bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pivoteo en emprendimientos de software. Motivos, proceso y evaluación
Authors: Lanata Karina , Benítez Pablo , Matturro Gerardo
Published: August 2022

Diversos estudios afirman que las startups de software fracasan en los primeros meses o años, generalmente porque no validaron su hipótesis de negocio, y reusan implementar cambios denominados pivotes. En este trabajo presentamos los resultados del estudio de campo cuyo propósito fue identificar cómo se deciden, implementan y evalúan los “pivot” en las startups de software. A partir de entrevistas a fundadores de diez startups de software, se encuentra que los factores más comunes que generan la necesidad de pivotar son: “reacción negativa de los clientes”, “reacción positiva de un segmento de clientes no previsto” y “enfoque en el mercado objetivo”, y los pivotes más utilizados son “Tecnología”, “Captura de valor” y “Segmento de clientes”.
Refactoring Assertion Roulette and Duplicate Assert test smells: a controlled experiment
Authors: Santana Railana , Martins Luana , Virgínio Tássio , Soares Larissa , Costa Heitor , Machado Ivan
Published: August 2022

Test smells can reduce the developers' ability to interact with the test code. Refactoring test code offers a safe strategy to handle test smells. However, the manual refactoring activity is not a trivial process, and it is often tedious and error-prone. This study aims to evaluate RAIDE, a tool for automatic identification and refactoring of test smells. We present an empirical assessment of RAIDE, in which we analyzed its capability at refactoring Assertion Roulette and Duplicate Assert test smells and compared the results against both manual refactoring and a state-of-the-art approach. The results show that RAIDE provides a faster and more intuitive approach for handling test smells than using an automated tool for smells detection combined with manual refactoring.
Definición de patrones a partir de Buenas Prácticas para el desarrollo de sistemas de Gobierno Electrónico
Authors: Medina Oscar
Published: August 2022

La tesis doctoral que se expone tiene por finalidad elaborar un modelo de análisis para definir patrones de Buenas Prácticas de Gobierno Electrónico. Estos patrones se pueden aplicar en el Modelo Conceptual de los sistemas del sector público para facilitar su construcción con mayor nivel de calidad. La reusabilidad de los sistemas es la dimensión de calidad de software que se intenta optimizar con esta propuesta. Se obtuvieron como resultados de la investigación: un conjunto de tipos de patrones que permiten definir Buenas Prácticas de e-Gob, un modelo de análisis para aplicación de dichos patrones, y un método de catalogado y selección de patrones para incorporar un nuevo software público en la fase de modelado.
Diseño e implementación de un entorno de desarrollo integrado para robótica educativa soportado por una máquina virtual para plataformas de computación física
Authors: Moran Jorge
Published: August 2022

El uso de dispositivos físicos como herramientas de aprendizaje presenta diversos desafíos. Una de las dificultades más grandes a las que se enfrentan los alumnos es la construcción de un modelo mental que permita entender la ejecución de los programas y su relación con el código fuente. El uso de lenguajes visuales no alcanza a resolver este problema y, adicionalmente, puede complicar la eventual transición a lenguajes basados en texto. En este artículo se presenta un entorno de desarrollo integrado para robótica educativa que ofrece una experiencia de programación interactiva basada en un lenguaje híbrido bloques/código.
Metodología Basada en Modelos en Tiempo de Ejecución para la Construcción y Operación de Sistemas Autoconscientes de Internet de las Cosas
Authors: Erazo-Garzón Lenin
Published: August 2022

