bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Role of dysregulated macrophage subpopulation ratios and functional changes in the development of coronary atherosclerosis
Authors: Xiao Yingjie , Huang Xin , Xia Yijun , Ding Minjun , Li Anqi , Yang Bo , She Qian
Published: November 2023

Coronary heart disease is one of the most significant risk factors affecting human health worldwide. Its pathogenesis is intricate, with atherosclerosis being widely regarded as the leading cause. Aberrant lipid metabolism in macrophages is recognized as one of the triggering factors in atherosclerosis development. To investigate the role of macrophages in the formation of coronary artery atherosclerosis, we utilized single‐cell data from wild‐type mice obtained from the aortic roots and ascending aortas after long‐term high‐fat diet feeding, as deposited in GSE131776. Seurat software was employed to refine the single‐cell data in terms of scale and cell types, facilitating the identification of differentially expressed genes. Through the application of differential expression genes, we conducted Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes functional enrichment analyses at 0, 8 and 16 weeks, aiming to uncover pathways with the most pronounced functional alterations as the high‐fat diet progressed. The AddModuleScore function was employed to score the expression of these pathways across different cell types. Subsequently, macrophages were isolated and further subdivided into subtypes, followed by an investigation into intercellular communication within these subtypes. Subsequent to this, we induced THP‐1 cells to generate foam cells, validating critical genes identified in prior studies. The results revealed that macrophages underwent the most substantial functional changes as the high‐fat diet progressed. Furthermore, two clusters were identified as potentially playing pivotal roles in macrophage functional regulation during high‐fat diet progression. Additionally, macrophage subtypes displayed intricate functionalities, with mutual functional counterbalances observed among these subtypes. The proportions of macrophage subtypes and the modulation of anti‐inflammatory and pro‐inflammatory functions played significant roles in the development of coronary artery atherosclerosis.
Pulmonary Transit Time Derived from First‐Pass Perfusion Cardiac MR Imaging: A Potential New Marker for Cardiac Involvement and Prognosis in Light‐Chain Amyloidosis
Authors: Bi Keying , Wan Ke , Xu Yuanwei , Wang Jie , Li Weihao , Guo Jiajun , Xu Ziqian , Li Yangjie , Deng Qiao , Cheng Wei , Sun Jiayu , Chen Yucheng
Published: November 2023

Background

First‐pass perfusion cardiac MR imaging could reflect pulmonary hemodynamics. However, the clinical value of pulmonary transit time (PTT) derived from first‐pass perfusion MRI in light‐chain (AL) amyloidosis requires further evaluation.

Purpose

To assess the clinical and prognostic value of PTT in patients with AL amyloidosis.

Study Type

Prospective observational study.

Population

226 biopsy‐proven systemic AL amyloidosis patients (age 58.62 ± 10.10 years, 135 males) and 43 healthy controls (age 42 ± 16.2 years, 20 males).

Field Strength/Sequence

SSFP cine and phase sensitive inversion recovery late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) sequences, and multislice first‐pass myocardial perfusion imaging with a saturation recovery turbo fast low‐angle shot (SR‐TurboFLASH) pulse sequence at 3.0T.

Assessment

PTT was measured as the time interval between the peaks of right and left ventricular cavity arterial input function curves on first‐pass perfusion MR images.

Statistical Tests

Independent‐sample t test, Mann–Whitney U test, Chi‐square test, Fisher's exact test, analysis of variance, or Kruskal–Wallis test, as appropriate; univariable and multivariable Cox proportional hazards models and Kaplan–Meier curves, area under receiver operating characteristic curve were used to determine statistical significance.

Results

PTT could differentiate AL amyloidosis patients with (N = 188) and without (N = 38) cardiac involvement (area under the curve [AUC] = 0.839). During a median follow‐up of 35 months, 160 patients (70.8%) demonstrated all‐cause mortality. After adjustments for clinical (Hazard ratio [HR] 1.061, confidence interval [CI]: 1.021–1.102), biochemical (HR 1.055, CI: 1.014–1.097), cardiac MRI‐derived (HR 1.077, CI: 1.034–1.123), and therapeutic (HR 1.063, CI: 1.024–1.103) factors, PTT predicted mortality independently in patients with AL amyloidosis. Finally, PTT could identify worse outcomes in patients demonstrating New York Heart Association class III, Mayo 2004 stage III, and transmural LGE pattern.

Data Conclusion

PTT may serve as a new imaging predictor of cardiac involvement and prognosis in AL amyloidosis.

Level of Evidence

2

Technical Efficacy

Stage 2
Oncological outcomes of unexpected uterine leiomyosarcoma: A single‐center retrospective analysis of 5528 consecutive hysterectomies
Authors: Casarin Jvan , Ghezzi Fabio , Lembo Antonio , Artuso Valeria , Schivardi Gabriella , Galati Emanuele Filippo , Ambrosoli Andrea Luigi , Bogani Giorgio , Multinu Francesco , Cromi Antonella
Published: November 2023

Background and Methods

Uterine leiomyosarcomas (uLMS) are rare malignant tumors, often incidentally discovered, with an estimated annual incidence of five cases per one million women in the United States. This study aimed to compare the oncological outcomes of two groups of patients: those with uLMS incidentally found during surgery and those who underwent surgery due to suspected or confirmed uLMS before the procedure. The study assessed patients who had undergone hysterectomy and were diagnosed with stage I uLMS at a tertiary gynecologic oncology referral center in Italy between January 2000 and December 2019. Data on patients' baseline characteristics, surgical procedures, and oncological outcomes were collected. The patients were classified into two groups based on whether uLMS was unexpectedly discovered or suspected before the surgery. Survival rates and factors influencing recurrence were analyzed.

