bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
WegenerNet climate station network region Feldbach, Austria: network structure, processing system, and example results
Authors: Kabas T. , Leuprecht A. , Bichler C. , Kirchengast G.
Published: March 2011

Abstract. The WegenerNet climate station network is a pioneering weather and climate observation experiment at very high resolution in southeastern Austria. The network comprises 151 meteorological stations within a limited area of approximately 20 km × 15 km centered near the town of Feldbach. Measurements include the parameters air temperature, relative humidity, precipitation amount, and others at selected stations (e.g. wind and soil parameters). The temporal sampling is 5 min except 30 min sampling of soil measurements. All data pass a Quality Control System and the provided data products include station data (~1.4 km × 1.4 km grid) and gridded data (1 km × 1 km and 0.01° × 0.01° grids) on various temporal scales (from 5 min to annual). For application purposes all data are available in near real time (data latency less than 1–2 h in standard operation) via the WegenerNet data portal (www.wegenernet.org).
How errors on meteorological variables impact simulated ecosystem fluxes: a case study for six French sites
Authors: Zhao Y. , Ciais P. , Peylin P. , Viovy N. , Longdoz B. , Bonnefond J. M. , Rambal S. , Klumpp K. , Olioso A. , Cellier P. , Maignan F. , Eglin T. , Calvet J. C.
Published: March 2011

Abstract. We analyze how biases of meteorological drivers impact the calculation of ecosystem CO2, water and energy fluxes by models. To do so, we drive the same ecosystem model by meteorology from gridded products and by ''true" meteorology from local observation at eddy-covariance flux sites. The study is focused on six flux tower sites in France spanning across a 7–14 °C and 600–1040 mm yr−1 climate gradient, with forest, grassland and cropland ecosystems. We evaluate the results of the ORCHIDEE process-based model driven by four different meteorological models against the same model driven by site-observed meteorology. The evaluation is decomposed into characteristic time scales. The main result is that there are significant differences between meteorological models and local tower meteorology. The seasonal cycle of air temperature, humidity and shortwave downward radiation is reproduced correctly by all meteorological models (average R2=0.90). At sites located near the coast and influenced by sea-breeze, or located in altitude, the misfit of meteorological drivers from gridded dataproducts and tower meteorology is the largest. We show that day-to-day variations in weather are not completely well reproduced by meteorological models, with R2 between modeled grid point and measured local meteorology going from 0.35 (REMO model) to 0.70 (SAFRAN model). The bias of meteorological models impacts the flux simulation by ORCHIDEE, and thus would have an effect on regional and global budgets. The forcing error defined by the simulated flux difference resulting from prescribing modeled instead than observed local meteorology drivers to ORCHIDEE is quantified for the six studied sites and different time scales. The magnitude of this forcing error is compared to that of the model error defined as the modeled-minus-observed flux, thus containing uncertain parameterizations, parameter values, and initialization. The forcing error is the largest on a daily time scale, for which it is as large as the model error. The forcing error incurring from using gridded meteorological model to drive vegetation models is therefore an important component of the uncertainty budget of regional CO2, water and energy fluxes simulations, and should be taken into consideration in up-scaling studies.
A new mechanism for the two-step δ18O signal at the Eocene-Oligocene boundary
Authors: Tigchelaar M. , von der Heydt A. S. , Dijkstra H. A.
Published: March 2011

Abstract. The most marked step in the global climate transition from "Greenhouse" to "Icehouse" Earth occurred at the Eocene-Oligocene (E-O) boundary, 33.7 Ma. Evidence for climatic changes comes from many sources, including the marine benthic δ18O record, showing an increase by 1.2–1.5‰ at this time. This positive excursion is characterised by two steps, separated by a plateau. The increase in δ18O values has been attributed to rapid glaciation of the Antarctic continent, previously ice-free. Simultaneous changes in the δ13C record are suggestive of a greenhouse gas control on climate. Previous modelling studies show that a decline in pCO2 beyond a certain threshold value may have initiated the growth of a Southern Hemispheric ice sheet. These studies were not able to conclusively explain the remarkable two-step profile in δ18O. Furthermore, they considered changes in the ocean circulation only regionally, or indirectly through the oceanic heat transport. The potential role of global changes in ocean circulation in the E-O transition has not been addressed yet. Here a new interpretation of the δ18O signal is presented, based on model simulations using a simple coupled 8-box-ocean, 4-box-atmosphere model with an added land ice component. The model was forced with a slowly decreasing atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration. It is argued that the first step in the δ18O record reflects a shift in meridional overturning circulation from a Southern Ocean to a bipolar source of deep-water formation, which is associated with a cooling of the deep sea. The second step in the δ18O profile occurs due to a rapid glaciation of the Antarctic continent. This new mechanism is a robust outcome of our model and is qualitatively in close agreement with proxy data.
Discharge estimation in a backwater affected meandering river
Authors: Hidayat H. , Vermeulen B. , Sassi M. G. , Torfs P. J. J. F. , Hoitink A. J. F.
Published: March 2011

