bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Exploring the relationship between school‐supervised asthma therapy and social determinants of health in pediatric asthma care
Authors: Al‐Halbouni Layana , Ryan Grace W. , Radu Sonia , Spano Michelle , Sabnani Reshma , Phipatanakul Wanda , Gerald Lynn B. , Garg Arvin , Pbert Lori , Trivedi Michelle
Published: May 2024

Background

Social determinants of health (SDoH), including access to care, economic stability, neighborhood factors, and social context, strongly influence pediatric asthma outcomes. School‐supervised asthma therapy (SST) is an evidence‐based strategy that improves asthma outcomes, particularly for historically marginalized children, by providing support for daily medication adherence in school. However, little is known about the relationship between these programs and the adverse SDoH commonly affecting underrepresented minority and marginalized children with asthma.

Methods

We examined qualitative data from interviews (n = 52) conducted between 2017 and 2020 with diverse multi‐level partners involved in Asthma Link, a SST intervention. Participants included end‐users (children and their parents), deliverers (school nurses and pediatric providers), and systems‐level partners (e.g., insurers, legislators, and state officials). We used inductive coding to determine themes and subthemes and deductive coding using the Healthy People 2030 SDoH framework.

Results

Three themes emerged: (1) SST mitigates adverse SDoH (improves access to preventive healthcare and asthma health literacy), (2) SST benefits children experiencing specific adverse SDoH (provides a consistent medication routine to children with unstable family/housing situations) and (3) specific adverse SDoH impede SST implementation (economic instability, culture and language barriers).

Conclusion

This study suggests an important relationship between SDoH and SST that warrants further evaluation in our future work on this community‐based asthma intervention. Moreover, our findings underscore the importance of measuring SDoH in the implementation and evaluation of pediatric asthma interventions, particularly given the strong influence of these social factors on child health outcomes.
Does larger prostate size provide protection for cancer specific outcomes in localized prostate cancer
Authors: Abedali Zain , Woloshuk Andre , Cary Clint , Boris Ronald S.
Published: May 2024

Objective

Benign prostatic hyperplasia is common in the aging population and frequently comorbid with localized prostate cancer. Large prostate volume places significant challenges in robotic prostatectomy including reduced mobility and visualization. The goal of this study is to evaluate the effect of prostate volume as a continuous variable on cancer specific outcomes.

Methods

Three thousand four hundred and twenty five patients with localized prostate cancer at a single institution who underwent robotic prostatectomy were retrospectively reviewed. A number of preoperative, operative, and postoperative variables were collected to evaluate cancer specific outcomes including pathologic stage, tissue margins, and biochemical recurrence (BCR). Logistic regression models and univariate and multivariate analyses were implemented for pathologic stage T3 and BCR respectively.

Results

The median follow up time was 52 months (IQR 18−95). 37.4% of the patients had a final pathologic stage of T3 or higher, 21.2% experienced positive surgical margins, and 24.7% of patients experienced BCR. Prostate size was a significant predictor of all three outcomes of interest. Increasing prostate size was protective against both higher pathologic stage and positive surgical margins (odds ratio = 0.989, 0.990 respectively, p < 0.001). There was a modest increase in the risk of BCR with increasing gland size (hazard ratio = 1.006, p < 0.001). These results were most significant for patients with Gleason Grade Groups 1 and 2 prostate cancer.

Conclusion

Prostate size is a commonly determined clinical factor that effects both surgical planning and cancer specific outcomes. Increasing prostate size may offer protection against higher stage disease and positive surgical margins. While surgically challenging, favorable oncologic outcomes can be consistently achieved for patients with low‐intermediate risk disease.
Application and challenges of layers of protection analysis (LOPA) in mining processes: Insights into benefits and limitations
Authors: Anato Laura , Carrero Luis , Brouillard Guy , Morar Catherine
Published: May 2024

Layers of protection analysis (LOPA) is a semiquantitative technique widely used in process industries for assessing hazardous scenarios and supporting risk‐informed decision making. It provides a balance between the simplicity of qualitative analysis and the detail of quantitative analysis. This paper discusses the authors' experiences with the application of LOPA in the mining and metals (M&M) industry, combined with traditional methods like HAZOP and HAZID, to identify risks. Several of LOPA's limitations became evident, and scenarios involving human factors, natural events, and asset integrity were excluded from analysis. Certain M&M processes, often complex and heavily reliant on manual operations, pose unique challenges to LOPA's effectiveness due to difficulties in isolating independent protection layers: for example, those involving induction furnaces where overheat scenarios can lead to explosive phase transitions upon contact with water and molten metal. Despite these challenges, the advantages of LOPA, such as enhanced understanding of protection layers and fostering effective safety improvements, are significant. The paper anticipates continued use of LOPA within the company, complemented by safety critical task analysis to manage human errors and enhance safety controls in critical situations.
Fabrication Process of MicroLED Film for Achieving Vertical Current Injection Using Transfer Technology
Authors: Kanda Ryota , Kitade Taiki , Nishikawa Atsushi , Loesing Alexander , Sekiguchi Hiroto
Published: May 2024

