bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Risk factors for serious postoperative complications following gastrectomy in super‐elderly patients ≥85‐years‐old with gastric cancer: A National Clinical Database study in Japan
Authors: Ueda Yoshitake , Nishimura Shiori , Inomata Masafumi , Akagi Tomonori , Shiroshita Hidefumi , Etoh Tsuyoshi , Takiguchi Shuji , Sakai Yoshiharu , Kumamaru Hiraku , Ueno Hideki , Kitagawa Yuko
Published: July 2024

Aim

This study aimed to evaluate the technical safety and feasibility of gastrectomy for super‐elderly patients ≥85‐y‐old with gastric cancer and to clarify the risk factors for serious postoperative complications in these patients.

Methods

Between 2017 and 2020, 10,203 patients who underwent distal gastrectomy (DG) and 2580 patients who underwent total gastrectomy (TG) were reviewed from the Japanese National Clinical Database. All possible preoperative factors were used to explore the risk factors for serious postoperative complications in the super‐elderly patients with gastric cancer.

Results

For DG, the operative mortality rate was 1.6% (162 patients), and the rate of serious postoperative complications was 7.8% (796 patients). Similarly, the mortality rate was 2.6% (67 patients), and the rate of serious complications was 11.3% (292 patients) for TG. Based on multivariate analysis, body mass index (≥25 kg/m2), activities of daily living (ADL) (partially dependent), ASA‐PS (Grade ≥3), dyspnea, ascites, history of cerebrovascular disease, serum albumin (<4 g/dL), and creatinine (>1.2 mg/dL) in DG, and ADL (partially dependent), ASA‐PS (Grade ≥3), previous percutaneous coronary intervention, dialysis, WBC (>9000 μL), and AST (>35 IU/L) in TG were strong risk factors for serious postoperative complications.

Conclusions

The study findings suggest that gastrectomy for super‐elderly gastric cancer patients is relatively safe and feasible. Surgeons need to pay special attention to physical status and past medical history than tumor factors for preventing serious postoperative complications in super‐elderly gastric cancer patients.
Interaction of Hermite–Gaussian Beams with a Macroscopic Atomic Target
Authors: Ramakrishna S. , Wu Z. W. , Maiorova A. V. , Fritzsche S.
Published: July 2024

A theoretical analysis is presented on the photoexcitation of a macroscopic atomic target by a Hermite–Gaussian (HG) beam within the framework of density matrix theory. Special emphasis is paid to the influence of the incoming HG mode on the population of an excited state and the emitted fluorescence radiation. In particular, a general expression for the alignment parameter of the excited state is derived, which depends on the beam parameters of the HG mode. Although the developed theory can be applied to any atomic system, here the electric dipole transition in neutral sodium atoms is investigated when driven by three , and modes. For this optical (valence‐shell) excitation, it is demonstrated that the population of the excited state is sensitive to the beam waist and the mode index of the HG beam. Furthermore, the influence of beam parameters on the angular distribution and linear polarization of the emitted fluorescence radiation is discussed.
BIM‐Modellierung von Bestandsgebäuden – eine Studie zu Aufwand und Effizienz
Authors: Marx Peter , Teferle Félicia Norma Rebecca , Thewes Andreas , Schäfer Markus
Published: July 2024

Im vom Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung geförderten Projekt „FHprofUnt 2018: BIM Bauen im Bestand (BIM‐BiB)“ wurde der Campus der Hochschule Trier mittels terrestrischem Laserscanner vermessen und die gewonnenen Daten in BIM‐Modelle der Gebäude des Campus überführt. Diese Studie untersucht die Effizienz von Bestandsvermessungen durch 3D‐Scanner, der Punktwolkenerstellung und ‐nachbearbeitung sowie der BIM‐Modellierung von Bestandsgebäuden anhand der gewonnenen Aufwandswerte. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass die Anwendung terrestrischer Laserscanner für Bestandsvermessungen eine effiziente Methode ist, Bearbeitung und Erstellung hochwertiger Punktwolken jedoch noch sehr zeitintensiv sind und die eigentliche BIM‐Modellierung die beiden erstgenannten Arbeitsbereiche im Aufwand stark übertrifft. Zur Erläuterung der vorgestellten Ergebnisse wird auf den aktuellen Stand der Technik und die projektspezifischen Probleme eingegangen. Die gewonnenen Daten und ihre Auswertung decken Schwachstellen in der Effizienz der heute zur Verfügung stehenden Methoden auf und beleuchten Forschungsmöglichkeiten, um den Prozess der Modellierung von Bestandsgebäuden wirtschaftlicher zu gestalten.
A truncation mutant of adenomatous polyposis coli impairs apical cell extrusion through elevated epithelial tissue tension
Authors: Gan Wan J. , Giri Rabina , Begun Jakob , Abud Helen E. , Hardeman Edna C. , Gunning Peter W. , Yap Alpha S. , Noordstra Ivar
Published: July 2024

