bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Population Pharmacokinetic Model of Platinum Disposition in Cancer Patients Receiving Cisplatin and Randomized to 5‐HT3 Antagonist Antiemetic Drugs
Authors: Thompson Lauren E. , Ghimire Avisek , Wen Xia , Kim Christine , Doherty Cathleen L. , Buckley Brian T. , Bowles Daniel W. , O'Bryant Cindy L. , Jaimes Edgar A. , Aleksunes Lauren M. , Joy Melanie S.
Published: December 2024

Cisplatin is a platinum‐based chemotherapeutic drug used to treat many types of cancer. The aim of this study was to develop a population pharmacokinetic model that incorporates plasma unbound and bound platinum levels. Cancer patients undergoing their first or second cycle of cisplatin‐containing chemotherapy (n = 33) were prospectively randomized to receive a 5‐hydroxytryptamine (5‐HT3) antagonist (5‐HT3A) antiemetic (ondansetron, granisetron, or palonosetron) followed by blood collection over 10 days. Total and unbound platinum levels were quantified using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Plasma concentrations of bound and unbound platinum were used to develop a nonlinear mixed‐effect pharmacokinetic model in Phoenix NLME (v8.3, Certara Inc.). A stepwise search was used to screen covariates that influenced pharmacokinetic parameters. A compartment for bound platinum was added to a two‐compartment unbound platinum model to create a combined platinum model. The volume of the central compartment for unbound platinum (V1_u) was significantly impacted by previous cisplatin exposure and the intercompartmental clearance of unbound platinum (CL2_u) was significantly influenced by concomitant lorazepam use. The models also suggested ondansetron‐ and granisetron‐treated subjects had a 331% and 114% increase, respectively, in circulating exposures to unbound platinum than palonosetron‐treated subjects. The results suggest platinum pharmacokinetics are altered by concomitant 5‐HT3A antiemetic use, concomitant lorazepam use, and previous exposure to cisplatin. Ondansetron and granisetron co‐treatment increased unbound platinum exposure compared to palonosetron co‐treatment, suggesting that palonosetron may be a preferred 5‐HT3A to reduce the risk of cisplatin‐induced kidney injury.
A Morphospace Exploration Using a General Model of Development Reveals a Basic Set of Morphologies for Early Animal Development and Evolution
Authors: Cano‐Fernández Hugo , Brun‐Usan Miguel , Tissot Tazzio , Salazar‐Ciudad Isaac
Published: December 2024

What morphologies are more likely to appear during evolution is a central question in zoology. Here we offer a novel approach to this question based on first developmental principles. We assumed that morphogenesis results from the genetic regulation of cell properties and behaviors (adhesion, contraction, etc.). We used EmbryoMaker, a general model of development that can simulate any gene network regulating cell properties and behaviors, the mechanical interactions and signaling between cells and the morphologies arising from those. We created spherical initial conditions with anterior and dorsal territories. We performed simulations changing the cell properties and behaviors regulated in these territories to explore which morphologies may have been possible. Thus, we obtained a set of the most basic animal morphologies that can be developmentally possible assuming very simple induction and morphogenesis. Our simulations suggest that elongation, invagination, evagination, condensation and anisotropic growth are the morphogenetic transformations more likely to appear from changes in cell properties and behaviors. We also found some parallels between our simulations and the morphologies of simple animals, some early stages of animal development and fossils attributed to early animals.
Biodegradation of Organophosphorus Insecticides by Bacillus Species Isolated From Soil
Authors: Muthukumaravel Subramanian , Sivalaxmi Balakrishnan , Nagarajan Shriram Ananganallur , Sivakumar Natesan , Kumar Ashwani , Hoti Sugeerappa Laxmanappa
Published: December 2024

This study investigates the biodegradation of methyl parathion, an organophosphate pesticide used in paddy fields. Microbial degradation transforms toxic pesticides into less harmful compounds, influenced by the microbial community in the soil. To isolate different microbial colonies, soil samples from an organophosphorus‐treated groundnut field were plated on nutrient agar and MSM with 1% glucose and 0.25 mM methyl parathion. Biodegradation efficiency was determined by estimating the OP hydrolase enzyme activity spectrophotometrically. HPLC was used to quantify residual methyl parathion concentrations in the culture medium. The identified isolate effectively degraded methyl parathion in MSM with 0.25 mM methyl parathion which showed peak hydrolase activity (2.02 µmol/min/mg) after 96 h of incubation and the residual methyl parathion level was determined as 6.2 µmol by HPLC quantification. The efficient isolate was identified as Bacillus cereus by using a 16S rRNA molecular marker and the sequence was subjected to MEGA11 phylogenetic tree construction. The results show that the SM6 clade shared with B. cereus 16S rRNA sequence. B. cereus (SM6) showed substantial enzyme activity and the specific reported opdA gene‐coded protein is involved in ATP hydrolysis. This OP hydrolase makes it a strong candidate for bioremediation of methyl parathion. Molecular analysis suggested that the opdA gene, likely chromosomally located, plays a key role in degradation, with potential involvement of the “Cell division protein FtsK” gene responsible for hydrolase activity. Organophosphorus compounds, widely used in agriculture, pose environmental concerns due to their persistence. This study focuses on isolating pesticide‐degrading bacteria to expedite bioremediation, aiming for efficient degradation. This study highlights the cross‐adaptation phenomenon, where B. cereus strains degrade similar compounds, improving bioremediation strategies.
New Onset Diabetes in Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma Does Not Correlate With Molecular Subtype
Authors: Trembath Hannah E. , LaBella Michelle E. , Kearney Joseph F. , Hariharan Arthi , Zarmer Sandra , Nabors Mariaelena , McCabe Ian , Zhao Ryan T. , Meyers Michael , Kim Hong Jin , Yeh Jen Jen
Published: December 2024

Background and Objectives

Studies show that new onset diabetes mellitus (DM) (NOD) predates the diagnosis of PDAC by up to 2 years. Two tumor‐intrinsic molecular subtypes of PDAC that are prognostic and predictive of chemotherapy response have been described and validated. We hypothesize that patients with NOD may have different molecular subtypes and prognoses.

