bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
L’industrie des produits forestiers au Québec : la crise d’un modèle socio-productif
Authors: Barré Philippe , Rioux Claude
Published: February 2013

Cet article porte sur la crise qui affecte depuis plus de 20 ans l’industrie des produits forestiers du Québec. L’approche socioéconomique qui est ici suivie croise, à travers une perspective diachronique, l’analyse des marchés, des modes d’organisation du travail et de la production, et des règles de gouvernance qui s’appliquent aux entreprises de cette industrie. Le diagnostic aboutit à la conclusion que la combinaison systémique de facteurs de changements de types économique, organisationnel et institutionnel se conjugue à une crise sociale. Cette dernière, portée par différents acteurs, a conduit à remettre en cause l’action et la place qu’occupent les grandes entreprises papetières et à réformer le régime forestier du Québec avec la Loi sur l’aménagement durable du territoire forestier (2010).
Where Are All the Pediatricians?
Authors: Jordan Katherine A. , Rao Priyanka , Byerley Julie S.
Published: July 2024

This Viewpoint highlights the current decline in US medical graduates choosing pediatrics as a specialty; discusses some reasons for, and the long-term ramifications of, this decline; and suggests measures that could be taken to reverse the decline and ensure that children receive excellent care.
Household Health Care Payments Under Rate Setting, Spending Growth Target, and Single-Payer Policies
Authors: Liu Jodi L. , Girosi Federico , Lu Ruolin , Eibner Christine
Published: June 2024

Importance

Households have high burden of health care payments. Alternative financing approaches could reduce this burden for some households.

Objective

To estimate the distribution of household health care payments across income under health care reform policies.

Design, Setting, and Participants

Cross-sectional study with microsimulation used nationally representative data of the US population in 2030. Civilian, noninstitutionalized population from the 2022 Current Population Survey linked to expenditures from the 2018 and 2019 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey and 2022 National Health Expenditure Accounts were included.

Exposure

Rate regulation of hospital, physician, and other health care professional payments equal to the all-payer mean in the status quo, spending growth target at 4% annual per capita growth, and single-payer health care financed through taxes.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Household health care payments (out-of-pocket expenses, premiums, and taxes) as a share of compensation.

Results

The synthetic population contained 154 456 records representing 339.5 million individuals, with 51% female, 7% Asian, 14% Black, 18% Hispanic White, 56% non-Hispanic White, and 5% other races and ethnicities (American Indian or Alaskan Native only; Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander only; and 2 or more races). In the status quo, mean household health care payments as a share of compensation was 24% to 27% (standard error [SE], 0.2%-1.2%) across income groups (median [IQR] 22% [4%-52%] below 139% of the federal poverty level [FPL]; 21% [4%-34%] for households above 1000% FPL [11% of the population]). Under rate setting, mean (SE) payments by households above 1000% FPL increased to 29% (0.6%) (median [IQR], 22% [6%-35%]) and decreased to 23% to 25% for other income groups. Under the spending growth target, mean (SE) payments decreased from 23% to 26% (SE, 0.2%-1.2%) across income groups. Under the single-payer system, mean (SE) payments declined to 15% (0.7%) (median [IQR], 4% [0%-30%]) for those below 139% FPL and increased to 31% (0.6%) (median [IQR], 23% [3%-39%]) for those above 1000% FPL. Uninsurance fell from 9% to 6% under rate setting due to improved Medicaid access, and to zero under the single-payer system.

Conclusions and Relevance

Single-payer financing based on the current federal income tax schedule and a payroll tax could substantially increase progressivity of household payments by income. Rate setting led to slight increases in payments by higher-income households, who financed higher payment rates in Medicare and Medicaid. Spending growth targets reduced payments slightly for all households.
Nanostructuring and Hardness Evolution in a Medium‐Mn Steel Processed by High‐Pressure Torsion Technique
Authors: Gubicza Jenő , El‐Tahawy Moustafa , Huang Yi , Patra Achintya Kumar , Rösner Harald , Wilde Gerhard , Vadlamani Subramanya Sarma
Published: June 2024

Severe plastic deformation (SPD) is performed on a newly developed medium‐Mn steel with the composition of Fe–7.66Mn–2Ni–1Si–0.23C–0.05Nb (wt%) to achieve a nanocrystalline microstructure. The SPD process utilizes the high‐pressure torsion (HPT) technique, resulting in a nominal shear strain of approximately 36 000% after processing the disk for 10 turns. In X‐Ray diffraction line profile analysis, an increase in dislocation density to around 230 × 1014 m−2 is observed. In addition, under high strains, a face‐centered cubic (fcc) secondary phase emerges within the body‐centered cubic (bcc) matrix. In analytical transmission electron microscopy, using energy‐dispersive X‐Ray spectroscopy, it is indicated that the secondary‐phase particles are enriched in Al, Mn, and Si. As the strain imposed during HPT increases, the simultaneous rise in dislocation density and nanostructuring lead to material hardening. However, the partial phase transformation from bcc to fcc contributes to material softening. As a result of these two opposite effects, the hardness exhibits a non‐monotonic variation with the shear strain, displaying, for 10 turns of HPT, a lower hardness compared to fewer turns, despite the continuous increase in dislocation density and decrease in crystallite size.
Emerging Nanozymes in Neurological Disorder Therapeutics: Bridging Oxidoreductase Mimicry and Antioxidant Chemistry
Authors: Jiang Guohui , Xu Qiqi , Xie Jiani , You Yong , Cai Lulu , Zhao Long , Tang Xiaoping , Yang Hanfeng , Yong Yuan
Published: July 2024

