bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Postoperative Analgesia Protocol: A Resident‐Led Effort to Standardize Opioid Prescribing Patterns
Authors: Meyer Charles , Winters Jessica , Brady Rebecca G. , Riddick Jeanelle B. , Folsom Craig , Jardine Dinchen
Published: September 2020

Objectives

The combined impact of variable surgeon prescribing preferences and low resident prescribing comfort level can lead to significant disparity in opioid prescribing patterns for the same surgery in the same academic surgical practice. We report the results of a resident led initiative to standardize postoperative prescription practices within the Department of Otolaryngology at a single tertiary‐care academic hospital in order to reduce overall opioid distribution.

Study Design

Retrospective cohort study.

Methods

Following approval by the Institutional Review Board, performed a retrospective review of 12 months before (July 2016–June 2017) and after (July 2017–June 2018) implementation of the Postoperative Analgesia Protocol, which included all adults undergoing tonsillectomy, septoplasty, thyroidectomy, parathyroidectomy, tympanoplasty, middle ear exploration, stapedectomy, and ossicular chain reconstruction.

Results

Seven hundred and thirty eight procedures met inclusion criteria. Following implementation, total morphine milligram equivalents decreased by 26% (P < .0001). The number of patients requiring opioid refills decreased by 49%, and morphine milligram equivalents received as refills decreased by 16% (P < .001). Thyroid and parathyroid surgery had the greatest reduction in morphine milligram equivalents prescribed (84%, P < .001), followed by septoplasty (30%, P = .001) and tonsillectomy (18%, P < .001). The number of patients receiving refills of opioid medications decreased for all procedures (tonsillectomy 54%; septoplasty 67%; thyroid/parathyroid surgery 80%, middle ear surgery 100%).

Conclusions

While every patient and surgery must be treated individually, this study demonstrates that a resident led standardization of pain control regimes can result in significant reductions in total quantity of opioids prescribed.

Level of Evidence

IV Laryngoscope, 131:982–988, 2021
Adoption of environmentally friendly agricultural technologies among smallholder farmers: The case of rocket barn technology in flue‐cured tobacco curing in Uganda
Authors: Omara Henry , Odongo Walter , Kule Enos K.
Published: September 2020

Tobacco production, and curing is the single most important contributor to soil degradation and deforestation in Uganda. To minimise the environmental effects associated with tobacco production, the environmentally friendly, as well as energy‐efficient, rocket barn technology was developed. In spite of its energy saving and environmental benefits, the adoption of rocket barn technology remains low and understudied. This paper assessed farmers' perception and factors affecting the adoption of rocket barn technology in Uganda. Data were collected through a cross‐sectional survey using structured questionnaires from 242 flue‐cured Virginia (FCV) tobacco farmers in Uganda. The analysis was done using SPSS and STATA software. Results showed that the adoption of rocket barn technology was low, at 12%, with farmers perceiving the technology to be risky and costly. Experience, training, distance to wood fuel source, access to extension information, and benefits and risk perceptions were the major determinants of adoption of rocket barn technology. Promotion and adoption of rocket barn technology will therefore require concerted efforts in extension and training of farmers on the environmental benefits of the technology. Such promotional efforts should target the relatively inexperienced young FCV tobacco farmers.
Trophic ecology of a blooming jellyfish (Aurelia coerulea) in a Mediterranean coastal lagoon
Authors: Marques Raquel , Bonnet Delphine , Carré Claire , Roques Cécile , Darnaude Audrey M.
Published: September 2020

The current lack of knowledge on the trophic ecology of scyphozoans, particularly at the benthic stage, prevents a full understanding of the controls on many jellyfish blooms. The blooming scyphozoan (Aurelia coerulea) completes its entire life cycle in the Thau lagoon (southern France), where the annual population dynamics of both its benthic and pelagic stages have been described. This offered an exceptional framework to investigate the trophic processes regulating jellyfish populations over time. To this aim, stable isotopic signature analysis (δ13C and δ15N) was used to infer the diet of bothA. coeruleascyphistomae and medusae over 1 year. These results were matched with medusae gut content analysis and with the monthly abundances of local plankton groups. Lastly, the isotopic signatures ofA. coeruleascyphistomae and medusae were compared with those of the oysters (Crassostrea gigas) cultivated in the lagoon to evaluate the potential interspecific trophic competition. The results revealed two seasonal shifts in the trophic niche ofA. coeruleaand substantial overlap between the diets of its benthic and pelagic stages. Conversely, trophic niche overlaps with the oysters were restricted, suggesting a limited impact of the local jellyfish bloom on shellfish production. Phytoplankton, microzooplankton, mesozooplankton, and sedimentary organic matter were all important food sources during critical periods ofA. coerulealife‐cycle. However, microzooplankton abundance was found to be key for the production of buds by the scyphistomae and, therefore it is likely to control the benthic population size and, thereby, to modulate the intensity of its annual bloom in Thau.
Molecular Changes in Vapor‐Based Polymer Thin Films Assessed by Characterization of Swelling Properties of Amine‐Functionalized Poly‐p‐xylylene
Authors: Koenig Meike , Trouillet Vanessa , Welle Alexander , Hinrichs Karsten , Lahann Joerg
Published: September 2020

