bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Development of PANI/FeS2/MnO2 Composite Electrode Materials for High‐Performance Supercapacitors
Authors: Li Ke , Li Zhifang , Cui Jinxing , Zhou Boyang , Dong Weiwei , Zhang Boxuan , Yang Changlong
Published: February 2024

Polyaniline (PANI) has unique physical and chemical peculiarities, so it has been widely researched in the field of energy storage. However, its structure is easy to be damaged during charging and discharging, which seriously affects its application. PANI/FeS2/MnO2 composite materials were successfully prepared by an easy combination of chemical precipitation and chemical oxidative polymerization. The electrochemical test results manifested that the specific capacitance of PANI/FeS2/MnO2 4 : 1 : 3 was 580 F/g at 1 A/g, and had great cyclic stability (capacitance retention rate was 85.2 % after 10000 cycles at 5 A/g). It was because that reticular structure shortened the ion transport path. On the other hand, it was able to effectively mitigate the volume change during long‐term charging and discharging, thus improving the cycling stability. In addition, PANI/FeS2/MnO2 4 : 1 : 3 as the positive and activated carbon (AC) as the negative, an asymmetrical supercapacitor was assembled with a maximal energy density of 37.93 Wh/kg when its power density was 0.85 kW/kg. At the same time, the device possessed a long cycle life (the capacitance conservation rate was 82 % after 5000 cycles at 5 A/g). This excellent performance is due to the excellent synergy between the PANI, FeS2 and MnO2. This study opens a new way to investigate polyaniline‐based composite electrode materials.
Magnetic Characterization of Human Intrinsically Magnetic Monocytes Through a Novel Optical Tracking‐Based Magnetic Sensor
Authors: Wu Linyuan , Zhang Yuxin , Zhao Fengfeng , Sheng Jingyi , Gu Ning
Published: February 2024

Intrinsically magnetic cells naturally occur within organisms and are believed to be linked to iron metabolism and certain cellular functions while the functional significance of this magnetism is largely unexplored. To better understand this property, an approach named Optical Tracking‐based Magnetic Sensor (OTMS) has been developed. This multi‐target tracking system is designed to measure the magnetic moment of individual cells. The OTMS generates a tunable magnetic field and induces movement in magnetic cells that are subsequently analyzed through a learning‐based tracking‐by‐detection system. The magnetic moment of numerous cells can be calculated simultaneously, thereby providing a quantitative tool to assess cellular magnetic properties within populations. Upon deploying the OTMS, a stable population of magnetic cells in human peripheral monocytes is discovered. Further application in the analysis of clinical blood samples reveals an intriguing pattern: the proportion of magnetic monocytes differs significantly between systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients and healthy volunteers. This variation is positively correlated with disease activity, a trend not observed in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The study, therefore, presents a new frontier in the investigation of the magnetic characteristics of naturally occurring magnetic cells, opening the door to potential diagnostic and therapeutic applications that leverage cellular magnetism.
Transfer‐Printing of Insoluble Conducting Polymer for Soft 3D Conformal All‐Organic Transistors
Authors: Zhao Pengfei , Wang Xue , Tong Yanhong , Zhao Xiaoli , Tang Qingxin , Liu Yichun
Published: February 2024

The development of high‐precision insoluble conducting polymer patterns for soft electronics is extremely challenging, mainly because of the incompatibility of the synthesis process with the underlying layers. In this study, a novel transfer‐printing method is designed that enables the fabrication of photolithographic insoluble conducting polypyrrole (PPy) electrode patterns on soft substrates with high precision, demonstrating compatibility with various soft organic functional layers. Excellent mechanical stability, good biocompatibility, ultra‐smooth surface, and outstanding conformability are observed. The photolithographic PPy electrode patterns, combined with an elastic organic semiconductor and dielectric, produce conformal all‐organic transistors with mobility of 1.8 cm2 V−1 s−1. This study paves the way to use insoluble conducting polymers to develop complex, high‐density flexible patterns and offers a promising organic electrode for the new‐generation soft all‐organic electronics.
1‐D Carbon Nano‐Coils Derived from Almond Skin: Exhibiting Density of State, Diffusivity, Electron Transfer Rate, and Dopamine Redox Modulation Properties Akin to Graphene Oxide
Authors: Appiah‐Ntiamoah Richard , Guye Meseret Ethiopia , Dabaro Mintesinot Dessalegn , Kim Hern
Published: February 2024

The quest to develop graphene‐like biomass‐carbon for advanced biomolecule redox modulation and sensing remains a challenge. The primary obstacle is the limited ability of biomass to undergo extensive graphitization during pyrolysis resulting in the formation of amorphous carbon materials with a small carbon‐double‐bond‐carbon domain size (Lsp2), density of state (LDOS), ion diffusivity (D), and electron transfer rate constant (Ks). Herein, using almond skin (AS) the morphology of biomass is demonstrated as the key to overcoming these limitations. AS consists of 1D syringyl/guaiacyl lignin nano‐coils which under H2/H2 annealing transform into pyrolytic 1D carbon nano‐coils (r‐gC). Spectroscopy and microscopy analyses reveal that the sheet layering structure, crystallinity, LDOS, and Lsp2 of r‐gC mimic those of graphene oxide (GO). Moreover, its unique 1D morphology and profound microstructure facilitate faster charge transfer and ion diffusion than GO's planar structure, leading to better redox modulation and sensing of the neurotransmitter dopamine (DA) in physiological fluids. r‐gC's DA detection limit of 3.62 nM is below the lower threshold found in humans and on par with the state‐of‐the‐art. r‐gC is also DA‐selective over 14 biochemicals. This study reveals that biomasses with well‐defined and compact lignin structures are best suited for developing highly electroactive graphene‐like biomass carbon.
MOF‐Derived CoSe2 Nanoparticles/Carbonized Melamine Foam as Catalytic Cathode Enabling Flexible Li–CO2 Batteries with High Energy Efficiency and Stable Cycling
Authors: Wang Ke , Liu Limin , Liu Dongyu , Wei Yuantao , Liu Yanxia , Wang Xinqiang , Vasenko Andrey S. , Li Mingtao , Ding Shujiang , Xiao Chunhui , Pan Hongge
Published: February 2024

