Active Cycle Research Articles

MOF-derived W/Zr bimetallic oxides@Carbon for comprehensively remedying melamine foam electrode defects in vanadium redox flow batteries

Due to a series of defects such as low conductivity, poor catalytic activity and unfavorable long-term cycling stability, the comprehensive modification and usage improvement of carbonized melamine foam remain a significant challenge. Here, introducing W site into Zr-UiO-66 framework is proposed to construct W/Zr bimetallic oxides@carbon melamine foam electrode, which exhibits larger specific surface area, higher conductivity and catalytic activity than the pristine MF electrode. Benefiting from the ordered arrangement of W, Zr sites in the MOF precursor, the catalyst has an extremely catalytic activity and ultra-high binding performance of W/Zr bimetallic oxide particles with MF substrate. The electrode W/ZrBO@C-1000 possesses improved specific surface areas, hydrophilicity, higher electrochemical reactivity and reversibility compared to the pristine CMF-1000 electrode, as confirmed by material and electrochemical characterizations. The corresponding VRFB is able to achieved an energy efficiency of 82.43% at 200 mA cm−2, and displays a desirable long-term stability over 500 consecutive charge–discharge cycles. Density function theory further clarifies the underlying catalysis mechanism of bimetallic oxides for vanadium redox reactions. The strategy of introducing bimetallic oxides basing on MOF precursors improves the performance of melamine foam electrodes, which is expected to be a solution to remedy defects and broaden its usage range in other flow batteries.

Conventional chest physiotherapy compared to other airway clearance techniques for cystic fibrosis.

Conventional chest physiotherapy compared to other airway clearance techniques for cystic fibrosis.

International trade shapes global mercury-related health impacts.

Mercury (Hg) is a strong neurotoxin with substantial dangers to human health. Hg undergoes active global cycles, and the emission sources there of can also be geographically relocated through economic trade. Through investigation of a longer chain of the global biogeochemical Hg cycle from economic production to human health, international cooperation on Hg control strategies in Minamata Convention can be facilitated. In the present study, four global models are combined to investigate the effect of international trade on the relocation of Hg emissions, pollution, exposure, and related human health impacts across the world. The results show that 47% of global Hg emissions are related to commodities consumed outside of the countries where the emissions are produced, which has largely influenced the environmental Hg levels and human exposure thereto across the world. Consequently, international trade is found to enable the whole world to avoid 5.7 × 105 points for intelligence quotient (IQ) decline and 1,197 deaths from fatal heart attacks, saving a total of $12.5 billion (2020 USD) in economic loss. Regionally, international trade exacerbates Hg challenges in less developed countries, while resulting in an alleviation in developed countries. The change in economic loss therefore varies from the United States (-$4.0 billion) and Japan (-$2.4 billion) to China (+$2.7 billion). The present results reveal that international trade is a critical factor but might be largely overlooked in global Hg pollution mitigation.

Inhibition of Ferroptosis in the Subacute Phase of Ischemic Stroke Worsens Aversive Learning In Diabetic Rats: A Randomized Double-Blind Preclinical Trial

Diabetes increases the risk of hemorrhagic transformation as well as post-stroke cognitive impairment (PCSI). We have shown that iron chelation in the subacute phase improves stroke cognitive outcomes in experimental models of diabetes. We hypothesized that inhibition of ferroptosis, iron-induced cell death, in the post-stroke period will prevent PSCI in diabetic animals. Methods: Male rats, housed in reverse light cycle, underwent sham or 60-min middle cerebral artery occlusion surgery 8 weeks after diabetes onset. After MRI, rats that met the preset inclusion criteria (adhesive removal time > 35 sec. and either a modified Bederson score <= 6 or weight loss > 10% on Day 3) were randomized to ferroptosis inhibitor UAMC-3 (2mg/kg) or vehicle treatment for 2 weeks (n=8-12). Sensorimotor and cognitive outcomes were monitored for 8 weeks in the dark (active) cycle. Results: As confirmed by MRI, inclusion criteria predicted successful stroke surgery in 95% of the animals. There were significant acute neurological deficits. Long-term weight gain and survival were better in this cohort as compared to our historical data collected in regular light cycle experiments. Blood glucose levels were comparable. In contrast to our previous data, there were no significant differences in indices measured by novel object recognition (NOR), Y-maze, and sucrose preference tests after stroke but there was a trend for a greater number of animals showing a cognitive decline in treated cohorts. Step-through latency in the passive avoidance test (PAT) was lower in the treated stroke group. Open field (OF) suggested anxiety-like behavior in RX group. Conclusions: Preset inclusion criteria were effective in controlling for stroke severity. Ferroptosis inhibition impaired aversive learning and appeared to worsen cognitive outcomes in some of the animals. Better post-stroke weight gain/maintenance and greater engagement of animals in behavioral tests conducted in the “dark” cycle may explain the lack of a progressive memory decline after stroke. While further studies are required to better understand whether ferroptosis and housing lighting impacts stroke recovery in diabetes, based on current findings, inhibition of ferroptosis with UAMC-3 is not desirable. This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2023 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.