Results

The study included 36 patients meeting the inclusion criteria, with 12 having preoperatively suspected or proven uLMS and 24 having incidentally discovered uLMS. No significant differences were observed between the two groups regarding disease‐free survival (23.7 vs. 27.3 months, log rank = 0.28), disease‐specific survival (median not reached, log rank = 0.78), or sites of relapse. Notably, among patients who underwent laparoscopic hysterectomy (compared to open surgery), a significantly higher rate of locoregional recurrence was found (78% vs. 33.3%, p = 0.04). Nevertheless, no significant differences in survival were observed based on the surgical approach.

Conclusions

Preoperative suspicion for uLMS did not seem to impact survival outcomes or the pattern of recurrence. Furthermore, although patients who underwent laparoscopic hysterectomy showed a higher rate of locoregional relapse, this did not affect their overall survival.
Case Report: Human Tracheal Transplantation Undergoes Progressive Reepithelialization Over Time
Authors: Laitman Benjamin M. , Cruz‐Encarnacion Pamela , Gordon Ronald E. , Genden Eric M.
Published: November 2023

Objectives

Tracheal transplantation is an ideal option for the reconstruction of long‐segment circumferential tracheal defects. Our group performed the first successful vascularized single‐staged tracheal transplantation in January 2021. Although a rigid biocompatible structure is necessary for a functioning tracheal replacement, the importance of ciliated epithelium, which allows for critical mucociliary clearance, is now being appreciated. Here, we examined the histological changes of the first single‐staged human tracheal transplant from serial endoscopic biopsies.

Methods

Biopsies of the tracheal mucosa were serially obtained since the time of the tracheal transplantation. Samples were examined via hematoxylin and eosin, electron microscopy, and immunohistochemistry.

Results

One week after transplantation, there is loss of ciliated epithelium and seromucinous cells, with only a basal layer of epithelium remaining. By 2 weeks, however, the epithelium begins to recover, albeit differently depending on the location of the biopsy. Near the site of tracheal anastomosis, there is epithelial proliferation, with the appearance of early ciliated cells. However, in the midgraft, there appears to be evidence of squamous metaplasia. Over time, however, normal ciliated epithelium and mucous cells appear without signs of chronic inflammation.

Conclusions

Critically, the tracheal allograft regained normal appearing respiratory epithelium after initial ischemic injury. The histologic differences at the midgraft versus anastomosis may suggest unique mechanisms of reepithelialization. At the recipient–donor interface, there may be a faster direct migration of recipient‐derived epithelial cells, in line with preclinical studies. The midgraft, in contrast, responds with epithelial proliferation from the donor basal cells or dedifferentiated mucous cells.

Level of Evidence

N/A Laryngoscope, 134:2664–2671, 2024
Carotid‐Cochlear Apex Dehiscence: A Family Affair
Authors: Gargula Stéphane , Tran Alexia , Daval Mary , Levy Daniel , Tuset Maria‐Pia , Ayache Denis
Published: November 2023

We report two cases of carotid‐cochlea dehiscence involving the cochlear apex, with, to our knowledge, the first description of this anomaly in two members of a family (mother–daughter). Pure tone audiometry revealed a bilateral mild sensorineural hearing loss predominantly on the left in the daughter, and a left mild mixed hearing loss with a predominance of sensorineural loss in the medium frequencies in the mother Carotid‐cochlear dehiscence is a rare anomaly with a multiform expression, which should be investigated in cases of third mobile window symptoms, but also atypical sensorineural hearing loss, or before any cochlear implantation. Laryngoscope, 134:2912–2914, 2024
Impact of suburban cropland intensification and afforestation on microbial biodiversity and C sequestration in paddy soils
Authors: Luo Youlin , Shen Jie , Dou Yuehan , Guo Lingke , Xin Zhiyuan , Tao Qi , Li Qiquan , Li Bing , Huang Rong , Xu Qiang , Li Huanxiu , Wang Changquan
Published: November 2023

Rapid urbanization drives changes in suburban cropland and afforestation, but the impact on soil microbes and carbon (C) dynamics remains unclear. Using genetic sequencing (16S rRNA sequence and functional prediction), we assessed the effects of cropland intensification and afforestation on the soil microbial communities and C sequestration potential in a suburban agricultural area. Traditional rotation (rice–wheat) homogenized microbial diversity along soil depth (0–100 cm). Cropland intensification (rice–wheat to rice–vegetables) and afforestation (rice–wheat to forest) decreased fungal diversity below 20 cm, while bacterial diversity and dominant taxa were less affected, due to the advantages of bacterial diversity and dominant taxa distribution. Cropland intensification increased profile C accumulation, mainly due to excessive fertilization (obviously decreased aerobic_chemoheterotrophy below 20 cm in bacterial function), but not C stability (significantly increased permanganate oxidizable C (POXC), and microbial‐dependent C sources tend to from crop litter to soil sources). Afforestation offset C accumulation through no fertilization and inundation, but increased saprophytic function for C sequestration. In addition, pH and C had opposing effects on dominant microbial taxa, mitigating extreme differentiation. Subsoil was more sensitive to changes than topsoil. Altogether, soil C stability decoupled from C accumulation in the suburban agricultural area. Cropland intensification increased C accumulation yet decreased bacterial C sequestration potential and C stability; cropland afforestation facilitated fungi‐derived C accumulation and its C sequestration. Deep soil C sequestration was more vulnerable to suburban agriculture practices, emphasizing the need to consider subsoil C‐cycling in agricultural practices amid urbanization.
Assessing the dam's stability of the pond at the ‘El Bosque’ renaissance garden (Béjar, Spain)
Authors: Ayarza Puy , Yenes Mariano , Sánchez‐Sánchez Yolanda , Palomeras Imma , Catalán José R. Martínez , Gil‐Arranz Enrique , Barreiro Juan Gómez
Published: November 2023

