bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
“Does My Kid Have an Ear Infection?” An Analysis of Pediatric Acute Otitis Media Videos on TikTok
Authors: Dimitroyannis Rose , Cho Stella , Thodupunoori Sharanya , Fenton David , Nordgren Rachel , Roxbury Christopher R. , Shogan Andrea
Published: July 2024

Introduction

With the rise of social media, online platforms have become a common way to access healthcare information. This study examines the quality of pediatric acute otitis media (AOM) videos on TikTok, a popular short‐form video social media platform.

Methods

A TikTok search was conducted between 8/18 and 8/19/2023 using pediatric AOM hashtags: #pediatric acute otitis media management, #kid ear infections remedy, #child ear infections treatment, and #kid ear infection. Data collected include number of views/shares per day, uploader type (nonmedical influencer, lay individual, and medical professional), and content categories. The Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool for Audiovisual Material (PEMAT‐AV) and DISCERN questionnaire measured understandability, actionability, and quality of videos. Multivariable linear regression models were used (significance set at ≤0.05).

Results

Of 166 videos, 38.6% (64) of uploaders were medical professionals, and 32.5% (54) were nonmedical influencers. Nonmedical influencer videos were viewed and shared significantly more than those by medical professionals (p < 0.05). Controlling for covariates, physicians were more likely to produce more beneficial and higher quality videos as compared with nonmedical influencers (β = 2.4 and 1.3, p < 0.01, respectively). However, physicians did not have significantly different ratings for understandability compared with nonmedical influencers (β = 0.45, p > 0.05).

Discussion

AOM content on TikTok is often geared toward caretakers of symptomatic children. Although physician‐created AOM content was significantly higher quality, these videos reached a statistically smaller audience than those from nonmedical influencers. Addressing misinformation on social media platforms requires physicians to reach larger audiences by producing more actionable and understandable content.

Level of Evidence

NA Laryngoscope, 134:5184–5192, 2024
The benefit of dupilumab as a postoperative short‐term adjuvant therapy for chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps: A preliminary study
Authors: Wu Pei‐Wen , Huang Chi‐Che , Chang Po‐Hung , Lee Ta‐Jen , Huang Chien‐Chia
Published: July 2024

Introduction

Recent evidence recommends the use of biologics in patients with severe uncontrolled type 2 chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyp (CRSwNP) owing to its propensity for recurrence after functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS). Among the type 2 biologics used for the treatment of nasal polyps, dupilumab (Dupi, anti‐IL‐4) exhibited superior efficacy and safety in indirect comparison studies.

Objective

This study aimed to evaluate the objective and subjective outcomes of patients with CRSwNP treated with and without adjuvant Dupi therapy after FESS.

Methods

Adult patients with type 2 CRSwNP who underwent FESS with adjuvant Dupi after surgery were enrolled. A matched control group without adjuvant Dupi therapy were recruited during the same period. All patients underwent nasal endoscopy and completed the sinonasal outcome test‐22 questionnaire evaluations at baseline and 3 months after surgery.

Results

A total of 10 patients who received postoperative adjuvant therapy with Dupi and 20 patients who underwent surgery only were included. Patients with add‐on Dupi therapy had significantly higher eosinophil cationic protein levels in the serum, eosinophil counts in peripheral blood, prevalence of asthma, and nasal polyp score at baseline. Both treatments were effective in reducing the patient's symptoms by SNOT‐22 at 3 months postoperatively. However, patients with adjuvant Dupi therapy exhibited significantly better endoscopic scores than those with surgery only (p = .022).

Conclusion

Surgery plays an important role in treating patients with CRSwNP, and adjuvant Dupi use may facilitate objective mucosal recovery postoperatively.

Level of Evidence

4.
Clinical impact of hyperbaric oxygen therapy combined with steroid treatment for sudden sensorineural hearing loss: A case–control study
Authors: Sanda Naoya , Sawabe Michi , Kabaya Kayoko , Kawaguchi Momoko , Fukushima Akina , Nakamura Yoshihisa , Maseki Shinichiro , Niwa Masaki , Mori Hiroki , Hyodo Yoshiyuki , Nishiyama Kazuyoshi , Kawakita Daisuke , Iwasaki Shinichi
Published: July 2024

Objectives

The aim of present study was to evaluate the clinical efficacy of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) as a primary therapy combined with standard systemic corticosteroid treatment for sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) compared to treatment without the use of HBOT (non‐HBOT) through clinical data and advanced analytical approaches.

Study Design

Case–control study.

Methods

Conducted across three Japanese medical centers involving 298 SSNHL patients diagnosed between 2020 and 2023. Inclusion criteria encompassed first onset and treatment, WHO grade 3 or 4 initial hearing impairment, receipt of systemic corticosteroid therapy within 14 days of symptom onset, and initiation of HBOT within the same timeframe for the case group. The primary outcome measure was the difference in hearing improvement (mean hearing level in decibels, dB) between the two groups, assessed by pure‐tone audiometry at baseline and 3 months post‐treatment, using the inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) method adjusted for covariate differences.

