bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
T cells: Friends and foes in NASH pathogenesis and hepatocarcinogenesis
Authors: Ramadori Pierluigi , Kam Shing , Heikenwalder Mathias
Published: January 2022

In association with the pandemic spreading of obesity and metabolic syndrome, the prevalence of NAFLD‐related HCC is increasing almost exponentially. In recent years, many of the underlining multifactorial causes of NAFLD have been identified, and the cellular mechanisms sustaining disease development have been dissected up to the single‐cell level. However, there is still an urgent need to provide clinicians with more therapeutic targets, with particular attention on NAFLD‐induced HCC, where immune checkpoint inhibitors do not work as efficiently. Whereas much effort has been invested in elucidating the role of innate immune response in the hepatic NAFLD microenvironment, only in the past decade have novel critical roles been unraveled for T cells in driving chronic inflammation toward HCC. The metabolic and immune microenvironment interact to recreate a tumor‐promoting and immune‐suppressive terrain, responsible for resistance to anticancer therapy. In this article, we will review the specific functions of several T‐cell populations involved in NAFLD and NAFLD‐driven HCC. We will illustrate the cellular crosstalk with other immune cells, regulatory networks or stimulatory effects of these interactions, and role of the metabolic microenvironment in influencing immune cell functionality. Finally, we will present the pros and cons of the current therapeutic strategies against NAFLD‐related HCC and delineate possible novel approaches for the future.
Novel measures of Morris water maze performance that use vector field maps to assess accuracy, uncertainty, and intention of navigational searches
Authors: Meenakshi Prabod Kumar , Mehrotra Dhruv , Nruthyathi N. , Almeida‐Filho Daniel , Lee Yong‐Seok , Silva Alcino , Balaji J.
Published: January 2022

Most commonly used behavioral measures for testing learning and memory in the Morris water maze (MWM) involve comparisons of an animal's residence time in different quadrants of the pool. Such measures are limited in their ability to test different aspects of the animal's performance. Here, we describe novel measures of performance in the MWM that use vector fields to capture the motion of mice as well as their search pattern in the maze. Using these vector fields, we develop quantitative measures of performance that are intuitive and more sensitive than classical measures. First, we describe search patterns in terms of vector field properties and use these properties to define three metrics of spatial memory namely Spatial Accuracy, Uncertainty and, Intensity of Search. We demonstrate the usefulness of these measures using four different data sets including comparisons between different strains of mice, an analysis of two mouse models of Noonan syndrome (NS; Ptpn11 D61G and Ptpn11 N308D/+), and a study of goal reversal training. Importantly, besides highlighting novel aspects of performance in this widely used spatial task, our measures were able to uncover previously undetected differences, including in an animal model of NS, which we rescued with the mitogen activated protein kinase kinase (MEK) inhibitor SL327. Thus, our results show that our approach breaks down performance in the MWM into sensitive measurable independent components that highlight differences in spatial learning and memory in the MWM that were undetected by conventional measures.
More than memory: A qualitative analysis of carer‐reported psychosocial benefits of Memory Cafés
Authors: Protoolis Holly A. , Burton Jason , Riley Layla , Jancey Jonine
Published: January 2022

Issue addressed

Memory Cafés are a psychosocial intervention that aims to provide socialisation and interpersonal support for those living with dementia and their carers. This study explores the Memory Café model and determines the impact of the peer‐to‐peer Memory Café model on the psychosocial well‐being of those living with dementia and their carers.

Methods

Participants were informal carers of those living with dementia, recruited from four Memory Café’s located in metropolitan Perth, Western Australia. Demographic information was collected from participants. Eleven semi‐structured interviews were conducted. The data were transcribed and analysed thematically.

Results

The benefits of participation are described under four themes; sharing experiences and reduction of stigma, a place to feel joy and be yourself, a time to socialise and build friendships and improvements in life outside the Memory Café. The positive attributes of the Memory Cafés that contributed to the benefits were also identified. Concerns about Memory Cafés were limited to it becoming a carers‐only group.

Conclusions

Memory Cafés contribute significantly to the psychosocial well‐being of carers of those living with dementia and provide a positive outlet for carers to build social networks and become active in their community. The effect on the psychosocial well‐being of those living with dementia may be more limited but is still described positively.

So what?

