bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Aroma compounds and physicochemical and functional properties of traditional Tokat bread
Authors: Cingöz Ali
Published: October 2024

This study aimed to determine the physical (height, weight, volume, color, etc.), chemical (protein, fat, ash, moisture, etc.), functional (total phenolic, flavonoid, and antioxidant capacity), nutritional (total, soluble, insoluble dietary fiber, and important starch fractions), and texture properties and volatile organic compounds of traditional Tokat bread. In addition, yeast and bacterial species were isolated and identified from the sourdoughs used in its production. Having a 6‐day shelf life, traditional Tokat bread has an average total dietary fiber content of 14.64%. The predictable glycemic index was 83.09, and the slowly digestible starch content was 6.15%. In traditional Tokat bread, 45 different volatile aroma components were identified, and S. cerevisiae, D. hansenii, K. lactis, L. plantarum, and L. mesentorides species were mostly isolated in sourdough. The characteristics of traditional Tokat breads produced by traditional methods in different regions were determined. It is predicted that the taste and aroma of traditional Tokat bread originate from the hornbeam and pelite woods used in the baking stage and the sourdough used. The yeast composition of the breads collected from different regions also varies.
Redefining Neonatal Vitamin A Adequacy and Deficiency Based on Maternal Nutrition: A Cross‐Sectional Study in Chongqing, China
Authors: Fan Xiaobing , Lai Xi , Miao Jingkun , Chen Qixiong , Chen Jia , Liu Huan
Published: October 2024

There are no established diagnostic criteria for neonatal vitamin A deficiency (VAD), and applying adult VAD criteria to neonates may overestimate the neonatal VAD rate. This study aimed to evaluate neonatal vitamin A (VA) status and redefine thresholds for neonatal VA adequacy and deficiency based on maternal VA nutrition. A cross‐sectional study involving 1901 mother–neonate pairs was conducted in Chongqing, China. VA nutritional status was assessed by measuring serum VA levels and dietary VA intake from the third trimester to birth. The VAD rates of maternal dietary intake and serum were 27.091% and 23.356%, respectively, while 88.8% of neonates had serum VA levels < 0.70 μmol/L, the threshold for adult VAD. Neonatal VA levels were significantly lower than maternal levels. All neonates were healthy, with no clinical signs of VAD. Neonatal VA levels correlated positively with maternal VA levels. The threshold for neonatal VA adequacy was estimated to be ≥ 0.489 (95%CI: 0.464–0.512) μmol/L when maternal VA nutrition was adequate, and the 2.5th percentile of VA levels among all neonates was 0.192 μmol/L, predicting neonatal VAD. The study concluded that neonatal VAD rates might be overestimated, as most neonates received adequate VA from their mothers. Maternal VA status is a reliable predictor of neonatal VA status due to their close relationship. This study offers a new perspective on prenatal nutrition for determining neonatal VA adequacy and deficiency thresholds and developing neonatal VA supplementation programs. Further research is needed.
Lipschütz ulcer following first dose of COVID‐19 tozinameran vaccine: Report of a case and review of a World Health Organization pharmacovigilance database
Authors: Ewig Elliot , Ben Othman Nouha , Viard Delphine , Gauci Pierre‐Alexis , Rocher Fanny , Drici Milou‐Daniel
Published: October 2024

Lipschütz ulcer (LU) is a condition known for painful vulvar ulcers, typically affecting young women and often linked to infectious agents. Recent reports have indicated a potential connection between LU and COVID‐19 vaccination, particularly after the second or booster doses. This study presents a case of LU following the first dose of tozinameran in a young woman who had a previous SARS‐CoV‐2 infection and investigates similar cases globally. An 18‐year‐old woman experienced vulvar pain and ulcers 2‐days after her initial COVID‐19 vaccine dose. After ruling out infections through serological tests, a diagnosis of LU was made, and her symptoms resolved after 10 days. A literature search and VigiBase® analysis revealed 11 cases of LU following COVID‐19 vaccination, and 519 vulvovaginal ulcer cases associated with these vaccines were identified in Vigibase®, with a median onset of 2 days. Most LU cases occurred after the second dose or booster shots. The primary hypothesis for this association is a type 3 hypersensitivity reaction mediated by immune complexes, possibly triggered by prior exposure, as many cases occurred after the second dose. Interestingly, the presented case suggests that prior COVID‐19 infection could serve as sensitization. In conclusion, this study highlights the potential occurrence of LU after the initial COVID‐19 vaccine dose in young patients with prior COVID‐19 infection. While the risk of recurrence after subsequent vaccinations or infections remains uncertain, the benefits of vaccination outweigh the risks. Clinicians and patients should be aware of this potential issue to make informed decisions regarding vaccination.
Ultrasound‐guided embolization for renal artery pseudoaneurysm in solitary kidney
Authors: Augustine Sana , Patel Mitwa , Inban Pugazhendi , Synthia Sk Sadia Rahman , Asfeen Ummul Z , Yaqub Aliza , Mahmood Khan Aadil , Singh Mansi
Published: October 2024

Introduction

Renal artery pseudoaneurysm is a rare yet serious complication following percutaneous nephrolithotomy, especially in patients with solitary kidneys. Effective management is crucial to prevent further renal damage.

