bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Food‐related experiences and behavioral responses among people affected by chemosensory dysfunctions following COVID‐19: A scoping review
Authors: Neuman Nicklas , Sandvik Pernilla , Lindholm Ninni Bellini , Bömer‐Schulte Katharina , Lövestam Elin
Published: May 2023

A category of symptoms that became characteristic early in the first wave of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic was chemosensory dysfunctions (alterations of smell and taste). Such symptoms substantially affect food and eating—cornerstones for both nutrition‐related health outcomes and for quality of life. Based on this, this scoping review aimed to map out existing scientific literature on food‐related experiences and related behavioral responses among people affected by chemosensory dysfunctions following COVID‐19. A librarian‐supported search of PsycInfo, PubMed, and Scopus for publications written in English (2020 to April 26, 2022) was conducted. Two authors searched for and screened publications and three others extracted and collated data. These are reported following the Preferred Reporting Items of Systematic reviews and Meta‐Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews. Of 1169 hits, 9 publications were included in the review. The results are thematized as “Psychological and social aspects” and “Nutritional aspects,” each with the subsections “Experiences” and “Behavioral responses.” A great variety of food‐related problems, nutritional and mental health effects, and implications for social life are identified. People affected by chemosensory dysfunctions following COVID‐19 suffer, as evident both in stories from qualitative studies and in measurements of quality of life. The results impact all professions who are and may come to be involved in treating these patients, such as nurses, physicians, dietitians, and psychologists. With more knowledge about the dysfunctions' manifestation, duration, and impact on everyday life, multiprofessional teams need to collaborate in supporting patients medically, psychosocially, and nutritionally.
In situ gels: The next new frontier in ophthalmic drug delivery system
Authors: Sha Gengyu , Liu Jiawei , Jiang Zhengting , Zhu Mengyi , Zhu Yufei , Gu Chen , Qian Yayun , Xi Juqun
Published: May 2023

Recently, the eye drug delivery system has received increasing attention. The in situ ophthalmic gel is a semisolid ophthalmic preparation that can be changed in the eyes immediately after the solution is administered, showing unique advantages as a new drug delivery system. Although there are still some problems to be solved, the in situ ophthalmic gel is a promising drug delivery system to treat ocular diseases, due to its properties in improving the bioavailability, prolonging the retention time of the drug, producing a sustained‐release effect, and possessing little toxicity and irritation. In this review, the characteristics, classification, ocular barrier, and route of administration of in situ ophthalmic gel have been introduced in detail for expanding the horizon of nanoscale technologies in the treatment of ocular diseases in the foreseeable future.
Synthesis, curing, and degradation kinetics of polyurethanes based on poly(ethylene glycol), isosorbide, and pentamethylene diisocyanate
Authors: Araújo Amanda Meneses , Barreto José Vinícius Melo , Nicácio Pedro Henrique Medeiros , de Albuquerque Ananda Karoline Camelo , dos Santos Silva Ingridy Dayane , Ries Andreas , Wellen Renate Maria Ramos
Published: May 2023

Polyurethane (PU) synthesis based on poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) with isosorbide (ISO) and pentamethylene diisocyanate (PDI), named (ISOPUs) was carried out targeting PUs from renewable sources. The cross‐linked ISOPUs were produced and the details of the curing kinetics were determined via Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). DSC scans displayed exotherms between 100 and 200°C, related to cross‐linking. ISO addition accelerated the curing and the maximum curing rate (Cmax), with 91°C and 0.2964 min−1 for the compound with 70% ISO. FTIR spectra confirmed the interaction between OH (ISO/PEG) and NCO (PDI) groups, with total NCO consumption (band at 2267 cm−1). Through the thermogravimetric analyses (TGA), the PU/70% ISO presented weight loss at 146°C due to the degradation of ISO. ISOPUs displayed a decreased activation energy (Ea) during curing over a range of 100 to 42 kJ/mol for 0 < α < 5%, as demonstrated using the Friedman model, and higher thermal stability as evidenced through TG analyses. Curing and degradation kinetics were modeled using Friedman (FR), Kissinger‐Akahira‐Sunose (KAS), and Ozawa‐Flynn‐Wall (OFW). Overall, ISO accelerated the curing rate and increased the degradation Ea, suggesting high thermal stability for PUs with intermediate ISO contents, that is, 30%–50%.
Synthesis of graphene oxide and their incorporation in nanostructured polyethersulfone membranes: Study of antibacterial and dyes adsorption properties
Authors: López Amador A. , Martínez Ávila A. F. , Aranda Barrera Z. P. , González Reyna M. A. , Castellanos Espinoza R. , España Sánchez B. L.
Published: May 2023

This work explored the combined antibacterial and selective dye adsorption properties of graphene oxide (GO) incorporated into nanostructured polyethersulfone (PES) membranes. For this purpose, GO synthesis was performed by the Hummers method and characterized by Fourier transform infrared, X‐ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) micrographs, using a graphite source as a reference. The dye adsorption capacity of GO was evaluated, obtaining a retention of ca. 66% with methylene blue (MB) and ca. 72% with methyl orange, higher than activated charcoal. In addition, the antibacterial properties of GO were evaluated against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, with complete bacterial inhibition after 2 h of contact. GO was successfully incorporated into electrospun PES fibers to fabricate hybrid PES membranes, with a PES film (phase inversion) as substrate and an electrospun surface coating with PES/GO (at 1 wt%) fibers, corroborated by SEM micrographs. As a result, the hybrid PES membrane demonstrates an AA ca. 85% after 2 h of contact with both microorganisms and an improvement in colorant retention after two and four cycles of filtration, respectively. In addition, the adsorption isotherm and kinetics demonstrate the enhancement of the PES/GO membrane's performance in contact with MB solutions. Our results suggest that the GO incorporation into nanostructured hybrid membranes improves the fabrication of multifunctional NF membranes, with a potential application in wastewater treatment.

