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Conceptualizing the Research Cycle for the Field of Materials Science and Engineering
No full textEarly-career materials researchers often receive guidance from their individual advisors on best practices for conducting research, but the materials science community lacks an explicit model of the research process. As a result, the lived experience of an individual researcher can be quite different from their peers since they may be exposed to a different unique set of implicit research steps. In this article, we translate an existing research heuristic from other fields and make explicit the steps, methodologies, and strategies materials science engineering researchers utilize to advance our collective materials science knowledge. This newly proposed research cycle can improve the experience of both those early-career and established researchers by providing common expectations, increase the return-on-investment for research sponsors by encouraging robust planning, and increase the impact of our collective research work by encouraging knowledge development. This new research cycle for materials science and engineering clearly emphasizes that all researchers should review literature throughout a research cycle rather than just being conducted once during the initiation steps. In addition, researchers should consider incorporating engineering design principles when planning their experimental or computational research studies
Materials Data Science Ontology(MDS-Onto): Unifying Domain Knowledge in Materials and Applied Data Science
Full text linkOntologies have gained popularity in the scientific community as a way to standardize terminologies in organizations’ data. Although certain cohorts have created frameworks with rules and guidelines on creating ontologies, there exist significant variations in how Materials Science ontologies are currently developed. We seek to provide guidance in the form of a unified automated framework for developing interoperable and modular ontologies for Materials Data Science that simplifies the ontology terms matching by establishing a semantic bridge up to the Basic Formal Ontology(BFO). This framework provides key recommendations on how ontologies should be positioned within the semantic web, what knowledge representation language is recommended, and where ontologies should be published online to boost their findability and interoperability. Two fundamental components of the MDS-Onto framework are the bilingual package called FAIRmaterials for ontology creation and FAIRLinked, for FAIR data creation. To showcase the practical capabilities of FAIRmaterials, we present two exemplar domain ontologies of MDS-Onto: Synchrotron X-Ray Diffraction and Photovoltaics
Living Nondirected Kidney Donation: A Psychoanalytic Case-Based Investigation of Altruism and its Implications for Psychosocial Evaluation Guidelines
No full textWhy donate a kidney to a stranger? The history of living nondirected kidney donation, so-called altruistic or Good Samaritan donation, is notable for its associated skepticism if not outright rejection. Since its possibility, transplantation institutes have been concerned over the motives of individuals who present to their clinics with the wish to donate a kidney to a stranger. Are these motives pure? Might there be ulterior motives or secondary gain? Or might these motives be pathological, derivative from a psychiatric disease or syndrome? Although attitudes toward the nondirected donor have improved, skepticism remains: Why, after all, benefit another in this way? This article begins with a case study, a subject who sat down for three interviews to speak freely about his reasons for donating a kidney nondirectedly. It then turns to the background of living kidney donation and a review of pertinent psychoanalytic theories of altruism, rescue fantasies, and the secret benefactor. It concludes with a discussion of the case and its implications for psychosocial evaluation guidelines for nondirected kidney donation. The hypothesis is that the motives behind nondirected kidney donation are likely multitudinous (altruistic and egoistic) and, sometimes, unconscious, yet the risks, despite current evaluation guidelines, may be no greater for that
Behavior of Rio Sao Francisco Piranhas in Response to Changes in Space and Density
No full textPrevious observations of Rio Sao Francisco piranhas (Pygocentrus piraya) at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo revealed frequent aggressive interactions, which were associated with the injury and death of some individuals. Fishes are known to increase aggressive behavior when available space is limited. We compared the behavior of the piranhas longitudinally across three different space/density conditions: (1) in a group held in a small aquarium before the death of one individual, (2) in the same group after the death of one individual, (3) and in one individual of the group after it was later moved into a larger, multispecies aquarium. In the smaller aquarium, individuals maintained stable positions in the tank and remained inactive except to behave aggressively toward each other, retreat, or feed when food was offered. After the death of one individual, aggression decreased significantly but so did overall activity, including swimming behavior. After one individual was moved to a larger aquarium, it exhibited a striking increase in the amount of time spent swimming. Our data suggest that the well-being of P. piraya, and possibly other species of piranhas, might be better in large aquariums than in the small single-species exhibits often used in zoos and public aquariums. This study takes an important step in addressing the psychological and social well-being of bony fishes, an underrepresented area of research in zoos and aquariums
