bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Improving the efficiency of small animal 3D‐printed compensator IMRT with beamlet intensity total variation regularization
Authors: Liu Xinmin , Van Slyke Alexander L. , Pearson Erik , Shoniyozov Khayrullo , Redler Gage , Wiersma Rodney D.
Published: May 2022

Purpose

There is growing interest in the use of modern 3D printing technology to implement intensity‐modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) on the preclinical scale that is analogous to clinical IMRT. However, current 3D‐printed IMRT methods suffer from complex modulation patterns leading to long delivery times, excess filament usage, and less accurate compensator fabrication. In this work, we have developed a total variation regularization (TVR) approach to address these issues.

Methods

TVR‐IMRT was used to optimize the beamlet intensity map, which was then converted to a thickness of the corresponding compensator attenuation region in copper‐doped polylactic acid (PLA) filament. IMRT and TVR‐IMRT heart and lung plans were generated for two different mice using three, five, or seven gantry angles. The total compensator thickness, total variation of compensator beamlet thicknesses, total variation of beamlet intensities, and exposure time were compared. The individual field doses and composite dose were delivered to film for one plan and gamma analysis was performed.

Results

In total, 12 mice heart and lung plans were generated for both IMRT and TVR‐IMRT cases. Across all cases, it was found that TVR‐IMRT reduced the total variation of compensator beamlet thicknesses and beamlet intensities by and on average when compared to standard 3D‐printed compensator IMRT. On average, the total mass of compensator material consumed and radiation beam‐on time were reduced by and , respectively, whereas dose metrics remained comparable. Heart plan compensators were printed and delivered to film and subsequent gamma analysis performed for each of the single fields as well as the composite dose. For the composite delivery, a passing rate of 89.1% for IMRT and 95.4% for TVR‐IMRT was achieved for a mm criterion.

Conclusions

TVR can be applied to small animal IMRT beamlet intensities to produce fluence maps and subsequent 3D‐printed compensator patterns with significantly less complexity while still maintaining similar dose conformity to traditional IMRT. This can simplify/accelerate the 3D printing process, reduce the amount of filament required, and reduce overall beam‐on time to deliver a plan.
A Slice‐Low‐Rank Plus Sparse (slice‐L + S) Reconstruction Method for k‐t Undersampled Multiband First‐Pass Myocardial Perfusion MRI
Authors: Sun Changyu , Robinson Austin , Wang Yu , Bilchick Kenneth C. , Kramer Christopher M. , Weller Daniel , Salerno Michael , Epstein Frederick H.
Published: May 2022

Purpose

The synergistic use of k‐t undersampling and multiband (MB) imaging has the potential to provide extended slice coverage and high spatial resolution for first‐pass perfusion MRI. The low‐rank plus sparse (L + S) model has shown excellent performance for accelerating single‐band (SB) perfusion MRI.

Methods

A MB data consistency method employing ESPIRiT maps and through‐plane coil information was developed. This data consistency method was combined with the temporal L + S constraint to form the slice‐L + S method. Slice‐L + S was compared to SB L + S and the sequential operations of split slice‐GRAPPA and SB L + S (seq‐SG‐L + S) using synthetic data formed from multislice SB images. Prospectively k‐t undersampled MB data were also acquired and reconstructed using seq‐SG‐L + S and slice‐L + S.

Results

Using synthetic data with total acceleration rates of 6–12, slice‐L + S outperformed SB L + S and seq‐SG‐L + S (N = 7 subjects) with respect to normalized RMSE and the structural similarity index (P < 0.05 for both). For the specific case with MB factor = 3 and rate 3 undersampling, or for SB imaging with rate 9 undersampling (N = 7 subjects), the normalized RMSE values were 0.037 ± 0.007, 0.042 ± 0.005, and 0.031 ± 0.004; and the structural similarity index values were 0.88 ± 0.03, 0.85 ± 0.03, and 0.89 ± 0.02 for SB L + S, seq‐SG‐L + S, and slice‐L + S, respectively (P < 0.05 for both). For prospectively undersampled MB data, slice‐L + S provided better image quality than seq‐SG‐L + S for rate 6 (N = 7) and rate 9 acceleration (N = 7) as scored by blinded experts.

Conclusion

Slice‐L + S outperformed SB‐L + S and seq‐SG‐L + S and provides 9 slice coverage of the left ventricle with a spatial resolution of 1.5 mm × 1.5 mm with good image quality.
Stochastic approximation for uncapacitated assortment optimization under the multinomial logit model
Authors: Peeters Yannik , den Boer Arnoud V.
Published: May 2022

We consider dynamic assortment optimization with incomplete information under the uncapacitated multinomial logit choice model. We propose an anytime stochastic approximation policy and prove that the regret—the cumulative expected revenue loss caused by offering suboptimal assortments—after time periods is bounded by times a constant that is independent of the number of products. In addition, we prove a matching lower bound on the regret for any policy that is valid for arbitrary model parameters—slightly generalizing a recent regret lower bound derived for specific revenue parameters. Numerical illustrations suggest that our policy outperforms alternatives by a significant margin when and the number of products are not too small.
Explicit dynamics of shells with a flat‐facet triangular finite element
Authors: Krysl Petr
Published: May 2022