Hoy en día, uno de los desafíos tecnológicos es el desarrollo de software para sistemas de IoT, ya que operan en escenarios altamente cambiantes, siendo complejo con las metodologías de Ingeniería de Software tradicionales identificar todos los requisitos del sistema en la etapa de desarrollo. Una alternativa es incrementar su autonomía, dotándoles de capacidades de autoconsciencia con el apoyo de los modelos en tiempo de ejecución, a fin de trasladar varias de las funcionalidades que se programan durante el desarrollo al tiempo de ejecución. Este trabajo doctoral propone desarrollar una metodología basada en modelos en tiempo de ejecución para la construcción y operación de sistemas autoconscientes de IoT.
InFaRR: Um algoritmo para reroteamento rápido em planos de dados programáveis
Authors: Luz Gustavo V. , Rocha André L. B. , Almeida Leandro C. de , Verdi Fábio L.
Published: August 2022

O InFaRR (In-network Fast ReRouting) é um algoritmo para reroteamento rápido implementado em P4, apresenta quatro características não encontradas, de maneira conjunta, em outros mecanismos de recuperação: prevenção de loop, pushback, aprendizagem e retorno à rota principal. Os testes em uma topologia Fat-Tree com falhas em diferentes cenários apresentaram resultados positivos quando comparado aos algoritmos do estado da arte da literatura. Nos cenários com uma falha, o InFaRR apresentou menor variação de tempo no atraso dos pacotes quando o pushback foi utilizado, proporcionando menor número de saltos ao contornar a falha. Nos cenários com múltiplas falhas, o InFaRR realizou com sucesso o reroteamento onde os outros algoritmos entraram em loop. O mecanismo único para retorno à rota principal inovou diante da possibilidade de verificação de enlaces remotos em uma estrutura livre de sinalização ou anúncios sobre o estado da rede.
Detecção de Fake News em Língua Portuguesa Combinando Redes Neurais Convolucionais e Algoritmos de Aprendizagem de Máquina
Authors: Sousa Felipe , Barbosa Alice , Oliveira Carina , Braga Reinaldo
Published: August 2022

A popularização das mídias sociais vem sendo um facilitador ao acesso à informação. Porém, o crescente volume de compartilhamento de notícias tem aumentado a preocupação em torno das "fake news", devido seu potencial de manipulação sobre a opinião pública. Sendo assim, este artigo apresenta uma proposta para a análise de notícias em Português e a detecção de fake news, utilizando Aprendizagem de Máquina e Redes Neurais Convolucionais. Para este fim, foi utilizada a base de dados Fake.Br, que apresenta 7.200 artigos de notícias em português. O estudo realizado concentrou-se em analisar tanto os textos, como também os seus respectivos metadados. Desta forma, após uma análise sobre os algoritmos selecionados, obteve-se uma acurácia de 97%.
Um Protocolo de Roteamento Store-Carry-Forward para Unir Redes de Ônibus e Internet dos Drones
Authors: Bine Lailla M. S. , Boukerche Azzedine , Ruiz Linnyer B. , Loureiro Antonio A. F.
Published: August 2022

A Internet of Drones (IoD) é uma arquitetura que possibilita que diferentes drones compartilhem o mesmo espaço aéreo. Um protocolo store-carry-forward pode ser adequado para manter a comunicação na rede. Além disso, diferentes redes podem colaborar para preencher as lacunas de comunicação. O objetivo principal deste trabalho é apresentar o IoDSCF – um protocolo de roteamento store-carry-forward para integrar redes de ônibus e IoD. O IoDSCF aproveita essas redes para estender a acessibilidade da comunicação. IoDSCF apresenta uma melhor taxa de entrega de pacotes e atraso fim-a-fim do que uma solução baseada apenas na comunicação entre drones. Esta é uma estratégia promissora para comunicação de dados em cidades inteligentes.
Anti-cancer Activity of Allium jesdianum Extract Loaded on Microemulsions on Colon Cancer Cells Through Suppression of Autophagy and Activation of Necroptosis Process
Authors: Alidadi Hadis , Shirani Maryam , Samimi Azin , Ashtari Atefeh , Salimi Anayatollah , Khorsandi Layasadat
Published: August 2022

