bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mathematical model for applying electromagnetic (EM) on a Carreau fluid in a tube: Stimulation to avoid sediment accumulation in oil tanks
Authors: Mekheimer Kh. S. , Abdelwahab A. M. , Ramadan Shaimaa F. , Bahnasy Amal
Published: June 2024

The purpose of this article is to study the effect of electromagnetic (EM) stimulation on the pipeline, which has an electrical and thermal effect in addition to the chemical reaction on the crude oil and makes a sinusoidal wave on the wall. Modeling the crude oil as Carreau fluid is done. EM stimulation is an effective and safe technology that can be used to improve fluid movement in a variety of industrial applications. The flow analysis by applying EM may avoid blocking the crude oil pipeline which leads to a loss of production and capital investment. The basic partial differential equations of momentum, temperature and concentration are reduced to a system of nonlinear partial differential equations, which is solved numerically by using the Rung–Kutta–Merson method with Newton iteration in a shooting and matching technique under the assumption of long wavelength and the effect of physical implanted parameters is represented through charts for velocity, temperature, and concentration and numerical application.
Exosomes in asthma: Underappreciated contributors to the pathogenesis and novel therapeutic tools
Authors: Kanannejad Zahra , Arab Samaneh , Soleimanian Saeede , Mazare Amirhossein , Kheshtchin Nasim
Published: June 2024

Objective

Asthma, a chronic inflammatory disease with diverse pathomechanisms, presents challenges in developing personalized diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the role of exosomes, small extracellular vesicles, in asthma pathophysiology and explores their potential as diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic tools.

Methods

A literature search was conducted to identify recent studies investigating the involvement of exosomes in asthma. The retrieved articles were analyzed to extract relevant information on the role of exosomes in maintaining lung microenvironment homeostasis, regulating inflammatory responses, and their diagnostic and therapeutic potential for asthma.

Results

Exosomes secreted by various cell types, have emerged as crucial mediators of intercellular communication in healthy and diseased conditions. Evidence suggest that exosomes play a significant role in maintaining lung microenvironment homeostasis and contribute to asthma pathogenesis by regulating inflammatory responses. Differential exosomal content between healthy individuals and asthmatics holds promise for the development of novel asthma biomarkers. Furthermore, exosomes secreted by immune and nonimmune cells, as well as those detected in biofluids, demonstrate potential in promoting or regulating immune responses, making them attractive candidates for designing new treatment strategies for inflammatory conditions such as asthma.

Conclusion

Exosomes, with their ability to modulate immune responses and deliver therapeutic cargo, offer potential as targeted therapeutic tools in asthma management. Further research and clinical trials are required to fully understand the mechanisms underlying exosome‐mediated effects and translate these findings into effective diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for asthma patients.
Prognostic analysis of MDA5‐associated clinically amyopathic dermatomyositis with interstitial lung disease
Authors: Wang Wen , Sun Xiang , Xu Yan , Tan Wenfeng , Liu Ye , Zhou Jun
Published: June 2024

Objective

To investigate the prognostic factors of patients with anti‐melanoma differentiation‐associated gene 5 (MDA5) positive clinically amyopathic dermatomyositis (CADM) and interstitial lung disease (ILD).

Methods

A retrospective analysis was conducted on clinical data of 125 patients with anti‐MDA5 + CADM‐ILD collected from 10 branches in eastern China between December 2014 and December 2022. Prognostic factors were analyzed using χ2 test, Log‐rank test, COX and logistic regression analysis.

Results

In this cohort, 125 anti‐MDA5 + CADM‐ILD patients exhibited a rapidly progressive interstitial lung disease (RPILD) incidence of 37.6%, and an overall mortality rate of 24.8%. One patient was lost to follow‐up. After diagnosis of RPILD, a mortality rate of 53.2% occurred in patients died within 3 months, and that of 5.6% appeared in those who survived for more than 3 months. Multiple factor analysis revealed that C‐reactive protein (CRP) ≥ 10 mg/L (p = 0.01) and recombinant human tripartite motif containing 21 (Ro52) (+) (p = 0.003) were associated with a higher risk of RPILD in anti‐MDA5 + CADM‐ILD patients; CRP ≥ 10 mg/L (p = 0.018) and the presence of RPILD (p = 0.003) were identified as the factors influencing survival time in these patients, while arthritis was the protective factor (p = 0.016).

Conclusion

Patients with anti‐MDA5 + CADM‐ILD will have a higher mortality rate, and the initial 3 months after diagnosis of RPILD is considered the risk window for the dismal prognosis. Patients with CRP ≥ 10 mg/L, Ro52 (+) and RPILD may be related to a shorter survival time, while patients complicated with arthritis may present with relatively mild conditions.
Automated Segmentation of Brain Gliomas in Multimodal MRI Data
Authors: Xie Changxiong , Ye Jianming , Ma Xiaofei , Dong Leshui , Zhao Guohua , Cheng Jingliang , Yang Guang , Lai Xiaobo
Published: June 2024

