , Erhart Kevin , Bäck Sven ÅJ , Petersson Kristoffer , Ceberg Crister
Published: September 2023

Purpose

The increased normal tissue tolerance for FLASH radiotherapy (FLASH‐RT), as compared to conventional radiotherapy, was first observed in ultra‐high dose rate electron beams. Initial clinical trials in companion animals have revealed a high risk of developing osteoradionecrosis following high‐dose single‐fraction electron FLASH‐RT, which may be related to inhomogeneities in the dose distribution. In the current study, we aim to evaluate the possibilities of intensity‐modulated electron FLASH‐RT in a clinical setting to ensure a homogeneous dose distribution in future veterinary and human clinical trials.

Methods

Our beam model in the treatment planning system electronRT (.decimal, LLC, Sanford, FL, USA) was based on a 10‐MeV electron beam from a clinical linear accelerator used to treat veterinary patients with FLASH‐RT in a clinical setting. In electronRT, the beam can be intensity‐modulated using tungsten island blocks in the electron block cutout, and range‐modulated using a customized bolus with variable thickness. Modulations were first validated in a heterogeneous phantom by comparing measured and calculated dose distributions. To evaluate the impact of intensity modulation in superficial single‐fraction FLASH‐RT, a treatment planning study was conducted, including eight canine cancer patient cases with simulated tumors in the head‐and‐neck region. For each case, treatment plans with and without intensity modulation were created for a uniform bolus and a range‐modulating bolus. Treatment plans were evaluated using a target dose homogeneity index (HI), a conformity index (CI), the near‐maximum dose outside the target (), and the near‐minimum dose to the target ().

Results

By adding intensity modulation to plans with a uniform bolus, the HI could be improved (p = 0.017). The combination of a range‐modulating bolus and intensity modulation provided a further significant improvement of the HI as compared to using intensity modulation in combination with a uniform bolus (p = 0.036). The range‐modulating bolus also improved the CI compared to using a uniform bolus, both with an open beam (p = 0.046) and with intensity modulation (p = 0.018), as well as increased the (p = 0.036 with open beam and p = 0.05 with intensity modulation) and reduced the median (not significant).

Conclusions

By using intensity‐modulated electron FLASH‐RT in combination with range‐modulating bolus, the target dose homogeneity and conformity in canine patients with simulated tumors in complex areas in the head‐and‐neck region could be improved. By utilizing this technique, we hope to decrease the dose outside the target volume and avoid hot spots in future clinical electron FLASH‐RT studies, thereby reducing the risk of radiation‐induced toxicity.
Developing a behaviour rubric for the practical model of ethical behaviour for clinical nursing
Authors: Tsujio Yuriko , Yasuda Mio , Hattori Mikage , Yoshioka Tomoko , Nakamura Naomi , Nakata Mitsuko , Teramukai Satoshi , Minemura Yuichi , Azuma Tomomi
Published: September 2023

Aim

The present study aimed to develop an ethical behaviour rubric for nurses and evaluate its reliability and validity.

Method

This study was to designed to construct a rubric and evaluate the reliability and validity. The ethical behaviour rubric was distributed to 241 nurses and 154 were completed and returned. The intra‐rater and inter‐rater reliability were evaluated by intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) for all 10 items on the ethical behaviour rubric, and the internal consistency reliability was evaluated using Cronbach's α. Construct validity was tested with explanatory factor analysis, and criterion validity was tested using the known‐groups method.

Results

Intra‐rater reliability had a high interrater agreement (ICC = 0.9), and inter‐rater reliability had a high interrater agreement (ICC = 0.84). The Cronbach's α coefficient was 0.96. There was a linear correlation between the number of years of nursing experience and rubric scores p < 0.001. Exploratory factor analysis revealed 10 items loading on four factors. The result of factor analysis is that Cronbach's α was 0.93 for the first factor, 0.83 for the second factor, 0.91 for the third factor, and 0.77 for the fourth factor.

