bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An adaptive dual‐controller on‐line efficiency optimization method of four‐switch buck‐boost converter for wide range application
Authors: Chen Zhangyong , Tang Xuan , Zheng Zhanchao , Wu Yunfeng , Luo Zhijie
Published: December 2023

In order to achieve efficiency extremum of power conversion independent of parameter values and operational mode, an adaptive dual‐controller on‐line efficiency optimization method is presented in this paper. Firstly, based on tri‐modal analysis for four‐switch buck‐boost (FSBB) converter, efficiency extremum analysis is given and existed for such this converter. Then, adaptive dual controller on‐line efficiency seeking algorithm is shown to adaptive two variables for efficiency optimization and output voltage regulation. Furthermore, perturb and observe detector is described to realize control variables decoupling of dual‐controller and to prevent the instability of the whole system during the algorithm tuning process and to improve the algorithm speed of the dual controller. The proposed method is model independent and does not depend on the circuit parameter values. The detail implement of algorithm and performance analysis is given, and the experimental platform and experimental results are put forward to verify the effectiveness of the algorithm.
Social networks data analytical approaches for trust‐based recommender systems: A systematic literature review
Authors: Vatani Nasim , Rahmani Amir Masoud , Javadi Hamid Haj Seyyed , Jassbi Somayyeh Jafarali
Published: December 2023

With the explosive growth of information on the web and the quick provision of novel web services, recommendation systems have emerged as efficient mechanism for providing advice regarding items in which users might be potentially interested. However, a traditional recommender system, which solely mines the user's previous behavior and item descriptions for recommendations, has some drawbacks. To overcome these limitations, a new solution that has recently garnered significant attention is using trust data. This approach, however, presents challenges in utilizing suitable trust data according to recommender systems applications, underlying social network structures, and user needs. In addition, in a selective decision‐making system, trust, as a kind of social network data, plays a significant role and needs an appropriate approach for making inferences. This article provides a systematic literature review of the current trust‐based social recommender systems. It also presents a detailed categorization of the trust type utilized and inferred from the existing trust‐related social networks data analytical approaches. Furthermore, it addresses the main properties and challenges of the most popular trust‐based social recommendation systems. Finally, it presents our findings and discusses open issues that provide researchers with insight to develop more enhanced recommender systems.
Binding SnO2 Nanoparticles with MoS2 Nanosheets Toward Highly Reversible and Cycle‐Stable Lithium/Sodium Storage
Authors: Cheng Deliang , Zhang Wenbiao , Tang Yi , Gao Qingsheng , Hu Renzong , Yang Lichun , Zhu Min
Published: December 2023

SnO2, with its high theoretical capacity, abundant resources, and environmental friendliness, is widely regarded as a potential anode material for lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs). Nevertheless, the coarsening of the Sn nanoparticles impedes the reconversion back to SnO2, resulting in low coulombic efficiency and rapid capacity decay. In this study, we fabricated a heterostructure by combining SnO2 nanoparticles with MoS2 nanosheets via plasma‐assisted milling. The heterostructure consists of in‐situ exfoliated MoS2 nanosheets predominantly in 1 T phase, which tightly encase the SnO2 nanoparticles through strong bonding. This configuration effectively mitigates the volume change and particle aggregation upon cycling. Moreover, the strong affinity of Mo, which is the lithiation product of MoS2, toward Sn plays a pivotal role in inhibiting the coarsening of Sn nanograins, thus enhancing the reversibility of Sn to SnO2 upon cycling. Consequently, the SnO2/MoS2 heterostructure exhibits superb performance as an anode material for LIBs, demonstrating high capacity, rapid rate capability, and extended lifespan. Specifically, discharged/charged at a rate of 0.2 A g−1 for 300 cycles, it achieves a remarkable reversible capacity of 1173.4 mAh g−1. Even cycled at high rates of 1.0 and 5.0 A g−1 for 800 cycles, it still retains high reversible capacities of 1005.3 and 768.8 mAh g−1, respectively. Moreover, the heterostructure exhibits outstanding electrochemical performance in both full LIBs and sodium‐ion batteries.
Allocating aid for COVID‐19 support: A constrained optimisation approach
Authors: Feeny Simon
Published: December 2023

The objective of this paper is to develop a prescriptive model for the inter‐country allocation of aid for COVID‐19 support. Aid allocations are increasing functions of three dimensions of need: (i) hazard and exposure to COVID‐19; (ii) vulnerability to COVID‐19 impacts; and (iii) the capacity to cope, subject to an aid budget constraint. COVID‐19 support from official donors to all ODA eligible countries is modeled. Aid allocations for COVID‐19 support prescribed by the model are compared to actual allocations in 2020. Findings from the main model suggest that low‐income countries are over‐represented among the countries that should have received a greater share of the aid for COVID‐19 support. Middle‐income countries tended to receive more donor support for COVID‐19 than amounts suggested by the model. The choice of weights assigned to the dimensions of need is arbitrary but findings are broadly consistent with respect to the use of different weights, alternative measures of support and changes to other parameters of the model. It is recommended that the donor community commit to a transparent needs‐based funding formula when addressing a global pandemic.
Alternative Routes to 4,6‐O‐Benzylidene β‐Thioglycosides
Authors: Imperio Daniela , Valloni Filippo , Panza Luigi
Published: December 2023

