bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Increasing multidisciplinary professionals' capacity to support neurodiverse families
Authors: Oehme Karen , Bradley Lyndi , Cameron Merina , Perko Ann , Clark James
Published: November 2023

Persistent stigma surrounding neurodivergent people still exists. This article advocates for changes to societal systems to improve the well‐being of neurodivergent individuals and families, beginning with widespread awareness and support. Our suggested approach to improve societal infrastructure includes large‐scale online educational training of multidisciplinary professionals who operate within these systems to increase understanding, awareness, support, and accommodations for neurodivergent people. Multidisciplinary professionals who have received neurodiversity training can advocate for their respective systems to improve services for neurodivergent clients. We describe the 2023 development of Florida State University's (FSU) new online Professional Certification in the Fundamentals of Neurodiversity. The asynchronous psychoeducational training provides continuing education credit to a wide range of professionals. The framework for this training and curriculum content are described. Such training, along with a set of accompanying open‐access resources, can be replicated by institutions in many languages and cultures to improve professionals' knowledge and skills across the globe.
Diversity and spatiotemporal dynamics of fish communities in the Chongqing section of the upper Yangtze River based on eDNA metabarcoding
Authors: Shen Yanjun , Zhang Yufeng , Cheng Ruli , Wang Wei , Duan Cong , Liu Zhihao , Chen Qiliang , Li Yingwen , Wang Meng , Luo Yang
Published: November 2023

Fish diversity plays a critical role in maintaining the balance of water ecosystems, especially in the Chongqing section of the National Nature Reserve for Rare and Endemic Fishes in the upper Yangtze River, which serves as an important habitat for rare and endemic fish, as well as an important channel for the replenishment of fishery resources in the Three Gorges Reservoir. Under a 10‐year ban on fishing in the Yangtze River basin, we investigate fish diversity and seasonal variation in the Reserve by using environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding. We found fishes belonging to 85 genera, 24 families, and 8 orders in the Reserve. A comparison of eDNA metabarcoding results with the diversity of a recent fish catch revealed that eDNA metabarcoding not only enables rapid and efficient fish monitoring but also has a high sensitivity. Furthermore, the study demonstrates that eDNA metabarcoding can be used as a tool for monitoring seasonal variations of fish composition in freshwater ecosystems. The alpha and beta diversity analysis both showed compositional differences in the fish community in accordance with seasonal variations. In addition, changes in eDNA relative sequence abundance and the detection of fish species at different sampling sites may reflect shifts in habitat use and distribution. Thus, we provide detailed seasonal data on fish diversity in the Chongqing section of the Reserve. This will contribute to conservation and to the understanding of fish diversity and community dynamics in the Chongqing section of the Reserve.
Disentangling natural and anthropogenic effects on benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages in western US streams
Authors: Fergus C. Emi , Brooks J. Renée , Kaufmann Philip R. , Herlihy Alan T. , Hill Ryan A. , Mitchell Richard M. , Ringold Paul
Published: November 2023

Stream macroinvertebrate assemblages are shaped by natural and human‐related factors that operate through complex hierarchical pathways. Quantifying these relationships can provide additional insights into stream ecological assessment. We applied a structural equation modeling framework to evaluate hypothesized pathways by which watershed, riparian, and in‐stream factors affect benthic macroinvertebrate condition in the Western Mountains (WMT) and Xeric (XER) ecoregions in the United States. We developed a conceptual model grounded in theory, empirical evidence, and expert opinion to evaluate the following hypotheses: (1) macroinvertebrate assemblages are primarily driven by proximal, in‐stream factors (e.g., water quality and physical habitat); (2) anthropogenic land uses affect macroinvertebrates indirectly by altering in‐stream characteristics; and (3) riparian vegetation cover attenuates land use effects. We tested our model separately on three measures of benthic macroinvertebrate assemblage condition: ratio of observed‐to‐expected taxonomic richness (O/E); a multimetric index (MMI); and richness of Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera taxa (EPT). In the WMT, site‐level riparian cover, in‐stream physical habitat (relative bed stability), and water chemistry (total nitrogen) were the top three predictors of macroinvertebrate assemblages, each having over two times the magnitude of effect on macroinvertebrates compared with watershed‐level predictors. In the arid XER, annual precipitation and stream flow characteristics were top predictors of macroinvertebrate assemblages and had similar magnitudes of effect as in‐stream water chemistry. Path analyses revealed that land use activities in the watershed and at the stream site degraded macroinvertebrate assemblages indirectly by altering relative bed stability, water quality, and riparian cover/complexity. Increased riparian cover was associated with greater macroinvertebrate condition by reducing land use impacts on stream flow, streambed substrate, and water quality, but the pathways differed among ecoregions. In the WMT, site‐level riparian cover affected macroinvertebrate assemblages partly through indirect pathways associated with greater streambed stability and reduced total nitrogen concentrations. In contrast, in the XER, watershed‐level riparian cover affected macroinvertebrate assemblages through greater specific stream power. Identifying the relative effects of and pathways by which natural and anthropogenic factors affect macroinvertebrates can serve as a framework for prioritizing management and conservation efforts.
Acclimation capacity of critical thermal maximum varies among populations: Consequences for estimates of vulnerability
Authors: Cicchino Amanda S. , Shah Alisha A. , Forester Brenna R. , Dunham Jason B. , Poff N. LeRoy , Ghalambor Cameron K. , Funk W. Chris
Published: November 2023