Brain gliomas, common in adults, pose significant diagnostic challenges. Accurate segmentation from multimodal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans is critical for effective treatment planning. Traditional manual segmentation methods, labor‐intensive and error‐prone, often lead to inconsistent diagnoses. To overcome these limitations, our study presents a sophisticated framework for the automated segmentation of brain gliomas from multimodal MRI images. This framework consists of three integral components: a 3D UNet, a classifier, and a Classifier Weight Transformer (CWT). The 3D UNet, acting as both an encoder and decoder, is instrumental in extracting comprehensive features from MRI scans. The classifier, employing a streamlined 1 × 1 convolutional architecture, performs detailed pixel‐wise classification. The CWT integrates self‐attention mechanisms through three linear layers, a multihead attention module, and layer normalization, dynamically refining the classifier's parameters based on the features extracted by the 3D UNet, thereby improving segmentation accuracy. Our model underwent a two‐stage training process for maximum efficiency: in the first stage, supervised learning was used to pre‐train the encoder and decoder, focusing on robust feature representation. In the second stage, meta‐training was applied to the classifier, with the encoder and decoder remaining unchanged, ensuring precise fine‐tuning based on the initially developed features. Extensive evaluation of datasets such as BraTS2019, BraTS2020, BraTS2021, and a specialized private dataset (ZZU) underscored the robustness and clinical potential of our framework, highlighting its superiority and competitive advantage over several state‐of‐the‐art approaches across various segmentation metrics in training and validation sets.
Oral administration of herbal oligonucleotide drug JGL‐sRNA‐h7 ameliorates hyperglycemia in db/db mice and beagle dogs
Authors: Tang Kegong , Wang Xiaona , Jiang Zhenyu , Chen Mingrui , Deng Xingyu , Mei Song , Ma Yiming , Du Xinyi , Guo Shaoting , Lin Yexuan , Dong Yixin , Liu Dengyuan , Xu Longxin , Jiang Chengyu
Published: June 2024

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a prevalent metabolic disease, posing a considerable threat to public health. Oligonucleotide drugs have proven to be a promising field of therapy for the diseases. In this study, we reported that a herbal small RNA (sRNA), JGL‐sRNA‐h7 (B34735529, F1439.L002444.A11), could exhibit potent hypoglycemic effects by targeting glucose‐6‐phosphatase. Oral administration of sphingosine (d18:1)‐JGL‐sRNA‐h7 bencaosomes ameliorated hyperglycemia and diabetic kidney injury better than metformin in db/db mice. Furthermore, glucose tolerance was also improved in sphingosine (d18:1)‐JGL‐sRNA‐h7 bencaosomes‐treated beagle dogs. Our study indicates that JGL‐sRNA‐h7 could be a promising hypoglycemic oligonucleotide drug.
The instructional implications of a critical media literacy framework and podcasts in a high school classroom
Authors: Gill Anne , Stewart Olivia G.
Published: June 2024

This study explores the instructional implications of using podcasts framed by a critical media literacy framework in a high school social justice classroom. This 10‐week, critical media‐framed study examines how eight 16–18‐year‐old students, taught synchronously on Zoom, engaged in weekly podcast‐based lesson activities, selecting podcast episodes as supplemental course texts related to the current classroom topics of study (two episodes per unit topic). Findings indicate that podcasts opened spaces for students to hear various voices, particularly marginalized narratives on controversial topics. Additionally, by engaging in critical media literacy practices, students' own voices were elevated, and students questioned the role of texts in their understanding of the world around them. These findings are of particular value to educators looking to understand the classroom implications of critical media literacy practices and who want to provide counter‐hegemonic narratives in their classrooms.
In vivo Raman spectroscopic and fluorescence study of suspected melanocytic lesions and surrounding healthy skin
Authors: Wu Di , Fedorov Kukk Anatoly , Panzer Rüdiger , Emmert Steffen , Roth Bernhard
Published: June 2024

Cutaneous melanoma is the most lethal skin cancer and noninvasively distinguishing it from benign tumor is a major challenge. Raman spectroscopic measurements were conducted on 65 suspected melanocytic lesions and surrounding healthy skin from 47 patients. Compared to the spectra of healthy skin, spectra of melanocytic lesions exhibited lower intensities in carotenoid bands and higher intensities in lipid and melanin bands, suggesting similar variations in the content of these components. Distinct variations were observed among the autofluorescence intensities of healthy skin, benign nevi and malignant melanoma. By incorporating autofluorescence information, the classification accuracy of the support vector machine for spectra of healthy skin, nevi, and melanoma reached 90.2%, surpassing the 87.9% accuracy achieved without autofluorescence, with this difference being statistically significant. These findings indicate the diagnostic value of autofluorescence intensity, which reflect differences in fluorophore content, chemical composition, and structure among healthy skin, nevi, and melanoma.
Sarcopenia‐related changes in serum GLP‐1 level affect myogenic differentiation
Authors: Huang Hsien‐Hao , Wang Yun‐Jie , Jiang Hui‐Yu , Yu Helen Wenshin , Chen Yin‐Quan , Chiou Arthur , Kuo Jean‐Cheng
Published: June 2024

Background

Sarcopenia, a group of muscle‐related disorders, leads to the gradual decline and weakening of skeletal muscle over time. Recognizing the pivotal role of gastrointestinal conditions in maintaining metabolic homeostasis within skeletal muscle, we hypothesize that the effectiveness of the myogenic programme is influenced by the levels of gastrointestinal hormones in the bloodstream, and this connection is associated with the onset of sarcopenia.