Flexible light‐emitting devices have attracted attention as a novel bio‐interface connecting living tissues with electronics due to their high brightness, low power consumption, and durability in humid environments. Introduction of vertically current‐injected micro‐light‐emitting diodes (MicroLEDs) into this film can enhance the MicroLED effective area and improve device characteristics. In this study, the MicroLED transfer technology onto conductive materials is investigated. The feasibility of batch transferring MicroLEDs onto a conductive polymer is demonstrated by PEDOT:PSS layer. For non‐Ohmic characteristics between n‐GaN and PEDOT:PSS, a backside‐open MicroLED hollow structure is proposed, enabling the formation of Ti/Au electrodes on the backside of MicroLED. By transferring the fabricated vertically current‐injected MicroLEDs onto the PEDOT:PSS layer, a flexible vertically current‐injected LED film is achieved, observing uniform blue light emission. The developed MicroLED film holds promise as a new neuroscience tool for targeting specific areas of the brain with light.
Light Emission Characteristics in Nitride Semiconductor Nanowires Fabricated by Top‐down Method
Authors: Tateno Kouta , Takiguchi Masato , Ebata Kazuaki , Sasaki Satoshi , Kumakura Kazuhide , Taniyasu Yoshitaka
Published: May 2024

Nanophotonic devices made from nitride semiconductors are promising for various applications, especially those utilizing ultraviolet‐visible light with low‐power consumption and high driving speed. Herein, nanowire structures are fabricated from a light‐emitting diode  epitaxial wafer and demonstrates the effectiveness of wet etching in top‐down fabrication. Spontaneous emission from active layers and unanticipated lasing derived from a GaN layer in a single nanowire are observed by microphotoluminescence measurement. Lastly, the lasing mode through a 3D simulation of the eigenmodes in this nanowire structure is clarified.
A global observing‐system simulation experiment for the EPS–Sterna microwave constellation
Authors: Rivoire Louis , Marty Robin , Carrel‐Billiard Thomas , Chambon Philippe , Fourrié Nadia , Audouin Olivier , Martet Maud , Birman Camille , Accadia Christophe , Ackermann Jörg
Published: May 2024

A constellation of microwave sounders named the EUMETSAT Polar System–Sterna (EPS–Sterna) is under study at the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT), with the aim of complementing the backbone orbits of the global observing system in low Earth orbit. The satellites of this constellation would be similar to the Arctic Weather Satellite (AWS), which is being developed by the European Space Agency (ESA). The microwave sounder on board AWS is equipped with temperature sounding channels around the 50‐GHz oxygen absorption band, water‐vapour sounding channels around the 183‐ and 325‐GHz absorption bands, and also window channels at 89 and 165 GHz. An observing‐system simulation experiment (OSSE) has been conducted at the Centre National de Recherches Météorologiques (CNRM) to evaluate the impact of this constellation on numerical weather prediction (NWP) at the global scale with the Action de Recherche Petite Echelle Grande Echelle (ARPEGE) model. Two periods ranging from August–October 2021 and December 2021–February 2022 have been chosen to compute the nature run and to run 4D‐Var data assimilation experiments. As validation of the OSSE framework, the impact of a Metop‐B denial experiment in the OSSE is compared with the impact of a Metop‐B denial with real observations. This comparison shows that the Metop‐B denial impacts are very similar in the OSSE and with real observations, with the OSSE slightly overestimating the impact. Then, the impacts of various scenarios for the EPS–Sterna constellation are assessed by computing forecast errors, fractions skill scores, and moist global energy norms, and comparing these with the results of a baseline experiment without the EPS–Sterna constellation. Significant and positive improvements of the forecasts are found up to 96 h, for every variable tested, with an impact increasing with the number of satellites.
Are we doing enough to understand our relationship with the environment? A bibliometric analysis of the instruments that evaluate pro‐environmental behavior
Authors: Sánchez Flores Estefanía , Olivares Barlin Orlando , Vinueza Chérrez Rubén , Serrano Rodríguez Rocío
Published: May 2024

This article provides information on the evolution of research using instruments to assess pro‐environmental behavior (PEB), based on a bibliometric analysis of academic publications from 2011 to 2023. The study shows that research has rapidly increased in recent years, with 538 articles published in 257 high‐impact journals across various areas of knowledge. The literature mainly comes from the United States, followed by Europe and Asia. The most often addressed topics were green behavior, sustainability, climate change, and biodiversity conservation. Attitudes were the most addressed goal, but there is a growing interest in evaluating PEB from different perspectives. Surveys were the most widely used instrument to assess PEB, but it is important to consider alternative instruments such as interviews and focus groups. The study highlights the need for more research on evaluating PEB and emphasizes that the instruments used should undergo validation and reliability processes to ensure accuracy.
A Sustainable and Cost‐Effective Bioadsorbent for the Removal of Allura Red from Contaminated Water
Authors: Kaushik Vasvi , Bhogal Ashmeet , Singhal Shailey , Agarwal Shilpi , Kumar Tijendra
Published: May 2024

