bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Tobacco purchasing motivations and behaviours in alcohol‐licensed venues: A cross sectional survey of Australian young adults
Authors: Watts Christina , Burton Suzan , Egger Sam , Freeman Becky
Published: June 2021

Issue addressed

The widespread retail availability of tobacco contributes to increased tobacco consumption and undermines quit attempts. Given the ready availability of tobacco in alcohol‐licensed venues which young adults frequent, tobacco sales in these venues are likely to influence the purchase and consumption of tobacco by young adults. This study aimed to investigate Australian young adults' tobacco purchasing motivations and behaviours in alcohol‐licensed venues.

Methods

A cross‐sectional survey was conducted with a sample of 18‐ to 30‐year‐old Australians (n = 307) who had purchased tobacco at an alcohol‐licensed venue within the previous 6 months. Purchaser characteristics, levels of alcohol consumption and whether the purchase was planned were assessed, along with anticipated responses to tobacco sales ceasing at the venue.

Results

The majority of participants (57%) reported their recent cigarette purchase at an alcohol‐licensed venue as unplanned. Area of residence was the only characteristic associated with an unplanned purchase, with those living in urban areas significantly less likely to have made an unplanned purchase than regional participants (OR = 0.51, 95% CI [0.29, 0.89]). During the occasion when the tobacco purchase was made, the majority of participants (51%) had consumed five or more standard alcoholic drinks. If tobacco sales ceased at the venue, 22% indicated they would stay and not smoke.

Conclusions

Unplanned tobacco purchases appear to be influenced by the alcohol‐licensed settings, rather than socio‐demographic factors associated with the individual.

So what?

Policies that restrict the sale of tobacco in alcohol‐licensed venues are likely to reduce tobacco consumption among young adults and support smokers to quit.
Gender inequalities in time spent doing housework by children in Ireland: A nationally representative sample across two time points
Authors: O'Reilly Caoimhe , Quayle Michael
Published: June 2021

Gender inequality in housework divisions is persistent. This study examined early‐emerging patterns in gender roles via children's gendered housework time in the Irish context using time‐use diary and questionnaire data, controlling for key demographic variables. This study utilized longitudinal “Growing up in Ireland” data, comparing the same children's behaviour at age 9 and 13. Participants were a nationally representative, weighted sample of school going children living in Ireland, including 4,135 girls, 3,831 boys and their caregivers. The results highlight that inequalities in domestic chores occur at nine and are even greater at 13: girls do more housework and children tend to do “gender typical” chores. Consequences are discussed in relation to gender inequality and policy implications.
Different antecedents and neonatal condition in neonatal arterial ischemic stroke and hypoxic‐ischemic neonatal encephalopathy
Authors: Lambicchi Laura , Ornaghi Sara , Dal Molin Giulia , Paterlini Giuseppe , Bernasconi Davide P. , Moltrasio Francesca , Vergani Patrizia
Published: June 2021

Objective

To define similarities and differences between neonatal arterial ischemic stroke (NAIS) and hypoxic‐ischemic neonatal encephalopathy (HINE).

Methods

A retrospective case‐control study was conducted of neonates born at 35 weeks or more and weighing 1800 g or more at a tertiary care university hospital, between 2005 and 2016, with NAIS (group A), perinatal asphyxia (PA) with Stage II–III HINE (group B), and PA with or without Stage I HINE (group C). Ante‐ and intrapartum data, neonatal characteristics, and placental histopathology were compared.

Results

Eleven neonates were identified in group A, 10 in group B, and 227 in group C. Sentinel events occurred exclusively in groups B (80%) and C (41.4%). Umbilical cord blood gas values and Apgar score were worse in groups B and C compared to group A. No group A neonates required resuscitation at birth, whereas all group B and one‐third of group C neonates did. Seizures developed only in neonates in groups A and B. One neonatal death occurred in group A. There were no significant differences in placental histopathology.

Conclusion

NAIS and PA/HINE cases have different intrapartum and neonatal features. PA does not seem necessary for the occurrence of NAIS. More research is needed regarding associated placental abnormalities.
In vivo sensing of rabbit cornea by terahertz technology
Authors: Ke Lin , Zhang Nan , Wu Qing Yang Steve , Gorelik Sergey , Abdelaziem Ali , Liu Zheng , Teo Erica Pei Wen , Mehta Jodhbir S. , Liu Yu‐Chi
Published: June 2021

A Novel scalable approach using Terahertz (THz) waves together with the electromagnetic field simulation was applied to investigate four rabbits of eight rabbit corneas in vivo. One eye of each rabbits’ corneas was edema induced; the other eye of the corneas served as the control. The simulation revealed the propagation of THz waves at a certain distance along the sub‐surface of the cornea. THz spectra have been collected close to the corneal surface by deviating the direct reflection of the THz beam for the edema cornea, the reflected wave intensity for edema corneas is generally larger compared with the control cornea. Upon edema becomes severe at the end of the observation, the reflected wave intensities obtained by detector corresponding to the corneal deep stroma layer approach to the same value for all observed corneas. Good correlation is observed between central corneal thickness measurements and THz wave reflection signal intensities. Our results demonstrated that THz spectroscopy technique could obtain the information from different corneal sublayers.
Runt-related transcription factor-2 (Runx2) is required for bone matrix protein gene expression in committed osteoblasts in mice
Authors: Qin Xin , Jiang Qing , Komori Hisato , Sakane Chiharu , Fukuyama Ryo , Matsuo Yuki , Ito Kosei , Miyazaki Toshihiro , Komori Toshihisa
Published: June 2021

