bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Self‐management intervention improves patient adherence to swallowing exercises during radiation for head and neck cancer
Authors: Shinn Eileen H. , Garden Adam S. , Chen Minxing , Basen‐Engquist Karen , Fellman Bryan , Hutcheson Kate , Morrison William H. , Peterson Susan , Li Liang
Published: June 2024

Background

While preventive swallowing exercises reduce the risk of radiation‐associated dysphagia in patients with head and neck cancer, strategies are needed to improve patient adherence.

Methods

Before radiation, all participants were taught preventive swallowing exercises and randomized to either an adherence intervention or enhanced usual care. During radiation, all participants met twice with a speech pathologist for swallowing assessment and reinforcement of exercises. Intervention participants met weekly with a counselor in‐person or by phone. At 6‐week post‐radiation follow‐up, all participants completed a follow‐up assessment of self‐reported adherence, which was then corroborated with medical record documentation.

Results

Newly diagnosed pharyngeal and laryngeal cancer patients without distant metastases were randomized (n = 265; 135 to intervention, and 130 to usual care). Intervention participants were more likely to adhere to exercises during radiation compared to the control group (p < 0.0001).

Conclusion

The weekly in‐person adherence intervention program significantly increased patient's adherence to preventive swallowing exercises during radiation.
The impact of perceived vaginal and urinary symptoms and treatment burden in predicting sexual functioning among perimenopausal and postmenopausal women
Authors: Hassanein Mohammed M. , Huri Hasniza Zaman , Abduelkarem Abduelmula R.
Published: June 2024

Objective

This study aimed to explore the relationship between urogenital symptom frequency and severity, perception of vaginal treatment burden, and female sexual desire, arousal, and satisfaction.

Methods

A cross‐sectional study was conducted with a sample of 326 patients from three tertiary care hospitals in the United Arab Emirates. The frequency and severity of urogenital symptoms, emotional and physical functioning, and treatment burden were assessed using the validated genitourinary syndrome of menopause symptoms and vaginal treatments acceptability questionnaire (GSM‐SVATQ). To examine the mediating roles of emotional and physical functioning, as well as the perceived treatment burden on sexual functioning, a partial least squares‐structural equation model was developed using the SmartPLS 4 Software.

Results

The measurement model was successfully established. All constructs had a reliability of > 0.70 and discriminant validity of < 0.90. Emotional, physical and sexual functioning showed an adjusted R2 values of 0.377, 0.282 and 0.169, respectively.The multistep multiple mediator model revealed a full mediation effect of both emotional and physical functioning between symptom, treatment burden and sexual functioning. The model showed high predictive performance with all manifest variables showing lower mean absolute errors compared to the naiive benchmark model.

Conclusion

This study enhances our understanding of the relationships between urogenital symptoms, perceived treatment burden, emotional functioning, and sexual well‐being. The findings emphasize the importance of addressing emotional well‐being in managing urogenital symptoms and in addressing emotional factors associated with the use of vaginal treatments.
Parecoxib inhibits tumorigenesis and angiogenesis in hepatocellular carcinoma through ERK–VEGF/MMPs signaling pathway
Authors: Tian Li , Huang YuQi , Liu Yan , Liu JiangWei , Liu Yan
Published: June 2024

Parecoxib, a well‐recognized nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drug, has been reported to possess anticancer properties in various tumor types. In this work, we aimed to investigate the potential anticancer effects of parecoxib on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells. To assess the impact of parecoxib on HCC cell proliferation, we employed Cell Counting Kit‐8, colony formation, and 5‐ethynyl‐2′‐deoxyuridine assays. Hoechst/propidium iodide (PI) double staining and flow cytometry were performed to evaluate apoptosis and cell cycle analysis. Wound healing and transwell assays were utilized to assess cell migration and invasion. Tube formation assay was employed to analyze angiogenesis. Protein levels were determined using western blotting, and mRNA expression levels were assessed using quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). A xenograft mouse model was used to confirm the antitumor effects of parecoxib on HCC tumors in vivo. Our data demonstrated that parecoxib effectively inhibited the proliferation of HCC cells in a dose‐ and time‐dependent manner. In addition, parecoxib induced cell cycle arrest in the G2 phase and promoted apoptosis. Moreover, parecoxib hindered tumor migration and invasion by impeding the epithelial–mesenchymal transition process. Further investigation showed that parecoxib could significantly suppress angiogenesis through the inhibition of extracellular signal‐regulated kinase (ERK)–vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) axis. Notably, treatment with the ERK activator phorbol myristate acetate upregulated the expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)‐2, MMP‐9, and VEGF and reversed the function of parecoxib in HCC cells. Besides, parecoxib displayed its antitumor efficacy in vivo. Collectively, our results suggest that parecoxib ameliorates HCC progression by regulating proliferation, cell cycle, apoptosis, migration, invasion, and angiogenesis through the ERK–VEGF/MMPs signaling pathway.
Cervical length measurement between 11 and 13 + 6 weeks of pregnancy: Comparison of maternal and ultrasonographic characteristics between term and preterm deliveries
Authors: Vieira Carolina Gonçalves , Velarde Luis Guillermo Coca , de Sá Renato Augusto Moreira , Baião Ana Elisa Rodrigues , Araujo Júnior Edward
Published: June 2024

Objective

The aim of this study was to evaluate the maternal and ultrasonographic characteristics of pregnant women who underwent cervical length (CL) measurement by transvaginal ultrasound between 11 and 13 + 6 weeks of gestation and who delivered at term or preterm.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study was carried out between March 2013 and December 2018 by analyzing ultrasound data of singleton pregnant women who underwent CL measurement by transvaginal ultrasound during the first trimester scan. CL was compared between the two groups (full‐term and preterm birth [PB]) using Student's t‐test.