Dementia is a condition with significant impacts on carers and families. Successful peer‐based social interventions such as Memory Cafés can lead to further development of dementia‐friendly communities aimed at providing joy as well as support.
Magnetic, gas sensing properties, and structural parameters of barium–calcium hexaferrite synthesized by sol‐gel auto combustion method
Authors: Karimian Arezou , Kalantar Mahdi
Published: January 2022

Sol‐gel combustion method has been used to obtain nano‐sized particles of barium–calcium hexaferrite Ba1−xCaxFe12O19 (0 ≤ x ≤ 1). The dried gel samples were calcined at 950°C for 4.5 hr. The phase evaluation and microstructure of calcined samples were investigated by X‐ray powder diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques, respectively. The result revealed the formation of barium–calcium hexaferrite phase with a small amount of hematite as a secondary phase. There is a variation of particle size from 20 to 500 nm and a combination of plates‐like hexagonal and spherical morphology of particles for synthesized samples. The measured magnetic properties of synthesized samples, using a vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), revealed that the sample synthesized with x = 0.4 exhibited the lowest level of magnetization saturation in comparison with others, which can be due to the heterogeneity of the structure and the presence of nonmagnetic phases such as BaFe2O4 and Fe2O3. The obtained results of sensory tests in acetone gas showed that the barium–calcium hexaferrite sample with x = 0.2 exhibits the highest sensitivity (S = 0.57) and shortest response time (tr = 20 s) under the conditions of 900 ppm of concentration and 300°C of temperature, although the recovery time is long.
ROS–NLRP3 signaling pathway induces sterile inflammation after thulium laser resection of the prostate
Authors: Wang Xing‐Jie , Ni Xiao‐Qing , Zhao Sheng , Zhao Rui‐Zhe , Wang Xiao‐Hai , Xia Shu‐Jie , Sun Xiao‐Wen , Zhuo Jian
Published: January 2022

The sterile inflammation (SI) of the urinary tract is a common problem requiring serious consideration after prostatectomy. This study mainly focuses on the role of the reactive oxygen species–NLR family, pyrin domain‐containing 3 (ROS–NLRP3) signaling pathway in SI after thulium laser resection of the prostate (TmLRP). Urinary cytokines were determined in patients who received TmLRP, and heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) was detected in the resected tissues. The involvement of ROS signaling in HSP70‐induced inflammation was explored in THP‐1 cells with or without N‐acetyl‐
l‐cysteine (NAC) pretreatment. The function of NLRP3 and Caspase‐1 was determined by Western blot analysis, enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and polymerase chain reaction. These phenomena and mechanisms were verified by the beagle models that received TmLRP. Clinical urine samples after TmLRP showed high expression of inflammatory factors and peaked 3–5 days after surgery. The high expression of HSP70 in the resected tissues was observed. After HSP70 stimulation, the expression of ROS, NLRP3, Caspase‐1, and interleukin‐18 (IL‐18) increased significantly and could be reduced by ROS inhibitor NAC. The expression of IL‐1β and IL‐18 could be inhibited by NLRP3 or Caspase‐1 inhibitors. In beagle models that received TmLRP, HSP70, NLRP3, Caspase‐1, IL‐1β, and IL‐18 were highly expressed in the wound tissue or urine, and could also be reduced by NAC pretreatment. Activation of the ROS–NLRP3 signaling pathway induces SI in the wound after prostatectomy. Inhibition of this pathway may be effective for clinical prevention and treatment of SI and related complications after prostatectomy.
The impact of the atrial wall thickness in normal/mild late‐gadolinium enhancement areas on atrial fibrillation rotors in persistent atrial fibrillation patients
Authors: Nakamura Toshihiro , Kiuchi Kunihiko , Fukuzawa Koji , Takami Mitsuru , Watanabe Yoshiaki , Izawa Yu , Takemoto Makoto , Sakai Jun , Yatomi Atsusuke , Sonoda Yusuke , Takahara Hiroyuki , Nakasone Kazutaka , Yamamoto Kyoko , Suzuki Yuya , Tani Ken‐ichi , Negi Noriyuki , Kono Atsushi , Ashihara Takashi , Hirata Ken‐ichi
Published: January 2022

Background

Some of atrial fibrillation (AF) drivers are found in normal/mild late‐gadolinium enhancement (LGE) areas, as well as moderate ones. The atrial wall thickness (AWT) has been reported to be important as a possible AF substrate. However, the AWT and degree of LGEs as an AF substrate has not been fully validated in humans.

Objective

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of the AWT in normal/mild LGE areas on AF drivers.

Methods

A total of 287 segments in 15 persistent AF patients were assessed. AF drivers were defined as non‐passively activated areas (NPAs), where rotational activation was frequently observed, and were detected by the novel real‐time phase mapping (ExTRa Mapping), mild LGE areas were defined as areas with a volume ratio of the enhancement voxel of 0% to <10%. The AWT was defined as the minimum distance from the manually determined endocardium to the epicardial border on the LGE‐MRI.

Results

NPAs were found in 20 (18.0%) of 131 normal/mild LGE areas where AWT was significantly thicker than that in the passively activated areas (PAs) (2.5 ± 0.3 vs. 2.2 ± 0.3 mm, p < .001). However, NPAs were found in 41 (26.3%) of 156 moderate LGE areas where AWT was thinner than that of PAs (2.1 ± 0.2 mm vs. 2.23 ± 0.3 mm, p = .02). An ROC curve analysis yielded an optimal cutoff value of 2.2 mm for predicting the presence of an NPA in normal/mild LGE areas.

