bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Does Prior Nasal Airway Surgery Impact Hypoglossal Nerve Stimulation for Obstructive Sleep Apnea?
Authors: Ramprasad Vaibhav H. , Matzke Anna , Makey Lauren , Chio Eugene , Steffen Armin , Maurer Joachim T. , Heiser Clemens , Soose Ryan J.
Published: December 2024

Objective

Nasal surgery can improve patient‐reported obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) outcomes as well as adherence with medical device treatments. The aim of this study was to examine whether previous nasal surgery was associated with hypoglossal nerve stimulation (HNS) therapy outcomes.

Study Design

Retrospective observational cohort study was performed utilizing the multicenter international HNS registry (ADHERE).

Methods

Propensity score matching generated a cohort of HNS patients with prior nasal surgery (NS) and a comparable cohort without prior nasal surgery (WNS). Data included demographics and therapy outcome measures including apnea‐hypopnea index (AHI), Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), therapy use, and responder rate. Student's t‐test was used to compare normally‐distributed numeric data, Fisher's exact test to compare categorical data, and 1‐sided t‐tests to determine noninferiority.

Results

From the ADHERE dataset, 169 HNS patients were identified and matched from each cohort. AHI reduction was 21.01 ± 17.94 in the WNS cohort and 18.39 ± 16.4 in the NS cohort (P = .162). ESS reduction in the WNS cohort was 4.85 ± 4.98 and 4.48 ± 5.83 in the NS cohort (P = .528). Therapy use was similar, 5.67 ± 1.95 in WNS and 5.97 ± 2.06 in NS (P = .181). Responder rate was also similar in WNS (64.5%) and NS (62.1%) groups (P = .735).

Conclusion

Prior nasal surgery was not a predictor of HNS therapy response or adherence. Future prospective studies of HNS candidates with nasal airway obstruction may better determine the role of adjunctive nasal surgery in this population.
Direct Comparison of Low Velocity Impact Performance of Nanoclay, Boric Acid and Interlayer Hybrid Composites
Authors: Örçen Gurbet , Ünal Hasan Yavuz , Pekbey Yeliz
Published: December 2024

In this study, the low velocity impact effect of glass fiber‐reinforced laminated composites reinforced with nanoclay and boric acid was investigated. Nanoclay, boric acid, and interlayer hybrid composites were produced at 0 (pure), 0.5, 1, and 1.5 wt% with respect to epoxy resin. Laminated composites were obtained by the hand lay‐up method. Impact tests were applied to the specimens by releasing the weight. Tests were carried out with impact energies of 30, 40, 50, and 60 J to evaluate the behavior of composites under loading result in rebounding. Nano reinforcement generally increases the maximum reaction force while decreasing the impact duration, maximum displacement, and absorbed energy. As a result of all the tests performed, the reaction force increased up to 53% compared to the pure specimen, while the absorbed energy, impact duration, and maximum displacement values decreased up to 21%, 36%, and 12%, respectively. The results of the hybrid specimens in the interlayer sequence provided more changes compared to the mono‐reinforced specimens (i.e., nanoclay or boric acid). The hybrid specimen with a reinforcement ratio of 1.5 wt% impact face boric acid exhibited the greatest enhancement in impact resistance among all the tested specimens. The reaction force, which is an indicator of resistance, increased by 44%, 35%, 51% and 34% from energy level 30 to 60 J, respectively. Furthermore, the specimen exhibited the lowest values for absorbed energy, maximum displacement and impact duration.
Research on toughening of in situ polymerized polyacrylate resin for liquid composite molding
Authors: Zhu Kang , Li Yong , Jin Yue , Dong Xue , Xiao Jun
Published: December 2024

Thermoplastic polyacrylate resin, which can be polymerized in situ, has a broad application prospect. Addressing the issue of poor toughness of polyacrylate resin, a toughening method involving in situ polymerization of polyacrylate resin for liquid composite molding was presented in this paper. KH570‐modified silica nanoparticles were used as reinforcement. The study focused on the surface modification's impact on the dispersion stability of the nanoparticle suspension, the effect of nanoparticles on the reaction, and the mechanical properties of the resin. The results showed that the contact angle between modified‐silica and acrylate resin decreased from 79.3° to 9.96°, and the stability of the suspension was increased by 34.8%. With the increase of silica nanoparticles, the reaction speed of the resin initially decreased and then increased. This was due to the influence of KH570 on the surface of the nanoparticles and the changes in resin viscosity caused by the nanoparticles. The mechanical properties of polymerization products first increased and then decreased. When nanoparticles mass ratio of nanoparticle to resin was 5:100, the elongation at break was increased by 94.9%, the impact strength was increased by 287%. This paper provided some ideas for high‐performance industrial application of high‐performance in situ polymerization of polyacrylate resin.

Highlights

The thermoplastic polyacrylate resin that can be formed by liquid composite molding.

A method for improving the toughness of resin used in liquid composite molding.

Nanosilica modified with KH570 interferes with the reaction of acrylate resin.

