Search

This work presents an analytical methodology for the development of pipeline fitting welding modes, including the calculation of welding cooling rates and the assessment of steel response to the thermal cycle of welding processes. As a result, an optimal range of cooling rates ensuring the formation of a metal structure with the required mechanical properties in the heat-affected zone of the seam was determined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study and compare optical microcavities formed by GaN planar nanowires. Nanostructures with structural defects such as stacking faults and without defects are considered. The behavior of an exciton localized in a stacking fault is considered. Different behavior of the photoluminescence intensity and the photoluminescence decay time is observed for the cases under consideration. Theoretical calculations show the localization of the field at the ends of the structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scanning electron microscopy is used for studies of the initial stages of the formation of semipolar AlN (10 1) and AlN (10 2) layers during metal–organic vapor-phase epitaxy on a Si (100) substrate with a surface, on which a V-shaped nanostructure, whose elements are <100 nm in dimensions, is formed (a NP-Si(100) substrate). It is shown that, in the initial stage of epitaxy on the NP-Si(100) substrate, nuclei of AlN crystals are formed and then, depending on the crystallographic orientation of the V walls, crystals faceted by AlN (10 1) or AlN (10 2) planes are formed, correspondingly, on Si (111) or Si (111) misoriented in the [110] direction by 7°. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The GaN planar hexagonal microcavities are grown by the selective vapor-phase epitaxy technique. The spectra are measured by the low-temperature cathodoluminescence method using a scanning electron microscope. The obtained spectra show a huge Rabi splitting (~100 meV). Numerical simulation of the spatial distribution of the intensities of modes in a hexagonal cavity is carried out. Certain modes can have a high spatial localization leading to strong coupling with the exciton and huge Rabi splitting. The fraction of excitons in polariton modes, which correlates with the intensity of exciton radiation associated with these modes, is theoretically calculated for hexagonal-shaped microcavities. Thus, the form of the dependence of the radiation probability on the eigenfrequencies of the structure is obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have studied Fe2+ diffusion in polycrystalline CVD ZnSe during high-temperature (900–1100°C) annealing in different atmospheres, determined effective Fe2+ diffusion coefficients in CVD ZnSe, and evaluated the activation energy for the diffusion process. Distinctive features of the doping process in Zn vapor have been identified that are responsible for the observed order-of-magnitude increase in Fe diffusion rate in comparison with annealing in Ar and Se. The effect of annealing conditions on Fe diffusion mechanisms is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Semipolar GaN layers synthesized on a nanostructured Si(100) substrate are studied. It is shown that using a Si(100) nanoprofile combined with SixNy nanostrips on top of nanostructures can yield, via metal-organic chemical-vapor deposition, GaN(10 2) layers. An additional SiC buffer layer makes it possible to obtain GaN(10 1) layers with a full-width at half-maximum of the diffraction-curve of ωθ ≈ 35′ arcmin. It is found that the luminescence properties of the semipolar layers are mostly due to basal plane stacking faults BSFS-I1, in contrast to polar layers in which these properties are mostly due to the recombination of excitons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Epitaxial aluminum nitride (AlN) layers on Si(111) substrates have been grown by sequential application of several techniques including reactive magnetron sputter deposition to a thickness of 20 nm, metalorganic vapor-phase epitaxy (MOVPE) to a total thickness of 450 nm, and hydride vapor-phase epitaxy (HVPE) to a final thickness of 2 μm. Synthesis of AlN layers by this combined method provides a significant decrease in the residual strain and suppresses the formation of cracks in the epilayer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The loss of apical-basal cell polarity is a necessary stage of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Polarized epithelial cells interact with the basement membrane (BM) and, in particular, with laminins, the major components of BM. Here, we examined the effect of the transition of colon cancer cells from 2D polarized state to non-polarized 3D state on the expression of EMT associated genes, as well as the role of laminins 332 and 411 (LM-332 and LM-411) in this process. The three studied cell lines, HT-29, HCT-116 and RKO, were found to have different sensitivity to cultivation conditions (2D to 3D