Pirfenidone Delivery by Blow-Molded Pcl Nanofiber Mat to Reduce Collagen Synthesis by Fibroblasts
No full textElevated intraocular pressure (IOP) during glaucoma is sometimes mitigated by insertion of glaucoma drainage devices (GDD). Excessive fibrosis around GDD plates may confine drainage and requiring revision surgeries in some patients. Pirfenidone (PFD) is an FDA approved drug to treat lung fibrosis, and it may be effective in limiting capsule formation around the GDD. To enable this, we aimed to develop a polymeric GDD encasement sheath that can sustainably release PFD to reduce fibrous capsule formation. The PFD-doped sheath was manufactured by blow molding of (poly)caprolactone (PCL). We investigated the effects of PCL concentration, spray distance, and molecular weight on the morphology of nanofibers as well as the release rate of PFD. The effects of PFD delivery on viability, number of living cells and collagen production by L-929 fibroblasts were measured in vitro. It was found that concentrations of 6%, 8%, and 10% PCL resulted in average fiber diameters of 277 ± 134, 436 ± 176, and 689 ± 297 nm, respectively. With increasing fiber diameter, the blow-spun nanofiber matrix displayed reduced burst release of PFD; ~75%, ~60%, and 45% respectively. Lower molecular weight PCL (25 kDa) demonstrated a slower release than higher molecular weight PCL (80 kDa). PCL loaded with PFD reduced collagen synthesis by L929 fibroblasts in vitro. The materials were also placed in a preliminary capacity as a proof of concept in the extraorbital space in rabbits and scored histologically to infer the severity of the inflammatory reaction. Assessment of in vivo response to blow-spun nanofibrous forms of PCL indicated a notably high inflammatory reaction to PCL. Therefore, while PFD can be integrated in PCL during blow-spinning and demonstrates antifibrotic effect in vitro, in vivo response to nanofibrous PCL by and itself suggests that this material platform does not appear to be suitable for drug delivery in the extraocular milieu
Glycation Metabolites Predict Incident Age-Related Comorbidities and Mortality in Older People With HIV
No full textGlycation is a class of modifications arising from non-enzymatic reactions of reducing sugars with proteins, lipids, and/or DNA, generating advanced glycation end-products (AGEs). AGEs are linked to many age-related comorbidities. In response to HIV-1 infection, activated T-cells and macrophages shift their predominate metabolism from oxidative phosphorylation to glycolysis. Increased glycolytic flux enhances AGE formation, which may increase age-related comorbidities. In this prospective, multicenter cohort study of antiretroviral therapy treated people with HIV, we explored predictive associations by baseline plasma AGE concentrations and their corresponding detoxification metabolites, with incident comorbidities and mortality. AGEs included dicarbonyl sugars: 3-deoxyglucosone, glyoxal, and methylglyoxal. Methylglyoxal-derived metabolites included carboxyethyl-arginine, carboxyethyl-lysine, and methylglyoxal hydroimidazolone-1. Detoxification metabolites included reduced and oxidized glutathione, and the glyoxalase cycle products lactoyl-glutathione and lactoyl-Lysine modified proteins. Plasma was collected at study entry, in the fasting state, and assayed by liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy. Incident clinical outcomes included diabetes, chronic kidney disease, hypertension, neurocognitive impairment, peripheral neuropathy, frailty, fractures, recurrent falls, and all-cause mortality. Among 376 participants, higher baseline plasma concentrations of methylglyoxal derived AGEs predicted increased risks of diabetes, chronic kidney disease, and recurrent falls, while higher 3-deoxyglucosone predicted an increased risk of peripheral neuropathy. By contrast, higher baseline concentrations of reduced or oxidized glutathione, lactoyl-glutathione, and/or lactoyl-Lysine modified proteins predicted lower risks of diabetes, neurocognitive impairment, frailty, fractures, recurrent falls, and all-cause mortality. These findings support growing experimental evidence of the potential to mitigate age-related declines by interventions that reduce glycation or increase glutathione
Screening and Treatment of Iron Deficiency Among Heart Failure Patients with Impaired Ejection Fraction: The Impact of a Pharmacist-Led Protocol
No full textBackground: Despite guideline-recommended routine screening and iron deficiency (ID) treatment among heart failure (HF) patients, these practices are often underutilized. Currently, limited data are available on the outcomes of pharmacists\u27 programs to enhance ID screening and management. Accordingly, we sought to describe the frequency and yield of screening for ID and intravenous (IV) iron replacement rates among our cohort of HF patients and examined the impact of implementing a pharmacist-led protocol (PLP) aimed at enhancing these rates. Methods: We conducted a retrospective study involving HF patients with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) \u3c45% at a quaternary care hospital in the Middle East/Gulf region. The PLP was introduced in August 2022. Data on demographics, comorbidities, echocardiographic parameters, laboratory findings (including ID screening and its findings), and rates of treatment with IV iron replacement were analyzed and compared