bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Compensation for respiratory motion–induced signal loss and phase corruption in free‐breathing self‐navigated cine DENSE using deep learning
Authors: Abdi Mohamad , Bilchick Kenneth C. , Epstein Frederick H.
Published: January 2023

Purpose

To introduce a model that describes the effects of rigid translation due to respiratory motion in displacement encoding with stimulated echoes (DENSE) and to use the model to develop a deep convolutional neural network to aid in first‐order respiratory motion compensation for self‐navigated free‐breathing cine DENSE of the heart.

Methods

The motion model includes conventional position shifts of magnetization and further describes the phase shift of the stimulated echo due to breathing. These image‐domain effects correspond to linear and constant phase errors, respectively, in k‐space. The model was validated using phantom experiments and Bloch‐equation simulations and was used along with the simulation of respiratory motion to generate synthetic images with phase‐shift artifacts to train a U‐Net, DENSE‐RESP‐NET, to perform motion correction. DENSE‐RESP‐NET‐corrected self‐navigated free‐breathing DENSE was evaluated in human subjects through comparisons with signal averaging, uncorrected self‐navigated free‐breathing DENSE, and breath‐hold DENSE.

Results

Phantom experiments and Bloch‐equation simulations showed that breathing‐induced constant phase errors in segmented DENSE leads to signal loss in magnitude images and phase corruption in phase images of the stimulated echo, and that these artifacts can be corrected using the known respiratory motion and the model. For self‐navigated free‐breathing DENSE where the respiratory motion is not known, DENSE‐RESP‐NET corrected the signal loss and phase‐corruption artifacts and provided reliable strain measurements for systolic and diastolic parameters.

Conclusion

DENSE‐RESP‐NET is an effective method to correct for breathing‐associated constant phase errors. DENSE‐RESP‐NET used in concert with self‐navigation methods provides reliable free‐breathing DENSE myocardial strain measurement.
Maternal anemia and the risk of childhood cancer: A population‐based cohort study in Taiwan
Authors: Orimoloye Helen T. , Qureshi Naveen , Lee Pei‐Chen , Wu Chia‐Kai , Saechao Chai , Federman Noah , Li Chung‐Yi , Ritz Beate , Arah Onyebuchi A. , Heck Julia E.
Published: January 2023

Background

Childhood cancer may be related to maternal health in pregnancy. Maternal anemia is a common condition in pregnancy, especially in low‐income countries, but the association between maternal anemia and childhood cancer has not been widely studied.

Objective

To examine the potential relation between maternal anemia during pregnancy and childhood cancers in a population‐based cohort study in Taiwan.

Methods

We examined the relationship between maternal anemia and childhood cancer in Taiwan (N = 2160 cancer cases, 2,076,877 noncases). Cases were taken from the National Cancer Registry, and noncases were selected from birth records. Using national health registries, we obtained maternal anemia diagnoses. We estimated the risks for childhood cancers using Cox proportional hazard analysis.

Results

There was an increased risk of cancers in children born to mothers with nutritional anemia (hazard ratio (HR): 1.32, 95% CI 0.99, 1.76). Iron deficiency anemia (HR: 1.30, 95% CI 0.97–1.75) carried an increased risk, while non‐nutritional anemias were not associated with childhood cancer risk.

Conclusion

Our results provide additional support for screening for anemia during pregnancy. Adequate nutrition and vitamin supplementation may help to prevent some childhood cancer.
“There's no playbook for when your kid has cancer”: Desired elements of an electronic resource to support pediatric cancer communication
Authors: Greenzang Katie A. , Scavotto Madison L. , Revette Anna C. , Schlegel Sarah F. , Silverman Lewis B. , Mack Jennifer W.
Published: January 2023

Introduction

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), the most common childhood malignancy, has a relatively favorable long‐term prognosis. Yet the complexity of treatment and the emotionality of the diagnosis leave families feeling unprepared for many aspects of therapy. This qualitative study aimed to identify desired elements and format of a communication resource to support patients and families facing a diagnosis of ALL.

Methods

Semi‐structured interviews of 12 parents of children receiving ALL treatment, 10 parents of survivors of ALL, and eight adolescent and young adult (AYA) survivors of ALL were conducted between February and June 2021. The interviews focused on communication experiences throughout treatment and identified domains to be addressed in a resource in development.

Results

All participants supported the development of an interactive, electronic health (eHealth) resource to help navigate ALL treatment. They felt a website would be helpful in addressing information gaps and mitigating pervasive feelings of overwhelm. Participants specifically sought: (a) information resources to address feelings of cognitive overload; (b) practical tips to help navigate logistical challenges; (c) clear depictions of treatment choices and trajectories to facilitate decision‐making; and (d) additional psychosocial resources and support. Two overarching themes that families felt should be interwoven throughout the eHealth resource were connections with other patients/families and extra support at transitions between phases of treatment.

