bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Superior conductive polypyrrole anti‐corrosion coating doped with titanium nitride for 304 stainless steel bipolar plates
Authors: Ding Guoxin , Wang Chen , Gao Nan , Li Ruofan , Wang Yunpeng , Ma Haitao
Published: January 2023

The conductivity and corrosion performance of metallic bipolar plates were crucial to the development of the proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). In this study, polypyrrole (PPy) coatings doped with titanium nitride nanoparticles (TiN NPs) were deposited on 304 stainless steel (304SS) by constant potential polymerization. To improve dispersion and form a negative charge surface, TiN NPs were modified by anionic surfactants such as sodium dodecyl diphenyl ether disulfate (MADS). Through comparing potentiodynamic curves of the composite coatings in the simulated cathodic environment of PEMFC, the PPy‐0.1 TiN (0.1 g/L) coating presented a more positive corrosion potential (Ecorr = 293 mVAg/AgCl) and a lower corrosion current (Icorr = 0.841 μA cm−2). Furthermore, PPy‐0.1 TiN exhibited more stable corrosion resistance during long‐term immersion. Interfacial contact resistance (ICR) testing demonstrated that the addition of TiN NPs improved conductivity compared to a PPy coating. The results indicated that the PPy‐TiN‐coated 304SS could be used as a kind of promising bipolar plate material.
The neuropeptide substance P/neurokinin‐1 receptor system and diabetes: From mechanism to therapy
Authors: Kokabi Fariba , Ebrahimi Safieh , Mirzavi Farshad , Ghiasi Nooghabi Nazanin , Hashemi Seyedeh Fatemeh , Hashemy Seyed Isaac
Published: January 2023

Diabetes is a significant public health issue known as the world's fastest‐growing disease condition. It is characterized by persistent hyperglycemia and subsequent chronic complications leading to organ dysfunction and, ultimately, the failure of target organs. Substance P (SP) is an undecapeptide that belongs to the family of tachykinin (TK) peptides. The SP‐mediated activation of the neurokinin 1 receptor (NK1R) regulates many pathophysiological processes in the body. There is also a relation between the SP/NK1R system and diabetic processes. Importantly, deregulated expression of SP has been reported in diabetes and diabetes‐associated chronic complications. SP can induce both diabetogenic and antidiabetogenic effects and thus affect the pathology of diabetes destructively or protectively. Here, we review the current knowledge of the functional relevance of the SP/NK1R system in diabetes pathogenesis and its exploitation for diabetes therapy. A comprehensive understanding of the role of the SP/NK1R system in diabetes is expected to shed further light on developing new therapeutic possibilities for diabetes and its associated chronic conditions.
Insights into quasi solid‐state polymer electrolyte: The influence of succinonitrile on polyvinylene carbonate electrolyte in view of electrochemical applications
Authors: Liu Zelin , Zhang Shu , Zhou Qian , Zhang Yidong , Lv Dong , Shen Yanghuan , Fu Xiangnan , Wang Xinyi , Luo Shiyu , Zheng Yun , Peng Yu , Chai Jingchao , Liu Zhihong , Cui Guanglei
Published: January 2023

Quasi solid‐state composite polymer electrolytes have generated much interest due to their high ionic conductivity and stable interfacial compatibility with electrodes. However, they suffer from the balance of liquid plasticizer content and ionic conductivity to retard potential safety issues. In this paper, a polyvinylene carbonate (PVCA)‐based quasi solid‐state composite polymer electrolyte for ambient‐temperature lithium‐ion battery is proposed, wherein succinonitrile (SN) serves as the multifunctional component to increase the ionic conductivity. The study indicates that SN can plasticize the polymer electrolyte, coordinate with lithium‐ion, and modulate the molecular weight of the polymer. The fabricated PVCA–SN polymer electrolyte delivers an ionic conductivity up to 4.5 × 10–4 S/cm at 25°C. The assembled lithium‐ion battery based on PVCA electrolyte demonstrates an excellent rate performance and high‐capacity retention at ambient temperature. The proposition of PVCA‐based quasi solid‐state composite polymer electrolyte provides a resultful strategy for high‐performance rechargeable lithium batteries.
Third‐line or above anlotinib in relapsed and refractory small cell lung cancer patients with brain metastases: A post hoc analysis of ALTER1202, a randomized, double‐blind phase 2 study
Authors: Cheng Ying , Wang Qiming , Li Kai , Shi Jianhua , Han Baohui , Wu Lin , Chen Gongyan , He Jianxing , Wang Jie , Qin Haifeng , Li Xiaoling
Published: January 2023

Background

The prognosis of patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and brain metastases (BM) was poor. This study aimed to explore the efficacy and safety of anlotinib as third‐line or above treatment in SCLC with BM.

Methods

This was a subgroup analysis of the ALTER1202 trial, which was a randomized, placebo‐controlled trial aimed to evaluate the role of anlotinib as third‐line treatment or above in patients with SCLC. This study included patients with BM at baseline. The efficacy and safety outcomes included progression‐free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), central nervous system (CNS), objective response rate (ORR), CNS disease control rate (DCR), time to CNS progression, and adverse events (AEs).

Results

Twenty‐one and nine patients with BM were included in the anlotinib and placebo groups, respectively. The median PFS and OS were 3.8 months (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.8–6.1) and 6.1 months (95% CI: 4.1–8.0) in the anlotinib group. Anlotinib was associated with a significant improvement in PFS (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.15, 95% CI: 0.04–0.51, p = 0.0005) and OS (HR = 0.26, 95% CI: 0.09–0.73, p = 0.0061) than placebo. Anlotinib significantly prolonged the time to CNS progression (p < 0.0001). The anlotinib group had a higher CNS DCR than placebo (95.2% vs. 22.2%, p = 0.0001). The most common grade 3 or higher AEs were increased lipase (19.0%), hypertension (14.3%), and hyponatremia (14.3%) in the anlotinib group.