Results

The study included 67 patients in the HBOT group and 68 in the non‐HBOT group. The HBOT group exhibited significantly greater hearing improvement (IPTW‐adjusted difference: 7.6 dB, 95% CI 0.4–14.7; p = 0.038). Patients without vertigo in the HBOT group demonstrated substantial hearing improvement (11.5 dB, 95% CI 2.3–20.6; p = 0.014), whereas those with vertigo showed no significant improvement (−1.8 dB, 95% CI −11.8–8.3; p = 0.729). The HBOT group also had a significantly higher association with complete recovery (IPTW‐adjusted odds ratio: 2.57, 95% CI 1.13–5.85; p = 0.025).

Conclusion

In SSHNL, HBOT combination therapy yielded slightly but significantly improved hearing outcomes compared to non‐HBOT treatment.

Level of Evidence

4.
Inter‐rater reliability and clinical relevance of subjective and objective interpretation of videofluoroscopy findings
Authors: Kuuskoski Jonna , Vanhatalo Jaakko , Hirvonen Jussi , Rekola Jami , Aaltonen Leena‐Maija , Järvenpää Pia
Published: July 2024

Background

Dysphagia is commonly evaluated using videofluoroscopy (VFS). As its ratings are usually subjective normal‐abnormal ratings, objective measurements have been developed. We compared the inter‐rater reliability of the usual VFS ratings to the objective measurement VFS ratings and evaluated their clinical relevance.

Methods

Two blinded raters analyzed the subjective normal‐abnormal ratings of 77 patients' VFS. Two other blinded raters analyzed the objective measurements of pharyngeal aerated area with bolus held in the oral cavity (PAhold), the pharyngeal area of residual bolus during swallowing (PAmax), the pharyngeal constriction ratio (PCR), the maximum pharyngoesophageal segment opening (PESmax), pharyngoesophageal segment opening duration (POD), airway closure duration (ACD), and total pharyngeal transit time (TPT). We evaluated the inter‐rater agreement in the subjective ratings and the objective measurements. Clinical utility analysis compared the measurements with the VFS findings of pharyngeal phase abnormality, penetration/aspiration, and cricopharyngeal relaxation.

Results

In the pharyngeal findings, the subjective analysis inter‐rater agreement was mainly moderate to strong. The strongest agreements were on the pharyngeal residues and penetration/aspiration findings. The objective measurements had fair to good inter‐rater agreement. Clinical utility analysis found statistically significant connections between TPT and pharyngeal phase abnormality, normal PCR and lack of penetration/aspiration, and normal PESmax and normal cricopharyngeal relaxation.

Conclusions

The subjective analysis had moderate to strong inter‐rater agreement in the pharyngeal VFS findings, especially concerning pharyngeal residues and penetration/aspiration detection, reflecting the efficacy and safety of swallowing. The objective measurements had fair to good inter‐observer reproducibility and could thus improve the reliability of VFS diagnostics.

Level of evidence

4.
Ecological and functional niches comparison reveals differentiated resource‐use strategies and ecological thresholds in four key floating‐leaved macrophytes
Authors: Dalla Vecchia Alice , Castellani Maria Beatrice , Azzella Mattia Martin , Bolpagni Rossano
Published: July 2024

Niche theory has been widely used in ecology; however, few studies have attempted to combine information on functional and ecological niches (i.e., variation in traits and environmental requirements), especially for freshwater macrophytes. In this study, we aim to describe the functional and ecological niches of four key nymphaeid species (Nuphar lutea, Nymphaea alba, Nelumbo nucifera, and Nymphoides peltata) to investigate their environmental tolerance and functional adaptability. Twelve Italian populations per species were sampled. Functional and ecological niches were determined using hypervolumes based on eight functional traits and environmental variables, related to leaf structure and economics spectrum, and to water and sediment quality. Among the three Italian native species, N. lutea and N. alba showed intermediate niche size and position in the functional and ecological space, although N. alba appears to be less competitive due to a small functional niche and lower trait performance, which could explain its general tendency to decline. N. peltata appeared more specialized in its environmental requirements and characterized by highly acquisitive leaves, while the invasive alien N. nucifera exerted its competitive success by distinguishing its functional niche and expanding its ecological niche, through high investment of resources in leaves. Overall, all four target species share similar ecological niches, colonizing eutrophic ecosystems typical of intensive agricultural landscapes, but show different patterns in their functional niche. We demonstrate the applicability of an approach based on both functional and ecological niches to unravel species' adaptation and strategies.
Multiplexed All‐Optical Permutation Operations Using a Reconfigurable Diffractive Optical Network
Authors: Ma Guangdong , Yang Xilin , Bai Bijie , Li Jingxi , Li Yuhang , Gan Tianyi , Shen Che‐Yung , Zhang Yijie , Li Yuzhu , Işıl Çağatay , Jarrahi Mona , Ozcan Aydogan
Published: July 2024

Large‐scale and high‐dimensional permutation operations are important for various applications in, for example, telecommunications and encryption. Here, all‐optical diffractive computing is used to execute a set of high‐dimensional permutation operations between an input and output field‐of‐view through layer rotations in a diffractive optical network. In this reconfigurable multiplexed design , every diffractive layer has four orientations: , , , and . Each unique combination of these layers represents a distinct rotation state, tailored for a specific permutation operation. Therefore, a K‐layer rotatable diffractive design can all‐optically perform up to independent permutation operations. The original input information can be decrypted by applying the specific inverse permutation matrix to output patterns. The feasibility of this reconfigurable multiplexed diffractive design is demonstrated by approximating 256 randomly selected permutation matrices using = 4 rotatable diffractive layers. To further enhance its multiplexing capability, input polarization diversity is also utilized. Additionally, this reconfigurable diffractive design is experimentally validated using terahertz radiation and 3D‐printed diffractive layers, providing a decent match to numerical results. The presented rotation‐multiplexed diffractive processor is particularly useful due to its mechanical reconfigurability, offering multifunctional representation through a single fabrication process.
Thermal Atomic Compass Based on Radially Polarized Beam
Authors: Cai Guoan , Tian Ke , Wang Zhaoying
Published: July 2024

