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Background: Poor comprehension of prostate cancer (PCa) medical terms can create barriers to PCa treatment discussions. The authors measured comprehension of PCa terms and its relationship to health literacy in a group of Black men who were newly diagnosed with PCa. They examined whether tailoring communication with alternative colloquial words would be helpful and acceptable. Methods: Patients were recruited from urology clinics (N = 152). After they met with their providers to discuss PCa treatment options, they participated in an educational supplement delivered as a structured interview. The supplement tailored PCa treatment information by allowing men to choose between colloquial and medical terms for genitourinary (GU) function. Health literacy was measured using the Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Medicine, and comprehension of common PCa terms was assessed using published methods. Pearson correlation was used to estimate the association between health literacy and comprehension of PCa terms. Spearman rank correlation (r) was used to assess the relation between the total number of medical terms preferred (range, 0–10) and Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Medicine scores (range, 0–66). Results: Most patients (62%) had low health literacy, which was strongly correlated with their understanding of PCa terms (r = 0.526; p <.001). Poor comprehension of many PCa terms established the need to use alternative language for GU function (only 20% knew the word incontinence). There was a statistically significant positive association between the number of medical terms preferred and health literacy (r = 0.358; p <.001). A majority of patients (91%) preferred a mixture of medical and colloquial terms. Conclusions: Tailoring communications with colloquial terms for GU function was preferred by most patients regardless of health literacy. Poor comprehension of common prostate cancer terms for genitourinary function creates health literacy barriers to treatment discussions. Tailoring medical terms with alternative colloquial words preferred by patients was helpful regardless of health literacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aqueous sodium (Na+) ion storage systems face challenges due to sluggish adsorption and diffusion of Na+ ions with larger size, hindering their potential for stationary applications. This issue is addressed by evolving the interfacial electronic coupling in atomically thin 2D WO3/WSe2 heterostructure for efficient Na+ ion storage. Density functional theory (DFT) analysis elucidates the superior charge storage capability for the WO3/WSe2 heterostructure facilitated by the charge transfer from the WO3 – WSe2 (002). The charge transfer from the W‐5d and O‐2p orbitals of WO3 to the valence W‐5d and Se‐4p orbitals of the WSe2 (002) surface boosts the electronic conductivity. As a result, the WO3/WSe2 electrode demonstrates exceptional Na+ ion storage, with a specific capacitance of 378.1 F g−1 at 1 A g−1, excellent rate capability, and long‐lasting cycling durability. The full cell comprising WO3/WSe2 as the negative and MnSe/MnSe2 as the positive electrode achieved a peak energy density of 82.1 Wh kg−1 at a power density of 1873.5 W kg−1, along with high rate capability and long‐cycle durability. Insights gained from this study pave the technique for the rational design and optimization of the interfacial electronic features in 2D heterostructures for next‐generation energy storage devices with enhanced performance and stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Methods Results Discussion Letters of recommendation (LORs) are an important part of pain medicine fellowship applications that may be subject to implicit bias by the letter's author. This study evaluated letters of recommendation for applications to pain medicine fellowships in the United States to characterize biases and differences among applicants over four application cycles.This was a retrospective single‐site cohort study. De‐identified LORs were collected from 2020 to 2023 from one institution. The Valence Aware Dictionary and sEntiment Reasoner (VADER) natural language processing package scored positive LOR sentiment. In addition, the deep learning tool, Empath, scored LORs for 15 sentiments. Wilcoxon rank‐sum and one‐way ANOVA tests compared scores between applicant demographics: gender, race, medical school type, residency specialty, and chief resident status, as well as letter writers' academic position.Nine hundred and sixty‐four applications were studied over four application cycles. Program directors wrote fewer words (p = 0.020) and less positively (p < 0.001) compared to department chairs and letter writers with neither position. Department chairs wrote with less “negative emotion” compared to both program directors and writers with neither position (p < 0.001). Anesthesiologist applicants received more letters highlighting “achievement” (p < 0.001) while PM&R applicants submitted letters with less “negative emotion” (p < 0.001) compared to other specialties. Chief residents' letters scored higher in “leader” sentiment (p < 0.001) and lower in “negative emotion” (p < 0.001).Linguistic content did not favor certain genders or races over others. However, disparities in LORs do exist depending on an applicant's specialty and chief resident status, as well as the academic status of the letter writer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kokum (Garcinia indica (Thouars) Choisy) is an evergreen fruit tree, naturally distributed in the tropical rainforests of the Western Ghats in India, displaying polygamous characteristics. The economic significance of this tree is attributed to its fruit rind rich in pharmaceutical compounds such as hydroxy citric acid, garcinol and anthocyanin. The fruit rind is commonly utilised to create refreshing beverages. The demand for both kokum fruit and its derived products is on the rise within the food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. To facilitate genetic enhancement, agronomic management and commercial cultivation, a comprehensive understanding of the periodic growth of kokum is essential. Presently, the Biologische Bundesanstalt, Bundessortenamt and Chemische Industrie (BBCH) phenological scale stands as the most credible and widely adopted framework. In this research endeavour, specific standard codes and descriptions were established for various growth stages of kokum. Utilising an extended BBCH scale ranging from 0 to 9, we delineated seven principal growth stages in kokum: Stage 0 for vegetative bud development, Stage 1 for leaf development, Stage 3 for shoot growth, Stage 5 for reproductive bud development, Stage 6 for flowering, Stage 7 for fruit development and Stage 8 for fruit maturity. Secondary stages were assigned based on observed growth event percentages. The duration and seasonal characteristics of each principal and secondary growth stage were meticulously recorded. This newly developed phenological scale serves as a versatile tool applicable to researchers, breeders and industrialists for enhancing agricultural production and effective scientific communication in the kokum research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Functionally multilayered environmental barrier coatings (EBCs) with the desired layer sequence of Yb2O3/Yb2SiO5/Yb2Si2O7/SiO2/Si were obtained using an unconventional yet simple technique of reactive sintering. Yb2O3 slurry was sprayed on polycrystalline silicon (used as a bond coat for SiCf/SiC composites) and reactive sintered to generate graded layers that provide a combination of mitigated thermal expansion mismatch as well as silica activity. The Yb2O3‐terpineol slurry produced a uniform deposit of the Yb2O3 topcoat. Reactive sintering of exploratory coatings (t ∼ 10–20 µm) was carried out in air by varying the temperature (1100–1400°C) and time (2–24 h). X‐ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy‐energy‐dispersive spectroscopy technique confirmed the in situ formation of X2‐Yb2SiO5 and β‐Yb2Si2O7. Rietveld refinement was performed to know the volume fractions of the respective phases. The set of process parameters identified from the preliminary work was employed to fabricate EBCs with thickness ∼ 250 µm. The X2‐Yb2SiO5 and β‐Yb2Si2O7 phases formed next to the Si/SiO2 interface as two separate layers. Post‐sintering heat treatments in air at 1300, 1350, and 1400°C for 3–50 h elucidated the growth characteristics of the oxide layers to be a function of both temperature and time. The theoretical considerations of diffusional reactive phase formation of the EBC multilayer growth rates are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ductility of a retained austenite (RA)‐bearing steel is conventionally correlated with the gradual transformation of RA into martensite during straining, i.e., transformation‐induced plasticity (TRIP) mechanism. Nevertheless, current experiments and mathematical calculations illustrate that most of the RA transformed into martensite at quite an early stage of tensile straining. The result shows that only 4% of leftover RA exists after the initial tensile loading. It looks like enough RA is not available to operate TRIP to obtain successive ductility in the steel. Inexplicably, current work exhibits the maximum uniform tensile elongation after the major martensite transformation, which contradicts the conventional TRIP‐driven ductility theory. Thus, only 4% RA could be one of the prime factors that operate unfailingly to impart ductility in the steel. This work has created an understanding of the possible factors responsible for the observed ductility in the current steel while TRIP is not operating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To assess the effects of immunotherapy compared to chemotherapy as