Conclusion

The location of AF drivers in normal/mild LGE areas might be more accurately identified by evaluating AWT.
Body composition predictors of mortality in patients undergoing surgery for long bone metastases
Authors: Groot Olivier Q. , Bongers Michiel E.R. , Buckless Colleen G. , Twining Peter K. , Kapoor Neal D. , Janssen Stein J. , Schwab Joseph H. , Torriani Martin , Bredella Miriam A.
Published: January 2022

Background and Objectives

Body composition measurements using computed tomography (CT) may serve as imaging biomarkers of survival in patients with and without cancer. This study assesses whether body composition measurements obtained on abdominal CTs are independently associated with 90‐day and 1‐year mortality in patients with long‐bone metastases undergoing surgery.

Methods

This single institutional retrospective study included 212 patients who had undergone surgery for long‐bone metastases and had a CT of the abdomen within 90 days before surgery. Quantification of cross‐sectional areas (CSA) and CT attenuation of abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue, visceral adipose tissue, and paraspinous and abdominal muscles were performed at L4. Multivariate Cox proportional‐hazards analyses were performed.

Results

Sarcopenia was independently associated with 90‐day mortality (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.87; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.11–3.16; p = 0.019) and 1‐year mortality (HR = 1.50; 95% CI = 1.02–2.19; p = 0.038) in multivariate analysis while controlling for clinical variables such as primary tumors, comorbidities, and chemotherapy. Abdominal fat CSAs and muscle attenuation were not associated with mortality.

Conclusions

The presence of sarcopenia assessed by CT is predictive of 90‐day and 1‐year mortality in patients undergoing surgery for long‐bone metastases. This body composition measurement can be used as novel imaging biomarker supplementing existing prognostic tools to optimize patient selection for surgery and improve shared decision making.
Identifying the mechanism of formation of chlorinated silane polymer by‐products during chemical vapor infiltration of SiC from CH3SiCl3/H2
Authors: Sato Noboru , Fukushima Yasuyuki , Shima Kohei , Funato Yuichi , Momose Takeshi , Koshi Mitsuo , Shimogaki Yukihiro
Published: January 2022

Polymerization by‐products with the formula (SiCl2)n or SinHxCl2n–x are accumulated at the reactor exhaust of SiC chemical vapor infiltration (CVI) from CH3SiCl3/H2, which occur as an explosive hazard. Thermodynamic constants of the chlorinated silane polymers (SiCl2)n and Cl(SiCl2)mCl (n ≤ 5, m ≤ 4) were obtained by quantum chemical calculations using the CBS‐QB3 method. Polymerization reaction pathways of SiCl2 to (SiCl2)n and Cl(SiCl2)mCl (n ≤ 3, m ≤ 3) were also determined using the CBS‐QB3 method, with higher accuracy than in previous reports. The thermodynamic and kinetic constants were incorporated into an existing elementary reaction model of CH3SiCl3 (methyltrichlorosilane; MTS) reacting with H2 to derive the UT2019 model. This enabled the decomposition of MTS into SiCl2 to be studied. Chemical equilibrium calculations and gas‐phase kinetic simulations were performed. The chemical equilibrium calculations revealed that the chlorinated silane polymers, which are explosive by‐products of CVI of SiC, are unstable in the gas phase at any temperature under reduced pressure conditions, suggesting that their formation could be inhibited by controlling the gas‐phase reactions. The gas‐phase kinetic simulations showed that by‐products with a polymerization degree of 3 are not produced above 400°C, but are rapidly produced in the gas phase below 400°C. These findings also apply to the chemical vapor deposition of Si from chlorinated silane precursors.
Profile of Injured Singers: Expectations and Insights
Authors: Childs Lesley F. , Rao Ashwin , Mau Ted
Published: January 2022

Objectives

To discover patterns of phonotraumatic lesions in singers and investigate factors that differentiate those who underwent surgery from those who did not. We hypothesized that 1) lesion type distribution differs by age, sex, singer classification (professional/amateur), and history of formal voice training; 2) the likelihood of surgery is associated with singer classification and voice training.

Study Design

Retrospective.

Methods

Retrospective review of 438 singers with phonotraumatic lesions over a 9‐year period. Lesion type distribution was analyzed with respect to sex, age, singer classification, and voice training. The association of eventual surgery with these factors was also analyzed.

Results

Nodules accounted for over half of the cohort (58%), followed by pseudocysts (20%), polyps (14%), and cysts (4%). Nearly two of every three injured female singers, but fewer than one out of every three injured male singers, had nodules. In contrast, over half of the injured males had polyps, whereas only 6% of injured females had polyps. In females, polyps occurred at a later age, and in males, nodules occurred at a younger age compared to other lesion types. Only 14% of the total cohort eventually underwent surgery. Professional singers without formal voice training were almost eight times more likely to have undergone surgery than amateur singers with voice training.

Conclusions

Professional singers were more likely to undergo surgery than amateurs, and formal voice training was associated with a lower likelihood of surgery. The observation that polyps tended to occur in older women may have implications for the pathogenesis of vocal fold polyps.