The synthesis of glycosides generally requires the use of building blocks that need to be readily prepared, avoiding tricky reaction steps and boring purifications. Thioglycosides represent key donor intermediates for their activation in glycosylation reactions and for their great stability. Moreover, the presence of a benzylidene moiety confers to the molecule a double advantage: it can influence the stereochemistry of the glycosylation reaction and can be selectively opened to generate different species having a free secondary hydroxyl group. Here, the preparation of p‐Tolyl 1‐thio‐4,6‐O‐benzylidene‐2,3‐di‐O‐benzyl‐β‐d‐pyranoses of glucose, galactose, and mannose are described. The global procedure involved the exploitation of simple reactions and crystallization techniques, having a chromatographic purification for the last step only.
Natural convection MHD mass transfer through an infinite vertical porous plate in the existence of radiation embedded in porous medium
Authors: Choudhury Kangkan , Sharma Sweety
Published: December 2023

This research focuses on studying the effects of heat and mass transfer convective flow passing through an infinite vertical plate embedded in porous media under radiation and chemical reaction with constant heat and mass flux. A magnetic field of strength is functional throughout the fluid region. The novelty of the present work is to examine the heat and mass transfer magnetohydrodynamics flow in the presence of thermal radiation. The equations governing the flow, heat and mass transfer are solved analytically using the perturbation technique. Expressions for velocity, temperature, concentration, skin‐friction, Nusselt, and Sherwood numbers are obtained. The influence of physical parameters on the flow domain is described graphically and in tabular form. It is found that increase in radiation parameter reduces the velocity and temperature. Moreover, internal friction of the plate decreased with increasing values of radiation parameter.
High‐Performance, Flame‐Retardant, Binder‐Free Li‐Hectorite‐Polybenzimidazole Fiber Separator for Li‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Joshi Sagar A. , Pazhaniswamy Sivaraj , Plank Christian , Danzer Michael A. , Hou Haoqing , Cheong Jun Young , Breu Josef , Agarwal Seema
Published: December 2023

Li‐Hectorite (Li‐Hec) clays have inherent 2D diffusion slits offering high lithium (Li+) ion conductivity. Such Li‐Hec clays spontaneously delaminate into flexible nanosheets, allowing them to be coated on high‐temperature stable polybenzimidazole (PBI) nanofibers laid randomly onto each other in the form of non‐woven membranes. Here such Li‐Hec coated PBI nonwovens are shown to be excellent Li‐ion battery separators. An effective strategy based on electrospinning PBI followed by a filtration‐through coating of delaminated Li‐Hec nanosheets of appropriate diameter is applied to prepare the separators without the use of any binder. The composite separator shows excellent properties, such as superior wettability (solvent uptake 413%), thermostability (>500 °C), superior flame resistance, and interfacial compatibility. Additionally, the presented separator shows excellent ion conductivity, Li‐ion transference number, cycling stability, and a rate performance that outperforms the common commercial separators. In summary, this work allows for a better balance between safety, high performance, and separator functionality.
Exome sequencing‐aided precise diagnosis of four families with type I Stickler syndrome
Authors: Tian Runyi , Tong Ping , He Yuhong , Zang Liyu , Zhou Shimin , Tian Qi
Published: December 2023

Background

Stickler syndrome is a multisystemic disorder characterized by ophthalmological and non‐ophthalmological abnormalities, frequently misdiagnosed due to high clinical heterogeneity. Stickler syndrome type I (STL1) is predominantly caused by mutations in the COL2A1 gene.

Methods

Exome sequencing and co‐segregation analysis were utilized to scrutinize 35 families with high myopia, and pathogenic mutations were identified. Mutant COL2A1 was overexpressed in cells for mechanistic study. A retrospective genotype–phenotype correlation analysis was further conducted.

Results

Two novel pathogenic mutations (c.2895+1G>C and c.3505G>A (p.Val1169Ile)) and two reported mutations (c.1597C>T (p.Arg533*) and c.1693C>T (p.Arg565Cys)) in COL2A1 were identified causing STL1. These mutations are all in the G‐X‐Y triplet, and c.2895+1G>C contributed to aberrant RNA splicing. COL2A1 mutants tended to form large aggregates in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and elevated ER stress. Additionally, mutations c.550G>A (p.Ala184Thr) and c.2806G>A (p.Gly936Ser) in COL2A1 were found in high myopia families, but were likely benign, although c.2806G>A (p.Gly936Ser) is on G‐X‐Y triplet. Moreover, genotype–phenotype correlation analysis revealed that mutations in exon 2 mainly contribute to retinal detachment, whereas mutations in the collagen alpha‐1 chain region of COL2A1 tend to cause non‐ophthalmologic symptoms.