Highlights

Combined antibacterial/dye adsorption capacity of PES/GO membranes was found.

Nanostructured membrane by PES and PES/GO fibers decorated was obtained.

PES/GO demonstrates antibacterial features against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Enhanced dye adsorption capacity of PES/GO membrane was performed with MB.

PES/GO membranes show properties for successful NF membrane development.
Dielectric and mechanical properties of TiO2/polyimide composites with low dielectric constant
Authors: Zhao Guiqing , Mu Xin , Ma Dandan , Wang Shuhong , Pan Jiaqi , Cui Jiwen , Qi Meili
Published: May 2023

With the advent of 5G era, the high millimeter‐wave frequency band, poor signal penetration and large loss make 5G communication more dependent on low dielectric constant materials. Therefore, the research and development of low dielectric polymer materials has become a hot spot in recent years. With its good chemical corrosion resistance, thermal stability, high dispersion and high mobility, titanium dioxide (TiO2) as a high function fine inorganic material is doped in polymer systems to improve the electrical properties of polymer composites. In recent years, a large number of studies have used spherical TiO2 nanoparticles doped on the polymer matrix, however, there is almost no research on doping nanolinear TiO2 nanoparticles on the polymer matrix. Here, TiO2 nanowires were prepared by hydrothermal method, and the prepared TiO2 nanowires were added to polyimide (PI). TiO2/PI monolayer and three‐layer composite films with good dielectric and mechanical properties were prepared by in‐situ polymerization. Fourier transform infrared spectoscopy, scanning electron microscopy and X‐ray diffraction were used to characterize the structure and test the properties of the composites. During the initiation process, the thermal initiation reaction of the composite membrane was completed. The composite film with good mechanical properties and excellent dielectric properties were obtained by adding titanium oxide nanowires, which can meet the requirements of its use in the field of microelectronic devices.
2022 Year in review: Neonatal pulmonology
Authors: Wu Shu , Ryan Rita M. , Auten Richard L.
Published: May 2023

This review outlines some of the major contributions to Neonatal Pulmonology published in 2022 in Pediatric Pulmonology in the areas of lung ultrasound, prevention and treatment of bronchopulmonary dysplasia, and pulmonary function outcomes of neonatal lung disease.
A cross‐sectorial review of industrial best practices and case histories on Industry 4.0 technologies
Authors: Galizia Francesco Gabriele , Bortolini Marco , Calabrese Francesca
Published: May 2023

Industry 4.0 (I4.0) was introduced in 2011, and its advanced enablers strongly affect industrial practices. In the current literature, while several papers offer general reviews on the topic, contributions exploring the evidences coming from the implementation of I4.0 in multi‐sector Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and large enterprises are few and expected. To address this gap, a comprehensive review of the main I4.0 enabling technologies is conducted, focusing on implementation experiences in companies belonging to different sectors. Forty (40) real case studies are analyzed and compared. The results show that 63% of the identified applications involve large enterprises in the transport sector, that is, automotive, aeronautics, and railway, adopting a structured set of enabling technologies. SMEs engaged in I4.0 projects primarily belong to the mechanical engineering sector, and 37% of such projects deals with the preliminary feasibility analysis of introducing a single enabling technology. Conclusions and trends guide researchers and practitioners in understanding the implementation level of I4.0 technologies.
Fragility assessment of an outrigger structure system based on energy method
Authors: Goodarzi Mohammad Javad , Moradi Majid , Jalali Pedram , Abdolmohammadi Moein , Hasheminejad Seyed Milad
Published: May 2023

Fragility curves development in structures has always been a focus of research interest among structural and earthquake engineers for which the maximum story drift is usually considered as the engineering demand parameter (EDP) known as the conventional approach. This paper aims at calculating the fragility curves of a tall building with outrigger braced system by considering the plastic strain energy as the EDP and compare it with the conventional approach. In addition, the effect of optimizing the position of outriggers on the exceedance probability of the structure under near‐ and far‐fault seismic loadings is investigated in this paper. Fragility curves of this structure in four performance levels including immediate occupancy (IO), life safety (LS), collapse prevention (CP), and instability is extracted based on the conventional method. The fragility curves for the aforementioned performance levels are also extracted based on the plastic strain energy and compared with the conventional approach. The results have demonstrated that optimizing the location of the bracing system would lower the exceedance probability of the structure. Moreover, the exceedance probability of the investigated building with outrigger braced system under far‐fault records in various levels is more than that of near‐fault records. It is also concluded that the conventional approach would lead to more conservative results compared with the energy approach.
The benefits and dangers of using machine learning to support making legal predictions
Authors: Zeleznikow John
Published: May 2023