Tissue tension encompasses the mechanical forces exerted on solid tissues within animal bodies, originating from various sources such as cellular contractility, interactions with neighboring cells and the extracellular matrix. Emerging evidence indicates that an imbalance in such forces can influence structural organization, homeostasis, and potentially contribute to disease. For instance, heightened tissue tension can impede apical cell extrusion, leading to the retention of apoptotic or transformed cells. In this study, we investigate the potential role of adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) in modulating tissue tension. Our findings reveal that expression of an APC truncation mutant elevates epithelial tension via the RhoA/ROCK pathway. This elevation induces morphological alterations and hampers apoptotic cell extrusion in cultured epithelial cells and organoids, both of which could be mitigated by pharmacologically restoring the tissue tension. This raises the possibility that APC mutations may exert pathogenetic effects by altering tissue mechanics.
Robust and smart: Inference on phenotypic plasticity of Coffea canephora reveals adaptation to alternative environments
Authors: Ferrão Maria Amélia G. , Riva‐Souza Elaine M. , Azevedo Camila , Volpi Paulo S. , Fonseca Aymbiré F. A. , Ferrão Romario G. , Montagnon Christopher , Ferrão Luis Felipe V.
Published: July 2024

Coffee is an important crop with economic and social importance in several countries. With a daily consumption estimated at 2.2 billion cups, its sustainability is facing critical challenges given the projected climate changes. Coffea arabica, which represents ∼60% of the global market coffee is a delicate crop, quite susceptible to diseases and biotic stresses. Developing climate‐resilience cultivars is necessary, and it includes coffee plants adapted to new farming conditions that can meet the demand for biotic and abiotic tolerance and quality. In this context, Coffea canephora emerges as a potential candidate if the crop combines plasticity and cupping quality. Plant plasticity refers to adjusted phenotypic performance when grown in different environments, a fact that may help mitigate the detrimental effect of climate changes. In this study, using a multiple environment trial, we combined genomic and genotype‐by‐environment analyses to answer the following main question: How the climate effects may affect the phenotypic plasticity in C. canephora? Our contributions in this paper are fourfold: (i) we draw attention to the cupping quality and yield performance of C. canephora cultivars when evaluated in high‐altitude and cold weather, (ii) we compared C. arabica and C. canephora phenotypic plasticity and highlight genotypes with broad and specific adaptation to certain environmental conditions, and finally, (iii) using stochastic simulation, we emphasize the potential of molecular breeding in the long term in coffee. Altogether, we present an emerging view on how C. canephora could be a valid alternative for climate‐smart cultivars in a projected scenario of altered climatic conditions.
Gene pyramiding for achieving enhanced disease and insect multiple resistance in Coffea arabica
Authors: Feitosa Francielle de Matos , Santos Iara Gonçalves dos , Pereira Antonio Alves , de Oliveira Antonio Carlos Baião , Caixeta Eveline Teixeira
Published: July 2024

Developing a new coffee cultivar can take up to 25 years using traditional approaches. The implementation of molecular tools into the coffee breeding pipeline can speed up the development of high‐yielding varieties with multiple resistance to pests and diseases. This study aimed to verify the presence of gene pyramiding for resistance to coffee berry disease (CBD) and coffee leaf rust and access the breeding potential of a breeding population of coffee (Coffea arabica L.) that presents partial phenotypic resistance to coffee leaf miner. A progeny of 128 individuals was evaluated in 2019 during the coffee maturation stage for 11 agronomic traits. The individuals were genotyped for four loci related to rust and CBD resistance. Gene pyramiding was verified based on the presence of markers linked with the resistance alleles. Genetic parameters were estimated, and a selection index was used to rank the individuals based on the phenotypic evaluation. Gene pyramiding for rust and CBD was detected in ∼82% of the individuals. Moreover, the phenotypic evaluation of rust indicated high levels of resistance, confirmed by the presence of the resistance alleles. Ninety‐five percent of the 38 top‐ranked individuals presented resistance alleles and could be used in an interpopulation recurrent selection scheme with marker‐assisted selection. The studied coffee population has the potential to be used in coffee breeding programs since it presents vigorous individuals with low levels of coffee leaf miner incidence (CLMI) and gene pyramiding for CBD and rust resistance, the main pest and diseases of this crop.
The effect of incidental ethanol exposures on the formation of blood phosphatidylethanol
Authors: Reisfield Gary M. , Teitelbaum Scott A. , Jones Joseph T. , Lewis Ben
Published: July 2024

Blood phosphatidylethanol (PEth), a metabolite of ethanol, is emerging as a direct biomarker of choice for characterizing ethanol consumption in clinical, research, and forensic contexts. An accumulating body of evidence, and a recent international consensus conference, supports a cutoff of 20 μg/L of PEth (16:0/18:1) to distinguish abstinence from beverage ethanol consumption. There is a dearth of research, however, on whether exposures to nonbeverage ethanol sources are sufficient to produce PEth concentrations that exceed this cutoff. To explore this possibility, we recruited 30 participants, who indicated past‐90‐day abstinence from beverage alcohol, to characterize their past‐30‐day nonbeverage ethanol exposures (including source, frequency, and intensity of exposures) and to undergo PEth testing. Two of the 30 participants (6.7%) produced PEth concentrations ≥20 μg/L. One of these participants (PEth = 26 μg/L) reported multiple ethanol exposure sources, including near‐daily intensive exposures to ethanol vapor. The other participant (PEth = 49 μg/L) reported only once‐daily use of an ethanol‐containing mouthwash; the veracity of his abstinence claim is refuted. The results of this study support a rebuttable presumption that PEth ≥20 μg/L is indicative of beverage ethanol consumption. They suggest, however, that intensive, incidental alcohol exposures have the potential, under unusual circumstances, to result in PEth concentrations that modestly exceed this threshold.
Understanding Europium and Terbium Speciation and Ion Pairing in Carbonate Complexes Using Advanced Spectroscopy Techniques
Authors: Hege Nicole , Poore Andrew T , Galley Shane S , Reinhart Benjamin J , Tian Shiliang , Jackson Jessica A , Shafer Jenifer
Published: July 2024