Abstract. Variable effects of backwaters complicate the development of rating curves at hydrometric measurement stations. In areas influenced by backwater, single-parameter rating curve techniques are often inapplicable. To overcome this, several authors have advocated the use of an additional downstream level gauge to estimate the longitudinal surface level gradient, but this is cumbersome in a lowland meandering river with considerable transverse surface level gradients. Recent developments allow river flow to be continuously monitored through velocity measurements with an acoustic Doppler current profiler (H-ADCP), deployed horizontally at a river bank. This approach was adopted to obtain continuous discharge estimates at a cross-section in the River Mahakam at a station located about 300 km upstream of the river mouth in the Mahakam delta. The discharge station represents an area influenced by variable backwater effects from lakes, tributaries and floodplain ponds, and by tides. We applied both the standard index velocity method and a recently developed methodology to obtain a continuous time-series of discharge from the H-ADCP data. Measurements with a boat-mounted ADCP were used for calibration and validation of the model to translate H-ADCP velocity to discharge. As a comparison with conventional discharge estimation techniques, a stage-discharge relation using Jones formula was developed. The discharge rate at the station exceeded 3300 m3 s−1. Discharge series from a traditional stage-discharge relation did not capture the overall discharge dynamics, as inferred from H-ADCP data. For a specific river stage, the discharge range could be as high as 2000 m3 s−1, which is far beyond what could be explained from kinematic wave dynamics. Backwater effects from lakes were shown to be significant, whereas the river-tide interaction may impact discharge variation in the fortnightly frequency band. Fortnightly tides cannot easily be isolated from river discharge variation, which features similar periodicities.
Inversion of Schlumberger resistivity sounding data from the critically dynamic Koyna region using the Hybrid Monte Carlo-based neural network approach
Authors: Maiti S. , Gupta G. , Erram V. C. , Tiwari R. K.
Published: March 2011

Abstract. Koyna region is well-known for its triggered seismic activities since the hazardous earthquake of M=6.3 occurred around the Koyna reservoir on 10 December 1967. Understanding the shallow distribution of resistivity pattern in such a seismically critical area is vital for mapping faults, fractures and lineaments. However, deducing true resistivity distribution from the apparent resistivity data lacks precise information due to intrinsic non-linearity in the data structures. Here we present a new technique based on the Bayesian neural network (BNN) theory using the concept of Hybrid Monte Carlo (HMC)/Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) simulation scheme. The new method is applied to invert one and two-dimensional Direct Current (DC) vertical electrical sounding (VES) data acquired around the Koyna region in India. Prior to apply the method on actual resistivity data, the new method was tested for simulating synthetic signal. In this approach the objective/cost function is optimized following the Hybrid Monte Carlo (HMC)/Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) sampling based algorithm and each trajectory was updated by approximating the Hamiltonian differential equations through a leapfrog discretization scheme. The stability of the new inversion technique was tested in presence of correlated red noise and uncertainty of the result was estimated using the BNN code. The estimated true resistivity distribution was compared with the results of singular value decomposition (SVD)-based conventional resistivity inversion results. Comparative results based on the HMC-based Bayesian Neural Network are in good agreement with the existing model results, however in some cases, it also provides more detail and precise results, which appears to be justified with local geological and structural details. The new BNN approach based on HMC is faster and proved to be a promising inversion scheme to interpret complex and non-linear resistivity problems. The HMC-based BNN results are quite useful for the interpretation of fractures and lineaments in seismically active region.
The Development of Context-Based English Learning Resources for Elementary Schools in Central Java
Authors: Faridi Abdurrachman
Published: March 2011

The teaching of English as a local content subject in elementary schools in Central Java is aimed at giving students the skills to verbalize simplesentences. Students are also expected to be able to accommodate sociocultural aspects of their environments in their learning. However, some of theteachers still find it difficult to understand the place of English as a local content subject in the curriculum. Something should be done to update theteachers' abilities to cope with the curriculum, especially to develop English education instructional materials. This study focuses on five primaryobjectives: (1) to further investigate the model of teaching English as a local content subject at elementary schools in Central Java; (2) conduct a needsassessment for teaching English; (3) evaluate teachers' abilities to develop materials in English; (4) design a model of materials for teaching English; and(5) evaluate the effectiveness of the model. Two hundred English teachers from 200 elementary schools in Central Java participated in this study and wereselected using a purposive random sampling method. The study was supported through coordination efforts of the Central Java Provincial Office ofEducation. An interactive approach was used to analyze the data and help the author contact the respondents to clarify or confirm the data collected.Experimental research and expert judgments were used to test the model.
Developing and Using Open Education Resources to Support Teacher Education in Africa
Authors: Mugimu Christopher B.
Published: March 2011

This article presents findings of action research during the creation and dissemination process of open education resources (OERs) to support pre-service and in-service teachers in Uganda and other African countries. It highlights the perceptions of teachers and the authoring team of the impact of their involvement in materials creation and dissemination on their practice and professional growth. It also presents lessons learned during the development and implementation process and the best practices for replicating this outreach program in Uganda and beyond. This article also shares insights into how the OERs can boost or contribute to effective teaching and learning especially in under-resourced school situations in Africa, and also shares experiences on best practices on creating the authoring team of OERs.
Preservice Teacher Preparation in International Contexts: A Case-Study Examination of the International Student Teacher Programs
Authors: Jacob W. James , Swensen Deborah L. , Hite Julie M. , Erickson Lynnette B. , Tuttle Marie
Published: March 2011