Runt-related transcription factor-2 (Runx2) is an essential transcription factor for osteoblast differentiation. However, its functions after the commitment into osteoblasts are controversial and remain to be clarified. We generated enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP)-Cre transgenic mice driven by the 2.3-kilobase (kb) Col1a1 promoter, and Runx2 was deleted in osteoblasts and odontoblasts in Runx2fl/flCre mice. The sutures and fontanelles were more widely opened in Runx2fl/flCre newborns than in Runx2fl/fl newborns. Runx2fl/flCre mice exhibited dwarfism with shorter incisors and 37% had irregularly aligned incisors. The volume of trabecular bone in femurs and vertebrae and their bone mineral density (BMD), in addition to the cortical thickness and BMD were reduced in Runx2fl/flCre mice compared with Runx2fl/fl mice in both sexes. The bone formation of both trabecular and cortical bone, osteoblast number, osteoclast surface, osteoblast proliferation, and the serum levels of procollagen type 1 N-terminal propeptide (P1NP), tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5b (TRAP5b), and C-terminal cross-linked telopeptide of type 1 collagen (CTX1) were reduced in Runx2fl/flCre mice. The expression of major bone matrix protein genes, including Col1a1, Col1a2, Spp1, Ibsp, and Bglap&Bglap2, and of Tnfsf11 was lower in Runx2fl/flCre mice than in Runx2fl/fl mice. The expression of Runx2 target genes, including Ihh, Fgfr1, Fgfr2, Fgfr3, Tcf7, Wnt10b, Pth1r, Sp7, and Dlx5, was also reduced. Osteoblasts in Runx2fl/fl mice were cuboidal and contained abundant type I collagen α1 (Col1a1), whereas those in Runx2fl/flCre mice were deflated and contained a small amount of Col1a1. Runx2 activated the reporter activity of the 2.3-kb Col1a1 promoter and bound the region around the Col1a1 transcription start site. The deletion of Runx2 by Cre-expressing adenovirus in Runx2fl/fl primary osteoblasts impaired osteoblast differentiation and the expression of genes encoding major bone matrix proteins, and osteoclastogenesis was inhibited due to the reduction of Tnfsf11 expression in the osteoblasts. This study demonstrated that Runx2 is required for the expression of the major bone matrix protein genes and Tnfsf11 after commitment into osteoblasts in mice. © 2021 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR).
Cost Borne by the Counselor: Comparing Burnout Between Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Counselors and Non‐DBT Counselors
Authors: Warlick Craig A. , Farmer Nicole M. , Frey Bruce B. , Vigil Kaylee , Armstrong Abigail , Krieshok Thomas S. , Nelson Juliet
Published: June 2021

Although counseling in itself can be a stressful task, counseling complex clients can exacerbate this stress and can lead to burnout. Burnout negatively affects the counselor's personal life, client care, and the health care system. Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is a multimodal treatment designed specifically for treating complex clients. The treatment contains counselor supports to protect against burnout. This study used a national sample of 209 counselors to assess whether DBT counselors (n = 87) possess higher levels of burnout than non‐DBT counselors (n = 122). The results suggest that despite literature stating that working with complex clients increases counselor burnout, there was no difference in client‐related burnout between DBT counselors and non‐DBT counselors. However, DBT counselors had higher levels of personal burnout and work‐related burnout compared with non‐DBT counselors, even after controlling for known covariates. Implications for future research and practice regarding mitigating counselor burnout are discussed.
Oxidant activated soluble adenylate cyclase of Leishmania donovani regulates the cAMP–PKA signaling axis for its intra‐macrophage survival during infection
Authors: Kumar Manjay , Das Sushmita , Sen Abhik , Abhishek Kumar , Shafi Md.Taj , Bamra Tanvir , Kumar Ajay , Kumar Vinod , Kumar Ashish , Mukharjee Rimi , Dikhit Manas R. , Pandey Krishna , Das Pradeep
Published: June 2021

Adenosine 3',5'‐cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) is a stress sensor molecule that transduces the cellular signal when Leishmania donovani moves from insect vector to mammalian host. At this stage, the parasite membrane‐bound receptor adenylate cyclase predominantly produces cAMP to cope with the oxidative assault imposed by host macrophages. However, the role of soluble adenylate cyclase of L. donovani (LdHemAC) has not been investigated fully. In the present investigation, we monitored an alternative pool of cAMP, maintained by LdHemAC. The elevated cAMP effectively transmits signals by binding to Protein Kinase A (PKA) present in the cytosol and regulates antioxidant gene expression and phosphorylates several unknown PKA substrate proteins. Menadione‐catalyzed production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) mimics host oxidative condition in vitro in parasites where cAMP production and PKA activity were found increased by ~1.54 ± 0.35, and ~1.78 ± 0.47‐fold, respectively while expression of LdHemAC gene elevated by ~2.18 ± 0.17‐fold. The LdHemAC sense these oxidants and became activated to cyclize ATP to enhance the cAMP basal level that regulates antioxidant gene expression to rescue parasites from oxidative stress. In knockdown parasites (LdHemAC‐KD), the downregulated antioxidant genes expression, namely, Sod (2.30 ± 0.46), Pxn (2.73 ± 0.15), Tdr (2.7 ± 0.12), and Gss (1.57 ± 0.15) results in decreased parasite viability while in overexpressed parasites (LdHemAC‐OE), the expression was upregulated by ~5.7 ± 0.35, ~2.57 ± 0.56, ~4.7 ± 0.36, and ~2.4 ± 0.83, respectively, which possibly overcomes ROS accumulation and enhances viability. Furthermore, LdHemAC‐OE higher PKA activity regulates phosphorylation of substrate proteins (~56 kDs in membrane fraction and ~25 kDs in the soluble fraction). It reduced significantly when treated with inhibitors like DDA, Rp‐cAMP, and H‐89 and increased by ~2.1 ± 0.28‐fold, respectively under oxidative conditions. The LdHemAC‐KD was found less infective to RAW 264.7 macrophages and more prone to oxidative damage as compared to LdHemAC‐OE and control parasites. Together, this study demonstrates mechanistic links among LdHemAC, cAMP, and PKA in parasite survival and invasion under host oxidative condition.
Peptide scaffold‐derived peptidomimetic farnesyltransferase inhibitors
Authors: Yang Wei , Wang Kuifeng , Wu Hongwei , Shao Hui , Chen Huazhong , Zhu Jiansheng
Published: June 2021