The prevalence of neurological dieases, including neurodegenerative, neurotraumatic disorders, and neuroinflammatory conditions, has been rising due to global population and aging demographics. A key factor in the pathogenesis of these disorders is the hyperaccumulation of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS). Nanozymes have emerged as promising candidates for neurotherapeutic applications owing to their exceptional catalytic activity and stability. Of particular note is their ability to cross the blood‐brain barrier and counteract the production of reactive oxygen species via their enzyme‐mimicking characteristics. In this review, the latest advancements and theoretical knowledge in this research domain are summarized. Using the inherent functionalities of the Web of Science and bibliometric methodologies, annual publication trends are identified and extensively explored the most researched topics and neurological disorders in this field. The antioxidant reduction chemistry of the nanozymes is discussed, highlighting their ability to mimic natural oxidoreductase activity and inhibit RONS production at the source. Moreover, this review delves into the current limitations and future prospects of these mechanisms in addressing neurological disorders. The significant benefits and recent developments in the use of RONS‐regulating nanozymes for the treatment of neurological diseases are emphasized, offering insights into their therapeutic applications and broader implications for neurology.
Developing statistical models of aflatoxin risk in peanuts using historical weather data
Authors: Kim Da‐Young , Getachew Fikadu , Tillman Barry L. , Zurweller Brendan , Hammond William M. , Zare Alina , Holton Raegan , Brym Zachary
Published: June 2024

Aflatoxin contamination in peanuts (Arachis hypogaea L.) is a significant public health risk. Aflatoxin is detected postharvest after inspection of loads associated with grading at peanut buying points, leaving growers and shellers in a precarious position. Stricter limits on aflatoxin contamination could restrict the United States access to international markets. Predicting aflatoxin risk remains challenging, but improved tools could help inform postharvest storage segregation decisions and alert industry stakeholders to seasonal threats. This study aimed to develop and evaluate multiple statistical models that estimate the regional status of peanut aflatoxin contamination based on preharvest weather conditions. Our approach expanded on an existing peanut aflatoxin model for which a new geographic area and time period were tested. Weather variables served as independent variables to predict the risk of aflatoxin as the proportion of samples with greater than 20 ppb and 4 ppb aflatoxin (PGT20 [the proportion of samples with greater than 20 ppb aflatoxin] and PGT4 [the proportion of samples with greater than 4 ppb aflatoxin], respectively) across 10 counties in Georgia for 2018–2022. Best‐performing models were developed through multiple linear stepwise regression explaining more than 72% and 41% of the variability in PGT20 and PGT4, respectively. Model performance further varied whether it was a year of low or high aflatoxin incidence, with temperature observed as a key influencing factor across best‐performing models. This study established an adaptive approach to monitoring and managing aflatoxin risk through statistical predictive modeling, with output targeting farmers, industry, regulators, and public health officials. Future model development will aim to improve interpretation and confidence with in‐season aflatoxin prediction and efficacy testing of this approach across space and time.
Biomimetic cell membrane decorated ZIF‐8 nanocarriers with IR‐780 and doxorubicin loading for multiple myeloma treatment
Authors: Gao Guangtao , Che Junyi , Xu Peipei , Chen Bing , Zhao Yuanjin
Published: July 2024

Several therapeutic drugs including heptamethine cyanine dye (IR‐780), doxorubicin (DOX), and others have exhibited positive outcomes in the treatment of multiple myeloma (MM). However, curing MM is still hampered by undesired off‐target effects and uncontrolled release of the therapeutics. Herein, we present novel MM‐mimicking nanocarriers by integration of DOX, IR‐780, and MM cell membrane with zeolitic imidazolate framework‐8 (ZIF‐8) nanoparticles (D/INPs@CM) for MM treatment. The nanocarriers were fabricated by co‐loading DOX and IR‐780 into ZIF‐8 and further coated with the cell membrane. After intravenous injection, the D/INPs@CM can enter the bone marrow and target the tumor cells owing to bone marrow homing and homologous targeting properties of the MM cell membrane. Once accumulating in the tumor site, ZIF‐8 decomposed under the acid microenvironment and released the encapsulated DOX and IR‐780. As a result, D/INPs@CM showed the best MM tumor eradication performance compared to D/INPs, without displaying noticeable systemic toxicity. All these features suggest that our biomimetic nanocarriers may have great potential for the precise and targeted therapy of MM and related other hematological malignancies.
Biological regulatory network analysis for targeting the mitochondrial calcium uniporter (MCU) mediated calcium (Ca2+) transport in neurodegenerative disorders
Authors: Amjid Umar , Aziz Ubair , Habib Uzma , Jabeen Ishrat
Published: June 2024