changes) and to addition of laminins. One of the possible reasons for this may be a difference in the initial 2D state of the cells. In particular, it was shown that the cell lines were at different EMT stages. HT-29 exhibited more epithelial expression profile, RKO was more mesenchymal, and HCT-116 was in an intermediate state. The most laminin-sensitive cell line was HCT-116. The magnitude and the specificity of cell response to LM-332 and LM-411 depended on the expression pattern of laminins' receptors. EMT gene expression profile was not substantially changed neither during the transition from 2D to 3D state, nor the presence of laminins' isoforms. However, we detected changes in expression of SNAI1 and ZEB1 genes encoding transcription factors that control the EMT process. Notably, in all three studied cell lines, the expression of SNAI1 was enhanced in response to laminin treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The technology for the production of highly purified human recombinant anti-mullerian hormone (AMH)—a potential antitumor agent for the treatment of certain types of malignant neoplasms—is described. It was found that spontaneous proteolytic processing of the hormone is possible during the storage of AMH preparations under physiological conditions. This leads to the formation of C-terminal homodimer of AMH (activated form) and, later, to an inactive state during the further proteolysis. Sites at which spontaneous processing of the hormone molecule occurred during prolonged storage with the formation of active and inactive fragments were identified. The structural and functional differences in the molecular forms of the C-terminal fragment contained in the preparations are analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The method of growing of ZnS and ZnSe single crystals doped with chromium and iron using a combination of the solid phase recrystallization and diffusion doping during the high-temperature gas-static pressing has been implemented. The isostatic pressing up to 110 MPa has made it possible to increase the process temperature up to 1300 °C, increase the rate of grain growth and diffusion of Fe 2+ and Cr 2+ ions in zinc chalcogenides crystalline samples, reduce processing time to 25–150 h. ZnS:Cr (Fe) and ZnSe:Cr (Fe) single crystals from several to tens mm in size with dopant concentrations of (1–5)×10 19 cm −3 for Cr 2+ and (5–20)×10 18 cm −3 for Fe 2+ and at the total impurity's content no more than 5×10 −4 wt% have been obtained. The lasers made from the crystals demonstrated 55% differential lasing efficiency for the absorbed power. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydride vapor phase epitaxy (HVPE) growth of semipolar AlN and GaN layers on planar Si(100) substrates with SiC nanolayer is investigated. It is shown experimentally that the solid-phase epitaxial formation of a specially oriented SiC nucleation layer followed by epitaxy of AlN layer by HVPE at low rates enables growth of aluminum and gallium nitrides in the semipolar direction. For the best GaN(20-23) layers obtained, the full width at half maximum (FWHM) value for the x-ray diffraction rocking curve is 24 arcmin. The photoluminescence spectrum of the semipolar GaN measured at 4 K exhibits bands related to basal-plane and prismatic stacking faults (BSF and PSF). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the Si3N4 layer, coaxial and single submicrometer GaN structures of hexagonal shape with pyramidal facets are formed by selective vapor-phase epitaxy in windows produced with a focused ion beam. It is found that coaxial hexagonal structures are formed during the growth process in ring-shaped mask windows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We propose a new method for growing semipolar GaN films on a Si(100) substrate with an array of sub-100-nm-sized V-grooves formed on the surface. It is shown that, using such a nanostructured substrate for metalorganic hydride vapor-phase epitaxy, it is possible to obtain GaN (101̅1̇) epilayers deviating by an angle of about 62° from the polar direction and having an X-ray rocking curve with a minimum FWHM value of ωθ ~ 60 arcmin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chloride epitaxy of GaN layers in a horizontal reactor is studied numerically. The steady 3D fluxes of the gas mixture in the reactor are simulated with allowance for heterogeneous reactions on the substrate (growth of epitaxial GaN layers) and on the reactor walls (growth of a polycrystalline GaN deposit). Experimental data on the growth rate distribution for polycrystalline and epitaxial GaN layers are explained. It is shown that, if the diameter of the reactor is not large enough, the growth of the deposit on the walls makes the GaN growth rate distribution over the substrate more nonuniform due to the parasitic diffusion of reagents from the gas phase to the reactor walls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new approach is described, according to which the use of a thin silicon carbide (SiC) interlayer ensures the suppression of cracking and the simultaneous release of elastic strain in gallium nitride (GaN) epilayers grown by hydride-chloride vapor-phase epitaxy (HVPE) on 1.5-inch Si(111) substrates. Using this method, 20-μm-thick GaN epilayers have been grown by HVPE on Si substrates with AlN (300 nm) and SiC (100 nm) interlayers. A high quality of the obtained GaN epilayers is confirmed by the photoluminescence spectra, where an exciton band with hvmax = 3.45 eV and a half-width (FWHM) of 68 meV is observed at 77 K, as well as by the X-ray rocking curves exhibiting GaN(0002) reflections with a half-width of ωϑ = 600 arc sec. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is shown that the effect of dopants on the photoluminescence spectrum depends on the conductivity type of the initial GaN crystals. Sensitization of emission is observed in wurtzite p-GaN crystals doped with Er. The same effect was previously observed in such crystals doped with Eu and Zn. In n-type GaN crystals sequentially doped with Eu, Zn, and Er, emission is observed in the visible (λ = 360–440 and 530–560 nm) and IR (λ = 1.54 μm) spectral regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A possibility to increase the intensity of intracenter transitions of the Eu ion in GaN crystals is investigated via introduction of the additional impurity to vary the local environment of the rare-earth ion. Wurtzite p-GaN crystals were initially doped with Mg and then with Eu. The introduction of the additional Zn impurity leads to a significant increase in the photoluminescence intensity in the range 3580–4250 Å and the long-wavelength spectral range 5400–6237 Å. This phenomenon can be attributed to the manifestation of sensitization of luminescence of optically active intracenter f-f transitions of the Eu3+ ion due to the introduction of the additional impurity, which promotes the formation of complexes of the rare-earth ion with a large capture cross-section of charge carriers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oriented GaN layers with a thickness of about 10 μm have been grown by hydride–chloride vapor-phase epitaxy (HVPE) on Si(111) substrates with AlN buffer layers. The best samples are characterized by a halfwidth (FWHM) of the X-ray rocking curve of ωθ = 3– 4 mrad. The level of residual mechanical stresses in AlN buffer layers decreases with increasing temperature of epitaxial growth. The growth at 1080°C is accompanied by virtually complete relaxation of stresses caused by the lattice mismatch between AlN and Si. © 2005 Pleiades Publishing, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gallium nitride (GaN) was doped with Eu, Sm, and Er impurities using the diffusion method. The behavior of rare-earth impurities (the formation of donor or acceptor levels in the GaN band gap) correlates with the total concentration of defects, which is determined from optical measurements, and with the position of the Fermi level in starting and doped crystals. The intensity of emission lines, which are characteristic of the intracenter f–f transition of rare-earth ions, is controlled by the total defect concentration in the starting semiconductor matrix. © 2004 MAIK “Nauka / Interperiodica”. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mirror-smooth, transparent bulk GaN layers with an area of 2 × 3 cm[SUP2] and a thickness of up to 1 mm were grown by hydrochloride vapor-phase epitaxy. Cracking of the material was eliminated by using a two-stage growth process; separation from a substrate was provided by a low-temperature buffer layer of preset thickness. For the best samples, FWHM of the X-ray rocking curve was ω[SUBθ] = 3.5' and the dislocation density amounted to 10[SUP7]-10[SUP8]cm[SUP-2]. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have studied epitaxial layers of gallium nitride (GaN) in a template composition grown by surfactant-mediated hydride-chloride vapor phase epitaxy. The surfactant component was provided by 5 mass % additives of antimony and indium to the source of gallium. Comparative analysis of the obtained results shows evidence of the positive influence of surfactants on the morphology of epitaxial GaN layers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new method of synthesis of semipolar gallium nitride on a silicon substrate using the technology of solid-phase epitaxy of 3C-SiC nanocrystals has been suggested. It has been demonstrated that application of buffer layers of 3C-SiC and AlN enables one to form epitaxial layers of semipolar gallium nitride with layer deviation from the polar position of the c axis of a wurtzite crystal by an angle of 48°-51° at the minimal half-width of the X-ray diffraction rocking curve (ω) ∼ 24′. The observed bend of a cylindrical character in the structure of GaN/AlN/3C-SiC(001) is explained by the anisotropic deformation of semipolar GaN on silicon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The