bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Konstantin der Große in Pisidien
Authors: Brandt Hartwin
Published: July 2017

The small contribution analyses the epigraphic evidence in the Anatolian region Pisidia regarding Constantine the Great. It is argued that Constantine probably never visited Pisidia in person but that provincial governors, their staff and local authorities were well informed of the actual imperial titulatures and the current political and ideological outlines of Constantine’s rule. During his lifetime Constantine was accepted and venerated as the leading Roman emperor in Pisidia – but not as a Christian emperor.
Faustina Minore, Avidio Cassio, Marco Aurelio
Authors: Cenerini Francesca
Published: July 2017

In this paper I shall take issue with those historical narratives (mainly from Cassius Dio and the Historia Augusta) testifying to an active political role played by Marcus Aurelius’ wife, Faustina Minor, on the occasion of the usurpation of the rector totius Orientis Avidius Cassius that took place in 175 AD. Such narratives, contradictory and partly antithetical to each other, probably aim at covering up the actual responsibilities of the revolt, given that they tend to shift the blame to a single person. It should be stressed, however, that in the II century AD the Augustae are finally credited with a concrete role in the Imperial politics, as it is emphasized by the bestowal of the title mater castrorum to Faustina Minor herself.
Palmyrena
Authors: Gnoli Tommaso
Published: July 2017

PEuphr. show that the history of Palmyra most probably had a development comparable to that of Edessa in the 3rd century. The existence of a Palmyrene dynasty of which Odenathus was not the founder reinstates a piece of news by Zosimus (1.39), which so far has been regarded with suspicion. An analysis of the three passages on Palmyra by Zosimus is proposed here (1.39, 1.44 and 50-61.1). The former two, most probably due to Deixippus, give important news about Palmyra, while the latter – a long text, a true digression – on the contrary has proven to be a collection of bookish and almost useless information as far as Palmyra is concerned. More specifically a comparison with Pan. lat. X (4).22-24 undoubtedly shows that the conflict between Aurelian and the Palmyrene generals were invented, shaped upon the narration of the battle of Turin by the rethor Nazarius in 321.
Quantitative real-time PCR analysis of Anopheles dirus TEP1 and NOS during Plasmodium berghei infection, using three reference genes
Authors: Liew Jonathan W.K. , Fong Mun Yik , Lau Yee Ling
Published: July 2017

Quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) has been an integral part of characterizing the immunity of Anopheles mosquitoes towards Plasmodium invasion. Two anti-Plasmodium factors of Anopheles, thioester-containing protein 1 (TEP1) and nitric oxide synthase (NOS), play a role in the refractoriness of Anopheles towards Plasmodium infection and are generally expressed during infection. However, these are less studied in Anopheles dirus, a dominant malaria vector in Southeast Asia. Furthermore, most studies used a single reference gene for normalization during gene expression analysis without proper validation. This may lead to erroneous quantification of expression levels. Therefore, the present study characterized and investigated the expression profiles of TEP1 and NOS of Anopheles dirus during P. berghei infection. Prior to that, the elongation factor 1-alpha (EF1), actin 1 (Act) and ribosomal protein S7 (S7) genes were validated for their suitability as a set of reference genes. TEP1 and NOS expressions in An. dirus were found to be significantly induced after P. berghei infection.
Correlated evolution of sternal keel length and ilium length in birds
Authors: Zhao Tao , Liu Di , Li Zhiheng
Published: July 2017

The interplay between the pectoral module (the pectoral girdle and limbs) and the pelvic module (the pelvic girdle and limbs) plays a key role in shaping avian evolution, but prior empirical studies on trait covariation between the two modules are limited. Here we empirically test whether (size-corrected) sternal keel length and ilium length are correlated during avian evolution using phylogenetic comparative methods. Our analyses on extant birds and Mesozoic birds both recover a significantly positive correlation. The results provide new evidence regarding the integration between the pelvic and pectoral modules. The correlated evolution of sternal keel length and ilium length may serve as a mechanism to cope with the effect on performance caused by a tradeoff in muscle mass between the pectoral and pelvic modules, via changing moment arms of muscles that function in flight and in terrestrial locomotion.
Otimização do método extração de compostos fenólicos totais em sementes de Mucuna pruriens (L.) D.C.
Authors: Parmezan Sheila Negrini , Klein Lílian , Oliveira Brás Heleno , Bovo Fernanda , Perez Elisa
Published: July 2017

Plantas do gênero Mucuna são usadas para o tratamento do Mal de Parkinson em muitos países. Estas ações farmacológicas são associadas à presença de levodopa e de compostos fenólicos, que auxiliam no potencial antioxidante da droga. O objetivo desse trabalho foi otimizar um método eficiente para o preparo de amostra a fim de quantificar a concentração de fenólicos totais (TP) em três variedades de sementes de M. pruriens pelo método de Folin-Denis. Sementes de três variedades de M. pruriens L. foram usadas. Foi utilizado planejamento fatorial 24 com ponto central (n=3) e as variáveis foram: tipo do líquido extrator; presença de HCl ou ausência; tipo de extração e tempo de extração. O preparo de amostra otimizado resultou em extração com água acidificada com HCl 1,14 M em vórtex por 5 min. O teor de TP foi 2,971 ± 0,143 mg de ácido 3-hidroxicinâmico (3-HC) % (var. cinza), 2,916 ± 0,093mg 3-HC % (var. preta) e 2,588 ± 0,120 mg 3-HC % (var. verde) em relação ao pó da semente. 
Obesidade materna associada ao tratamento com Losartan: efeitos sobre o esqueleto da prole de ratas
Authors: Kunz Regina Inês , Dos Reis Gustavo Henrique , Dos Santos Juliana Souza , Schneider Sara Cristina Sagae , Brancalhão Rose Meire Costa , Ribeiro Lucinéia De Fátima Chasko
Published: July 2017