Calcium (Ca2+) has been observed as the most important ion involved in a series of cellular processes and its homeostasis is critical for normal cellular functions. Mitochondrial calcium uniporter (MCU) complex has been recognized as the most important calcium‐specific channel located in the inner mitochondrial membrane and is one of the major players in maintaining the Ca2+ homeostasis by transporting Ca2+ across the mitochondrial membrane. Furthermore, dysregulation of the mitochondrial Ca2+ homeostasis has been orchestrated to neurodegenerative response. This necessitates quantitative evaluation of the MCU‐dependent mROS production and subsequent cellular responses for more specific therapeutic interventions against neurodegenerative disorders. Towards this goal, here we present a biological regulatory network of MCU to dynamically simulate the MCU‐mediated ROS production and its response in neurodegeneration. Previously, ruthenium complex RuRed and its derivatives have been reported to show low nM to high µM potency against MCU to maintain cytosolic Ca2+ (cCa2+) homeostasis by modulating mitochondrial Ca2+ (mCa2+) uptake. Therefore, structural modeling and dynamic simulation of MCU pore‐forming subunit is performed to probe the interaction profiling of previously reported Ru265 and its derivatives compounds with MCU. The current study highlighted MCU as a potential drug target in neurodegenerative disorders. Furthermore, ASP261 and GLU264 amino acid residues in DIME motif of MCU pore‐forming subunits are identified as crucial for modulating the activity of MCU in neurodegenerative disorders.
Survey Identifies Weed Management Challenges in Nebraska
Authors: Rackley Denice
Published: June 2024

Weed management practices and challenges in agronomic crops were assessed in two University of Nebraska Extension surveys. The updated 2019–2020 survey results were compared with those from 2014–2015 to determine the changes in weed distribution, occurrence, and grower management strategies over the four to six years. A follow‐up survey was conducted in August 2023 to asses Nebraska stakeholders’ perspectives on weed management challenges and current practices. Earn 0.5 CEUs in Integrated Pest Management by reading this article and taking the quiz at https://web.sciencesocieties.org/Learning‐Center/Courses.
Electrically active/inert dual‐function architecture enabled by screen printing grid‐like SiO2 on Cu foil for ultra‐long life lithium metal anodes
Authors: Li Dongdong , He Yue , Chen Bin , Liu Qingyi , Xu Jun , Yang Shengchen , Lai Wen‐Yong
Published: June 2024

Three‐dimensional (3D) current collectors (CCs) have emerged as an effective strategy to inhibit dendrites and ensure the safety of lithium (Li) metal anodes. However, existing 3D CCs are generally too heavy (typically tens of mg cm−2) or too thick (tens to hundreds of micrometers), making large‐scale production and further application challenging. Additionally, the use of single‐component 3D CCs, whether electrically active or inert, only exhibits limited effects on stabilizing Li anodes. Here, we present a scalable screen‐printing technique for the synthesis of ultralight (~0.4 mg cm−2) and ultrathin (~0.54 μm) SiO2 grids on Cu foil to regulate both the vertical electric field and Li‐ion concentration by forming an electrically active/inert dual‐function architecture. This technology breaks the limitations of traditional 3D CCs in material/fabrication costs, weight, thickness and especially, scalability for large‐scale fabrication. By using this dual‐function architecture, our Cu@SiO2‐grid CCs (~8.31 mg cm−2), which are even lighter than the original Cu‐foil CCs (~8.85 mg cm−2), realize an ultra‐smooth anode surface without Li dendrites, and thus leads to an ultra‐long cyclic life of over 1500 h at 1 mA cm−2. The assembled Li metal batteries demonstrate excellent capacity retention of ~80% over 400 cycles at 1 C and ~ 76% over 250 cycles at 5 C, which highlight the promising 3D CCs for practical applications.

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Drink and drive? Understanding the dynamics of youth risk‐taking
Authors: Boes Stefan , Stillman Steven
Published: June 2024

We exploit a reduction in the minimum legal drinking age (MLDA) in New Zealand from 20 to 18 to study the dynamics of youth risk‐taking. Using the universe of road accidents over 15 years and an event history approach, we find no evidence that lowering the drinking age increased alcohol‐related accidents among teens. Complementary results of a cohort analysis suggest that reducing the drinking age even led to a short‐term decline in risky driving among youths directly affected by the MLDA change but had no longer‐run impacts on youth risky driving and drinking behaviors.
Research progress on the mechanisms of pain empathy
Authors: Liu Shuangshuang , Wang Siwei , Yan Yan , Qin Bangyong , Mao Qingxiang , Yuan Jie
Published: June 2024

Recent research has highlighted the indispensability of traditional molecular biology and imaging techniques in pain research. However, the mechanisms underlying pain empathy remain unclear. Consequently, a deeper understanding of these mechanisms would greatly enhance pain management. This article aimed to scrutinize previous research findings on pain empathy, with a particular emphasis on the correlation between empathy for pain and distinct anatomical structures, such as mirror neurons, the anterior cingulate cortex, insular cortex, prefrontal cortex, and amygdala. Additionally, this study explored the involvement of endogenous systems, including oxytocin and the locus coeruleus norepinephrine system, hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis, opioid system, and 5‐hydroxylamine signaling. In conclusion, the mechanisms of pain empathy are complex and diverse, and research on pain empathy and target treatment will contribute to pain treatment.
The ethics and practice of perinatal care at the limit of viability: FIGO recommendations
Authors: Vidaeff Alex C. , Capito Lourdes , Gupte Sanjay , Antsaklis Aris ,   the FIGO Committee on the Ethical Aspects of Human Reproduction and Women's Health
Published: June 2024

