Structural Engineering of Hierarchical Micro‐nanostructured Ge-C Framework by Controlling the Nucleation for Ultralong Life Li Storage

The rational design of a proper electrode structure with high energy and power densities, long cycling lifespan, and low cost still remains a significant challenge for developing advanced energy storage systems. Germanium is a highly promising anode material for high-performance lithium ion batteries due to its large specific capacity and remarkable rate capability. Nevertheless, poor cycling stability and high price significantly limit its practical application. Herein, a facile and scalable structural engineering strategy is proposed by controlling the nucleation to fabricate a unique hierarchical micro-nanostructured Ge-C framework, featuring high tap density, reduced Ge content, superb structural stability, and a 3D conductive network. The constructed architecture has demonstrated outstanding reversible capacity of 1541.1 mA h g −1 after 3000 cycles at 1000 mA g −1 (with 99.6% capacity retention), markedly exceeding all the reported Ge-C electrodes regarding long cycling stability. Notably, the assembled full cell exhibits superior performance as well. The work paves the way to constructing novel metal-carbon materials with high performance and low cost for energy-related applications

BMI and HbA1c are metabolic markers for pancreatic cancer: matched case-control study using a UK primary care database

Background Weight loss, hyperglycaemia and diabetes are known features of pancreatic cancer. We quantified the timing and the amount of changes in body mass index (BMI) and glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), and their association with pancreatic cancer from five years before diagnosis. Methods A matched case-control study was undertaken within 590 primary care practices in England, United Kingdom. 8,777 patients diagnosed with pancreatic cancer (cases) between 1st January 2007 and 31st August 2020 were matched to 34,979 controls by age, gender and diabetes. Longitudinal trends in BMI and HbA1c were visualised. Odds ratios adjusted for demographic and lifestyle factors (aOR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated with conditional logistic regression. Subgroup analyses were undertaken according to the diabetes status. Results Changes in BMI and HbA1c observed for cases on longitudinal plots started one and two years (respectively) before diagnosis. In the year before diagnosis, a 1 kg/m2 decrease in BMI between cases and controls was associated with aOR for pancreatic cancer of 1.05 (95% CI 1.05 to 1.06), and a 1 mmol/mol increase in HbA1c was associated with aOR of 1.06 (1.06 to 1.07). ORs remained statistically significant (p < 0.001) for 2 years before pancreatic cancer diagnosis for BMI and 3 years for HbA1c. Subgroup analysis revealed that the decrease in BMI was associated with a higher pancreatic cancer risk for people with diabetes than for people without (aORs 1.08, 1.06 to 1.09 versus 1.04, 1.03 to 1.05), but the increase in HbA1c was associated with a higher risk for people without diabetes than for people with diabetes (aORs 1.09, 1.07 to 1.11 versus 1.04, 1.03 to 1.04). Conclusions The statistically significant changes in weight and glycaemic control started three years before pancreatic cancer diagnosis but varied according to the diabetes status. The information from this study could be used to detect pancreatic cancer earlier than is currently achieved. However, regular BMI and HbA1c measurements are required to facilitate future research and implementation in clinical practice

AZD1222 effectiveness against severe COVID-19 in individuals with comorbidity or frailty: the RAVEN cohort study

Objectives Despite being prioritized during initial COVID-19 vaccine rollout, vulnerable individuals at high risk of severe COVID-19 (hospitalization, intensive care unit admission, or death) remain underrepresented in vaccine effectiveness (VE) studies. The RAVEN cohort study (NCT05047822) assessed AZD1222 (ChAdOx1 nCov-19) two-dose primary series VE in vulnerable populations. Methods Using the Oxford-Royal College of General Practitioners Clinical Informatics Digital Hub, linked to secondary care, death registration, and COVID-19 datasets in England, COVID-19 outcomes in 2021 were compared in vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals matched on age, sex, region, and multimorbidity. Results Over 4.5 million AZD1222 recipients were matched (mean follow-up ∼5 months); 68% were ≥50 years, 57% had high multimorbidity. Overall, high VE against severe COVID-19 was demonstrated, with lower VE observed in vulnerable populations. VE against hospitalization was higher in the lowest multimorbidity quartile (91.1%; 95% CI: 90.1, 92.0) than the highest quartile (80.4%; 79.7, 81.1), and among individuals ≥65 years, higher in the ‘fit’ (86.2%; 84.5, 87.6) than the frailest (71.8%; 69.3, 74.2). VE against hospitalization was lowest in immunosuppressed individuals (64.6%; 60.7, 68.1). Conclusions Based on integrated and comprehensive UK health data, overall population-level VE with AZD1222 was high. VEs were notably lower in vulnerable groups, particularly the immunosuppressed

Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

Funder: European Society of Intensive Care Medicine; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100013347Funder: Flemish Society for Critical Care NursesAbstract: Purpose: Intensive care unit (ICU) patients are particularly susceptible to developing pressure injuries. Epidemiologic data is however unavailable. We aimed to provide an international picture of the extent of pressure injuries and factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries in adult ICU patients. Methods: International 1-day point-prevalence study; follow-up for outcome assessment until hospital discharge (maximum 12 weeks). Factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injury and hospital mortality were assessed by generalised linear mixed-effects regression analysis. Results: Data from 13,254 patients in 1117 ICUs (90 countries) revealed 6747 pressure injuries; 3997 (59.2%) were ICU-acquired. Overall prevalence was 26.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 25.9–27.3). ICU-acquired prevalence was 16.2% (95% CI 15.6–16.8). Sacrum (37%) and heels (19.5%) were most affected. Factors independently associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries were older age, male sex, being underweight, emergency surgery, higher Simplified Acute Physiology Score II, Braden score 3 days, comorbidities (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, immunodeficiency), organ support (renal replacement, mechanical ventilation on ICU admission), and being in a low or lower-middle income-economy. Gradually increasing associations with mortality were identified for increasing severity of pressure injury: stage I (odds ratio [OR] 1.5; 95% CI 1.2–1.8), stage II (OR 1.6; 95% CI 1.4–1.9), and stage III or worse (OR 2.8; 95% CI 2.3–3.3). Conclusion: Pressure injuries are common in adult ICU patients. ICU-acquired pressure injuries are associated with mainly intrinsic factors and mortality. Optimal care standards, increased awareness, appropriate resource allocation, and further research into optimal prevention are pivotal to tackle this important patient safety threat

Correction to: Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

The original version of this article unfortunately contained a mistake

Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

Funder: European Society of Intensive Care Medicine; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100013347Funder: Flemish Society for Critical Care NursesAbstract: Purpose: Intensive care unit (ICU) patients are particularly susceptible to developing pressure injuries. Epidemiologic data is however unavailable. We aimed to provide an international picture of the extent of pressure injuries and factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries in adult ICU patients. Methods: International 1-day point-prevalence study; follow-up for outcome assessment until hospital discharge (maximum 12 weeks). Factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injury and hospital mortality were assessed by generalised linear mixed-effects regression analysis. Results: Data from 13,254 patients in 1117 ICUs (90 countries) revealed 6747 pressure injuries; 3997 (59.2%) were ICU-acquired. Overall prevalence was 26.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 25.9–27.3). ICU-acquired prevalence was 16.2% (95% CI 15.6–16.8). Sacrum (37%) and heels (19.5%) were most affected. Factors independently associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries were older age, male sex, being underweight, emergency surgery, higher Simplified Acute Physiology Score II, Braden score 3 days, comorbidities (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, immunodeficiency), organ support (renal replacement, mechanical ventilation on ICU admission), and being in a low or lower-middle income-economy. Gradually increasing associations with mortality were identified for increasing severity of pressure injury: stage I (odds ratio [OR] 1.5; 95% CI 1.2–1.8), stage II (OR 1.6; 95% CI 1.4–1.9), and stage III or worse (OR 2.8; 95% CI 2.3–3.3). Conclusion: Pressure injuries are common in adult ICU patients. ICU-acquired pressure injuries are associated with mainly intrinsic factors and mortality. Optimal care standards, increased awareness, appropriate resource allocation, and further research into optimal prevention are pivotal to tackle this important patient safety threat

Bionomics of British strains of entomopathogenic nematodes (steinernematidae)

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Use of entomophathogenic nematodes as an alternative control of , an important pest of potato ()