Lanthanide (Ln) elements are critical materials that are typically extracted/mined together. Their separation by solvent extraction from acidic media is well known; however, there are few studies in basic media with carbonate anions. We investigated the complexation of Eu(III) and Tb(III) carbonates as solids and solutions in alkaline K2CO3, wherein we sought to access a Tb(IV) carbonate complex through ozonolysis. L3‐edge XANES of Eu and Tb carbonate solids, colorless solutions, and a red‐hued Tb solution (obtained by ozonolysis) all showed Ln(III) cations. The absence of evidence for a Tb(IV) complex was confirmed through XAS and EPR analyses, despite the solution exhibiting a deep red color. For solids and solutions, EXAFS results indicate molecular Ln(III)‐carbonato anions. In terms of the Eu(III) carbonate coordination number, the coordination does not change upon dissolution of the solid sample. Furthermore, EXAFS for the solutions revealed evidence for the association of potassium cations with the Ln(III)‐carbonato anions. This direct observation of contact ion pairing by EXAFS at room temperature is rare. The insights into Ln(III) carbonate complexation and solution speciation afforded by XANES‐EXAFS, FT‐IR, and EPR provides perspectives that serve as benchmarks for future computational and experimental efforts focused on caustic‐side solvent extraction of Ln(III) ions.
A targeting nanoplatform for chemo‐photothermal synergistic therapy of small‐cell lung cancer
Authors: Yin Moli , Liu Lei , Yan Yu , Wang Huiyan , Li Wenliang , Dong Yuan , Kong Guangyao
Published: July 2024

The precise delivery of drugs to tumor sites and the thermoresistance of tumors remain major challenges in photothermal therapy (PTT). Somatostatin receptor 2 (SSTR2) is proposed as an ideal target for the precise treatment of SCLC. We developed a targeting nano‐drug delivery system comprising anti‐SSTR2 monoclonal antibody (MAb) surface‐modified nanoparticles co‐encapsulating Cypate and gambogic acid (GA). The formed SGCPNs demonstrated excellent monodispersity, physiological stability, preferable biocompatibility, and resultant efficient photothermal conversion efficacy. SGCPNs were quickly internalized by SSTR2‐overexpressing SCLC cells, triggering the release of GA under acidic and near‐infrared (NIR) laser irradiation environments, leading to their escape from lysosomes to the cytosol and then diffusion into the nucleus. SGCPNs can not only decrease the cell survival rate but also inhibit the activity of heat shock protein 90 (HSP90). SGCPNs can be precisely delivered to xenograft tumors of SSTR2‐positive SCLC in vivo. Upon NIR laser irradiation, therapy of SGCPNs showed significant tumor regression. In conclusion, SGCPNs provide a new chemo‐photothermal synergistic treatment strategy for targeting SCLC.
Trends in breast cancer incidence by estrogen receptor status in the United States, 2004–2020
Authors: Jiang Chenxi , Giaquinto Angela N. , Jemal Ahmedin , Sung Hyuna
Published: July 2024

Divergent trends of breast cancer incidence by subtype have been reported in the United States and elsewhere; however, it remains unknown whether this trend has continued until the era of the COVID‐19 pandemic. Using high‐quality population‐based cancer registry data, representing 83% of the US population, this study examined breast cancer incidence rates by estrogen receptor (ER) status in women aged 20–84 years from 2004 to 2020. The incidence rate of ER‐positive cancer increased by 1.75% per year from 2004 to 2009 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.26%–3.15%) and has slowed to a 0.87% annual increase (95% CI = 0.41%–1.03%) from 2009 to 2019, followed by a 10.2% reduction from 2019 to 2020. Trends were generally similar across race and ethnicity, although young women (20–49 years), Asian or Pacific Islander, and Hispanic women experienced steady increases until 2019. The incidence rate of ER‐negative cancer decreased by 3.13% annually (95% CI = −4.2% to −2.55%) from 2004 to 2012, and the decrease stabilized from 2012 to 2019 (annual percent change: 0.55%; 95% CI = −1.30% to 0.92%), followed by a 6.0% reduction from 2019 to 2020, with trends generally consistent by age and across racial and ethnic groups. The stabilization of the steep decline in ER‐negative cancer suggests a departure from the encouraging trajectories projected in earlier studies. Coupled with the deceleration in the rise of ER‐positive cancer, the latest trend signals a potential stabilization in the previous rise of the proportional burden of ER‐positive cancer. Understanding the impact of the pandemic on each subtype of breast cancer individually may provide a more comprehensive insight into its long‐term sequelae on survival and mortality.
Malnutrition in hospitalized adults in the United States, 2016–2019
Authors: Bhasin Ajay , Huang Lynn , Shieh Meng‐Shoiu , Pekow Penelope , Lindenauer Peter K. , Lagu Tara
Published: July 2024

Background

Malnutrition in hospitalized patients is associated increased length of stay, cost, readmission, and death. No recent studies have examined trends in prevalence or outcomes of hospitalized patients with a diagnosis of malnutrition.