Adaptive plasticity in thermal tolerance traits may buffer organisms against changing temperatures, making such responses of particular interest in the face of global climate change. Although population variation is integral to the evolvability of this trait, many studies inferring proxies of physiological vulnerability from thermal tolerance traits extrapolate data from one or a few populations to represent the species. Estimates of physiological vulnerability can be further complicated by methodological effects associated with experimental design. We evaluated how populations varied in their acclimation capacity (i.e., the magnitude of plasticity) for critical thermal maximum (CTmax) in two species of tailed frogs (Ascaphidae), cold‐stream specialists. We used the estimates of acclimation capacity to infer physiological vulnerability to future warming. We performed CTmax experiments on tadpoles from 14 populations using a fully factorial experimental design of two holding temperatures (8 and 15°C) and two experimental starting temperatures (8 and 15°C). This design allowed us to investigate the acute effects of transferring organisms from one holding temperature to a different experimental starting temperature, as well as fully acclimated responses by using the same holding and starting temperature. We found that most populations exhibited beneficial acclimation, where CTmax was higher in tadpoles held at a warmer temperature, but populations varied markedly in the magnitude of the response and the inferred physiological vulnerability to future warming. We also found that the response of transferring organisms to different starting temperatures varied substantially among populations, although accounting for acute effects did not greatly alter estimates of physiological vulnerability at the species level or for most populations. These results underscore the importance of sampling widely among populations when inferring physiological vulnerability, as population variation in acclimation capacity and thermal sensitivity may be critical when assessing vulnerability to future warming.
Opioid dose titration for cancer pain
Authors: Mercadante Sebastiano
Published: November 2023

Background

Opioid dose titration is a fundamental process of opioid therapy in cancer pain.

Aims

To assess data opioid dose titration.

Methods

The principal opioid dose titration methods, outcomes, and modalities of administration regarding the different opioid preparations were examined in different clinical contexts.

Results

Most studies suggested that opioid‐naive patients should be started at doses of 15–30 mg/day of oral morphine equivalents. Opioid‐tolerant patients may receive low or higher doses of oral morphine equivalents, depending on the level of opioid tolerance. Generally, dose increments of 30%–50% seem to be indicated to start dose titration. Some patients with severe excruciating cancer pain may present as an emergency requiring a rapid application of powerful analgesic strategies. The intravenous use of opioids may circumvent this problem providing a faster pain relief, due to the large availability and rapid achievement of effective plasma concentrations.

Discussion

Opioid dose titration is a delicate passage in patients with cancer pain. This approach may be different according to different clinical conditions. Opioid dose titration requires expertise to optimize cancer pain management while minimizing the development of adverse effects.

Conclusion

While most approaches are meaningful and partially supported by existing literature, more studies are necessary to establish advantages and disadvantages in different clinical conditions. Optimization of opioid dose titration is of paramount importance.

Significance

This review provides the most recent insights on the different modalities of opioid dose titration in cancer pain management.
Programmed initiation and enhancement of cGAS/STING pathway for tumour immunotherapy via tailor‐designed ZnFe2O4‐based nanosystem
Authors: Yang Jing , He Yuping , Zhang Meng , Liang Chenglin , Li Tongtong , Ji Tianjiao , Zu Mali , Ma Xu , Zhang Zhenzhong , Liang Chun , Zhang Qixu , Chen Youbai , Hou Lin
Published: November 2023

The cyclic guanosine monophosphate‐adenosine monophosphate synthase (cGAS)/stimulator of interferon genes (STING) signalling pathway has been a promising target for anticancer immunity, but rationally activating and enhancing this pathway in tumour cells is critical. Herein, a glutathione sensitive ZnFe2O4‐based nanosystem is developed to programmatically initiate and enhance the STING signalling pathway in tumour cells. The prepared ZnFe2O4 nanoparticles were coated with cancer cell membrane (CCM), which enabled the nanosystem target tumour cells. In tumour cells, ZnFe2O4 nanoparticles could be disintegrated by responding to high level glutathione, and the released Fe3+ generated reactive oxygen species to induce the DNA leakage into the cytoplasm to stimulate cGAS. Then Zn2+ promoted cGAS‐DNA phase separation to intensify the cGAS enzymatic activity. In addition, the low dose encapsulation of paclitaxel (PTX) acting as an antimitotic agent (ZnFe2O4‐PTX@CCM) ensured the sustained activation of cGAS/STING pathway. The in vitro and in vivo results confirmed that ZnFe2O4‐PTX@CCM elevated the cGAS/STING activity, promoted dendritic cell maturation, increased cytotoxic T lymphocyte and natural killer cells infiltration, eventually inhibiting the tumour progress and postoperative recurrence. This study provided feasible references on constructing STING activation nanosystem for tumour immunotherapy.
Techno‐economic analysis of a solar‐assisted heat pump dryer for drying agricultural products
Authors: Rulazi Evordius Laurent , Marwa Janeth , Kichonge Baraka , Kivevele Thomas T.
Published: November 2023