The renaissance botanical garden of ‘El Bosque’ in Béjar (Salamanca, Spain) presents a pond bounded by a dam in its western part. The latter is formed by two masonry walls interconnected by buttresses. Cubic spaces in between are filled with a variable grain‐size material (silty sand) that allows limited water flow. In recent years, the southern part of the dam has experienced localized and random subsidence that jeopardizes the entrance to part of the garden. To regain access, a proper and reliable diagnosis of the origin, magnitude and relevance of the subsidence must be made. In this regard, we have undertaken a microgravity survey in the dam area to identify places with an anomalous distribution of the filling material in order to foresee further sinking or potential collapsing areas. The precise positioning (2 mm resolution) and accurate terrain correction needed in this kind of high‐resolution gravity surveys (points every 1.5 m) were achieved by creating a detailed digital terrain model (cm resolution) with a remotely piloted aircraft. In addition, we performed three electric resistivity tomography (ERT) profiles at different levels of the garden: (i) on the dam itself; (ii) right on the foot of the dam and parallel to it (5 m below and ∼17 m to the W); and (iii) a bit farther, but also parallel to the dam (8 m below and ∼27 m to the W). The ERT profiles identified high conductivity in water‐saturated areas and determined the paths that rainfall and pond's seepage water follow in the dam and its underground, formed by granites. The geophysical studies were paired with geotechnical analyses of the sunk materials. The study concluded that the thinnest fraction of the dam's filling material (i.e., silts) is being washed away, leaving behind sand with less density and stability, susceptible to collapse. Thus, the observed sinking is related to soil piping, that is to soil internal erosion and compaction issues that force the soil material to re‐adjust geometrically and volumetrically.
Orthogonal collocation based‐optimization of fouling resistance for industrial low‐density polyethylene production in a tubular reactor
Authors: Rohman Fakhrony Sholahudin , Muhammad Dinie , Idris Iylia , Murat Muhamad Nazri , Zahan Khairul Azly , Azmi Ashraf
Published: November 2023

In tubular reactors, fouling issues are caused due to two reasons. One is the heating–cooling prerequisite, and the other is the exothermic nature of the low‐density polyethylene (LDPE) polymerization process. These issues must be considered while optimizing LDPE production to provide maximum productivity and a safe operation. However, it is not a simple process because the conversion of the monomer (XM) is generally related to significant profits. This conversion might be performed at high reaction temperatures, resulting in fouling formation. Therefore, in this research, a study of dynamic optimization to find the most efficient production of LDPE in the presence of fouling resistance (Rf) restrictions is conducted. An Rf is employed as a measure of fouling. To establish the highest reactor Rf , this study employs variations in the heat transfer coefficient (U) calculated from industry data. This dynamic optimization study addresses the optimization challenges using dynopt coded programming based on orthogonal collocation (OC) and sequential quadratic programming methodologies. Beforehand, the LDPE model is validated with industrial data. This study evaluates three possibilities to determine the most optimum reactor performance. The most optimum reactor output is determined from the constrained maximum conversion, which gave 32.15% conversion, while the was effectively met at 47.37cm2 s K/cal.
Prognostic scoring system for pediatric Epstein–Barr virus‐associated hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis based on baseline characteristics: A multicenter retrospective study
Authors: Kong Qi , Li Min , Wang Jingshi , Wu Lin , Zhou Dunhua , Yang Minghua , Xu Xiaojun , Tan Zhen , Wu Xiaoyan , Wang Zhao
Published: November 2023

Background

The prognosis of pediatric Epstein–Barr virus (EBV)‐associated hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (EBV‐HLH) varies. This study aimed to identify high‐risk children early.

Procedure

Data from 264 children (0–14 years of age), diagnosed with EBV‐HLH at six centers in China between January 2016 and December 2021, were analyzed. Patients were randomly divided into derivation (n = 185) and verification (n = 79) cohorts. A Cox regression model was used to explore risk predictors and establish a prognostic scoring system for death events that occurred during the follow‐up period.

Results

Chronic active EBV infection (CAEBV) history (hazard ratio [HR] 1.82 [95% confidence interval, CI: 1.02–3.26]; p = .0441), plasma EBV‐DNA more than 104 copies/mL (HR 2.89 [95% CI: 1.62–5.16]; p = .0003), pulmonary infection (HR 2.24 [95% CI: 1.06–4.75]; p = .0353), digestive tract hemorrhage (HR 2.55 [95% CI: 1.35–4.82]; p = .0041), and hypoxemia (HR 3.95 [95% CI: 2.15–7.26]; p < .0001) were independent risk factors. Accordingly, the CAEBV history, plasma EBV‐DNA copy number, pulmonary infection hemorrhage of digestive tract, hypoxemia prognostic scoring system (CEPHO‐PSS) were developed, which separated patients into low‐ (0–1 points), middle‐ (2–3 points), and high‐ (4–8 points) risk groups. Survival curves for the three groups exhibited statistically significant differences (p < .0001). Internal and external verification of CEPHO‐PSS was performed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) and calibration curves in the derivation and verification cohorts, respectively, confirming good accuracy and applicability.