Conclusions

Anlotinib proved to have potential CNS activity and a manageable toxicity profile in patients with SCLC and BM, significantly delaying CNS progression.
Survival nomograms for simultaneous resection of primary and hepatic lesions without neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with resectable colorectal liver metastasis
Authors: Jiang Yu‐Juan , Zhou Si‐Cheng , Zhu Zi‐Xing , Chen Jing‐Hua , Liang Jian‐Wei
Published: January 2023

Background

No well‐performing nomogram has been developed specifically to predict individual‐patient cancer‐specific survival (CSS) and overall survival (OS) among patients with resectable colorectal liver metastasis (CRLM) who undergo simultaneous resection of primary and hepatic lesions without neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC). We aim to investigate the prognosis of patients with resectable CRLM undergoing simultaneous resection of primary and hepatic lesions without NAC.

Methods

Data of patients with CRLM in the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results Program (cohort, n = 225) were collected as the training set, and data of patients with CRLM treated at the National Cancer Center (cohort, n = 180) were collected as the validation set. The prognostic value of the clinicopathological parameters in the training cohort was assessed using Kaplan‒Meier curves and univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards models, and OS and CSS nomograms integrated with the prognostic variables were constructed. Calibration analyses, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, and decision curve analyses (DCAs) were then performed to evaluate the performance of the nomograms.

Results

There was no collinearity among the collected variables. Three factors were associated with OS and CSS: the pretreatment carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) concentration, pathologic N (pN) stage, and adjuvant chemotherapy (each p < 0.05). OS and CSS nomograms were constructed using these three parameters. The calibration plots revealed favorable agreement between the predicted and observed outcomes. The areas under the ROC curves were approximately 0.7. The DCA plots revealed that both nomograms had satisfactory clinical benefits. The ROC curves and DCAs also confirmed that the nomogram surpassed the tumor, node, and metastasis staging system.

Conclusion

The herein‐described nomograms containing the pretreatment CEA concentration, pN stage, and adjuvant chemotherapy may be effective models for predicting postoperative survival in patients with CRLM.
Comprehensive immunoprofile analysis of prognostic markers in pancreaticobiliary tract cancers
Authors: Kim Ji Eun , Kim Hyemin , Kim Binnari , Chung Hye Gyo , Chung Hwe Hoon , Kim Kyoung Mee , Kim Seong Hyun , Jeong Woo Kyoung , Kim Young Kon , Min Ji Hye , Heo Jin Seok , Han In Woong , Shin Sang Hyun , Park Hee Chul , Yu Jeong Il , Park Joon Oh , Kim Seung Tae , Hong Jung Yong , Lee Se‐Hoon , Lee Kwang Hyuck , Lee Jong Kyun , Lee Kyu Taek , Jang Kee‐Taek , Park Joo Kyung
Published: January 2023

Pancreaticobiliary tract cancer has a poor prognosis with unmet needs in a new target treatment. Some studies have reported that an enhancement of T‐cell immunity is associated with a good prognosis. The aim of this study is to investigate the immunoprofile as a prognostic marker of pancreaticobiliary tract cancers. Unresectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC, n = 80) and biliary tract cancer (BTC, n = 74) diagnosed between January 2012 and December 2018 in Samsung Medical Center were analyzed. Expression levels of CD8, FOXP3, PD‐1, PD‐L1, and CXCL13 in PDAC and BTC tissue samples were examined with immunohistochemical staining, which was evaluated with various clinical factors. In PDAC, higher degree of PD‐L1 expression was significantly associated with shorter overall survival (OS) (p = 0.0095). On the other hand, higher infiltrations of PD‐1+ immune cells (p = 0.0002) and CD8+ T cells (p = 0.0067) were associated with longer OS. In BTC, higher FOXP3+ (p = 0.0343) and CD8+ (p = 0.0028) cell infiltrations were associated with better survival. Low infiltration of CD8+ (p = 0.0148), FOXP3+ (p = 0.0208), PD‐1+ (p = 0.0318) cells in PDAC, and FOXP3+ cells (p = 0.005) in BTC were considerably related to metastasis. In a combined evaluation of clinical factors and immunoprofiles, univariate analysis revealed that operation after chemotherapy (p < 0.0001), mass size (p = 0.0004), metastasis (p = 0.006), PD‐L1 (p < 0.0001), PD‐1 (p = 0.003) and CD8 (p = 0.0063) was significantly associated with OS in PDAC, and CD8 (p = 0.007) was statistically related to OS in BTC. In multivariate analysis, prognostic factors were operation after chemotherapy (p = 0.021) in PDAC and CD8 (p = 0.037) in BTC. Therefore, immunoprofile analysis of cells expressing CD8, FOXP3, PD‐1, and PD‐L1 might have prognostic values in patients with pancreaticobiliary tract cancers.
Chemical Composition Analysis and Discrimination of Essential Oils of Artemisia Argyi Folium from Different Germplasm Resources Based on Electronic Nose and GC/MS Combined with Chemometrics
Authors: Guo Dongyun , Yang Yiqin , Wu Yi , Liu Yang , Cao Lan , Shi Yan , Wan Na , Wu Zhenfeng
Published: January 2023