Postharvest losses (PHLs) of biomaterials, such as vegetables and fruits, significantly impact food security and economic stability in developing nations. In Tanzania, PHLs are estimated to range between 30% and 40% for cereal crops and even higher for perishable crops such as fruits and vegetables. Open‐sun drying (OSD) is the most extensively employed method because of its affordability and simplicity. However, OSD has several drawbacks, including difficulties in managing drying parameters, long drying times owing to adverse weather, and product contamination. The solar‐assisted heat pump dryer (SAHPD) is a technology designed as an alternative solution for drying biomaterials and reducing PHL. A limited number of SAHPDs have been constructed in developing nations. Most of the works have concentrated on the performance analysis of the systems. This neglects the techno‐economic assessment, which is important to provide both a quantitative and qualitative understanding of the financial viability of the technology. The present study therefore investigates the techno‐economic analysis of a novel SAHPD for drying agricultural products, particularly vegetables and fruits. To determine whether the SAHPD technology is technically and economically viable, tomatoes and carrots were dried and analyzed to determine their thermal and economic performance. The results show that the initial moisture contents of tomatoes (Lycopersicum esculentum) and carrots (Daucus carota) were reduced from 93% and 88% to 10% in 11 and 12 h, respectively. The coefficient of performance (COP), drying time (DT), specific moisture extraction ration (SMER) and thermal efficiency () were found to be 3.4, 2.3 kg/h, 1.33 kg/kWh and 54.0%, respectively. The economic analysis was assessed using the annualized cost, lifecycle savings, and payback period for the dryer's life span of 15 years. The initial investment of the SAHPD was $5221.8 and the annualized cost was $1076.5. The cumulative present worth for 15 years was found to be $23,828.8 and $27,553.1 for tomatoes and carrots, respectively. The payback period for tomatoes was found to be 3 years, whereas for carrots it was 2.6 years. Based on thermal and economic performance assessment results, the developed SAHPD is technically and economically viable to be considered for further investments.
Impacts and Benefits of State and International Carbon Market Systems to Achieve Emissions Reduction Goals
Authors: Owusu Denise , Ramirez Alyssa
Published: November 2023

Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are projected to continue increasing through 2040, resulting in at least a 1.5°C increase in global temperatures, as modeled by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).1 The near‐term IPCC modeling scenarios include extreme and concurrent hazards, with unequal distribution of warming across geographies and impacts on industries, and socioeconomic communities and populations.2 Globally, 41 percent of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions are attributed to the energy sector.3 The United States is responsible for 12.5 percent of the global emissions, with China as the second largest GHG emitter.4 In efforts to reduce emissions, an increasing number of governments and regulating bodies are employing a variety of policy mechanisms, creating carbon markets to incentivize companies to invest in innovative and efficient clean energy technologies. Among these policies is a cap‐and‐trade or a cap‐and‐invest (C&I) framework impacting the largest emitters. The C&I framework is intended to hold industries accountable while allowing individual companies to buy, sell, trade, or invest allowances for carbon emissions.
CONCEPT LEARNING
Authors: Holas Emil
Published: November 2023

Une analyse détaillée des données expérimentales portant sur l'apprentissage des concepts, permet de voir que la démarche réelle des sujets peut prendre plusieurs formes. Les formes les plus éloignées l'une de l'autre sont d'une part, le raisonnement strictement logique dont l'algorithme est donné par quelques règles élémentaires, et d'autre part, le tâtonnement par essais et erreurs complètement fortuits. Entre ces deux extrêmes qui sont plus des abstractions que des procédés réels, on trouve beaucoup de formes qui sont des combinaisons diverses de raisonnement logique et d'essais fortuits. On peut schématiser les trajectoires des divers procédés possibles dont le plus fréquent est celui du choix d'une hypothèse dont la vérification se prolonge jusqu'au point où cette hypothèse est confirmée ou éliminée. La démarche réelle du sujet est ainsi une séquence de décisions. La question centrale qui reste à résoudre est celle des facteurs qui déterminent telle ou telle décision. On peut mettre ces facteurs en évidence à l'aide d'un plan expérimental spécial. Mais le choix des hypothèses et leur vérification n'est qu'une étape de cet apprentissage qui peut facilement devenir un apprentissage au sens le plus étroit du terme, à savoir l'apprentissage de l'algorithme (du raisonnement déductif) de l'apprentissage des concepts.
Clinical Consequences of Altered Drug Disposition in Obesity: Call for Change
Authors: Bruno Christopher D. , Greenblatt David J. , Harmatz Jerold S. , Chow Christina R.
Published: November 2023

Obesity is a serious condition with many known comorbid conditions and other health risks. Despite the rising global rates of obesity, drug disposition in this population is typically understudied, which results in limited information guiding the use of drugs in patients with obesity. Presently, dosing adjustments for patients with obesity typically focus on addressing altered drug clearance with body size and are therefore limited to chronic dosing recommendations. These instructions are variable and rarely based on dedicated studies in people with obesity. This review briefly discusses the current clinical use of body measurements to guide chronic dosing instructions and highlights the need for obesity‐specific dosing instructions when the half‐life of a drug is prolonged (typically through increased volume of distribution) in people with obesity. Examples of drugs with apparent opportunities for either ramp‐up, loading, or washout instructions for patients based on body mass index are identified, specifically for vortioxetine, posaconazole, and brexpiprazole. We call for inclusion of people with obesity in clinical studies as a special subpopulation during drug development and propose the use of body mass index to guide dosing decisions among these patients.
From cancer big data to treatment: Artificial intelligence in cancer research
Authors: Danishuddin  , Khan Shawez , Kim Jong Joo
Published: November 2023