The use of a flat‐facet finite element with three nodes and six degrees of freedom per node for modeling of linear wave‐propagation events is discussed. The triangular shell finite element was presented in a preceding publication. The main novelty of the current approach is the treatment of the drilling rotations that decouples the drilling degree of freedoms on the global level, and hence makes it possible to eliminate negative effects of these degrees of freedom on the explicit time‐stepping algorithms employed to compute the dynamic response, such as deterioration in accuracy or artificially reduced time step. The element is shown to be robust for wave propagation simulations, and its performance is illustrated with examples including guided‐wave scenarios.
Copolymerisation of β‐butyrolactone and γ‐butyrolactone using yttrium amine bis(phenolate) catalysts
Authors: Catchpole Pip , Platel Rachel H.
Published: May 2022

The synthesis of poly(3‐hydroxbutyrate‐co‐4‐hydroxybutyrate) is reported with a family of yttrium amine bis(phenolate) catalysts via ring‐opening polymerisation of β‐butyrolactone and γ‐butyrolactone. Poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate), poly(4‐hydroxybutyrate) and poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate‐co‐4‐hydroxybutyrate) were prepared at −40 °C with a 10 mol L−1 monomer concentration using a range of amine bis(phenolate) catalysts. It was found that poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate) synthesis is inferior under these conditions to that attainable at room temperature. In contrast, poly(4‐hydroxybutyrate) synthesis achieved up to 33% conversion under these conditions. Poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate) polymers containing up to 63% 4‐hydroxybutyrate inclusion were obtained when β‐butyrolactone and γ‐butyrolactone were copolymerised, with γ‐butyrolactone in excess in the monomer feed. The carbonyl resonances between 169 and 174 ppm in the 13C NMR spectra of this copolymer were assigned. Gel permeation chromatography of the copolymers showed that the number‐average molecular weights are consistently greater than the calculated values, and the dispersities are generally greater than 1.4, demonstrating limited control by the catalysts. Despite this restricted control, these catalysts were able to convert appreciable amounts of monomers into polymers either individually or within a copolymerisation. © 2022 The Authors. Polymer International published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Industrial Chemistry.
Theoretical study on the mechanism of the benzaldehyde deoxyfluorination by sulfuryl fluoride and tetramethylammonium fluoride
Authors: Sheng Chenxi , Li Zhewei , Pu Min , Lei Ming
Published: May 2022

Organic fluoride compounds have a potential widely application in pharmaceutical, chemical, and material industries. The deoxyfluorination of C=O bonds is one of important ways to synthesize the organic fluorides. Recently, one efficient aldehyde deoxyfluorination strategy by sulfuryl fluoride (SO2F2) and tetramethylammonium fluoride (TMAF) under mild condition was proposed with low cost and high yield, and SO2F2 was produced by the reaction of 1,1′‐sulfonyldiimidazole (SDI) and KF in formic acid solvent. Herein, a density functional theory (DFT) study was performed to investigate the nature of this reaction including the SO2F2 formation and the aldehyde deoxyfluorination. The calculated results indicate that in the SO2F2 formation, the formic acid plays an important role and participates in the reaction with SDI and KF to transfer proton and convert imidazole cation into imidazole, and in the aldehyde deoxyfluorination by SO2F2 and TMAF, this study points out that there are two C–F coupling steps in this process, and the second one along a SN2 pathway is the rate‐determining step with a free energy barrier of 9.6 kcal/mol. The fluoride anions (F−) come from TMAF as fluorination reagent, which agree well with experimental results. And SO2F2 acts as deoxidization reagent. In comparison with the benzaldehyde deoxyfluorination by diethylaminosulfur trifluoride (DAST), the aldehyde deoxyfluorination strategy by SO2F2 and TMAF owns thermodynamic and kinetic advantages. This theoretical study could provide theoretical insights to design new reagent for the deoxyfluorination of C=O bonds.
Synthesis, Characterization, and Typical Application of Nitrogen‐Doped MoS2 Nanosheets Based on Pulsed Laser Ablation in Liquid Nitrogen
Authors: Shahi Fatemeh , Parvin Parviz , Mortazavi Seyedeh Zahra , Reyhani Ali , Soltannia Babak , Sadrzadeh Mohtada , Moradi Hamed , Ojaghloo Ali , Moafi Ali
Published: May 2022

Molybdenum disulfide nanosheets (MoS2 NSs) are synthesized via pulsed laser ablation of MoS2 target in liquid nitrogen (LN2) using the Q‐switched Nd:YAG (Nd:Y3Al5O12) laser. Not only LN2 facilitates the condensation of the laser‐induced plasma plume to produce MoS2 NSs alongside main by‐products (namely, MoS2 quantum dots (QDs)), but also provides an optimum condition for nitrogen‐doped MoS2 (N‐MoS2) synthesis as a p‐type semiconductor. The structural, optical, and chemical properties of NSs are investigated using various electron microscopic instruments and spectrometers. These attest to the formation of suspension MoS2 NSs with a few‐layer structure and rather large lateral size. MoS2 NSs enjoy extra chemical components such as Mo–N bonding. Furthermore, photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy reveals exciton and trion peaks as the evidence of p‐type property. Subsequently, the Hall effect verifies the p‐type property of N‐MoS2 NSs. By making use of the spin coating, the N‐MoS2 diaphragm has been fabricated; then, it is mounted on the Fabry–Pérot interferometer (FPI) assembly using the fishing method. Thus, N‐MoS2 in FPI acts as a sensitive component of the acoustic optical fiber sensor. The diaphragm operates as ultrasensitive membrane to detect acoustic waves enhancing the sensitivity up to 20% mainly due to the smaller Young's modulus.
Resveratrol ameliorates muscle atrophy in chronic kidney disease via the axis of SIRT1/FoxO1
Authors: Wang Ruiting , Yuan Weidong , Li Lu , Lu Fei , Zhang Lingling , Gong Haifeng , Huang Xinzhong
Published: May 2022