first‐ and second‐line treatment of advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma. Methods: Based on a published protocol, we performed a systematic search of multiple databases. Two review authors independently performed the literature selection, identified relevant studies, assessed the eligibility of studies for inclusion, and extracted data. We performed statistical analyses using a random‐effects model and assessed the quality of the evidence on a per‐outcome basis according to the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. Results: We included five randomised controlled trials and also identified seven single‐arm studies. When used as first‐line therapy, immunotherapy probably has little to no effect on the risk of death from any cause compared to chemotherapy (hazard ratio [HR] 0.97, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.87–1.07; moderate‐certainty evidence). immunotherapy probably has little to no effect on health‐related quality of life (mean difference [MD] 4.10, 95% CI 3.83–4.37; moderate). Immunotherapy probably reduces grade 3–5 adverse events (risk ratio [RR] 0.47, 95% CI 0.29–0.75; moderate). In the second‐line setting immunotherapy may reduce the risk of death from any cause (HR 0.72, 95% CI 0.63–0.81; low). Immunotherapy may have little to no effect on health‐related quality of life when compared to chemotherapy (MD 4.82, 95% CI −3.11 to 12.75; low). Immunotherapy may reduce grade 3–5 adverse events (RR 0.89, 95% CI 0.81–0.97; low). Conclusions: Compared to chemotherapy, immunotherapy has little to no effect on the risk of death from any cause in a first‐line setting. Nevertheless, it may reduce the risk of death from any cause when used as second‐line therapy. The health‐related quality of life of participants receiving first‐ and second‐line therapy does not appear to be affected by immunotherapy. Immunotherapy probably reduces or may reduce grade 3–5 adverse events when used as first‐ and second‐line therapy, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights Unique hybrid thermoplastic composites based on polyoxymethylene copolymer (POM C), 10 wt.% glass fiber (GF) and graphite (Grt) filler at 1, 3, and 5 wt.% were developed using injection molding technique. According to the Taguchi L16 orthogonal array, present experiments were carried out with the aim of determining the coefficient of friction (COF) and specific wear rate (SWR) under a range of loads (namely, 5, 10, 20, and 30 N), sliding speeds (namely, 200, 400, 600, and 800 rpm), and run times (namely, 15, 30, 45, and 60 min) with varying wt.% of Grt (namely, 1, 3, and 5 wt.%) throughout the experiment. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to evaluate the most significant factors that affect the output functions (viz., COF and SWR). The findings demonstrated that POM C/10GF composites' tribo‐mechanical, structural, and thermal properties were considerably improved upon by including Grt. Various microscopical methods were also employed to study the wear mechanisms of the composites and the surface morphology of the worn samples. The POM C/10GF with a 3 wt.% of Grt exhibited superior tribological properties owing to its enhanced interfacial bonding characteristics, resulting to increased wear resistance. Injection molded POM C/10GF hybrid composites with 1, 3, and 5 wt.% graphite (Grt) Structural, thermal, chemical, tribo‐mechanical and microstructural studies Design of experiment with variable loads, times, speeds, and Grt compositions COF and specific wear resistance as response Optimization of hybrid composite composition using Taguchi L16 orthogonal array [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Decorating cellulose nanocrystals(CNC) with nanoparticles(NPs) allows to engineer novel CNC/NPs composites for advanced technologies and applications. NPs are well‐known for their unique and highly efficient properties. However, NPs present challenges and limitations due to their aggregation, non‐uniform growth, size distribution, and nanotoxicity. CNC surface overcomes most of these drawbacks by providing an attractive matrix/template to grow NPs of desirable morphology, distribution, and functionality. CNC has distinctive properties such as biodegradability, high surface area, low cost, good mechanical strength, surface functionality, and chiral nematic self‐assembly. CNC/NPs composites combine the unique properties of both CNC and NPs. This review highlights the unique characteristics of CNC, NPs, and their composites for energy, catalysis, and biomedical applications. First, different production methods for CNC with their effect on morphology, crystallinity index, and yield are presented. Both organic and inorganic NPs are used to decorate either a pristine or a functionalized CNC surface. In situ nucleation and growth methods are compared with the direct incorporation of pre‐formed NPs on the CNC surface. Applications of CNC/NPs composites are reviewed for energy storage material, conductive materials, catalysts, antibacterial agents, biosensors, and bioimaging. Finally, the current challenges and perspectives are presented for unleashing new possibilities in developing functional CNC‐NPs composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polypropylene (PP) is one of the most used polymeric materials worldwide, either as a neat material or as a matrix for composite manufacture employing a molding process. Fused deposition modeling (FDM) 3D printing is an alternative process that offers the potential for manufacturing value‐added products from PP. However, using neat PP for FDM is challenging because 3D‐printed PP warps and shrinks when cooled, and the mechanical properties of PP are poor. PP‐based composites with different fillers (e.g., glass, carbon, and natural fibers) have shown improved properties using FDM processes. An alternative filler for 3D‐printed PP‐based composites is basalt fiber (BF). The objective of this work was to assess the potential and impacts of BF as a filler for BF‐PP composites using FDM processes. PP was compounded with 15, 25, 35, and 45 wt% BF to produce filaments for 3D printing without adding any compatibilizer. Results of rheology studies, morphology, and mechanical and thermal properties of the 3D printed specimens showed that BF positively impacts Young's modulus (E), thermal stability, and dimensional stability of the composite. All composites, when processed at high shear rates (i.e., above 100 1/s), show approximately similar rheological behavior. E is almost doubled in the composite with 25 wt% BF and increased fourfold in the composite with 35 and 45 wt% BF, compared to neat PP. The Izod impact resistance of the formulations containing 35 and 45 wt% BF is ~70% that of neat PP. BF process easily and adequately reinforces PP composites manufactured via FDM. Highlights: Neat PP's poor mechanical properties are improved by adding basalt fiber (BF).Up to 45 wt% BF was used to reinforce PP‐based composites.PP‐BF composites are easier to process via DFM compared to neat PP.BF improves PP‐based composite's thermal and dimensional stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Malnutrition is a public health epidemic mainly targeting poverty‐stricken people, young ones, older people, pregnant women, and individuals with metabolic disorders. Severe malnutrition is linked with several metabolic defects, such as hepatic dysfunction, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and osteoarthritis. The proper functioning of the liver plays a crucial role in ensuring the supply of nutrients to the body. Consequently, inadequate nutrition can lead to severe periportal hepatic steatosis due to compromised mitochondrial and peroxisome functions. Reduced protein intake disrupts essential metabolic processes like the TCA cycle, oxidative phosphorylation, and β‐oxidation, ultimately affecting ATP production. Furthermore, this can trigger a cascade of events, including disturbances in amino acid metabolism, iron metabolism, and gut microbiota, which activate genes involved in de novo lipogenesis, leading to the accumulation of lipids in the liver. The condition, in prolonged cases, progresses to steatohepatitis and liver fibrosis. Limited therapeutic solutions are available; however, few dietary supplements and drugs have demonstrated positive effects on the growth and health of malnourished individuals. These supplements improve parameters such as inflammatory and oxidative status, reduce triglyceride accumulation, enhance insulin sensitivity, and downregulate gene expression in hepatic lipid metabolism. This review elucidates the various mechanisms involved in malnutrition‐associated steatohepatitis and provides an overview of the available approaches for treating this condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In postmenopausal women (PMW), vasomotor symptoms, emotional oscillations and sleep disturbances can affect physiological and psychological functioning. However, the effect of menopause on oral health‐related parameters is not been thoroughly studied. Objective: To evaluate oral health, taste perception, eating habits, nutritional status and emotional well‐being in PMW compared with a group of young and healthy pre‐menopausal women (PrMW). Materials and Methods: Two groups (Group I: PMW and Group II: PrMW) with 30 participants each, participated in the cross‐sectional study. The study proforma contained measures of oral health, taste perception, nutritional status and anxiety levels of the women in both groups using validated and previously used tools were designed and implemented. The data were analysed with student t, Mann–Whitney U, and chi‐squared tests to evaluate the differences between the two groups. Results: The cross‐sectional study indicates no major differences in oral health, taste perception, nutritional and emotional status between PMW and PrMW. Nonetheless, there was a significant difference in perception of 'front teeth lengthening in size' and change in hot and cold sensations between the groups. Furthermore, the study group with PMW tends to have fewer natural teeth than the reference group. Conclusion: Overall, menopause does not appear to affect oral health, taste perception, nutrition or emotional health. It is suggested that oral health and taste perception, as well as nutritional and emotional status, are associated with gradual aging processes that may or may not be affected by menopause. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In low‐ and middle‐income countries most of the cancer patients attend the hospital at a late stage and treatment completion of these cases is challenging. The early detection program (EDP), in rural areas of Punjab state, India was initiated to identify breast, cervical, and oral cancer at an early stage by raising awareness and providing easy access to diagnosis and treatment. A total of 361 health education programs and 99 early detection clinics were organized. The symptomatic and self‐interested (non‐symptomatic individuals who opted for screening) cases visited the detection clinic. They were screened for breast, cervical, and/or oral cancer. Further diagnosis and treatment of screen‐positive cases were carried out at Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital (HBCH), Sangrur. Community leaders and healthcare workers were involved in all the activities. The EDP, Sangrur removed barriers between cancer diagnosis and treatment with the help of project staff. From 2019 to 2023, a total of 221,317 populations were covered. Symptomatic and self‐interested individuals attended the breast (1627), cervical (1601), and oral (1111) examinations. 46 breast (in situ‐4.3%; localized‐52.2%), 9 cervical (localized‐77.8%), and 12 oral (localized‐66.7%) cancer cases were detected, and treatment completion was 82.6%, 77.8%, and 50.0%, respectively. We compared cancer staging and treatment completion of cases detected through EDP with the cases attended HBCH from Sangrur district in 2018; the difference between two groups is statistically significant. Due to the early detection approach, there is disease down‐staging and improvement in treatment completion. This approach is feasible and can be implemented to control these cancers in low‐ and middle‐income countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogel cell encapsulation devices are a common approach to reduce the need for chronic systemic immunosuppression in allogeneic cell product transplantation. Macroencapsulation approaches are an appealing strategy, as they maximize graft retrievability and cell dosage within a single device; however, macroencapsulation devices face oxygen transport challenges as geometries increase from preclinical to clinical scales. Device design guided by computational approaches can facilitate graft oxygen availability to encapsulated cells in vivo but is limited without accurate measurement of oxygen levels within the transplant site and graft. In this study, we engineer pO2 reporter composite hydrogels (PORCH) to enable spatiotemporal measurement of oxygen tension within macroencapsulation devices using the proton Imaging of siloxanes to map tissue oxygenation levels (PISTOL) magnetic resonance imaging approach. We engineer two methods of incorporating siloxane oximetry reporters within hydrogel devices, an emulsion and microbead‐based approach, and evaluate PORCH cytotoxicity on co‐encapsulated cells and accuracy in quantifying oxygen tension in vitro. We find that both emulsion and microbead PORCH approaches enable accurate in situ oxygen quantification using PISTOL magnetic resonance oximetry, and that the emulsion‐based PORCH approach results in higher spatial resolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccination is recommended for solid organ transplant (SOT) candidates. However, there is a lack of data on the HBV vaccine compliance, serologic response, and durability of HBV seroprotection in thoracic organ transplantation recipients. Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of adult thoracic organ (heart and lung) transplant candidates who received HBV vaccination at Mayo Clinic sites in Minnesota, Arizona, and Florida between January 2018 and August 2023. Conventional recombinant hepatitis B vaccine (Recombivax HB) was used before 2020, and Heplisav‐B was preferred after 2020. HBV seroprotection was defined as hepatitis B surface antibody (HBsAb) ≥ 10 IU/L. Furthermore, we compared characteristics between recipients who maintained HBV seroprotection and those who lost HBV seroprotection (HBsAb < 10 IU/L) at 30 days posttransplantation (D30). Results: Among 922 candidates who were eligible for HBV vaccination, 430 (47%) completed the HBV vaccine series. Patients receiving Heplisav‐B were more likely to complete the series than Recombivax HB (81% vs. 60%, p < 0.001) and Heplisav‐B had a higher seroprotection rate than Recombivax HB (75% vs. 64%, p = 0.023). Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified receiving Heplisav‐B as an independent predictor for HBV seroprotection (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.723; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.056–2.810; p = 0.029). A total of 145 thoracic organ transplant recipients achieved HBV seroprotection at the date of transplantation. Loss of HBV seroprotection occurred in 38 (26%) patients at D30. Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified two predictors for HBV seroprotection loss at D30: age ≥ 60 years (aOR, 2.503; 95% CI 1.026–6.107; p = 0.044), and pretransplant HBsAb level between 10 and 100 IU/L (aOR, 18.575; 95% CI 5.211–66.209; p < 0.001). Conclusions: Although less than half of thoracic organ transplant candidates completed HBV vaccine series pretransplant, Heplisav‐B provided a higher vaccine completion rate and seroprotection than the 3‐dose Recombivax HB. Clinicians should also be aware of the increased loss of HBV seroprotection in thoracic organ transplant recipients with age ≥ 60 years and pretransplant HBsAb between 10 and 100 IU/L. Assessment of seroprotection after HBV vaccination should be prioritized during the pretransplant period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The photocatalytic oxidation and generation/regeneration of amines to imines and leucodopaminechrome (LDC)/NADH are subjects of intense interest in contemporary research. Imines serve as crucial intermediates for the synthesis of solar fuels, fine chemicals, agricultural chemicals, and pharmaceuticals. While significant progress has been made in developing efficient processes for the oxidation and generation/regeneration of secondary amines, the oxidation of primary amines has received comparatively less attention until recently. This discrepancy can be attributed to the high reactivity of imines generated from primary amines, which are prone to dehydrogenation into nitriles. In this study, we present the synthesis and characterization of a novel polymer‐based photocatalyst, denoted as PMMA‐DNH, designed for solar light‐harvesting applications. PMMA‐DNH incorporates the light‐harvesting molecule dinitrophenyl hydrazine (DNH) at varying concentrations (5%, 10%, 20%, 30%, and 40%). Leveraging its high molar extinction coefficient and slow charge recombination, the 30% DNH‐incorporated PMMA photocatalyst proves to be particularly efficient. This photocatalytic system demonstrates exceptional yields (96.5%) in imine production and high generation/regeneration rates for LDC/NADH (65.27%/78.77%). The research presented herein emphasizes the development and application of a newly engineered polymer‐based photocatalyst, which holds significant promise for direct solar‐assisted chemical synthesis in diverse commercial applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, the development of directional solidification for a novel high‐temperature Mo–20Si–52.8Ti (at%) ternary alloy using a modified Bridgeman type apparatus is presented. The resulting alloy exhibits a microstructure consisting of a body‐centered cubic solid solution (BCCss) and a hexagonal silicide (Ti,Mo)5Si3 with approximate volume fractions of 50% for each phase. The phases exhibit a crystallographic orientation relationship with (123)BCCSS||(0001)(Ti,Mo)5Si3$\left(\left(\right. 123 \left.\right)\right)_{\left(\text{BCC}\right)_{\text{SS}}} \left|\right. \left|\right. \left(\left(\right. 0001 \left.\right)\right)_{\left(\left(\right. \text{Ti} , \text{Mo} \left.\right)\right)_{5} \left(\text{Si}\right)_{3}}$ and [111¯]BCCSS||[112¯0](Ti,Mo)5Si3$\left(\left[\right. 11 \bar{1} \left]\right.\right)_{\left(\text{BCC}\right)_{\text{SS}}} \left|\right. \left|\right. \left(\left[\right. 11 \bar{2} 0 \left]\right.\right)_{\left(\left(\right. \text{Ti} , \text{Mo} \left.