Case presentation

We report a case of a 41‐year‐old male with a solitary kidney who experienced gross hematuria and renal insufficiency 3 months after percutaneous nephrolithotomy. Due to the patient's renal insufficiency and the risks associated with arterial catheterization, ultrasound‐guided embolization was chosen as the treatment approach. Initial angiographic attempts were impeded by renal vessel spasms, delaying intervention. However, successful direct percutaneous embolization was subsequently performed using ultrasound and digital subtraction angiography.

Conclusion

The patient's recovery was uneventful, and follow‐up assessments showed no recurrence of renal artery pseudoaneurysm. This case highlights the effectiveness of ultrasound‐guided embolization as a viable treatment option for post‐percutaneous nephrolithotomy renal artery pseudoaneurysm, particularly in patients with solitary kidneys.
Fairness in artificial intelligence‐driven multi‐organ image segmentation
Authors: Li Qing , Zhang Yizhe , Sun Longyu , Sun Mengting , Liu Meng , Wang Zian , Wang Qi , Wang Shuo , Wang Chengyan
Published: October 2024

Fairness is an emerging consideration when assessing the segmentation performance of machine learning models across various demographic groups. During clinical decision‐making, an unfair segmentation model exhibits risks in that it can pose inappropriate diagnoses and unsuitable treatment plans for underrepresented demographic groups, resulting in severe consequences for patients and society. In medical artificial intelligence (AI), the fairness of multi‐organ segmentation is imperative to augment the integration of models into clinical practice. As the use of multi‐organ segmentation in medical image analysis expands, it is crucial to systematically examine fairness to ensure equitable segmentation performance across diverse patient populations and ensure health equity. However, comprehensive studies assessing the problem of fairness in multi‐organ segmentation remain lacking. This study aimed to provide an overview of the fairness problem in multi‐organ segmentation. We first define fairness and discuss the factors that lead to fairness problems such as individual fairness, group fairness, counterfactual fairness, and max–min fairness in multi‐organ segmentation, focusing mainly on datasets and models. We then present strategies to potentially improve fairness in multi‐organ segmentation. Additionally, we highlight the challenges and limitations of existing approaches and discuss future directions for improving the fairness of AI models for clinically oriented multi‐organ segmentation.
The adverse dyadic friendship (ADF): An exploratory retrospective view of female adolescents
Authors: Korem Anat , Tatar Moshe
Published: October 2024

Introduction

Friendships of adolescent girls play a significant role in providing socio‐emotional support and enabling the attainment of developmental tasks. The present exploratory paper focuses on an aspect of close friendships that has yet to be widely examined, which we described as the Adverse Dyadic Friendship (ADF). This is a friendship whose negative elements are perceived from the distance of time as outweighing its positive ones.

Methods

To examine the features of ADF, a qualitative study based on retrospective data obtained from 34 young adult females (Mage = 31.14, SD = 5.59) was conducted in Israel. Using a semi‐structured online questionnaire, participants were asked to address a specific close same‐sex friendship they had during their middle or high school years that has negatively affected them.

Results

The emerging themes (such as negative feelings and various coping strategies) suggest that ADF comprises an intense emotional condition, having implications on the development of individuals’ self‐perception. The consequences of ADF may be detrimental to adolescent girls’ self‐worth and friendship skills and extend into their adult life.

Conclusions

Whereas the developmental literature emphasizes the positive aspects of friendship for adolescent girls, this study points out how ADF can also become a developmental challenge for them: on the one hand, ADF comprises a risk factor for their socio‐emotional development, and on the other hand, presents an opportunity to learn and introduce changes in their lives. The main contribution of this paper is that ADF can stimulate further research on the complex aspects of friendship between adolescent girls.
Occupational future time perspective and mental health problems across adolescence: Random‐intercept cross‐lagged panel analysis and alternative variations
Authors: Yang Yi , Obsuth Ingrid , Zhu Xinxin , Ribeaud Denis , Eisner Manuel , Murray Aja
Published: October 2024

Introduction

Adolescence is a crucial developmental stage characterized by escalating mental health issues as well as an increasing awareness of future career possibilities. Occupational future time perspective has been shown to be a promotive factor for social functioning and mental health, and a component in evidence‐based clinical practices and randomized controlled trial intervention studies. However, it requires more rigorous and ecological corroboration from longitudinal analysis at the within‐person level.

Methods

Random intercept cross‐lagged panel models with several adjustments and sensitivity analyses were applied to the longitudinal data from the Zurich Project on the Social Development from Childhood to Adulthood (Zurich, Switzerland), to analyze how occupational future time perspective and psychological/neurodevelopmental outcomes (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder symptoms/externalizing/internalizing problems) covaried across ages 13 (N = 1365), 15 (N = 1446), and 17 (N = 1305) in the years 2016, 2018, and 2020, after controlling for sex (52% male), SES, and school type.

Results

A small effect was found in a random intercept cross‐lagged panel model whereby occupational future time perspective at age 15 predicted externalizing problems at age 17 (β = .146, p = .05, [95% CI = 0.000, 0.292]), and in a random intercept (contemporaneous) reciprocal panel model specification attention deficit hyperactivity disorder symptoms at age 17 were contemporaneously associated with occupational future time perspective at age 17 (β = −.310, p < .05, [95% CI = −0.580, −0.041]). No cross‐lagged associations were found to be robust across different model specifications/adjustments.