In this study, the electronic nose and GC/MS were used to analyze the chemical components of essential oils from different germplasm resources of Artemisia argyi Folium (A. argyi), in order to quickly identify essential oils of A. argyi from different germplasm resources and clarify the differences among different A. argyi samples. The essential oils of A. argyi were extracted by steam distillation. This article describes for the first time that electronic nose combined with chemometrics can distinguish the essential oils of A. argyi from different germplasm, which proves the reliability and potential of this technology. GC/MS was used to identify 134 volatile components from the essential oil of A. argyi. The main bioactive components were cineole, thujarone, artemisia ketone, β‐caryophyllene, (−)‐4‐terpinol, 3,3,6‐trimethyl‐1,5‐heptadien‐4‐ol, (−)‐α‐thujone, camphor, borneol. In addition, the results of principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) showed that there were significant differences in the essential oils of A. argyi from different germplasm resources, terpenes, alcohols and ketones played an important role in identifying the essential oils of A. argyi from different germplasm resources. This indicates that electronic nose and GC/MS combined with chemometrics can be used as reliable techniques to identify different germplasm resources of A. argyi, and provide certain reference value for quality evaluation, selection of high‐quality varieties and rational development of resources of A. argyi.
Broadband sub‐6 GHz flower‐shaped MIMO antenna with high isolation using theory of characteristic mode analysis (TCMA) for 5G NR bands and WLAN applications
Authors: Babu K. Vasu , Das Sudipta , Ali Syed Samser , EL Ghzaoui Mohammed , Madhav Boddapati Taraka Phani , K. Patel Shobhit
Published: January 2023

A small size neutralization line integrated flower‐shaped MIMO antenna is designed and analyzed for sub‐6 GHz type 5G NR frequency bands like n79 (4400–5000 MHz), n78 (3300–3800 MHz), n77 (3300–4200 MHz), and WLAN (5150–5825 MHz) applications. The novel approach of theory of characteristic mode analysis (TCMA) is introduced to provide physical insight of the designed structure and its characteristics behavior. Due to the suggested modifications in the geometry, the isolation among the patches is greatly increased. The overall miniaturized dimension of the MIMO antenna is 25 × 40 mm2. The edge‐edge spacing among the elements is 0.0233λ. The prototype antenna is fabricated and measured that shows good agreement compared with simulated results. The designed MIMO antenna without the presence of decoupling structure offers an isolation of 28 dB, gain of 3.6 dBi, and radiation efficiency of 69.7% at the resonant frequency. The proposed MIMO antenna covers a broad range of frequency band from 3.296 to 5.962 GHz with −10 dB impedance bandwidth of 2666 MHz and maintains a good isolation of greater than 50 dB for the entire operating band. The tested radiation efficiency and gain are 85.3% and 6.22 dBi at 3.5 GHz. Moreover, the diversity parameters of the neutralization line integrated MIMO antenna, that is, channel capacity loss (CCL) isolation, mean effective gain (MEG), total active reflection coefficient (TARC) diversity gain (DG), and envelope correlation coefficient (ECC), are analyzed and discussed in this article.
Carryover effects of environmental stressors influence the life performance of brown trout
Authors: Louhi Pauliina , Pettinau Luca , Härkönen Laura S. , Anttila Katja , Huusko Ari
Published: January 2023

Carryover effects of environmental stressors occur when experiences of the environment in earlier life stages or seasons influence the performance of individuals later in life. These can be especially critical for species that have diverse developmental transition periods in their life cycle, such as salmonid fish. Sublethal changes in metabolism, size, or growth experienced in early life stages may have a long‐lasting effect on the subsequent life performance of these species, but very few studies have formally tested these changes in relation to environmental stressors. Here, we investigated whether different types of fine sediment result in carryover effects that change the life performance of migratory brown trout. First, we manipulated the early habitat conditions of brown trout through the life stages from egg to fry by incubating them in varying substrate treatments (i.e., gravel without added sediment, gravel with added fine sand, and gravel with added organic matter). Exposure to fine sediment during early development had serious effects on the metabolism, size, escape responses, timing of emergence, and potential survival of early life stages. These carryover effects were persistent and remained present over the critical life shift from relying on parentally provided resources as immobile eggs to independent exogenous feeding as parr. Second, fish were relocated as parr to either their original or different treatment environments and their metabolism, size, and growth were reanalyzed. The effects of environmental stress were observed later in their life cycle when fry from the gravel treatment were relocated to sand or organic‐rich treatments. These were found to be significantly smaller in size and had a higher metabolic rate than fry maintained in their original treatment environment. Together, our study experimentally demonstrated that the carryover effects of environmental stressors experienced in early stages may influence the fitness outcomes of migratory fish later in life. We suggest that sublethal environmental stressors should be better considered in restoration schemes and management strategies to reverse the current trend of declining salmonid populations.
Mechanochemical Synthesis of Bi2VO5.5 for Improved Photocatalytic Dye Degradation
Authors: Kumar Manish , Vaish Rahul , Sung Tae Hyun , Kumar Anuruddh , Yousef El Sayed
Published: January 2023

