bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The PYRIN domain: A member of the death domain‐fold superfamily
Authors: Fairbrother Wayne J. , Gordon Nathaniel C. , Humke Eric W. , O'Rourke Karen M. , Starovasnik Melissa A. , Yin Jian‐Ping , Dixit Vishva M.
Published: July 2002

PYRIN domains were identified recently as putative protein–protein interaction domains at the N‐termini of several proteins thought to function in apoptotic and inflammatory signaling pathways. The ∼95 residue PYRIN domains have no statistically significant sequence homology to proteins with known three‐dimensional structure. Using secondary structure prediction and potential‐based fold recognition methods, however, the PYRIN domain is predicted to be a member of the six‐helix bundle death domain‐fold superfamily that includes death domains (DDs), death effector domains (DEDs), and caspase recruitment domains (CARDs). Members of the death domain‐fold superfamily are well established mediators of protein–protein interactions found in many proteins involved in apoptosis and inflammation, indicating further that the PYRIN domains serve a similar function. An homology model of the PYRIN domain of CARD7/DEFCAP/NAC/NALP1, a member of the Apaf‐1/Ced‐4 family of proteins, was constructed using the three‐dimensional structures of the FADD and p75 neurotrophin receptor DDs, and of the Apaf‐1 and caspase‐9 CARDs, as templates. Validation of the model using a variety of computational techniques indicates that the fold prediction is consistent with the sequence. Comparison of a circular dichroism spectrum of the PYRIN domain of CARD7/DEFCAP/NAC/NALP1 with spectra of several proteins known to adopt the death domain‐fold provides experimental support for the structure prediction.
Evaluation of multielement catheter‐cooled interstitial ultrasound applicators for high‐temperature thermal therapy
Authors: Nau W. H. , Diederich C. J. , Burdette E. C.
Published: July 2002

Catheter‐cooled (CC) interstitial ultrasound applicators were evaluated for their use in high‐temperature coagulative thermal therapy of tissue. Studies in ex vivo beef muscle were conducted to determine the influences of applied electrical power levels (5–20 W per element), catheter flow rate (20–60 ml min−1), circulating water temperature (7–40 °C), and frequency (7–9 MHz) on temperature distribution and thermal lesion geometry. The feasibility of using multiple interstitial applicators to thermally coagulate a predetermined volume of tissue was also investigated. Results of these studies revealed that the directional shape of the thermal lesions is maintained with increasing time and power. Radial depths of the thermal lesions ranged from 10.7±0.7 mm after heating for 4 min with an applied power level of 5 W, to 16.2±1.4 mm with 20 W. The axial length of the thermal lesions is controlled tightly by the number of active transducers. A catheter flow rate of 20 to 40 ml min−1 (52.2±5.5 kPa at 40 ml min−1) with 22 °C water was determined to provide sufficient cooling of the transducers for power levels used in this study. In vivo temperatures measured in the center of a 3‐cm‐diam peripheral implant of four applicators in pig thigh muscle reached 89.3 °C after 4 min of heating, with boundaries of coagulation clearly defined by applicator position and directivity. Conformability of heating in a clinically relevant model was demonstrated by inserting two directional CC applicators with a 2 cm separation within an in vivo canine prostate, and generating a thermal lesion measuring 3.8 cm×2.2 cm in cross section while directing energy away from, and protecting the rectum. Maximum measured temperatures at midgland exceeded 90 °C within 20 min of heating. The results of this study demonstrate the utility of single or multiple CC applicators for conformal thermal coagulation and high temperature thermal therapy, with potential for clinical applications in sites such as prostate, liver, breast, or uterus.
Spiraling the Earth with C. G. J. Jacobi
Authors: Erdös Paul
Published: July 2002

The simple requirement that one should move on the surface of a sphere with constant speed while maintaining a constant angular velocity with respect to a fixed diameter, leads to a path whose cylindrical coordinates turn out to be given by the Jacobian elliptic functions. Many properties of these functions can be derived and visualized using this path, known as Seiffert’s spiral.
On radar time and the twin “paradox”
Authors: Dolby Carl E. , Gull Stephen F.
Published: July 2002

In this paper we apply the concept of radar time (popularized by Bondi in his work on k calculus) to the well-known relativistic twin “paradox.” Radar time is used to define hypersurfaces of simultaneity for a class of traveling twins, from the “immediate turn-around” case, through the “gradual turn-around” case, to the “uniformly accelerating” case. We show that this definition of simultaneity is independent of choice of coordinates, and assigns a unique time to any event (with which the traveling twin can send and receive signals), resolving some common misconceptions.
On a time-domain representation of the Kramers–Krönig dispersion relations
Authors: Waters Kendall R. , Hughes Michael S. , Brandenburger Gary H. , Miller James G.
Published: July 2002

The development of Kramers–Krönig dispersion relations is typically carried out in the frequency domain. An alternative approach known as the time-causal theory develops dispersion relations for media with attenuation obeying a frequency power law through analysis in the time domain [T. L. Szabo, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 96, 491–500 (1994)]. Although both approaches predict identical dispersion relations, it is perceived that these two approaches are distinct from each other. It is shown, however, that the time-causal theory is in essence a time-domain formulation of the Kramers–Krönig dispersion relations for the special case of media with attenuation obeying a frequency power law. Additionally, it is shown that time-domain representations of the Kramers–Krönig dispersion relations are available for a broader class of media than simply those with power law attenuation. The time-causal theory and the Kramers–Krönig dispersion relations can be viewed as two complementary, yet equivalent, approaches to the study of dispersion.
Matched field processing with data-derived modes
Authors: Hursky Paul , Hodgkiss W. S. , Kuperman W. A.
Published: July 2002

