bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Identifying a whole‐brain connectome‐based model in drug‐naïve Parkinson's disease for predicting motor impairment
Authors: Wu Haoting , Zhou Cheng , Bai Xueqin , Liu Xiaocao , Chen Jingwen , Wen Jiaqi , Guo Tao , Wu Jingjing , Guan Xiaojun , Gao Ting , Gu Luyan , Huang Peiyu , Xu Xiaojun , Zhang Baorong , Zhang Minming
Published: December 2021

Identifying a whole‐brain connectome‐based predictive model in drug‐naïve patients with Parkinson's disease and verifying its predictions on drug‐managed patients would be useful in determining the intrinsic functional underpinnings of motor impairment and establishing general brain–behavior associations. In this study, we constructed a predictive model from the resting‐state functional data of 47 drug‐naïve patients by using a connectome‐based approach. This model was subsequently validated in 115 drug‐managed patients. The severity of motor impairment was assessed by calculating Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale Part III scores. The predictive performance of model was evaluated using the correlation coefficient (rtrue) between predicted and observed scores. As a result, a connectome‐based model for predicting individual motor impairment in drug‐naïve patients was identified with significant performance (rtrue = .845, p < .001, ppermu = .002). Two patterns of connection were identified according to correlations between connection strength and the severity of motor impairment. The negative motor‐impairment‐related network contained more within‐network connections in the motor, visual‐related, and default mode networks, whereas the positive motor‐impairment‐related network was constructed mostly with between‐network connections coupling the motor‐visual, motor‐limbic, and motor‐basal ganglia networks. Finally, this predictive model constructed around drug‐naïve patients was confirmed with significant predictive efficacy on drug‐managed patients (r = .209, p = .025), suggesting a generalizability in Parkinson's disease patients under long‐term drug influence. In conclusion, this study identified a whole‐brain connectome‐based model that could predict the severity of motor impairment in Parkinson's patients and furthers our understanding of the functional underpinnings of the disease.
Getting used to terrorist threats? Evidence from French terrorist attacks between 2015 and 2016
Authors: Blasco Sylvie , Moreno‐Galbis Eva , Tanguy Jeremy
Published: December 2021

This paper evaluates the effect on mental health of consecutive terrorist attacks in France in 2015 and 2016. We compile information about the three main terrorist attacks that struck France over this period and assess whether the potential effect on mental health (i.e., depression) of a terrorist attack is smoothed once people consider terrorist attacks as “the new normality.” We exploit data from the French Constances epidemiological survey and combine an event study strategy with a difference‐in‐difference approach to compare before‐after changes in mental health the year of the attack with the same changes the year before. We show that the negative effect of a terrorist attack on mental health decreases over time from one attack to another, and disappears completely for the last attack. Socio‐demographic composition of the sample, geographical or socio‐demographic proximity to the victims or media exposure do not arise as factors responsible for this changing effect of terrorist attacks on mental health.
Magnitude and determinants of inpatient health expenditure among the elderly in India
Authors: Chatterjee Chandrima , Chandra Nayak Narayan , Mahakud Jitendra
Published: December 2021

As India is experiencing both the epidemiological and demographic transition, the grey population is expected to incur huge expenditure on health care, especially hospitalization expenditure, in the coming decades. The present study, thus, examines the magnitude of different types of inpatient health expenditure (medical, non‐medical, total and out‐of‐pocket expenditure) and factors affecting them among the Indian elderly, using a health expenditure model empirically tested by the World Health Organization. Data were drawn from the 75th Round of the Health Survey conducted by the National Sample Survey Office, Government of India. In addition to basic descriptive statistics, the study employs a two‐stage least square and a generalized linear model with log‐link and gamma distribution to conduct the econometric analysis. The study finds that higher income, education, and household size, diseases like cancer, treatment involving surgery, poor physical mobility, and the elderly opting for packages involve higher inpatient health spending, while both private and social health insurance tends to reduce the same. So, a thrust on insurance‐financed health systems may reduce health spending among the elderly. In this context, the study suggests that a disease‐specific policy is required for the elderly along with ensuring state‐of‐the‐art treatment facilities for them in public hospitals for critical ailments.
The role of BIS/BAS in effective coping with psychological contract breach
Authors: Yang Yang , Vantilborgh Tim
Published: December 2021

Psychological contract (PC) breach perceptions are formed when employees detect discrepancies between obligated and delivered inducements. PCB stresses and strains employees to varying degrees and has detrimental consequences for employees and the organisation. Employees activate various coping strategies to respond to the stress elicited by PCB, and effective coping helps enhance employees' well‐being. In this study, we propose and test a moderated mediation model, where approach and avoidance coping strategies mediate the relationship between PCB and stress, and employees' goal‐based personality (i.e., behavioural inhibition system—BIS and behavioural activation system—BAS) moderates the relationship between PCB and coping strategies. We further examine the effectiveness of the subdimensions of coping, as well as how BIS/BAS influences the choice of these subdimensions in a sample of Western employees. Our results suggest approach coping effectively reduces stress elicited by PCB, whereas avoidance coping increases stress. Moreover, employees with higher BAS are more likely to engage in approach coping, whereas those with higher BIS use avoidance coping. We advance the research on coping with PCB by showing a more nuanced understanding of the subdimensions of coping as well as exploring diverse personality models in moderating the choice of coping strategies.
A case of novel coronavirus disease after combination therapy with nivolumab and ipilimumab for metastatic renal cell carcinoma
Authors: Kijima Yu , Shimizu Tomokazu , Kato Shinya , Sekido Eri , Kano Kana , Toguchi Makoto , Horiuchi Toshihide , Toma Hiroshi , Iida Shoichi , Takagi Toshio
Published: December 2021