Methods

We first categorized 145 individuals from the Emergency Room of Taipei Veterans General Hospital into sarcopenia and non‐sarcopenia groups, following the criteria established by the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia. A thorough examination of specific gastrointestinal hormone levels in plasma was conducted to identify the one most closely associated with sarcopenia. Techniques, including immunofluorescence, western blotting, glucose uptake assays, seahorse real‐time cell metabolic analysis, flow cytometry analysis, kinesin‐1 activity assays and qPCR analysis, were applied to investigate its impacts and mechanisms on myogenic differentiation.

Results

Individuals in the sarcopenia group exhibited elevated plasma levels of glucagon‐like peptide 1 (GLP‐1) at 1021.5 ± 313.5 pg/mL, in contrast to non‐sarcopenic individuals with levels at 351.1 ± 39.0 pg/mL (P < 0.05). Although it is typical for GLP‐1 levels to rise post‐meal and subsequently drop naturally, detecting higher GLP‐1 levels in starving individuals with sarcopenia raised the possibility of GLP‐1 influencing myogenic differentiation in skeletal muscle. Further investigation using a cell model revealed that GLP‐1 (1, 10 and 100 ng/mL) dose‐dependently suppressed the expression of the myogenic marker, impeding myocyte fusion and the formation of polarized myotubes during differentiation. GLP‐1 significantly inhibited the activity of the microtubule motor kinesin‐1, interfering with the translocation of glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) to the cell membrane and the dispersion of mitochondria. These impairments subsequently led to a reduction in glucose uptake to 0.81 ± 0.04 fold (P < 0.01) and mitochondrial adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production from 25.24 ± 1.57 pmol/min to 18.83 ± 1.11 pmol/min (P < 0.05). Continuous exposure to GLP‐1, even under insulin induction, attenuated the elevated glucose uptake.

Conclusions

The elevated GLP‐1 levels observed in individuals with sarcopenia are associated with a reduction in myogenic differentiation. The impact of GLP‐1 on both the membrane translocation of GLUT4 and the dispersion of mitochondria significantly hinders glucose uptake and the production of mitochondrial ATP necessary for the myogenic programme. These findings point us towards strategies to establish the muscle–gut axis, particularly in the context of sarcopenia. Additionally, these results present the potential of identifying relevant diagnostic biomarkers.
Performance and mildness of alkyl glycoside hydroxypropyl sulfonate
Authors: Chang Kuan , Jia Baotong
Published: June 2024

Alkyl glycoside hydroxypropyl sulfonate (APGSHS), as a kind of anionic surfactant was successfully prepared using sodium 3‐chloro‐2‐hydroxypropane sulfonate and alkyl polyglucoside (APG). The surface and application properties of APGSHS were studied in detail. The results showed that APGSHS showed much enhanced solubility and there for better foaming and detergency properties than APG due to the introduction of sulfonate group. Then, the mildness of APGSHS and commercially available mild surfactants was compared using zein test and hemolysis of red blood cells (RBC) test. APGSHS has higher mildness than other surfactants, such as potassium lauroylglycinate (PLG), lauramidopropyl betaine (LAB), and sodium laurylmethyl taurate (LMT). The mechanism of mildness was investigated by studying the interaction between APGSHS and protein using zein model through micelle behavior and protein structure. It was observed that compared to other anionic surfactants such as sodium fatty alcohol polyoxyethylene ether sulfate (AES) and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), APGSHS possesses a larger hydrophilic head group and causes less damage to the secondary structure of zein. Finally, the effect of different surfactants on the hair keratin loss during washing was evaluated. The results showed APGSHS had a minimal damaging effect on keratin in the hair, resulting in the lowest protein loss. This work suggests APGSHS as a promising ingredient for green and mild cleaning products.
Exploring the therapeutic mechanisms of resveratrol for treating arecoline‐induced malignant transformation in oral epithelial cells: insights into hub targets
Authors: Sun Zhen , Guo Xiaopeng , Li Changya , Ling Junjun , Chang Aoshuang , Zhao Houyu , Zhuo Xianlu
Published: June 2024

BACKGROUND

Betel nut chewing is a significant risk factor for oral cancer due to arecoline, its primary active component. Resveratrol, a non‐flavonoid polyphenol, possesses anti‐cancer properties. It has been shown to inhibit arecoline‐induced oral malignant cells in preliminary experiments but the underlying mechanism remains unclear. This research therefore aimed to explore the potential therapeutic targets of resveratrol in treating arecoline‐induced oral cancer.

METHODS

Data mining identified common targets and hub targets of resveratrol in arecoline‐induced oral cancer. Gene set variation analysis (GSVA) was used to score and validate the expression and clinical significance of these hub targets in head and neck cancer (HNC) tissues. Molecular docking analysis was conducted on the hub targets. The effect of resveratrol intervention on hub targets was verified by experiments.

RESULTS

Sixty‐one common targets and 15 hub targets were identified. Hub targets were highly expressed in HNC and were associated with unfavorable prognoses. They played a role in HNC metastasis, epithelial‐mesenchymal transition, and invasion. Their expression also affected immune cell infiltration and correlated negatively with sensitivity to chemotherapeutic agents such as bleomycin and docetaxel. Experiments demonstrated that resveratrol down‐regulated the expression of the hub targets, inhibited their proliferation and invasion, and induced apoptosis.