\right)\right)_{5} \left(\text{Si}\right)_{3}}$. Different solidification velocities are imposed, which reveal an inverse relationship to the lamellar spacing according to a Jackson–Hunt type scaling. Mechanical characterization using Vickers indentation demonstrates that the BCCss accommodates plasticity through dislocation motion, while the silicide phase exhibits high hardness and brittleness, serving as a crack initiation site. Crack propagation is arrested and deflected at the interface to the BCCss. Fracture toughness measurements via indentation yield a fracture toughness of 3.7 MPa√m for the silicide, somewhat higher than previously reported values for Nb‐, Mo‐, and Cr‐based silicides at room temperature. The directionally solidified specimens show an enhanced fracture toughness attributed to a greater BCCss length scale; thus, combining the ductile and hard phases results in a ductile‐phase toughened intermetallic composite. The findings open up new possibilities for the design of advanced intermetallic composites with improved toughness performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Letters of recommendation (LORs) are a highly influential yet subjective and often enigmatic aspect of the residency application process. This study hypothesizes that LORs do contain valuable insights into applicants and can be used to predict outcomes. This pilot study utilizes natural language processing and machine learning (ML) models using LOR text to predict interview invitations for otolaryngology residency applicants. Methods: A total of 1642 LORs from the 2022–2023 application cycle were retrospectively retrieved from a single institution. LORs were preprocessed and vectorized using three different techniques to represent the text in a way that an ML model can understand written prose: CountVectorizer (CV), Term Frequency‐Inverse Document Frequency (TF‐IDF), and Word2Vec (WV). Then, the LORs were trained and tested on five ML models: Logistic Regression (LR), Naive Bayes (NB), Decision Tree (DT), Random Forest (RF), and Support Vector Machine (SVM). Results: Of the 337 applicants, 67 were interviewed and 270 were not interviewed. In total, 1642 LORs (26.7% interviewed) were analyzed. The two best‐performing ML models in predicting interview invitations were the TF‐IDF vectorized DT and CV vectorized DT models. Conclusion: This preliminary study revealed that ML models and vectorization combinations can provide better‐than‐chance predictions for interview invitations for otolaryngology residency applicants. The high‐performing ML models were able to classify meaningful information from the LORs to predict applicant interview invitation. The potential of an automated process to help predict an applicant's likelihood of obtaining an interview invitation could be a valuable tool for training programs in the future. Level of Evidence: N/A Laryngoscope, 134:4016–4022, 2024 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents a rare case of a large hairy polyp, a developmental malformation causing a benign tumor, within the nasopharynx. The patient, born with the polyp obstructing the airway, required immediate intubation and a combined transnasal‐transoral surgical approach for excision. The case underscores the challenges in diagnosing and managing such polyps, emphasizing the importance of imaging for surgical planning, and the consideration of multiple approaches to ensure complete resection and prevent recurrence. Laryngoscope, 134:4118–4121, 2024 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we analysed a moving crack at the interface of an infinitely long piezoelectric bilayer using the Dugdale–Barenblatt yield (DBY) model and the polarisation saturation (PS) model. To model the moving crack problem, a Yoffe‐type crack moves at a constant subsonic speed on the interface of an infinitely long piezoelectric bilayer. The crack faces are assumed to be semi‐permeable, and at the boundary of the bilayer, in‐plane electrical and out‐of‐plane mechanical stresses are applied. Due to the application of electro‐mechanical loads, cracks propagate, mechanical yielding zones and electric saturation zones are developed. To arrest the crack from further propagation, mechanical yield stress and saturation electric displacement are applied at the developed zones. To address this problem analytically and numerically, the mixed boundary value problem is transformed into a set of coupled Fredholm integral equations (FIEs) of the second kind using the Fourier transform and the Copson method. The closed‐form analytical expressions for the length of the electrical saturation zone (ESZ), whether longer, shorter or equal to the mechanical yielding zone (MYZ), show dependence on external electro‐mechanical loads under semi‐permeable crack conditions. The algorithm to solve the electric crack condition parameter (ECCP) has been defined using numerical discretization and the bisection method. Illustrative examples demonstrate the proposed technique's effectiveness and suitability for Yoffe‐type moving cracks. The numerical results show the convergence of the ECCP. Furthermore, the numerical results show how mechanical and electrical zone lengths and energy release rate (ERR) are affected by electrical and mechanical loads, strip thickness and crack velocity. In addition, the size of the mechanical yielding zone is consistently promoted by electrical load, while the promotion or prevention of the electrical saturation zone by mechanical load depends on the relative sizes of the nonlinear zones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rationale: A common strategy for antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) quantitation from in vivo study samples involves measurement of total antibody, conjugated ADC, and free payload concentrations using multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mass spectrometry. This not only provides a limited picture of biotransformation but can also involve lengthy method development. Quantitation of ADCs directly at the intact protein level in native conditions using high-resolution mass spectrometers presents the advantage of measuring exposure readout as well as monitoring the change in average drug-to-antibody ratio (DAR) and in vivo stability of new linker payloads with minimal method development. Furthermore, site-specific cysteineconjugated ADCs often rely on non-covalent association to retain their quaternary structure, which highlights the unique capabilities of native mass spectrometry (nMS) for intact ADC quantitation. Methods: We developed an intact quantitation workflow involving three stages: automated affinity purification, nMS analysis, and data processing in batch fashion. The sample preparation method was modified to include only volatile ion-pairing reagents in the buffer systems. A capillary size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) column was coupled to a quadrupole time-of-flight high-resolution mass spectrometer for highthroughput nMS analysis. Samples from two mouse pharmacokinetic (PK) studies were analyzed using both intact quantitation workflow and the conventional MRM-based approach. Results: A linear dynamic range of 5-100 µg/mL was achieved using 20 µL of serum sample volume. The results of mouse in vivo PK measurement using the intact quantitation workflow and the MRM-based approach were compared, revealing excellent method agreement. Conclusions: We demonstrated the feasibility of utilizing nMS for the quantitation of ADCs at the intact protein level in preclinical PK studies. Our results indicate that this intact quantitation workflow can serve as an alternative generic method for highthroughput analysis, enabling an in-depth understanding of ADC stability and safety in vivo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses two case reports of patients with vasculitis ulcers who were treated with tofacitinib, a Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor. Vasculitis is a group of rare diseases that cause inflammation of blood vessels, and vasculitis ulcers can be challenging to treat. The topical application of tofacitinib cream was found to be effective in healing the ulcers in both cases. This treatment approach shows promise for managing vasculitis ulcers, although further research is needed to fully understand its efficacy. [Extracted from the article]

The increasing concern for environmental pollution has fastened the development of energy storage devices. Among various devices, lithium‐ion battery (LIB) technology has been leapfrogged owing to its stable performance for various applications ranging from electronic gadgets to electric vehicles (EVs). For ever‐increasing number of EVs has increased the demand for batteries increasing the overall cost. An alternative energy storage device that can replace the dependence on lithium reserves can be another game changer in this area. Potassium‐sulfur batteries (KSBs) have attracted enormous attention owing to the higher abundance of sulfur and potassium. In addition, sulfur bears the highest capacity as a cathodic material (nearly five times higher than the commercial LIBs) and when clubbed with potassium anode can deliver a theoretical energy density of 914 Wh/kg (significantly higher for EVs). However, KSB development is still in the nascent stage owing to the intrinsic challenges including insulating sulfur, volume variation, and shuttle effect of polysulfides. In addition, unstable potassium anode and its dendrite formation is another thorny problem for KSB. The use of carbon matrices for cathode fabrication has been proven to be an excellent choice by initial research on KSB and experience with other metal‐sulfur batteries. This can be related to the higher electronic conductivity of carbon, easy tunability, high specific surface area, and porous morphology. This review is an attempt to show the usage of carbon as a sulfur host for KSBs and its performance. Further, we shed light on flexible and binder‐free carbon electrodes for the development of KSBs, which can be adopted to develop flexible batteries to be used in wearable devices. Finally, we present our perspective for developing a high‐performance carbon‐based cathode material for developing a reliable and long‐cycle life KSB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is known to induce a wide range of harmful effects on several organs, notably leading to ineffective esophageal motility (IEM). However, the relationship between DM and IEM is not fully elucidated. We aimed to determine the relationship between DM and IEM and to evaluate the impact of DM's end organ complications on IEM severity. Methods: A multicenter cohort study of consecutive patients undergoing high‐resolution esophageal manometry (HREM) was performed. We reviewed medical records of patients diagnosed with IEM using HREM, encompassing data on demographics, DM history, antidiabetic and other medications