bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Acute dilated cardiomyopathy in the setting of catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome and thrombotic microangiopathy: A case series and review
Authors: Hermel Melody , Hermel David , Azam Saif , Shinbane Jerold , Sarcon Annahita , Jones Erika , Mehta Arjun , Grazette Luanda , Liebman Howard , Weitz Ilene
Published: August 2020

Catastrophic antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (CAPS) is a rare form of antiphospholipid syndrome, an autoimmune condition characterized by vascular thromboses, pregnancy loss, and antiphospholipid (aPL) antibodies. Diagnosis of CAPS relies on thrombosis of at least three different organs systems over 1 week, histopathological evidence of small vessel occlusion, and high aPL antibody titers. In a subset of precipitating circumstances, activation or disruption of endothelial cells in the microvasculature may occur along with cardiomyopathy. We present two cases of CAPS‐associated dilated cardiomyopathy at our institution, focusing on disease management, pathophysiology, and treatment. These patients were of Southeastern Asian descent, raising the possibility of genetic polymorphisms contributing to the development of cardiomyopathy. Both met CAPS criteria and both demonstrated clinicopathologic thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) and complement activation and developed severe dilated cardiomyopathy with shock. Complement activation plays an important role in the development of CAPS and may be important in the pathogenesis of CAPS‐associated cardiomyopathy. Clinical suspicion for TMA as a pathophysiologic mechanism of unexplained heart failure in CAPS is important and increased awareness of cardiac side effects is necessary so that early treatment can be initiated to halt further cardiac and systemic complications.
Effect of chelation therapy in pediatric Wilson’s disease: Liver and endoscopic outcome
Authors: Das Mridul Chandra , Sen Sarma Moinak , Srivastava Anshu , Yachha Surender Kumar , Poddar Ujjal
Published: August 2020

Background

As there is paucity of exclusive literature on pediatric hepatic Wilson's disease (WD), this study was undertaken to evaluate the efficacy of chelation on hepatocellular function and portal hypertension in WD.

Methods

Wilson's disease patients with ≥9 months of follow‐up were evaluated for response to chelation therapy in the following categories: (a) complete remission, (b) partial remission (c) progression of disease; (d) drug toxicity. Pediatric end‐stage liver disease (PELD), Nazar and New Wilson Index scores were compared. Hemodynamically stable patients underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy (baseline and surveillance) and received prophylaxis (primary or secondary). Endoscopic outcome was assessed at follow‐up.

Results

Of the 111 WD children (aged 9 [3–15] years; PELD score 16 [−11 to 60]), 65 with follow‐up of 3.6 (0.8–12) years on chelation (83% D‐penicillamine monotherapy, 17% D‐penicillamine and zinc) were analyzed. 81% had severe disease at presentation. Favorable outcome (complete and or partial remission), progression of disease and drug toxicity were seen in 71%, 29% and 10.8%, respectively. Two‐thirds had esophageal varices which did not show progression. Large esophageal varices (16%) were effectively downgraded in 3 (2–6) therapeutic endoscopic sessions. Nazar score and PELD score at baseline were independent predictors of outcome with favorable correlation with each other (r = .864, P < .001). PELD cutoff 9.45 (AUC: 71%, sensitivity: 87%, specificity: 50%; P = .009) and Nazar score cut off 3.5 (AUC: 68%, sensitivity: 83%, specificity: 50%; P = .02) were associated with poor prognosis.

Conclusions

Despite severe liver disease, the majority of hepatic WD can be managed on D‐penicillamine monotherapy. PELD score and Nazar score effectively determine the outcome.
Women executives and off‐the‐job misconduct by high‐profile employees: A study of National Football League team organizations
Authors: Graham Mary E. , Walia Bhavneet , Robinson Chris
Published: August 2020

The risk of off‐the‐job misconduct by high‐profile employees is a serious concern of top management in professional sport organizations, media and entertainment companies, and public‐facing entities in the government and education sectors. Yet there is little research on how to prevent or mitigate this form of misconduct in organizations. Utilizing upper echelons theory and the literature on demographic composition, we examine the relationship between the gender composition of executives of team organizations in a men's professional sport league and subsequent misconduct by players on those teams. Specifically, we employed multilevel and logistic regression analyses to unique data on U.S. National Football League team organizations, and we found that firms with a critical mass of women executives experienced fewer player arrests. No support was found for executive power as a moderator of this relationship. We discuss the implications of our findings for the demographic composition literature. We also offer guidance for preventing and managing off‐the‐job misconduct by high‐profile employees.
Concurrent and Predictive Validity of AND‐ASPEN Malnutrition Consensus Is Satisfactory in Hospitalized Patients: A Longitudinal Study
Authors: Burgel Camila Ferri , Teixeira Paula Portal , Leites Giovana Molon , Carvalho Gustavo Dal'Negro , Modanese Paulo Victor Gomes , Rabito Estela Iraci , Silva Flávia Moraes
Published: August 2020

Background

Subjective Global Assessment (SGA) is the reference method to identify hospital malnutrition. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (AND‐ASPEN) proposed a more objective consensus, but studies regarding its validity are still scarce. This study aimed to evaluate the concurrent and predictive validity of the AND‐ASPEN Consensus.