between the pre-implementation group (n = 432, October 2015–February 2020) and the post-implementation group (n = 154, August 2022–January 2023). Results: Before the PLP, 63.2% (n = 273) of eligible patients underwent ID screening, with 80.6% (n = 220) found to have ID. Following the implementation of the PLP, screening rates significantly increased to 86.4% (n = 133) (p = 0.03), with 53.4% (n = 71) diagnosed with ID. The rate of IV iron replacement in ID patients improved from 30.4% (n = 67) in the pre-PLP group to 73% (n = 52) in the post-PLP group (p \u3c 0.001). Multivariable logistic regression identified baseline glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and hemoglobin levels as significant predictors of IV iron replacement in the pre-PLP cohort. Conclusions: Implementing a pharmacist-led protocol was significantly associated with enhancing the screening and treatment of ID in patients with HF and LVEF \u3c45%. This study demonstrates the crucial role of pharmacists in optimizing guideline-directed therapies, which can be replicated in various healthcare settings
Transient Temperature Measurements in a Ballistic Impact Experiment on a Thermoplastic Composite Material
No full textDynamic impact tests were conducted on thermoplastic composite laminates over an impact velocity range spanning the penetration velocity threshold, 88% of the penetration velocity, and 34% of the penetration velocity of the test panels. The primary objective was to record temperature increases that could affect the material properties of the composite during an impact event, and if so, provide guidance to predictive models which may account for such temperature rises. Observations from a combination of high-speed visible light photogrammetry coupled with high-speed infrared thermography indicate that it is highly unlikely that the composite reaches the glass transition temperature of 147°C during a non-penetrative impact event. From high-speed infrared imaging of the cross section, a maximum temperature of 106°C occurred due to a transverse wave generated at impact traveling through the composite panel rather than at the point of maximum deformation
Prediction of Obstructive Coronary Artery Disease Using Coronary Calcification and Epicardial Adipose Tissue Assessments from CT Calcium Scoring Scans
No full textBackground: Low-cost/no-cost non-contrast CT calcium scoring (CTCS) exams can provide direct evidence of coronary atherosclerosis. In this study, using features from CTCS images, we developed a novel machine learning model to predict obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD), as defined by the coronary artery disease-reporting and data system (CAD-RADS). Methods: This study analyzed 1324 patients from the SCOT-HEART trial who underwent both CTCS and CT angiography. Obstructive CAD was defined as CAD-RADS 4A-5, while CAD-RADS 0–3 were considered non-obstructive CAD. We analyzed clinical, Agatston-score-derived, and epicardial fat-omics features to predict obstructive CAD. The most predictive features were selected using elastic net logistic regression and used to train a CatBoost model. Model performance was evaluated using 1000 repeated five-fold cross-validation and survival analyses to predict major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE) and revascularization. Generalizability was assessed using an external validation set of 2316 patients for survival predictions. Results: Among the 1324 patients, obstructive CAD was identified in 334 patients (25.2 %). Elastic net regression identified the top 14 features (5 clinical, 2 Agatston-score-derived, and 7 fat-omics). The proposed method achieved excellent performance for classifying obstructive CAD, with an AUC of 90.1 ± 0.9 % and sensitivity/specificity/accuracy of 83.5 ± 5.5 %/93.7 ± 1.9 %/82.4 ± 2.0 %. The inclusion of Agatston-score-derived and fat-omics features significantly improved classification performance. Survival analyses showed that both actual and predicted obstructive CAD significantly differentiated patients who experienced MACE and revascularization. Conclusions: We developed a novel machine learning model to predict obstructive CAD from non-contrast CTCS scans. Our findings highlight the potential clinical benefits of CTCS imaging in identifying patients likely to benefit from advanced imaging
Molecular Mechanisms of Iron Metabolism and Overload
No full textIron represents an essential element required for normal physiologic processes throughout organ systems. A vast network of transporters is involved not only in uptake of this element but in processing, oxidation, and recycling to maintain it in a tight balance to avoid excess storage. This complex network of transporters, including heme and ferroportin, among many others, are responsible for facilitating inter-organ tissue iron exchange and availability, contributing to overall heme homeostasis. However, exposure to high levels of iron can overwhelm compensatory mechanisms that result in its accumulation and toxicity. This is the case of patients with genetic diseases such as hemoglobinopathies who suffer from chronic anemia and require, in most instances, a lifetime of red blood cell transfusions to overcome disease crises. Thus, in light of the extensive role of iron in the body, the aim of this review is to present important metabolic pathways involved in iron homeostasis across the cardiovascular, reproductive, hematopoietic, urinary, respiratory, endocrine, and central nervous systems while contrasting these against negative effects caused by iron excess
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