Conclusions

A new diagnosis of ALL and its treatment are extremely overwhelming. Patients and families unanimously supported an eHealth resource to provide additional information and connect them with emotional support, starting at diagnosis and extending throughout treatment.
Shear amplification of orientation in Nylon 11/clay nanocomposites during melt casting and resulting electrical properties
Authors: Jain Mayank , Mutlu Zeynep , Mao Jiahao , Zhou Jierui , Zhou Peinan , Wu Chao , Isik Tugba , Cao Yang , Ortalan Volkan , Cakmak Mukerrem
Published: January 2023

In this study, the effect of organically modified clay on the orientation enhancement in Nylon 11 in melt casting was investigated. Nylon 11 was mixed with 1 and 3 wt% Cloisite 20A using twin screw extrusion and they were cast into films with varying take‐up speeds. The addition of clay in Nylon 11 helped increase orientation levels substantially in melt cast films, both as a function of clay concentration as well as take‐up speeds. This was primarily due to shear amplification effect caused by the movement of adjacent clay nanoparticles due to the shear flow gradient within the die. At low clay concentrations, the sub‐Tm stretchability, and electrical breakdown strength improve as the presence of clay reduces inter/intrachain hydrogen bonding. At higher clay concentrations, both orientation and electrical breakdown levels decrease. The latter is primarily caused by increased percolation path of charge carriers. Nevertheless, clay nanoplatelets were very effective in their role as melt processing aids, as they enhance orientation levels of Nylon 11 thin films by shear amplification effect where they increase local chain orientation of chains trapped between clay platelets while their orientation relaxation is suppressed.
The prevalence of pulmonary hypertension after successful tuberculosis treatment in a community sample of adult patients
Authors: Louw Elizabeth , Baines Nicola , Maarman Gerald , Osman Muhammad , Sigwadhi Lovemore , Irusen Elvis , Koegelenberg Coenraad , Doubell Anton , Nathan Steven , Channick Richard , Allwood Brian
Published: January 2023

There are an estimated 155 million survivors of tuberculosis (TB). Clinical experience suggests that post tuberculosis lung disease (PTLD) is an important cause of Group 3 pulmonary hypertension (PH). However, TB is not listed as a cause of PH in most guidelines. A cross‐sectional, community‐based study was conducted in nonhealthcare seeking adults who had successfully completed TB treatment. Subjects underwent questionnaires, spirometry, a 6‐min walk distance test (6MWD) and transthoracic echocardiography (TTE). Screen probable PH was defined on TTE as an estimated pulmonary artery peak systolic pressure (PASP) of ≥40 mmHg. One hundred adults (71 males) were enrolled, with a mean age of 42 years (SD 13.8 years) and a median of one TB episode (interquartile range: 1–2). Co‐morbidities included hypertension (21%), diabetes (16%), human immunodeficiency virus (10%) and asthma/COPD (5%). Only 25% had no residual symptoms after TB. Probable PH was found in 9%, while 7% had borderline raised PASP values (PASP 35–40 mmHg). An association was found between PH and the number of previous TB episodes, with each additional episode of TB increasing the odds of PH‐postTB 2.13‐fold (confidence interval [CI]: 1.17–3.88; p = 0.013). All of those found to have PH were smokers or ex‐smokers yielding an unadjusted odds ratio for PH‐postTB of 3.67 (95% CI: 0.77–17.46). There was no statistical difference in spirometry or 6MWD, between those with and without PH. Neither symptoms nor co‐morbidities demonstrated significant association with PH. PH after TB was a common finding in this community‐based population. Further research is needed to confirm and determine the significance of these findings.
Variable importance evaluation with personalized odds ratio for machine learning model interpretability with applications to electronic health records‐based mortality prediction
Authors: Yu Duo , Wu Hulin
Published: January 2023

The interpretability of machine learning models, even though with an excellent prediction performance, remains a challenge in practical applications. The model interpretability and variable importance for well‐performed supervised machine learning models are investigated in this study. With the commonly accepted concept of odds ratio (OR), we propose a novel and computationally efficient Variable Importance evaluation framework based on the Personalized Odds Ratio (VIPOR). It is a model‐agnostic interpretation method that can be used to evaluate variable importance both locally and globally. Locally, the variable importance is quantified by the personalized odds ratio (POR), which can account for subject heterogeneity in machine learning. Globally, we utilize a hierarchical tree to group the predictors into five groups: completely positive, completely negative, positive dominated, negative dominated, and neutral groups. The relative importance of predictors within each group is ranked based on different statistics of PORs across subjects for different application purposes. For illustration, we apply the proposed VIPOR method to interpreting a multilayer perceptron (MLP) model, which aims to predict the mortality of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) patients using real‐world electronic health records (EHR) data. We compare the important variables derived from MLP with other machine learning models, including tree‐based models and the L1‐regularized logistic regression model. The top importance variables are consistently identified by VIPOR across different prediction models. Comparisons with existing interpretation methods are also conducted and discussed based on publicly available data sets.
Coupling Engineering of NH4+ Pre‐Intercalation and Rich Oxygen Vacancies in Tunnel WO3 Toward Fast and Stable Rocking Chair Zinc‐Ion Battery
Authors: Tian Guofu , Wang Qi , Qu Zaiting , Yu Hao , Zhang Daohong , Wang Qiufan
Published: January 2023