Methods

Prospective cohort conducted with hospitalized adult and elderly patients. At admission, general data were collected and patients were evaluated by SGA and AND‐ASPEN with and without handgrip strength (HGS) for nutrition diagnoses. Patients were followed up for collection of outcomes—length of hospital stay (LOS), in‐hospital death, readmission, and mortality within 6 months after being discharged. Concurrent and predictive validity were tested.

Results

Six hundred patients (55.7 ± 14.8 years, 51.3% males) were evaluated. The median of LOS was 10.0 (5.018.0) days and in‐hospital mortality was 2.7%. SGA identified 34.0% and AND‐ASPEN 34.6% of patients as malnourished. AND‐ASPEN had substantial agreement with SGA (κ = 0.690) and satisfactory accuracy (AUC = 0.85; 95% CI, 0.810.88). Malnutrition defined by AND‐ASPEN predicted about 1.4 times higher risk of prolonged LOS (95% CI, 1.2–1.6) and hospital readmission (95% CI, 1.2–1.8), besides 5.0 times higher risk of hospital death (95% CI, 1.3–18.8) and 6 months' death (95% CI, 2.6–9.9), in an adjusted analysis. The validity of AND‐ASPEN without HGS was also satisfactory.

Conclusion

AND‐ASPEN can be used for malnutrition diagnoses, even without HGS because it has satisfactory concurrent and predictive validity.
Novel and known periodontal pathogens residing in gingival crevicular fluid are associated with rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Manoil Daniel , Bostanci Nagihan , Mumcu Gonca , Inanc Nevsun , Can Meryem , Direskeneli Haner , Belibasakis Georgios N.
Published: August 2020

Background

Periodontitis is a suspected environmental risk factor for the development of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, correlation mechanisms between the two pathologies remain elusive. This study examined potential correlations between detached subgingival bacteria collected in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) and RA parameters.

Methods

RA patients (n = 52, F:M = 40:12), patients with Behcet's disease (BD, n = 40, F:M = 29:11) as another systemic inflammatory disease were studied along with a systemically healthy control group (HC, n = 57, F:M = 40:17). All participants were non‐smokers. Full mouth periodontal parameters were recorded. RA activity was assessed using the 28‐joint Disease Activity Score (DAS‐28). Rheumatoid factors (RFs)‐IgM and ‐IgA were measured by ELISA. GCF samples were investigated by means of fluorescent in situ hybridization for 10 different bacterial taxa.

Results

The taxa TM7, Synergistetes cluster B, Leptotrichia, Megasphaera, Anaeroglobus geminatus, and Tannerella forsythia displayed significantly differential abundances between the groups. Whereas abundances of Megasphaera and A. geminatus were significantly increased in the RA group, only Porphyromonas gingivalis displayed significant correlations with plaque scores, bleeding on probing, and RF‐IgA. RA patients displaying RF‐IgA levels >75 IU/mL exhibited five‐fold more abundant P. gingivalis levels than patients below the threshold. This association with RF‐IgA levels appeared even more pronounced, by six‐fold more P. gingivalis (P = 0.025), in patients with a DAS‐28 score >3.2, indicative of moderate/very active RA.

Conclusions

Unattached GCF bacteria may mediate the association between periodontitis and RA, and monitoring the bacterial composition of GCF might inform on RA activity. The role of newly identified bacterial taxa in RA warrants further investigations.
NxGen evidence: Redesigning the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Effective Health Care website to promote engagement, interactivity, and usability of systematic reviews
Authors: Reid Edwin , Guise Jeanne‐Marie , Fiordalisi Celia , Macdonald Scott , Chang Stephanie
Published: August 2020

Evidence‐based decision‐making is predicated on the ability of users to find and comprehend results from systematic review. Evidence producers have an obligation to support evidence users in this process. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) Evidence‐based Practice Center (EPC) program—a producer of rigorous and comprehensive systematic reviews for two decades—has set a gold standard for reliability in health evidence reviews in the United States. It has recently begun a program of active support for evidence dissemination and uptake beyond mere publication of lengthy reports. This Brief Methods Note critiques the current paper‐based format for systematic reviews and describes the development of a next generation (NxGen) AHRQ EPC Effective Health Care website. This redesigned platform will allow end‐users of all types to find and share the evidence they need through data visualizations and other interactive displays. Several design principles guided the development of NxGen to make systematic review findings more accessible, customizable, adaptable, interactive, and shareable. NxGen will include visualizations for report results that are expressed as meta‐analyses as well as those with narrative syntheses, through forest or bubble plots, respectively. Visual and interactive evidence heat maps are also planned. The NxGen version of the Effective Health Care website is planned to go live in the latter half of 2020 or early 2021.
Effects of dietary fibers with different physicochemical properties on fermentation kinetics and microbial composition by fecal inoculum from lactating sows in vitro
Authors: Pi Yu , Hu Jie , Bai Yu , Wang Zhibo , Wu Yujun , Ye Hao , Zhang Shiyi , Tao Shiyu , Xiao Yingping , Han Dandan , Ni Dongjiao , Zou Xinhua , Wang Junjun
Published: August 2020

BACKGROUND

Efficient utilization of dietary fibers (DFs) is important for optimizing feed resource utilization and animal health. The aim of the current study was to assess the effects of DFs with varying physicochemical properties (bulky, viscous, and fermentable) on fermentation kinetics and microbial composition during in vitro fermentation by fecal inoculum from lactating sow. According to the physicochemical properties, three different DFs, lignocellulose (LC), modified cassava starch (MCS) and konjac flour (KF) were selected as bulky fiber, fermentable fiber and viscous fiber respectively. Gas production, short‐chain fatty acids (SCFAs) profiles and microbial composition were monitored during the fermentation.