Introdução: a obesidade, uma pandemia mundial, é uma condição clínica que se relaciona com diversas comorbidades, como a hipertensão arterial, que pode ser farmacologicamente tratada com Losartan. A complexidade da obesidade associada ao uso de medicamentos poderia programar metabolicamente diversos sistemas orgânicos, como o tecido ósseo. Objetivo: verificar os potenciais efeitos da obesidade associada ao uso de Losartan como programador metabólico sobre parâmetros histomorfométricos do tecido ósseo da prole. Metodologia: Foram utilizadas ratas Wistar, divididas em grupos controle (CTL), que recebeu ração padrão e água; e tratado (CAF+ LOS), que recebeu dieta de cafeteria ad libitum e Losartan diariamente por meio de gavagem. Aos 70 dias de vida as ratas foram submetidas ao cruzamento com machos da mesma espécie. A partir dos 21 dias de vida, a prole foi alimentada com ração padrão até os 100 dias de vida, quando 8 fêmeas de cada grupo foram pesadas e eutanasiadas. Foram coletadas e pesadas as gorduras retroperitoneal e perigonadal. Em seguida, as tíbias direitas foram coletadas e submetidas ao processamento histológico de rotina para microscopia de luz, com posterior análise de parâmetros histomorfométricos. Resultados: houve um aumento estatisticamente significativo no acúmulo de gordura perigonadal nas ratas do grupo CAF+LOS, bem como menor área do canal medular da tíbia nestas ratas em relação ao grupo CTL. Conclusão: a obesidade induzida por dieta de cafeteria associada ao uso de Losartan programou a prole por meio do aumento no acúmulo de gordura perigonadal e redução da área do canal medular da tíbia.
Cirurgia Ortognática em paciente com Fissura Labiopalatina: Relato de caso
Authors: Barreto Lucas Silva , Santos Igor Damasceno , De Carvalho Mariana Mendes , Souza Juliana Minho , Pontes Caetano Carvalho , Azevedo Roberto Almeida
Published: July 2017

Introdução: A Fissura Labiopalatina (FLP) é a malformação facial congênita mais comum, ela pode ser uni ou bilateral e decorre da falta de coalescência entre os processos palatinos e pterigopalatinos no período entre a quarta e nona semanas de vida intrauterina. Essa malformação causa alterações dentárias, esqueléticas, nutricionais e psicológicas, que interferem diretamente no desenvolvimento da fala, fonação, deglutição e estética. Ainda que se obtenha sucesso na queiloplastia e enxertia para recobrimento da fenda palatina, o paciente com FLP normalmente atinge a fase adulta com severos problemas de má oclusão. Nestes casos o tratamento ortodôntico isolado não é suficiente para correção do problema e a cirurgia ortognática é associada ao tratamento a fim de se obter uma oclusão estável, restabelecendo padrões funcionais e harmonia facial. Objetivo: O objetivo deste trabalho é relatar o caso clínico de uma paciente adulta, portadora de FLP unilateral transforame completa acompanhada pela equipe de Cirurgia e Traumatologia Buco-Maxilo-Facial (CTBMF) UFBA-OSID, no Centrinho do Hospital Santo Antônio, Obras sociais Irmã Dulce desde outubro de 1999. Relato de caso: Paciente do gênero feminino, submeteu-se a queiloplastia, enxerto autógeno de crista ilíaca em região de palato, e cirurgia ortognática, recebendo alta do Centrinho completamente reabilitada.  Conclusão: O acompanhamento precoce destes pacientes por uma equipe coesa e interdisciplinar é fundamental para o sucesso do tratamento e inserção social, as etapas de tratamento e as técnicas empregadas no Centrinho tem apresentado bons resultados quanto ao reestabelecimento estético e funcional dos pacientes portadores de FLP.
Hiperplasia unilateral do processo coronóide: relato de caso clínico
Authors: SCHNEIDER LUIS EDUARDO , SCHNEIDER KALINKA CRIVELLARO Crusius , SILVA GILBERTO MARTINS DA , Smidt RICARDO
Published: July 2017

 

A hiperplasia do processo coronóide da mandíbula é uma alteração rara que geralmente afeta pacientes do sexo masculino e está associada à limitação da abertura bucal.A sua localização anatômica, imediatamente anterior à articulação temporomandibular e intermediária entre o corpo do osso zigomático e o arco zigomático, explicam esta perda funcional, quando presente. Objetivo: relatar o caso clínico de uma paciente jovem e do sexo feminino com hiperplasia unilateral do processo coronóide. Descrição do caso: o caso de uma paciente jovem e do sexo feminino é apresentado com a peculiaridade do processo coronóide articular-se com o corpo do osso zigomático, permitindo assim a realização dos movimentos mandibulares.A ressecção cirúrgica do processo coronóide foi a opção de tratamento objetivando a solução estética que a paciente procurava. Conclusão:a  hiperplasia unilateral do processo coronóide em uma paciente do sexo feminino aos 12 anos de idade é rara e geralmente pacientes portadores destas alterações apresentam como principal característica clínica a limitação dos movimentos mandibulares. Contudo, neste caso que o processo coronoíde hiperplasiado articular-se com o corpo do osso zigomático provocando alterações morfológicas em ambas as superfícies de contato. A técnica de coronoidectomia intra bucal foi realizada, de acordo com a literatura, e o contato entre o processo corornoide da mandíbula e o corpo do osso zigomático foi removido.