This article examines the teacher preparation experiences of preservice teachers in six international contexts: China, Fiji, Kiribati, Mexico, Samoa, and Tonga. More specifically, it looks at the value-added components in an international teacher education program, with an emphasis on effective teaching and employability. Theoretically the study is based on Straus and Corbin’s (1998a) substantive grounded theory and Patton’s (1997) Theory of Action Framework. Verbal and non-verbal forms of feedback were identified as essential aspects of the international preservice training experience. Cultural diversity, teaching English as a second language, collaboration, and exposure to a different educational system were identified among several components as advantages to individuals who conduct their preservice teacher training in international settings.
Ropivacaina 0.5% vs Levobupivacaina 0.5 Endoscopic Urological Surgery
Authors: Fasciolo Alessandro , Baldini Claudio
Published: March 2011

Aim

Subarachnoid anaesthesia has been demonstrated to be safe and effective in elderly patients. Isobaric Ropivacaine 0.5% has been recently introduced for subarachnoid anaesthesia: aim of our trial is to compare this drug with 0.5 Levobupivacaine in elderly patients scheduled for endoscopic urological surgery.

Methods

Premedication: Atropine 0.5 mg + Fenotiazine 50 mg im. Lumbar intrathecal anaesthesia, Group L (n=25) receiving Levobupivacaine 15 mg, Group R (n=25) receiving Ropivacaine 18.05 mg (relative motor blocking potency ratio Ropivacaine / Levobupivacaine = 0.83). Statistical analisys: Bonferroni test and variance analisys.

Results

NO statistically relevant differences between the 2 groups in terms of antropometric characteristics, onset time and duration of sensitive and motor block, perioperative complications, postoperative analgesic consumption and customer satisfaction. Large presence of comorbidities in the studied population.

Discussion

The presence of cases of subtotal anaesthetic coverage (with necessity to recur to general anaesthesia), and others with good anaesthetic coverage, but difficultly treatable hypotensions show that the best dosage of these local anaesthetics is to be found yet. The indications to use a standard dosage for every patient have to be re-evalutated. As positive point, very important the postoperative fast recovery from under limb motor block. A longer recovery time (typical with hyperbaric local anaesthetics) was frequently cause of cognitive alterations in a population of elderly patients.
Transrectal Ultrasound Assessment of Anastomosis after Videolaparoscopic Radical Prostatectomy: Our Experience
Authors: Franzoso Francesco , Confalonieri Silvia , Scuzzarella Salvatore , Piacentini Igor , Fortuna Flavio , Bianchi Achille , Colapaoli Luca
Published: March 2011

Background

Trans-Rectal UltraSound (TRUS) has proved to be an accurate procedure comparable to that of Fluoro-cystography (FC) to assess vesicourethral anastomosis after radical prostatectomy, with the advantages of lower costs, no radiation exposure and no dependence on the radiology department.

Methods

60 Video Laparoscopic Radical Prostactomies (VLRP) were performed at our institution between September 2008 and January 2010. All patients underwent anatomosis assessment on postoperative day 6 with TRUS (Aloka A7 US ma-chine with endorectal end-fire probe). 200 ml of sterile saline was manually instilled into the bladder by an assistant, while TRUS visualization of anastomosis was carried out by an urologist. The test was considered positive if any expanding anechoic shadow developed beside the anastomosis. In case of negative test the catheter was removed. In case of positive test the catheter was left in place and reassessment was performed every 5–7 days with both TRUS and FC, until negative result.

Results

At the initial TRUS assessment we had 4 positive and 56 negative tests. Three out of the four patients with a positive test had a second assessment on p.o. day 14, which gave a negative result. The 4th positive case had a positive second assessment on p.o. day 14 and a third negative one on p.o. day 21. In a total of 20 assessments both TRUS and FC were performed. The results of the two procedures were always in accordance.

Conclusions

We have introduced TRUS assessment of vesicourethral anastomosis after laparoscopic radical prostatectomy as a routine procedure in our department. We are planning a comparative study, using FC as the gold standard, for validation purposes.
The Look into the Look: How Patients' Suffering is Perceived by Health Workers
Authors: Bazzana Emanuela , Spada Simonetta , Braibanti Paride , Lembo Antonino
Published: March 2011

The literature about the surgical treatment of the urologic patient shows an increased attention to the outcome measures related to the quality of life and satisfaction of the treated subject. In this context, a crucial position must be attributed to the quality of the relationships among all the subjects involved in the therapeutic process, and especially among caregivers and patients. Cognitive and emotional dimensions play an important role at this regard, to which a spread sensitivity as for the “local culture” of care must correspond. The aim of this study is to identify the health workers’ perception and representation of the cognitive and emotional needs of the patients and their relationship with the organizational complexity of the department. The study was implemented in the Urology Department of the Ospedali Riuniti in Bergamo. It involved eleven health workers (two medical doctors and nine nurses). Each of them underwent a semi-structured interview. The anonymous interview transcripts were analyzed using the T-Lab thematic content analysis program (15). The study highlighted sensitive areas such as: informative dialogue with the patient, reactivity facing the intervention according to gender, the subject's self-adapting process to the clinical environment and the organizational functioning of the department. The health workers’ need of new approaches to meet the needs of the subjects under treatment and their family is underlined. Furthermore, the requirement of consistent functional organizational changes to improve the quality of relationships in the process of care is pointed out. The health workers reported both critical situations, efforts, perceived difficulties and important relational resources to face them.
Penile Flexiflate® Surgitek Prosthesis Explant and Simultaneous Three-Component Hydraulic Titan® Alpha 1 Prosthesis Implantation, with Double Incision Technique in a Patient with Kidney and Pancreas Transplant
Authors: Pavone Carlo , Abbadessa Daniela , Leto Gioacchino , Giaimo Rosa Maria , Ascoli Riccardo , Usala Manuela , Caruana Giovanni
Published: March 2011

