bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
On Farm Performance Evaluation of Back Pack Weeder for Weed Control in Cassava: A Case of Busia County, Kenya
Authors: Susan Maingi , Wawire Noah
Published: March 2022

This research work involved performance evaluation of back pack weeder in four representative cassava planted farms in Busia County. The main objective of the research study was to test the performance of the mechanical back pack weeder in cassava crop and comparing it with manual weeding. This was done in four test plots which were sampled in different sub counties based on the condition of small scale farmer accessibility and also a representative of each sub-county. In all the plots cassava was planted using the right agronomic requirements. The choice of the crop was depended on farmers and stakeholders preference to the most profitable and mechanizable crop in the county. This was done using the ranking method in order to achieve the crop with the highest interest in terms of profitability and mechanization need. Machinery evaluation is always very significant as it gives the performance rate of agricultural machinery and quality of operation based on the farm in which they are used. It is for this reason that the back pack weeder was preferred and evaluated against manual weeding for the farmer to understand the use and maintenance as well as its benefits compared to manual weeding using a jembe. The use of a back pack weeder for weeding in cassava as opposed to manual weeding using a jembe proved that it can improve weeding quality and also reduces elapsed time and the costs involved in the weeding operation. The evaluated parameters were weeding efficiency, fuel consumption, operation time, plant damage, effective field capacity and field efficiency. The results show that efficiencies for test plots 1, 2 and 4 were high ranging from 97.1%, 98%, 97% with bit lower fuel consumption of 0.4l/hr and operational cost of 1360kes/ha, 1366kes/ha and 1361kes/ha respectively due to the nature of soils texture which was equally sandy loam. The plant damage for all plots were found to be the same for both machine and manual weeding.  The operational cost of manual was equally the same since the same number of casuals were used but the machine was a bit higher for the case of test plot 3 since it consumed a high amount of fuel. The weeding efficiency was depicted as 97.1 %, 98%, 86% and 97% for machine weeding for the four test plots respectively and 78%, 78%, 72% and 77% for hand weeding, since the human labour removes the weeds hence the efficiency of weeding was highest.
Bimodal Light‐Harvesting Microfluidic System Using Upconversion Nanocrystals for Enhanced Flow Photocatalysis
Authors: You Younghoon , Kim Mi‐Jeong , Ahn Gwang‐Noh , Bae Sanghyun , Kim Dowon , Kim Jung‐Kyun , Kwon Yongeun , Ryu Jungki , Lee Jiseok , Kim Dong‐Pyo
Published: March 2022

Microfluidic systems with large surface‐to‐volume ratios and superior light transmission are used to efficiently transfer mass and convert energy, and to enhance photocatalytic reactions. Utilizing the entire solar spectrum for promoting photocatalytic reactions is highly desirable and near‐infrared (NIR) radiation, in particular, has a high transmission efficiency through common polymers and materials used to construct microfluidic devices. Herein, a reliable microfluidic system using bimodal light‐harvesting technique is reported to improve the photocatalytic efficiency of C(sp3)‐H functionalization reactions using coumarin dye (C153) and lanthanide‐doped upconversion nanocrystals (UCNs). Using two light‐harvesting components (C153 and UCNs) in polycarbosilane polymer matrix, a bimodal light‐harvesting microfluidic reactor is realized in which the inner surface of the microfluidic channel is reliably coated with a transparent composite of C153/UCNs to simultaneously downshift visible light and upconvert NIR light. A double‐stacked microfluidic system that successfully enhanced the photocatalytic conversion efficiency of Rose Bengal‐based aza‐Henry photocatalytic reactions by twofold (≈93% conversion). The study provides a design principle of next‐generation microfluidic reactor for a robust photocatalytic organic synthesis.
Plasmonic Nanocrystals with Complex Shapes for Photocatalysis and Growth: Contrasting Anisotropic Hot‐Electron Generation with the Photothermal Effect
Authors: Movsesyan Artur , Santiago Eva Yazmin , Burger Sven , Correa‐Duarte Miguel A. , Besteiro Lucas V. , Wang Zhiming , Govorov Alexander O.
Published: March 2022

In plasmonics, and particularly in plasmonic photochemistry, the effect of hot‐electron generation is an exciting phenomenon driving new fundamental and applied research. However, obtaining a microscopic description of the hot‐electron states represents a challenging problem, limiting the capability to design efficient nanoantennas exploiting these excited carriers. This paper addresses this limitation and studies the spatial distributions of the photophysical dynamic parameters controlling the local surface photochemistry on a plasmonic nanocrystal. It is found that the generation of energetic electrons and holes in small plasmonic nanocrystals with complex shapes is strongly position‐dependent and anisotropic, whereas the phototemperature across the nanocrystal surface is nearly uniform. The formalism includes three mechanisms for the generation of excited carriers: the Drude process, the surface‐assisted generation of hot‐electrons in the sp‐band, and the excitation of interband d‐holes. The computations show that the hot‐carrier generation originating from these mechanisms reflects the internal structure of hot spots in nanocrystals with complex shapes. The injection of energetic carriers and increased surface phototemperature are driving forces for photocatalytic and photo‐growth processes on the surface of plasmonic nanostructures. Therefore, developing a consistent microscopic theory of such processes is necessary for designing efficient nanoantennas for photocatalytic applications.
Primary ciliary dyskinesia in Volendam: Diagnostic and phenotypic features in patients with a CCDC114 mutation
Authors: Kos Renate , Israëls Joël , van Gogh Christine D. L. , Altenburg Josje , Diepenhorst Sandra , Paff Tamara , Boon Elles M. J. , Micha Dimitra , Pals Gerard , Neerincx Anne H. , Maitland‐van der Zee Anke H. , Haarman Eric G. ,   Amsterdam Mucociliary Clearance Disease (AMCD) Research Group
Published: March 2022

Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is a heterogeneous disease, with impaired mucociliary clearance causing respiratory tract infections. A founding CCDC114 mutation has led to a relatively homogeneous and large Dutch PCD population in Volendam. Our aim was to describe their phenotype. Therefore, all Volendam PCD patients seen at the Amsterdam UMC were included in this study. Data were collected on lung function, microbiology, radiology, and ear‐nose‐throat (ENT) symptoms. A mixed effects model estimated lung function decline in %point per year (95% confidence interval [CI]). Thirty‐three (60%) out of approximately 56 Volendam PCD patients were treated at our center and included in this study. Only 30% of patients had situs inversus. FEV1 declined in children (−1.43%/year, CI: −1.80/−1.05), but not in adults (0.01%/year, CI: −0.36/0.38). Pseudomonas aeruginosa was cultured in 21% of children and 60% of adults, respectively. Patients who have been infected at some point with P. aeruginosa had a steeper decline in FEV1 as compared to patients that have never been infected. Neonatal symptoms (79%) and ENT problems (94%) were common; fertility issues however, were not (11%) common. Compared to other PCD cohorts, the Volendam/CCDC114 patients have a moderately severe phenotype with lung function decline predominantly occurring in childhood.
Enhanced thermal conductivity of poly(aryl ether nitrile ketone)/functionalized boron nitride composites by electrospinning–hot press technique
Authors: Wang Yuanze , Qu Minjie , Wang Xinhong , Zhou Guangyuan
Published: March 2022

In this study, poly(aryl ether nitrile ketone)/functionalized boron nitride (PEK‐CN/f‐BN) composites fibers were prepared by solution blending followed by electrospinning technique. And the thermally conductive PEK‐CN/f‐BN nanocomposites were fabricated via hot press method. Octadecyltrimethylammonium Bromide (OTAB) was performed to functionalize the surface of boron nitride (BN) fillers, which were utilized as thermally conductive fillers to fabricate the corresponding PEK‐CN/BN composites. The thermal conductivity coefficient (λ) of the PEK‐CN/f‐BN composites (25 wt% f‐BN) was 0.702 W/mK, and the PEK‐CN/BN composites (25 wt% unfunctionalized BN) was 0.649 W/mK, whose λ is more than 200% higher than the λ of pure PEK‐CN (0.251 W/mK). Meantime, compared to the pure PEK‐CN, the glass‐transition temperature (Tg) of the PEK‐CN/f‐BN composites was increased from 228.10 to 232.98°C, and the thermal stability of the PEK‐CN/f‐BN composites has been improved as well. It was also noticed that, under the ideal electrospinning conditions, when the content of BN and f‐BN attached to 25 wt%, the storage modulus (E′), loss modulus (E″), and dielectric loss tangent (tan δ) values of the PEK‐CN/BN composites and PEK‐CN/f‐BN composites were higher than that of pure PEK‐CN.
Altruism in death: Attitudes to body and organ donation in Australian students
Authors: Jenkin Rebekah A. , Garrett Samuel A. , Keay Kevin A.
Published: March 2022

Health education, research, and training rely on the altruistic act of body donation for the supply of cadavers. Organ transplantation and research rely on donated organs. Supply of both is limited, with further restrictions in Australia due to requirements for a next‐of‐kin agreement to donation, irrespective of the deceased's pre‐death consent. Research suggests health workers are less likely to support the donation of their own bodies and/or organs, despite recognizing the public good of donation, and that exposure to gross anatomy teaching may negatively affect support for donation. Attitudes to body and organ donation were examined in Australian students studying anatomy. Support for self‐body donation (26.5%) was much lower than support for self‐organ donation (82.5%). Ten percent of participants would not support the election of a family member or member of the public to donate their body, and just over 4% would not support the election of a family member to donate their organs, with one‐to‐two percent not supporting this election by a member of the public. Exposure to gross anatomy teaching was associated with an increased likelihood of consideration of issues about body and organ donation, whether for self, family, or the public, and registration as an organ donor. Exposure decreased participants' willingness to donate their own body, with those who practiced a religion least likely to support body donation. Gross anatomy courses provide an opportunity to inform future healthcare workers about altruistic donation, albeit with a recognition that religious or cultural beliefs may affect willingness to donate.
Overdoping Strategy for Preparing a Two‐Phase Oxide Electrocatalyst to Boost Oxygen Evolution Reaction
Authors: Cai Jian , Quan Wei , Chen Tianyi , Ye Daixin , Zhao Hongbin , Wu Chengzhang
Published: March 2022