Level of Evidence

4 Laryngoscope, 132:2180–2186, 2022
Percutaneous treatments of hepatocellular carcinoma: Improving efficacy, applicability and extending ablation criteria
Authors: Gigante Elia , Sutter Olivier , Nahon Pierre , Seror Olivier , Nault Jean‐Charles
Published: January 2022

The main curative treatments of early hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are liver resection, liver transplantation and percutaneous ablation. Monopolar radiofrequency ablation (RFA) was the most widely used percutaneous treatment but has limitations in terms of applicability and efficacy. These limitations could be responsible for downgrading the treatment of early HCC not amenable to usual monopolar RFA, transplantation or resection and to a shift to palliative treatment. However, improvement in ablation techniques during the last 10 years including the development of microwave ablation, multibipolar RFA, irreversible electroporation but also new technical tricks for ablation allowed to optimize the efficacy and promote the wide application of percutaneous treatments in patients with early HCC. It helped also to explore the ability of percutaneous ablation to treat HCC outside current guidelines in order to ablate more lesions of larger sizes. In this review, we aim to describe how the improvement of ablation methods helps to maximize the number of patients treated for early HCC and to discuss if we could extend the usual ablation criteria in order to allocate more patients in a curative setting.
Chronic rhinosinusitis symptoms differentially impact the likelihood of major depressive disorders
Authors: Liu David T. , Bartosik Tina J. , Campion Nicholas J. , Bayer Karina , Tu Aldine , Victoria Stanek , Besser Gerold , Mueller Christian A. , Gangl Katharina , Eckl‐Dorna Julia , Schneider Sven
Published: January 2022

Objectives

The extent to which sinonasal symptoms impact the likelihood of major depressive disorders in chronic rhinosinusitis patients with nasal polyposis (CRSwNP) remains incompletely characterized. In this study, we sought to determine whether individual symptom clusters differentially impact the likelihood of depression in a cohort of CRSwNP patients.

Methods

We retrospectively included 77 patients with CRSwNP. The severity of sinonasal symptoms was assessed using the 22‐item Sino‐Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT‐22) and grouped according to a previously validated four‐subdomain structure: nasal, otologic/facial pain, sleep, and emotional subdomains. The likelihood of major depressive disorders was assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire‐2 (PHQ‐2). The clinical characteristic of symptom severity (nasal polyp size) and disease‐specific information, such as the number of previous sinonasal surgeries, were also collected.

Results

The sleep subdomain was most strongly associated with the likelihood of major depressive disorders, followed by the otologic/facial pain subdomain, after controlling for demographics and clinical indicators of symptom severity (nasal polyp size). We found a SNOT‐22 score ≥ 30.5 to be an accurate indicator of scoring higher than or equal to 2 on the PHQ‐2 in CRSwNP patients. This had a sensitivity of 83.33% and a specificity of 75.47%.

Conclusion

Distinct sinonasal symptom clusters differentially impact the likelihood of depression in CRSwNP patients. Raising awareness for those with severe sinonasal symptomatology might help identify more patients with a higher probability of comorbid depression.

Level of Evidence: 4.
Thiol‐Ene Polymerization of Natural Monomers: A DFT Study
Authors: Mohaman Hamissou , Tuncer Dilan , Degirmenci Isa
Published: January 2022

This study investigates the thiol‐ene reaction mechanism of natural monomers using quantum chemical tools. The structure‐reactivity relationship for these monomers is elaborated by the aid of radical stabilization energies (RSEs), intermolecular interactions, the curve‐crossing model, Hammond Postulate, and Evans–Polanyi relationships. Geometry optimizations, frequency, and energy calculations are performed at the M06‐2X/6‐31++G(d,p) level of theory. A crucial parameter for thiol‐ene polymerization, which is the ratio of the propagation reaction (kp) and the chain transfer reaction (kct) rate constants (kp/kct), is calculated in order to elucidate the thiol‐ene reaction mechanism. In light of these energetic and kinetic calculations, it is suggested that linalool, d‐limonene, terpinolene, and γ‐terpinene are considered natural monomer candidates for thiol‐ene polymerization due to their almost equal magnitude of the rate constants (kp/kct≈1). The thiol‐ene polymerization potential of some specific unsaturated fatty acids is another prominent finding in this study.
Novel nitrite reductase domain structure suggests a chimeric denitrification repertoire in the phylum Chloroflexi
Authors: Schwartz Sarah L. , Momper Lily , Rangel Luiz Thiberio , Magnabosco Cara , Amend Jan P. , Fournier Gregory P.
Published: January 2022

Denitrification plays a central role in the global nitrogen cycle, reducing and removing nitrogen from marine and terrestrial ecosystems. The flux of nitrogen species through this pathway has a widespread impact, affecting ecological carrying capacity, agriculture, and climate. Nitrite reductase (Nir) and nitric oxide reductase (NOR) are the two central enzymes in this pathway. Here we present a previously unreported Nir domain architecture in members of phylum Chloroflexi. Phylogenetic analyses of protein domains within Nir indicate that an ancestral horizontal transfer and fusion event produced this chimeric domain architecture. We also identify an expanded genomic diversity of a rarely reported NOR subtype, eNOR. Together, these results suggest a greater diversity of denitrification enzyme arrangements exist than have been previously reported.
Impact of antibiotics on the human microbiome and consequences for host health
Authors: Patangia Dhrati V. , Anthony Ryan Cornelius , Dempsey Eugene , Paul Ross Reynolds , Stanton Catherine
Published: January 2022