Introduction and Objectives

We treated a 45 years old patient, suffering from diabetes mellitus since childhood, with retinal, neurovascular and kidney complications. In 1988, for erectile dysfunction (ED) resistant to medical injective treatment, the patient underwent ligation of the dorsal vein of the penis without any result. In 1989 a Flexiflate® hydraulic prosthesis was implanted with resolution of ED. In 2005 the patient underwent simultaneous kidney and pancreas transplant with a trans-laparotomic approach for end stage renal disease and diabetes mellitus. In 2009, because of the Flexiflate® Surgitek malfunction, the patient underwent explantation of the Flexiflate® prosthesis and simultaneous implantation of a Titan® Alpha 1 prosthesis with a double surgical approach.

Material and Methods

After a penoscrotal incision and the explant of the Flexiflate® Surgitek, a Titan® Alpha 1 prosthesis was implanted with a double incision technique. The placement of two inflatable cylinders and the pump was performed by penoscrotal approach. Instead, the prosthesis’ reservoir was placed with a separate infra-pubic incision to avoid possible injury from a single trans-inguinal approach, due to the previous laparotomy.

Results

After follow-up at 9 months and 1 year the prosthesis was working well and the patient satisfied.

Conclusions

We couldn't find any related paper in the literature and as far as we know this is the only report on a simultaneous explant/implant of penile prosthesis with a double surgical approach in a patient with kidney and pancreas transplant.
Exercise and Pain Neuroscience Education for Patients With Chronic Pain After Total Knee Arthroplasty
Authors: Larsen Jesper B. , Skou Søren T. , Laursen Mogens , Bruun Niels Henrik , Arendt-Nielsen Lars , Madeleine Pascal
Published: May 2024

Importance

Up to 20% of patients develop chronic pain after total knee arthroplasty (TKA), yet there is a scarcity of effective interventions for this population.

Objective

To evaluate whether neuromuscular exercise and pain neuroscience education were superior to pain neuroscience education alone for patients with chronic pain after TKA.

Design, Setting, and Participants

A superiority randomized clinical trial was conducted at 3 outpatient clinics at Aalborg University Hospital in Denmark. Participants with moderate-to-severe average daily pain intensity and no signs of prosthesis failure at least 1 year after primary TKA were included. Participant recruitment was initiated on April 12, 2019, and completed on October 31, 2022. The 12-month follow-up was completed on March 21, 2023.

Interventions

The study included 24 sessions of supervised neuromuscular exercise (2 sessions per week for 12 weeks) and 2 total sessions of pain neuroscience education (6 weeks between each session) or the same pain neuroscience education sessions alone. The interventions were delivered in groups of 2 to 4 participants.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The primary outcome was change from baseline to 12 months using the mean score of the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score, covering the 4 subscales pain, symptoms, activity of daily living, and knee-related quality of life (KOOS4; scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating better outcomes). The outcome assessors and statistician were blinded. All randomized participants were included in the intention-to-treat analysis.

Results

Among the 69 participants (median age, 67.2 years [IQR, 61.2-71.9 years]; 40 female [58%]) included in the study, 36 were randomly assigned to the neuromuscular exercise and pain neuroscience education group, and 33 to the pain neuroscience education–alone group. The intention-to-treat analysis showed no between-group difference in change from baseline to 12 months for the KOOS4 (7.46 [95% CI, 3.04-11.89] vs 8.65 [95% CI, 4.67-12.63] points; mean difference, −1.33 [95% CI, −7.59 to 4.92]; P = .68). Among the 46 participants who participated in the 12-month assessment in the 2 groups, 16 (34.8%) experienced a clinically important improvement (a difference of ≥10 points on the KOOS4) with no between-group difference. No serious adverse events were observed.