RESULTS

Results showed that the gas production in 72 h (GP72h) ranked as: KF > MCS > LC (P < 0.05). The halftime of asymptotic gas production ranked as: KF < MCS = LC (P < 0.001). At 36 h of fermentation, MCS group showed higher concentrations of formic acid and lactate than LC and KF groups, whereas KF group showed higher concentrations of propionate and butyrate than LC and MCS groups (P < 0.05). At 72 h of fermentation, KF group showed higher concentrations of formic acid, lactate and propionate than LC and MCS groups, whereas MCS group showed higher concentrations of acetate and butyrate than LC and KF groups (P < 0.05). At 36 h of fermentation, Anaerovibrio and Erysipelatoclostridium abundances were higher in KF group, whereas Proteiniclasticum abundance was higher in MCS group. At 72 h of fermentation, the abundance of Fibrobacter in LC group was higher than that in MCS and KF groups. In addition, we also observed that the abundances of certain specific bacteria (Anaerovibrio and Erysipelatoclostridium) were closely related to the SCFAs production (propionate and butyrate) at different fermentation times.

CONCLUSION

Collectively, the present study revealed that KF is a fast fermentation fiber which could produce propionate and butyrate rapidly, whereas LC is difficult to be fermented by bacteria. In addition, the fermentation of DFs with different physicochemical properties had divergent impacts on microbial composition and SCFA production. These findings deepen our understanding of the mechanisms of interaction between DFs and intestinal microbiota, and provide new ideas for the rational use of fiber resources in lactating sows. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry
A novel Wulff‐type boronate acid‐functionalized magnetic metal‐organic framework imprinted polymer for specific recognition of glycoproteins under physiological pH
Authors: Wu Xia , Chen Xiaoming , Zhong Guanqun , Chen Chunyan , Cai Changqun
Published: August 2020

Boronate affinity molecularly imprinted materials have been widely used for the separation of glycoproteins under alkaline conditions that is not conducive to the structural stability of the protein. In this work, a kind of novel molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP/TBA/MOF@Fe3O4) was prepared via grafting self‐assembled molecular team of boronic acids on the surface of the magnetic metal–organic framework core. The teamed boronate affinity was formed by 2‐mercaptoethylamine and 4‐mercaptophenylboronic acid for specific separation of glycoproteins under physiological pH (pH 7.4). The obtained nanoparticles show high binding capacities (337.8 mg/g), fast adsorption equilibrium time (20 min), and good specificity (imprinting factor, 4.52) for glycoproteins under physiological pH. Furthermore, the prepared imprinted polymer still shows good adsorption capacity for glycoprotein after five times of repeated use, and its adsorption capacity only dropped by 4.7%. More importantly, the prepared nanoparticles have good potential to adsorb glycoproteins from real biological samples.
Patterns and Predictors of Metastatic Spread to the Neck in Pediatric Thyroid Carcinoma
Authors: Propst Evan Jon , Wasserman Jonathan Daniel , Gorodensky Jonah , Ngan Bo‐Yee , Wolter Nikolaus Ernst
Published: August 2020

Objective

Evaluate patterns and predictors of spread to the neck in pediatric metastatic differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC).

Methods

Patients <18 years old undergoing thyroidectomy by a single surgeon from January 2015 to December 2019 were included. Neck sublevels were removed separately according to AJCC boundaries. Clinical outcomes included nerve injury, hypocalcemia, hematoma, and residual tumor.

Results

Forty‐eight children underwent thyroid surgery. Thirty (63%) were for malignancy, 27 (90%) of which were DTC. Nineteen (70%) patients with DTC underwent 24 neck dissections; 19 central plus lateral and 5 central alone. The female to male ratio increased from 1:1 to 3:1 with age. Two children with lateral neck involvement had sub‐centimeter primaries. Patients requiring neck dissection were more likely to have 1) diffuse sclerosing or tall cell variant, 2) T3 or T4 disease, 3) genetic mutation, 4) lymphatic invasion, 5) extracapsular extension, 6) positive resection margin. Levels IIA (79%), III (89%), IV (84%), VI (100%) were most commonly involved. Levels IB (16%), IIB (16%), VB (16%) were also involved, often without involvement of adjacent levels. Permanent injuries included one unilateral recurrent laryngeal nerve, one mild marginal mandibular nerve and one mild accessory nerve. Hypocalcemia was highest following neck dissection for malignant disease. One patient was re‐operated for a mediastinal node. Most patients with N1 disease received radioactive iodine. Most patients have no evidence or indeterminate disease on long‐term follow‐up.

Conclusion

Children with lateral nodal spread from DTC should be considered for neck dissection including Levels IB, IIA, IIB, III, IV, VB, bilateral VI.