It is well established that the gut microbiota plays an important role in host health and is perturbed by several factors including antibiotics. Antibiotic‐induced changes in microbial composition can have a negative impact on host health including reduced microbial diversity, changes in functional attributes of the microbiota, formation, and selection of antibiotic‐resistant strains making hosts more susceptible to infection with pathogens such as Clostridioides difficile. Antibiotic resistance is a global crisis and the increased use of antibiotics over time warrants investigation into its effects on microbiota and health. In this review, we discuss the adverse effects of antibiotics on the gut microbiota and thus host health, and suggest alternative approaches to antibiotic use.
A portable magnet for radiation biology and dosimetry studies in magnetic fields
Authors: Causer Trent J. , Rosenfeld Anatoly B. , Metcalfe Peter E. , Oborn Bradley M.
Published: January 2022

Background and Purpose

In the current and rapidly evolving era of real‐time MRI‐guided radiotherapy, our radiation biology and dosimetry knowledge is being tested in a novel way. This paper presents the successful design and implementation of a portable device used to generate strong localized magnetic fields. These are ideally suited for small‐scale experiments that mimic the magnetic field environment inside an MRI‐linac system, or more broadly MRI‐guided particle therapy as well.

Materials and Methods

A portable permanent magnet‐based device employing an adjustable steel yoke and magnetic field focusing cones has been designed, constructed, and tested. The apparatus utilizes two banks of NdFeB permanent magnets totaling around 50 kg in mass to generate a strong magnetic field throughout a small volume between two pole tips. The yoke design allows adjustment of the pole tip gap and exchanging of the focusing cones. Further to this, beam portal holes are present in the yoke and focusing cones, allowing for radiation beams of up to 5 5 cm to pass through the region of high magnetic field between the focusing cone tips. Finite element magnetic modeling was performed to design and characterize the performance of the device. Automated physical measurements of the magnetic field components at various locations were measured to confirm the performance. The adjustable pole gap and interchangeable cones allows rapid changing of the experimental set‐up to allow different styles of measurements to be performed.

Results

A mostly uniform magnetic field of 1.2 T can be achieved over a volume of at least 3 3 3 cm. This can be reduced in strength to 0.3 T but increased in volume to 10 10 10 cm via removal of the cone tips and/or adjustment of the steel yoke. Although small, these volumes are sufficient to house radiation detectors, cell culture dishes, and various phantom arrangements targeted at examining small radiation field dosimetry inside magnetic field strengths that can be changed with ease. Most important is the ability to align the magnetic field both perpendicular to, or inline with, the radiation beam. To date, the system has been successfully used to conduct published research in the areas of radiation detector performance, lung phantom dosimetry, and how small clinical electron beams behave in these strong magnetic fields.

Conclusions

A portable, relatively inexpensive, and simple to operate device has successfully been constructed and used for performing radiation oncology studies around the theme of MRI‐guided radiotherapy. This can be in either inline and perpendicular magnetic fields of up to 1.2 T with x‐ray and particle beams.
Patient‐specific collision zones for 4π trajectory optimized radiation therapy
Authors: Northway Cassidy , Lincoln John David , Little Brian , Syme Alasdair , Thomas Christopher G
Published: January 2022

Purpose

The 4π methodology determines optimized noncoplanar subarcs for stereotactic radiation therapy that minimize dose to organs‐at‐risk. Every combination of treatment angle is examined, but some angles are not appropriate as a collision would occur between the gantry and the couch or the gantry and the patient. Those combinations of couch and gantry angles are referred to as collision zones. A major barrier to applying 4π to stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) is the unknown shape of the collision zones, which are significant as patients take up a large volume within the 4π sphere. This study presents a system that determines patient‐specific collision zones, without additional clinical steps, to enable safe and deliverable noncoplanar treatment trajectories for SBRT patients.

Methods

To augment patient's computed tomography (CT) scan, full body scans of patients in treatment position were acquired using an optical scanner. A library of a priori scans (N = 25) was created. Based on the patients' treatment position and their body dimensions, a library scan is selected and registered to the CT scan of the patient. Next, a model of the couch and immobilization equipment is added to the patient model. This results in a patient model that is then aligned with a model of the treatment LINAC in a “virtual treatment room,” where both components can be rotated to test for collisions. To test the collision detection algorithm, an end‐to‐end test was performed using a cranial phantom. The registration algorithm was tested by comparing the registered patient collision zones to those generated by using the patient's matching scan.