Background: Natural products such as Allium jesdianum (AJ) have pharmacological properties with negligible side effects. However, their therapeutic potential has been limited by their low bioavailability. Nanocarriers improve the bioavailability and stability of flavonoids as the most common polyphenolic antioxidant. Objectives: This study aimed to assess the toxic effects of Allium jesdianum extract (AJE) loaded in microemulsion (AJE-ME) on the HT-29 cells, a human colon cancer cell line. Methods: HT-29 cells were exposed to 50 µM/mL of AJE or AJE-ME for 24 h. Colony formation, cell viability percentage, flow cytometry, and gene expression studies were carried out to assess the impacts of the AJE-ME. Results: The AJE-ME with the required characteristics and a slow-release AJE were prepared. AJE-ME significantly diminished the survival percentage and colony formation of HT-29 cells compared to the free AJE. Upregulation of mTOR and downregulation of Beclin1 and Atg5 indicated suppression of autophagy by the AJE-ME. Flow cytometry results showed that AJE-ME significantly increased the percentage of necrosis in the HT-29 cells. AJE-ME upregulated the expression of necroptosis-related genes such as receptor-interacting protein kinase 3 (RIP3) and mixed lineage kinase domain-like pseudokinase (MLKL). Conclusions: These data collectively demonstrated that ME enhanced the toxic effect of AJE against human colon cancer cells by suppressing autophagy and activating necroptosis.
Radiographic and Serologic Response to First-Line Chemotherapy in Unresected Localized Pancreatic Cancer
Authors: Hester Caitlin A. , Perri Giampaolo , Prakash Laura R. , Maxwell Jessica E. , Ikoma Naruhiko , Kim Michael P. , Tzeng Ching-Wei D. , Smaglo Brandon , Wolff Robert , Javle Milind , Overman Michael J. , Lee Jeffrey E. , Katz Matthew H.G.
Published: August 2022

Background: This study aimed to determine the clinical relevance of putative radiographic and serologic metrics of chemotherapy response in patients with localized pancreatic cancer (LPC) who do not undergo pancreatectomy. Studies evaluating the response of LPC to systemic chemotherapy have focused on histopathologic analyses of resected specimens, but such specimens are not available for patients who do not undergo resection. We previously showed that changes in tumor volume and CA 19-9 levels provide a clinical readout of histopathologic response to preoperative therapy. Methods: Our institutional database was searched for patients with LPC who were treated with first-line chemotherapy between January 2010 and December 2017 and did not undergo pancreatectomy. Radiographic response was measured using RECIST 1.1 and tumor volume. The volume of the primary tumor was compared between pretreatment and posttreatment images. The percentage change in tumor volume (%Δvol) was calculated as a percentage of the pretreatment volume. Serologic response was measured by comparing pretreatment and posttreatment CA 19-9 levels. We established 3 response groups by combining these metrics: (1) best responders with a decline in %Δvol in the top quartile and in CA 19-9, (2) nonresponders with an increase in %Δvol and in CA 19-9, and (3) other patients. Results: This study included 329 patients. Individually, %Δvol and change in CA 19-9 were associated with overall survival (OS) (P≤.1), but RECIST 1.1 was not. In all, 73 patients (22%) were best responders, 42 (13%) were nonresponders, and there were 214 (65%) others. Best responders lived significantly longer than nonresponders and others (median OS, 24 vs 12 vs 17 months, respectively; P<.01). A multivariable model adjusting for type of chemotherapy regimen, number of chemotherapy doses, and receipt of radiotherapy showed that best responders had longer OS than did the other cohorts (hazard ratio [HR], 0.35; 95% CI, 0.21–0.58 for best responders, and HR, 0.55; 95% CI, 0.37–0.83 for others). Conclusions: Changes in tumor volume and serum levels of CA 19-9—but not RECIST 1.1—represent reliable metrics of response to systemic chemotherapy. They can be used to counsel patients and families on survival expectations even if pancreatectomy is not performed.
Extended HPV Genotyping for Risk Assessment of Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia Grade 2/3 or Worse in a Cohort Study
Authors: Li Xiao , Rao Xuan , Wei Ming-Jing , Lu Wei-Guo , Xie Xing , Wang Xin-Yu
Published: August 2022