Conclusions and Relevance

In this randomized clinical trial, the results demonstrated that neuromuscular exercises and pain neuroscience education were not superior to pain neuroscience education alone in participants with chronic pain after TKA. Approximately one-third of the participants, regardless of intervention, experienced clinically important improvements. Future studies should investigate which patient characteristics indicate a favorable response to exercises and/or pain neuroscience education.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03886259
Data from NAATP build case for value of extended residential treatment
Authors: Enos Gary
Published: May 2024

On a conference day that National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers (NAATP) CEO Marvin Ventrell dubbed “science day,” one statistic stood out to qualify as the data point of the day. The chief science officer at Cumberland Heights Foundation, an active participant in NAATP's groundbreaking Foundation for Recovery Science and Education (FoRSE) outcomes project, cited 2023 readmission statistics across all levels of care in the Nashville‐based organization. At one‐year post‐discharge, patients whose treatment stay had been shorter than 30 days had a readmission rate of 25%. For those whose stay had been longer than 30 days, the readmission rate was only 3%.
AATOD Awards: Congrats
Authors: Knopf Alison
Published: May 2024

Last week at the 2024 American Association for the Treatment of Opioid Dependence (AATOD) conference, outstanding contributions to opioid treatment were honored with the Nyswander/Dole award. Named for Vincent Dole and Marie Nyswander, who were the first recipients of the award in 1983, the honor has been bestowed on individuals who are nominated and selected by their peers for extraordinary service in the opioid treatment community. They are.
Thermally Powered Soft Gripper Covered with Silver‐Coated Nylon Fabric Heater Reinforced with Stainless Steel Yarn
Authors: Taherkhani Bahman , Çelebi Mehmet Fatih , Çetin Münire Sibel , Tuncay Atalay Asli , Ince Gökhan , Atalay Ozgur
Published: May 2024

Soft grippers, generating movement immediately, are generally based on flexible materials actuated by air pressure and comprised of bulky parts, including valves, compressors/pumps, motors, and tubes. In this work, a compact soft gripper with the ability to actuate with a low boiling point liquid (acetone) is presented. SolidWorks 2021 software and 3D printing technology are used to design and manufacture the gripper molds, respectively. The constitutive material of the soft gripper body is highly flexible Ecoflex. A silver‐coated nylon fabric (SCNF) heater reinforced with stainless steel yarn (SSY) covering the external surface of the gripper is designed and manufactured using Autocad 2021 and a laser cutting machine, respectively. The idea is inspired by floating the gripper in warm water to provide smooth heat over a large surface area. The available commercial software Abaqus2021 is used to simulate the mechanical deformation of the gripper, and its results are verified with experimental results. The parameter's effect including the voltage and low boiling liquid volume on achievable force and actuating time are investigated. The relation between the electrical, thermal, and mechanical properties of the presented gripper is discussed in detail.
Achieving High Strength and Superior Wear‐Resistant Properties in TiH2 Matrix Reinforced with Graphene Nanoplates
Authors: Yao Fusheng , Xu Kaixuan , Liu Le , Zheng Zekun , Chen Anqi , Guo Pingyi , Sun Guodong , Dong Longlong
Published: May 2024

In this work, low‐cost TiC/Ti composites with high strength‐ductility and superior abrasive resistance are fabricated using hydrogenation‐dehydrogenation powder and graphene nanoplates as raw materials via spark plasma sintering (SPS) and hot rolling (HR) processes. Effects of in situ TiC contents on the microstructure, mechanical properties and wear behavior of the TiC/Ti composites are investigated. The results indicate that the microstructure after HR is equiaxial α‐Ti grain with random orientation. The TiC/Ti composite exhibits higher strength compared to pure Ti matrix after HR. The ultimate tensile strength of the 1.82 vol% TiC/Ti composite is 1059 MPa, which represents a 49.3% increase compared to pure Ti. The coefficient of friction of the TiC/Ti composite decreases from 0.51 to 0.43 with an increase in TiC contents. The improvement of strength is attributed to refinement strengthening, dislocation strengthening and TiC load transfer. In addition, the increase of TiC contents will reduce the friction coefficient of the composites, thereby improving the wear resistance of the composites. The article proposes a cost‐effective method with good prospects for industrial applications to improve the mechanical properties and wear‐resistant properties of the titanium alloys.
Primate‐Specific DAZ Regulates Translation of Cell Proliferation‐Related mRNAs and is Essential for Maintenance of Spermatogonia
Authors: Ou Ningjing , Wang Yuci , Xu Shuai , Luo Jiaqiang , Zhang Chenwang , Zhang Yangyi , Shi Xiaoyan , Xiong Minggang , Zhao Liangyu , Ji Zhiyong , Zhang Yuxiang , Zhao Jingpeng , Bai Haowei , Tian Ruhui , Li Peng , Zhi Erlei , Huang Yuhua , Chen Wei , Wang Ruiqi , Jin Yuxuan , Wang Dian , Li Zheng , Chen Hao , Yao Chencheng
Published: May 2024

Primate‐specific DAZ (deleted in azoospermia) has evolved in the azoospermia factor c (AZFc) locus on the Y chromosome. Loss of DAZ is associated with azoospermia in patients with deletion of the AZFc region (AZFc_del). However, the molecular mechanisms of DAZ in spermatogenesis remain uncertain. In this study, the molecular mechanism of DAZ is identified, which is unknown since it is identified 40 years ago because of the lack of a suitable model. Using clinical samples and cell models, it is shown that DAZ plays an important role in spermatogenesis and that loss of DAZ is associated with defective proliferation of c‐KIT‐positive spermatogonia in patients with AZFc_del. Mechanistically, it is shown that knockdown of DAZ significantly downregulated global translation and subsequently decreased cell proliferation. Furthermore, DAZ interacted with PABPC1 via the DAZ repeat domain to regulate global translation. DAZ targeted mRNAs that are involved in cell proliferation and cell cycle phase transition. These findings indicate that DAZ is a master translational regulator and essential for the maintenance of spermatogonia. Loss of DAZ may result in defective proliferation of c‐KIT‐positive spermatogonia and spermatogenic failure.
Formulate Adaptive Biphasic Scaffold via Sequential Protein‐Instructed Peptide Co‐Assembly
Authors: Chen Yazhou , Zhang Qizheng , Yang Shenyu , Li Guanying , Shi Chaochen , Hu Xunwu , Asahina Shunsuke , Asano Natsuko , Zhang Ye
Published: May 2024