The authors demonstrate MFP using data-derived modes and the sound speed profile, using no a priori bottom information. Mode shapes can be estimated directly from vertical line array data, without a priori knowledge of the environment and without using numerical wave field models. However, it is difficult to make much headway with data-derived modes alone, without wave numbers, since only a few modes at a few frequencies may be captured, and only at depths sampled by the array. Using a measured sound speed profile, the authors derive self-consistent, complete sets of modes, wave numbers, and bottom parameters from data-derived modes. Bottom parameters enable modes to be calculated at all frequencies, not just those at which modes were derived from data. This process is demonstrated on SWellEx-96 experiment data. Modes, wave numbers, and bottom parameters are derived from one track and MFP based on this information is demonstrated on another track.
Evaluation of context effects in sentence recognition
Authors: Bronkhorst Adelbert W. , Brand Thomas , Wagener Kirsten
Published: July 2002

It was investigated whether the model for context effects, developed earlier by Bronkhorst et al. [J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 93, 499–509 (1993)], can be applied to results of sentence tests, used for the evaluation of speech recognition. Data for two German sentence tests, that differed with respect to their semantic content, were analyzed. They had been obtained from normal-hearing listeners using adaptive paradigms in which the signal-to-noise ratio was varied. It appeared that the model can accurately reproduce the complete pattern of scores as a function of signal-to-noise ratio: both sentence recognition scores and proportions of incomplete responses. In addition, it is shown that the model can provide a better account of the relationship between average word recognition probability (pe) and sentence recognition probability (pw) than the relationship pw=pej, which has been used in previous studies. Analysis of the relationship between j and the model parameters shows that j is, nevertheless, a very useful parameter, especially when it is combined with the parameter j′, which can be derived using the equivalent relationship pw,0=(1−pe)j′, where pw,0 is the probability of recognizing none of the words in the sentence. These parameters not only provide complementary information on context effects present in the speech material, but they also can be used to estimate the model parameters. Because the model can be applied to both speech and printed text, an experiment was conducted in which part of the sentences was presented orthographically with 1–3 missing words. The results revealed a large difference between the values of the model parameters for the two presentation modes. This is probably due to the fact that, with speech, subjects can reduce the number of alternatives for a certain word using partial information that they have perceived (i.e., not only using the sentence context). A method for mapping model parameters from one mode to the other is suggested, but the validity of this approach has to be confirmed with additional data.
An investigation of the influence of acoustic waves on the liquid flow through a porous material
Authors: Poesio Pietro , Ooms Gijs , Barake Sander , van der Bas Fred
Published: July 2002

An experimental and theoretical investigation has been made of the influence of high-frequency acoustic waves on the flow of a liquid through a porous material. The experiments have been performed on Berea sandstone cores. Two acoustic horns were used with frequencies of 20 and 40 kHz, and with maximum power output of 2 and 0.7 kW, respectively. Also, a temperature measurement of the flowing liquid inside the core was made. A high external pressure was applied in order to avoid cavitation. The acoustic waves were found to produce a significant effect on the pressure gradient at constant liquid flow rate through the core samples. During the application of acoustic waves the pressure gradient inside the core decreases. This effect turned out to be due to the decrease of the liquid viscosity caused by an increase in liquid temperature as a result of the acoustic energy dissipation inside the porous material. Also, a theoretical model has been developed to calculate the dissipation effect on the viscosity and on the pressure gradient. The model predictions are in reasonable agreement with the experimental data.
Reduction of structure-borne noise using an air-voided elastomer
Authors: Ko Sung H.
Published: July 2002

A theoretical model was developed to evaluate the reduction of structure-borne noise that is generated by a line force applied on an infinite plate using an air-voided elastomeric baffle. The vibrating plate is covered with an elastomeric baffle layer to reduce the noise generated by the structural vibration. The vibrating plate is perfectly bonded to the elastomeric baffle layer. The outer surfaces of the vibrating plate and the elastomeric baffle are in contact with air and water, respectively. The analysis for modeling is based on the theory of elasticity and pertinent boundary conditions. Effects of various parameters such as baffle layer dimensions and material properties on the noise reduction are presented.
Information from time-varying vibrotactile stimuli
Authors: Summers Ian R. , Cooper Philip G. , Wright Paul , Gratton Denise A. , Milnes Peter , Brown Brian H.
Published: July 2002

Experiments have been carried out to investigate the information transfer available via a single vibrator on the fingertip. In a first experiment, for stimuli with durations 80 to 320 ms, discrimination of a one-octave step change in frequency at the halfway point was investigated. Results were similar for three stimulus types—sinewave, monophasic pulse and tetraphasic pulse—suggesting temporal cues are more important than spectral cues in this task. In a second experiment, subjects were required to perceive changes in a sequence of stimulus elements. A presentation rate of 6.25 elements s−1 was found to give better results than a rate of 12.5 elements s−1. In the former case, the potential information transfer per element was estimated to be approximately 1.0 bits, corresponding to an information transfer rate of around 6 bits s−1. Implications for the design of a tactile aid to lipreading are discussed.
On Rayleigh wave nonlinearity, and analytical approximation of the shock formation distance
Authors: Knight Ekaterina Yu. , Hamilton Mark F. , Il’inskii Yurii A. , Zabolotskaya Evgenia A.
Published: July 2002