Methods

This is a single‐institution study of patients who underwent resection for PDAC from 2009 to 2022 with de‐identified samples available for sequencing. Demographic and clinical factors were examined using bivariate and multivariate analysis.

Results

A total of 97 patients met inclusion criteria: 70 with no history of DM, 11 with longstanding DM (> 2 years), and 16 with NOD. The demographics between groups were overall similar. After controlling for age, sex, race, BMI, and tobacco history, NOD was not a significant predictor of PDAC subtype. There were no survival differences between groups. Transcriptomic analysis suggests the upregulation of inflammatory and immune activation and regulation pathways in NOD.

Conclusions

As continued interest in NOD and PDAC mounts, we are the first to examine if NOD may be associated with molecular subtypes and outcomes. Further investigation into the underlying pathophysiology of the NOD group is still needed.
A simple approach to quantifying whole‐lake methane ebullition and sedimentary methane production, and its application to the Canadian Lake Pulse dataset
Authors: Kim Jihyeon , Thottathil Shoji D. , Prairie Yves T.
Published: December 2024

Aquatic sediments represent a key component for understanding CH4 dynamics and emission to the atmosphere. Once produced in the sediments, CH4 is released either by diffusion at the sediment–water interface or by bubbling out to the atmosphere when total gas pressure in the sediment exceeds local ambient pressure due to high CH4 production. Although bubbling is one of the dominant CH4 emission pathways in lakes, direct measurements of this flux are hampered by its high spatiotemporal variability and methodological limitations. Here, we develop a conceptual approach to quantify CH4 production in lake sediments and particularly its release as bubbles based on simple measurements of bubble gas content and depth. Its main assumptions were empirically tested using > 200 long‐term bubble trap deployments collected from 4 temperate lakes. We then applied the developed methodology to a suite of 408 Canadian lakes to produce the first standardized large‐scale assessment of lakes CH4 ebullitive flux during summer. Our results show that lake sediments produced CH4 at a median rate of 3.3 mmol m−2 d−1 (ranged from 0.2 to 11.8 mmol m−2 d−1), releasing 33% via ebullition to the atmosphere. These rates are remarkably similar in magnitude to other regional estimates in the literature. Moreover, our approach revealed that catchment slope was an important determinant of both the lake‐wide ebullitive fluxes and the fraction of sediment CH4 production released as bubbles.
3D Orbital Angular Momentum Multiplexing Holography with Metasurfaces: Encryption and Dynamic Display of 3D Multi‐Targets
Authors: Kong Ling‐Jun , Zhang Furong , Cheng ShiYuan , Zhang Xiangdong
Published: December 2024

After years of development, holography has become an essential tool of modern optics for many applications. Among them, holographic encryption and dynamic display are the two most typical applications. So far, however, only 2D targets or 2D images of 3D targets can be encrypted with holographic technology. The 3D multiplexing holographic technology of 3D multi‐targets has not yet been realized and holographic encryption of 3D multi‐targets is still a blank. Here, the conception of 3D orbital angular momentum (OAM) multiplexing holography is proposed, and holographic encryption of 3D multi‐targets is realized for the first time. This breaks the restriction that only 2D images can be encrypted in traditional holographic encryption. Furthermore, the results also show that the 3D OAM holography can be used in the dynamic display for 3D multi‐targets. In the experiment, the metasurface is used for taking its high‐resolution advantage in light field manipulation, and verify the feasibility of 3D OAM multiplexing holographic technology, holographic encryption of 3D multi‐targets, and holographic dynamic display of 3D targets. The work creates a precedent for the 3D multiplexing holography, encryption, and dynamic display technology of 3D multi‐targets, which brings real 3D life closer to humankind.
Dion‐Jacobson Phase Mn2+‐Doped Perovskite Scintillators for High‐Resolution X‐Ray Imaging
Authors: Fan Qingshun , Zhang Haoyu , You Shihai , Liu Yi , Zhu Pengfei , Xu Haojie , Guo Wuqian , Ma Yu , Luo Junhua , Liu Yongsheng , Sun Zhihua
Published: December 2024