CONCLUSION

Resveratrol inhibits the arecoline‐induced malignant phenotype of oral epithelial cells by regulating the expression of some target genes, suggesting that resveratrol may be used not only as an adjuvant treatment for oral cancer, but also as an adjuvant for oral cancer prevention due to its low toxicity and high efficacy. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.
Bone cysts at the meniscal attachment are associated with a longer symptom duration among patients with arthroscopically treated medial meniscus posterior root tear
Authors: Omae Hiroaki , Yanagisawa Shinya , Hagiwara Keiichi , Omodaka Takuya , Hashimoto Shogo , Kimura Masashi , Chikuda Hirotaka
Published: June 2024

Purpose

To elucidate the features of bone cysts at attachment sites of medial meniscus posterior root tears (MMPRTs).

Methods

Knees treated using arthroscopic surgery for MMPRT between 2015 and 2022 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients without a memory of onset (painful popping), prior knee surgeries, concomitant ligament or meniscus injuries or fractures were excluded. Duration from onset to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and type of tear were evaluated during arthroscopy. On radiography, meniscus signs (cleft/ghost/giraffe neck), bone cysts at the attachment site of the MMPRT and posterior shiny‐corner lesions (PSCLs; bone marrow lesions on the meniscal‐covered portion of the posterior tibial plateau) were evaluated. The sensitivity and specificity of the bone cysts were assessed by comparison with matched patients who underwent arthroscopic surgery for medial meniscus posterior horn tear. In addition, subgroups (cyst‐positive/cyst‐negative) among patients with MMPRT were created to assess the features of bone cysts.

Results

A total of 275 patients with MMPRT and 275 matched patients with posterior horn tears were evaluated. The sensitivity and specificity of bone cysts for MMPRT in this study were 22.2% and 98.6%, respectively. Among the 275 knees with MMPRT, compared with the cyst‐negative group, the cyst‐positive group had a longer duration from onset to MRI (12.9 ± 13.1 vs. 8.3 ± 10.9 weeks, respectively, p = 0.025) and reduced occurrence of PSCLs (18.0% vs. 42.0%, respectively, p = 0.031).

Conclusion

The occurrence of bone cysts at the attachment site was helpful for the accurate diagnosis of MMPRT and related to longer duration from onset to MRI and reduced PSCLs.

Level of Evidence

Level III, cross‐sectional study.
Power Over Fiber and Analog Radio Over Fiber Simultaneous Transmission Over Long Distance in Single Mode, Multicore, and Hollow Core Fibers
Authors: Altuna Rubén , Jung Yongmin , Petropoulos Periklis , Vázquez Carmen
Published: June 2024

In this work, a novel study of the feasibility of shared Power over Fiber (PoF) and Fifth‐Generation (5G) New Radio (NR) Analog Radio over Fiber (ARoF) over long distance Hollow‐core Fibers (HCF) is presented. Comparative measurements between similar lengths of HCFs, Multicore (MCF) and Single Mode Fibers (SMF) are performed. A complete analysis on the Stimulated Raman Scattering (SRS)‐induced noise transfer from PoF to ARoF is tackled. Relative Intensity Noise (RIN) of ARoF signals is measured for all the optical fibers tested, observing no degradation in HCFs, neither on MCFs and significant deterioration in SMFs. A combination of PoF and 5G NR ARoF link in a single fiber is implemented, and 5G NR signals with different modulation formats are successfully transmitted through HCFs and MCFs without degradation, while SRS‐induced noise transfer in SMFs massively deteriorate them. PoF transmission efficiencies are also analyzed, achieving up to 9.9 % System Energy Efficiency (SEE) for a 3.1 km HCF, 0.9 % for a 11.1 km HCF and 1.5 %, 13.5 %, and 20.4 % in a 10 km MCF, a 9.8 km SMF and a 3.3 km SMF, respectively. The PoF signal is used to supply a Bluetooth Low‐Energy (BLE) load with a power consumption of 20 mW.
A Strong, Flexible, and Anticounterfeiting Fluorescent Composite Hydrogel from Carboxymethyl Cellulose‐Eu(III) Cross‐Linked Polyvinyl Alcohol
Authors: Ye Fang , Ye Jun , Xiong Jian , Li Qiang
Published: June 2024

Fluorescent hydrogel as an advanced material has been used for anti‐counterfeiting, probe detection, and optical devices. A facile strategy to prepare fluorescent hydrogel is developed by carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) with Europium(III) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). The hydrogel forms a physical cross‐linking network under mild reaction conditions without using volatile organic chemicals. The addition of CMC‐Eu(III) improves the mechanical properties of the hydrogel. At 15% CMC‐Eu(III), the hydrogel reaches its maximum tensile and compressive stress, which are 47.25 ± 10.35 and 10.14 ± 1.90 kPa, respectively. Meanwhile, the hydrogels exhibit a 5D0→7F2 characteristic emission peak assigned to Eu3+, which emits stable red fluorescence under 254 nm ultraviolet (UV) light. When this hydrogel is applied to paper, the paper showed hidden fluorescent dots under UV light. This additive also enhances the mechanical properties of the paper, which reveals the multifunctionality of this fluorescent hydrogel for anti‐counterfeiting and reinforcement.
C5AR1‐induced TLR1/2 pathway activation drives proliferation and metastasis in anaplastic thyroid cancer
Authors: Liu Bo , Sun Yueyao , Geng Tongyao , Wang Haobo , Wu Zhenyu , Xu Lei , Zhang Miao , Niu Xupeng , Zhao Chenxu , Shang Jin , Shang Fangjian
Published: June 2024