Rechargeable aprotic Li–CO2 batteries have aroused worldwide interest owing to their environmentally friendly CO2 fixation ability and ultra‐high specific energy density. However, its practical applications are impeded by the sluggish reaction kinetics and discharge product accumulation during cycling. Herein, a flexible composite electrode comprising CoSe2 nanoparticles embedded in 3D carbonized melamine foam (CoSe2/CMF) for Li–CO2 batteries is reported. The abundant CoSe2 clusters can not only facilitate CO2 reduction/evolution kinetics but also serve as Li2CO3 nucleation sites for homogeneous discharge product growth. The CoSe2/CMF‐based Li–CO2 battery exhibits a large initial discharge capacity as high as 5.62 mAh cm−2 at 0.05 mA cm−2, a remarkably small voltage gap of 0.72 V, and an ultrahigh energy efficiency of 85.9% at 0.01 mA cm−2, surpassing most of the noble metal‐based catalysts. Meanwhile, the battery demonstrates excellent cycling stability of 1620 h (162 cycles) at 0.02 mA cm−2 with an average overpotential of 0.98 V and energy efficiency of 85.4%. Theoretical investigations suggest that this outstanding performance is attributed to the suitable CO2/Li adsorption and low Li2CO3 decomposition energy. Moreover, flexible Li–CO2 pouch cell with CoSe2/CMF cathode displays stable power output under different bending deformations, showing promising potential in wearable electronic devices.
General Synthesis of Composition‐Tunable High‐Entropy Amorphous Oxides Toward High Efficiency Oxygen Evolution Reaction
Authors: Jiang Shunda , Yu Yihang , He Huan , Wang Zhiyuan , Zheng Runguo , Sun Hongyu , Liu Yanguo , Wang Dan
Published: February 2024

High‐entropy materials have attracted much attention in the electrocatalysis field due to their unique structure, high chemical activity, and compositional tunability. However, the harsh and complex synthetic methods limit the application of such materials. Herein, a universal non‐equilibrium liquid‐phase synthesis strategy is reported to prepare high‐entropy amorphous oxide nanoparticles (HEAO‐NPs), and the composition of HEAO‐NPs can be precisely controlled from tri‐ to ten‐component. The non‐equilibrium synthesis environment provided by an excessively strong reducing agent overcomes the difference in the reduction potentials of various metal ions, resulting in the formation of HEAO‐NPs with a nearly equimolar ratio. The oxygen evolution reaction (OER) performance of HEAO‐NPs is further improved by adjusting the composition and optimizing the electronic structure. The Fe16Co32Ni32Mn10Cu10BOy exhibits a smaller overpotential (only 259 mV at 10 mA cm−2) and higher stability in OER compared with commercial RuO2. The amorphous high‐entropy structure with an optimized concentration of iron makes the binding energy of CoNi shift to a higher direction, promotes the generation of high‐valence active intermediates, and accelerates the OER kinetic process. The HEAO‐NPs have promising application potential in the field of catalysis, biology, and energy storage, and this work provides a general synthesis method for composition‐controllable high‐entropy materials.
Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution Using Mesoporous Honeycomb Iron Titanate
Authors: Ashie Moses D. , Bastakoti Bishnu P.
Published: February 2024

Mesoporous honeycomb iron titanate using a sol‐gel, evaporation‐induced self‐assembly method is synthesized. A triblock copolymer, F127, serves as a structure‐directing agents, with iron chloride and titanium (IV) isopropoxide as inorganic precursors. The strong intermolecular force of attraction among urea, metal precursors, and polymer led to the formation of the mesoporous honeycomb structure. The study of physicochemical properties using different techniques reveals the formation of microstructures with a remarkable degree of porosity. The amorphous iron titanate outperforms the photochemical generation of H2 due to its disorderly structural arrangement and incomplete crystal formation. The randomness on the structure provides more area for catalytic reaction by providing more contact with the reactant and superior light absorption capability. The high amount of hydrogen gas, 40.66 mmolg−1h−1, is observed in the investigation over 3 h of activity for the iron titanate honeycomb sample. This yield is a more significant amount compared to the obtained for the commercially available TiO2 (23.78 mmolg−1h−1). The iron titanate materials synthesized with low‐cost materials and methods are very effective and have the potential for hydrogen generation.
A Tent‐Inspired Portable Solar‐Driven Water Purification Device for Wilderness Explorers
Authors: Zhang Dong , Zhang Shengming , Liang Qianqian , Guan Mengyao , Zhang Tao , Chen Shiyan , Wang Huaping
Published: February 2024

