bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Rates of Early Recovery Following Thumb Carpometacarpal Arthroplasty: Comparing Ligament Reconstruction and Tendon Interposition, Abductor Pollicis Longus Suspensionplasty, and Suture Button Suspensionplasty
Authors: Lin Lawrence J. , Sobba Walter , Jacobi Sophia , Paksima Nader , Yang S. Steven
Published: October 2024

Background Several techniques have been previously described for the treatment of thumb carpometacarpal (CMC) arthritis, including trapeziectomy with ligament reconstruction and tendon interposition (LRTI), abductor pollicis longus suspensionplasty (APLS), or suture button suspensionplasty (SBS). It remains unclear whether a specific method produces faster recovery and more rapid return to function. The purpose of this study was to evaluate early clinical outcomes in patients undergoing thumb CMC arthroplasty stratified by method of treatment.

Methods This study was conducted using a registry of patients undergoing thumb CMC arthroplasty using LRTI, APLS, or SBS. Patients were grouped by technique for comparison. Patient-reported outcomes were measured using Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Upper Extremity, Pain Interference, and Pain Intensity scores and compared across cohorts using analysis of variance. Regression analysis was used to determine factors associated with early clinical outcomes.

Results Note that 150 out of 201 patients met inclusion criteria for this study. Univariate regression demonstrated no difference between technique and achievement of minimal clinically important difference (MCID) by 1 year or ∆PROMIS scores at 1 and 3 months postoperatively. Stepwise multivariate regression analysis also found that technique did not contribute significantly to postoperative outcomes. Increased baseline PROMIS Upper Extremity scores were associated with lower odds of achieving MCID (odds ratio 0.80, p < 0.001). Baseline PROMIS scores were also associated with ∆PROMIS scores at 1 and 3 months postoperatively.

Conclusion Patients undergoing thumb CMC arthroplasty via LRTI, APLS, or SBS can expect to experience similar improvements from baseline in the early postoperative period regardless of technique choice.
The international politics of development for LGBT+ inclusion: how the UK’s Johnson government used crisis as a political opportunity
Authors: Waites Matthew
Published: October 2024

This article analyses the international queer politics of development by examining UK aid addressing lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans, plus (LGBT+) inclusion in the context of COVID-19 and right-wing government—using this case to propose a multi-dimensional critical framework for understanding when states fund LGBT+ development. The UK’s first LGBT+ themed international development project was Strong in Diversity—Bold on Inclusion, from 2019, planned to work in five African cities. Partner organisations included HIVOS, Coalition of African Lesbians, AMSHeR, Kaleidoscope Trust, Article 19, Synergia, Workplace Pride and three universities. Drawing on the author’s participation, the article analyses changing government policy regarding the project. In the context of Brexit and COVID-19, the ‘co-creation’ phase ended without phase 2 funding. Suggesting a gap between perspectives emphasising homonationalism (or homocapitalism) and inconsistent transnational resourcing for LGBT+ development, the article advocates a multi-dimensional critical framework engaging risk, governmentality, crisis and authoritarian populism.
A special eigenmode to induce bandgap and attenuate low-frequency seismic surface waves
Authors: Liao Yiwen , Bai Yongtao , Zhou Xuhong , Li Xiaohua , Li Xiaolei
Published: October 2024

Controlling low-frequency surface waves by subwavelength seismic metamaterials has gained wide attention in engineering and science. By comparing the mode deformation distribution of the surface wave bandgap and passband, this study proposes a collectivization eigenmode that could induce a novel low-frequency surface wave bandgap while maintaining extreme subwavelength. We analytically demonstrate the attenuation mechanism of the collectivization eigenmode, which is compared with the traditional surface wave bandgaps, and design a subwavelength seismic metamaterial using regular building materials with a height 0.525 m. Through eigenmode analysis, we confirm the existence of the collectivization eigenmode within the designed seismic metamaterials. Furthermore, we prove that the designed seismic metamaterials generate a low-frequency surface wave bandgap in dispersion curves. Parameter analysis reveals the significant role of resonators in determining the bandgap frequency and width. To verify the surface wave attenuation, we conduct both frequency domain and time domain analyses. Results from the frequency domain shows that there is a significant attenuation at the bandgap frequency, which agrees with the dispersion curves. Finally, we conduct an in situ full-scale experiment and test the dynamic response of the seismic metamaterial to validate the effectiveness of our study. In addition, the designed seismic metamaterials show promise for controlling noise and elastic waves.
Multi-criteria decision making-based optimization of thermal modeling of electric discharge machining
Authors: Arif Umair , Khan Imtiaz Ali , Hasan Faisal
Published: October 2024