A single‐phase Bi2VO5.5 powder is formed effectively through a mechanochemical ball milling approach at 650 °C in 5 h and its photocatalytic performance on methylene blue dye is explored. X‐ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy analytical instruments are utilized to confirm the phase formation. The evident presence of irregular‐shaped grains is affirmed using a scanning electron microscope. To ascertain the chemical condition of the components present, the Bi2VO5.5 powdered sample undergo an X‐Ray photoelectron spectroscopy investigation. The sample is analyzed using a time‐dependent photocurrent to discern its charge carrier transportation behavior. A photocatalytic study using Bi2VO5.5 powder produced through the mechanochemical ball milling method has not been explored till now. The efficacy of the ball‐milled Bi2VO5.5 powder to attain enhanced photocatalytic efficiency which hasn't been investigated till now, is explored. The ball‐milled Bi2VO5.5 sample achieved 70% degradation efficiency when performing the photocatalysis investigation. The photocatalytic dye degradation discerns pseudo‐first‐order kinetics and achieves a notable k value of 0.00636 min−1. The scavenger test indicates that h+ radicals are the prominent active species during the photocatalysis experiment. The germination index is determined by conducting a phytotoxicity test with the use of Vigna radiata seeds. Here ball‐milled Bi2VO5.5 powder attains enhanced dye degradation efficiency.
Incidence of neurological complications following pediatric heart surgery and its association with neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio
Authors: Abdshah Alireza , Mirzaaghayan Mohammadreza , Heidari Morteza , Memarian Sara , Amanollahi Mobina , Nazeri Azadeh , Gharib Behdad
Published: January 2023

Background and Aims

Due to increased rate of open‐heart surgeries in children, postsurgical mortality and morbidities have increasingly gained attention. Neurological complications are some of the most important postsurgical events. However, the number of studies regarding postsurgical neurological complications seems to be inadequate. We aimed to study the incidence of neurological complications following cardiac surgery in the pediatric cardiac intensive care unit (ICU) of the children's medical center.

Methods

This cross‐sectional study was conducted from March to September 2019. We included all of the children who underwent cardiac surgery and were admitted to ICU at CMC. We collected their demographic data, lab test results (white blood cell count, absolute neutrophile and lymphocyte counts) and calculated their Risk Adjustment for Congenital Heart Surgery (RACHS) score. We then documented neurological adverse events and investigated the associations between those events and the patients' data.

Results

Of the 267 studied patients, 14 developed neurological complications (5.2%); seven developed chorea (2.6%), four developed seizures (1.5%), and two developed both seizure and chorea (0.7%). One case developed subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). We observed that age (p = 0.000), weight (p = 0.000), and RACHS score (p = 0.006) were associated with the development of neurological complications. Additionally, we observed that “neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio” was not associated with the risk of postsurgical neurological complications.

Conclusion

Younger age, lower weight, and higher RACHS score were associated with neurological complications after operations. Given the importance of postsurgical neurological complications, further investigations should be carried out to cover this issue and discover preventive strategies for such morbidities.
By modulating miR‐525‐5p/Bax axis, LINC00659 promotes vascular endothelial cell apoptosis
Authors: Zhu Xizheng , Chen Beijia , Xu Hui
Published: January 2023

Background

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a vascular disease that has no effective treatment at present. Endothelial cells play a crucial role in the processes vasoconstriction, platelet activation, and blood coagulation and are an integral part of the vascular response to injury resulting in thrombus formation.

Objective

The aim of this study was to investigate the roles and mechanisms of long noncoding RNA LINC00659 (LINC00659) in endothelial cells.

Methods

The functions of LINC00659 and miR‐525‐5p on endothelial cells were explored by cell transfection assays, and the expression levels of LINC00659, miR‐525‐5p, and Bax in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were assessed with reverse transcriptase‐quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT‐qPCR). Binding sites of LINC00659 and miR‐525‐5p were subsequently analyzed with bioinformatics software, and validated with dual‐luciferase reporter gene assay. Effects of LINC00659 and miR‐525‐5p on proliferation and apoptosis of HUVECs were detected with MTT (3‐(45)‐dimethylthiahiazo (‐z‐y1)‐35‐di‐phenytetrazoliumromide) assay and flow cytometry. RT‐qPCR and western blot analysis were used to evaluate the mRNA and protein levels of apoptosis‐related markers Bcl‐2 and Bax in HUVECs.

Results

LINC00659 directly targeted and negatively regulated miR‐525‐5p, and Bax was a target of miR‐525‐5p. Upregulation of LINC00659 could inhibit proliferation and promote apoptosis of HUVECs, while the silencing of LINC00659 could increase the viability of HUVECs and inhibit apoptosis via upregulating miR‐525‐5p. Further mechanistic studies revealed miR‐525‐5p could negatively regulate Bax in HUVECs, and increased the viability of HUVECs and inhibited apoptosis by downregulating Bax expression.

Conclusion

LINC00659 played an important role in DVT by regulating the apoptosis of vascular endothelial cells through regulating miR‐525‐5p/Bax axis.
STV‐Na attenuates lipopolysaccharide‐induced lung injury in mice via the TLR4/NF‐kB pathway
Authors: Xu Yanhong , Liu Xiaoming , Zhang Zhihui
Published: January 2023

Background

Acute lung injury (ALI) is a potentially fatal disorder that is largely caused by inflammation. Sodium isostevanol (STV‐Na) is a terpenoid produced from stevioside, which possesses anti‐inflammatory and antioxidative stress characteristics. nevertheless, it is still unclear how STV‐Na affects ALI. Therefore, we investigated the possible STV‐Na therapeutic impacts on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐induced (ALI).

Methods

We employed hematoxylin‐eosin staining to observe the impact of STV‐Na on lung histopathological alterations and used kits to detect the oxidative stress status of lung tissues, such as superoxide dismutase, malondialdehyde, and glutathione. The reactive oxygen species and myeloperoxidase expression in the tissues of lung was assessed by immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry. Additionally, we detected the impact of STV‐Na on inflammatory cell infiltration in lung tissue using Wright‐Giemsa staining solution and immunohistochemistry, which was found to reduce inflammation in lung tissue by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. Finally, using WB, we examined the impact of STV‐Na on the TLR4/NF‐kB pathway.

Results

We observed that STV‐Na attenuated lung histopathological alterations in LPS‐induced lung damage in mice, reduced infiltration of inflammatory cell and oxidative stress in the tissue of lung, and via the TLR4/NF‐kB pathway, there is a reduction in the inflammatory responses in mouse lung tissue.

Conclusions

These outcomes indicate that the response of inflammatory cells to LPS‐induced ALI in mice was attenuated by STV‐Na.
Image processing and machine learning‐based bone fracture detection and classification using X‐ray images
Authors: Sahin Muhammet Emin
Published: January 2023

One of the most important problems in orthopedics is undiagnosed or misdiagnosed bone fractures. This can lead to patients receiving an incorrect diagnosis or treatment, which can result in a longer treatment period. In this study, fracture detection and classification are performed using various machine learning techniques using of a dataset containing various bones (normal and fractured). Firstly, the X‐ray images obtained are subjected to image preprocessing stages and are prepared for the feature extraction stage. Then, in addition to the Canny and Sobel edge detection methods used in the image processing stage, feature extraction of X‐ray images is performed with the help of Houhg line detection and Harris corner detector. The data obtained by performing feature extraction is given to 12 different machine learning classifiers and the results are presented. Setting hyperparameters for classifiers is done by the grid search method, and the study is tested for 10‐fold cross‐validation. Classifier results are presented comparatively as accuracy, training time, and testing time, and linear discriminant analysis (LDA) reaches the highest accuracy rate with 88.67% and 0.89 AUC. The proposed computer‐aided diagnosis system (CAD) will reduce the burden on physicians by identifying fractures with high accuracy.
Coupling of electrodialysis and bio‐electrochemical systems for metal and energy recovery from acid mine drainage
Authors: Delgado Yelitza , Llanos Javier , Fernández‐Morales Francisco Jesus
Published: January 2023

BACKGROUND

This work studied the treatment of a synthetic sphalerite acid mine drainage (AMD). The treatment was carried out by means of a previous concentration stage using electrodialysis, followed by electrodeposition using a bioelectrochemical system (BES).

RESULTS

The best concentration results were obtained when operating the electrodialysis at 8 V and at a diluate/concentrate volume ratio of 3. This treatment yielded a concentrate fraction of about 25% of the volume and a clear fraction of about 75% of the volume.

The concentrated fraction was treated in a BES for the electrodeposition of the metal contained. By operating a microbial fuel cell (MFC), the spontaneous reactions took place and, in 2 days, all the Fe3+ was reduced to Fe2+; then, all the Cu2+ was electrodeposited as pure Cu0 in about 8 days. The maximum current density attained in this stage was 0.1 mA cm−2 and the maximum power was 0.05 W cm−2. Then, a subsequent operation of a microbial electrolysis cell (MEC) allowed for the simultaneous recovery of the Fe2+, Ni2+, Zn2+, and Cd2+ as a mixed metal mass.

CONCLUSION

The electrodialysis yielded a clear effluent representing 75% of the total volume and a concentrated effluent accounting for 25%. It was possible to treat the concentrated effluent in an MFC, recovering pure Cu0 with a net electricity generation. The non‐spontaneous metal reductions were subsequently accomplished by means of MEC, the electricity requirements being lower than those in the case of the raw AMD due to the higher mass transfer rate and the reduction of the Ohmic loses. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI).
Determination of bioavailable arsenic threshold and validation of modeled permissible total arsenic in paddy soil using machine learning
Authors: Mandal Jajati , Jain Vinay , Sengupta Sudip , Rahman Md. Aminur , Bhattacharyya Kallol , Rahman Mohammad Mahmudur , Golui Debasis , Wood Michael D. , Mondal Debapriya
Published: January 2023

Minimizing arsenic intake from food consumption is a key aspect of the public health response in arsenic (As)‐contaminated regions. In many of these regions, rice is the predominant staple food. Here, we present a validated maximum allowable concentration of total As in paddy soil and provide the first derivation of a maximum allowable soil concentration for bioavailable As. We have previously used meta‐analysis to predict the maximum allowable total As in soil based on decision tree (DT) and logistic regression (LR) models. The models were defined using the maximum tolerable concentration (MTC) of As in rice grains as per the codex recommendation. In the present study, we validated these models using three test data sets derived from purposely collected field data. The DT model performed better than the LR in terms of accuracy and Matthews correlation coefficient (MCC). Therefore, the DT estimated maximum allowable total As in paddy soil of 14 mg kg−1 could confidently be used as an appropriate guideline value. We further used the purposely collected field data to predict the concentration of bioavailable As in the paddy soil with the help of random forest (RF), gradient boosting machine (GBM), and LR models. The category of grain As (MTC) was considered as the dependent variable; bioavailable As (BAs), total As (TAs), pH, organic carbon (OC), available phosphorus (AvP), and available iron (AvFe) were the predictor variables. LR performed better than RF and GBM in terms of accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, kappa, precision, log loss, F1score, and MCC. From the better‐performing LR model, bioavailable As (BAs), TAs, AvFe, and OC were significant variables for grain As. From the partial dependence plots (PDP) and individual conditional expectation (ICE) of the LR model, 5.70 mg kg−1 was estimated to be the limit for BAs in soil.
Does splitting a tablet obtain an accurate dose? A systematic review and meta‐ analysis
Authors: Chaudhri Kanika , Kearney Madeleine , Di Tanna Gian Luca , Gnanenthiran Sonali R. , Day Richard O. , Rodgers Anthony , Atkins Emily R.
Published: January 2023

Background

Tablet splitting is a widely prevalent practice resulting from the need to alter doses into two or more parts and optimise medicine in individual patients. If a tablet is split unequally problems may arise.