Level of Evidence

4 Laryngoscope, 131:E1002–E1009, 2021
Long‐Term Influence of Electrode Array Length on Speech Recognition in Cochlear Implant Users
Authors: Canfarotta Michael W. , Dillon Margaret T. , Buchman Craig A. , Buss Emily , O'Connell Brendan P. , Rooth Meredith A. , King English R. , Pillsbury Harold C. , Adunka Oliver F. , Brown Kevin D.
Published: August 2020

Objectives/Hypothesis

Results from a prospective trial demonstrated better speech recognition for cochlear implant (CI) recipients implanted with a long lateral wall electrode array compared to subjects with a short array after 1 year of listening experience. As short array recipients may require an extended adaptation period, this study investigated whether differences in speech recognition continued through 4 years of CI use.

Study Design

Long‐term follow‐up of a prospective randomized trial.

Methods

Subjects were randomized to receive a MED‐EL medium (24 mm) or standard (31.5 mm) array. Linear mixed models compared speech recognition between cohorts with word recognition in quiet and sentence recognition in noise at 1, 3, 6, 12, 24, and 48 months postactivation. Postoperative imaging and electric frequency filters were reviewed to assess the influence of frequency‐to‐place mismatch and angular separation between neighboring contacts, a metric associated with peripheral spectral selectivity.

Results

Long (31.5 mm) array recipients demonstrated superior speech recognition out to 4 years postactivation. There was a significant effect of angular separation between contacts, with more closely spaced contacts associated with poorer speech recognition. There was no significant effect of mismatch, yet this may have been obscured by changes in frequency filters over time.

Conclusions

Conventional MED‐EL CI recipients implanted with 31.5‐mm arrays experience better speech recognition than 24‐mm array recipients, initially and with long‐term listening experience. The benefit conferred by longer arrays in the present cohort can be partially attributed to more widely spaced electrode contacts, presumably a result of reduced channel interaction.

Level of Evidence

2 Laryngoscope, 131:892–897, 2021
Managing Recipient Hepatic Artery Intimal Dissection During Living Donor Liver Transplantation
Authors: Agarwal Shaleen , Dey Rajesh , Pandey Yuktansh , Verma Sapana , Gupta Subash
Published: August 2020

Recipient hepatic artery intimal dissection (HAD) followed by hepatic artery thrombosis (HAT) is a serious complication of liver transplantation. Once this is recognized intraoperatively, the accepted approach is to use an alternative arterial inflow, which may not be possible in all patients. We describe a new classification and technique for the management of HAD during living donor liver transplantation. On the basis of the longitudinal extent of intimal dissection, HAD was classified into 4 types. Management was based on the type of dissection, availability of an adequate length of hepatic artery (HA), and an alternate source of inflow. The dissected HA itself was used for arterial anastomosis in patients with preserved pulsatile flow in the dissected artery and a lack of an alternative source of arterial inflow. The technique of using the dissected artery was based on close approximation of the tunica intima to the media with the first 2 sutures of the arterial anastomosis. Of 47 (2.4%) patients who developed HAD, 22 (46.8%) had a type 2 dissection for whom the other (right or the left) undissected HA was used for the anastomosis, and 20 (42.6%) had major (type 3 or 4) dissection. The dissected artery was used for the anastomosis in 9 (45%) of these patients. Postoperative HAT developed in only 1 of 9 patients. Pre‐existing portal vein thrombosis and prior transarterial embolization were found to be major risk factors for the development of HAD. Using the technique described, the dissected artery can be successfully used for a satisfactory HA anastomosis with low thrombosis rates.
Does it really hurt? Making sense of varieties of anger
Authors: Antonetti Paolo , Crisafulli Benedetta , Katsikeas Constantine S.
Published: August 2020

While research has shown that consumer anger causes a range of negative consequences, the conceptualization and measurement of this emotion remain inconsistent. Some studies link anger to consumer revenge motivated by a desire to hurt the company, while others associate anger with a desire to cooperate with the company. This inconsistency is caused by the fact that anger is a broad label used to refer to almost any brand failure. We argue that, rather than considering anger as a single construct, scholars should distinguish between a supportive facet of anger, which comprises feelings of annoyance, frustration and other mild negative feelings, and a vindictive facet of anger, which comprises feelings of intense anger, rage, and outrage. These two facets of anger reconcile divergent arguments presented in past research. Research benefits from moving beyond the generic label of anger to consider supportive and vindictive facets of anger that influence consumers' reactions under different circumstances. Only vindictive anger prompts consumers to take revenge and punish the company for unfair treatment. Supportive anger triggers instead a desire to solve the problem by cooperating with the company. This study presents important managerial implications for assessing and managing feelings of anger following brand failures.
Whole virus detection using aptamers and paper‐based sensor potentiometry
Authors: Dolai Subhashish , Tabib‐Azar Massood
Published: August 2020

Paper‐based sensors, microfluidic platforms and electronics have attracted attention in the past couple of decades because they are flexible, can be recycled easily, environmentally friendly and inexpensive. Here, we report a paper‐based potentiometric sensor to detect the whole Zika virus with a minimum sensitivity of 0.26 nV/Zika and a minimum detectable signal (MDS) of 2.4x107 Zika. Our paper sensor works very similar to a P‐N junction where a junction is formed between two different regions with different electrochemical potentials on the paper. These two regions with slightly different ionic contents, ionic species and concentrations, produce a potential difference given by the Nernst equation. Our paper sensor consists of 2‐3 × 10 mm segments of paper with conducting silver paint contact patches on two ends. The paper is dipped in a buffer solution containing aptamers designed to bind to the capsid proteins on Zika. We then added the Zika (in its own buffer) to the region close to one of the silver paint contacts. The Zika virus (40 nm diameter with 43 kDa or 7.1 × 10−20 gm weight) became immobilized in the paper's pores and bonded with the resident aptamers creating a concentration gradient. Atomic force microscopy and Raman spectroscopy were carried out to verify that both the aptamer and Zika become immobilized in the paper. The potential measured between the two silver paint contacts reproducibly became more negative upon adding the Zika. We also showed that a liquid crystalline display (LCD) powered by the sensor can be used to read the sensor output.
As ADA observes 30th anniversary, advocates cite progress, needed changes
Authors: Canady Valerie A.
Published: August 2020