Wilderness adventure favored by many enthusiasts often endanger lives due to lacking freshwater or drinking contaminated water. Therefore, compared to the inefficient methods of filtration, steaming, and direct solar heating, it is of great meaningfulness to develop a solar‐driven water purification device with efficiency, lightweight, portability, and multi‐water‐quality purification by taking full advantage of solar‐driven interfacial evaporation. Here, a tent‐inspired portable solar‐driven water purification device consisting of Janus‐structured bacterial cellulose aerogel (JBCA) solar evaporator and tent‐type condensation recovery device is reported. For the JBCA solar evaporator, it is prepared from biomass bacterial cellulose (BC) as raw material and hydroxylated carbon nanotubes (HCNT) as photothermal material, and the Janus property is achieved by the assistance of hydrophobic and hydrophilic chemical cross‐linking. It exhibits lightweight, unibody, high photothermal conversion, efficient evaporation, and multi‐water‐quality purification capability for representative seawater, urine, and bacterial river water. For the tent‐type condensation recovery device, it is based on the prototype of tent and uses flexible ultra‐transparent polyvinyl chloride (PVC) film as raw material. Thanks to the rational prototype and material selection, it displays outstanding portability and lightweight through the folding/unfolding method. Therefore, the designed tent‐inspired portable solar‐driven water purification device demonstrates great potential application in wilderness exploration.
Horizontally Arranged Zn Platelet Deposition Regulated by Bi2O3/Bi toward High‐Rate and Dendrite‐Free 3D Zn Composite Anode
Authors: Wang Xianzhen , Xu Ziming , Zhang Wenyuan , Ding Gang , Zhang Lingsheng , Feng Yongbao , Yong Zhenzhong , Gong Wenbin , Xue Pan , Yu Lei , Xu Peng , Li Qiulong
Published: February 2024

Aqueous Zn‐metal battery is considered as a promising energy‐storage system. However, uncontrolled zinc dendrite growth is the main cause of short‐circuit failure in aqueous Zn‐based batteries. One of the most efficient and convenient strategies to alleviate this issue is to introduce appropriate zincophilic nucleation sites to guide zinc metal deposition and regulate crystal growth. Herein, this work proposes Bi2O3/Bi nanosheets anchored on the cell wall surface of the 3D porous conductive host as the Zn deposition sites to modulate Zn deposition behavior and hence inhibit the zinc dendrite growth. Density functional theory and experimental results demonstrate that Bi2O3 has a super zinc binding energy and strong adsorption energy with zinc (002) plane, as a super‐zincophilic nucleation site, which results in the deposition of zinc preferentially along the horizontal direction of (002) crystal plane, fundamentally avoids the formation of Zn dendrites. Benefiting from the synergistic effect Bi2O3/Bi zincophilic sites and 3D porous structure in the B‐BOGC host, the electrochemical performance of the constructed Zn‐based battery is significantly improved. As a result, the Zn anode cycles for 1500 cycles at 50 mA cm−2 and 1.0 mAh cm−2. Meanwhile, the Zn@B‐BOGC//MnO2 full cell can operate stably for 2000 cycles at 2.0 A g−1.
Suppressing the Hypoxia‐Adenosinergic Axis by a Tailored Nanoreactor for Enhanced Photothermal Immunotherapy
Authors: Gu Jingjing , Chang Jiao , Chen Shiyu , Zhi Hui , Sun Jiuyuan , Yin Weimin , Zhang Tingting , Zang Jie , Zhao Yuge , Liu Yiqiong , Zheng Xiao , Feng Leiyu , Li Yongyong , Dong Haiqing
Published: February 2024

Cell metabolite adenosine can induce extensive and persistent immunosuppression by binding to adenosine receptors on immune cells. Seriously, the hypoxia‐driven adenosinergic axis aggravates adenosine accumulation via dephosphorizing immune‐activating adenosine triphosphate (ATP) released during immunogenic cell death (ICD). Different from direct adenosine clearance or adenosine receptor blockade or directly using ecto‐enzyme (CD39/CD73) antagonist, it is hoped to use an innovative small science engineering to regulate the upstream hypoxia/HIF‐1α signal of the hypoxia‐adenosinergic axis, thereby reducing the immunosuppressive extracellular adenosine and enhancing ICD‐triggered antitumor immunity. PM@Mn is constructed by gradually integrating metformin and MnO2 on polydopamine (PDA) nanoparticles. PM@Mn can effectively suppress hypoxia‐adenosinergic axis via combining catalytic oxygen production with reduced endogenous oxygen consumption. Such motif of hypoxia relief suppresses the metabolism of ATP to adenosine via down‐regulating the expression of HIF‐1α, CD39, and CD73. Meanwhile, PDA in PM@Mn can induce local tumor ablation and trigger the “vaccine effect” of ICD under near‐infrared radiation. In a mouse breast cancer model with low immunogenicity, our strategy can effectively reduce adenosine accumulation, PM@Mn group exhibits 4.51‐fold cytotoxic T lymphocyte infiltration and tumor inhibition rate of 75.4%. This study provides a new strategy to advance ICD‐triggered antitumor immunity through supressing hypoxia‐adenosinergic axis.
The role of Doppler ultrasound in the evaluation of penile haemodynamics—A sonographer's guide to the documentation of vasculogenic erectile dysfunction
Authors: Napier Donna
Published: February 2024