This study aimed to elucidate the role and mechanisms of Complement C5a receptor 1 (C5AR1) in driving the malignant progression of anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC). C5AR1 expression was assessed in ATC tissues and cell lines. Functional assays evaluated the effects of C5AR1 knockdown on the malignant features of ATC cells. The interaction between C5AR1 and miR‐335‐5p was confirmed using a luciferase reporter assay and Fluorescence in situ hybridization, and the impact of C5AR1 knockdown on the Toll‐like receptor (TLR) 1/2 signaling pathway was examined. In vivo studies evaluated the effects of C5AR1 modulation on tumor growth and metastasis. C5AR1 levels were elevated in ATC tumor samples and associated with poor survival in ATC patients. C5AR1 knockdown impeded ATC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in vitro. MiR‐335‐5p was identified as an upstream regulator of C5AR1, which negatively modulates C5AR1 expression. C5AR1 knockdown diminished TLR1, TLR2, and myeloid differentiation primary response 88 (MyD88) levels, while C5AR1 overexpression activated this pathway. Blocking TLR1/2 signaling abrogated the oncogenic effects of C5AR1 overexpression. C5AR1 silencing inhibited tumor growth and lung metastasis of ATC cells in nude mice. C5AR1 contributes to ATC tumorigenesis and metastasis by activating the TLR1/2 pathway, and is negatively regulated by miR‐335‐5p. Targeting the miR‐335‐5p/C5AR1/TLR1/2 axis represents a potential therapeutic strategy for ATC.
Generalized phase retrieval in quaternion Euclidean spaces
Authors: Yang Ming , Li Yun‐Zhang
Published: June 2024

Recently, quaternionic Fourier analysis has received increasing attention due to its applications in signal analysis and image processing. This paper addresses quaternionic generalized phase retrieval (QGPR) problem in quaternion Euclidean spaces
. We introduce the concept of QGPR which aims to reconstruct a signal
in
from the quadratic measurements
, where each
is an
self‐adjoint quaternion matrix. We characterize QGPR sequences in terms of their real Jacobian matrices, prove that the set of QGPR sequences is an open set in some sense, and present some phaselift‐based sufficient conditions on QGPR which gives a method to construct QGPR sequences.
Characterization of weakly nonlinear effects in relationship to transducer parameters in focused ultrasound therapy
Authors: Xu Peng , Wu Hao , Shen Guofeng
Published: June 2024

Background

Focused ultrasound therapy has been widely used for the treatment of various diseases, employing different types of transducers. The focused ultrasound pressure fields inevitably exhibit nonlinear effects, which can influence the ablation region. However, the nonlinear effects exhibit noticeable variations across different applications. The characterization of the nonlinear pressure fields of ultrasound is important for the effective implementation of focused ultrasound therapy.

Purpose

The traditional angular spectrum method (ASM) was extended to accurately and efficiently simulate the propagation of weakly nonlinear ultrasound in heterogeneous mediums of clinical model. The nonlinear effects were further analyzed in relationship to the transducer parameters that are different in various applications.

Methods

The pressure fields were simulated using the extended ASM, incorporating calculations for phase aberration in the frequency domain and magnitude compensation in the spatial domain to account for heterogeneous acoustic impedance mismatch. Validation was performed by comparison to k‐Wave simulation results using two simplified clinical models, an abdominal soft tissue and a transcranial skull model. The nonlinear effects were then analyzed in relation to the transducer parameters of f‐number and effective source area based on the same acoustic output power. The analysis of nonlinear effects was conducted under both homogeneous medium and the clinical models.

Results

The simulation results demonstrated a maximum error of 3.93% in the calculated harmonic pressure of the abdominal model, and a maximum error of 4.89% within the transcranial model when comparing the extended ASM simulation results to those obtained from k‐Wave simulations. The characterization of the nonlinear effects reveals a strong correlation with the transducer parameters. Specifically, the results indicate that the nonlinear effects intensify with an increase in the effective source area and f‐number, under the same acoustic output power of the transducer. However, the clinical model also showed an influence on the nonlinear effects in relation to the f‐number.

Conclusion

The extended ASM was demonstrated as an accurate and efficient simulation tool, and the simulation results provide a reference for evaluating the intensity of nonlinear effects in various transducer designs.
Preoperative CT‐based radiomics and deep learning model for predicting risk stratification of gastric gastrointestinal stromal tumors
Authors: Yang Ping , Wu Jiamei , Liu Mengqi , Zheng Yineng , Zhao Xiaofang , Mao Yun
Published: June 2024

Background

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are clinically heterogeneous with various malignant potential in different individuals. It is crucial to explore a reliable method for preoperative risk stratification of gastric GISTs noninvasively.

Purpose

To establish and evaluate a machine learning model using the combination of computed tomography (CT) morphology, radiomics, and deep learning features to predict the risk stratification of primary gastric GISTs preoperatively.

Methods

The 193 gastric GISTs lesions were randomly divided into training set, validation set, and test set in a ratio of 6:2:2. The qualitative and quantitative CT morphological features were assessed by two radiologists. The tumors were segmented manually, and then radiomic features were extracted using PyRadiomics and the deep learning features were extracted using pre‐trained Resnet50 from arterial phase and venous phase CT images, respectively. Pearson correlation analysis and recursive feature elimination were used for feature selection. Support vector machines were employed to build a classifier for predicting the risk stratification of GISTs. This study compared the performance of models using different pre‐trained convolutional neural networks (CNNs) to extract deep features for classification, as well as the performance of modeling features from single‐phase and dual‐phase images. The arterial phase, venous phase and dual‐phase machine learning models were built, respectively, and the morphological features were added to the dual‐phase machine learning model to construct a combined model. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to evaluate the efficacy of each model. The clinical application value of the combined model was determined through the decision curve analysis (DCA) and the net reclassification index (NRI) was analyzed.