Rule‐based systems have been used in the legal domain since the 1970s. Save for rare exceptions, machine learning has only recently been used. But why this delay? We investigate the appropriate use of machine learning to support and make legal predictions. To do so, we need to examine the appropriate use of data in global legal domains—including in common law, civil law, and hybrid jurisdictions. The use of various forms of Artificial Intelligence, including rule‐based reasoning, case‐based reasoning and machine learning in law requires an understanding of jurisprudential theories. We will see that the use of machine learning is particularly appropriate for non‐professionals: in particular self‐represented litigants or those relying upon legal aid services. The primary use of machine learning to support decision‐making in legal domains has been in criminal detection, financial domains, and sentencing. The use in these areas has led to concerns that the inappropriate use of Artificial Intelligence leads to biased decision making. This requires us to examine concerns about governance and ethics. Ethical concerns can be minimized by providing enhanced explanation, choosing appropriate data to be used, appropriately cleaning that data, and having human reviews of any decisions.

This article is categorized under:

Commercial, Legal, and Ethical Issues > Legal Issues

Commercial, Legal, and Ethical Issues > Fairness in Data Mining
Lesser prairie‐chicken habitat selection and survival relative to a wind energy facility located in a fragmented landscape
Authors: LeBeau Chad , Smith Kurt , Kosciuch Karl
Published: May 2023

The overlap of renewable wind energy with the range of lesser prairie‐chickensTympanuchus pallidicinctusraises concern of population declines and habitat loss. Lesser prairie‐chickens are adversely affected by landscape change; however, it is unclear how this species may respond to wind energy development. Therefore, managers and wind energy developers are currently tasked with making management or siting recommendations of future wind energy facilities based on lesser prairie‐chicken behavioral responses to other forms of anthropogenic development or responses of other grouse species to wind energy development. The current strategy of siting wind turbines in cultivated cropland within lesser prairie‐chicken range has not been evaluated for its effectiveness at minimizing potential adverse impacts. We captured 60 female and 66 male lesser prairie‐chickens from leks located along a gradient from wind turbines in southern Kansas, USA from 2017–2021. Over the study period, we collected lesser prairie‐chicken location data and demographic information to evaluate resource selection, movement, and demography relative to environmental predictors and metrics associated with the wind energy facility. Lesser prairie‐chickens used habitats in close proximity to wind turbines, provided that turbine density was low; however, avoidance associated with cultivated cropland appeared to be more predictive than the presence of wind turbines. We observed movement between turbines suggesting that wind turbines did not act as a barrier to local movements. We did not detect an influence of wind turbines on nest success or individual survival during breeding or non‐breeding periods, a relationship that is consistent among multiple grouse species using habitats near wind energy infrastructure. Additional research is necessary to evaluate impacts associated with wind energy development in intact lesser prairie‐chicken habitats, but placing wind turbines in cultivated croplands or other fragmented landscapes appears to be an important siting measure when considering wind energy facility siting across the lesser prairie‐chicken range.
Population impact to bald eagles by ingested lead in New York State, 1990–2018
Authors: Hanley Brenda J. , Them Cara E. , Hynes Kevin P. , Connelly Patrick J. , Bunting Elizabeth M. , Schuler Krysten L.
Published: May 2023

While the recent population recovery of bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) in New York State, USA, is a conservation success, evidence from necropsies suggest that ingested lead (Pb) from ammunition fragments is causing morbidity and mortality to wild eagles. Wildlife managers and officials at the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation would benefit from analysis of their necropsy data to understand how documented morbidities or mortalities impact dynamics of the remaining wild eagle population. We integrated necropsy data on bald eagles in New York State collected between 1990 and 2018 by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation into a matrix population model. We compared annual survival of hatchling, non‐breeding, and breeding eagles under factual (Pb) and counter factual (Pb‐reduced or Pb‐free) scenarios. We found no evidence that Pb altered annual survival of hatchlings. Lead was associated with a reduction in the annual survival of non‐breeders by 0–0.056 (females) and 0.052–0.057 (males), and a reduction in the annual survival of breeders by 0.051–0.057 (females) and 0–0.032 (males). Lead was associated with a reduction in the long‐term growth rate (λ) by 0.009–0.036 (females) and 0.023–0.035 (males). Due to altered dynamics over the prior 3 decades, abundances of eagles in the most recent year of the study (2018) differed between Pb and non‐Pb systems; Pb was associated with a reduction in the number of total females by 15–610 birds, but an increase in the number of total males by 43–95 birds. The interactive software depicting these and other results is available for public use. Our study provides state‐specific evidence of the population‐scale impact of Pb ammunition on bald eagles and may be helpful to wildlife officials in the creation of educational materials or regulatory measures in habitats that support free‐ranging bald eagles.
Sodium and lithium exert differential effects on the central carbon metabolism of Debaryomyces hansenii through the glyoxylate shunt regulation
Authors: Ruiz‐Pérez Francisco S. , Ruiz‐Castilla Francisco J. , Leal Carlos , Martínez José L. , Ramos José
Published: May 2023