Conclusions

Our rubric was found to be a valid and reliable tool for the assessment of ethical behaviour among nurses in Japan.
Quasi‐experimental evidence on the employment effects of the 2021 fully refundable monthly child tax credit
Authors: Pac Jessica , Berger Lawrence M.
Published: September 2023

In this paper, we estimate the impact on employment of the 2021 Child Tax Credit (CTC) expansion, which increased the size of the benefit, made it fully refundable, and allowed for monthly receipt. We harness exogenous variation in monthly CTC eligibility by comparing employment among caregivers to that of childless workers before and after monthly payments commenced on July 15, 2021, using event study and difference‐in‐differences frameworks. Our preferred estimates suggest that monthly CTC payments were, at most, associated with a relatively small decline in employment among caregivers. Our primary difference‐in‐differences estimates indicate a statistically nonsignificant decline in employment of approximately 344,000 to 495,000 caregivers relative to childless adults. Our treatment intensity estimates suggest an increase in employment among caregivers with two or more children relative to those with one child. Our findings contribute to the cost‐benefit calculus of the current debate over whether to establish a permanent fully refundable monthly CTC.
Does visitation in prison reduce recidivism?
Authors: Otsu Yuki
Published: September 2023

Visitation in prison is associated with a low recidivism rate after release, but the causality is not clear. This paper tries to estimate the effect of visitation experience on the recidivism outcome of state prisoners in Missouri, using an instrumental variable approach. The instrumental variable used for identification is the distance from a prison to an address before incarceration. The results support that visitation has a causal effect on recidivism in the short run. Further analysis shows that employment is an important channel of the visitation effect. However, no discernible effect on housing stability is found.
Implementation resistance and the human dimensions of connectivity planning
Authors: Williamson Matthew A. , Parrott Lael , Carter Neil H. , Ford Adam T.
Published: September 2023

Conserving species' ability to traverse the landscape is vital for maintaining biodiversity in the face of global change. Connectivity conservation requires identifying important pathways for species' movements and aligning societal support for conservation of those pathways. Contemporary connectivity analyses emphasize the impacts of topography, vegetation and human footprint on species' movements; but largely ignore the role that attitudes, economics and institutions play in practitioners' ability to conserve those movements.

We introduce implementation resistance as an analogue of biophysical resistance that combines social, economic and institutional factors that promote or impede connectivity conservation. We demonstrate the utility of integrating implementation resistance as a means of choosing between competing connectivity conservation strategies using wolves in Colorado (USA) as a case study.

Our analysis of five potential corridor locations based on biophysical costs revealed substantial differences in the social costs associated with implementing each corridor despite relatively minimal differences in the biophysical costs.

Our comparison of hypothetical interventions to reduce implementation resistance illustrates that interventions that reduce conflicts between land use and wolves may substantially reduce overall resistance, those reductions are not as well aligned with connectivity priorities as those resulting from changes in land management agency policy.

Our results highlight the need to design conservation interventions that fit both the social and ecological landscape and provide a framework for developing robust, interdisciplinary methods that facilitate implementable connectivity conservation.

Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.
Effect of lamination sequence and warhead shape on impact resistance of fiber‐metal laminates
Authors: Wei Gang , Hao Chenyu , Ai Jingyu , Feng Yan , Deng Yunfei
Published: September 2023

In this work, the failure mode and ballistic protection capability of the carbon fiber aluminum alloy laminated target plate under the impact of high‐speed projectile body were studied by ballistic impact test. The effects of the lamination sequence and warhead shape difference on the impact resistance of the laminated aluminum alloy and carbon fiber laminates were analyzed. Two kinds of projectile bodies, flat and oval head, were used to carry out multiple high‐speed impact experiments on four groups of targets with different stacking sequences. By analyzing the result, it is found that the lamination sequence of the target plate has a significant effect on the anti‐impact performance only when the flat head projectile impacts, while the ovoid projectile has almost no effect. In the fiber‐metal composite configuration, the aluminum plate placed in front of the carbon fiber plate showed the best resistance to flat head bullet impact, the ballistic limit speed reached 135 m/s, and the overall impact resistance improved by up to 26% compared with other configurations. Unlike the shear failure caused by flat head projectile, ovoid projectile impact can cause serious tensile and tear damage. Based on the experimental results, it is clear that the laminated structure has better penetration resistance against the flat head projectile, and the placement of aluminum plate on the impact surface can change the failure mode of carbon fiber laminates and improve the energy absorption level of composite plates.

Highlights

Unlike traditional fiber‐metal laminates, the target plate used in this experiment does not use adhesive, which makes the deformation of the two materials will not affect each other, which is conducive to the study of its own impact resistance.