Though widely applied in various technological areas, the knowledge about the molecular behavior of poly‐p‐xylylene and its derivatives prepared via chemical vapor deposition polymerization is still far from comprehensive, as for this polymer the characterization is limited due to the insolubility in most common solvents. This report presents the investigation of the swelling properties of aminomethyl‐functionalized poly‐p‐xylylene as a means to elucidate the influence of various process parameters on the structural properties of the polymer layer. The swelling of films with varying thickness, storage time and conditions, thermal treatment and deposited by varying the temperature of the deposition stage is measured. To gain deeper insight into the origin of the observed effects, the swelling measurements by spectroscopic ellipsometry are complemented using additional characterization methods.
Independent families of functions and permutations
Authors: Sonpanow Nattapon , Vejjajiva Pimpen
Published: September 2020

We study independent families of functions and permutations and associated cardinal characteristics and . In this paper, we show that these cardinals lie between the cardinals and and give some related consistency results.
Strategic equivalence among hat puzzles of various protocols with many colors
Authors: Kada Masaru , Shizuma Souji
Published: September 2020

We discuss puzzles of prisoners and hats
with infinitely many prisoners and more than two hat colors. Assuming that the set of hat colors is equipped with a commutative group structure, we prove strategic equivalence among puzzles of several protocols with countably many prisoners.
Progress of Improving Mechanical Strength of Electrospun Nanofibrous Membranes
Authors: Han Yufen , Xu Yulong , Zhang Shaopeng , Li Tianya , Ramakrishna Seeram , Liu Yong
Published: September 2020

Electrospun nanofibers with superior performance have attracted widespread attention from researchers due to their extensive application in biomedical materials, filtration, catalysis, and so forth. However, the low mechanical properties, such as elongation at breaking strength and tensile strength, restrict the application of the nanofibers in many aspects. This article describes the recent progress in improving the mechanical properties of electrospun nanofibrous membranes. At present, methods to increase the mechanical strength of nanofibers are mainly based on the introduction of appropriate polymer materials, improvements in spinning parameters, and post‐treatment. Herein, the principle, advantages, and disadvantages of those methods in depth are described. Finally, the research on enhancing the mechanical properties of electrospun nanofibrous membranes and their future development is being discussed.
Autophagy and cardiac diseases: Therapeutic potential of natural products
Authors: Wu Xiaoqian , Liu Zumei , Yu Xi‐Yong , Xu Suowen , Luo Jiandong
Published: September 2020

The global incidence of cardiac diseases is expected to increase in the coming years, imposing a substantial socioeconomic burden on healthcare systems. Autophagy is a tightly regulated lysosomal degradation mechanism important for cell survival, homeostasis, and function. Accumulating pieces of evidence have indicated a major role of autophagy in the regulation of cardiac homeostasis and function. It is well established that dysregulation of autophagy in cardiomyocytes is involved in cardiac hypertrophy, myocardial infarction, diabetic cardiomyopathy, and heart failure. In this sense, autophagy seems to be an attractive therapeutic target for cardiac diseases. Recently, multiple natural products/phytochemicals, such as resveratrol, berberine, and curcumin have been shown to regulate cardiomyocyte autophagy via different pathways. The autophagy‐modifying capacity of these compounds should be taken into consideration for designing novel therapeutic agents. This review focuses on the role of autophagy in various cardiac diseases and the pharmacological basis and therapeutic potential of reported natural products in cardiac diseases by modifying autophagic processes.
Evaluating systematic reanalysis of clinical genomic data in rare disease from single center experience and literature review
Authors: Tan Natalie B. , Stapleton Rachel , Stark Zornitza , Delatycki Martin B. , Yeung Alison , Hunter Matthew F. , Amor David J. , Brown Natasha J. , Stutterd Chloe A. , McGillivray George , Yap Patrick , Regan Matthew , Chong Belinda , Fanjul Fernandez Miriam , Marum Justine , Phelan Dean , Pais Lynn S. , White Susan M. , Lunke Sebastian , Tan Tiong Y.
Published: September 2020

Background

Our primary aim was to evaluate the systematic reanalysis of singleton exome sequencing (ES) data for unsolved cases referred for any indication. A secondary objective was to undertake a literature review of studies examining the reanalysis of genomic data from unsolved cases.

Methods

We examined data from 58 unsolved cases referred between June 2016 and March 2017. First reanalysis at 4–13 months after the initial report considered genes newly associated with disease since the original analysis; second reanalysis at 9–18 months considered all disease‐associated genes. At 25–34 months we reviewed all cases and the strategies which solved them.

Results

Reanalysis of existing ES data alone at two timepoints did not yield new diagnoses. Over the same timeframe, 10 new diagnoses were obtained (17%) from additional strategies, such as microarray detection of copy number variation, repeat sequencing to improve coverage, and trio sequencing. Twenty‐seven peer‐reviewed articles were identified on the literature review, with a median new diagnosis rate via reanalysis of 15% and median reanalysis timeframe of 22 months.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that an interval of greater than 18 months from the original report may be optimal for reanalysis. We also recommend a multi‐faceted strategy for cases remaining unsolved after singleton ES.
Metamaterial acoustics on the Poincaré disk
Authors: Tung Michael M.
Published: September 2020

Historically, the Poincaré disk model has taken a pioneering role in the development of non‐Euclidean geometry. But still today, this model is critical as a playground for simulations and new theories. In this paper, we discuss how to implement and simulate acoustic wave phenomena on the Poincaré disk with the help of so‐called metamaterials. After formally developing a theory based on the acoustic potential for the curved spacetime of the Poincaré model, we also provide practical instructions on how to manufacture the appropriate metadevice in a laboratory environment. Finally, as an example, analytical results for the nontrivial radial contributions in concentric wave propagation are derived, and the corresponding numerical predictions are presented.
Analytic solution to the generalized delay diffusion equation with uncertain inputs in the random Lebesgue sense
Authors: Cortés Juan Carlos , Jornet Marc
Published: September 2020