Food grade dyes pose severe health hazards when consumed in excessive amounts or enter body via contaminated water. Despite its harmful effects, Allura Red (AR) is very less explored dye for its removal, especially using agricultural/fruit waste. This study presents efficient removal of an important and unsafe food grade dye, AR via adsorption. Waste watermelon peel waste has been used for the first time for treatmenting wastewater contaminated with AR. Waste was converted to two types of adsorbents, with and without subjecting it to pyrolysis. Both the adsorbents were characterized for functionality and crystallinity and used for conducting adsorption studies. Removal of dye was evaluated by intrinsic strategy of monitoring the model solutions under pre‐ and post‐adsorption conditions. Removal percentage of dye was determined by calculating its initial (Co) and final (Cf) concentrations in solution using the formula (see Eq. (1)). Various reaction parameters important for adsorption, viz. pH, adsorbent dose, residence time, reaction temperature and particle size were optimized. Results indicate that ~80 % and >92 % dye could be removed using 0.5 g/L adsorbent before and after pyrolysis respectively in 3.5 h from its 2 ppm concentration in modelled water.
Multiphoton Lithography of Interpenetrating Polymer Networks for Tailored Microstructure Thermal and Micromechanical Properties
Authors: Silbernagl Dorothee , Szymoniak Paulina , Tavasolyzadeh Zeynab , Sturm Heinz , Topolniak Ievgeniia
Published: May 2024

Multiphoton lithography (MPL), an emerging truly 3D microfabrication technique, exhibits substantial potential in biomedical applications, including drug delivery and tissue engineering. Fabricated micro‐objects are often expected to undergo shape morphing or bending of the entire structure or its parts. Furthermore, ensuring precise property tuning is detrimental to the realization of the functionality of MPL microstructures. Herein, novel MPL materials based on interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs) are presented that effectively combine the advantages of acrylate and epoxy systems. IPNs with varying component ratios are investigated for their microfabrication performance and structural integrity with respect to thermal and micromechanical properties. A variety of high‐resolution techniques is applied to comprehensively evaluate IPN properties at the bulk, micron, and segmental levels. This study shows that the MPL laser scanning velocity and power, photoinitiator content, and multi‐step exposure can be used to tune the morphology and properties of the IPN. As a result, a library of 3D MPL IPN microstructures with high 3D structural stability and tailored thermal and micromechanical properties is achieved. New IPN microstructures with Young's moduli of 3–4 MPa demonstrate high‐to‐fully elastic responses to deformations, making them promising for applications in morphable microsystems, soft micro‐robotics, and cell engineering.
A Super‐Hygroscopic Solar‐Regenerated Alginate‐Based Composite for Atmospheric Water Harvesting
Authors: Abd Elwadood Samar N. , Farinha Andreia S. F. , Al Wahedi Yasser , Al Alili Ali , Witkamp Geert‐Jan , Dumée Ludovic F. , Karanikolos Georgios N.
Published: May 2024

Global water scarcity is leading to increasingly tense competition across populations. In order to complement the largely fast‐depleting fresh water sources and mitigate the challenges generated by brine discharge from desalination, atmospheric water harvesting (AWH) has emerged to support long‐term water supply. This work presents a novel alginate‐based hybrid material comprised of porous silico‐aluminophosphate‐34 (SAPO‐34) as fast‐transport channel medium as well as hydrophilicity and stability enhancer, and graphene‐based sheets as light absorber for solar‐enabled evaporation, both optimally incorporated in an alginate matrix, resulting in a composite sorbent capable of harvesting water from the atmosphere with a record intake of up to 6.85 gw gs−1. Natural sunlight is solely used to enable desorption achieving increase of the temperature of the developed network up to 60 °C and resulting in release of the sorbed water, with impurities content well below the World Health Organization (WHO) upper limits. After 30 cycles of sorption and desorption, the composite hydrogel displayed unchanged water uptake and stability. This work provides an impactful perspective toward sustainable generation of water from humidity without external energy consumption supporting the emergence of alternative water production solutions.
Sonodynamic Therapy‐Driven Immunotherapy: Constructing AIE Organic Sonosensitizers Using an Advanced Receptor‐Regulated Strategy
Authors: Tian Mengyan , Li Yucong , Li Yaning , Yang Tianyue , Chen Hongli , Guo Jun , Liu Yi , Liu Pai
Published: May 2024

Benefit from the deeper penetration of mechanical wave, ultrasound (US)‐based sonodynamic therapy (SDT) executes gratifying efficacy in treating deep‐seated tumors. Nevertheless, the complicated mechanism of SDT undeniably hinders the exploration of ingenious sonosensitizers. Herein, a receptor engineering strategy of aggregation‐induced emission (AIE) sonosensitizers (TPA‐Tpy) with acceptor (A)‐donor (D)‐A’ structure is proposed, which inspects the effect of increased cationizations on US sensitivity. Under US stimulation, enhanced cationization in TPA‐Tpy improves intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) and accelerates charge separation, which possesses a non‐negligible promotion in type I reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Moreover, abundant ROS‐mediated mitochondrial oxidative stress triggers satisfactory immunogenic cell death (ICD), which further promotes the combination of SDT and ICD. Subsequently, subacid pH‐activated nanoparticles (TPA‐Tpy NPs) are constructed with charge‐converting layer (2,3‐dimethylmaleic anhydride‐poly (allylamine hydrochloride)‐polyethylene glycol (DMMA‐PAH‐PEG)) and TPA‐Tpy, achieving the controllable release of sonosensitizers. In vivo, TPA‐Tpy‐mediated SDT effectively initiates the surface‐exposed of calreticulin (ecto‐CRT), dendritic cells (DCs) maturation, and CD8+ T cell infiltration rate through enhanced ROS production, achieving suppression and ablation of primary and metastatic tumors. This study provides new opinions in regulating acceptors with eminent US sensitization, and brings a novel ICD sono‐inducer based on SDT to realize superior antitumor effect.
Dual‐Polymer Functionalized Melanin‐AgNPs Nanocomposite with Hydroxyapatite Binding Ability to Penetrate and Retain in Biofilm Sequentially Treating Periodontitis
Authors: Cao Bing , Zhang Jian , Ma Yingfei , Wang Yanan , li Yun , Wang Ruixue , Cao Donghai , Yang Yongzhen , Zhang Ruiping
Published: May 2024