The relationship between the magnetic field direction and the spatial intensity distribution of a radially polarized light passing through a polarized thermal atom ensemble is investigated, which is intuitively presented in a polarization selection absorption effect of thermal atoms. The radially polarized light has a spatial axisymmetric polarization structure, which is set as the probe beam. If the direction of the applied magnetic field is transformed, the absorption of the alignment atomic system to special polarization components of the probe light is changed, resulting in a different absorption ratio. This allows the 3D vector direction of the magnetic field to be inferred by using only the absorption ratio and the projection coefficient of the transmission intensity pattern. Based on this, this work provides a compass based on a thermal atom system, demonstrating a new method for measuring the magnetic field direction in space.
How Do I Examine Laryngeal Dystonia?
Authors: Di Luca Daniel G. , Perlmutter Joel S. , Paniello Randal C. , Norris Scott
Published: July 2024

Laryngeal dystonia is a potentially disabling task specific dystonia primarily affecting speech. The evaluation and diagnosis of laryngeal dystonia remain challenging, and often require a multi‐disciplinary approach, involving collaboration among speech language pathologists, neurologists and laryngologists (1–5). It is crucial to correctly differentiate between the types of laryngeal dystonia due to the distinct therapeutic approaches and responses to botulinum toxin therapy or speech therapy. For educational purposes, we have divided laryngeal dystonia into two main types: adductor and abductor dystonia. In this article, we describe a series of examination techniques that can assist movement disorders neurologists diagnosing this condition, and appropriately differentiating the most common forms of laryngeal dystonia.
STUB1 Mutations as Possible Genetic Modifiers in Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 8
Authors: Baviera‐Muñoz Raquel , Carretero‐Vilarroig Lidón , Pedro‐Ibor Ana , Jaijo Teresa , Del Valle‐Carranza Andrea , Martínez‐Torres Irene , Millán Jose M. , Bataller Luis , Aller Elena
Published: July 2024

Background

Spinocerebellar ataxia type 8 (SCA8) is a dominantly inherited expansion disorder with highly variable penetrance. ATXN8OS/ATXN8 expanded alleles have been identified in association with other types of hereditary ataxias, pointing to a possible genetic synergism.

Objectives

We aimed to further investigate the molecular background of patients with SCA8 diagnosis.

Methods

Patients were selected from our cohort of 346 families. A total of 14 probands with SCA8 underwent additional investigation through exome sequencing.

Results

Pathogenic heterozygous STUB1 variants were found in 21.4% of SCA8 patients (3 of 14) compared to only 0.5% in the non‐SCA8 group (1 of 222), indicating a statistically significant association (P < 0.05).

Conclusions

The findings reported in this study might suggest a genetic synergism between STUB1 and ATXN8OS/ATXN8 expanded alleles. Further studies are needed to validate this observation and better define the clinical impact of this genetic interaction.
High‐throughput preparation for alloy composition design in additive manufacturing: A comprehensive review
Authors: Liu Min , Lei Chenxu , Wang Yongxiang , Zhang Baicheng , Qu Xuanhui
Published: July 2024

Additive Manufacturing (AM) is revolutionizing aerospace, transportation, and biomedical sectors with its potential to create complex geometries. However, the metallic materials currently used in AM are not intended for high‐energy beam processes, suggesting performance improvement. The development of materials for AM still faces challenge because of the inefficient trial‐and‐error conventional methods. This review examines the challenges and current state of materials including aluminum alloys, titanium alloys, superalloys, and high‐entropy alloys (HEA) in AM, and summarizes the high‐throughput methods in alloy development for AM. In addition, the advantages of high‐throughput preparation technology in improving the properties and optimizing the microstructure mechanism of major additive manufacturing alloys are described. This article concludes by emphasizing the importance of high‐throughput techniques in pushing the boundaries of AM materials development, pointing toward a future of more effective and innovative material solutions.
Lactococcus lactis KF140 Ameliorates Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Induced by Nε‐Carboxymethyl‐Lysine and High‐Fat Diet
Authors: Lee Hye‐Bin , Park Miri , Lee So‐Young , Ha Sang Keun , Kim Yoonsook , Lee Kwang‐Won , Park Ho‐Young
Published: July 2024

Scope

Long‐term consumption of excessive dietary advanced glycation end‐products such as Nε‐carboxymethyl‐lysine (CML), which are produced by the Maillard reaction during food thermal processing, leads to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) along with high fat consumption. The study previously finds that administration of Lactococcus lactis KF140 (LL‐KF140) detoxifies CML by decreasing CML absorption both in a rat model and clinical trial.