A thermal model was developed based on finite element modeling analysis using the Transient Thermal module of Ansys. The objective of this study was to develop a thermal model for electrical discharge machining to address the discrepancies observed in the model proposed by Ming et al., which failed to accurately estimate Material Removal Rate (MRR) values for discharge powers exceeding 100 mJ. The MRR ratios derived from the model under consideration were observed to be within the range of 3.568–0.639. In comparison, the MRR ratios obtained from the models proposed by Ming et al. and Joshi et al. were found to be within the range of 3.566–1.186 and 40.433–0.652, respectively. Thus, the thermal model presented in this study demonstrates exceptional precision in predicting the MRR and surface roughness (SR) when compared to previously established models. The optimization of the readings was carried out through the application of Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution. The results indicated that an optimized MRR and SR were achieved at a pulse current (I) of 58 amps, pulse on time (Ton) of 420 μs, pulse off time (Toff) of 7.5 μs, and discharge power of 609 mJ.
Flow-electrode capacitive separation of organic acid products and recovery of alkali cations after acidic CO
2
electrolysis
Authors: Jiang Yong , Wu Gaoying , Pu Ying , Wang Yue , Chu Na , Zeng Raymond Jianxiong , Zhang Xudong , Zhu Xiangdong , Liang Peng
Published: October 2024

Acidic CO
2
electrolysis, enhanced by the introduction of alkali cations, presents a strategic approach for improving carbon efficiency compared to processes conducted in neutral and alkaline environments. However, a significant challenge arises from the dissolution of both organic acids and alkali cations in a strongly acidic feed stream, resulting in a considerable energy penalty for downstream separation. In this study, we investigate the feasibility of using flow-electrode capacitive deionization (FCDI) technology to separate organic acids and recover alkali cations from a strongly acidic feed stream (pH ~ 1). We show that organic acids, such as formic acid and acetic acid, are retained in molecular form in the separation chamber, achieving a rejection rate of over 90% under all conditions. Alkali cations, such as K
+
and Cs
+
, migrate to the cathode chamber in ionic form, with their removal and recovery significantly influenced by their concentration and the pH of the feed stream, but responding differently to the types and concentrations of organic acids. The energy consumption for the removal and recovery of K
+
is 4 to 8 times higher than for Cs
+
, and the charge efficiency is significantly influenced by the types of organic acid products and alkali cations. We conduct a series of electrochemical measurements and analyze the impedance spectroscopy, identifying that hindered mass transfer governed the electrode process. Our findings underscore the potential of FCDI as an advanced downstream separation technology for acidic electrocatalysis processes.
Lipopeptide antibiotics disrupt interactions of undecaprenyl phosphate with UptA
Authors: Oluwole Abraham O. , Kalmankar Neha V. , Guida Michela , Bennett Jack L. , Poce Giovanna , Bolla Jani R. , Robinson Carol V.
Published: October 2024

The peptidoglycan pathway represents one of the most successful antibacterial targets with the last critical step being the flipping of carrier lipid, undecaprenyl phosphate (C
55
-P), across the membrane to reenter the pathway. This translocation of C
55
-P is facilitated by DedA and DUF368 domain-containing family membrane proteins via unknown mechanisms. Here, we employ native mass spectrometry to investigate the interactions of UptA, a member of the DedA family of membrane protein from
Bacillus subtilis
, with C
55
-P, membrane phospholipids, and cell wall-targeting antibiotics. Our results show that UptA, expressed and purified in
Escherichia coli
, forms monomer–dimer equilibria, and binds to C
55
-P in a pH-dependent fashion. Specifically, we show that UptA interacts more favorably with C
55
-P over shorter-chain analogs and membrane phospholipids. Moreover, we demonstrate that lipopeptide antibiotics, amphomycin and aspartocin D, can directly inhibit UptA function by out-competing the substrate for the protein binding, in addition to their propensity to form complex with free C
55
-P. Overall, this study shows that UptA-mediated translocation of C
55
-P is potentially mediated by pH and anionic phospholipids and provides insights for future development of antibiotics targeting carrier lipid recycling.
Improved deep learning prediction of antigen–antibody interactions
Authors: Gao Mu , Skolnick Jeffrey
Published: October 2024

Identifying antibodies that neutralize specific antigens is crucial for developing effective immunotherapies, but this task remains challenging for many target antigens. The rise of deep learning–based computational approaches presents a promising avenue to address this challenge. Here, we assess the performance of a deep learning approach through two benchmark tests aimed at predicting antibodies for the receptor-binding domain of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spike protein. Three different strategies for constructing input sequence alignments are employed for predicting structural models of antigen–antibody complexes. In our initial testing set, which comprises known experimental structures, these strategies collectively yield a significant top-ranked prediction for 61% of cases and a success rate of 47%. Notably, one strategy that utilizes the sequences of known antigen binders outperforms the other two, achieving a precision of 90% in a subsequent test set of ~1,000 antibodies, balanced between true and control antibodies for the antigen, albeit with a lower recall of 25%. Our results underscore the potential of integrating deep learning methods with single B cell sequencing techniques to enhance the prediction accuracy of antigen–antibody interactions.
Development of a method to use standard hospital gamma cameras as triage whole body monitors in UK emergencies
Authors: Simpson Matthew , Scott Julie , Bonney Lara , Clitheroe Rachael , McGowan Daniel R
Published: October 2024