Conclusions

The CEPHO‐PSS identified three risk groups with statistically significant differences in survival curves. It was based on the baseline characteristics, and can give clinicians a convenient check for risk prediction.
Plasma atomic layer etching of ruthenium with surface fluorination and ion bombardment
Authors: Kim Yongjae , Kang Hojin , Ha Heeju , Choi Minsuk , Jeon Minsung , Cho Sung Min , Chae Heeyeop
Published: November 2023

The plasma atomic layer etching (ALE) process for Ru was developed with surface fluorination and ion bombardment. We employed two methods for surface fluorination: (i) fluorocarbon deposition using CHF3 or C4F8 plasmas and (ii) chemisorption and diffusion with CF4 plasma. C4F8 plasma generated a more fluorine rich fluorocarbon layer on the Ru surface compared with CHF3 plasma, and a higher etch per cycle (EPC) of 1.5 nm/cycle was achieved with C4F8 plasma, in contrast to the 0.6 nm/cycle achieved with CHF3 plasma. Moreover, chemisorption and diffusion with CF4 plasma yielded an EPC of 1.2 nm/cycle. The ALE process using CHF3 plasma shows the lowest fluorine residue and lowest surface roughness compared with the ALE process using C4F8 and CF4 plasmas.
Identification of sequence determinants for the ABHD14 enzymes
Authors: Vaidya Kaveri , Rodrigues Golding , Gupta Sonali , Devarajan Archit , Yeolekar Mihika , Madhusudhan M. S. , Kamat Siddhesh S.
Published: November 2023

Over the course of evolution, enzymes have developed remarkable functional diversity in catalyzing important chemical reactions across various organisms, and understanding how new enzyme functions might have evolved remains an important question in modern enzymology. To systematically annotate functions, based on their protein sequences and available biochemical studies, enzymes with similar catalytic mechanisms have been clustered together into an enzyme superfamily. Typically, enzymes within a superfamily have similar overall three‐dimensional structures, conserved catalytic residues, but large variations in substrate recognition sites and residues to accommodate the diverse biochemical reactions that are catalyzed within the superfamily. The serine hydrolases are an excellent example of such an enzyme superfamily. Based on known enzymatic activities and protein sequences, they are split almost equally into the serine proteases and metabolic serine hydrolases. Within the metabolic serine hydrolases, there are two outlying members, ABHD14A and ABHD14B, that have high sequence similarity, but their biological functions remained cryptic till recently. While ABHD14A still lacks any functional annotation to date, we recently showed that ABHD14B functions as a lysine deacetylase in mammals. Given their high sequence similarity, automated databases often wrongly assign ABHD14A and ABHD14B as the same enzyme, and therefore, annotating functions to them in various organisms has been problematic. In this article, we present a bioinformatics study coupled with biochemical experiments, which identifies key sequence determinants for both ABHD14A and ABHD14B, and enable better classification for them. In addition, we map these enzymes on an evolutionary timescale and provide a much‐wanted resource for studying these interesting enzymes in different organisms.
Density Functional Theory Study of Structural Evolution, Relative Stability, and Electronic Properties of SnnAln (n = 2–12) Clusters
Authors: Zhang Wei , Zhang Huan , Li Yifu , Chen Xiumin , Yang Bin , Xu Baoqiang
Published: November 2023

The ground‐state structure, average binding energy (Eb), fragmentation energies (ΔE), second‐order difference energy (Δ2E), gap between the highest occupied molecular orbital and the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (HOMO‐LUMO), vertical ionization potential (VIP), vertical electron affinity (VEA), and charge transfer of SnnAln (n = 2–12) clusters are evaluated by density functional theory (DFT). With an increase in the cluster size n, Al atoms aggregate in the geometric center of the cluster, and Sn atoms encapsulate Al atoms in the periphery of the cluster. The variation of ΔE, Δ2E, the HOMO‐LUMO gap, VIP, and VEA of the SnnAln clusters follows similar trends, with certain odd–even oscillations. However, beyond the cluster size n ≥ 9, the HOMO‐LUMO gap decreases significantly, and the VIP and VEA fluctuate significantly, indicating a deterioration of the relative stability of the cluster. Charge transfer proceeds from the Sn atom to the Al atom. This study provides an analysis of the interaction between Sn and Al at the atomic level and explains the segregation phenomenon during the preparation of tin‐aluminum alloys.
Eigensolutions, virial theorem and molecular study of nonrelativistic Krazer‐Fues potential
Authors: Onate Clement A. , Okon Ituen B. , Omugbe Ekwevugbe , Onyeaju M. C. , Owolabi J. A. , Emeje K. O. , Eyube Edwin Samson , Obasuyi A. R. , William Eddy S.
Published: November 2023

A Kratzer‐Fues potential is coupled with its self to form a double Kratzer‐Fues potential. The solutions of the radial Schrödinger equation with the combined potential are obtained via two different methodologies. Using the supersymmetric approach, the energy equation for a non‐approximated centrifugal term is obtained. The energy equation for the approximated centrifugal term is obtained using the parametric Nikiforov‐Uvarov method. Numerical results are computed for five molecules using MATLAB software program. The computed numerical values are compared with the experimental values and the ground state energy obtained from Herzberg's energy level equation. The study revealed that the results of the approximated centrifugal term are better than the results of the non‐approximated centrifugal term for four molecules.
Paraquat ingestion in an adult with cystic fibrosis (CF): Diagnostic and management dilemmas
Authors: Evans Ieuan E. S. , Kumar Shanal , France Megan , Smith Daniel , Masel Philip , Tay George , Henderson Daniel , Bell Scott C. , Reid David
Published: November 2023