Results

The area under the curve (AUC) of the dual‐phase machine learning model was 0.876, which was higher than that of the arterial phase model or venous phase model (0.813, 0.838, respectively). The combined model had best predictive performance than the above models with an AUC of 0.941 (95% CI: 0.887–0.974) (p = 0.012, Delong test). DCA demonstrated that the combined model had good clinical application value with an NRI of 0.575 (95% CI: 0.357–0.891).

Conclusion

In this study, we established a combined model that incorporated dual‐phase morphology, radiomics, and deep learning characteristics, which can be used to predict the preoperative risk stratification of gastric GISTs.
The supportive care needs of stroke patients: A scoping review
Authors: Wang Shuaiyou , Li Dingding , Zhu Shanshan , Guo Xin , Xu Meiqi , Wang Hongru , Zhang Huimin
Published: June 2024

The aims of the current review were to identify the current supportive care needs of stroke patients, categorize those needs according to the supportive care needs framework (SCNF), and to form a SCNF of stroke patients. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA‐ScR) and Guidance for conducting systematic scoping reviews were followed. Ten databases were searched, including six English databases: PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cumulative Index to Nursing Allied Health Literature, Cochrane Library, and PsycINFO, and four Chinese databases: China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wan Fang, China Biology Medicine Database and Chongqing VIP. The search period covers from the establishment of the database to December 31, 2022. Three thousand twenty‐nine hits were screened resulting in the inclusion of 34 articles in the final literature review. The greatest need identified by stroke patients was information, followed by psychological, social, rehabilitation, practical, physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. The supportive care needs of stroke patients were identified. A preliminary SCNF of stroke patients was developed according to Fitch's SCNF. The multitude of existing needs of stroke patients need to be addressed. This review may represent the first time that SCNF for stroke patients has been developed. This work may lay the foundation for future research on the supportive care needs of stroke patients and provide a framework for the implementation of supportive care in clinical stroke units.
Dairy toothbrushing habit is effective to prevent the aggravation of COVID‐19 infection
Authors: Enomoto Akifumi , Takada Yuto , Kinishita Yuko , Lee Atsushi‐Doksa , Shimoide Takeshi , Yamao Hisatoshi , Kakiuchi Yasuhiro , Tabuchi Takahiro
Published: June 2024

Aim

The outbreak of the new Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID‐19) has spread and caused a public healthcare crisis. The habit of toothbrushing is the critical and fundamental measure for controlling the oral health. There has been no report on whether tooth brushing habit is associated with a risk of severity of COVID‐19 infection. We examined the association between toothbrushing habits and the severity of COVID‐19 infections.

Methods

The cross‐sectional data were used from the Japan COVID‐19 and Society Internet Survey (JACSIS), a large‐scale Internet survey conducted in 2022 (n = 32 000). If the severity of COVID‐19 infection worsens, hospital treatment or the respiratory ventilator treatment may be required. We examined whether daily toothbrushing is a factor on the suppression of the exacerbation of COVID‐19 infection.

Results

From all participants, 4756 people were diagnosed with SARS‐CoV‐2 infection. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that toothbrushing habit was a significant factor related to the severity of COVID‐19 infection.

Conclusion

Daily toothbrushing is a very important factor for preventing the exacerbation of COVID‐19 infection.
Influence of curing agent modified BN with different molecular structures on the heat conduction and electrical insulation property of epoxy composites
Authors: Zhang Wang , Zhang Tong , Wang Qingde , Zhao Baorui , Cao Xiaolong , Wang Jinkai , Liu Haixia , Wang Zhengdong
Published: June 2024

Boron nitride (hBN) serves as an outstanding high‐performance polymer organic filler. However, its hexagonal crystal structure renders it chemically inert, thus limiting its applications. This study proposes the modification of hBN using economical amine and anhydride curing agents to reduce aggregation and enhance the heat conduction of epoxy resin. Specifically, the DETA curing agent and methyl tetrahydrophthalic anhydride (MTHPA) curing agent were grafted onto the hBN surface via ball milling and eco‐friendly water scrubbing processes. Subsequently, the modified functionalized BNNS were uniformly dispersed in epoxy resin via a wet process to form composite materials. Results indicate that both modified fillers maintain good dispersion at the epoxy interface. Compared to epoxy resin, the heat conduction of the EP/MTHPA‐BNNS composite material with 10 vol% loading increased by 212%. The EP/DETA‐BNNS composite exhibited a relative thermal conductivity enhancement of 191%. Moreover, both of materials demonstrated significantly improved thermal stability, with slightly reduced breakdown strength. Mechanical property testing revealed a maximum increase of 187.5% in fracture elongation.