This paper outlines the process to develop a protocol, written by the UK National Health Service, on how to use a gamma camera to triage for internal radioactive contamination. The aim of the paper is to ensure that the underlying reasoning and calculations are valid. While hospital based gamma cameras are able to detect photopeaks, they are often limited to an energy range of 40–540 keV. However, radionuclides with photopeak energies above 540 keV can still be detected as the partial collection of photon energy increases the count rate at lower energies. By combining extensive mathematical modelling with empirical calibration of multiple gamma cameras it is possible to develop a linear correlation between the efficiency of counting point sources and the overall counting efficiency for the camera. Once established, a simple protocol can be used to characterise any gamma camera, using optimal system settings, and hence generate a system efficiency with sufficient accuracy to allow the camera to be used in a triage process to committed effective doses of 2 mSv.
Passivating and low damaging plasma etching of GaN using Cl2 and SiCl4 for recessed gate MOSc-HEMT devices
Authors: Cascales David , Pimenta Barros Patricia , Martinez Eugenie , Ben Abbes Riadh , Salem Bassem
Published: October 2024

Plasma etching steps are critical for metal–oxide–semiconductor channel high electron mobility transistors gate fabrication as they can deteriorate electrical performances due to gallium nitride degradation. Adding SiCl4 to a low bias Cl2 plasma in presence of a SiN hard mask environment forms a silicon-based passivation layer that protects GaN from nitrogen depletion (N/Ga = 1) as extracted from X-ray photoelecron spectroscopy measurements. The deposited layer is not removed by subsequent surface treatments that precede the gate dielectric deposition such as O2 plasma and HCl. This nitrogen preservation as well as the passivation’s presence result in a higher flat band voltage (V
FB) due to less positive charge generation at the GaN/dielectric interface. This SiCl4-based etching process could then be used as a 20 nm plasma etching finishing step in order to recover GaN surface after a fast and damaging trench formation process.
Dual planer PCF-SPR sensor based on Au-TiO2 composite nanostructure
Authors: Wu Xuan , Gu Hong , Li Mengqi , Li Xiaotong
Published: October 2024

A novel dual planer type PCF-SPR sensor based on Au-TiO2 composite nanostructure is proposed for the first time. In this sensor, a novel PCF structure was designed. The structure is composed of air holes of various diameters. A layer of nanogold film was platted on TiO2 nanopillar to form Au-TiO2 composite nanopillar. Then the Au-TiO2 composite nanopillar was embedded into the PCF. The geometrical parameters such as PCF air hole diameters, gold layer thickness, and TiO2 cylinder diameter were optimized, utilizing the finite-element method(FEM), and the performance of the optimized sensor was significantly improved. The maximum sensitivity was 30,000 nm RIU−1 in the refractive index range of 1.37–1.41. Unlike traditional array and planar structures, we have achieved high sensitivity refractive index sensing in PCF by using a single composite nanopillar. Due to its high sensitivity, the proposed PCF-SPR sensor is expected to find applications in biomolecular detection and chemical quantity detection.
Monte Carlo calculations taking into account the DLP theory to study multilayer adsorption of C2H4 and CF4 on graphite
Authors: Bouali I W , Gallouze M , Drir M
Published: October 2024

Physisorption potentials are useful for deducing the properties of adsorption systems. The adsorption behavior is a consequence of the actual potential that describes the interactions among the adsorption system. Determining the actual isotherm is a test for the correctness of a calculated adsorption potential. The physisorption interactions decrease with the film thickness, d, according to a power law as

−
γ

/

d

3

,

where γ is the Van der Waals coefficient. In the Dzyaloshinskii, Lifshitz, and Pitaevskii (DLP) theory, γ is a function of d where

γ
(
d
)

decreases with d. In the present work, the general theory of Van der Waals forces, given by DLP, is used to derive a more exact treatment of interactions among the physisorbed systems. The Monte Carlo method is used to investigate multilayer films using a lattice gas model adsorption isotherm. Critical temperatures are determined for ethylene (C2H4) and tetrafluoromethane (CF4) on graphite. These systems exhibit comparable behavior. Unlike the findings of mean field theory, our data shows that the critical temperature rises gradually as the layer number increases. On the other hand, the comparison with experimental results and measurements has shown that our calculations are more reliable and provide a better approximation in predicting film thickness. Our isotherms appear to be in better agreement with the experimental ones.
Optimization of FeMn-MOF doped with silver nanoparticles for high-performance supercapattery devices
Authors: Ali Qaisar Mehmood , Malik Rizwan Ahmed , Iqbal M Waqas , Alrobei Hussein
Published: October 2024

Supercapacitors are demanded by energy storage devices for both fast charging and discharging performance as well as extended life cycles. The design and manufacture of higher supercapacitor electrodes help a device to function much better. Ag nanoparticles were produced on Fe-MOF and Mn-MOF using the hydrothermal synthesis technique to synthesize unique composite material called FeMn-MOF/Ag (NPs). These refined composites find use in supercapacitors, hydrogen evolution reactions (HER), and electrochemical sensors. Highly conductive silver nanoparticles were added to FeMn-MOF with high rate capability. Apart from their inherent benefits of metal–organic frameworks, the as-made FeMn-MOF/Ag nanoparticles also improved electrical conductivity. When the scan rate was 3 mV s−1, the FeMn-MOF/Ag (NPs) showed a specific capacity (CV) of 1417 C g−1. Similarly, when the applied current density was 2 A g−1, it displayed a specific capacity (GCD) of 2346 C g−1. The FeMn-MOF/Ag (NPs)//AC asymmetric supercapacitor exhibited an energy density of 13 (Wh/kg) and a power density of 1685 (W/kg). For the hydrogen evolution process, the material exhibited an overpotential of 90.22 mV and a Tafel slope of 58.4 mV dec−1. Furthermore, it exhibited exceptional durability in cycling, maintaining 93.3% of its capacitance after undergoing 12,000 cycles. Therefore, these results offer crucial insights into the progress of different electrode materials. The results suggest that FeMn-MOF/Ag nanoparticles possess advantageous characteristics suitable for utilization as electrodes in supercapattery and HER (hydrogen evolution reaction) applications.
Modification of solar energy and photoelectrochemical water splitting properties: using FTO/Er-TiO2/MAPbI3/CuPc/Au as modified photoelectrode
Authors: Mahdipour Motahareh , Esmaeili-Zare Mahdiyeh , Hamadanian Masood
Published: October 2024