Results

A total of 5097 pregnant women were enrolled, of whom 5061 (99.3%) had term and 36 (0.7%) had PB < 34 weeks. CL measurements did not differ between the term and preterm groups (36.62 vs. 37.83 mm, p = 0.08). Maternal age showed a significant and linear association with CL (r = 0.034, p = 0.012) and CRL (r = 0.086, p < 0.001). Smoking status was associated with shorter CL (36.64 vs. 35.09 mm, p = 0.003). When we analyzed the CL of the pregnant women in the term and preterm groups, according to the gestational age cut‐offs for prematurity (28, 30, 32, and 34 weeks), we found that there was no significant difference between the measurements in all groups (p > 0.05).

Conclusion

We observed no significant differences between CL measurements between 11 and 13 + 6 weeks in pregnant women who had preterm and term deliveries. Gestational age and CRL showed a significant and linear association with CL measurement.
Practice locations of physicians with highly educated spouses in Japan: A cross‐sectional study using National Census Data
Authors: Miyawaki Atsushi , Tomio Jun
Published: June 2024

Background

Having highly educated spouses may influence physicians' choice of practice location.

Methods

We analyzed a representative physician sample in the 2020 Japan Population Census.

Results

Regression analyses adjusting for physicians' characteristics showed that physicians married to highly educated (with a graduate degree) spouses were less likely to practice in low physician supply areas (LPSAs) than other married physicians (adjusted, 7.8% vs. 9.1%; adjusted odds ratio, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.72–0.98).

Conclusion

Having highly educated spouses was associated with a lower likelihood of practicing in LPSAs. Qualitative research is needed to explore how spousal academic attainment influences physicians' practice location choices.
Extranodal extension influences prognosis in pancreatic body/tail cancer: A retrospective cohort study
Authors: Sung Min Kyu , Chun Jihyun , Park Yejong , Kwak Bong Jun , Lee Woohyung , Song Ki Byung , Lee Jae Hoon , Kim Song Cheol , Hong Seung Mo , Hwang Dae Wook
Published: June 2024

Background/Purpose

Extranodal extension (ENE) is an established prognostic factor in various malignancies, affecting survival in pancreatic head cancer (PHC). However, its significance in pancreatic body/tail cancer (PBTC) remains unclear. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the impact of ENE on PTBC prognosis.

Methods

We analyzed data collected from electronic medical records of patients with PBTC who underwent distal pancreatectomy at a single center between January 2011 and December 2015. The patients were categorized based on ENE presence and prognostic implications were evaluated using Kaplan–Meier survival curves and Cox proportional hazards model.

Results

PBTC cases involving lymph node (LN) metastasis and ENE exhibited significantly lower disease‐free (DFS) and overall survival (OS) rates compared to cases without LN metastasis or ENE (median DFS; N0, 23 months; LN+/ENE−, 10 months; LN+/ENE+, 5 months; p < .001). No statistically significant difference was observed in DFS and OS rates between patients with N1/N2 in the group without ENE and those with ENE+. Multivariate analysis confirmed ENE as a significant adverse prognostic factor.

Conclusions

ENE significantly predicts poor prognosis in PBTC, particularly in cases with nodal metastasis. The current cancer staging system for PBTC should incorporate ENE status. Moreover, different staging systems should be considered for PHC and PBTC.
Body Satisfaction, Exercise Dependence, and White Matter Microstructure in Young Adults
Authors: Xie Hongsheng , Zhang Feifei , Gan Sanshan , Wu Jiahao , Wu Baolin , Qin Kun , Wang Song , Sweeney John A. , Gong Qiyong , Jia Zhiyun
Published: June 2024

Background

Self‐body satisfaction is considered a psychological factor for exercise dependence (EXD). However, the potential neuropsychological mechanisms underlying this association remain unclear.

Purpose

To investigate the role of white matter microstructure in the association between body satisfaction and EXD.

Study Type

Prospective.

Population

One hundred eight regular exercisers (age 22.11 ± 2.62 years; 58 female).

Field Strength/Sequence

3.0 Tesla; diffusion‐weighted echo planar imaging with 30 directions.

Assessment

The Body Shape Satisfaction (BSS) and Exercise Dependence Scale (EDS); whole‐brain tract‐based spatial statistics (TBSS) and correlational tractography analyses; average fractional anisotropy (FA) and quantitative anisotropy (QA) values of obtained tracts.

Statistical Tests

The whole‐brain regression model, mediation analysis, and simple slope analysis. P values <0.05 were defined as statistically significant.