 
Perfil dos óbitos por anomalias congênitas no Estado do Rio Grande do Norte no período de 2006 a 2013
Authors: Lima Iraci Duarte de , Araújo Aurigena Antunes , Medeiros Wilma Maria da Costa , Rodrigues Juciany Mesquita , Feitosa Maria Mônica , Silva Rossânia Bezerra da , Maia Eugênio Felipe Torres , Wingerter Denise Guerra
Published: July 2017

Objetivo: Analisar o perfil das Anomalias Congênitas no Estado do Rio Grande do Norte, Brasil, no período de 2006 a 2013.

Métodos:Estudo Descritivo. Os dados foram coletados do Sistema de Informação de Mortalidade. Foram estudadas Ano, tipo de malformação e de óbito, sexo, Município de residência, idade e anos de estudo da mãe, quantidade de filhos nascidos vivos e mortos, tempo gestação, tipo de gravidez e parto, tempo de vida e peso ao nascer.

Resultados:  1.216 registros de óbitos, sendo 175 fetais e 1041, não fetal. A maioria das anomalias está relacionada ao sistema cardiovascular (N=485), seguido por anomalias do sistema nervoso central (N= 273). Em relação ao tempo de vida, 558 (45,9%) dos óbitos ocorreram após o parto.

Conclusão: A principal anomalia foi a do sistema cardiovascular, pós Neonatal em mulheres que tiveram filhos mortos. O Conhecimento da realidade local é importante para organizar políticas de saúde pública.
Avaliação do nível de conhecimento de alunos de pós-graduação em Radiologia e Imaginologia sobre mucosite oral
Authors: Carvalho Eloisa Muller , Silva Milena Bortolotto Felippe , Ramos Carolina Judica , Fava Marcelo , Torres Silvia Cristina Mazeti
Published: July 2017

Este estudo observacional transversal objetivou avaliar o nível de conhecimento dos cirurgiões-dentistas, alunos de pós-graduação em Radiologia e Imaginologia da Faculdade São Leopoldo Mandic -Campinas sobre diagnóstico, prevenção e tratamento de mucosite oral induzida pelo tratamento do câncer, por meio da aplicação  um questionário. Participaram da pesquisa 54 voluntários, cirurgiões dentistas, alunos de especialização e mestrado, que responderam um questionário desenvolvido para esta pesquisa, composto de questões para caracterização do entrevistado e questões para avaliar os conhecimentos sobre mucosite. Após a coleta, os dados obtidos foram tabulados no editor de planilhas Microsoft Office Excel e submetidos a uma análise estatística descritiva e analítica das variáveis coletadas. Os resultados revelaram que quanto à auto-avaliação do conhecimento específico sobre mucosite oral foi “Regular” (44,6%) a resposta mais prevalente, seguida de “Bom” com 30,4%, “Insuficiente” com 17,9% e “Ótimo”, com 7,1%. Questionados sobre o contato com a mucosite oral na prática clínica, 62,5% dos voluntários (n:35) responderam não ter tido contato e 35,7% responderam ter tido contato com a mucosite oral (n:20). O local de conhecimento da condição foi na graduação (75%);  e quanto à conduta 12,5% realizariam o tratamento e 64,3% encaminhariam para um estomatologista; e 50% dos investigados relataram não ter tido orientação de prevenção e tratamento da mucosite oral durante o curso de Graduação. Pode se concluir que os entrevistados têm conhecimento teórico em nível médio (54,97%) sobre os conceitos mais gerais de mucosite oral; e a grande maioria (62,5%) não teve experiência clínica com esta patologia.
Danos cromossômicos e alterações nucleares em células esfoliadas do epitélio gengival de indivíduos com periodontite crônica moderada
Authors: Silva Ronaldo Carvalho , Neris Murilo Araújo , Lopes Maiza Alves , Cerqueira Eneida Moraes Marcílio , Meireles José Roberto Cardoso
Published: July 2017

Introdução: a periodontite é uma doença multifatorial que resulta primariamente da ação de bactérias nos tecidos que compõem o periodonto. O processo inflamatório que se desenvolve em consequência está associado ao aumento da proliferação celular que propicia a ocorrência de danos no material genético.  Objetivo: avaliar, com uso do teste de micronúcleo, a ocorrência de danos genéticos e alterações nucleares em indivíduos com lesões periodontais crônicas. Materiais e métodos: a amostra incluiu dez indivíduos portadores de periodontite crônica em início do tratamento no Centro de Especialidades Odontológicas (CEO) de Senhor do Bonfim/BA. Os participantes responderam a um questionário e células esfoliadas da mucosa gengival de regiões sem alterações e com periodontite crônica moderada foram coletadas. Este material foi transferido para lâmina de vidro, fixado com metanol/ácido acético (3:1), corado com reativo de Shiff e fast green e analisado sob microscopia óptica. A análise estatística foi feita com o teste condicional para comparação de proporções em situações de eventos raros. Resultados: a ocorrência de micronúcleo, alterações nucleares degenerativas (cariorréxis, cariólise, cromatina condensada, picnose) e vacúolos nucleares foi significativamente maior em células da lesão. A ocorrência de broken eggs não diferiu estatísticamente. Conclusões: a periodontite crônica é uma doença na qual há comprometimento da integridade genética das células do epitélio gengival. A maior ocorrência de alterações indicativas de apoptose na área da periodontite crônica aponta para a resposta biológica do organismo ao insulto genotóxico ao qual as células nesta lesão estão submetidas.
A produção dos jogos do faz de conta durante a rotina em sala de aula
Authors: De Bom Francine Costa
Published: July 2017