In the past decades, converting solar energy into hydrogen through photoelectrochemical water splitting has been attracted. Here, we designed a new FTO/Er-TiO2/MAPbI3/CuPc/Au photoanode with n-i-p structure for using in solar water splitting. Accourding to obtained PEC results, the FTO/Er-TiO2/MAPbI3/CuPc/Au photoanode has a photocurrent density of ∼9.8 mA cm−2 ( under a visible lamp with intensity of 100 mW cm−2 irradiation) compared to FTO/Er-TiO2/Au and FTO/Er-TiO2/MAPbI3/Au photoanodes with photocurrent density of 0.7 and 6.12 mA cm−2, respectively. This important enhancement is refered to the light absorption feature of Er-TiO2/MAPbI3 and a fast electron and hole transfer process in the Er-TiO2 and CuPc, respectively. The photoelectrochemical action of the photoelectrode is increased using erbium doping due to creation of oxygen vacancies and titanium (III) ions. Furthermore, in this research, we studided the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of FTO/Er-TiO2/MAPbI3/Au and FTO/Er-TiO2/MAPbI3/CuPc/Au solar cells. The results shown that the significant enhancement in photovoltaic properties can be observed by utilizing spin-coated CuPc nanoparticles (as hole transport layer) at least by 1.39% compared to the FTO/Er-TiO2/MAPbI3 perovskite solar cell.
Extracting traveling wave solutions for two nonlinear models of NPDEs in mathematical physics
Authors: Alsubhi Mohammed , Alsharif Faisal
Published: October 2024

In this work, we apply the Riccati-Bernoulli (RB) sub-ODE approach to provide some vital solitary wave solutions for the nonlinear dispersive modified Benjamin-Bona-Mahony (DMBBM) equation and the Klein-Gordan (KG) equation. The solutions that are provided here are helpful in describing several physical phenomena in inharmonic crystals, cold plasma, compressible fluids and quantum mechanics. The proposed approach is effective and easy, resulting in new generalised solitonic wave profiles. For suitable free parameter values, two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) graphs are depicted to show the shape of the obtained solutions. We also show the effect of the physical parameters on the behaviour of the solutions. Finally, the suggested approach may be extended to different equations appearing in mathematical physics.
Axion star condensation around primordial black holes and microlensing limits
Authors: Yin Ziwen , Visinelli Luca
Published: October 2024

We present novel findings concerning the parameter space of axion stars, extended object forming in dense dark matter environments through gravitational condensation. We emphasize their formation within the dense minihalos that potentially surround primordial black holes and in axion miniclusters. Our study investigates the relation between the radius and mass of an axion star in these dense surroundings, revealing distinct morphological characteristics compared to isolated scenarios. We explore the implications of these results when applied to the bound state between a primordial black hole and an axion star and the gravitational microlensing from extended objects, leading to insights on the observational constraints from such “halo” axion stars. We provide a constraint on the fraction of the galactic population of axion stars from their contribution to the microlensing events from the EROS-2 survey, using the numerical resolution of the Schrödinger-Poisson equation.
Time-machines construct in f(ℛ, 𝒜, Aμν
Aμν
) and f(ℛ) modified gravity theories
Authors: Ahmed F. , de Souza J.C.R. , Santos A.F.
Published: October 2024

In this paper, our objective is to explore a time-machine space-time formulated in general relativity, as introduced by Li (Phys. Rev. D 59, 084016 (1999)), within the context of modified gravity theories. We consider Ricci-inverse gravity of all Classes of models, i.e., (i) Class-I: f(ℛ, 𝒜) = (ℛ + κℛ2 + β 𝒜), (ii) Class-II: f(ℛ, Aμν

Aμν
) = (ℛ + κℛ2 + γ Aμν Aμν
) model, and (iii) Class-III: f(ℛ, 𝒜, Aμν

Aμν
) = (ℛ + κℛ2 + β𝒜 + δ𝒜2 + γ Aμν Aμν
) model, where Aμν
is the anti-curvature tensor, the reciprocal of the Ricci tensor, Rμν
, 𝒜 = gμν Aμν
is its scalar, and β, κ, γ, δ are the coupling constants. Moreover, we consider f(ℛ) modified gravity theory and investigate the same time-machine space-time. In fact, we show that Li time-machine space-time serve as valid solutions both in Ricci-inverse and f(ℛ) modified gravity theories. Thus, both theory allows the formation of closed time-like curves analogue to general relativity, thereby representing a possible time-machine model in these gravity theories theoretically.
Emission of high rovibrational hydrogen molecules under detached plasma conditions by recycling on the tungsten wall
Authors: Saito Seiki , Nakamura Hiroaki , Sawada Keiji , Hoshino Kazuo , Kojima Yuki , Doi Takeshi , Kobayashi Masahiro , Hasuo Masahiro , Homma Yuki , Yamoto Shohei
Published: October 2024