Objectives

To study the prevalence of malnutrition diagnostic codes and associated hospital outcomes in the United States between 2016 and 2019.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective trends study to identify use of malnutrition codes in hospitalizations in the National Inpatient Sample between 2016 and 2019. We used direct standardization by logistic regression to adjust outcomes of percutaneous gastrostomy tube placement, mechanical ventilation, and death for age, Gagne comorbidity score, and sex. We then used linear regression to test for trends over time by malnutrition type.

Results

Across all hospitalizations, codes for diagnoses of nonsevere malnutrition and severe malnutrition were present in 3.7% and 4.1% of hospitalizations, respectively. Codes for any malnutrition increased over time, from 6.6% in 2016 to 8.6% in 2018 (p = .03). Codes for severe malnutrition increased from 3.3% to 4.7% (p = .01). Among hospitalizations with coded severe malnutrition diagnoses, there was a statistically significant decrease in adjusted rate of death over time (−0.54% per year, p = .03) which was not seen in hospitalizations without coded malnutrition diagnoses.

Conclusions

Use of malnutrition diagnosis codes increased significantly from 2016 to 2019. During this time, mortality among hospitalizations with a diagnosis code for severe malnutrition decreased. Though the increased prevalence of malnutrition codes may represent a change in the clinical characteristics of hospitalized patients, the decline in mortality suggests some of the increase may be due to lower threshold for coding and assignment of the diagnosis to less ill patients.
Programme science in action: lessons from an observational study of HIV prevention programming for key populations in Lusaka, Zambia
Authors: Sikazwe Izukanji , Musheke Maurice , Chiyenu Kanema , Ngosa Benard , Pry Jake M. , Mulubwa Chama , Zimba Martin , Sakala Martin , Sakala Mphatso , Somwe Paul , Nyirenda Goodwin , Savory Theodora , Bolton‐Moore Carolyn , Herce Michael E.
Published: July 2024

Introduction

Optimizing uptake of pre‐exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for individuals at risk of HIV acquisition has been challenging despite clear scientific evidence and normative guidelines, particularly for key populations (KPs) such as men who have sex with men (MSM), female sex workers (FSWs), transgender (TG) people and persons who inject drugs (PWID). Applying an iterative Programme Science cycle, building on the effective programme coverage framework, we describe the approach used by the Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia (CIDRZ) to scale up PrEP delivery and address inequities in PrEP access for KP in Lusaka, Zambia.

Methods

In 2019, CIDRZ partnered with 10 local KP civil society organizations (CSOs) and the Ministry of Health (MOH) to offer HIV services within KP‐designated community safe spaces. KP CSO partners led KP mobilization, managed safe spaces and delivered peer support; MOH organized clinicians and clinical commodities; and CIDRZ provided technical oversight. In December 2021, we introduced a community‐based intervention focused on PrEP delivery in venues where KP socialize. We collected routine programme data from September 2019 to June 2023 using programme‐specific tools and the national electronic health record. We estimated the before‐after effects of our intervention on PrEP uptake, continuation and equity for KP using descriptive statistics and interrupted time series regression, and used mixed‐effects regression to estimate marginal probabilities of PrEP continuity.

Results

Most (25,658) of the 38,307 (67.0%) Key Population Investment Fund beneficiaries were reached with HIV prevention services at community‐based venues. In total, 23,527 (61.4%) received HIV testing services, with 15,508 (65.9%) testing HIV negative and found PrEP eligible, and 15,241 (98.3%) initiating PrEP. Across all programme quarters and KP types, PrEP uptake was >90%. After introducing venue‐based PrEP delivery, PrEP uptake (98.7% after vs. 96.5% before, p < 0.001) and the number of initiations (p = 0.014) increased significantly. The proportion of KP with ≥1 PrEP continuation visit within 6 months of initiation was unchanged post‐intervention (46.7%, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 45.7%, 47.6%) versus pre‐intervention (47.2%, 95% CI: 45.4%, 49.1%).

Conclusions

Applying Programme Science principles, we demonstrate how decentralizing HIV prevention services to KP venues and safe spaces in partnership with KP CSOs enabled successful community‐based PrEP delivery beyond the reach of traditional facility‐based services.
Prevalence of malnutrition and impact on 30‐day hospital readmission in adults receiving home care and ambulatory care: A descriptive cohort study
Authors: Goharian Leila , Keller Heather , Desai Sameer
Published: July 2024

Background

Little is known about the prevalence of malnutrition among patients receiving home care (HC) and ambulatory care (AC) services. Further, the risk of hospital readmission in malnourished patients transitioning from hospital to HC or AC is also not well established. This study aims to address these two gaps.

Methods

A descriptive cohort study of newly referred HC and AC patients between January and December 2019 was conducted. Nutrition status was assessed by clinicians using the Mini Nutritional Assessment–Short Form (MNA‐SF). Prevalence of malnutrition and at risk of malnutrition (ARM) was calculated, and a log‐binomial regression model was used to estimate the relative risk of hospital readmission within 30 days of discharge for those who were malnourished and referred from hospital.

Results

A total of 3704 MNA‐SFs were returned, of which 2402 (65%) had complete data. The estimated prevalence of malnutrition and ARM among newly referred HC and AC patients was 21% (95% CI: 19%–22%) and 55% (95% CI: 53%–57%), respectively. The estimated risk of hospital readmission for malnourished patients was 2.7 times higher (95% CI: 1.9%–3.9%) and for ARM patients was 1.9 times higher (95% CI: 1.4%–2.8%) than that of patients with normal nutrition status.