Background: We sought to identify the absolute risk of specific HPV genotype for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2/3 or worse (CIN2+/3+) and to develop a risk-based management strategy in an HPV-positive population. Methods: HPV genotyping was performed based on a 3-year cervical cancer screening cohort. The study endpoints were histologic CIN2+/3+. The prevalence of specific HPV genotype was calculated by minimum, any type, and hierarchical attribution estimate. The absolute CIN2+/3+ risks of specific HPV genotype were estimated and risk-based management strategy was established according to the American Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology guideline. The efficacy of conventional and risk-based management strategies for non-16/18 HPVs were further evaluated. Results: Eligible data were available for 8,370 women with a median age of 48 years (interquartile range, 42–53 years). At baseline, there were 1,062 women with HPV-positive disease, including 424 with multiple and 639 with single infections. CIN2+/3+ cases represented 113/74, 23/8, 20/7, and 52/31 patients at baseline and first-, second-, and third-year visits, respectively. Women with multiple HPV infections at baseline were more prone to persistent infection than those with single infection (P<.0001). HPV16 and HPV52 were the top 2 ranking among baseline and 3-year cumulative CIN2+/3+ cases. Based on the absolute risk of specific HPV genotype combined with cytology for CIN2+/3+, all non-16/18 HPVs were divided into 4 risk-stratified groups. Compared with conventional strategy, the risk-based strategy had higher specificity (P=.0000) and positive predictive value (P=.0322) to detect CIN3+ and needed fewer colposcopies for each CIN3+ case. Conclusions: Based on our study findings, we propose a new extended HPV genotyping protocol, which would provide a better strategy for achieving precise risk-based management of HPV-positive populations.
Simulating the Programmable Networks for HLA Compatible High-Performance Simulators
Authors: Imre Kayhan
Published: August 2022

This paper explores a parallel discrete event simulator that simulates a programmable fat tree network. The programmable networks can be programmed to perform application specific tasks. The task explored in our research is a time management functionality offloaded to the network switches. Specifically, the network switches used for constructing the fat tree run Greatest Available Logical Time (GALT) computation. In this paper, this switch-based GALT computation is compared against two node-based GALT computations using the simulator developed.
Some ergodicity and truncation bounds for a small scale markovian supercomputer model
Authors: Razumchik Rostislav , Rumyantsev Alexander
Published: August 2022

In this paper we address the transient analysis of a markovian two-server supercomputer model where customers are served by a random number of servers simultaneously. The Markov process, which described the model's evolution, is of quasi-birth-death type. It is shown that, at least under low load conditions, the logarithmic norm method can be used to obtain ergodicity bounds for the model. This allows one to solve both the stability detection problem (i.e. determine when the computations of the time-dependent performance measures can be terminated) and the truncation problem (i.e. locate the level at which the infinite system of Kolmogorov forward equations must be truncated in order to guarantee certain accuracy). An illustrative numerical example is provided.
The Intellectual Genealogy of Indonesian-Malay Qur’an Interpreters: A Historical Tracking
Authors:   Fakultas Ushuluddin dan Humaniora, Universitas Islam Negeri Antasari Jl. A. Yani, KM. 4,5 Banjarmasin, Indonesia, Wardani
Published: August 2022