Conclusion

This study broadens the COL2A1 gene mutation spectrum, provides evidence for ER stress caused by pathogenic COL2A1 mutations and highlights the importance of non‐ophthalmological examination in clinical diagnosis of high myopia.
Multitasking scheduling with shared processing
Authors: Fu Bin , Huo Yumei , Zhao Hairong
Published: December 2023

Recently, the problem of multitasking scheduling has raised a lot of interest in the service industries. Hall et al. (Discrete Applied Mathematics, 2016) proposed a shared processing multitasking scheduling model which allows a team to continue to work on the primary tasks while processing the routinely scheduled activities as they occur. With a team being modeled as a single machine, the processing sharing of the machine is achieved by allocating a fraction of the processing capacity to routine jobs and the remaining fraction, which we denote as sharing ratio, to the primary jobs. In this paper, we generalize this model to parallel machines and allow the fraction of the processing capacity assigned to routine jobs to vary from one to another. The objectives are minimizing makespan and minimizing the total completion time of primary jobs. We show that for both objectives, there is no polynomial time approximation algorithm unless P=NP if the sharing ratios are arbitrary for all machines. Then we consider the problems where the sharing ratios on some machines have a constant lower bound. For each objective, we analyze the performance of the classical scheduling algorithms and their variations and then develop a polynomial time approximation scheme when the number of machines is a constant.
Nutrition support in the pediatric total pancreatectomy with islet autotransplantation recipient
Authors: Downs Elissa M. , Brun Amanda , Bellin Melena D.
Published: December 2023

For children with diminished quality of life and chronic pain caused by acute recurrent or chronic pancreatitis who are undergoing total pancreatectomy with islet autotransplantation, postoperative nutrition support has several unique characteristics. Surgical complications may lead to delays in nutrition support initiation or require modifications to the regimen. Early postoperative dysmotility requires the use of temporary enteral nutrition until this improves. The resultant complete exocrine pancreatic insufficiency necessitates lifelong pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy and fat‐soluble vitamin supplementation. A low‐oxalate diet is recommended to prevent kidney stones. Carbohydrate counting is needed for the provision of short‐term insulin dosing and possibly long‐term as well, depending on the transplanted islet yield. Children should have careful nutrition assessment and monitoring at several follow‐up visits during the first year, then annually, and at any time with concerns.
The potential of a combined cell‐based therapy and rehabilitation approach for stroke recovery
Authors: Bakreen Abdulhameed , Jolkkonen Jukka
Published: December 2023

Activation of neuroprotective and particularly later neurorestorative mechanisms after stroke attempts to restore or compensate for lost functions. This potentially opens a wide window for restorative therapies to promote brain repair and improve long‐term functional recovery. Although extensively demonstrated in the preclinical setting, the efficacy of cell‐based therapies in stroke patients has been modest at best, if any at all. Translational failure may be due to the ineffective survival and integration of transplanted cells in pro‐death stroke microenvironments that are not conducive for the structural reconstruction of damaged brain tissue and repair‐related network reorganization. Optimal systemic delivery, timing, cell product, and dose remain open as well. Fortunately, a better understanding of the brain plasticity mechanisms underlying stroke recovery has ushered in a combination approach of cell‐based therapy and rehabilitation that is aimed at achieving additive, synergistic, or even maximal beneficial effects. This novel combination therapy is not only targeted at promoting exogenous and endogenous cell survival and augmenting stand‐alone restorative mechanisms but also at utilizing rehabilitation to facilitate a graft–host structural and functional integration and plasticity that would effectively remodel stroke tissue and restitute lost functions. This review presents an overview of the combination of cell‐based therapy and experimental rehabilitation in stroke models. It also discusses associated shortcomings as well as proposes strategies to address them and help facilitate the advancement of this combination approach.
Performance estimation of small‐scale horizontal axis wind turbine blade
Authors: Laouar Roudouane , Bekkai Riyadh , Mdouki Ramzi
Published: December 2023

The extracted energy from the wind is mainly influenced by the geometry of the rotor blades. Determining the aerodynamic optimum blade shape is one of the main tasks of the wind turbine designer. In the current study, the mixed airfoil technique was employed by using “Blade‐Element‐Momentum” (BEM) and “Computational‐Fluid‐Dynamics” (CFD) analysis to predict the aerodynamic performance of a small‐scale horizontal axis wind turbine blade. The BEM was then run using the open‐source wind turbine design and performance computation program Q‐Blade. The numerical simulation is carried out by Ansys Fluent. Here, the k‐ω Shear Stress Transport (SST) model was used. The results were compared with existing experimental data on lift and drag coefficients at the optimal angle of attack. The results of the two approaches were compared for different tip speed ratio values and a good agreement between CFD and BEM results was found.
Barriers and facilitators to national guideline implementation for palliative cancer care in a Danish cross‐sectoral healthcare setting: A qualitative study of healthcare professionals' experiences
Authors: Sørensen Dina Melanie , Dalton Susanne Oksbjerg , Egholm Cecilie Lindström , Bidstrup Pernille , Brodersen John Brandt , Rosted Elizabeth
Published: December 2023

Objective

Patients with incurable cancer should receive general palliative care according to their needs, as provided through collaboration between hospital departments, municipalities, and general practices and as outlined in national guidelines. However, the implementation of general palliative care in Denmark has been inadequate. This study aimed to investigate the healthcare professionals' (HCPs') perceptions on barriers to and facilitators of the implementation of the Danish National Guideline (NG) for general palliative care.

Methods

This descriptive, qualitative study was guided by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR). Qualitative focus group and individual interviews were conducted with 23 HCPs. The interview guide, coding, analysis, and reporting of findings were developed within the CFIR framework.

Results

The main barriers to implementing NG were as follows: lack of knowledge about the NG, lack of an implementation plan, and insufficient communication and collaboration across sectors. Important facilitators were as follows: HCP motivation to meet palliative care needs, HCPs with special functions taking responsibility for incorporating NG into local guidelines, and the role of district nurses specialised in palliative care as opinion leaders providing security and continuity for the HCPs working in palliative care.