The oxygen evolution reaction is of great significance to the production of hydrogen from high efficiency electrolytic water, hydrogen oxygen fuel cell and other energy conversion devices, but there are many challenges such as high cost, low efficiency and poor stability of catalysts. Among non‐precious metal catalysts, oxide has its unique advantages. We used overdoping strategy to prepare two‐phase oxide electrocatalyst SrCo0.9Fe0.05Mo0.35Ox (SCFM0.35) containing double perovskite and Co3O4 with excellent OER electrocatalytic activity and stability in alkaline solution. It required an overpotential of 361.7 mV to reach a 10 mA cm−2 current density and its performance only degrades by 3.48% after 1000 CV cycles accelerated stability tests, whose electrochemical performance is superior to that of single‐phase double perovskites and undoped perovskites. SrCo0.9Fe0.1O3 (SCF) ordinary perovskite is doped with slightly molybdenum (Mo), and then the ordinary perovskite turns into double perovskite because of the polyvalence characteristics of Mo. When Mo is overdoped, Co3O4 phase was precipitated while Mo entered perovskite phase. This process causes lattice distortion and makes the surface electronic structure benign changes. Furthermore, the microscopic morphology of the material surface and the valence state of cobalt element are changed, thereby improving the microenvironment of the electrochemical process.
Noninvasive instrumental evaluation of coenzyme Q10 phytosome on endothelial reactivity in healthy nonsmoking young volunteers: A double‐blind, randomized, placebo‐controlled crossover clinical trial
Authors: Cicero Arrigo F. G. , Fogacci Federica , Di Micoli Antonio , Veronesi Maddalena , Borghi Claudio
Published: March 2022

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a natural antioxidant compound that prevents the vascular damage induced by free radicals and the activation of inflammatory signaling pathways. Supplementation with CoQ10 is safe though its bioavailability is generally low, as far as variable depending on the pharmaceutical form of preparation. Recently, the development of phytosome technology has improved the bioavailability of CoQ10 and definitely facilitated its effective use in clinical practice. The present double‐blind, randomized, placebo‐controlled, crossover clinical study aimed to investigate the effect on endothelial reactivity and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) of either acute and chronic supplementation with CoQ10 phytosome in a sample of 20 healthy young nonsmoking subjects. CoQ10 phytosome supplementation acutely improved endothelial reactivity in comparison with baseline and placebo (+4.7% ± 0.9% vs. −0.1 %± 0.3% p < 0.05). Middle‐term supplementation of the tested pharmaceutical formulation of CoQ10 significantly improved mean arterial pressure (−2.2 ± 1.1 mmHg vs. 0.2 ± 0.7 mmHg, p < 0.05 vs. placebo) and TAC (+29.6% ± 3.2% vs. +1.9% ± 0.8%, p < 0.05 vs. placebo). Endothelial reactivity improved compared with baseline following middle‐term dietary supplementation with CoQ10 phytosome (+5.7% ± 1.1%, p < 0.05).
Lung cancer incidence among world trade center rescue and recovery workers
Authors: Sigel Keith , de la Hoz Rafael E. , Markowitz Steven B. , Kong Chung Yin , Stone Kimberly , Todd Andrew C. , Wisnivesky Juan P.
Published: March 2022

Background

Many World Trade Center disaster (WTC) rescue and recovery workers (WTC RRWV) were exposed to toxic inhalable particles. The impact of WTC exposures on lung cancer risk is unclear.

Methods

Data from the WTC Health Program General Responders Cohort (WTCGRC) were linked to health information from a large New York City health system to identify incident lung cancer cases. Incidence rates for lung cancer were then calculated. As a comparison group, we created a microsimulation model that generated expected lung cancer incidence rates for a WTC‐ and occupationally‐unexposed cohort with similar characteristics. We also fitted a Poisson regression model to determine specific lung cancer risk factors for WTC RRWV.

Results

The incidence of lung cancer for WTC RRWV was 39.5 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 30.7–49.9) per 100,000 person‐years. When compared to the simulated unexposed cohort, no significant elevation in incidence was found among WTC RRWV (incidence rate ratio [IRR] 1.34; 95% CI: 0.92–1.96). Predictors of lung cancer incidence included age, smoking intensity, and years since quitting for former smokers. In adjusted models evaluating airway obstruction and individual pre‐WTC occupational exposures, only mineral dust work was associated with lung cancer risk (IRR: 2.03; 95% CI: 1.07–3.86).

Discussion

In a sample from a large, prospective cohort of WTC RRWV we found a lung cancer incidence rate that was similar to that expected of a WTC‐ and occupationally‐unexposed cohort with similar individual risk profiles. Guideline‐concordant lung cancer surveillance and periodic evaluations of population‐level lung cancer risk should continue in this group.
Synthesis of Hybrid Tripeptide Peptidomimetics Containing Dehydroamino Acid and Aminophosphonic Acid in the Chain and Evaluation of Their Activity toward Cathepsin C
Authors: Jewgiński Michał Paweł , Makowski Maciej , Pawełczak Małgorzata , Goldeman Waldemar , Trojanowska‐Laskowska Alicja , Kafarski Paweł , Latajka Rafał
Published: March 2022

Synthesis of a new group of hybrid phosphonodehydropeptides composed of glycyl‐(Z)‐dehydrophenylalanine and structurally variable aminophosphonates alongside with investigations of their activity towards cathepsin C are presented. Obtained results suggest that the introduction of (Z)‐dehydrophenylalanine residue into the short phosphonopeptide chain does induce the ordered conformation. Investigated peptides appeared to act as weak or moderate inhibitors of cathepsin C.
Acute air embolism caused by autotransfusion during percutaneous atrial septal defect closure: A case report
Authors: Liao Yu‐Qi , Zhang Meng‐Qiu
Published: March 2022

Atrial septal defect is a common congenital heart disease in adults and it is often asymptomatic. Percutaneous device closure is gaining popularity, but percutaneous repair of atrial septal defect leading to left atrial rupture and subsequent autotransfusion under high pressure leading to air embolism has not been reported yet.
Bifocal intracholecystic tubulopapillary neoplasm: A rare and distinct tumor of the gallbladder
Authors: Limaiem Faten , Omrani Sahir , Hajri Mohamed , Baccouche Seifeddine
Published: March 2022