Results

The BSS and EDS scores were 37.33 ± 6.32 and 68.22 ± 13.88, respectively. TBSS showed negative correlations between EDS and FA values in the bilateral corticospinal tract (CST, r = −0.41), right cingulum (r = −0.41), and left superior thalamic radiation (STR, r = −0.50). Correlational tractography showed negative associations between EDS and QA values of the left inferior frontal occipital fasciculus (r = −0.35), STR (r = −0.42), CST (r = −0.31), and right cingulum (r = −0.28). The FA values, rather than QA values, mediated the BSS‐EDS association (indirect effects = 0.30). The BSS was significantly associated with the EDS score at both low (β = 1.02) and high (β = 0.43) levels of FA value, while the association was significant only at the high level of QA value (β = 1.26).

Data Conclusion

EXD was correlated with white matter in frontal‐subcortical and sensorimotor networks, and these tracts mediated the body satisfaction‐EXD association. White matter microstructure could be a promising neural signature for understanding the underlying neuropsychological mechanisms of EXD.

Level of Evidence

2

Technical Efficacy

Stage 1
Timing patterns of initial respiratory syncytial virus infection and factors influencing disease severity in hospitalized infants with different health status
Authors: Shi Peiru , Wang Rong , Liu Enmei , Deng Yu
Published: June 2024

This study aimed to determine the timing patterns of the initial respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection and to identify the factors influencing disease severity in infants of varying health status. A retrospective study was conducted at the Affiliated Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University from 2012 to 2022. The timing of the first RSV infection was estimated in infants with differing health status using correlation analysis, considering their birth time. Logistic regression was utilized to identify factors influencing severe RSV infection in these infants. RSV detection primarily occurred in the winter and spring. Epidemic season and peak timing of RSV were not significantly affected by health status or the COVID‐19 pandemic. A strong positive correlation was observed between the age at RSV infection and the interval from birth to the RSV peak season. Infants born during the RSV epidemic season exhibited a higher likelihood of infection within the first 2 months postbirth. In contrast, those born outside the RSV epidemic season were more susceptible to infection during the subsequent peak. Notably, infants with pre‐existing health conditions contracted RSV at an earlier age compared to their healthy counterparts. Among healthy infants, severe RSV infection was associated with sex, age, and timing of infection. For infants with underlying conditions, severe RSV infection was primarily related to age and timing of infection. The initial timing of RSV infection in infants varied depending on their health status. Young age and infection timing during the RSV epidemic season were significant risk factors for severe RSV infection. These findings provide a theoretical basis for optimizing immunization strategies for infants with diverse health conditions.
Development of a human papillomavirus (HPV) multiplex immunoassay to profile HPV antibodies
Authors: Quang Chau , Chung Amy W. , Kemp Troy J. , Ratu Tupou , Tuivaga Evelyn , Russell Fiona M. , Licciardi Paul V. , Toh Zheng Q.
Published: June 2024

Neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) are considered the primary mechanism of vaccine‐mediated protection against human papillomaviruses (HPV), the causative agent of cervical cancer. However, the minimum level of NAb needed for protection is currently unknown. The HPV pseudovirion‐based neutralization assay (PBNA) is the gold standard method for assessing HPV antibody responses but is time‐consuming and labor‐intensive. With the development of higher valency HPV vaccines, alternative serological assays with the capacity for multiplexing would improve efficiency and output. Here we describe a multiplex bead‐based immunoassay to characterize the antibody responses to the seven oncogenic HPV types (HPV16/18/31/33/45/52/58) contained in the current licensed nonavalent HPV vaccine. This assay can measure antibody isotypes and subclasses (total IgG, IgM, IgA1–2, IgG1–4), and can be adapted to measure other antibody features (e.g., Fc receptors) that contribute to vaccine immunity. When tested with serum samples from unvaccinated and vaccinated individuals, we found high concordance between HPV‐specific IgG using this multiplex assay and NAbs measured with PBNA. Overall, this assay is high‐throughput, sample‐sparing, and time‐saving, providing an alternative to existing assays for the measurement and characterization of HPV antibody responses.
Creativity and Perception: Unveiling the Role of Cross‐Modal Audiovisual Integration
Authors: Xiao Xinyao , Wang Jian , Shu Yanyan , Tan Junying
Published: June 2024