It is well known that the rate coefficient of molecular-assisted recombination (MAR) varies by several orders of magnitude depending on the rovibrational states of the hydrogen molecules. A molecular dynamics simulation is performed to estimate the rovibrational states of recycled hydrogen molecules at the divertor in the JA-DEMO reactor under detached plasma conditions. The simulation results reveal that molecules in high rovibrational states are released even with low incident energy, which will be the dominant condition under detached plasma conditions. Molecules generated in this way can strongly affect the formation of the detached plasma via a molecular assisted-process such as MAR.
RCAN1.4 regulates tumor cell engraftment and invasion in a thyroid cancer to lung metastasis-on-a-chip microphysiological system
Authors: Nairon Kylie G , Nigam Akanksha , Khanal Tilak , Rodriguez Marco A , Rajan Neel , Anderson Sydney R , Ringel Matthew D , Skardal Aleksander
Published: October 2024

Progressive metastasis is the primary cause of cancer-related deaths. It has been recognized that many cancers are characterized by long periods of stability followed by subsequent progression. Genes termed metastasis progression suppressors (MPS) are functional gatekeepers of this process, and their loss leads to late-stage progression. Previously, we identified regulator of calcineurin 1, isoform 4 (RCAN1.4) as a functional MPS for several cancers, including thyroid cancer, a tumor type prone to metastatic dormancy. RCAN1.4 knockdown increases expression of the cancer-promoting transcription factor NFE2-like bZIP transcription factor (NFE2L3), and through this mechanism increases cancer cell proliferation and invasion in in vitro and in vivo and promotes metastatic potential to lungs in tail vein models. However, the mechanisms by which RCAN 1.4 regulates specific metastatic steps is incompletely characterized. Studies of the metastatic cascade are limited in mouse systems due to high cost and long duration. Here, we have shown the creation of a thyroid-to-lung metastasis-on-a-chip (MOC) model to address these limitations, allowing invasion analysis and quantification on a single cell level. We then deployed the platform to investigate RCAN1.4 knockdown in fluorescently tagged hTh74 and FTC236 thyroid cancer cell lines. Cells were circulated through microfluidic channels, running parallel to lung hydrogel constructs allowing tumor cell-lung tissue interactions. Similar to studies in mouse models, RCAN1.4 knockdown increased NFE2L3 expression, globally increased invasion distance into lung constructs and had cell line and clonally dependent variations on bulk metastatic burden. In line with previous in vivo observations, RCAN1.4 knockdown had a greater impact on hTh74 metastatic propensity than FTC236. In summary, we have developed and validated a novel MOC system evaluate and quantify RCAN1.4-regulated thyroid cancer cell lung adherence and invasion. This system creates opportunities for more detailed and rapid mechanistic studies the metastatic cascade and creates opportunities for translational assay development.
Influence of concentration on thermophoresis of spherical aerosol particles within a Brinkman medium
Authors: Ayman Mai , Saad E I , Faltas M S
Published: October 2024

We are examining the thermophoretic movement of a uniform mixture of spherical aerosol particles, all with the same properties, as they are situated within a porous material. These particles can have various thermal conductivity and surface characteristics. This analysis focuses on situations where the Péclet and Reynolds numbers are small. The influence of particle interactions is carefully considered by using a unit cell model, a well-established method known for its accurate predictions in the context of sedimentation for monodisperse suspensions of spherical particles. The porous medium is represented as a Brinkman fluid characterized by a Darcy permeability, which can be determined directly from experimental observations. This medium is considered to be uniform and isotropic, and the solid matrix is in thermal equilibrium with the fluid flowing through the voids of the medium. The Knudsen number is assumed to be low, enabling the description of fluid flow through the porous medium using a continuum model that includes temperature jump, thermal creep, frictional slip, and thermal stress slip at the aerosol particle’s surface. The conservation equations for energy and momentum are individually tackled within each cell. In this model, each cell represents a spherical particle enclosed by a concentric shell of surrounding fluid. The thermophoretic particle migration velocity is determined across different cases. We derive analytical expressions for this average particle velocity, expressing it in terms of the particle volume fraction. It is observed that different cell models yield somewhat varied results for particle velocity. Generally, with a fixed permeability parameter characterizing the porous medium, an increase in the thermal stress slip coefficient tends to decrease the normalized thermophoretic velocity across the different cell models. The results are in good agreement with the available data as documented in the existing literature. Additionally, a parallel examination of aerosol sphere sedimentation is provided.
Explore the effect of magnesium oxide nanoparticles decorated graphene oxide hybrid nanofillers reinforced polyaniline ternary nanocomposites on optical, thermal, and dielectric properties
Authors: Mohapatra Pooja , Behera Shreelata , Sahoo Saleja , Mishra Annada , Dalpati Archana , Shubhadarshinee Lipsa , Jali Bigyan Ranjan , Mohapatra Priyaranjan , Barick Aruna Kumar
Published: October 2024