The mechanical behavior and damage failure mode of the target plate under high speed impact load were studied.

The impact of ovoid projectile changes the damage failure mode of the target plate. For the configuration of fiber‐metal laminates, the ballistic limit value is as low as 100 m/s, and the energy absorption value fluctuates in the range of 145–190 J with the change of impact velocity.

Compared with ovoid projectile, laminated material has stronger impact resistance to flat head projectile.

The metal plate arranged on the impact surface can change the damage mode from shear failure to tensile failure, thus greatly improving the ballistic limit and impact resistance, overall impact resistance can be improved by up to 26%.
Fabrication of thermoresponsive micelles by functionalizing hydroxypropyl cellulose via azide‐alkyne click reaction
Authors: Wang Haoying , Wang Fangyu , Zhou Jinping
Published: September 2023

In this work, we functionalized hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC) by attaching tetraphenylethylene (TPE) via copper‐catalyzed azide‐alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC). The obtained HPC‐TPE samples displayed water‐solubility, biocompatibility, fluorescence and thermoresponsive properties. The degree of substitution (DSTPE) of HPC‐TPE1 ~ 4 was determined to be 0.002, 0.006, 0.025, and 0.053, respectively. HPC‐TPE could self‐assemble into micelles in water with the hydrodynamic radius (Rh) ranging from 164 to 190 nm. Under different DSTPE, HPC‐TPE samples showed different lower critical solution temperature (LCST) behaviors in light transmittance, Rh and fluorescence. The critical transition temperatures in light transmittance for HPC‐TPE1 ~ 4 solutions were 55–49 °C during the heating process, and were 44–40 °C during the cooling process, respectively. Moreover, HPC‐TPE demonstrated a rapid and sensitive response to Fe3+ with ignoring interferences in the presence of other common metal ions, and could also be used to image 4T1 cells. Therefore, this work offered a general approach for the synthesis of functionalized polymers with promising applications in sensing and bioimaging.
ZnSSe Decorated Reduced Graphene Oxide for Enhanced Photoelectric Properties
Authors: Deng Yifan , Lei Yun , Tang Zehui , Chen Jiong , Luo Linhui , Wang Yongqin , Li Can , Du Beibei , Wang Shiquan , Sun Zhengguang
Published: September 2023

ZSSG (ZnSSe/rGO) composites are prepared by a hydrothermal method. The structure, morphology and material properties are investigated by various tests. Compared to ZnSe, the diffraction peaks of ZnSSe are moved to a larger angle and located between cubic phase ZnSe and cubic phase ZnS. The photocurrent density of ZSSG20 with 20 wt.% graphene is 2.17×10−5 A cm−2, which is 8.9 times higher than that of pure ZnSSe. ZSSG20 has the minimum charge transfer resistance and highest carrier density. The decreased fluorescence intensity in PL spectra indicates that graphene can effectively prevent the recombination of electron‐hole pairs.
Chinese clinical practice guidelines for the prevention and treatment of radiation‐induced dermatitis
Authors: Fan Ming , Feng Mei , Yuan Shuanghu
Published: September 2023

Radiation‐induced dermatitis is one of the most prevalent complications in patients undergoing cancer radiotherapy and poses a significant challenge to cancer therapy. The symptoms include erythema, dry desquamation, and moist desquamation, which are frequently observed in patients with breast, head and neck, anal, and vulvar cancers. Early skin reactions typically manifest within 2–4 weeks following the initiation of radiotherapy. In severe cases, acute dermatitis can cause radiotherapy interruptions, prolong treatment time, and ultimately affect patient outcomes and quality of life. Currently, there are numerous guidelines on radiation dermatitis, including the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC), British Columbia Cancer Agency (BCCA), Oncology Nursing Society (ONS), and UK Society of Radiographers (SCoR) guidelines. In China, dermatology experts have drafted a consensus. However, due to the differing backgrounds of experts, recommendations among guidelines vary. These guidelines were first developed by Chinese radiation oncologists. The evidence‐based guideline in this paper fully considers and adopts China's national conditions; hence, it can be easily applied in daily practice.
Overcome the challenges of implementing safety instrumented systems for reactive processes
Authors: Roche Eloise , Summers Angela E.
Published: September 2023