Herein, for the first time, a pre‐intercalated non‐metal ion (NH4+) with rich oxygen vacancies stabilized tunnel WO3 is proposed as a new intercalation anode to construct Zn‐metal‐free rocking‐chair ZIBs. With the ethylene glycol additive in the aqueous electrolyte, the Zn2+ solvation structure can be regulated and the side reaction of hydrogen evolution can also be suppressed. Owing to the integrated synergetic modification, a high‐rate and ultra‐stable aqueous Zn‐(NH4)xWO3 battery can be constructed, which exhibits an improved specific capacity (153 mAh g−1 at 0.1 A g−1), excellent rate performance (when the current density increases to 3 A g−1, the specific capacitance is still 86 mAh g−1), and a high cycle stability with 100% capacity retention after 2,200 cycles under 5 A g−1. Ex situ X‐ray diffraction and XPS reveal the reversible insertion/extraction of Zn2+ in (NH4)xWO3. The assembled (NH4)xWO3//MnO2 rocking‐chair ZIBs delivers excellent capacity of 82 mAh g−1 at 0.1 A g−1, impressive cyclic stability. Additionally, the flexible (NH4)xWO3//MnO2 ZIBs can power the electrochromic device‐based PANI/WO3 with high color contrast and fast response time. This study provides new insight for developing high‐performance rechargeable aqueous ZIBs.
Electronic Structure‐Dependent Water‐Dissociation Pathways of Ruthenium‐Based Catalysts in Alkaline H2‐Evolution
Authors: Yang Chengdong , Wu Zihe , Zhao Zhenyang , Gao Yun , Ma Tian , He Chao , Wu Changzhu , Liu Xikui , Luo Xianglin , Li Shuang , Cheng Chong , Zhao Changsheng
Published: January 2023

Ruthenium (Ru)‐based catalysts have displayed compelling hydrogen evolution activities, which hold the promising potential to substitute platinum in alkaline H2‐evolution. In the challenging alkaline electrolytes, the water‐dissociation process involves multistep reactions, while the profound origin and intrinsic factors of diverse Ru species on water‐dissociation pathways and reaction principles remain ambiguous. Here the fundamental origin of water‐dissociation pathways of Ru‐based catalysts in alkaline media to be from their unique electronic structures in complex coordination environments are disclosed. These theoretical results validate that the modulated electronic structures with delocalization‐localization coexistence at their boundaries between the Ru nanocluster and single‐atom site have a profound influence on water‐dissociation pathways, which push H2O* migration and binding orientation during the splitting process, thus enhancing the dissociation kinetics. By creating Ru catalysts with well‐defined nanocluster, single‐atom site, and also complex site, the electrocatalytic data shows that both the nanocluster and single‐atom play essential roles in water‐dissociation, while the complex site possesses synergistically enhanced roles in alkaline electrolytes. This study discloses a new electronic structure‐dependent water‐dissociation pathway and reaction principle in Ru‐based catalysts, thus offering new inspiration to design efficient and durable catalysts for the practical production of H2in alkaline electrolytes.
Peroxidase‐Like FeCoZn Triple‐Atom Catalyst‐Based Electronic Tongue for Colorimetric Discrimination of Food Preservatives
Authors: Li Heng , Sun Mengru , Gu Hongfei , Huang Juan , Wang Guo , Tan Renjian , Wu Rufen , Zhang Xinyu , Liu Shuhu , Zheng Lirong , Chen Wenxing , Chen Zhengbo
Published: January 2023

Recently, single‐atom catalysts are attracting much attention in sensor field due to their remarkable peroxidase‐ or oxidase‐like activities. Herein, peroxidase‐like FeCoZn triple‐atom catalyst supported on S‐ and N‐doped carbon derived from ZIF‐8 (FeCoZn‐TAC/SNC) serves as a proof‐of‐concept nanozyme. In this paper, a dual‐channel nanozyme‐based colorimetric sensor array is presented for identifying seven preservatives in food. Further experiments reveal that the peroxidase‐like activity of the FeCoZn TAzyme enables it to catalyze the oxidation of 3,3′,5,5′‐tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) and o‐phenylenediamine (OPD) in the presence of H2O2, yielding the blue oxTMB and yellow oxOPD, respectively. However, food preservatives are adsorbed on the nanozyme surface through π–π stacking interaction and hydrogen bond, and the reduction in catalytic activity of FeCoZn TAzyme causes differential colorimetric signal variations, which provide unique “fingerprints” for each food preservative.
Anchoring and Catalytic Effects of rGO Supported VS2 Nanosheets Enable High‐Performance Li–Organosulfur Battery
Authors: Zhang Ping , Fu Yongzhu , Guo Wei
Published: January 2023

As a high‐energy‐density cathode material, organosulfur has great potential for lithium batteries. However, their practical application is plagued by electronic/ionic insulation and sluggish redox kinetics. Hence, our strategy is to design a self‐weaving, freestanding host material by introducing reduced graphene oxide–supported VS2 nanosheets (VS2‐rGO) and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) for lithium–phenyl tetrasulfide (Li–PTS) batteries. Unique host materials not only provide physicochemical confinement of active materials to boost the utilization but also catalyze the conversion of active materials to accelerate redox kinetics. Therefore, Li–PTS cell based on the 3D VS2‐rGO‐CNTs (VSGC) host material shows excellent cyclability, with a slow capacity decay rate of 0.08% per cycle over 500 cycles at 0.5 C, and a high areal capacity of 3.1 mAh cm−2 with the PTS loading of 7.2 mg cm−2. More importantly, the potential for practical applications is highlighted by the flexible pouch cell with a high areal capacity (4.1 mAh cm−2) and a low electrolyte/PTS ratio (3.5 µL mg−1). This work sheds light on elevating the electrochemical performance of Li–organosulfur batteries through the effective catalytic and adsorbed host material.
Bacillus altitudinis‐Stabilized Multifarious Copper Nanoparticles Prevent Bacterial Fruit Blotch in Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus L.): Direct Pathogen Inhibition, In Planta Particles Accumulation, and Host Stomatal Immunity Modulation
Authors: Noman Muhammad , Ahmed Temoor , White Jason C. , Nazir Muhammad Mudassir , Azizullah  , Li Dayong , Song Fengming
Published: January 2023