Conclusion

The prevalence of malnutrition and ARM among HC and AC patients is high. Malnutrition and ARM are correlated with an increased risk of hospital readmission 30 days posthospital discharge.
Proton spot dose estimation based on positron activity distributions with neural network
Authors: Zhang Ruilin , Mu Dengyun , Ma Qiuhui , Wan Lin , Xiao Peng , Qi Pengyuan , Liu Gang , Zhang Sheng , Yang Kunyu , Yang Zhiyong , Xie Qingguo
Published: July 2024

Background

Positron emission tomography (PET) has been investigated for its ability to reconstruct proton‐induced positron activity distributions in proton therapy. This technique holds potential for range verification in clinical practice. Recently, deep learning‐based dose estimation from positron activity distributions shows promise for in vivo proton dose monitoring and guided proton therapy.

Purpose

This study evaluates the effectiveness of three classical neural network models, recurrent neural network (RNN), U‐Net, and Transformer, for proton dose estimating. It also investigates the characteristics of these models, providing valuable insights for selecting the appropriate model in clinical practice.

Methods

Proton dose calculations for spot beams were simulated using Geant4. Computed tomography (CT) images from four head cases were utilized, with three for training neural networks and the remaining one for testing. The neural networks were trained with one‐dimensional (1D) positron activity distributions as inputs and generated 1D dose distributions as outputs. The impact of the number of training samples on the networks was examined, and their dose prediction performance in both homogeneous brain and heterogeneous nasopharynx sites was evaluated. Additionally, the effect of positron activity distribution uncertainty on dose prediction performance was investigated. To quantitatively evaluate the models, mean relative error (MRE) and absolute range error (ARE) were used as evaluation metrics.

Results

The U‐Net exhibited a notable advantage in range verification with a smaller number of training samples, achieving approximately 75% of AREs below 0.5 mm using only 500 training samples. The networks performed better in the homogeneous brain site compared to the heterogeneous nasopharyngeal site. In the homogeneous brain site, all networks exhibited small AREs, with approximately 90% of the AREs below 0.5 mm. The Transformer exhibited the best overall dose distribution prediction, with approximately 92% of MREs below 3%. In the heterogeneous nasopharyngeal site, all networks demonstrated acceptable AREs, with approximately 88% of AREs below 3 mm. The Transformer maintained the best overall dose distribution prediction, with approximately 85% of MREs below 5%. The performance of all three networks in dose prediction declined as the uncertainty of positron activity distribution increased, and the Transformer consistently outperformed the other networks in all cases.

Conclusions

Both the U‐Net and the Transformer have certain advantages in the proton dose estimation task. The U‐Net proves well suited for range verification with a small training sample size, while the Transformer outperforms others at dose‐guided proton therapy.
Development of a multi‐scanner facility for data acquisition for digital pathology artificial intelligence
Authors: Humphries Matthew P , Kaye Danny , Stankeviciute Gaby , Halliwell Jacob , Wright Alexander I , Bansal Daljeet , Brettle David , Treanor Darren
Published: July 2024

Whole slide imaging (WSI) of pathology glass slides using high‐resolution scanners has enabled the large‐scale application of artificial intelligence (AI) in pathology, to support the detection and diagnosis of disease, potentially increasing efficiency and accuracy in tissue diagnosis. Despite the promise of AI, it has limitations. ‘Brittleness’ or sensitivity to variation in inputs necessitates that large amounts of data are used for training. AI is often trained on data from different scanners but not usually by replicating the same slide across scanners. The utilisation of multiple WSI instruments to produce digital replicas of the same slides will make more comprehensive datasets and may improve the robustness and generalisability of AI algorithms as well as reduce the overall data requirements of AI training. To this end, the National Pathology Imaging Cooperative (NPIC) has built the AI FORGE (Facilitating Opportunities for Robust Generalisable data Emulation), a unique multi‐scanner facility embedded in a clinical site in the NHS to (1) compare scanner performance, (2) replicate digital pathology image datasets across WSI systems, and (3) support the evaluation of clinical AI algorithms. The NPIC AI FORGE currently comprises 15 scanners from nine manufacturers. It can generate approximately 4,000 WSI images per day (approximately 7 TB of image data). This paper describes the process followed to plan and build such a facility. © 2024 The Author(s). The Journal of Pathology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.
Competition between Cubic and Tetragonal Phase Induced Unusual Vertical Magnetization Shift and Exchange Bias in CoxMn3−xO4 (1 ≤ x ≤ 2) Spinel Nanoparticles
Authors: Rajput Sanjna , Rath Chandana
Published: July 2024

CoxMn3−xO4 (1 ≤ x ≤ 2) spinel nanoparticles synthesized through conventional coprecipitation technique exhibit the coexistence of tetragonal and cubic phases in the range of 1 ≤ x ≤ 1.5, while a pure cubic phase is observed for 1.75 ≤ x ≤ 2 at room temperature. Reduction in tetragonal phase fraction from 92 % for x = 1 to 47% for x = 1.5 is attributed to diminution of Jahn–Teller (J–T) active Mn3+ ions occupying the octahedral site of spinel lattice. X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy confirms both +2 and +3 oxidation states for Co and Mn. Surprisingly, cubic and tetragonal phases exhibit magnetic transition, Tc1 and Tc2, corresponding to a paramagnetic to a high and low temperature ferrimagnetic state, respectively. Tetragonal phase induces high spontaneous (HSEB) and conventional (HCEB) exchange bias with unusually high vertical magnetization shift (VMS) than that of the pure cubic phase, shows maximum HCEB of 4.062 kOe for x = 1.5 and a VMS of 2.5 emu g−1 for x = 1. Such dependence of VMS and exchange bias on tetragonal to cubic phase ratio in CoxMn3−xO4 is demonstrated for the first time and interpreted based on the interaction between different arrangement of spins in tetrahedral and octahedral sublattice.
Fractal Characterization of Simulated Metal Nanocatalysts in 3D
Authors: Ting Jonathan Y. C. , Opletal George , Barnard Amanda S.
Published: July 2024