CONTENIDO Artículos ADRIANA PADILLA, JUDITH PETIT, DELFINA PADILLA y LUCY QUINTERO Especies usadas como combustible en la comunidad de Villanueva, Lara-Venezuela ERIC BARRIOS, OSVALDO ENCINAS, WILVER CONTRERAS y ADOLFO RIVERA Evaluación del efecto de las sales CCA sobre la línea de cola en probetas hechas con pino caribe utilizando resina fenol-formaldehido e isocianato ERMIN ESCALA, EDWARD THOMSON y WILVER CONTRERAS Evaluación del estado actual del método de diseño por estados límites (LSD) para estructuras de maderas (Capítulo 1) WILLIAMS J. LEÓN y NARCISANA ESPINOZA DE PERNÍA Estudio anatómico del leño de ocho especies del género Aniba, Aublet (Lauraceae) WILLIAMS J. LEÓN y NARCISANA ESPINOZA DE PERNÍA Estudio anatómico del leño de siete especies del género Beilschmiedia Nees (Lauraceae) ALEX BARRIOS Distribución espacial del factor LS (RUSLE) usando procedimientos SIG compatibles con IDRISI. Aplicación en una microcuenca andina ALEX BARRIOS y ESNEIRA QUIÑONEZ Evaluación de la erosión utilizando el modelo (R) USLE, con apoyo de SIG. Aplicación en una microcuenca de Los Andes venezolanos JOSÉ RAFAEL LOZADA y ERNESTO ARENDS Impacto de diferentes intensidades de aprovechamiento forestal sobre la masa remanente, en la Estación Experimental Caparo JOSÉ RAFAEL LOZADA y ERNESTO ARENDS Clasificación ecológica de especies arbóreas, con fines de aprovechamiento forestal, en la Estación Experimental Caparo ARMANDO BRICEÑO VERGARA y WILSON RAMÍREZ Diagnóstico de insectos Coleóptera asociados a las plantaciones de plátano en el sur del Lago de Maracaibo-Venezuela LUIS CEDEÑO y CHRYSTIAN CARRERO Cylindrocladium pteridis causando manchas foliares en eucaliptos de Portuguesa-Venezuela ROSAIMA GARCÍA Especies y sub-especies de Erwinia, causantes de pudrición blanda y pierna negra en la papa cultivada, en el estado Mérida-Venezuela Nota XUEJUAN FAN, ALFREDO MAGGIORANI y SAMIR GUDIÑO Uso de nemátodos entomopatógenos como una alternativa en el control de polilla (Tecia solanivora), importante plaga de la papa (Solanum tuberosum). Mérida-Venezuela Tesis ELSA ROCIO LÓPEZ SÁNCHEZ Aplicación de las metodologías USLA e IRE a través de una SIG para estimar la erosión hídrica en la cuenca del río Anaime, departamento del Tolima-Colombia OSMAR BARRIOS TORO Productividad de cercas vivas de teca Tectona grandis L.F. como actividad agroforestal de fincas localizadas en la región desafectada de la Reserva Forestal de Ticoporo, Barinas-Venezuela ANDRÉS FORTI Escorrentía y erosión bajo diferentes grados de cobertura y sistemas de siembra en suelos de ladera JOEL MEJÍA Un modelo suelo-paisaje para la evaluación automatizada de tierras con fines conservacionistas en cuencas altas. Caso: microcuenca del río Zarzales, estado Mérida-Venezuela CONTENTS Articles ADRIANA PADILLA, JUDITH PETIT, DELFINA PADILLA and LUCY QUINTERO Raw materials used as woodfuel in the Villanueva community, Lara-Venezuela ERIC BARRIOS, OSVALDO ENCINAS, WILVER CONTRERAS and ADOLFO RIVERA Evaluation of the effect of salts CCA on the glueline of caribe pine samples joined with resin fenol-formaldehyde and isocyanate ERMIN ESCALA, EDWARD THOMSON and WILVER CONTRERAS Evaluation of the present state of the limit states desing method (LSD) for timber structures (Chapter 1) WILLIAMS J. LEÓN and NARCISANA ESPINOZA DE PERNÍA Wood anatomy of eigth species of Aniba Aublet (Lauraceae) WILLIAMS J. LEÓN and NARCISANA ESPINOZA DE PERNÍA Wood anatomy of seven species of Beilschmiedia Nees (Lauraceae) ALEX BARRIOS Spatial distribution of LS (RUSLE) factor using GIS procedures compatible with IDRISI. Application to one Andean watershed ALEX BARRIOS and ESNEIRA QUIÑONEZ Assessment erosion using (R) USLE model with GIS tools. Application to one small watershed of venezuelan Andes JOSÉ RAFAEL LOZADA and ERNESTO ARENDS Environmental impact of different intensities of logging on residual stand, in the Caparo Experimental Station JOSÉ RAFAEL LOZADA and ERNESTO ARENDS Ecological classification of tree species, with logging purpose, in the Caparo Experimental Station ARMANDO BRICEÑO VERGARA and WILSON RAMÍREZ Diagnostic of Coleoptera associated to plantain plantations in south of Maracaibo Lake-Venezuela LUIS CEDEÑO and CHRYSTIAN CARRERO Cylindrocladium pteridis ausing Eucaliptus leaf spots in Portuguesa state Venezuela ROSAIMA GARCÍA Species and sub-species of Erwinia, causal a of soft rot and black leg the potato cultivated, in the Mérida state Venezuela Note XUEJUAN FAN, ALFREDO MAGGIORANI and SAMIR GUDIÑO Use of entomophathogenic nematodes as an alternative control of Tecia solanivora, an important pest of potato (Solanum tuberosum) Thesis ELSA ROCIO LÓPEZ SÁNCHEZ Application of USLE e IRE throught a GIS to stimatic hidric erosion in the Anaime river basin, department of Tolima-Colombia OSMAR BARRIOS TORO Productivity of teck Tectona grandis living fences as an agroforest farm activity at Ticoporo Forest Reservation, Barinas-Venezuela ANDRÉS FORTI Runoff and erosion under different cover and crop system in slope soils JOEL MEJÍA A model soil-landscape relationships to land automatic evaluation with conservation purpose high watershed: Zarzales river watershed, Mérida-VenezuelaNivel analíticosemestra