X‐ray imaging technology has attracted widespread attention due to its important application in the industrial and medical fields. The practical‐level X‐ray imager requires high‐performance scintillators with high light yield, low detection limit, superb stability, and excellent processibility. Here, a Mn2+‐doped 2D Dion‐Jacobson perovskite scintillator of (HIS)PbCl4 (HIS2+ is histammonium), is presented serving as a potential candidate for high‐resolution X‐ray imaging. By facile solution method of Mn2+‐doping, (HIS)PbCl4:2%Mn has an orange‐red emission with a high photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) of 80.2%. Emphatically, (HIS)PbCl4:2%Mn crystals exhibit compelling scintillation performances, including a high light yield of 77 500 photons MeV−1 (≈3.1 times of commercial Lu3Al5O12:Ce3+) and low detection limits of 59.3 nGyair s−1, along with excellent irradiation and environmental stability. Besides, both centimeter‐size single crystals and flexible scintillators fabricated with poly(dimethylsiloxane) hold a promise for practical X‐ray imaging. The high resolution using an optimized flexible scintillator screen reaches up to 20.3 lp mm−1, far beyond the most of known scintillators. The results suggest that (HIS)PbCl4:2%Mn has great commercialization potential in the field of X‐ray imaging.
Femtosecond Laser Transmission Joining of Fused Silica and Polymethyl Methacrylate
Authors: Sfregola Felice Alberto , De Palo Raffaele , Gaudiuso Caterina , Patimisco Pietro , Ancona Antonio , Volpe Annalisa
Published: December 2024

In this study, polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) is joined with fused silica using pulsed femtosecond laser transmission micro‐welding. This technique enables the welding of transparent materials to each other without the need for intermediate opaque layers, through localized energy deposition. The laser parameters – peak fluence, scanning speed, and hatch distance – are systematically optimized to maximize joint shear strength. The ATR‐FTIR spectroscopic analysis has proven that mechanical interlocking is the primary mechanism of joint formation between the two materials. An analytical model based on heat accumulation is developed to describe the joining process, with a good predictive quality confirmed by comparison with the experimental results. This joining approach is applied to seal a hybrid PMMA‐fused silica microfluidic chip. The device has successfully passed a static leakage test by withstanding pressures up to the full‐scale value of the employed microfluidic pump at 2 bar, demonstrating the effectiveness of femtosecond laser transmission welding for fabricating robust and reliable joints in hybrid microfluidic devices.
Approximation Properties of (λ,μ)$$ \left(\lambda, \mu \right) $$‐Bernstein‐Durrmeyer Operators
Authors: Cai Qing‐Bo , Zhou Guorong
Published: December 2024

In this manuscript, a new kind of ()‐Bernstein‐Durrmeyer operators is introduced. A Korovkin‐type approximation theorem is obtained, the rate of convergence is investigated by using the modulus of smoothness, Lipschitz continuous function, and Steklov mean, a Voronovskaja asymptotic formula is established, and graphical representations and numerical examples are also presented to compare the newly defined ones with other forms.
Automatic Pavlov ratio measurement method based on spinal landmarks identification by a deep‐learning model
Authors: Wang Yongli , Huang Chi , Zhou Junhao , Zhang Xueyuan , Ren Fei , Zhang Benbo , Wang Xiaowen , Cheng Xiyue , Cao Kai , Dou Yibo , Cao Peng
Published: December 2024

Background

Cervical canal stenosis is one of the important pathogenic factors of cervical spondylosis. The accuracy of the Pavlov ratio measurement is crucial for the diagnosis and treatment of cervical spinal stenosis. Manual measurement is influenced by observer variability, accompanied by its inefficiency, which affects clinical evaluation.

Purpose

To automatically and accurately measure the Pavlov ratio, we develop a novel deep‐learning model by detecting keypoints of cervical spine and measure the Pavlov ratio on plain lateral cervical spine radiographs.

Methods

We developed a two‐stage deep‐learning model; in the first stage, we employ the YOLOX model as the object detection network to locate the ROIs containing the vertebral bodies and spinous processes; in the second stage, we introduce the high‐resolution net (HRNet) as keypoint detection network and a series of deconvolutional networks (DNs) as the heatmap‐based regressor. Based on the mentioned combining algorithms, we can rapidly detect the 38 keypoints in plain lateral cervical spine radiographs, and then measure the Pavlov ratio of the cervical spine. Radiographs from Shanghai Changhai Hospital (a total of 874) were split into training and test subsets (787 and 87 radiographs, respectively). One hundred twelve cases from Shanghai Changzheng Hospital and 108 cases from Shanghai Fourth People's Hospital are used as external validation datasets.

Results

Our proposed model successfully achieved the objective of automating the recognition of spinal landmarks with the mean absolute error (MAE)ranged from 0.05 to 0.08, and the symmetric mean absolute percentage error (SMAPE) ranged from 4.54% to 6.43%. The achieved accuracy is comparable to that of seasoned medical professionals and notably surpasses the performance of junior physicians (SMAPE ranged from 8.74% to 26.19%). Furthermore, our model demonstrated excellent accuracy in external validation experiments (SMAPE ranged from 4.40% to 5.95%).

Conclusion

This study presents a novel YOLOX‐HRNet‐DN model to assist landmarks identification on lateral cervical spine radiographs and demonstrates excellent accuracy in measuring the Pavlov ratio. The proposed method could provide a potential tool for the automatic estimation of the Pavlov ratio to improve the efficiency and accuracy of the treatment workflow.
An AI dose‐influence matrix engine for robust pencil beam scanning protons therapy
Authors: Liu Yaoying , Shang Xuying , Li Nan , Wang Zishen , Fang Chunfeng , Zou Yue , Le Xiaoyun , Zhang Gaolong , Xu Shouping
Published: December 2024

Background

Rapid planning is of tremendous value in proton pencil beam scanning (PBS) therapy in overcoming range uncertainty. However, the dose calculation of the dose influence matrix (Dij) in robust PBS plan optimization is time‐consuming and requires substantial acceleration to enhance efficiency.