Debaryomyces hansenii is a halotolerant/halophilic yeast usually found in salty environments. The yeast accumulated sodium at high concentrations, which improved growth in salty media. In contrast, lithium was toxic even at low concentrations and its presence prevented cell proliferation. To analyse the responses to both cations, metabolite levels, enzymatic activities and gene expression were determined, showing that NaCl and LiCl trigger different cellular responses. At high concentrations of NaCl (0.5 or 1.5 M) cells accumulated higher amounts of the intermediate metabolites glyoxylate and malate and, at the same time, the levels of intracellular oxoglutarate decreased. Additionally, 0.5 M NaCl increased the activity of the enzymes isocitrate lyase and malate synthase involved in the synthesis of glyoxylate and malate respectively and decreased the activity of isocitrate dehydrogenase. Moreover, transcription of the genes coding for isocitrate lyase and malate synthase was activated by NaCl. Also, cells accumulated phosphate upon NaCl exposure. None of these effects was provoked when LiCl (0.1 or 0.3 M) was used instead of NaCl. Lithium induced accumulation of higher amounts of oxoglutarate and decreased the concentrations of glyoxylate and malate to non‐detectable levels. Cells incubated with lithium also showed higher activity of the isocitrate dehydrogenase and neither increased isocitrate lyase and malate synthase activities nor the transcription of the corresponding genes. In summary, we show that sodium, but not lithium, up regulates the shunt of the glyoxylic acid in D. hansenii and we propose that this is an important metabolic adaptation to thrive in salty environments.
A perspective on ungulate management and welfare assessment across the traditional zoo to large landscape spectrum
Authors: Powell David M. , Beetem Dan , Breitigan RoxAnna , Eyres Adam , Speeg Brandon
Published: May 2023

Wild ungulates are managed in human care in a range of settings from traditional zoos to large ranches. These varied settings present different portfolios of risks for good or poor welfare, which leads some to question whether a particular setting is “good for welfare” and have frustrated others interested in comparing the welfare of ungulates across these settings. Differing housing and management scenarios present different challenges and opportunities in terms of welfare but this commentary posits that good welfare is possible in all of these settings. In this commentary, we also consider natural behaviors that may, at face value, compromise welfare and discuss how taking a long view on welfare addresses concerns about these behaviors, in part using arguments related to normal behavioral development that likely improves welfare at other life stages. We also highlight the role of motivation in seemingly welfare‐compromising behaviors. Finally, some indicators of welfare that we believe transcend management scenarios, and are thus able to be compared across scenarios, are suggested.
The E-Word (Emotions) in Military Ethics Education: Making Use of the Dual-Process Model of Moral Psychology
Authors: Karssing Edgar
Published: May 2023

According to Verweij, the model of Haidt makes an important case for more attention to the ‘e-word’, emotions, in military ethics education. Haidt is an important pioneer within moral psychology of the dual-process model for understanding moral judgment. This chapter discusses how dual-process models indeed provides tools for embracing the ‘e-word’ in ethics education in practical ways, however, only when giving more room to the role of reasoning. This can be done by introducing a critically modified perspective of Musschenga. By addressing intuitions into the learning process in a structured way, by making clear that people could grow from beginners to experts by strengthening their intuitions through education, it is possible to entrench both emotions and reasoning in military ethics education.
Contemporary Just War Thinking and Military Education
Authors: Peperkamp Lonneke , Braun Christian Nikolaus
Published: May 2023

Both traditional just war theory and military virtue ethics have an important place in most military curricula. The revisionist approach, however, has struggled to gain traction in the curricula of military academies. This chapter analyses how the practical applicability of revisionist just war thinking indeed is limited, but argues that revisionist just war thinking can play an indirect role at military academies. The benefit of revisionism ties into the German and Dutch leadership concepts ofInnere Führungand the “thinking soldier.” Yet, the shortcomings of revisionism underline the benefits of traditional just war theory, as well as the importance of virtue ethics in military education, showing that the moral competence of military leaders must reflect not only a cognitive but also a motivational dimension.
Best Practice Considerations for Arts Educators When Developing Intensive Online Courses for Creative Industries Higher Education Students
Authors: Phillips Michelle , Podgorski Ava
Published: May 2023

The 2-year StART Entrepreneurship Project (StART) aims to support creative industries students to develop skills and utilise real-world experience to build successful and sustainable careers. UK-based and funded by the Office for Students and Research England, StART is a collaboration between the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM), the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama (RCSSD) and University of the Arts London (UAL). The project involves the development of new in-curricular and extracurricular content and events, tailored specifically for students studying for higher education degrees in these and other specialist creative arts institutions.

This chapter explores one specific way of delivering entrepreneurship education to students, an intense period of contact time often referred to as a ‘boot camp’. The chapter outlines the planning stage of this event, including how existing research on entrepreneurial learning might be mapped onto the boot camp format and how aspects of the QAA (Enterprise and Entrepreneurship Education: Guidance for UK education providers, Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education, Gloucester, 2018) guidance was to be integrated. The chapter will also detail how existing frameworks such as EntreComp (McCallum et al., Joint Research Centre Entrepreneurship and the creative economy (3):400–414, 2018) and the CLEAR IDEAS model (Birdi, European Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology 30(3):400–414, 2021) informed design and delivery and how input from external industry partners and students themselves (both event participants and members of the StART Student Advisory Board) was a key part of the planning.
Educating Entrepreneurship through Design
Authors: Coelen Jeroen , Smulders Frido E. H. M.
Published: May 2023