Multisensory environments rich in modal integration provide cues from various sensory modalities including visually, auditorily, and tactilely. Such modal integration plays a crucial role in cognitive processing, specifically in fostering creativity. Numerous studies highlight that emotional coherence through cross‐modal affective integration enhances cognitive competencies such as memory, attention, and the capacity to generate original, fluent ideas. Nonetheless, current research lacks comparative studies pinpointing how different sensory modalities impact individual creativity. We addressed this research void by employing a cross‐model matching paradigm, anchored on the concept of emotional coherence. Our investigation evaluated the impact of varying emotional stimuli (both positive and negative) on creativity performance, considering single sensory modalities (visual and auditory), as well as their cross. Our study participants were 119 Chinese university students who completed a creative task under varying emotional stimulation modality conditions. We observed that the bimodal audiovisual integration of positive emotional stimuli most effectively enhanced creativity as compared to solely auditory modality. The visual modality seemed the least effective, underscoring the impact of multichannel integration. Interestingly, the bimodal audiovisual integration of negative emotional stimuli significantly boosted originality, albeit with little difference in fluency relative to the auditory modality. Based on the theoretical significance of multimodal emotional integration, our interpretation of these findings suggests that audiovisual cross‐modal emotional integration, with its rich emotional information, serves as a catalyst for enhancing originality. However, we observed that the facilitative effect on overall creativity and fluency is primarily observed in the context of positive emotions. It is important to note that we carefully controlled for participants' creative personality factors and conducted three types of emotional evaluations across modalities to ensure the validity of our results. Furthermore, the impact of cross‐modal audiovisual emotional integration on creativity, both in terms of originality and fluency, is influenced by the distinct emotional perceptual characteristics inherent to each modality.
The interfacial properties of biosurfactant mixtures
Authors: McMillan Janet R. , Miller Daniel S. , Nimako‐Boateng Caroline , Wilson Lauren , Kuo Tzu‐Chi , Tesoldi Micol Frederica , Young Timothy , Izmitli Aslin
Published: June 2024

There is growing global demand to transition to more sustainable surfactant technologies. Towards this vision, bio‐based surfactants and biosurfactants are being explored as alternatives to traditional petrochemical surfactants. However, the transition towards these technologies is expected to be gradual, therefore there is a critical need to formulate new biosurfactants in combination with traditional surfactant classes such as alkoxylates, sulfates and amine‐oxides to achieve a balance of performance, cost, and sustainability. To this end, we report a study of the impact of sophorolipid biosurfactants on the cloud point of alcohol ethoxylates, and on the surface tension and foaming of alkyl sulfate/amine‐oxide mixtures. We make the surprising finding that high‐acid sophorolipids can act as highly efficient hydrotropes and increase the cloud point of alcohol ethoxylates. In sulfate/amine‐oxide mixtures, models of experimental data suggest that both high‐acid and high‐lactone sophorolipids can replace 40–50% of the primary surfactants without significant changes to the surface tension or foaming performance. These findings will enable the next‐generation of high performing sustainable cleaning formulations to be realized.
N‐Carbamylglutamate in ovo feeding improves carcass yield, muscle fiber development, and meat quality in broiler chickens
Authors: Yuan‐hao Wang , Ayalew Habtamu , Wang Jing , Wu Shugeng , Qiu Kai , Qi Guanghai , Zhang Haijun
Published: June 2024

BACKGROUND

Insufficient endogenous nutrients in the broiler embryo can lead to muscle gluconeogenesis, which ultimately affects the post‐hatching performance of chicks. This study investigated the effects of in ovo feeding (IOF) of N‐carbamylglutamate (NCG) on the growth hormones, carcass yield, and meat quality in broilers. Fertile eggs from a 30‐week‐old Ross 308 breeder flock were divided into three treatment groups: NC (non‐injection), SC (100 μL saline‐injection), and NCG (2 mg NCG injection). Each group had six replicates, with 70 eggs per replicate during incubation. Injections were administered on the 17.5th day of embryonic development. After hatching, 270 chicks were selected for 42‐day rearing for further sampling.

RESULTS

Chicks in the NCG group had significantly higher body weight (BW) and average daily gain (ADG) at the growing phase, increased growth and testosterone hormone in both feeding phases (21 and 42 days), and improved average daily gain (ADG) and food conversion ratio (FCR) in both grower and entire feeding phases (P < 0.05). Triiodothyronine (T3) and tetraiodothyronine (T4) levels, carcass yield, dressing, drum weight, breast muscle weight, drumstick weights, thighs, pectoralis major, and their part percentage of carcass were improved in the NCG group (P < 0.05), these effects were varied along feeding phases. Moreover, IOF of the NCG also improved pectoralis breast muscle color values at 24 h post mortem (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that NCG injection at the late embryonic age of broiler enhances growth performance and meat quality throughout the lifespan and this can probably be attributed to an increase in thyroid and testosterone hormones, indicating potential involvement in metabolic and nutrient partitioning pathway regulation. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.
Magneto‐Acoustic Theranostic Approach: Integration of Magnetomotive Ultrasound Shear Wave Elastography and Magnetic Hyperthermia
Authors: Pi Zhaoke , Deng Dingqian , Chen Xin , Chen Siping , Lin Haoming , Chen Mian
Published: June 2024

Objectives

Although magnetically induced hyperthermia has shown great efficiency in the treatment of solid tumors, it is still a challenge to avoid incomplete ablation or overtreatment. In this study, we applied magnetomotive ultrasound shear wave elastography (MMUS‐SWE) as a tool for real‐time image guidance and feedback in the magnetic hyperthermia (MH) process. We called this new method as magneto‐acoustic theranostic approach (MATA).

Methods

In MATA, a ferromagnetic particle (fMP) was simultaneously used as a thermoseed for MH and a shear wave source for MMUS‐SWE. The fMP was excited by a high‐frequency magnetic field to induce the heating effect for MH. Meanwhile, the fMP was stimulated by a pulsed magnetic field to generate shear wave propagation for MMUS‐SWE. Thus, the changes in elastic modulus surrounding fMP can be used to estimate the therapy effect of MH.