Purpose

To accelerate the Dij calculations in PBS therapy, we developed an AI‐Dij engine integrated into our in‐house treatment planning system (TPS).

Methods

The AI‐Dij engine calculates spot dose using a transformer‐based spot dose calculation model (SDM), which takes CT volumes (CT‐bars, 256  16  16 voxels, 3 mm resolution) and energy (a float value) as inputs and outputs the spot dose distribution (256  16  16). The SDM was trained on over 200 000 CT‐bars and Monte Carlo (MC) spot dose (spanning energy levels from 70 to 225 MeV). Clinical‐implemented treatment plans for the head, lung, and liver, initially created on Raystation, were replanned using our AI‐Dij engine under identical gantry angles and uncertainties settings. After optimizing the spot weight, each in‐house plan was recalculated using MCsquare for MC dose evaluation. The dose‐volume histogram (DVH) metrics from the in‐house TPS and Raystation were compared, evaluating both the optimized and MC doses.

Results

In optimization, the differences of DVH metrics (%, Valuein‐house—ValueRaystation) across all uncertainty scenarios between the in‐house and Raystation plans were 0.93 ± 2.04% for clinical target volume (CTV) and −5.94 ± 12.19% for organ at risks (OARs). For the MC doses, the differences were 2.48 ± 2.78% for CTV and −5.47 ± 14.16% for OARs. The time cost of a robust AI‐Dij calculation can be within 2s on an RTX3090 GPU.

Conclusion

We conducted a feasibility study on AI‐Dij engine‐based robust PBS plan optimization, demonstrating both high planning speed and quality.
ORACLE: An analytical approach for T1, T2, proton density, and off‐resonance mapping with phase‐cycled balanced steady‐state free precession
Authors: Plähn Nils M. J. , Safarkhanlo Yasaman , Açikgöz Berk C. , Mackowiak Adèle L. C. , Radojewski Piotr , Bonanno Gabriele , Peper Eva S. , Heule Rahel , Bastiaansen Jessica A. M.
Published: December 2024

Purpose

To develop and validate a novel analytical approach simplifying , , proton density (PD), and off‐resonance quantifications from phase‐cycled balanced steady‐state free precession (bSSFP) data. Additionally, to introduce a method to correct aliasing effects in undersampled bSSFP profiles.

Theory and Methods

Off‐resonant‐encoded analytical parameter quantification using complex linearized equations (ORACLE) provides analytical solutions for bSSFP profiles. which instantaneously quantify , , proton density (PD), and . An aliasing correction formalism was derived to allow undersampling of bSSFP profiles. ORACLE was used to quantify , , PD, /, and based on fully sampled () bSSFP profiles from numerical simulations and 3T MRI experiments in phantom and 10 healthy subjects' brains. Obtained values were compared with reference scans in the same scan session. Aliasing correction was validated in subsampled () bSSFP profiles in numerical simulations and human brains.

Results

ORACLE quantifications agreed well with input values from simulations and phantom reference values (R2 = 0.99). In human brains, and quantifications when compared with reference methods showed coefficients of variation below 2.9% and 3.9%, biases of 182 and 16.6 ms, and mean white‐matter values of 642 and 51 ms using ORACLE. The quantification differed less than 3 Hz between both methods. PD and maps had comparable histograms. The maps effectively identified cerebrospinal fluid. Aliasing correction removed aliasing‐related quantification errors in undersampled bSSFP profiles, significantly reducing scan time.

Conclusion

ORACLE enables simplified and rapid quantification of , , PD, and from phase‐cycled bSSFP profiles, reducing acquisition time and eliminating biomarker maps' coregistration issues.
Obesity and postpartum hospital use among individuals without additional medical comorbidities
Authors: Glazer Kimberly B. , Janevic Teresa , Boychuk Natalie , Egorova Natalia , Hebert Paul , Zeitlin Jennifer , Howell Elizabeth A.
Published: December 2024

Objective

The objective of this study was to examine whether obesity without preexisting or gestational comorbidities is associated with postpartum hospital use (PHU).

Methods

We studied 2016 to 2018 birth certificate and discharge data on 178,729 New York City births without International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD‐10) codes at delivery for diabetes; hypertension; placental disease; anemia; thyrotoxicosis; bariatric surgery; and pulmonary, cardiac, renal, bleeding, autoimmune, digestive, neuromuscular, mental, or substance‐use disorders. We defined PHU as ≥1 readmission or emergency department visit within 30 days of delivery discharge. We used ICD‐10 codes to specify postpartum hypertension, infection, or hemorrhage during PHU (i.e., “cause‐specific PHU”) because these are leading mortality causes. We examined associations between prepregnancy BMI and PHU using multivariable logistic regression.

Results

PHU incidence was 3.7% for those with normal weight, 5.1% for those with overweight, 6.3% for those with class 1 or 2 obesity, and 9.1% for those with class 3 obesity. A positive association persisted after adjustment. Obesity was associated with cause‐specific PHU of postpartum hypertension (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 2.2, 95% confidence limits [CL]: 1.8–2.7, normal weight referent) and wound infection (aOR: 1.5, 95% CL: 1.2–1.8), but not hemorrhage (aOR: 0.9, 95% CL: 0.7–1.3), mastitis, or genitourinary infection (aOR: 1.1, 95% CL: 0.9–1.3).