structure and luminescent properties of gallium nitride (GaN) epilayers grown by hydride-chloride vapor-phase epitaxy (HVPE) in a hydrogen or argon atmosphere on 2-inch Si(111) substrates with AlN buffer layers have been studied. The replacement of hydrogen atmosphere by argon for the HVPE growth of GaN leads to a decrease in the epilayer surface roughness. The ratio of intensities of the donor-acceptor and exciton bands in the luminescence spectrum decreases with decreasing growth temperature. For the best samples of GaN epilayers, the halfwidth (FWHM) of the X-ray rocking curve for the (0002) reflection was 420 sec of arc, and the FWHM of the band of exciton emission at 77 K was 48 meV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Insomnia is highly prevalent and is one of the most common sleep disorders among adults and children in the United States. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine convened the Quality Measures Task Force to perform maintenance on this quality measure set, developed to optimize management and care for patients with insomnia, as the measure set was originally developed and published in 2015. The Quality Measures Task Force reviewed the current medical literature, including updated clinical practice guidelines and systematic literature reviews, existing quality measures, and performance data highlighting gaps or variations in care since implementation of the original quality measure set to inform any potential revisions to the quality measures. The revised quality measures can be used to evaluate and track initial and follow-up performance measures and to implement continuous quality improvement, especially in outcomes associated with diagnosing and managing insomnia for adults and children., Citation: Lloyd RM, Crawford T, Donald R, et al. Quality measures for the care of patients with insomnia: 2024 update after measure maintenance. J Clin Sleep Med . 2025;21(3):565-571., (© 2025 American Academy of Sleep Medicine.)

Background: This study aimed to compare the incidence and prognostic implications of new-onset conduction disturbances after surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) in patients with bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) aortic stenosis (AS) versus patients with tricuspid aortic valve (TAV) AS (ie, BAV-AS and TAV-AS, respectively). Additionally, the study included stratification of BAV patients according to subtype., Methods: In this cohort study, the incidence of postoperative third-degree atrioventricular (AV) block with subsequent permanent pacemaker requirement and new-onset left bundle-branch block (LBBB) was investigated in 1147 consecutive patients without preoperative conduction disorder who underwent isolated SAVR (with or without ascending aortic surgery) between January 1, 2005, and December 31, 2022. The groups were stratified by aortic valve morphology (BAV, n=589; TAV, n=558). The outcomes of interests were new-onset third-degree AV block or new-onset LBBB during the index hospitalization. The impact of new-onset postoperative conduction disturbances on survival was investigated in BAV-AS and TAV-AS patients during a median follow-up of 8.2 years. BAV morphology was further categorized according to the Sievers and Schmidtke classification system (possible in 307 BAV-AS patients) to explore association between BAV subtypes and new-onset conduction disturbances after SAVR., Results: The overall incidence of third-degree AV block and new-onset LBBB after SAVR was 4.5% and 7.8%, respectively. BAV-AS patients had a higher incidence of both new-onset third-degree AV block (6.5% versus 2.5%; P =0.001) and new-onset LBBB (9.7% versus 5.7%; P =0.013) compared with TAV-AS patients. New-onset LBBB was associated with an increased all-cause mortality during follow-up (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.60 [95% CI, 1.12-2.30]; P =0.011), whereas new-onset third-degree AV block was not associated with worse prognosis. Subgroup analysis of the BAV cohort revealed that BAV-AS patients with fusion of the right- and non-coronary cusps had the highest risk of new-onset third-degree AV block (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 8.33 [95% CI, 3.31-20.97]; P <0.001, with TAV as reference group) and new-onset LBBB (aOR, 4.03 [95% CI, 1.84-8.82]; P <0.001, with TAV as reference group), whereas no significant association was observed for the other BAV subtypes., Conclusions: New-onset LBBB after SAVR is associated with increased all-cause mortality during follow-up, and is more frequent complication in BAV AS patients compared with TAV-AS patients. BAV-AS patients with fusion of the right- and non-coronary cusps have an increased risk for conduction disturbances after SAVR. This should be taken into consideration when managing these patients., Competing Interests: Drs Grinnemo, Rodin, and Simonson are shareholders at AVulotion AB. The other authors report no conflicts.