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is often associated with muscle atrophy. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms are still not well understood. Here, we treated 5/6‐nephrectomized (5/6Nx) rats with resveratrol and found that this treatment greatly improves renal function as evidenced by reduced proteinuria and cystatin C. Moreover, resveratrol ameliorates renal fibrosis by reducing transforming growth factor β (TGF‐β) and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF). Meanwhile, muscle atrophy in these 5/6Nx rats was largely attenuated by resveratrol. Immunoprecipitation revealed that SIRT1 physically interacts with FoxO1 in muscle, and this interaction was weakened in 5/6Nx rats. As a consequence, acetylated FoxO1 was increased in muscle of 5/6Nx rats. The application of resveratrol markedly reverses this trend. These data point out that SIRT1 is a key factor for linking renal disease and muscle atrophy. Indeed, both renal dysfunction and muscle atrophy were further aggravated by 5/6Nx in Sirt1+/− mice. Taken together, our data indicate that SIRT1 plays a pivotal role in muscle atrophy in CKD, and FoxO1 might be a substrate of SIRT1 in this process. Furthermore, resveratrol, together with other agonists of SIRT1, may hold great therapeutic potentials for treating CKD and its related muscle atrophy.
Adsorption‐Catalysis‐Conversion of Polysulfides in Sandwiched Ultrathin Ni(OH)2‐PANI for Stable Lithium–Sulfur Batteries
Authors: Yan Min , Wang Zhao‐Yun , Yu Guo‐Wei , Huang Rui , Zhang Cai‐Yun , Chang Xiao‐Ning , Dong Wen‐Da , Liu Xiao‐Long , Liu Jian , Mohamed Hemdan S. H. , Liu Zhi‐Tian , Li Yu , Su Bao‐Lian
Published: May 2022

Strong adsorption and catalysis for lithium polysulfides (LiPSs) are critical toward the electrochemical stability of Li‐S batteries. Herein, a hollow sandwiched nanoparticle is put forward to enhance the adsorption‐catalysis‐conversion dynamic of sulfur species. The outer ultrathin Ni(OH)2 nanosheets not only confine LiPSs via both physical encapsulation and chemical adsorption, but also promote redox kinetics and accelerate the conversion of sulfur species, which is revealed by experiments and theoretical calculations. Meanwhile, the inner hollow polyaniline soft core provides a strong chemical bonding to LiPSs after vulcanization, which can chemically adsorpt LiPSs, and synergistically confine the shuttle effect. Moreover, the Ni(OH)2 nanosheets with a large specific area can enhance the wettability of electrolyte, and the flexible hollow sandwiched structure can accommodate the volume expansion, promoting sulfur utilization and structural stability. The obtained cathode exhibits excellent electrochemical performance with an initial discharge capacity of 1173 mAh g–1 and a small capacity decay of 0.08% per cycle even after 500 cycles at 0.2 C, among the best results of Ni(OH)2‐based materials for Li–S batteries. It is believed that the combination of adsorption‐catalysis‐conversion will shed a light on the development of cathode materials for stable Li–S batteries.
The internationalization of Australian innovative small‐to‐medium enterprises utilizing wholly foreign‐owned entities in China
Authors: Abdulhak Ismail ‘Sol’ , Menzies Jane , Paul Justin , Hassan Rohail
Published: May 2022

The purpose of the paper is to investigate how innovative, small‐to‐medium enterprises (SMEs) internationalize through utilizing wholly foreign‐owned entities (WFOEs), as there is a little research explaining this. This paper presents the findings from in‐depth case studies with 14 SMEs that internationalized to China as WFOEs. The SMEs internationalized as WFOEs in order to tap into opportunities and develop presence. WFOEs were developed either proactively or reactively, which provided a catalyst for internationalization. SMEs mostly used radical, game‐changing product innovations. However, findings from the case studies revealed that the Chinese market did not always accept western innovations, and adaptations had to be made. A new conceptual model with a range of theoretical propositions for future researchers is developed, based on the findings.
Disentangling tau and brain atrophy cluster heterogeneity across the Alzheimer's disease continuum
Authors: Toledo Jon B. , Liu Hangfan , Grothe Michel J. , Rashid Tanweer , Launer Lenore , Shaw Leslie M. , Snoussi Haykel , Heckbert Susan , Weiner Michael , Trojanwoski John Q. , Seshadri Sudha , Habes Mohamad ,   & for the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative
Published: May 2022

Introduction

Neuroimaging heterogeneity in dementia has been examined using single modalities. We evaluated the associations of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) atrophy and flortaucipir positron emission tomography (PET) clusters across the Alzheimer's disease (AD) spectrum.