Conclusions

Among individuals without other comorbidities, elevated BMI was associated with PHU. Findings can inform obstetric management to reduce morbidity during the critical fourth trimester.
Polyetheretherketone‐hydroxyapatite composite filament: A comparative analysis of the effect of micro and nano hydroxyapatite particles on extrusion and performance
Authors: Francis Justy N. , Saha Sahely , Tiwari Devendra , Chugh Ankita , Singh Jaiveer , Banerjee Indranil
Published: December 2024

The performance of polyether‐ether‐ketone (PEEK) as an orthopedic biomaterial can be improved by bulk modification of PEEK through hydroxyapatite (HA) incorporation. In this context, we have studied the size effect of HA particles (from micro to nano) on the high‐temperature extrusion, physicochemical and biological properties of the extruded PEEK‐HA filaments. Our study showed that incorporation of HA into PEEK up to 5% w/w allows filament formation through single screw extrusion. However, a more significant temperature gradient between the hopper end and nozzle was necessary for the extrusion of nano‐HA incorporated PEEK compared to micro‐HA incorporated PEEK. The micro‐CT revealed a homogeneous dispersion of HA particles within the extruded filaments. The inclusion of nano HA powder (<200 nm) in PEEK (5%w/w) did not alter the mechanical properties of PEEK. When checked in vitro using MG‐63 cells, PnHA exhibited better cytocompatibility, as evidenced by calcein‐AM staining and MTT assay. Cellular expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and alkaline phosphatase was also found to be 2–3 fold higher for PnHA. Further, PnHA was found to be a promoter of angiogenesis when checked by tube formation assay. The results together implied that nano‐HA is more suitable than micro‐HA for improving the essential qualities of PEEK for orthopedic applications.

Highlights

Incorporation of HA in PEEK improves the performance of PEEK as a biomaterial.

PEEK with 5% micro/nano HA can be extruded as PEEK‐HA composite filament.

Variation in HA particle size (micro/nano) impacts the performance of composite.

PEEK‐HA composite filament has improved angiogenic and osteoconductive properties.
Disease‐modifying therapies for amyloid transthyretin cardiomyopathy: Current and emerging medications
Authors: Hellenbart Erika L. , Ipema Heather J. , Rodriguez‐Ziccardi Mary C. , Krishna Hema , DiDomenico Robert J.
Published: December 2024

Transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTR) is a rare disease that results in amyloid fibril misfolding and deposition in multiple organs, including the heart, leading to the development of ATTR cardiomyopathy (ATTR‐CM), which is associated with poor outcomes. In the last decade, several disease‐modifying medications are in advanced stages of clinical development or have been approved to treat ATTR‐CM. The purpose of this review is to critically evaluate clinical trial data investigating the use of approved and investigational medications for the treatment of ATTR‐CM. We performed a comprehensive literature search via PubMed and EMBASE to identify randomized controlled trials evaluating medications for the treatment of ATTR‐CM published through August 2024. This narrative review describes the pathophysiology of ATTR‐CM, highlights important screening and diagnostic work‐up, and summarizes the existing clinical evidence resulting from our literature search. Several classes of disease‐modifying medications are in development for ATTR‐CM. The tetramer stabilizers and transthyretin silencers have proven to be the most effective therapies to date. Tafamidis and acoramidis are currently approved for ATTR‐CM while vutrisiran approval for ATTR‐CM may be forthcoming. Other disease‐modifying medication classes in development include antisense oligonucleotides, gene editing therapies, and monoclonal antibodies. However, several unmet needs exist including the lack of cost‐effectiveness due to the extremely high acquisition costs of these medications. Disease‐modifying medications approved and in development to treat ATTR‐CM offer hope for patients with this disease, but their lack of affordability is the biggest barrier to their use.
Clinical Implications of the Obstructive Pattern on Chest Radiography in Children Aged 3–59 Months With Severe Lower Respiratory Tract Infections
Authors: Shim Moon Ki , Park Ji Eun , Jeon Hyelynn , Park Bumhee , Kim Jung Heon
Published: December 2024

Objectives

To investigate the clinical implications of the obstructive pattern on plain chest radiography, defined as peribronchial cuffing or hyperinflation, in young children with severe lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs).

Methods

We reviewed all children aged 3‒59 months with LRTIs who underwent radiography and polymerase chain reaction in a Korean emergency department from 2016 through 2020. The radiographs were read as consolidation, peribronchial cuffing, or hyperinflation, with each interrater reliability computed. As per the obstructive pattern, we compared their clinical features, therapeutic interventions, outcomes, and microbiology.

Results

Among 599 children with LRTIs, 465 were enrolled, of whom 98 (21.1%) had consolidation (κ = 0.60; 95% confidence interval, 0.50‒0.70), and 367 (78.9%) had peribronchial cuffing (0.55; 0.46‒0.65) or hyperinflation (0.59; 0.52‒0.67). The obstructive pattern was significantly associated with more frequent wheezing (obstructive, 28.6% vs. consolidation, 10.2%) and the use of inhaled albuterol or systemic steroids (39.0% vs. 23.5%), and lower median values or frequencies of age (22.0 vs. 35.0 months), crackle or diminished breath sound (42.0% vs. 61.2%), C‐reactive protein (1.4 vs. 2.9 mg/dL), antibiotic therapy (72.2% vs. 93.9%), length of hospital stay (4.0 vs 5.0 days), fever lasting 3 days or longer (7.9% vs. 29.6%), and complications (0.5% vs. 9.2%). Microbiologically, viruses, such as respiratory syncytial virus, were more frequently detected in children with the obstructive pattern or at a younger age.