Intracholecystic papillary‐tubular neoplasms are rare precancerous and polypoid lesions of the gallbladder, found in nearly 0.4% of cholecystectomy specimens. They follow the adenoma‐carcinoma sequence. About half the cases are associated with invasive carcinoma. Their diagnosis relies on histopathological examination with extensive sampling of the surgical specimen.
Twin anemia‐polycythemia sequence with suspected cardiac dysfunction
Authors: Shibata Yoshie , Suzuki Shunji
Published: March 2022

We present a case of twin anemia‐polycythemia sequence diagnosed postnatally with suspected chronic stress on the heart in the donor twin.
ZrxPr1–xOy Solid Solution‐Supported Cobalt‐Based Catalysts for Hydrogen Production
Authors: Huang Jia , Liu Yan , Ding Chenyu , Liao Fuxia , Shu Chenghong , Huang Lihong
Published: March 2022

To obtain high yields of hydrogen, a series of ZrxPr1–xOy‐supported cobalt catalysts were synthesized by the sol‐gel method and tested in autothermal reforming (ATR) of acetic acid (HAc) derived from bio‐oil. X‐ray diffraction, nitrogen physisorption, H2‐temperature‐programmed reduction, and thermogravimetric analysis were conducted to investigate the factors affecting the activities of the catalysts. Over the Co‐Zr‐Pr‐O catalyst, a ZrxPr1–xOy solid solution was formed after calcination; meanwhile, the active component of Co0 was highly dispersed over the solid solution after reduction in hydrogen for 1 h at 700 °C. As a result, stable reactivity was recorded in the ATR process of HAc: the hydrogen yield reached 2.58  with near 100 % HAc conversion, while better resistance to coking was observed.
Orthogonal Design of Fe−N4 Active Sites and Hierarchical Porosity in Hydrazine Oxidation Electrocatalysts
Authors: Shahaf Yair , Mahammed Atif , Raslin Arik , Kumar Amit , Farber Eliyahu M. , Gross Zeev , Eisenberg David
Published: March 2022

Hydrazine is a promising energy‐dense fuel for alkaline fuel cells. To design efficient and affordable electrocatalysts for the hydrazine oxidation reaction (HzOR), one needs to control both the active site and the supporting scaffold. We now report a family of electrocatalysts for alkaline HzOR, consisting of atomically dispersed Fe−N4 sites (as iron corroles of varying sizes) on hierarchically porous, electronically conductive carbon scaffolds that were prepared by self‐templating from a novel barium‐based precursor. The orthogonal design of active sites and flow‐enhancing scaffolds allowed the rational optimization of their combination, to achieve excellent HzOR activity. These catalysts demonstrate the utility and versatility of metallocorroles for electrocatalysis in the nitrogen cycle, as well as the importance of pore tuning for optimization of the current density.
Influence of pulse modulation frequency on helium RF atmospheric pressure plasma jet characteristics
Authors: Mahreen  , Prakash G. Veda , Kar Satyananda , Sahu Debaprasad , Ganguli A.
Published: March 2022

This work investigates the influence of pulse modulation frequency ranging from 50 Hz–10 kHz on the helium RF atmospheric pressure plasma jet's fundamental characteristics. The impact of modulation frequency on plasma jet discharge behaviour, geometrical variation, reactive species emission, and plasma parameters (gas temperature Tg, electron excitation temperature Texc, and electron density (ne)) are studied using various diagnostics such as optical imaging, emission spectra, and thermal diagnostic. From the experiments, it is observed that operating the plasma jet at low pulse modulation frequencies (around 50 Hz) provides enhanced plasma dimensions, higher electron densities and greater optical emission from reactive species (viz., He I, O, OH, N2+, etc.) as compared to the higher modulation frequencies. Besides the low power consumption, three times less gas temperature of the modulated plasma jet than the continuous wave mode makes it more advantageous for the applications. Moreover, the influence of duty cycle (D) and applied RF power (P) on the plasma jet characteristics are also discussed. It is found that 10–40% duty cycle operation provides the most favourable attributes. More importantly, the concern of shorter plasma length in RF plasma jets is overcome by operating at 10–20% duty cycle with increased applied power. This work thoroughly characterizes helium atmospheric pressure RF plasma jet with a wide range of pulse mode operating parameters, which could help to select appropriate operating conditions for various industrial and biomedical applications.
LCMV induced downregulation of HVEM on antiviral T cells is critical for an efficient effector response
Authors: Diethelm Patrizia , Schmitz Iwana , Iten Irina , Kisielow Jan , Matsushita Mai , Kopf Manfred
Published: March 2022

T‐cell responses against tumors and pathogens are critically shaped by cosignaling molecules providing a second signal. Interaction of herpes virus entry mediator (HVEM, CD270, TNFRSF14) with multiple ligands has been proposed to promote or inhibit T‐cell responses and inflammation, dependent on the context. In this study, we show that absence of HVEM did neither affect generation of effector nor maintenance of memory antiviral T cells and accordingly viral clearance upon acute and chronic lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) infection, due to potent HVEM downregulation during infection. Notably, overexpression of HVEM on virus‐specific CD8+ T cells resulted in a reduction of effector cells, whereas numbers of memory cells were increased. Overall, this study indicates that downregulation of HVEM driven by LCMV infection ensures an efficient acute response at the price of impaired formation of T‐cell memory.
Community co‐selection of measures to evaluate the health and wellbeing impact of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community running groups
Authors: Macniven Rona , Delbaere Kim , Lewis Ebony , Radford Kylie , Canuto Karla , Dickson Michelle , Richards Justin , Gwynn Josephine , Withall Adrienne
Published: March 2022

Issue addressed

Physical activity participation can improve the physical health and social and emotional wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The evaluation of physical activity programmes can elicit a clearer understanding of where these impacts occur and to what extent. We describe applying a collaborative approach to the selection of a set of measures that can be used to examine health and wellbeing impacts of Indigenous community running groups.