as well as comorbidities. Key Results: Two hundred and forty six subjects met the inclusion criteria. There was no significant difference in any of the HREM parameters between diabetics and nondiabetics. Out of 246 patients, 92 were diabetics. Diabetics with neuropathy presented a significantly lower distal contractile integral (DCI) value compared to those without neuropathy (248.2 ± 226.7 mmHg·cm·sec vs. 375.6 ± 232.4 mmHg·cm·sec; p = 0.02) Similarly, the DCI was lower in diabetics with retinopathy compared to those without retinopathy (199.9 ± 123.1 mmHg·cm·sec vs. 335.4 ± 251.7 mmHg·cm·sec; p = 0.041). Additionally, a significant difference was observed in DCI values among DM patients with ≥2 comorbidities compared to those without comorbidities (224.8 ± 161.0 mmHg·cm·sec vs. 394.2 ± 243.6 mmHg·cm·sec; p = 0.025). Around 12.6% of the variation in DCI could be explained by its linear relationship with hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), with a regression coefficient (β) of −55.3. Conclusion & Inferences: DM is significantly associated with IEM in patients with neuropathy, retinopathy, or multiple comorbidities. These results are pivotal for tailoring patient‐specific management approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) is an effective treatment for menopause‐related symptoms. Menopause management guidelines recommend a personalized approach to menopause care, including MHT use. Decision‐making around menopause care is a complex, iterative process influenced by multiple factors framed by perspectives from both women and healthcare providers (HCPs). This narrative review aims to summarize evidence around factors affecting decision‐making regarding menopause‐related care. For HCPs, the provision of individualized risk estimates is challenging in practice given the number of potential benefits and risks to consider, and the complexity of the data available, especially within time‐limited consultations. Women seeking menopause care have the difficult task of making sense of the benefit versus risk profiles to make choices in line with their decisional needs influenced by sociocultural/economic, educational, demographic, and personal characteristics. The press, social media, and influential celebrities also impact the perception of menopause and decision‐making around it. Understanding these factors can lead to improved participation in shared decision‐making, satisfaction with the decision and decision‐making process, adherence to treatment, reduced decisional regret, efficient use of resources, and ultimately long‐term satisfaction with care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A recent industry perspective published in this journal describes the benefits received by drug companies from participation in the MIDD Pilot Program. Along with the primary objectives of supporting good decision‐making in drug development, there were substantial savings in time and development costs. Furthermore, many sponsors reported qualitative benefits such as new learnings and clarity on MIDD strategies and methodology that could be applied to other development programs. Based on the success of the Pilot Program, the FDA recently announced the continuation of the MIDD Paired Meeting Program as part of the Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA VII). In this report, we describe the collective experiences of industry participants in the MIDD Program to date, including all aspects of the process from meeting request submission to follow‐up actions. The purpose is to provide future participants with information to optimize the value of the MIDD Program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Kinesin family member 12 (KIF12) mutation‐related cholestatic disorder represents a rare subtype of progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis (PFIC), referred to as PFIC Type 8, with only 21 reported cases globally to date. Methods: Here, we present a unique case of a 6‐month‐old boy diagnosed with homozygous KIF12 gene mutation, who successfully underwent a living donor liver transplant at our center for end‐stage liver disease. Results: This case marks the youngest patient of KIF12‐related cholestatic disorder necessitating a liver transplant to date. The child initially presented with neonatal cholestasis and then developed infantile hepatic decompensation. Our report discusses the diagnostic process and management strategies employed. It underscores the importance of prompt diagnosis through clinical suspicion, biochemical parameters, and genetic testing, as well as the adoption of suitable management strategies, including the early contemplation of liver transplant in such exceptional and rare cases of genetic intrahepatic cholestasis. Conclusion: KIF12‐related genetic disease should be considered in neonatal cholestasis cases with high gamma glutamyl transpeptidase to differentiate from conditions like biliary atresia. Favorable outcomes post liver transplant stress the importance of early genetic testing and referral to liver transplant centers for unresponsive patients, potentially saving lives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Limited research exists on the influence of social determinants of health (SDOH) on outcomes in pediatric patients with advanced heart failure receiving mechanical circulatory support. Methods: Linkage of the Pediatric Interagency Registry for Mechanical Circulatory Support (Pedimacs) and Society of Thoracic Surgeon's Congenital Heart Surgery Database (STS‐CHSD) identified pediatric patients who underwent ventricular assist device (VAD) implantation from 2012 to 2022 with available residential zip codes. Utilizing the available zip codes, each patient was assigned a Childhood Opportunity Index (COI) score. Level of childhood opportunity, race, and insurance type were used as proxies for SDOH. Major outcomes included death, transplant, alive with device, and recovery. Secondary outcomes were adverse events. Statistical analyses were performed using the Kaplan–Meier survival, competing risk analyses, and multivariable Cox proportional hazards model. Results: Three hundred seventeen patients were included in the study. Childhood opportunity level and insurance status did not significantly impact morbidity or mortality after VAD implantation. White race was associated with reduced 1‐year survival (71% in White vs. 87% in non‐White patients, p = 0.05) and increased risk of pump thrombosis (p = 0.02). Conclusion: Childhood opportunity level and insurance status were not linked to morbidity and mortality in pediatric patients after VAD implantation. Notably, White race was associated with higher mortality rates. The study underscores the importance of considering SDOH in evaluating advanced therapies for pediatric heart failure and emphasizes the need for accurate socioeconomic data collection in future studies and national registries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Abnormalities in ataxin‐2 associated with spinocerebellar ataxia type 2 (SCA2) may lead to widespread disruptions in the proteome. This study was performed to identify dysregulated proteome in SCA2 and to explore its clinical‐radiological correlations. Methods: Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from 21 genetically confirmed SCA2 were subjected to shotgun proteome analysis using mass spectrometry (MS) and tandem mass tag (TMT)‐based multiplexing. Proteins with at least 1.5‐fold change in abundance were identified. Their relative abundance was measured using parallel reaction monitoring (PRM) and correlated against disease‐related factors. Results: Eleven proteins were significantly upregulated in SCA2. They belonged to the family of cell adhesion molecules and granins. Their fold changes showed significant clinical, genetic, and radiological correlations. Conclusions: Significant dysregulation of CSF proteome is seen in SCA2. The dysregulated protein may have potential use in clinical evaluation of patients with SCA2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Low neighborhood income is linked with increased hospitalizations for central line–associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) in pediatric short bowel syndrome (SBS). We assessed whether this relationship varies by hospital center. Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study using the Pediatric Health Information System (2018–2023) database for patients <18 years old with SBS (N = 1210) at 24 hospitals in the United States. Using 2015 US Census data, we determined the estimated median household income of each patient's zip code. Hospital‐level neighborhood income was defined as the median of the estimated median household income among patients at each hospital. We applied an extension of Cox regression to assess risk for CLABSI hospitalization. Results: Among 1210 children with 5255 hospitalizations, most were <1 year on initial admission (53%), male (58%), and publicly insured (69%). Hospitals serving low‐income neighborhoods served more female (46% vs 39%), Black (29% vs 22%), and Hispanic (22% vs 16%) patients with public insurance (72% vs 65%) residing in the southern United States (47% vs 21%). In univariate analysis, low hospital‐level neighborhood income was associated with increased risk of CLABSI hospitalization (rate ratio [RR], 1.48; 95% CI, 1.21–1.83; P < 0.001). These findings persisted in multivariate analysis (RR, 1.43; 95% CI, 1.10–1.84; P < 0.01) after adjusting for race, ethnicity, insurance, region, and patient‐level neighborhood income. Conclusion: Hospitals serving predominantly low‐income neighborhoods bear a heavier burden of CLABSI hospitalizations for all their patients across the socioeconomic spectrum. Hospital initiatives focused on CLABSI prevention may be pivotal in addressing this disparity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This