bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Setup errors in radiation therapy for thoracic tumor patients of different body mass index
Authors: Zhao Jin , Zhang Mingyun , Zhai Fushan , Wang Haiyan , Li Xingde
Published: March 2018

Purpose

To assess the setup errors in radiation therapy for thoracic tumors patients of different somatotypes, and to seek an individualized mathematical basis for defining the planning target volume (PTV).

Methods

Sixty patients with thoracic tumors were divided into four somatotypes according to their body mass index (BMI), and their body positions were setup by two groups of technicians independently. CT simulations were performed and the reconstructed radiography was digitally generated as reference images for location verification and error measurement. By setting positioning error ranges, the within‐range positioning correction rate was compared among groups.

Results

Position setups for patients in the emaciated group, moderate group, and overweight group were relatively stable (with minor setup error differences between the two groups of technicians). In emaciated group, moderate group, overweight group, and obese group, setup errors in the right–left direction (R‐L) were 2.2 ± 1.3 mm, 2.2 ± 1.6 mm, 3.9 ± 3.1 mm, and 8.8 ± 3.5 mm, respectively; whereas the setup errors in the four groups in the superior–inferior(S‐I) direction were 2.4 ± 1.8 mm, 2.1 ± 1.9 mm, 3.2 ± 2.6 mm, and 5.4 ± 3.5 mm, and in the anterior–posterior (A‐P) direction were 2.2 ± 1.7 mm, 1.9 ± 1.9 mm, 3.2 ± 2.9 mm, and 6.2 ± 4.2 mm, respectively. Moreover, in the moderate group, the positioning correction rate in the three directions (R‐L, S‐I, and A‐P) was 20%, 9%, 8% within the error range of 5–10 mm, and 3%, 0%, 1% with a more than 10 mm error range. However, in overweight group and obese group, the positioning correction rate in these three directions (also with a more than 10 mm error range) was 23%, 27%, 19% and 21%, 16%, 23%, respectively.

Conclusions

In radiation therapy for patients with thoracic tumors, the definition of PTV should be individualized. Meanwhile, with the increase in BMI, positioning correction rate has a tendency to rise too.
Validating kQ=1.0 assumption in TG51 with PTW 30013 farmer chamber for Varian TrueBeam's 2.5 MV imaging beam
Authors: Grzetic Shelby , Ayan Ahmet S. , Woollard Jeffrey , Gupta Nilendu
Published: March 2018

AAPM Report 142 recommends and the State of Ohio requires that the imaging dose be quantified in radiotherapy applications. Using the TG51 dose calibration protocol for MV Imaging dose measurement requires knowledge of the kQ parameter for the beam quality and the ionization chamber type under investigation. The %dd(10)x of the Varian TrueBeam 2.5 MV imaging beam falls outside the range of the available data for the calculation of the kQ value. Due to the similarities of the 2.5 MV imaging beam and the 60Co beam, we and others made the assumption that kQ = 1.0 in TG51 calculations. In this study, we used the TG21 and TG51 calibration protocols in conjunction to validate that kQ = 1.0 for the 2.5 MV imaging beam using a PTW 30013 farmer chamber. Standard measurements for TG51 absolute dosimetry QA were performed at 100 cm SSD, 10 cm depth, 10 × 10 field size, delivering 100 Monitor Units to a waterproof Farmer Chamber (PTW TN30013) for both 2.5 and 6 MV. Both the TG21 and TG51 formalisms were used to calculate the dose to water per MU at dmax (Dw/MU) for the 6 MV beam. The calculated outputs were 1.0005 and 1.0004 cGy/MU respectively. The TG21 formalism was then used to calculate (Dw/MU) for the 2.5 MV imaging beam. This value was then used in the TG51 formalism to find kQ for the 2.5 MV imaging beam. A kQ value of 1.00 ± 0.01 was calculated for 2.5 MV using this method.
Feasibility study of shutter scan acquisition for region of interest (ROI) digital tomosynthesis
Authors: Kim Dohyeon , Jo Byungdu , Lee Donghoon , Lee Haenghwa , Choi Sunghoon , Kim Hyemi , Chao Zhen , Choi Seungyeon , Kim Hee‐Joung
Published: March 2018

Dose reduction techniques have been studied in medical imaging. We propose shutter scan acquisition for region of interest (ROI) imaging to reduce the patient exposure dose received from a digital tomosynthesis system. A prototype chest digital tomosynthesis (CDT) system (LISTEM, Wonju, Korea) and the LUNGMAN phantom (Kyoto Kagaku, Japan) with lung nodules 8, 10, and 12 mm in size were used for this study. A total of 41 projections with shutter scan acquisition consisted of 21 truncated projections and 20 non‐truncated projections. For comparison, 41 projections using conventional full view scan acquisition were also acquired. Truncated projections obtained by shutter scan acquisition were corrected by proposed image processing procedure to remove the truncation artifacts. The image quality was evaluated using the contrast to noise ratio (CNR), coefficient of variation (COV), and figure of merit (FOM). We measured the dose area product (DAP) value to verify the dose reduction using shutter scan acquisition. The ROI of the reconstructed image from shutter scan acquisition showed enhanced contrast. The results showed that CNR values of 8 and 12 mm lung nodules increased by 6.38% and 21.21%, respectively, and the CNR value of 10 mm lung nodule decreased by 3.63%. COV values of the lung nodules were lower in a shutter scan image than in a full view scan image. FOM values of 8, 10, and 12 mm lung nodules increased by 3.06, 2.25, and 2.33 times, respectively. This study compared the proposed shutter scan and conventional full view scan acquisition. In conclusion, using a shutter scan acquisition method resulted in enhanced contrast images within the ROI and higher FOM values. The patient exposure dose of the proposed shutter scan acquisition method can be reduced by limiting the field of view (FOV) to focus on the ROI.
Dosimetric assessment of an air‐filled balloon applicator in HDR vaginal cuff brachytherapy using the Monte Carlo method
Authors: Jiang Hongyu , Badkul Rajeev , Pokhrel Damodar
Published: March 2018