In this paper, we deal with the randomized generalized diffusion equation with delay:ut(t, x) = a2uxx(t, x) + b2uxx(t − τ, x),t > τ,0 ≤ x ≤ l; ,t ≥ 0; ,0 ≤ t ≤ τ,0 ≤ x ≤ l. Here,τ > 0andl > 0are constant. The coefficientsa2andb2are nonnegative random variables, and the initial conditionφ(t, x)and the solutionu(t, x)are random fields. The separation of variables method develops a formal series solution. We prove that the series satisfies the delay diffusion problem in the random Lebesgue sense rigorously. By truncating the series, the expectation and the variance of the random‐field solution can be approximated.
Application of UTD method to predict the electromagnetic characteristics in urban environments
Authors: Wang Nan , Chen Guiqi , Hou Peng , Zhang Yu
Published: September 2020

Uniform geometrical theory of diffraction method is applied to the calculation of electromagnetic distribution and situation in urban environment in this article. Analytical hexahedrons are used as mathematical modeling of urban buildings and double diffractions between edges of buildings are mainly stated. Double diffractions between parallel edges are traced analytically while double diffractions between non‐parallel edges are searched by numerical measures. Antennas are simulated by using the high‐order moment method and a quasi‐hybrid scheme is used to gain connection to UTD method. The accuracy of the proposed method is illustrated by compare of simulations and the engineering application value is shown by compare of actual measurements. The presented can realize the simulation analysis of electromagnetic distribution in large‐scale urban environment on one common computer without extra computing resources.
A new augmented support vector regression‐based behavioral model for multi‐device power amplifiers
Authors: Cai Jialin , King Justin , Su Jiangtao , Yu Chao , Chen Shichang , Sun Lingling , Liu Jun
Published: September 2020

A new behavioral model based on augmented time‐delay support vector regression (SVR) for multi‐device radio frequency (RF) nonlinear power amplifiers (PAs), is proposed in this paper. The theory of the proposed modeling technique is provided, along with a detailed modeling procedure. Experimental results show that the proposed new augmented SVR (NASVR) model leads to significant performance improvements when compared with basic SVR models and existing Augmented SVR (ASVR) models. When applied to a multi‐device Doherty PA, a normalized mean square error (NMSE) between model prediction and measurement data of −44.4 dB is obtained, representing a more than 9 and 4.5 dB improvement compared with the basic SVR model and the existing ASVR model, respectively.
Modified wideband monopole antenna for unmanned aerial vehicle communication
Authors: Lee Jong Hwan , Lee Hyo Jin , Woo Jong Myung
Published: September 2020

In this article, a novel surface‐mounted type wideband monopole antenna for VHF band unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) communication is presented. The proposed antenna constitutes a planar monopole structure such that taper‐feeding configuration is adopted for wideband impedance matching and the radiation element of the antenna is formed on the vertical and horizontal parts of the narrow tail wing of the UAV to obtain monopole‐like radiation pattern. After designing the antenna, simulation was performed in the VHF band of 0.11‐0.17 GHz and the results showed the characteristics of the monopole. Because the antenna size of VHF band is too large to be tested, after 1/7 size scaling, the simulation and the measurement were performed in the frequency band of seven times the original band. The results show that the 10 dB return‐loss band is 0.732‐1.242 GHz (52.0%), the average gain in the H‐plane is −0.23 dBi, and the radiation patterns are very similar to those of the monopole antenna.
A compact OAM antenna for generating CP radiation patterns of three modes by using half‐mode SIWs
Authors: Hu Jun , Qiu Tong‐Tong , Wu Wen , Zhao Run‐Zhe , Qian Song‐Song
Published: September 2020

Based on a uniformly sequential rotational array, this study proposes a compact orbital angular momentum (OAM) antenna, for generating circularly polarized radiation patterns of three modes. The antenna consists of four half‐mode substrate integrated waveguides and has a diameter of one wavelength in free space. Both the simulation and the measurement results show that the proposed antenna can generate ±1 OAM modes with circularly polarized radiation patterns with a gain of 9.2 dBi. The antenna can also generate 0 OAM mode with a conic radiation pattern with a gain of 7.0 dBi. The compact OAM antenna with three modes can be applied in multiplex systems with strict requirements on aperture dimensions.
DPSK over inverse pulse position modulation with high extinction ratio for optical label switching
Authors: Lu Yang , Li Hang , Hu Linghuan , Chen Qian , Ji Yicheng , Wang Xijie , Bi Meihua
Published: September 2020

Optical label switching (OLS) is a promising solution for rapidly growing packet based internet traffic and data switching in data center. Most proposed schemes apply orthogonal modulation, which superimpose a nonamplitude modulated label signal onto a Manchester coded or pulse position modulated (PPM) ASK payload signal. The extinction ratio (ER) has to be reduced for overlaid signal. To avoid the quality degradation of payload signal from low ER, a differential phase shift keying (DPSK) over inverse PPM is proposed in this paper. Due to the high mark ratio of the inverse PPM, the proposed DPSK over inverse PPM modulation achieves a high ER for the ASK signal while induces limited crosstalk to the DPSK signal. Compare with the previously proposed schemes, the test results show the proposed DPSK over inverse 4PPM modulation achieves an optimum ER improvement of at least 6 dB to support an extended of at least 10.5 km.
Domain classification and analysis of national institutes of health‐funded medical physics research
Authors: Scarpelli Matthew , Whelan Brendan , Farahani Keyvan
Published: September 2020

Purpose

The American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) previously developed a research database consisting of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants that were awarded to its members. The purpose of this report is to classify these NIH grants into various medical physics subdisciplines and analyze the scope of AAPM member research.