The nanosilica changes the crack propagation path.
The Effect of Loosening Means‐Testing Requirements on Income Assistance Flows in British Columbia Canada
Authors: Petit Gillian , Tedds Lindsay
Published: December 2024

In Canada, eligibility for provincial income assistance requires applicants and recipients to pass a means test—they must have income and assets below a specified level. The “good policy” argument argues that strict means tests ensure those with sufficient income or assets cannot access nor continue on income assistance, keeping caseloads low. The “bad policy” argument argues that strict means tests reduce the ability of income assistance recipients from becoming self‐sufficient. Exploiting an increase in asset thresholds and the introduction of an earnings exemption in British Columbia, we test these hypotheses using recipient‐level data. Our findings suggest that loosening means‐testing requirements is unlikely to result in an influx in new income assistance recipients but that it could encourage re‐entry; however, it could also help recipients exit income assistance permanently.
The revival of herbal medicines
Authors: Bhamra Sukvinder Kaur
Published: December 2024

Herbal medicines are becoming more popular as people seek holistic ways to manage their health. This article discusses how people are turning to natural products in addition to or as a substitute to conventional medicines, which has led to the revival of herbal medicines.
Infant feeding problems
Authors: Moore Kirsty
Published: December 2024

Diagnosis of infant feeding problems can be challenging due to limited examination findings, few options of diagnostic tests and overlying symptoms. While contrasting colic, CMPA and reflux, this article highlights the overlapping symptoms of each condition and seeks to analyse the differences to provide a framework for diagnosis and treatment.
Opportunities to reduce liquid antibiotic prescribing in primary care
Authors: Motta Marco , Wilcock Michael
Published: December 2024

The preferred formulation of medicine for younger children is an oral liquid; however, the use of solid dose formulations rather than liquids is promoted widely, and children can successfully learn to swallow pills from the age of 4 years. This audit reviewed the approach and process of liquid antibiotic prescribing in GP practices in Cornwall and Isles of Scilly and the current opportunities and barriers to increasing the prescribing of solid dose forms of antibiotics.
Thyroid dysfunction in early psychosis: improving quality of care
Authors: Ansari Saba , Kelbrick Marlene , Jaleel Nihad , Rogers Rowena , Menzel Rose , Paduret Gabriela
Published: December 2024

People in EIP services are frequently prescribed antipsychotic medication, and often in combination with other psychotropics, all with increased risk of thyroid dysfunction. Undiagnosed and diagnosed thyroid dysfunction can have potential significant implications on both clinical outcomes and treatment for patients with early psychosis. Here, the authors present a clinical practice guideline for the management of thyroid dysfunction in EIP.
Synthesis of Fused 1,2,3‐Triazoles of Benzimidazole Using Copper (I) Catalysis; in Vitro and in Silico Studies
Authors: Modugu Saidi Reddy , Nukala Satheesh Kumar , Dasari Gouthami , Bokkala Karthik , Srinivas Bandari
Published: December 2024

In this study, we described the synthesis of some new benzimidazole‐1,2,3‐triazole hybrids (4a–n) using well‐known copper‐catalyzed CuAAC and C─H arylation cascade reactions. We validated the structures of all compounds by using 1H NMR, 13C NMR, and mass spectrometry. In vitro assessment of anticancer efficacy against breast cancer cells, such as MCF‐7 and MDA‐MB‐468, demonstrated that compounds 4d, 4e, and 4f had superior activity comparable to the standard drug Erlotinib. Furthermore, compounds 4d, 4e, and 4f have the highest inhibitory efficacy against the tyrosine kinase EGFR, relative to the reference drug Erlotinib. Molecular docking investigations of the effective compounds 4d, 4e, 4f, and 4n with EGFR showed a greater affinity for the target protein. Furthermore, the in silico pharmacokinetic profile of the potent compounds 4d, 4e, 4f, and 4n was determined by using SWISS/ADME and pkCSM, and all the four compounds obeyed Lipinski, Ghose, Veber, Egan, and Muegge guidelines without any variation.
Continuous‐Flow Photochemistry: The Synthesis of Marketed Pharmaceutical Compounds
Authors: Srivastava Vishal , Singh Praveen P. , Sinha Surabhi , Singh Pravin K. , Kumar Deepak
Published: December 2024

Chemistry professionals from all kinds of fields and disciplines in the academic and commercial sectors have recently shown a great deal of interest in continuous‐flow chemistry. Flow methods are used nowadays for rapid optimization and assessment, as well as for production and scale‐up, reaction discovery, and methodology. Photochemical processes are currently receiving a lot of attention from the scientific community, and the application of flow methods for these approaches has shown the advantages of flow chemistry and its importance in modern chemistry and industry worldwide. This study illustrates the most recent advancements and benefits of continuous flow photochemical reactions in relation to the synthesis of active pharmaceutical compounds and recommended frameworks.
3D Interlocking Metallo‐COFs as a Visible Light Responsive Photocatalyst
Authors: Khojastegi Anahita , Khosropour Ahmadreza , Auras Florian , Abbaspourrad Alireza
Published: December 2024

Woven covalent organic frameworks (COFs) offer immense potential as photoactive materials because Cu(I) complexes are periodically integrated into the COF structure via a single synthetic step. A photoactive interlocking (woven) COF featuring Cu(I) photosensitizers that are spatially isolated and periodically arranged in three dimensions has been successfully synthesized and characterized. The optoelectronic properties of this COF, such as light absorption and photocatalytic performance toward the degradation of sulfamethoxazole (SMX) under visible light, are investigated. The reusability and stability of this COF are compared with the Cu(PDB)2BF4 complex which displayed rapid deactivation and is not reusable. Conversely, The metallo‐COF is stable over several catalytic cycles, highlighting a distinct advantage of the stabilizing effects of the COF over discrete molecules.
2D Vertically Conductive Metal─Organic Framework Electrolytes: Will They Outperform 3D MOFs for Solid State Batteries?
Authors: Hong Zixin , Yuan Hao , Wu Hengcai , Sun Jianguo , Yang Jing , Zhang Yong‐Wei , Wang Jiaping , Wang John
Published: December 2024