Human protein farnesyltransferase (FTase) is involved in many essential signal transduction proteins and has been explored as druggable targets of diverse diseases such as cancer and inflammation. Here, we propose a new strategy termed as Peptide Scaffold‐derived Peptidomimetic FTase Inhibitors (PSPFI) to discover peptidomimetic lead molecular entities that can inhibit FTase. The strategy first defines a PSPFI‐oriented peptidomimetic library that contains >30,000 sulfhydryl/thioether‐carrying peptidomimetics, and then employs molecular docking calculation, multiple similarity analysis, structural minimization, and affinity scoring to screen against the library, in order to discover those peptidomimetics that share high similarity with the core binding module (CBM) of FTase Rap2a peptide substrate in 2D‐chemistry, 3D‐conformation, pharmacophore, and nonbonded pattern, as well as exhibit high theoretical affinity to FTase. Totally 56 hit peptidomimetics were identified from the library, from which we manually select 6 structurally diverse, purchasable peptidomimetics to perform FTase assays. Consequently, four are determined as potent FTase inhibitors (IC50 < 1 μM); their inhibitory activity is moderately lower than the sophisticated FTase inhibitor Tipifarnib and considerably higher than the native CBM peptide. These peptidomimetic ligands share similar extended conformation, binding mode, and Zn2+ coordination with Rap2a CBM peptide in FTase active site, but would have a different inhibition mechanism to Tipifarnib.
Which factors explain information exchange and user referral among program implementers?
Authors: Ramos‐Vidal Ignacio , Palacio Jorge , Domínguez de la Ossa Elsy , Wehdking Ingrid
Published: June 2021

The Program for Psychosocial Care and Comprehensive Health for Victims serves, on a yearly basis, an average of 25,000 users in northern Colombia alone. The program is implemented by multidisciplinary teams comprised of psychologists, social workers, and community facilitators, who step in at the individual, family, and community levels. An attempt has been made to determine the effect generated by the timeframe through which professionals have been engaged with the program‐filling positions of centrality and betweenness within the networks of information exchange and user referral, including the potential mediating effect from the structure of the egocentric network of implementers in the two aforementioned networks and the moderating effect of the sense of belonging to a team of professionals. Both centrality and betweenness are positional measures describing the location actors occupied within the network structure. Centrality reflects the nominations made and receipt by an actor in a network and is considered an individual indicator of prominence and power. Betweenness shows the times that an actor act as a bridge among two actors in a network and it is considered an indicator of strategic positioning in social networks. An egocentric network is the local structure of relationships that each implementer maintains with his or her direct contacts. In this study, 112 active implementers were included, mostly women (n = 97, 88.2%), who had been working on the program for 16.9 months on average (SD = 14.7). Through conditional process analysis, it has been shown that the time that the implementers have been working on the program and the sense of belonging to the task team are relevant factors that interact with each other toward explaining the level of centrality and betweenness of professionals in the information exchange and user referral networks.
Effect of different beverages on surface properties and cariogenic biofilm formation of composite resin materials
Authors: Kurt Ayşegül , Özyurt Esra , Topcuoğlu Nursen
Published: June 2021

The consumption of certain beverages may affect the physical and biological properties of resin composites (RCs) according to type. This in vitro study aimed to evaluate the surface properties and cariogenic biofilm formation in microhybrid and nanohybrid RCs after immersion in different beverages. The effects of four beverages (distilled water–control, tea, coffee, and cola) on two RCs (microhybrid and nanohybrid) were evaluated. Changes in the surface properties were evaluated for each group using surface roughness measurement (n = 10), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) (n = 4) observation, and energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (EDX) (n = 5) analysis. In vitro Streptococcus mutans biofilm formation on the specimens of each group was determined using confocal laser scanning microscopy and SEM analysis (n = 14). The data were analyzed using two‐way analysis of variance, with Bonferroni as a post‐hoc test and Pearson's correlation (p < .05). Microhybrid RC presented more surface roughness (p = .014) and cariogenic biofilm formation (p = .040). The surface roughness (F = 0.733, p = .536) and cariogenic biofilm formation (F = 1.685, p = .181) values were not affected by the beverages. However, according to qualitative SEM and EDX measurements, these parameters varied depending on the beverage groups. No correlation was found between surface roughness and cariogenic biofilm formation (r = 0.135, p = .287). Microhybrid RCs had a rougher surface and a higher amount of cariogenic biofilm formation than nanohybrid RCs after being subjected to different beverages.
Head‐to‐head comparison between endoscopic ultrasound guided lumen apposing metal stent and plastic stents for the treatment of pancreatic fluid collections: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Guzmán‐Calderón Edson , Chacaltana Alfonso , Díaz Ramiro , Li Bruno , Martinez‐Moreno Belen , Aparicio José Ramón
Published: June 2021