Introduction

We present a case of novel coronavirus disease‐2019 that underwent combination therapy with nivolumab and ipilimumab for metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

Case presentation

A 50‐year‐old man complained of anorexia and weight loss. Contrast‐enhanced computed tomography revealed a solid mass of 57 mm in diameter with cysts in the right kidney, along with liver, lung, and multiple bone metastases. Computed tomography‐guided biopsy of the right kidney was performed, and a diagnosis of clear cell renal cell carcinoma was made. Three weeks after nivolumab and ipilimumab administration, the patient contracted coronavirus disease‐2019. Anticoagulation therapy (dalteparin) was administered for 4 days once infection was confirmed, after which dexamethasone was administered for 10 days. The patient survived without experiencing worsened respiratory symptoms.

Conclusion

We administered nivolumab and ipilimumab combination therapy as treatment for metastatic renal cell carcinoma. No side effects or immune‐related adverse events were observed for a short time.
On the role of operant contingencies in the maintenance of inappropriate mealtime behavior: An epidemiological analysis
Authors: Saini Valdeep , Andersen Ashley S. , Jessel Joshua , Vance Hanna
Published: December 2021

Functional analysis is the primary assessment used to determine the function of inappropriate mealtime behavior in children with feeding disorders. Based on single‐case experimental design studies and recent reviews, the prevalence of negative reinforcement alone in the maintenance of inappropriate mealtime behavior appears to be much greater than positive reinforcement alone. We conducted a retrospective consecutive‐controlled case series to determine the generality of previous findings. Results of the epidemiological analysis support prior research in that negative reinforcement in the form of escape (44.8%), and multiple control (i.e., positive and negative reinforcement) in the forms of escape and attention (37.2%), are considerably more prevalent than positive reinforcement alone (2.5%). We discuss the relationship between functional analysis of inappropriate mealtime behavior and treatment utility. Further, we describe avenues of future research designed to advance the application of functional analysis in feeding disorders beyond inappropriate mealtime behavior.
Efficacy of a university offered mindfulness training on perceived stress
Authors: Miller Madison K. , Finkel Jonah P. , Marcus Becca Nimmer , Burgin Elizabeth , Prosek Elizabeth A. , Crace R. Kelly , Bravo Adrian J.
Published: December 2021

The present study examined the efficacy of a 4‐week mindfulness training program offered on a university campus focused on reducing college students’ (n = 38) perceived stress. Results showed a significant reduction in perceived stress levels throughout the duration of the study. These findings provide preliminary support for the implementation of broad mindfulness‐based training in reducing psychological distress among college students. Further controlled research is needed to determine the effects of such trainings in university settings.
The role of blood lnc‐ZFAS1 in acute ischemic stroke: correlation with neurological impairment, inflammation, and survival profiles
Authors: Wang Gang , Zhou Ying , Zhong Tingting , Song Aixia , Xue Qian
Published: December 2021

Background

Long non‐coding RNA zinc finger antisense 1 (lnc‐ZFAS1) has been reported to inhibit neuronal damage in acute ischemic stroke (AIS). However, the role of lnc‐ZFAS1 in AIS patients remains unclear. Therefore, we assessed the relationship of lnc‐ZFAS1 with neurological impairment, inflammation, and prognosis in AIS patients.

Methods

Totally, 241 AIS patients and 120 controls were enrolled. lnc‐ZFAS1 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells was evaluated using reverse transcription‐quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Besides, a 3‐year follow‐up was conducted to assess recurrence‐free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) in AIS patients.

Results

lnc‐ZFAS1 was reduced in AIS patients compared to that in controls (Z = −10.693, p < 0.001). In AIS patients, lnc‐ZFAS1 was negatively correlated with National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score (rs = −0.335, p < 0.001), C‐reactive protein (rs = −0.284, p < 0.001), tumor necrosis factor‐alpha (rs = −0.293, p < 0.001), interleukin‐1β (rs = −0.149, p = 0.021), and interleukin‐6 (rs = −0.161, p = 0.012), but not underlying diseases (all p > 0.05). Besides, lnc‐ZFAS1 was divided into high and low levels based on the median expression in AIS patients. Indeed, high lnc‐ZFAS1 predicted better RFS (χ2 = 6.222, p = 0.013); the 1‐year, 2‐year, and 3‐year RFS rates were 94.2%, 88.3%, and 85.5%, respectively, in patients with high lnc‐ZFAS1, then 87.5%, 79.2%, and 71.6%, respectively, in those with low lnc‐ZFAS1. However, lnc‐ZFAS1 was not correlated with OS (χ2 = 1.404, p = 0.236); the 1‐year, 2‐year, and 3‐year OS rates were 98.3%, 95.8%, and 94.0%, respectively, in patients with high lnc‐ZFAS1, then 96.7%, 93.9%, and 89.6%, respectively, in those with low lnc‐ZFAS1.