Methods and results

The present study evaluates the ameliorative effect of LL‐KF140 on NAFLD and fatty liver‐related biomarkers in a mouse model induced by CML and high fat. LL‐KF140 is orally administered to mice at a concentration of 1 × 107 or 1 × 108 colony‐forming unit (CFU) per mouse for 8 weeks. LL‐KF140 administration ameliorates the NAFLD‐related symptoms by reducing body weight and fat mass gain along with levels of serum aspartate transaminase, alanine transferase, and lipids as well as glucose intolerance and insulin resistance in CML‐treated mice. In addition, histological analysis including staining and western blotting shows that LL‐KF140 suppresses the lipogenesis pathway and CML absorption, thereby suppressing CML‐induced NAFLD.

Conclusion

These findings suggest that LL‐KF140 attenuates dietary CML‐induced NAFLD by suppressing the de novo lipogenesis pathway, and it may be used as a probiotic strain.
F wave analysis based on the compound muscle action potential scan
Authors: Li Xiaoyan , Chen Maoqi , Barkhaus Paul E. , Nandedkar Sanjeev D. , Schmit Brian , Zhou Ping
Published: July 2024

Introduction/Aims

Conventional F wave analysis involves a relatively uniform physiological environment induced by supramaximal stimulations. The F wave characteristics in a dynamic physiological condition, however, are rarely investigated. This study aimed to improve understanding of F wave properties in the more dynamic process by introducing a novel method to analyze F waves based on the compound muscle action potential (CMAP) scan technique.

Methods

Twenty four healthy subjects participated in the study. The CMAP scan was applied to record muscle responses in the abductor pollicis brevis (APB) and abductor digiti minimi (ADM) muscles, respectively. F wave characteristics including mean F wave amplitude and latency (F‐M latency), persistence and activating threshold were quantified.

Results

An average of 200 F waves per muscle were obtained from the CMAP scan recording. Weak to moderate correlations between F wave amplitude and stimulating intensity were observed in most of the APB (19 muscles; r = 0.33 ± 0.14, all p < .05) and ADM (23 muscles, r = 0.46 ± 0.16, all p < .05) muscles. Significantly longer mean F latency and lower activating F‐threshold were found in the ADM muscles (F‐M latency: APB: 25.43 ± 2.39 ms, ADM: 26.15 ± 2.32 ms, p < .05; F‐threshold: APB: 7.68 ± 8.96% CMAP, ADM: 2.35 ± 2.42% CMAP, p < .05).

Discussion

This study introduces new features of F waves using the CMAP scan technique and identifies differences of F wave characteristics between the hand muscles. The CMAP scan based F waves analysis can be combined with the motor unit number estimation to assess functional alterations in motor neurons in neurological disorders.
Establishing an indoor agriculture system at a rural Montana PreK‐12 school creates hands‐on experiences for college seniors studying horticulture
Authors: Tillett Brandon , Baumbauer David , Ewen Julie , Luby Claire H.
Published: July 2024

In 2022, seniors studying horticulture at Montana State University (MSU; Bozeman, MT) had the opportunity to participate in a unique community‐based learning project in collaboration with the newly built PreK‐12 public school in the rural town of Winifred, MT, to establish the greenhouse infrastructure to be used in curriculum at the school. The new greenhouse facility presented an opportunity for Winifred students to not only gain experience growing vegetables, but also to provide a source of fresh vegetables for school lunches and for community members. This course presented two unique opportunities for the MSU horticulture students: (1) to experience problem‐solving horticultural challenges through designing and troubleshooting the setup of the cropping systems for the greenhouse and (2) to participate in a course with a real‐world impact on improving food security in rural areas of Montana. Over the course of the semester, the MSU students successfully established the infrastructure for the Winifred School greenhouse, which has continued to be integrated into the curriculum as well as providing fresh produce for students and community members. By the end of the course, MSU students demonstrated program learning outcomes including demonstrating the content knowledge and skills necessary to function successfully in a horticultural career and being able to identify and analyze plant growth problems and develop solutions or strategies to solve those problems.
Minimum Effective Duration of Laryngopharyngeal Reflux Disease Treatment: A Prospective Study
Authors: Lechien Jérôme R.
Published: July 2024

Objective

To investigate the minimum therapeutic duration for patients with primary laryngopharyngeal reflux disease (LPRD) through the evaluation of symptom changes at multiple time points.

Study Design

Prospective uncontrolled.

Setting

University medical center.

Methods

Patients with LPRD at the 24‐hour hypopharyngeal‐esophageal multichannel intraluminal impedance‐pH monitoring were recruited from the European Reflux Clinic. Depending on the type of LPRD, patients were treated with a combination of proton‐pump inhibitors, alginate, or magaldrate. Symptoms were evaluated with the reflux symptom score (RSS) at baseline and throughout treatment (1‐, 3‐, 6‐, and 9‐month posttreatment). The most appropriate therapeutic duration was determined using the RSS changes. Signs were evaluated with the reflux sign assessment.

Results

A total of 159 patients completed the study. The mean age was 49.9 ± 15.7 years. At 1‐month posttreatment, 97 patients (61.0%) were considered as early responders to treatment, and the treatment was stopped for 52 patients (32.7%). Of the 62 early nonresponders, 34 patients (21.4%) reached responded to treatment after 3 to 9 months. The cumulative therapeutic success rate at 1‐month posttreatment (61.0%) progressively increased to reach a range of 82.4% to 99.3% at 9‐month posttreatment. The RSS mainly decreased in the first month of treatment in early responders. In early nonresponders, RSS progressively decreased throughout the 9‐month treatment period. The baseline severity of RSS is a strong predictor of therapeutic response.