Periodontitis is the leading cause of adult tooth missing. Thorny bacterial biofilm and high reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in tissue are key elements for the periodontitis process. It is meaningful to develop an advanced therapeutic system with sequential antibacterial/ antioxidant ability to meet the overall goals of periodontitis therapy. Herein, a dual‐polymer functionalized melanin‐AgNPs (P/D‐MNP‐Ag) with biofilm penetration, hydroxyapatite binding, and sequentially treatment ability are fabricated. Polymer enriched with 2‐(Dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate (D), can be protonated in an acid environment with enhanced positive charge, promoting penetration in biofilm. The other polymer is rich in phosphate group (P) and can chelate Ca2+, promoting the polymer to adhere to the hydroxyapatite surface. Melanin has good ROS scavenging and photothermal abilities, after in situ reduction Ag, melanin‐AgNPs composite has sequentially transitioned between antibacterial and antioxidative ability due to heat and acid accelerated Ag+ release. The released Ag+ and heat have synergistic antibacterial effects for bacterial killing. With Ag+ consumption, the antioxidant ability of MNP recovers to scavenge ROS in the inflammatory area. When applied in the periodontitis model, P/D‐MNP‐Ag has good therapeutical effects to ablate biofilm, relieve inflammation state, and reduce alveolar bone loss. P/D‐MNP‐Ag with sequential treatment ability provides a reference for developing advanced oral biofilm eradication systems.
Doped Porous Carbon Spheres with Controllable Vesicle Structure: Preparation and the Effects of Pore Size on Electromagnetic Wave Absorption Properties
Authors: Liu Zeyu , Wu Jianfeng , Xu Wenzhe , Tariq Muhammad Rizwan , Zhang Baoliang
Published: May 2024

This work reports on the preparation of uniform vesicle‐structural carbon spheres doped with heteroatoms of N, P, and S, with the pore sizes strictly controlled by the hard templates of monodisperse submicron SiO2 spheres. The uniformly doped vesicular carbon microspheres are obtained in three steps: Stöber hydrolysis for the SiO2; in situ polymerization for the immobilization; and alkaline etching after carbonization. The size of the vesicles can be easily adjusted by regulating the particle size of the submicron SiO2 spheres, which has a significant effect on its electromagnetic wave (EMW) absorption performance. Compared with microspheres with pore sizes of 180 and 480 nm, when the vesicle aperture is 327 nm, with only 5.5 wt.% filling load and 1.9 mm thickness, the material shows the best EMW absorption behavior with the effective absorption bandwidth (EAB) covers the entire Ku band (6.32 GHz) and the minimum reflection loss (RLmin) of −36.10 dB, suggesting the optimized pore size of the microspheres can significantly improve the overall impedance matching of the material and achieve broadband wave absorption. This work paves the way for the enhancement of EMW absorption properties of porous material by optimizing the pore size of uniform apertures while maintaining their composition.
The Simpler the Better: Ultrafast Air‐Plasma Synthesis of 3D Crosslinked Graphene Nanoscroll‐Nanosheet Aerogels at Room Temperature for Capacitive Deionization
Authors: Kong Weiqing , Ge Xu , Lu Xiaoyuan , Zhang Qingao , Zhang Meng , Feng Yuanyuan
Published: May 2024

Graphene nanoscroll (GNS) is an important 1D tubular form of graphene‐derivative materials, which has garnered widely attention. However, conventional fabrication methods commonly suffer from complex processing and time‐consuming. Herein, with graphene oxide (GO) as a precursor, the study puts forward a facile air‐plasma synthesis strategy to fabricate 3D graphene nanoscroll‐nanosheet aerogels (GSSA). It is demonstrated that without using any chemical additives, a highly efficient reduction‐exfoliation‐scrolling process can be achieved all‐in‐one at room temperature within 1 s. The GNSs “grew” from 2D graphene sheets and firmly cross‐linked them together, and they not only provide a shortcut path for electron transport but also act as intrinsic spacers to prevent restacking of graphene sheets. When using as an electrode material for capacitive deionization (CDI), GSSA exhibits excellent merits of salt‐removal performance. These findings open a new pathway to large‐scale synthesis of high‐quality and high‐purity GNS‐based materials with promising applications in CDI and beyond.
A sensory–neuromorphic interface capable of environmental perception, sensory coding, and biological stimuli
Authors: Sun Lin , Du Yi , Zhang Zichen , Qin Siru , Wang Zixian , Li Yue , Qu Shangda , Xu Zhifang , Guo Yi , Xu Wentao
Published: May 2024