Methods

We included 496 Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative participants with brain MRI, flortaucipir PET scan, and amyloid beta biomarker measures obtained. We applied a novel robust collaborative clustering (RCC) approach on the MRI and flortaucipir PET scans. We derived indices for AD‐like (SPARE‐AD index) and brain age (SPARE‐BA) atrophy.

Results

We identified four tau (I–IV) and three atrophy clusters. Tau clusters were associated with the apolipoprotein E genotype. Atrophy clusters were associated with white matter hyperintensity volumes. Only the hippocampal sparing atrophy cluster showed a specific association with brain aging imaging index. Tau clusters presented stronger clinical associations than atrophy clusters. Tau and atrophy clusters were partially associated.

Conclusions

Each neuroimaging modality captured different aspects of brain aging, genetics, vascular changes, and neurodegeneration leading to individual multimodal phenotyping.
Examples of Good Practices in Erasmus+ Projects that Integrate Gender and STEM in Higher Education
Authors: de Castro M. Goretti Alonso , García-Peñalvo Francisco José
Published: May 2022

The European Union promotes the realization of European projects through different programs, among which the Erasmus+ program stands out in the educational field. These projects deal with different topics, including gender and STEM in the different educational sectors, Higher Education included. In addition, the projects are cataloged and can be searched and consulted in the Erasmus+ Project Results Platform that allows filtering and choosing by educational sector, project type, by specific tokens, as well as selecting those that are labeled as success stories and/or good practices. Knowing which have been the projects that have been considered the most outstanding, successful, and/or good practice in the field of gender and STEM in Higher Education and finding the aspects that characterize them can be a source of inspiration to deepen in this field of research based on current experiences that have worked. This is the purpose of this chapter, which shows these outstanding projects as references in the field of STEM empowerment among women in Higher Education.
Inter-rater reliability for assessing intracranial collaterals in patients with acute ischemic stroke: comparing 29 raters and an artificial intelligence-based software
Authors: Wolff Lennard , Su Jiahang , Van Loon Derek , van Es Adriaan , van Doormaal Pieter Jan , Majoie Charles , van Zwam Wim , Dippel Diederik , van der Lugt Aad , van Walsum Theo ,   on behalf of the MR CLEAN investigators
Published: May 2022

Purpose

Outcome of endovascular treatment in acute ischemic stroke patients is depending on the collateral circulation maintaining blood flow to the ischemic territory. We evaluated the inter-rater reliability and accuracy of raters and an automated algorithm for assessing the collateral score (CS, range: 0–3) in acute ischemic stroke patients.

Methods

Baseline CTA scans with an intracranial anterior occlusion from the MR CLEAN study (n=500) were used. For each core lab CS, ten CTA scans with sufficient quality were randomly selected. After a training session in collateral scoring, all selected CTA scans were individually evaluated for a visual CS by three groups: 7 radiologists, 13 junior and 9 senior radiology residents. Two additional radiologists scored CS to be used as reference, with a third providing a CS to produce a 2 out of 3 consensus CS in case of disagreement. An automated algorithm was also used to compute CS. Inter-rater agreement was reported with intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Accuracy of visual and automated CS were calculated.

Results

39 CTA scans were assessed (1 corrupt CTA-scan excluded). All groups showed a moderate ICC (0.689-0.780) in comparison to the reference standard. Overall human accuracy was 65± 7% and increased to 88± 5% for dichotomized CS (0–1, 2–3). Automated CS accuracy was 62%, and 90% for dichotomized CS. No significant difference in accuracy was found between groups with different levels of expertise.

Conclusion

After training, inter-rater reliability in collateral scoring was not influenced by experience. Automated CS performs similar to residents and radiologists in determining a collateral score.
Comparison of CT, MRI, and F-18 FDG PET/CT for initial N-staging of oral squamous cell carcinoma: a cost-effectiveness analysis
Authors: Burian Egon , Palla Benjamin , Callahan Nicholas , Pyka Thomas , Wolff Constantin , von Schacky Claudio E. , Schmid Annabelle , Froelich Matthias F. , Rübenthaler Johannes , Makowski Marcus R. , Gassert Felix G.
Published: May 2022

Background and purpose

Treatment of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is based on clinical exam, biopsy, and a precise imaging-based TNM-evaluation. A high sensitivity and specificity for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and F-18 FDG PET/CT are reported for N-staging. Nevertheless, staging of oral squamous cell carcinoma is most often based on computed tomography (CT) scans. This study aims to evaluate cost-effectiveness of MRI and PET/CT compared to standard of care imaging in initial staging of OSCC within the US Healthcare System.

Methods

A decision model was constructed using quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) and overall costs of different imaging strategies including a CT of the head, neck, and the thorax, MRI of the neck with CT of the thorax, and whole body F-18 FDG PET/CT using Markov transition simulations for different disease states. Input parameters were derived from literature and willingness to pay (WTP) was set to US $100,000/QALY. Deterministic sensitivity analysis of diagnostic parameters and costs was performed. Monte Carlo modeling was used for probabilistic sensitivity analysis.

Results

In the base-case scenario, total costs were at US $239,628 for CT, US $240,001 for MRI, and US $239,131 for F-18 FDG PET/CT whereas the model yielded an effectiveness of 5.29 QALYs for CT, 5.30 QALYs for MRI, and 5.32 QALYs for F-18 FDG PET/CT respectively. F-18 FDG PET/CT was the most cost-effective strategy over MRI as well as CT, and MRI was the cost-effective strategy over CT. Deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analysis showed high robustness of the model with incremental cost effectiveness ratio remaining below US $100,000/QALY for a wide range of variability of input parameters.