The nano‐enabled crop protecting agents have been emerging as a cost‐effective, eco‐friendly, and sustainable alternative to conventional chemical pesticides. Here, the antibacterial activity and disease‐suppressive potential of biogenic copper nanoparticles (bio‐CuNPs) against bacterial fruit blotch (BFB), caused by Acidovorax citrulli (Ac), in watermelon (Citrullus lanatus L.) is discussed. CuNPs are extracellularly biosynthesized using a locally isolated bacterial strain Bacillus altitudinis WM‐2/2, and have spherical shapes of 29.11–78.56 nm. Various metabolites, such as alcoholic compounds, carboxylic acids, alkenes, aromatic amines, and halo compounds, stabilize bio‐CuNPs. Foliar application of bio‐CuNPs increases the Cu accumulation in shoots/roots (66%/27%), and promotes the growth performance of watermelon plants by improving fresh/dry weight (36%/39%), through triggering various imperative physiological and biochemical processes. Importantly, bio‐CuNPs at 100 µg mL−1 significantly suppress watermelon BFB through balancing reactive oxygen species system, improving photosynthesis capacity, and modulating stomatal immunity. Bio‐CuNPs show obvious antibacterial activity against Ac by inducing oxidative stress, biofilm inhibition, and cellular integrity disruption. These findings demonstrate that bio‐CuNPs can suppress watermelon BFB through direct antibacterial activity and induction of active immune response in watermelon plants, and highlight the value of this approach as a powerful tool to increase agricultural production and alleviate food insecurity.
Microstructures and Mechanical Properties of Alumina and/or Yttrium Oxides Strengthened 9Cr Steel Fabricated by Vacuum Casting
Authors: Xiao Zhixia , Xu Rui , Yang Honglve , Ji Fa , Zhao Lin , Feng Jianhang , Yin Fuxing
Published: January 2023

The oxides with Al2O3‐containing and/or Y‐containing are introduced into 9Cr ferritic/martensitic steel fabricated by vacuum casting to modify its microstructures and improve its mechanical properties. The results show that the micron nonmetallic particles are refined, and the number of submicron particles is increased after the introduction of Al2O3‐containing oxides, while the number of submicron particles is decreased when both Al2O3‐and Y‐containing oxides are introduced. The average grain size, the width of martensite, and the M23C6 phases in the tempered steel are optimized when the Al2O3‐containing oxides are introduced. However, with the further introduction of Y‐containing oxides, these tempered microstructures do not change much, except for the precipitation of the δ‐Fe phase. Due to the grain refinement and second‐phase particle strengthening after the introduction of Al2O3‐containing particles, the tensile strength is improved not only at room temperature but also at 550 °C, but the impact energy drops significantly, which is caused by a large number of TiN particles promoted by Al2O3 particles through heterogeneous nucleation. At the same time, the further introduction of Y‐containing oxides reduces the tensile strength and increases the elongation at room temperature, which is attributed to the precipitation of soft δ‐Fe promoted by the addition of Y.
Reinforced concrete beam‐columns anchored with headed bars subjected to reversed cyclic loading: Experimental and numerical investigation
Authors: Chourasia Ajay , Singhal Shubham , Parashar Jalaj , Chourasia Akshat
Published: January 2023

Past seismic events have shown poor performance of reinforced concrete (RC) moment resisting frames, due to failure of beam‐column joints, attributed to insufficient anchorage and poor workmanship. Inadequate development length in beam‐column joints may lead to joint strength deterioration due to detailing constraints and site errors. Alternatively, headed bars have potential to replace conventional anchorage system of development length in beam‐column joint. The paper deals with extensive experimental and numerical program conducted on RC beam‐column joints with plain and deformed (grooved and ribbed) headed bars and compared with the specimens with conventional development length. Effect of steel fibers on strength of RC beam‐column joints is also investigated. The test specimens of beam‐column joints were subjected to displacement‐controlled reversed cyclic loading and structural behavior was assessed in terms of failure mode, load carrying capacity, stiffness, drift, ductility, and energy dissipation. The strength parameters of headed bar specimens were well comparable to that of conventional specimens. Grooved‐headed and ribbed‐headed bar specimens exhibited superior load resistance as compared with plain‐headed bar specimens. Numerical analysis was carried out, whose results were in agreement with the experimental results, thus demonstrating the efficacy of headed bars as mechanical anchorage system for RC beam‐column joints.
Design and assessment of concrete structures with strut‐and‐tie models and stress fields: From simple calculations to detailed numerical analysis
Authors: Lourenço Miguel Sério , Fernández Ruiz Miguel , Blaauwendraad Johan , Bousias Stathis , Hoang Linh Cao , Mata‐Falcón Jaime , Meléndez Carlos , Mihaylov Boyan I. , Ferreira Miguel Pedrosa , Faria Duarte Viúla
Published: January 2023