Results

The collision detection algorithm was found to have a 97.80% accuracy, a 99.99% sensitivity, and a 99.99% negative predictive value (NPV). Analysis of the registration algorithm determined that a 6 cm buffer was required to achieve a 99.65% mean sensitivity, where a sensitivity of unity is considered to be a requirement for safe treatment delivery. With a 6 cm buffer, the mean accuracy was 86.70% and the mean NPV was 99.33%.

Conclusions

Our method of determining patient‐specific collision zones can be accomplished with minimal user intervention based on an a priori library of body surface scans, thus enabling the safe application of 4π SBRT.
Do visiting monks give better sermons? “Street‐level bureaucrats from higher‐up” in targeted poverty alleviation in China
Authors: Cai Changkun , Shen Qiyao , Tang Na
Published: January 2022

In those countries lacking democratic institutions and with weak professional bureaucracy and low governance capacity at the rural grassroots level, do different types of street‐level bureaucrats (SLBs) exist? If so, how do they work? To answer these questions, this article constructs an institution‐practice framework to understand the different types of SLBs. Based on fieldwork in three Chinese counties concerning their implementation of the Targeted Poverty Alleviation Policy, we found that the street‐level bureaucracy from higher‐up is the key to addressing China’s inadequate street‐level governance capacity. The organizational structure, mechanisms, and strategies of SLBs from higher‐up are differ from other types of SLBs. The institutional arrangements of the SLBs from higher‐up are campaign‐style and informal; their institutional mechanisms are mainly idea loading and carrying, and policy learning; their motivation is politicalized, that is, they are politically committed and incentivized; they are also coping, but they are entrepreneurs. The SLBs from higher‐up expands our understanding of the street‐level bureaucracy as it relates to institutional embeddedness, diversified types, and escaping the trap of street‐level governance capacity limitations.
Photoluminescence imaging of silicon modules in a string
Authors: Vuković Marija , Eriksdatter Høiaas Ingeborg , Jakovljević Marko , Svarstad Flø Andreas , Olsen Espen , Burud Ingunn
Published: January 2022

Spectral imaging techniques are a powerful tool for surveillance and monitoring of degradation mechanisms in PV modules. Luminescence images of solar modules have until recently been predominantly acquired in controlled laboratory settings. Recent attempts have been made in detecting luminescence in daylight. This study aims to present a proof of concept for detection of photoluminescence with sunlight excitation. It enables imaging of several modules in a string as well as several strings simultaneously by changing the operating point through wireless and contactless communication with one or more string inverters. This new approach is validated with the electroluminescence technique as well as with an already established photoluminescence technique under sunlight excitation. Due to the string inverter's reaction time, the change in illumination results in lower image quality. However, with a more up‐to‐date imaging equipment, this approach is promising for identification of certain degradation mechanisms which can be detected with lower resolution such as large area damage and inactive areas. Further studies are needed to optimize the method and potentially use it in connection with an unmanned aerial vehicle inspection.
The Origin and Formation Mechanism of an Inclined Line‐like Defect in 4H‐SiC Epilayers
Authors: Karhu Robin , Ghezellou Misagh , Ul Hassan Jawad
Published: January 2022

The origin and the formation mechanism of a surface morphological defect in 4H‐SiC epilayers are reported. The defect appears on the surface of an epilayer as an inclined line‐like feature at an angle of ±80° to the step‐flow direction . The defect is confirmed to originate from a threading screw dislocation intersecting the surface and its orientation is controlled by the sign of the Burgers vector of the dislocation. The defect forms through the interaction of local spiral growth associated with threading screw dislocations and step‐flow growth related to the substrate offcut. The defect mainly appears in the epilayers grown through chloride‐based chemistry, where in situ surface preparation of the substrate is performed in H2 + HCl at a relatively high temperature.
Ginseng in vascular dysfunction: A review of therapeutic potentials and molecular mechanisms
Authors: Zhang He , Hu Cheng , Xue Jiaojiao , Jin Di , Tian Lulu , Zhao Daqing , Li Xiangyan , Qi Wenxiu
Published: January 2022

Vascular dysfunction can lead to a variety of fatal diseases, including cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, metabolic syndrome, and cancer. Although a large number of studies have reported the therapeutic effects of natural compounds on vascular‐related diseases, ginseng is still the focus of research. Ginseng and its active substances have bioactive effects against different diseases with vascular dysfunction. In this review, we summarized the key molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways of ginseng, its different active ingredients or formula in the prevention and treatment of vascular‐related diseases, including cardiac‐cerebral vascular diseases, hypertension, diabetes complications, and cancer. Moreover, the bidirectional roles of ginseng in promoting or inhibiting angiogenesis have been highlighted. We systematically teased out the relationship between ginseng and vascular dysfunction, which could provide a basis for the clinical application of ginseng in the future.
Retracted: Dynamics of professional motivation of technical university students
Authors: Demchenko Irina V. , Demchenko Oleg N.
Published: January 2022