Heat Generation during the First Activation Cycle of Li-Ion Batteries with Li- and Mn-Rich Layered Oxides Measured by Isothermal Micro-Calorimetry

Using isothermal micro-calorimetry, we investigate the heat generation of lithium- and manganese-rich layered oxides (LMR-NCMs) during the first cycle in which LMR-NCM exhibits a pronounced voltage hysteresis leading to a low energy efficiency (≈73%). In the first charge, LMR-NCM shows a unique voltage plateau at ≈4.5 V where irreversible structural rearrangements lead to an activation of the material as well as a large voltage hysteresis. We found that only a fraction of the lost electrical work (≈43%) is converted into waste heat. Thereby, the heat flow profile of the first charge is unique and shows considerable heat generation during the voltage plateau. With complementary electrochemical methods, contributions of conventional sources of heat, i.e., because of polarization and entropy, are determined. However, they do not cause the considerable generation of heat during the voltage plateau. Our results therefore suggest that the structural rearrangements during activation lead to a significant generation of heat. In window-opening experiments, we demonstrate that the activation is a gradual process and that the heat generated during the first discharge is directly linked to the extent of activation during the preceding charge. We also investigate the effect of the degree of overlithiation on the heat generated during activation.

Integrating a manganese ores-filled module with a submerged plants cathode sediment fuel cell: In-situ remediation of ammonium pollution in surface water

Ammonium removal from contaminated surface water depends highly on electron acceptors like dissolved oxygen (DO), which was limited in eutrophic water bodies. In this study, a small ecological module was constructed with manganese ores (MO) and used to remove ammonium for the overlying water by integrating sediment microbial fuel cells (SMFC) and submerged plants. Nine different microcosms were operated to assess the pollutants removal performances. Compared with the 44.1 % of the control, ammonium removal of microcosms with MO addition increased to 79.1 %. Moreover, ammonium removal of the SMFC coupling system and submerged plant SMFC coupling system reached 83.3 % and 97.1 %, respectively. Besides, under the two coupling modes mentioned above, the degradation of chemical oxygen demand (COD) and the total organic carbon (TOC) was enhanced. The maximum power density was 390.63 mW/m3. The mass balance of nitrogen indicated the introduction of SMFC increased the contribution of denitrification to nitrogen removal. By contrast, plants promoted the release of oxygen and regulated community structure for intensifying simultaneous nitrification and denitrification (SND). Additionally, the effects of storage by substrates and sediments and plant uptake were also important. Heterotrophic and autotrophic denitrifying bacteria were enriched on the substrates around electrodes. Besides, electrochemically active bacteria (EAB) and Mn cycle related bacteria triggering the enhancement of nitrogen conversion. The Mn cycle in different valence states, electron transport between electrodes and substrates, and oxygen-producing submerged plants conspired to help excellent contaminant removal performance. This study promises a new thought for remediation of surface water and sediments in situ.