Purpose

As an alternative to cylindrical applicators, air‐inflated balloon applicators have been introduced into high‐dose‐rate (HDR) vaginal cuff brachytherapy to achieve sufficient dose to the vagina mucosa as well as to spare organs at risk, mainly the rectum and bladder. Commercial treatment planning systems which employ formulae in the AAPM Task Group No. 43 (TG 43) report do not take into account tissue inhomogeneity. Consequently, the low‐density air in a balloon applicator induces different doses delivered to the mucosa from planned by these planning systems. In this study, we investigated the dosimetric effects of the air in a balloon applicator using the Monte Carlo (MC) method.

Methods

The thirteen‐catheter Capri™ applicator by Varian™ for vaginal cuff brachytherapy was modeled together with the Ir‐192 radioactive source for the microSelectron™ Digital (HDR‐V3) afterloader by Elekta™ using the MCNP MC code. The validity of charged particle equilibrium (CPE) with an air balloon present was evaluated by comparing the kerma and the absorbed dose at various distances from the applicator surface. By comparing MC results with and without air cavity present, dosimetric effects of the air cavity were studied. Clinical patient cases with optimized multiple Ir‐192 source dwell positions were also explored. Four treatment plans by the Oncentra Brachy™ treatment planning system were re‐calculated with MCNP.

Results

CPE fails in the vicinity of the air‐water interface. One millimeter beyond the air‐water boundary the kerma and the absorbed dose are equal (0.2% difference), regardless of air cavity dimensions or iridium source locations in the balloon. The air cavity results in dose increase, due to less photon absorption in the air than in water or solid materials. The extent of the increase depends on the diameter of the air balloon. The average increment is 3.8%, 4.5% and 5.3% for 3.0, 3.5, and 4.0 cm applicators, respectively. In patient cases, the dose to the mucosa is also increased with the air cavity present. The point dose difference between Oncentra Brachy and MC at 5 mm prescription depth is 8% at most and 5% on average.

Conclusions

Except in the vicinity of the air‐mucosa interface, the dosimetric difference is not significant enough to mandate tissue inhomogeneity correction in HDR treatment planning.
Quantitative and qualitative evaluation of hybrid iterative reconstruction, with and without noise power spectrum models: A phantom study
Authors: Minamishima Kazuya , Sugisawa Koichi , Yamada Yoshitake , Jinzaki Masahiro
Published: March 2018

The purpose of this phantom study was to investigate the feasibility of dose reduction with hybrid iterative reconstruction, with and without a noise power spectrum (NPS) model, using both quantitative and qualitative evaluations. Standard dose (SD), three‐quarter dose (TQD), and half‐dose (HD) of radiation were used. Images were reconstructed with filtered back projection (FBP), adaptive iterative dose reduction 3D (AIDR 3D) (MILD, STR), and AIDR 3D enhanced (eAIDR 3D) (eMILD, eSTR). An NPS analysis, task‐based modulation transfer function (MTFtask) analysis, and comparisons of low‐contrast detectability and image texture were performed. Although the eAIDR 3D had a higher NPS value in the high‐frequency range and improved image texture and resolution as compared with AIDR 3D at the same radiation dose and iteration levels, it yielded higher noise than AIDR 3D. Additionally, although there was no statistically significant difference between SD‐FBP and the TQD series in the comparison of the mean area under the curve (AUC), the mean AUC was statistically significantly different between SD‐FBP and the HD series. NPS values in the high‐frequency range, 10% MTFtask values, low‐contrast detectability, and image textures of TQD‐eMILD were comparable to those of SD‐FBP. Our findings suggested that using eMILD can reduce the radiation dose by 25%, while potentially maintaining diagnostic performance, spatial resolution, and image texture; this could support selecting the appropriate protocol in a clinical setting.
Making A Spectacle Of Society: Thoughts on Surreality
Authors: Coates Nigel
Published: March 2018

London‐based architect and designer Nigel Coates has had a long and distinguished international career. Here he explores his own work through the lenses of Surrealism, citing some of the influences that shaped his practice and introducing us to his recent project that reimagines London's historic Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens for the 21st century.
Surrealist Thames‐side Piers Tellurian Relics
Authors: Murray Shaun
Published: March 2018

For Shaun Murray – an architect and architectural teacher at the Architectural Association and University of Greenwich – the design of architecture is more than the deployment of discrete objects in space. Rather, it is the marshalling and bottom‐up choreography of highly complex spacetime entities that are both organic and inorganic. So objects become ‘things’ of indeterminate duration, highly networked, always reconfiguring and morphing. Murray has developed notations and drafting techniques that facilitate his understanding of architectural space and which he uses in his experimental practice – ENIAtype, based in London.
Directions for Getting Lost: Or How to Change Your Mind
Authors: West Mark W , West Mark
Published: March 2018

Architect Mark W West creates work that is incredibly delicately drawn. Here he documents the construction of his drawings, while his friend, whose name is also Mark West, contributes a commentary about the creative process behind them. The two texts reveal how the works defy the damage caused by reductive traditional architectural education and general experience, and open the viewer to a sense of greater wholeness, however disturbing this may be.
Making Naloxone Rescue Part of Basic Life Support Training for Medical Students
Authors: Jack Helen E. , Warren Katherine E. , Sundaram Sivakumar , Gheihman Galina , Weems John , Raja Ali S. , Miller Emily S.
Published: March 2018