To ensure compositional consistency while mitigating potential immunogenicity for stem cell therapy, synthetic scaffolds have emerged as compelling alternatives to native extracellular matrix (ECM). Substantial progress has been made in emulating specific natural traits featuring consistent chemical compositions and physical structures. However, recapitulating the dynamic responsiveness of the native ECM involving chemical transitions and physical remodeling during differentiation, remains a challenging endeavor. Here, the creation of adaptive scaffolds is demonstrated through sequential protein‐instructed molecular assembly, utilizing stage‐specific proteins, and incorporating in situ assembly technique. The procedure is commenced by introducing a dual‐targeting peptide at the onset of stem cell differentiation. In response to highly expressed integrins and heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) on human mesenchymal stem cell (hMSC), the peptides assembled in situ, creating customized extracellular scaffolds that adhered to hMSCs promoting osteoblast differentiation. As the expression of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and collagen (COL‐1) increased in osteoblasts, an additional peptide is introduced that interacts with ALP, initiating peptide assembly and facilitating calcium phosphate (CaP) deposition. The growth and entanglement of peptide assemblies with collagen fibers efficiently incorporated CaP into the network resulting in an adaptive biphasic scaffold that enhanced healing of bone injuries.
Podocyte Pathogenic Bone Morphogenetic Protein‐2 Pathway and Immune Cell Behaviors in Primary Membranous Nephropathy
Authors: Cai Anxiang , Meng Yiwei , Zhou Hang , Cai Hong , Shao Xinghua , Wang Qin , Xu Yao , Zhou Yin , Zhou Wenyan , Chen Luonan , Mou Shan
Published: May 2024

Primary membranous nephropathy (PMN) is one of the leading causes of end‐stage renal disease, and the most frequent cause of massive proteinuria in nondiabetic adults, resulting in fatal complications. However, the underlying pathomechanisms of PMN remain largely unclear. Here, single‐cell RNA sequencing is employed to analyze kidney biopsies from eleven PMN patients and seven healthy subjects. Profiling 44 060 cells from patients allowed us to characterize the cellular composition and cell‐type‐specific gene expression in the PMN kidney. The complement‐induced BMP2/pSMAD1/COL4 pathway is identified as the pathogenic pathway in podocytes, bridging two key events, i.e., complement system activation and glomerular basement membrane thickening in PMN. Augmented infiltration and activation of myeloid leukocytes and B lymphocytes are found, profiling delicate crosstalk of immune cells in PMN kidneys. Overall, these results provide valuable insights into the roles of podocytes and immune cells in PMN, and comprehensive resources toward the complete understanding of PMN pathophysiology.
RN‐Net: Reservoir Nodes‐Enabled Neuromorphic Vision Sensing Network
Authors: Yoo Sangmnin , Lee Eric Yeu‐Jer , Wang Ziyu , Wang Xinxin , Lu Wei D.
Published: May 2024

Neuromorphic computing systems promise high energy efficiency and low latency. In particular, when integrated with neuromorphic sensors, they can be used to produce intelligent systems for a broad range of applications. An event‐based camera is such a neuromorphic sensor, inspired by the sparse and asynchronous spike representation of the biological visual system. However, processing the event data requires either using expensive feature descriptors to transform spikes into frames, or using spiking neural networks (SNNs) that are expensive to train. In this work, a neural network architecture is proposed, reservoir nodes‐enabled neuromorphic vision sensing network (RN‐Net), based on dynamic temporal encoding by on‐sensor reservoirs and simple deep neural network (DNN) blocks. The reservoir nodes enable efficient temporal processing of asynchronous events by leveraging the native dynamics of the node devices, while the DNN blocks enable spatial feature processing. Combining these blocks in a hierarchical structure, the RN‐Net offers efficient processing for both local and global spatiotemporal features. RN‐Net executes dynamic vision tasks created by event‐based cameras at the highest accuracy reported to date at one order of magnitude smaller network size. The use of simple DNN and standard backpropagation‐based training rules further reduces implementation and training costs.
Adipose‐derived mesenchymal stem cell‐incorporated PLLA porous microspheres for cartilage regeneration
Authors: Gao Chang , Yuan Wenlong , Wang Dongcheng , Zhang Xin , Zhang Tong , Zhou Zhimin
Published: May 2024

Background

In facial plastic surgery, patients with nasal deformity are often treated by rib cartilage transplantation. In recent years, cartilage tissue engineering has developed as an alternative to complex surgery for patients with minor nasal defects via injection of nasal filler material. In this study, we prepared an injectable nasal filler material containing poly‐L‐lactic acid (PLLA) porous microspheres (PMs), hyaluronic acid (HA) and adipose‐derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADMSCs).