Conclusions

To address the needs of patients with incurable cancer, greater efforts are required on implementing general palliative care. Although HCPs in our setting were motivated to improve NG implementation, financial resources and strategies are necessary to ensure sufficient knowledge uptake and accommodate identified barriers in order to translate the NG into practice.
Mixing things up! Identifying early diversity benefits and facilitating the development of improved variety mixtures with high throughput field phenotyping
Authors: Tschurr Flavian , Oppliger Corina , Wuest Samuel E. , Kirchgessner Norbert , Walter Achim
Published: December 2023

Crop diversification is a potential strategy to increase the stability and productivity of crops, while reducing pathogen pressures and pesticide requirements. Crop variety mixtures provide some of these diversification benefits and their cultivation is fully compatible with current mechanized agronomic practices. However, the development of optimal variety mixtures is a long, labour‐intense process requiring extensive field trials. High throughput field phenotyping (HTFP) methods provide promising applications in field testing because they allow for precise, repeatable, and rapid measurements of crop properties. Here, we evaluated the use of HTFP for developing high‐performing oat (Avena sativa) variety mixtures by testing its suitability to predict diversity yield benefits from repeated canopy measurements across the growing season. Analyzing 26 mixtures of five varieties, we found significant overyielding at harvest, that is, mixtures were on average more productive than expected based on component pure stands. This grain yield overyielding was well predicted from deviations between mixture and pure stand canopy cover estimations, derived from HTFP mid‐way through the growing season. This shows that (i) positive interactions between oat varieties occur already at an early stage, (ii) such interactions lead to increased potential for light interception, (iii) HTFP offers rapid, scalable methods to screen for performant variety mixtures.
The intrinsically disordered transcriptional activation domain of CIITA is functionally tuneable by single substitutions: An exception or a new paradigm?
Authors: Sreenivasan Shwetha , Heffren Paul , Suh Kyung‐Shin , Rodnin Mykola V. , Kosa Edina , Fenton Aron W. , Ladokhin Alexey S. , Smith Paul E. , Fontes Joseph D. , Swint‐Kruse Liskin
Published: December 2023

During protein evolution, some amino acid substitutions modulate protein function (“tuneability”). In most proteins, the tuneable range is wide and can be sampled by a set of protein variants that each contains multiple amino acid substitutions. In other proteins, the full tuneable range can be accessed by a set of variants that each contains a single substitution. Indeed, in some globular proteins, the full tuneable range can be accessed by the set of site‐saturating substitutions at an individual “rheostat” position. However, in proteins with intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs), most functional studies—which would also detect tuneability—used multiple substitutions or small deletions. In disordered transcriptional activation domains (ADs), studies with multiple substitutions led to the “acidic exposure” model, which does not anticipate the existence of rheostat positions. In the few studies that did assess effects of single substitutions on AD function, results were mixed: the ADs of two full‐length transcription factors did not show tuneability, whereas a fragment of a third AD was tuneable by single substitutions. In this study, we tested tuneability in the AD of full‐length human class II transactivator (CIITA). Sequence analyses and experiments showed that CIITA's AD is an IDR. Functional assays of singly‐substituted AD variants showed that CIITA's function was highly tuneable, with outcomes not predicted by the acidic exposure model. Four tested positions showed rheostat behavior for transcriptional activation. Thus, tuneability of different IDRs can vary widely. Future studies are needed to illuminate the biophysical features that govern whether an IDR is tuneable by single substitutions.
Microglial roles in Alzheimer's disease: An agent‐based model to elucidate microglial spatiotemporal response to beta‐amyloid
Authors: Weathered Catherine , Bardehle Sophia , Yoon Choya , Kumar Niyanta , Leyns Cheryl E. G. , Kennedy Matthew E. , Bloomingdale Peter , Pienaar Elsje
Published: December 2023

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by beta‐amyloid (Aβ) plaques in the brain and widespread neuronal damage. Because of the high drug attrition rates in AD, there is increased interest in characterizing neuroimmune responses to Aβ plaques. In response to AD pathology, microglia are innate phagocytotic immune cells that transition into a neuroprotective state and form barriers around plaques. We seek to understand the role of microglia in modifying Aβ dynamics and barrier formation. To quantify the influence of individual microglia behaviors (activation, chemotaxis, phagocytosis, and proliferation) on plaque size and barrier coverage, we developed an agent‐based model to characterize the spatiotemporal interactions between microglia and Aβ. Our model qualitatively reproduces mouse data trends where the fraction of microglia coverage decreases as plaques become larger. In our model, the time to microglial arrival at the plaque boundary is significantly negatively correlated (p < 0.0001) with plaque size, indicating the importance of the time to microglial activation for regulating plaque size. In addition, in silico behavioral knockout simulations show that phagocytosis knockouts have the strongest impact on plaque size, but modest impacts on microglial coverage and activation. In contrast, the chemotaxis knockouts had a strong impact on microglial coverage with a more modest impact on plaque volume and microglial activation. These simulations suggest that phagocytosis, chemotaxis, and replication of activated microglia have complex impacts on plaque volume and coverage, whereas microglial activation remains fairly robust to perturbations of these functions. Thus, our work provides insights into the potential and limitations of targeting microglial activation as a pharmacological strategy for the treatment of AD.
The Shocks in Josephson Transmission Line Revisited
Authors: Kogan Eugene
Published: December 2023