Conclusions

These findings suggest that improving occupational future time perspective may have limited impact on enhancing mental health, offering valuable insights for school‐based interventions. Further research and replication are necessary to confirm these results.
Exploiting News Analytics for Volatility Forecasting
Authors: Bodilsen Simon Tranberg , Lunde Asger
Published: October 2024

This study investigates the potential of news sentiment in predicting stock market volatility. We augment traditional time series models of realized volatility with the sentiment of macroeconomic and firm‐specific news. Our results demonstrate that incorporating the sentiment of domestic macroeconomic news significantly improves volatility predictions for individual stocks and the S&P 500 Index. Notably, we find substantial enhancements in long‐horizon volatility predictions when including the sentiment of macroeconomic news in the regression models. In contrast, firm‐specific news sentiment shows only modest predictive power in the general framework. However, expanding the set of predictors to include the news count of firm‐specific news occurring overnight between two consecutive trading periods significantly improves one‐period‐ahead volatility forecasts.

JEL Classification: C53, C55, C58, G14, G17
Association of Muscle Strength With All‐Cause Mortality in the Oldest Old: Prospective Cohort Study From 28 Countries
Authors: Andersen Lars Louis , López‐Bueno Rubén , Núñez‐Cortés Rodrigo , Cadore Eduardo Lusa , Polo‐López Ana , Calatayud Joaquín
Published: October 2024

Background

Ageing is associated with a gradual loss of muscle strength, which in the end may have consequences for survival. Whether muscle strength and mortality risk associate in a gradual or threshold‐specific manner remains unclear. This study investigates the prospective association of muscle strength with all‐cause mortality in the oldest old.

Methods

We included 1890 adults aged ≥ 90 years (61.6% women, mean age 91.0 ± 1.5 years) from 27 European countries and Israel participating in the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) study. Muscle strength was assessed using handgrip dynamometry (unit: kilogram). Using time‐varying Cox regression with restricted cubic splines, we determined the prospective association of muscle strength with mortality, controlling for age, sex, smoking, BMI, marital status, education, geographical region and self‐perceived health.

Results

Over a mean follow‐up of 4.2 ± 2.4 years, more than half of the participants died (n = 971, 51.4%). The mean handgrip strength was 20.4 ± 8.0 kg for all participants, with men (26.7 ± 7.5 kg) showing significantly higher strength than women (16.4 ± 5.4 kg) (p < 0.001). Using the median level of muscle strength as reference (18 kg), lower and higher levels were associated in a gradual and curvilinear fashion with higher and lower mortality risk, respectively. The 10th percentile of muscle strength (10 kg) showed a hazard ratio (HR) of 1.27 (95% CI 1.13–1.43, p < 0.001). The 90th percentile (31 kg) showed an HR of 0.69 (95% CI 0.58–0.82, p < 0.001). Stratified for sex, the median levels of muscle strength were 26 kg for men and 16 kg for women. The 10th percentile of muscle strength showed HRs of 1.33 (95% CI 1.10–1.61, p < 0.001) at 15 kg for men and 1.19 (95% CI 1.05–1.35, p < 0.01) at 10 kg for women. The 90th percentile of muscle strength showed HRs of 0.75 (95% CI 0.59–0.95, p < 0.01) at 35 kg for men and 0.75 (95% CI 0.62–0.90, p < 0.001) at 23 kg for women. Sensitivity analyses, which excluded individuals who died within the first 2 years of follow‐up, confirmed the main findings.

Conclusion

Rather than a specific threshold, muscle strength is gradually and inversely associated with mortality risk in the oldest old. As muscle strength at all ages is highly adaptive to resistance training, these findings highlight the importance of improving muscle strength in both men and women among the oldest old.
Associations of fetal and infant growth patterns with behavior and cognitive outcomes in early adolescence
Authors: Gonçalves Romy , Gaillard Romy , Ferguson Kelly K. , Sammallahti Sara , Hillegers Manon H. , Steegers Eric A. P. , El Marroun Hanan , Jaddoe Vincent W. V.
Published: October 2024

Background

Fetal life and infancy might be critical periods for brain development leading to increased risks of neurocognitive disorders and psychopathology later in life. We examined the associations of fetal and infant weight growth patterns and birth characteristics with behavior and cognitive outcomes at the age of 13 years.

Methods

Population‐based prospective cohort study from fetal life until adolescence. Pregnant women with a delivery date between April 2002 and January 2006 were eligible. Follow‐up measurements were available for 4716 children. Fetal weight was estimated in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy by ultrasonography. Infant weight was measured at birth and at 6, 12, and 24 months. Fetal and infant weight acceleration or deceleration were defined as a change in SD greater than 0.67 between time points. Total, internalizing and externalizing problems and attention‐deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms were measured using Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL/6–18), autistic traits by the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS) and intelligence quotient (IQ) by the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children‐Fifth Edition (WISC‐V).

Results

One week longer gestational age at birth was associated with a −0.03 SDS (95% Confidence Interval (CI): −0.04, −0.01) lower total behavior problems score, a −0.02 SDS (95% CI: −0.04, −0.01) lower ADHD symptoms score. Also an increase in birth weight of 500 g was associated with a lower odds of having high externalizing problems (OR 0.92 (95% CI: 0.86, 0.98) and of having a low IQ score (OR 0.79 (95% CI: 0.71, 0.88). Compared to children with normal fetal and infant growth, those with accelerated fetal and infant growth had a 0.27 SDS higher IQ (95% Confidence Interval 0.11, 0.44).