Methods

We seeded ADMSCs into as‐prepared PLLA PMs using our newly invented centrifugation perfusion technique. Then, HA was mixed with ADMSC‐incorporated PLLA PMs to form a hydrophilic and injectable cell delivery system (ADMSC‐incorporated PMH).

Results

We evaluated the biocompatibility of PMH in vitro and in vivo. PMH has good injectability and provides a favorable environment for the proliferation and chondrogenic differentiation of ADMSCs. In vivo experiments, we observed that PMH has good biocompatibility and cartilage regeneration ability.

Conclusion

In this study, a injectable cell delivery system was successfully constructed. We believe that PMH has potential application in cartilage tissue engineering, especially in nasal cartilage regeneration.
A Dual‐Bond Crosslinking Strategy Enabling Resilient and Recyclable Electrolyte Elastomers for Solid‐State Lithium Metal Batteries
Authors: Yin Lijiang , Zhang Panpan , Yang Jun , Meng Jia , Wu Mengjing , Pu Xiong
Published: May 2024

Elastomeric solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) are highly promising to address the solid‐solid‐interface issues of solid‐state lithium metal batteries (LMBs), but compromises have to be made to balance the intrinsic trade‐offs among their conductive, resilient and recyclable properties. Here, we propose a dual‐bond crosslinking strategy for SPEs to realize simultaneously high ionic conductivity, elastic resilience and recyclability. An elastomeric SPE is therefore designed with hemiaminal dynamic covalent networks and Li+‐dissociation co‐polymer chains, where the −C−N‐ bond maintains the load‐bearing covalent network under stress but is chemically reversible through a non‐spontaneous reaction, the weaker intramolecular hydrogen bond is mechanically reversible, and the soft chains endow the rapid ion conduction. With this delicate structure, the optimized SPE elastomer achieves high elastic resilience without loading‐unloading hysteresis, outstanding ionic conductivity of 0.2 mS cm−1 (25 °C) and chemical recyclability. Then, exceptional room‐temperature performances are obtained for repeated Li plating/stripping tests, and stable cycling of LMBs with either LiFePO4 or 4.3 V‐class LiFe0.2Mn0.8PO4 cathode. Furthermore, the recycled and reprocessed SPEs can be circularly reused in LMBs without significant performance degradation. Our findings provide an inspiring design principle for SPEs to address the solid‐solid‐interface and sustainability challenges of solid‐state LMBs.
A Light‐Powered Single‐Stranded DNA Molecular Motor with Colour‐Selective Single‐Step Control
Authors: Anderson Tommy , Wu Wei , Sirbu Olga , Tong Keshao , Siti Winna , Rui Liu Xiao , Kou Bo , Murayama Keiji , Asanuma Hiroyuki , Wang Zhisong
Published: May 2024

Top‐down control of small motion is possible through top‐down controlled molecular motors in replacement of larger actuators like MEMS or NEMS (micro‐ or nano‐electromechanical systems) in the current precision technology. Improving top‐down control of molecular motors to every single step is desirable for this purpose, and also for synchronization of motor actions for amplified effects. Here we report a designed single‐stranded DNA molecular motor powered by alternated ultraviolet and visible light for processive track‐walking, with the two light colours each locking the motor in a full directional step to allow saturated driving but no overstepping. This novel nano‐optomechanical driving mechanism pushes the top‐down control of molecular motors down to every single step, thus providing a key technical capability to advance the molecular motor‐based precision technology and also motor synchronization for amplified effects.
Management of Triplet States in Modified Mononuclear Ruthenium(II) Complexes for Enhanced Photocatalysis
Authors: Liang Ping , Wang Zhaolong , Hao Siwei , Chen Kai‐Kai , Wu Kaifeng , Wei Zhanhua
Published: May 2024

Controlling the interplay between relaxation and charge/energy transfer processes in the excited states of photocatalysts is crucial for the performance of artificial photosynthesis. Metal‐to‐ligand charge‐transfer triplet states (3MLCT*) of ruthenium(II) complexes are broadly implemented for photocatalysis, but an effective means of managing the triplets for enhanced photocatalysis has been lacking. Herein, We proposed a strategy to considerably prolong the triplet excited‐state lifetime by decorating a ruthenium(II) phosphine complex (RuP‐1) with pendent polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Systematic studies demonstrate that in RuP‐4 decorated with anthracene, sub‐picosecond electron transfer from anthracene to 3MLCT* leads to a charge‐separated state that can mediate the formation of the intra‐ligand triplet state (3IL) of anthracene, resulting in an exceptionally long excited‐state up to several milliseconds. This triplet management strategy enables impressive photocatalytic reduction of CO2 to CO with a turnover number (TON) of 404, an optimized quantum yield of 43 % and 100 % selectivity, which is the highest reported performance for mononuclear photocatalysts without additional photosensitizers. RuP‐4 also catalyzes photochemical hydrogen generation under argon. This work opens up an avenue for regulating the excited‐state charge/energy flow for the development of long‐lived 3IL multi‐functional mononuclear photocatalysts to boost artificial photosynthesis.
Water vapor permeability of polymeric packaging materials for novel glass‐free photovoltaic applications
Authors: Babin Markus , Eder Gabriele C. , Voronko Yuliya , Oreski Gernot
Published: May 2024