Background/Aims

Peripancreatic fluid collections (PFCs) result from acute or chronic pancreatic inflammation that suffers a rupture of its ducts. Currently, there exists three options for drainage or debridement of pancreatic pseudocysts and walled‐off necrosis (WON). The traditional procedure is drainage by placing double pigtail plastic stents (DPPS); lumen‐apposing metal stent (LAMS) has a biflanged design with a wide lumen that avoids occlusion with necrotic tissue, which is more common with DPPS and reduces the possibility of migration. We performed a systematic review and meta‐analyses head‐to‐head, including only studies that compare the two main techniques to drainage of PFCs: LAMS vs DPPS.

Methods

We conducted a systematic review in different databases, such as PubMed, OVID, Medline, and Cochrane Databases. This meta‐analysis considers studies published from 2014 to 2020, including only studies that compare the two main techniques to drainage of PFCs: LAMS vs DPPS.

Results

Thirteen studies were included in the meta‐analyses. Only one of all studies was a randomized controlled trial. These studies comprise 1584 patients; 68.2% were male, and 31.8% were female. Six hundred sixty‐three patients (41.9%) were treated with LAMS, and 921 (58.1%) were treated with DPPS. Six studies included only WON in their analysis, two included only pancreatic pseudocysts, and five studies included both pancreatic pseudocysts and WON. The technical success was similar in patients treated with LAMS and DPPS (97.6% vs 97.5%, respectively, P = .986, RR = 1.00 [95% CI 0.93‐1.08]). The clinical success was similar in both groups (LAMS: 90.1% vs DPPS: 84.2%, P = .139, RR = 1.063 [95% CI 0.98‐1.15]). Patients treated with LAMS had a lower complication rate than the DPPS groups, with a significant statistical difference (LAMS: 16.0% vs DPPS: 20.2%, P = .009, RR = 0.746 [95% CI 0.60‐0.93]). Bleeding was the most common complication in the LAMS group (33 patients, [5.0%]), whereas infection was the most common complication in the DPPS group (56 patients, [6.1%]). The LAMS migration rate was lower than in the DPPS (0.9% vs 2.2%, respectively, P = .05). The mortality rate was similar in both groups, 0.6% in the LAMS group (four patients) and 0.4% in the DPPS group (four patients; P = .640).

Conclusion

The PFCs drainage is an indication when persistent symptoms or PFCs‐related complications exist. EUS guided drainage with LAMS has similar technical and clinical success to DPPS drainage for the management of PFCs. The technical and clinical success rates are high in both groups. However, LAMS drainage has a lower adverse events rate than DPPS drainage. More randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm the real advantage of LAMS drainage over DPPS drainage.
Isolation, characterization, and interaction of lignin‐degrading bacteria from rumen of buffalo (Bubalus bubalis)
Authors: Wang Zhen , Wu Wenqing , Cui Luncheng , Li Xiang , Kulyar Muhammad Fakhar‐e‐Alam , Xiong Haiqian , Zhou Nian , Yin Huaihui , Li Jiakui , Li Xiang
Published: June 2021

The purpose of this study was to isolate lignin‐degrading bacteria from buffalo rumen and to explore their interactions further. Using lignin as the carbon source, three bacteria, B‐04 (Ochrobactrum pseudintermedium), B‐11 (Klebsiella pneumoniae), and B‐45 (Bacillus sonorensis), which have shown lignin degradation potential, were successfully isolated and identified from the rumen fluid of buffalo by colony morphology, 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing, and biochemical and physiological analyses. The degradation rates of lignin were determined, and the maximum values were 4.86%, 11.1%, and 7.68% for B‐04, B‐11, and B‐45, respectively. The maximum laccase activities were 0.65, 0.93, and 1.15 U/ml, while the maximum lignin peroxidase activities were 5.72, 8.29, and 18.69 U/ml, respectively. Pairwise interaction studies showed inhibitory interaction between B‐04 and B‐45, inhibitory interaction between B‐04 and B‐11, and symbiotic interaction between B‐11 and B‐45. This is the first report on the lignin degradation ability of bacteria isolated from the buffalo's rumen, which provides a new understanding for revealing the mechanism of roughage tolerance of buffalo.
Tourist perceptions of local food: A mapping of cultural values
Authors: Kim Seongseop (Sam) , Choe Ja Young (Jacey) , King Brian , Oh Munhyang (Moon) , Otoo Felix Elvis
Published: June 2021

This paper proposes a model that conveys the diversity of tourist culinary perceptions—the hierarchical local food consumption value mapping. The researchers deploy hard laddering to analyze 1593 responses to a questionnaire survey and identified 11 salient attributes, nine consequences, and seven values. Eight cultural groupings were identified. The researchers compared the mappings for each of the eight groupings to determine whether the applicable mappings are distinguished on the basis of tourists' food culture backgrounds. Japanese and Thai respondents generated unique and comparatively simpler maps than other cohorts. The findings show that a hierarchy‐based approach can be used to assess tourist perceptions of attributes, consequences, and values as a value map. This study provides culture‐based insights into the consumption of local food by tourists.
Ultrasound, CT, and MR Imaging for Evaluation of Cystic Renal Masses
Authors: Zeng Shu‐E. , Du Ming‐Yue , Yu Yang , Huang Shu‐Yan , Zhang Di , Cui Xin‐Wu , Dietrich Christoph F.
Published: June 2021