The Neem (Azadirachta indica) leaves utilized for the synthesis of magnesium oxide nanoparticles (MgONPs) are readily available and pose little risk of harm. The MgONPs@GO hybrid nanofillers are synthesized through in situ method and is reinforced with polyaniline (PANI) to enhance its electrical characteristics and thermal stability. The UV-visible spectroscopy demonstrates the formation of a charge transfer complex in the PANI/MgONPs@GO ternary nanocomposites. The presence of functional groups in the PANI/MgONPs@GO ternary nanocomposites was detected using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The crystalline phases of the PANI/MgONPs@GO ternary nanocomposites were validated using x-ray diffraction (XRD) investigation. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) technique was used to investigate the nanostructured morphology of the PANI/MgONPs@GO ternary nanocomposites. The thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) revealed that the PANI/MgONPs@GO ternary nanocomposites exhibited greater thermal stability compared to the pure PANI. The AC conductivity (σ
ac), dielectric permittivity (ε′), and dielectric loss (tanδ) of PANI/MgONPs@GO ternary nanocomposites exhibit a substantial increase compared to pure PANI.
Transitive–intransitive alignment
Authors: Creissels Denis
Published: October 2024

The topic of this chapter is the alignment in the coding properties of the core nominal terms of transitive and intransitive clauses. Section 5.1 discusses the relationship between types of transitive coding as defined in the last section of Chapter 4 and types of alignment in the coding characteristics of the core nominal terms of transitive and intransitive clauses. Section 5.2 is an introduction to participant coding systems involving various kinds of violations of the Obligatory Coding Principle, discussed in more detail in sections 5.3 to 5.7. The last two sections of this chapter are devoted to various types of historical changes that may have an incidence on core term coding, and consequently may result in violations of the Obligatory Coding Principle.
The temporal sequence and reciprocal relationships of frailty, social isolation and loneliness in older adults across 21 years
Authors: Mehrabi Fereshteh , Pomeroy Mary Louise , Cudjoe Thomas K M , Jenkins Emerald , Dent Elsa , Hoogendijk Emiel O
Published: October 2024

Background

It is unclear whether social isolation and loneliness may precede frailty status or whether frailty may precipitate social isolation and loneliness. We investigated the reciprocal and temporal sequence of social isolation, loneliness, and frailty among older adults across 21 years.

Methods

We used seven waves of the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam from 2302 Dutch older adults (M = 72.6 years, SD = 8.6, 52.1% female) ages 55 or older. Using random intercept cross-lagged panel models, we investigated between- and within-person associations of social isolation and loneliness with frailty. Frailty was measured using the Frailty Index. Loneliness was measured using the 11-item De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale. Social isolation was measured using a multi-domain 6-item scale.

Results

Social isolation and loneliness were weakly correlated across waves. At the between-person level, individuals with higher levels of frailty tended to have higher levels of social isolation but not loneliness. At the within-person level, the cross-lagged paths indicated that earlier frailty status predicted future social isolation and loneliness over time. However, prior social isolation was not associated with subsequent frailty except at time point 5 (T5). Loneliness at specific time points (T1, T4 and T6) predicted greater frailty at later time points (T2, T5 and T7). The results also supported reciprocal and contemporaneous relations between social isolation, loneliness and frailty.

Conclusions

Social isolation and loneliness are potential outcomes of frailty. Public health policies and health practitioners should prioritise interventions targeting social connection among older adults with pre-frailty or frailty.
Validity of the Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Form (PPAQ-SF)
Authors: Park Susan , Marcotte Robert , Staudenmayer John , Sirard John , VanKim Nicole , Pekow Penelope , Strath Scott , Freedson Patty , Chasan-Taber Lisa
Published: October 2024

To develop and evaluate the validity of the Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (PPAQ-SF). A prospective cohort of participants (N=50) completed the updated PPAQ (long-form) and wore an ActiGraph for 7 days on the nondominant wrist in early, mid, and late pregnancy. The top ten questions with the highest relative contribution to the between-person variance in PPAQ-assessed total MET-hours/day were selected. Internal validity was evaluated using the ActiGraph and the updated PPAQ (long-form) within the current dataset. Validity was also assessed in an external validation dataset of 222 pregnant participants using the updated and original PPAQ (long-forms). Spearman correlations between the PPAQ-SF and ActiGraph estimates of MVPA MET-hours/day were r = 0.34 (95% CI 0.18-0.48) for overall pregnancy and ranged from 0.21 (95% CI -0.07-0.47) in early pregnancy to 0.49 (95% CI 0.23-0.69) in mid-pregnancy. In the external validation dataset, correlations between the PPAQ-SF and the PPAQ (long forms) estimates of MVPA MET-hours/day were statistically significant across pregnancy (r=0.94-0.99). Reproducibility ranged from 0.35 in early pregnancy to 0.77 in mid pregnancy. In summary, the PPAQ-SF can provide a time-efficient measure of MVPA during pregnancy with acceptable validity; reproducibility was reasonable in mid-pregnancy.
Association of prey quality with environmental odors in the foraging behavior of Pardosa milvina
Authors: Shannon Hailey C , Rypstra Ann L
Published: October 2024