Lithium‐ion batteries are currently the mainstream for almost all portables, and quickly expand in electrical vehicles and grid storage applications. However, they are challenged by the poor safety regarding organic liquid electrolytes and relatively low energy density. Solid‐state batteries, characterized by using solid‐state electrolytes (SSEs), are recognized as the next‐generation energy technology, owing to their intrinsically high safety and potentially superior energy density. However, developing SSEs is impeded by several key factors, including low ionic conductivity, interfacial issues, and high‐cost in industrial scales. Recently, a novel category of SSEs, known as frameworked electrolytes (FEs), has emerged as a formidable contender for the transition to all‐solid‐state batteries. FEs exhibit a unique macroscopically solid‐state nature and microscopically sub‐nanochannels offering high ionic conductivity. In this perspective, the unique lithium‐ion transport mechanisms within FEs are explored and 2D vertically conductive metal–organic framework (MOF) is proposed as an even more promising FE candidate. The abundant active sites in the 1D sub‐nanochannels of 2D vertically conductive MOFs facilitate efficient ion transport, favorable interfacial compatibility, and scalable industrial applications. This perspective aims to boost the emergence of novel SSEs, promoting the realization of long‐expected all‐solid‐state batteries and inspiring future energy storage solutions.
One‐Pot and Gram‐Scale Synthesis of Fe‐Based Nanozymes with Tunable O2 Activation Pathway and Specificity Between Associated Enzymatic Reactions
Authors: Qiu Yuwei , Cheng Tianqi , Yuan Bo , Yip Tsz Yeung , Zhao Chao , Lee Jung‐Hoon , Chou Shang‐Wei , Chen Jian Lin , Zhao Yufei , Peng Yung‐Kang
Published: December 2024

Nanozymes have recently gained attention for their low cost and high stability. However, unlike natural enzymes, they often exhibit multiple enzyme‐like activities, complicating their use in selective bioassays. Since H2O2 and O2 are common substrates in these reactions, controlling their activation—and thus reaction specificity—is crucial. Recent advances in tuning the chemical state of cerium have enabled control over H2O2 activation pathways for tunable peroxidase/haloperoxidase‐like activities. In contrast, the control of O2 activation on an element in oxidase/laccase nanozymes and the impact of its chemical state on these activities remains unexplored. Herein, a facile one‐pot method is presented for the gram‐scale synthesis of Fe‐based nanozymes with tunable compositions of Fe3O4 and Fe3C by adjusting preparation temperatures. The Fe3O4‐containing samples exhibit superior laccase‐like activity, while the Fe3C‐containing counterparts demonstrate better oxidase‐like activity. This divergent O2 activation behavior is linked to their surface Fe species: the abundant reactive Fe2+ in Fe3O4 promotes laccase‐like activity via Fe3+‐superoxo formation, whereas metallic Fe in Fe3C facilitates OH radical generation for oxidase‐like activity. Controlled O2 activation pathways in these Fe‐based nanozymes demonstrate improved sensitivity in the corresponding biomolecule detection, which should inform the design of nanozymes with enhanced activity and specificity.
Core–Shell Bottlebrush Polymers: Unmatched Delivery of Small Active Compounds Deep Into Tissues
Authors: Phan Quoc Thang , Rabanel Jean‐Michel , Mekhjian Dikran , Saber Justine , Garcia Ac Araceli , Zhang Hu , Gibson Victor Passos , Zaouter Charlotte , Hardy Pierre , Patten Shunmoogum Aroonassala. , Boffito Daria , Banquy Xavier
Published: December 2024

The chemical structure of a delivery nanovehicle plays a pivotal role in determining the efficiency of drug delivery within the body. Leveraging the unique architecture of bottlebrush (BB) polymers—characterized by variations in backbone length, grafting density, and self‐assembly morphology—offers a novel approach to understanding the influence of structural properties on biological behavior. In this study, developed a drug delivery system based on core‐shell BB polymers synthesized using a “grafting‐from” strategy. Comprehensive characterization techniques, including nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), gel permeation chromatography (GPC), and atomic force microscopy (AFM), employed to confirm the polymers’ structure. The BB polymers evaluated as carriers for molecules with differing hydrophobicity profiles, namely Rhodamine B and Paclitaxel. These nanocarriers systematically assessed for drug loading efficiency and penetration capabilities, compared to conventional polymeric micelles (PM) formed from linear amphiphilic polymers. BB‐based nanocarriers exhibited superior cellular uptake in both 2D and 3D cell culture models when compared to PM. Furthermore, analysis of drug distribution and particle penetration highlighted the profound influence of polymer morphology on biological interactions. These findings underscore the potential of unimolecular carriers with precisely defined structures as promising drug delivery platforms for a wide range of biomedical applications.
Multicomponent Synergistic Doping Enables High‐efficiency n‐Type PbTe Thermoelectric Devices
Authors: He Haoyuan , Song Jia , Liang Ruinian , Yan Gan , Geng Yang , Hu Lipeng , Liu Fusheng , Ao Weiqin , Zhang Chaohua
Published: December 2024