The sensory–neuromorphic interface is key to the application of neuromorphic electronics. Artificial spiking neurons and artificial sensory nerves have been created, and a few studies showed a complete neuromorphic system through cointegration with synaptic electronics. However, artificial synaptic devices and systems often do not work in real environments, which limits their ability to provide realistic neural simulations and interface with biological nerves. We report a sensory–neuromorphic interface that uses a fiber synapse to emulate a biological afferent nerve. For the first time, a sensing–neuromorphic interface is connected to a living organism for peripheral nerve stimulation, allowing the organism to establish a connection with its surrounding environment. The interface converts perceived environmental information into analog electrical signals and then into frequency‐dependent pulse signals, which simplify the information interface between the sensor and the pulse‐data processing center. The frequency of the interface shows a sublinear dependence on strain amplitude at different stimulus intensities, and can deliver increased frequency spikes at potentially damaging stimulus intensities, similar to the response of biological afferent nerves. To verify the application of this interface, a system that monitors strain and provides an overstrain alarm was constructed based on this afferent neural circuit. The system has a response time of <2 ms, which is compatible with the response time in biological systems. The interface can be potentially extended to process signals from almost any type of sensors for other afferent senses, and these results demonstrate the potential for neuromorphic interfaces to be applied to bionic sensory interfaces.
Preserving location‐query privacy in location‐based services: A review
Authors: Rasheed Hira , Md Noor Rafidah , Abdul Ghani Norjihan , Ahmad Iftikhar
Published: May 2024

Location‐based services (LBS) leverage the geographical information of a device to deliver information, entertainment, and other services tailored to the user's present location. LBS not only brings leisure to people's lives but also raises concerns about users' privacy. Consequently, location privacy protection has captured the attention of researchers owing to the increased adoption of location‐based services and the potential privacy issues faced by users. Along with location privacy, query privacy is also a crucial privacy concern that incurs possible damage to individual privacy and even to users' safety. Preserving location privacy only secures the user's current location but protection of query privacy guarantees the security of the user's future possible location. However, to the best of our knowledge, none of the relevant studies realized the significance of query privacy. This review paper provides an overview of LBS and its components, classifying the LBS based on: granularity, number of queries, initiator, and range. We investigated the threat model, vulnerabilities, and privacy attacks in LBS, reviewed the approaches used by the researchers to mitigate the location and query privacy threats, and evaluation metrics. We also analyzed the ability of current methods to implicitly/explicitly secure query privacy and the impact of recent technological progression on problem‐building and solution evolution. Finally, this paper concludes by identifying the open issues in the existing research and directions for future work.
Racism in China's English Language Teaching Industry: English as a Race‐Making Technology
Authors: Wang Shuling
Published: May 2024

This article argues that racism is pervasive in China's English language teaching (ELT) industry, yet it is often ignored. It presents that English language education in China should be understood historically in a way that recognizes English as a racializing technology. As a race‐making technology, English has continued making modern Chinese subjects while also posing a threat to Chineseness in the 21st century. This intertwining of race and the English language has translated into a massive ELT industry in China that reproduces whiteness, influencing hiring practices and preferences for White English teachers. Additionally, race intersects with gender, nationality, and class, leading to a highly racialized and gendered ELT industry, exemplified in discourses of “foreign experts” and “foreign trash” popular in China's context. The article concludes by asserting that the English language, as a race‐making technology, has structured the ELT industry, and discussing its implications for future research and practical changes to challenge intersectional racism in the industry.
Optical enhancement mode 2 improves the detection rate of gastric neoplastic lesion in high‐risk populations: A multicenter randomized controlled clinical study
Authors: An Wei , Wu Qi , Su Xiao‐Ju , Sun Hong‐Xin , Wang Jing , Dou Wei‐Jia , Liu Zhen‐Xiong , Liu Gai‐Fang , Zhang Yue‐Han , Xu Shu‐Chang , Chen Ying , Zhang Hao , Zhang Bin , Li Ping , Sun Si‐Yu , Wang Sheng , Liu Wen , Zhang Xiao‐Feng , Zhang Yu‐Shu , Xu Yi‐Jun , Liu Mei , Feng Xin‐Xia , Zuo Xiu‐Li , Li Guang‐Chao , Xu Li‐Dong , Wang Dong , Shi Xin‐Gang , Hu Liang‐Hao , Li Zhao‐Shen
Published: May 2024

Objectives

Detection of early neoplastic lesions is crucial for improving the survival rates of patients with gastric cancer. Optical enhancement mode 2 is a new image‐enhanced endoscopic technique that offers bright images and can improve the visibility of neoplastic lesions. This study aimed to compare the detection of neoplastic lesions with optical enhancement mode 2 and white‐light imaging (WLI) in a high‐risk population.

Methods

In this prospective multicenter randomized controlled trial, patients were randomly assigned to optical enhancement mode 2 or WLI groups. Detection of suspicious neoplastic lesions during the examinations was recorded, and pathological diagnoses served as the gold standard.