The early stage of new venture creation is highly undetermined, is high in uncertainty and requires action to progress. These characteristics overlap with the definition of what makes a problematic situation a design problem. In order to improve education for students to deal with this type of problem, this chapter builds on the paradigm of ‘through’ education and the new venture creation approach. It proposes a new paradigm, ‘entrepreneurship education through design’ with a strong focus dealing with design problems via designerly behaviour. This chapter highlights the design theoretical basis of this paradigm and shows how the course setup can contribute for students to display designerly behaviour, reduce uncertainty and ultimately successfully incubate new ventures.
Gender Team Diversity in Entrepreneurship Education
Authors: Schultz Christian
Published: May 2023

This study explores the impact of the student team’s gender diversity on different performance outcomes in a business plan course with active teaching elements. Although the team’s gender diversity is oftentimes neglected in entrepreneurship education research, the empirical analysis shows that significant performance differences depending on a gender-specific composition exist. In general, mixed-gender teams perform better than men’s teams, which receive, on average, worse grades for their business plan. Additionally, mixed teams perform comparatively better in attracting interest for their business idea as measured by views on an online idea platform. To enhance group performance, practitioners shall pay more attention to team composition in an educational setting and actively promote mixed-gender teams.
“If You Want to Work Fast, Go Alone. If You Want to Go Far, Go Together: A Case for Shifting Entrepreneurship Education Towards Team-Based Trainings”
Authors: Zimmer Theresa U. , Bajwa Nida ul Habib
Published: May 2023

Building up entrepreneurial ecosystems has become vitally important for higher education institutions across the world. Be it to tackle high numbers of unemployment amongst the youth, to drive innovation or leverage upon the strengths of particular individuals, it is key for a long-term transformation of societies to build support structures that would enable entrepreneurial thinking and acting to flourish. Therefore, nowadays, it is rare to find higher education institutions across the world that do not offer some sort of entrepreneurship education program. Be it in the form of elective or mandatory courses, short courses on individual topics at incubators, or specialized degree programs, such programs have become an integral part of higher education institutions’ strategy to equip their students with the transversal skill of entrepreneurship that is deemed relevant for all students, irrespective of their professional background. Especially entrepreneurship education approaches have gained a lot of interest from researchers, as with an increasing number of programs there is a need for systematically understanding the pros and cons of different approaches. Apart from the plethora of approaches, starting a business is not a straightforward project. Much more often it is a long-term process with many twists and uncertainties that need to be tackled. Aspiring entrepreneurs face different challenges that are related to different developmental stages of their business ideas. Therefore, entrepreneurship education also needs to address the students’ needs that arise in these different stages.
Entrepreneurial Competencies in Student Companies at School: Development of a Research Instrument
Authors: Brahm Taiga , Grewe Ute
Published: May 2023

Entrepreneurial competencies are increasingly relevant and thus fostered in schools and universities, for instance, in the form of student companies. However, there are hardly any theoretically and empirically founded research instruments to assess students’ competence development. Accordingly, this paper aims to develop and validate a newly designed questionnaire that captures entrepreneurial competencies in three different domains: on the economic, team, and individual levels. The instrument was tested in a pilot test with 163 students and in a main study with 226 students in secondary education. Overall, reliability and the assumed factor structure could be confirmed. The questionnaire can be used in schools and universities for the purpose of quality development and competence assessment in entrepreneurship education.
On quantum information before the Page time
Authors: Kudler-Flam Jonah , Kusuki Yuya
Published: May 2023

Abstract

While recent progress in the black hole information problem has shown that the entropy of Hawking radiation follows a unitary Page curve, the quantum state of Hawking radiation prior the Page time is still treated as purely thermal, containing no information about the microstructure of the black hole. We demonstrate that there is significant quantum information regarding the quantum state of the black hole in the Hawking radiation prior to the Page time. By computing of the quantum fidelity in a 2D boundary conformal field theory (BCFT) model of black hole evaporation, we demonstrate that an observer outside of an evaporating black hole may distinguish different black holes via measurements of the Hawking radiation at any time during the evaporation process, albeit with an exponentially large number of measurements. Furthermore, our results are universal, applicable to general BCFTs including those with large central charge and rational BCFTs. The techniques we develop for computing the fidelity are more generally applicable to excited states in CFT. As such, we are able to characterize more general aspects of thermalization in 2D conformal field theory.
Fermionic CFTs from classical codes over finite fields
Authors: Kawabata Kohki , Yahagi Shinichiro
Published: May 2023

Abstract

We construct a class of chiral fermionic CFTs from classical codes over finite fields whose order is a prime number. We exploit the relationship between classical codes and Euclidean lattices to provide the Neveu–Schwarz sector of fermionic CFTs. On the other hand, we construct the Ramond sector using the shadow theory of classical codes and Euclidean lattices. We give various examples of chiral fermionic CFTs through our construction. We also explore supersymmetric CFTs in terms of classical codes by requiring the resulting fermionic CFTs to satisfy some necessary conditions for supersymmetry.
Invariance Property for Extended Means
Authors: Pasteczka Paweł
Published: May 2023

We study the properties of the mean-type mappings $$\textbf{M}:I^p \rightarrow I^p$$