Cystic renal masses are often encountered during abdominal imaging. Although most of them are benign simple cysts, some cystic masses have malignant characteristics. The Bosniak classification system provides a useful way to classify cystic masses. The Bosniak classification is based on the results of a well‐established computed tomography protocol. Over the past 30 years, the classification system has been refined and improved. This paper reviews the literature on this topic and compares the advantages and disadvantages of different screening and classification methods. Patients will benefit from multimodal diagnosis for lesions that are difficult to classify after a single examination.
Flexible design of W‐band bandpass filter with multiple transmission zeros
Authors: Huang Zhao‐Yu , Jiang Yun , Huang Jing‐Jian , Hu Wei‐Dong , Yuan Nai‐Chang
Published: June 2021

In this paper, a novel E‐plane waveguide bandpass filter with multiple transmission zeros is proposed in W‐band. The center frequency and bandwidth of this filter can be flexibly designed. Stripe line resonators and L‐shaped resonators are used in the filter. The filter contains four resonators, two of which are used to generate transmission zeros in the upper stopband, and the other two are used to generate transmission zeros in the lower stopband. These transmission zeros can enhance the out‐of‐band suppression and selectivity of the filter. And the position of the transmission zeroes can be flexibly changed as required. One sample is fabricated and measured to verify the proposed filter. The minimum insertion loss in passband is 0.6 dB. Good agreements between the simulated and measured results are achieved.
Detecting lumbar lesions in 99mTc‐MDP SPECT by deep learning: Comparison with physicians
Authors: Petibon Yoann , Fahey Frederic , Cao Xinhua , Levin Zakhar , Sexton‐Stallone Briana , Falone Anthony , Zukotynski Katherine , Kwatra Neha , Lim Ruth , Bar‐Sever Zvi , Chemli Yanis , Treves S. Ted , Fakhri Georges El , Ouyang Jinsong
Published: June 2021

Purpose

99mTc‐MDP single‐photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) is an established tool for diagnosing lumbar stress, a common cause of low back pain (LBP) in pediatric patients. However, detection of small stress lesions is complicated by the low quality of SPECT, leading to significant interreader variability. The study objectives were to develop an approach based on a deep convolutional neural network (CNN) for detecting lumbar lesions in 99mTc‐MDP scans and to compare its performance to that of physicians in a localization receiver operating characteristic (LROC) study.

Methods

Sixty‐five lesion‐absent (LA) 99mTc‐MDP studies performed in pediatric patients for evaluating LBP were retrospectively identified. Projections for an artificial focal lesion were acquired separately by imaging a 99mTc capillary tube at multiple distances from the collimator. An approach was developed to automatically insert lesions into LA scans to obtain realistic lesion‐present (LP) 99mTc‐MDP images while ensuring knowledge of the ground truth. A deep CNN was trained using 2.5D views extracted in LP and LA 99mTc‐MDP image sets. During testing, the CNN was applied in a sliding‐window fashion to compute a 3D “heatmap” reporting the probability of a lesion being present at each lumbar location. The algorithm was evaluated using cross‐validation on a 99mTc‐MDP test dataset which was also studied by five physicians in a LROC study. LP images in the test set were obtained by incorporating lesions at sites selected by a physician based on clinical likelihood of injury in this population.

Results

The deep learning (DL) system slightly outperformed human observers, achieving an area under the LROC curve (AUCLROC) of 0.830 (95% confidence interval [CI]: [0.758, 0.924]) compared with 0.785 (95% CI: [0.738, 0.830]) for physicians. The AUCLROC for the DL system was higher than that of two readers (difference in AUCLROC [ΔAUCLROC] = 0.049 and 0.053) who participated to the study and slightly lower than that of two other readers (ΔAUCLROC = −0.006 and −0.012). Another reader outperformed DL by a more substantial margin (ΔAUCLROC = −0.053).

Conclusion

The DL system provides comparable or superior performance than physicians in localizing small 99mTc‐MDP positive lumbar lesions.
Technical Note: A cascade 3D U‐Net for dose prediction in radiotherapy
Authors: Liu Shuolin , Zhang Jingjing , Li Teng , Yan Hui , Liu Jianfei
Published: June 2021

Purpose

Although large datasets are available, to learn a robust dose prediction model from a limited dataset still remains challenging. This work employed cascaded deep learning models and advanced training strategies with a limited dataset to precisely predict three‐dimensional (3D) dose distribution.

Methods

A Cascade 3D (C3D) model is developed based on the cascade mechanism and 3D U‐Net network units. During model training, data augmentations are used to improve the generalization ability of the prediction model. A knowledge distillation technique is employed to further improve the capability of model learning. The C3D network was evaluated using the OpenKBP challenge dataset and competed with those models proposed by more than 40 teams globally. Additionally, it was compared with five existing cutting‐edge dose prediction models. The performance of these prediction models was evaluated by voxel‐based mean absolute error (MAE) and clinical‐related dosimetric metrics. The code and models are publicly available online (https://github.com/LSL000UD/RTDosePrediction).