Conclusion

A therapeutic regimen of 1 month can be sufficient to treat one third of LPRD patients. The early nonresponders may require 3 to 9 months of treatment.
A Foldaxane‐based Supramolecular Muscle‐Like Switch
Authors: Waelès Philip , Coutrot Frédéric
Published: July 2024

[cn]daisy chain molecular muscle architectures are self‐assemblies of hermaphrodite monomers, which usually contain a macrocycle unit linked to a molecular thread that contains sites of interactions – i. e. molecular stations – for the macrocycle. In these multiply threaded structures, altering with control the affinity between macrocycles and stations allows for contraction and extension of the molecule, which is reminiscent of the operation of a muscle. Besides, the field that consists of combining helix and template‐containing rods to design foldaxane supramolecular assemblies is still underexplored. By using foldamer units as surrogates for macrocycles, Gan et al. reported the first supramolecular muscle‐like foldamer‐containing switch that can adopt, after chemical stimulus, either a contracted co‐conformational state or a degenerate‐like state for which a slow exchange occurred between the contracted and the stretched state.
3D printed fabrication of ultra‐structured composites of carbonyl iron powder@carbon@carbon black/polylactic acid for efficient microwave absorption
Authors: Gao Qi , Ye Xicong , He Enyi , Yan Tangming , Wang Yuemei , Ye Yongsheng , Wu Haihua
Published: July 2024

Designing an electromagnetic wave absorber that can meet the needs of wide frequency, high efficiency, wide‐angle absorption and strong mechanical bearing capacity is still a challenge. In this paper, a core‐shell structure Carbonyl iron powder (CIP)@Carbon (C)@Carbon black (CB) composite material was prepared by coating and vacuum carbonization process. Using it as a filler, PLA as a matrix to prepare 3D printing composites. The unique structure and material distribution of CIP@C@CB gives the composite a variety of loss mechanisms that greatly improve microwave absorption capacity. Superstructure electromagnetic wave absorbers with integrating broadband microwave absorption and good mechanical bearing performance were designed and prepared by using CIP@C@CB/PLA 3D printing composites. By optimizing the parameters of this superstructure absorber, an EAB of 5.5–18 GHz is realized, and its yield limit reaches 11.5 MPa. In addition, the superstructure absorber also has excellent wide‐angle absorption capacity, with an effective absorption bandwidth (EAB) of 10GHz at 0°–40° transverse radio (TE) and 0–70° transverse magnetic wave (TM). This research offers a straightforward and effective method for crafting broadband wide‐angle absorbers that possess the added advantage of mechanical load‐bearing capacity.

Highlights

The core‐shell structure was prepared by coating and carbonization processes.

The unique structure of CIP@C@CB enhances the interfacial polarization effect.

At a thickness of 2 mm, 30% CIP@C@CB/PLA achieves a maximum EAB of 5.0 GHz.

The stepped structure achieves 90% effective absorption in the 5.5–18 GHz range.
A study of college students' perspectives on marriage immigration: Relationships of multicultural acceptance
Authors: Chiang Nein‐Tsu , Ma Hsiang‐Yu , Kao Rui‐Hsin , Kao Jui‐Chung
Published: July 2024

The objectives of this study were to explore the multicultural acceptance of college students toward new immigrants and its influencing factors, the cognitive discrepancy between college students and new immigrants, and the reasons why college students exhibit prejudice, stereotypes, and social distance toward new immigrants. The questionnaire survey approach was applied for data collection. It was found that the stereotype of college students toward new immigrants was relatively positive. College students recorded a high multicultural acceptance toward new immigrants. However, in addition to the stereotype of college students toward new immigrants, there were significant differences regarding the cognition of college students and new immigrants. The results of this study confirmed the hypothesis that stereotype, prejudice, and social distance have significantly negative influence on multicultural acceptance. The findings of this study revealed that Taiwan is an immigrant society, and there should be greater tolerance and respect for married immigrants, to prevent conflicts between different ethnic groups. A good multicultural education would help Taiwan society accept new immigrants and establish social harmony.
Anthraquinones as organophotoredox catalysts for atom transfer radical polymerization via sequential absorption of visible light
Authors: Fu Jianmin , Liu Xiaoxia , Wu Zichen , Wei Donglei , Chen Hou , Bai Liangjiu , Wang Wenxiang , Yang Huawei , Yang Lixia
Published: July 2024

Anthraquinones have been used as the organophotoredox catalysts to catalyze metal‐free atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) under visible light irradiation. Polymers with different molecular weight and molecular weight distribution were obtained under different reaction conditions. The “living”/controlled nature of the polymerization was confirmed by the kinetic study, light on/off experiment and the block copolymer synthesis. The anthraquinones are found to catalyze ATRP via redox mechanism via sequential absorption of visible light. Evidence supported by control experiments showed that the excited anthraquinone radical anion or semiquinone anion generated by photo‐induced single electron reduction or subsequent protonation and further reduction were responsible for the initiation/activation of the polymerization.
Quantification of interfacial adhesion of multilayer polymeric films using a custom‐built instrumented machine
Authors: Noh Kwanghae , Pham Hoang , Sue Hung‐Jue
Published: July 2024