The development of high‐performance n‐type PbTe thermoelectric (TE) modules is urgently needed to match those p‐type IV‐VI tellurides (i.e., PbTe, GeTe, SnTe) with high figure of merit (ZT) to obtain multi‐pair TE devices for practical applications. In this work, Ga, Se, and In dopants are progressively introduced into PbTe to optimize the carrier density and band structures and to reduce the lattice thermal conductivity, thereby enhancing the ZT. Consequently, a peak ZT of 1.6 at 773 K and a high average ZT of 1.1 within 300–773 K can be obtained in the optimized sample of Pb0.979Ga0.02In0.001Te0.96Se0.04. A mixture of Fe and Sn is further developed as a diffusion barrier material of the n‐type PbTe, realizing the preparation of corresponding TE legs by a one‐step sintering method, showing low total interfacial contact resistivity (<3 µΩcm2). Finally, a remarkable conversion efficiency of 10.9% at a temperature difference of 449 K can be achieved in the n‐type PbTe single‐leg TE device. The multicomponent synergetic doping strategy and the interface‐connection technique of adding low‐temperature metals provide new pathways to improve the performance of n‐type PbTe TE devices as well as other TE systems.
Robust Ferroelectricity in Nonstoichiometric 2D AgCr1‐xS2 via Chemical Vapor Deposition
Authors: Zhang Zhongshi , Xia Jing , Li Jing , Li Xuanze , Tian Lifeng , Cao Jianyu , Li Yuye , Meng Xiangmin
Published: December 2024

Ferroelectricity in two‐dimensional (2D) materials at room temperature has attracted significant interest due to their substantial potential for applications in non‐volatile memory, nanoelectronics, and optoelectronics. The intrinsic tendency of 2D materials toward nonstoichiometry results in atomic configurations that differ from those of their stoichiometric counterparts, thereby giving rise to potential ferroelectric polarization properties. However, reports on the emergence of room temperature ferroelectric effects in nonstoichiometric 2D materials remain limited. This study reports the observation of room temperature ferroelectricity in nonstoichiometric AgCr1‐xS2 ternary 2D transition metal dichalcogenides synthesized via chemical vapor deposition. The noncentrosymmetric crystal structure and switchable ferroelectric polarization are confirmed through second harmonic generation (SHG) and piezoresponse force microscopy (PFM) measurements. It is determined that the primary cause of ferroelectric polarization is the interlayer movement of ordered asymmetric Ag atoms under the influence of numerous chromium (Cr) vacancies along with interlayer atom displacement. Furthermore, two types of electrical devices based on in‐plane (IP) and out‐of‐plane (OOP) polarization are demonstrated. This work offers a new perspective for fabricating ternary ultrathin 2D transition metal dichalcogenides ferroelectric materials and presents a potential pathway for creating exceptional multifunctional materials.
Ensemble Deep Network for Secured Refactoring Framework by Predicting Code‐Bad Smells in Software Projects
Authors: Pandiyavathi T. , Sivakumar B.
Published: December 2024

In modern times, refactoring is one of the significantly utilized approaches for enhancing the software's quality like understandability, testability, and maintainability. Moreover, the refactoring effect on its security has been underrated. In addition to that, there are only a few studies that offer the classification over refactoring approaches depending on the effect over the quality attributes that help the designer to attain certain objectives by choosing the most significant approach and it is applied in the right places based on the specified software quality attributes. The contradictory outcomes are attained by considering the quality of the software creates limitations for the developers while performing the software refactoring process. In this paper, a secured deep learning‐based software refactoring approach is designed. At first, software projects collected from online sources are offered as input for this software refactoring process to detect the security metrics in the projects. After detecting the security metrics, refactoring is applied in the software projects to change the internal design. Then, the security metrics of the refactored projects are detected again. Further, the security metrics computed before and after refactoring are compared with the software projects. The projects are labeled based on security, needs, and refactoring level. Then, the Ensemble Attention‐based Deep Network (EA‐DNet) is developed, which is designed with the Recurrent Neural Network (RNN), Deep Temporal Convolution Network (DTCN), and Bi‐directional Long Short Term Memory (Bi‐LSTM). This network is trained to get better results in the prediction of code‐bad smells in software projects. The prior software refactoring approaches are compared with the proposed code‐bad smells‐based software refactoring process.
Achieving Large‐Area, Crack‐Free Epitaxial Lift‐Off of Inverted Metamorphic Multijunction Solar Cells by Ag Electrode Extension and the Counterintuitive Use of Temporary Rigid Carrier
Authors: Yu Jeco‐Espaldon Bernice Mae , Okada Yoshitaka
Published: December 2024

The material choices for highly efficient multijunction solar cells (MJSCs) can be expanded by stacking lattice‐mismatched III–V materials grown by the inverted metamorphic approach. However, III–V materials are expensive, necessitating low‐cost strategies such as substrate reuse by epitaxial lift‐off (ELO) to improve their technology readiness. Inverted metamorphic MJSCs (IMM‐MJSCs) are inherently fragile due to the interfacial stresses introduced by graded buffer layers between mismatched materials. While numerous studies have reported successful fabrication of crack‐free IMM‐MJSCs, comprehensive procedural details and critical considerations are often left undisclosed. Herein, a systematic method is presented for achieving large‐area, crack‐free thin‐film IMM‐MJSCs. Specifically, the efficacy of the ELO bath method  combined with Ag back electrode extension and the innovative application of rigid, acid‐ and polar solvent‐resistant plastics as temporary carriers during the process is demonstrated. By addressing the challenges of mechanical fragility and developing robust ELO techniques, this work aims to enable the practical implementation of high‐efficiency IMM‐MJSCs for space and terrestrial applications.
Immune‐mediated panniculitis, folliculitis and vasculitis in a young Shar‐Pei dog treated using a multimodal approach with hyperbaric oxygen, pentoxifylline and corticosteroids
Authors: Fuller Brenley D. , Berger Ashton C. , Fisher Corey J. , Rodrigues Hoffmann Aline , Wolf Jacob
Published: December 2024