July 26 marked the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and while there has been much progress noted from this landmark civil rights law, such as access and inclusion for people with psychiatric disabilities, there remains more work to be done, including increased opportunities for people to live in their own homes and communities, say advocates.
APA: Country's unpredictability causing stress across the aisle
Authors: Canady Valerie A.
Published: August 2020

While the general consensus from Democrats and Republicans is that people are acting as if the COVID‐19 pandemic is over, most are saying that the current amount of uncertainty in our nation is causing them stress. These new findings are reported in the third in a series of polls by the American Psychological Association (APA) looking into a monthly analysis of stressors and stress levels.
Maryland hospitals rank tops in psychiatric care
Authors: Canady Valerie A.
Published: August 2020

Baltimore's Johns Hopkins Hospital has been named the number‐one hospital in the country for psychiatry, and Sheppard Pratt, also in Baltimore, achieved fifth place for psychiatry, up from number seven last year, according to U.S. News & World Report in its 2020–21 Best Hospitals rankings.
RAND: Post‐9/11 veterans need concurrent MH, SUD care
Authors: Canady Valerie A.
Published: August 2020

Veterans who have served in the military since Sept. 11, 2001, are at particularly high risk for co‐occurring substance use disorders (SUDs) and mental health disorders, such as post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression, according to a new report released by the RAND Corporation July 22.
Nanofluid flow through microchannel with a triangular corrugated wall: Heat transfer enhancement against entropy generation intensification
Authors: Nguyen Quyen , Bahrami Dariush , Kalbasi Rasool , Bach Quang‐Vu
Published: August 2020

In the present study, the effects of applying magnetic field on heat transfer and entropy generation of a nanofluid through microchannel with a triangular corrugated wall were examined. Considering the slip velocity, the effects of Reynolds and Hartmann numbers on the Nusselt and Bejan numbers have been studied. The positive effect of installing triangular ribs is increase in the heat transfer area, but the negative effect corresponds to vortex formation at high Reynolds. Applying magnetic field diminished the vortex intensity which in turn improved the heat transfer by 25%, and the simultaneously intensified the entropy generation by 328%. The results affirmed that slip coefficient growth from 0 to 0.1 could simultaneously improve the heat transfer and reduce the entropy generation by 13%.
Determining of three unknown functions of a semilinear ultraparabolic equation
Authors: Protsakh Nataliya
Published: August 2020

In this paper, we consider the inverse problem for second‐order semilinear ultraparabolic equation. The equation has unknown function of time variable in its minor coefficient and two unknown functions of time and spacial variables in its right‐hand side. Initial, boundary, and integral type overdetermination conditions are posed. By using the properties of the solutions of the corresponding initial‐boundary value problem and the method of successive approximations, the sufficient conditions of the existence, and the uniqueness of the solution for the inverse problem are obtained on some time interval that depends on the coefficients of the equation.
Novel dual‐band circularly polarized slot antenna with asymmetrical stubs
Authors: Sung Youngje
Published: August 2020

In this paper, we propose a slot antenna with circularly polarized (CP) characteristics in two frequency bands. The proposed antenna consists of a square wide slot with a square patch in the center and a pair of stubs for radiator asymmetry. The proposed antenna shows right‐hand CP characteristics at 1.88 GHz and left‐hand CP characteristics at 4.41 GHz. The proposed antenna has measured impedance bandwidths of 24.3% (1.77‐2.26 GHz) and 33.4% (3.84‐5.38 GHz) in the lower and upper bands, respectively. The measured 3‐dB axial‐ratio bandwidths are 4.4% (1.78‐1.86 GHz) and 7.9% (4.25‐4.6 GHz), respectively. Details of the design considerations of the proposed antenna are described and experimental results for its dual‐band CP performance are presented and discussed.
FRoG: An independent dose and LETd prediction tool for proton therapy at ProBeam® facilities
Authors: Kopp Benedikt , Fuglsang Jensen Maria , Mein Stewart , Hoffmann Lone , Nyström Håkan , Falk Marianne , Haberer Thomas , Abdollahi Amir , Debus Jürgen , Mairani Andrea
Published: August 2020

Purpose

Particle therapy is becoming increasingly available world‐wide for precise tumor targeting, its favorable depth dose deposition, and increased biological damage to tumor tissue compared to conventional photon therapy. As demand increases for improved robustness and conformality, next‐generation secondary dose calculation engines are needed to verify treatment plans independently and provide estimates for clinical decision‐making factors, such as dose‐averaged linear energy transfer (LETd) and relative biological effectiveness (RBE).