The surface roughness of metal nanoparticles is known to be influential toward their properties, but the quantification of surface roughness is challenging. Given the recent availability of large‐scale simulated data and tools for the computation of the box‐counting dimension of simulated atomistic objects, researchers are now enabled to study the connections between the surface roughness of metal nanoparticles and their properties. Herein, the relationships between the fractal box‐counting dimension of metal nanoparticle surfaces and structural features relevant to experimental and computational studies are investigated, providing actionable insights for the manufacturing of rough nanoparticles. This approach differs from conventional concepts of roughness, but introduces a possible indicator for their functionalities such as catalytic performance that was not previously accessible. It is found that, while it remains difficult to consistently correlate the dimension with the catalytic activity of surface facets, matching trends with their surface energy, thermodynamic stability, and number of bond vacancy are observed. This highlights the potential of fractal box‐counting dimensions to rationalize catalytic activity trends among metal nanoparticles, and opens up opportunities for the design of nanocatalysts with better performance via surface engineering.
EOP Prediction Based on Multi and Single Technique Space Geodetic Solution
Authors: Modiri Sadegh , Thaller Daniela , Belda Santiago , Halilovic Dzana , Klemm Lisa , König Daniel , Hellmers Hendrik , Bachmann Sabine , Flohrer Claudia , Walenta Anastasiia
Published: July 2024

Real-time Earth Orientation Parameters (EOP) are crucial in various space geodetic applications, from satellite navigation to weather forecasting. This study introduces a refined prediction package leveraging diverse EOP series from the Federal Agency of Cartography and Geodesy (BKG), including rapid and final series, Satellite Laser Ranging (SLR) series, and International Earth Rotation and Reference Systems Service (IERS) C04. Our approach yields substantial improvements in EOP prediction accuracy. Results highlight superior performance in critical parameters such as Polar Motion, (UT1-UTC) dUT1, and Length of Day (LOD) predictions. Notably, our predictions surpass benchmarks from the Second EOP Prediction Comparison Campaign (2nd EOP-PCC)” organized by International Association of Geodesy (IAG) and IERS, showcasing the effectiveness of our methodology. Additionally, BKG’s Rapid EOP stands out with remarkable accuracy, featuring a shorter latency of 1 to 2 days. This study contributes to our understanding of Earth’s rotational dynamics. It provides practical advancements in real-time EOP predictions, demonstrating the potential impact on a wide range of scientific and operational applications.
Densification of the IHRF in Denmark, The Faroe Islands, and Greenland
Authors: Teitsson Hergeir , Sánchez Laura , Forsberg René
Published: July 2024

The International Association of Geodesy (IAG) introduced and defined, in 2015, the International Height Reference System (IHRS) as the conventional reference system for the global physical height determination. Following the conventions for the realisation of the IHRS, i.e. the determination of the International Height Reference Frame (IHRF), we utilize the existing GNSS reference stations in Denmark, The Faroe Islands, and Greenland to determine a local densification of the IHRF in these regions. The physical heights of these Danish, Faroese and Greenlandic GNSS reference stations have been transformed from the local Danish, Faroese, and Greenlandic height systems, DVR90, FVR09 and GVR16, respectively, to geopotential numbers and normal heights referring to the IHRF. The offset to the IHRF is found to be −44.0 ± 1.9 cm, −59.8 ± 5.1 cm and − 54.1 ± 11.3 cm for the DVR90, FVR09 and GVR16, respectively. This transformation relies on the existing precise local (quasi-)geoid models. This contribution describes the applied procedures in the IHRF densification and discusses the quality assessment of the results.
The Impact of Different Geophysical Corrections on Altimetry-Derived Sea Level Rise Estimates—Wet Troposphere
Authors: Dettmering Denise , Schwatke Christian , Müller Felix L.
Published: July 2024

Satellite radar altimetry has been providing sea surface heights on an almost global scale for the past 30 years. From this data, an average global mean sea level rise of 3-4 mm per year can be estimated. To determine these small changes with high accuracy, precise and stable measurements are required. Long-term data stability is particularly important for sea-level rise applications. This not only relates to the altimeter measurements themselves, but also to any geophysical correction applied to the data. Furthermore, consistency between different missions is essential to ensure a long time series that is useful for climate studies.