A modified tape peel test method to determine the integrity and interlayer adhesion within a soft multi‐layer polymeric film is proposed. The new methodology will greatly improve two inconsistent and highly operator dependent ASTM D3359 and ISO 2409 tests for evaluating coating layer adhesion. The proposed test method uses an instrumented machine to make a crosshatch pattern with controlled penetration depth for consistency in the sample preparation. To ensure consistency, the processes of attaching, rubbing, and peeling a tape are automated using the same instrumented machine to allow for repeatable and operator independent test. Finally, the visual assessment to rank adhesion strength of the multi‐layer films, as instructed in the above standards, are now quantified using a mathematical reduction of the interfacial adhesion in the multilayer films based on the energy conservation principle. With the quantified interfacial adhesion obtained, meaningful structure–property relationships of soft multilayer films can be established. The proposed test is expected to be also applicable for other interfacial adhesion studies on different types of polymeric laminates.
Olivine nanoparticles for Fast Atmospheric CO2 capture at Ambient Conditions
Authors: Iozzia Manuel L. , Goto Francesco , Podestà Alessandro , Vecchi Roberta , Calloni Alberto , Lenardi Cristina , Bussetti Gianlorenzo , Di Vece Marcel
Published: July 2024

To mitigate climate change, CO2 sequestration from the atmosphere is being considered as a method to reduce its greenhouse effect and subsequently lower the Earth's surface temperature. A promising approach is the storage of CO2 in minerals, of which Olivine is a promising candidate due to its Earth abundance and high CO2 absorption capacity, which is of the order of 50 wt.%. A bottleneck for Olivine carbonation is the slow reaction rate at ambient conditions, which previously resulted in supplying CO2 at extreme pressures and temperatures to force carbonation. In this study, nanoscale Olivine particles are fabricated, which due to their high surface‐to‐volume ratio, reach a very high carbonation conversion at a time scale of minutes at ambient conditions. The carbonation is measured by X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), which yielded both the presence of carbonates as well as information on the Olivine oxidation state, in agreement with electron diffraction analysis. This work forms the basis for employing Olivine nanoparticles, as fabricated by the relatively simple method of magnetron sputtering, to capture CO2 from the atmosphere at economic conditions.
First‐Principles Studies of Structural, Mechanical, Electronic, and Optical Properties of CsCuO
Authors: Liu Jing , Liu Qi‐Jun , Liu Zheng‐Tang , Bai Zhi‐Xin
Published: July 2024

This study presents a comprehensive analysis of the orthorhombic CsCuO, focusing on its structural, electronic, mechanical, and optical properties, which uses the first‐principles plane wave pseudopotential technique and local density approximation methods based on density functional theory. The derived structural parameters closely match the previously reported experimental data. The calculated results show that CsCuO is mechanically stable and exhibits a certain toughness. Research on electronic properties shows that CsCuO is a direct‐bandgap semiconductor. Charge density and population analysis show that covalent bonds are formed between O and Cu. The optical property results show that CsCuO has good passability to incident light, indicating that CsCuO is an excellent transparent material. In the visible and infrared light regions, CsCuO has a low absorption coefficient, mainly manifested as ultraviolet absorption. Reflection is mainly distributed in the high‐energy region and does not exceed 25% in the visible light region. It can be used in fields that require less light reflection and the manufacture of medical ultraviolet disinfection equipment.
On the robustness of methods to account for background bias in data assimilation to uncertainties in the bias estimates
Authors: Fowler Alison M.
Published: July 2024

Fundamental to the theory of data assimilation is that the data (i.e., the observations and the background) provide an unbiased estimate of the true state. There are many situations when this assumption is known to be far from valid; and without bias correction (BC), significant biases will be present in the resulting analysis. Here, we compare two methods to account for biases in the background that do not require a change to the data assimilation algorithm: explicit BC and covariance inflation (CI). When the background bias is known perfectly it is clear that the BC method outperforms the CI method, in that it can completely remove the effect of the background bias whereas the CI method can only reduce it. However, the background bias can only be estimated when unbiased observations are available. A lack of unbiased observations means that the estimate of the background bias will always be subject to sample errors and structural errors due to poor assumptions about how the bias varies in space and time. Given these difficulties in estimating the background bias, the robustness of the two methods in producing an unbiased analysis is studied within an idealised linear system. It is found that the CI method is much less sensitive to errors in the background bias estimate and that a smooth estimate of the bias is crucial to the success of the BC method. However, the CI method is more sensitive to uncorrected biases in the observations.
Joint estimation of sea ice and atmospheric state from microwave imagers in operational weather forecasting
Authors: Geer Alan J.
Published: July 2024