We continue our previous studies of the shocks in the lossy Josephson transmission line (JTL). The article consists of two parts. In the first part, we analyze the scattering of the “sound” (small amplitude small wave vector harmonic wave) on the shock wave and calculate the reflection and the transmission coefficients. In the second part, we show that the kinks, which we previously studied only in the lossless JTL, exist also in the lossy JTL and study the similarities and the dissimilarities between the shocks and the kinks there. We find that the nonlinear equation describing the weak kinks and the weak shocks can be integrated (in particular cases) in terms of elementary functions. We also show that the profile of the shock in the lossy JTL demonstrates oscillatory behavior with leading peaks resembling solitary waves if the losses are weak.
Connective tissue disease‐associated pulmonary hypertension: A comprehensive review
Authors: Khangoora Vikramjit , Bernstein Elana J. , King Christopher S. , Shlobin Oksana A.
Published: December 2023

Connective tissue diseases (CTDs) can be associated with various forms of pulmonary hypertension, including pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), pulmonary veno‐occlusive disease, pulmonary venous hypertension, interstitial lung disease‐associated pulmonary hypertension, chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension, and sometimes a combination of several processes. The prevalence of PAH varies among the different CTDs, with systemic sclerosis (SSc) having the highest at 8%–12%. The most recent European Society of Cardiology/European Respiratory Society guidelines recommend routine annual screening for PAH in SSc and CTDs with SSc features. As CTDs can be associated with a myriad of presentations of pulmonary hypertension, a thorough evaluation to include a right heart catheterization to clearly delineate the hemodynamic profile is essential in developing an appropriate treatment plan. Treatment strategies will depend on the predominant phenotype of pulmonary vasculopathy. In general, management approach to CTD‐PAH mirrors that of idiopathic PAH. Despite this, outcomes of CTD‐PAH are inferior to those of idiopathic PAH, with those of SSc‐PAH being particularly poor. Reasons for this may include extrapulmonary manifestations of CTDs, including renal disease and gastrointestinal involvement, concurrent interstitial lung disease, and differences in the innate response of the right ventricle to increased pulmonary vascular resistance. Early referral for lung transplant evaluation of patients with CTD‐PAH, particularly SSc‐PAH, is recommended. It is hoped that in the near future, additional therapies may be added to the armamentarium of effective treatments for CTD‐PAH. Ultimately, a better understanding of the pathogenesis of CTD‐PAH will be required to develop targeted therapies for this morbid condition.
Platform for the Immobilizing of Ultrasmall Pd Clusters for Carbonylation: In Situ Self‐Templating Fabrication of ZIF‐8 on ZnO
Authors: Yang Wei , Wang Fangchao , Wang He , Ding Ding , Jiang Shaohua , Zhang Guoying
Published: December 2023

Incorporating metal clusters into the confined cavities of metal−organic frameworks (MOFs) to form MOF‐supported catalysts has attracted considerable research interest with regard to carbonylation reactions. Herein, a self‐templating method is used to prepare the zinc oxide (ZnO)‐supported core–shell catalyst ZnO@Pd/ZIF‐8. This facile strategy controls the growth of metal sources on the ZIF‐8 shell layer and avoids the metal diffusion or aggregation problems of the conventional synthesis method. The characteristics of the catalysts show that the palladium (Pd) clusters are highly dispersed with an average particle size of ≈1.2 nm, making them excellent candidates as a catalyst for carbonylation under mild conditions. The optimal catalyst (1.25‐ZnO@Pd/ZIF‐8) exhibits excellent activity in synthesizing α, β‐alkynyl ketones under 1 atm of carbon monooxide (CO), and the conversion rate of 1, 3‐diphenylprop‐2‐yn‐1‐one is 3.09 and 3.87 times more than those of Pd/ZIF‐8 and Pd2+, respectively, for the first 2 h. Moreover, the 1.25‐ZnO@Pd/ZIF‐8 is recyclable, showing negligible metal leaching, and, under the conditions used in this investigation, can be reused at least five times without considerable loss in its catalytic efficiency. This protocol can also be applied with other nucleophile reagents to synthesize esters, amides, and acid products.
A 3D‐Printed Cuttlefish Bone Elastomeric Sponge Rapidly Controlling Noncompressible Hemorrhage
Authors: Zhang Xinchi , Wang Xuqiao , Yuan Pingping , Ma Chaoqun , Wang Yujiao , Zhang Zheqian , Wang Pengyu , Zhao Yimin , Wu Wei
Published: December 2023

Developing a self‐expanding hemostatic sponge with high blood absorption and rapid shape recovery for noncompressible hemorrhage remains a challenge. In this study, a 3D‐printed cuttlefish bone elastomeric sponge (CBES) is fabricated, which combined ordered channels and porous structures, presented tunable mechanical strength, and shape memory potentials. The incorporation of cuttlefish bone powder (CBp) plays key roles in concentrating blood components, promoting aggregation of red blood cells and platelets, and activating platelets, which makes CBES show enhanced hemostatic performance compared with commercial gelatin sponges in vivo. Moreover, CBES promotes more histiocytic infiltration and neovascularization in the early stage of degradation than gelatin sponges, which is conducive to the regeneration and repair of injured tissue. To conclude, CBp loaded 3D‐printed elastomeric sponges can promote coagulation, present the potential to guide tissue healing, and broaden the hemostatic application of traditional Chinese medicine.
Unveiled the Structure‐Selectivity Relationship for Carbon Dioxide Reduction Triggered by Bi‐Doped Cu‐Based Nanocatalysts
Authors: Kao Bing‐Hsien , Zeng Yu‐Fang , Lee Yao‐Chang , Pao Chih‐Wen , Chen Jeng‐Lung , Chuang Yu‐Chun , Sheu Hwo‐Shuenn , Tsai Fu‐Te , Liaw Wen‐Feng
Published: December 2023