N,N'‐dimethyl‐4,4'bipyridinium dichloride (Paraquat) is a potent herbicide used widely in agriculture. We report the effects of an ingestion of paraquat by a 28 year old male with cystic fibrosis and the diagnostic and management challenges this posed in both the acute and longer term setting. We describe the effects of direct paraquat toxicity on the lung tissue secondary to aspiration and review the long‐term sequelae of paraquat, namely osteonecrosis. Our case is the first to describe osteonecrosis of the knee in the context of paraquat toxicity. Survival following ingestion remains poor with a high associated mortality. However, timely treatment with NAC and immunosuppression may impact on survival. In those patients who do survive the acute phase post ingestion, follow‐up over years may be required to detect the long‐term effects of paraquat on bone health.
Architecture Controls Phonon Propagation in All‐Solid Brush Colloid Metamaterials
Authors: Cang Yu , Sainidou Rebecca , Rembert Pascal , Matyjaszewski Krzysztof , Bockstaller Michael , Graczykowski Bartlomiej , Fytas George
Published: November 2023

Brillouin light scattering and elastodynamic theory are concurrently used to determine and interpret the hypersonic phonon dispersion relations in brush particle solids as a function of the grafting density with perspectives in optomechanics, heat management, and materials metrology. In the limit of sparse grafting density, the phonon dispersion relations bear similarity to polymer‐embedded colloidal assembly structures in which phonon dispersion can be rationalized on the basis of perfect boundary conditions, i.e., isotropic stiffness transitions across the particle interface. In contrast, for dense brush assemblies, more complex dispersion characteristics are observed that imply anisotropic stiffness transition across the particle/polymer interface. This provides direct experimental validation of phonon propagation changes associated with chain conformational transitions in dense particle brush materials. A scaling relation between interface tangential stiffness and crowding of polymer tethers is derived that provides a guideline for chemists to design brush particle materials with tailored phononic dispersion characteristics. The results emphasize the role of interfaces in composite materials systems. Given the fundamental relevance of phonon dispersion to material properties such as thermal transport or mechanical properties, it is also envisioned that the results will spur the development of novel functional hybrid materials.
High‐Precision Single‐Cell microRNA Therapy by a Functional Nanopipette with Sensitive Photoelectrochemical Feedback
Authors: Zheng You‐Wei , Yu Si‐Yuan , Li Zheng , Xu Yi‐Tong , Zhao Wei‐Wei , Jiang Dechen , Chen Hong‐Yuan , Xu Jing‐Juan
Published: November 2023

This work proposes the concept of single‐cell microRNA (miR) therapy and proof‐of‐concept by engineering a nanopipette for high‐precision miR‐21‐targeted therapy in a single HeLa cell with sensitive photoelectrochemical (PEC) feedback. Targeting the representative oncogenic miR‐21, the as‐functionalized nanopipette permits direct intracellular drug administration with precisely controllable dosages, and the corresponding therapeutic effects can be sensitively transduced by a PEC sensing interface that selectively responds to the indicator level of cytosolic caspase‐3. The experimental results reveal that injection of ca. 4.4 × 10−20 mol miR‐21 inhibitor, i.e., 26488 copies, can cause the obvious therapeutic action in the targeted cell. This work features a solution to obtain the accurate knowledge of how a certain miR‐drug with specific dosages treats the cells and thus provides an insight into futuristic high‐precision clinical miR therapy using personalized medicine, provided that the prerequisite single‐cell experiments are courses of personalized customization.
Halogen‐bonding boosting the high performance X‐ray imaging of organic scintillators
Authors: Chen Hongming , Lin Miao , Zhu Yanan , Zhang Dongwei , Chen Jingru , Wei Qingsong , Yuan Siqi , Liao Yibin , Chen Fuhai , Chen Yong , Lin Meijin , Fang Xin
Published: November 2023

Organic scintillators with efficient X‐ray excited luminescence are essential for medical diagnostics and security screening. However, achieving excellent organic scintillation materials is challenging due to low X‐ray absorption coefficients and inferior radioluminescence (RL) intensity. Herein, supramolecular interactions are incorporated, particularly halogen bonding, into organic scintillators to enhance their radioluminescence properties. By introducing heavy atoms (X = Cl, Br, I) into 9,10‐bis(4‐pyridyl)anthracene (BPA), the formation of halogen bonding (BPA‐X) enhances their X‐ray absorption coefficient and restricts the molecular vibration and rotation, which boosts their RL intensity. The RL intensity of BPA‐Cl and BPA‐Br fluorochromes increased by over 2 and 6.3 times compared to BPA, respectively. Especially, BPA‐Br exhibits an ultrafast decay time of 8.25 ns and low detection limits of 25.95 ± 2.49 nGy s−1. The flexible film constructed with BPA‐Br exhibited excellent X‐ray imaging capabilities. Furthermore, this approach is also applicable to organic phosphors. The formation of halogen bonding in bromophenyl‐methylpyridinium iodide (PYI) led to a fourfold increase in RL intensity compared to bromophenyl‐methyl‐pyridinium (PY). It suggests that halogen bonding serves as a promising and effective molecular design strategy for the development of high‐performance organic scintillator materials, presenting new opportunities for their applications in radiology and security screening.
Optimizing ZnO–Quantum Dot Interface with Thiol as Ligand Modification for High‐Performance Quantum Dot Light‐Emitting Diodes
Authors: Jia Siqi , Hu Menglei , Gu Mi , Ma Jingrui , Li Depeng , Xiang Guohong , Liu Pai , Wang Kai , Servati Peyman , Ge Wei Kun , Sun Xiao Wei
Published: November 2023