Rayleigh wave nonlinearity is investigated theoretically. First, spectral forms of the evolution equations for Rayleigh waves and sound waves are used to compare the relative efficiencies of sum and difference frequency generation. Next, time domain forms of the same evolution equations are used to compare the relative importance of local and nonlocal nonlinearity on the distortion of Rayleigh waves in the preshock region. Finally, new analytical approximations are derived for the shock formation distance and the corresponding coefficient of nonlinearity for Rayleigh waves.
An examination of word–initial-stop closure interval in English, Spanish, and Spanish–English bilinguals
Authors: Green Kerry P. , Zampini Mary L. , Magloire Joel
Published: July 2002

This study investigated the effect of the linguistic experience on the duration of the preceding closure interval (CI) on word–initial-stop consonants. Native speakers of English (NE), Spanish (NS), and Spanish–English bilinguals produced sentences containing words beginning with either a voiced or a voiceless stop consonant. As is typical for word–initial stops in English, no difference in the CI occurred between voiced and voiceless consonants for the NE speakers. The NS speakers produced the voiceless stops with CIs similar to the NE voiced stops (consistent with the fact that both are classified phonetically as short-lag stops). The voiced stops, however, had significantly shorter CIs. Like the NE speakers, the bilinguals in the English mode produced voiced and voiceless stops with equal CIs. In the Spanish mode, the bilinguals maintained a distinction in CI between voiced and voiceless stops, although the CIs were significantly different from their NS counterparts. The results suggest that Spanish speakers use CI to help distinguish the voicing characteristics of stops in word–initial position and that bilinguals reweigh different voicing cues as a function of the language mode.
Mechanisms of the cochlear nucleus octopus cell’s onset response: Synaptic effectiveness and threshold
Authors: Levy Kenneth L. , Kipke Daryl R.
Published: July 2002

Octopus cells are one of the principal cell types in the mammalian posteroventral cochlear nucleus. These cells respond to the onset of a toneburst with a precisely timed spike followed by little, if any, sustained activity. While experimental studies have partially characterized the cell, the mechanisms of this onset response are not well understood. The present study involved a model-based investigation that analyzed the responses of a compartmental model of the octopus cell in terms of synaptic effectiveness and dynamic spike threshold. The simulations demonstrate that properties of the onset response (first-spike latency, temporal precision of the first spike, and sustained firing rate) can be predicted from the values of these cell properties for a wide range of model configurations. These relationships were further analyzed through the development of mathematical expressions for synaptic effectiveness and dynamic spike threshold. This computational analysis resulted in a relatively simple explanation of the onset response, as well as predictions of the responses of octopus cells to nontonal, complex stimuli.
Effects of tensile loading on the properties of elastic-wave propagation in a strand
Authors: Kwun Hegeon , Bartels Keith A. , Hanley John J.
Published: July 2002

Effects of tensile loading on the properties of longitudinal-mode elastic-wave propagation in a 1.52-cm-diam, seven-wire strand used for prestressed concrete structures were investigated experimentally. In an unloaded state, the wave propagation properties in strand matched those seen in individual wires comprising the strand, namely, straight center wire and helical outer wires. In the strand, however, extraneous signals were found to be produced from the propagating wave due to physical interactions between the adjacent wires. Under tensile loading, it was observed that a certain portion of the frequency components of the wave became highly attenuative and, thus, absent in the frequency spectrum of the wave. The center frequency of this missing portion, called notch frequency, was found to increase linearly with log N, where N is the applied tensile load. In addition, on both sides of the notch frequency, the wave exhibited a large dispersion in a manner similar to the behavior near a cutoff frequency. Possible causes of the observed behavior under tensile loading are discussed.
Audiovisual gating and the time course of speech perception
Authors: Munhall K. G. , Tohkura Y.
Published: July 2002

The time course of audiovisual information in speech perception was examined using a gating paradigm. VCVs that evoked the McGurk effect were gated visually and auditorily. The visual gating yielded a McGurk effect that increased in strength as a linear function of amount of visual stimulus presented. The acoustic gating revealed a more nonlinear function in which the VC information was considerably weaker than the CV portion of the VCV. The results suggest that the flow of cross-modal information is quite complex during audiovisual speech perception.
Acoustic scattering by a partially buried three-dimensional elastic obstacle
Authors: Lim Raymond
Published: July 2002

A transition-matrix solution for the spectral scattering response of an elastic obstacle that penetrates a plane-stratified fluid host is formulated. The field scattered from the segment in each layer is expanded in a global outgoing basis centered on that segment and these segment fields are superposed at the field point. A manageable structure for the transition matrix is maintained by using the boundary conditions to couple these segment fields to the interior field of the obstacle via exterior surface field expansions centered on the primary origin of the obstacle. Two formulations are presented and compared in which the surface fields are expanded in either the standard set of regular spherical eigenfunctions of the Helmholtz equation or the spherical harmonics. Numerical tests for an axisymmetric spheroid indicate both formulations are viable but exhibit different convergence and stability characteristics. However, in both cases, convergence is better for flattened shapes (oblate) than elongated shapes (prolate). Examples are presented to illustrate environmental effects on the backscatter by a bubble and elastic spheres and spheroids that penetrate a water/sediment interface.
Influences of pellet markers on speech production behavior: Acoustical and perceptual measures
Authors: Weismer Gary , Bunton Kate
Published: July 2002