To investigate synergistic effect between geometric and electronic structures on directing CO2RR selectivity, water phase synthetic protocol and surface architecture engineering strategy are developed to construct monodispersed Bi‐doped Cu‐based nanocatalysts. The strongly correlated catalytic directionality and Bi3+ dopant can be rationalized by the regulation of [*COOH]/[*CO] adsorption capacities through the appropriate doping of Bi3+ electronic modulator, resulting in volcano relationship between FECO/TOFCO and surface EVBM values. Spectroscopic study reveals that the dual‐site binding mode ([Cu─μ─C(═O)O─Bi3+]) enabled by Cu1Bi3+2 motif in single‐phase Cu150Bi1 nanocatalyst drives CO2‐to‐CO conversion. In contrast, the study of dynamic Bi speciation and phase transformation in dual‐phase Cu50Bi1 nanocatalyst unveils that the Bi0‐Bi0 contribution emerges at the expense of BOC phase, suggesting metallic Bi0 phase acting as [H]˙ formation center switches CO2RR selectivity toward CO2‐to‐HCOO− conversion via [*OCHO] and [*OCHOK] intermediates. This work provides significant insight into how geometric architecture cooperates with electronic effect and catalytic motif/phase to guide the selectivity of electrocatalytic CO2 reduction through the distinct surface‐bound intermediates and presents molecular‐level understanding of catalytic mechanism for CO/HCOO− formation.
Synthesis and Direct Observation of Molecules of 2D Polymers: With High Molecular Weights, Large Areas, Small Micropores, Solubility, Membrane Forming Ability, and High Oxygen Permselectivity
Authors: Cheng Kehan , Shinohara Ken‐ichi , Notoya Osamu , Teraguchi Masahiro , Kaneko Takashi , Aoki Toshiki
Published: December 2023

If ideal 2D polymer (2DP) macromolecules with small pores that are similar in size to gas molecules, large areas, small thickness, and excellent membrane‐forming ability are synthesized, ultimate gas separation membranes would be obtained. However, as far it is known, such ideal well‐characterized 2DP macromolecules are not isolated. In this study, an ideal 2DP macromolecule is synthesized by using the successive three reactions (Glaser coupling, SCAT reaction, and the introduction of octyl groups), in which the conjugated framework structure is maintained, from a fully conjugated 1D polymer. Because this exfoliated 2DP is soluble, the macromolecular structure can be fully characterized by 1H‐NMR, GPC, SEM, AFM, and its dense membrane with no defects can be fabricated by the solvent cast method. This soluble 2DP macromolecule has very small micropores (6.0 Å) inside the macromolecule, a large area (30 × 68 nm by SEM and AFM), high molecular weight (Mn = 2.80 × 105 by GPC), and a small thickness (4.4 Å by AFM). This membrane shows the highest oxygen permselectivity exceeding Robeson's upper line because of the high molecular sieving effect of the controlled small micropores.
Oxide‐Halide Perovskite Composites for Simultaneous Recycling of Lead Zirconate Titanate Piezoceramics and Methylammonium Lead Iodide Solar Cells
Authors: Tabeshfar Mohadeseh , Nelo Mikko , Anandakrishnan Sivagnana Sundaram , Siddiqui Maliha , Peräntie Jani , Tofel Pavel , Jantunen Heli , Juuti Jari , Bai Yang
Published: December 2023

Global concerns over energy availability and the environment impose an urgent requirement for sustainable manufacturing, usage, and disposal of electronic components. Piezoelectric and photovoltaic components are being extensively used. They contain the hazardous element, Pb (e.g., in widely used and researched Pb(Zr,Ti)O3 and halide perovskites), but they are not being properly recycled or reused. This work demonstrates the fabrication of upside‐down composite sensor materials using crushed ceramic particles recycled from broken piezoceramics, polycrystalline halide perovskite powder collected from waste dye‐sensitized solar cells, and crystal particles of a Cd‐based perovskite composition, C6H5N(CH3)3CdBr3xCl3(1–x). The piezoceramic and halide perovskite particles are used as filler and binder, respectively, to show a proof of concept for the chemical and microstructural compatibility between the oxide and halide perovskite compounds while being recycled simultaneously. Production of the recycled and reusable materials requires only a marginal energy budget while achieving a very high material densification of >92%, as well as a 40% higher piezoelectric voltage coefficient, i.e., better sensing capability, than the pristine piezoceramics. This work thus offers an energy‐ and environmentally friendly approach to the recycling of hazardous elements as well as giving a second life to waste piezoelectric and photovoltaic components.
A Bayesian analysis of e‐cigarette risk perceptions in the United Kingdom
Authors: Viscusi W. Kip
Published: December 2023