The introduction of strut‐and‐tie models in fib Model Code 1990 as a design basis for discontinuity regions constituted a significant step toward promoting consistent design methods for reinforced concrete structures. In fib Model Code 2010, the scope was broadened through the stress field method that was introduced as a complementary tool. The present article summarizes subsequent evolutions in both methods, which will be incorporated in the upcoming fib Model Code 2020. Besides emphasizing their suitability for the structural design and assessment, their adaptability to the “Levels‐of‐approximation” approach is also depicted. This article presents the theoretical ground of both methods and looks on their potential for computer‐modeling implementation. With this respect, several strategies are presented by discussing their advantages and optimum field of application.
Visiting the roles of Sr‐ or Ca‐ doping on the oxygen reduction reaction activity and stability of a perovskite cathode for proton conducting solid oxide fuel cells
Authors: Hu Tong , Xu Yangsen , Xu Kang , Zhu Feng , Chen Yu
Published: January 2023

While double perovskites of PrBaCo2O6 (PBC) have been extensively developed as the cathodes for proton‐conducting solid oxide fuel cells (H‐SOFCs), the effects of Sr‐ or Ca‐doping at the A site on the activity and stability of the oxygen reduction reaction are yet to be fully studied. Here, the effect of A‐site doping on the oxygen reduction reaction activity and stability has been studied by evaluating the performance of both symmetrical and single cells. It is shown that Ca‐doped PBC (PrBa0.8Ca0.2Co2O6, PBCC) shows a slightly smaller polarization resistance (0.076 Ω cm2) than that (0.085 Ω cm2) of Sr‐doped PBC (PrBa0.8Sr0.2Co2O6, PBSC) at 700°C in wet air. Moreover, the degradation rate of PBCC is 0.0003 Ω cm2 h−1 (0.3% h−1) in 100 h, about 1/10 of that of PBSC at 700°C in wet air. In addition, it is also confirmed that single cells with PBCC cathode show higher peak power density (1.22 W cm−2 vs. 1.08 W cm−2 at 650°C) and better durability (degradation rate of 0.1% h−1 vs. 0.13% h−1) than those with PBSC cathode. The distribution of relaxation time analyses suggests that the better stability of the PBCC electrode may come from the fast and stable surface oxygen exchange process in the medium frequency range of the electrochemical impedance spectrum.
Recent applications of Kampo treatment for neurological diseases
Authors: Muramatsu Shin‐ichi , Tamada Mayumi , Harada Yoshinao , Raimura Masaki , Kwon Seungwon
Published: January 2023

Background

Although various new drugs have been developed for neurological diseases, many diseases have no effective treatment or only inadequate efficacy. Here we introduce some examples of effective Kampo treatment.

Key Findings

(1) Parasomnia in the elderly is preceded by the onset of diffuse Lewy body disease, with symptoms such as nightmares and loud screaming in the middle of the night. Keishikaryukotsuboreito (KSTRB), indicated in the classics for treating parasomnia, was effective in alleviating the symptoms. KSTRB is also used for enuresis that persists into adulthood. (2) Chronic subdural hematomas (CSDHs), treated by hematoma removal with burr‐hole surgery, recur at a rate of up to 20%. Goreisan (GRS) reduces hematoma volume and prevents postoperative CSDH recurrence. Homogeneous CSDH was most responsive to GRS in preventing recurrence. (3) Migraine frequently interferes with daily life. Keishibukuryogan (KBG), which alleviates blood stasis, was effective for patients with both menstruation‐associated migraine and scintillating scotomas. (4) Many traditional herbal medicines are listed in the Korean Medicine Clinical Practice Guideline for Stroke in Korea. Chunghyuldan, a related formula of Orengedokuto (OGT), is mainly used to prevent stroke.

Conclusion

Kampo medicine is being applied in new and effective ways to treat various neurological diseases. Hopefully, more clinicians will recognize the usefulness of such Kampo medicines and utilize them in their daily practice.
Glyphosate metabolism in Tetrahymena thermophila: A shotgun proteomic analysis approach
Authors: Manan Abdul , Roytrakul Sittiruk , Charoenlappanit Sawanya , Poolpak Toemthip , Ounjai Puey , Kruatrachue Maleeya , Yang Kwang Mo , Pokethitiyook Prayad
Published: January 2023

Glyphosate is one of the most widely used herbicides in the world. However, because of its overuse and resistance to degradation, high levels of glyphosate residues in the environment are reported. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effects of glyphosate on proteomic aspects of Tetrahymena thermophila and their uses as bioindicators of freshwater ecosystem. First, an acute toxicity test was performed to determine the median inhibition concentration (IC50). The toxicity test results showed that glyphosate inhibited the growth (proliferation) of T. thermophila. The 96 h‐IC50 value of glyphosate was 171 mg L−1. No visible changes in aggregation behavior and cell morphology were observed under glyphosate exposure. In addition, the effects of low and high dose glyphosate concentrations (77.5 mg L−1, 171 mg L−1) on the proteomic changes of T. thermophila was investigated using a label‐free shotgun proteomic approach. A total of 3191 proteins were identified, 2791 proteins were expressed in the control, 2651 proteins were expressed in 77.5 mg L−1 glyphosates, and 3012 proteins were expressed in 171 mg L−1 glyphosates. Under glyphosate exposure at both low and high dose glyphosate, 400 unique proteins were upregulated. The majority of these proteins was classified as proteins associated with oxidative stress response and intracellular transport indicating the shifts in the internal metabolism. Proteomics revealed that the glyphosate metabolism by T. thermophila is a multi‐step process involving several enzymes, which can be divided into four phases, including modification (phase I), conjugation (phase II), transport (phase III), and degradation (phase IV). The accumulation of various biochemical reactions contributes to overall glyphosate resistance. With the proteomics approach, we have found that T. thermophila was equipped with glyphosate detoxification and degradation mechanisms.
Innovative nanotheranostics: Smart nanoparticles based approach to overcome breast cancer stem cells mediated chemo‐ and radioresistances
Authors: Kola Prithwish , Nagesh Prasanth Kumar Bhusetty , Roy Pritam Kumar , Deepak K. , Reis Rui Luis , Kundu Subhas C. , Mandal Mahitosh
Published: January 2023