Conclusions

This study confirms an association of the obstructive pattern on radiography with viral infection and inflammatory airway obstruction‐relieving therapy in young children with severe LRTIs.
New channel selection method of hyperspectral infrared sounders for use in numerical weather prediction
Authors: Lee Ahreum , Chun Hyoung‐Wook , Kwon In‐Hyuk , Kang Jeon‐Ho
Published: December 2024

This study proposed a new channel selection method by examining explicit analysis results obtained from the assimilation of hyperspectral infrared radiances in a numerical weather prediction model. Initially, this new method was evaluated to expand the limited use of infrared atmospheric sounding interferometer (IASI) channels in the current operational Korean Integrated Model (KIM) data assimilation system. To reduce the computational cost of getting the analysis results, we divided all IASI channels into 20 channel groups using the K‐means clustering algorithm based on the three‐dimensional Jacobian probability density function calculated for each channel. We selected the first channel group with the smallest temperature and humidity analysis errors compared to the ERA5 reanalysis. The channel group that made the smallest errors along with previously selected groups was added sequentially until the additional channel group increased the error. The IASI channel list was expanded to 138 by adding channels sensitive to upper‐tropospheric temperature and mid‐ and upper‐tropospheric water vapor. The impact of the new IASI channel set on the background, analysis, and forecast fields in the KIM was assessed by comparing the results to those obtained using the current operational IASI channels. It was confirmed that the new channels have an overall positive impact on the background and analysis and have improved the KIM forecast accuracy, particularly demonstrating significant improvements in the Northern Hemisphere. Hence, this study potentially provides a new way of channel selection for the assimilation of any future hyperspectral radiances.
A Periodic Dynamic Encoding Mechanism for Stealthy Attack Detection in Distributed State Estimation
Authors: Ding Kun , Yang Wen , Liu Yun , Luo Yue , Chen Jialing
Published: December 2024

This article deals with the design and defense issues of false data injection attack in distributed state estimation. At each time step, each sensor sends its estimate to neighboring sensors. To verify the security of the received data, a column vector composed of state estimate differences is used as the detection variable. Based on the data directly obtained by the attacker in the wireless communication network, an attack strategy is established to degrade the system estimation performance while not being detected by the detector. Under the attack strategy, the update of the estimation error covariance is analyzed and the optimal attack parameters are obtained. To enhance the security of the system, a periodic dynamic encoding mechanism is proposed to prevent attackers from eavesdropping on original data, which consists of two stages: preparation stage and periodic encoding stage. It is proved that the proposed encoding mechanism can destroy the stealthiness of the attack, thus ensuring the detection ability of the detector. Numerical simulations are given to verify the results of the theoretical analysis.
The secret acoustic world of leopards: A paired camera trap and bioacoustics survey facilitates the individual identification of leopards via their roars
Authors: Growcott Jonathan , Lobora Alex , Markham Andrew , Searle Charlotte E. , Wahlström Johan , Wijers Matthew , Simmons Benno I.
Published: December 2024

Conservation requires accurate information about species occupancy, populations and behaviour. However, gathering these data for elusive, solitary species, such as leopards (Panthera pardus), is often challenging. Utilizing novel technologies that augment data collection by exploiting different species' traits could enable monitoring at larger spatiotemporal scales. Here, we conducted the first, large‐scale (~450 km2) paired passive acoustic monitoring (n = 50) and camera trapping survey (n = 50), for large African carnivores, in Nyerere National Park, Tanzania. We tested whether leopards could be individually distinguished by their vocalizations. We identified individual leopards from camera trap images and then extracted their roaring bouts in the concurrent audio. We extracted leopard roar summary features and used 2‐state Gaussian Hidden–Markov Models (HMMs) to model the temporal pattern of individual leopard roars. Using leopard roar summary features, individual vocal discrimination was achieved at a maximum accuracy of 46.6%. When using HMMs to evaluate the temporal pattern of a leopard's roar, individual identification was more successful, with an overall accuracy of 93.1% and macro‐F1 score of 0.78. Our study shows that using multiple modes of technology, which record complementary data, can be used to discover species traits, such as, individual leopards can be identified from their vocalizations. Even though additional equipment, data management and analytical expertise are required, paired surveys are still a promising monitoring methodology which can exploit a wider variety of species traits, to monitor and inform species conservation more efficiently, than single technology studies alone.
Transient Absorption Microscopy Maps Spatial Heterogeneity and Distinct Chemical Environments in Photocatalytic Carbon Nitride Particles
Authors: Khasnabis Sutripto , Godin Robert
Published: December 2024