Phase transformation and electrochemical properties of La0.6R0.15Mg0.25Ni3.5 (R = La, Pr, Nd, Gd) alloys with multiphase structure

As a promising Ni-MH battery electrode material, the La-Mg-Ni-based superlattice hydrogen storage alloys have attracted extensive attention due to their stable crystal structure, high energy density and good electrochemical properties. However, most of the existing studies are based on annealed alloys with simple phase compositions. In the present work, the effects of rare-earth elements and phase composition on the electrochemical properties and structure stability of a series of as-cast La0.6R0.15Mg0.25Ni3.5 (R = La, Pr, Nd, Gd) alloys are studied. The alloys contain (La, Mg)2Ni7, (La, Mg)5Ni19 and (La, Mg)Ni3 superlattice phases as well as LaNi5 and LaMgNi4 non-superlattice phases. As the atomic radius of the replacement element R decreases, the cell parameters of each phase in the alloys from large to small are: La> Pr> Nd> Gd. The activation cycle of alloys is one charge/discharge cycle, which demonstrate excellent activation property due to their multi-phase structure that offers many pathways and tunnels for the transfer of hydrogen atoms. Moreover, it is found that Pr enhances the cycling stability and structural stability as well as reduces the oxidation degree of the alloys owing to its function on suppressing LaNi5 non-superlattice phase which would cause an increase in internal stress and structure damage due to the continuous expansion and contraction of superlattice phase cell volume with the process of charge/discharge. Furthermore, the addition of Nd can accelerate the diffusion of hydrogen and increase the reaction speed of charge transfer at the electrode/electrolyte interface, resulting in an enhanced rate discharge performance.

Reduce methane emission from rice paddies by man-made aerenchymatous tissues

Methane is the second most important greenhouse gas after carbon dioxide, and 8–11% is emitted from paddy fields. Methanogenic microbial processes in water-saturated soils can be alleviated through the oxygenation of soils, which may hamper methane production and emissions in paddies. Here, by mimicking O2 release from rice roots, we report the use of man-made (i.e., silicone tube-based) aerenchymatous tissues (MAT) to continuously release O2 to abate methane emission from paddies. High O2-releasing rates (such as 5 kg O2/ha/d) can be easily achieved by adjusting MAT density (e.g., 0.2 m2 tube/m2 soil) and its inner air pressure (e.g., 25 kPa). Following deployment, MAT significantly increased soil redox potential (from -150 mV to -88.6 mV) and induced active iron redox cycling. This decreased the availability of organic substrates of methanogens and therefore dramatically reduced their abundance (-25.1% active mcrA gene). We quantified the decrease in methane emission both in mesocosms and paddy field trials and found in both setups that ~ 50% of methane emission was reduced. Moreover, we showed that the performance of MAT can be further improved by simply increasing the air pressure in MAT (e.g., -74.2% methane emission at 200 kPa air pressure). This work provides a powerful and sustainable method for mitigating methane emission from rice paddies.Graphical

Understanding active transportation accessibility's impacts on polycentric and monocentric cities' housing price

Active transportation (AT) accessibility, specifically walking and cycling accessibility, has a significant impact on housing prices and equity. However, the spatial variation of the impacts of both walking and cycling accessibility and the influence of urban structure on housing submarkets are often overlooked in existing studies. This research aims to fill this gap by investigating the impacts of eight types of AT accessibility, inherent and locational attributes on housing prices in polycentric and monocentric cities. Geographically weighted regression models were estimated using housing price data from 3496 communities in Shanghai (a monocentric city) and 1100 communities in Wuhan (a polycentric city), China. The results illustrate the spatially varying impacts of AT accessibility on housing prices and highlight the existence of housing submarkets within cities due to varying factors such as urban structure, job-housing imbalance, consumer demand, public and private investment, and residential self-selection process. These findings provide valuable insights for investing in residential properties and designing policies and projects to improve AT accessibility in a way that promotes equity.