Recent developments in mass spectrometry-based proteomics have established it as a robust tool for system-wide analyses essential for pathophysiological research. While post-mortem samples are a critical source for these studies, our understanding of how body decomposition influences the proteome remains limited. Here, we have revisited published data and conducted a clinically relevant time-course experiment in mice, revealing organ-specific proteome regulation after death, with only a fraction of these changes linked to protein autolysis. The liver and spleen exhibit significant proteomic alterations within hours post-mortem, whereas the heart displays only modest changes. Additionally, subcellular compartmentalization leads to an unexpected surge in proteome alterations at the earliest post-mortem interval (PMI). Additionally, we have conducted a comprehensive analysis of semi-tryptic peptides, revealing distinct consensus motifs for different organs, indicating organ-specific post-mortem protease activity. In conclusion, our findings emphasize the critical importance of considering PMI effects when designing proteomics studies, as these effects may significantly overshadow the impacts of diseases. Preferably, the samples should be taken in the operation room, especially for studies including subcellular compartmentalization or trans-organ comparison. In single-organ studies, the planning should involve careful control of PMI., Competing Interests: Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2025. The Author(s).)

Single-cell proteomics (SCP) promises to revolutionize biomedicine by providing an unparalleled view of the proteome in individual cells. Here, we present a high-sensitivity SCP workflow named Chip-Tip, identifying >5,000 proteins in individual HeLa cells. It also facilitated direct detection of post-translational modifications in single cells, making the need for specific post-translational modification-enrichment unnecessary. Our study demonstrates the feasibility of processing up to 120 label-free SCP samples per day. An optimized tissue dissociation buffer enabled effective single-cell disaggregation of drug-treated cancer cell spheroids, refining overall SCP analysis. Analyzing nondirected human-induced pluripotent stem cell differentiation, we consistently quantified stem cell markers OCT4 and SOX2 in human-induced pluripotent stem cells and lineage markers such as GATA4 (endoderm), HAND1 (mesoderm) and MAP2 (ectoderm) in different embryoid body cells. Our workflow sets a benchmark in SCP for sensitivity and throughput, with broad applications in basic biology and biomedicine for identification of cell type-specific markers and therapeutic targets., Competing Interests: Competing interests: D.B.B.-J. and N.B. are employees of Evosep Biosystems. D.H., F.I. and A.S. are employees of Cellenion SASU. H.H., M.H. and X.L. are employees of Thermo Fisher Scientific. The other authors declare no competing interests., (© 2025. The Author(s).)

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a multifaceted cytokine essential in many immune system processes and their regulation. It also plays a key role in hematopoiesis, and in triggering the acute phase reaction. IL-6 overproduction is critical in chronic inflammation associated with autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and contributes to cytokine storms in COVID-19 patients. Over 20 years ago, researchers proposed that IL-6, which is typically monomeric, can also form dimers via a domain-swap mechanism, with indirect evidence supporting their existence. The physiological significance of IL-6 dimers was shown in B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia. However, no structures have been reported so far. Here, we present the crystal structure of an IL-6 domain-swapped dimer that computational approaches could not predict. The structure explains why the IL-6 dimer is antagonistic to the IL-6 monomer in signaling complex formation and provides insights for IL-6 targeted therapies., Competing Interests: Declaration of interests N.P., S.R., A.I., and A.P. are inventors of the patent “Monoclonal antibody against human interleukin-6 and hybridoma producing this monoclonal antibody.” RU Patent 2 550 262 C1. (2015)., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a prevalent respiratory sleep disorder that, when left undiagnosed or untreated, can lead to adverse outcomes. There continue to be gaps and variations in screening adults who are high risk for OSA in the primary care setting, leading to many adults in the United States going undiagnosed. As a part of the ongoing American Academy of Sleep Medicine quality measure maintenance initiative, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine Quality Measures Task Force reviewed the original screening for adult OSA by primary care physicians quality measure. The measure was updated to further address the adult populations who are at high risk for OSA to ensure that the measure is consistent with the most current medical literature, increasing the likelihood that patients at high risk for OSA are properly screened for the sleep disorder., Citation: Lloyd RM, Crawford T, Donald R, et al. Quality measure for screening for adult obstructive sleep apnea by primary care providers: 2024 update after measure maintenance. J Clin Sleep Med . 2024;20(11):1819-1822., (© 2024 American Academy of Sleep Medicine.)