Peri- and intraoral devices are often used to obtain measurements concerning articulator motions and placements. Surprisingly, there are few formal evaluations of the potential influence of these devices on speech production behavior. In particular, the potential effects of lingual pellets or coils used in x-ray or electromagnetic studies of tongue motion have never been evaluated formally, even though a large x-ray database exists and electromagnetic systems are commercially available. The x-ray microbeam database [Westbury, J. “X-ray Microbeam Speech Production Database User’s Handbook, version 1” (1994)] includes several utterances produced with pellets-off and -on, which allowed us to evaluate effects of pellets for the utterance, She had your dark suit in greasy wash water all year, using acoustic and perceptual measures. Overall, there were no acoustic or perceptual measures that showed consistent effects of pellets across speakers, but certain effects were consistent either within a given speaker or in direction across a subgroup of the speakers. The results are discussed in terms of the general goodness of the assumption that point parameterization of lingual motion does not interfere with normal articulatory behaviors. A brief screening procedure is suggested to protect articulatory kinematic experiments from those individuals who may show consistent effects of having devices placed on perioral structures.
Frequency acuity and binaural masking release in dyslexic listeners
Authors: Hill Nicholas I. , Bailey Peter J. , Griffiths Yvonne M. , Snowling Margaret J.
Published: July 2002

Two experiments compared auditory sensitivity in a group of 12 adult dyslexics and matched control listeners. The first experiment measured frequency discrimination and frequency modulation detection thresholds at both 1 and 6 kHz. Although thresholds were larger for the dyslexic group, the differences were not statistically reliable. The second experiment measured the binaural masking level difference for a 200 Hz pure tone in noise. Thresholds did not differ significantly between the two groups. The data provide little support for the hypothesis that dyslexic listeners are impaired in their ability to process information in the temporal fine structure of auditory stimuli.
Acoustic scattering by a three-dimensional elastic object near a rough surface
Authors: Lim Raymond , Williams Kevin L. , Thorsos Eric I.
Published: July 2002

The ensemble-averaged field scattered by a smooth, bounded, elastic object near a penetrable surface with small-scale random roughness is formulated. The formulation consists of combining a perturbative solution for modeling propagation through the rough surface with a transition (T-) matrix solution for scattering by the object near a planar surface. All media bounding the rough surface are assumed to be fluids. By applying the results to a spherical steel shell buried within a rough sediment bottom, it is demonstrated that the ensemble-averaged “incoherent” intensity backscattered by buried objects illuminated with shallow-grazing-angle acoustic sources can be well enhanced at high frequencies over field predictions based on scattering models where all environmental surfaces are planar. However, this intensity must compete with the incoherent intensity scattered back from the interface itself, which can defeat detection attempts. The averaged “coherent” component of the field maintains the strong evanescent spectral decay exhibited by flat interface predictions of shallow-angle measurements but with small deviations. Nevertheless, bistatic calculations of the coherent field suggest useful strategies for improving long-range detection and identification of buried objects.
The Effects of Concentration in Fluid Suspensions
Authors: Allen S. J. , Kline K. A.
Published: July 2002

Expressions for the relative viscosity of fluid suspensions are obtained using a continuum model. A substructure spin boundary condition intermediate between zero spin and zero antisymmetric stress is formulated by introducing a wall condition parameter. Simple shearing motion is examined and a simple relation between the boundary condition parameter and the suspension concentration is postulated. The resulting expression for relative viscosity is found to agree closely with the experimental results of V and for concentrations below 0.3.
Trends of Randomized Clinical Trials Citing Prior Systematic Reviews, 2007-2021
Authors: Jia Yuanxi , Li Bingli , Yang Zhirong , Li Fuxiao , Zhao Ziyi , Wei Chang , Yang Xuhao , Jin Qianyi , Liu Di , Wei Xin , Yost Jennifer , Lund Hans , Tang Jinling , Robinson Karen A.
Published: March 2023

Importance

Systematic reviews can help to justify a new randomized clinical trial (RCT), inform its design, and interpret its results in the context of prior evidence.

Objective

To assess trends and factors associated with citing (a marker of the use of) prior systematic reviews in RCT reports.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This cross-sectional study investigated 737 Cochrane reviews assessing health interventions to identify 4003 eligible RCTs, defined as those included in an updated version but not in the first version of a Cochrane review and published 2 years after the first version of the Cochrane review was published.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The primary outcome was the citation of prior systematic reviews, Cochrane or others, as determined by screening references of eligible RCTs. Factors that may be associated with the citation of prior systematic reviews were also examined.