Com o objetivo de explicar como as crianças de 04 a 05 anos de idade produzem seus jogos de faz de conta, o estudo social sob o método de observação participante, acompanhou a rotina em sala de aula de duas turmas divididas em duas escolas de XXXX, uma pública e uma privada. Durante uma semana em cada escola, por meio de registro em diário de campo, foram analisadas 29 ocorrências de jogos de faz de conta, extraindo seus diálogos na íntegra. Foi possível constatar que os jogos do faz de conta acontecem em cinco etapas não estanques e com relações que interpelam entre si: (1) o pré-jogo, (2) o disparo para a ação lúdica, (3) início da execução do plano imaginário, (4) manutenção do jogo, (5) a finalização do jogo. A presença e a inter-relação das etapas asseguram os jogos do faz de conta como linguagem típica da cultura da infância.
A medicalização e suas várias faces: obstáculos e aprendizagens de um estágio de psicologia escolar
Authors: Goldstein Thaís Seltzer
Published: July 2017

O presente artigo discute o fenômeno da medicalização no campo da educação, apresentando algumas de suas expressões, consequências e correlações com modos de viver contemporâneos. Busca-se elucidar algumas confusões comumente feitas entre o ato de medicalizar, medicar e medicamentalizar. Por meio de uma contextualização social e histórica, o artigo aborda determinadas problemáticas que concorrem para o triunfo da lógica medicalizante na atualidade, não apenas na educação, mas na sociedade de um modo geral. A tentativa de descortinar algumas das faces ocultas do fenômeno visa aprofundar a reflexão sobre a construção de possibilidades ao seu enfrentamento no âmbito das práticas educativas. Para ampliar o escopo do olhar e potencializar uma relação recíproca e fecunda entre ação e reflexão, o artigo também apresenta a análise crítica de uma experiência de estágio de Psicologia Escolar, supervisionado pela autora no ano de 2014, na cidade de Santos/SP, desenvolvido no interior de uma Escola Municipal de Ensino Fundamental por um grupo de alunas do quinto ano do curso de Psicologia.
Targeting KRAS‐mutant pancreatic cancer through simultaneous inhibition of KRAS, MEK, and JAK2
Authors: Miyazaki Satoru , Kitazawa Masato , Nakamura Satoshi , Koyama Makoto , Yamamoto Yuta , Hondo Nao , Kataoka Masahiro , Tanaka Hirokazu , Takeoka Michiko , Komatsu Daisuke , Soejima Yuji
Published: October 2024

The Kirsten rat sarcoma (KRAS) oncogene was considered “undruggable” until the development of sotorasib, a KRASG12C selective inhibitor that shows favorable effects against lung cancers. MRTX1133, a novel KRASG12D inhibitor, has shown promising results in basic research, although its effects against pancreatic cancer are limited when used alone. Therefore, there is an urgent need to identify effective drugs that can be used in combination with KRAS inhibitors. In this study, we found that administration of the KRAS inhibitors sotorasib or MRTX1133 upregulated STAT3 phosphorylation and reactivated ERK through a feedback reaction. The addition of the MEK inhibitor trametinib and the JAK2 inhibitor fedratinib successfully reversed this effect and resulted in significant growth inhibition in vitro and in vivo. Analyses of sotorasib‐ and MRTX1133‐resistant cells showed that trametinib plus fedratinib reversed the resistance to sotorasib or MRTX1133. These findings suggest that the JAK2‐mediated pathway and reactivation of the MAPK pathway may play key roles in resistance to KRAS inhibitors in pancreatic cancers. Accordingly, simultaneous inhibition of KRAS, MEK, and JAK2 could be an innovative therapeutic strategy against KRAS‐mutant pancreatic cancer.
Typical Mathematical Education Cannot Predict Non‐Verbal Number Sense
Authors: Cui Jiaxin , Zhang Yiyun , Zhou Aibao , Gao Xing , Zhang Chen , Zhou Xinlin
Published: October 2024

Formal education would promote symbolic number processing ability, but the relationship between non‐symbolic number sense and mathematical education remains controversial. The current investigation hypothesized that non‐symbolic number sense is independent from the limited human experience of mathematical education, while symbolic number processing could be influenced by related closely to mathematical education. Experiment 1 compared both non‐symbolic number sense and arithmetic computation of undergraduates majoring in STEM fields and humanities. Experiment 2 compared homologous undergraduates from China and Kyrgyzstan in non‐symbolic number sense and mathematical cognitive processing. Both of two experiments found that mathematical education was significantly associated with symbolic mathematics, but not with non‐symbolic number sense. The results suggest that while mathematical education might improve symbolic mathematics, it does not alter non‐symbolic number sense.
Disparities Between Rural and Urban Communities: Response to 18 Months of Diet and Exercise Versus Control for Knee Osteoarthritis and Overweight or Obesity
Authors: Messier Stephen P. , Monroe Megan G. , Callahan Leigh F. , Mihalko Shannon L. , Beavers Daniel P. , Queen Kate , Miller Gary D. , Losina Elena , Katz Jeffrey N. , Loeser Richard F. , DeVita Paul , Hunter David J. , Quandt Sara A.
Published: October 2024

Objective

The study objective was to determine whether the clinical response of older adults with knee osteoarthritis and overweight or obesity to 18 months of diet and exercise (D + E) or attention control (C) interventions differed between participants from rural versus urban communities.

Methods

Participants were 823 older adults (mean age, 64.6 years; 77% women) with knee osteoarthritis and overweight or obesity who resided in rural (n = 410) and urban (n = 413) counties in North Carolina. All were enrolled in the Weight Loss and Exercise for Communities with Arthritis in North Carolina clinical trial that randomly assigned participants to either 18 months of D + E or C interventions. General linear models were used to examine differences in clinical outcomes between rural and urban groups after adjusting for covariates.