A 16‐month‐old, neutered, male Shar‐Pei with historic Shar‐Pei autoinflammatory disease presented afebrile and with multifocal pustulated to ulcerative lesions on the hindlimbs. Histological evaluation of skin biopsies revealed severe, multifocal necrosuppurative and fibrinous panniculitis, dermatitis and folliculitis with fibrosis, and multifocal vasculitis. The wounds responded well to immunosuppressive prednisone, pentoxifylline, antimicrobials, intensive wound care and hyperbaric oxygen treatment. The steroids were tapered over 4 weeks, and the dog's wounds were fully resolved 8 weeks after discharge; however, he has continued to have recurrent flare ups of Shar‐Pei autoinflammatory disease that respond to short courses of anti‐inflammatory steroids.
Multi‐scale habitat selection and nest survival of whinchats and stonechats: implications for grassland conservation management
Authors: Küblbeck Martin , Weiß Ingo , Korner-Nievergelt Fränzi , Korschefsky Tim , Liebel Heiko , Goymann Wolfgang
Published: December 2024

Effective management for endangered grassland birds requires a sound understanding of habitat requirements and factors shaping reproductive success. We studied multi‐level habitat selection of endangered whinchats Saxicola rubetra and locally increasing stonechats Saxicola rubicola in a nature reserve using Sentinel‐2 images, LiDAR data, and habitat variables measured onsite. We monitored nest fates, and estimated how the causes of nest mortality varied with nest initiation date. Further, we analyzed how nest‐site selection, precipitation, nest initiation date, and nest age influenced daily nest survival.

At the landscape‐ and site‐level, both species primarily selected for territories in lightly farmed meadows. However, stonechats appeared to be less specialized and used most available habitat types. Within home‐ranges, both species selected for nest‐sites in fallow patches, but in contrast to stonechats, whinchats also selected for large viewsheds.

In both species, the main causes of nest failure were predation by red foxes Vulpes vulpes, weather‐related factors, and nest desertion. In whinchats, the probability of nest desertion increased and predation risk decreased with nest initiation date, possibly due to better nest concealment in the later season. Daily nest survival decreased with nest age and precipitation in both species, and increased with nest initiation date in whinchats. None of the habitat variables examined were positively linked to daily nest survival, and viewshed was negatively related to whinchat daily nest survival.

Our study suggests that extending core habitat may help to promote settlement and potentially reproductive success of whinchats. However, as habitat selection was not positively associated with daily nest survival, land management measures alone might not be sufficient to halt rapid population declines. To effectively conserve whinchats and other grassland bird populations, the causes of nest failures must be identified and addressed. Within the examined reserve and similar habitats, flood management and predator control may yield the biggest short‐term conservation gains.
Indian Pangolin in Lamjung Requires Urgent Attention
Authors: Neupane Asmit , Pandit Kirtan , Regmi Krishika , Neupane Bijaya , Dhakal Anisha
Published: December 2024

The Indian pangolin is an endangered mammal in Nepal, with minimal research on its distribution, population, and habitat, especially compared to the Chinese pangolin. This study aimed to document the presence of Indian pangolin in Lamjung District, Nepal, and public perceptions toward the species. A preliminary field visit identified potential sites in Rainas municipality. Three transects were established and one active and two inactive burrows of Indian pangolin were found. They occurred at an elevation of 530 m in areas with moderate crown and ground cover (26%–50%), a 25° slope, and predominantly red soil, which indicate habitat that is well‐suited for the Indian pangolin. Past rescue operations and confirmed sightings by villagers with a keen interest in species conservation further supports the presence of Indian pangolin in the area. These findings underscore the need for further studies, strategic planning, and conservation measures for the long‐term survival of this endangered species.
Guidelines to Reduce Invasive Fire Ant Interference of Small Mammal Trapping
Authors: Carey Kathleen A. , McDonald Brandon W. , Pietras Adele , Postowski Anastasia M. , Cove Michel V. , Baruzzi Carolina
Published: December 2024

Methods to study small mammals often involve using baited live traps. Bait choice can affect detection of target and nontarget species. Red imported fire ants (Solenopsis invicta) consume bait and potentially prey upon small mammals in these traps. To address this issue, we set up an experiment evaluating which combinations of five bait types and ant spray influenced ant presence. We set up 200 live traps in 5 × 10 arrays across four sandhill sites. Traps were randomly assigned a bait type (n = 40) and half were sprayed with insecticide (perimeter and underneath) to serve as a control (n = 100). We checked traps over a 4‐day period, recording ant presence and small mammal captures. Ant presence significantly decreased with insecticide, and diluted vanilla spray had the lowest ant presence irrespective of ant spray. This study offers a solution to deter fire ants when trapping small mammals, even where chemical use is discouraged.
Shear forces heat generation in MHD uniform flow of nanoliquid across a stretchable surface through Darcy medium
Authors: Ahmed Awais , Khattak Shahzad , Alrihieli Haifaa F. , Saidani Taoufik , Algethami Abdullah A. , Elkotb Mohamed Abdelghany
Published: December 2024