As opioid overdose deaths in the United States continue to climb, medical students must be prepared to prevent and treat opioid use disorder and opioid overdose. The administration of naloxone is an evidence‐based way to reverse overdoses and save lives. At our medical school, a coalition of medical students, emergency medicine educators, and administrators worked together to permanently integrate naloxone rescue training into the Basic Life Support (BLS) curriculum required of all first‐year medical students. This article outlines an argument for the integration of naloxone rescue into BLS training and an introduction to emergency medical care for medical students. The authors then describe the steps that students took to transform this program from an original pilot to a formally integrated curriculum offered to all first‐year medical students. The article highlights the role of medical student advocacy in curriculum design and its potential to align medical training with community health needs, such as the ongoing opioid epidemic.
Naturally Occurring Mentorship in a National Sample of First‐Generation College Goers: A Promising Portal for Academic and Developmental Success
Authors: Fruiht Veronica , Chan Thomas
Published: March 2018

Attending college is increasingly important to compete in this global world; however, young people whose parents did not attend college are significantly less likely to enroll in and finish college. Formal programs to support first‐generation college goers are common, but not scalable to provide support to all young people who need it. Instead, mentoring that naturally occurs on these students’ journeys into and out of college may be a more practical avenue for supporting their success. This study investigated the role community members, relatives, and educators play in first‐generation college goers’ educational outcomes. Data from 4,181 participants of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent and Adult Health were used to test differences in supports received between first‐generation, continuing‐generation, and non‐college goers. Results demonstrated that mentorship in adolescence moderated the relationship between parental college attendance and educational attainment in adulthood. Next, findings suggested that first‐generation students received less support for identity development from their mentors than continuing‐generation students. This study has program implications for facilitating college attendance and fostering the development and success of first‐generation students. Moreover, this project continues to concretize an emerging taxonomy of mentoring functions for youth and emerging adults.
Replicating and Cycling Stores of Information Perpetuate Life
Authors: Jose Antony M.
Published: March 2018

Life is perpetuated through a single‐cell bottleneck between generations in many organisms. Here, I highlight that this cell holds information in two distinct stores: in the linear DNA sequence that is replicated during cell divisions, and in the three‐dimensional arrangement of molecules that can change during development but is recreated at the start of each generation. These two interdependent stores of information – one replicating with each cell division and the other cycling with a period of one generation – coevolve while perpetuating an organism. Unlike the genome sequence, the arrangement of molecules, including DNA, RNAs, proteins, sugars, lipids, etc., is not well understood. Because this arrangement and the genome sequence are transmitted together from one generation to the next, analysis of both is necessary to understand evolution and origins of inherited diseases. Recent developments suggest that tools are in place to examine how all the information to build an organism is encoded within a single cell, and how this cell code is reproduced in every generation.

See also the video abstract here: https://youtu.be/IdWEL‐T6TPU.
Randomized clinical trial of intracutaneouslyversustranscutaneously sutured ileostomy to prevent stoma-related complications (ISI trial)
Authors: Sier M F , Wisselink D D , Ubbink D T , Oostenbroek R J , Veldink G J , Lamme B , van Duijvendijk P , van Geloven A A W , Eijsbouts Q A J , Bemelman W A , van Grevenstein M U , Veltkamp S C , Tolenaar P L , van de Laar A W J M , Slooter G D , Sonneveld D J A
Published: March 2018

Background

Ileostomy construction is a common procedure but can be associated with morbidity. The stoma is commonly secured to the skin using transcutaneous sutures. It is hypothesized that intracutaneous sutures result in a tighter adherence of the peristomal skin to the stoma plate to prevent faecal leakage. The study aimed to compare the effect of intracutaneous versus transcutaneous suturing of ileostomies on faecal leakage and quality of life.

Methods

This randomized trial was undertaken in 11 hospitals in the Netherlands. Patients scheduled to receive an ileostomy for any reason were randomized to intracutaneous or transcutaneous suturing (IC and TC groups respectively). The primary outcome was faecal leakage. Secondary outcomes were stoma-related quality of life and costs of stoma-related materials and reinterventions.

Results

Between April 2011 and February 2016, 339 patients were randomized to the IC (170) or TC (169) group. Leakage rates were higher in the IC than in the TC group (52·4 versus 41·4 per cent respectively; risk difference 11·0 (95 per cent c.i. 0·3 to 21·2) per cent). Skin irritation rates were high (78·2 versus 72·2 per cent), but did not differ significantly between the groups (risk difference 6·1 (95 per cent c.i. –3·2 to 15·10) per cent). There were no significant differences in quality of life or costs between the groups.

Conclusion

Intracutaneous suturing of an ileostomy is associated with more peristomal leakage than transcutaneous suturing. Overall stoma-related complications did not differ between the two techniques. Registration number: NTR2369 (http://www.trialregister.nl).
Correlations between States in the United Atom and Separated Atoms Limits in HeH+
Authors: Lee Chun‐Woo , Lee Sangmoon
Published: March 2018

Correlations between states in the united atom and separated atoms limits in HeH+ are studied using the diabatic screened molecular orbitals, which are solutions of the Hartree‐like Schrödinger equation that is separable in prolate spheroidal coordinates. A method of vanishing orbital analysis is formulated to interpret the variation in nodal structures in the calculated diabatic orbitals as a function of nuclear separation. The concept of quasi‐homonuclear diatomic molecules is introduced to classify the bonding types and estimate the degree of promotion of Rydberg series in HeH+.
Enantiomer Separation of Acidic Chiral Compounds on a Clarithromycin‐Zirconia Hybrid Monolith by Capillary Electrochromatography
Authors: Kim Mi Yeon , Park Jung Hag
Published: March 2018