Vasculogenic erectile dysfunction (ED) is the most common form of ED affecting the male population. Once the first line investigation for erectile dysfunction, penile Doppler ultrasound examinations have reduced in number following the introduction of oral phosphodiesterase inhibitors as a treatment method. As such, skilled professionals versed in the performance of these examinations are dwindling. This skill deficit is compounded by the lack of standardisation that exists in the performance and interpretation of penile haemodynamics relative to impotence of vascular origin. Despite the success of pharmacological agents in the treatment of vasculogenic dysfunction, penile Doppler examinations are still relevant in the assessment of ED in non‐responders, and those patients in which pelvic surgery or trauma has altered the normal erectile mechanism. Growing evidence in the literature also suggests that vasculogenic ED may be an early indicator of systemic vascular disease and therefore prognostic of future cardiovascular events. Considering this, the relevance of Doppler assessment of penile haemodynamics with ultrasound should not be underestimated. This article will introduce the sonographer to advanced vascular anatomy of the penis, pathophysiology of erectile function and the principles of normal and pathological penile haemodynamic patterns. It also aims to suggest a standardised protocol for the performance of penile Doppler ultrasound relative to primary vasculogenic ED and reduce the amount of variability that exits between operators. As such the sonographer can make a significant contribution to patient management pathways.
The medial knee gap measured on ultrasound images is wider during a valgus stress test compared to the anterior medial knee rotation test
Authors: Timmons Mark K. , Darnell Dustin T. , Jude Seth T. , McIlvain Gary
Published: February 2024

Objectives

Patients with injuries to the deep fibers of the medial collateral ligament (dMCL) have a worse prognosis than patients with injuries to the superficial fibers (sMCL). The anterior medial (ANTMED) rotation test has been developed to differentiate between injuries to the dMCL and sMCL. The current study tested the hypothesis that the width of the medial knee gap would be greater during the valgus stress test than the ANTMED rotation test.

Methods

Fifty‐three participants were included in the study. Participants did not have a history of knee injury. Ultrasound images of the participants' medial knees were collected during the valgus stress test and the ANTMED rotation test. Repeated measures ANOVA was used to test differences in the medial knee gap between the tests, stress condition, and side.

Results

No difference between the tests in the medial knee joint gap width in the no‐stress condition. The increase in the joint gap width was greater during the valgus stress test than the ANTMED rotation test. The medial knee gap increased during both the valgus stress (4.0 ± 0.12 mm) and the ANTMED rotation test (2.9 ± 0.12 mm).

Conclusions

A greater increase in the medial knee gap was seen during the valgus stress test compared to the ANTMED rotation test. Knee external rotation increases the tension within the dMCL. Increased tension in the dMCL could explain the test differences in the increase in the joint gap found in the current study. The ANTMED rotation test may prove useful to identify injury to the dMCL.
Privacy preserving unique identity generation from multimodal biometric data for privacy and security applications
Authors: Dash Priyabrata , Sarma Monalisa , Samanta Debasis
Published: February 2024

This study presents a novel approach for generating unique identities from multi‐modal biometric data using ensemble feature descriptors extracted from the consistent regions of fingerprint and iris images. The method employs prominent feature selection and discriminant vector generation to enhance intra‐class similarity and inter‐class separability. Finally, a novel quantization mechanism is used to generate a unique identity. This identity might be vulnerable to many attacks. A shielding mechanism is proposed to address this issue. Experimental results substantiate the method's efficacy, satisfying criteria for distinctiveness, randomness, revocability, and irreversibility. Security analyses showcase resilience against diverse attacks, establishing its applicability in forensic investigations, digital wallets, remote authentication, and other privacy‐focused applications. The confidential UID generation scheme ensures privacy and security without involving biometric data or UID enrollment, enhancing its suitability across various applications.
Using smart grid infrastructure for authentication and data management in Internet of Medical Things
Authors: Ud Din Ikram , Ali Wajahat , Almogren Ahmad , ALRassan Iehab , Zeadally Sherali
Published: February 2024

The Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) has recently become the norm in medical operations and emergency situations. A physician or a medical personnel is interested in accessing the patients' data from remote locations using IoMT. The patients' medical management system should allow their doctors and family members to have access to the data, especially in emergency situations. Deploying sensor nodes and managing the large amount of medical data generated by these sensors require a system that provides protection against known security threats and a robust mechanism to recover when subjected to attacks. The proposed scheme that provides mutual authentication between user(s) and power generation nodes, and also mitigate against attacks by validating the identity during the authentication phase. Moreover, the proposed scheme, called Grid‐Based Authentication, uses the existing smart grid infrastructure for communications, which is a model of integrated infrastructure in a smart city. Furthermore, the simulation results show that our proposed scheme yields better performance in terms of average throughput, end to end delay, and computation and communication costs compared with other state‐of‐the‐art approaches.
A systematic survey on security and privacy issues of medicine supply chain: Taxonomy, framework, and research challenges
Authors: Hathaliya Jigna J. , Tanwar Sudeep
Published: February 2024

Several decades ago, the medicine supply chain (MSC) transferred the medicines from the manufacturer to the end‐consumer and kept all records in a manual register. The manual intermediary management of MSC and medicine data often leads to issues like unauthorized third parties participating in the process and illegally tempering medicine data. As a result of this medicine temperament, end users get counterfeit medicine that poses severe consequences for patients' health. Over time, manual data management and intermediaries transform into digital platforms that track, manage, and exchange data in real‐time. Real‐time data exchange opens attackers up to target MSCs, access medicine data illegally, and modify medicine conditions, locations, and specifications. With the objective of this, the proposed survey identifies security and privacy issues and discusses security solutions. This security solution involves various data security and privacy frameworks such as micro‐segmentation, zero trust model, and many other software‐based security solutions. Moreover, The proposed survey explores radio frequency identification for medicine tracking in which each intermediary transforms the medicine location over the internet. In contrast, the Internet of Things is used to exchange medicine temperature conditions in real‐time. Furthermore, cybersecurity‐based solutions help protect against malicious threats, and blockchain keeps data private and temper‐proof. Artificial intelligence provides machine learning and deep learning models for analyzing large amounts of data to generate insights from the MSC data. Therefore, this survey addresses the various security and privacy issues and provides solutions that help researchers carry out work in this domain.
Exploring the Structural, Thermal, and Protective Potential of Loquat Seed Starch and Flax Seed Oil Nanoemulsion Coating on Strawberry
Authors: Sharma Madhu , Bains Aarti , Sridhar Kandi , Inbaraj Baskaran Stephen , Ali Nemat , Attia Sabry M. , Patil Sandip , Chawla Prince , Sharma Minaxi
Published: February 2024