Results

The MAE of a single C3D model without test‐time augmentation is 2.50 Gy (3.57% related to prescription dose) for nonzero dose area, which outperforms the other five dose prediction models by about 0.1 Gy–1.7 Gy. The C3D model won both dose and DVH streams of AAPM 2020 OpenKBP challenge with dose score of 2.31 and DVH score of 1.55.

Conclusions

The Cascading U‐Nets is an ideal solution for 3D dose prediction from a limited dataset. The proper data preprocessing, data augmentation, and optimization procedure are more important than architectural modifications of deep learning network.
Extraction of media adventitia and luminal intima borders by reconstructing intravascular ultrasound image sequences with vascular structural continuity
Authors: Huang Yi , Xia Menghua , Guo Yi , Zhou Guohui , Wang Yuanyuan
Published: June 2021

Purpose

Most published methods directly achieve vessel membrane border detection on cross‐sectional intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) images. The vascular structural continuity that exists in entire IVUS image sequences has been overlooked. However, this continuity can have a helpful role in the delineation of vessel membrane contours. To achieve the vessel membrane segmentation more effectively through employing this continuity, a strategy, referred to as multiangle reconstruction, segmentation, and recovery (RSR), is proposed in this paper.

Methods

Four main steps are contained in the multiangle‐RSR: first, a combination of sampling and interpolation is employed to reconstruct long‐axis‐model IVUS frames, in which continuity information becomes available. Second, a clustering algorithm is conducted on long‐axis‐model IVUS frames to roughly extract the media‐adventitia (MA) and lumen‐intima (LI) boundaries. Third, the segmentation results of cross‐sectional IVUS frames are recovered based on the rough results of long‐axis‐model IVUS frames, and an optimization process that combines downsampling, fitting and smoothing is designed to reduce the interference of bifurcation and side vessels.

Results

Multiangle‐RSR is tested on a public dataset, and the Hausdorff distance (HD), Jaccard measure (JM), and percentage of area difference (PAD) are utilized as quantitative evaluation metrics. Mean HDs of 0.34 and 0.29 mm are obtained for MA border detection and LI border detection, respectively, which decrease by 43.3% and 9.4%, respectively, compared with their counterparts in previously published approaches. Furthermore, the mean JM is 0.87 for both MA border detection and LI border detection. The mean PADs of the MA contour extraction and the LI contour extraction are 0.10 and 0.11, respectively.

Conclusion

The results indicate that the proposed strategy effectively introduces vascular structural continuity by reconstructing long‐axis‐model IVUS frames and achieves more precise extraction of MA and LI borders.
A data‐oriented approach to making new molecules as a student experiment: artificial intelligence‐enabling FAIR publication of NMR data for organic esters
Authors: Rzepa Henry S. , Kuhn Stefan
Published: June 2021

The lack of machine‐readable data is a major obstacle in the application of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) in artificial intelligence (AI). As a way to overcome this, a procedure for capturing primary NMR spectroscopic instrumental data annotated with rich metadata and publication in a Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable (FAIR) data repository is described as part of an undergraduate student laboratory experiment in a chemistry department. This couples the techniques of chemical synthesis of a never before made organic ester with illustration of modern data management practices and serves to raise student awareness of how FAIR data might improve research quality and replicability. Searches of the registered metadata are shown, which enable actionable finding and accessing of such data. The potential for re‐use of the data in AI applications is discussed.
Light trapping in thin silicon solar cells: A review on fundamentals and technologies
Authors: Saive Rebecca
Published: June 2021

Thin, flexible, and efficient silicon solar cells would revolutionize the photovoltaic market and open up new opportunities for PV integration. However, as an indirect semiconductor, silicon exhibits weak absorption for infrared photons and the efficient absorption of the full above bandgap solar spectrum requires careful photon management. This review paper provides an overview on the fundamental physics of light trapping and explains known theoretical limits. Technologies that have been developed to improve light trapping will be discussed, and limitations will be addressed.
Nanoparticle delivery system, highly active antiretroviral therapy, and testicular morphology: The role of stereology
Authors: Naidu Edwin Coleridge S. , Olojede Samuel Oluwaseun , Lawal Sodiq Kolawole , Rennie Carmen Olivia , Azu Onyemaechi Okpara
Published: June 2021

The conjugation of nanoparticles (NPs) with antiretroviral drugs is a drug delivery approach with great potential for managing HIV infections. Despite their promise, recent studies have highlighted the toxic effects of nanoparticles on testicular tissue and their impact on sperm morphology. This review explores the role of stereological techniques in assessing the testicular morphology in highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) when a nanoparticle drug delivery system is used. Also, NPs penetration and pharmacokinetics concerning the testicular tissue and blood–testis barrier form the vital part of this review. More so, various classes of NPs employed in biomedical and clinical research to deliver antiretroviral drugs were thoroughly discussed. In addition, considerations for minimizing nanoparticle‐drugs toxicity, ensuring enhanced permeability of nanoparticles, maximizing drug efficacy, ensuring adequate bioavailability, and formulation of HAART‐NPs fabrication are well discussed.
Delayed hypercoagulable state in COVID‐19 adolescent patient: a case report
Authors: Desdiani Desdiani , Yulianti Nita , Basuki Anindita
Published: June 2021