Method

FRoG (Fast dose Recalculation on GPU) has been installed and commissioned at the Danish Centre for Particle Therapy (DCPT). FRoG was developed for synchrotron‐based facilities and has previously demonstrated good agreement with gold‐standard Monte Carlo simulations and measurements. In this work, additions and modifications to FRoG’s pencil beam algorithm to support the ion beam delivery with cyclotron‐based technology as used at the DCPT, range shifter (RS) implementation, and robustness analysis methods are presented. FRoG dose predictions are compared to measurements and predictions of the clinical treatment planning system (TPS) Eclipse (Varian Medical Systems, Palo Alto, United States of America, CA, v.13.7.16) in both homogenous and heterogeneous scenarios using a solid‐water/water and a half‐head anthropomorphic phantom, respectively. Additional capabilities of FRoG are explored by performing a plan robustness analysis, analyzing dose and LETd for ten patients.

Results

Mid‐target measurements in spread‐out Bragg Peaks (SOBP) were on average within −0.19% ± 0.30% and ≤0.5% of FRoG predictions for irradiations without and with RS, respectively. Average 3%/2mm 3D γ‐analysis passing rates were 99.1% for ~200 patient plan QA comparisons. Measurement with an anthropomorphic head‐phantom yielded a γ‐passing rate >98%. Overall, maximum target differences in D02% of <2% between the TPS and FRoG were observed for patient plans. The robustness analysis study accounting for range, delivery, and positioning uncertainties revealed small differences in target dose and a maximum LETdVH02% (LETd received by 2% of the volume having dose larger than 1% of maximum dose) values below 10.1 keV/µm to the brain stem.

Conclusion

We demonstrate that auxiliary dose calculation systems like FRoG can yield excellent agreement to measurements comparable to clinical beam models. Through this work, application of FRoG as a secondary engine at third party cyclotron‐based particle treatment facilities is now established for dose verification as well as providing further insight on LETd and variable RBE distributions for protons, currently absent from the standard clinical TPS.
Simultaneous super‐resolution and contrast synthesis of routine clinical magnetic resonance images of the knee for improving automatic segmentation of joint cartilage: data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative
Authors: Neubert Aleš , Bourgeat Pierrick , Wood Jason , Engstrom Craig , Chandra Shekhar S. , Crozier Stuart , Fripp Jurgen
Published: August 2020

Purpose

High resolution three‐dimensional (3D) magnetic resonance (MR) images are well suited for automated cartilage segmentation in the human knee joint. However, volumetric scans such as 3D Double‐Echo Steady‐State (DESS) images are not routinely acquired in clinical practice which limits opportunities for reliable cartilage segmentation using (fully) automated algorithms. In this work, a method for generating synthetic 3D MR (syn3D‐DESS) images with better contrast and higher spatial resolution from routine, low resolution, two‐dimensional (2D) Turbo‐Spin Echo (TSE) clinical knee scans is proposed.

Methods

A UNet convolutional neural network is employed for synthesizing enhanced artificial MR images suitable for automated knee cartilage segmentation. Training of the model was performed on a large, publically available dataset from the OAI, consisting of 578 MR examinations of knee joints from 102 healthy individuals and patients with knee osteoarthritis.

Results

The generated synthetic images have higher spatial resolution and better tissue contrast than the original 2D TSE, which allow high quality automated 3D segmentations of the cartilage. The proposed approach was evaluated on a separate set of MR images from 88 subjects with manual cartilage segmentations. It provided a significant improvement in automated segmentation of knee cartilages when using the syn3D‐DESS images compared to the original 2D TSE images.

Conclusion

The proposed method can successfully synthesize 3D DESS images from 2D TSE images to provide images suitable for automated cartilage segmentation.
Pushing the Limits with Cellulose Nanocrystal Loadings in Latex‐Based Pressure‐Sensitive Adhesive Nanocomposites
Authors: Gabriel Vida A. , Cranston Emily D. , Dubé Marc A.
Published: August 2020

Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) are a naturally sourced, nontoxic, nanoparticle known to improve tack, peel strength, and shear resistance simultaneously when incorporated into nanocomposite latexes produced for pressure‐sensitive adhesive (PSA) applications. In this study, methods for incorporating CNCs into a butyl acrylate/styrene/acrylic acid (91.5/4.5/4.0 wt%) seeded semibatch emulsion polymerization for the production of PSAs are presented. Past work has revealed a limit of 1.0–2.0 wt% (based on monomer) CNC loadings due to latex instability. In this work, CNC loadings of up to 4.0 wt% in a stable latex with 40 wt% solids are achieved by utilizing all of the available water in the formulation to maximize CNC redispersion. The CNC addition method is studied (i.e., in the seed, in the feed, or partitioned in both) and adhesive performance results indicate that there are no significant benefits to where the CNCs are dispersed in situ during polymerization. However, the quality of the CNC‐water dispersion is pivotal to ensuring latex homogeneity and therefore, adhesive film quality. Though CNCs improved adhesive strength at low concentrations, their enhancing effects are modest when used with a commercially competitive base‐case PSA formulation.
A novel sequence for simultaneous measurement of whole‐brain static and dynamic MRA, intracranial vessel wall image, and T1‐weighted structural brain MRI
Authors: Chen Zhensen , Zhou Zechen , Qi Haikun , Chen Huijun , Chu Baocheng , Hatsukami Thomas S. , Yuan Chun , Balu Niranjan
Published: August 2020

Purpose

To propose a highly time‐efficient imaging technique named improved simultaneous noncontrast angiography and intraplaque hemorrhage (iSNAP) for simultaneous assessment of lumen, vessel wall, and blood flow in intracranial arteries.