Conclusion

Lower lnc‐ZFAS1 expression is connected with increased neurological impairment and inflammation as well as worse RFS in AIS patients.
Predictive Value of C‐Reactive Protein and Albumin for Temporal Within‐Individual Pharmacokinetic Variability of Voriconazole in Pediatric Patients Undergoing Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation
Authors: Takahashi Takuto , Jaber Mutaz M. , Smith Angela R. , Jacobson Pamala A. , Fisher James , Kirstein Mark N.
Published: December 2021

Voriconazole is a widely used antifungal agent in immunocompromised patients, but its utility is limited by its variable exposure and narrow therapeutic index. Population pharmacokinetic (PK) models have been used to characterize voriconazole PK and derive individualized dosing regimens. However, determinants of temporal within‐patient variability of voriconazole PK were not well established. We aimed to characterize temporal variability of voriconazole PK within individuals and identify predictive clinical factors. This study was conducted as a part of a single‐institution, phase I study of intravenous voriconazole in children undergoing hematopoietic cell transplantation (NCT02227797). We analyzed voriconazole PK study data collected at week 1 and again at week 2 after the start of voriconazole therapy in 59 pediatric patients undergoing HCT (age <21 years). Population PK analysis using nonlinear mixed effect modeling was performed to analyze temporal within‐individual variability of voriconazole PK by incorporating a between‐occasion variability term in the model. A 2‐compartment linear elimination model incorporating body weight and cytochrome P450 2C19 phenotype described the data. The ratio of individual voriconazole clearance between weeks 1 and 2 ranged from 0.11 to 3.3 (−9.1 to +3.3‐fold change). Incorporation of covariate effects by serum C‐reactive protein and albumin levels decreased between‐occasion variability of clearance as compared to the model without them (coefficient of variation, 41.2% and 59.5%, respectively) and improved the model fit (P < .05). As significant covariates on voriconazole PK, C‐reactive protein and albumin concentrations may potentially serve as useful biomarkers as part of therapeutic drug monitoring.
Neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio is associated with carotid intraplaque neovascularization in asymptomatic carotid stenosis patients
Authors: Lyu Qi , Liu Zehao , Zhu Zewen , Yin Ming
Published: December 2021

Background and Purpose

Neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has been suggested as an available systemic inflammatory biomarker. This study aims to evaluate whether intraplaque neovascularization assessed by contrast‐enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) is associated with NLR in asymptomatic carotid stenosis patients.

Materials and Methods

One hundred and forty‐four asymptomatic patients with carotid luminal stenosis >30% were assessed using contrast‐enhanced ultrasound imaging. The contrast enhancement within the plaque was classified on a visual semiquantitative grading scale. The data collected included the patient's risk factors, laboratory results, cardiovascular disease history, and drug use history. Univariate and multivariate analyses were assessed to identify independent factors related to intraplaque neovascularization with adjustment for potential confounders.

Results

Patients with CEUS grade 2 plaques had a higher level of LDL‐C (p < .001), neutrophil count (p < .001), and blood glucose (p = .005), but lower level of lymphocyte count (p = .021). The presence of grade 2 plaques was significantly associated with high NLR values (OR 1.21, 95% CI 1.03–1.43, p = .017). Patients were divided into four groups according to the quartile of NLR values. Compared to the patients in the first quartile of NLR (<1.73), the patients in the fourth NLR quartile (≥3.38) were characterized by the most prevalence of CEUS grade 2 plaques (OR 4.55, 95% CI 1.69–12.25, p = .003). Multivariate logistic regression analysis after adjusting various variables demonstrated NLR remained an independent risk factor for the presence of CEUS grade 2 plaques.

Conclusion

Intraplaque neovascularization is significantly associated with NLR in asymptomatic carotid stenosis patients.
The impact of dental curriculum format on student performance on the national board dental examination
Authors: Yang Sireen , Edwards Paul C. , Zahl David , John Vanchit , Bhamidipalli Surya S. , Eckert George J. , Stewart Kelton T.
Published: December 2021

Purpose/Objective

The effectiveness of different curriculum types has long been debated by dental educators aiming to provide the best education possible to their students. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of curriculum type (hybrid problem‐based learning [PBL] vs. traditional) on National Board Dental Examination (NBDE) part I and II pass rates

Methods

A retrospective cohort study was conducted with a hybrid PBL cohort and traditional cohort. NBDE part I and II pass rates for the two cohorts were acquired, along with demographic and scholastic variables. Pass rates, scholastic variables, and demographic variables were compared using two‐sample t‐tests and chi‐square tests. Associations of the variables with pass rates were analyzed using logistic regression. Significance was set at 5%

Results

No significant differences in pass rates for NBDE part I and II were observed between the cohorts. Cumulative dental school grade point average (GPA) was found to be an independent predictor of success for NBDE part I (odds ratio (OR): 1.40, 1.24–1.59 for 0.1 point intervals) and II (OR: 1.34, 1.18–1.52 for 0.1 point intervals), (p < 0.01). DAT biology sub‐score was found to be predictive of success for NBDE part I (OR: 1.58, 1.14–2.19), (p = 0.01)

Conclusions

No significant difference in NBDE part I and II pass rates between the cohorts was found. Dental school GPA was the most predictive variable for success on NBDE part I and II. These findings may be helpful considerations as institutions assess the structure of their school curricula.
Strong chromatic index and Hadwiger number
Authors: van Batenburg Wouter Cames , de Joannis de Verclos Rémi , Kang Ross J. , Pirot François
Published: December 2021