Aim

The aim of the study was to summarise the literature measuring the effect of tablet splitting on dose accuracy.

Method

MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL and Cochrane were searched and studies published prior to January 2020 investigating the effect of splitting tablets on dose accuracy were included. Studies investigating any drug, where the tablet was split, were potentially eligible. Two independent reviewers conducted the screening and extracted the data. Meta‐analyses assessing the effect of tablet splitting on dose accuracy were performed. (Study registration: PROSPERO CRD42018106252).

Results

Of 25 included studies, 16 examined the effect of tablet splitting on weight of the tablet, one on drug concentration and eight examined both. Meta‐analysis found small variation between split tablets (0.87% weight variation, 95% confidence interval 0.63%–1.11% and 0.24% drug content variation, 95% confidence interval 0.06%–0.43%). There was some inconsistency across trial results for weight but not for drug content variation (I2 50% and I2 1%, respectively). Splitting method and tablet characteristics were predictors of accuracy.

Conclusion

Although tablet splitting may influence dose accuracy, this analysis suggests that the weight and drug content variation is minimal, regardless of method and tablet characteristics. Additional studies, such as those examining drug plasma concentrations and effect on patient health outcomes for example blood pressure and cholesterol levels, are needed to better understand the role of tablet splitting on dose accuracy.
Fabrication of highly crystalline covalent organic framework for solid‐phase extraction of three dyes from food and water samples
Authors: Wang Junji , Tao Yongqing , Wang Dandan , Wang Luchun , Tian Meng , Yang Yulian , Liu Qiuyi , Zou Yuemeng , Zhou Quan , Ke Famin , Gao Die
Published: January 2023

Herein, a covalent organic framework, which was fabricated at room temperature by using 1,3,5‐tris(p‐formylphenyl) benzene and 1,3,5‐tris(4‐aminophenyl)benzene as building blocks, was employed as an adsorbent for solid‐phase extraction of dyes including congo red, methyl blue and direct red 80 for the first time. The prepared covalent organic framework was properly characterized by different techniques and the results revealed that it had a uniform spherical structure, high crystallinity, satisfactory surface area, and good thermal stability. Moreover, the adsorption performance of the material was explored by using static and dynamic adsorption experiments and the results indicated that the material showed good adsorption capacities for three dyes with adsorption capacities in the range of 55.25–284.10 mg/g and the adsorption equilibrium can be achieved in 15 min. Further, to achieve the best adsorption effects of the material, the influence parameters such as pH, ionic strength, type of desorption solvent, and the material dosage in the solid‐phase extraction column, were optimized in turn. Finally, under optimal conditions, the solid‐phase extraction coupled with HPLC was applied to the analysis of dyes in food and water samples. The recoveries of dyes in actual samples were satisfactory, revealing the unique applicability of the material in the sample pretreatment field.
Biomimetic Polycaprolactone‐Graphene Oxide Composites for 3D Printing Bone Scaffolds
Authors: Sahafnejad‐Mohammadi Iman , Rahmati Sadegh , Najmoddin Najmeh , Bodaghi Mahdi
Published: January 2023

Bone shows a radial gradient architecture with the exterior densified cortical bone and the interior porous cancellous bone. However, previous studies presented uniform designs for bone scaffolds that do not mimic natural bone's gradient structure. Hence, mimicking native bone structures is still challenging in bone tissue engineering. In this study, a novel biomimetic bone scaffold with Haversian channels is designed, which approximates mimicking the native bone structure. Also, the influence of adding graphene oxide (GO) to polycaprolactone (PCL)‐based scaffolds are investigated by preparing PCL/GO composite ink containing 0.25% and 0.75% GO and then 3D printing scaffolds by an extrusion‐based machine. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) is used for morphological analysis. SEM reveals good printability and interconnected pore structure. The contact angle test shows that wettability reinforces with the increase of GO content. The mechanical behavior of the scaffolds under compression is examined numerically and experimentally. The results indicate that incorporation of GO can affect bone scaffolds' Young's modulus and von Mises stress distribution. Moreover, the biodegradation rates accelerate in the PCL/GO scaffolds. Biological characterizations, such as cell growth, viability, and attachment, are performed utilizing osteoblast cells. Compared to pure PCL, an enhancement is observed in cell viability in the PCL/GO scaffolds.
Rapid detection and identification of rocks and minerals by laser‐induced breakdown spectroscopy
Authors: Huang Junzhe , Zhou Wentao , Zhu Junyi , Zhang Yijing , Liu Yuzhu
Published: January 2023