Methods

iSNAP consists of pulsed arterial spin labeling preparations and 3D golden angle radial acquisition. Images were reconstructed by k‐space weighted image contrast (KWIC) method with optimized data‐sharing strategies. Dynamic MRA for blood flow assessment was obtained from iSNAP by reconstruction at multiple inversion times and image subtraction, static MRA by both image subtraction approach and phase‐sensitive inversion recovery technique, and vessel wall images by both reconstruction at zero‐crossing time‐point of blood and phase‐sensitive inversion recovery. A T1‐weighted brain MRI was also reconstructed from iSNAP. Preliminary comparison of iSNAP against the dedicated dynamic MRA sequence 4D‐TRANCE, MRA/vessel wall imaging sequence SNAP, and vessel wall imaging sequence T1‐weighted VISTA was performed in healthy volunteers and patients.

Results

iSNAP has whole‐brain coverage and takes ~6.5 min. The dedicated reconstruction strategies are feasible for each iSNAP image contrast and beneficial for image SNR. iSNAP‐dynamic MRA yields similar dynamic flow information as 4D‐TRANCE and allows more flexible temporal resolution. The 2 types of iSNAP static MRA images complement each other in characterizing both proximal large arteries and distal small arteries. Depiction of vessel wall lesions in iSNAP vessel wall images is better than SNAP and may be similar to T1‐weighted VISTA, although the images are slightly blurred.

Conclusion

iSNAP provides a time‐efficient evaluation of intracranial arteries and may have great potential for comprehensive assessment of intracranial vascular conditions using a single sequence.
Relayed nuclear Overhauser enhancement imaging with magnetization transfer contrast suppression at 3 T
Authors: Huang Jianpan , Han Xiongqi , Chen Lin , Xu Xiang , Xu Jiadi , Chan Kannie W. Y.
Published: August 2020

Purpose

To develop a pulsed CEST magnetization‐transfer method for rapidly acquiring relayed nuclear Overhauser enhancement (rNOE)–weighted images with magnetic transfer contrast (MTC) suppression at clinical field strength (3 T).

Methods

Using a pulsed CEST magnetization‐transfer method with low saturation powers (B1) and long mixing time (tmix) to suppress contributions due to strong MTC from solid‐like macromolecules, a low B1also minimized direct water saturation. These MTC contributions were further reduced by subtracting the Z‐spectral signals at two or three offsets by assuming that the residual MTC is a linear function between −3.5 ppm and −12.5 ppm.

Results

Phantom studies of a lactic acid (Lac) solution mixed with cross‐linked bovine serum albumin show that strong MTC interference has a significant impact on the optimum B1for detecting rNOEs, due to lactate binding. The MTC could be effectively suppressed using a pulse train with a B1of 0.8 μT, a pulse duration (tp) of 40 ms, a tmixof 60 ms, and a pulse number (N) of 30, while rNOE signal was well maintained. As a proof of concept, we applied the method in mouse brain with injected hydrogel and a cell‐hydrogel phantom. Results showed that rNOE‐weighted images could provide good contrast between brain/cell and hydrogel.

Conclusion

The developed pulsed CEST magnetization‐transfer method can achieve MTC suppression while preserving most of the rNOE signal at 3 T, which indicates the potential for translation of this technique to clinical applications related to mobile proteins/lipids change.
TURBINE‐MRE: A 3D hybrid radial‐Cartesian EPI acquisition for MR elastography
Authors: Sui Yi , Arani Arvin , Trzasko Joshua D. , Murphy Matthew C. , Rossman Phillip J. , Glaser Kevin J. , McGee Kiaran P. , Manduca Armando , Ehman Richard L. , Araoz Philip A. , Huston John
Published: August 2020

Purpose

To develop a novel magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) acquisition using a hybrid radial EPI readout scheme (TURBINE), and to demonstrate its feasibility to obtain wave images and stiffness maps in a phantom and in vivo brain.

Method

The proposed 3D TURBINE‐MRE is based on a spoiled gradient‐echo MRE sequence with the EPI readout radially rotating about the phase‐encoding axis to sample a full 3D k‐space. A polyvinyl chloride phantom and 6 volunteers were scanned on a compact 3T GE scanner with a 32‐channel head coil at 80 Hz and 60 Hz external vibration, respectively. For comparison, a standard 2D, multislice, spin‐echo (SE) EPI‐MRE acquisition was also performed with the same motion encoding and resolution. The TURBINE‐MRE images were off‐line reconstructed with iterative SENSE algorithm. The regional ROI analysis was performed on the 6 volunteers, and the median stiffness values were compared between SE‐EPI‐MRE and TURBINE‐MRE.

Results

The 3D wave‐field images and the generated stiffness maps were comparable between TURBINE‐MRE and standard SE‐EPI‐MRE for the phantom and the volunteers. The Bland–Altman plot showed no significant difference in the median regional stiffness values between the two methods. The stiffness measured with the 2 methods had a strong linear relationship with a Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.943.