Satellite‐observed microwave radiances provide information on both surface and atmosphere. For operational weather forecasting, information on atmospheric temperature, humidity, cloud, and precipitation is inferred directly using all‐sky radiance data assimilation. In contrast, information on the surface state, such as sea‐surface temperature (SST) and sea‐ice concentration (SIC), is typically provided through third‐party retrieval products. Scientifically, this is a sub‐optimal use of the observations, and practically it has disadvantages such as time delays of more than 48 h. A better solution is to estimate the surface and atmospheric state jointly from the radiance observations. This has not been possible until now, due to incomplete knowledge of the surface state and the radiative transfer that links this to the observed radiances. A new approach based on an empirical state and an empirical sea‐ice surface emissivity model is used here to add sea‐ice state estimation, including SIC, to the European Centre for Medium‐range Weather Forecasts atmospheric data assimilation system. The sea‐ice state is estimated using augmented control variables at the observation locations. The resulting SIC estimates are of good quality and they highlight apparent defects in the existing OCEAN5 sea‐ice analysis. The SIC estimates can also be used to track giant icebergs, which may provide a novel maritime application for passive microwave radiances. Further, the SIC estimates should be suitable for onward use in coupled ocean–atmosphere data assimilation. There is also increased coverage of microwave observations in the proximity of sea ice, leading to improved atmospheric forecasts out to day 4 in the Southern Ocean.
Solid‐State Qubit as an On‐Chip Controller for Non‐Classical Field States
Authors: Zakharov Roman V. , Tikhonova Olga V. , Klenov Nikolay V. , Soloviev Igor I. , Antonov Vladimir N. , Yakovlev Dmitry S.
Published: July 2024

A basic element of a quantum network based on two single‐mode waveguides is proposed with different frequencies connected by a solid‐state qubit. Using a simple example of a possible superconducting implementation, the usefulness of the simplifications used in the general theoretical consideration has been justified. The non‐classical field in a single‐mode with a frequency of is fed to the input of a qubit controller and transformed into a non‐classical field in an output single‐mode with a frequency of . The interface can establish a quantum connection between solid‐state and photonic flying qubits with adjustable pulse shapes and carrier frequencies. This allows quantum information to be transferred to other superconducting or atomic‐based quantum registers or chips. The peculiarities of the wave‐qubit interactions are described, showing how they help to control the quantum state of the non‐classical field. On this basis, the operating principles of solid‐state and flying qubits for the future quantum information platforms are considered.
Severe lupus pneumonitis: A case of life‐saving multimodal therapy with rituximab and corticosteroids
Authors: Aarabi Amirhossein , McGinn Stella
Published: July 2024

Severe lupus pneumonitis is a rare and life‐threatening complication of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), characterized by its rapid progression and high mortality rate. This case report describes the clinical trajectory and therapeutic management of a young Aboriginal female with established lupus nephritis who developed severe lupus pneumonitis. Despite her stable renal condition under long‐term immunosuppressive treatment, she experienced acute respiratory distress, leading to her admission to the intensive care unit and subsequent mechanical ventilation. The diagnostic process was complicated by the difficulty in obtaining tissue biopsies, necessitating reliance on clinical judgement and radiological evidence to formulate a diagnosis. The patient was treated with pulsed intravenous methylprednisolone followed by rituximab infusions, resulting in significant clinical and radiological improvement. This case highlights the importance of early and intensive immunosuppressive therapy in the management of severe lupus pneumonitis and underscores the utility of a multidisciplinary approach in overcoming diagnostic ambiguities. Furthermore, it contributes to the growing body of evidence supporting the efficacy of rituximab in severe lupus pneumonitis cases, offering insights into potential therapeutic avenues when conventional management strategies are inadequate or unsuitable.
Covariate‐adjusted generalized pairwise comparisons in small samples
Authors: Jaspers Stijn , Verbeeck Johan , Thas Olivier
Published: July 2024

Semiparametric probabilistic index models allow for the comparison of two groups of observations, whilst adjusting for covariates, thereby fitting nicely within the framework of generalized pairwise comparisons (GPC). As with most regression approaches in this setting, the limited amount of data results in invalid inference as the asymptotic normality assumption is not met. In addition, separation issues might arise when considering small samples. In this article, we show that the parameters of the probabilistic index model can be estimated using generalized estimating equations, for which adjustments exist that lead to estimators of the sandwich variance‐covariance matrix with improved finite sample properties and that can deal with bias due to separation. In this way, appropriate inference can be performed as is shown through extensive simulation studies. The known relationships between the probabilistic index and other GPC statistics allow to also provide valid inference for example, the net treatment benefit or the success odds.
Trisodium Citrate as a Double‐Edged Sword: Selective Etching Prussian Blue Analog Nanocubes into Orthogonal Frustums and Their Derivatives for Supercapacitors
Authors: Cui Xin , Ma Fangwei , Lei Guangping , Jiang Wei , Yang Xiaoyang , Liu Zeyi , Wan Jiafeng , Liu Yifu
Published: July 2024

The construction of novel structured Prussian blue analogs (PBAs) by chemical etching has attracted the most attention to PBA derivatives with outstanding performance. In this work, the unprecedented PBA orthogonal frustums are first prepared from nanocubes through a selective chemical etching approach using trisodium citrate as an etchant. The citrate ions can chelate with nickel species from the edges/corners of NiCo‐PBA nanocubes and then disintegrate NiCo‐PBAs resulting in the generation of NiCo‐PBA orthogonal frustums. The derived CoNi2S4/Co0.91S composites still inherit the original orthogonal frustum structure and possess outstanding supercapacitor performance. This study develops a popularized method to construct novel structured PBAs and brings inspiration for designing PBA‐based electrodes with advanced electrochemical performance.
An analytical survey of cyber‐physical systems in water treatment and distribution: Security challenges, intrusion detection, and future directions
Authors: Gulzar Qawsar , Mustafa Khurram
Published: July 2024