In recent years, developing the idea of “cancer big data” has emerged as a result of the significant expansion of various fields such as clinical research, genomics, proteomics and public health records. Advances in omics technologies are making a significant contribution to cancer big data in biomedicine and disease diagnosis. The increasingly availability of extensive cancer big data has set the stage for the development of multimodal artificial intelligence (AI) frameworks. These frameworks aim to analyze high‐dimensional multi‐omics data, extracting meaningful information that is challenging to obtain manually. Although interpretability and data quality remain critical challenges, these methods hold great promise for advancing our understanding of cancer biology and improving patient care and clinical outcomes. Here, we provide an overview of cancer big data and explore the applications of both traditional machine learning and deep learning approaches in cancer genomic and proteomic studies. We briefly discuss the challenges and potential of AI techniques in the integrated analysis of omics data, as well as the future direction of personalized treatment options in cancer.
Trend analysis of widespread heat days in the Middle East and North Africa region between 1871 and 2012
Authors: Rezaei Mohammad , Aalijahan Mehdi , Lupo Anthony R. , Zerafati Hadi
Published: November 2023

One of the greatest challenges facing the world today is global warming. Long‐term analysis of spatiotemporal variations in widespread heat days (WHDs) is one approach to monitoring this phenomenon, rather than focusing on the temperature trend. The objective of this study was to reconstruct the temporal and spatial variation of WHDs in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) using the long‐term NOAA/CIRES/DOE 20th Century Reanalysis (V2) (20CRv2) reanalysis data between 1871 and 2012. Based on a 90% probability of occurrence, the temperature threshold for detecting WHDs was defined to be different for each grid point. Then, most WHDs of each month (142 samples) were identified based on the connected component labelling method. The results showed that most WHDs for each month occurred mainly after 2000. In general, the western parts of Iran, Syria, southern Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Egypt and northern Sudan had the highest density of WHDs. In the second period (1941–2012), the extent of WHDs increased compared to the first period (1871–1941). The spatial relationship between WHDs density in the first and second periods showed no statistical relationship, indicating that WHDs were completely different in the two periods. The results of this study contribute to a better understanding of the effects of global warming by using the relatively longest data sets. The comparison between the two periods shows that the WHDs in MENA have changed in extent (instead of variability).
Three‐dimensional graphene on a nano‐porous 4H‐silicon carbide backbone: a novel material for food sensing applications
Authors: Veronesi Stefano , Vlamidis Ylea , Ferbel Letizia , Marinelli Carmela , Sanmartin Chiara , Taglieri Isabella , Pfusterschmied Georg , Leitgeb Markus , Schmid Ulrich , Mencarelli Fabio , Heun Stefan
Published: November 2023

Background

Sensors that are sensitive to volatile organic compounds, and thus able to monitor the conservation state of food, are precious because they work non‐destructively and allow avoiding direct contact with the food, ensuring hygienic conditions. In particular, the monitoring of rancidity would solve a widespread issue in food storage.

Results

The sensor discussed here is produced utilizing a novel three‐dimensional arrangement of graphene, which is grown on a crystalline silicon carbide wafer previously porousified by chemical etching. This approach allows a very high surface‐to‐volume ratio. Furthermore, the structure of the sensor surface features a large number of edges, dangling bounds, and active sites, which make the sensor, on a chemically robust skeleton, chemically active, particularly to hydrogenated molecules. The interaction of the sensor with such compounds is read out by measuring the sensor resistance in a four‐wire configuration. The sensor performance has been assessed on three hazelnut samples: sound, spoiled, and stink bug hazelnuts. A resistance variation of about ∆R = 0.13 ± 0.02 Ω between sound and damaged hazelnuts has been detected.

Conclusions

Our measurements confirm the ability of the sensor to discriminate between sound and damaged hazelnuts. The sensor signal is stable for days, providing the possibility to use this sensor for the monitoring of the storage state of fats and foods in general. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.
Augmented and Virtual Reality Applications in Facial Plastic Surgery: A Scoping Review
Authors: Chou David W. , Annadata Vivek , Willson Gloria , Gray Mingyang , Rosenberg Joshua
Published: November 2023

Objectives

Augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) are emerging technologies with wide potential applications in health care. We performed a scoping review of the current literature on the application of augmented and VR in the field of facial plastic and reconstructive surgery (FPRS).

Data Sources

PubMed and Web of Science.

Review Methods

According to PRISMA guidelines, PubMed and Web of Science were used to perform a scoping review of literature regarding the utilization of AR and/or VR relevant to FPRS.

Results

Fifty‐eight articles spanning 1997–2023 met the criteria for review. Five overarching categories of AR and/or VR applications were identified across the articles: preoperative, intraoperative, training/education, feasibility, and technical. The following clinical areas were identified: burn, craniomaxillofacial surgery (CMF), face transplant, face lift, facial analysis, facial palsy, free flaps, head and neck surgery, injectables, locoregional flaps, mandible reconstruction, mandibuloplasty, microtia, skin cancer, oculoplastic surgery, rhinology, rhinoplasty, and trauma.