The alarming increase in the number of breast cancer patients worldwide and the increasing death rate indicate that the traditional and current medicines are insufficient to fight against it. The onset of chemo‐ and radioresistances and cancer stem cell‐based recurrence make this problem harder, and this hour needs a novel treatment approach. Competent nanoparticle‐based accurate drug delivery and cancer nanotheranostics like photothermal therapy, photodynamic therapy, chemodynamic therapy, and sonodynamic therapy can be the key to solving this problem due to their unique characteristics. These innovative formulations can be a better cargo with fewer side effects than the standard chemotherapy and can eliminate the stability problems associated with cancer immunotherapy. The nanotheranostic systems can kill the tumor cells and the resistant breast cancer stem cells by novel mechanisms like local hyperthermia and reactive oxygen species and prevent tumor recurrence. These theranostic systems can also combine with chemotherapy or immunotherapy approaches. These combining approaches can be the future of anticancer therapy, especially to overcome the breast cancer stem cells mediated chemo‐ and radioresistances. This review paper discusses several novel theranostic systems and smart nanoparticles, their mechanism of action, and their modifications with time. It explains their relevance and market scope in the current era.

This article is categorized under:

Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Nanomedicine for Oncologic Disease
Correction to: General Process Simulations
Authors: Nordin Axel , Kristav Per , Alcázar Julia Ureña , Blasco José Ramón , Ferrando Olga Jordá , Martínez Mario , Portolés Luis , Vicente Morell Bernardo
Published: January 2023

In the original version of the book, the co-author name “Bernardo Vicente Morell” was mistakenly omitted and has now been inserted in the Chapter “General Process Simulations”. The chapter and book have been updated with the changes.
A Sea, a Canal, a Disaster: The Suez Canal and the Transformation of the Mediterranean Biota
Authors: Galil Bella S.
Published: January 2023

The introduction of non-native species is among the main direct drivers of biodiversity change. Off the Israeli coast 445 non-native species were recorded thus far, more than anywhere in the Mediterranean Sea. The number of recorded introductions has been rising inexorably, tripling since the 1970s. Nearly all have been introduced through the ever-enlarged Suez Canal. Worldwide there is no other vector of marine bioinvasions that delivers as high a propagule supply for so long to a certain locale. Once established, the non-native species are unlikely to be contained or controlled and their impacts are irreversible. The Canal-introduced species form prominent micro-communities and biological facies in most littoral habitats, some have been documented to displace or reduce populations of native species, alter community structure and food webs, change ecosystem functioning and the consequent provision of goods and services—profound ecological impacts that undermine the goals of sustainable blue economy in the Mediterranean Sea.

These species have been spreading throughout the Mediterranean Sea while the Israeli shelf serves as a hotspot, beachhead, and dispersal hub. Their spatial and temporal spread has advanced concurrently with successive enlargements of the Suez Canal, rise in mean seawater temperature, and prevalence, duration, and severity of marine heat waves increase. The invasion poses a challenge to the environmental ethics and policies of the Mediterranean countries. As signatories to the Convention on Biological Diversity these countries are required to prevent the introduction of, control or eradicate alien species which threaten ecosystems, habitats or species (Article 8(h)), and ensure that the environmental consequences of their policies that are likely to have significant adverse effects on biological diversity are taken into account (Article 14.1). The present Egyptian government is in a position to reduce future introductions. Egypt announced the development of 35 desalination plants, of which the first 17 plants will add 2.8 million m3 daily capacity. It is suggested that an environmental impact assessment evaluates the environmental and economic consequences of utilizing the brine effluents from the large-scale desalination plants constructed in the vicinity of the Suez Canal to restore the salinity barrier once posed by the Bitter Lakes.
The Butterfly Effect: The Influence of the Nixon Administration’s Preoccupation with Vietnam on Sadat’s February 1971 Proposal to Reopen the Suez Canal
Authors: Blanga Yehuda
Published: January 2023

The purpose of the present chapter is to investigate Sadat's February 1971 political initiative and the United States' and Israel's response to it. Its main objective is to examine how processes within the inner American arena have influenced the formation of the Israeli policy toward Sadat's diplomatic initiative. In other words, how the two-headed nature of the American foreign policy—the State Department versus the White House—regarding the Middle East and the Vietnam War influenced the decision-making process in Israel.
Israel’s Freedom of Passage in the Suez Canal, 1957–1967
Authors: Barak Eitan
Published: January 2023