Methods

For this report, an algorithm classified grant topics into medical physics research subdisciplines (grants from 2002 to 2019 were analyzed). This algorithm utilized a search for common words and phrases within grant titles, keywords, abstracts, and activity codes to perform the classification. AAPM member grants were compared with non‐AAPM member grants in various relevant subcategories to assess what percentage of these grants was held by AAPM members.

Results

The percentage of AAPM member grants that included words relating to both imaging and therapy (image‐guided therapy grants) increased from 13% (27/207) in 2002 to 27% (79/293) in 2019. The percentage of AAPM member grants utilizing words relating to artificial intelligence increased from 8% in 2002 to 20% in 2019. From 2002 to 2019, AAPM member grants referenced cancer more than all other diseases combined. The majority of AAPM member grants included words relating to clinical research (81% of grants in 2002 and 99% in 2019). When comparing AAPM member with non‐AAPM member grants it was found that in 2019 AAPM members held a substantial fraction of all NIH grants that referenced stereotactic radiation therapies (41%), radionuclide therapies (10%), brachytherapies (35%), intensity‐modulated radiation therapies (45%), and external beam particle therapies (55%). From 2002 to 2019, the percentage of AAPM membership holding NIH grants decreased for males (3.2% down to 2.3%) and increased for females (0.8% up to 1.3%)

Conclusions

The majority of grants awarded to AAPM members focus on clinical research, which underlies the translational aspect of medical physics and suggests medical physicists are uniquely positioned to help translate new technologies such as artificial intelligence into the clinic. Since 2002, NIH grants awarded to AAPM members have increasingly referenced some form of image‐guided therapy, suggesting opportunities for continued innovation of imaging technologies. A substantial fraction of all radiotherapy‐related research grants were awarded to AAPM members, emphasizing the important role physicists have in developing radiotherapy‐related treatments.
3D tumor detection in automated breast ultrasound using deep convolutional neural network
Authors: Li Yanfeng , Wu Wen , Chen Houjin , Cheng Lin , Wang Shu
Published: September 2020

Purpose

Automated breast ultrasound (ABUS) has drawn attention in breast disease detection and diagnosis applications. Reviewing hundreds of slices produced by ABUS is time‐consuming. In this paper, a tumor detection method for ABUS image based on convolutional neural network is proposed.

Methods

First, integrating multitask learning with YOLOv3, an improved YOLOv3 detection network is designed to detect tumor candidate in two‐dimensional (2D) slices. Two‐dimensional detection separately treats each slice, leading to larger differences of position and score for tumor candidate in adjacent slices. Due to the influence of artifact, noise, and mammary tissues, 2D detection may include many false positive regions. To alleviate these problems, a rescoring processing algorithm is first designed. Then three‐dimensional volume forming and FP reduction scheme are built.

Results

This method was tested on 340 volumes (124 patients, 181 tumors) with fivefold cross validation. It achieved sensitivities of 90%, 85%, 80%, 75%, and 70% at 7.42, 3.31, 1.62, 1.23, and 0.88 false positives per volume.

Conclusion

Compared with existing ABUS tumor detection methods, our method gets a promising result.
Effects of patient orientations, landmark positions, and device positions on the MRI RF‐induced heating for modular external fixation devices
Authors: Xia Meiqi , Zheng Jianfeng , Yang Rui , Song Shuo , Xu Jian , Liu Qi , Kainz Wolfgang , Long Stuart A. , Chen Ji
Published: September 2020

Purpose

This paper studies the RF‐induced heating for modular external fixation devices applied on the leg regions of the human bodies. Through numerical investigations of RF‐induced heating related to different patient orientations, landmark positions, and device positions under 1.5T and 3T MRI systems, simple and practical methods to reduce RF‐induced heating are recommended.

Methods

Numerical simulations using a full‐wave electromagnetic solver based on the finite‐difference time‐domain method were performed to characterize the effects of patient orientations (head‐first/feet‐first), landmark positions (the scanning area of the patient), and device positions (device on left or right leg) on the RF‐induced heating of the external fixation devices. The G32 coil design and three anatomical human models (Duke model, Ella model, and Fats model) were adopted to model the MRI RF coil and the patients.

Results

The relative positions of the patient, device, and coil can significantly affect the RF‐induced heating. With other conditions remaining the same, changing the device position or patient orientation can lead to a peak 1‐g averaged spatial absorption ratio variation of a factor around four. By changing the landmark position and the patient orientation, the RF‐induced heating can be reduced from 1323.6 W/kg to 217.5 W/kg for the specific scanning situations studied.