As the electron transport layer in quantum dot light‐emitting diodes (QLEDs), ZnO suffers from excessive electrons that lead to luminescence quenching of the quantum dots (QDs) and charge‐imbalance in QLEDs. Therefore, the interplay between ZnO and QDs requires an in‐depth understanding. In this study, DFT and COSMOSL simulations are employed to investigate the effect of sulfur atoms on ZnO. Based on the simulations, thiol ligands (specifically 2‐hydroxy‐1‐ethanethiol) to modify the ZnO nanocrystals are adopted. This modification alleviates the excess electrons without causing any additional issues in the charge injection in QLEDs. This modification strategy proves to be effective in improving the performance of red‐emitting QLEDs, achieving an external quantum efficiency of over 23% and a remarkably long lifetime T95 of >12 000 h at 1000 cd m−2. Importantly, the relationship between ZnO layers with different electronic properties and their effect on the adjacent QDs through a single QD measurement is investigated. These findings show that the ZnO surface defects and electronic properties can significantly impact the device performance, highlighting the importance of optimizing the ZnO–QD interface, and showcasing a promising ligand strategy for the development of highly efficient QLEDs.
Spatial Effect on the Performance of Carboxylate Anode Materials in Na‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Huang Jinghao , Li Shi , Wang You , Kim Eric Youngsam , Yang Zhenzhen , Chen Dongchang , Cheng Lei , Luo Chao
Published: November 2023

Developing low‐voltage carboxylate anode materials is critical for achieving low‐cost, high‐performance, and sustainable Na‐ion batteries (NIBs). However, the structure design rationale and structure‐performance correlation for organic carboxylates in NIBs remains elusive. Herein, the spatial effect on the performance of carboxylate anode materials is studied by introducing heteroatoms in the conjugation structure and manipulating the positions of carboxylate groups in the aromatic rings. Planar and twisted organic carboxylates are designed and synthesized to gain insight into the impact of geometric structures to the electrochemical performance of carboxylate anodes in NIBs. Among the carboxylates, disodium 2,2’‐bipyridine‐5,5’‐dicarboxylate (2255‐Na) with a planar structure outperforms the others in terms of highest specific capacity (210 mAh g−1), longest cycle life (2000 cycles), and best rate capability (up to 5 A g−1). The cyclic stability and redox mechanism of 2255‐Na in NIBs are exploited by various characterization techniques. Moreover, high‐temperature (up to 100 °C) and all‐organic batteries based on a 2255‐Na anode, a polyaniline (PANI) cathode, and an ether‐based electrolyte are achieved and exhibited exceptional electrochemical performance. Therefore, this work demonstrates that designing organic carboxylates with extended planar conjugation structures is an effective strategy to achieve high‐performance and sustainable NIBs.
A catalog of metrics at source code level for vulnerability prediction: A systematic mapping study
Authors: Codabux Zadia , Zakia Sultana Kazi , Chowdhury Md Naseef‐Ur‐Rahman
Published: November 2023

Industry practitioners assess software from a security perspective to reduce the risks of deploying vulnerable software. Besides following security best practice guidelines during the software development life cycle, predicting vulnerability before roll‐out is crucial. Software metrics are popular inputs for vulnerability prediction models. The objective of this study is to provide a comprehensive review of the source code‐level security metrics presented in the literature. Our systematic mapping study started with 1451 studies obtained by searching the four digital libraries from ACM, IEEE, ScienceDirect, and Springer. After applying our inclusion/exclusion criteria as well as the snowballing technique, we narrowed down 28 studies for an in‐depth study to answer four research questions pertaining to our goal. We extracted a total of 685 code‐level metrics. For each study, we identified the empirical methods, quality measures, types of vulnerabilities of the prediction models, and shortcomings of the work. We found that standard machine learning models, such as decision trees, regressions, and random forests, are most frequently used for vulnerability prediction. The most common quality measures are precision, recall, accuracy, and
‐measure. Based on our findings, we conclude that the list of software metrics for measuring code‐level security is not universal or generic yet. Nonetheless, the results of our study can be used as a starting point for future studies aiming at improving existing security prediction models and a catalog of metrics for vulnerability prediction for software practitioners.
Survival implications of diversion entrainment for out-migrating juvenile Chinook Salmon and steelhead
Authors: Kock Tobias J. , Evans Scott D. , Perry Russell W. , Monk Patrick A. , Porter Michael S. , Hansen Amy C. , Pope Adam C.
Published: November 2023

Objective

Efforts to ameliorate the negative effects of diversion dams on aquatic species of concern are important in rivers where water withdrawal supports agricultural economies, and they are likely to become increasingly important with impending climate change. A multi-year study was conducted to evaluate the survival consequences of diversion dam passage for juvenile Chinook Salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha and steelhead O. mykiss in the highly managed Yakima River, Washington. Canal entrainment and passage were evaluated at four diversion dams in the lower Yakima River where seaward-migrating juvenile salmon and steelhead either pass dams via spill bays or enter canals with downstream fish-screening facilities designed to collect entrained fish and return them to the main-stem river.