Safety instrumented systems (SISs) are generally used against process safety hazards with the potential to severely injure, or even kill, personnel or members of the public. Reactive processes are a common application for SISs due to the potential for significant energy release during the reaction, which tends to cause catastrophic rupture of the vessel. While some applications can address the reactive hazard by closing emergency block valves, others may require blowdowns, kill agents, and other complex response actions. The more that needs to be done to address the reaction, the more complicated the SIS, resulting in the need for more experienced process engineering involvement to get the design right. The protection layers allocated to manage the risk of reactive applications typically focus on the prevention of runaway reactions by ensuring that the temperature or pressure never reach an unsafe state. This seems straightforward, but reactive processes can respond to loss of control in ways that are more difficult to predict, so the specification of trip point, response time, and sensor architecture requires more analysis than typical SIS. This paper discusses some of the unique challenges posed by reactive applications and provides examples to illustrate how to overcome these challenges.
Interhelical E@g‐N@a interactions modulate coiled coil stability within a de novo set of orthogonal peptide heterodimers
Authors: Perez Anthony R. , Lee Yumie , Colvin Michael E. , Merg Andrea D.
Published: September 2023

The designability of orthogonal coiled coil (CC) dimers, which draw on well‐established design rules, plays a pivotal role in fueling the development of CCs as synthetically versatile assembly‐directing motifs for the fabrication of bionanomaterials. Here, we aim to expand the synthetic CC toolkit through establishing a “minimalistic” set of orthogonal, de novo CC peptides that comprise 3.5 heptads in length and a single buried Asn to prescribe dimer formation. The designed sequences display excellent partner fidelity, confirmed via circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy and Ni‐NTA binding assays, and are corroborated in silico using molecular dynamics (MD) simulation. Detailed analysis of the MD conformational data highlights the importance of interhelical E@g‐N@a interactions in coordinating an extensive 6‐residue hydrogen bonding network that “locks” the interchain Asn‐Asn′ contact in place. The enhanced stability imparted to the Asn‐Asn′ bond elicits an increase in thermal stability of CCs up to ~15°C and accounts for significant differences in stability within the collection of similarly designed orthogonal CC pairs. The presented work underlines the utility of MD simulation as a tool for constructing de novo, orthogonal CCs, and presents an alternative handle for modulating the stability of orthogonal CCs via tuning the number of interhelical E@g‐N@a contacts. Expansion of CC design rules is a key ingredient for guiding the design and assembly of more complex, intricate CC‐based architectures for tackling a variety of challenges within the fields of nanomedicine and bionanotechnology.
Interim decision making in seamless trial designs: An application in an adaptive dose‐finding study in a rare kidney disease
Authors: Papachristofi Olympia , Bornkamp Björn , Wright Melanie , Friede Tim
Published: September 2023

Adaptive seamless trial designs, combining the learning and confirming cycles of drug development in a single trial, have gained popularity in recent years. Adaptations may include dose selection, sample size re‐estimation and enrichment of the study population. Despite methodological advances and recognition of the potential efficiency gains such designs offer, their implementation, including how to enable efficient decision making on the adaptations in interim analyzes, remains a key challenge in their adoption.

This manuscript uses a case study of an adaptive seamless proof‐of‐concept (Phase 2a)/dose‐finding (Phase 2b) to showcase potential adaptive features that can be implemented in trial designs at earlier development stages and the role of simulations in assessing the design operating characteristics and specifying the decision rules for the adaptations. It further outlines the elements needed to support successful interim analysis decision making on the adaptations while safeguarding study integrity, including the role of different stakeholders, interactive simulation‐based tools to facilitate decision making and operational aspects requiring preplanning. The benefits of the adaptive Phase 2a/2b design chosen compared to following the traditional two separate studies (2a and 2b) paradigm are discussed.