Electronic structure tuning for enhanced oxygen evolution performance of a NiMnFeCr medium entropy alloy

Electronic structure tuning of an electrocatalyst is an effective strategy for improving the efficiency of water electrolysis process and multi metallic electrocatalysts provide for better opportunity for tuning the electronic structure compared to monometallic electrocatalyst. Medium entropy alloys (MEAs) are multicomponent alloys and can be potentially used for electrocatalysis to produce hydrogen as it can be amenable to easy electronic structure tuning. Herein we report, the synthesis of MEA NiMnFeCr and demonstration of its utility in being a good platform for the electrocatalytic oxygen evolution reaction. X ray diffraction (XRD) was used to study the phase constituents of the MEAs. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was employed to study the phase transformation temperature of the as-milled MEA powder while optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) allowed investigation of the microstructure of the synthesized alloy. Electrocatalytic properties were studied by an electrochemical workstation which incorporated linear sweep voltammetry (LSV), cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The electronic structure of the as-sintered MEA was studied using ultraviolet photon spectroscopy (UPS). The experimental results showed that the MEA synthesized by sintering at 1200 °C and holding for 1 h (referred to as T1) exhibited an overpotential of 300 mV under 100 cycles of CV activation. The measured overpotential was lower than the state-of-the-art, expensive electrocatalysts such as Iridium oxide and Ruthenium oxide. This superior electrocatalytic activity could be attributed to the presence of porosity and in situ formed Mn3O4 oxide layers during cyclic voltammetry (CV) activation. Furthermore, the multi metallic nature of MEA was more amenable to better tuning of the electronic structure in the MEA by lowering the work function thereby improving the catalytic activity.

Urbanization associated changes in biogeochemical cycles.

Urbanization associated changes in biogeochemical cycles.

Engineering Cost-Efficient CoS-Based Electrocatalysts for Rechargeable Zn-Air Battery Application

The development of low-cost and efficient electrocatalysts toward the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is crucial for clean energy devices such as metal-air batteries and fuel cells. Herein, a novel CoS@FeOOH electrocatalyst is synthesized by in-situ deposition of FeOOH nanoparticles on metallic organic frame (MOF) derived CoS hollow polyhedrons. Due to the coupling synergetic effect of FeOOH and CoS, CoS@FeOOH presents an excellent OER catalytic performance with both high electrocatalytic activity and durable cycling stability, far superior to the pristine CoS and commercial RuO2 electrocatalysts. The assembled rechargeable zinc-air battery (ZAB) using CoS@FeOOH as the OER electrocatalyst shows a maximum power density of 89.1 mW cm–2 and continuously runs 60 h without evident polarization increment, which is far better than the ZAB using the commercial RuO2 OER electrocatalyst. The robust catalytic performance of the CoS@FeOOH electrocatalyst is mainly attributed to the regulated electronic configurations accelerating charge transfer, abundant oxygen vacancies promoting catalytic activity, and an FeOOH protection layer inhibiting active Co dissolution.

Network pharmacology-based anti-pancreatic cancer potential of kaempferol and catechin of Trema orientalis L. through computational approach

In pancreatic cancer, healthy cells in the pancreas begin to malfunction and proliferate out of control. According to our conventional knowledge, many plants contain several novel bioactive compounds, having pharmaceutical applications for the treatment of disease like pancreatic cancer. The methanolic fraction of fruit extract of Trema orientalis L. (MFETO) was analysed through HRMS. In this in silico study, pharmacokinetic and physicochemical properties of the identified flavonoids from MFETO were screened out by ADMET analysis. Kaempferol and catechin followed Lipinski rules and showed no toxicity in Protox II. Targets of these compounds were taken from SwissTarget prediction and TCMSP whilst targets for pancreatic cancer were taken from GeneCards and DisGeNET databases. The protein-protein interaction (PPI) network of common genes was generated through STRING and then exported to the Cytoscape to get top 5 hub genes (AKT1, SRC, EGFR, TNF, and CASP3). The interaction between compounds and hub genes was analysed using molecular docking, and high binding affinity between them can be visualised by Biovia discovery studio visualizer. Our study shows that, five hub genes related to pancreatic cancer play an important role in tumour growth induction, invasion and migration. Kaempferol effectively check cell migration by inhibiting ERK1/2, EGFR-related SRC, and AKT pathways by scavenging ROS whilst catechin inhibited TNFα-induced activation and cell cycle arrest at G1 and G2/M phases by induction of apoptosis of malignant cells. Kaempferol and catechin containing MFETO can be used for formulation of potent drugs for pancreatic cancer treatment in future.