Results

Among 4003 eligible RCTs, 1241 studies (31.0%) cited Cochrane reviews, 1698 studies (42.4%) cited prior non-Cochrane reviews, and 2265 studies (56.6%) cited either type of systematic review or both; 1738 RCTs (43.4%) cited no systematic reviews. The percentage of RCTs citing prior Cochrane reviews, non-Cochrane reviews, and either or both types of review increased from 28 studies (15.3%), 46 studies (25.1%), and 65 studies (35.5%) of 183 RCTs before 2008 to 42 studies (40.8%), 65 studies (64.1%), and 73 studies (71.8%) of 102 RCTs since 2020, respectively; the annual increases were 1.9% (95% CI, 1.4%-2.3%), 3.3% (95% CI, 2.9%-3.7%), and 3.0% (95% CI, 2.5%-3.5%), respectively. The proportion of RCTs citating prior systematic reviews varied considerably across clinical specialties, ranging from 28 of 106 RCTs (26.4%) in ophthalmology to 386 of 553 RCTs (69.8%) in psychiatry (P < .001). RCTs with 100 participants or more (risk ratio [RR], 1.16; 95% CI, 1.03-1.30), nonindustry funding (RR, 1.43; 95% CI, 1.27-1.61), and authors from high-income countries (RR, 1.10; 95% CI, 1.03-1.17) were more likely to cite systematic reviews than those with fewer than 100 participants, industry funding, and authors from low- and middle-income countries, respectively. A journal requirement to cite systematic reviews was not associated with the likelihood of citing a systematic review.

Conclusions and Relevance

This study found that the citation of prior systematic reviews in RCT reports improved over time, but approximately 40% of RCTs failed to do so. These findings suggest that reference to prior evidence for initiating, designing, and reporting RCTs should be further emphasized to assure clinical relevance, improve methodological quality, and facilitate interpretation of new results.
Prevalence and Clinicopathologic Characteristics of Hypercalcemia in Patients With Cholangiocarcinoma
Authors: Konstantinidou Eirini , Maurer Jordan R. , Reyes Stephanie L. , Baiev Islam , Stanton Jennifer R. , Nipp Ryan D. , Goyal Lipika
Published: March 2023

This cohort study investigates clinicopathologic and prognostic associations of hypercalcemia in patients with intrahepatic or extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.
Histamine and Histamine Receptor Ligands
Authors: Ghamari Nakisa , Stark Holger , Hamzeh‐Mivehroud Maryam
Published: March 2023

Histamine belongs to the group of biogenic amines and exerts its biological properties mainly mediated by four different G‐protein‐coupled receptor class A subtypes, named H
1
–H
4
receptors. While selective agonists are mainly used for pharmacological experiments, antagonists are widely used in different therapeutic fields. Different generations of H
1
receptor antagonists are mainly used for the treatment of allergic diseases and sleep disturbances, whereas H
2
receptor antagonists became blockbuster drugs in the treatment of stomach ulcers. With the detection of the H
3
receptor, the neurotransmitter properties of histamine have been proven. Despite several approaches, so far only one H
3
receptor antagonist (Pitolisant) got market approval for the orphan disease narcolepsy and for obstructive sleep apnea. The immunomodulatory and anti‐inflammatory properties of H
4
receptor antagonists have raised hopes for new therapeutic approaches in the near future.
Development of a log file analysis tool for proton patient QA, system performance tracking, and delivered dose reconstruction
Authors: Ates Ozgur , Pirlepesov Fakhriddin , Zhao Li , Hua Chia‐ho , Merchant Thomas E.
Published: March 2023

Purpose/Objective(s)

To describe a log file–based patient‐specific quality assurance (QA) method and develop an in‐house tool for system performance tracking and dose reconstruction in pencil‐beam scanning proton therapy that can be used for pre‐treatment plan review.

Materials/Methods

The software extracts beam‐specific information from the treatment delivery log file and automatically compares the monitor units (MU), lateral position, and size of each spot against the intended values in the treatment plan to identify any discrepancies in the beam delivery. The software has been used to analyze 992 patients, 2004 plans, 4865 fields, and more than 32 million proton spots from 2016 to 2021. The composite doses of 10 craniospinal irradiation (CSI) plans were reconstructed based on the delivered spots and compared with the original plans as an offline plan review method.

Results

Over the course of 6 years, the proton delivery system has proved stable in delivering patient QA fields with proton energies of 69.4–221.3 MeV and an MU range of 0.003–1.473 MU per spot. The planned mean and standard deviation (SD) of the energy and spot MU were 114.4 ± 26.4 MeV and 0.010 ± 0.009 MU, respectively. The mean and SD of the differences in MU and position between the delivered and planned spots were 9.56 × 10−8 ± 2.0 × 10−4 MU and 0.029/−0.007 ± 0.049/0.044 mm on the X/Y‐axis for random differences and 0.005/0.125 ± 0.189/0.175 mm on the X/Y‐axis for systematic differences. The mean and SD of the difference between the commissioning and delivered spot sizes were 0.086/0.089 ± 0.131/0.166 mm on the X/Y‐axis.

Conclusion

A tool has been developed to extract crucial information about the performance of the proton delivery and monitor system and provide a dose reconstruction based on delivered spots for quality improvement. Each patient's plan was verified before treatment to ensure accurate and safe delivery within the delivery tolerance of the machine.
A Rapidly Degradable Extruded Mg–Y–Zn–Ni Alloy for Fracturing Tool Applications
Authors: Bi Guangli , Le Maocao , Jiang Jing , Li Baiyu , Li Yuandong , Chen Tijun , Ma Ying
Published: March 2023