Methods

Physical activity, health and wellbeing measurement tools previously used with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples were collated. Participants in the collaborative process were nine female running group members aged 30+ years from a regional New South Wales (NSW) town. The Indigenous research method, Yarning, explored views of participating in the group on health and wellbeing and how these could be measured using those collated measurement tools.

Results

Runners described participating for holistic physical, mental and social reasons and stated the importance of the group participating together and providing social support to each other. There was broad support for the identified physical activity, lifestyle, physical health, and social and emotional wellbeing measures, with social networks and sports injuries identified as additionally relevant.

Conclusions

Co‐selecting measures to evaluate a physical activity programme for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participants can better inform the development of relevant future healthy lifestyle programme evaluation, revealing factors that may be missed as relevant by researchers.

So what?

This process presents an example of determining evaluation measures with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participants that could be applied more broadly to evaluation design.
Colonic adenocarcinoma with synchronous metastasis to the pancreas: A case report and literature review
Authors: Yoon Jennifer , Petrosyan Arpine , Wang Timothy , Ameer Adnan
Published: March 2022

Metastatic lesions to the pancreas are a rare entity and make up about 0.5–5% of all pancreatic malignancies. Synchronous pancreatic metastasis is even less frequently reported. Before the widespread use of advanced endoscopic techniques, distinguishing between primary and secondary malignancies of the pancreas was diagnostically challenging. The accuracy of diagnosing metastatic lesions to the pancreas using endoscopic ultrasound with fine needle aspiration is around 91%. Distinguishing between primary and secondary lesions is crucial in determining disease management. We present a case of a young man who presented with synchronous pancreatic metastasis from colon adenocarcinoma.
Evaluation of Dynamic Contrast‐Enhanced MRI Measures of Lung Congestion and Endothelial Permeability in Heart Failure: A Prospective Method Validation Study
Authors: Cheriyan Joseph , Roberts Alexandra , Roberts Caleb , Graves Martin J. , Patterson Ilse , Slough Rhys A. , Schroyer Rosemary , Fernando Disala , Kumar Subramanya , Lee Sarah , Parker Geoffrey J.M. , Sarov‐Blat Lea , McEniery Carmel , Middlemiss Jessica , Sprecher Dennis , Janiczek Robert L.
Published: March 2022

Background

Methods for accurate quantification of lung fluid in heart failure (HF) are needed. Dynamic contrast‐enhanced (DCE)‐MRI may be an appropriate modality.

Purpose

DCE‐MRI evaluation of fraction of fluid volume in the interstitial lung space (ve) and vascular permeability (Ktrans).

Study Type

Prospective, single‐center method validation.

Population

Seventeen evaluable healthy volunteers (HVs), 12 participants with HF, and 3 with acute decompensated HF (ADHF).

Field Strength/Sequence

T1 mapping (spoiled gradient echo variable flip angle acquisition) followed by dynamic series (three‐dimensional spoiled gradient‐recalled echo acquisitions [constant echo time, repetition time, and flip angle at 1.5 T]).

Assessment

Three whole‐chest scans were acquired: baseline (Session 1), 1‐week later (Session 2), following exercise (Session 3). Extended Tofts model quantified ve and Ktrans (voxel‐wise basis); total lung median measures were extracted and fitted via repeat measure analysis of variance (ANOVA) model. Patient tolerability of the scanning protocol was assessed.

Statistical Tests

This was constructed as an experimental medicine study. Primary endpoints: Ktrans and ve at baseline (HV vs. HF), change in Ktrans and ve following exercise, and following lung congestion resolution (ADHF). Ktrans and ve were fitted separately using ANOVA. Secondary endpoint: repeatability, that is, within‐participant variability in ve and Ktrans between sessions (coefficient of variation estimated via mixed effects model).

Results

There was no significant difference in mean Ktrans between HF and HV (P ≤ 0.17): 0.2216 minutes−1 and 0.2353 minutes−1 (Session 1), 0.2044 minutes−1 and 0.2567 minutes−1 (Session 2), 0.1841 minutes−1 and 0.2108 minutes−1 (Session 3), respectively. ve was greater in the HF group (all scans, P ≤ 0.02). Results were repeatable between Sessions 1 and 2; mean values for HF and HV were 0.4946 and 0.3346 (Session 1), 0.4353 and 0.3205 (Session 2), respectively. There was minimal difference in Ktrans or ve between scans for participants with ADHF (small population precluded significance testing). Scanning was well tolerated.

Data Conclusion

While no differences were detected in Ktrans, ve was greater in chronic HF patients vs. HV, augmented beyond plasma and intracellular volume. DCE‐MRI is a valuable diagnostic and physiologic tool to evaluate changes in fluid volume in the interstitial lung space associated with symptomatic HF.