Modulation of predatory behaviors based on prey profitability can improve overall foraging efficiency by allocating energy reserves towards more valuable prey. Should the value of prey vary predictably across the landscape, predators could also benefit from the utilization of environmental cues to inform their foraging decisions. Here, we present data on context-dependent foraging behaviors of the wolf spider Pardosa milvina (Araneae: Lycosidae). Spiders underwent testing during which subjects were alternately provided cricket prey coated with either a favorable (sucrose) or unfavorable (quinine) solution. Each prey type was paired with 1 of 2 environmental odors such that one odor was always predictive of unfavorable prey and the other was always predictive of favorable prey. We found that P. milvina reduced their attacks over time while differing significantly in behavior towards the 2 prey types. The rate of nonresponses towards the unfavorable prey increased significantly over time compared to the favorable prey, suggesting that spiders were avoiding the former. Our findings indicate that P. milvina can differentiate between environmental odor cues associated with prey type. Additionally, we report on a novel prey handling behavior where spiders would repeatedly drag unfavorable prey along the arena floor between bouts of cheliceral grooming. We propose this behavior may have served to remove quinine from the prey.
Age, sex, and temperature shape off-territory feeder use in black-capped chickadees
Authors: LaRocque Megan , Wijmenga Jan J , Mathot Kimberley J
Published: October 2024

Spatial ecology tends to focus on average movement patterns within animal groups; however, recent studies highlight the value of considering movement decisions both within and among individuals. We used a marked population of black-capped chickadees (Poecile atricapillus), to assess the causes and consequences of within- and among-individual differences in chickadee space use. Individuals that used feeders in addition to their most-visited “core feeder” were defined as engaging in off-territory feeder use. We found that females were more likely than males to visit off-territory feeders as ambient temperatures decrease and energetic demands increase. This may be due to sex-related differences in dominance, where males which are the dominant sex in chickadees, have priority access to feeders, while females must increase their foraging areas to meet higher energetic demand. We also found that independent of temperature, adult males were less likely than juvenile males and both juvenile and adult females to forage off-territory. We suggest that this may be due to age-specific benefits of space use in males, where un-paired juvenile males may increase feeder exploration to gain information about potential mates. Finally, we found that chickadees that had a higher propensity to visit off-territory feeders were less likely to survive to the next fall. Overall, our results suggest that dominance hierarchies and individual energetics impact within- and among-individual variation in off-territory feeder use. We provide suggestions for future studies to further investigate fitness-related consequences of within- and among-individual variation in space use.
Composite dyadic models for spatio-temporal data
Authors: Schwob Michael R , Hooten Mevin B , Narasimhan Vagheesh
Published: October 2024

Mechanistic statistical models are commonly used to study the flow of biological processes. For example, in landscape genetics, the aim is to infer spatial mechanisms that govern gene flow in populations. Existing statistical approaches in landscape genetics do not account for temporal dependence in the data and may be computationally prohibitive. We infer mechanisms with a Bayesian hierarchical dyadic model that scales well with large data sets and that accounts for spatial and temporal dependence. We construct a fully connected network comprising spatio-temporal data for the dyadic model and use normalized composite likelihoods to account for the dependence structure in space and time. We develop a dyadic model to account for physical mechanisms commonly found in physical-statistical models and apply our methods to ancient human DNA data to infer the mechanisms that affected human movement in Bronze Age Europe.
Oesophageal injury mimicking a tubular congenital oesophageal duplication—a diagnostic dilemma: a case report
Authors: Shrivastava Shreya , Joshi Priscilla , Pinglikar Shriyash
Published: October 2024

Intramural oesophageal dissection (IED) is an uncommon condition in newborns marked by the separation of the mucosal and submucosal layers of the oesophageal wall, both transversely and longitudinally, which may or may not involve perforation. A neonate presented at 26 h of life with poor respiratory effort and lethargy. She was intubated and was put on mechanical ventilation. Radiograph of the neonate suggested malpositioned endotracheal tube. The fluoroscopic dye-study indicated gastroesophageal oesophageal reflux disease and nothing significant. On limited CT contrast study of thorax, a tubular structure was seen running just parallel to the oesophagus extending from the T2 to the T9 levels. Possibilities of a oesophageal duplication/IED were considered. The neonate underwent an endoscopy and gastrostomy on day of life (DOL) 9. On follow up at 3 months a repeat limited CT study was done with instillation of water-soluble contrast. The previously seen tubular structure running parallel to the oesophagus was no longer seen. This finding suggested a healed IED. This case report emphasizes the significance of multimodality imaging in the diagnosis of this condition.
Pore design of POM@MOF hybrids for enhanced methylene blue capture
Authors: Miyazaki Shotaro , Ogiwara Naoki , Nagasaka Cocoro A , Takiishi Kanta , Inada Miki , Uchida Sayaka
Published: October 2024