Results

The rural group had significant differences (P < 0.05) at baseline in clinical outcomes, education, comorbidities, medication use, and income compared with the urban dwellers. After adjusting for baseline differences, the group (rural or urban) by treatment (D + E or C) interactions for Western Ontario McMasters Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) pain (rural: D + E – C = −0.63, 95% confidence interval [CI] −1.31 to 0.06; urban: D + E − C= −0.29, 95% CI −0.99 to 0.41; P = 0.50) and WOMAC function (rural: D + E − C = −4.60, 95% CI −6.89 to −2.31; urban: D + E − C = −1.38, 95% CI −3.73 to 0.94; P = 0.054) indicated that the groups responded similarly to the interventions.

Conclusion

Among participants with knee osteoarthritis and overweight or obesity, D + E compared to C led to similar pain outcomes in rural and urban dwellers that favored D + E. The possibility that there may be greater differential efficacy in functional outcomes among rural participants needs further study.

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Unveiling the Influence of Lower‐Valence Ni in Hydroxide Co‐Catalyst and Attaining Efficient Photoanodes with FeOOH Holes Transfer Layer for Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting
Authors: Li Chunxiao , Xiao Jingran , Jia Xin , Zhao Qifeng , Du Borui , Wang Bo
Published: October 2024

Electronic structure regulation is a prevailing approach to modifying the electrocatalysts in the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), yet its impact on the co‐catalysts modified photoanodes remains uncertain. Herein, B‐modified NiFe‐LDH (NiFeB‐hydx) co‐catalyst in situ is immobilized onto Ti‐Fe2O3 and emphasizes the effect of lower‐valence Ni (Ni2‐δ) in the photoelectrochemical (PEC) process. A flexible adjustment in the oxidation state of Ni from +2 to 0 by manipulating the Ni content and the corresponding B quantity is achieved. Interestingly, the Ni0 significantly reduces the onset potential low to 0.53 VRHE, albeit leading to wasted holes due to incomplete redox transition. An optimal amount of Ni2‐δ effectively facilitates the redox transition of Ni and achieves a delicate balance between hole extraction and consumption, substantially enhancing the PEC performance. Density functional theory calculations verifies the electron enrichment of Ni and the corresponding benefits for enhancing OER. Furthermore, introducing FeOOH as a hole transfer layer on Ti‐Fe2O3 induces a pronounced band bending effect, remarkably promoting the meticulously engineered NiFeB‐hydx/FeOOH/Ti‐Fe2O3 photoanode to a photocurrent density of 3.29 mA cm−2 at 1.23 VRHE. NiFeB‐hydx/FeOOH can be universally applied to the BiVO4 photoanode, resulting in doubled photocurrent density (4.8 mA cm−2 at 1.23 VRHE).
Indium Nanoparticle‐Decorated Graphite Felt Electrodes for Efficient and Long‐Cycle Zinc‐Bromine Flow Batteries
Authors: Yang Xinmiao , Yu Junjian , Chen Jinrong , Zhou Xuelong
Published: October 2024

Zinc‐bromine flow batteries (ZBFBs) offer the potential for large‐scale, low‐cost energy storage; however, zinc dendrite formation on the electrodes presents challenges such as short‐circuiting and diminished performance. Herein, an indium nanoparticle‐decorated graphite felt composite electrode for ZBFBs is proposed to mitigate zinc dendrite formation, improve performance, and prolong operational longevity. Using a facile in situ electrodeposition method, indium nanoparticles are uniformly and densely distributed on the carbon fiber surface, demonstrating exceptional efficacy in regulating zinc deposition. Thus, a higher prevalence of Zn (002) crystal planes and a smoother and more compact surface morphology are obtained, compared with those of thermally treated graphite felt. Furthermore, integration of the composite electrode into the negative side of a ZBFB yielded substantial improvements in cell performance, achieving an energy efficiency of 66.83% ± 0.45% at 120 mA cm−2, significantly surpassing the performance of batteries utilizing thermally treated graphite felt (52.64% ± 1.50%). Notably, the cycle life of the battery is extended by more than five‐fold with the composite electrode, underscoring the remarkable zinc deposition‐regulating capabilities of the indium nanoparticles.
Sprayable Nanocomposites Hydrogel for Wound Healing and Skin Regeneration
Authors: Li Sihua , Luo Meng , Li Juntang , Huang Qian , Lei Bo
Published: October 2024

Wound management remains a critical challenge worldwide and imposes a huge financial burden on every nation. Hydrogels are promising for biomedical applications because of their extracellular matrix (ECM) like structure, good biocompatibility and multifunctional bioactivity. However, the poor mechanical properties and inconvenient operation of traditional hydrogels make it difficult to meet the complex and multifaceted needs of clinical practice. In recent years, the multifunctional nanocomposites hydrogel with especially sprayable feature have shown enhanced mechanical properties and facile operation, which enable their huge clinical applications value. A unique and powerful nanocomposite hydrogels (NCH) platform is developed by combining the many advantages of nanomaterials and hydrogels, which can achieve efficient trauma repair. This work reviews important advances on the preparation, functions and applications of sprayable NCH platforms. The challenges and future trends in the field with the aim of providing researchers with clarity on the past, present, and future of the emerging field of sprayable NCH are also proposed in detail.
A Novel Multiple Shape Memory Effect in PVDF‐Based Ferroelectric Copolymers and Terpolymers
Authors: Jin Jiayi , Wang Zhaopeng , Zhu Yuhong , Jiang Haitao , Peng Rui , Chu Baojin
Published: October 2024