Limitations in solar energy conversion by photocatalysis typically stem from poor underlying charge carrier properties. Transient Absorption (TA) reveals insights on key photocatalytic properties such as charge carrier lifetimes and trapping. However, on the microsecond timescale, these measurements use relatively large probe sizes ranging in millimetres to centimetres which averages the effect of spatial heterogeneity at smaller length scales. A home‐built Transient Absorption Microscopy (TAM) setup is reported and used to study single particles of carbon nitride (CNx), an emerging photocatalyst. For the first time, to the best of the authors' knowledge, µs‐s timescales are explored within individual particles to gain a more complete understanding of their photophysics. The dynamics of trapped charges are monitored, enabling measurement and quantification of heterogeneity in the transient absorptance signal of individual CNx particles and within them. Particle‐to‐particle heterogeneity in the trapped charge density is observed, while spatial heterogeneity in lifetimes within a particle is revealed using a smaller probe beam with a ≈5 µm diameter. Overall, the observations suggest that contributions from different local environments independently influence charge trapping at different timescales. TAM on the micron and microsecond spatiotemporal resolution will aid in tackling design questions about optimal chemical environments for the promotion of photoactivity.
The Mitochondria‐Targeted Micelle Inhibits Alzheimer's Disease Progression by Alleviating Neuronal Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Neuroinflammation
Authors: Qian Wenqiang , Liu Daozhou , Liu Jie , Liu Miao , Ji Qifeng , Zhang Bangle , Yang Zhifu , Cheng Ying , Zhou Siyuan
Published: December 2024

Mitochondrial dysfunction plays an important role in neuroinflammation and cognitive impairment in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Herein, this work designs a mitochondria‐targeted micelle CsA‐TK‐SS‐31 (CTS) to block the progression of AD by simultaneously alleviating mitochondrial dysfunction in microglia and neurons. The mitochondria‐targeted peptide SS‐31 drives cyclosporin A (CsA) to penetrate the blood‐brain barrier (BBB) and delivers CsA to mitochondria of microglia and neurons in the brains of 5 × FAD mice. Under the high level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) environment in damaged mitochondria of microglia and neurons, the linker (thioketal, TK) between CsA and SS‐31 is broken and CsA and SS‐31 are released while consuming ROS in the microenvironment. The released CsA and SS‐31 synergistically restore the mitochondrial membrane potential and the balance between the fission and fusion of mitochondria, which subsequently protect neurons from apoptosis and reduce the activation of microglia in the brains of 5 × FAD mice. Ultimately, the neuroinflammation and cognitive impairment of 5 × FAD mice are ameliorated. This research provides a synergistic treatment strategy for AD through alleviating mitochondrial dysfunction to reduce neuroinflammation and restore the function of neurons simultaneously.
Controlling the Hierarchical Assembly of DNA‐Based Hexagonal Microstructures
Authors: Makino Tetsunao , Kajitani Takashi , Tanaka Makiko
Published: December 2024

This paper discusses the controlled morphology of hierarchical liquid crystalline DNA assemblies. Through a process of heating and slow cooling, double‐stranded DNAs (dsDNAs) having 23 complementary bases and two base overhangs (a pair of 25mer oligonucleotides) spontaneously assemble into micro‐sized hexagonal platelets in a solution containing poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and salt. Remarkably, the addition of a shorter dsDNA with AA/TT overhangs (a pair of 18mer oligonucleotides) to a PEG‐salt solution of 25mer DNA with AA/TT overhangs results in the formation of molecular tubes, each with a central blockage. In contrast, the addition of 18mer DNA with GG/CC overhangs leads to the formation of hexagonal frames from hexagonal platelets. In the assemblies, 18mer DNA is more predominant at the edges, while the central nuclei are composed of 25mer DNA. X‐ray scattering measurements reveal that both molecular tubes and hexagonal frames form hexagonal columnar liquid crystalline assemblies. These self‐assemblies are thought to result from depletion attraction due to PEG and end‐to‐end stacking between dsDNA overhangs. Differences in the melting temperatures between longer and shorter dsDNAs enable the stepwise formation of hierarchical assemblies, while variations in overhang sequences modulate the overall morphology by altering the growth direction of the assemblies.
Enriched Electrophilic Oxygen Species on Ru Optimize Acidic Water Oxidation
Authors: Zhao Tao , Du Runxin , Fang Qiang , Hao Genyan , Liu Guang , Zhong Dazhong , Li Jinping , Zhao Qiang
Published: December 2024

Ruthenium oxide (RuO2) is considered one of the most promising catalysts for replacing iridium oxide (IrO2) in the acidic oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Nevertheless, the performance of RuO2 remains unacceptable due to the dissolution of Ru and the lack of *OH in acidic environments. This paper reports a grain boundary (GB)‐rich porous RuO2 electrocatalyst for the efficient and stable acidic OER. The involvement of GB regulates the valence state of Ru and weakens the interaction between Ru and O, effectively facilitating *OH adsorption and *OOH formation. Notably, achieved a record‐high catalytic activity (145 mV at 10 mA cm−2) with a low Tafel slope (40.9 mV dec−1) and a remarkable mass activity of 332 mA mg−1Ru at 1.5 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode is achieved. Additionally, the porous RuO2 exhibits superb stability with an ultra‐low degradation rate of 26 µV h−1 over a 50‐day durability test. This study opens a viable pathway for the development of efficient and robust Ru‐based acidic OER electrocatalysts.
Medicines as Designed Objects
Authors: Pizzocaro Silvia , Penati Antonella Valeria
Published: December 2024