The production of high‐quality polymers greatly relies on the flow mechanism of liquid with thermal characteristics. Thus, the prediction of specific flow and thermal transport rate is important here. So, a uniform flow of viscous nanofluid over a bilateral, linearly stretching, flat, heated surface with the effect of medium porosity and magnetic field is studied in this theoretical investigation. A two‐phase model for the nanofluid is employed to improve the thermal characteristics of fluid flow with heat generation via shear forces in the system. The proposed physical model is analyzed through the similarity analysis and numerical computations with various physical parameters such as the velocity ratio parameter, magnetic number, and so forth. The built‐in function of the MATLAB bvp5c is used to find the numerical solution of the governing set of equations. All the findings of the simulation for the fluid flow under thermal and mass concentration influence are justified with reliable physical reasoning. Variation in the flow field is observed for both the magnetic and porosity parameters between the surface stretching and free stream velocity as well as for different values of velocity ratio parameters. Moreover, heat transport rate and fluid friction at surface to fluid are also calculated in view of numeric data given in tabulated form.
Investigation of heat and mass transfer on unsteady MHD flow through a porous medium past an exponentially accelerated plate with stratification effects
Authors: Rabha Rakesh , Deka Rudra Kanta
Published: December 2024

This research analyzes the effects of heat and mass transfer on unsteady magnetohydrodynamics fluid flow through a porous material along a vertical plate that accelerates exponentially and has both thermal and mass stratification. We find the solutions to the system's governing equations by employing the Laplace transformation approach and graphs are produced by implementing MATLAB software. The unique aspect of this problem is that we find the precise solution by applying the extremely effective Laplace transform approach, which yields an error‐free exact answer. The effect of flow variables on velocity, temperature, and concentration profiles are illustrated using graphs. The results show that when the magnetic field parameters are raised, there is a corresponding increase in temperature and decrease in velocity. As the permeability parameter increases velocity profile increases, temperature and concentration profiles decreases. The need to better understand fluid flow in a variety of engineering and environmental contexts—such as geothermal energy extraction, thermal management, chemical processing industries, and environmental control technologies—could be the driving force behind this study. Understanding flow mechanisms in both natural and artificially created porous environments is improved by this innovative method.
Fully convolutional networks for velocity-field predictions based on the wall heat flux in turbulent boundary layers
Authors: Guastoni Luca , Balasubramanian Arivazhagan G. , Foroozan Firoozeh , Güemes Alejandro , Ianiro Andrea , Discetti Stefano , Schlatter Philipp , Azizpour Hossein , Vinuesa Ricardo
Published: December 2024

Fully-convolutional neural networks (FCN) were proven to be effective for predicting the instantaneous state of a fully-developed turbulent flow at different wall-normal locations using quantities measured at the wall. In Guastoni et al. (J Fluid Mech 928:A27, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1017/jfm.2021.812), we focused on wall-shear-stress distributions as input, which are difficult to measure in experiments. In order to overcome this limitation, we introduce a model that can take as input the heat-flux field at the wall from a passive scalar. Four different Prandtl numbers

$$Pr = \nu /\alpha = (1,2,4,6)$$

P
r
=
ν
/
α
=
(
1
,
2
,
4
,
6
)

are considered (where

$$\nu $$

ν

is the kinematic viscosity and

$$\alpha $$

α

is the thermal diffusivity of the scalar quantity). A turbulent boundary layer is simulated since accurate heat-flux measurements can be performed in experimental settings: first we train the network on aptly-modified DNS data and then we fine-tune it on the experimental data. Finally, we test our network on experimental data sampled in a water tunnel. These predictions represent the first application of transfer learning on experimental data of neural networks trained on simulations. This paves the way for the implementation of a non-intrusive sensing approach for the flow in practical applications.
Data-driven analysis of bonding strength in laser-structured metal-GFRP hybrid joints via groove morphology
Authors: Choi Jun Young , Kim Geun Young , Kim Do Hoi , Yoon Narae , Han Amy Kyungwon , Ahn Sung-Hoon
Published: December 2024

This study aims to enhance predictions of the mechanical properties of mechanically interlocked hybrid joints by employing machine learning techniques coupled with feature engineering of cross-sectional groove morphology. Unlike mechanical fastening, which promotes localized stress, and adhesive bonding, which requires prolonged contaminant removal, mechanically interlocked joints offer a distinct advantage by eliminating the need for either. The mechanically interlocked joints in this study combine glass fiber reinforced composite fabricated via injection molding, with cold rolled steel structured by a nanosecond laser. Through optical microscopy, crucial groove dimensions such as depth and width are identified for feature extraction. Domain-specific feature engineering is employed to improve predictive accuracy, integrated with existing regression models. The concept of “structure density,” initially defined as groove width over hatch distance, is expanded during feature engineering to include additional relevant features over hatch distance. Experimental investigations identified optimal laser parameters for shear strength, yielding a maximum single lap shear strength of 33.3 MPa under specific conditions. The third polynomial regression model incorporating structure density features emerged as the most effective in predicting shear strength, demonstrating high accuracy in both interpolation and extrapolation scenarios. The study suggests potential cost savings by utilizing surface topography for shear strength prediction, with implications for industries amidst the increasing prevalence of composite materials.
Cellular mechanisms of copper neurotoxicity in human, differentiated neurons
Authors: Witt Barbara , Friese Sharleen , Walther Vanessa , Ebert Franziska , Bornhorst Julia , Schwerdtle Tanja
Published: December 2024