Conclusion

AR and VR have broad applications in FPRS. AR for surgical navigation may have the most emerging potential in CMF surgery and free flap harvest. VR is useful as distraction analgesia for patients and as an immersive training tool for surgeons. More data on these technologies' direct impact on objective clinical outcomes are still needed.

Level of Evidence

N/A Laryngoscope, 134:2568–2577, 2024
Organic sulfur from source to sink in low‐sulfate Lake Superior
Authors: Phillips Alexandra A. , Ulloa Imanol , Hyde Emily , Agnich Julia , Sharpnack Lewis , O'Malley Katherine G. , Webb Samuel M. , Schreiner Kathryn M. , Sheik Cody S. , Katsev Sergei , Raven Morgan Reed
Published: November 2023

Organic sulfur plays a crucial role in the biogeochemistry of aquatic sediments, especially in low sulfate (< 500 μM) environments like freshwater lakes and the Earth's early oceans. To better understand organic sulfur cycling in these systems, we followed organic sulfur in the sulfate‐poor (< 40 μM) iron‐rich (30–80 μM) sediments of Lake Superior from source to sink. We identified microbial populations with shotgun metagenomic sequencing and characterized geochemical species in porewater and solid phases. In anoxic sediments, we found an active sulfur cycle fueled primarily by oxidized organic sulfur. Sediment incubations indicated a microbial capacity to hydrolyze sulfonates, sulfate esters, and sulfonic acids to sulfate. Gene abundances for dissimilatory sulfate reduction (dsrAB) increased with depth and coincided with sulfide maxima. Despite these indicators of sulfide formation, sulfide concentrations remain low (< 40 nM) due to both pyritization and organic matter sulfurization. Immediately below the oxycline, pyrite accounted for 13% of total sedimentary sulfur. Both free and intact lipids in this same interval accumulated disulfides, indicating rapid sulfurization even at low concentrations of sulfide. Our investigation revealed a new model of sulfur cycling in a low‐sulfate environment that likely extends to other modern lakes and possibly the ancient ocean, with organic sulfur both fueling sulfate reduction and consuming the resultant sulfide.
Influence of Ni on corrosion and trench formation of low alloy steel in low H2S content sour corrosion environments
Authors: Samusawa Itaru , Shimamura Junji , Helal Ammar Al , Sapanathan Thaneshan
Published: November 2023

The influence of Ni content on corrosion and trench formation of low alloy steel in a low H2S containing sour corrosion environment was investigated. The results show that Ni decreases the total amount of corrosion by forming a passive film containing Ni components, such as NiS and Ni3S2 on the steel surface as a result of long‐term corrosion and suppressing the anodic dissolution reaction, while increasing the trench depth. It was also identified that the Ni content had a more dominant effect on trench formation in steel regardless of the tested sour environments with 0.01 bar H2S gas (pH 4.0) and 0.001 M Na2S2O3 (pH 2.7) in this study. Based on the experimental findings, the mechanism of trenching propagation by Ni was discussed from the viewpoint of changes in surface film properties and associated difference of corrosion resistance between trench‐tip and bulk surface due to the variation in Ni content.
Toward an improved assessment of dose conformity in radiotherapy
Authors: Kuperman Vadim Y. , Altundal Yücel , Kouskoulas Tamara N.
Published: November 2023

Background

Evaluation of dose conformity is important to ensure minimum dose to normal tissue and sufficient dose coverage of the planning target volume (PTV). The existing conformity indices depend on the PTV volume and do not differentiate between two different scenarios: overdosing normal tissue and underdosing PTV.

Purpose

In this study, we introduce a novel index to assess conformity of dose distributions in radiotherapy.

Methods

The suggested conformity index is defined by the ratio of the volume representing actual “non‐conformity” of the planned dose and the volume representing acceptable “non‐conformity.” The latter volume is produced by expanding the PTV. If both the average distance () between the reference isodose surface and planning target volume and arbitrarily selected PTV expansion margin () are much smaller than the size of the PTV, approximately equals the ratio . In this work, was utilized to analyze 90 cases of brain metastases treated with stereotactic radiation therapy (SRS) and 102 cases of lung cancer treated with stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT).

Results

For  = 0.1 cm, all considered SRS treatment plans were characterized by while 2 out of 102 SBRT plans had . The average values of for SRS and SBRT plans were 0.31 and 0.43, respectively. For  = 0.2 cm, all studied treatment plans had , and the average values of for SRS and SBRT plans were 0.15 and 0.25, respectively.