An arbitrary gestational age limit of viability cannot be set, and in clinical practice the focus should be on a periviability interval—the so‐called “gray zone” of prognostic uncertainty. For cases within this interval, the most appropriate decision‐making process remains debatable and periviability has emerged as one of the greatest challenges in bioethics. Universally recognized ethical principles may be interpreted differently due to socioeconomic, cultural, and religious aspects. In the case of periviability, there is considerable uncertainty over whether interventions result in a greater balance of clinical good over harm. Furthermore, the fetus or neonate is unable to exercise autonomy and the physicians and parents will act as patient surrogates. When parents and physicians disagree about the infant's best interest, a dialogue without paternalistic attitudes is essential, whereby physicians should only offer, but not recommend, perinatal interventions. Parental choice, based on thorough information, should be respected within the limits of what is medically feasible and appropriate. When disagreements between parents and physicians occur, how is consensus to be achieved? Professional guidelines can be helpful as a framework and starting point for discussion. In reality, however, guidelines only rarely draw categorical lines and in many cases remain vague and ambiguously worded. Local ethics committees can provide counseling and function as moderators during discussions, but ethics committees do not have decision precedence. Counseling assumes the most significant role in periviability discussions, taking into consideration the particular fetal and maternal characteristics, as well as parental values. Several caveats should be observed relative to counseling: message fragmentation or inconsistence should be minimized, prognosis should preferably be presented in a positive framing, and overreliance on statistics should be avoided. It is recommended that decisions regarding neonatal resuscitation in the periviability interval be made before birth and not conditional on the newborn's appearance at birth. Regardless of decision, it is important to assure pre‐ and postnatal coherence. The present article describes how individual physicians, centers, and countries differ in the approach to the decision to initiate or forgo intensive care in the periviability interval. It is impossible to provide a global consensus view and there can be no unifying ethical, moral, or practical strategy. Nevertheless, ethically justified, quality care comprises early involvement of the obstetric and neonatal team to enable a coherent, comprehensible, nonpaternalistic, and balanced plan of care. Ultimately, physicians will need to adjust the expectations to the local standards, local outcome data, and local neonatal support availability.
Legislation strengthening Maternal and Perinatal Death Surveillance and Response systems
Authors: Ngwena Charles G. , Kismödi Eszter , Palestra Francesca , Stahlhofer Marcus , Mohan Kalyani
Published: July 2024

Historically, countries have primarily relied on policy rather than legislation to implement Maternal and Perinatal Death Surveillance and Response systems (MPDSR). However, evidence shows significant disparities in how MPDSR is implemented among different countries. In this article, we argue for the importance of establishing MPDSR systems mandated by law and aligned with the country's constitutional provisions, regional and international human rights obligations, and public health commitments. We highlight how a “no blame” approach can be regulated to provide a balance between confidentiality of the system and access to justice and remedies.
A variant on the CREST iMTD algorithm for noncovalent clusters of flexible molecules
Authors: King Nathanael J. , LeBlanc Ian D. , Brown Alex
Published: June 2024

Conformational ensemble generation and the search for the global minimum conformation are important problems in computational chemistry. In this work, a variant on the conformer‐rotamer ensemble sampling tool (CREST) iterative metadynamics (iMTD) algorithm designed for determining structural ensembles and energetics of noncovalent clusters of flexible molecules is presented. We term this new algorithm a low‐energy diversity‐enhanced variant on CREST, or LEDE‐CREST. As with CREST, the energies are evaluated using the semiempirical GFN2‐xTB extended tight binding approach. The utility of the algorithm is highlighted by generating ensembles for a variety of noncovalent clusters of flexible or rigid monomers using both CREST and LEDE‐CREST.
Left Atrial Phasic Function Impairment in Subacute and Chronic Pulmonary Embolism Patients With Different Degrees of Obstruction: An MRI Feature Tracking Study
Authors: Shen Meng‐Ting , Li Yuan , Shen Li‐Ting , Qian Wen‐Lei , Yan Wei‐Feng , Fang Han , Min Chen‐Yan , Yang Zhi‐Gang
Published: June 2024

Background

The alteration of left atrial (LA) phasic function in subacute and chronic pulmonary embolism (PE) patients is unclear.

Purpose

To investigate LA phasic strain and LA‐right ventricular (RV) interaction in subacute and chronic PE patients with different degrees of obstruction by MRI‐feature tracking (MRI‐FT).

Study Type

Retrospective.

Population

One hundred three PE patients (54 subacute [2 weeks to 3 months after initial symptoms], 49 chronic [>3 months after initial symptoms]) and 80 controls.

Field Strength/Sequence

3.0 T/balanced steady state free precession sequence.

Assessment

Patients were divided into mild (pulmonary artery obstruction index [PAOI] < 30%, N = 57), moderate (30% ≤ PAOI < 50%, N = 27), and severe (50% ≥ PAOI, N = 19) PE subgroups. LA reservoir, conduit, and active pump longitudinal strains (εs, εe, and εa) and strain rates (SRs, SRe, and SRa) and biventricular global strains were measured. Determinants of LA strains were investigated.

Statistical Tests

ANOVA, t‐tests, Mann–Whitney U tests, linear regression. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results

For both subacute and chronic PE patients, LA reservoir, conduit, and active pump strains and strain rates were significantly lower than in controls. However, there were no significant differences in LA strains between patients with subacute and chronic PE (P = 0.933, 0.625, and 0.630 for εs, εe, and εa). The severe PE subgroup had significantly higher εa and SRa than the mild and moderate PE subgroups. LA strains were significantly correlated with RV diameter and biventricular strains, and RV diameter (β = −6.836, −4.084, and −1.899 for εs, εe, and εa) was independently associated with LA strains after adjustment for other factors (R2 = 0.627, 0.536, and 0.437 for εs, εe, and εa).