Conclusions

Both fetal and infant weight development are associated with behavioral and cognitive outcomes in early adolescence. Follow‐up studies are needed to assess whether these associations link to later life mental health outcomes.
Interleukin‐6 transcripts up‐regulation in lymph nodes from unicentric and multicentric Castleman disease
Authors: Lucioni Marco , Morello Gaia , Cristinelli Caterina , Fraticelli Sara , Neri Giuseppe , Travaglino Erica , Minetto Marco , Antoci Francesca , Libretti Paolo , Gambacorta Marcello , Arcaini Luca , Tripodo Claudio , Paulli Marco
Published: October 2024

Introduction

Castleman disease (CD) represents a spectrum of heterogeneous lymphoproliferative disorders sharing peculiar histopathological features, clinically subdivided into unicentric CD (UCD) and multicentric CD (MCD) and presenting with variable inflammatory symptoms. Interleukin (IL)‐6 and other cytokines play a major role in mediating CD inflammatory manifestations. Although the local microenvironment seems to be among the major sources of hypercytokinemia, the precise cellular origin of IL‐6 production in CD is still debated.

Methods

A series of five nodal CD of different subtypes (one UCD, two idiopathic MCDs [iMCDs], one HIV‐negative human herpesvirus 8 (HHV8)‐associated MCD, and one HIV‐positive HHV8‐associated MCD) and a non‐CD reactive control were tested using RNAscope analysis and a dual in situ hybridization (ISH)/immunohistochemistry technique, in order to quantify IL‐6 expression and its spatial distribution. Quantitative analyses of in situ mRNA were performed on digitalized slides using the HISTOQUANT software (3DHISTECH) and differences between cases were evaluated by the Kruskal‐Wallis test.

Results

RNA‐ISH documented increased IL‐6 expression in all CD lymph nodes, independently from clinical and pathological subtypes, however, the highest levels were found in HHV8+ cases and statistically significant differences in IL‐6 expression were found only between HHV8+ MCD and control case. Dual RNA‐ISH for IL6 coupled with immunohistochemistry analysis showed that IL‐6 was overexpressed in CD31‐positive endothelial cells in 5/5 CD tested cases but not in the control case.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that nodal IL‐6 expression seems to be significantly upregulated in HHV8+ MCD, but a trend toward increased nodal IL‐6 expression was noticed also in UCD and iMCD‐not otherwise specified. CD31+ endothelial cells probably represent one of the major sources of IL‐6 production in the nodal microenvironment.
Continuous Global Improvement of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Genotyping Services: The 2022 and 2023 HPV LabNet International Proficiency Studies
Authors: Arroyo Mühr Laila Sara , Eklund Carina , Lagheden Camilla , Yilmaz Emel , Forslund Ola , Lilja Marina , Dillner Joakim
Published: October 2024

The International Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Reference Center launches annual global HPV genotyping proficiency panels to enhance the precision and international standardization of HPV genotyping services. This study aims to assess the proficiency levels achieved in the global HPV genotyping proficiency panels conducted in 2022 and 2023, and to evaluate trends in performance over time. The proficiency panels comprised 44 blinded samples each, including 40 samples containing various purified plasmids corresponding to HPV types combined with human DNA, plus four control samples (one negative control and three extraction controls). Proficiency required a sensitivity of 50 International Units (IU)/5 µL for HPV 16 and HPV 18 500 IU/5 µL for HPVs 6, 11, 31, 33, 45, 52, and 58 and 500 genome equivalents (GE)/5 µL for other HPV types in both single and multiple infections, while avoiding false positivity. In 2022, 78 laboratories submitted a total of 154 data sets, and in 2023, 81 laboratories contributed 141 data sets. Most data sets (87%, 258/295) utilized commercially available HPV assays. Proficiency was common, with 77% of data sets meeting the proficiency criteria in 2022 and 79% in 2023. False positive results significantly decreased from 22% in 2022 to 13% in 2023. The high proficiency and increasing specificity in HPV genotyping services indicates progress toward more reliable HPV testing. High accuracy is crucial for supporting global efforts in HPV and cervical cancer elimination.
Analysis of etched drain based Cylindrical agate‐all‐around tunnel field effect transistor based static random access memory cell design
Authors: Beohar Ankur , Mathew Ribu , Sarode Darshan , Upadhyay Abhishek Kumar , Khare Kavita
Published: October 2024

This paper aims to propose a novel method for designing an static random access memory (SRAM) cell using an etched drain based Cyl GAA TFET with a hetero‐substrate material and an elevated density strip. The aim is to reduce power dissipation and improve stability, as demonstrated through analysis utilizing static noise margin (SNM) as well as N‐curve methods. With respect to the 16 nm MOSFET based SRAM cell, the proposed device‐based SRAM cell shows significant improvements with a 68.305% reduction in leakage power, a 15.58% increase in static voltage noise margin (SVNM), an 8.623% increase in static current noise margin (SINM), an 8.152% increase in write trip voltage (WTV), a 12.86% increase in write trip current (WTI), a 27.62% increase in static power noise margin (SPNM), and a 19.95% increase in write trip power (WTP). The design is implemented and analyzed using Cadence Virtuoso software, and a novel approach of look up tables and Verilog A is utilized for the device to circuit application. These results indicate promising advancements in the design of SRAM cells, which could have significant implications for the development of advanced computer systems.
Pathogenicity of Bacillus subtilis Against Symbiotic Fungus of Euwallacea fornicates (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) From South India
Authors: Ashif Kammatterikunnu , Rabeesh Thattanteparambil
Published: October 2024