Results

A total of 1211 and 1219 individuals were included in the optical enhancement mode 2 and WLI groups, respectively. The detection rate of neoplastic lesions was significantly higher in the optical enhancement mode 2 group (5.1% vs. 1.9%; risk ratio, 2.656 [95% confidence interval, 1.630–4.330]; p < 0.001). The detection rate of neoplastic lesions with an atrophic gastritis background was significantly higher in the optical enhancement mode 2 group (8.6% vs. 2.6%, p < 0.001). The optical enhancement mode 2 group also had a higher detection rate among endoscopists with different experiences.

Conclusions

Optical enhancement mode 2 was more effective than WLI for detecting neoplastic lesions in the stomach, and can serve as a new method for screening early gastric cancer in clinical practice.

Clinical Registry

United States National Library of Medicine (https://www.clinicaltrials.gov), ID: NCT040720521.
MALDI‐TOF MS analysis of nasal swabs for the characterization of patients infected with SARS‐CoV‐2 Omicron
Authors: Song Rui , Li Dandan , Hao Xiaohua , Lyu Qian , Ma Qingwei , Chen Xiaoyou , Qiao Liang
Published: May 2024

With the ongoing mutation of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) leading to various variants, there is an urgent need for new diagnostic methods for SARS‐CoV‐2 infection. The existing nucleic acid test and antigen test suffer from long assay time and low sensitivity, respectively. Matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry (MALDI‐TOF MS)‐based nasal swabs analysis have been demonstrated as a promising technique in SARS‐CoV‐2 infection screening. However, the applicability of the technique in the different variants of SARS‐CoV‐2 is uncertain. Given the prevalence of the Omicron variant since 2022, we developed a MALDI‐TOF‐based diagnosis method with nasal swab samples to detect the infection by this variant. We collected 325 SARS‐CoV‐2‐positive and 221 SARS‐CoV‐2‐negative nasal swab samples, and the molecular mass fingerprints were acquired from the samples by MALDI‐TOF MS. Using a random forest machine learning classification model to analyze the molecular mass fingerprints MALDI‐TOF mass spectra, the accuracy of 97%, false negative rate of 0%, and false positive rate of 7.6% were achieved for the diagnosis of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection. Combining the MALDI‐TOF analysis with top‐down proteomics, we identified four potential protein biomarkers, that is, humanin‐like 4, thymosin beta‐10, thymosin beta‐4 and statherin, in the nasal swab for the diagnosis of coronavirus disease 2019. It was further found that the four protein biomarkers can also differentiate the SARS‐CoV‐2 original strains infection and Omicron strains infection. These results suggest that the MALDI‐TOF MS‐based nasal swab analysis holds effective diagnostic capabilities of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection, and shows promising potential for global application and extension to other infectious diseases.
The Importance of Subnational Engagement with Human Rights Treaties
Authors: Miaz Jonathan , Schmid Evelyne , Niederhauser Matthieu , Kaempfer Constance , Maggetti Martino
Published: May 2024

Making human rights a reality requires that various types of domestic actors take measures, which is very demanding, all the more so in federal systems. Based on a comparative case study of Swiss cantons, we argue that an important part of the game is played at the subnational level, and not following a top-down trajectory, but with repeated back and forth between and within the levels of governance. Actors use human rights treaties in the policy process, sometimes leading to an engagement that increases human rights implementation, and at other times not. In this chapter, we first explore how international law continues to rely upon states’ domestic political institutions to fulfil international obligations—particularly those obligations that require the adoption of policy measures. We review how this state of affairs points to the central role of domestic actors participating in policy processes at the subnational level. Secondly, we contribute to concept formation, by explaining what we mean by political authorities’ ‘engagement with human rights treaties’, which is a key notion that we will use to describe an often crucial, intermediary condition between inaction and the potential implementation of the treaty.
Designing Research for Studying How Subnational Actors Use International Human Rights Treaties
Authors: Miaz Jonathan , Schmid Evelyne , Niederhauser Matthieu , Kaempfer Constance , Maggetti Martino
Published: May 2024

This book examines how subnational actors use international human rights treaties and how subnational political authorities, including subnational legislators, come to engage with international treaties. In this chapter, we present our empirical approach, our research design, methods and data. We outline how we combine top-down and bottom-up perspectives, building on scholarship from law, political science and socio-legal studies. We explain and justify the selection of the treaties under investigation and the procedure of data collection for the Swiss case.
An ML-Style Module System for Cross-Stage Type Abstraction in Multi-stage Programming
Authors: Suwa Takashi , Igarashi Atsushi
Published: May 2024

We proposeMetaFM, a novel ML-style module system that enables users to decomposemulti-stage programs(i.e., programs written in a typedmulti-stage programminglanguage) into loosely coupled components in a manner natural with respect to type abstraction. The distinctive aspect of MetaFM is that it allows values at different stages to be bound in a single structure (i.e.,$$ \textbf{struct} \ \cdots \ \textbf{end} $$struct⋯end). This feature is crucial, for example, for defining a function and a macro that use one abstract type in common, without revealing the implementation detail of that type. MetaFM also accommodatesfunctors,higher-kinded types, the$$\textbf{with} \ \textbf{type} $$withtype-construct, etc. with staging features. For defining semantics and proving type safety, we employ anelaborationtechnique, i.e., type-directed translation to a target language, inspired by the formalization of F-ing Modules. Specifically, we give a set of elaboration rules for converting MetaFM programs intoSystem F$$\omega ^{\langle \rangle }$$ω⟨⟩, a multi-stage extension of System F$$\omega $$ω, and prove that the elaboration preserves typing. Additionally, our language supportscross-stage persistence(CSP), a feature for code reuse spanning more than one stage, without breaking type safety.
Two splits, three ways: advances in double splitting quenches
Authors: Lap Joseph Dominicus , Müller Berndt , Schäfer Andreas , Seidl Clemens
Published: May 2024