This contribution shows how global sea level rise estimates can be affected by geophysical corrections applied to satellite altimetry data and the importance of selecting the right datasets. The focus will be on atmospheric corrections, especially on different wet troposphere path delay corrections derived by models and observations. It will be shown that these corrections can introduce systematic errors in the order of 0.5 mm/year, which is the level of uncertainty currently assumed for the altimetry-derived global mean sea level trend.
Data Sharing Is Caring: Crisis-Induced Realisation of Open Access Policy in a PhD Project on Food Practices
Authors: Ciren Baizhen
Published: July 2024

Cross-cultural and comparative research is becoming increasingly relevant in the field of food studies. However, the COVID-19 pandemic made travel and research visits impossible. The European Union (Berlin Declaration. Berlin declaration on open access to knowledge in the sciences and humanities. Retrieved from https://openaccess.mpg.de/67605/berlin_declaration_engl.pdf, 2003) has long postulated the necessity of research data sharing and preventing data waste. Using the cultural-historical wholeness approach to reflect on the example of the methods employed by a comparative PhD project on kindergarten lunch practices in Norway and China, this chapter shows how the crisis of the impossibility of directly conducting research (due to the outbreak of the pandemic) activated the data-sharing policy. This chapter argues that with careful consideration of epistemological, ethical, and methodological issues, data sharing in qualitative research can be beneficial for researchers, the scholarly community and the public and can help promote a research culture of sustainability in the long run.
Theoretical Framing of a Digital Education Experiment
Authors: Fleer Marilyn , Fragkiadaki Glykeria , Ødegaard Elin Eriksen , Rai Prabhat , Sadownik Alicja
Published: July 2024

An educational experiment as a method was originally theorised as the study of a theoretical problem in practice in a context of a collaboration between researchers and teachers. But when teachers and researchers are not able to be physically together because of government guidelines restricting access, suspending research in schools and centres, or by reducing movement of a population through ‘lock down’, then how can an educational experiment be undertaken? The richness of the concrete research methods that follow are theorised through bringing together a system of concepts that enable a digital educational experiment to proceed under conditions of crisis, contradiction, and drama. Named as a digital educational experiment, the theorised model draws on Vygotsky’s original core conception of development, Hedegaard’s writings on an educational experiment, and the new methods presented in Sect. 2.1. It builds on the concepts of motives and demands in relation to digital environments and interactions, where time, space, and physicality are virtually defined and enabled.
Theorization on the Nexus of Crisis, Resilience, and Digital Agility
Authors: Ødegaard Elin Eriksen , Fleer Marilyn , Fragkiadaki Glykeria , Rai Prabhat , Sadownik Alicja R.
Published: July 2024

This section introduction will study the nexus of crisis, resilience, and digital agility, drawing on the knowledge from the section paper. The concepts of resilience and agility are both social and personal. We lean on Dafermos (Rethinking cultural-historical theory: a dialectical perspective to Vygotsky. Springer, Singapore, 2018), who, with reference to Vygotsky’s research, stated that the underestimation of the problem of personality was one of the basic shortcomings of his own research program. This section increases our theoretical understanding of the ways in which the personal (motivation, traits, e.g. engagement, and capabilities in individuals), institutional, and societal are entwined. We sum up the metaknowledge of the chapters by presenting a model pinpointing Resilient Digital Agility with three crucial actions; recover, respond, reimagine and recraft.
The Individual and Collective Minds Behind the Role of the Educator-Researcher: An Integrated Educational Experiment
Authors: Meng Xianyu
Published: July 2024

An educational experiment was introduced by Hedegaard (Studying children: A cultural-historical approach. Open University Press, New York, 2008a) as a synthesis of pedagogical intervention and research method. The planned intervention is designed collaboratively between teachers and researchers to supports children’s learning and development. But what happens when the researcher also assumes the role of the educator? This chapter presents an example of an educational experiment that was undertaken individually by an educator-researcher. To support the educational experiment, a collective of PhD supervisors and the other intellectual colleagues acted as an expansive community that enabled theoretical discussions and data analysis to be performed at an interpsychological level. It was found that with digital video observation as the main research method, the dialectical relations between the individual and the collective created unique opportunities for the formation of the researcher’s identity, as well as fulfilling the research aim of the educational experiment. Thus a new configuration of the educational experiment is proposed as an enabling research method, where an educator-researcher used digital video observations, and an expansive intellectual community for peer review.
Researcher Inside a Diorama: A Digital Educational Experiment in Everyday Practices
Authors: Parkes Monique
Published: July 2024

Young children develop conceptual understandings in science from early infancy and through involvement in various institutions and activity settings. Daily interactions with peers, families, care givers, early childhood educators and teachers create conditions for young children to enhance their conceptual learning and theoretically model their understandings. However, not enough is understood about how children 5 years and under use theoretical modelling to represent their thinking in science. Recognising this gap necessitates research that applies suitable tools and, a methodology to capture and understand young children’s scientific concept formation and theoretical modelling. This chapter will discuss the use of digital methodologies and multiple strategies initiated during the Covid19 crisis. These include dioramas, drawing, and three-dimensional modelling in an educational experiment to gain deeper insights into the theoretical modelling of young children in early childhood settings involving the scientific concept of light. Importantly, the advantageous use of digital tools will be explained as a method enabling researchers to actively apply other creative tools and to participate in the children’s activity settings towards the acquisition of authentic data for analysis.
Early Childhood Teachers’ Professional Development: The Hybrid Educational Experiment
Authors: Li Liang
Published: July 2024