In India, the shot‐hole borer, Euwallacea fornicates, commonly known as the tea borer, infests the galleries of tea plant twigs under natural conditions and is a major pest of tea. The current investigation focuses on the antagonistic ability of Bacillus subtilis to directly inhibit the growth of plant pathogens in two different climatic regions of tea‐growing area. The evaluation reveals that (a) B. subtilis can directly suppress the growth of plant pathogens (b) in the in vitro evaluation; the B. subtilis suppressed the growth of the Fusarium ambrossium, which is the nourishment for the ambrosia beetle, (c) it also revealed that the antagonistic microbes and the entomopathogens are able to control the pest population of the shot hole borer of tea. The impact of B. subtilis on mycelial growth, sporulation, and spore germination of F. ambrosium in agar medium was observed. In the field condition on the post‐treatment assessments shows an average decline of 40% in both foliar and soil drenching. Hence, we recommend the antagonistic bacterium B. subtilis for including as an IPM for the management of shot hole borer in tea.
Assessment of Lethal, Sublethal, Transgenerational, and Biochemical Effects of Isaria fumosorosea on Mythimna separata
Authors: Raza Mudasar , Freed Shoaib , Ahmed Rizwan , Naeem Afifa
Published: October 2024

Mythimna separata is a destructive polyphagous pest of field crops. Insecticides are generally applied for its control which not only negatively affect natural enemies and the environment and cause resistance in the insect pests. There is a need for the friendly method which is safe for the environment and life. Currently, entomopathogenic fungi are being used as biological control agents for different insects. The influence of Isaria fumosorosea on survival, life table parameters, and enzymatic activities of M. separata were assessed. On the seventh day post‐treatment, the highest concentration 3 × 108 spores/mL−1 caused the 92.5% larval mortality. The effect of LC15 and LC50 of I. fumosorosea were recorded on parental generation (F0) and first filial generation (F1) of M. separata. The life table parameters of F1 showed a decreasing trend in the intrinsic rate (r), net reproductive rate (Ro), mean generational time (T), total larval duration, and fecundity ratio in treated groups. In LC15 and LC50, groups the average fecundity ratio was 319.2 and 191.18 eggs/female, respectively. The activities of detoxifying enzymes were concentration‐dependent and highest activities were recorded on the third day. I. fumosorosea negatively affected the growth parameters of M. separata and can be included in M. separata management program.
Compact Metasurface Terahertz Spectrometer
Authors: Ji Wenye , Chang Jin , Mirzaei Behnam , Ridder Marcel , Jellema Willem , Kao Tsung‐Yu , Lee Alan , Gao Jian Rong , Urbach Hendrik Paul , Adam Aurèle J. L.
Published: October 2024

The terahertz frequency region of the electromagnetic spectrum is crucial for understanding the formation and evolution of galaxies and stars throughout the universe's history, as well as the process of planet formation. Detecting the unique spectral signatures of molecules and atoms requires terahertz spectrometers, which must be operated in space observatories due to water vapor absorption in the Earth's atmosphere. However, current terahertz spectrometers face challenges such as low resolution, limited bandwidth, large volume, and complexity. In this paper, the issues of size and weight are addressed by demonstrating a concept for a centimeter‐sized, low‐weight terahertz spectrometer using a metasurface. The design of the metasurface spectrometer is first discussed for the 1.85 to 2.4 THz range, followed by its fabrication. Next, an array of quantum cascade lasers operating at slightly different frequencies around 2.1 THz is utilized to characterize the spectrometer. Finally, a spectrum inversion method is applied to analyze the measured data, confirming a resolution R (λ/Δλ) of at least 273. This concept can be extended to other application areas, such as planetary observations and various wavelengths in the far‐infrared (FIR) and near‐infrared (NIR) ranges.
Agency mode selection and software competition in supply chains
Authors: Ren Tinghai , Zeng Nengmin , Wang Dafei , Yuan Kaifu
Published: October 2024

At present, many software developers work with downstream service providers to sell software and services. For political or economic reasons, foreign developers may be not allowed to sell software and services directly in the country of providers, but they can authorize their software to the providers for sale. In this study, we examine two types of IT supply chain (ITSC), namely, “Agenting Domestic Software” (Mode 1) and “Agenting Foreign Software” (Mode 2), each with a domestic developer/a foreign developer, a service provider, and client enterprises. In both modes, clients can either pay a high price to purchase software with accessorial pre‐sale service from the provider, or firsthand acquire it from the domestic developer at a low price but without pre‐sale service. We observe that in Mode 1, the domestic developer's market scale and the competition intensity of software have no effect on the domestic developer's decisions and profit; however, they have influences on the provider's decisions and profit. In Mode 2, the profits of ITSC members may increase with the intensity of software competition. When the domestic developer's market scale is small (large), and the domestic developer has (loses) the advantage of low extended‐warranty‐service (EWS) cost, Mode 1 (2) is more beneficial to the domestic developer than Mode 2 (1); however, the provider is more willing to choose Mode 2 (Mode 1). In other cases, either Mode 1 or Mode 2 may result in a win‐win situation for the domestic developer and provider.
Six‐degrees‐of‐freedom pelvic bone monitoring on 2D kV intrafraction images to enable multi‐target tracking for locally advanced prostate cancer
Authors: Hewson Emily A , Dillon Owen , Poulsen Per R , Booth Jeremy T , Keall Paul J
Published: October 2024

Background

Patients with locally advanced prostate cancer require the prostate and pelvic lymph nodes to be irradiated simultaneously during radiation therapy treatment. However, relative motion between treatment targets decreases dosimetric conformity. Current treatment methods mitigate this error by having large treatment margins and often prioritize the prostate at patient setup at the cost of lymph node coverage.