Microstructure evolution, mechanical properties, and degradation behavior of a rapidly degradable extruded Mg–2Y–0.5Zn–0.5Ni (at%) alloy for fracturing tool applications are investigated. The microstructure of the extruded alloy is mainly composed of a recrystallization region and a nonrecrystallization region, in which the 18 R‐long‐period stacking order (LPSO) phase with two kinds of morphologies are distributed along extrusion direction. Parts of 18R‐LPSO phase transfer into 14 H‐LPSO phase during extrusion. A small amount of 14H‐LPSO phases precipitate in the α‐Mg matrix. The extruded alloy exhibits good mechanical properties, the ultimate tensile strength, tensile yield strength, and ultimate compressive stress of the extruded alloy are 364, 316, and 389 MPa, which increase by 97.5%, 334%, and 32.8% as compared with that of the as‐cast alloy, respectively, which are attributed to grain refinement, LPSO phase strengthening, and texture strengthening. More importantly, the immersion and electronic chemical tests indicate that the extruded alloy has a high degradation rate (17.5 mg cm−2h−1). The rapid degradation rate of the extruded alloy is mainly due to the introduction of a significant number of defects especially for the microgalvanic corrosion between the LPSO phase and the α‐Mg matrix.
Control of Microstructure in Iron–Carbon Thin Films by Means of Electromigration
Authors: Brede Thomas , Kuhfuß Michel , Kirchheim Reiner , Volkert Cynthia A.
Published: March 2023

Herein, it is demonstrated that high DC electric current densities can be used to tailor the microstructure of iron–carbon thin films. Specifically, elongated ferrite grains can be formed in a nanocrystalline matrix via a process involving electromigration‐induced carbide migration. Herein this article, the parameters that are required to produce and control elongated grain formation in the Fe(C) system are mapped out and they are interpreted in terms of carbon electromigration, and the flux divergences need to reach a critical carbon concentration for precipitate growth and migration. Possible approaches to allow more precise control of the elongated grains are discussed, as are the requirements for material systems where microstructure control through electromigration should be feasible.
Toward a Novel Energy‐Dissipation Metamaterial with Tensegrity Architecture
Authors: A. Santos Filipe
Published: March 2023

The interest in novel energy‐dissipation devices that offer advanced functionalities for optimal performance in state‐of‐the‐art engineering applications is growing. In this regard, a highly tunable and innovative dissipator is developed. This dissipator features movement amplification capabilities resulting from the radial replication of a unit‐cell with tensegrity architecture. The kinematic response of the dissipator is analyzed for several layouts, by varying the number of unit‐cells within the device, their internal geometry, and identifying the corresponding locking configurations. A fully operational 3D‐printed prototype is presented, demonstrating its excellent performance in terms of damping capabilities and feasibility. The experimental results are used to validate a numerical model of the flower unit. This model demonstrates the importance of pre‐strain on the overall stiffness and dissipative features of the proposed system. By utilizing these numerical models, it is shown that the proposed device can be used as a building block for more complex assemblies such as periodic metamaterials with tensegrity architecture.
Development of Folate‐Superparamagnetic Nanoconjugates for Inhibition of Cancer Cell Proliferation
Authors: Ferjaoui Zied , Nahle Sara , Schneider Raphaël , Kerdjoudj Halima , Mertz Damien , Quilès Fabienne , Ferji Khalid , Gaffet Eric , Alem Halima
Published: March 2023

Here, a versatile strategy to engineer smart theranostic nanocarriers is reported. The core/shell nanosystem is composed of a superparamagnetic iron oxide (Fe3−δO4) nanoparticle (NP) core bearing the biocompatible thermo‐responsive poly(2‐(2‐methoxy)ethyl methacrylate‐oligo(ethylene glycol methacrylate), P(MEO2MAx‐OEGMA100−x) copolymer (where x and 100‐x represent the molar fractions of MEO2MA and OEGMA, respectively). Folic acid (FA) is end‐conjugated to the P(MEO2MAx‐OEGMA100−x) copolymer, leading to Fe3−δO4@P(MEO2MAx‐OEGMA100−x)‐FA, to facilitate active targeting of NPs to cancer cells. A highly potent hydrophobic anticancer agent doxorubicin (DOX) is incorporated in the thermo‐responsive P(MEO2MAx‐OEGMAy) brushes via supramolecular interactions to increase its solubility and the assessment of therapeutic potentials. These experiments confirm the magnetic hyperthermia properties of nanocarrier and reveal that only a small amount (10% ± 4%) of DOX is diffused at room temperature, while almost full drug (100%) is released after 52 h at 41 °C. Interestingly, it is found that P(MEO2MA60‐OEGMA40) polymers offer to NPs a promising stealth behavior against Human Serum Albumin and Fibrinogen model proteins.
Controlled Patterning of Complex Resistance Gradients in Conducting Polymers with Bipolar Electrochemistry
Authors: Salinas Gerardo , Arnaboldi Serena , Garrigue Patrick , Kuhn Alexander
Published: March 2023

Conducting polymers have gained considerable attention for the possible design of localized electroactive patterns for microelectronics. In this work, the authors take advantage of the properties of polypyrrole, in synergy with a wireless polarization, triggered by bipolar electrochemistry, to produce localized resistance gradient patterns. The physicochemical modification is caused by the reduction and overoxidation of polypyrrole, which produces highly resistive regions at different positions along the conducting substrate at predefined locations. Due to the outstanding flexibility of polypyrrole, U‐, S‐, and E‐shaped bipolar electrodes can be formed for prove‐of‐concept experiments, and electrochemically modified in order to generate well‐defined resistance gradients. Energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy analysis of the samples confirms the localized physicochemical modifications. This approach presents as main advantages the wireless nature of bipolar electrochemistry and the possible fine‐tuning of the spatial distribution of the electrochemical modification, in comparison with more conventional patterning methods.
An Indoor Light‐Powered Sensor System Integrated with Organic Photovoltaics
Authors: Kim Woojo , Cho Kyounguk , Lee Jung‐Hyun , Ko Doo‐Hyun , Jung Sungjune
Published: March 2023