M
:

I
p

→

I
p

of the form $$\begin{aligned} \textbf{M}(x_1,\dots ,x_p):=\big (M_1(x_{\alpha _{1,1}},\dots ,x_{\alpha _{1,d_1}}), \dots ,M_p(x_{\alpha _{p,1}},\dots ,x_{\alpha _{p,d_p}})\big ), \end{aligned}$$

M

(

x
1

,
⋯
,

x
p

)

:
=

(

M
1

(

x

α

1
,
1

,
⋯
,

x

α

1
,

d
1

)

,
⋯
,

M
p

(

x

α

p
,
1

,
⋯
,

x

α

p
,

d
p

)

)

,

where p and $$d_i$$

d
i

-s are positive integers, each $$M_i$$

M
i

is a $$d_i$$

d
i

-variable mean on an interval $$I \subset {\mathbb {R}}$$

I
⊂
R

, and $$\alpha _{i,j}$$

α

i
,
j

-s are elements from $$\{1,\dots ,p\}$$

{
1
,
⋯
,
p
}

. We show that, under some natural assumption on $$M_i$$

M
i

-s, the problem of existing the unique $$\textbf{M}$$
M
-invariant mean can be reduced to the ergodicity of the directed graph with vertexes $$\{1,\dots ,p\}$$

{
1
,
⋯
,
p
}

and edges $$\{(\alpha _{i,j},i) :i,j \text { admissible}\}$$

{

(

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,
j

,
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)

:
i
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j

admissible
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.
Engineered allele substitution at PPARGC1A rs8192678 alters human white adipocyte differentiation, lipogenesis, and PGC-1α content and turnover
Authors: Huang Mi , Claussnitzer Melina , Saadat Alham , Coral Daniel E. , Kalamajski Sebastian , Franks Paul W.
Published: May 2023

Aims/hypothesis

PPARGC1A encodes peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator 1-α (PGC-1α), a central regulator of energy metabolism and mitochondrial function. A common polymorphism in PPARGC1A (rs8192678, C/T, Gly482Ser) has been associated with obesity and related metabolic disorders, but no published functional studies have investigated direct allele-specific effects in adipocyte biology. We examined whether rs8192678 is a causal variant and reveal its biological function in human white adipose cells.

Methods

We used CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing to perform an allelic switch (C-to-T or T-to-C) at rs8192678 in an isogenic human pre-adipocyte white adipose tissue (hWAs) cell line. Allele-edited single-cell clones were expanded and screened to obtain homozygous T/T (Ser482Ser), C/C (Gly482Gly) and heterozygous C/T (Gly482Ser) isogenic cell populations, followed by functional studies of the allele-dependent effects on white adipocyte differentiation and mitochondrial function.

Results

After differentiation, the C/C adipocytes were visibly less BODIPY-positive than T/T and C/T adipocytes, and had significantly lower triacylglycerol content. The C allele presented a dose-dependent lowering effect on lipogenesis, as well as lower expression of genes critical for adipogenesis, lipid catabolism, lipogenesis and lipolysis. Moreover, C/C adipocytes had decreased oxygen consumption rate (OCR) at basal and maximal respiration, and lower ATP-linked OCR. We determined that these effects were a consequence of a C-allele-driven dysregulation of PGC-1α protein content, turnover rate and transcriptional coactivator activity.

Conclusions/interpretation

Our data show allele-specific causal effects of the rs8192678 variant on adipogenic differentiation. The C allele confers lower levels of PPARGC1A mRNA and PGC-1α protein, as well as disrupted dynamics of PGC-1α turnover and activity, with downstream effects on cellular differentiation and mitochondrial function. Our study provides the first experimentally deduced insights on the effects of rs8192678 on adipocyte phenotype.

Graphical Abstract
The use of single-timepoint images to link administered radioiodine activity (MBq) to a prescribed lesion radiation-absorbed dose (cGy): a regression-based prediction interval tool for the management of well-differentiated thyroid cancer patients
Authors: Mauguen Audrey , Grewal Ravinder K. , Augensen Finn , Abusamra Murad , Mahajan Sonia , Jayaprakasam Vetri Sudar , Osborne Joseph , Haque Sofia , Wong Bernadette Z. Y. , Ghossein Ronald A. , Fagin James , Schӧder Heiko , Tuttle R. Michael , Ho Alan , Humm John L. , Larson Steven M.
Published: May 2023

Purpose

To introduce a biomarker-based dosimetry method for the rational selection of a treatment activity for patients undergoing radioactive iodine 131I therapy (RAI) for metastatic differentiated thyroid cancer (mDTC) based on single-timepoint imaging of individual lesion uptake by 124I PET.

Methods

Patients referred for RAI therapy of mDTC were enrolled in institutionally approved protocols. A total of 208 mDTC lesions (in 21 patients) with SUVmax > 1 underwent quantitative PET scans at 24, 48, 72, and 120 h post-administration of 222 MBq of theranostic NaI-124I to determine the individual lesion radiation-absorbed dose. Using a general estimating equation, a prediction curve for biomarker development was generated in the form of a best-fit regression line and 95% prediction interval, correlating individual predicted lesion radiation dose metrics, with candidate biomarkers (“predictors”) such as SUVmax and activity in microcurie per gram, from a single imaging timepoint.