Study Objectives: From 2019-2023, the United States Food and Drug Administration has cleared 9 novel obstructive sleep apnea-detecting wearables for home sleep apnea testing, with many now commercially available for sleep clinicians to integrate into their clinical practices. To help clinicians comprehend these devices and their functionalities, we meticulously reviewed their operating mechanisms, sensors, algorithms, data output, and related performance evaluation literature., Methods: We collected information from PubMed, United States Food and Drug Administration clearance documents, ClinicalTrials.gov, and web sources, with direct industry input whenever feasible., Results: In this "device-centered" review, we broadly categorized these wearables into 2 main groups: those that primarily harness photoplethysmography data and those that do not. The former include the peripheral arterial tonometry-based devices. The latter was further broken down into 2 key subgroups: acoustic-based and respiratory effort-based devices. We provided a performance evaluation literature review and objectively compared device-derived metrics and specifications pertinent to sleep clinicians. Detailed demographics of study populations, exclusion criteria, and pivotal statistical analyses of the key validation studies are summarized., Conclusions: In the foreseeable future, these novel obstructive sleep apnea-detecting wearables may emerge as primary diagnostic tools for patients at risk for moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea without significant comorbidities. While more devices are anticipated to join this category, there remains a critical need for cross-device comparison studies as well as independent performance evaluation and outcome research in diverse populations. Now is the moment for sleep clinicians to immerse themselves in understanding these emerging tools to ensure our patient-centered care is improved through the appropriate implementation and utilization of these novel sleep technologies., Citation: Chiang AA, Jerkins E, Holfinger S, et al. OSA diagnosis goes wearable: are the latest devices ready to shine? J Clin Sleep Med . 2024;20(11):1823-1838., (© 2024 American Academy of Sleep Medicine.)

Aims: To investigate (i) the association between pre-operative left atrial (LA) reservoir strain and post-operative atrial fibrillation (AF) and (ii) the incidence of post-operative ischaemic stroke events separately in bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) and tricuspid aortic valve (TAV) patients after surgical aortic valve replacement for isolated severe aortic stenosis (AS)., Methods and Results: We prospectively enrolled 227 patients ( n = 133 BAV and n = 94 TAV) with isolated severe AS scheduled for aortic valve replacement. A comprehensive intra- and inter-observer validated pre-operative echocardiogram with an analysis of LA reservoir strain was performed. Post-operative AF was defined as a sustained (>30 s) episode of AF or atrial flutter. The timing of neurological events was defined in accordance with the Valve Academic Research Consortium-3 criteria for stroke. Post-operative AF occurred in 114 of 227 patients (50.2%), with no difference between BAV and TAV patients (48.1 vs. 53.1%, P = 0.452). Persisting post-operative AF at discharge was more frequent in BAV patients (29.7 vs. 8.0%, P = 0.005). Pre-operative LA reservoir strain was independently associated with post-operative AF (odds ratio = 1.064, 95% confidence interval 1.032-1.095, P < 0.001), with a significant interaction between LA reservoir strain and aortic valve morphology ( P interaction = 0.002). The cumulative transient ischemic attack (TIA)/stroke incidence during follow-up was significantly higher in BAV patients (19.1 vs. 5.8% at 5 years)., Conclusion: Pre-operative LA function was associated with post-operative AF after aortic valve replacement in BAV AS patients, while post-operative AF in TAV AS patients likely depends on transient post-operative alterations and traditional cardiovascular risk factors. TIA/stroke during follow-up was more common in BAV AS patients., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest: K.-H.G., S.R., and O.E.S. are shareholders at AVulotion AB. All other authors have nothing to disclose., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology.)