A carbamoylated clarithromycin‐incorporated zirconia hybrid monolith (CLA‐ZHM) was prepared in a fused silica capillary via an in situ sol–gel process. The CLA‐ZHM capillary column was employed for enantiomer separation of acidic chiral compounds by capillary electrochromatography in eluents consisting of acetonitrile, methanol, and acetic acid and triethylamine as electrolytes. Influences of the composition of eluent and applied voltage on enantiomer separation were investigated. Baseline resolutions were achieved for 10 acidic compounds in an eluent consisting of 70/30 acetonitrile/methanol with 255 mM acetic acid and 17.4 mM triethylamine at an applied voltage of −10 kV and capillary temperature of 25 °C. Relative standard deviation values in resolution parameters for column to column and batch to batch repeatability were less than 2.7% (for n = 3) under the optimal separation settings, indicating that stability of the ZHM columns and reproducibility of the column preparation method are acceptable.
ent‐Sauchinone as Potential Anticancer Agent Inhibiting Migration and Invasion of Human Liver Cancer Cells via Suppressing the STAT3 Signaling Pathway
Authors: Gong Qi‐Zhe , Xiao Di , Feng Feng , Wen Xiao‐Dong , Qu Wei
Published: March 2018

ent‐Sauchinone, a lignan isolated from Saururus chinensis (Lour.) Baill., was reported that it could modulate the expression of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3). Since STAT3 plays a key role in invasion, migration, and metastasis of cancer, we investigated whether ent‐sauchinone could exert promising inhibitory effects on the invasion and migration of the metastatic human liver cancer cell line SMMC‐7721 in the present study. ent‐Sauchinone was extracted from dried herbs of Saururus chinensis (Lour.) Baill. Human liver cancer cell lines SMMC‐7721 and HCCLM3 were used to test the effect of ent‐sauchinone on cell viability. The IC50 values and time‐dependent effect of ent‐sauchinone were determined by MTT assay. Cell migration and invasion of SMMC‐7721 were evaluated by the wound healing test and transwell assay respectively, the known anti‐metastasis agent curcumin was used as a positive control. Western blotting assay was used to investigate relevant molecular mechanisms of cell invasion and migration. Though ent‐sauchinone didn't show high cytotoxicity, the wound healing assay and transwell migration assay revealed a profound impairment in the metastatic potential of SMMC‐7721 cells due to down‐regulation of N‐cadherin, MMP‐2, and MMP‐9 proteins induced by inhibiting the phosphorylation of STAT3. These findings suggest that ent‐sauchinone could be used as a promising agent to treat cancer metastasis.
Granulation of Filter Cakes, Pastes and Sludges by Means of Superabsorbents
Authors: Auer Gerhard
Published: March 2018

A new method is presented that allows for simple, cost‐effective and industrially practicable granulation of filter cakes, pastes or sludges. For this purpose, a small amount of a superabsorbent (< 1 %) is added to a filter cake, paste or sludge. The moisture present is quickly and effectively inactivated by the superabsorbent. Granules are obtained that are not sticky and can be handled very well. Due to the fluffy granulate structure, a significant reduction of drying time is obtained and drying can be possible even at room temperature.
Complementary crops and landscape features sustain wild bee communities
Authors: Martins Kyle T. , Albert Cécile H. , Lechowicz Martin J. , Gonzalez Andrew
Published: March 2018

Wild bees, which are important for commercial pollination, depend on floral and nesting resources both at farms and in the surrounding landscape. Mass‐flowering crops are only in bloom for a few weeks and unable to support bee populations that persist throughout the year. Farm fields and orchards that flower in succession potentially can extend the availability of floral resources for pollinators. However, it is unclear whether the same bee species or genera will forage from one crop to the next, which bees specialize on particular crops, and to what degree inter‐crop visitation patterns will be mediated by landscape context. We therefore studied local‐ and landscape‐level drivers of bee diversity and species turnover in apple orchards, blueberry fields, and raspberry fields that bloom sequentially in southern Quebec, Canada. Despite the presence of high bee species turnover, orchards and small fruit fields complemented each other phenologically by supporting two bee genera essential to their pollination: mining bees (Andrena spp.) and bumble bees (Bombus spp.). A number of bee species specialized on apple, blueberry, or raspberry blossoms, suggesting that all three crops could be used to promote regional bee diversity. Bee diversity (rarefied richness, wild bee abundance) was highest across crops in landscapes containing hedgerows, meadows, and suburban areas that provide ancillary nesting and floral resources throughout the spring and summer. Promoting phenological complementarity in floral resources at the farmstead and landscape scales is essential to sustaining diverse wild bee populations.
Contactless Estimation of a Solar Cell Voltage in a Module Using Modulated Light and a Phase Detector
Authors: KOBAYASHI YASUYUKI , KIKUMOTO DAICHI
Published: March 2018

As a solar cell connected in series in a solar module fails, the operating module current decreases, however the operating voltage of each cell is not measurable if the cells are sealed tightly in the module. This research proposes a method to estimate an operating cell voltage in a module by irradiating modulated light to the cell and detecting the modulated signal from a load resistance of the module by a phase detector. And experiments for a small scale module to confirm the method have showed that the modulated signal detected by the phase detector increases as an operating cell voltage decreases, as expected according to the proposed theory. Therefore, it is confirmed in principle that the proposed method can estimate an operating cell voltage in a module.
Effect of digoxin in patients with heart failure and mid‐range (borderline) left ventricular ejection fraction
Authors: Abdul‐Rahim Azmil H. , Shen Li , Rush Christopher J. , Jhund Pardeep S. , Lees Kennedy R. , McMurray John J.V. ,   on behalf of the VICCTA‐Heart Failure Collaborators
Published: March 2018

Aims

To evaluate the effects of digoxin in patients with the newly described phenotype of heart failure (HF) and mid‐range ejection fraction (HFmrEF), attributed to mild left ventricular systolic dysfunction.