Methods

We used acoustic telemetry to monitor the downstream migration behavior of 4403 juvenile Chinook Salmon and steelhead during 2018–2021.

Result

Percent entrainment into canals was substantial (6–59%) at three of the four diversion dams studied, and entrainment probability was positively associated with the proportion of streamflow diverted into canals. Survival probability estimates for groups of tagged fish that were entrained into canals were lower than survival probability estimates for tagged fish that passed through spill bays on the dams. Absolute differences in survival probabilities between routes ranged from 0.099 to 0.369, demonstrating that canal entrainment reduced the survival of outmigrating juvenile Chinook Salmon and steelhead. We also found that entrainment resulted in migration delays, which could further affect survival because fish are increasingly exposed to predation and decreased water quality as water temperature increases throughout the migration season.

Conclusion

Canal entrainment resulted in increased mortality and travel time through the study area, highlighting the need to limit the entrainment of juvenile salmon and steelhead at diversion dams in rivers where salmon recovery is important.
Random Switching Period SVPWM Technique with Variable Sampling Frequency for Three‐Phase Power Converters
Authors: Liu Jiakang , Yao Xiaodong , Wang Yu
Published: November 2023

To improve the pulse width modulation (PWM) harmonic suppression effect of the three‐phase VSI‐fed PMSM system, this paper proposed a novel random switching period (RSP)‐Space Vector Pulse Width Modulation (SVPWM) technique for the three‐phase power converter. First, the proposed technique replaces the 10‐bit linear feedback shift register pseudorandom number generator (LFSR‐PRNG) with a Tiny Mersenne Twister (MT)‐PRNG to quickly generate high‐quality pseudorandom number sequences. Then, to reduce the sampling error caused by the current ripple, this paper analyzes the sampling timing under different modulation techniques. Based on the interrupted update mechanism of the Infineon AURIX‐TC264, the variable frequency sampling of the RSP‐SVPWM technique is implemented to ensure the best sampling of the motor phase current. Finally, the simulation and experimental results show that the proposed technique can effectively disperse PWM harmonic energy. Meanwhile, the RSP‐SVPWM technique based on variable sampling frequency effectively improves the phase current quality of the PMSM system. The proposed technique shows great potential for suppressing PWM harmonics in integrated PMSM systems. © 2023 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.
A self‐evaluated predictive model: A Bayesian neural network approach to colorectal cancer diagnosis
Authors: Guo Jie , Wu Zihao , Jia Yin , Cao Hongwei , Qin Qin , Sun Tingting , Zhou Xinru , Pan Xue , Hua Cheng , Mao Chuanbin , Liu Shanrong
Published: November 2023

Artificial intelligence has shown immense potential in cancer prediction, but existing models cannot estimate prediction uncertainty by themselves. Here, we developed a Bayesian neural network (BNN) model, BNN‐CRC15, for colorectal cancer (CRC) prediction while assessing its reliability. The model was trained on routine laboratory data obtained from 27,911 participants and provided quantified prediction uncertainty, allowing identification of a subset of participants in which the model was confident, mimicking the diagnostic process of human practitioners. Our model exhibited superior performance (area under the curve = 0.918) in the confident participant group, which accounted for 46.4% of the patients, indicating that routine laboratory data alone are sufficient for accurate predictions in this subset. For the non‐confident group, further advanced tests, such as colonoscopy, could be recommended to achieve more accurate predictions. In addition, our model demonstrated superior overall accuracy (0.848) in all patients, outperforming other five traditional algorithms (extreme gradient boosting, support vector machine, logistic regression, random forest, and artificial neural network) and fecal immunochemical test in distinguishing CRC from non‐CRC. These findings suggest that our BNN‐CRC15 model could serve as a valuable tool for improving CRC diagnosis and prevention.
From giant gravitons to black holes
Authors: Choi Sunjin , Kim Seok , Lee Eunwoo , Lee Jehyun
Published: November 2023

Abstract

We study AdS5 black holes from a recently suggested giant graviton expansion formula for the index of U(N) maximal super-Yang-Mills theory. We compute the large N entropy at fixed charges and giant graviton numbers nI by a saddle point analysis, and further maximize it in nI. This agrees with the dual black hole entropy in the small black hole limit. To get black holes at general sizes, one should note that various giant graviton indices cancel because gauge theory does not suffer from a Hagedorn-like pathology by an infinite baryonic tower. With one assumption on the mechanism of this cancellation, we account for the dual black hole entropy at general sizes. We interpret our results as analytic continuations of the large N free energies of SCFTs, and based on it compute the entropies of AdS4,7 black holes from M5, M2 giant gravitons.
BMS modular covariance and structure constants
Authors: Bagchi Arjun , Mondal Saikat , Pal Sanchari , Riegler Max
Published: November 2023

Abstract

Two-dimensional (2d) field theories invariant under the Bondi-Metzner-Sachs algebra, or 2d BMSFTs in short, are putative holographic duals of Einstein gravity in 3d asymptotically flat spacetimes. When defined on a torus, these field theories come equipped with a modified modular structure. We use the modular covariance of the BMS torus two-point function to develop formulae for different three-point structure constants of the field theory. These structure constants indicate that BMSFTs follow the eigenstate thermalization hypothesis, albeit with some interesting changes to usual 2d CFTs. The singularity structures of the structure constants contain information on perturbations of cosmological horizons in 3d asymptotically flat spacetimes, which we show can also be obtained as a limit of BTZ quasinormal modes.
Out-of-time-order correlators and Lyapunov exponents in sparse SYK
Authors: Cáceres Elena , Guglielmo Tyler , Kent Brian , Misobuchi Anderson
Published: November 2023