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the most common respiratory sleep disorder in the United States in preschool and school-aged children. In an effort to continue addressing gaps and variations in care in this patient population, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) Quality Measures Task Force performed quality measure maintenance on the Quality Measures for the Care of Pediatric Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea (originally developed in 2015). The Quality Measures Task Force reviewed the current medical literature, including updated clinical practice guidelines and systematic literature reviews, existing pediatric OSA quality measures, and performance data highlighting remaining gaps or variations in care since implementation of the original quality measure set to inform any potential revisions to the quality measures. These revised quality measures have been implemented in the AASM Sleep Clinical Data Registry (Sleep CDR) to capture performance data and encourage continuous quality improvement, specifically in outcomes associated with diagnosing and managing OSA in the pediatric population., Citation: Lloyd RM, Crawford T, Donald R, et al. Quality measures for the care of pediatric patients with obstructive sleep apnea: 2023 update after measure maintenance. J Clin Sleep Med. 2024;20(1):127-134., (© 2024 American Academy of Sleep Medicine.)

Background: Evidence indicates continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy improves several important patient-centered outcomes. However, adherence to this safe and effective intervention remains poor., Objectives: Assess nine feasibility outcomes of a nurse practitioner-led, virtually delivered motivational enhancement and device support (MENDS) intervention to improve CPAP adherence in adults with Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). Secondary aims compared the changes in CPAP adherence to patient-reported outcomes, patient activation, and perceived self-efficacy., Methods: This two-group feasibility randomized controlled trial included 29 patients newly diagnosed with OSA and prescribed CPAP therapy. The study was conducted from July 2020 through December 2021 at a midwestern sleep/pulmonary clinic. Participants were randomized to the MENDS intervention group (n=14) (30-45 minute interactive tele-discussions on weeks 2, 4, 6, and 8) or to the usual care (n=15) group. Feasibility, patient-reported outcomes, and behavioral constructs were measured at baseline and 12 weeks. CPAP adherence was measured weekly., Results: Feasibility of the MENDS sessions was demonstrated (56 sessions offered, 52 completed remotely without technical difficulties) with minimal participant attrition and no missing CPAP data. Generalized linear mixed models showed no statistically significant time-by-group interactions on adherence or patient-reported outcomes. Higher adherence and lower CPAP apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) scores were associated with declines in pre- to post-changes in fatigue and sleep disturbance. Lower CPAP AHI scores were associated with pre- to post-decreases in PROMIS Anxiety scores (r=.532, p=.005)., Conclusion: The virtual MENDS intervention was feasible. Higher CPAP adherence and lower AHI levels led to positive improvements in fatigue, sleep disturbance, and anxiety., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors report no competing interests to declare. All co-authors contributed to the manuscript's review, analysis, content expertise, and revision. Grant funding for this study was provided through the University of Nebraska Medical Center: Center for Patient, Family, and Community Engagement in Chronic Care Management (CENTRIC) (no grant #). The authors report no conflicts of interest or investigational use of the product in developing this manuscript. The authors report that there are no competing interests to declare., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Aortic valve degeneration (AVD) is a life-threatening condition that has no medical treatment and lacks individual therapies. Although extensively studied with standard approaches, aetiologies behind AVD are unclear. We compared abundances of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins from excised valve tissues of 88 patients with isolated AVD of normal tricuspid (TAV) and congenital bicuspid aortic valves (BAV), quantified more than 1400 proteins per ECM sample by mass spectrometry, and demonstrated that local ECM preserves molecular cues of the pathophysiological processes. The BAV ECM showed enrichment with fibrosis markers, namely Tenascin C, Osteoprotegerin, and Thrombospondin-2. The abnormal physical stress on BAV may cause a mechanical injury leading to a continuous Tenascin C-driven presence of myofibroblasts and persistent fibrosis. The TAV ECM exhibited enrichment with Annexin A3 (p = 1.1 × 10 -16 and the fold change 6.5) and a significant deficit in proteins involved in high-density lipid metabolism. These results were validated by orthogonal methods. The difference in the ECM landscape suggests distinct aetiologies between AVD of BAV and TAV; warrants different treatments of the patients with BAV and TAV; elucidates the molecular basis of AVD; and implies possible new therapeutic approaches. Our publicly available database (human&#95;avd&#95;ecm.surgsci.uu.se) is a rich source for medical doctors and researchers who are interested in AVD or heart ECM in general. Systematic proteomic analysis of local