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) is a systemic hyperinflammation disease which can cause severe respiratory symptoms and extrapulmonary manifestations. Hypercoagulable state in COVID‐19 adolescent patient is a rare case. We present the case of a 16‐year‐old Indonesian boy with mild COVID‐19 symptoms. Initially, the patient was treated with azithromycin, N‐acetyl cysteine, etc. After several days of the treatment, there was clinical improvement. However, on day 15, the patient experienced hypercoagulation and stroke‐like symptoms. The patient was then subjected to additional drugs, including low‐molecular weight heparin (LMWH), and peripheral neuropathy vitamin therapy. On day 20, the clinical symptoms reduced. This case demonstrates the need for further study of the association between COVID‐19 and stroke in young population and the use of anticoagulants to prevent thrombotic events.
A comparison of multiple imputation strategies for handling missing data in multi‐item scales: Guidance for longitudinal studies
Authors: Mainzer Rheanna , Apajee Jemishabye , Nguyen Cattram D. , Carlin John B. , Lee Katherine J.
Published: June 2021

Medical research often involves using multi‐item scales to assess individual characteristics, disease severity, and other health‐related outcomes. It is common to observe missing data in the scale scores, due to missing data in one or more items that make up that score. Multiple imputation (MI) is a popular method for handling missing data. However, it is not clear how best to use MI in the context of scale scores, particularly when they are assessed at multiple waves of data collection resulting in large numbers of items. The aim of this article is to provide practical advice on how to impute missing values in a repeatedly measured multi‐item scale using MI when inference on the scale score is of interest. We evaluated the performance of five MI strategies for imputing missing data at either the item or scale level using simulated data and a case study based on four waves of the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children (LSAC). MI was implemented using both multivariate normal imputation and fully conditional specification, with two rules for calculating the scale score. A complete case analysis was also performed for comparison. Based on our results, we caution against the use of a MI strategy that does not include the scale score in the imputation model(s) when the scale score is required for analysis.
Sample size adaptations and evaluation of pediatric study interpretability
Authors: Lawrence John
Published: June 2021

To extend marketing exclusivity, a drug manufacture is required by the Food and Drug Administration to conduct an interpretable study of approved drugs that may benefit pediatric patients. In return for conducting an interpretable study, the drug manufacturer is rewarded with an additional 6 months of marketing exclusivity. If the study design uses a fixed sample size and nothing is changed during the study, it is relatively easy to determine whether an interpretable study was conducted. However, if the sample size can be changed based on an unblinded interim analysis, it is difficult to answer the question of whether the study was interpretable. We investigate the optimal design from the manufacturers perspective and find the strategy for sample size adaptation that optimizes the utility including the chance of an interpretable study.
Stable Perovskite Solar Cells Using Molecularly Engineered Functionalized Oligothiophenes as Low‐Cost Hole‐Transporting Materials
Authors: Joseph Vellaichamy , Sutanto Albertus Adrian , Igci Cansu , Syzgantseva Olga A. , Jankauskas Vygintas , Rakstys Kasparas , Queloz Valentin I. E. , Kanda Hiroyuki , Huang Ping‐Yu , Ni Jen‐Shyang , Kinge Sachin , Chen Ming‐Chou , Nazeeruddin Mohammad Khaja
Published: June 2021

Triarylamine‐substituted bithiophene (BT‐4D), terthiophene (TT‐4D), and quarterthiophene (QT‐4D) small molecules are synthesized and used as low‐cost hole‐transporting materials (HTMs) for perovskite solar cells (PSCs). The optoelectronic, electrochemical, and thermal properties of the compounds are investigated systematically. The BT‐4D, TT‐4D, and QT‐4D compounds exhibit thermal decomposition temperature over 400 °C. The n‐i‐p configured perovskite solar cells (PSCs) fabricated with BT‐4D as HTM show the maximum power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 19.34% owing to its better hole‐extracting properties and film formation compared to TT‐4D and QT‐4D, which exhibit PCE of 17% and 16%, respectively. Importantly, PSCs using BT‐4D demonstrate exceptional stability by retaining 98% of its initial PCE after 1186 h of continuous 1 sun illumination. The remarkable long‐term stability and facile synthetic procedure of BT‐4D show a great promise for efficient, stable, and low‐cost HTMs for PSCs for commercial applications.
Improvement effect of a phase change material on microstructure of cement‐based materials at elevated temperatures
Authors: Gao Furong , Zhang Linglei , Ji Yongsheng , Gao Yan , Xue Qi , Zhang Zhongzhe , Ma Ming Ming
Published: June 2021

In this investigation, a phase change material with a melting temperature of about 450°C (PCM‐45) is prepared and applied to solve microstructure degradation problem of concrete matrix when exposed to temperatures more than 500°C. The morphology changes of PCM‐45 and the improvement effects of PCM‐45 on microstructure of cement matrix are investigated based on microstructure characteristics, ultrasonic pulse velocity of cement paste and compressive strengths of cement mortar with different dosages of PCM‐45 at 500, 600, 700, 800 and 900°C. The results show that morphology of PCM‐45 is changed, indicating that PCM‐45 transforms from solid to liquid phase and that the liquefied PCM‐45 can diffuse at elevated temperatures. When temperature returns to room temperature, the liquefied PCM‐45 becomes solidified, during which process the microstructure of cement matrix is improved. Therefore, compressive strength and ultrasonic pulse velocity of specimens with PCM‐45 are greatly increased compared to those of specimens without PCM‐45.
Shear tests of engineered cementitious composites: Mechanical behavior and toughness evaluation
Authors: Zhang Yangxi , Deng Mingke
Published: June 2021