Conclusion

Patient orientations, landmark positions, and device positions influence the RF‐induced heating of modular external fixation devices at 1.5 T and 3 T. These features can be used to reduce the RF‐induced heating during MRI simply and practically.
Myasthenia gravis and pregnancy
Authors: Grover Kavita M. , Sripathi Naganand
Published: September 2020

Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an autoimmune disorder with bimodal age of presentation, occurring in young women of reproductive age and at an older age in men. Occasionally, MG is diagnosed during pregnancy. Management of MG includes symptomatic treatment with cholinesterase inhibitors and immunosuppressive therapy for controlling the disease activity. Treatment of MG in women of reproductive age, who may be contemplating pregnancy, requires discussion regarding the choice of medication as well as the understanding of risks/adverse effects involved with various treatments. During the peripartum period, it is essential to ensure careful monitoring of the disease state along with the well‐being of the mother and fetus and to coordinate neonatal monitoring overseen by a multidisciplinary team comprising a high‐risk maternal fetal medicine specialist, a neurologist familiar with these complex issues, and a neonatologist.
Stabilization of positive coupled differential‐difference equations with unbounded time‐varying delays
Authors: Liu Guomin , Zhao Ping , Li Ruonan
Published: September 2020

This paper researches the static output‐feedback stabilization of single‐input single‐output (SISO) positive coupled differential‐difference equations (CDDEs) with unbounded time‐varying delays. First, a necessary and sufficient condition is provided for the positivity and asymptotical stability of CDDEs with unbounded time‐varying delays. For this type of system, based on the constructed estimates of its solution, a necessary and sufficient condition on asymptotical stability is provided. Then, based on this criterion, for CDDEs with unbounded time‐varying delays, a kind of static output‐feedback controller is designed to ensure the positivity and asymptotical stability of the corresponding closed‐loop systems. It is also worth pointing out that the controller is designed by the linear programming method without parameterization technique. This design approach can also be applied to the static state feedback stabilization problem of CDDEs with unbounded time‐varying delays. Finally, two illustrative examples are given to show the effectiveness of our results.
In Reply
Authors: Vivaldi Caterina , Fornaro Lorenzo , Ugolini Clara , Vasile Enrico
Published: September 2020

This letter to the editor responds to remarks on the authors' recently published article on the role of HER2 as a negative prognostic factor in completely resected biliary tract cancer.
Preparation of Functional Long‐Subchain Hyperbranched Polystyrenes via Post‐polymerization Modification: Study on the Critical Role of Chemical Stability of Branching Linkage
Authors: Zhu Mo , Hao Nairong , Zaheer Muhammad , Yang Jinxian , Li Lianwei
Published: September 2020

Post‐polymerization modification (PPM) is one of the most powerful strategy for preparing polymers with functional groups that cannot be synthesized by direct polymerization. So far, numerous experimental efforts have been devoted to the stability issue of monomer structures during the PPM process, but little attention was paid to chemical linkages. However, for hyperbranched polymers, a minor change of linkage unit could lead to a significant influence on the overall stability and performance of polymer materials. In this work, we investigated the chemical stability of long‐subchain hyperbranched polystyrenes with ester, aryl ether, and carbon‐carbon bonds as branching linkages under a few most popular PPM conditions, including NaOH hydrolysis reaction, TFA‐promoted hydrolysis reaction, BBr3‐catalyzed methoxy‐hydroxyl conversion reaction, and LiAlH4 carbonyl reduction reaction. Related results are summarized into a synthetic route map that can provide practical and intuitive guidance for preparing functional long‐subchain hyperbranched polystyrenes and other type of polymers by PPM for future applications.
Clinical outcomes and quality of life in children and adolescents with primary brain tumors treated with pencil beam scanning proton therapy
Authors: Tran Sebastien , Lim Pei S. , Bojaxhiu Beat , Teske Carmen , Baust Katja , Zepter Stefan , Kliebsch Ulrike , Timmermann Beate , Calaminus Gabriele , Weber Damien Charles
Published: September 2020

Background

Long‐term treatment‐related toxicity may substantially impact well‐being, quality of life (QoL), and health of children/adolescents with brain tumors (CBTs). Strategies to reduce toxicity include pencil beam scanning (PBS) proton therapy (PT). This study aims to report clinical outcomes and QoL in PBS‐treated CBTs.

Procedure

We retrospectively reviewed 221 PBS‐treated CBTs aged <18 years. Overall‐free (OS), disease‐free (DFS), and late‐toxicity–free survivals (TFS), local control (LC) and distant (DC) brain/spinal control were calculated using Kaplan‐Meier estimates. Prospective QoL reports from 206 patients (proxies only ≤4 years old [yo], proxies and patients ≥5 yo) were descriptively analyzed. Median follow‐up was 51 months (range, 4‐222).

Results

Median age at diagnosis was 3.1 years (range, 0.3‐17.7). The main histologies were ependymoma (n = 88; 39.8%), glioma (n = 37; 16.7%), craniopharyngioma (n = 22; 10.0%), atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor (ATRT) (n = 21; 9.5%) and medulloblastoma (n = 15; 6.8%). One hundred sixty (72.4%) patients received chemotherapy. Median PT dose was 54 Gy(relative biological effectiveness) (range, 18.0‐64.8). The 5‐year OS, DFS, LC, and DC (95% CI) were 79.9% (74‐85.8), 65.2% (59.8‐70.6), 72.1% (65.4‐78.8), and 81.8% (76.3‐87.3), respectively. Late PT‐related ≥G3 toxicity occurred in 19 (8.6%) patients. The 5‐year ≥G3 TFS was 91.0% (86.3‐95.7). Three (1.4%) secondary malignancies were observed. Patients aged ≤3 years at PT (P = .044) or receiving chemotherapy (P = .043) experienced more ≥G3 toxicity. ATRT histology independently predicted distant brain failure (P = .046) and death (P = .01). Patients aged ≥5 years self‐rated QoL higher than their parents (proxy assessment). Both reported lower social functioning and cognition after PT than at baseline, but near‐normal long‐term global well‐being. QoL was well below normal before and after PT in children ≤4 years.