Adsorption of methylene blue from aqueous effluents is a key technique to treat wastewater discharge from chemical industries. Toward methylene blue adsorption, porous metal–organic frameworks have been promising owing to their high surface areas and tunable porosity. The incorporation of polyoxometalates (POMs) into metal–organic frameworks has been found to facilitate methylene blue adsorption due to electrostatic interactions between the anionic polyoxometalate and the cationic methylene blue. However, it remains unclear how the customizable pore of POM@MOF hybrids affects the capture of methylene blue. In this work, we study the effect of the size and environment of metal–organic frameworks on the property of methylene blue capture for [Zr6O4(OH)4(1,4-benzenedicarboxylate)6] (UiO-66) embedding an α-Keggin-type polyoxometalate [α-SiW12O40]4− (SiW12). Tuning pore size and environment based on ligand engineering of the metal–organic frameworks suggests that (i) lengthening the organic linkers and (ii) functionalization of the linker with −NO2 groups could enhance the methylene blue uptakes. Notably, an increase in the loading amounts of SiW12 on UiO-66 functionalized with −NO2 groups led to outstanding methylene blue capture, comparable to that of representative zeolites such as ZSM-5 and zeolite Y.
Prevalence of Drug Resistance Associated Substitutions in Persons With Chronic Hepatitis C Infection and Virological Failure Following Initial or Re-treatment With Pan-genotypic Direct-Acting Antivirals: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Authors: Inzaule Seth , Easterbrook Philippa , Latona Ashley , Ford Nathan P , Irving William , Matthews Philippa C , Vitoria Marco , Duncombe Chris , Giron Amalia , McCluskey Suzanne , Lesi Olufunmilayo , Tchamgoue Serge , Halford Rachel , Adda Danjuma , Thomson Emma , Dusheiko Geoff , Jordan Michael R
Published: October 2024

Background

The advent of short-course, curative treatment with direct-acting antivirals (DAA) has given promise for the global elimination of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections by 2030. Virological failure occurs in 2%–12% of persons receiving curative DAA treatment and may be presaged by pre-existing polymorphisms or result from selection of drug resistant variants during therapy.

Methods

We conducted a systematic review to assess the prevalence of HCV resistance associated substitutions (RAS) among individuals with chronic hepatitis C infection who had virological failure following initial or re-treatment with pan-genotypic DAA regimens. We included 34 and 22 studies assessing RAS in people with virological failure published between January 2014 and July 2023. Pooled RAS prevalence was estimated using random-effects meta-analysis.

Results

The pooled prevalence of RAS in people with virological failure following initial DAA treatment was 78.0% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 62.0–92.0) for sofosbuvir/velpatasvir, 81.0% (95% CI: 67.0–93.0) for sofosbuvir/daclatasvir, and 79.0% (95% CI: 70.0–87.0) for glecaprevir/pibrentasvir, with a high prevalence of resistance to the NS5A inhibitors. Among those with virological failure following re-treatment regimens, RAS were present in 93.0% (95% CI: 83.0–99.0) for sofosbuvir/velpatasvir/voxilepravir and in 100% (95% CI: 92.0–100) for glecaprevir/pibrentasvir, with resistance driven by RAS to NS5A inhibitors.

Discussion

At least 1 RAS is present in a high proportion of the few individuals with virological failure following initial or re-treatment with pan-genotypic DAA regimens. There is a need for ongoing surveillance for DAA-associated resistance, to assess risk factors for their development and clinical impact to inform best practice strategies for re-treatment.
Development of an Electronic Clinical Surveillance Measure for Unnecessary Rapid Antibiotic Administration in Suspected Sepsis
Authors: Taylor Stephanie Parks , Palakshappa Jessica A , Chou Shih-Hsiung , Gibbs Kevin , King Jessie , Patel Nikhil , Kowalkowski Marc
Published: October 2024

Background

Substantial efforts focus on monitoring and reducing delays in antibiotic treatment for sepsis, but little has been done to characterize the balancing measure of sepsis overtreatment. We aimed to establish preliminary validity and usefulness of electronic health record (EHR) data–derived criteria for sepsis overtreatment surveillance (SEP-OS).

Methods

We evaluated adults with potential sepsis (≥2 Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome criteria within 6 hours of arrival) presenting to the emergency department of 12 hospitals, excluding patients with shock. We defined SEP-OS as the proportion of patients receiving rapid IV antibiotics (≤3 hours) who did not ultimately meet the Centers for Disease Control Adult Sepsis Event “true sepsis” definition. We evaluated the frequency and characteristics of patients meeting overtreatment criteria and outcomes associated with sepsis overtreatment.

Results

Of 113 764 eligible patients, the prevalence of sepsis overtreatment was 22.5%. The measure met prespecified criteria for reliability, content, construct, and criterion validity. Patients classified by the SEP-OS overtreatment criteria had higher median antibiotic days (4 days [IQR, 2–5] vs 1 day [1–2]; P < .01), longer median length of stay (4 days [2–6] vs 3 days [2–5]; P < .01), higher hospital mortality (2.4% vs 2.1%; P = .01), and higher frequency of Clostridioides difficile infection within 6 months of hospital discharge (P < .01) compared with “true negative” cases.

Conclusions

We developed a novel, valid EHR metric for clinical surveillance of sepsis overtreatment. Applying this metric to a large cohort of potential sepsis patients revealed a high rate of overtreatment and provides a useful tool to inform sepsis quality-improvement targets.