Conclusion

F-18 FDG PET/CT is the most cost-effective strategy in the initial N-staging of OSCC when compared to MRI and CT. Despite less routine use, both whole body PET/CT and MRI are cost-effective modalities in the N-staging of OSCC. Based on these findings, the implementation of PET/CT for initial staging could be suggested to help reduce costs while increasing effectiveness in OSCC.
Does preoperative opioid therapy in patients with a single lumbar disc herniation positively influence the postoperative outcome detected by quantitative sensory testing?
Authors: Gasser Lea , Lener Sara , Hartmann Sebastian , Löscher Wolfgang N. , Thomé Claudius , Hofer Anja
Published: May 2022

The importance of the type of pain medication in spinal disease is an ongoing matter of debate. Recent guidelines recommend acetaminophen and NSAIDs as first-line medication for lumbar disc herniation. However, opioid pain medication is commonly used in patients with chronic pain, and therefore also in patients with sciatica. The aim of this study is to evaluate if opioids have an impact on the outcome in patients suffering from lumbar disc herniation. To assess this objectively quantitative sensory testing (QST) was applied. In total, 52 patients with a single lumbar disc herniation confirmed on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and treated by lumbar sequesterectomy were included in the trial. Patients were analysed according to their preoperative opioid intake: 35 patients who did not receive opioids (group NO) and 17 patients, who received opioids preoperatively (group O). Further evaluation included detailed medical history, physical examination, various questionnaires, and QST. No pre- and postoperative differences were detected in thermal or mechanical thresholds (p > 0.05). Wind-up ratio (WUR) differed significantly between groups 1 week postoperatively (p = 0.025). The NRS for low back pain was rated significantly higher in the non-opioid group (NO) after 1-week follow-up (p = 0.026). Radicular pain tended to be higher in the NO group after 12 months of follow-up (p = 0.023). Opioids seem to be a positive predictor for the postoperative pain outcome in early follow-up in patients undergoing lumbar sequesterectomy. Furthermore, patients presented with less radicular pain 1 year after surgery.
Set of Support, Demodulation, Paramodulation: A Historical Perspective
Authors: Bonacina Maria Paola
Published: May 2022

This article is a tribute to the scientific legacy of automated reasoning pioneer and JAR founder Lawrence T. (Larry) Wos. Larry’s main technical contributions were theset-of-support strategyfor resolution theorem proving, and thedemodulationandparamodulationinference rules for building equality into resolution. Starting from the original definitions of these concepts in Larry’s papers, this survey traces their evolution, unearthing the often forgotten trails that connect Larry’s original definitions to those that became standard in the field.
Solid electrolyte based on 2-adamantanone for all-solid-state lithium-ion batteries
Authors: Bardenhagen Ingo , Soto Marc , Langer Frederieke , Koschek Katharina , Schwenzel Julian
Published: May 2022

Solid-state batteries are considered the next step in battery technology. Materials investigated for application as solid-state electrolytes are mainly oxide ceramics, sulfidic (glass-) ceramics, and polymers. Besides these, another class of solid electrolytes with promising properties is based on plastic crystals. Especially due to their waxy behavior, they promise good interfaces within a solid-state battery. In this work, a new plastic crystal, 2-adamantanone, is investigated as basis for a solid electrolyte for the first time. Its large temperature window from − 95 to 255 °C for its plastic (conductive) state and the high dipole moment of 3.4 D make it a promising material for battery application. The mixture with a lithium salt was investigated thermally with TGA and DSC revealing stability in a large temperature range from − 30 to + 80 °C. IR investigations show the dissociation of the conductive salt, which is necessary for the lithium ion conduction. The ionic conductivity of the electrolytes reaches values up to 1.4·10−4 S/cm at room temperature with a very low activation energy of only 0.32 eV.
Development of a contaminant concentration transport model for sulfate-contaminated areas
Authors: Zeynali Mohammad Javad , Pourreza-Bilondi Mohsen , Akbarpour Abolfazl , Yazdi Jafar , Zekri Slim
Published: May 2022

Groundwater pollution is one of the most important challenges for human. In many parts of the world, groundwater is used for agriculture and even drinking, whereas natural and human-made groundwater contaminants have also affected the quality of these waters. Therefore, monitoring and evaluating the quantity and quality of groundwater is very important. In this research, the efficiency of finite element method (FEM) for groundwater flow and Sulfate concentration transport modeling has been investigated for a 7-year period. After finite element validation analysis, this method was employed in a hypothetical and real-case aquifer with regularly distributed nodes and square elements 200 m × 200 m. The mean error and root mean square error (RMSE) as performance criteria were used to evaluate the performance of the model. The results indicated that the FEM model with RMSE = 1.06 (m) and 1.44 (me/lit) has good skills in groundwater flow and contaminant transport modeling, respectively. Also, the results of the FEM model indicated that in the northeast of the aquifer, the groundwater level is low and the amount of Sulfate is high (higher than the standard values recommended by) which is also confirmed by real data.
Anxiety and depressive symptoms among physicians during the COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Hasan M. Tasdik , Hossain Sahadat , Safa Farhana , Anjum Afifa , Khan Abid Hasan , Koly Kamrun Nahar , Alam Syeda Fatema , Rafi Md. Abdur , Podder Vivek , Trisa Tonima Islam , Nodi Rhedeya Nury , Azad Dewan Tasnia , Ashraf Fatema , Akther S. M. Quamrul , Ahmed Helal Uddin , Rosenbaum Simon , Thornicroft Graham
Published: May 2022