Following the Suez War, Israel demanded freedom of passage through the Suez Canal. By July 1957, a tacit understanding was reached in which Egypt acquiesced to passage of Israeli goods on foreign ships. Nevertheless, in March 1959, the Egyptians suddenly breached the agreement. The UNSG subsequently formulated a new tacit arrangement: the “effective stand.” Egypt refused to “play the game” while Israel refrained from military response, recognizing that such a response could endanger the two countries’ only shared interest: an aversion to war.
The Impact of the Suez Canal on Egypt’s Geography and Economy, 1867–2019 (150 Years Since Its Opening)
Authors: Soffer Arnon
Published: January 2023

We assume in this article that the geographical location and special international role of the Suez Canal had and still has great potential for strengthening the Egyptian economy in general and for the development of the Canal area in particular. On the 150th anniversary of the inauguration of the Suez Canal, the article attempts to see if the potential has materialized, at least in part. We find that, despite the very large gap discovered between expectations and reality, there are achievements to point to: The Canal is an unusually important source of income for Egypt, the construction of the Canal led to the establishment of three major cities, in the three Canal cities, new industrial areas have been established, accompanied by modern infrastructure, along the cities, modern bridges and tunnels have been built that effectively connect the West and East banks of the Canal, and Egypt has invested tremendous efforts in agricultural development of all periphery areas. The Canal area has received special treatment. There is a new five-year plan for the development of the area, a plan in which large investments are made in the area with high expectations.
Introduction
Authors: Čtvrtník Mikuláš
Published: January 2023

The mission of archives and records management is not just to collect and store materials and information. Their purpose is also to make them accessible. Archives are one of the most important places where the right of a free society to access to information, the right to know and, with it, the freedom of expression are exercised. However, both the collection and preservation of information, including archiving, and the opening of access to it, enter the area of the protection of personality rights, privacy, and personal data, that is, one of the most complex areas of archiving and records management, in a significant way. This is also due to the fact that at the very heart of the issue is the fundamental tension: On the one hand, the collected and preserved public records and archives, including a wide range of personal and sensitive data, serve a plethora of public interests and the exercise of citizens’ rights; on the other hand, they carry an ever-present latent risk of potential misuse, including very serious forms with serious implications for people’s lives and rights. This can be generally expressed in the form of a paradox: By sharing data about themselves, whether to the state, its authorities, private entities, and other people, individuals exercise and protect their rights, including the protection of their personality rights and privacy. The same act, however, puts them at risk of misuse. Yet, if an individual did not share their data, they would not be able to exercise their rights at all.
Personality Rights, Privacy, and Post-mortem Privacy Protection in Archives: France and United Kingdom
Authors: Čtvrtník Mikuláš
Published: January 2023

The chapter concentrates on personality rights, privacy, and post-mortem privacy protection in France and the United Kingdom. The French archival system applies several tools to protect the personality and privacy of the actors of archival materials. One of the tools at the basic level is the system of closure periods. On the one hand, France liberalised access to records, in a ground-breaking move in 2008, when it removed general closure periods which prevented access to the archives for 30 years after the record was created. However, France has maintained several closure periods for certain selected groups of archives. The second level of protection is represented by the French specific system of access to public archives under the “accès par dérogation”, which will be, among other things, examined in this chapter. Alongside France, the chapter will analyse the situation in the United Kingdom characterised by a highly decentralised system of access to public records, archives, and information in general. The specificity of the British model of access to archives and data protection lies in the establishment of multiple, multi-layered, and multi-faceted testing and examining public interest in the area of access to public records and archives. This is done in several phases; the first phase is carried out by the record and information creator, and the second phase then in the case of historical records (i.e., in the British legal system, records created more than 20 years ago) by the archives and at certain points at the national level by a specialised independent body: the Advisory Council on National Records and Archives. The chapter will demonstrate in detail the specificity of the British approach characterised by multi-faceted control and the existence of a range of mechanisms that guarantee the application of multiple public interests entering the field of access to records and information from different sides and perspectives.
Archival Inflation and Reduction of Records, Data, and Archives
Authors: Čtvrtník Mikuláš
Published: January 2023

Archiving in the public interest oscillates between the proverbial millstones of two in many respects opposing public interests and the usually constitutionally guaranteed rights it is supposed to defend and fulfil: On the one hand, archives are supposed to be a tool for preserving and opening access to information; on the other hand, archives are one of the major actors in the field of reducing the enormous and permanently unpreservable amount of data and records created especially after 1945. Within the specific process of the archival appraisal of records, the most massive reduction of public records and data created mainly by public bodies takes place. At the same time, archiving belongs among the significant fields, where the processing and protection of personal data happens. The chapter focuses on the manners of protecting personal data, personality rights, and privacy in the archives that involve minimising the data maintained, particularly by means of data reduction and destruction before transferring them from their creators to the archives for permanent preservation. In doing so, the book places the topic in the context of the current situation of a massive increase in the volume of permanently archived records. In its second part, the chapter presents international comparative statistics quantifying the increase in the volume of archives in recent decades.
Archiving as Security Risk to Protection of Persons and Their Personality Rights
Authors: Čtvrtník Mikuláš
Published: January 2023

The preservation of any data, including their subsequent permanent archiving, always carries the risk that this data may be subject to unauthorised access, may be extracted and misused. This potential misuse takes on various forms and has different consequences. In this chapter the author takes a closer look at some specific record categories which also become, either fully or partly, archival records in the final phase of their life cycle, usually stored in public archives. The chapter analyses in detail some strikingly specific examples of the misuse of personal data from records that took place in the twentieth century. The material will comprise in particular census records, medical records, Jewish files from the period of the Nazi dictatorship, East German State Security Service materials, and some other groups of records. The chapter pays particular attention to the significantly increased risk of misuse in the case of digital data and digital records and archives.