Public Health England has communicated that e‐cigarettes provide at least a 95% risk reduction compared to conventional cigarettes. This article's survey evidence indicates that adults in the United Kingdom believe that e‐cigarettes are only 30%–40% safer overall and that they reduce lung cancer risks and total mortality risks by a similar percentage. A Bayesian analysis of risk beliefs finds that e‐cigarette risk perceptions are anchored on prior cigarette risk beliefs. The public, especially smokers, underestimates the magnitude of the risk reduction being communicated by public health officials. Those who are aware of e‐cigarette messages from Public Health England assess lower risks of e‐cigarettes, but they still underestimate the relative risk reduction. Even people with favorable qualitative beliefs about the harm reduction provided by e‐cigarettes overestimate the riskiness of e‐cigarettes.
Establishment and implementation of a clinical application and research database for surgical robots in China
Authors: Ma Shixun , Li Li , Lv Dengfeng , Yang Xiaojun , Su He , Zhang Leisheng , Zhang Min , Ma Yuntao , Guo Tiankang , Cai Hui
Published: December 2023

Robots are widely used in surgeries worldwide. To improve robotic surgical treatments, we established a database of clinical applications and research on surgical robots. Robotics‐related literature included in the China national knowledge infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang, Vipshop, Chinese science citation database (CSCD), Web of Science, EMBASE, PubMed, and Cochrane databases up to September 2022 was searched and entered into the database. Information on all patients who had undergone robotic surgery at our hospital since 2016 was also included. Literature and case information was classified and evaluated according to standard guidelines and statements. The Gansu Provincial Hospital was the first to use evidence‐based medical research methods to successfully establish a database of clinical applications and research on surgical robots. This database comprised literature search, upload, quality evaluation, risk of bias assessment, case information entry, and access functions. Based on the database, we conducted related studies in general surgery, gynecology, urology, thoracic surgery, and cardiovascular surgery, and published 16 meta‐analyses and 15 clinical studies. Establishing this database removes language, retrieval, and evaluation barriers in clinicians' use of clinical evidence and lays the foundation for the efficient and accurate use of clinical data for future research. Further, it facilitates evidence‐based evaluation of the effectiveness of robotic therapy, which may guide future medical practice. This typical case of interdisciplinary research aims to build a platform to disseminate knowledge and technology in robotic surgery.

This article is categorized under:

Technologies > Computer Architectures for Data Mining

Application Areas > Data Mining Software Tools

Application Areas > Education and Learning
Inverse relationships between coyote and wild turkey population time series: Implications for future studies of predator–prey interactions
Authors: Wang Guiming , Butler Adam B. , Shan Xueyan
Published: December 2023

Changes in predator communities such as the emergence of new predators alter predator–prey interactions profoundly. Coyotes (Canis latrans) have expanded their geographic distributions from the western United States (US) to the Eastern US, potentially suppressing some prey populations as their relative abundance has increased. To assess the relationship between coyotes and one of their prey, the eastern wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris), we employed time series analysis and multivariate autoregressive state‐space models (MARSSMs) to a 23‐year capture per unit effort data set from both species in the state of Mississippi, US. The best MARSSM model indicated density dependence in each species. The competing MARSSM indicated that increases in coyote relative abundance reduced the population growth rate of wild turkeys. We recommend that future studies use long‐term time series of multiple coexisting predators and their alternative prey to assess the effects of the predator guild on the dynamics of prey populations.
Feasibility and safety of minimally invasive calcaneal osteotomy (MICO) through a medial approach: a case-control study
Authors: Beischl S. , Harrasser N. , Toepfer A. , Scheele C. , Smits Sererna R. , Walther M. , Lenze F. , Hörterer H.
Published: December 2023

Introduction

Minimally invasive calcaneal osteotomy (MICO) is already an established surgical procedure for correcting hindfoot deformities using a lateral approach. So far, no description of a medial approach for MICO has been published.

Material and methods

Between August 2022 and March 2023, 32 consecutive patients (MICO with medial approach, MMICO: n = 15; MICO with lateral approach, LMICO: n = 17) underwent MICO as part of complex reconstructive surgery of the foot and ankle with concomitant procedures. The amount of correction in the axial view of the calcaneus and consolidation rates were evaluated radiographically. Subjective satisfaction, stiffness of the subtalar joint, and pain level (numeric rating scale, NRS) at the level of the heel were assessed clinically. The last follow-up was at 6 months.

Results

All osteotomies consolidated within 6 months after surgery. Displacement of the tuber was 9 mm on average in either group. Relevant subtalar joint stiffness was detected in 5 MMICO and 6 LMICO patients. No relevant differences between the groups were detected for wound healing problems, nerve damage, heel pain or patient satisfaction.

Conclusion

In this study lateral and medial approaches for MICO were performed. Similar degrees of correction and low complication rates were found in both groups. The medial approach for MICO is safe and can be beneficial regarding patient positioning and arrangement of the C‑arm.