consensus was developed by the Asian EUS Group (AEG), who aimed to formulate a set of practice guidelines addressing various aspects of endoscopic ultrasound‐guided tissue acquisition (EUS‐TA). Methods: The AEG initiated the development of consensus statements and formed an expert panel comprising surgeons, gastroenterologists, and pathologists. Three online consensus meetings were conducted to consolidate the statements and votes. The statements were presented and discussed in the first two consensus meetings and revised according to comments. Final voting was conducted at a third consensus meeting. The Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation system was adopted to define the strength of the recommendations and quality of evidence. Results: A total of 20 clinical questions and statements regarding EUS‐TA were formulated. The committee recommended that fine‐needle biopsy (FNB) needles be preferred over conventional fine‐needle aspiration (FNA) needles for EUS‐TA of subepithelial lesions. For solid pancreatic masses, rapid on‐site evaluation is not routinely recommended when FNB needles are used. For dedicated FNB needles, fork‐tip and Franseen‐tip needles have essentially equivalent performance. Conclusion: This consensus provides guidance for EUS‐TA, thereby enhancing the quality of EUS‐TA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyamide 6 (PA6) thermoplastic‐based composites are often used in automobile, aerospace, marine, and biomedical applications. Here, PA6 and its composites with varied chopped glass fiber (GF) concentrations of 5, 10, and 20 mass% were fabricated by injection molding. The specimens were characterized by structural, thermal kinetic, mechanical, as well as tribological analyses. Tribological performance was evaluated in dry pin‐on‐disc test apparatus with three different levels of time, speed, and load factors. The PA6/GF composites showed high decomposition activation energy compared to pure PA6. Thermal activation, Ea increased to 46.16% with increasing of GF content up to 10 mass% in the composites compared to PA6. PA6/5GF exhibited best mechanical properties (e.g., strength = 44.46 MPa and Hardness = 45.2). Addition of GF in PA6 significantly improved tribological properties, coefficient of friction (COF) and specific wear rate (WR) besides thermal stability and mechanical properties of the composites. Especially, COF and WR of PA6/5GF composite decreased by 17%–65% and 68%–92%, respectively, compared to PA6. ANOVA statistical results determined the significant contribution of the tribological factors to the performance metrics of the composites for COF and WR. Therefore, the PA6/5GF composite would highly be useful for tie‐rod gears and bearings as a crucial structural component in automotive bodywork. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Bladder cancer with divergent differentiation (BCDD) comprises a heterogenous group of tumors with a poor prognosis, and differential expression of nectin‐4 and programmed death ligand‐1 (PD‐L1) has been reported in BCDD. Importantly, nectin‐4 expression in bladder cancer is associated with response to enfortumab vedotin, and PD‐L1 expression is associated with responses to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). Methods: The authors conducted a retrospective review identifying 117 patients with advanced or metastatic BCDD who were treated at Winship Cancer Institute from 2011 to 2021. They performed immunohistochemistry staining for nectin‐4 and PD‐L1 expression by histologic subtype as well as genomic analysis of these patients, including RNA sequencing, whole‐exome sequencing, and fusion detection analysis as well as a subgroup genomic analysis of patients with BCDD who received ICIs. Results: The results indicated that nectin‐4 expression was highest in the groups who had the squamous and plasmacytoid subtypes, whereas the group that had the sarcomatoid subtype (70.8%) had the highest proportion of PD‐L1–positive patients. Genomic analysis yielded several key findings, including a 50% RB1 mutation rate in patients who had small cell BCDD, targetable PIK3CA mutations across multiple subtypes of BCDD, and significantly higher expression of TEC in responders to ICIs. Conclusions: In this study, the authors identified clinically relevant data on nectin‐4 and PD‐L1 expression in patients with rare bladder tumors. They also identified several novel findings in the genomic analysis that highlight the role of precision medicine in this population of patients. Larger, prospective studies are needed to validate these hypothesis‐generating data. In this study, the authors performed a retrospective analysis focused on the histologic and genomic characterization of bladder cancer with divergent differentiation. The results indicated that nectin‐4 expression was highest in patients with squamous and plasmacytoid differentiation, whereas patients who had sarcomatoid differentiation (70.8%) had the highest proportion of programmed death ligand‐1–positive disease, and several novel findings were identified in the genomic analysis that have potential clinical implications for these patients with rare tumors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key points This follow‐up dual‐institutional and longitudinal study further evaluated for underlying gender biases in LORs for rhinology fellowship. Explicit and implicit linguistic gender bias was found, heavily favoring male applicants [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tomato is the most important horticultural crop, and India is its second largest producer; however, the plant‐pathogenic nematode Meloidogyne incognita is a serious pest of tomato, causing detrimental losses in its production. This study is focused on the use of multistress‐tolerant Pseudomonas aeruginosa SSVP3 to control this devastating nematode and attempts to decipher the roles of its metabolites and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) during this interaction. The supernatant of P. aeruginosa SSVP3 caused 58% mortality in M. incognita J2 juveniles. The major nematicidal metabolites, identified using liquid chromatography‐mass spectrometry, were pyocyanin, pyoluteorin, pyochelin, benthocyanin and phenazines. The VOCs secreted by P. aeruginosa SSVP3, which were identified via gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (HS‐SPME‐GC–MS) in a mixture, caused 98% mortality in M. incognita J2 juveniles. In a pot experiment, seedling root treatment with P. aeruginosa SSVP3 activated the induced systemic response in tomato plants to M. incognita by increasing the activity of defence and antioxidant enzymes as well as the proline and phenolic contents. The malondialdehyde content in P. aeruginosa SSVP3‐treated plants decreased as compared to those in the other treatment groups. The number of galls formed and the number of endoparasitic stages of M. incognita in the untreated nematode control plants were much greater (19 and 35) than those in the P. aeruginosa SSVP3‐treated (0.33 and 1) and chemically treated groups (0.67 and 1.33). These results indicate that P. aeruginosa and its secreted metabolites and VOCs have a high potential for controlling nematodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dynamic molecular crystals are an emerging class of crystalline materials that can respond to mechanical stress by dissipating internal strain in a number of ways. Given the serendipitous nature of the discovery of such crystals, progress in the field requires advances in computational methods for the accurate and high–throughput computation of the nanomechanical properties of crystals on specific facets which are exposed to mechanical stress. Here, we develop and apply a new atomistic model for computing the surface elastic moduli of crystals on any set of facets of interest using dispersion–corrected density functional theory (DFT−D) methods. The model was benchmarked against a total of 24 reported nanoindentation measurements from a diverse set of molecular crystals and was found to be generally reliable. Using only the experimental crystal structure of the dietary supplement, L–aspartic acid, the model was subsequently applied under blind test conditions, to correctly predict the growth morphology, facet and nanomechanical properties of L–aspartic acid to within the accuracy of the measured elastic stiffness of the crystal, 24.53±0.56 GPa. This work paves the way for the computational design and experimental realization of other functional molecular crystals with tailor–made mechanical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents quantitative results of charging experiments conducted on cascaded thermal energy storage system (CTESS) integrated with external compound parabolic concentrator solar collector (XCPCSC). Increasing mass flow rate in 2‐stage CTESS integrated with XCPCSC resulted in a 30% reduction in initiation time of phase change materials (PCMs) during charging, with a higher mass flow rate of 0.025 kg/s. However, due to disparate melting point temperatures of PCMs, phase transition in the two‐stage CTESS did not occur simultaneously, leading to poor heat transfer rates within the CTESS. To address this, study extended number of phases from two to three, resulting in a 1.5‐fold increase in rate of heat transfer compared to 2‐stage PCM system. The simultaneous melting processes at various stages in the CTESS maximized energy absorption, leading to a 25% increase in system efficiency. Notably, the values of energy stored efficiency and over‐all efficiency reached their peak values of 95% and 60%, respectively, between t = 12.00 h and t = 13.00 h. This time period also saw a significant increase in collector efficiency to 72%. These quantitative findings highlight importance of mass flow rate and PCM arrangement in achieving efficient heat transfer and system performance in a CTESS