Results

In the 169 lesions (in 15 patients) that received 131I therapy, individual lesion cGy varied over 3 logs with a median of 22,000 cGy, confirming wide heterogeneity of lesion radiation dose. Initial findings from the prediction curve on all 208 lesions confirmed that a 48-h SUVmax was the best predictor of lesion radiation dose and permitted calculation of the 131I activity required to achieve a lesional threshold radiation dose (2000 cGy) within defined confidence intervals.

Conclusions

Based on MIRD lesion-absorbed dose estimates and regression statistics, we report on the feasibility of a new single-timepoint 124I-PET-based dosimetry biomarker for RAI in patients with mDTC. The approach provides clinicians with a tool to select personalized (precision) therapeutic administration of radioactivity (MBq) to achieve a desired target lesion-absorbed dose (cGy) for selected index lesions based on a single 48-h measurement 124I-PET image, provided the selected activity does not exceed the maximum tolerated activity (MTA) of < 2 Gy to blood, as is standard of care at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.

Trial registration

NCT04462471, Registered July 8, 2020.

NCT03647358, Registered Aug 27, 2018.
Evaluation of Dual Dye Technique for Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy in Breast Cancer: Two‐Arm Open‐Label Parallel Design Non‐Inferiority Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Suhani  , Kumar Utkarsh , Seenu V. , Sodhi Jitendar , Joshi Mohit , Bhattacharjee H. K. , Khan M. A. , Mathur Sandeep , Kumar Rakesh , Parshad Rajinder
Published: May 2023

Introduction

Radioisotope and blue dye are standard agents for performing sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy in breast cancer. The paucity of nuclear medicine facility poses logistic challenge. This study evaluated performance of radioisotope & methylene blue (MB) with indocyanine green (ICG) and MB for SLNB.

Patients and Methods

This randomized controlled trial was conducted from December 2019 to July 2022 comparing SLN identification proportions of radioisotope‐blue dye [Group A] with dual dye (MB + ICG; Group B]. Secondary objective included time required and cost effectiveness of performing SLNB. Sample size of 70 (35 in each arm) was calculated. Upfront operable node negative early breast cancer was included in the study. Clinico‐demographic data, number & type of SLN, time taken were noted. Cost analysis was done including the equipment, manpower & consumables. Chi‐square/Fisher exact test was used to compare proportion between two groups. p value of less than 0.05 was considered to represent statistical significance.

Results

Seventy patients randomized to either group were similar in clinico‐demographic and tumor characteristics. SLN identification rate (IR) was 91.43% in group A and 100% in group B. Overall IR of MB, radioisotope and ICG were 91.43%, 91.43% and 100%, respectively. Mean number of SLNs identified were 3 in group A and 4 in group B. Median time required for SLNB was 12 min and 14 min in either group, respectively. Cost of performing SLNB was higher in Group B.

Conclusion

SLNB using dual dye is non‐inferior to radioisotope‐blue dye in upfront operable early breast cancer.

Trial registration number Clinical Trial registry India CTRI/2020/02/023503.
Performance and clinical applicability of machine learning in liver computed tomography imaging: a systematic review
Authors: Radiya Keyur , Joakimsen Henrik Lykke , Mikalsen Karl Øyvind , Aahlin Eirik Kjus , Lindsetmo Rolv-Ole , Mortensen Kim Erlend
Published: May 2023

Objectives

Machine learning (ML) for medical imaging is emerging for several organs and image modalities. Our objectives were to provide clinicians with an overview of this field by answering the following questions: (1) How is ML applied in liver computed tomography (CT) imaging? (2) How well do ML systems perform in liver CT imaging? (3) What are the clinical applications of ML in liver CT imaging?

Methods

A systematic review was carried out according to the guidelines from the PRISMA-P statement. The search string focused on studies containing content relating to artificial intelligence, liver, and computed tomography.

Results

One hundred ninety-one studies were included in the study. ML was applied to CT liver imaging by image analysis without clinicians’ intervention in majority of studies while in newer studies the fusion of ML method with clinical intervention have been identified. Several were documented to perform very accurately on reliable but small data. Most models identified were deep learning-based, mainly using convolutional neural networks. Potentially many clinical applications of ML to CT liver imaging have been identified through our review including liver and its lesion segmentation and classification, segmentation of vascular structure inside the liver, fibrosis and cirrhosis staging, metastasis prediction, and evaluation of chemotherapy.

Conclusion

Several studies attempted to provide transparent result of the model. To make the model convenient for a clinical application, prospective clinical validation studies are in urgent call. Computer scientists and engineers should seek to cooperate with health professionals to ensure this.

Key Points

•ML shows great potential for CT liver image tasks such as pixel-wise segmentation and classification of liver and liver lesions, fibrosis staging, metastasis prediction, and retrieval of relevant liver lesions from similar cases of other patients.

•Despite presenting the result is not standardized, many studies have attempted to provide transparent results to interpret the machine learning method performance in the literature.