We investigate the effect of a fixed forbidden clique minor upon the strong chromatic index, both in multigraphs and in simple graphs. We conjecture for each that any ‐minor‐free multigraph of maximum degree has strong chromatic index at most . We present a construction certifying that if true the conjecture is asymptotically sharp as . In support of the conjecture, we show it in the case and prove the statement for strong clique number in place of strong chromatic index. By contrast, we make a basic observation that for ‐minor‐free simple graphs, the problem of strong edge‐colouring is “between” Hadwiger's Conjecture and its fractional relaxation. For , we also show that ‐minor‐free multigraphs of edge‐diameter at most 2 have strong clique number at most .
Mutational spectrum and prognosis in Chinese patients with prefibrotic primary myelofibrosis
Authors: Cheng Chi‐Keung , Lai Jennifer W. Y. , Yung Yuk‐Lin , Chan Hoi‐Yun , Wong Raymond S. M. , Chan Natalie P. H. , Cheung Joyce S. , Luo Xi , Pitts Herbert‐Augustus , Ng Margaret H. L.
Published: December 2021

Prefibrotic primary myelofibrosis (Pre‐PMF) has been classified as a separate entity of myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs). Pre‐PMF is clinically heterogeneous but a specific prognostic model is lacking. Gene mutations have emerged as useful tools for stratification of myelofibrosis patients. However, there have been limited studies comprehensively investigating the mutational spectrum and its clinicopathological significance in pre‐PMF subjects. In this study, we addressed these issues by profiling the mutation status of 141 genes in 172 Chinese MPN patients including 72 pre‐PMF cases. Our findings corroborated the clinical/molecular distinctiveness of pre‐PMF and suggested a refined risk classification strategy for this entity.
Identifying unreported links between ClinicalTrials.gov trial registrations and their published results
Authors: Liu Shifeng , Bourgeois Florence T. , Dunn Adam G.
Published: December 2021

A substantial proportion of trial registrations are not linked to corresponding published articles, limiting analyses and new tools. Our aim was to develop a method for finding articles reporting the results of trials that are registered on ClinicalTrials.gov when they do not include metadata links. We used a set of 27,280 trial registration and article pairs to train and evaluate methods for identifying missing links in both directions—from articles to registrations and from registrations to articles. We trained a classifier with six distance metrics as feature representations to rank the correct article or registration, using recall@K to evaluate performance and compare to baseline methods. When identifying links from registrations to published articles, the classifier ranked the correct article first (recall@1) among 378,048 articles in 80.8% of evaluation cases and 34.9% in the baseline method. Recall@10 was 85.1% compared to 60.7% in the baseline. When predicting links from articles to registrations, recall@1 was 83.4% for the classifier and 39.8% in the baseline. Recall@10 was 89.5% compared to 65.8% in the baseline. The proposed method improves on our baseline document similarity method to be feasible for identifying missing links in practice. Given a ClinicalTrials.gov registration, a user checking 10 ranked articles can expect to identify the matching article in at least 85% of cases, if the trial has been published. The proposed method can be used to improve the coupling of ClinicalTrials.gov and PubMed, with applications related to automating systematic review and evidence synthesis processes.
A Combination of Contrast‐Enhanced Ultrasound and Thyroglobulin Level in Fine‐Needle Aspirates Improves Diagnostic Accuracy for Metastatic Lymph Nodes of Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma
Authors: Liu Naxiang , Tang Lina , Chen Yijie , Wang Yaoqin , Huang Weiqin , Du Zhongshi , Shen Youhong , Wu Zhougui , He Tongmei , Su Guangjian , Xie Wenting , Chen Yunchao
Published: December 2021

Objective

To evaluate the diagnostic performance of contrast‐enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) combined with thyroglobulin (Tg) levels in fine‐needle aspirates (FNA) washout fluid (FNA‐Tg) in diagnosing cervical lymph node (LN) metastasis in papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) patients.

Methods

Data from 190 LNs in 167 patients suspected of metastasis from the US between November 2018 and September 2020 were included. All subjects underwent FNA, CEUS, and FNA‐Tg examinations. The final outcomes were confirmed by histopathological or cytological examination or follow‐up imaging. Data were analyzed using the Wilcoxon rank‐sum or chi‐squared test. The diagnostic efficacy of FNA, CEUS, and FNA‐Tg in diagnosing LNs was compared.

Results

A cutoff value of 6.15 ng/ml (AUC 0.925, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.885–0.966) successfully identified metastatic LNs. FNA missed 58 LN metastases, of these, 94.8% (55/58) were correctly diagnosed using the combination of CEUS and FNA‐Tg. FNA‐Tg showed higher sensitivity (90.2%), NPV (86.1%) and accuracy (88.9%) than either FNA (48.2, 57.4 and 69.5%, respectively) or CEUS (82.1, 67.7 and 70.5%, respectively) alone. The combination of CEUS, FNA and FNA‐Tg resulted in maximal sensitivity (100%) and NPV (100%) but reduced specificity (51.3%) and overall diagnostic accuracy (80.0%). After adding FNA‐Tg to discordant samples between CEUS and FNA, 81.9% of LNs (77/94) were correctly diagnosed.

Conclusions

The combination of FNA, FNA‐Tg and CEUS was found to be a promising imaging tool in detecting metastatic LNs in PTC patients.
Neutrophil cytosolic factor 2 (NCF2) gene polymorphism is associated with juvenile‐onset systemic lupus erythematosus, but probably not with other autoimmune rheumatic diseases in children
Authors: Bakutenko Ivan Y. , Haurylchyk Irena D. , Nikitchenko Natalia V. , Sechko Elena V. , Kozyro Inna A. , Tchitchko Alexei M. , Batyan Galina M. , Sukalo Alexander V. , Ryabokon Nadezhda I.
Published: December 2021

Background

Genetic variations of neutrophil cytosolic factor 2 (NCF2), a subunit of NADPH oxidase, are usually associated with chronic granulomatous disease, and their relationship with autoimmune disorders through the defective NADPH oxidase function during phagocytosis is suggested. Our study aimed to explore whether there is an association between the non‐synonymous single nucleotide polymorphism in the NCF2 gene (rs17849502, NC_000001.11:g.183563445G>T) and the development of juvenile autoimmune rheumatic diseases.