Abstract

We use a combination of analytical and numerical methods to study out-of-time order correlators (OTOCs) in the sparse Sachdev-Ye-Kitaev (SYK) model. We find that at a given order of N, the standard result for the q-local, all-to-all SYK, obtained through the sum over ladder diagrams, is corrected by a series in the sparsity parameter, k. We present an algorithm to sum the diagrams at any given order of 1/(kq)n. We also study OTOCs numerically as a function of the sparsity parameter and determine the Lyapunov exponent. We find that numerical stability when extracting the Lyapunov exponent requires averaging over a massive number of realizations. This trade-off between the efficiency of the sparse model and consistent behavior at finite N becomes more significant for larger values of N.
Satisfaction with radiotherapy care among cancer patients treated in Germany—secondary analysis of a large multicenter study
Authors: Fabian Alexander , Rühle Alexander , Domschikowski Justus , Trommer Maike , Wegen Simone , Becker Jan-Niklas , Wurschi Georg , Boeke Simon , Sonnhoff Mathias , Fink Christoph A. , Käsmann Lukas , Schneider Melanie , Bockelmann Elodie , Treppner Martin , Mehnert-Theuerkauf Anja , Nicolay Nils H. , Krug David ,   Young DEGRO Group
Published: November 2023

Purpose

Patient satisfaction with healthcare has been linked to clinical outcomes and regulatory agencies demand its regular assessment. Therefore, we aimed to investigate patient satisfaction with radiotherapy care and its determinants.

Methods

This is a secondary analysis of a multicenter prospective cross-sectional study. Eligible cancer patients anonymously completed questionnaires at the end of a course of radiotherapy. The outcome variable was overall patient satisfaction with radiotherapy care measured with a 10-point Likert scaled single-item. Given patient satisfaction was defined for patients scoring ≥ 8 points. Determinants of given patient satisfaction were assessed by univariable and multivariable analyses. A p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results

Out of 2341 eligible patients, 1075 participated (participation rate 46%). Data on patient satisfaction was provided by 1054 patients. There was a right-skewed distribution towards more patient satisfaction (mean = 8.8; SD = 1.68). Given patient satisfaction was reported by 85% (899/1054) of the patients. Univariable analyses revealed significant associations of lower patient satisfaction with tumor entity (rectal cancer), concomitant chemotherapy, inpatient care, treating center, lower income, higher costs, and lower quality of life. Rectal cancer as tumor entity, treating center, and higher quality of life remained significant determinants of patient satisfaction in a multivariable logistic regression.

Conclusion

Overall patient satisfaction with radiotherapy care was high across 11 centers in Germany. Determinants of patient satisfaction were tumor entity, treating center, and quality of life. Although these data are exploratory, they may inform other centers and future efforts to maintain high levels of patient satisfaction with radiotherapy care.
Kind oder Karriere – (k)eine Frage in der Rechtsmedizin?
Authors: Küppers L. , Walz C. , Germerott T. , Ritz-Timme S. , Schwarz C.
Published: November 2023

Hintergrund

Die Rechtsmedizin ist ein attraktives medizinisches Fachgebiet mit vielfältigem Aufgabenspektrum. In der frühen Phase der Berufslaufbahn haben Ärzt*innen in der Rechtsmedizin zusätzlich zu einer hohen Arbeitsbelastung mehrere berufliche Zwischenziele zu erreichen, wie den Abschluss der Facharztweiterbildung und die Promotion. Für viele fällt auch die Phase der Familiengründung in diesen Abschnitt. Dadurch könnten sich für Ärzt*innen im Fach Rechtsmedizin beruflich-familiäre Konflikte ergeben.

Ziel der Arbeit

Ziel der Arbeit war es, derartige Konflikte transparent zu machen und Lösungsstrategien zu entwickeln.

Material und Methoden

Mithilfe der Web-Applikation SoSci-Survey wurde eine Umfrage unter Ärztinnen in der Rechtsmedizin durchgeführt. Da der erste Teil des Fragebogens sich mit den Arbeitsbedingungen schwangerer/stillender Ärztinnen in der Rechtsmedizin befasste, war die Umfrage nur an weibliche Personen gerichtet.

Ergebnisse

Es wurden 69 vollständige Datensätze von rechtsmedizinisch tätigen Ärztinnen erhalten. Davon hatten 53,6 % Kinder, 5,8 % waren zum Zeitpunkt der Umfrage schwanger, und 40,6 % hatten weder Kinder noch waren sie schwanger. Nur für 8,7 % der Befragten spielte ein Kinderwunsch gar keine Rolle. Von den Frauen ohne Kinder berichteten 53,6 %, von denen mit Kindern oder aktueller Schwangerschaft 22,0 %, sehr stark/stark zwischen Kinderwunsch und Beruf abgewogen zu haben. Von den Frauen mit Kindern fühlten sich 48,8 % in ihrer wissenschaftlichen Entwicklung und 31,7 % in der Facharztweiterbildung gebremst.

Diskussion

Das Thema „Vereinbarkeit von Beruf und Familie“ ist für Ärzt*innen in der Rechtsmedizin relevant. Für eine gute Vereinbarkeit sind strukturelle und gesellschaftliche Veränderungen erforderlich. Aber auch die Beschäftigten selbst können Einfluss nehmen.