Structural Engineering of Hierarchical Micro‐nanostructured Ge-C Framework by Controlling the Nucleation for Ultralong Life Li Storage

The rational design of a proper electrode structure with high energy and power densities, long cycling lifespan, and low cost still remains a significant challenge for developing advanced energy storage systems. Germanium is a highly promising anode material for high-performance lithium ion batteries due to its large specific capacity and remarkable rate capability. Nevertheless, poor cycling stability and high price significantly limit its practical application. Herein, a facile and scalable structural engineering strategy is proposed by controlling the nucleation to fabricate a unique hierarchical micro-nanostructured Ge-C framework, featuring high tap density, reduced Ge content, superb structural stability, and a 3D conductive network. The constructed architecture has demonstrated outstanding reversible capacity of 1541.1 mA h g −1 after 3000 cycles at 1000 mA g −1 (with 99.6% capacity retention), markedly exceeding all the reported Ge-C electrodes regarding long cycling stability. Notably, the assembled full cell exhibits superior performance as well. The work paves the way to constructing novel metal-carbon materials with high performance and low cost for energy-related applications

Meta-analysis of genomic and proteomic features to predict synthetic lethality of yeast and human cancer

A major goal in cancer medicine is to find selective drugs with reduced side-effect. A pair of genes is called synthetic lethality (SL) if mutations of both genes will kill a cell while mutation of either gene alone will not. Hence, a gene in SL interactions with a cancer-specific mutated gene will be a promising drug target with anti-cancer selectivity. Wet-lab screening approach is still so costly that even for yeast only a small fraction of gene pairs has been covered. Computational methods are therefore important for large-scale discovery of SL interactions. Most existing approaches focus on individual features or machine learning methods, which are prone to noise or overfitting. In this paper, we propose an approach of meta-analysis that integrates 17 genomic and proteomic features and the outputs of 10 classification methods. It thus combines the strengths of existing methods. It also adjusts relative contributions of multiple methods with weights learned from the training data. Running on a dataset of the yeast strain of S. cerevisiae, our method achieves AUC (area under ROC curve) of 87.2% the highest among all competitors. Moreover, through orthologous mapping from yeast to human genes, we predicted a list of SL pairs in human that contain top mutated genes in lung and breast cancers recently reported by The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Our method and predictions would shed light on mechanisms of SL and lead to discovery of novel anti-cancer drugs.MOE (Min. of Education, S’pore)Accepted versio