Copper (Cu) is an essential trace element involved in fundamental physiological processes in the human body. Even slight disturbances in the physiological Cu homeostasis are associated with the manifestation of neurodegenerative diseases. While suggesting a crucial role of Cu in the pathogenesis, the exact mechanisms of Cu neurotoxicity involved in the onset and progression of neurological diseases are far from understood. This study focuses on the molecular and cellular mechanisms of Cu-mediated neurotoxicity in human brain cells. First, the cytotoxic potential of Cu was studied in fully differentiated, human neurons (LUHMES cells). Lysosomal integrity was considerably affected following incubation with 420 µM CuSO4 for 48 h. Further mechanistic studies revealed mitochondria and neuronal network as most susceptible target organelles (already at 100 µM CuSO4, 48 h), while the generation of reactive oxygen species turned out to be a rather later consequence of Cu toxicity. Besides Cu, the homeostasis of other elements might be involved and are likely to contribute to the pathology of Cu-mediated neurological disorders. Besides Cu, also effects on the cellular levels of magnesium, calcium, iron, and manganese were observed in the neurons, presumably aggravating the consequences of Cu neurotoxicity. In conclusion, insights in the underlying mode of action will foster the development of treatment strategies against Cu-mediated neurological diseases. Particularly, the interplay of Cu with other elements might provide a powerful diagnostic tool and might be used as therapeutic approach.
Modelling the rise of invasive lionfish in the Mediterranean
Authors: Mitchell Emma , Dominguez Almela Victoria
Published: December 2024

The spread of the Indo-Pacific lionfish Pterois miles into the Atlantic Ocean represents a well-known example of a successful invasion. Lionfish have successfully invaded the Atlantic, aided by biological traits such as high thermal tolerance, adaptability to various salinities, high fecundity, conspicuous defences and generalist feeding habits. The Mediterranean Sea is now experiencing an early-stage lionfish invasion, spreading westward from the eastern Mediterranean, likely through the Suez Canal. Using ecological niche modelling under various climate scenarios, we predict the potential spread of lionfish, identifying regions from low to high habitat suitability. Predictions indicate significant expansion, especially in the eastern and central Mediterranean, under greater warming scenarios. This expansion could lead to substantial declines in native species, decimation of commercially important fish stocks and trophic cascades, severely impacting local economies and marine biodiversity. Urgent understanding and management of lionfish impacts in the Mediterranean are essential, given their established presence in the western Atlantic and documented ecological consequences.
Improved recombinant expression of soluble cathepsin B and L in Escherichia coli
Authors: Möller Christina , Rimkus Niklas , Skala Ferdinand F. O. , Merouze Maëlle , Böttcher Dominique , Dörr Mark , Bornscheuer Uwe T.
Published: December 2024

Cysteine cathepsins such as cathepsin B and L play an important role in numerous diseases like acute pancreatitis or SARS-CoV-2 and therefore have high potential for the development of new therapeutics. To be able to screen for potent and selective inhibitors sufficient amounts of protein are required. Here, we present an easy and efficient protocol for the recombinant expression of soluble and active murine cathepsin B and L. For this, we used the strain E. coli SHuffle® T7 Express which is capable of forming disulfide bridges in the cytoplasm. The enzymes were purified by immobilized nickel ion-affinity chromatography. Using different constructs and media, expression levels were significantly improved and expression yields of 80 ± 2 mg L−1 for procathepsin B, which is 16-fold better than previously reported expression yields for procathepsin B, and 37 ± 2 mg L−1 for procathepsin L, were achieved. After activation with dithiothreitol at slightly acidic pH, in vitro kinetic parameters of both cathepsins were determined using the commonly used synthetic substrates Arg-Arg-AMC or Phe-Arg-AMC. Moreover, to investigate the impact of the short C-terminal propeptide of procathepsin B, it was deleted by site-directed mutagenesis, the shortened target protein was expressed and purified, activated in vitro, and its activity was similar to the variant bearing this C-terminal propeptide.

Key points

• Recombinant gene expression of cathepsin B and L in E. coli SHuffle® T7 Express

• Soluble cathepsin expression with high expression yields

• Investigation of the short C-terminal propeptide of cathepsin B
Smartphone Technology for Applications in Image-Guided Minimally Invasive Interventional Procedures
Authors: Lee Katerina , Muniyandi Pournika , Li Ming , Saccenti Laetitia , Christou Anna , Xu Sheng , Wood Bradford J.
Published: December 2024

Smartphones contain powerful and enabling technology components that can be re-applied toward procedural tasks commonly used in everyday clinical image-guided therapies and minimally invasive procedures that use three-dimensional information and feedback during procedures. Smartphone applications are a relatively young field of research that have potential in interventional radiology (IR) toward improvement of accuracy and standardization for needle-based procedures like biopsy and ablation. This review explores the adaptation of smartphones’ built-in sensors for virtual and augmented reality uses in IR. The ergonomic advantages and translational hurdles and limitations are reviewed, outlining the potential future developmental pathway of smartphones in IR.
Inter-organ communication: pathways and targets to cardioprotection and neuro-protection. A report from the 12th Hatter Cardiovascular Institute workshop
Authors: Pearce L. , Galán-Arriola C. , Bell R. M. , Carr R. D. , Cunningham J. , Davidson S. M. , Ghosh A. K. , Giesz S. , Golforoush P. , Gourine A. V. , Hermann D. M. , Heusch G. , Ibanez B. , Kalkhoran S. Beikoghli , Lecour S. , Lukhna K. , Ntsekhe M. , Sack M. N. , Unwin R. J. , Vilahur G. , Walker J. M. , Yellon D. M.
Published: December 2024