Methods and results

We carried out a retrospective analysis of the Digitalis Investigation Group (DIG) trial which had 7788 patients available for analysis with a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ranging between 3% and 85%. We compared the effect of digoxin to placebo in three mutually exclusive groups of patients defined by LVEF category: <40% (HF with reduced LVEF, HFrEF, n = 5874), 40–49% (HFmrEF, n = 1195) and ≥50% (HF with preserved LVEF, HFpEF, n = 719). The primary outcome was the composite of cardiovascular death or HF hospitalisation. Patients with HFmrEF resembled patients with HFrEF, more than those with HFpEF, with respect to age, sex and aetiology but were more like HFpEF patients with respect to blood pressure and the prevalence of hypertension. Event rates in patients with HFmrEF were similar to those in HFpEF and much lower than in HFrEF. Digoxin reduced the primary endpoint in patients with HFrEF, mainly due to reduced HF hospitalisation: the digoxin/placebo hazard ratio (HR) for HF hospitalisation was 0.71 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.65–0.77]. The digoxin/placebo HR for HF hospitalisation in patients with HFmrEF was 0.80 (95% CI 0.63–1.03) and 0.85 (95% CI 0.62–1.17) in those with HFpEF. The digoxin/placebo HR for the composite of HF death or HF hospitalisation was 0.74 (95% CI 0.68–0.81) in HFrEF, 0.83 (95% CI 0.66–1.05) in HFmrEF and 0.88 (95% CI 0.65–1.19) in HFpEF.

Conclusions

In this study, event rates in patients with HFmrEF were closer to those in HFpEF than HFrEF. Digoxin had most effect on HF hospitalisation in patients with HFrEF, an intermediate effect in HFmrEF, and the smallest effect in HFpEF.
Effects of betamethasone on fetoplacental and maternal hemodynamics in preterm pregnancies
Authors: Inan Cihan , Sayin N. Cenk , Dolgun Zehra N. , Erzincan Selen G. , Uzun Isil , Sutcu Havva , Sut Necdet , Varol Fusun G.
Published: March 2018

Objective

To evaluate the possible effects of prenatal steroid administration on Doppler parameters of the umbilical artery, uterine artery, middle cerebral artery, and ductus venosus, the cerebroplacental ratio, and the amniotic fluid index in preterm fetuses.

Methods

The present prospective observational study was performed at the Perinatology Department of Trakya University, Edirne, Turkey, between June 1, 2015, and September 1, 2016. It included patients with healthy singleton pregnancies who had received betamethasone at 24–34 weeks of pregnancy. Doppler parameters were measured before (0 hours) and 24, 48, and 72 hours after the administration of betamethasone (two intramuscular doses of 12 mg each, administered 24 hours apart).

Results

There were 68 patients included. Pairwise comparisons demonstrated that, at 72 hours after betamethasone administration, the umbilical artery resistance index (P=0.038), the middle cerebral artery systolic/diastolic velocity ratio (P=0.007), and the amniotic fluid index (P=0.017) were reduced, whereas the end‐diastolic velocity of the middle cerebral artery was increased (P=0.012), compared with baseline values.

Conclusion

Betamethasone had favorable effects on fetal cerebral circulation, with increased end‐diastolic velocity in the middle cerebral artery; this could represent a positive effect on cerebral blood circulation and decreased flow resistance in the umbilical artery.
Trendbericht Makromolekulare Chemie 2017: Chemie
Authors: Sommer Michael , Wurm Frederik R.
Published: March 2018

Dieser Trendbericht beschreibt vier Gebiete, von denen zu erwarten ist, dass sie in den kommenden Jahren noch bedeutender werden: Biokunststoffe, vernetzte Polymere, Nichtgleichgewichtsstrukturen und Synthese mit Licht. Im Vergleich zum letzten Jahr ergänzen nun internationale Beiträge die Literatur.
Trendbericht Anorganische Chemie 2017: Hauptgruppenelemente
Authors: Böttcher Tobias , Kretschmer Robert
Published: March 2018

Hauptgruppenelemente: metallischer Wasserstoff? Benzol lässt sich durch Organocalciumnukleophile alkylieren. Eisen wird mit einem kohlenstofffreien Sandwich auf Diät gesetzt. Erstmals wurde ein Blei(II)‐Hydrid stabilisiert, und es gab die erste stabile Verbindung des als inert geltenden Heliums. Koordinationschemie und Bioanorganik: neutrale Porphyrinverbindung mit AuII‐Zentrum; zweiwertige Lanthanoidverbindungen reduzieren elementaren Schwefel zu Polysulfidionen; Si‐zentrierte Orbitale mischen bei einer heteroleptischen PuIV‐Sandwichverbindung mit. Außerdem: ein zweikerniges Hg‐vermitteltes Nukleobasenpaar aus einem Purinderivat und Thymin erweitert DNA‐templierte Metallnanocluster.
Trendbericht Festkörperchemie 2017
Authors: Birkel Christina , Zeier Wolfgang , Lunkenbein Thomas , Hlukhyy Viktor
Published: March 2018

Gastrennung mit Schichtsilikaten, in deren Zwischenräumen sich ein organisches Säulenmaterial befindet; Nickel‐ und Cobalt‐Bor‐Katalysatoren hydrieren Citral selektiv an der C‐C‐ oder der C‐O‐Doppelbindung, und stabile Radikale speichern Sonnenenergie. Außerdem: ein neues Hochdruck‐Polymorph aus Molybdän und Sauerstoff, Koordinationspolymere aus Uranpentafluorid und Cyanwasserstoff sowie das Acetonitriltriidanion CCN3–.
Regionaltreffen der FCI‐Stipendiaten in Münster
Authors: Klauck Felix , Sitte Nikolai
Published: March 2018