With careful planning and appreciation of their complexity and components needed for their implementation, seamless adaptive designs have the potential to yield significant savings both in terms of time and resources.
Clinical significance of lung cross‐sectional area measured by computed tomography in chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension: The correlation with pulmonary hemodynamics and the limitations
Authors: Kuriyama Ayaka , Kasai Hajime , Sugiura Toshihiko , Nagata Jun , Naito Akira , Sekine Ayumi , Shigeta Ayako , Sakao Seiichiro , Ishida Keiichi , Matsumiya Goro , Tanabe Nobuhiro , Suzuki Takuji
Published: September 2023

The percentage cross‐sectional area of the lung under five (%CSA<5) is the percentage of pulmonary vessels with <5 mm2 area relative to the total lung area on computed tomography (CT). The extent that %CSA<5 is related to pulmonary hemodynamics in patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is unclear, as is the effect of pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA) on %CSA<5. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the clinical significance of %CSA<5 in patients with CTEPH. We studied 98 patients (64 females, mean age 62.5 ± 11.9 years), who underwent CT with %CSA<5 measurement and right heart catheterization (RHC). Patients were classified into groups based on eligibility for PEA. We compared the %CSA<5 with pulmonary hemodynamics measured by RHC in various groups. In 38 patients who underwent PEA, the relationship between %CSA<5 and pulmonary hemodynamics was also evaluated before and after PEA. Significant correlations between %CSA<5 and pulmonary vascular resistance, and compliance, and pulmonary artery pulse pressure were observed in all patients. Pulmonary hemodynamics in the patients who underwent or were eligible for PEA showed a significant correlation with %CSA<5. Additionally, %CSA<5 was significantly lower in the postoperative than in the preoperative group. There was no correlation between changes in %CSA<5 and pulmonary hemodynamics before and after PEA. Furthermore, %CSA<5 did not correlate significantly with prognosis. %CSA<5 may reflect pulmonary hemodynamics in CTEPH with central thrombosis. Furthermore, %CSA<5 was reduced by PEA postoperatively. However, %CSA<5 is not a prognostic indicator, its clinical usefulness in CTEPH patients is limited, and further validation is required.
Attraction and passage efficiency for salmonids and non‐salmonids based on fishway: A meta‐analysis approach
Authors: Sun Junjian , Tan Junjun , Zhang Qi , Shen Yinting , Shi Jiayue , Zhang Hui , Shi Xiaotao
Published: September 2023

Globally, fishways perform better when the target fish species are salmonids rather than non‐salmonids. In the past few decades, engineers and dam managers have attempted to identify an ideal fishway type that can fit all migratory orders. To determine a general rule for selecting fishway types, we classified all fish orders into two groups (salmonids and non‐salmonids) and analyzed the effect of different fishway types (i.e., nature‐like [NL], vertical slot [VS], pool and weir [PW], and denil [DL]) on upstream migration for both groups by conducting a meta‐analysis based on data from 64 studies of 76 fishways. The fishway performance was presented in terms of attraction efficiency (AE) and passage efficiency (PE). The results of a random‐effects model, including 257 and 299 estimates of AE and PE, respectively, showed fishway types only had a significant effect on AE for non‐salmonids. Technical fishways had a higher AE than NL fishways for salmonids, but were not applicable to non‐salmonids. The passage results of four fishway types indicated that the PW fishways exhibited the best performance for salmonids, but the poorest performance for non‐salmonids. Only DL fishways had a PE of over 50% for non‐salmonids, whereas all fishway types had that of over 60% for salmonids. Variations in the slope and length of VS fishways could significantly affect PE for both groups, however, the phenomenon for salmonids disappeared when merging all fishway types. Elevation changes had a significant effect only on the condition that salmonids passed through VS fishways. The results of this study play an important role in designing appropriate fishway types for different downstream fish fauna and can be better generalized by complementing quantitative evaluation studies of various fishways as much as possible.
The tangled webs we weave: Examining the effects of CEO deception on analyst recommendations
Authors: Hyde Steven J. , Bachura Eric , Bundy Jonathan , Gretz Richard T. , Sanders Wm. Gerard
Published: September 2023

Research Summary

Organizations are punished by analysts and investors when material deceit by their CEO is uncovered. However, few studies examine analysts' responses to deceptive CEOs before their deceit is publicly known. We use machine learning (ML) models to operationalize the likelihood of CEO deception as well as analysts' suspicion of CEO deception on earnings calls. Controlling for analysts' suspicion of deception, we show that analysts are prone to assigning superior recommendations to deceptive CEOs, particularly those deemed as All‐Star analysts. We find that the benefits of CEO deception are lower for habitual deceivers, pointing to diminishing returns of deception. This study contributes to corporate governance research by enhancing our understanding of analysts' reactions to CEO deception prior to public exposure of any fraud or misconduct.