Conclusions

The outcome of CBTs was excellent after PBS. Few patients had late ≥G3 toxicity. Patients aged <5 years showed worse QoL and toxicity outcomes.
Flame retardancy and pyrolysis behavior of an epoxy resin composite flame‐retarded by diphenylphosphinyl‐POSS
Authors: Zhai Congcong , Xin Fei , Cai Liyun , Chen Yu , Qian Lijun
Published: September 2020

To reduce the flammability of epoxy resin (EP), a flame retardant (designated as D‐POSS) containing diphenylphosphinyl and polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) was constructed by aminopropyl‐isobutyl POSS and diphenylphosphinyl chloride. The chemical structure of D‐POSS was fully characterized, then it was used to enhance the flame retardancy of EP. When the flame‐retardant EP composite contained 4 wt% D‐POSS, its limiting oxygen index value was 29.0% and it achieved UL 94 V‐1 rating. Also, its peak of heat release rate (pk‐HRR), total heat release (THR) and total smoke production were decreased by 35.3%, 30.3%, and 38.3%, respectively. Moreover, the results from cone calorimeter disclosed that diphenylphosphinyl group and POSS group in D‐POSS showed a strong synergistic effect in inhibiting pk‐HRR, THR, and smoke production, promoting the charring formation of EP material, and forming an intumescent char layer. Additionally, the theoretical THR reduction of flame‐retardant EP composite was calculated by the equation deduced from the standard, and it was almost same with the practical THR reduction. Notably, some silicon oxide enriched on the residue's surface. The phenomenon led to form a double‐layer residue that consisted of white yarn‐like outer char and normal intumescent inner char. This double‐layer residue was contributed to enhance EP composite's flame retardancy.
Registration of the Louise‐Penawawa spring wheat recombinant inbred line mapping population
Authors: Carter A.H. , Kidwell K.K. , DeMacon V.L. , Shelton G.B. , Burke A.B. , Balow K.A. , Herr A.
Published: September 2020

The Louise‐Penawawa spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) recombinant inbred line (RIL) mapping population (Reg. no. MP‐13, NSL 535038 MAP) was developed from a cross between the elite soft white spring wheat cultivars ‘Louise’ and ‘Penawawa’ at Washington State University. The population is composed of 180 RILs developed through single seed descent from the F2 to the F5 generation. The population and its parents were genotyped using both simple sequence repeat and single‐nucleotide polymorphism marker platforms. Analysis of markers identified 29 linkage groups that located to all 21 wheat chromosomes. The population was initially developed for the study of high‐temperature adult‐plant stripe rust resistance but has since been phenotyped and used to identify Hessian fly resistance, tan spot resistance, polyphenol oxidase activity, vital agronomic traits, and milling and baking quality. Markers have been identified that are closely linked with quantitative trait loci (QTL) that influence these traits. This population has the potential to identify QTL for additional traits of interest. Additionally, lines from this RIL population are well suited to introgress traits of interest as both Louise and Penawawa are commercially released cultivars adapted to a variety of growing regions and conditions.
Registration of ‘Acala 1517‐21’ Cotton Cultivar
Authors: Zhang Jinfa
Published: September 2020

The New Mexico Agricultural Experiment Station announces the release of upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) cultivar ‘Acala 1517‐21’ (Reg. no. CV‐144, PI 693757). Acala 1517‐21 was derived from a single plant selection in F3 from a bi‐parental cross between LA05307029 and AU‐5491. This new cultivar was tested in eight replicated field trials in New Mexico in 2012–2017 and 21 tests across 12 states of the Cotton Belt in 2016–2017. In New Mexico, Acala 1517‐21 yielded similarly to medium‐staple cultivars or transgenic commercial Acala cultivars including ‘PHY 725 RF’, ‘PHY 755 WRF’, ‘PHY 764 WRF’, ‘FM 2322GL’, and ‘FM 1830GLT’. Compared with ‘Acala 1517‐08’, Acala 1517‐21 averaged 12.9% higher lint yield and 11.5% higher lint percentage, with a similar boll weight, fiber length, length uniformity, elongation, micronaire, and short fiber content. However, Acala 1517‐21 had similar or slightly lower fiber strength with significantly lower strength and elongation in one test. Compared with commercial transgenic and nontransgenic cultivars across the Cotton Belt, Acala 1517‐21 had consistently longer and stronger fibers or lower micronaire readings. Acala 1517‐21 represents a high‐yielding upland cotton cultivar with high lint percentage and a long staple.
Botulinum Toxin Injection and Electromyography in Patients Receiving Anticoagulants: A Systematic Review
Authors: Tan Yeow Leng , Wee Tze Chao
Published: September 2020

Objective

To identify the different practice patterns of botulinum toxin injection (BTX) and electromyography (EMG) in patients receiving anticoagulation and to evaluate the incidence, reporting, and management of bleeding complications and compartment syndrome from BTX and EMG.

Literature Survey

Systematic review of relevant clinical studies in PubMed/Medline and Embase databases using key terms from inception to 31 May 2020. All publications in the English language were included without demographic limits.