Level of Evidence

2

Technical Efficacy Stage

2
Successfully sharing knowledge: Empirical evidence on the influence of managerial factors
Authors: Jackson Tim M. , Shen Jun , Nikolic Sasha
Published: March 2022

Knowledge is an intangible and vital resource that is an important source of competitive advantage; however, the technologies that help create, store, and transfer knowledge are hindered by unrealistic expectations and ambiguity, and the measurement of knowledge‐sharing activities is both difficult and complex. Compounding this is the deficit of empirical studies on the factors that influence the knowledge‐sharing process. We endeavored to provide empirical evidence on these interactions using a survey developed from a prior extensive systematic literature review. The previously identified factors that were in the current study tested comprised (1) organizational culture, (2) formal processes, (3) top‐down support, (4) motivation, (5) clear strategy, and (6) quality of technology. In order, the most influential factors were organizational culture, top‐down support, motivation, and quality of technology. This study is a promising start to the exploration of the factors used in knowledge sharing and should be expanded to include new industries and contexts.
Cervical optical coherence tomography image classification based on contrastive self‐supervised texture learning
Authors: Chen Kaiyi , Wang Qingbin , Ma Yutao
Published: March 2022

Background

Cervical cancer (CC) seriously affects the health of the female reproductive system. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) emerged as a noninvasive, high‐resolution imaging technology for cervical disease detection. However, OCT image annotation is knowledge‐intensive and time‐consuming, which impedes the training process of deep‐learning‐based classification models.

Purpose

This study aims to develop a computer‐aided diagnosis (CADx) approach to classifying in‐vivo cervical OCT images based on self‐supervised learning.

Methods

In addition to high‐level semantic features extracted by a convolutional neural network (CNN), the proposed CADx approach designs a contrastive texture learning strategy to leverage unlabeled cervical OCT images’ texture features. We conducted 10‐fold cross‐validation on the OCT image dataset from a multicenter clinical study on 733 patients from China.

Results

In a binary classification task for detecting high‐risk diseases, including high‐grade squamous intraepithelial lesion and CC, our method achieved an area‐under‐the‐curve value of 0.9798 ± 0.0157 with a sensitivity of 91.17% ± 4.99% and a specificity of 93.96% ± 4.72% for OCT image patches; also, it outperformed two out of four medical experts on the test set. Furthermore, our method achieved 91.53% sensitivity and 97.37% specificity on an external validation dataset containing 287 three‐dimensional OCT volumes from 118 Chinese patients in a new hospital using a cross‐shaped threshold voting strategy.

Conclusions

The proposed contrastive‐learning‐based CADx method outperformed the end‐to‐end CNN models and provided better interpretability based on texture features, which holds great potential to be used in the clinical protocol of “see‐and‐treat.”
Personalized local SAR prediction for parallel transmit neuroimaging at 7T from a single T1‐weighted dataset
Authors: Brink Wyger M. , Yousefi Sahar , Bhatnagar Prernna , Remis Rob F. , Staring Marius , Webb Andrew G.
Published: March 2022

Purpose

Parallel RF transmission (PTx) is one of the key technologies enabling high quality imaging at ultra‐high fields (≥7T). Compliance with regulatory limits on the local specific absorption rate (SAR) typically involves over‐conservative safety margins to account for intersubject variability, which negatively affect the utilization of ultra‐high field MR. In this work, we present a method to generate a subject‐specific body model from a single T1‐weighted dataset for personalized local SAR prediction in PTx neuroimaging at 7T.

Methods

Multi‐contrast data were acquired at 7T (N = 10) to establish ground truth segmentations in eight tissue types. A 2.5D convolutional neural network was trained using the T1‐weighted data as input in a leave‐one‐out cross‐validation study. The segmentation accuracy was evaluated through local SAR simulations in a quadrature birdcage as well as a PTx coil model.

Results

The network‐generated segmentations reached Dice coefficients of 86.7% ± 6.7% (mean ± SD) and showed to successfully address the severe intensity bias and contrast variations typical to 7T. Errors in peak local SAR obtained were below 3.0% in the quadrature birdcage. Results obtained in the PTx configuration indicated that a safety margin of 6.3% ensures conservative local SAR estimates in 95% of the random RF shims, compared to an average overestimation of 34% in the generic “one‐size‐fits‐all” approach.

Conclusion

A subject‐specific body model can be automatically generated from a single T1‐weighted dataset by means of deep learning, providing the necessary inputs for accurate and personalized local SAR predictions in PTx neuroimaging at 7T.
SLOW: A novel spectral editing method for whole‐brain MRSI at ultra high magnetic field
Authors: Weng Guodong , Radojewski Piotr , Sheriff Sulaiman , Kiefer Claus , Schucht Philippe , Wiest Roland , Maudsley Andrew A. , Slotboom Johannes
Published: March 2022

Purpose

At ultra‐high field (UHF), B1+‐inhomogeneities and high specific absorption rate (SAR) of adiabatic slice‐selective RF‐pulses make spatial resolved spectral‐editing extremely challenging with the conventional MEGA‐approach. The purpose of the study was to develop a whole‐brain resolved spectral‐editing MRSI at UHF (UHF, B0 ≥ 7T) within clinical acceptable measurement‐time and minimal chemical‐shift‐displacement‐artifacts (CSDA) allowing for simultaneous GABA/Glx‐, 2HG‐, and PE‐editing on a clinical approved 7T‐scanner.

Methods

Slice‐selective adiabatic refocusing RF‐pulses (2π‐SSAP) dominate the SAR to the patient in (semi)LASER based MEGA‐editing sequences, causing large CSDA and long measurement times to fulfill SAR requirements, even using SAR‐minimized GOIA‐pulses. Therefore, a novel type of spectral‐editing, called SLOW‐editing, using two different pairs of phase‐compensated chemical‐shift selective adiabatic refocusing‐pulses (2π‐CSAP) with different refocusing bandwidths were investigated to overcome these problems.