Methods

In order to test this hypothesis, we conducted a pilot case–control study. In total, 709 children and adolescents, all Belarusians, were involved in the study including patients with juvenile‐onset systemic lupus erythematosus (JSLE), juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), Kawasaki disease (KD), and subjects without autoimmune and inflammatory diseases as the clinical control, as well as health newborns as the population control. Real‐time polymerase chain reaction was used for genotyping.

Results

The minor T allele of NCF2 occurred most frequently in patients with JSLE (OR = 2.60, 95% CI = 1.18–5.73, p = 0.023 as compared to the clinical control). In groups with JIA and KD, its frequency did not differ from the control. The TT genotype was only observed in 5.7% of patients with JSLE (p = 0.007), but not in other groups.

Conclusion

Therefore, our study suggested that NCF2 rs17849502 polymorphism is a potential genetic risk factor for JSLE, while it is probably not for such autoimmune rheumatic diseases as JIA or KD.
MHW looks back at some of the news, issues impacting the MH field in 2021
Authors: Canady Valerie A.
Published: December 2021

The year 2021 proved again to be a year like no other, particularly with the ongoing COVID‐19 pandemic further fueled by the omicron variant. Alarming increases in anxiety, depression and stress have been reported for adults around the country, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) noting that more than 40% of adults are struggling. Children and teens are experiencing mental health crises, so much so that a national emergency was declared, followed by a federal public health advisory.
State restructuring in Colorado could yield meaningful reform
Authors: Enos Gary
Published: December 2021

As states grapple with the issue of whether their mental health service systems are equipped to handle the continued surge in demand, those that have ranked at or near the bottom nationally in access to care face a particularly daunting task. One such state is Colorado, which will be closely watched in 2022 as it prepares to reframe its state‐level governance in behavioral health.
Readers bracing for 2022 amid pandemic, workforce challenges
Authors: Canady Valerie A.
Published: December 2021

Editor's note: We asked Mental Health Weekly readers how COVID has changed the way their agency or organization operates and about the challenges and opportunities that await them in the new year. Here are some comments we received. More to come next week.
A simple configuration of beam steering substrate integrated waveguide aperture antenna loaded with metamaterials
Authors: Cai Yang , Li Sen , Wu Tao , Cao Yufan
Published: December 2021

This letter presents a novel broadband substrate integrated waveguide aperture antenna with simple structure and beam steering performance. By using the left‐hand and band gap characteristics of the mushroom‐shaped metamaterials, the main beam of the substrate‐integrated waveguide aperture antenna can be easily switched between the back‐fire and boresight directions. Above all, the beam scanning characteristic does not depend on three‐dimensional structures or complex loaded structures, therefore it is a promising technology for designing planar two dimensional beam steering array. Experimental results indicate that the impedance bandwidth of the antenna covers the frequency range from 13.3 to 16.7 GHz and the relative bandwidth is 22.7%. The accordance between the simulated and measured E‐plane radiation pattern of the antenna at three representative frequencies verifies the beam steering capability of the proposed antenna.
Virtual injections using 4D flow MRI with displacement corrections and constrained probabilistic streamlines
Authors: Roberts Grant S. , Loecher Michael W. , Spahic Alma , Johnson Kevin M. , Turski Patrick A. , Eisenmenger Laura B. , Wieben Oliver
Published: December 2021

Purpose

Streamlines from 4D‐flow MRI have been used clinically for intracranial blood‐flow tracking. However, deterministic and stochastic errors degrade streamline quality. The purpose of this study is to integrate displacement corrections, probabilistic streamlines, and novel fluid constraints to improve selective blood‐flow tracking and emulate “virtual bolus injections.”

Methods

Both displacement artifacts (deterministic) and velocity noise (stochastic) inherently occur during phase‐contrast MRI acquisitions. Here, two displacement correction methods, single‐step and iterative, were tested in silico with simulated displacements and were compared with ground‐truth velocity fields. Next, the effects of combining displacement corrections and constrained probabilistic streamlines were performed in 10 healthy volunteers using time‐averaged 4D‐flow data. Measures of streamline length and depth into vasculature were then compared with streamlines generated with no corrections and displacement correction alone using one‐way repeated‐measures analysis of variance and Friedman’s tests. Finally, virtual injections with improved streamlines were generated for three intracranial pathology cases.

Results

Iterative displacement correction outperformed the single‐step method in silico. In volunteers, the combination of displacement corrections and constrained probabilistic streamlines allowed for significant improvements in streamline length and increased the number of streamlines entering the circle of Willis relative to streamlines with no corrections and displacement correction alone. In the pathology cases, virtual injections with improved streamlines were qualitatively similar to dynamic arterial spin labeling images and allowed for forward/reverse selective flow tracking to characterize cerebrovascular malformations.