PD01-03 CHANGES IN STONE CORE TEMPERATURE: FRAGMENTATION VS. DUSTING

You have accessJournal of UrologyCME1 Apr 2023PD01-03 CHANGES IN STONE CORE TEMPERATURE: FRAGMENTATION VS. DUSTING Ron Marom, John Robinson, Adam J. Matzger, Adam Maxwell, Khurshid R. Ghani, Timothy L. Hall, and William W. Roberts Ron MaromRon Marom More articles by this author , John RobinsonJohn Robinson More articles by this author , Adam J. MatzgerAdam J. Matzger More articles by this author , Adam MaxwellAdam Maxwell More articles by this author , Khurshid R. GhaniKhurshid R. Ghani More articles by this author , Timothy L. HallTimothy L. Hall More articles by this author , and William W. RobertsWilliam W. Roberts More articles by this author View All Author Informationhttps://doi.org/10.1097/JU.0000000000003218.03AboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints ShareFacebookLinked InTwitterEmail Abstract INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Tailoring and optimizing laser settings to achieve desired ablation effects (dusting vs. fragmenting) is challenging, in part due to an incomplete understanding of the mechanism of laser stone ablation. Recently, the dominance of photothermal over photoacoustic effects has been challenged. Quantification of the photothermal effect by measuring the temperature of the stone with absorption of laser energy could help us better understand the contribution of this mechanism of stone ablation. The objective of this study was to measure stone temperature during laser lithotripsy. METHODS: A cylindrical BegoStone model with a diameter of 8 mm and a height of 10 mm was molded with a thermocouple along its long axis with the tip at its center. A laser fiber was set perpendicular to the long axis and in contact with the stone surface. While the laser was activated for 30 seconds in an air medium, the fiber was moved by a 3D stepper scanning the surface of the stone. Two 10-Watt laser settings were used – 0.2 J × 50 Hz (Dusting) and 1 J × 10 Hz (Fragmentation) for 5 cycles with 30 seconds in between. Additionally, the power outputs of these settings were measured and compared using a power meter. RESULTS: The stone core temperature increased after each cycle of laser activation and did not return to baseline between cycles (Figure 1). Stone temperature of up to 120°C was observed. The 1 J × 10 Hz setting produced greater temperatures, 30°C greater than produced by 0.2 J × 50 Hz after the 5th laser cycle (Figure 2). This significant difference between same power settings can only be partially explained by the inconsistent energy output of the Ho:YAG laser, with up to 15% energy deviation as measured by a power meter. CONCLUSIONS: We have developed a tool to investigate temperature elevation in a stone model and shown that laser lithotripsy can substantially elevate stone temperature. Furthermore, the higher temperature found with higher pulse energy deserves additional exploration as temperature may play a role in determining whether dusting or fragmentation dominates stone comminution. Source of Funding: None © 2023 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Volume 209Issue Supplement 4April 2023Page: e63 Advertisement Copyright & Permissions© 2023 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.MetricsAuthor Information Ron Marom More articles by this author John Robinson More articles by this author Adam J. Matzger More articles by this author Adam Maxwell More articles by this author Khurshid R. Ghani More articles by this author Timothy L. Hall More articles by this author William W. Roberts More articles by this author Expand All Advertisement PDF downloadLoading ...

Evidence-based information-seeking behaviors of nursing students: Concurrent think aloud technique

BackgroundWith the expansion of scientific information, and the beginning of evidence-based practice (EBP), embracing “evidence-based information-seeking behaviors” is essential to provide effective up-to-date nursing care. To better support students’ evidence-based information-seeking behaviors, this study explores how nursing students actually search and identify evidence-based information. MethodsA concurrent think aloud technique was employed in which 12 nursing students were asked to verbalize their thoughts whilst using search engines to find EBP to inform their practice. ResultsIn general, searching literature per se is complex and many different searching activities are employed, including triggering, recalling, scanning, linking, accessing, retrieving, relating, extracting, evaluating and referencing. The search behavior may involve some iteration of the cyclical activities of scanning, linking and accessing. It is believed that background (recalling pre-existing knowledge), assessing relevancy, evaluating and referencing are pertinent to evidence-based practice information-seeking behavior. In view of this, the study proposes a new model of evidence-based information-seeking behaviors. ConclusionThis study presents an evidence-based information-seeking behavior model based on a number of identified searching features. Results may have important practical implications for nursing educators.