Conclusions

The suggested conformity index varies less with PTV volume than the RTOG and Riet‐Paddick indices frequently used for evaluation of dose conformity. In addition, can be expressed as a sum of two terms which describe “over‐coverage” and “under‐coverage” of the treatment target. The results confirm that can be used for evaluation of dose conformity in SRS and SBRT.
Diffusion‐weighted MR spectroscopy: Consensus, recommendations, and resources from acquisition to modeling
Authors: Ligneul Clémence , Najac Chloé , Döring André , Beaulieu Christian , Branzoli Francesca , Clarke William T. , Cudalbu Cristina , Genovese Guglielmo , Jbabdi Saad , Jelescu Ileana , Karampinos Dimitrios , Kreis Roland , Lundell Henrik , Marjańska Małgorzata , Möller Harald E. , Mosso Jessie , Mougel Eloïse , Posse Stefan , Ruschke Stefan , Simsek Kadir , Szczepankiewicz Filip , Tal Assaf , Tax Chantal , Oeltzschner Georg , Palombo Marco , Ronen Itamar , Valette Julien
Published: November 2023

Brain cell structure and function reflect neurodevelopment, plasticity, and aging; and changes can help flag pathological processes such as neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation. Accurate and quantitative methods to noninvasively disentangle cellular structural features are needed and are a substantial focus of brain research. Diffusion‐weighted MRS (dMRS) gives access to diffusion properties of endogenous intracellular brain metabolites that are preferentially located inside specific brain cell populations. Despite its great potential, dMRS remains a challenging technique on all levels: from the data acquisition to the analysis, quantification, modeling, and interpretation of results. These challenges were the motivation behind the organization of the Lorentz Center workshop on “Best Practices & Tools for Diffusion MR Spectroscopy” held in Leiden, the Netherlands, in September 2021. During the workshop, the dMRS community established a set of recommendations to execute robust dMRS studies. This paper provides a description of the steps needed for acquiring, processing, fitting, and modeling dMRS data, and provides links to useful resources.
Preconditioned weighted full orthogonalization method for solving singular linear systems from PageRank problems
Authors: Shen Zhao‐Li , Carpentieri Bruno , Wen Chun , Wang Jian‐Jun , Serra‐Capizzano Stefano , Du Shi‐Ping
Published: November 2023

The PageRank model, which was first proposed by Google for its web search engine application, has since become a popular computational tool in a wide range of scientific fields, including chemistry, bioinformatics, neuroscience, bibliometrics, social networks, and others. PageRank calculations necessitate the use of fast computational techniques with low algorithmic and memory complexity. In recent years, much attention has been paid to Krylov subspace algorithms for solving difficult PageRank linear systems, such as those with large damping parameters close to one. In this article, we examine the full orthogonalization method (FOM). We present a convergence study of the method that extends and clarifies part of the conclusions reached in Zhang et al. (J Comput Appl Math. 2016; 296:397–409.). Furthermore, we demonstrate that FOM is breakdown free when solving singular PageRank linear systems with index one and we investigate the effect of using weighted inner‐products instead of conventional inner‐products in the orthonormalization procedure on FOM convergence. Finally, we develop a shifted polynomial preconditioner that takes advantage of the special structure of the PageRank linear system and has a good ability to cluster most of the eigenvalues, making it a good choice for an iterative method like FOM or GMRES. Numerical experiments are presented to support the theoretical findings and to evaluate the performance of the new weighted preconditioned FOM PageRank solver in comparison to other established solvers for this class of problem, including conventional stationary methods, hybrid combinations of stationary and Krylov subspace methods, and multi‐step splitting strategies.
Unfitted generalized finite element methods for Dirichlet problems without penalty or stabilization
Authors: Zhang Qinghui
Published: November 2023

Unfitted finite element methods (FEM) have attractive merits for problems with evolving or geometrically complex boundaries. Conventional unfitted FEMs incorporate penalty terms, parameters, or Lagrange multipliers to impose the Dirichlet boundary condition weakly. This to some extent increases computational complexity in implementation. In this article, we propose an unfitted generalized FEM (GFEM) for the Dirichlet problem, which is free from any penalty or stabilization. This is achieved by means of partition of unity frameworks of GFEM and designing a set of new enrichments for the Dirichlet boundary. The enrichments are divided into two groups: the one is used to impose the Dirichlet boundary condition strongly, and the other one serves as energy space of variational formulations. The shape functions in energy space vanish at the boundary so that standard variational formulae like those in the conventional fitted FEM can be applied, and thus the penalty and stabilization are not needed. The optimal convergence rate in the energy norm is proven rigorously. Numerical experiments and comparisons with other methods are executed to verify the theoretical result and effectiveness of the algorithm. The conditioning of new method is numerically shown to be of same order as that of the standard FEM.
Thermal, mechanical, thermo‐mechanical and morphological properties of graphene nanoplatelets reinforced green epoxy nanocomposites
Authors: Yusuf J. , Sapuan S. M. , Rashid Umer , Ilyas R. A. , Hassan M. R.
Published: November 2023

The efficient inclusion of GNPs (graphene nanoplatelets) as an effective nano‐fillers for green polymer matrices produced with 28% of carbon originating from biomass tends to significantly improve mechanical and thermal properties. In the present work, green epoxy nanocomposites with low loading of (0.1, 0.25, and 0.5) wt% of the GNPs were made using a solution blending technique using acetone as the solvent. In mechanical stirring, the ultrasonic bath was used to ensure the efficient dispersion of GNPs within green epoxy. The resulting nanocomposites were comprehensively characterized and compared to unfilled green epoxy. Different tools were used to appraise morphological, thermal, thermo‐mechanical, and mechanical behavior. The results confirmed through FE‐SEM showed an optimal dispersion of GNPs with nanocomposites. The thermal degradation temperature (Td) of GNPs curve with 0.25 wt% loading was shifted toward higher temperature (from 336°C to 342°C) due to low percentage of loading of GNPs which showed an enhance thermal stability of polymer matrix with 0.25 wt% loading. The mechanical results were also in lined with previously published literature, in the tensile test 6.45% and hardness 13.3% increment was achieved. Overall, the results underscored significant improvements in green nanocomposite performance with low wt% of GNPs.