In Münster präsentierten die Stipendiaten des Fonds der Chemischen Industrie Mitte Dezember 2017 ihre Forschungsergebnisse. Insgesamt beteiligten sich 18 Doktoranden und Nachwuchsgruppenleiter von den Universitäten Paderborn, Oldenburg und Münster an dem fachlichen Austausch.
Trendbericht Chemiedidaktik 2017: Sprachaktivierung im Chemieunterricht
Authors: Becker Hans‐Jürgen , Kemper Anne‐Kathrin
Published: March 2018

Sprache hat Lern‐ und Verstehensfunktion und ist daher Voraussetzung für chemische Bildung. Aber Lernende haben Probleme sowohl mit Alltags‐ als auch mit Fachsprache. Diese Befunde haben Bildungs‐ und Forschungsaktivitäten stimuliert, um sprachsensiblen und sprachaktivierenden Chemieunterricht zu fördern. Die experimentell‐konzeptionelle Fachdidaktik erhöht ihre Sichtbarkeit innerhalb der chemischen Community, arbeitet daran, Alltagsphänomene für Chemieunterricht fassbar zu machen, und stellt Konzepte für einfache und preiswerte Geräte und Versuchaufbauten vor.
Regionales FCI‐Stipendiaten‐Treffen an der Universität Köln
Authors: Rosenbach Hannah
Published: March 2018

Anfang Dezember 2017 trafen sich die Stipendiaten des Fonds der chemischen Industrie aus Aachen, Bonn, Köln und Düsseldorf auf Einladung von Hans‐Günther Schmalz an der Universität Köln.
Wir sind die GDCh
Authors: Schmalz Hans‐Günther
Published: March 2018

Die GDCh lebt durch ihre aktiven Mitglieder, und nur wenn genügend Freiwillige weiterhin und mit Überzeugung die Ärmel hochkrempeln, wird die Stimme der Chemie gehört werden.
Replizierbarkeit ist kein Muss
Authors: Schulze Markus
Published: March 2018

Die Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft nimmt in einem Positionspapier Stellung zur Debatte über Ergebnisreproduktion in der Forschung.
The (Re‐)Appropriation of Spirit Beings – Spirits of the Dead and Spirits of God in a Sepik Community
Authors: Falck Christiane
Published: March 2018

This article explores Nyaura (West Iatmul) ontology and cosmology in the context of religious change. I argue that persisting ontological premises of the Nyaura lifeworld were crucial for the way people appropriated Catholicism and made it their own. I compare my findings to an approach to religious change that has prominently been employed by Joel Robbins before – the notion of humiliation as described in a seminal article by Marshall Sahlins. However, while Robbins argues that a notion of humiliation has led the Urapmin to abandon their culture and take on an entirely new one, I have found a different outcome in my fieldsite. Initially the Nyaura sought to abandon their own spirits in light of changes in the regional political–economic system brought about by the encounter with white people and due to the devaluation of their spirits by the influence of the Catholic mission. However, when conversion did not bring about a betterment of their living situation as initially hoped, a notion of humiliation returned that led the Nyaura to re‐appropriate their old spirits. Under the influence of a charismatic movement, they discovered that God and His spirits were not new and foreign but old and familiar spirits clothed with new names. Today spirits of the dead are called ‘souls’, ‘saints’ and ‘angels’; spirits of the bush and water are termed ‘nature’ that was created by God; and He, the source of everything, is currently re‐interpreted as being the most powerful ancestral spirit there is.
Parametric study of an automated nanoparticles spray process for nanofibers/fabric reinforced composites
Authors: Shou Wan , Zhang Pengfei , Khattab Ahmed
Published: March 2018

The most common technique in introducing nanoparticles into polymer composites involves mixing the nanoparticles with the matrix. However, in liquid molding processes nanoparticles filtration through the distribution medium and the reinforcement fabrics, during the mold filling stage, results in a poorly controlled and inconsistent distribution of the nanoparticles throughout the part with some uncertainty about the actual amount of the nanoparticles in the molded material. In this study, a straightforward, yet effective automated spray process was developed and tested. Three influential spray parameters, including spray velocity, air pressure and the number of sprayed layers, were chosen and investigated to study their effects quantitatively on sprayed carbon nanofibers (CNFs) dosage (areal density). The processing parameter‐induced–performance relationship was established according to experimental design. A regression model and process maps were developed to relate the process parameters to the sprayed dosage using the developed process. To study, qualitatively, the influence of spray parameters on the deposited CNFs morphology, the sprayed fabrics were characterized using optical microscope. POLYM. COMPOS., 40:1068–1077, 2019. © 2018 Society of Plastics Engineers
Extrusion–calendering process of single‐polymer composites based on polyethylene
Authors: Wang Jian , Du Ziran , Lian Tong
Published: March 2018

The extrusion–calendering process was realized successfully to produce the potential and easily recyclable single‐polymer composites (SPCs). This approach makes it possible to produce SPCs continuously and avoids the drawbacks involving a long cycle time, inconvenient operation, and expensive cost. Low‐density polyethylene (LDPE) reinforced with ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fabric was prepared. Based on orthogonal and single factor experiments, the effects of die temperature, screw speed, and rolls speed were investigated. The tensile and interfacial properties of the LDPE/UHMWPE SPCs were evaluated through tensile and T‐peel tests. The best tensile strength of 78.8 ± 7 MPa was obtained in the LDPE/UHWMPE SPCs with a fiber volume fraction of 11.2% and a void content of 0.01%. The peel strength was significantly improved, 22.4 N/10 mm was achieved. The morphology observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) further determined the fiber–matrix interfacial adhesion and the effects of processing parameters. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 58:2156–2165, 2018. © 2018 Society of Plastics Engineers
A Visualization of Flow Patterns of Viscoelastic Fluid Partially Filled in a Co‐Rotating Nontwin Screw Extruder
Authors: Yu Huiwen , Xu Baiping , Wu Hongwu , Turng Lih‐Sheng , Wang Meigui
Published: March 2018