Conclusion

Virtual injections with improved streamlines from 4D‐flow MRI allow for flexible, robust, intracranial flow tracking.
Magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging of downfield proton resonances in the human brain at 3 T
Authors: Považan Michal , Schär Michael , Gillen Joseph , Barker Peter B.
Published: December 2021

Purpose

To develop an MRSI technique capable of mapping downfield proton resonances in the human brain.

Methods

A spectral‐spatial excitation and frequency‐selective refocusing scheme, in combination with 2D phase encoding, was developed for mapping of downfield resonances without any perturbation of the water magnetization. An alternative scheme using spectral‐spatial refocusing was also investigated for simultaneous detection of both downfield and upfield resonances. The method was tested in 5 healthy human volunteers.

Results

Downfield metabolite maps with a nominal spatial resolution of 1.5 cm3 were recorded at 3 T in a scan time of 12 minutes. Cramer‐Rao lower bounds for nine different downfield peaks were 20% or less over a single supraventricular slice. Downfield spectral profiles were similar to those in the literature recorded previously using single‐voxel localization methods. The same approach was also used for upfield MRSI, and simultaneous upfield and downfield acquisitions.

Conclusion

The developed MRSI pulse sequence was shown to be an efficient way of rapidly mapping downfield resonances in the human brain at 3 T, maximizing sensitivity through the relaxation enhancement effect. Because the MRSI approach is efficient in terms of data collection and can be readily implemented at short TE, somewhat higher spatial resolution can be achieved than has been reported in previous single‐voxel downfield MRS studies. With this approach, nine downfield resonances could be mapped in a single slice for the first time using MRSI at 3 T.
Pseudo‐active actuators: A concept analysis
Authors: Bai Xianxu , He Guannan
Published: December 2021

The superior performance of active vibration control systems largely depends on the four‐quadrant controllable execution capability in the available force‐velocity diagram of active actuators. Although semi‐active vibration control systems have the advantages of low energy consumption, simple structure, and high reliability, the system performance is not comparable to active control systems, due to the partial capability in only the first and third quadrants. On the basis of the comprehensive advantages of active and semi‐active actuators, to reform the design philosophy of semi‐active actuators to realize pseudo‐active actuators that have both mechanical properties of active actuators and energy consumption advantages of semi‐active actuators, that is, new semi‐active actuators with four‐quadrant controllable execution capability, will very likely cause a revolution in the related fields of mechanical design and system control. The basic design principle of pseudo‐active actuators that use semi‐active controllable actuators to achieve active actuator performance in the way of conceptual analysis is proposed. The proposed pseudo‐active actuators should consist of two half‐four‐quadrant actuators, that is, one is for the first and third quadrants and the other one for the second and fourth quadrants. This study employs two semi‐active controllable damping actuators and one mechanical compensation mechanism. One of the actuators provides the damping force in the first and third quadrants, and the other one combining with the mechanical compensation mechanism is for the second and fourth quadrants. A global mathematical model of the proposed actuator is established to describe the four different operational modes of the proposed actuator. It is proved that the two operational modes of the proposed actuator can realize active vibration control, and a case study of realizing active control is presented. The other two operational modes are compared with the conventional two‐degree‐of‐freedom model. More specifically, the application cases of the pseudo‐active operational mode of the proposed actuator in the quarter‐car/body‐powertrain suspension system are given, a pseudo‐active suspension named dual‐hook automobile suspension is presented. Furthermore, an equivalent expression of the electrical network is given for the mechanical network under different operational modes of the proposed actuator.
A roadmap to high‐resolution standard microcoil MAS NMR spectroscopy for metabolomics
Authors: Wong Alan
Published: December 2021

Current microcoil probe technology has emerged as a significant advancement in NMR applications to biofluids research. It has continued to excel as a hyphenated tool with other prominent microdevices, opening many new possibilities in multiple omics fields. However, this does not hold for biological samples such as intact tissue or organisms, due to the considerable challenges of incorporating the microcoil in a magic‐angle spinning (MAS) probe without relinquishing the high‐resolution spectral data. Not until 2012 did a microcoil MAS probe show promise in profiling the metabolome in a submilligram tissue biopsy with spectral resolution on par with conventional high‐resolution MAS (HR‐MAS) NMR. This result subsequently triggered a great interest in the possibility of NMR analysis with microgram tissues and striving toward the probe development of “high‐resolution” capable microcoil MAS NMR spectroscopy. This review gives an overview of the issues and challenges in the probe development and summarizes the advancements toward metabolomics.
Sarcopenia diagnosis in patients receiving hemodialysis: Agreement among different consensuses
Authors: Rosa Clara Suemi Costa , Ribeiro Heitor Siqueira , Vogt Barbara Perez , Sakkas Giorgos K. , Monteiro Henrique Luiz
Published: December 2021

Background

There are many consensuses to diagnose sarcopenia, and their agreement in patients receiving hemodialysis (HD) is not clear. We described the sarcopenia prevalence in patients receiving HD using different consensuses and analyzed their level of agreement.

Methods

Sixty‐seven patients (43 men, 55 ± 14.6 years) were evaluated for appendicular skeletal muscle mass using dual‐energy x‐ray absorptiometry and muscle strength using handgrip strength. Patients were classified according to different sarcopenia consensuses (European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People [EWGSOP], Revised EWGSOP [EWGSOP2], Foundation for the National Institutes of Health Project [FNIH], and Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia 2019 [AWGS2]). Kappa analysis identified the level of agreement.