Modern knowledge‐intensive industrial production technologies increase the demand for engineering personnel in the labour market which actualises the problem of training competent, highly qualified specialists. This process is strongly determined by the motives that guide future engineers in their professional learning activities. The study analyses the dynamics of professional motivation of technical students of I–III courses. This study presents the results of research conducted by assessing the professional motivations of students at the Norilsk State Industrial Institute. The survey was conducted by the authors in September–October 2020. Fourteen motives were assessed and grouped into seven groups: social, moral, collectivist, cognitive, material, prestige motivation, and those associated with the peculiarities of professional activity. The study of professional motivation helped to identify the dominant motives of future engineers, trace their dynamics among students of different courses and analyse the peculiarity of professional motivation of students of different technical training areas. Based on the results of the study and analysis of the data obtained in the structure of future engineers’ professional motivation, the dominance of social, material and moral motivations, growth of collectivist and cognitive motives, insufficient degree of cognitive and work‐related motivation, low level of assessment of the prestige of the chosen profession are stated. The comparative data presented in the study with the 2009–2010 academic year's research on professional motivation identifies the need for further systematic vocational guidance work with future engineers.
Retracted: Professional training of future engineers‐teachers: The societal needs of modern educational technologies introduction
Authors: Kuleshova Viktoriia , Aksakova Natalia , Malazoniia Svitlana , Kovalenko Serhii
Published: January 2022

In modern times, new means and techniques for optimising the educational process are required because one of the purposes of professional training is to increase the effectiveness of the educational process. Good‐quality professional training requires the introduction and implementation of modern educational technologies. The authors studied this, using the example of future engineers‐teachers' training, and implementation of modern educational technologies into this process was the purpose of the study. Such methods as analysis, synthesis, empirical method, concretisation, generalisation, survey and questionnaire were used. The aspects of readiness for the introduction of modern educational technologies were studied. The first condition is the readiness of university teachers to organise the process of training future engineers‐teachers with the use of modern educational technologies and their active introduction into the educational process. Another aspect is the development of individual approaches to each student with the use of modern educational technologies. Also, a desire for professional self‐improvement and self‐education should be developed in students which will contribute to successful training. The results of the study allowed to conclude that the level of students' readiness to the introduction of modern educational technologies does not fully meet societal needs.
A systematic review of augmented reality in chemistry education
Authors: Mazzuco Alex , Krassmann Aliane Loureiro , Reategui Eliseo , Gomes Raquel Salcedo
Published: January 2022

Augmented reality (AR) technology is increasingly present in chemistry teaching and learning processes. It is seen as an important pedagogical resource that allows enhancing the understanding of complex concepts at most educational levels. However, even though numerous benefits related to AR in education have been reported, no systematic review has been conducted specifically addressing the use of this technology in chemistry education. Thus, a systematic literature review was carried out in order to grasp the particularities of this scenario, such as those related to the main topics in chemistry in which AR is used, the most frequently used devices and the main advantages and challenges of this technology. Forty‐nine papers were analysed, recovered from five databases, between the years 2011 and 2020. Among the results, an increase in publications was identified in the last three years, with smartphones and tablets being the predominant devices. Molecular structures were the topic of chemistry to which AR has been most frequently applied for teaching and learning, and the advantages of using this technology were concentrated in the affective learning domain. Regarding the challenges identified, they were related to students’ difficulty of use, distraction and technical problems. The research conclusions also address gaps in research and present suggestions and directions for future work.
Conditional power and friends: The why and how of (un)planned, unblinded sample size recalculations in confirmatory trials
Authors: Kunzmann Kevin , Grayling Michael J. , Lee Kim May , Robertson David S. , Rufibach Kaspar , Wason James M. S.
Published: January 2022

Adapting the final sample size of a trial to the evidence accruing during the trial is a natural way to address planning uncertainty. Since the sample size is usually determined by an argument based on the power of the trial, an interim analysis raises the question of how the final sample size should be determined conditional on the accrued information. To this end, we first review and compare common approaches to estimating conditional power, which is often used in heuristic sample size recalculation rules. We then discuss the connection of heuristic sample size recalculation and optimal two‐stage designs, demonstrating that the latter is the superior approach in a fully preplanned setting. Hence, unplanned design adaptations should only be conducted as reaction to trial‐external new evidence, operational needs to violate the originally chosen design, or post hoc changes in the optimality criterion but not as a reaction to trial‐internal data. We are able to show that commonly discussed sample size recalculation rules lead to paradoxical adaptations where an initially planned optimal design is not invariant under the adaptation rule even if the planning assumptions do not change. Finally, we propose two alternative ways of reacting to newly emerging trial‐external evidence in ways that are consistent with the originally planned design to avoid such inconsistencies.
Short‐Duration High Frequency MegaHertz‐Order Nanomechanostimulation Drives Early and Persistent Osteogenic Differentiation in Mesenchymal Stem Cells
Authors: Ambattu Lizebona August , Gelmi Amy , Yeo Leslie Y.
Published: January 2022