Shape memory polymers (SMPs) have been extensively investigated because of their wide range of biomedical and robot applications. In most of SMPs, only one temporary shape can be formed and recovered through the mechanism of melting or glass transition. Herein, a multiple shape memory effect (mSME), i.e., formation of at least two temporary shapes, can be realized in polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF)‐based ferroelectric polymers by exploiting their expanded ferroelectric–paraelectric (F‐P) phase transition temperature range. Although P(VDF‐TrFE) (TrFE: trifluoroethylene) (55/45) copolymer is thought to be a normal ferroelectric, its ferroelectric phase transforms into a paraelectric phase through an intermediate relaxor ferroelectric‐like state and mSME is observed in this extended phase transition temperature range. By incorporating CTFE (chlorotrifluoroethylene) into P(VDF‐TrFE), P(VDF‐TrFE‐CTFE) becomes a relaxor ferroelectric with a further extended phase transition temperature range. The terpolymer exhibits improved mSME and at least three temporary shapes can be formed and recovered. A comparison of SME and structures of several PVDF‐based copolymer and terpolymers suggests that the amount of polar phase is a critical factor affecting the SME. This study not only demonstrates mSME in ferroelectric polymers, which expands their application potential, but also provides an in‐depth understanding of the shape memory mechanism of the polymers.
High‐Resolution Optical Convolutional Neural Networks Using Phase‐Change Material‐Based Microring Hybrid Waveguides
Authors: Zhu Shuguang , Zhang Zhengyang , Tang Weiwei , Xu Leijun , Han Li , Hong Jie , Yu Yiming , Li Ziying , Qin Qinghua , Liu Changlong , Zhang Libo , Ding Songyuan , He Jiale , Li Guanhai , Chen Xiaoshuang
Published: October 2024

In the More‐than‐Moore era, the explosive growth of data and information has driven the exploration of alternative non‐von Neumann computational paradigms. Photonic neuromorphic computing has emerged as a promising approach, offering high speed, wide bandwidth, and massive parallelism. Herein, a high‐resolution optical convolutional neural network (OCNN) is introduced using phase‐change material Ge2Sb2Te5 (GST)‐based microring hybrid waveguides. This on‐chip optical computing platform integrates GST into photonic devices, enabling versatile programming and in‐memory computing capabilities. Central to this platform is a photonic convolutional computational kernel, constructed from photonic switching cells embedded with GST on a microring resonator. This programmable photonic switch leverages the refractive index modulation during the GST phase transition to achieve up to 64 discrete levels of transmission contrast, suitable for representing matrix elements in neural network algorithms with 6‐bit resolution. Using these matrix elements, an OCNN capable of performing parallelized image edge detection and digital recognition tasks with high accuracy is demonstrated. The architecture is scalable for large‐scale photonic neural networks, offering ultrahigh computational throughput, a compact design, complementary metal‐oxide‐semiconductor‐compatible fabrication, and broad bandwidth.
Advancing Multi‐Ion Sensing with Poly‐Octylthiophene: 3D‐Printed Milker‐Implantable Microfluidic Device
Authors: Ali Md. Azahar , Ataei Kachouei Matin
Published: October 2024

On‐site rapid multi‐ion sensing accelerates early identification of environmental pollution, water quality, and disease biomarkers in both livestock and humans. This study introduces a pocket‐sized 3D‐printed sensor, manufactured using additive manufacturing, specifically designed for detecting iron (Fe2+), nitrate (NO3–), calcium (Ca2+), and phosphate (HPO42−). A unique feature of this device is its utilization of a universal ion‐to‐electron transducing layer made from highly redox‐active poly‐octylthiophene (POT), enabling an all‐solid‐state electrode tailored to each ion of interest. Manufactured with an extrusion‐based 3D printer, the device features a periodic pattern of lateral layers (width = 80 µm), including surface wrinkles. The superhydrophobic nature of the POT prevents the accumulation of nonspecific ions at the interface between the gold and POT layers, ensuring exceptional sensor selectivity. Lithography‐free, 3D‐printed sensors achieve sensitivity down to 1 ppm of target ions in under a minute due to their 3D‐wrinkled surface geometry. Integrated seamlessly with a microfluidic system for sample temperature stabilization, the printed sensor resides within a robust, pocket‐sized 3D‐printed device. This innovation integrates with milking parlors for real‐time calcium detection, addressing diagnostic challenges in on‐site livestock health monitoring, and has the capability to monitor water quality, soil nutrients, and human diseases.
Factors associated with diabesity in older women: A cross‐sectional investigation
Authors: Brum Karol Kaina Moraes , dos Santos Lucas , Godinho Gabriel Alves , Carneiro José Ailton Oliveira , Brito Thaís Alves , Fernandes Marcos Henrique , da Silva Coqueiro Raildo , Miranda Camille Giehl Martins
Published: October 2024

Objective

To investigate the factors associated with diabesity in older women.

Methods

This epidemiological study used a cross‐sectional design and included 196 older women (72.70 ± 7.20 years) from Jequié, Bahia, Brazil. Diabesity was defined as having both an elevated abdominal circumference (≥88 cm) and diabetes mellitus. For the inferential analyses, we constructed crude models followed by a multiple hierarchical explanatory model, with the following levels: Level 1 (socioeconomic variables), Level 2 (behavioral aspects), and Level 3 (health conditions). Poisson regression with a robust estimator was employed, and we calculated Prevalence Ratios (PR) with 95% Confidence Intervals (CI).

Results

The prevalence of abdominal obesity, diabetes mellitus, and diabesity were 79.60%, 27.80%, and 22.40%, respectively. Women who were insufficiently active had a higher likelihood of diabesity (PR: 2.04; 95% CI: 1.22–3.41), as did those who spent more time in sedentary behavior (PR: 1.81; 95% CI: 1.04–3.16), used three or more continuous medications (PR: 2.51; 95% CI: 1.29–4.89), or reported a negative self‐perception of health (PR: 2.57; 95% CI: 1.03–5.80).