A novel type of co‐rotating nontwin screw geometry is presented in this paper. The left and right screw elements have a speed ratio of 2. In order to investigate the flow pattern and mixing mechanism in the channels of such two screws, a visualization prototype with a global transparent barrel was developed. A kind of colored sodium carboxymethyl cellulose solution was prepared and used as a tracer viscoelastic fluid. Four cameras were used to capture the instantaneous images during processing. A relationship model of the axial fill length and the fill degree of fluid was established. This is the first time that the flow patterns of a viscoelastic fluid partially filled in nontwin screw elements has been captured. An asymmetry phenomenon was found in the intermeshing region and another region far from it. It was also found that material dams experienced elongation in the single‐tip screw channel, and local pile‐ups of conveyed fluid were located at the top and bottom intermeshing regions. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 59:E24–E32, 2019. © 2018 Society of Plastics Engineers
Covalently crosslinked mussel byssus protein‐based materials with tunable properties
Authors: Byette Frédéric , Marcotte Isabelle , Pellerin Christian
Published: March 2018

Mussels’ anchoring threads, named byssus, are collagen‐rich fibers with outstanding mechanical properties. Our previous work has shown the possibility of producing a byssus protein hydrolyzate with good film‐forming ability, providing a promising new avenue for the preparation of biomaterials. Materials prepared from regenerated fibrous proteins often need additional treatments to reach the performance required for targeted applications. Here, we studied the effect of covalent crosslinking, using a carbodiimide or glutaraldehyde, on the mechanical properties and enzymatic resistance of byssus‐based materials. The results show that the mechanical properties of the films can be tuned, and that a higher crosslinking degree leads to increases in modulus and strength accompanied by a loss of extensibility. Structural analysis performed by infrared spectroscopy revealed that crosslinking induces an unexpected transition from aggregated strands to hydrated collagen/PPII‐related helical structures. The materials were nevertheless more resistant to collagenase degradation as a result of higher crosslinking density. This new set of materials prepared in aqueous environment could find a niche in tissue engineering.
A selective αvβ5 integrin antagonist hidden into the anophelin family protein cE5 from the malaria vector Anopheles gambiae
Authors: Di Gaetano Sonia , Del Gatto Annarita , Pirone Luciano , Comegna Daniela , Zaccaro Laura , Saviano Michele , Arcà Bruno , Capasso Domenica , Pedone Emilia
Published: March 2018

A RGD motif was identified in the N‐terminal region of cE5, a potent salivary thrombin inhibitor from the African malaria vector Anopheles gambiae. A peptide (APQ30) encompassing the first 30 amino acids residues of the protein and including the RGD tripeptide was tested in cell adhesion assays and found to inhibit αvβ3 and αvβ5 mediated adhesion. A shorter peptide (APQ16), strongly conserved among members of the A. gambiae species complex and including only the first 16 residues, retained adhesion inhibitory properties, however with enhanced specificity toward αvβ5. In addition, migration and invasion assays showed its capacity to inhibit the invasiveness of the malignant cell lines HepG2 and MDA‐MB231. Altogether our data point to APQ16 as a new promising candidate as theranostic agent.
Die Zelle – erstaunlich physikalisch
Authors: Heinrich Doris , Götz Maria , Sackmann Erich
Published: March 2018

Eukaryotische Zellen sind mit Nanomaschinen ausgestattet. Diese spielen eine wichtige Rolle in der Mechanik des Zellkeletts (Zytoskelett) sowie biologischen Steuer‐ und Regelsystemen der Zellen. Sie weisen erstaunliche Analogien zu technischen Systemen auf. Im Zytoskelett verspannen Mikrotubuli die durch Aktinfilamente versteifte Zellschale. Damit können die Zellen reversibel extrem deformiert werden. Sie erforschen ihre Umgebung über Ausstülpungen wie Filopodien. Über Pseudopodien, breitere Ausstülpungen, bewegen sie sich fort. Mechanische Kontakte als „Hardware“ und Signalübertragungssysteme zwischen den Zellen als „Software“ sichern ihr Überleben im Gewebe. Auf Änderungen ihrer Umgebung reagieren die Zellfunktionen auf universelle Weise über molekulare Selbstorganisation und Rückkopplungsmechanismen. Diese Ausstattung befähigt Zellen zum Migrieren im Körper, wie zum Beispiel weiße Blutzellen bei ihrer Jagd auf gefährliche Eindringlinge.
Jenseits des Mooreschen Gesetzes
Authors: Molter Tim , Nugent M. Alex
Published: March 2018

Das Gehirn funktioniert fundamental anders als digitale Computer. Einen Computer mit vergleichbarem Verhältnis von Leistungsfähigkeit, Platzbedarf und Gewicht zu bauen, erfordert einen ganz neuen Ansatz. Ein Schlüssel hierzu könnten thermodynamische Bits sein. Sie bestehen aus zwei in Serie geschalteten Memristoren und lassen sich als künstliche Synapsen mit Befehlssätzen steuern.
Helmholtz auf dem Prüfstand
Authors: Dosch Hans Günter , Hauck Matthias
Published: March 2018