Highlights

Comprehensive study on curing agent modified hBN

High dispersion of BNNS after wet ball milling

Modified BNNS improves composite interface properties

The thermal conductivity increases twice under 10 wt% BNNS loading

Composite materials with outstanding electrical insulation and high fracture elongation
Evaluation of remote and in‐person instruction of a social‐emotional learning curriculum in a rural midwestern middle school: A case study
Authors: Hunter‐Mullis Kristina , Qing Catherine , Decker Kim Alexander
Published: June 2024

Rural adolescents are at a greater risk for substance abuse and other mental health challenges. There is a need for enhanced evidence‐based prevention efforts. This case study evaluated both remote and in‐person instruction of Second Step®, a social‐emotional learning (SEL) curriculum aimed to improve school‐based prevention efforts. Second Step® was implemented in a rural Midwestern middle school from Fall 2020 to Spring 2022. Pre‐ and post‐surveys were given to 7th grade (n = 233) and 8th grade (n = 146) students. To evaluate program implementation, t‐tests were conducted. Post‐survey scores were compared to evaluate remote versus in‐person learning. Seventh grade students showed significant improvement of self‐efficacy in overcoming obstacles, and this was expanded via in‐person instruction. Eighth grade students increased knowledge of identifying and disrupting bullying, and the goal‐setting unit showed more success taught via remote instruction. Second Step® shows promise in increasing self‐efficacy and knowledge of SEL topics. Exploratory results suggest both in‐person and remote implementation should be considered.
Digital inclusion and the internet of things: Convenience and the choice‐compulsion continuum
Authors: Frehill Lisa M.
Published: June 2024

The internet of things (IoT) holds forth much promise and peril. IoT promises to increase efficiencies needed to solve wicked problems like climate change. However, IoT may also reinforce existing problems such as social inequalities long associated with the digital divide. Research about the digital divide has evolved greatly over the past few decades and this article examines recent trends in the United States (U.S.) with particular attention on digital inclusivity associated with three digital divide pillars—digital infrastructure, digital devices, and digital literacy. More specifically, recent technological and policy trajectories as they relate to convenience and to a choice versus compulsion continuum (the “three C's”), are interrogated in terms of emergent U.S. IoT policy. The ways in which advanced industrial capitalism is served by the IoT, and its cousin the Industry IoT, provide further food for thought as the world plunges forward with convenient devices that have potential for solving pressing problems such as social inequality and climate change, yet at the same time may exacerbate such problems without thoughtful policy development around all three pillars of digital inclusion.
Ultralong‐lasting plasma‐activated water inhibits pathogens and improves plant disease resistance in soft rot‐infected hydroponic lettuce
Authors: Ran Congfu , Zhou Xiongfeng , Dong Pan , Liu Kun , Ostrikov Kostya (Ken)
Published: June 2024

To address the short lifetime of plasma‐activated water (PAW), this work reports on the application of ultralong‐lasting PAW for plant disease treatment. Compared with lettuce without ultralong‐lasting PAW treatment, the treated lettuce solution showed c. 1 log10 colony forming units mL−1 decrease in pathogens, as well as improvements in leaf area, leaf weight, root length, and root weight by 75%, 20%, 108.33%, and 150%, respectively. The leaf withering/root mortality rate of PAW‐treated plants was significantly lower than those of non‐PAW‐treated plants. Besides, disease defense‐related enzymes, such as catalase and β−1,3‐glucanase, were respectively enhanced by 112.5% and 5.13% in PAW‐treated lettuce, while the plant defense‐related genes were upregulated to respond to the pathogen's invasion.
Design and experimental evaluation of a variable pesticide application control system for the air‐assisted rubber tree powder sprayer
Authors: Wang Yong , Zhang Huiming , Fu Meng , Fu Wei , Wang Juan , Zhang Bin , Fu Yuxing , Zeng Tiwei
Published: June 2024

BACKGROUND

In order to address the issues of uneven pesticide deposition and low pesticide utilization in rubber gardens caused by the traditional diffuse plant protection spraying method, this study focuses on the air‐assisted powder sprayer and proposes a variable pesticide application control system. A variable pesticide application decision‐making model integrating the leaf area index (LAI) was designed based on powdery mildew control standards and individual rubber tree information. According to the target powder spraying accuracy requirements, a control model of the air velocity adjustment device was established and a fuzzy proportional‐integral‐differential (PID) air velocity control system was developed.

RESULTS

The simulation results indicate that the wind speed control system exhibits a maximum overshoot of 2.18% and an average response time of 1.48 s. The field experiment conducted in a rubber plantation revealed that when the air‐assisted powder sprayer operates in the variable powder spraying mode, the average response time of the control system is 2.5 s. The control accuracy of each executive mechanism exceeded 95.9%. The deposition coefficient of variation (CV) at different canopy heights was relatively consistent, with values of 35.38%, 36.26% and 36.90%. In comparison to the quantitative mode, the variable mode showed a significant 20.03% increase in the effective utilization rate of sulfur powder.

CONCLUSION

These research findings provide valuable technical support for the advancement of mechanized variable powder spraying equipment in rubber tree cultivation. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.
Wolbachia affect female mate preference and offspring fitness in a parasitoid wasp
Authors: Amini Sara , Fathipour Yaghoub , Hoffmann Ary , Mehrabadi Mohammad
Published: June 2024

BACKGROUND

Wolbachia are widespread intracellular bacteria in insects that often have high rates of spread due to their impact on insect reproduction. These bacteria may also affect the mating behavior of their host with impacts on the fitness of host progeny. In this study, we investigated the impact of Wolbachia on a preference for mating with young or old males in the parasitoid wasp Habrobracon hebetor.