In recent years, nonconventional sources have been explored for the extraction of starch due to their potential applications. Thus, this study investigates the potential of loquat seeds starch and exploring their structural and thermal properties. Moreover, the nanoemulsion is prepared from starch, flax seed oil, and tween 80 which is further utilized as a coating for the shelf‐life improvement of citrus fruits such as strawberries. The yield of loquat seed starch is 30.04% ± 2.19% with a particle size of 160.4 ± 4.06 nm and −16.2 ± 1.45 mV zeta potential. The gelatinization temperature of starch is observed to be 78.75 °C. Starch samples show major peaks at 3287.52, 2929.52, 1642.07, 1339, 1149.68, 1077.79, and 1003.62, 859.62, 573.01, and 526.25 cm−1. X‐ray diffraction reveals the semicrystalline structure of starch. The characterization of nanoemulsion reveals its excellent structural properties and stability. When the nanoemulsion is coated on strawberries, it effectively delays weight loss and also affects the titratable acidity content and total soluble solids, thereby reducing spoilage. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that the nanoemulsion exhibits great potential in the shelf‐life improvement of strawberries. Thus, combining oils with starch represents a promising approach to enhance its effectiveness in controlling foodborne pathogens.
Circ_0000877 accelerates proliferation and immune escape of non‐small cell lung cancer cells by regulating microRNA‐637/E2F2 axis
Authors: Chen Ting'an , Li Zhengdong , Chen Junzhu , Xu Zhe
Published: February 2024

Background

Recently, circular RNA (circRNA) has become a vital targeted therapy gene for non‐small‐cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells. CircRNA_0000877 (Circ_0000877) has been researched in diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma (DLBCL). However, whether circ_0000877 regulated NSCLC cell progression is still poorly investigated. The research attempted to investigate the influence of circ_0000877 in NSCLC.

Methods

Circ_0000877 levels in NSCLC tissues and cell lines were determined applying RT‐qPCR. Cell functions were evaluated by CCK‐8, EdU, flow cytometry, ELISA, and western blot. Gene interactions were predicted by Cirular RNA interactome database and Target Scan website and certified by dual‐luciferase reporter, RIP, and RNA pull‐down assays. Finally, mice experimental model was established to explore the effects of circ_0000877 on tumor growth in vivo.

Results

The elevated trend of circ_0000877 expression was discovered in NSCLC tissues compared to para‐carcinoma tissues. The clinicopathological data uncovered that up‐regulated circ_0000877 was linked to tumor size, differentiation, and TNM stages of NSCLC patients. Knockdown of circ_0000877 inhibited the proliferation, triggered apoptosis, and prohibited immune escape in NSCLC cells. It was certified that miR‐637 was directly interacted with circ_0000877 and targeted by E2F2. Overexpressed E2F2 strongly overturned the functions of circ_0000877 knockdown in NSCLC cells. Mice experimental data demonstrated that circ_0000877 knockdown suppressed tumor growth in vivo.

Conclusion

The research demonstrated that circ_0000877 exhibited the promotive effect on NSCLC cells proliferation and immune escape by regulating miR‐637/E2F2 axis.
Current and emerging tissue‐based molecular biomarkers for prostate cancer management: A narrative review
Authors: Singh Jas
Published: February 2024

Prostate cancer is a heterogeneous disease process with a wide spectrum of clinicopathologic variables that impact diagnosis, risk stratification, and management. To improve diagnostic accuracy and to better inform clinical decision making, the development of molecular biomarkers has undergone considerable discovery and clinical validation in the past decade. Prostate cancer is no longer seen as a single disease entity but one with considerable heterogeneity existing between tumors and between patients. Biomarkers now allow for more personalized and precision‐based approaches to management that otherwise would have depended on applying clinical algorithms alone. The aim of this review is to discuss and evaluate prostate cancer tissue‐based biomarkers that have been developed to aid diagnosis, improve risk stratification, and management.
Staying put in an era of climate change: The geographies, legalities, and public health implications of immobility
Authors: Robins Daniel , Saddington Liam , Boyd‐Macmillan Eolene , Stojanovic Tim , Hudson Ben , Lafortune Louise
Published: February 2024

In response to the proliferation of “climate migration” discourses, researchers are exploring how climate related hazards affect immobile populations. This paper contributes to the conceptualization of “environmental immobility.” Researchers from geography, public health, psychology, and law explore the climate change immobility nexus via three themes: (1) risk; (2) (mal)adaptation; and (3) resilience, protection, and vulnerability. The aim of this paper is to identify and discuss the key concepts and rationale for scholars and policymakers who consider both “voluntary” and “involuntary” immobility when researching and responding to the effects of climate change on human movement. The need is critical, as immobility is often underacknowledged as a desirable, pro‐active, and practical response to environmental change, preventing large populations from being considered and included in policy, consultation, and support processes.