Purpose

Treatment accuracy can be improved through real‐time multi‐target adaptation which requires simultaneous motion monitoring of both the prostate and lymph node targets. This study developed and evaluated an intrafraction pelvic bone motion monitoring method as a surrogate for pelvic lymph node displacement to be combined with prostate motion monitoring to enable multi‐target six‐degrees‐of‐freedom (6DoF) tracking using 2D kV projections acquired during treatment.

Material and methods

A method to monitor pelvic bone translation and rotation was developed and retrospectively applied to images from 20 patients treated in the TROG 15.01 Stereotactic Prostate Ablative Radiotherapy with Kilovoltage Intrafraction Monitoring (KIM) trial. The pelvic motion monitoring method performed template matching to calculate the 6DoF position of the pelvis from 2D kV images. The method first generated a library of digitally reconstructed radiographs (DRRs) for a range of imaging angles and pelvic rotations. The normalized 2D cross‐correlations were then calculated for each incoming kV image and a subset of DRRs and the DRR with the maximum correlation coefficient was used to estimate the pelvis translation and rotation. Translation of the pelvis in the unresolved direction was calculated using a 3D Gaussian probability estimation method. Prostate motion was measured using the KIM marker tracking method. The pelvic motion monitoring method was compared to the ground truth obtained from a 6DoF rigid registration of the CBCT and CT.

Results

The geometric errors of the pelvic motion monitoring method demonstrated sub‐mm and sub‐degree accuracy and precision in the translational directions (, , ) and rotational directions (, , ). The 3D relative displacement between the prostate and pelvic bones exceeded 2, 3, 5, and 7 mm for approximately 66%, 44%, 12%, and 7% of the images.

Conclusions

Accurate intrafraction pelvic bone motion monitoring in 6DoF was demonstrated on 2D kV images, providing a necessary tool for real‐time multi‐target motion‐adapted treatment.
Tube voltage in chest and abdomen DR imaging: Which settings return maximal non‐prewhitening model observer with eye filter (NPWE) detectability?
Authors: Moore Craig S. , Wood Tim J. , Saunderson John R. , Beavis Andrew W.
Published: October 2024

Background

The non‐prewhitening computational model observer with eye filter (NPWE) has been shown to reasonably predict human observer performance in general radiography and is an appropriate substitute when real clinical trials are not feasible. In this study, the NPWE model observer is used to detect specific tasks (circular designer nodules) ranging between 1 and 30 mm in diameter using chest and abdomen phantom images acquired across the diagnostic energy range (60–125 kVp) with and without an anti‐scatter grid.

Purpose

The aim of this study was to derive tube voltage (kVp) settings that return maximal NPWE detectability (d’) of designer nodules, for digital radiography (DR) chest and abdomen imaging.

Methods

Images of a chest phantom (LucAl phantom) and a surrogate for an abdomen (18.5 cm PMMA) were acquired across the diagnostic energy range (60–125 kVp) with matched effective dose (for the respective anatomies), with and without an anti‐scatter grid, on a general x‐ray system. Images were captured using an Agfa DX‐D 40C wireless indirect caesium iodide (CsI) imaging panel. Modulation transfer function (MTF), normalized noise power spectrum (NNPS), and contrast (C) were measured in each image and the detectability index d’ was calculated for circular designer nodules with diameters ranging from 1 to 30 mm (in steps of 1 mm).

Results

The calculated d’ peaked at a nodule diameter of 3 mm irrespective of tube voltage, for both chest and abdomen images. A tube voltage of 80 kVp returned maximal d’ for chest imaging across all nodule diameters both with and without an anti‐scatter grid. A tube voltage of 70 kVp returned maximal d’ for abdomen imaging.

Conclusion

The NPWE observer model has been used to derive tube voltages (kVp) that return maximal detectability (d’) of designer nodules for chest and abdomen radiography using a modern DR imaging system. This will provide the medical physicist with a starting point in the task of optimising tube voltage range for chest and abdomen imaging.
Changes in interoception before and after treatment in patients with alcohol use disorder
Authors: Shimohara Chika , Kagaya Ariyuki , Akita Tomoyuki , Tsukue Ryotaro , Shimohara Atsushi , Machizawa Maro G. , Yamawaki Shigeto , Tanaka Junko , Okamura Hitoshi
Published: October 2024

Aims

To investigate the factors associated with interoception in patients with alcohol use disorder and determine whether treatment causes changes in their interoception.

Methods

The Body Perception Questionnaire‐Body Awareness ultra‐short version Japanese version (BPQ‐BAVSF‐J) was used to measure interoception in 50 alcohol‐dependent participants (27 in the inpatient group and 23 in the outpatient group). The BPQ‐BAVSF‐J was administered and data on aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), gamma‐glutamyl transpeptidase (γ‐GTP), mean corpuscular volume, platelet count, and Fib‐4 index were extracted at admission and immediately before discharge for the inpatient group and at the first outpatient visit and approximately 3 months after the visit for the outpatient group.