Results

The prevalence of sarcopenia ranged from 1.5% to 11.9% depending on the sarcopenia consensus. The agreement between the different consensuses ranged from poor to almost perfect. FNIH and EWGSOP showed the lowest agreement (κ = 0.20; 95% CI, −0.14 to 0.54; P < 0.05), whereas EWGSOP2 and AWGS2 had the largest κ = 0.90 (95% CI, 0.71 to 1.00; P < 0.001). When stratified by age (≥60 years), the sarcopenia prevalence was higher in the older group (27% vs 2%; P = 0.004). In addition, male participants seemed to be more prone to sarcopenia compared with female counterparts, but this difference was not statistically confirmed (16% vs 4%; P = 0.242).

Conclusion

The sarcopenia consensuses showed from poor to almost perfect agreement, which varied the sarcopenia prevalence rates in patients receiving HD. EWGSOP2 and AWGS2 showed the largest agreement.
Non‐isothermal crystallization kinetics of polypropylene/layered double hydroxide composites
Authors: Guo Xincheng , Xu Xiaoyu , Bai Zhuyu , Chen Xiaolang , Qin Jun
Published: December 2021

The crystalline behaviors of polymers have a large impact on their physical and mechanical properties, especially as reinforcing and toughening materials in the construction industry. This work investigates the crystallization behaviors of polypropylene (PP) composites with layered double hydroxide (LDH) by using differential scanning calorimeter and a polarizing optical microscope (POM), and analyzed the non‐isothermal crystallization kinetics of PP composites by Avrami model and Mo's method. The results show that the entire process of non‐isothermal crystallization is appropriate for Mo′s method instead of Avrami model due to the offset of the curves in initial nucleation and secondary crystallization stages. The addition of LDH and modified LDH (SLDH) can increase the crystallinity (Xc) of PP despite decreasing the crystallization rate in the non‐isothermal crystallization process. The migration activation energy (∆E) indicates that LDH acts as a heterogeneous nucleating agent, which is consistent with POM results. The values of ∆E and semi‐crystallization time (t1/2) reveal that the nucleation capacity of PP/LDH is greater than that of PP/SLDH, but the crystallization rate of PP/LDH is slower than that of PP/SLDH, resulting in a decrease in Xc.
Late effects in survivors of high‐risk neuroblastoma following stem cell transplant with and without total body irradiation
Authors: Hobbie Wendy L. , Li Yimei , Carlson Claire , Goldfarb Samuel , Laskin Benjamin , Denburg Michelle , Goldmuntz Elizabeth , Mostoufi‐Moab Sogol , Wilkes Jennifer , Smith Karen , Sacks Nancy , Szalda Dava , Ginsberg Jill P.
Published: December 2021

Background

Neuroblastoma is the most common extracranial solid tumor in children. Those with high‐risk disease are treated with multimodal therapy, including high‐dose chemotherapy, stem cell transplant, radiation, and immunotherapy that have led to multiple long‐term complications in survivors. In the late 1990s, consolidation therapy involved myeloablative conditioning including total body irradiation (TBI) with autologous stem cell rescue. Recognizing the significant long‐term toxicities of exposure to TBI, more contemporary treatment protocols have removed this from conditioning regimens. This study examines an expanded cohort of 48 high‐risk neuroblastoma patients to identify differences in the late effect profiles for those treated with TBI and those treated without TBI.

Procedure

Data on the study cohort were collected from clinic charts, provider documentation in the electronic medical record of visits to survivorship clinic, including all subspecialists, and ancillary reports of laboratory and diagnostic tests done as part of risk‐based screening at each visit.

Results

All 48 survivors of BMT for high‐risk neuroblastoma had numerous late effects of therapy, with 73% having between five and 10 late effects. TBI impacted some late effects significantly, including growth hormone deficiency (GHD), bone outcomes, and cataracts.

Conclusion

Although high‐risk neuroblastoma survivors treated with TBI have significant late effects, those treated without TBI also continue to have significant morbidity related to high‐dose chemotherapy and local radiation. A multidisciplinary care team assists in providing comprehensive care to those survivors who are at highest risk for significant late effects.
Newly identified chemotherapy‐induced peripheral neuropathy in a childhood cancer survivorship clinic
Authors: Rodwin Rozalyn L. , Ross Wilhelmenia L. , Rotatori Jaime , Allen Katherine , Auerbach Claudia , Balsamo Lyn M. , Kadan‐Lottick Nina S.
Published: December 2021

Chemotherapy‐induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN), a debilitating side effect of pediatric cancer therapy, can be challenging to diagnose. We estimated the prevalence of newly identified and previously diagnosed CIPN in the regional HEROS Childhood Cancer Survivorship Clinic. From 2016 to 2018, 148 survivors (45.3% female, age 17.1 [SD 7.7] years, 81.8% in ongoing routine oncology follow‐up) had their initial survivorship evaluation at an average of 7.4 (SD 6.6) years from diagnosis. Fifty‐six survivors (37.8%) had CIPN, of these 46 (82.1%) were newly identified. Our findings demonstrate CIPN may be missed in routine oncology care, and new methods are needed to screen for CIPN.
MicroRNA expression profile predicts prognosis of pediatric adrenocortical tumors
Authors: Veronez Luciana Chain , Fedatto Paola Fernanda , Correa Carolina Alves Pereira , Lira Régia Caroline Peixoto , Baroni Mirella , da Silva Keteryne Rodrigues , Santos Paula , Antonio David Santos Marco , Queiroz Rosane de Paula Silva , Antonini Sonir Roberto Rauber , Tucci Jr Silvio , Neder Luciano , Yunes José Andres , Brandalise Silvia Regina , Panepucci Rodrigo Alexandre , Tone Luiz Gonzaga , Scrideli Carlos Alberto
Published: December 2021