Highlights

The study focuses on development and characterization of green epoxy nanocomposites, which utilize environmentally friendly materials as a matrix, highlighting the significance of sustainability.

The study explores effects of low loading of GNPs in green epoxy nanocomposites. The results demonstrate significant improvements in mechanical and thermal properties with optimized presence of GNPs. This investigation provides insights into optimal amount of GNPs required to achieve improved properties.

Research evaluates multifaceted analysis provides a holistic understanding of performance enhancements achieved through inclusion of GNPs.
Disinfection of viruses with cold atmospheric‐pressure plasmas: Sources, mechanisms, and efficacy
Authors: Lan Cuntao , Zhu Haiwei , Wang Shenghua , Nie Lanlan , Liu Dawei , Shi Qi , Lu Xinpei
Published: November 2023

In recent years, the outbreaks of viral diseases have urgently demanded effective virus disinfection techniques. Among them, the use of cold atmospheric‐pressure plasma (CAP) is one of the most promising approaches. CAP generates electric fields, charged particles, reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, and ultraviolet. CAP can effectively inactivate various viruses in a short period, whether they are on surfaces, in water, or in aerosols, without significantly raising the substrate temperature. This review highlights that the simultaneous action of physical and chemical means is the key mechanism of CAP in virus inactivation. It systematically summarizes the characteristics of plasma devices suitable for different application scenarios and further points out the opportunities and challenges faced by plasma virus inactivation technology.
Leveraging insect viruses and genetic manipulation for sustainable agricultural pest control
Authors: Sun Kai , Fu Kang , Hu Tao , Shentu Xuping , Yu Xiaoping
Published: November 2023

The potential of insect viruses in the biological control of agricultural pests is well‐recognized, yet their practical application faces obstacles such as host specificity, variable virulence, and resource scarcity. High‐throughput sequencing (HTS) technologies have significantly advanced our capabilities in discovering and identifying new insect viruses, thereby enriching the arsenal for pest management. Concurrently, progress in reverse genetics has facilitated the development of versatile viral expression vectors. These vectors have enhanced the specificity and effectiveness of insect viruses in targeting specific pests, offering a more precise approach to pest control. This review provides a comprehensive examination of the methodologies employed in the identification of insect viruses using HTS. Additionally, it explores the domain of genetically modified insect viruses and their associated challenges in pest management. The adoption of these cutting‐edge approaches holds great promise for developing environmentally sustainable and effective pest control solutions. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.
How to obtain accurate results with molecular iodine and density functional theory?
Authors: Robidas Raphaël , Legault Claude Y.
Published: November 2023

Molecular iodine is found in many organic synthetic methodologies, both as reagent and as catalyst. Naturally, many groups have carried out computational studies involving this element. However, the choice of computational method proves to be more challenging than for other non‐metals. We quantify herein the errors that some common theory levels can introduce in terms of both structural and energetic deviations. We also evaluate multiple post hoc corrections, namely, vibrational entropy, dispersion, and counter‐poise corrections. Our results indicate the triple‐ basis sets are essential to obtain quality results and that post hoc corrections are overall detrimental.
Synthesis and Caracterizations of New Thiosemicarbazone and Thiazole Derivatives From Polycyclic Chiral 1,5‐Diketones
Authors: Gezegen Hayreddin
Published: November 2023

Thiosemicarbazone derivatives have a wide spectrum of biological activity as well as various application areas such as forming complexes with metals, using as intermediates in the synthesis of heterocyclic bioactive compounds. Thiazole derivatives can be easily synthesized from thiosemicarbazones and are among the important compounds in demand in terms of biological activity. In this study, 14 new thiosemicarbazone derivatives were synthesized starting from polycyclic 1,5‐diketone derivatives with five stereocenters, and 14 thiazole derivatives were synthesized from the reaction of the obtained thiosemicarbazones with 2‐bromoacetophenone and their structure determinations were carried out using spectroscopic methods (1H‐NMR, 13C‐NMR, 2D‐NMR, FT‐IR and Q‐TOF LC/MS). This synthesis route from polycyclic chiral 1,5‐diketones may contribute to the design of new drug‐like molecules, which are important in medicinal chemistry.
Enhanced Alkaline Hydrogen Evolution Reaction through Lanthanide‐Modified Rhodium Intermetallic Catalysts
Authors: Li Qingqing , Sun Chang , Fu Hao , Zhang Shuai , Sun Xiaolei , Liu Jin‐Cheng , Du Yaping , Luo Feng
Published: November 2023