A long-standing aim in the setting of various pathologies including acute myocardial infarction, chronic kidney disease (CKD), and ischaemic stroke, has been to identify successful approaches to augment cellular and organ protection. Although the continual evolution and refinement of ideas over the past few decades has allowed the field to progress, we are yet to realise successful clinical translation of this concept. The 12th Hatter Cardiovascular Workshop identified a number of important points and key questions for future research relating to cardio- and neuro-protection and interorgan communication. Specific topics that were discussed include the ‘cardio-metabolic-renal’ axis of organ protection, the parasympathetic signalling hypothesis, the role of the coronary microvasculature in myocardial infarction, the RISK pathway of cardioprotection, extracellular vesicles and the way forward, the future for clinical studies of remote ischaemic conditioning, and new experimental models for cardio-oncology investigations.
Direct anterior vs other surgical approaches in patients with lumbar stiffness undergoing total hip arthroplasty: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Leibovitch Liron , Machinski Elcio , Fernandes André , Park Jae Yong , Souza Gabriel , Sayudo Iqbal F. , Warschawski Yaniv , Gusmao Caio
Published: December 2024

Introduction

The effectiveness of the direct anterior approach (DAA) compared to other surgical approaches for total hip arthroplasty (THA) in patients with lumbar spine stiffness remains unclear. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to compare clinical outcomes, including dislocation rates and other complications, between DAA and other surgical approaches for THA in patients with lumbar spine stiffness.

Materials and methods

We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to compare the DAA with other surgical approaches (anterolateral, direct lateral, posterolateral and direct superior) in patients with lumbar spine stiffness undergoing THA. We searched PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Central databases for cohort studies and randomized controlled trials and calculated risk ratios (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) to assess dislocation rates.

Results

This analysis included 11 non-randomized studies comprising 2505 patients, of whom 738 patients (29.4%) underwent THA via DAA. The results demonstrated that the DAA group had significantly reduced dislocation rates (RR 0.31, 95% CI 0.14–0.67, P = 0.003, I2 = 0%) compared to other surgical approaches. Subgroup analysis showed significantly lower dislocation rates in DAA patients versus those undergoing the posterior approach (RR 0.22, 95% CI 0.10–0.52, P = 0.001, I2 = 0%). However, there was no statistically significant difference in dislocation rates between DAA and the lateral approach (RR 0.53, 95% CI 0.19–1.47, P = 0.22, I2 = 0%), although the rate was numerically lower.

Conclusion

The DAA was associated with lower dislocation rates compared to other surgical techniques in patients with lumbar spine stiffness undergoing THA.
Field-testing the explicit diagnostic criteria for transient ischemic attack: a diagnostic accuracy study
Authors: Scutelnic Adrian , auf der Maur Seraina Michèle , Branca Mattia , Beyeler Morin , Horvath Thomas , Bücke Philip , Meinel Thomas , Lebedeva Elena R. , Olesen Jes , Riederer Franz , Dobrocky Tomas , Gralla Jan , Arnold Marcel , Fischer Urs , Mattle Heinrich P. , Jung Simon , Schankin Christoph J.
Published: December 2024

Background and aim

Explicit diagnostic criteria for transient ischemic attack (TIA) (EDCT) have been recently proposed based on the assumption, that a migraine aura-like symptom is not typical for a TIA. However, migraine-like symptoms have been unexpectedly frequent in patients with confirmed ischemic stroke. This cross-sectional study aimed to field-test the EDCT to distinguish transient neurological symptoms caused by cerebral infarction from those caused by migraine aura.

Methods

The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of the EDCT score were calculated in samples of patients with (i) transient symptoms caused by cerebral infarction confirmed by imaging and (ii) patients with migraine with aura diagnosed according to the International Classification of Headache Disorders 3rd edition. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of the original and modified EDCT were calculated, as well as area under the curve adjusted for age and sex using the logistic regression method.

Results

The study population included 59 patients with cerebral infarction and 324 patients with migraine with aura. The median age of the stroke group was 72 (IQR 61–81) and of the migraine group 39 (IQR 29–53). There were 36 (61%) men in the stroke group and 221 (68%) women in the migraine group. For the detection of TIA with imaging-proven cerebral infarction, the original EDCT had a sensitivity of 90% (95%CI 79–96), a specificity 77% (95%CI 72–82), a positive predictive value of 42% (95%CI 33–51), and the negative predictive value 98% (95% CI 95–99). For the modified EDCT, the sensitivity was 81% (95%CI 69–90), the specificity 97% (95%CI 94–98), the positive predictive value 81% (95%CI 69–90), and the negative predictive value 97% (95%CI 94–98).

Conclusions

The original and modified EDCT criteria miss up to 1 of 10 and 1 of 5 patients, respectively, with transient symptoms due to cerebral infarction. However, the modified EDCT criteria are more specific but less sensitive in detection of ischemic events. The optimal combination of clinical markers to reliably distinguish TIA from migraine aura remains to be found.