Data Conclusion

LA phasic function evaluated by MRI‐FT was significantly impaired in subacute and chronic PE patients, and LA active pump function in the severe PE subgroup was higher than that in the mild and moderate PE subgroups. The independent association between RV diameter and LA strains demonstrates that RV diameter may be an important indicator for monitoring LA dysfunction in PE patients.

Evidence Level

3

Technical Efficacy

Stage 3
Association between protein‐energy malnutrition and healthcare use among adult patients after liver transplantation: A retrospective cohort study
Authors: Wang Melinda , Shui Amy M. , Rubin Jessica B. , Pyrsopoulos Nikolaos , Lai Jennifer C.
Published: June 2024

Background

Protein‐energy malnutrition is associated with poor surgical outcomes in liver transplant patients, but its impact on healthcare use has not been precisely characterized. We sought to quantify the burden of protein‐energy malnutrition in hospitalized patients undergoing liver transplantation.

Methods

Current Procedural Terminology codes were used to identify United States hospitalizations between 2011 and 2018 for liver transplantation using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample. Patients <18 years old were excluded. Protein‐energy malnutrition was identified by International Classification of Diseases Ninth and Tenth Revision codes. Multivariable regression was used to determine associations between protein‐energy malnutrition and hospital outcomes, including hospital length of stay and hospital charges/costs.

Results

Of 9856 hospitalizations, 2835 (29%) had protein‐energy malnutrition. Patients with protein‐energy malnutrition had greater comorbidity burden and in‐hospital acuity (eg, dialysis, sepsis, vasopressors, or mechanical ventilation). The adjusted median difference of protein‐energy malnutrition vs no protein‐energy malnutrition for length of stay was 6.4 days (95% CI, 5.6–7.1; P < 0.001), for hospital charges was $108,063 (95% CI, $93,172–$122,953; P < 0.001), and for hospital costs was $23,636 (95% CI, $20,390–$26,882; P < 0.001).

Conclusion

Among patients undergoing liver transplantation, protein‐energy malnutrition was associated with increased length of stay and hospital charges/costs. The additional cost of protein‐energy malnutrition to liver transplantation programs was $23,636 per protein‐energy malnutrition hospitalization. Our data justify the development of and investment in personnel and programs dedicated to reversing—or even preventing—protein‐energy malnutrition in patients awaiting liver transplantation.
Membranous nephropathy: pathogenesis and treatments
Authors: Wang Mengqiong , Yang Jingjuan , Fang Xin , Lin Weiqiang , Yang Yi
Published: June 2024

Membranous nephropathy (MN), an autoimmune disease, can manifest at any age and is among the most common causes of nephrotic syndrome in adults. In 80% of cases, the specific etiology of MN remains unknown, while the remaining cases are linked to drug use or underlying conditions like systemic lupus erythematosus, hepatitis B virus, or malignancy. Although about one‐third of patients may achieve spontaneous complete or partial remission with conservative management, another third face an elevated risk of disease progression, potentially leading to end‐stage renal disease within 10 years. The identification of phospholipase A2 receptor as the primary target antigen in MN has brought about a significant shift in disease management and monitoring. This review explores recent advancements in the pathophysiology of MN, encompassing pathogenesis, clinical presentations, diagnostic criteria, treatment options, and prognosis, with a focus on emerging developments in pathogenesis and therapeutic strategies aimed at halting disease progression. By synthesizing the latest research findings and clinical insights, this review seeks to contribute to the ongoing efforts to enhance our understanding and management of this challenging autoimmune disorder.
Automatic segmentation of spine x‐ray images based on multiscale feature enhancement network
Authors: Du Wenliao , Liu Zhenlei , Fei Heyong , Yu Jianan , Duan Xingyu , Liao Wensheng , Ji Lianqing
Published: June 2024

Background

Automatic segmentation of vertebrae in spinal x‐ray images is crucial for clinical diagnosis, case analysis, and surgical planning of spinal lesions.

Purpose

However, due to the inherent characteristics of x‐ray images, including low contrast, high noise, and uneven grey scale, it remains a critical and challenging problem in computer‐aided spine image analysis and disease diagnosis applications.

Methods

In this paper, a Multiscale Feature Enhancement Network (MFENet), is proposed for segmenting whole spinal x‐ray images, to aid doctors in diagnosing spinal‐related diseases. To enhance feature extraction, the network incorporates a Dual‐branch Feature Extraction Module (DFEM) and a Semantic Aggregation Module (SAM). The DFEM has a parallel dual‐branch structure. The upper branch utilizes multiscale convolutional kernels to extract features from images. Employing convolutional kernels of different sizes helps capture details and structural information at different scales. The lower branch incorporates attention mechanisms to further optimize feature representation. By modeling the feature maps spatially and across channels, the network becomes more focused on key feature regions and suppresses task‐irrelevant information. The SAM leverages contextual semantic information to compensate for details lost during pooling and convolution operations. It integrates high‐level feature information from different scales to reduce segmentation result discontinuity. In addition, a hybrid loss function is employed to enhance the network's feature extraction capability.

Results

In this study, we conducted a multitude of experiments utilizing dataset provided by the Spine Surgery Department of Henan Provincial People's Hospital. The experimental results indicate that our proposed MFENet demonstrates superior segmentation performance in spinal segmentation on x‐ray images compared to other advanced methods, achieving 92.61 ± 0.431 for MIoU, 92.42 ± 0.329 for DSC, and 99.51 ± 0.037 for Global_accuracy.