Graphic abstract
Byzantine consensus is $$\Theta (n^2)$$: the Dolev-Reischuk bound is tight even in partial synchrony!
Authors: Civit Pierre , Dzulfikar Muhammad Ayaz , Gilbert Seth , Gramoli Vincent , Guerraoui Rachid , Komatovic Jovan , Vidigueira Manuel
Published: December 2023

The Dolev-Reischuk bound says that any deterministic Byzantine consensus protocol has (at least) quadratic (in the number of processes) communication complexity in the worst case: given a system withnprocesses and at most$$f < n / 3$$f<n/3failures, any solution to Byzantine consensus exchanges$$\Omega \big (n^2\big )$$Ω(n2)words, where a word contains a constant number of values and signatures. While it has been shown that the bound is tight in synchronous environments, it is still unknown whether a consensus protocol with quadratic communication complexity can be obtained in partial synchrony where the network alternates between (1) asynchronous periods, with unbounded message delays, and (2) synchronous periods, with$$\delta $$δ-bounded message delays. Until now, the most efficient known solutions for Byzantine consensus in partially synchronous settings had cubic communication complexity (e.g., HotStuff, binary DBFT). This paper closes the existing gap by introducingSQuad, a partially synchronous Byzantine consensus protocol with$$O\big (n^2\big )$$O(n2)worst-case communication complexity. In addition,SQuadis optimally-resilient (tolerating up to$$f < n / 3$$f<n/3failures) and achieves$$O(f \cdot \delta )$$O(f·δ)worst-case latency complexity. The key technical contribution underlyingSQuadlies in the way we solveview synchronization, the problem of bringing all correct processes to the same view with a correct leader for sufficiently long. Concretely, we presentRareSync, a view synchronization protocol with$$O\big (n^2\big )$$O(n2)communication complexity and$$O(f \cdot \delta )$$O(f·δ)latency complexity, which we utilize in order to obtainSQuad.
Integrated workflow incorporating the Hurst exponent and interval inversion for evaluating groundwater formations
Authors: Abdelrahman Moataz M. G. , Szabó Norbert P.
Published: December 2023

A novel well-log-analysis approach is presented for an improved prediction of petrophysical properties in groundwater formations. Geophysical well logs are simultaneously processed for quantifying the lithology, storage capacity, and water flow parameters. A fully automated data processing workflow is proposed, the feasibility of which is assured by an appropriate starting model set by the joint application of factor analysis and the Hurst exponent, and a solution of a highly overdetermined inverse problem. The Hurst exponent is used for zone boundary detection, which assists the series expansion-based interval inversion method applied for estimation of the petrophysical parameters of clastic formations. The hydraulic conductivity as a well log is directly derived from the inversion results. The workflow is tested using both synthetic data contaminated with 5% Gaussian distributed noise and real data collected from a thermal water well in Baktalórántháza, eastern Hungary. At the test site, the Hurst exponent extracted from the wireline logs allows one to divide the processed interval into subzones around the Pleistocene-Miocene boundary. The observed wireline logs are inverted to estimate the volumetric parameters (porosity, shale content, water saturation, etc.) of the same zones. The predicted parameters, including hydraulic conductivity, reveal that Pleistocene sediments contain good aquifers with formation quality varying with depth. The shale volume and hydraulic conductivity logs show a proper match with the core data, which confirms the results of the comprehensive analysis. The suggested workflow is recommended for the evaluation of groundwater formations located in different depth domains, from unsaturated sediments to geothermal reservoirs.
Neues aus dem europäischen Gentechnikrecht – Zum Vorschlag der Europäischen Kommission für eine Verordnung über mit bestimmten neuen genomischen Techniken gewonnenen Pflanzen und die aus ihnen gewonnenen Lebens- und Futtermittel
Authors: Gerhard Katharina
Published: December 2023

Der vorliegende Beitrag beleuchtet die neusten unionsrechtlichen Entwicklungen auf dem Gebiet der
grünen Gentechnik. Er knüpft insoweit an die in NuR 2021, 812ff. dargestellte Diskussion über
den Einsatz neuer Techniken in der Pflanzenzüchtung an. Im Mittelpunkt des Beitrags steht die Analyse
und Bewertung des im Juli 2023 vorgestellten Kommissionsvorschlags für eine Verordnung über mit
neuen genomischen Techniken gewonnenen Pflanzen und deren Erzeugnisse.
Searching for new agents against Enterobacteriaceae from nature: approaches, potential plant species, isolated compounds, and their respective properties
Authors: Masota Nelson E. , Zehe Markus , Vogg Gerd , Ohlsen Knut , Meinel Lorenz , Holzgrabe Ulrike
Published: December 2023

The rising trend of antibiotic-resistant infections around the world and the low antimicrobials development pipeline volume are necessitating continued efforts in the search for novel treatment options. The prominent success from fungi and bacteria as sources of antibiotics has long motivated widespread efforts in the search for antibacterial compounds from other natural sources including plants. This review aimed at appraising the approaches and outcomes from studies commissioned to evaluate the antibacterial activities of crude plant extracts and phytochemicals. Notably, the existing traditional practices provided the greatest motivation in screening for antibacterial properties of plants, whereby the need to validate ethnomedically reported potentials formed a crucial objective. Moreover, choices of experimental techniques to address different objectives were largely dependent on the prevailing access to resources, facilities, and technical skills. The lack of streamlined guidelines dedicated to testing of crude plant extracts have resulted into broad methodological variations and lack of a standardized classification system for antibacterial activities exhibited by plant extracts. Furthermore, libraries of 128 extracts from different plant species and 122 phytochemicals substantially active against the Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae were assembled. This enabled the elucidation of existing patterns between the Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations (MICs) and studied plant families, plant tissues, extractants, phytochemical classes, as well as the rules of drug-likeness, penetration and accumulation. The insights provided in this review will potentially impart the ongoing efforts with improved experimental designs, inspire ideas for further studies and contribute to successful hunting for new antibacterial chemical scaffolds via in silico approaches.

Graphical abstract