integrated with XCPCSC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: Postprandial diarrhea (PPD) is commonly seen in patients with disorders of gut–brain interaction (DGBI), but the factors associated with it have not been well studied. In this study, we aim to study the burden, impact, and predictors of PPD using a clinical cohort of DGBI patients. Methods: This study included patients with chronic diarrhea fulfilling ROME IV criteria for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or functional diarrhea (FDiarr). PPD was defined as patients reporting mushy/watery stools following meals ≥30% of the time in the last 3 months using a ROME IV question on PPD. Age, sex, and BMI, the severity of diarrhea, abdominal pain, depression, anxiety, somatization, and quality of life were assessed using validated measures. Person's chi‐square test and Student's t‐test were used to compare variables. A multiple linear regression model with backward elimination was done to determine predictors of PPD severity. Key Results: Of 213 eligible patients, more than three‐fourth of patients (75.6%) had PPD. Women (79.0%, p = 0.037), patients with ROME IV diagnosis of IBS‐D (90.5%, p = 0.002), and functional dyspepsia (83.2%, p = 0.014), and those with a history of cholecystectomy (CCY) (95.5%, p = 0.022) were more likely to report PPD. PPD patients experienced more severe abdominal pain, diarrhea, and decreased quality of life (QoL) but showed no significant difference in BMI, anxiety, depression, sleep, or somatization. In our regression model, female sex and history of CCY were independent predictors of PPD. Conclusions and Inferences: PPD is frequently reported among chronic diarrhea patients and is associated with more severe GI symptoms and decreased QoL. Female sex and CCY predict PPD, while psychological factors do not. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In 2018, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network treatment guidelines began recommending the use of neck dissection during surgical management of stage I‐II supraglottic laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC). Methods: Trends and factors associated with the use of neck dissection during larynx‐preserving surgery for patients with cT1‐2, N0, M0 supraglottic LSCC in the National Cancer Database (2004–2020) were evaluated using multivariable‐adjusted logistic regression. Results: Of the 2080 patients who satisfied study eligibility criteria, 633 (30.4%) underwent neck dissection. Between 2018 and 2020, the rate of neck dissection was 39.0% (114/292). After multivariable adjustment, academic facility type, undergoing biopsy prior to surgery, and more radical surgery were significant predictors of receiving neck dissection. Conclusions: The results of this national analysis suggest that the utilization of guideline‐concordant neck dissection for management of stage I‐II supraglottic LSCC remains low and highlight the need to promote the practice of neck dissection for this patient population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: We sought to explore the experiences and perceptions of the quality of life of adolescents with pediatric‐onset multiple sclerosis and assess their readiness for academic, employment and/or health care‐related transitions. Background: Adolescents with pediatric‐onset multiple sclerosis face unique challenges in managing a chronic illness while navigating future scholastic, social and occupational goals. We conducted a qualitative study with in‐depth, semi‐structured interviews from July 2017 to March 2019. Adolescents with pediatric‐onset multiple sclerosis were recruited from a pediatric neurology subspeciality practice until reaching data saturation. A total of 17 interviews were completed via telephone with participants ages 15 through 26. Results: Through content analysis of the interviews, we identified five major themes: (1) receiving a new diagnosis; (2) adapting to life with pediatric‐onset multiple sclerosis; (3) evaluating education/career transition preparedness; (4) adjusting within family life and establishing support systems; and (5) assessing current medical services and preparedness for adult medical care. Conclusions: Autonomy in health care management, adequate control of physical symptoms and sufficient family support impacted perceptions of quality of life. Implementing a dedicated transition visit, including the parent(s) of those with pediatric‐onset multiple sclerosis, early in adolescence may provide an avenue for appropriate anticipatory guidance regarding available services, independent medical management and continuity of care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Hepatitis B virus reactivation (HBVr) can occur in solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients with previously inactive hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Previous studies have reported that HBVr is generally less than 10% in nonliver SOT recipients with past HBV infection. Methods: We conducted a retrospective study from January 2018 to August 2023 at Mayo Clinic sites in Arizona, Florida, and Minnesota. We examined the antiviral prophylaxis strategy used and the characteristics of HBVr in hepatitis B core antibody‐positive (HBcAb +) nonliver SOT adult recipients. Past HBV infection was defined as HBcAb + / hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) –. Chronic HBV infection was defined as HBcAb + / HBsAg +. Results: A total of 180 nonliver SOT recipients were identified during the study period. Indefinite antiviral prophylaxis was utilized in 77 recipients, and none developed HBVr after transplantation. In 103 recipients without antiviral prophylaxis, the incidence of HBVr was 12% (12/97) and 33% (2/6) in those with past HBV infection and chronic HBV infection. The incidence of HBVr in patients with past HBV infection is 16% (8/50), 15% (3/20), and 5% (1/22) in kidney, heart, and lungs, respectively. HBVr was more frequent in those who received alemtuzumab. Among 14 recipients with HBVr, none had HBV‐associated liver failure or death. Conclusions: Our study observed a higher rate of HBVr (12%) in nonliver SOT recipients with past HBV infection compared to the previous studies. Further studies are needed to identify predictors of HBVr in nonliver SOT recipients and optimize antiviral prophylaxis guidance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) is a complication of measles, occurring after a latency of 4–10 years. It continues to occur in developing countries although resurgence is being reported from developed countries. Characteristic features include progressive neuropsychiatric issues, myoclonus, seizures, movement disorders and visual impairment. Electroencephalography (EEG) typically shows periodic generalized discharges, and elevated CSF anti‐measles antibodies are diagnostic. Movement disorders are being increasingly recognized as part of the clinical spectrum, and range from hyperkinetic (chorea, dystonia, tremor, tics) to hypokinetic (parkinsonism) disorders and ataxia. Objectives: This article aims to comprehensively review the spectrum of movement disorders associated with SSPE. Methods: A literature search was conducted in PubMed and EMBASE databases in December 2023 and articles were identified for review. Results: Movement disorders reported in SSPE included hyperkinetic (chorea, dystonia, tremor and tics), hypokinetic (parkinsonism), ataxia and extraocular movement disorders. Myoclonus, a core clinical feature, was the most frequent "abnormal movement." Movement disorders were observed in all clinical stages, and could also be a presenting feature, even sans myoclonus. Hyperkinetic movement disorders were more common than hypokinetic movement disorders. An evolution of movement disorders was observed, with ataxia, chorea and dystonia occurring earlier, and parkinsonism later in the disease. Neuroradiological correlates of movement disorders remained unclear. Conclusion: A wide spectrum of movement disorders was observed throughout the clinical stages of SSPE. Most data were derived from case reports and small case series. Multicentric longitudinal studies are required to better delineate the spectrum and evolution of movement disorders in SSPE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Many women with Turner syndrome (TS) will consider fertility options and pregnancy. We wished to examine the fertility and pregnancy outcomes in women with TS undergoing oocyte donation (OD) treatment or spontaneous pregnancy in a large single‐centre cohort. General population reference data or data from those with idiopathic premature ovarian insufficiency were used as comparators. Design: A retrospective single‐centre cross‐sectional study. Patients and Measurements: Seventy‐four women with TS underwent OD treatment with a total of 105 pregnancies, and 31 women with TS had 71 spontaneous conceptions. Fertility outcomes included clinical pregnancy and live birth rate. Pregnancy outcomes included miscarriage rate, prevalence of hypertension, gestational diabetes, lower segment caesarean section (LSCS), small for gestational age (SGA), prematurity and vertical transmission of TS. Results: In those with TS, OD pregnancies were associated with increased rates of LSCS and SGA compared to spontaneous pregnancies; LSCS (OR: 4.19, 95% CI: 1.6−10.8, p =.003) and SGA (OR: 2.92, 95% CI: 1.02−8.38, p =.04). There were no recorded cardiac events but 5 (17.2%) cases of vertical transmissions of TS in daughters were identified. OD in those with TS was associated with a lower live birth rate per cycle started (OR: 0.53, 95% CI: 0.34−0.84, p =.008) and a higher rate of miscarriage compared to women with POI (40% vs. 26.2%, p =.04). Conclusions: We show that pregnancy in women with TS, whether OD or spontaneously conceived, carries obstetric risks, and therefore, women with TS, considering