Managerial Summary

Undetected deception by CEOs can impact the stock market by influencing analysts' recommendations. Using an advanced ML model, our study measures the likelihood of deception more accurately than previous methods and identifies a tendency among financial analysts to favor deceptive CEOs, particularly high‐status analysts. However, deception is less effective with analysts who are repeatedly exposed to deception. These findings underscore the importance of awareness of potential deception in CEO communications and the need for continuous scrutiny, learning, and adaptability among analysts.
3D Bioprinting of Diatom‐Laden Living Materials for Water Quality Assessment
Authors: Boons Rani , Siqueira Gilberto , Grieder Florian , Kim Soo‐Jeong , Giovanoli Diego , Zimmermann Tanja , Nyström Gustav , Coulter Fergal B. , Studart André R.
Published: September 2023

Diatoms have long been used as living biological indicators for the assessment of water quality in lakes and rivers worldwide. While this approach benefits from the great diversity of these unicellular algae, established protocols are time‐consuming and require specialized equipment. Here, this work 3D prints diatom‐laden hydrogels that can be used as a simple multiplex bio‐indicator for water assessment. The hydrogel‐based living materials are created with the help of a desktop extrusion‐based printer using a suspension of diatoms, cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) and alginate as bio‐ink constituents. Rheology and mechanical tests are employed to establish optimum bio‐ink formulations, whereas cell culture experiments are utilized to evaluate the proliferation of the entrapped diatoms in the presence of selected water contaminants. Bioprinting of diatom‐laden hydrogels is shown to be an enticing approach to generate living materials that can serve as low‐cost bio‐indicators for water quality assessment.
Constructing Nitrogen‐Doped Carbon Hierarchy Structure Derived from Metal‐Organic Framework as High‐Performance ORR Cathode Material for Zn‐Air Battery
Authors: Pan Yangdan , Gao Junkuo , Li Yuwen , Lv Enjun , Khan Usman , Yang Xiaogang , Yao Juming , Nairan Adeela , Zhang Qichun
Published: September 2023

The development of efficient and low‐cost catalysts for cathodic oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in Zn‐air battery (ZAB) is a key factor in reducing costs and achieving industrialization. Here, a novel segregated CoNiPt alloy embedded in N‐doped porous carbon with a nanoflowers (NFs)‐like hierarchy structure is synthesized through pyrolyzing Hofmann‐type metal‐organic frameworks (MOFs). The unique hierarchical NFs structure exposes more active sites and facilitates the transportation of reaction intermediates, thus accelerating the reaction kinetics. Impressively, the resulting 15% CoNiPt@C NFs catalyst exhibits outstanding alkaline ORR activity with a half‐wave potential of 0.93 V, and its mass activity is 7.5 times higher than that of commercial Pt/C catalyst, surpassing state‐of‐the‐art noble metal‐based catalysts. Furthermore, the assembled CoNiPt@C+RuO2 ZAB demonstrates a maximum power density of 172 mW cm−2, which is superior to that of commercial Pt/C+RuO2 ZAB. Experimental results reveal that the intrinsic ORR mass activity is attributed to the synergistic interaction between oxygen defects and pyrrolic/graphitic N species, which optimizes the adsorption energy of the intermediate species in the ORR process and greatly enhances catalytic activity. This work provides a practical and feasible strategy for synthesizing cost‐effective alkaline ORR catalysts by optimizing the electronic structure of MOF‐derived catalysts.
In situ and General Multidentate Ligand Passivation Achieves Efficient and Ultra‐Stable CsPbX3 Perovskite Quantum Dots for White Light‐Emitting Diodes
Authors: Liu Yongfeng , Shao Xiuwen , Gao Zhaoju , Xie Qingyu , Ying Yupeng , Zhu Xiaolin , Pan Zhangcheng , Yang Jinpeng , Lin Hao , Tang Xiaosheng , Chen Weiwei , Pei Wei , Tu Yusong
Published: September 2023