Results

The mean age of the 50 participants was 51.0 ± 12.3 years. Significant associations were found between the BPQ‐BAVSF‐J and Fib‐4 index and AST. The BPQ‐BAVSF‐J score significantly decreased at discharge in the inpatient group. AST, ALT, γ‐GTP, and Fib‐4 index of liver function were also significantly lower at discharge. In contrast, in the outpatient group, there were no significant changes in the BPQ‐BAVSF‐J score, AST level, ALT level, γ‐GTP level, and Fib‐4 index between at the first outpatient visit and approximately 3 months after the visit.

Conclusions

Interoception in patients with alcohol use disorder increased with worsening liver function and decreased with improvement in liver function owing to treatment. This suggests that the BPQ‐BAVSF‐J score, an easily accessible scale, may be used to detect early deterioration of liver function through regular administration.
Optimal Control Allocation for 2D Reaction‐Diffusion Equations With Multiple Locally Distributed Inputs
Authors: Cristofaro Andrea
Published: October 2024

In this article, the problem of stabilization of a 2D unstable parabolic equation with multiple distributed inputs is addressed using a spectral decomposition approach. Furthermore the underlying redundancy of the actuation arrangement is exploited and actively used by introducing a suitable control allocation architecture. In particular, two optimal allocation policies have been considered: gradient descent and linear quadratic allocation. A simulation study supports and illustrates the theoretical findings.
PD‐L1 Acts Independently of PD‐1 as a Marker of Pathologic Fibroblasts in Laryngotracheal Stenosis
Authors: Davis Ruth J. , Talatala Edward Ryan R. , Wu Hongmei , Zhang Yueli , Park Jason S. , Gelbard Alexander
Published: October 2024

Objective

Laryngotracheal stenosis (LTS) describes fibrotic airway obstruction that is life‐threatening without treatment. Targeted therapies are needed as an adjunct to surgical management. We have previously observed the upregulation of immune checkpoint programmed cell death (PD)‐1 and its ligand, PD‐L1, in patients with LTS. This study aims to determine whether PD‐1 and PD‐L1 play a role in the pathophysiology of LTS.

Study Design

Basic science.

Setting

Laboratory.

Methods

Fibroblasts derived from the subglottic scar of 5 iSGS patients were cultured ex vivo with transforming growth factor β (TGFβ), PD‐L1 agonist (PD‐1), and PD‐L1 blockade (anti‐PD‐L1). PD‐L1, TGFβ receptor II (TGFβRII), and Collagen‐1 expression were quantified by flow cytometry. A validated chemomechanical injury model of subglottic stenosis was applied in PD‐1 knockout and wild‐type (WT) mice, and subglottic thickening was assessed by histologic analysis.

Results

TGFβ significantly increased the expression of PD‐L1 and Collagen‐1 in human airway scar fibroblasts (P < .05). PD‐1 knockout mice demonstrated no significant difference in subglottic airway fibrosis compared to WT mice. Ex vivo PD‐L1 modulation had no impact on fibroblast Collagen‐1 expression. PD‐L1 high‐intensity fibroblasts expressed greater Collagen‐1 and TGFβRII compared to PD‐L1 low‐intensity fibroblasts.

Conclusion

PD‐1 knockout does not protect mice from the development of laryngotracheal fibrosis. However, its ligand, PD‐L1 is highly expressed on pathologic fibroblasts unique to scar, characterized by high Collagen‐1 and TGFβRII expression. PD‐L1 is also upregulated in conjunction with Collagen‐1 by TGFβ stimulation. PD‐L1 may act independently of PD‐1 to sensitize fibroblasts to TGFβ, suggesting direct targeting of PD‐L1 may have therapeutic potential in LTS.
sesA: A Program for the Analytic Computation of Solvent‐Excluded Surface Areas**
Authors: Wang Lincong
Published: October 2024

The surface area of a molecule, an inherent geometric property of its structure, plays important roles in its solvation and functioning. Here we present an accurate and robust program, sesA, for the analytic computation of solvent‐excluded surface (SES) areas. The accuracy and robustness are achieved through the analytic computations of all the solvent‐accessible surface (SAS) regions for a surface atom and probe‐probe intersections. The detailed comparisons of the areas for a large set of protein structures by sesA and msms, a de‐facto standard for analytic SAS and SES computations, confirm sesA’s accuracy to a good extent and in the same time reveal significant differences between them. The unprecedented accuracy and robustness of sesA make it possible to analyze in great detail the surface areas of any molecules in general and biomolecules in particular.
Determination of the mechanical properties of the sacroiliac joint of a dog by imaging measurement methods and model update in a multi‐body model
Authors: Daniel Christian , Burkhardt Sarah , Röhrmann Nicole , Wagner Franziska C. , Woschke Elmar
Published: October 2024