Results

The phantom and in vitro experiments were conducted to verify the feasibility of MATA, which has good performance in magnetothermal conversion and treatment efficacy feedback. The shear wave speed of the isolated pork liver changed significantly after the MH process, which varied from about 1.36 to 4.85 m/s.

Conclusions

Preliminary results proved that changes in elastic modulus could be useful to estimate the therapy effect of MH. We expect that MATA, which is the integration of MMUS‐SWE and MH, will be a novel theranostic method for clinical translation.
An insight into racial bias in dermoscopy repositories: A HAM10000 data set analysis
Authors: Morales‐Forero Andres , Rueda Jaime Lili , Gil‐Quiñones Sebastian Ramiro , Barrera Montañez Marlon Y. , Bassetto Samuel , Coatanea Eric
Published: June 2024

Background

Studies have revealed a lack of representation of skin of colour patients in academic sources of dermatologic diseases, including databases. This visual racism has consequently generated less comfort and confidence among the specialists in the care and attention of this ethnic group, including the opportunity of being correctly diagnosed.

Objectives

To investigate and uncover potential racial biases in the HAM10000 data set through an exploratory analysis of the dark skin tones representation, the identification of inaccuracies in its documentation, the recognition of relevant skin conditions absent for darker skin and the lack of ethnic diversity variables crucial for validating diagnosis across different skin tones.

Methods

An exploratory examination was conducted to investigate the occurrence of dark skin within the HAM10000 database (housed in a Harvard Dataverse repository), consisting of 10,015 dermoscopic images of skin lesions. A visual depiction encompassing the whole skin tones was generated by sampling four crucial data points from each image and applying the Gray World Algorithm for colour normalization. To confirm the accuracy of the graphical representation, dermatologists validated the pixel sampling process by analysing a randomly selected 10% of the images for each type of skin lesion. This visual representation was produced for the entire data set as well as for each skin lesion type. The study was further enhanced by comparing the skin lesion representation within the HAM10000 data set against documented prevalences of relevant conditions affecting dark skin.

Results

Less than 5% of the images came from dark‐skinned patients. Nevertheless, in about 4.9% of cases, our pixel sampling method might inadvertently capture shadows or dark spots resulting from the imaging device or the lesion itself rather than the individual's actual skin tone. In addition, there are inaccuracies in the data set's claims of diversity and comprehensive coverage, notably the underrepresentation of conditions prevalent in darker skin and the absence of ethnic diversity variables.

Conclusions

Visual racism is an issue that needs to be addressed in medical sources of information and education. Image databases and artificial intelligence models need to be nourished with information, including all skin types, to guarantee equal access to opportunities. Furthermore, any instances where conditions affecting people of colour are underrepresented must be meticulously documented and reported to highlight and address these disparities effectively. This is particularly important in dermoscopy imaging, where solely relying on image‐based racial bias analysis is limited. The alteration of the patient's actual skin tone by the dermatoscope's lighting complicates the accurate assessment of racial bias.
Outcomes of Concurrent Balloon Eustachian Tuboplasty and Tympanostomy Tube Placement in Children
Authors: Ahluwalia Jatin , Babu Seilesh , Haupert Michael , Thottam Prasad
Published: June 2024

Objectives

Balloon dilation eustachian tuboplasty (BDET) has been proven to be a safe treatment option for children with eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD). This study aims to analyze the long‐term outcomes of children who underwent concurrent BDET and tympanostomy tube (TT) placement. We hypothesize that patients who underwent simultaneous therapy have experienced a low overall rate of middle ear pathology and have consistent hearing quality at subsequent office visits.

Methods

Retrospective chart review of 19 pediatric patients (36 ears) who previously underwent concurrent BDET and TT placement. Patient charts within the extended postoperative period were reviewed. Specific data points included need for reoperation, rates of middle ear pathology, audiological outcomes, and number of previous TT placements.

Results

Pediatric patients who underwent concurrent BDET and TT placement had long‐term success in 34/36 ears (94.4%). All postoperative tympanograms and audiograms (100%) were normal when performed within 12 months after the procedure. Notably, 34/36 ears (94.4%) had history of tube placement in the past. Patients had an average of three sets of tympanostomy tubes prior to undergoing concurrent BDET and TT.

Conclusion

Concurrent BDET and TT placement may be an effective treatment option for pediatric patients with persistent eustachian tube dysfunction. Specifically, BDET may be a useful adjunct tool in pediatric patients with refractory ETD despite having multiple sets of tympanostomy tubes. This study aims to strengthen the argument of performing multimodal therapy in pediatric patients with recurrent middle ear disease.