In geological exploration, it is necessary to analyze the geological history according to the rock types. But in places for people to reach, sample collection, and transportation is a costly task. At present, the remote intelligent detection of rock types needs to be further developed. In this study, laser‐induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS), a sensitive optical technique that can rapidly analyze various elements, is applied to real‐time detection and analysis of rock types. Representative rock samples and minerals are selected for spectral analysis and machine learning. The characteristic spectral lines of Ca, Al, Mg, Ti, Si, Na, Fe, K, and Li were observed in the spectra. By comparing the spectra of different samples, the differences among them were discussed. First, principal component analysis (PCA) is used for dimensionality reduction. With the help of PCA, the data are distributed in two‐dimensional and three‐dimensional space and different kinds of rocks and minerals are classified successfully. Then, combined with error back propagation training artificial neural network, the rock and mineral identification model was established, and the recognition rate can reach 100%. The results show that LIBS is a powerful tool for remote intelligent real‐time rock detection and classification, and has great application prospects in the exploration of extraterrestrial objects including planets, satellites and asteroids in the future.
Scrambled eggs—Negative impacts of heat stress and chemical exposures on ovarian function in swine
Authors: González‐Alvarez M. Estefanía , Roach Crystal M. , Keating Aileen F.
Published: January 2023

Exposure to environmental toxicants and hyperthermia can hamper reproduction in female mammals including swine. Phenotypic manifestations include poor quality oocytes, endocrine disruption, infertility, lengthened time to conceive, pregnancy loss, and embryonic defects. The ovary has the capacity for toxicant biotransformation, regulated in part by the phosphatidylinositol‐3 kinase signaling pathway. The impacts of exposure to mycotoxins and pesticides on swine reproduction and the potential for an emerging chemical class of concern, the per‐ and polyfluoroalkylated substances, to hamper porcine reproduction are reviewed. The negative impairments of heat stress (HS) on swine reproductive outcomes are also described and the cumulative effect of environmental exposures, such as HS, when present in conjunction with a toxicant is considered.
Local host response of commercially available dural patches for fetal repair of spina bifida aperta in rabbit model
Authors: Kunpalin Yada , Vergote Simen , Joyeux Luc , Telli Onur , David Anna L. , Belfort Michael , De Coppi Paolo , Deprest Jan
Published: January 2023

Objective

Fetal surgery for spina bifida aperta (SBA) by open hysterotomy typically repairs anatomical native tissue in layers. Increasingly, fetoscopic repair is performed using a dural patch followed by skin closure. We studied the host response to selected commercially available patches currently being used in a fetal rabbit model for spina bifida repair.

Methods

SBA was surgically induced at 23–24 days of gestation (term = 31 days). Fetal rabbits were assigned to unrepaired (SBA group), or immediate repair with Duragen™ or Durepair™. Non‐operated littermates served as normal controls. At term, spinal cords underwent immunohistochemical staining including Nissl and glial fibrillary acidic protein. We hypothesized that spinal cord coverage with a dural patch and skin closure would preserve motor neuron density within the non‐inferiority limit of 201.65 cells/mm2 and reduce inflammation compared to unrepaired SBA fetuses.

Results

Motor neuron density assessed by Nissl staining was conserved both by Duragen (n = 6, 89.5; 95% CI −158.3 to −20.6) and Durepair (n = 6, 37.0; 95% CI −132.6 to −58.5), whereas density of GFAP‐positive cells to quantify inflammation was lower than in unrepaired SBA‐fetuses (SBA 2366.0 ± 669.7 cells/mm2 vs. Duragen 1274.0 ± 157.2 cells/mm2; p = 0.0002, Durepair 1069.0 ± 270.7 cells/mm2; p < 0.0001).

Conclusions

Covering the rabbit spinal cord with either Duragen or Durepair followed by skin closure preserves motor neuron density and reduces the inflammatory response.
Mediating role of self‐efficacy between unmet needs and quality of life in palliative cancer caregivers
Authors: Cheng Hui‐Lin , Leung Doris Yin Ping , Ko Po Shan , Lam Wai Man , Lam Po Tin , Luk Andrew Leung , Chung Ming Wai , Lam Simon Ching
Published: January 2023

Objective

Although unmet support needs are associated with health‐related quality of life (HRQOL) in cancer caregivers, little is known about the mechanism underlying the relationship between two variables. The self‐efficacy (SE) theory and literature suggest that caregiving SE is important in the perception of and reaction to caregiving demands, which in turn affects HRQOL. The aim of this study was to examine whether caregiving SE mediates the relationship between unmet support needs and HRQOL in family caregivers of palliative cancer patients.

Methods

This secondary analysis used the data from 125 family caregivers of palliative cancer patients who were recruited from two public hospitals in Hong Kong. The caregivers completed a survey questionnaire that covered socio‐demographic characteristics, unmet support needs, caregiving SE, and HRQOL. Parallel mediation analyses were conducted via SPSS PROCESS macro (Model 4) to test the hypothesized models.

Results

The direct effect of unmet support needs on mental HRQOL was significant (effect = −0.49, 95% CI = −0.06 to −0.92). For the indirect effect, only caregiving SE in the domain of ‘care for the care recipient’ mediated the relationship between unmet support needs and mental HRQOL (effect = −0.32, 95% CI = −0.08 to −0.59).