Methodology

A comprehensive search was performed to identify all studies addressing BTX and EMG in patients receiving anticoagulants. Two reviewers independently screened the titles, abstracts, and full texts and extracted data based on a set of predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. All studies that met the inclusion criteria were assigned their respective levels of evidence using the Joanne Briggs Institute (JBI) Level of Evidence for Effectiveness.

Synthesis

Eighteen studies were included in this review of which there were nine studies each on BTX and EMG. The results indicated heterogeneity in the practice patterns of BTX and EMG in patients taking anticoagulants. These included the decision for continuation of anticoagulant, international normalized ratio (INR) results acceptable to practitioners, the modality for procedure guidance, and surveillance of bleeding complications. In addition, there were variations in the description of targeted muscles and description of needle sizes. The overall incidence of bleeding complications and compartment syndrome rates were low.

Conclusions

Despite the varied practice in anticoagulated patients undergoing BTX or EMG, practitioners should allow periprocedural continuation of anticoagulants, targeting an INR of 2 to 3 while using the smallest needle (25 gauge or smaller) of appropriate length. Some of the evidence on procedural guidance and complication surveillance were weak and more research in these areas is required.
Mechanisms of Csp3‐H or Nsp2‐H functionalization of 2,3‐diaminoindoles with triplet O2: A density functional theory investigation
Authors: Deng Zhe‐Peng , Zhou Da‐Gang
Published: September 2020

The mechanisms of Csp3‐H or Nsp2‐H activations of 2,3‐diaminoindoles oxidized by triplet O2 have been investigated with the method of M06‐2X‐D3/6‐31 + G(d,p) in the Universal Solvation Model Based on Solute Electron Density (SMD) model. The calculations indicate that the activation of 2,3‐diaminoindoles has three possible paths. First, the Csp3‐H functionalization has a higher energy barrier than that of Nsp2‐H activation; then an intramolecular H‐shift reaction happened to lose a H2O2 molecule; the third step is a ring‐closure reaction and imidazolo‐indole skeleton would be constructed; finally, the elimination reaction occurred, and the final product would be yielded. Fukui function and dual descriptor could be used to predict the active sites of the reactants and intermediates. Results would provide valuable insights into these types of interactions and related ones.
Perceived stress, anxiety, and depression in treatment‐naïve women with breast cancer: a case‐control study
Authors: Li Jie , Gao Wei , Yang Qianqian , Cao Fenglin
Published: September 2020

Objective

Women with breast cancer face elevated risk for psychological problems. We aimed to examine to what extent treatment‐naïve women with breast cancer are at higher risk for perceived stress and symptoms of anxiety and depression, compared with matched women with benign breast disease and healthy women, and explore the contribution of perceived stress in the association between breast cancer and symptoms of anxiety and depression.

Methods

The study included 360 women (120 per group). Perceived stress and symptoms of anxiety and depression were assessed using self‐report questionnaires. We conducted linear and logistic regressions to assess increased risk and mediation analyses to test the role of perceived stress.

Results

After adjusting for potential confounders, perceived stress in women with breast cancer was 0.71 and 1.58 points higher than in patients with benign breast disease (p = 0.029) and healthy controls (p < 0.001), respectively; they were 1.85–2.44 times more likely to experience anxiety than either control group (p< 0.05) and 3.57 times more likely to experience depression than healthy controls (p < 0.001). The indirect effect of perceived stress between breast cancer and anxiety and depressive symptoms was 0.19–0.47 (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

This study demonstrates the high risk of perceived stress and symptoms of anxiety and depression in treatment‐naïve patients with breast cancer, and the association between breast cancer and increased anxiety and depressive symptoms through elevated perceived stress. It underscores the need to assess psychological status in pretreatment period and conduct stress‐targeted prehabilitation interventions.
Lung clearance index: A new measure of late lung complications of cancer therapy in children
Authors: Parisi Giuseppe F. , Cannata Emanuela , Manti Sara , Papale Maria , Meli Mariaclaudia , Russo Giovanna , Di Cataldo Andrea , Leonardi Salvatore
Published: September 2020

Introduction

Childhood cancer survivors (CSs) might face an increased lifelong risk of lung function impairment. The lung clearance index (LCI) has been described as being more sensitive than spirometry in the early stages of some lung diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate this index in a cohort of patients with a history of childhood cancer for the first time.

Materials and Methods

We evaluated 57 off‐treatment CSs aged 0–18 years old and 50 healthy controls (HCs). We used the multiple‐breath washout method to study LCI and spirometry.

Results

CSs did not show any differences from the controls in ventilation homogeneity (LCI 6.78 ± 1.35 vs. 6.32 ± 0.44; p: not significant [ns]) or lung function (FEV1 99.9 ± 11.3% vs. 103.0 ± 5.9% of predicted; p: ns; FVC 98.2 ± 10.3% vs. 101.1 ± 3.3% of predicted). LCI significantly correlated with the number of years since the last chemotherapy (r = .35, p < .05).