pregnancy, should receive comprehensive pre‐pregnancy counselling and optimal obstetric care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evolution depends upon genetic variations that influence physiology. As defined in a genetic screen, phenotypic performance may be enhanced or degraded by such mutations. We set out to detect mutations that influence motor function, including motor learning. Thus, we tested the motor effects of 36,444 non‐synonymous coding/splicing mutations induced in the germline of C57BL/6J mice with N‐ethyl–N‐nitrosourea by measuring changes in the performance of repetitive rotarod trials while blinded to genotype. Automated meiotic mapping was used to implicate individual mutations in causation. In total, 32,726 mice bearing all the variant alleles were screened. This was complemented with the simultaneous testing of 1408 normal mice for reference. In total, 16.3% of autosomal genes were thus rendered detectably hypomorphic or nullified by mutations in homozygosity and motor tested in at least three mice. This approach allowed us to identify superperformance mutations in Rif1, Tk1, Fan1 and Mn1. These genes are primarily related, among other less well‐characterized functions, to nucleic acid biology. We also associated distinct motor learning patterns with groups of functionally related genes. These functional sets included, preferentially, histone H3 methyltransferase activity for mice that learnt at an accelerated rate relative to the remaining mutant mice. The results allow for an estimation of the fraction of mutations that can modify a behaviour influential for evolution such as locomotion. They may also enable, once the loci are further validated and the mechanisms elucidated, the harnessing of the activity of the newly identified genes to enhance motor ability or to counterbalance disability or disease. Key points: We studied the effect of chemically induced random mutations on mouse motor performance.An array of mutations influenced the rate of motor learning.DNA regulation genes predominated among these mutant loci.Several mutations in unsuspected genes led to superperformance.Assuming little‐biased mutagenicity, the results allow for an estimation of the probability for any spontaneous mutation to influence a behaviour such as motor learning and ultimate performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food effect (FE) studies characterize food‐drug interactions that may alter the efficacy or safety of a drug, but these studies are not conducted in pediatric patients. Pediatric patients have substantial physiologic, anatomic, and dietary differences from adults, which may result in differences in their FE considerations. Therefore, the objective of this study was to identify oral drug products approved for use in pediatric patients aged <6 years with an FE observed in adults. Additional objectives were to summarize the therapeutic areas, pharmacokinetic effects, and labeling instructions that resulted from these studies. Publicly available data were searched for products studied in pediatric patients and approved for use by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) from 2012 to 2022. Of the 102 oral drug products approved for use in patients aged <6 years, 43 recommended the consideration of food intake in the drug labeling. These included drug products recommended to be taken with food (n = 21, 49%) or without food (n = 14, 33%). Each of the 14 drug products recommended to be taken without food are approved for use in pediatric patients aged <2 years. The products approved for use in pediatric patients aged <2 years comprised the highest proportion with area under the plasma concentration‐time curve extrapolated to infinity (AUCinf, n = 35, 75%) and maximum serum concentration (Cmax, n = 45, 80%) affected by food. Close monitoring is warranted during the postapproval period for products identified as having a significant FE in adults and that are approved for use in pediatric patients aged <6 years. Promising tools for predicting pediatric FE may include physiologically based pharmacokinetic absorption modeling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional education is shifting towards online instruction, and the temporary closure of educational institutions due to COVID‐19 has prompted its dramatic increase in the last couple of years. With additional benefits, such as flexible schedule, low cost and anywhere learning, online education will determine the near future of education. Due to the increase in Internet reach in India, face‐to‐face instructional methods to which students are habituated to can be substituted. This study aims to analyse students' satisfaction with the parameters of awareness, challenges and benefits of using new technologies to learn online. With the help of a structured questionnaire and interactions with local inhabitants, the researchers obtained 430 samples from the outskirts of five different cities (Kolkata, Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai and Bengaluru) in India. A conceptual model was built around the constructs of awareness, challenges, benefits and student satisfaction, and their relationship was established and empirically tested. It is found that factors like challenges, benefits and awareness have a significant influence on student satisfaction with online learning. We also find that awareness helps in decreasing the challenges faced and increasing the value of benefits of online education for students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Moderate risk patients with chest pain and no previously diagnosed coronary artery disease (CAD) who present to ED require further risk stratification. We hypothesise that management of these patients by ED physicians can decrease length of stay (LOS), without increasing patient harm. Methods: A prospective pilot study with comparison to a pre‐intervention control group was performed on patients presenting with chest pain to an ED in Perth, Australia between May and October 2021, following the introduction of a streamlined guideline consisting of ED led decision making and early follow up. Patients had no documented CAD and were at moderate risk of major adverse cardiac events (MACE). Electronic data was used for comparison. Primary outcomes were total LOS and LOS following troponin. Results: One hundred eighty‐six patients were included. Median total LOS was reduced by 62 min, but this change was not statistically significant (482 [360–795] vs 420 [360–525] min, P = 0.06). However, a significant 60 min decrease in LOS was found following the final troponin (240 (120–571) vs 180 (135–270) min, P = 0.02). There was no difference in the rate of MACE (0% vs 2%, P = 0.50), with no myocardial infarction or death. Conclusions: Our study suggests that patients with no pre‐existing CAD can be safely managed by emergency physicians streamlining their ED management and decreasing LOS. This pathway could be used in other centres following confirmation of the results by a larger study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The human inclination to value rarity contributes to the exploitation of many wildlife species by driving up their market value when their numbers are scarce. This research investigates a model to explore how the value attached to rarity impacts the harvesting of predator species and subsequently influences the dynamics of predator-prey interactions in an ecological system. To broaden the model's scope, it's extended to its nonautonomous form by allowing the harvesting rate of predator species and the degree of neutrality in consumers to respond for the rarity of predator species to change over time. Both the autonomous and nonautonomous systems are explored through analytical and numerical investigation. Numerical findings reveal that as the prey population's growth rate gradually increases, the unforced system shifts from stable boundary equilibrium (harvesting absent) to stable interior equilibrium, then to oscillatory interior equilibrium, followed by period doubling oscillations leading to chaotic behavior. The autonomous system exhibits limit cycle oscillations around the boundary equilibrium when predator species are minimally harvested. Moderate harvesting stabilizes the system, while excessive harvesting induces instability. However, the chaotic oscillations can be eliminated through period-halving route upon decreasing the consumers' response to predator rarity. Furthermore, the seasonally forced model demonstrates periodic solutions, higher order periodic solutions, and chaotic dynamics contingent upon different settings of prey growth rate, the strength of seasonality in predator harvesting, and the consumers' response to predator rarity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of 4 new titanium complexes bearing phenoxyimine ligands that differ in their steric and electronic properties have been synthesized and investigated for the polymerization of ethylene and rac‐lactide. X‐ray crystal structures of these catalysts reveal compounds 1–3 exhibit distorted octahedral geometry while complex 4 shows distorted trigonal bipyramidal. The substituents on the phenoxyimine framework have a profound influence on the catalytic activities of these compounds in the polymerization reactions. All four complexes afforded polylactide with a heterotactic bias in ring opening polymerization of rac‐lactide. In addition to this, density functional theory calculations using (B3LYP) with the 6‐311++G (d, p) basis set and no constraints were used while doing geometry optimizations and compared with experimental results. Hirshfeld surface analysis, MEP and Mulliken charge also reported an unexpected relationship between the nitrogen, oxygen on the ligands, titanium isopropoxide, and good relation between the experimental findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]