Design of highly efficient electrocatalysts for alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is of paramount importance for water electrolysis, but still a considerable challenge because of the slow HER kinetics in alkaline environments. Alloying is recognized as an effective strategy to enhance the catalytic properties. Lanthanides (Ln) are recognized as an electronic and structural regulator, attributed to their unique 4f electron behavior and the phenomenon known as lanthanide contraction. Here, a new class of Rh3Ln intermetallics (IMs) are synthesized using the sodium vapor reduction method. The alloying process induced an upshift of the d‐band center and electron transfer from Ln to Rh, resulting in optimized adsorption and dissociation energies for H2O molecules. Consequently, Rh3Tb IMs exhibited outstanding HER activity in both alkaline environments and seawater, displaying an overpotential of only 19 mV at 10 mA cm−2 and a Tafel slope of 22.2 mV dec−1. Remarkably, the current density of Rh3Tb IMs at 100 mV overpotential is 8.6 and 5.7 times higher than that of Rh/C and commercial Pt/C, respectively. This work introduces a novel approach to the rational design of HER electrocatalysis and sheds light on the role of lanthanides in electrocatalyst systems.
Pre‐Oxidation Strategy Transforming Waste Foam to Hard Carbon Anodes for Boosting Sodium Storage Performance
Authors: Chen Yuefang , Sun Heyi , He Xiang‐Xi , Chen Qinghang , Zhao Jia‐Hua , Wei Yanhao , Wu Xingqiao , Zhang Zhijia , Jiang Yong , Chou Shu‐Lei
Published: November 2023

Large reserves, high capacity, and low cost are the core competitiveness of disordered carbon materials as excellent anode materials for sodium‐ion batteries (SIBs). And the existence and improper treatment of a large number of organic solid wastes will aggravate the burden on the environment, therefore, it is significant to transform wastes into carbon‐based materials for sustainable energy utilization. Herein, a kind of hard carbon materials are reported with waste biomass‐foam as the precursor, which can improve the sodium storage performance through pre‐oxidation strategy. The introduction of oxygen‐containing groups can promote structural cross‐linking, and inhibit the melting and rearrangement of carbon structure during high‐temperature carbonization that produces a disordered structure with a suitable degree of graphitization. Moreover, the micropore structure are also regulated during the high‐temperature carbonization process, which is conducive to the storage of sodium ions in the low‐voltage plateau region. The optimized sample as an electrode material exhibits excellent reversible specific capacity (308.0 mAh g−1) and initial Coulombic efficiency (ICE, 90.1%). In addition, a full cell with the waste foam‐derived hard carbon anode and a Na3V2(PO4)3 cathode is constructed with high ICE and energy density. This work provides an effective strategy to conversion the waste to high‐value hard carbon anode for sodium‐ion batteries.
Confined In‐Situ Encapsulation of Co/C Composites with Increased Heterogeneous Interface Polarization for Enhanced Electromagnetic Performance
Authors: Qiu Jiahang , Liang Yan , Xiang Yao , Zhang Mu , Zhao Rongzhi , Li Xiaodong , Ma Song , Luo Zhengtang , Zhang Xuefeng , Sun Xudong
Published: November 2023

It is an urgent problem to realize reliable microwave absorption materials (MAMs) with low density. To address this issue, a series of controlled experiments w ere carried out, which indicated that the tubular structure enables excellent microwave absorption properties with a lower powder filling rate. This performance is attributable to the combined dielectric and magnetic loss mechanisms provided by Co/C and the interface polarization facilitated by multiple heterogeneous interfaces. Particularly, Co@C nanotubes, benefiting from the enhanced heterointerface polarization due to their abundant specific surface area and the reduced electron migration barrier induced by their 1D stacked structure, effectively achieved a dual enhancement of dielectric loss and polarization loss at lower powder filling ratios. Furthermore, the magnetic coupling effect of magnetic nanoparticle arrays in tubular structures is demonstrated by micromagnetic simulation, which have been few reported elsewhere. These propertied enable Co@C nanotubes to achieve minimum reflection loss and maximum effective absorption broadband values of 61.0 dB and 5.5 GHz, respectively, with a powder filling ratio of 20 wt% and a thickness of 1.94 mm. This study reveals the significance of designing 1D structures in reducing powder filling ratio and matching thickness, providing valuable insights for developing MAMs with different microstructures.
Estimation of elastic modulus of recycle aggregate concrete based on hybrid and ensemble‐hybrid approaches
Authors: Qu Bing
Published: November 2023

The utilization of recycled aggregate concrete (RAC) within the construction sector has the potential to prevent irreversible harm to the environment and reduce the depletion of natural resources. Nonetheless, it is essential to scrutinize the quality of RAC before utilizing it in practical applications. RAC's most significant design parameter is its elastic modulus, typically determined through time‐consuming and costly experiments. Machine learning (ML) techniques can be a feasible solution to reduce the number of experiments required and obtain accurate estimates. This article employs two robust ML techniques, namely Xtreme Gradient Boosting (XGB) and Adaptive Boosting regression, in three distinct modes, namely individual, hybrid, and ensemble‐hybrid methods. Furthermore, phasor particle swarm optimization (PPSO) and chaos game optimization (CGO) have been utilized in hybrid and ensemble‐hybrid modes to optimize final results, minimize errors, and obtain highly precise outcomes. As mentioned earlier, several evaluators were employed to identify the most appropriate model to compare the modes. The findings suggest that the relevant optimizers significantly contributed to achieving superior metric values. Specifically, the results indicated that PPSO exhibited greater efficacy than CGO in optimizing outputs and enhancing accuracy. The hybrid models, particularly XGB in conjunction with PPSO, yielded the most favorable correlation coefficient and root mean square error values equal to 0.996 and 0.336 and can serve as an effective ML method to determine elastic modulus of recycle aggregate concrete for time and energy storage.