Conclusions

Our model is able to more effectively learn and extract global contextual semantic information, significantly improving spinal segmentation performance, further aiding doctors in analyzing patient conditions.
Silane functionalized cardanol/calcium carbonate epoxy‐reinforced polymer nanocomposites for sustainable microwave absorption applications
Authors: Sathish Kumar M. , Mandhakini M. , Jeferson Santhosh , Jayavel R.
Published: June 2024

Microwave absorption properties of epoxy resin/cardanol (ER/C) and epoxy resin/silane functionalized cardanol (ER/SFC) nanocomposites with various percentages of calcium carbonate nanoplatelets (CCNPs) studied in the frequency range of 8–18 GHz. The CCNPs obtained from the mussel shell were reinforced into a cardanol‐toughened ER matrix to mimic the composite structure of the abalone shell. The phase separation between ER, SFC, and CCNPs encapsulated in a polymer matrix was analyzed with SEM, and the presence of a low level of Fe3O4 magnetic impurities of 0.007 emu/g present as shown and verified by XRD and VSM analyses. The nanocomposites with ER/SFC/CCNPs 3 wt.% demonstrate a high surface roughness of 3.467 nm and an enhanced hydrophobicity, as indicated by a high contact angle of 102°. The silanization‐induced localization of CCNPs facilitates a mutually conducive morphology for excellent viscoelastic and microwave absorption properties. The increase in damping factor ratio of approximately 0.85 augments the microwave absorption property and it observed that ER/SFC/CCNPs 3 wt.% nanocomposites show higher reflection loss (RL) of more than 99.9% with RL of −43 dB at 12 GHz. The research aims to fabricate cost‐effective and multifunctional nanocomposites for microwave absorption applications.

Highlights

Excellent hydrophobicity owing to the surface roughness of 3.467 nm.

Maximum contact angle of 102.1° due to the reinforcement of CCNPs and SFC to the epoxy matrix.

Efficient microwave attenuation due to the reflection loss of −43 dB.

Excellent microwave absorption of 99.99% with a damping factor of 0.85.

Higher storage modulus due to the strong inter‐penetrating network of the composite.
Modulation of Thermodynamic Properties of Doped GaAs Quantum Dot under the Influence of Noise
Authors: Bhakti Bhaskar , Datta Swarnab , Ghosh Manas
Published: June 2024

In the present enquiry, an in‐depth analysis of internal energy, entropy, heat capacity, and Helmholtz free energy of GaAs quantum dot (QD) which contains Gaussian impurity as dopant and falls under the influence of applied Gaussian white noise (GWHN) is performed. GWHN takes additive and multiplicative routes for its entrance to the doped QD. In this study, highly delicate and complex interplay between temperature, presence/absence of GWHN, mode of incorporation of GWHN, and the particular physical parameters concerned is unveiled. The said interplay, in effect, designs the features of the thermal properties. The enquiry uncovers competitive behavior between thermal disorder and spatial disorder that also affects the said thermodynamic properties.
Design of Next‐Generation Tin‐Based Perovskite Photodetector with Enhanced Spectral Responsivity for Eco‐friendly Applications
Authors: Pandey Pallavi , Chaudhary Akhilesh Kumar , Verma Sudhanshu
Published: June 2024

This study introduces an environment‐friendly perovskite photodetector (PPD) utilizing the inorganic–organic perovskite CH3NH3SnI3 as the light‐absorbing layer. Perovskite materials, known for their exceptional optoelectronic properties, hold significant promise in photodetector fabrication. The proposed device architecture strategically employs NiO and TiO2 layers to facilitate efficient hole and electron transport. The CH3NH3SnI3‐based PPD demonstrates outstanding quantum efficiency across the visible spectrum, extending into infrared regions. It exhibits a responsivity of 0.68 A W−1 and a detectivity of 3.81 × 1013 Jones. Comprehensive defect and temperature analyses are performed to understand the behavior of the proposed device. These results underscore the potential of less toxic perovskite alternatives for high‐performance photodetectors. All simulations are conducted using the SCAPS‐1D simulator to ensure the validity of the findings.
Optimal resource allocation in common bus performance sharing systems with transmission loss
Authors: Gu Liudong , Wang Guanjun , Zhou Yifan
Published: June 2024

The reliability modeling and optimization of performance sharing systems (PSSs) are of vital importance due to their wide applications. Existing research mainly focuses on evaluating and maximizing the reliability of PSSs. However, in many practical systems, decision‐makers tend to prioritize the average cost of the system over its reliability. This paper studies the resource allocation optimization in common bus PSSs. In such systems, each unit has binary‐state random performance to satisfy the multi‐state random demand. The surplus performance can be shared via a common bus with transmission loss between the common bus and the unit. The performance allocation, performance transmission, and unsupplied demand incur costs. Resource allocation strategies are determined by optimization models considering different objective functions and constraints. Additionally, transmission loss between the common bus and the unit is considered. A genetic algorithm is employed to efficiently find the optimal allocation strategies. Numerical examples prove the effectiveness of the proposed models in improving system reliability and reducing system costs.
Clinical Pattern and Treatment Outcome of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis Patients in Somali Region, Eastern Ethiopia
Authors: Muse Abdilahi Ibrahim , Ibrahim Muse Obsiye , Ibrahim Muse Ahmed
Published: June 2024

Background

Neglected tropical diseases, affecting over a billion people, include leishmaniasis, a protozoan parasite found in over 20 species. It is classified into three types: visceral, cutaneous, and muco-cutaneous leishmaniasis, with cutaneous leishmaniasis being the most common. Dogs and rodents are the primary reservoirs of leishmaniasis, which is transmitted by infected female sandflies. Cutaneous leishmaniasis, found on exposed parts such as the arms, face and legs, presents with diverse clinical manifestations, including erythematous lesions, large, painless nodules, ulceration and an eventual volcanic form.