Inorganic CsPbX3 perovskite quantum dots (PeQDs) show great potential in white light‐emitting diodes (WLEDs) due to excellent optoelectronic properties, but their practical application is hampered by low photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) and especially poor stability. Herein,  we developed an in‐situ and general multidentate ligand passivation strategy that allows for CsPbX3 PeQDs not only near‐unit PLQY, but significantly improved stability against storage, heat, and polar solvent. The enhanced optical property arises from high effectiveness of the multidentate ligand, diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) with five carboxyl groups, in passivating uncoordinated Pb2+ defects and suppressing nonradiative recombination. First‐principles calculations reveal that the excellent stability is attributed to tridentate binding mode of DTPA that remarkably boosts the adsorption capacity to PeQD core. Finally, combining the green and red PeQDs with blue chip,  we demonstrated highly luminous WLEDs with distinctly enhanced operation stability, a wide color gamut of 121.3% of national television system committee, standard white light of (0.33,0.33) in CIE 1931, and tunable color temperatures from warm to cold white light readily by emitters’ ratio. This study provides an operando yet general approach to achieve efficient and stable PeQDs for WLEDs and accelerates their progress to commercialization.
Switching on Versatility: Recent Advances in Switchable Plasmonic Nanostructures
Authors: Yoo Hajun , Lee Hyunwoong , Im Seongmin , Ka Sukhyeon , Moon Gwiyeong , Kang Kyungnam , Kim Donghyun
Published: September 2023

Plasmonic nanostructures are emerging as a promising avenue for nanophotonics due to their extreme light and thermal confinement, ultrafast manipulation processes, and potential uses in device miniaturization. However, their fixed functions have limited their versatility in applications. This review provides an overview of recent switchable plasmonic nanostructure engineering techniques, focusing on methods that provide reversible switchability. Passive optical switching, active structure‐tunable switching, active material‐based switching, and advanced applications, such as multifunctional biomedical sensing, energy harvesting, and dynamic optical devices, are discussed. The specific methods and techniques used to engineer switchable plasmonic nanostructures are also highlighted. By understanding the latest developments and overall trends, this review is expected to help researchers design and fabricate advanced plasmonic nanostructures with unprecedented switchability and versatility for various applications.
Phenotypic correlates of genetic divergence suggest at least three species in the complex of Dianthus virgineus (Caryophyllaceae)
Authors: Gargano Domenico , Franzoni Jacopo , Luqman Hirzi , Fior Simone , Rovito Simone , Peruzzi Lorenzo
Published: September 2023

Dianthus virgineus encompasses a very complex taxonomic group (traditionally called D. sylvestris group) including an array of units of doubtful taxonomic rank and value. Recent work identified three genetic lineages within this complex that showed strong genetic isolation, and clear geographical boundaries (i.e., “Alpine”, “Balkan”, and “Apennine” lineages). We evaluated the contribution of 33 morphological characters in differentiating such genetic units, by also investigating the effect of geographical and ecological drivers on the characters showing major discriminating power. The morphological measures were taken from a large number of populations (N = 97) included in the sample used for detecting the three genetic lineages. Our work reveals that these lineages can be morphologically discriminated by a series of character‐states that are traditionally considered of relevant taxonomical value. We also inferred a significant geographical and ecological effect on most characters, which varied gradually with latitude, longitude, and mean annual temperature. Overall, our data suggest that the three biological units can be referred to D. inodorus (L.) Gaertn. (“Alpine” lineage), D. sylvestris Wulfen (“Balkan” lineage), and D. virgineus L. s.str. (“Apennine” lineage). We also provide an identification key to discriminate these three taxa.
Recent Developments on Electroactive Organic Electrolytes for Non‐Aqueous Redox Flow Batteries: Current Status, Challenges, and Prospects
Authors: Mansha Muhammad , Anam Aqsa , Akram Khan Safyan , Saeed Alzahrani Atif , Khan Majad , Ahmad Aziz , Arshad Muhammad , Ali Shahid
Published: September 2023