A large amount of healthcare studies are paying very large attention to patients’ behaviour with medicines and to patient-related factors leading to successful or poor medication adherence. Despite that, more diffused design-oriented perspectives grafted onto the medication-user relation still deserve attention. Although medicines can be the first (and sometimes unique) remedy a patient can rely on when at home, there is a relative inertia in designerly ways of conceiving medicines as ‘designed things’. The diffusion and ubiquity of pharmacological treatments—specifically their pervasiveness—which today represents a nearly complete reality for many countries with mature economies, are in fact still characterized by the lack of an advanced design-oriented perspective about medications, patients, and their interactions: drugs, despite scientific refinement of its pharmacological principle, may remain quite traditional as technical objects. The opportunities offered by healthcare service systems and enabling technologies, as well as the monitoring of therapies, risk not obtaining their desired effectiveness if there is no intervention at the ground zero of the drug’s ‘shape’ itself, as it appears in its commodity elements (galenical forms; delivery, dosage and storage co-products; packaging and informative attachments); if it is neglected to investigate patients’ everyday lives, their fragility, and the nature of the user interactions, which are not scientific, but instead inaccurate and approximate; if the prosaic side of the therapeutic action is believed to be irrelevant.
Use Phenomenologies. Observing the User While Taking Pharmaceutical Therapies
Authors: Penati Antonella Valeria
Published: December 2024

As introduced in Chap. 14, the notes below take the Farb Research (University Funds for Basic Research) Care for Care—Shaping medicines: a question of Identity, Use and Communication as their starting point. In the previous chapters, we have presented some points of view in which the discipline of design can contribute through a theoretical-critical analysis of the culture of medicine use. In this chapter, we present the outcomes of the observational activity. For three consecutive years, in addition to the research team, it involved classes from the Metadesign and Visual Elements Studios of the School of Design at Politecnico di Milano. Students were trained to detect the behaviour of patients—their grandparents—while dealing with drug therapy in their home contexts. These outcomes provided an initial basis for corroborating theoretical reflection and were supplemented by an analysis of the research group activities from a design perspective. A perspective that focuses on the formal aspects of objects, on the relationships established between subjects and objects—namely between patient and medicine—, and on the role that the context of use plays in shaping this relationship. The chapter reports reflections derived from observation activities.
Medicinal Products: When Innovation Meets the Patient
Authors: Dionigi Lamberto
Published: December 2024

Therapeutic adherence is an essential element to guarantee the best benefit/risk ratio of a drug for the patient. It refers to the degree to which the patient correctly follows the recommendations on the use of the drug at the due dosage, time, and regimen, throughout the prescribed duration. A low adherence can therefore be the consequence of an incorrect, incomplete, or irregular intake of the medicine. A high adherence, on the other hand, reduces the patient’s health risks, increases the likelihood of treatment effectiveness and safety, and contributes to controlling therapy costs. For this reason, both pharmaceutical companies and regulatory agencies have worked over the years to ensure that the patient is provided with adequate tools to minimize the likelihood and impact of low adherence to therapy. This chapter focuses on those medicines’ elements that can influence therapeutic adherence and highlights some innovations, already in place or in development, aimed to improve it. The author will privilege the example of oral drugs, which are generally self-administered by the patient at home, an environment less controlled than a clinic or hospital.
Compendium: Step Toward Design-Oriented Practices in the Pharma Industry in a Multidisciplinary Perspective
Authors: Penati Antonella Valeria
Published: December 2024

In the first chapter of this volume, we began our exploration by stating that “from a regulatory point of view, the pharmaceuticals sector—given the peculiarities of the product and its impact on consumer health—has always been hyper-regulated” (see Chap. 2 and Addendum 1). The power of this regulation stems not only from legislative documents at the EU and international levels but also from national regulations. The regulatory landscape is further complicated by the addition of documents such as Guidelines, Product and Process Regulations, and Recommendations from individual states over time, creating a highly stratified and complex legislative framework in the pharmaceutical field. Throughout the various chapters, regulatory milestones have been revisited, aligning with the topics addressed by different authors (refer to Addendum 1 for the regulations or sections of regulations framing the design of primary and secondary packaging, as well as the package leaflet). Our specific focus is on the role of current legislation in guiding the design of the ‘medicine system’ toward the patients and their needs. As elucidated in the text, the ‘medicine system’ encompasses the ensemble of physical artifacts and information apparatus—primary packaging, secondary packaging, package leaflet—that, alongside the medicine, undergo evaluation by regulatory bodies for its ‘marketing’(Fig. 22.1).
Primary Medicine Packaging and Quality Control
Authors: Piovosi Elena
Published: December 2024

In the case of pharmaceuticals, packaging has moved from being the last step in the production chain to influencing the whole product design process, bounding a series of strict production standards. Why is the primary packaging of a medicine important? The primary packaging encounters the product, and its function is not only to be able to contain, protect or transport the medicine. Above all, packaging preserves the product, guaranteeing its quality throughout the self-life period. Furthermore, the choice also depends on the type of use and market demands. The typology of packaging and its material is of fundamental importance both for the pharmaceutical company that use it and for the patient. The chapter presents an abacus with the principal pharmaceutical form and packaging types.
Secondary Packaging and Leaflets: A Glossary
Authors: Mariani Marcello
Published: December 2024

Shaped as a glossary, the chapter presents and graphically illustrates the main typologies of pharmaceutical cartons and leaflets. This overview is essential to understand the production manufacturing processes and principal features of cartons and leaflets for the pharmaceutical industry.