This article is categorized under:

Vulnerability and Adaptation to Climate Change > Values‐Based Approach to Vulnerability and Adaptation

Trans‐disciplinary Perspectives > National Reviews

Integrated Assessment of Climate Change > Assessing Climate Change in the Context of Other Issues
Opioid prescribing practices in breast oncologic surgery—A retrospective cohort study
Authors: Di Lena Élise , Barone Natasha , Hopkins Brent , Do Uyen , Kaneva Pepa , Fiore Julio F. , Meterissian Sarkis
Published: February 2024

Background

In breast oncologic surgery, 75% of patients receive a postoperative opioid prescription at discharge, and 10%–20% will develop persistent opioid use. To inform future institutional guidelines, the objective of this study was to determine baseline opioid prescribing patterns in a single high‐volume, referral‐based breast center. We hypothesized that opioid prescribing practices varied between procedures and operating surgeons.

Methods

A retrospective analysis of all women undergoing breast cancer surgery between January and December 2019. Opioid prescriptions at discharge were converted to morphine milligram equivalents (MME). The primary outcome of interest was MME prescribed at discharge. Multiple linear regression was used to identify factors independently associated with MME prescribed.

Results

392 patients met inclusion criteria; 68.3% underwent partial mastectomy. Median age was 61 (interquartile range [IQR] 51–70). Median MME prescribed at discharge was 112.5 (IQR 75–150); 83.9% of patients were prescribed co‐analgesia. The prescriber was a trainee in 37.7% of cases. 15 patients (3.8%) required opioid renewal. On multivariate analysis, axillary procedure was associated with increased MME (ß = 17, 95% CI 5.5–28 and ß = 32, 95% CI 17–47, for sentinel node and axillary dissection, respectively). However, the factor with the greatest impact on MME was operating surgeon (ß = 72, 95% CI 58–87). Residents prescribed less MME compared to attending surgeons (ß = 11, 95% CI −22; −0.06).

Conclusion

In a tertiary care center, the operating surgeon had the greatest influence on opioid prescribing practices, and trainees tended to prescribe less MME. These findings support the need for a standardized approach to optimize prescribing and reduce opioid‐related harms after oncologic breast surgery.
Advancing complex hepato‐pancreato‐biliary surgery in Uganda: Challenges and outcomes
Authors: Michael Okello , Darshit Dave , Mary Kiconco , Mutekoba Umar , Timothy Mugabi , Francis Baseka Xavier , Denis Kakaire , Edward Kyomugisha , Machyo Okuku Fred , Henry Ddungu , William Buwembo , Ponsiano Ocama
Published: February 2024

Introduction

Uganda has until recently mostly referred patients for complex hepato‐pancreato‐biliary (HPB) surgery abroad due to lack of local expertize. We report indications and a spectrum of surgeries performed in the first 4 years following the establishment of a routine HPB service at Lubaga Hospital (LH), Kampala, Uganda. We also detailed the challenges encountered in setting up this service.

Methods

Demographic, clinical parameters, surgery indications, procedures performed, and outcomes of consecutive patients that underwent HPB surgeries at LH from December 2018 to October 2022 were analyzed.

Results

Majority were females 72 (57.6%) with a median age of 50 (6–88) years. Forty‐one (32.8%) underwent surgery on the pancreas (PS), 34 (27.2%) on the liver (LS), and 50 (40.0%) on the bile ducts (CBS). The most common symptom was abdominal pain. Benign disease was present in 37 patients (29.6%) while 88 (70.4%) had malignancy. A total of 34 patients (27.2%) had unresectable pancreatic head cancer and distal cholangiocarcinoma missed at preoperative imaging and discovered intraoperatively thus underwent palliative hepaticojejunostomy. Only 34 (27.2%) patients received postoperative ICU care. In‐hospital mortality for this heterogenous group of patients was 6 (4.8%) for PS, 3 (2.4%) for LS, and 8 (6.4%) for CBS.

Conclusion

Despite many challenges like limited access to ERCP accessories, lack of endoscopic ultrasound scans and PET–CT scans in the whole country, late presentation, and low quality imaging especially in preoperative determination of resectability of hepato‐pancreato‐biliary cancers, we managed to establish a functional HPB service. Patient results achieved were good in spite of these limitations.
Determination of trace elements in titanium oxides by wavelength dispersive x‐ray fluorescence spectrometry (WD‐XRF)
Authors: Gazulla M. F. , Orduña M. , Rodrigo M.
Published: February 2024

TiO2 is used in a great variety of industries (foods, medicines, cosmetics, etc.). In food industry, although the use of TiO2 as additive was banned by EU in 2022, it is still authorized in medicinal products, and is allowed as food ingredient in US and Canada. Focusing on cosmetics, regulations state some forbidden elements (As, Cd, Ni, Hg, Sb, and Pb), and others allowed with a specific limit (Co, Cr, and Se). Most researches about TiO2 characterization are focused on the purity determination and no studies analyzing trace metals in this material have been found. Due to the potential impact of those trace elements on health and safety, a robust method for determining them in TiO2 is required. A methodology for the determination of As, Cd, Co, Cr, Hg, Ni, Pb, Sb, and Se at trace level in TiO2 by WD‐XRF has been developed. Sample was prepared as pressed pellets to achieve low limits required by regulations, and the best conditions were established using n‐butyl methacrylate as binder and plastic spatula to avoid Cr contamination coming from the stainless‐steel one. An in‐depth inquiry conducted to get calibration and validation standards revealed a lack of reference materials; therefore, additions of pure oxides of each element were made to high‐purity TiO2. Validation was performed by two means: analyzing synthetic standards prepared as stated and analyzing two commercial TiO2 by an independent method (ICP‐OES). The developed methodology was suitable to be used as control method to assess whether the materials meet the regulations, since time required to undertake the analysis is much less than other methods.
Emotionen und Motivation in Lern- und Leistungskontexten
Authors: Barton Daniel
Published: February 2024