Level of Evidence

4 Laryngoscope, 134:4799–4802, 2024
Facile Fabrication of Starch‐Based UV Barrier Films with Remolding Ability and Reinforcement for Water Resistance
Authors: Shibasaki Kazuki , Hsu Yu‐I , Uyama Hiroshi
Published: June 2024

Petroleum‐derived plastics are harmful to ecosystems because they are not decomposed in the natural environment. Therefore, the replacement of petroleum‐derived plastics with biodegradable plastics has attracted considerable attention. UV‐barrier films in the agricultural and packaging fields are mainly composed of petroleum‐derived plastics, which have a negative impact on the ecosystem when they leak into the environment. Thermoplastic starch (TPS) is an inexpensive and sustainable biodegradable plastic that has recently attracted considerable attention. In this study, the addition of UV barrier properties and remolding ability to TPS for replacing petroleum‐derived UV barrier films are investigated. Also, a biodegradable polyester coating is studied to improve the water resistance of the prepared UV‐barrier TPS (U‐TPS). To prepare U‐TPS, a conjugated enamine structure is formed by reacting starch acetoacetate with diamine monomers during melt kneading. U‐TPS exhibits high UV barrier properties across the UV regions (200–400 nm) owing to the presence of acetoacetyl groups and enamines. These results indicate the possibility of increasing the utilization of TPS in agriculture and as a packaging material.
Consumer perceptions of influencer gifting
Authors: Marchand André , Holler Andrea , Dünschede Theresa
Published: June 2024

Many social media influencers promote products they receive from brands, which send those items without any explicit obligations but with the objective of being endorsed voluntarily. With increasing frequency, brands send their products together with additional gifts that influencers can, but do not have to, display either. For example, a branded perfume might be complemented by additional gifts of flowers, champagne, and macarons. Through such elaborate influencer gifting, brands hope to elicit more favorable reactions from both influencers and consumers. However, elaborate influencer gifting also raises concerns about consumer perceptions. With four experiments, this research shows that influencer gifting is superior to paid influencer marketing in terms of influencer trustworthiness and brand attitude outcomes, which can be explained by the increased effort signaled in the business relationship between the brand and the influencer. However, elaborate gifting also can prompt stronger perceptions of a persuasive attempt by the brand, which can lead to decreased trust in influencers who display the elaborate gifts voluntarily. The negative effect linked to perceptions of a persuasive attempt can be mitigated if the elaborate gift is justified by a brand occasion, such as the brand's anniversary.
Photocatalytic Hydrosilylation over Pt@UiO‐66‐NH2: Enhanced Activity and Polymerization Kinetics
Authors: Zhang Yushu , Wu Shufang , Ma Wenqiang , Liu Xiaoxuan , Li Zhiquan
Published: June 2024

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have shown great research and application value in various types of hydrosilylation reactions. However, studies on photocatalysis‐induced hydrosilylation using MOFs are extremely rare. Metal nanoparticles (MNPs)@MOFs are extensively studied for their excellent structural tunability and photocatalytic activity, but there are few reports on their application in photocatalytic hydrosilylation. Here, a novel photocatalyst consisting of platinum (Pt) nanoparticles immobilized in a MOF framework is synthesized and used for photocatalytic hydrosilylation. The effects of various factors on hydrosilylation conversion are investigated, including catalyst concentration, substrate ratio, and irradiation intensity. Furthermore, the photoreactivity of the synthesized Pt catalyst is evaluated in the presence of different concentrations of 2‐chlorothixanthone as a photosensitizer. It is noteworthy that the conversion of the reaction increases with increasing catalyst concentration or photosensitizer concentration, whereas increasing the polymethylhydrosiloxane content does not lead to a significant increase in conversion. This study demonstrates the potential of MNPs@MOFs as efficient photocatalysts for photoinduced hydrosilylation reactions and paves the way for future applications in this area.
Synthesizing PET images from high‐field and ultra‐high‐field MR images using joint diffusion attention model
Authors: Xie Taofeng , Cao Chentao , Cui Zhuo‐xu , Guo Yu , Wu Caiying , Wang Xuemei , Li Qingneng , Hu Zhanli , Sun Tao , Sang Ziru , Zhou Yihang , Zhu Yanjie , Liang Dong , Jin Qiyu , Zeng Hongwu , Chen Guoqing , Wang Haifeng
Published: June 2024

Background

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Positron Emission Tomography (PET) stand as pivotal diagnostic tools for brain disorders, offering the potential for mutually enriching disease diagnostic perspectives. However, the costs associated with PET scans and the inherent radioactivity have limited the widespread application of PET. Furthermore, it is noteworthy to highlight the promising potential of high‐field and ultra‐high‐field neuroimaging in cognitive neuroscience research and clinical practice. With the enhancement of MRI resolution, a related question arises: can high‐resolution MRI improve the quality of PET images?

Purpose

This study aims to enhance the quality of synthesized PET images by leveraging the superior resolution capabilities provided by high‐field and ultra‐high‐field MRI.

Methods

From a statistical perspective, the joint probability distribution is considered the most direct and fundamental approach for representing the correlation between PET and MRI. In this study, we proposed a novel model, the joint diffusion attention model, namely, the joint diffusion attention model (JDAM), which primarily focuses on learning information about the joint probability distribution. JDAM consists of two primary processes: the diffusion process and the sampling process. During the diffusion process, PET gradually transforms into a Gaussian noise distribution by adding Gaussian noise, while MRI remains fixed. The central objective of the diffusion process is to learn the gradient of the logarithm of the joint probability distribution between MRI and noise PET. The sampling process operates as a predictor‐corrector. The predictor initiates a reverse diffusion process, and the corrector applies Langevin dynamics.