Moisture ingress in photovoltaic (PV) modules is a critical factor for performance degradation, therefore, a low water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) is highly desirable for polymers used to embed the solar cells, including backsheets, frontsheets, and encapsulants. With the advent of glass‐free modules for integration in building envelopes and vehicles, there is growing interest in polymer composite structures with embedded glass fibers to enhance rigidity. Furthermore, due to environmental concerns, there is increased interest in fluorine‐free polymers for PV applications. In this work, 21 samples with different base polymers, coatings, and/or surface treatments are investigated and their WVTRs are measured. The results show no good alternatives to existing fluoride‐based polymers/coatings for reducing WVTRs of backsheets and frontsheets among the investigated samples. In addition, glass fibers embedded within polymers to provide increased stability to backsheets or in composites for lightweight PV are shown to significantly increase WVTRs, especially, when fibers are not properly embedded, providing additional diffusion pathways for moisture ingress.
Utility of native emission quenching of erythrosine B for the determination of diltiazem in different dosage forms
Authors: Abdel‐Lateef Mohamed A. , Darling Ryhan J. , Darwish Ibrahim A.
Published: May 2024

This study introduces a practical and cost‐effective method for tracking diltiazem (DLZ) analytically. It utilizes a fluorimetric approach that relies on the modulation of fluorescence intensity of a dye called erythrosine B. Through a one‐pot experiment performed in an acidic environment, a complex is rapidly formed between DLZ and erythrosine B. By observing the decrease in erythrosine B emission, a linear calibration plot is established, enabling the detection and quantification of DLZ concentrations ranging from 40 to 850 ng/ml. The estimated limits of detection and quantitation were 10.5 and 32.1 ng/ml, respectively. The variables affecting the DLZ‐dye complex system were carefully adjusted. The validity of the approach was confirmed through a thorough evaluation based on the criteria set by ICH guidelines. The accuracy and precision of the methodology were evaluated, and the standard deviation and relative standard deviation were below 2. The strategy was successfully employed to analyze DLZ in tablets and capsules, and no significant variation between the proposed and reported methods as the values of the estimated t‐test and F‐test at five determinations were below 2.306 and 6.338, respectively. Notably, the method adheres to the principle of green chemistry by utilizing distilled water as the dispersing medium.
Quantitation of tazemetostat in human plasma using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry
Authors: Orleni Marco , Parise Robert A. , Holleran Julianne L. , Amengual Jennifer E. , Feng Ye , Synold Timothy , Beumer Jan H.
Published: May 2024

To support a phase 1 trial in patients with lymphomas, we developed a liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) method for tazemetostat quantitation in 20 μL of human plasma. After protein precipitation, chromatographic separation employed a Kinetex C18 column and a gradient of 0.1% formic acid in both water and acetonitrile, during a 3‐min run time. Detection was achieved using a SCIEX 6500+ tandem mass spectrometer with electrospray positive‐mode ionization. Validation was based on the latest Food and Drug Administration guidance. With a stable isotopic internal standard, the assay was linear within the range of 10–5000 ng/mL and proved to be accurate (91.9%–103.7%) and precise (<4.4% imprecision). Recovery varied between 93.3% and 121.1%, and matrix effect ranged from −25.5% to −4.9%. Hemolysis, lipemia, and dilution did not impact quantitation. Plasma stability was confirmed after three freeze–thaw cycles, 24 h at room temperature, and 4 months at −80°C. Incurred sample reanalysis yielded 94.4% samples within 20% difference (n = 36). External validation showed a mean bias of −11.1%. Pharmacokinetic (PK) data obtained from three patients suggested variable concentration time profiles, warranting collection of further data. The assay proved to be suitable for tazemetostat quantitation in human plasma and will support clinical studies by defining tazemetostat PKs.
Association between the executive dysfunction and balance function in patients with stroke
Authors: Sakai Katsuya , Hosoi Yuichiro , Harada Yusuke , Kato Yuichi
Published: May 2024

Introduction

A previous study has shown an association between executive dysfunction (ED) and balance function in patients with stroke. However, it is unclear what factors mediate the association between ED and balance function. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the association between ED and balance function and to identify mediating factors using mediation analysis.

Methods

This study had a cross‐sectional design. The study included 107 patients with stroke. This study was divided into two groups (ED and non‐ED) using trail making test (TMT) part B. Two groups were compared for balance function (timed up and go test [TUGT] and Berg balance scale [BBS]) and other variables using paired test. In addition, partial correlation analysis with age, cognitive function as a control factor, and mediation analysis were also performed.

Results

The ED group (N = 55) had significantly lower TUGT and BBS scores than the non‐ED group (N = 52). TMT part B correlated with TUGT (ρ = 0.41), BBS (ρ = −0.33), and Brunnstrom recovery stage (BRS) lower limb (ρ = −0.22). The TUGT model of mediation analysis showed a significant indirect effect as a result of mediation of the BRS lower limb between TMT part B and TUGT. The BBS model showed a significant indirect effect as a result of mediation of the activities of daily living (ADL) motor function between TMT part B and BBS.

Conclusions

ED and balance function were associated, and the degree of paralysis and ADL motor function were associated with them in patients with stroke.