Hermann von Helmholtz entwickelte die Theorie der Hohlraumresonatoren. Diese spielen in der Akustik noch heute eine wichtige Rolle. Mit modernen, leicht zugänglichen elektronischen Geräten lässt sich seine Theorie leicht überprüfen. Hierbei wurden unterschiedliche Anregungsarten verwendet und der Vergleich mit dem Resonanzspektrum einer Bierflasche durchgeführt.
Langlebiger Qubitspeicher für Einzelphotonen
Authors: Körber Matthias , Rempe Gerhard
Published: March 2018

Langlebige Speicher für photonische Qubits sind eine Schlüsseltechnologie für zukünftige, weltumspannende Quantennetzwerke, in denen Information abhörsicher zwischen Netzwerkknoten ausgetauscht wird. Jüngste Entwicklungen am Max‐Planck‐Institut für Quantenoptik (MPQ) durchbrechen die minimalen Anforderungen für die direkte Teleportation von Qubits auf globaler Skala.
Das Märchen von Hasen und Neutrinos
Authors: Loos Andreas
Published: March 2018

Es war einmal ein Jäger, der wollte Hasen jagen. Er machte sich auf den Weg – mit einer selbst konstruierten Hasenfalle, einem riesigen Tank voll mit Tetrachlorkohlenstoff. Als er auf der Wiese ankam, hatte er das Gefühl, von Dutzenden Hasen umgeben zu sein. Nur entdecken konnte er keinen einzigen. Die Biester versteckten sich einfach zu gut – und die Falle blieb leer. Erst Jahre später wurde dem Jäger klar, dass die Wiese tatsächlich voller Hasen gewesen sein muss. Genauer: Anti‐Hasen. Und die sind allergisch gegen Tetrachlorkohlenstoff.
SpaceTime from Hilbert Space: Decompositions of Hilbert Space as Instances of Time
Authors: Noorbala Mahdiyar
Published: March 2018

There has been recent interest in identifying entanglement as the fundamental concept from which space may emerge. We note that the particular way that a Hilbert space is decomposed into tensor factors is important in what the resulting geometry looks like. We then propose that time may be regarded as a variable that parameterizes a family of such decompositions, thus giving rise to a family of spatial geometries. As a proof of concept, this idea is demonstrated in two toy models based on Kitaev's toric code, which feature a dynamical change of dimension and topology.
Extrapleural pneumonectomy of recurrent thymoma with pleural dissemination
Authors: Shiiya Haruhiko , Hida Yasuhiro , Kaga Kichizo , Inoue Rei , Nakada‐Kubota Reiko , Matsui Yoshiro
Published: March 2018

Complete surgical resection has been considered the only curable treatment for thymoma. The efficacy of extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP) for stage IV thymomas remains controversial. In this case report, we utilize EPP for recurrent thymoma with pleural dissemination and describe the resulting outcome. A 39‐year‐old female with a history of thoracoscopic thymectomy for type B2 thymoma was referred to our hospital for a recurrence of thymoma with pleural dissemination. She underwent EPP as a radical surgery. Histopathological investigation revealed complete resection. The postoperative course was uneventful. She returned to her full‐time job and showed no sign of recurrence at 31 months after surgery. EPP for recurrent thymoma with pleural dissemination may be considered to achieve macroscopically complete resection when the patient is young and has a sufficient pulmonary function reservoir without preoperative complications.
Rapid diffuse pleural thickening due to metastatic meningioma
Authors: Kobayashi Fumi , Saraya Takeshi , Ohkuma Kosuke , Fujiwara Masachika , Takizawa Hajime
Published: March 2018

A 64‐year‐old man was referred to our hospital because of persistent dyspnoea for the past 1 month. He had recurrent brain anaplastic meningioma after two operations and irradiation. He suffered from right pleural effusion in the previous few months and was diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma via pleural biopsy 1 month prior to coming to our hospital. At his first visit to our hospital, thoracic computed tomography demonstrated rapidly developed large inhomogeneously enhancing pleural thickening up to 3 cm, which surrounded the right hemithorax, together with left‐sided pleural effusion. After re‐evaluation of the pathological specimens retrieved from the local hospital, he was finally diagnosed with pleural metastasis secondary to anaplastic meningioma (WHO classification, grade 3). Generally, brain meningiomas are believed to be benign and seldom metastasize to other organs. However, the present case clearly demonstrated the unique clinical presentation of anaplastic meningioma, also known as malignant meningioma, which mimicked the pathological and radiological findings of a malignant mesothelioma.
Synthesis and Characterization of Thermosensitive Molecularly Imprinted Poly[allylacetoacetate/N‐vinyl caprolactam] for Selective Extraction of Gemcitabine in Biological Samples
Authors: Gomar Maryam , Panahi Homayon Ahmad , Pournamdari Elham
Published: March 2018

A new analytical method was developed involving a drug imprinted polymer according to polymerization with N‐vinyl caprolactam as a thermo‐sensitive monomer, allylacetoacetate as a functional monomer, N, N′‐methylenebisacrylamide as a cross‐linker agent, gemcitabine as a template and azobis isobutyronitrile as an initiator. The effect of time, pH and temperature on adsorption of gemcitabine has been investigated. Some techniques such as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, elemental analysis and scanning electron microscopy were used for determination of drug imprinted polymer. The drug imprinted polymer was used as a solid‐phase extractant to determine trace amount of gemcitabine in biological human fluids. It is found that the drug imprinted polymer sorbent extracted gemcitabine selectively. The profile of gemcitabine uptake with the new sorbent showed good accessibility of the reactive sites in the imprinted polymer sorbent. From the mathematical calculation, the equilibrium adsorption data of gemcitabine by imprinted polymer were evaluated by Langmuir, Freundlich and Temkin isotherm models. The introduced method was successfully used for determination of gemcitabine in pharmaceutical and human urine samples by high performance liquid chromatography with great results.