Study of the Transit Oriented Development (Tod) Area of Jaticempaka, Pondok Gede District, Bekasi City

The City of Bekasi has a population of 2.5 million people in 2020 making the City of Bekasi dense, so it is necessary to improve the spatial planning system, including the modal transportation planning system.Along with the development of the Greater Jakarta area which was influenced by developments in Jakarta in the surrounding cities. With the existence of a National Strategy Project in Bekasi City such as DDT (Double-double Track) and LRT (Light Rail Transit) which have the potential to become a TOD (Transit Oriented Development) area.With the construction of the LRT station and the existence of the Jaticempaka TOD location which is directly adjacent to DKI Jakarta, the direction of economic activity development in the future has a tendency to develop regional and city scale economic activity functions, so that the development direction of the Jaticempaka TOD has a tendency to be developed into a large-scale TOD. sub-central services.Thus, the community can increase their choice of public transportation modes and facilitate access to destinations, as well as accommodate the needs of the community to pursue a cycle of activities within and outside the City of Bekasi. The purpose of the activity is to prepare a Study on the Study of the Transit Oriented Development (TOD) Area of ​​Jaticempaka, Pondok Gede District, Bekasi City.

Comparative efficacy of different combinations of acapella, active cycle of breathing technique, and external diaphragmatic pacing in perioperative patients with lung cancer: a randomised controlled trial

BackgroundAcapella plus active cycle of breathing technique (ACBT), external diaphragm pacemaker (EDP) plus ACBT have been shown to facilitate the recovery of functional capacity and lung function in patients suffering from airway obstruction but the efficacy in perioperative patients with lung cancer has not been proven.MethodsWe conducted a three-arm, prospective, randomized, assessor-blinded, controlled trial in patients with lung cancer who underwent thoracoscopic lobectomy or segmentectomy in the department of thoracic surgery, China. Patients were randomly assigned (1:1:1) to receive Acapella plus ACBT, EDP plus ACBT, or ACBT group (control group) using SAS software. The primary outcome was functional capacity, measured by the 6-minute walk test (6MWT).ResultsWe recruited 363 participants over 17 months: 123 assigned to the Acapella plus ACBT group, 119 to the EDP plus ACBT group, and 121 to the ACBT group. Statistically significant differences were noted for functional capacity between the EDP plus ACBT and control groups at each follow-up time (1-week follow-up: difference = 47.25 m, 95% CI, 31.56–62.93; P < 0.001; and 1-month follow-up: difference = 49.72 m, 95% CI, 34.04–65.41; P < 0.001), between the Acapella plus ACBT and control groups at postoperative week 1 (difference = 35.23 m, 95% CI, 19.30–51.16; P < 0.001) and postoperative month 1 (difference = 34.96 m, 95% CI, 19.03–50.89; P < 0.001), and between the EDP plus ACBT and Acapella plus ACBT groups at 1-month follow-up (difference = 14.76 m, 95% CI, 1.34–28.19; P = 0.0316).ConclusionEDP plus ACBT and Acapella plus ACBT significantly improved functional capacity and lung function in perioperative patients with lung cancer, compared with single-model ACBT, and the effects of EDP plus ACBT were clearly superior to those of other programs.Trial registrationThe study was registered in the clinical trial database (clinicaltrials.gov) on June 4, 2021 (No. NCT04914624).

In vivo calibration of genetically encoded metabolite biosensors must account for metabolite metabolism during calibration and cellular volume.