Objectives

In addition to risking their physical well-being, frontline physicians are enduring significant emotional burden both at work and home during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. This study aims to investigate the levels of anxiety and depressive symptoms and to identify associated factors among Bangladeshi physicians during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Methods and design

A cross-sectional study using an online survey following a convenience sampling technique was conducted between April 21 and May 10, 2020. Outcomes assessed included demographic questions, COVID-19 related questions, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS).

Results

The survey was completed by 412 Bangladeshi physicians. The findings revealed that, in terms of standardized HADS cut-off points, the prevalence of anxiety and depressive symptoms among physicians was 67.72% and 48.5% respectively. Risk factors for higher rates of anxiety or depressive symptoms were: being female, physicians who had experienced COVID-19 like symptoms during the pandemic, those who had not received incentives, those who used self-funded personal protective equipment (PPE), not received adequate training, lacking perceived self-efficacy to manage COVID-19 positive patients, greater perceived stress of being infected, fear of getting assaulted/humiliated, being more connected with social media, having lower income levels to support the family, feeling more agitated, less than 2 h of leisure activity per day and short sleep duration. All these factors were found to be positively associated with anxiety and depression in unadjusted and adjusted statistical models.

Conclusions

This study identifies a real concern about the prevalence of anxiety and depressive symptoms among Bangladeshi physicians and identifies several associated factors during the COVID-19 pandemic. Given the vulnerability of the physicians in this extraordinary period whilst they are putting their own lives at risk to help people infected by COVID-19, health authorities should address the psychological needs of medical staff and formulate effective strategies to support vital frontline health workers.
The longer abolition of the Chinese imperial examination system (1900s–1910s)
Authors: Chu Shiuon
Published: May 2022

By connecting seemingly scattered reforms and debates over the 1900s and 1910s, this paper outlines a longer process that eroded the institutional and ideological foundations of the imperial examination system (keju) that did not vanish immediately after the 1905 abolition. Under the title incentive program introduced in 1904, keju titles had been awarded to graduates of modern schools until the very end of the Qing dynasty. As the number of modern schools surged over the 1900s, the program led to an overexpansion of title holders, and ironically enhanced the scholar-official identity that was at odds with the discipline at the modern schools. To lobby for the abolition of the program, non-official reformers of education formulated a moralized critique against the keju titles, but no substantial reform had been undertaken before the 1911 Revolution ended the Qing dynasty. In the 1910s the same network of late Qing reformers launched an ideological war against traditional values that they saw as the ideological foundation of the keju. They constructed new concepts of education and vocation that spread through a powerful network connecting education, industry, and media. This “longer abolition” of the keju produced a prolonged effect on the visions of social order in twentieth century China.
Come Work With Us: Inclusivity, Performance, Engagement, and Job Satisfaction as Correlates of Employer Recommendation
Authors: Im Hohjin
Published: May 2022

Abstract. Employee referral is a critical component of talent acquisition. Yet, its underlying correlates remain understudied. Using three years of annual surveys of US public employees ( n2019 = 1,133, n2020 = 1,190, n2021 = 1,330), the results showed that perceptions of workplace inclusion culture and leadership performance orientation were positively associated with employee engagement, which, in turn, was associated with job satisfaction. Engagement and job satisfaction were positively associated with employer recommendation, sequentially linking the conceptual indirect effects of inclusion culture and performance orientation on willingness to recommend one’s workplace. Utilizing even short employee surveys may yield notable insights for administration to model employee referral and recommendation intentions.
Spatial Patterns of Deltaic Deposition/Erosion Revealed by Streaklines Extracted From Remotely‐Sensed Suspended Sediment Concentration
Authors: Salter Gerard , Passalacqua Paola , Wright Kyle , Feil Sarah , Jensen Daniel , Simard Marc , Lamb Michael P.
Published: May 2022

Deltas are vulnerable landscapes, making it crucial to understand their spatial patterns of deposition/erosion. Here, we used patterns in suspended sediment concentration (SSC) measured by a NASA airborne spectrometer, AVIRIS‐NG, to infer deposition/erosion within Wax Lake Delta, Louisiana. Conceptually, change in SSC within a fluid parcel traveling downstream reflects settling and/or entrainment from the bed. We found that remotely‐sensed SSC displays curvilinear features, which we interpret as streaklines. We developed a semi‐automated technique for extracting streaklines using a cost function based on SSC and its geometric curvature. We measured SSC change along streaklines, which when combined with flow velocities obtained from a hydrodynamic model, allowed us to infer instantaneous deposition/erosion rates. These rates are realistic in magnitude and record coherent spatial patterns across the delta. Our novel method provides a promising avenue for relating spatial patterns of land change to flow conditions over wide areas in vulnerable deltas.
Brain atrophy pattern in de novo Parkinson’s disease with probable RBD associated with cognitive impairment
Authors: Oltra Javier , Uribe Carme , Segura Barbara , Campabadal Anna , Inguanzo Anna , Monté-Rubio Gemma C. , Pardo Jèssica , Marti Maria J. , Compta Yaroslau , Valldeoriola Francesc , Junque Carme , Iranzo Alex
Published: May 2022

Rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder (RBD) is associated with high likelihood of prodromal Parkinson’s disease (PD) and is common in de novo PD. It is associated with greater cognitive impairment and brain atrophy. However, the relation between structural brain characteristics and cognition remains poorly understood. We aimed to investigate subcortical and cortical atrophy in de novo PD with probable RBD (PD-pRBD) and to relate it with cognitive impairment. We analyzed volumetry, cortical thickness, and cognitive measures from 79 PD-pRBD patients, 126 PD without probable RBD patients (PD-non pRBD), and 69 controls from the Parkinson’s Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI). Regression models of cognition were tested using magnetic resonance imaging measures as predictors. We found lower left thalamus volume in PD-pRBD compared with PD-non pRBD. Compared with controls, PD-pRBD group showed atrophy in the bilateral putamen, left hippocampus, left amygdala, and thinning in the right superior temporal gyrus. Specific deep gray matter nuclei volumes were associated with impairment in global cognition, phonemic fluency, processing speed, and visuospatial function in PD-pRBD. In conclusion, cognitive impairment and gray matter atrophy are already present in de novo PD-pRBD. Thalamus, hippocampus, and putamen volumes were mainly associated with these cognitive deficits.
A global database of land management, land-use change and climate change effects on soil organic carbon
Authors: Beillouin Damien , Demenois Julien , Cardinael Rémi , Berre David , Corbeels Marc , Fallot Abigail , Boyer Annie , Feder Frédéric
Published: May 2022

Increasing soil organic carbon (SOC) in natural and cultivated ecosystems is proposed as a natural climate solution to limit global warming. SOC dynamics is driven by numerous factors such as  land-use change, land management and climate change. The amount of additional carbon potentially stored in the soil is the subject of much debate in the scientific community. We present a global database compiling the results of 217 meta-analyses analyzing the effects of land management, land-use change and climate change on SOC. We report a total of 15,857 effect sizes, 6,550 directly related to soil carbon, and 9,307 related to other associated soil or plant variables. The database further synthesizes results of 13,632 unique primary studies across more than 150 countries that were used in the meta-analyses. Meta-analyses and their effect sizes and were classified by type of intervention and land use, outcomes, country and region. This database helps to understand the drivers of SOC sequestration, the associated co-benefits and potential drawbacks, and is a useful tool to guide future global climate change policies.
Application of nanoindentation technology in testing the mechanical properties of skull materials
Authors: Wang Jia-Wen , Yu Kai , Li Man , Wu Jun , Wang Jie , Wan Chang-Wu , Xiao Chao-Lun , Xia Bing , Huang Jiang
Published: May 2022

Three-point bending test, compression test and tensile test can detect the mechanical properties of the whole layer of skull, but cannot detect the mechanical properties of the inner plate, the diploe and the outer plate of the skull. In this study, nanoindentation technology was applied to detect mechanical properties of micro-materials of the skull, and differences in micro-mechanical properties of the inner, diploe and outer plates of the skull and cranial suture of human carcasses at different ages were analyzed. The differences in hardness (HIT) and modulus of elasticity (E) were statistically significant among different age groups (P < 0.01). In terms of structure, the E of diploe was higher than that of other structures, while HIT had no significant statistical difference. In terms of location, both HIT and E showed that left frontal (LF) was significantly higher than coronal suture (CS). The above results were consistent with the multi-factor ANOVAs. In addition, the multi-factor ANOVAs further explained the interaction of HIT and E with age, location and structure. It was believed that the nanoindentation technique could be used to analyze laws of micromechanical properties of different structures of human cadaveric skull and cranial suture.
Using deep learning to identify maturity and 3D distance in pineapple fields
Authors: Chang Chia-Ying , Kuan Ching-Shan , Tseng Hsin-Yi , Lee Pei-Hsuan , Tsai Shang-Han , Chen Shean-Jen
Published: May 2022

Pineapples are an important agricultural economic crop in Taiwan. Considerable human resources are required to protect pineapples from excessive solar radiation, which could otherwise lead to overheating and subsequent deterioration. Note that simple covering all of the fruit with a paper bag is not a viable solution, due to the fact that it makes it impossible to determine whether the fruit is ripe. This paper proposes a system by which to automate the detection of ripe pineapples. The proposed deep learning architecture enables detection regardless of lighting conditions, achieving accuracy of more than 99.27% with error of less than 2% at distances of 300 ~ 800 mm. This proposed system using an Nvidia TX2 is capable of 15 frames per second, thereby making it possible to mount the device on machines that move at walking speed.
Bayesian optimization and deep learning for steering wheel angle prediction
Authors: Riboni Alessandro , Ghioldi Nicolò , Candelieri Antonio , Borrotti Matteo
Published: May 2022