Conclusion

The findings suggest that caregiving SE may function as a mechanism through which unmet support needs influence mental HRQOL in family caregivers of palliative cancer patients. Healthcare providers should consider developing supportive care interventions to improve caregivers' HRQOL by incorporating effective strategies to enhance SE and reduce unmet needs for this population.
Myricetin alleviated immunologic contact urticaria and mast cell degranulation via the PI3K/Akt/NF‐κB pathway
Authors: Hu Shiting , Zhang Yonghui , Dang Baowen , Wang Yuejing , Zheng Guodong , Zhang Tao , An Hongli
Published: January 2023

Immunologic contact urticaria (ICU) is characterized by the wheal and flare reaction from direct contact with a chemical or protein agent, which involves a type I hypersensitivity mediated by allergen‐specific immunoglobulin E (sIgE). Myricetin (Myr), a bioactive flavonoid, exhibits antiinflammatory activities. Our results showed that treatment with Myr could alleviate ICU symptoms, including a decrease in the number of wheals and scratching, and inhibit ear swelling in the IgE/DNFB‐induced mice. The serum level of IgE, histamine, interleukin (IL)‐4, TNF‐α, and MCP‐1 were reduced in Myr‐treated mice. Myr also attenuated mast cells (MCs) degranulation and H‐PGDS, TSLP, IL‐33, PI3K, Akt, and NF‐κB mRNA levels in ICU model. The IgE‐mediated anaphylaxis mouse models demonstrated anti‐allergic effects of Myr. In vitro analysis showed that Myr reduced IgE‐induced calcium (Ca2+) influx, suppressed degranulation, and chemokine release in LAD2 cells (human primary mast cells). Myr can significantly inhibited PLCγ1, Akt, NF‐κB, and p38 phosphorylation. In conclusion, the study demonstrated that Myr alleviate ICU symptoms and inhibit mast cell activation via PI3K/Akt/NF‐κB signal pathway.
Impacts of small dams on the phytoplankton and invertebrates in an Amazonian river
Authors: Arcifa Marlene Sofia , Coelho Paula Nunes , da Silva Lúcia Helena Sampaio , Righi‐Cavallaro Karina Ocampo
Published: January 2023

The construction of small hydroelectric plants (SHPs) has increased greatly worldwide, and the impacts of these impoundments can cause changes in the aquatic biota. Here, we investigated the ecological attributes (abundance, richness, and species diversity) of three communities (phytoplankton, invertebrates in the water column, and benthos) and the functional groups of phytoplankton, before and after the construction of five SHPs in an Amazonian river. The communities were sampled at two sites, one upstream and another downstream of each dam or construction site, before the dam closure. The dam did not change the limnological factors, and the acid waters and low electrical conductivity, typical of “cerrado” rivers, were characteristic of both the pre‐ and post‐dam phases. For aquatic communities, the phytoplankton abundance increased and the diversity of groups decreased in the post‐dam phase. Regarding the morphology‐based functional groups (MBFG), there was an increase in groups I (small algae with a high surface/volume ratio) and V (phytoflagellates), with a reduction in groups VI (diatoms) and VII (large mucilaginous colonies) in the post‐dam phase. The relative abundance of zooplankton species increased in the post‐dam phase, and the opposite was observed for the benthic community, with reductions in abundance, richness, and group diversity in the post‐dam phase. The structure of the three communities differed between the pre‐ and post‐dam phases, but no difference in communities' similarity was observed between the upstream and downstream sites in both phases. The results show that the change in hydrodynamics, from lotic to semi‐lentic, in the reservoirs of the SHPs, was the main driving force for the alterations in the three communities. For phytoplankton, SHPs are favorable in the sense of decreasing the incidence of algal blooms, particularly of cyanobacteria.
The Materials and Application of Artificial Light Harvesting System Based on Supramolecular Self‐assembly
Authors: Jiahong Liu , Jialu Sun , Chenhui Pan , Guoze Yang
Published: January 2023

Supramolecular self‐assembly is the process of forming aggregates with a certain microscopic arrangement by using intermolecular interactions to join. Due to the dynamic controllability of supramolecular systems, many supramolecular systems with different functions can be precisely constructed through the design and modification of molecules. The world is now facing a crisis caused by energy problems, and the use of solar energy, especially how to achieve efficient collection of light energy like photosynthesis in nature, has become a challenge. Scientists have come up with the idea of using the tunable nature of supramolecular structure and function to construct artificial light harvesting systems, and have developed a series of ALHS based on this. Currently, ALHS have been applied to imaging, sensors, photoelectric conversion and molecular recognition, laying the foundation for the development and efficient use of light energy. This paper will review the mechanism and method of constructing ALHS based on Supramolecular Self‐assembly, the current hot materials for constructing ALHS and their characteristics, as well as the prospects and applications.
Voltage Mediated Enhances Lithium‐Ion Storage in LiTiOPO4‐y with Oxygen Vacancy
Authors: Gu Xiujuan , Cai Yanjun , Yao Xiang , Tian Hualing , Su Zhi
Published: January 2023

The oxygen vacancy modulated LiTiOPO4‐y was synthesized by simple hydrothermal and high‐temperature solid‐phase methods. X‐ray diffraction (XRD) test data analyses reveal that the density of oxygen defects in LiTiOPO4‐y can be affected by the hydrothermal reaction time. The electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) showed signal peaks at g=2.003, which proved that oxygen defects were generated. X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) further demonstrated that oxygen defects exist in LiTiOPO4‐y, which led to the partial conversion of Ti4+ to Ti3+. The capacity of LiTiOPO4 was limited (less than 161 mAh g−1) by cycling potential range (0.5–3.0 V). The oxygen‐deficient LiTiOPO4‐y was used to enhance lithium‐ion storage performance by mediating voltage from 0.01 to 3.0 V. The initial capacity of oxygen‐deficient LiTiOPO4‐y, which was synthesized after hydrothermal treatment for 18 h, with an exposed (121) face, reached 563.5 mAh g−1 at the current density of 500 mA g−1. After 1500 cycles, the specific discharge capacity kept at 397.2 mAh g−1. In the oxygen‐defective LiTiOPO4‐y, multiple coordination unsaturated sites are exposed, which can not only significantly enhance ion diffusion and charge transfer, but also promote Li+ to more storage sites.