Conclusion

The study identified several factors associated with diabesity in older women: insufficient physical activity, prolonged sedentary behavior, polypharmacy, and negative self‐perception of health.
3D Head Pose Estimation via Normal Maps: A Generalized Solution for Depth Image, Point Cloud, and Mesh
Authors: Wu Jiang , Chen Hua
Published: October 2024

Head pose estimation plays a crucial role in various applications, including human–machine interaction, autonomous driving systems, and 3D reconstruction. Current methods address the problem primarily from a 2D perspective, which limits the efficient utilization of 3D information. Herein, a novel approach, called pose orientation‐aware network (POANet), which leverages normal maps for orientation information embedding, providing abundant and robust head pose information, is introduced. POANet incorporates the axial signal perception module and the rotation matrix perception module, these lightweight modules make the approach achieve state‐of‐the‐art (SOTA) performance with few computational costs. This method can directly analyze various topological 3D data without extensive preprocessing. For depth images, POANet outperforms existing methods on the Biwi Kinect head pose dataset, reducing the mean absolute error (MAE) by ≈30% compared to the SOTA methods. POANet is the first method to perform rigid head registration in a landmark‐free manner. It also incorporates few‐shot learning capabilities and achieves an MAE of about on the Headspace dataset. These features make POANet a superior alternative to traditional generalized Procrustes analysis for mesh data processing, offering enhanced convenience for human phenotype studies.
Automatic Design of Robot Swarms under Concurrent Design Criteria: A Study Based on Iterated F‐Race
Authors: Garzón Ramos David , Pagnozzi Federico , Stützle Thomas , Birattari Mauro
Published: October 2024

Automatic design is an appealing approach to realizing robot swarms. In this approach, a designer specifies a mission that the swarm must perform, and an optimization algorithm searches for the control software that enables the robots to perform the given mission. Traditionally, research in automatic design has focused on missions specified by a single design criterion, adopting methods based on single‐objective optimization algorithms. In this study, we investigate whether existing methods can be adapted to address missions specified by concurrent design criteria. We focus on the bi‐criteria case. We conduct experiments with a swarm of e‐puck robots that must perform sequences of two missions: each mission in the sequence is an independent design criterion that the automatic method must handle during the optimization process. We consider modular and neuroevolutionary methods that aggregate concurrent criteria via the weighted sum, hypervolume, or ‐norm. We compare their performance with that of Mandarina, an original automatic modular design method. Mandarina integrates Iterated F‐race as an optimization algorithm to conduct the design process without aggregating the design criteria. Results from realistic simulations and demonstrations with physical robots show that the best results are obtained with modular methods and when the design criteria are not aggregated.
An early cladoxylopsid with complex vascular architecture: Paracladoxylon kespekianum gen. et sp. nov. from the Lower Devonian (Emsian) of Quebec, Canada
Authors: Chu Jessica , Durieux Thibault , Tomescu Alexandru M. F.
Published: October 2024

Premise

Cladoxylopsids, one of the first lineages with complex organization to rise from the plexus of structurally simple plants that comprised the earliest euphyllophyte floras, are moniliformopsid euphyllophytes. They formed Earth's earliest forests by the Middle Devonian and are thought to have given rise to the equisetopsids and probably some fern lineages. The Lower Devonian (Emsian) Battery Point Formation (Quebec, Canada) contains previously unrecognized cladoxylopsids preserved anatomically. One of these provides new data on structural evolution among euphyllophytes and is described here.

Methods

The anatomy and morphology of permineralized axes of the new plant were studied with light and electron microscopy on sections produced using the cellulose acetate peel technique. Morphological comparisons and phylogenetic analysis were used for taxonomic placement of the plant.

Results

The plant represents a new species, Paracladoxylon kespekianum Chu et Tomescu, gen. et sp. nov., that has tracheids with modern‐looking bordered pits and the complex cauline vascular architecture characteristic of the genus Cladoxylon. Its dissected ultimate appendages have complex regular taxis and a pattern of vascularization that suggests bilateral symmetry.

Conclusions

Paracladoxylon kespekianum is one of the largest Early Devonian euphyllophytes, among the oldest representatives of the cladoxylopsid group, and older than any species of the closely related Cladoxylon by at least 35 million years. It is also one of the oldest anatomically preserved representatives of the cladoxylopsid group. Its anatomical organization pushes the rise of complex vascular architecture among moniliformopsid euphyllophytes deeper in time than previously recognized.
Leaf mass per area: An investigation into the application of the ubiquitous functional trait from a paleobotanical perspective
Authors: Butrim Matthew J. , Lowe Alexander J. , Currano Ellen D.
Published: October 2024

Premise

Leaf mass per area (LMA) is a widely used functional trait in both neobotanical and paleobotanical research that provides a window into how plants interact with their environment. Paleobotanists have used site‐level measures of LMA as a proxy for climate, biome, deciduousness, and community‐scale plant strategy, yet many of these relationships have not been grounded in modern data. In this study, we evaluated LMA from the paleobotanical perspective, seeking to add modern context to paleobotanical interpretations and discover what a combined modern and fossil data set can tell us about how LMA can be best applied toward interpreting plant communities.

Methods

We built a modern data set by pulling plant trait data from the TRY database, and a fossil data set by compiling data from studies that have used the petiole‐width proxy for LMA. We then investigated the relationships of species‐mean, site‐mean, and site‐distribution LMA with different climatic, phylogenetic, and physiognomic variables.

Results

We found that LMA distributions are correlated with climate, site taxonomic composition, and deciduousness. However, the relative contributions of these factors are not distinctive, and ultimately, LMA distributions cannot accurately reconstruct the biome or climate of an individual site.