Automated driving systems (ADS) have undergone a significant improvement in the last years. ADS and more precisely self-driving cars technologies will change the way we perceive and know the world of transportation systems in terms of user experience, mode choices and business models. The emerging field of Deep Learning (DL) has been successfully applied for the development of innovative ADS solutions. However, the attempt to single out the best deep neural network architecture and tuning its hyperparameters are all expensive processes, both in terms of time and computational resources. In this work,Bayesian optimization(BO) is used to optimize the hyperparameters of aSpatiotemporal-Long Short Term Memory(ST-LSTM) network with the aim to obtain an accurate model for the prediction of the steering angle in a ADS. BO was able to identify, within a limited number of trials, a model—namely BO_ST-LSTM—which resulted, on a public dataset, the most accurate when compared to classical end-to-end driving models.
Synthesis of salicylic acid phenylethyl ester (SAPE) and its implication in immunomodulatory and anticancer roles
Authors: Das Arup Jyoti , Das Monoj Kumar , Singh Salam Pradeep , Saikia Partha Pratim , Singh Neelu , Islam Johirul , Ansari Aftab , Chattopadhyay Pronobesh , Rajamani Paulraj , Miyaji Tatsuro , Deka Sankar Chandra
Published: May 2022

Salicylic acid phenylethyl ester (SAPE) was synthesized by Zn(OTf)2-catalyzed selective esterification of salicylic acid and phenylethyl alcohol and studied for its role as an immunomodulatory and anticancer agent. Low toxicity and favorable physical, Lipinski-type, and solubility properties were elucidated by ADME-tox studies. Molecular docking of SAPE against COX-2 revealed favorable MolDockscore, rerank score, interaction energy, internal pose energy, and hydrogen bonding as compared to ibuprofen and indomethacin. An average RMSD of ~ 0.13 nm for the docked complex with stable dynamic equilibrium condition was noted during the 20 ns MD simulation. A low band gap predicting a strong binding affinity at the enzyme’s active site was further predicted by DFT analysis. The ester caused a reduction in the percentage of erythrocyte hemolysis and was shown to be non-cytotoxic against human lymphocytes, CaCo-2, and HepG-2 cells by the MTT assay. Moreover, it’s in vitro efficacy in inhibiting COX-2 enzyme under both LPS stimulated intestinal cells and direct sequestration assays was found to be higher than salicylic acid and indomethacin. The anticancer activity of SAPE was tested on the breast cancer cell line MCF-7, and potential efficacy was exhibited in terms of decreased cell viability. Flow cytometry analysis exhibited the arrest of the cell cycle at G1/G0 and S phases, during which induction of autophagic vesicle formation and decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential was observed owing to increased ROS production. Furthermore, at these phases, the onset of apoptosis along with DNA damage was also observed. Pre-treatment with SAPE in colitis-induced Wistar rats displayed low disease activity index and reduction in the extent of intestinal tissue disruption and lipid peroxidation. A marked increase of anti-oxidative enzymes viz., catalase, GGT, and GST, and a decrease of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and TNF-α in the intestinal tissue extracts of the treated groups was noted. The results of this study have sufficient credence to support that the synthesised ester (SAPE) be considered as an anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory compound with therapeutic potential for the effective management of cancer.
Simultaneous dyeing and antibacterial finishing of polypropylene using vinyl sulfone dye under supercritical carbon dioxide
Authors: Abou Elmaaty Tarek , Mousa Abdalla , Gaffar Hatem , Sorour Heba
Published: May 2022

Polypropylene fibres are difficult to dye using commonly used techniques due to the high crystallinity and non-polar aliphatic structure, that lack reactive places for dyes in the molecule. Dyeing PP fabric in scCO2 with antibacterial dyes merged the dyeing and finishing methods, resulting in a more productive technique in terms of water and energy consumption. Unmodified polypropylene fabric was dyed with 4-[2-[4-(ethenylsulphonyl)phenyl]diazenyl]-N,N-diethylbenzenamine antibacterial dye under scCO2 medium. The influences of scCO2 working parameters, such as dye concentration, pressure, dyeing time, and temperature, on fabric dye absorption expressed as color strength were studied. The color strength (K/S) was measured as well as CIELAB color parameters. The results were compared with its water dyeing analogue and it was observed that color strength as well as color depth (L) of the samples dyed in scCO2 were noticeably better than its water counterpart. In both scCO2 and water, the fastness properties (washing, rubbing, and light) of the dyed samples were excellent. Antibacterial activity of the dyed polypropylene sample in scCO2 was estimated and the results indicated good antibacterial efficiency.
Bayesian network-based over-sampling method (BOSME) with application to indirect cost-sensitive learning
Authors: Delgado Rosario , Núñez-González J. David
Published: May 2022

Traditional supervised learning algorithms do not satisfactorily solve the classification problem on imbalanced data sets, since they tend to assign the majority class, to the detriment of the minority class classification. In this paper, we introduce the Bayesian network-based over-sampling method (BOSME), which is a new over-sampling methodology based on Bayesian networks. Over-sampling methods handle imbalanced data by generating synthetic minority instances, with the benefit that classifiers learned from a more balanced data set have a better ability to predict the minority class. What makes BOSME different is that it relies on a new approach, generating artificial instances of the minority class following the probability distribution of a Bayesian network that is learned from the original minority classes by likelihood maximization. We compare BOSME with the benchmark synthetic minority over-sampling technique (SMOTE) through a series of experiments in the context ofindirect cost-sensitive learning, with some state-of-the-art classifiers and various data sets, showing statistical evidence in favor of BOSME, with respect to the expected (misclassification) cost.