Pediatric adrenocortical tumors (ACT) are rare aggressive neoplasms with heterogeneous prognosis. Despite extensive efforts, identifying reliable prognostic factors for pediatric patients with ACT remains a challenge. MicroRNA (miRNA) signatures have been associated with cancer diagnosis, treatment response, and prognosis of several types of cancer. However, the role of miRNAs has been poorly explored in pediatric ACT. In this study, we performed miRNA microarray profiling on a cohort of 37 pediatric ACT and nine nonneoplastic adrenal (NNA) samples and evaluated the prognostic significance of abnormally expressed miRNAs using Kaplan–Meier plots, log‐rank test, and Cox regression analysis. We identified a total of 98 abnormally expressed miRNAs; their expression profile discriminated ACT from NNAs. Among the 98 deregulated miRNAs, 17 presented significant associations with patients’ survival. In addition, higher expression levels of hsa‐miR‐630, ‐139‐3p, ‐125a‐3p, ‐574‐5p, ‐596, ‐564, ‐1321, and ‐423‐5p and lower expression levels of hsa‐miR‐377‐3p, ‐126‐3p, ‐410, ‐136‐3p, ‐29b‐3p, ‐29a‐3p, ‐337‐5p, ‐143‐3p, and 140‐5p were significantly associated with poor prognosis, tumor relapse, and/or death. Importantly, the expression profile of these 17 miRNAs stratified patients into two groups of ACTs with different clinical outcomes. Although some individual miRNAs exhibit potential prognostic values in ACTs, only the 17 miRNA‐based expression clustering was considered an independent prognostic factor for 5‐year event‐free survival (EFS) compared to other clinicopathological features. In conclusion, our study reports for the first time associations between miRNA profiles and childhood ACT prognosis, providing evidence that miRNAs could be useful biomarkers to discriminate patients with favorable and unfavorable clinical outcomes.
Effect of solvent on the microstructure of polyvinyl alcohol
Authors: Xiang Xiaomin , Shen Nengmei , Wang Xufang , Su Lulu , Xu Lingyun , Wu Fusheng
Published: December 2021

The method for producing polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) by the solution polymerization of vinyl acetate first and then alcoholysis strategy is industrial. Where solvent plays a vital role in control over stereoregularity, molecular weight and its distribution, crystallinity and so on. In this report, when methyl acetate was used as a solvent in the polymerization of vinyl acetate instead of methanol, prepared PVA was characterized by Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), gel permeation chromatography (GPC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The results showed that PVA obtained in methyl acetate has a higher content of syndiotactic structure, crystallinity melting temperature and enhanced thermal stability compared with PVA obtained in methanol due to the formation of Π ‐ Π complex between methyl acetate and vinyl acetate and the enhanced steric hindrance effect during polymerization. Additionally, methyl acetate has a smaller chain transfer constant (1.31 × 10−4), which benefits to decrease the branching degree and molecular weight distribution index of PVA. This research provides more ideas for the choice of solvents in the industrial production of polyvinyl alcohol.
Physicochemically modified anisotropic polyacrylamide thin film via ion‐beam treatment for liquid crystal system
Authors: Lee Dong Wook , Kim Dong Hyun , Oh Jin Young , Seo Dae‐Shik
Published: December 2021

We investigated ion‐beam (IB)‐treated polyacrylamide (PAM) film as a liquid crystal (LC) alignment layer. Polarized optical microscopy and pretilt angle analysis show the uniform LC alignment status. Atomic force microscopy shows the IB etching effect, and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy indicates the formation of carbon–oxygen bonds on the surface, which ensured the uniform alignment of LC molecules via van der Waals forces interaction. The reformed PAM films also had good thermal budgets and optical transparency for the LC system. The IB‐treated PAM films demonstrated stable electro‐optical performances in a twisted nematic LC system. Hence, IB treatment can be an effective method to apply several polymer materials to the LC alignment layer, and IB‐irradiated PAM films have remarkable potential for use in the LC system.
Starch Nanocrystals Grafted with Epichlorohydrin Dimethylamine for Methyl Blue Dye Removal
Authors: Chen QiJie , Gao Xin , Zhao YaLan , Liu Zhuo , Xie Guangyang , Liang ChunYan , Wang JianHui
Published: December 2021

In this paper, modified starch nanocrystals (SNCs) are prepared successfully by grafting the epichlorohydrin‐dimethylamine copolymer (PA) onto oxidized starch nanocrystals (OSNCs). The material is used as an adsorbent to deal with the methyl blue (MB) dye. The OSNCs‐PA is characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction, and Scanning electron microscopy. The zeta potential of OSNCs‐5.0%PA is +46.6 mV, which has a good adsorption performance for MB. In the adsorption process, the effects of adsorption time, pH, and initial MB concentration on the adsorption capacity are studied with the different OSNCs‐PA, and the adsorption kinetics and adsorption isothermal curves are also fitted. The results show that the maximum adsorption capacity of OSNCs‐0.5%PA, OSNCs‐3.0%PA, OSNCs‐5.0%PA on MB could reach 142.86, 166.67, and 169.49 mg g−1, respectively. The adsorption of OSNCs‐PA for MB conform to the second‐order kinetics and the Langmuir adsorption isotherm.