The sacroiliac joint (SIJ) is the articulated connection between the sacrum and the ilium and is a tight, combined, and only slightly mobile joint. In many dogs, the joint becomes stiff with age. As a result, the animal experiences pain while moving. Too little information is known about the degree of stiffening and the physiological range of motion for therapy. Consequently, recording the range of motion of different individuals (healthy and diseased) is a step toward a better understanding of the SIJ syndrome. For the basic investigation of the mechanical properties of the SIJ, post‐mortem examinations are performed on different individuals. To determine the mobility of the joint, the sacrum is fixed and a movement is forced on the ilium using actuators and recording the required forces. In addition, the spatial movement of the ilium and sacrum is measured. The kinematic and dynamic variables can be used to determine the translational and rotational stiffness of the SIJ. As it is not possible to apply directed loads to the ilium, the measurement data is used to determine the elastic parameters of the joint ligaments using heuristic methods. The multi‐body model includes the ilium, the ligaments, and the actuators of the test rig with their spatial orientation.
Coastal fisheries adaptations to increasing climate change exposure in Japan
Authors: Elías Ilosvay Xochitl Édua , Kumagai Naoki H. , García Molinos Jorge , Ojea Elena
Published: October 2024

Climate change‐driven ocean warming is altering the geographic ranges of species, leading to a poleward shift of tropical species into temperate regions (tropicalisation). This threatens the native marine community assemblages by changing the availability of traditional marine resources, thus impacting the livelihood and well‐being of coastal fisheries. Fishers' individual responses are expected to transition from remaining to coping and from adapting to transforming as climate change exposure increases, yet empirical evidence is limited.

The existing strong thermal gradient along the western coast of Shikoku (Japan), an area experiencing tropicalisation, provides a unique opportunity to analyse how regions facing different climate change exposure levels (North: low, Centre: medium and South: high) affect fishers' responses in relation to their adaptive capacity. Data from 92 face‐to‐face interviews with small‐scale fishers from 25 locations revealed that the largest proportion of coping and adaptive responses is in the Central region, while remaining responses predominated in the Northern and Southern regions.

Results from a multinomial logistic model indicate that the exposure level is a good predictor for coping and adaptive responses but not for transformative ones. This possibly reflects the fact that these fishers might have exited coastal fisheries prior to our study as suggested by the strong fisher population decrease in the communities from the Southern region over the last three decades.

This study provides novel empirical evidence on how climate change exposure influences fishers' responses to past and current climate change impacts, highlighting the intricate interplay between exposure level and individual adaptive capacity.

Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.
What factors affect the ‘flocking’ of birdwatchers during bird rarity observations?
Authors: Tryjanowski Piotr , Jankowiak Łukasz , Mikula Peter , Czechowski Paweł , Menzel Annette , Polakowski Michał
Published: October 2024

Detecting rare bird species is an essential aspect of ornithological culture. The pursuit of observing rare bird species is not only a key facet of birdwatching tourism but also a fascinating intersection between ornithology and sociology. However, patterns in birdwatcher gatherings around rare birds and the factors affecting these patterns in situ are largely unexplored.

We directly asked 50 birdwatchers and analysed available photos to obtain details on birdwatcher gatherings at the occasion of 103 observations of 71 rare species recorded in 1996–2022 in Poland.

Our analysis revealed that the number of people participating in rare bird observations was influenced by the rarity status of the species (rarer species attracted larger groups), the year (with an increase in recent years) and the interaction between these factors (there was an increasing trend for birdwatchers to ‘twitch’, that is participate in sightings of very rare bird species, in recent years). Furthermore, distance to urban centres significantly negatively affected the size of birdwatcher groups. In addition, we found that the proportion of observers who successfully saw a birding rarity at each site decreased in recent years but increased during the weekend.

We also found that the proportion of women in these crowds has grown in recent years and that female birdwatchers were more willing to participate in observations of more common rarities than male birdwatchers.

Our results indicate that birdwatching gatherings around bird rarities can be impacted by several factors, including the general rarity of species, year and distance to cities. A dynamic increase in the proportion of females participating in birdwatching in Poland resembles trends reported in other countries. Increased female engagement in observations of more common rarities may be potentially influenced by distinct motivations.

Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.
Nanoparticle positioning effect on the percolation phenomenon of the polyethylene oxide/iron nanocomposite films
Authors: Al‐Bataineh Qais M. , Ahmad Ahmad A. , Migdadi A. B. , Salameh Areen Bani , Toader Gabriela , Kasawneh Awni M.
Published: October 2024

In this research, we demonstrate the influence of compelled iron nanoparticles (FeNPs) up to the surface on the percolation phenomenon and the electrical conductivity of the PEO/FeNPs nanocomposite films by applying a uniform magnetic field. The electrical conductivity of the PEO/FeNPs nanocomposite films exhibits a sharp increase from to 390 S∙cm−1 as the FeNPs volume fraction rises from 0.12 to 0.24, where the FeNPs form percolating networks and interparticle contacts. Applying a magnetic field drives the FeNPs towards the surface of the PEO/FeNPs nanocomposite films and consequently increases the electrical conductivity of the PEO/FeNPs nanocomposite films up to 1960 S∙cm−1. The morphological features of the PEO/FeNPs nanocomposite films with different concentrations of FeNPs upon applying a magnetic field towards the surface were investigated. Finally, the corrosion protection efficiency of PEO/FeNPs nanocomposite films increases as FeNPs increase from an insulating zone to a conductive zone. On the other hand, applying a magnetic field drives the FeNPs towards the PEO/FeNPs nanocomposite surfaces, increasing the corrosion protection efficiency from 92.67% to 98.09%.

Highlights

The nanoparticle positioning effect on nanocomposite films is investigated.

The electrical conductivity of PEO/FeNPs nanocomposite film reaches 390 S∙cm−1.

Electrical conductivity increases to 1960 S∙cm−1 upon nanoparticle positioning.

Corrosion protection efficiency increases to 98.09% after nanoparticle positioning.