In diesem Kapitel wird der theoretische Rahmen hinsichtlich der emotions- und motivationsförderlichen Ausrichtung des geplanten Projekts gesetzt. Im Mittelpunkt stehen dabei die Phänomene Emotionen und Motivation sowie deren Einfluss auf das Lernen. Die Begriffe werden zunächst grundsätzlich definiert und erklärt, bevor sie anschließend auf Grundlage der Kontroll-Wert-Theorie nach Pekrun (2006) sowie der Selbstbestimmungstheorie nach Deci und Ryan (1985) im schulischen Kontext und insbesondere hinsichtlich des Mathematikunterrichts betrachtet werden.
Characteristics and demography of low energy fall injuries in patients > 60 years of age: a population-based analysis over a decade with focus on undertriage
Authors: Aarsland Martine A. , Weber Clemens , Enoksen Cathrine H. , Dalen Ingvild , Tjosevik Kjell Egil , Oord Pieter , Thorsen Kenneth
Published: February 2024

Background

An increasing group of elderly patients is admitted after low energy falls. Several studies have shown that this patient group tends to be severely injured and is often undertriaged.

Methods

Patients > 60 years with low energy fall (< 1 m) as mechanism of injury were identified from the Stavanger University Hospital trauma registry. The study period was between 01.01.11 and 31.12.20. Patient and injury variables as well as clinical outcome were described. Undertriage was defined as patients with a major trauma, i.e., Injury Severity Score (ISS) > 15, without trauma team activation. Statistical analysis was performed using the Chi-squared test for categorical variables and the Mann–Whitney U test for continuous variables.

Results

Over the 10-year study period, 388 patients > 60 years with low energy fall as mechanism of injury were identified. Median age was 78 years (IQR 68–86), and 53% were males. The location of major injury was head injury in 41% of the patients, lower extremities in 19%, and thoracic injuries in 10%. Thirty-day mortality was 13%. Fifty percent were discharged to home, 31% to nursing home, 9% in hospital mortality, and the remaining 10% were transferred to other hospitals or rehabilitation facilities. Ninety patients had major trauma, and the undertriage was 48% (95% confidence interval, 38 to 58%).

Conclusions

Patients aged > 60 years with low energy falls are dominated by head injuries, and the 30-day mortality is 13%. Patients with major trauma are undertriaged in half the cases mandating increased awareness of this patient group.
Multidimensionale Formate chirurgischer Anatomie in der studentischen Ausbildung der HNO-Heilkunde – ein Effektivitätsvergleich
Authors: Grajek Jan S. , Rettschlag Stefanie , Schneider Armin , Schraven Sebastian P. , Mlynski Robert , van Bonn Sara M.
Published: February 2024

Hintergrund

Der technologische Wandel im Gesundheitswesen und die digitale Transformation der Lehre erfordern Neuerungen in der studentischen Lehre im Bereich der Medizin. Neue Technologien sind nötig, um die Bereitstellung und Nutzung diverser Lehr- und Lernformate von Bildungseinrichtungen unabhängig von Zeit und Ort zu ermöglichen. Ziel der Studie ist die Analyse der Effektivität verschiedener multidimensionaler Formate in der studentischen Lehre in der chirurgischen HNO-ärztlichen Anatomie.

Material und Methoden

Während des Sommersemesters 2022 und des Wintersemesters 2022/2023 wurde das digitale Lehr- und Lernprogramm ausgeweitet, indem mit Studierenden unterschiedliche Visualisierungsformate (3-D-Brillen, Cardboards oder VR-Brille) im Rahmen eines hochstandardisierten Operationsverfahrens, der Cochleaimplantation, getestet wurden. Prä- und postinterventionell wurde in allen Gruppen eine Wissensstandserhebung und im Anschluss daran eine Evaluation durchgeführt.

Ergebnisse

Von 183 Studierenden nahmen 91 Studierende vollständig an der Studie teil. Die postinterventionelle Wissensstandserhebung ergab unabhängig vom Visualisierungsformat einen signifikanten Anstieg der korrekten Antworten. Im direkten Vergleich antwortete die Operationssaal(OP)-Gruppe signifikant häufiger richtig als die Cardboard-Gruppe (p = 0,0424). Ein Großteil der Studierenden wünscht sich 3‑D-Lehre als festen Bestandteil im Lehrprogramm (87,9 %) und ein größeres Streamingangebot von Live-Operationen (93,4 %). Sie sehen die Anwendung der verschiedenen Technologien als sehr gute Ergänzung zur herkömmlichen chirurgischen Lehre (72,5 %), da bei guter Anschaulichkeit (89 %) die Merkfähigkeit (74,7 %) und Motivation (81,3 %) steigt.

