Associations between gender and health-related quality of life in people with IgE-mediated food allergy and their caregivers: A systematic review.

Objective: Understanding factors that impact health-related quality of life (HRQL) is essential to inform personalised food allergy management. However, there are inconsistencies about the impact of gender on HRQL in food allergy. This review aimed to collate all investigations of the association between gender and total or subdomain HRQL scores of individuals with food allergy and their caregivers.

A pilot investigation of muscle integrity in patients with ADSSL1 myopathy using electrical impedance myography.

Introduction/aims: ADSSL1 myopathy (OMIM 617030) is a recently discovered, congenital myopathic disease caused by a pathogenic variant in ADSSL1. ADSSL1 is an enzyme involved in the purine nucleotide process and facilitates the conversion of inosine monophosphate to adenosine monophosphate within myocytes. Electrical impedance myography (EIM) is a portable, non-invasive, and cost-effective method for characterizing muscle integrity.

Association of Reaction Symptoms and Eliciting Dose With Health-Related Quality of Life in Children With Peanut Allergy.

Background: Food allergy adversely affects the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of patients. It is unclear whether factors such as the reaction eliciting dose (ED) and the nature of allergic reaction symptoms affect HRQoL.

Objective: To explore associations between reaction ED or the nature of allergic symptoms and HRQoL among children with peanut allergy.

Diminished muscle integrity in patients with fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva assessed with at-home electrical impedance myography.

Fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP) is an ultra-rare disorder involving skeletal dysplasia and heterotopic ossification (HO) of muscle and connective tissue. We aimed to define a novel biomarker in FOP that enables reliable assessment of musculoskeletal tissue integrity. Considering logistical difficulties that FOP patients often face, our goal was to identify an at-home biomarker technique.

Using machine learning algorithms to enhance the diagnostic performance of electrical impedance myography.

Introduction/aims: We assessed the classification performance of machine learning (ML) using multifrequency electrical impedance myography (EIM) values to improve upon diagnostic outcomes as compared to those based on a single EIM value.

Methods: EIM data was obtained from unilateral excised gastrocnemius in eighty diseased mice (26 D2-mdx, Duchenne muscular dystrophy model, 39 SOD1G93A ALS model, and 15 db/db, a model of obesity-induced muscle atrophy) and 33 wild-type (WT) animals. We assessed the classification performance of a ML random forest algorithm incorporating all the data (multifrequency resistance, reactance and phase values) comparing it to the 50 kHz phase value alone.

Tri-atomic Pt clusters induce effective pathways in a Co-Pd nanocatalyst surface for a high-performance oxygen reduction reaction.

The crux of the hot topic concerning the widespread replacement of fuel cells (FCs) with traditional petrochemical energy is to balance improving the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and reducing the cost. The present study employs density functional theory (DFT) to investigate the effect of Pt ensemble size regulation from a single atom to full coverage on the physio-chemical properties, oxygen adsorption energies and overall ORR efficiency of bimetallic nanocatalysts (NCs) with a Co-Pd structure. Our results reveal that the electronegativity difference and lattice strain between neighboring heteroatoms are enhanced to trigger a synergetic effect in local domains, with the Pt cluster size reduced from nanometers to subnanometers.

Collaboration between a Pt-dimer and neighboring Co-Pd atoms triggers efficient pathways for oxygen reduction reaction.

The development of electrocatalysts with reconcilable balance between the cost and performance in oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is an imperative task for the widespread adoption of fuel cell technology. In this study, we proposed a unique model of diatomic Pt-cluster (Pt-dimer) in the topmost layer of the Co/Pd bimetallic slab (Co@Pd-Pt2) for mimicking the Cocore@Pdshell nanocatalysts (NCs) surface and systematically investigating its local-regional collaboration pathways in ORR by density functional theory (DFT). The results demonstrate that the Pt-dimer produces local differentiation from both ligand and geometric effects on the Co@Pd surface, which forms adsorption energy (Eads) gradients for relocating the ORR-adsorbates.

Achieving large uniform tensile elasticity in microfabricated diamond.