ECM using the methods described here may facilitate future studies of various tissues and organs in development and disease., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Spontaneous deamidation of asparaginyl residues in proteins, if not repaired or cleared, can set in motion a cascade that leads to deteriorated health. Previously, we have discovered that deamidated human serum albumin (HSA) is elevated in the blood of patients with Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative diseases, while the level of endogenous antibodies against deamidated HSA is significantly diminished, creating an imbalance between the risk factor and the defense against it. Endogenous antibodies against deamidated proteins are still unexplored. In the current study, we employed the SpotLight proteomics approach to identify novel amino acid sequences in antibodies specific to deamidated HSA. The results provide new insights into the clearance mechanism of deamidated proteins, a possible avenue for prevention of neurodegeneration., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest The authors declare no competing interests., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Isoaspartate (isoAsp) is a damaging amino acid residue formed in proteins as a result of spontaneous deamidation. IsoAsp disrupts protein structures, making them prone to aggregation. Here we strengthened the link between isoAsp and Alzheimer's disease (AD) by novel approaches to isoAsp analysis in human serum albumin (HSA), the most abundant blood protein and a major carrier of amyloid beta (Aβ) and phosphorylated tau (p-tau) in blood. We discovered a reduced amount of anti-isoAsp antibodies (P < 0.0001), an elevated isoAsp level in HSA (P < 0.001), more HSA aggregates (P < 0.0001), and increased levels of free Aβ (P < 0.01) in AD blood compared to controls. We also found that deamidation significantly reduces HSA capacity to bind with Aβ and p-tau (P < 0.05). These suggest the presence in AD of a bottleneck in clearance of Aβ and p-tau, leading to their increased concentrations in the brain and facilitating their aggregations there., (© 2022 The Authors. Alzheimer's & Dementia published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Alzheimer's Association.)

Sustainable long-term solutions to managing tailings storage facilities (TSFs) are integral for mines to operate in a safe and environmentally responsible manner. The long-term storage of subaqueous tailings can pose significant safety, environmental, and economic risks; therefore, alternative containment strategies for maintaining geochemical stability of reactive materials must be explored. In this study, the physical and geochemical stabilization of coal tailings using microbially induced calcite precipitation (MICP) was evaluated at a laboratory pilot scale. Three application techniques simulated commonly used agricultural approaches and equipment that could be deployed for field-scale treatment: spraying on treatment solutions with irrigation sprinklers, mixing tailings and treatment solutions with a rototiller, and distributing treatment solutions via shallow trenches using an excavator ripper. Test cells containing 1.0 × 1.0 × 0.5 m of tailings were treated with ureolytic bacteria (Sporosarcina pasteurii) and cementation solutions composed of urea and calcium chloride for 28 days. Penetrometer tests were performed following incubation to evaluate the extent of cementation. The spray-on application method showed the greatest strength improvement, with in an increase in surface strength of more than 50% for the 28-day testing period. The distribution of treatment solution using trenches was found to be less effective and resulted in greater variability in particle size distribution of treated tailings and would not be recommended for use in the field. The use of rototilling equipment provided a homogenous distribution of treatment solution; however, the disruption to the tailings material was less effective for facilitating effective cementation. Bacterial plate counts of soil samples indicated that S. pasteurii cultures remained viable in a tailings environment for 28 days at 18 °C and near-neutral pH. The treatment was also found to stabilize the pH of tailings porewater sampled over the 28-day incubation period, suggesting the potential for the treatment to provide short-term geochemical stability under unsaturated conditions., (© 2022. Crown.)

Education is integral to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) mission. The AASM Emerging Technology Committee identified an important and evolving piece of technology that is present in many of the consumer and clinical technologies that we review on the AASM #SleepTechnology (https://aasm.org/consumer-clinical-sleep-technology/) resource-photoplethysmography. As more patients with sleep tracking devices ask clinicians to view their data, it is important for sleep providers to have a general understanding of the technology, its sensors, how it works, targeted users, evidence for the claimed uses, and its strengths and weaknesses. The focus in this review is photoplethysmography-a sensor type used in the familiar pulse oximeter that is being developed for additional utilities and data outputs in both consumer and clinical sleep technologies., Citation: Ryals S, Chang A, Schutte-Rodin S, et al. Photoplethysmography-new applications for an old technology: a sleep technology review. J Clin Sleep Med . 2023;19(1):189-195., (© 2023 American Academy of Sleep Medicine.)