Abstract

In this work we introduce a method for calculating holographic duals of BCFTs with more than two boundaries. We apply it to calculating the dynamics of entanglement entropy in a 1+1d CFT that is instantaneously split into multiple segments and calculate the entanglement entropy as a function of time for the case of two splits, showing that our approach reproduces earlier results for the double split case. Our manuscript lays the groundwork for future calculations of the entanglement entropy for more than two splits and systems at nonzero temperature.
Hofer–Zehnder capacity of magnetic disc tangent bundles over constant curvature surfaces
Authors: Bimmermann Johanna
Published: May 2024

We compute the Hofer–Zehnder capacity of magnetic disc tangent bundles over constant curvature surfaces. We use the fact that the magnetic geodesic flow is totally periodic and can be reparametrized to obtain a Hamiltonian circle action. The oscillation of the Hamiltonian generating the circle action immediately yields a lower bound of the Hofer–Zehnder capacity. The upper bound is obtained from Lu’s bounds of the Hofer–Zehnder capacity using the theory of pseudo-holomorphic curves. In our case, the gradient spheres of the HamiltonianHwill give rise to the non-vanishing Gromov–Witten invariant.
Die digitalen Fortschrittshubs Gesundheit – Gemeinsame Datennutzung über die Universitätsmedizin hinaus
Authors: Krefting Dagmar , Bavendiek Udo , Fischer Joachim , Marx Gernot , Molinnus Denise , Panholzer Torsten , Prokosch Hans-Ulrich , Leb Ines , Weidner Jens , Sedlmayr Martin
Published: May 2024

Die digitalen Fortschrittshubs Gesundheit pilotieren die Erweiterbarkeit der Konzepte und Lösungen der Medizininformatik-Initiative für eine Verbesserung der regionalen Gesundheitsversorgung und -forschung. Die 6 geförderten Projekte adressieren dabei unterschiedliche Erkrankungen, Stationen in der regionalen Gesundheitsversorgung und Methoden der institutionsübergreifenden Datenverknüpfung und -nutzung. Trotz der Verschiedenheit der Szenarien und regionalen Voraussetzungen sind die technischen, regulativen und organisatorischen Herausforderungen und Hürden, auf die die Fortschrittshubs bei der konkreten Implementierung der Lösungen treffen, oft ähnlich. Daraus ergeben sich teilweise gemeinsame Lösungsansätze, teilweise aber auch Forderungen an die Politik, die über das aus Sicht der Fortschrittshubs begrüßenswerte Gesundheitsdatennutzungsgesetz hinausgehen.

In diesem Beitrag stellen wir die digitalen Fortschrittshubs vor und diskutieren Erreichtes, Herausforderungen und Lösungsansätze, die eine gemeinsame Nutzung von Daten aus den Universitätskliniken und den nichtakademischen Institutionen des Gesundheitssystems ermöglichen und auch nachhaltig zu einer Verbesserung von medizinischer Versorgung und Forschung beitragen können.
Does one size fit all in the Euro Area? Some counterfactual evidence
Authors: Destefanis Sergio , Fragetta Matteo , Gasteiger Emanuel
Published: May 2024

This paper examines whether Euro Area countries would have faced a more favorable inflation output variability tradeoff without the Euro. We provide evidence supporting this claim for the periods of the Great Recession and the Sovereign Debt Crisis. The deterioration of the tradeoff becomes insignificant only after Draghi’s ‘whatever it takes’ announcement. Results show that the detrimental effect of the Euro is more severe for peripheral countries. We base our results on a novel empirical strategy that, consistent with monetary theory, models the joint determination of the variability of inflation and output conditional on structural supply and demand shocks.
Formation of functional, extended bile canaliculi, and increased bile acid production in sandwich-cultured human cryopreserved hepatocytes using commercially available culture medium
Authors: Horiuchi Shinichiro , Kuroda Yukie , Oyafuso Ryota , Komizu Yuji , Maeda Kazuya , Ishida Seiichi
Published: May 2024