Conclusion

We demonstrated the feasibility of the new TURBINE‐MRE sequence for acquiring the desired 3D wave‐field data and stiffness maps in a phantom and in‐vivo brains. This pilot study encourages further exploration of TURBINE‐MRE for functional MRE, free‐breathing abdominal MRE, and cardiac MRE applications.
Geometric trigonometrically convexity and better approximations
Authors: Kadakal Mahir
Published: August 2020

In this manuscript, we introduce the concept of geometric trigonometrically convex functions. We obtain some refinements of the Hermite–Hadamard inequality for functions whose first derivative in absolute value is geometric trigonometrically convex. In addition, it has been proved that the results obtained with Hölder–İşcan and improved power‐mean integral inequalities give a better approach than Hölder and power‐mean inequalities.
The tooth of a giant sea creatureOtodus(Megaselachus) in the material culture of Neolithic maritime hunter‐gatherers at Sharbithat (Sultanate of Oman)
Authors: Charpentier Vincent , Adnet Sylvain , Cappetta Henri
Published: August 2020

A mega‐tooth belonging to a Miocene fossil shark was discovered along the shores of the Arabian Sea inside one of the Neolithic domestic settlements at Sharbithat (SHA‐10) (Sultanate of Oman). Attributed to a representative of the extinct genusOtodus(Megaselachus), this tooth is the first ever discovered in the Arabian Peninsula. In the field, research permitted the localization and study, a few kilometres away, of the palaeontological deposit where this retrieval was made. The shark, traditionally extensively hunted on the shores of the Arabian Sea, is well attested in the region's Neolithic ichthyological assemblages. Moreover, during this period, some groups of seaborne hunters were specialized in this form of fishing, which was indeed quite dangerous. But why did an individual some 5,500 years ago collect this curio, an unusual fossil, but also one he could easily recognize? The fossils of large sharks sometimes played an important part in ancient societies. Could this also have been the case in South‐Eastern Arabia?
GRB7 is an oncogenic driver and potential therapeutic target in oesophageal adenocarcinoma
Authors: Gotovac Jovana R , Liu David SH , Yates Michael J , Milne Julia V , Macpherson Arthi A , Simpson Kaylene J , Eslick Guy D , Mitchell Catherine , Duong Cuong P , Phillips Wayne A , Clemons Nicholas J
Published: August 2020

Efficacious therapeutic approaches are urgently needed to improve outcomes in patients with oesophageal adenocarcinoma (OAC). However, oncogenic drivers amenable to targeted therapy are limited and their functional characterisation is essential. Among few targeted therapies available, anti‐human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) therapy showed only modest benefit for patients with OAC. Herein, we investigated the potential oncogenic role of growth factor receptor bound protein 7 (GRB7), which is reported to be co‐amplified with HER2 (ERBB2) in OAC. GRB7 was highly expressed in 15% of OAC tumours, not all of which could be explained by co‐amplification with HER2, and was associated with a trend for poorer overall survival. Knockdown of GRB7 decreased proliferation and clonogenic survival, and induced apoptosis. Reverse phase protein array (RPPA) analyses revealed a role for PI3K, mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), MAPK, and receptor tyrosine kinase signalling in the oncogenic action of GRB7. Furthermore, the GRB7 and HER2 high‐expressing OAC cell line Eso26 showed reduced cell proliferation upon GRB7 knockdown but was insensitive to HER2 inhibition by trastuzumab. Consistent with this, GRB7 knockdown in vivo with an inducible shRNA significantly inhibited tumour growth in cell line xenografts. HER2 expression did not predict sensitivity to trastuzumab, with Eso26 xenografts remaining refractory to trastuzumab treatment. Taken together, our study provides strong evidence for an oncogenic role for GRB7 in OAC and suggests that targeting GRB7 may be a potential therapeutic strategy for this cancer. © 2020 The Authors. The Journal of Pathology published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. on behalf of The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.
MS diagnostic model and rapid distinguishing of bioactive limonoids in fruits of Melia toosendan using solid‐phase extraction coupled with LC–MS/MS
Authors: Cui Zhi‐Rong , Li Yi , Zhao Meng‐Ling , Xu Rong , Chen Meng‐Han , Li Shan , An Fa‐Liang , Zhang Pan‐Pan , Kong Ling‐Yi , Luo Jun
Published: August 2020

Introduction

Melia toosendan Sieb. et Zucc. has been used as a Chinese folk medicine for roundworm treatment since ancient times. Many diverse limonoids have been isolated from Meliaceae plants, but it remains difficult to isolate and identify other limonoids because of their small natural concentrations.

Objective

This study was performed to overcome the difficulties associated with fast and accurate identification of limonoids and establish a reliable and sensitive method for the analysis of minor limonoids in M. toosendan fruits.

Methods

An efficient strategy for enrichment, detection, and identification of minor limonoids from M. toosendan fruits using solid‐phase extraction with high‐performance liquid chromatography–quadrupole time‐of‐flight tandem mass spectrometry (SPE‐HPLC‐Q‐TOF‐MS/MS) was developed herein.

Results

Characteristic fragmentations and fragmentation ions containing trichilin‐, nimbin‐, and vilasinin‐class limonoid skeletons were initially studied, and characteristic diagnostic ions involved retro Diels‐Alder (RDA) reactions or homolytic cleavages, which were used to identify minor limonoids. In total, 13 limonoids, including four new ones, were identified.

Conclusion

This is the first report on the analysis of M. toosendan fruits to identify limonoids. This novel analysis method may stimulate further research regarding the identification of limonoids in other plant species.