Results

Experimental results from the publicly available Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative dataset highlight the effectiveness of the proposed model compared to state‐of‐the‐art (SOTA) models such as Pix2pix and CycleGAN. Significantly, synthetic PET images guided by ultra‐high‐field MRI exhibit marked improvements in signal‐to‐noise characteristics when contrasted with those generated from high‐field MRI data. These results have been endorsed by medical experts, who consider the PET images synthesized through JDAM to possess scientific merit. This endorsement is based on their symmetrical features and precise representation of regions displaying hypometabolism, a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease.

Conclusions

This study establishes the feasibility of generating PET images from MRI. Synthesis of PET by JDAM significantly enhances image quality compared to SOTA models.
Free‐breathing 3D whole‐heart joint T1/T2 mapping and water/fat imaging at 0.55 T
Authors: Si Dongyue , Crabb Michael G. , Kunze Karl P. , Littlewood Simon J. , Prieto Claudia , Botnar René M.
Published: June 2024

Purpose

To develop and validate a highly efficient motion compensated free‐breathing isotropic resolution 3D whole‐heart joint T1/T2 mapping sequence with anatomical water/fat imaging at 0.55 T.

Methods

The proposed sequence takes advantage of shorter T1 at 0.55 T to acquire three interleaved water/fat volumes with inversion‐recovery preparation, no preparation, and T2 preparation, respectively. Image navigators were used to facilitate nonrigid motion‐compensated image reconstruction. T1 and T2 maps were jointly calculated by a dictionary matching method. Validations were performed with simulation, phantom, and in vivo experiments on 10 healthy volunteers and 1 patient. The performance of the proposed sequence was compared with conventional 2D mapping sequences including modified Look‐Locker inversion recovery and T2‐prepared balanced steady‐SSFP sequence.

Results

The proposed sequence has a good T1 and T2 encoding sensitivity in simulation, and excellent agreement with spin‐echo reference T1 and T2 values was observed in a standardized T1/T2 phantom (R2 = 0.99). In vivo experiments provided good‐quality co‐registered 3D whole‐heart T1 and T2 maps with 2‐mm isotropic resolution in a short scan time of about 7 min. For healthy volunteers, left‐ventricle T1 mean and SD measured by the proposed sequence were both comparable with those of modified Look‐Locker inversion recovery (640 ± 35 vs. 630 ± 25 ms [p = 0.44] and 49.9 ± 9.3 vs. 54.4 ± 20.5 ms [p = 0.42]), whereas left‐ventricle T2 mean and SD measured by the proposed sequence were both slightly lower than those of T2‐prepared balanced SSFP (53.8 ± 5.5 vs. 58.6 ± 3.3 ms [p < 0.01] and 5.2 ± 0.9 vs. 6.1 ± 0.8 ms [p = 0.03]). Myocardial T1 and T2 in the patient measured by the proposed sequence were in good agreement with conventional 2D sequences and late gadolinium enhancement.

Conclusion

The proposed sequence simultaneously acquires 3D whole‐heart T1 and T2 mapping with anatomical water/fat imaging at 0.55 T in a fast and efficient 7‐min scan. Further investigation in patients with cardiovascular disease is now warranted.
Experiences of middle‐aged individuals with lower extremity amputation caused by diabetic foot ulcer after disability in China: A qualitative study
Authors: Xu Ziwei , Cheng Kangyao , Wang Kuan , Gui Li
Published: June 2024

Aim

To understand the experiences of individuals who undergo LEA due to DFU after disability.

Design

A descriptive research design in qualitative research.

Methods

Semi‐structured interviews were used in this qualitative descriptive study. Eleven middle‐aged patients (45–59 years) who underwent LEA due to DFU were purposively selected and interviewed. Qualitative data were thematically analysed.

Results

Three themes and 10 subthemes were identified. The themes were (1) role function confusion, (2) self‐concept stress and (3) unreasonable objective support. Subthemes included (1) weakened career role, (2) family role reversal, (3) social role restriction, (4) over‐focusing on appearance, (5) immersion in patient experience, (6) living with faith, (7) polarization of independent consciousness, (8) low perceived benefits of peer support, (9) existence of treatment disruption and (10) poor participation in medical decision‐making.
Reducing the computational complexity of implicit schemes in the modeling of kinetic inelastic collisions in a partially ionized plasma
Authors: Lederman Carl , Bilyeu David
Published: June 2024

Modeling the time evolution of atomic number densities and the kinetic (non‐Maxwellian) electron energy distribution function under the action of electron impact collisions by classical approaches requires an implicit time‐stepping scheme to maintain numerical stability. The resulting linear system that must be iteratively solved at each time step incorporates a dense (nonsparse) matrix. For variables being propagated, the computational cost is . We present an alternative approach with a computational cost of , which is the same order as the computational cost of an explicit method for propagating a system of this type. The approach relies on a combination of classical iterative derivative evaluations, combinatorial approximations, and some ideas from deep machine learning.
A real space convolution‐based approximate algorithm for phase field model involving elastic strain energy
Authors: Gao YaQian , Chi XueBin , Yin JiXian , Zhang Jian
Published: June 2024