Results

Compared to conventional echo‐planar spectroscopic imaging (EPSI) and MEGA‐editing, SLOW‐editing shows robust refocusing and editing performance despite to B1+‐inhomogeneity, and robustness to B0‐inhomogeneities (0.2 ppm ≥ ΔB0 ≥ −0.2 ppm). The narrow bandwidth (∼0.6–0.8 kHz) CSAP reduces the SAR by 92%, RF peak power by 84%, in‐excitation slab CSDA by 77%, and has no in‐plane CSDA. Furthermore, the CSAP implicitly dephases water, lipid and all the other signals outside of range (≥ 4.6 ppm and ≤1.4 ppm), resulting in additional water and lipid suppression (factors ≥ 1000s) at zero SAR‐cost, and no spectral aliasing artifacts.

Conclusion

A new spectral‐editing has been developed that is especially suitable for UHF, and was successfully applied for 2HG, GABA+, PE, and Glx‐editing within 10 min clinical acceptable measurement time.
BUDA‐MESMERISE: Rapid acquisition and unsupervised parameter estimation for T1, T2, M0, B0, and B1 maps
Authors: So Seohee , Park Hyun Wook , Kim Byungjai , Fritz Francisco J. , Poser Benedikt A. , Roebroeck Alard , Bilgic Berkin
Published: March 2022

Purpose

Rapid acquisition scheme and parameter estimation method are proposed to acquire distortion‐free spin‐ and stimulated‐echo signals and combine the signals with a physics‐driven unsupervised network to estimate T1, T2, and proton density (M0) parameter maps, along with B0 and B1 information from the acquired signals.

Theory and Methods

An imaging sequence with three 90° RF pulses is utilized to acquire spin‐ and stimulated‐echo signals. We utilize blip‐up/‐down acquisition to eliminate geometric distortion incurred by the effects of B0 inhomogeneity on rapid EPI acquisitions. For multislice imaging, echo‐shifting is applied to utilize dead time between the second and third RF pulses to encode information from additional slice positions. To estimate parameter maps from the spin‐ and stimulated‐echo signals with high fidelity, 2 estimation methods, analytic fitting and a novel unsupervised deep neural network method, are developed.

Results

The proposed acquisition provided distortion‐free T1, T2, relative proton density (M0), B0, and B1 maps with high fidelity both in phantom and in vivo brain experiments. From the rapidly acquired spin‐ and stimulated‐echo signals, analytic fitting and the network‐based method were able to estimate T1, T2, M0, B0, and B1 maps with high accuracy. Network estimates demonstrated noise robustness owing to the fact that the convolutional layers take information into account from spatially adjacent voxels.

Conclusion

The proposed acquisition/reconstruction technique enabled whole‐brain acquisition of coregistered, distortion‐free, T1, T2, M0, B0, and B1 maps at 1 × 1 × 5 mm3 resolution in 50 s. The proposed unsupervised neural network provided noise‐robust parameter estimates from this rapid acquisition.
One‐Pot Hydrothermal Synthesis for a Manganese Oxide Molecular Sieve for Application in Mercury Removal in Chloride‐Free Flue Gas
Authors: Han Jun , Shan Weiwei , Zhao Bo , Tian Chong , Ma Junwei , Zhang Qiang , Qin Linbo , Chen Wangsheng
Published: March 2022

OMS‐2 (manganese oxide octahedral molecular sieve) were prepared by one pot hydrothermal method under different temperatures in this work, and their performances of oxidizing elemental mercury (Hg0) in the flue gas derived from coal combustion were evaluated. Moreover, the effects of the reaction temperature and flue gas component on Hg0 oxidation ability of these catalysts were also investigated. It is found that OMS‐2 catalysts have an excellent mercury oxidizing ability under 100–200 °C, and 94 % Hg0 oxidation efficiency could be achieved by catalyst prepared under 120 °C (OMS‐2‐H120) in the chlorine free flue gas. The process of elemental mercury oxidation over OMS‐2‐H120 by O2 is found to follow Mars‐Maessen mechanism based on the XPS and FTIR analysis of the fresh and spent catalysts. NO is the precursors of the active species such as NO−, NO2, which is benefit to improve Hg0 oxidation ability of OMS‐2‐H120. SO2 have a negative effect on Hg0 oxidation over OMS‐2‐H120 while water vapor exhibits nearly no influence.
Pressure‐Induced Amorphization and Crystallization of Heterophase Pd Nanostructures
Authors: Li Qian , Cheng Hongfei , Xing Caihong , Guo Songhao , Wu Xiaotong , Zhang Liming , Zhang Dongzhou , Liu Xingchen , Wen Xiaodong , Lü Xujie , Zhang Hua , Quan Zewei
Published: March 2022

Control of structural ordering in noble metals is very important for the exploration of their properties and applications, and thus it is highly desired to have an in‐depth understanding of their structural transitions. Herein, through high‐pressure treatment, the mutual transformations between crystalline and amorphous phases are achieved in Pd nanosheets (NSs) and nanoparticles (NPs). The amorphous domains in the amorphous/crystalline Pd NSs exhibit pressure‐induced crystallization (PIC) phenomenon, which is considered as the preferred structural response of amorphous Pd under high pressure. On the contrary, in the spherical crystalline@amorphous core‐shell Pd NPs, pressure‐induced amorphization (PIA) is observed in the crystalline core, in which the amorphous‐crystalline phase boundary acts as the initiation site for the collapse of crystalline structure. The distinct PIC and PIA phenomena in two different heterophase Pd nanostructures might originate from the different characteristics of Pd NSs and NPs, including morphology, amorphous‐crystalline interface, and lattice parameter. This work not only provides insights into the phase transition mechanisms of amorphous/crystalline heterophase noble metal nanostructures, but also offers an alternative route for engineering noble metals with different phases.
Recent progress, mechanisms, and perspectives for crystal and interface chemistry applying to the Zn metal anodes in aqueous zinc‐ion batteries
Authors: Zhang Zhengchunyu , Xi Baojuan , Ma Xiaojian , Chen Weihua , Feng Jinkui , Xiong Shenglin
Published: March 2022