Conclusions

Our study describes the trend of LCI in a cohort of CSs and compares it with the results obtained from HCs. The results show that patients maintain both good values of respiratory function and good homogeneity of ventilation during childhood. Moreover, as LCI increases and worsens as the years pass after the end of the treatment could identify the tendency toward pulmonary fibrosis, which is typical of adult CSs, at an earlier time than spirometry.
A novel approach to nonsurgical sterilization; application of menadione‐modified gonocyte‐targeting M13 bacteriophage for germ cell ablation in utero
Authors: Fraser Barbara A. , Miller Kasey , Trigg Natalie A. , Smith Nathan D. , Western Patrick S. , Nixon Brett , Aitken Robert J.
Published: September 2020

There remains a compelling need for the development of nonsurgical sterilizing agents to expand the fertility management options for both domestic and feral animal species. We hypothesize that an efficacious sterilization approach would be to selectively ablate nonrenewable cell types that are essential for reproduction, such as the undifferentiated gonocytes within the embryonic gonad. Here, we report a novel strategy to achieve this goal centered on the use of a chemically modified M13 bacteriophage to effect the targeted delivery of menadione, a redox‐cycling naphthoquinone, to mouse gonocytes. Panning of the M13 random peptide ‘phage display library proved effective in the isolation of gonocyte‐specific targeting clones. One such clone was modified via N‐succinimidyl‐S‐acetylthioacetate (SATA) linkage to the N‐terminus of the major PVIII capsid protein. Subsequent deacetylation of the SATA was undertaken to expose a thiol group capable of reacting with menadione through Michael addition. This chemical modification was confirmed using UV spectrophotometry. In proof‐of‐concept experiments we applied the modified ‘phage to primary cultures of fetal germ cells and induced, an approximately, 60% reduction in the viability of the target cell population. These studies pave the way for in vivo application of chemically modified M13 bacteriophage in order to achieve the selective ablation of nonrenewable cell types in the reproductive system, thereby providing a novel nonsurgical approach the regulation of fertility in target species.
Lasing Characteristics and Reliability of 1550 nm Laser Diodes Monolithically Grown on Silicon
Authors: Shi Bei , Pinna Sergio , Zhao Hongwei , Zhu Si , Klamkin Jonathan
Published: September 2020

Room‐temperature continuous wave (RT‐CW) electrically pumped 1550 nm indium phosphide (InP)‐based laser diodes are realized on complementary metal‐oxide‐semiconductor (CMOS) compatible silicon (Si) substrates by direct heteroepitaxy. Dynamic properties are investigated by gain switching and small signal modulation measurements. A maximum 3 dB bandwidth of 5.3 GHz is demonstrated, along with a narrow optical pulse with a width of 1.5 ns. The dark current density of 490 mA cm−2 at −1 V bias is an order of magnitude higher than identical devices grown and fabricated on native InP substrates. Also, reliability measurements and failure analysis are carried out for the lasers on Si. The lasers operate stably over 200 hours (h) at 10 °C under CW operation without apparent change in threshold or output power. In sharp contrast, a rapid failure occurs at 60 °C under pulsed operation following 5.6 h of aging. To further improve device characteristics for lasers on Si, the dislocation density of the InP template is reduced by introducing a 2 μm‐thick compositionally graded In0.4Ga0.6 As buffer. The resulting surface defect density is as low as 4.5 × 107 cm−2, which is expected to improve the performance and reliability of long wavelength lasers grown directly on Si.
Heterogeneous Compound Semiconductor Integration
Authors: Cok Ronald S. , Gomez David
Published: September 2020

Micro‐transfer printing (μTP) provides fast and precise assembly of micro‐components from a variety of different source materials onto non‐native target substrates such as glass, plastic, ceramic, and silicon. Retrievable micro‐components are picked up by an elastomer stamp and printed onto the target substrate with yields exceeding 99.9%. Devices incorporating GaN, GaAs, InP, and other compound semiconductor materials are successfully integrated onto silicon and glass with fine precision to make highly integrated compound semiconductor micro‐systems.
Buried InP/Airhole Photonic‐Crystal Surface‐Emitting Lasers
Authors: Reuterskiöld Hedlund Carl , Martins De Pina João , Kalapala Akhil , Liu Zhonghe , Zhou Weidong , Hammar Mattias
Published: September 2020

Herein, the fabrication of InP photonic‐crystal surface‐emitting lasers (PCSELs) using a buried airhole/InP photonic‐crystal (PC) layer based on an epitaxial regrowth process is reported. The formation of PC voids in the InP crystal structure requires a precise tuning of the metal‐organic vapor‐phase epitaxy (MOVPE) growth parameters, where the regrowth evolution is a function of temperature, V/III ratio, and growth rate. With precise control of these parameters, it is possible to alter the airhole shape from complete infilling to perfect encapsulation. Low‐threshold lasing is demonstrated from these encapsulated airhole regrown PCSELs using optical pumping.
High‐Temperature Annealing of AlGaN
Authors: Hagedorn Sylvia , Khan Taimoor , Netzel Carsten , Hartmann Carsten , Walde Sebastian , Weyers Markus
Published: September 2020

In the past few years, high‐temperature annealing of AlN has become a proven method for providing AlN layers with low dislocation densities. Herein, the example of Al0.77Ga0.23N is used to investigate whether annealing can also improve the material quality of the ternary alloy. A detailed analysis of the influence of annealing temperature on structural and optical material properties is presented. It is found that with increasing annealing temperature, the threading dislocation density can be lowered from an initial value of 6.0 × 109 down to 2.6 × 109 cm−2. Ga depletion at the AlGaN surface and Ga diffusion into the AlN buffer layer are observed. After annealing, the defect luminescence between 3 and 4 eV is increased, accompanied by an increase in the oxygen concentration by about two orders of magnitude. Furthermore, due to annealing optical absorption at 325 nm (3.8 eV) occurs, which increases with increasing annealing temperature. It is assumed that the reason for this decrease in ultraviolet (UV) transmittance is the increasing number of vacancies caused by the removal of group‐III and N atoms from the AlGaN lattice during annealing.