The ever‐increasing threat of climate change and the depletion of fossil fuel resources necessitate the use of solar‐ and wind‐based renewable energy sources. Large‐scale energy storage technologies, such as redox flow batteries (RFBs), offer a continuous supply of energy. Depending on the nature of the electrolytes used, RFBs are broadly categorized into aqueous redox flow batteries (ARFBs) and non‐aqueous redox flow batteries (NARFBs). ARFBs suffer from various problems, including low conductivity of electrolytes, inferior charge/discharge current densities, high‐capacity fading, and lower energy densities. NARFBs offer a wider potential window and range of operating temperatures, faster electron transfer kinetics, and higher energy densities. In this review article, a critical analysis is provided on the design of organic electroactive molecules, their physiochemical/electrochemical properties, and various organic solvents used in NARFBs. Furthermore, various redox‐active organic materials, such as metal‐based coordination complexes, quinones, radicals, polymers, and miscellaneous electroactive species, explored for NARFBs during 2012–2023 are discussed. Finally, the current challenges and prospects of NARFBs are summarized.
A comprehensive review of arsenic contamination in India with an emphasis on its detection through biosensors and bioremediation from the aqueous system
Authors: Maity Sourav , Bose Samprit , Dokania Puja , Lohar Sadhana , Sarkar Angana
Published: September 2023

In India, where millions of people use groundwater for drinking, arsenic pollution in groundwater is a major environmental and public health issue. The review begins by analyzing the sources and causes of groundwater arsenic pollution, including natural geological processes and anthropogenic activities like mining and industrial discharge. It emphasizes India's most arsenic‐contaminated regions and the health risks of long‐term exposure. The review's second section focuses on the use of biosensors to find arsenic in groundwater. A potential method is provided by biosensors because of their great sensitivity, selectivity, and quick response. The benefits and drawbacks of several types of biosensors, including optical, electrochemical, and microbiological biosensors, are discussed. The utilization of nanomaterials, biomolecular recognition components, and miniature devices are only a few of the most recent developments in biosensor technology for arsenic detection that are studied. The review's last section discusses methods for bio‐remediating aqueous systems that have been contaminated with arsenic. Various bioremediation techniques are covered in detail, including microbial degradation, phytoremediation, and biosorption. The promise for removing arsenic using native microbes and plant species is highlighted, along with the difficulties of widespread application and long‐term sustainability. Overall, focusing on the detection of arsenic using biosensors and investigating bioremediation techniques, this review offers a thorough grasp of the arsenic poisoning in groundwater in India. In order to combat arsenic contamination and protect the health and wellbeing of the impacted populations in India, it emphasizes the need for interdisciplinary research and collaboration among scientists, engineers, policymakers, and local communities.
Impact of turbulence and blade surface degradation on the annual energy production of small‐scale wind turbines
Authors: Zarketa‐Astigarraga Ander , Penalba Markel , Martin‐Mayor Alain , Martinez‐Agirre Manex
Published: September 2023

Small‐scale horizontal axis wind‐turbines (SHAWTs) are acquiring relevance within the regulatory policies of the wind sector aiming at net‐zero emissions, while reducing visual and environmental impact by means of distributed grids. SHAWTs operate transitionally, at Reynolds numbers that fall between
. Furthermore, environmental turbulence and roughness affect the energetic outcome of the turbines. In this study, the combined effect of turbulence and roughness is analysed via wind tunnel experiments upon a transitionally operating NACA0021 airfoil. The combined effects cause a negative synergy, inducing higher drops in lift and efficiency values than when considering the perturbing agents individually. Besides, such losses are Reynolds‐dependent, with higher numbers increasing the difference between clean and real configurations, reaching efficiency decrements above 60% in the worst‐case scenario.

Thus, these experimental measurements are employed for obtaining the power curves and estimating the annual energy production (AEP) of a 7.8‐kW‐rated SHAWT design by means of a BEM code. The simulations show a worst‐case scenario in which the AEP reduces above 70% when compared to the baseline configuration, with such a loss getting attenuated when a pitch‐regulated control is assumed. These results highlight the relevance of performing tests that consider the joint effect of turbulence and roughness.
Constructing Sentiment Signal-Based Asset Allocation Method with Causality Information
Authors: Taguchi Rei , Sakaji Hiroki , Izumi Kiyoshi , Murayama Yuri
Published: September 2023

This study demonstrates whether financial text is useful for the tactical asset allocation method using stocks. This can be achieved using natural language processing to create polarity indexes in financial news. We perform clustering of the created polarity indexes using the change point detection algorithm. In addition, we construct a stock portfolio and rebalanced it at each change point using an optimization algorithm. Consequently, the proposed asset allocation method outperforms the comparative approach. This result suggests that the polarity index is useful for constructing the equity asset allocation method.