Drug-induced cholestasis results in drug discontinuation and market withdrawal, and the prediction of cholestasis risk is critical in the early stages of drug development. Animal tests and membrane vesicle assay are currently being conducted to assess the risk of cholestasis in the preclinical stage. However, these methods have drawbacks, such as species differences with humans and difficulties in evaluating the effects of drug metabolism and other transporters, implying the need for a cholestasis risk assessment system using human hepatocytes. However, human hepatocytes hardly form functional, extended bile canaliculi, a requirement for cholestasis risk assessment. We previously established a culture protocol for functional, extended bile canaliculi formation in human iPSC-derived hepatocytes. In this study, we modified this culture protocol to support the formation of functional, extended bile canaliculi in human cryopreserved hepatocytes (cryoheps). The production of bile acids, which induces bile canaliculi extension, increased time-dependently during bile canaliculi formation using this protocol, suggesting that increased bile acid production may be involved in the extended bile canaliculi formation. We have also shown that our culture protocol can be applied to cryoheps from multiple donors and that bile canaliculi can be formed stably among different culture batches. Furthermore, this protocol enables long-term maintenance of bile canaliculi and scaling down to culture in 96-well plates. We expect our culture protocol to be a breakthrough for in vitro cholestasis risk assessment.
Almond (Prunus dulcis) varieties classification with genetic designed lightweight CNN architecture
Authors: Yurdakul Mustafa , Atabaş İrfan , Taşdemir Şakir
Published: May 2024

Almond (Prunus dulcis) is a nutritious food with a rich content. In addition to consuming as food, it is also used for various purposes in sectors such as medicine, cosmetics and bioenergy. With all these usages, almond has become a globally demanded product. Accurately determining almond variety is crucial for quality assessment and market value. Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) has a great performance in image classification. In this study, a public dataset containing images of four different almond varieties was created. Five well-known and light-weight CNN models (DenseNet121, EfficientNetB0, MobileNet, MobileNet V2, NASNetMobile) were used to classify almond images. Additionally, a model called 'Genetic CNN', which has its hyperparameters determined by Genetic Algorithm, was proposed. Among the well-known and light-weight CNN models, NASNetMobile achieved the most successful result with an accuracy rate of 99.20%, precision of 99.21%, recall of 99.20% and f1-score of 99.19%. Genetic CNN outperformed well-known models with an accuracy rate of 99.55%, precision of 99.56%, recall of 99.55% and f1-score of 99.55%. Furthermore, the Genetic CNN model has a relatively small size and low test time in comparison to other models, with a parameter count of only 1.1 million. Genetic CNN is suitable for embedded and mobile systems and can be used in real-life solutions.
Effect of radiochemotherapy on peripheral immune response in glioblastoma
Authors: Hampe Léa , Daumoine Susy , Limagne Emeric , Roussot Nicolas , Borsotti François , Vincent Julie , Ilie Sylvia , Truntzer Caroline , Ghiringhelli François , Thibaudin Marion
Published: May 2024

Background

Glioblastoma (GBM) is a primary brain tumor with a dismal prognosis, often resistant to immunotherapy and associated with immune suppression. This study aimed to assess the impact of steroids and Stupp-regimen treatment on peripheral blood immune parameters in GBM patients and their association with outcomes.

Methods

Using cytometry panels and bioplex assays, we analyzed the immune phenotype and serum cytokines of 54 GBM patients and 21 healthy volunteers.

Results

GBM patients exhibited decreased lymphoid cell numbers (CD4, CD8 T cells, NKT cells) with heightened immune checkpoint expression and increased myeloid cell numbers (especially neutrophils), along with elevated pro-inflammatory cytokine levels. Steroid use decreased T and NK cell numbers, while radio-chemotherapy led to decreased lymphoid cell numbers, increased myeloid cell numbers, and heightened immune checkpoint expression. Certain immune cell subsets were identified as potential outcome predictors.

Conclusion

Overall, these findings shed light on the peripheral immune landscape in GBM, emphasizing the immunosuppressive effects of treatment. Baseline immune parameters may serve as prognostic indicators for treatment response.
Comparison of Anthropometric and Cephalometric Measurements Obtained by Stereophotogrammetry and 3D Computed Tomography of the Nose Before Septorhinoplasty
Authors: Aydin Ali Can , Karakol Percin , Sulhan Agit , Erk Hamdullah , Bozkurt Mehmet
Published: May 2024

Introduction

Computed tomography (CT) is normally used in evaluation of patients with esthetic and functional nasal deformities. Stereophotogrammetry (SPG) is a measurement device that is an alternative to CT and does not harm human health. In this single-center retrospective study, we aimed to evaluate measurements obtained with CT and SPG.

Methods

The measurements of 18 patients who applied to our clinic between January 2022 and August 2022 and planned for septorhinoplasty were performed on both 3D images obtained with paranasal sinus CT and SPG device (SLR type Vectra H1 system). Measurements included that dorsocolumellar length, columella-filtral length, nasal tip projection ratio (dorsocolumellar length/columella-filtral length), columella-labial angle, nasofrontal angle, tip deviation direction, tip deviation angle, tip deviation distance and dorsal nasal hump.

Results

Most of patients were male (61.1%). Mean age was 24.5 years. Only columella-labial angle measurements showed a low level of significant difference (p < 0.05). However, there was no significance difference in other measurements (p > 0.05). A significant strong correlation was observed between all Vectra and CT measurements (p = 0.000).

Conclusion

SPG device can be applied quickly in polyclinic without giving radiation to patient. Measurements can be taken automatically using a software. Its use in postoperative period does not carry any risk. Disadvantage of SPG is lack of information about internal nasal passage. However, there is a strong correlation between measurements obtained from both measurement devices. Therefore, SPG can be considered as an alternative to CT imaging in operation planning.

Level of Evidence IV

This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266.