Energy harvesting systems are attracting significant attention as a new power‐supply technology to overcome the limitations of internet of things (IoT) devices usually established in an indoor environment such as power consumption, size, and usage time. Organic photovoltaics (OPVs) with high absorption coefficients at indoor light wavelengths are a promising energy source for the IoT‐based sensors. However, OPVs in sensor platforms are not well addressed because of their insufficient and inconsistent power supply under indoor circumstance. Herein, a self‐powered sensor system that combines highlyefficient indoor OPV modules with a boost converter for real‐time temperature measurements is demonstrated. The OPV module with a ternary blend is devised to achieve suitable morphology for low‐intensity indoor operation resulting in high efficiency and stability under 1000 lux 3000 K light‐emitting diode illumination. Moreover, the voltage of the OPV modules is effectively boosted through an optimized converter to adequately operate the sensor platform. The sensor system integrated with the OPV modules and boost converter successfully measures the real‐time changes in temperature in indoor environments. This study proposes an ideal self‐powered sensor platform that can be used in smart‐home systems using indoor lighting.
Reconfigurable and Reprocessable Thermadapt Stress‐Free Two‐Way Shape Memory Polymers Based on a Dual Crosslinking Network with Outstanding Mechanical Properties
Authors: Ren Sijia , Feng Jiachun
Published: March 2023

The reconfigurable and reprocessable thermadapt two‐way shape memory polymers (2W‐SMPs) are highly desirable for many advanced biomimetic applications, but the preparation of these polymers with economical raw materials and convenient approaches still remains a challenge. In this work, thermadapt 2W‐SMPs based on a dual crosslinking network are synthesized by linking polyethylene glycol with hydroxylated modified SBS via dynamic covalent bonds. Benefiting from the synergistic effect of combining a dynamic covalent network and a physical cross‐linking network, the thermadapt 2W‐SMPs exhibit a good balance of mechanical properties and favorable two‐way shape memory effect (2W‐SME) with the reversible actuation strain of 11.9%. The 2W‐SMPs can be reprocessed and transformed into complex 3D shapes after multiple folding processes due to the dynamic covalent exchange as well as the reversible physical crosslinking, and the obtained new samples still exhibit good 2W‐SMEs. Furthermore, the transition temperature of 2W‐SMPs is designed to be close to human body temperature, and it is manufactured into a biomimetic mimosa actuator that can undergo shape changes through finger contact and cooling. This work provides a new idea for the development of thermadapt 2W‐SMPs, and the obtained materials show great potential applications in intelligent actuators.
Two Calix[3]Phenothiazine‐Based Amorphous Pure Organic Room‐Temperature Phosphorescent Supramolecules Mediated by Guest
Authors: Sun Yonghui , Jiang Linnan , Liu Lijuan , Chen Yong , Xu Wen‐Wen , Niu Jie , Qin Yuexiu , Xu Xiufang , Liu Yu
Published: March 2023

Herein, two kinds of amorphous solid‐state supramolecular systems with purely organic room temperature phosphorescence (RTP) from calix[3]phenothiazine (C[3]Pz) activated by 1,2‐/1,3‐dicyanobenzene (1,2‐/1,3‐DCB) are reported. Different from macrocycle‐confined guest phosphorescence emission, RTP of these two amorphous solid‐state supramolecular systems is entirely from the 1,2‐/1,3‐DCB rivets C[3]Pz cavity to form dense supramolecular complex through CH…π interactions, leading to two different phosphorescence emissions at 566/524 nm under 430 nm excitation, respectively. Although C[3]Pz shows a regular arrangement in the crystal, the vibration dissipation of the benzene ring results in C[3]Pz emitting only fluorescence at 508 nm at room temperature. 1,2‐DCB and 1,3‐DCB can act as molecular rivets to fix the C[3]Pz to inhibit molecular vibration so as to reduce nonradiative relaxation, which enables C[3]Pz to achieve effective RTP emission with 20.8–36.8% quantum yields. This kind of guest‐activated host RTP, which is fairly rare in supramolecular systems, is successfully used for color QR codes and information encryption.
Blockade of Activin Receptor IIB Protects Arthritis Pathogenesis by Non‐Amplification of Activin A‐ACVR2B‐NOX4 Axis Pathway
Authors: Jeon Jimin , Lee Hyemi , Jeon Min‐Seung , Kim Seok‐Jung , Choi Cham , Kim Ki Woo , Yang Dong Joo , Lee Sangho , Bae Yong‐Soo , Choi Won Il , Jung Juyeon , Eyun Seong‐il , Yang Siyoung
Published: March 2023