Isotopic assays of brain glucose utilization rates have been used for more than four decades to establish relationships between energetics, functional activity, and neurotransmitter cycling. Limitations of these methods include the relatively long time (1-60 min) for the determination of labeled metabolite levels and the lack of cellular resolution. Identification and quantification of fuels for neurons and astrocytes that support activation and higher brain functions are a major, unresolved issues. Glycolysis is preferentially up-regulated during activation even though oxygen level and supply are adequate, causing lactate concentrations to quickly rise during alerting, sensory processing, cognitive tasks, and memory consolidation. However, the fate of lactate (rapid release from brain or cell-cell shuttling coupled with local oxidation) is long disputed. Genetically encoded biosensors can determine intracellular metabolite concentrations and report real-time lactate level responses to sensory, behavioral, and biochemical challenges at the cellular level. Kinetics and time courses of cellular lactate concentration changes are informative, but accurate biosensor calibration is required for quantitative comparisons of lactate levels in astrocytes and neurons. An in vivo calibration procedure for the Laconic lactate biosensor involves intracellular lactate depletion by intravenous pyruvate-mediated trans-acceleration of lactate efflux followed by sensor saturation by intravenous infusion of high doses of lactate plus ammonium chloride. In the present paper, the validity of this procedure is questioned because rapid lactate-pyruvate interconversion in blood, preferential neuronal oxidation of both monocarboxylates, on-going glycolytic metabolism, and cellular volumes were not taken into account. Calibration pitfalls for the Laconic lactate biosensor also apply to other metabolite biosensors that are standardized in vivo by infusion of substrates that can be metabolized in peripheral tissues. We discuss how technical shortcomings negate the conclusion that Laconic sensor calibrations support the existence of an in vivo astrocyte-neuron lactate concentration gradient linked to lactate shuttling from astrocytes to neurons to fuel neuronal activity.

Development of the Family-Based Care Model for Stroke Survivors to Promote Healthy Family Dynamics: Participatory Action Research

In many cultures around the world, including those in Thailand, family caregivers have different views on caring for stroke survivors. These views affect the caring process, which tends to be a heavy burden for caregivers. This study used participatory action research to develop the Family-Based Care Model for Stroke Survivors to Promote Healthy Family Dynamics. Stroke survivors and their family caregivers were recruited via purposive sampling from two primary care units in Nonthaburi, Thailand. Fourteen caregivers participated in four cycles of activities for 16 weeks and they were divided into two groups of seven. Data were collected using family group discussions, observations, home visits, telephone, LINE application, and field notes, as well as a family demographic questionnaire. Participants in each group created caregiving strategies to balance family life tailored for stroke survivors’ families. Individual and collective self-reflective cycles were used as a method that contained four steps: planning, acting, observing, and reflecting. Qualitative data were analyzed using the ATLAS.ti 8.0 program to develop data categorization and themes. The four major themes emerged and described the participatory process in caring stroke survivors: 1) Assessing problems and developing strategies; 2) Making collaboration for changing strategies; 3) Balancing the body and mind to empower themselves; and 4) Healthy family dynamics. This study demonstrated that there were five main phenomena affecting care: caregiver characteristics, family functions and relationships, assistant support, community resources, and community nurses. The model developed in this study can help direct nurses to promote healthy family dynamics in Thai stroke survivors, however, it is necessary to be further tested through research before being applied in practice.

Efficacy of different irrigant activation devices in removing dentin debris from an artificial isthmus connecting curved canals.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the debridement efficacy of sonic irrigation (EDDY; VDW, Munich, Germany and EndoActivator; Dentsply-Sirona, Ballaigues, Switzerland) and ultrasonically activated irrigation (Irrısafe; Satelec Acteon, Merignac, France) in a simulated canal isthmus connecting curved canals. Transparent resin blocks were produced containing two curved canals connected with an isthmus. The isthmus was then filled with dentin debris. Three irrigant activation cycles were performed and the amount of remaining debris was compared analysing pictures taken after each activation cycle. Data were statistically analysed using one-way ANOVA and post hoc Tukey tests at a significance level of p < 0.05. EDDY showed greater efficiency in removing dentin debris from the simulated isthmus than the other techniques tested. An increase in the activation time enhanced the efficiency of both EDDY and ultrasonically activated irrigation in debris removal.