The need for large‐scale electrochemical energy storage devices in the future has spawned several new breeds of batteries in which aqueous zinc ion batteries (AZIBs) have attracted great attention due to their high safety, low cost, and excellent electrochemical performance. In the current research, the dendrite and corrosion caused by aqueous electrolytes are the main problems being studied. However, the research on the zinc metal anode is still in its infancy. We think it really needs to provide clear guidelines about how to reasonably configure the system of AZIBs to realize high‐energy density and long cycle life. Therefore, it is worth analyzing the works on the zinc anode, and several strategies are proposed to improve the stability and cycle life of the battery in recent years. Based on the crystal chemistry and interface chemistry, this review reveals the key factors and essential causes that inhibit dendrite growth and side reactions and puts forward the potential prospects for future work in this direction. It is foreseeable that guiding the construction of AZIBs with high‐energy density and long cycle life in various systems would be quite possible by following this overview as a roadmap.
Development of Ag‐dendrites @Cu nanostructure for removal of selenium (IV) from aqueous solution
Authors: El‐Wakeel Shaimaa T. , Abdel‐Karim Ahmed , Ismail Sameh H. , Mohamed Gehad G.
Published: March 2022

Removal of selenite (Se (IV)) from wastewater is vital due to its more toxic and mobile properties. In this study, a novel dendritic silver‐dendrites@ copper with hierarchical side‐branches were synthesized through a two‐pot rapid, facile, and green precipitation route. Characterization of the dendrites by transmission electron microscope (TEM), scanning electron microscope (SEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and X‐ray diffraction spectroscopy (XRD) confirmed the proper preparation of dendritic AgCu nanostructure. Significantly, the Ag@Cu nanostructure has high specific surface area (150 m2/g) and excellent adsorption activity toward selenite. The adsorption rate of Se (IV) on the dendritic AgCu reaches 94% within 60 min under normal adsorption procedures. Both adsorption kinetics and isotherms have been described well by the pesudo‐second order model and Langmuir model, respectively. The noticeable high adsorption capabilities can mainly accredit to the effect of the hierarchical side‐branched structure. Therefore, the dendritic AgCu nanostructure has a room of treating heavy metals‐contaminated industrial wastewater streams.

Practitioner Points

Silver‐dendrites@ copper with hierarchical side‐branches were synthesized through a rapid and green precipitation route using copper nanoparticles.

The prepared nanostructure was applied for Se (IV) adsorption at varying operational conditions (contact time, pH, and dose).

High adsorption capacity for Se (IV) up to 173.1 mg/g was achieved using the prepared nanoparticles applying Langmuir isotherm model.
Relative scale separation in orbifolds of S2 and S5
Authors: Tsimpis Dimitrios
Published: March 2022

Abstract

In orbifold vacua containing an Sq/Γ factor, we compute the relative order of scale separation, r, defined as the ratio of the eigenvalue of the lowest-lying Γ-invariant state of the scalar Laplacian on Sq, to the eigenvalue of the lowest-lying state. For q = 2 and Γ finite subgroup of SO(3), or q = 5 and Γ finite subgroup of SU(3), the maximal relative order of scale separation that can be achieved is r = 21 or r = 12, respectively. For smooth S5 orbifolds, the maximal relative scale separation is r = 4.2. Methods from invariant theory are very efficient in constructing Γ-invariant spherical harmonics, and can be readily generalized to other orbifolds.
The $$L^{r}$$-Variational Integral
Authors: Tulone Francesco , Musial Paul
Published: March 2022

We define the $$L^r$$

L
r

-variational integral and we prove that it is equivalent to the $$HK_r$$

H

K
r

-integral defined in 2004 by P. Musial and Y. Sagher in the Studia Mathematica paper The$$L^{r}$$

L
r

-Henstock–Kurzweil integral. We prove also the continuity of $$L^r$$

L
r

-variation function.
Genome-wide SNPs detect fine-scale genetic structure in threatened populations of squirrel glider Petaurus norfolcensis
Authors: Knipler Monica L. , Dowton Mark , Clulow John , Meyer Ninon , Mikac Katarina M.
Published: March 2022

Australian arboreal mammals are experiencing significant population declines, particularly due to land clearing and resulting habitat fragmentation. The squirrel glider, Petaurus norfolcensis, is a threatened species in New South Wales, with a stronghold population in the Lake Macquarie Local Government Area (LGA) where fragmentation due to urbanization is an ongoing problem for the species conservation. Here we report on the use of squirrel glider mitochondrial (385 bp cytochrome b gene, 70 individuals) and nuclear DNA (6,834 SNPs, 87 individuals) markers to assess their population genetic structure and connectivity across 14 locations sampled in the Lake Macquarie LGA. The mitochondrial DNA sequences detected evidence of a historical genetic bottleneck, while the genome-wide SNPs detected significant population structure in the Lake Macquarie squirrel glider populations at scales as fine as one kilometer. There was no evidence of inbreeding within patches, however there were clear effects of habitat fragmentation and biogeographical barriers on gene flow. A least cost path analysis identified thin linear corridors that have high priority for conservation. These areas should be protected to avoid further isolation of squirrel glider populations and the loss of genetic diversity through genetic drift.