Stem cell fate can be directed through the application of various external physical stimuli, enabling a controlled approach to targeted differentiation. Studies involving the use of dynamic mechanical cues driven by vibrational excitation to date have, however, been limited to low frequency (Hz to kHz) forcing over extended durations (typically continuous treatment for >7 days). Contrary to previous assertions that there is little benefit in applying frequencies beyond 1 kHz, we show here that high frequency MHz‐order mechanostimulation in the form of nanoscale amplitude surface reflected bulk waves are capable of triggering differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells from various donor sources toward an osteoblast lineage, with early, short time stimuli inducing long‐term osteogenic commitment. More specifically, rapid treatments (10 min daily over 5 days) of the high frequency (10 MHz) mechanostimulation are shown to trigger significant upregulation in early osteogenic markers (RUNX2, COL1A1) and sustained increase in late markers (osteocalcin, osteopontin) through a mechanistic pathway involving piezo channel activation and Rho‐associated protein kinase signaling. Given the miniaturizability and low cost of the devices, the possibility for upscaling the platform toward practical bioreactors, to address a pressing need for more efficient stem cell differentiation technologies in the pursuit of translatable regenerative medicine strategies, is ensivaged.
Self‐compacting high performance fiber concrete for foundations: Part 2—Fiber orientation and distribution
Authors: Grünewald Steffen , Cotovanu Bogdan , Rovers John , Walraven Joost C. , Taerwe Luc
Published: January 2022

An investigation was executed into the applicability of self‐compacting high performance fiber concrete in foundations. The applied concrete has a concrete cube strength of about 110 MPa and contains 60 kg/m3 hooked‐end steel fibers (LF = 30 mm, DF = 0.38 mm). This publication consists of two parts: (1) Experimental assessment and verification of design rules and (2) assessment of fiber orientation and distribution. In the first part, experiments are described which were carried out to determine the pre‐ and post‐cracking strength properties, the shear resistance of short beams, the anchorage length of rebars, and the shear capacity of foundation slabs supported on piles. The test results were used for a verification and extension of design rules for fiber reinforced concrete (FRC) found in the fib Model Code 2010. The application of the FRC developed can lead to substantial savings in concrete and reinforcing steel. In the present second part, cross‐sections of two slabs and a beam of this testing series have been analyzed with regard to fiber orientation and distribution. An image analysis, executed on 111 concrete areas, indicates that a preferred fiber orientation could not be identified throughout the assessed elements. The data supports the conclusion of a good fiber distribution as well; a strong correlation was obtained for the data set of full images between measured and theoretical relation of fiber orientation and fiber density.
Seasonal monitoring of organochlorine pesticides in water, soil, and sediment in a small pond and determining ecotoxicological risk assessment
Authors: Şimşek Uygun Burcu , Albek Erdem Ahmet
Published: January 2022

One of the most important ways to improve quality and productivity in agriculture is to eliminate weeds, plant pathogens, and insects with pesticides. Although pesticides can effectively control agricultural quality and quantity, there are also lots of disadvantages due to their intensive usage resulting in degradation products. These products can accumulate in organisms and enter the food chain. Therefore, pesticides emanating from agricultural areas are agents that can affect the water quality of surface and groundwater sources. In this study, the presence of pesticides in the water and soil environment of the Borabey Pond and watershed which is situated north of Eskişehir, Turkey were determined by measurements. For this purpose, sediment and water samples from the pond and soil samples from the watershed were taken. The levels of organochlorine pesticides in the water, sediment and soil from Borabey Pond were determined between 0.5–13.8 ng/L, 0.03–1.02 μg/kg, and 0.54–52 μg/kg. Moreover, fugacity fraction has been measured that there is a transformation from water to sediment. Wilcoxon rank‐sum test is done to the seasonal measurements and there is no significant difference. Meanwhile, risk quotient (risk characterization ratio) estimates for DDTs and HCHs is below 1, so risk is acceptable.
Evaluation’s Role in Development Projects: Boosting Energy Efficiency in a Traditional Industry in Chad
Authors: Yakeu Djiam Serge Eric
Published: January 2022

This chapter illustrates the critical importance of evaluation in development projects. It explores the relevance, processes, and specifics of a project to introduce energy-efficient cook stoves in two traditional industries in Chad. Although Chad benefits from great solar potential given its location and being a Sahelian country, biomass accounted for 94% of the primary energy supply in 2008, and only 2.2% of Chadian households have access to electricity. The beer brewing and meat grilling sectors in particular use enormous quantities of limited and expensive firewood. Locally developed energy-efficient stoves for the two targeted sectors were available, but those technologies had not been commercialized and disseminated into the Chadian market. The project aimed to overcome issues of technology, financing, dissemination, resistance to change, and awareness to introduce and establish use of energy-efficient stoves in micro-scale food processing to achieve environmental and economic benefits, discussing the effectiveness of models introduced and adopted by project beneficiaries with related training. This chapter considers issues related to the project’s financing and sustainability and concludes with lessons provided by the evaluation, including engagement with targeted beneficiaries, awareness of local context, and consideration of size and scale for a demonstration project that can be scaled up in future programs.