•Prospective studies are in urgent call for clinical validation of ML method, preferably carried out by cooperation between clinicians and computer scientists.
Delayed post gadolinium MRI descriptors for Meniere’s disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Connor Steve , Grzeda Mariusz T. , Jamshidi Babak , Ourselin Sebastien , Hajnal Joseph V. , Pai Irumee
Published: May 2023

Objectives

Delayed post-gadolinium magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) detects changes of endolymphatic hydrops (EH) within the inner ear in Meniere’s disease (MD). A systematic review with meta-analysis was conducted to summarise the diagnostic performance of MRI descriptors across the range of MD clinical classifications.

Materials and methods

Case-controlled studies documenting the diagnostic performance of MRI descriptors in distinguishing MD ears from asymptomatic ears or ears with other audio-vestibular conditions were identified (MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, Scopus databases: updated 17/2/2022). Methodological quality was evaluated with Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies version 2. Results were pooled using a bivariate random-effects model for evaluation of sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic odds ratio (DOR). Meta-regression evaluated sources of heterogeneity, and subgroup analysis for individual clinical classifications was performed.

Results

The meta-analysis included 66 unique studies and 3073 ears with MD (mean age 40.2–67.2 years), evaluating 11 MRI descriptors. The combination of increased perilymphatic enhancement (PLE) and EH (3 studies, 122 MD ears) achieved the highest sensitivity (87% (95% CI: 79.92%)) whilst maintaining high specificity (91% (95% CI: 85.95%)). The diagnostic performance of “high grade cochlear EH” and “any EH” descriptors did not significantly differ between monosymptomatic cochlear MD and the latest reference standard for definite MD (p = 0.3; p = 0.09). Potential sources of bias were case-controlled design, unblinded observers and variable reference standard, whilst differing MRI techniques introduced heterogeneity.

Conclusions

The combination of increased PLE and EH optimised sensitivity and specificity for MD, whilst some MRI descriptors also performed well in diagnosing monosymptomatic cochlear MD.

Key Points

• A meta-analysis of delayed post-gadolinium magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for the diagnosis of Meniere’s disease is reported for the first time and comprised 66 studies (3073 ears).

• Increased enhancement of the perilymphatic space of the inner ear is shown to be a key MRI feature for the diagnosis of Meniere’s disease.

• MRI diagnosis of Meniere’s disease can be usefully applied across a range of clinical classifications including patients with cochlear symptoms alone.
Atypical primary central nervous system lymphoma and glioblastoma: multiparametric differentiation based on non-enhancing volume, apparent diffusion coefficient, and arterial spin labeling
Authors: Yu Xiaojun , Hong Weiping , Ye Minting , Lai Mingyao , Shi Changzheng , Li Linzhen , Ye Kunlin , Xu Jiali , Ai Ruyu , Shan Changguo , Cai Linbo , Luo Liangping
Published: May 2023

Objectives

To evaluate the multiparametric diagnostic performance with non-enhancing tumor volume, apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), and arterial spin labeling (ASL) to differentiate between atypical primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) and glioblastoma (GBM).

Methods

One hundred and fifty-eight patients with pathologically confirmed typical PCNSL (n = 59), atypical PCNSL (hemorrhage, necrosis, or heterogeneous contrast enhancement, n = 29), and GBM (n = 70) were selected. Relative minimum ADC (rADCmin), mean (rADCmean), maximum (rADCmax), and rADCmax-min (rADCdif) were obtained by standardization of the contralateral white matter. Maximum cerebral blood flow (CBFmax) was obtained according to the ASL-CBF map. The regions of interests (ROIs) were manually delineated on the inner side of the tumor to further generate a 3D-ROI and obtain the non-enhancing tumor (nET) volume. The area under the curve (AUC) was used to evaluate the diagnostic performance.

Results

Atypical PCNSLs showed significantly lower rADCmax, rADCmean, and rADCdif than that of GBMs. GBMs showed significantly higher CBFmax and nET volume ratios than that of atypical PCNSLs. Combined three-variable models with rADCmean, CBFmax, and nET volume ratio were superior to one- and two-variable models. The AUC of the three-variable model was 0.96, and the sensitivity and specificity were 90% and 96.55%, respectively.

Conclusion

The combined evaluation of rADCmean, CBFmax, and nET volume allowed for reliable differentiation between atypical PCNSL and GBM.

Key Points

• Atypical PCNSL is easily misdiagnosed as glioblastoma, which leads to unnecessary surgical resection.

• The nET volume, ADC, and ASL-derived parameter (CBF) were lower for atypical PCNSL than that for glioblastoma.

• The combination of multiple parameters performed well (AUC = 0.96) in the discrimination between atypical PCNSL and glioblastoma.
A Patch in Time Saves Nine: Methods for the Identification of Localised Dynamical Behaviour and Lifespans of Coherent Structures
Authors: Blachut Chantelle , González-Tokman Cecilia , Hernández-Dueñas Gerardo
Published: May 2023

We develop a transfer operator-based method for the detection of coherent structures and their associated lifespans. Characterising the lifespan of coherent structures allows us to identify dynamically meaningful time windows, which may be associated with transient coherent structures in the localised phase space, as well as with time intervals within which these structures experience fundamental changes, such as merging or separation events. The localised transfer operator approach we pursue allows one to explore the fundamental properties of a dynamical system without full knowledge of the dynamics. The algorithms we develop prove useful not only in the simple case of a periodically driven double well potential model, but also in more complex cases generated using the rotating Boussinesq equations.