In recent years, particularly in the ‘new normal’ period, social media has been widely used as a vital part of professional learning and communication. Nevertheless, there is limited research on educational experiment in terms of how social media–based professional development can be promoted to support physical meetings for teacher professional learning. We examine the functions of social media, such as WeChat, in the hybrid educational experiment, using Vygotsky’s ideas of social situation of development and crisis and Edwards’s concept of relational agency. We engage in theoretical discussion through the analysis of illustrative vignettes from the previous study conducted with three kindergarten teachers in different facilities in China. We argue that the hybrid educational experiment through social media (e.g., WeChat) and face-to-face professional development training creates motivating conditions to support teachers’ meaningful professional development and promote professional agency. The hybrid educational experiment also enables researchers to understand the process of teachers’ professional development and traverses the complex, shifting and uncertain areas of pedagogical roles and practices. The study reveals that engaging with social media (e.g., WeChat) provides the research foundations to capture teachers’ professional agency in a new way and process teachers’ sustainable professional development in play-based learning programs.
Dialectical Pathways in Digital Data Analysis
Authors: Fragkiadaki Glykeria , Fleer Marilyn , Ødegaard Elin Eriksen , Rai Prabhat , Sadownik Alicja R.
Published: July 2024

In recent times of crisis, contradictions, and drama researchers stood in front of a labyrinth of multiple methodological choices and imponderable research paths and directions. In many cases, this new reality created the opportunity for the researchers to think in novel and innovative ways by involving in a critical, dialectical, and open-ended “dialogue” with their data and the analytical processes. Part II brings together four indicative examples of research labyrinths and the new methodological frameworks the researchers invented to step their way out of them. It is argued that dialectics and dialectical thinking opened new spaces for reflection and allowed new dimensions of digital analysis to emerge. Through the Chapters of the Section, it is shown how researchers developed their creative imagination by focusing on new units of analysis and uses of digital means, how they strengthened their methodological agency by inventing new methods, and how they developed their personalities as researchers through new motives and values. This complex and unique in each case process is discussed in this Chapter as a socially and culturally oriented process in motion.
Filetlappentransfer als Alternative zu konventionellen Amputationen der unteren Extremität
Authors: Harnoncourt L. , Gstoettner C. , Pflaum L. , Laengle G. , Aszmann O. C.
Published: July 2024

Hintergrund

Die prothetische Versorgung nach einer Amputation der unteren Extremität geht mit einigen Herausforderungen einher. Skeletale Stumpf-Prothesen-Schnittstellen und selektive Nerventransfers können diese teilweise bewältigen, bringen jedoch auch Einschränkungen, die die Notwendigkeit neuer Ansätze unterstreichen, mit sich. Hier kann das Konzept der sog. Ersatzteilchirurgie mit der Nutzung von Filetlappen eine wichtige Rolle spielen.

Fragestellung

Übersicht über die klassischen prothesenassoziierten Beschwerden, Vor- und Nachteile von Versorgungsstrategien sowie Präsentation alternativer chirurgischer Konzepte.

Material und Methoden

Es erfolgte eine selektive Literaturrecherche unter Berücksichtigung eigener Erfahrungen und Ansichten bezüglich Vor- und Nachteilen der chirurgischen Versorgungsmöglichkeiten. Zusätzlich wird ein klinischer Patientenfall vorgestellt.

Ergebnisse und Schlussfolgerung

Der Transfer der Fußsohle als Filetlappen in die Belastungszone des Amputationsstumpfes geht mit einer Vielzahl von Vorzügen wie Endbelastbarkeit des Stumpfes, Vorbeugen von Nervenschmerzen, erhaltener Sensibilität und Bewahren des Körperbilds einher. Die Technik kann bei Amputationen sowohl proximal wie auch distal des Kniegelenks eingesetzt werden, vorausgesetzt, dass die Fersenregion nicht beeinträchtigt ist. Die Frage, ob Anteile des Knochens in den Transfer einbezogen werden soll, ist bei jedem Patienten individuell zu evaluieren. Dieser Ansatz ermöglicht die Optimierung des Amputationsstumpfes für die nachfolgende prothetische Versorgung der Patienten.
Advancing quality of laser-based metal powder bed fusion-fabricated filigree sub-millimetre structures: a systematic exploration of a novel hybrid post-processing treatment
Authors: Steffanoni Séline , Keller Jonas , Hansal Selma , Hansal Wolfgang , Ferchow Julian , Meboldt Mirko
Published: July 2024

Laser-based metal powder bed fusion (PBF-LB/M) offers great potential for producing complex and filigree sub-millimetre parts with customised shapes, such as patient-specific vascular stents. However, stent fabrication via PBF-LB/M encounters fundamental challenges, including dimensional limitations, poor surface quality, difficult support structure handling and geometrical deviations.

This study addresses these challenges by investigating the potential and limitations of a novel hybrid post-processing approach. This technique uses the combination of electrochemical polishing and chemical etching and is investigated from process and design perspectives, to emphasise the interactions between the two.

With the systematic application of hybrid post-processing, the strut thickness and the surface roughness were substantially reduced. Moreover, it enabled the successful removal of part-internal support structures. Furthermore, angle and orientation-dependent geometrical deviations could be compensated, highlighting the potential of achieving homogenous strut thicknesses within parts containing variable overhang angles.

This study demonstrates that the usage of hybrid (electro)chemical post-processing methods with specifically tailored process parameters is a promising approach for overcoming the design- and process-related challenges in PBF-LB/M manufactured sub-millimetre parts.
BV estimates on the transport density with Dirichlet region on the boundary
Authors: Dweik Samer
Published: July 2024

In this paper, we prove BV regularity on the transport density in the mass transport problem to the boundary in two dimensions under certain conditions on the domain, the boundary cost and the mass distribution. Moreover, we show by a counter-example that the smoothness of the mass distribution, the boundary and the boundary cost does not imply that the transport density is $$W^{1,p}$$

W

1
,
p

, for some $$p>1$$

p
>
1

.