Objective

To assess the clinical pattern and treatment outcome of cutaneous leishmaniasis patients in the Somali region of eastern Ethiopia.

Methods

This descriptive study was conducted in the Somali region using neglected tropical disease surveillance data collected from 1 September 2023, to 8 February 2024. The data were cleaned and then exported to STATA version 17 for analysis.

Results

From 1 September 2023, to 8 February 2024, 900 patients were diagnosed with cutaneous leishmaniasis. Of these, 105 (11.67%) patients had localised cutaneous leishmaniasis, 741 (82.33%) had disseminated cutaneous leishmaniasis, 20 (2.22%) had diffuse cutaneous leishmaniasis, 8 (0.89%) had mucocutaneous leishmaniasis, 12 (1.33%) had mucocutaneous and disseminated leishmaniasis and 14 (1.56%) had localised and mucocutaneous leishmaniasis. All of the cases were male; the most common signs and symptoms the patients showed were papule, nodule, ulcer and crust 791 (87.89%) and itching, fever and discharges 758 (84.22%), respectively. Most of the patients, 823 (93.34%), were given systemic pentavalent antimonials, and the cure rate was 886 (98.44%). Of the patients, 14 (100%) who were defaulted on had diffuse cutaneous leishmaniasis.

Conclusions

All the participants had travelled to an area where sandflies were common. The majority of patients complained of itching, fever and discharges, with over two-thirds having disseminated cutaneous leishmaniasis (DCL) and 0.89% having mucocutaneous leishmaniasis. The regional health bureau should set up a strong surveillance system and launch educational campaigns to raise awareness about cutaneous leishmaniasis, its transmission, symptoms and preventive measures. Furthermore, patients should be advised to strictly adhere to their treatment schedule and follow-ups.
Stretchable Tissue‐Like Gold Nanowire Composites with Long‐Term Stability for Neural Interfaces
Authors: Seufert Laura , Elmahmoudy Mohammed , Theunis Charlotte , Lienemann Samuel , Li Yuyang , Mohammadi Mohsen , Boda Ulrika , Carnicer‐Lombarte Alejandro , Kroon Renee , Persson Per O.Å. , Rahmanudin Aiman , Donahue Mary J. , Farnebo Simon , Tybrandt Klas
Published: June 2024

Soft and stretchable nanocomposites can match the mechanical properties of neural tissue, thereby minimizing foreign body reactions to provide optimal stimulation and recording specificity. Soft materials for neural interfaces should simultaneously fulfill a wide range of requirements, including low Young's modulus (<<1 MPa), stretchability (≥30%), high conductivity (>> 1000 S cm−1), biocompatibility, and chronic stability (>> 1 year). Current nanocomposites do not fulfill the above requirements, in particular not the combination of softness and high conductivity. Here, this challenge is addressed by developing a scalable and robust synthesis route based on polymeric reducing agents for smooth, high‐aspect ratio gold nanowires (AuNWs) of controllable dimensions with excellent biocompatibility. AuNW‐silicone composites show outstanding performance with nerve‐like softness (250 kPa), high conductivity (16 000 S cm−1), and reversible stretchability. Soft multielectrode cuffs based on the composite achieve selective functional stimulation, recordings of sensory stimuli in rat sciatic nerves, and show an accelerated lifetime stability of >3 years. The scalable synthesis method provides a chemically stable alternative to the widely used AgNWs, thereby enabling new applications within electronics, biomedical devices, and electrochemistry.
Nanofluidic Membrane‐Assisted Organic Electrochemical Transistors for Bioinspired Gustatory Sensation Based on Selective Cation Transport
Authors: Zhang Yue , Ma Yutian , Wang Lili , Li Chunyan , Wu Lijuan , Zhong Chengcheng , Sun Bing , Chen Yupeng , Jiang Lei
Published: July 2024

Natural organisms have evolved precise sensing systems relying on unique ion channels, which can efficiently perceive various physical/chemical stimuli based on ionic signal transmission in biological fluid environments. However, it is still a huge challenge to achieve extensive applications of the artificial counterparts as an efficient wet sensing platform due to the fluidity of the working medium. Herein, nanofluidic membranes with selective cation transport properties and solid‐state organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs) with amplified signals are integrated together to mimic human gustatory sensation, achieving ionic gustatory reagent recognition and a portable configuration. Cu‐HHTP nanofluidic membranes with selective cation transport through their uniform micropores are constructed first, followed by assembly with OECTs to form the designed nanofluidic membrane‐assisted OECTs (nanofluidic OECTs). As a result, they can distinguish typically ionic gustatory reagents, and even ionic liquids (ILs), demonstrating enhanced gustatory perception performance under a wide concentration range (10−7–10−1 m) compared with those of conventional OECTs. The linear correlations between the response and the reagent concentration further indicate the promising potential for practical application as a next‐generation sensing platform. It is suggested that nanofluidic membranes mediated intramembrane cation transport based on the steric hindrance effect, resulting in distinguishable and improved response to multiple ions.
Large Area Transfer of Bismuth‐Based Layered Oxide Thin Films Using a Flexible Polymer Transfer Method
Authors: Barnard James P. , Shen Jianan , Tsai Benson Kunhung , Zhang Yizhi , Chhabra Max R. , Xu Ke , Zhang Xinghang , Sarma Raktim , Siddiqui Aleem , Wang Haiyan
Published: June 2024