Since the inception of the Industrial 4.0 revolution, industrial cyber‐physical systems (CPSs) have become integral to critical infrastructures and industrial sectors, including water treatment and distribution systems. Integrating physical and digital worlds has made communication systems within these plants—comprising actuators, sensors, and controllers—vulnerable to advanced cyber‐attacks. Safeguarding the nation's critical infrastructure has thus attracted significant interest from both academia and industry. This article thoroughly examines water treatment and distribution CPSs, detailing their architectural design, devices, applications, and security standards. It analyzes various cyber‐attacks and explores CPS security vulnerabilities and their detection and mitigation techniques. Additionally, it reviews the trends in machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL) intrusion detection system (IDS) solutions, highlighting their advantages and disadvantages. The article evaluates current datasets and testbeds, identifying some of the best‐performing IDS algorithms tested on each dataset compared to previous research, which could serve as benchmarks in this field. Finally, it proposes data augmentation techniques to generate comprehensive datasets, identifies research gaps, and suggests potential improvements to enhance IDS performance.
Comparative shear performance of ultra high‐performance concrete filled pocket and longitudinal trough connector of PC composite girder with full‐depth deck
Authors: Yuan Aimin , Miao Xinge , Chen Qi , Wang Xi , Kong Hu , Wang Keqin , Wang Jingquan
Published: July 2024

Prestress concrete composite girders with full‐depth precast bridge deck panels (PC composite girders) have been widely utilized in civil engineering due to their high production quality, reduced construction duration, potential weight reduction, and lower life‐cycle cost. The interface shear behavior in ultra high‐performance concrete (UHPC)–normal concrete (NC) connection interface of full‐depth deck PC composite girder has been extensively studied. This study conducted seven push‐off tests to examine the shear performance of UHPC‐filled joints between precast I‐girders and full‐depth precast concrete slabs. The testing variables included the quantity, and spacing of the Ubars, as well as the type of UHPC‐filled joints (longitudinal trough connector or pocket connector). The experimental results show the quantity and spacing of Ubars have a significant impact on both the interface shear capacity and residual shear resistance. For continuous shear connectors with reserved notches specimens, the ultimate load of the 4Ubar and 6Ubar specimens increased by 93% and 194%, respectively, compared with the 2Ubar specimens. With the increase of the spacing of the Ubar, the ultimate load will decrease. When the spacing between Ubars increases from 100 to 150 mm, the normalized ultimate load decreases by 51 kN. The type of joints also plays a crucial role in determining the ultimate shear‐bearing capacity of the specimens. The Ubars in pocket connector specimens will provide a greater contribution to the ultimate shear bearing capacity than longitudinal trough connector specimens and the ultimate stress of the 4Ubar and 6Ubar pocket connector specimens are greater than that of the longitudinal trough connector specimens by 232% and 323%. The study introduces the concept of pulling angle. In the experiment, the specimen with a large length is less affected by the pulling force. The experimental results in this study can rarely be predicted well by typical equations developed in current design codes and previous studies. Therefore, a more accurate equation was developed to predict the interface shear transfer stress between precast common concrete I‐girder and full‐depth precast concrete slab with UHPC‐filled joints.
Inflammatory eye disease is a risk factor for future microscopic colitis: A nationwide population‐based matched case control study
Authors: Bergman David , Ebrahimi Fahim , Sun Jiangwei , Norin Cecilia , Mollazadegan Kaziwe , Ludvigsson Jonas F.
Published: July 2024

Background

Microscopic colitis (MC) is an inflammatory disorder of the colon. To date, the relationship between inflammatory eye diseases and MC is unclear.

Objective

To assess whether inflammatory eye disease (iridocyclitis and episcleritis) is a risk factor for MC.

Methods

We conducted a nationwide matched case control study in Sweden leveraging the ESPRESSO‐study (a Swedish database containing data on all biopsies from the gastrointestinal tract from 1965 to 2017). In total, we identified 14,338 patients with biopsy‐verified MC (diagnosed from 1981 to 2017). Patients with MC were matched (by age, sex, county and year of birth) with 68,753 controls from the general population and the occurrence of preceding inflammatory eye diseases (defined as diagnosis of episcleritis or iridocyclitis) in the two groups was compared. Multivariable adjusted odds ratios (aORs) were calculated using conditional logistic regression conditioned on the matching variables.

Results

A majority of patients with MC were women (71.9%) and the median age at MC diagnosis was 63.3 years (interquartile range (IQR) = 50.7–72.6). Some 225 (1.6%) MC patients had an earlier record of inflammatory eye disease compared with 614 (0.9%) in controls. These figures corresponded to an aOR of 1.77 (95% CI = 1.52–2.07) for inflammatory eye diseases in patients with MC. Compared to siblings, the aOR for previous inflammatory eye diseases in MC was 1.52 (95% CI = 1.17–1.98) and patients treated with budesonide, as a proxy for clinically significant disease, had a somewhat higher aOR for previous inflammatory eye diseases.

Conclusion

Inflammatory eye diseases are more common in patients subsequently being diagnosed with MC. Our findings highlight that these conditions may have shared causes and inflammatory pathways and are of clinical interest to gastroenterologists, ophthalmologists and general practitioners.