Diamond is not only the hardest material in nature, but is also an extreme electronic material with an ultrawide bandgap, exceptional carrier mobilities, and thermal conductivity. Straining diamond can push such extreme figures of merit for device applications. We microfabricated single-crystalline diamond bridge structures with ~1 micrometer length by ~100 nanometer width and achieved sample-wide uniform elastic strains under uniaxial tensile loading along the [100], [101], and [111] directions at room temperature.

The distribution of cultivable oral anaerobic microbiota identified by MALDI-TOF MS in healthy subjects and in patients with periodontal disease.

In this study, we aimed to identify the cultivatable oral anaerobic bacterial distribution in oral cavity by MALDI-TOF Biotyper. The bacterial distribution of three groups, including subjects with/without periodontal disease, two clusters of age (60 years as the cutoff), and before/after treatment, were investigated in this study. There were 38 participants recruited in this study, involving 18 subjects with moderate to severe periodontal-infected patients and 20 healthy controls.

Nanoisozymes: The Origin behind Pristine CeO as Enzyme Mimetics.

It is known that the interplay between molecules and active sites on the topmost surface of a solid catalyst determines its activity in heterogeneous catalysis. The electron density of the active site is believed to affect both adsorption and activation of reactant molecules at the surface. Unfortunately, commercial X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, which is often adopted for such characterization, is not sensitive enough to analyze the topmost surface of a catalyst.

Ureaplasma parvum causes hyperammonemia presenting as refractory status epilepticus after kidney transplant.

Purpose: Alert intensivists about the diagnostic pitfalls arising from hyperammonemia due to Ureaplasma infections in post-transplant patients.

Materials And Methods: Clinical observation of one patient.

Case Report: A 65-year-old female with a medical history of semi-recent kidney transplant was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit for refractory status epilepticus.

Molecular doping of blue phosphorene: a first-principles investigation.

Using first-principles calculations, we show that p-doped blue phosphorene can be obtained by molecular doping with 2,3,5,6-tetrafluoro-7,7,8,8-tetracyanoquinodimethane (F-TCNQ) and 1,3,4,5,7,8-hexafluorotetracyanonaphthoquinodimethane (F-TNAP), whereas n-doped blue phosphorene can be realized by doping with tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) and cyclooctadecanonaene (CCO). Moreover, the doping gap can be effectively modulated in each case by applying an external perpendicular electric field. The optical absorption of blue phosphorene can be considerably enhanced in a broad spectral range through the adsorption of CCO, F-TCNQ, and F-TNAP molecules, suggesting potential of the doped materials in the field of renewable energy.

Modified Embedded Atom Method Potential for Modeling the Thermodynamic Properties of High Thermal Conductivity Beryllium Oxide.

Modified embedded atom method potential parameters of beryllium oxide (BeO) have been developed, which can well reproduce the thermodynamic properties of beryllium oxide. To accurately describe the interactions between the atoms in the BeO structure, the density functional theory is used to calculate the fundamental properties such as the lattice constant, bulk modulus, and elastic constant, which are used for the potential fitting. The properties such as the enthalpy and specific heat are used to test the validity of the potential parameters.

Programming ORR Activity of Ni/NiO @Pd Electrocatalysts via Controlling Depth of Surface-Decorated Atomic Pt Clusters.

Carbon nanotube supported ternary metallic nanocatalysts (NCs) comprising Ni-Pd structure and Pt atomic scale clusters in shell (namely, Ni@Pd/Pt) are synthesized by using wet chemical reduction method with reaction time control. Effects of Pt adsorption time and Pt/Pd composition ratios on atomic structure with respect to electrochemical performances of experimental NCs are systematically investigated. By cross-referencing results of high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray absorption, density functional theoretical calculations, and electrochemical analysis, we demonstrate that oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity is dominated by depth and distribution of Pt clusters in a Ni@Pd/Pt NC.

Exceptional Optical Absorption of Buckled Arsenene Covering a Broad Spectral Range by Molecular Doping.