Magnetic and ferroelectric oxide thin films have long been studied for their applications in electronics, optics, and sensors. The properties of these oxide thin films are highly dependent on the film growth quality and conditions. To maximize the film quality, epitaxial oxide thin films are frequently grown on single‐crystal oxide substrates such as strontium titanate (SrTiO3) and lanthanum aluminate (LaAlO3) to satisfy lattice matching and minimize defect formation. However, these single‐crystal oxide substrates cannot readily be used in practical applications due to their high cost, limited availability, and small wafer sizes. One leading solution to this challenge is film transfer. In this demonstration, a material from a new class of multiferroic oxides is selected, namely bismuth‐based layered oxides, for the transfer. A water‐soluble sacrificial layer of Sr3Al2O6is inserted between the oxide substrate and the film, enabling the release of the film from the original substrate onto a polymer support layer. The films are transferred onto new substrates of silicon and lithium niobate (LiNbO3) and the polymer layer is removed. These substrates allow for the future design of electronic and optical devices as well as sensors using this new group of multiferroic layered oxide films.
Optimizing Advanced High‐Strength Steel Joints via Regional Rapid Cooling in Resistance Spot Welding
Authors: Hıdıroglu Mehtap , Aydın Kemal , Kahraman Nizamettin
Published: June 2024

During resistance spot welding (RSW), the thermal cycles that occur cause microstructural differentiations in the heat‐affected zones of martensitic steels, leading to internal stresses. In this context, a new and innovative methodology has been developed to minimize the adverse effects of heterogeneous hardness changes in the welding area on joint durability. This methodology utilizes a unique prototype setup based on the regional rapid cooling (RRC) process, which is integrated into the welding machine and operates in synchronization with the machine during the process. Through this setup, the aim is to effectively control the microstructure and hardness values in the welding area. This innovative approach presents potential improvements in the field of welding technology by aiming to optimize material performance during the welding process. According to microstructure results, the RRC process has narrowed the heat‐affected zone to 1.27 mm, increased the hardness values by 9.2%, showed a 3% increase in tensile‐shear strength, a 9% increase in cross‐tension strength, and based on fatigue strength results, no fractures occurred in all specimens subjected to a force of 0.3 kN.
The Effect of Cryogenic Treatment on W360 and E38K Hot Work Tool Steels
Authors: Kiraz Caner , Birol Burak , Sağın Ahmet
Published: June 2024

The present study examines the impact of cryogenic treatment (CT) on W360 and E38K hot work tool steels used in forging dies, subjected to conventional heat (HT) and CTs followed by double tempering treatment. Results reveal that CT facilitates the transformation of retained austenite from 4.9% and 2.5% for W360 and E38K steels, respectively, into martensite to an undetectable limit. Also, when compared to HT, CT at −180 °C results in about 3 times higher amount of the carbide precipitation for both steel types. In contrast, a slight increment in the hardness values with decreasing treatment temperature is observed. Notch impact test results indicate higher impact energy with lower CT temperatures, particularly notable in W360 steel. Although both steel types exhibit almost similar impact energy values at room temperature, E38K steel has ≈100% higher energy at 350 °C. DCT‐treated samples show improved wear resistance at lower cryogenic temperatures. Cryotreated W360 steel displays nearly 25% less wear rate than cryotreated E38K steel. The study underscores the suitability of W360 and E38K steels for hot work applications, with CT enhancing their mechanical and microstructural performance, particularly in W360 steel due to its higher carbide density.
Urgency adjusted outcomes of emergency abdominal surgery for inflammatory bowel disease
Authors: Bunce J A , Lund J N , Tierney G M
Published: June 2024

Introduction

Patients undergoing emergency abdominal surgery for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are a complex cohort who are relatively poorly represented in published literature. This is partly due to the lack of consensus of the definition of the term emergency in IBD surgery. There is ongoing and recent work defining clinical urgency for unplanned surgical procedures and categorizing the high‐risk surgical patient. This paper aims to report the difference in patient metrics and risks as recorded by the National Emergency Laparotomy Audit (NELA).

Methods

Complete patient data, including histology, were available in the NELA database between 2013 and 2016. Urgency categories recorded by NELA are <2 h, 2–6 h, 6–18 h, and >18 h. Patient characteristics, physiology, biochemistry, and outcomes are reported according to these urgency categories with regression analysis used to compare differences between them.

Results

Mortality in Crohn's disease (CD) ranged from 1.4% in the >18 h urgency to 14.6% in the most urgent. In ulcerative colitis (UC), this range was from 3.1% to 14.8%. In both CD and UC, there were significant trends in hemodynamic instability, serum white cell count, serum electrolytes and creatinine, and outcome measures length of stay and unplanned return to theater.

Conclusions

Patients having emergency surgery for IBD are not a single cohort when considering physiology, blood biochemistry, or most importantly, outcomes. Risk counseling and management should reflect this. Hemodynamic changes are subtle and may be missed in this cohort.