Schlussfolgerungen

Der Einsatz und die Nutzung neuer Visualisierungstechnologien im klinischen Alltag ist ein vielversprechender Ansatz zur Erweiterung der studentischen Ausbildung. Mobile, interaktive und personalisierte technische Formate sind an das Lernverhalten von Studierenden anpassbar. Nicht zuletzt wird durch den Einsatz neuer Medien die Lernmotivation beeinflusst. Eine Erweiterung digitaler Lehr- und Lernformate kann auf der Basis dieser Studie ausdrücklich empfohlen werden.
Morphological chest CT changes in cystic fibrosis and massive hemoptysis
Authors: Dohna Martha , Kühl Hilmar , Sutharsan Sivagurunathan , Bruns Nora , Vo Chieu Van Dai , Hellms Susanne , Kornemann Norman , Montag Michael J.
Published: February 2024

Background

Massive hemoptysis (MH) is a rare but potentially life-threatening condition of patients with mainly advanced cystic fibrosis (CF). Morphological lung changes are aggravated with disease progression. The aim of this study was to determine whether morphological lung changes differ between patients with CF (pwCF) who have MH and pwCF without MH.

Methods

Chest computed tomography (CT) scans of pwCF and MH acquired at a maximum of 4 months prior to MH (1/2008 to 2/2015) were evaluated for morphological changes and bronchial artery (BA) diameters. Lung lobes with MH were compared with lobes without MH and with matched control patients with end-stage CF and no hemoptysis using the Helbich scoring system.

Results

The study included 26 patients with MH (PMH; 15 female, median age 29 years, interquartile range [IQR]: 25–33.75) and 17 matched control patients (11 male, median age 24 years, IQR: 19.5–30). No difference in Helbich score was detected between lobes with MH and matched control patients (p = 0.051). Higher scores were detected in lobes with MH compared to lobes without MH in PMH (p = 0.021), but no difference was detected in the subscores. The BA diameters were larger in PMH (p = 0.02); 85% of PMH had unilateral MH, with 65% of MH involving only one or two lobes.

Conclusion

Morphological changes are more severe in lobes with MH in the same patient, but there is no difference when compared with matched control patients. Besides abscess/sacculation, no specific changes for MH were identified. Other factors such as BA hypertrophy might play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of MH in pwCF. Commonly used scores to evaluate chest CT in pwCF cannot be used to assess MH, and other factors, e.g., hypertrophied BA, not represented and not measured in these scores, might be more suitable for assessing the risk for MH.
Automatic program bug fixing by focusing on finding the shortest sequence of changes
Authors: Yousofvand Leila , Soleimani Seyfollah , Rafe Vahid , Esfandyari Sajad
Published: February 2024

Automatic bug repair as the last step in program repair has attracted a lot of research attention. Various ideas and techniques have been presented in this field. Recent bug fixing techniques use machine learning and graphs to generate fixes. Despite the promising results of recent approaches, maintaining high speed and accuracy as well as recording a wide range of errors may still be a problem. In this paper, a new approach is presented in the field of automatic bug fixing based on graphs and model checking. For this purpose, we have used the graph transformation and model checking system to create a sequence of edits and produce fixes. Then, using meta-heuristic algorithms, we have selected the best solution and fix from the generated solutions. We use the extracted graphs from the buggy JavaScript code and their corresponding bug-free ones. In evaluating the effectiveness of the proposed method, we implement it in GROOVE, which is a toolbox used to design and check graph transformation systems. Experimental results on identical dataset demonstrate that the proposed method outperforms other related methods in generating fixes. Also, this method covers a wider range of bugs compared to previous methods.
Emergency response, and community impact after February 6, 2023 Kahramanmaraş Pazarcık and Elbistan Earthquakes: reconnaissance findings and observations on affected region in Türkiye
Authors: Şenol Balaban Meltem , Doğulu Canay , Akdede Nil , Akoğlu Haldun , Karakayalı Onur , Yılmaz Sarper , Yılmaz Serkan , Ajobiewe Tolulope , Güzel Selin , İkizer Gözde , Akin Muge , Ünal Yeşim , Karancı Ayşe Nuray
Published: February 2024

Türkiye has a long history of devastating earthquakes, and on February 6, 2023, the region experienced two major earthquakes with magnitudes of 7.7 and 7.6, striking Pazarcık and Elbistan, Kahramanmaraş, respectively, on the East Anatolian Fault Zone. These earthquakes resulted in significant loss of life and property, impacting multiple cities across 11 cities, and leaving a lasting impact on the country. The 2023 Kahramanmaraş Earthquakes rank among the deadliest and most damaging earthquakes in Türkiye, alongside the historical significance of the 1939 Erzincan Earthquake and the 1999 Marmara Earthquake. Despite reforms following the 1999 Marmara Earthquake in disaster policy and preparedness, the scale of damage from the February 6 earthquakes has been shocking, necessitating further insights and lessons for future earthquake management. This paper presents the outcomes of immediate response efforts organized after the 2023 Kahramanmaraş earthquakes to elucidate emergency response activities and their impacts on communities, considering the substantial size and severity of the damages. The study focuses on evaluating the emergency response provided within the first 24 h, 3 days, and 2 weeks after the earthquakes, aiming to promptly identify the nature and effectiveness of these responses, as well as the conditions that hindered their efficacy. By shedding light on the specific experiences and challenges faced during these crucial timeframes, the research aims to offer valuable insights and lessons learned. These findings contribute to improved preparedness strategies and more efficient emergency response measures needed in responding to future disaster scenarios. Ultimately, this study provides a useful resource for all stakeholders involved in emergency response and disaster management, offering valuable guidance to enhance resilience and preparedness in the face of seismic hazards.