Phase field models have been employed extensively in the study of microstructure evolution in materials. Elasticity plays an important role in solid‐state phase transformation processes, and it is usually introduced into phase field models in terms of the elastic strain energy by applying Khachaturyan–Shatalov microelasticity theory. Conventionally, this energy is derived in the reciprocal space and results in full‐space Fourier transformation in practice, which becomes bottle‐neck in large‐scale and massively‐parallel applications. In this article, we propose an error‐controlled approximation algorithm for scalable and efficient calculation of the elastic strain energy in phase field models. We first derive a real‐space convolutional representation of the elastic strain energy by representing the equilibrium displacements in the Khachaturyan–Shatalov microelasticity theory using Green's function. Then we propose an error‐controlled truncation criterion to approximate the corresponding terms in the phase field model. Finally, a carefully designed parallel algorithm is presented to carry out large‐scale simulations. The accuracy and efficiency of the proposed algorithm are demonstrated by real‐world large‐scale phase field simulations.
Does humic acid foliar application affect growth and nutrient status of water‐stressed maize?
Authors: Pitann Britta , Khan Kamran , Mühling Karl H.
Published: June 2024

Maize (Zea mays L.) is one of the world's most important crops, but its productivity is at high risk as climate change increases the risk of water stress. Therefore, the development of mitigation strategies to combat water stress in agriculture is fundamental to ensure food security. Humic acids are known to have a positive effect on drought tolerance, but data on their efficacy under waterlogging are lacking. This study aimed to elucidate the effect of a new humic acid product, a by‐product of Ukrainian bentonite mining, on maize growth and nutrient status under waterlogging. Maize was grown for 9 weeks and three water stress treatments, which were applied for 14 days: waterlogging, alternating waterlogging and drought, and drought. On the day of stress application, the humic acid product (1% v/v) was applied to the leaves. Soil Plant Analysis Development (SPAD) values were recorded during the stress treatments. Plants were harvested after stressing ceased and fresh weight and P and Zn status were analyzed. Drought reduced shoot fresh weight, while it was unaffected under waterlogging. This is in contrast to SPAD readings, which showed a significant decrease over time under submergence, but not under drought. Under alternating stress, although SPAD values declined under waterlogging but stabilized when switched to drought, no growth reduction was apparent. Application of the humic acid product was ineffective in all cases. Although anthocyanin discoloration occurred under waterlogging stress, P deficiency, which is usually the main factor driving anthocyanin formation, was not the reason. Interestingly, Zn concentration decreased under waterlogging but not under the other stresses, which was alleviated by humic acid application. However, no effect of foliar‐applied humic acids was observed under alternating and drought stress. It can be concluded that the tested humic acid product has the potential to improve the Zn status of maize under waterlogging.
The effect of the vanillin‐derived Si‐containing compound on the curing behavior, thermal and mechanical properties of bismaleimide resins
Authors: Liu Bo , Yuan Zhigang , Derradji Mehdi , Liu Caizhao , Sun Mingming , Zhang Xugang , Xue Gang , Song Caiyu , Zhang Bin
Published: June 2024

Bismaleimide (BMI) resins is widely used in the aerospace field because of its excellent properties, but its poor toughness limits the possibility of its application in a wider range of fields. Therefore, a novel bio‐compound, 4‐(allyloxy)‐3‐methoxy‐N‐(3‐(triethoxysilyl)propyl)benzamide (AMTPM), was designed and synthesized from renewable vanillin, which has Schiff‐base structure, silico‐oxygen bond structure, and allyl structure. The chemical structure of AMTPM has been characterized and validated by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and hydrogen nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR). It was found that the addition of AMTPM can effectively promote the curing behavior of BD resins (BMI and diallyl bisphenol A (DBA) was mixed and cured at the ratio of 1:0.87, named BD resins). AMTPM can affect the thermal stability and improve the mechanical properties of BD‐AMTPM resins (BD resins modified by AMTPM in different addition), and the detailed discussion was conducted. With the increase of AMTPM content, the thermal stability of BD‐AMTPM resins was deteriorated while the residual weight percentage at 800°C (Yc) was increased. When the content of AMTPM reached 12 wt%, the results showed that Yc achieved the values at a magnitude of 37.57%. Meanwhile, the glass transition temperature (Tg) achieved 320°C. Among the BD‐AMTPM resins system, the BD‐6 wt% AMTPM has the best toughness and mechanical properties. The impact strength was increased by 29.2%, the tensile strength was increased by 22.1% and the elongation at break was increased by 44%. The fracture morphology of BD‐AMTPM resins was also studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to support the mechanical experimental conclusions. This study provides a more environmentally friendly and convenient modifier, which is of great significance for expanding the application of bismaleimide resin.

Highlights

A bio‐based modifying agent (AMTPM) was designed and successfully synthesized.

AMTPM has both Si‐O and Schiff‐base structures.

AMTPM can effectively improve the toughness of BD‐AMTPM resins through impact and tensile tests.