Although activin receptor IIB (ACVR2B) is emerging as a novel pathogenic receptor, its ligand and assembled components (or assembly) are totally unknown in the context of osteoarthritis (OA) pathogenesis. The present results suggest that upregulation of ACVR2B and its assembly could affect osteoarthritic cartilage destruction. It is shown that the ACVR2B ligand, activin A, regulates catabolic factor expression through ACVR2B in OA development. Activin A Tg mice (Col2a1‐Inhba) exhibit enhanced cartilage destruction, whereas heterozygous activin A KO mice (Inhba+/−) show protection from cartilage destruction. In silico analysis suggests that the Activin A‐ACVR2B axis is involved in Nox4‐dependent ROS production. Activin A Tg:Nox4 KO (Col2a1‐Inhba:Nox4−/−) mice show inhibition of experimental OA pathogenesis. NOX4 directly binds to the C‐terminal binding site on ACVR2B‐ACVR1B and amplifies the pathogenic signal for cartilage destruction through SMAD2/3 signaling. Together, the findings reveal that the ACVR2B assembly, which comprises Activin A, ACVR2B, ACVR1B, Nox4, and AP‐1‐induced HIF‐2α, accelerates OA development. Furthermore, it is shown that shRNA‐mediated ACVR2B knockdown or trapping ligands of ACVR2B abrogate OA development by competitively disrupting the ACVR2B‐Activin A interaction. These results suggest that the ACVR2B assembly is required to amplify osteoarthritic cartilage destruction and could be a potential therapeutic target in efforts to treat OA.
Artificial Leaf for Solar‐Driven Ammonia Conversion at Milligram‐Scale Using Triple Junction III‐V Photoelectrode
Authors: Huang Hao , Periyanagounder Dharmaraj , Chen Cailing , Li Zhongxiao , Lei Qiong , Han Yu , Huang Kuo‐Wei , He Jr‐Hau
Published: March 2023

Developing a green and energy‐saving alternative to the traditional Haber‐Bosch process for converting nitrogen into ammonia is urgently needed. Imitating from biological nitrogen fixation and photosynthesis processes, this work develops a monolithic artificial leaf based on triple junction (3J) InGaP/GaAs/Ge cell for solar‐driven ammonia conversion under ambient conditions. A gold layer serves as the catalytic site for nitrogen fixation with photogenerated electrons. The Au/Ti/3J InGaP/GaAs/Ge photoelectrochemical (PEC) device achieves high ammonia production rates and Faradaic efficiencies in a two‐electrode system without applying external potential. For example, at 0.2 sunlight intensity, the solar‐to‐ammonia (STA) conversion efficiency reaches 1.11% and the corresponding Faradaic efficiency is up to 28.9%. By integrating a Ni foil on the anode side for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), the monolithic artificial leaf exhibits an ammonia production rate of 8.5 µg cm−2 h at 1.5 sunlight intensity. Additionally, a 3 × 3 cm unassisted wireless PEC device is fabricated that produces 1.0039 mg of ammonia in the 36‐h durability test. Thus, the new artificial leaf can successfully and directly convert solar energy into chemical energy and generate useful products in an environmentally friendly approach.
ANPELA: Significantly Enhanced Quantification Tool for Cytometry‐Based Single‐Cell Proteomics
Authors: Zhang Ying , Sun Huaicheng , Lian Xichen , Tang Jing , Zhu Feng
Published: March 2023

ANPELA is widely used for quantifying traditional bulk proteomic data. Recently, there is a clear shift from bulk proteomics to the single‐cell ones (SCP), for which powerful cytometry techniques demonstrate the fantastic capacity of capturing cellular heterogeneity that is completely overlooked by traditional bulk profiling. However, the in‐depth and high‐quality quantification of SCP data is still challenging and severely affected by the large numbers of quantification workflows and extreme performance dependence on the studied datasets. In other words, the proper selection of well‐performing workflow(s) for any studied dataset is elusory, and it is urgently needed to have a significantly enhanced and accelerated tool to address this issue. However, no such tool is developed yet. Herein, ANPELA is therefore updated to its 2.0 version (https://idrblab.org/anpela/), which is unique in providing the most comprehensive set of quantification alternatives (>1000 workflows) among all existing tools, enabling systematic performance evaluation from multiple perspectives based on machine learning, and identifying the optimal workflow(s) using overall performance ranking together with the parallel computation. Extensive validation on different benchmark datasets and representative application scenarios suggest the great application potential of ANPELA in current SCP research for gaining more accurate and reliable biological insights.
A Review of Gut Microbiota‐Derived Metabolites in Tumor Progression and Cancer Therapy
Authors: Yang Qiqing , Wang Bin , Zheng Qinghui , Li Heyu , Meng Xuli , Zhou Fangfang , Zhang Long
Published: March 2023

Gut microbiota‐derived metabolites are key hubs connecting the gut microbiome and cancer progression, primarily by remodeling the tumor microenvironment and regulating key signaling pathways in cancer cells and multiple immune cells. The use of microbial metabolites in radiotherapy and chemotherapy mitigates the severe side effects from treatment and improves the efficacy of treatment. Immunotherapy combined with microbial metabolites effectively activates the immune system to kill tumors and overcomes drug resistance. Consequently, various novel strategies have been developed to modulate microbial metabolites. Manipulation of genes involved in microbial metabolism using synthetic biology approaches directly affects levels of microbial metabolites, while fecal microbial transplantation and phage strategies affect levels of microbial metabolites by altering the composition of the microbiome. However, some microbial metabolites harbor paradoxical functions depending on the context (e.g., type of cancer). Furthermore, the metabolic effects of microorganisms on certain anticancer drugs such as irinotecan and gemcitabine, render the drugs ineffective or exacerbate their adverse effects. Therefore, a personalized and comprehensive consideration of the patient's condition is required when employing microbial metabolites to treat cancer. The purpose of this review is to summarize the correlation between gut microbiota‐derived metabolites and cancer, and to provide fresh ideas for future scientific research.