RESULTS

Our results showed that uninfected females from a tetracycline‐treated line preferred to mate with young males, whereas Wolbachia‐infected females had no preference. Time to mating was relatively shorter in the infected lines. Regardless of Wolbachia infection status, progeny resulting from matings with young males showed higher fitness than those from crosses with old males, and infected females crossed with infected young males showed the highest performance.

CONCLUSION

These results suggest an impact of Wolbachia on female mate preference and offspring fitness although it is unclear how this phenomenon increases Wolbachia transmission of infected wasps. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.
Direct parental CRISPR gene editing in the predatory bug Orius strigicollis, a biocontrol agent against small arthropods
Authors: Matsuda Naoki , Takahashi Momoyo , Shirai Yu , Hinomoto Norihide , Daimon Takaaki
Published: June 2024

BACKGROUND

The predatory flower bug Orius strigicollis serves as a valuable biocontrol agent against small arthropods; however, its effectiveness can vary, especially when population establishment fails due to low prey/pest densities. A promising approach to improve the efficacy of O. strigicollis as a biocontrol agent is through gene editing. However, as females lay their eggs in plant tissue, the conventional embryo injection approach is challenging in this species.

RESULTS

In this study, we aimed to develop an efficient and practical gene editing technique for O. strigicollis using direct parental CRISPR (DIPA‐CRISPR). Female bugs at various postemergence stages received Cas9 ribonucleoprotein injections, with subsequent genotyping of their offspring (G0) using PCR and a heteroduplex mobility assay. We targeted the kynurenine 3‐monooxygenase gene (cinnabar), pivotal for insect ommochrome pigment biosynthesis. Through experimental optimization, we achieved a peak gene editing efficiency of 52%, i.e., 52% of G0 progeny carried gene‐edited alleles when injecting 1 day postemergence. Notably, some gene‐edited G0 adults exhibited a red‐eye mosaic phenotype, in contrast to the black‐eyed wild type. Crossing experiments confirmed the heritability of the introduced mutations in the subsequent generation (G1), enabling the establishment of a cinnabar‐knockout line with bright red eyes.

CONCLUSION

We demonstrate that our DIPA‐CRISPR gene editing method tailored for O. strigicollis is efficient and practical. Our findings highlight the potency of DIPA‐CRISPR as a tool for O. strigicollis genetic engineering and suggest broader applications for enhancing other biocontrol agents. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.
Overcoming barriers to sustainable development: Evaluating what information frameworks matter and how they work in reducing consumer food waste
Authors: Xu Ting , Mi Lingyun , Wang Xuejiao , Han Jiali , Qiao Lijie , Chen Hongwei , Jiang Yuchuan
Published: June 2024

The alarming food waste in restaurants exacerbates the deteriorating global food security crisis and hinders the achievement of sustainable development goals. What information interventions can restaurants provide to effectively reduce consumer food waste? This question remains unresolved. To this end, based on the extended Stimulus‐Organism‐Response (SOR) theory, this study conducted two experiments to investigate which information frameworks are more effective in reducing consumer food waste behavior (FWB) in restaurants and how these interventions trigger consumers' intrinsic psychological mechanisms. Study 1 (N = 643) found that feedback‐based information has a significantly greater inhibitory effect on FWB than prompt‐type information, with the strongest effect observed when feedback‐based and loss information are coupled. The results of Study 2 (N = 608) confirmed that anticipated guilt mediates the partial paths between information frameworks and FWB. Additionally, moral face consciousness moderates the relationship between anticipated guilt and FWB, whereby for individuals with a stronger moral face consciousness, the inhibition effect of anticipated guilt on FWB is greater. This study contributes to the current theory and literature, providing valuable recommendations for restaurant managers and policymakers on how to effectively utilize information interventions to reduce food waste, thereby mitigating the global food security crisis and promoting social sustainability.
27‐3: Progress in High‐Performance AMOLED Display with ViP™ Technology
Authors: Xiao Yiming , Ding Zhendong , Ni Liusong , Fu Yuting , Yao Yuan , Zhang Haohan , Zhu Xuejing , Xia Zengqiang , Zu Zhao , Dong Zhengkui , Yang Bowen , Xue Murong , Du Yongqiang , Liu Yucheng , Lai Yiyou , Lee CC , Zhu Xiujian , Peng Zhaoji , Zhang Deqiang
Published: June 2024

ViP™ (Visionox intelligent Pixelization) Technology is a novel RGB pixelization approach without Fine Metal Mask for OLED patterning. ViP™technology was released in May 2023. In this paper, some key features of display performance and mass production outlook of ViP™ Technology will be discussed.
P‐1.11: Back‐End‐of‐Line Compatible Al‐doped Indium Zinc Oxide Transistors with Excellent Thermal Stability
Authors: Xie Jingye , Shi Jianbing , Dong Junchen , Wang Zongwei , Cai Yimao , Han Dedong , Zhang Xing
Published: June 2024

In this work, thermal stability of InZnO (IZO) and Al‐doped InZnO (IAZO) transistors are studied. With a consecutive annealing pre‐treatment at 300 ℃ in air, the IAZO transistors show superior electrical properties to the IZO transistors, demonstrating that element Al plays a role as stabilizer for maintaining device performance. Our work paves the way for practical application of the oxide transistors in back‐end‐of‐line (BEOL) scenarios.