In this respect, the chapter will open a new perspective for archiving in the public interest, which can be briefly characterised as follows: While traditional archiving still motivates the need to reduce records before accepting a very small percentage of them for permanent archiving mainly by the sole need to reduce the volume of archivable material, the process of archival appraisal for records reduction should pay equal attention to the protection of (not only) personality rights and privacy of individuals.
Data Minimisation—Storage Limitation—Archiving
Authors: Čtvrtník Mikuláš
Published: January 2023

The chapter summarises the conclusions drawn for the area of data reduction and minimisation in records management and archiving. A major focus is placed, among other things, on the process of archival appraisal, within which the most significant data and record reduction in records management and archiving is carried out. Archival science, methodology, and practice, however, have so far neglected the potential risks of the misuse of sensitive personal data contained in permanently (or long-term) stored records and have focused almost exclusively on the records information content and their future usability by various research projects and private research interests. The sector should aspire to change this in the future and include a more substantial consideration of the protection of (not only) personality rights and privacy in archival appraisal. In this chapter, the author thus analyses some models of records appraisal as they have taken shape in the post-1945 period. In the analysis of the process of the reduction and minimisation of data maintained in archives, the author will also look at the anonymisation and pseudonymisation of data that are either already stored or aspire to be archived in the future. In this context, it will finally also address the current growing risks of deanonymisation and reidentification.
Lepton Flavour Violation tests of Type II Seesaw Leptogenesis
Authors: Barrie N. D. , Petcov S. T.
Published: January 2023

Abstract

Upcoming Lepton Flavour Violation experiments searching for μ → 3e and μ to e conversion in nuclei processes will provide new opportunities to test the fundamental properties of the neutrino sector, and possibly the origin of matter. In recent work, it was shown that the Type II Seesaw mechanism alone can simultaneously explain the neutrino masses, Leptogenesis, and inflation. A key prediction of this model was the possibility of signals being produced in Lepton Flavour Violation decays. Searches at future experiments such as Mu3e and COMET will be integral to determining the properties of the associated triplet Higgs, and will complement other terrestrial experimental searches and cosmological measurements. In this work, we survey the detection prospects for the ingredients of the Type II Seesaw Leptogenesis scenario, and discuss the corresponding dependencies on the neutrino oscillation parameters and $$ \mathcal{CP} $$
CP
phases.
Disintegration of beauty: a precision study
Authors: Lenz Alexander , Piscopo Maria Laura , Rusov Aleksey V.
Published: January 2023

Abstract

We update the Standard Model (SM) predictions for B-meson lifetimes within the heavy quark expansion (HQE). Including for the first time the contribution of the Darwin operator, SU(3)F breaking corrections to the matrix element of dimension-six four-quark operators and the so-called eye-contractions, we obtain for the total widths $$ \Gamma \left({B}^{+}\right)=\left({0.58}_{-0.07}^{+0.11}\right){\textrm{ps}}^{-1},\Gamma \left({B}_d\right)=\left({0.63}_{-0.07}^{+0.11}\right){\textrm{ps}}^{-1},\Gamma \left({B}_s\right)=\left({0.63}_{-0.07}^{+0.11}\right){\textrm{ps}}^{-1} $$
Γ

B
+

=

0.58

−
0.07

+
0.11

ps

−
1

,
Γ

B
d

=

0.63

−
0.07

+
0.11

ps

−
1

,
Γ

B
s

=

0.63

−
0.07

+
0.11

ps

−
1

, and for the lifetime ratios τ(B+)/τ(Bd) = 1.086 ± 0.022, τ(Bs)/τ(Bd) = 1.003 ± 0.006 (1.028 ± 0.011). The two values for the last observable arise from using two different sets of input for the non-perturbative parameters $$ {\mu}_{\pi}^2\left({B}_d\right),{\mu}_G^2\left({B}_d\right) $$

μ
π
2

B
d

,

μ
G
2

B
d

, and $$ {\rho}_D^3\left({B}_d\right) $$

ρ
D
3

B
d

as well as from different estimates of the SU(3)F breaking in these parameters. Our results are overall in very good agreement with the corresponding experimental data, however, there seems to emerge a tension in τ(Bs)/τ(Bd) when considering the second set of input parameters. Specifically, this observable is extremely sensitive to the size of the parameter $$ {\rho}_D^3\left({B}_d\right) $$

ρ
D
3

B
d

and of the SU(3)F breaking effects in $$ {\mu}_{\pi}^2,{\mu}_G^2 $$

μ
π
2

,

μ
G
2

and $$ {\rho}_D^3 $$

ρ
D
3

; hence, it is of utmost importance to be able to better constrain all these parameters. In this respect, an extraction of $$ {\mu}_{\pi}^2\left({B}_s\right),{\mu}_G^2\left({B}_s\right),{\rho}_D^3\left({B}_s\right) $$

μ
π
2

B
s

,

μ
G
2

B
s

,

ρ
D
3

B
s

from future experimental data on inclusive semileptonic Bs-meson decays or from direct non-perturbative calculations, as well as more insights about the value of $$ {\rho}_D^3(B) $$

ρ
D
3

B

extracted from fits to inclusive semileptonic B-decays, would be very helpful in reducing the corresponding theory uncertainties.