Using density functional theory calculations, we demonstrate that the electronic and optical properties of a buckled arsenene monolayer can be tuned by molecular doping. Effective p-type doping of arsenene can be realized by adsorption of tetracyanoethylene and tetracyanoquinodimethane (TCNQ) molecules, while n-doped arsenene can be obtained by adsorption of tetrathiafulvalene molecules. Moreover, owing to the charge redistribution, a dipole moment is formed between each organic molecule and arsenene, and this dipole moment can significantly tune the work function of arsenene to values within a wide range of 3.

The influence of dilute aluminum and molybdenum on stacking fault and twin formation in FeNiCoCr-based high entropy alloys based on density functional theory.

Stacking faults, as defects of disordered crystallographic planes, are one of the most important slipping mechanisms in the commonly seen lattice, face-centered cubic (FCC). Such defects can initiate twinning which strengthens mechanical properties, e.g.

Cyclability evaluation on Si based Negative Electrode in Lithium ion Battery by Graphite Phase Evolution: an operando X-ray diffraction study.

Artificial graphite (FSN) additive is employed as internal structural label for projecting cyclability of Si material native electrode in a mass ratio of Si/FSN = 1.0 in Li ion battery (LIB). Results of operando X-ray diffraction analysis on Si-FSN negative electrode in LIB demonstrate that one can evaluate the lithiation and delithiation affinity of active material by referring phase transition delay of graphite as affected by experimental splits in a formation process of LIB.

Platinum-trimer decorated cobalt-palladium core-shell nanocatalyst with promising performance for oxygen reduction reaction.

Advanced electrocatalysts with low platinum content, high activity and durability for the oxygen reduction reaction can benefit the widespread commercial use of fuel cell technology. Here, we report a platinum-trimer decorated cobalt-palladium core-shell nanocatalyst with a low platinum loading of only 2.4 wt% for the use in alkaline fuel cell cathodes.

Self-propelled droplet-based electricity generation.

Droplets are ubiquitous in nature and the preferential control of droplet transport offers limitless potential for efficient mass and momentum transfer as well as energy conversion. In this work, we show that even without the need for any external energy input, the self-propelled motion of droplets driven by a surface wetting gradient can lead to reliable electricity generation. Simple analytical analysis demonstrates that the output voltage results from the modulation of the surface charge distribution on the dynamically changing solid/liquid interfaces, which can be programmed by tailoring the wetting gradient and the size of the droplet.

Elemental Phase Partitioning in the γ-γ″ NiCoFeCrNb High Entropy Alloy.

The partitioning of the alloying elements into the γ″ nanoparticles in a NiCoFeCrNb high entropy alloy was studied by the combination of atom probe tomography and first-principles calculations. The atom probe tomography results show that the Co, Fe, and Cr atoms incorporated into the NiNb-type γ″ nanoparticles but their partitioning behaviors are significantly different. The Co element is much easier to partition into the γ″ nanoparticles than Fe and Cr elements.

Few-Layer PdSe Sheets: Promising Thermoelectric Materials Driven by High Valley Convergence.

Herein, we report a comprehensive study on the structural and electronic properties of bulk, monolayer, and multilayer PdSe sheets. First, we present a benchmark study on the structural properties of bulk PdSe by using 13 commonly used density functional theory (DFT) functionals. Unexpectedly, the most commonly used van der Waals (vdW)-correction methods, including DFT-D2, optB88, and vdW-DF2, fail to provide accurate predictions of lattice parameters compared to experimental data (relative error > 15%).

Impact of stressful life events on central adiposity in the Pelotas Birth Cohort.

Objective: To investigate how stressful life events and social support relate to central adiposity in Southern Brazil.

Methods: Data included information from 802 participants in the 1982 Pelotas Birth Cohort that was collect in 2004-2005 and 2006. Stratifying by sex, we studied self-reported stressful life events during the year before 2004-2005 in relation to change in waist circumference between 2004-2005 and 2006 and waist-to-hip ratio in 2006, using both bivariate and multivariate linear regression models.