Mechanical behavior of engineered cementitious composites (ECC) under direct shear is investigated by the double‐shear tests. The main test variables are the volume ratio (0%, 1%, 1.5%, 2%) of polyvinyl alcohol fiber and strength grade of ECC. The failure mode, load‐slip response and shear mechanism of ECC under direct shear are analyzed and discussed, respectively. The test results indicate that the failure mode, direct shear strength, shear slip and ductility (toughness) are influenced and been improved significantly by the incorporation of fibers. With the compressive strength of ECC increases, the direct shear strength increases but the post‐peak ductility decreases considerably. The shear mechanisms of ECC is analyzed according to the failure mode. Based on the typical load‐slip curve of ECC under direct shear, a set of size independent toughness indices including the equivalent shear strength and two toughness indices are recommended for evaluating the shear toughness of ECC.
Development and validation of an observation‐based protocol to measure the eight scientific practices of the next generation science standards in K‐12 science classrooms
Authors: Chen Ying‐Chih , Terada Takeshi
Published: June 2021

The eight scientific practices in the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) are significant theoretical constructs that reflect the nature of science; they are intended to guide science teaching and learning. Yet, operationalization of these practices in terms of student learning remains limited, and a measurement tool for the eight practices is needed. Using an Interactive‐Constructive‐Active‐Passive (ICAP) theoretical framework, this study develops such a protocol, entitled ICAP to Measure by Observation NGSS Science Practice Implementation in the Classroom (IONIC). This protocol can be applied in K‐12 science classrooms to determine the level of student engagement with the eight practices. Data were collected from 152 video‐recorded lessons obtained after a 3‐year professional development (PD) program designed to engage teachers to better understand and use the NGSS practices. We examined validity (content, face, translation, and construct) and reliability (internal and interrater) of IONIC. Confirmatory factor analysis was conducted to verify three competing theoretical models: Parsimonious (three phases of knowledge development: Investigation, Sensemaking, and Evaluating and Communicating, merged with the eight NGSS practices), NGSS (the eight practices), and Comprehensive. The latter consists of an upper‐level (Parsimonious) and a lower‐level (NGSS). The results suggest the Comprehensive Model is the preferred model among the three. In the upper‐level, the score for Phase 3, Evaluating and communicating, is significantly lower than the other two. In the lower‐level, classroom scores for Practice 5, Using mathematics and computational thinking, Practice 7, Engaging in argument from evidence, and Practice 8, Obtaining, evaluating, and communicating information, are significantly lower than most of the others. Results of regression analyses suggest that the number of years the teacher participated in PD can predict student IONIC scores. The findings suggest that IONIC is a valid and reliable observation‐based protocol, facilitating an understanding of how students can effectively engage in scientific practices in the classroom.
Leverage your office's position to boost enrollment management success
Authors: Hope Joan
Published: June 2021

At heart, enrollment management is about recruiting and retaining successful students who graduate. The Registrar's Office can play a big role in that endeavor, regardless of where it sits in the institution's reporting structure.
Predictors for incomplete response to ursodeoxycholic acid in primary biliary cholangitis. Data from a national registry of liver disease
Authors: Cortez‐Pinto Helena , Liberal Rodrigo , Lopes Susana , Machado Mariana V. , Carvalho Joana , Dias Teresa , Santos Arsénio , Agostinho Cláudia , Figueiredo Pedro , Loureiro Rafaela , Martins Alexandra , Alexandrino Gonçalo , Cotrim Isabel , Leal Carina , Presa José , Mesquita Mónica , Nunes Joana , Gouveia Catarina , Vale Ana Horta e , Alves Ana Luísa , Coelho Mariana , Maia Luís , Pedroto Isabel , Banhudo António , Pinto João Sebastião , Gomes Marta Vargas , Oliveira Joana , Andreozzi Valeska , Calinas Filipe , on behalf of Liver.pt
Published: June 2021

Background

The current standard of treatment in primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), although a considerable proportion of patients show incomplete response resulting in disease progression.

Objective

This study aimed to assess the prevalence of incomplete response to UDCA and determine associated patients' characteristics.

Methods

Patients with PBC as main diagnosis were included from a national multicentric patient registry—Liver.pt. Main endpoints included incomplete response to UDCA treatment according to Barcelona, Paris I and Paris II criteria, Globe and UK PBC scores and the association between baseline characteristics and incomplete response according to Paris II criteria.

Results

A total of 434 PBC patients were identified, with a mean age of 55 years and 89.2% females. Nearly half of patients were asymptomatic at diagnosis and 93.2% had positive anti‐mitochondrial antibodies. Almost all patients (95.6%) had been prescribed at least one drug for PBC treatment. At the last follow‐up visit, 93.3% were under treatment of which 99.8% received UDCA. Incomplete response to UDCA was observed in 30.7%, 35.3%, 53.7% and 36.4% of patients according to Barcelona, Paris I, Paris II criteria and Globe score, respectively. After adjusting for age and sex, and accordingly to Paris II criteria, the risk for incomplete biochemical response was 25% higher for patients with cirrhosis at diagnosis (odds ratio [OR] = 1.25; 95% confidence interval [95%CI]: 1.02–1.54; p = 0.033) and 35% (95%CI:1.06–1.72; p = 0.016) and 5% (OR = 1.05; 95%CI:1.01–1.10; p = 0.013) for those with elevated gamma‐glutamyl transferase (GGT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP).

Conclusion

A considerable proportion of patients showed incomplete biochemical response to UDCA treatment according to Paris II criteria. Cirrhosis, elevated GGT and ALP at diagnosis were identified as associated risk factors for incomplete response. Early identification of patients at risk of incomplete response could improve treatment care and guide clinical decision to a more careful patient monitorization.