Conclusions

The correlations that make up the leaf economics spectrum are stronger than the correlations between LMA and climate, phylogeny, morphospace, or depositional environment. Fossil LMA should be understood as the culmination of the influences of these variables rather than as a predictor.
How Does Social Inequality Alter Relationships Between Porous Cranial Lesions and Mortality? Examining the Relationship Between Skeletal Indicators of Stress, Socioeconomic Status, and Survivorship in a Pediatric Autopsy Sample
Authors: Wyatt Bronwyn , O'Donnell Lexi
Published: October 2024

Background

In prior exploration of modern and archeological populations, lower SES has been associated with an increased risk of mortality. However, SES is often difficult to ascertain in archeological populations. Thus, explorations of skeletal lesions and their association with mortality may be subject to confounding factors that alter the strength and/or direction of this association.

Methods

The present study uses data from a modern, documented coronial pediatric dataset to examine the association between porous cranial lesions (PCLs) (cribra orbitalia [CO] and porotic hyperostosis [PH]) and age at death while controlling for SES, as inferred through housing type, with manufactured or apartment housing identified as reflecting individuals from lower SES backgrounds in this context. We include 887 (535 males, 352 females) individuals aged 0.5–20.9 years from New Mexico who died between 2011 and 2022. Kaplan–Meier survival analysis was used to assess survivorship as related to PCLs and SES.

Results

Low SES is associated with lower survivorship. CO does not have a significant association with age at death when not controlling for SES; PH alone is associated with older age at death. Disadvantaged individuals with PCLs have significantly reduced survivorship than those with higher SES.

Discussion and Conclusions

The findings of this study demonstrate that low SES results in reduced survivorship, and those with low SES and PCLs have worse survivorship than less disadvantaged individuals with PCLs. Thus, the strong contribution of SES to mortality necessitates the consideration of the sociocultural context as a confounding factor when examining associations between variables of interest (such as lesions) and mortality in both past and present populations.
Inbreeding Effect on Maternal Mortality and Fertility in the Habsburg Dynasty
Authors: Ceballos Francisco C. , Vilas Román , Álvarez Gonzalo
Published: October 2024

Objective

We investigated inbreeding effects on longevity and fertility in the House of Habsburg, one of the principal royal dynasties of Europe.

Methods

A total number of 124 Habsburg marriages, involving 107 men and 124 women, in the period of approximately 1450–1800 were considered for the analysis. Kinship and inbreeding coefficients were computed from genealogical information, which included more than 8000 individuals.

Results

We found a significant negative association between age of death and inbreeding coefficient (F) in those women who had children (regression coefficient b = −1.06, p = 0.0008). This result led us to investigate possible inbreeding effects on maternal mortality in the period of 4 weeks after the childbirth. A strong inbreeding depression on maternal survival was detected through the Kaplan–Meier curve for groups of women with different level of inbreeding (log‐rank test p = 0.0001) and the Cox proportional hazards regression analysis (hazard ratio = 2.36, p = 0.0008). Effect on fertility was also found as more inbred women had longer interbirth intervals (b = 154.66, p = 0.022). Effects of male or female inbreeding on the number of children per woman were not detected through zero‐inflated regression models suggesting that reproductive compensation might be occurring among the more inbred and less‐fecund women.

Conclusion

The effect of inbreeding in adulthood in the Habsburg lineage was at least as important as that previously reported on prereproductive survival. To our knowledge, our results are the first evidence of an inbreeding effect on maternal mortality in humans.
Actuation Performance and Versatility of Photothermally Driven Organic Crystals
Authors: Hasebe Shodai , Hagiwara Yuki , Asahi Toru , Koshima Hideko
Published: October 2024

Photomechanical crystals exhibit mechanical motion upon light irradiation and may thus find applications as actuators. Over the last decades, many photomechanical organic crystals have been developed, commonly via photochemical reactions, particularly photoisomerization. However, photochemical crystal actuation is associated with several drawbacks, including a limited number of available crystals, slow actuation speed (<5 Hz), and narrow wavelength range (<550 nm). Such constraints have hindered the widespread use of crystals as actuation materials. In this minireview, we focus on crystal actuation by employing more universal physical phenomena (the photothermal effect and photothermally resonated natural vibration) and quantitatively evaluate actuation performance. Both mechanisms, particularly the latter, outperformed conventional photomechanical crystal activation in terms of both speed (maximum: 1,350 Hz) and the useful wavelength range (ultraviolet to near‐infrared). The oscillation frequencies of the crystals exceeded those of polymers, efficiently filling the gap between soft and hard materials. Both the photothermal effect and natural vibration can actuate any crystal that absorbs light. These two versatile physical actuation mechanisms could expand 40 years of research on photomechanical crystals—which had been based on photochemical reactions—from the realm of chemistry into engineering and lead to their practical applications in actuators and soft robots.
[C^C^C]‐Type Pincer Carbene Complexes of Rhodium(III): Synthesis and Catalytic Applications
Authors: Ge Lingyun , Li Ting , Duan Yu'ai , Feng Rui , Guo Shuai
Published: October 2024

NHC pincers (NHC = N‐heterocyclic carbene), which combine the structural benefits of both carbenes and pincer platforms, have shown diverse applications, spanning from fundamental organometallic chemistry to homogeneous catalysis. Although aryl‐bridged bis(NHCs) represent the earliest developed and most studied type of NHC pincers, such [C^C^C]‐platforms have been underutilized in the synthesis of rhodium complexes. In this study, we present several less explored organorhodium(III) complexes featuring [C^C^C]‐pincers. Their synthetic route via a convenient oxidative addition approach has been explored, and the obtained cyclorhodium(III) complexes show versatile coordination geometry (square pyramidal or octahedral). Additionally, these cyclorhodium(III) complexes exhibit very different regioselectivity in catalytic alkyne hydrosilylations compared to known Rh(III) NHC catalytic systems. Finally, a few mechanistic studies have also been conducted, and a plausible mechanism was proposed.