This article aims to trace the intellectual genealogy of Qur’an interpreters of Indonesia and Malaysia. The term ‘genealogy’ here refers to the origins of the interpreters in terms of their master-pupil relationships and their intellectual networks. Employing a historical approach to the issue, this article concludes that in the 17th century, Shaikh Abd al-Ra’uf of Singkil of Aceh became the first link from whom many early generations of Malay interpreters transmitted knowledge on Qur’anic interpretation. Tok Pulau Manis, the first Malay interpreter, developed the Qur`anic interpretation in the 18th century from this figure. In the subsequent era, Tok Kenali became the common link under whom many Malay interpreters studied, namely Muhammad Idris al-Marbawī, Haji Abdullah Abbas Nasution, Shaikh Uthman Jalaluddin al-Kalantani, and Shaikh Muhammad Salleh Tok Kenali
Axiological interpretation of the "Gemeinschaft" concept
Authors: Skacheva Nina
Published: August 2022

The relevance of the work is determined by the insufficient development of the axiological interpretation of the Gemeinschaft concept in modern linguistics. Axiological interpretation allows you to focus on the deep semantic content of the text through the concepts of "value attitude", "value orientations", "ideals", and on the functional semantics of evaluation. The scientific novelty of the research lies in the previously not attempted attempt to reconstruct that part of the axiosphere of the German language picture of the world, which is actualized by the Gemeinschaft concept. Therefore, the subject of our research is the axiological interpretation of this concept. The purpose of this work is to determine the axiological status of the Gemeinschaft concept using the axiological interpretation procedure and, based on the results obtained, recreate part of the axiosphere of the German language community. To achieve the goal, it is necessary to perform the following tasks: 1) to define the axiological interpretation; 2) to describe the specifics of the structure of the Gemeinschaft concept in modern German; 3) to use conceptual analysis to explicate the evaluative and value meanings of Gemeinschaft; 4) to subject the results obtained to axiological interpretation of the Gemeinschaft concept. Through the axiological analysis of the encyclopedic, interpretative and phraseological fields of the Gemeinschaft (community) concept, the features of its value and evaluation component are investigated. When considering the specifics of the structural organization of the Gemeinschaft concept, the most interesting segment for axiological analysis is the "connection" segment, built on value and spiritual unification.
FANTASIA MORAL E LIBERDADE NA EDUCAÇÃO DE ADULTOS
Authors: SILVA KATIA MARIA SEQUEIRA DA , STOLTZ TANIA
Published: August 2022

Este artigo busca compreender o conceito de fantasia moral e suas implicações para a ação prática livre. Trata do impacto da educação dos primeiros anos da infância até a vida adulta e de como a pedagogia Waldorf pode criar as condições para um pensar intuitivo, que contribua para o individualismo ético e alguma liberdade. À fantasia da criança, segue-se a fantasia criativa do adolescente e a fantasia moral no adulto. O apreciar do belo torna-se o apreciar do que é bom e ético. Os sentidos podem ser educados para apreciar e praticar o belo por meio de atividades práticas e ao alcance de todos, como a experiência com contos e aquarela. Apresenta uma proposta vivenciada de educação de adultos a partir da atividade artística de aquarela com contos de fadas como uma possibilidade de autodesenvolvimento de adultos ao longo da vida.
A RELAÇÃO DO TRABALHO DOS INTÉRPRETES DE LIBRAS COM OS PROFESSORES DE CIÊNCIAS: UM OLHAR PARA A PRÁTICA DOCENTE
Authors: Souza Francisnaide Dos Santos , Dias Viviane Borges , Oliveira Rafaela Rocha de
Published: August 2022

Os processos educativos relacionados à inclusão de pessoas surdas na educação básica muitas vezes estão limitados à presença do intérprete de Libras na sala de aula. A pesquisa objetiva analisar a relação do trabalho dos intérpretes de Libras com os professores de Ciências em uma escola pública do interior da Bahia. O estudo tem abordagem qualitativa e o delineamento utilizado foi o estudo de caso. O instrumento de coleta de dados foi a entrevista semiestruturada, realizada com duas professoras de Ciências e cinco intérpretes. Os resultados apontam que os intérpretes apresentam muitas dificuldades na tradução dos conteúdos relacionados à disciplina de Ciências, especialmente com os conteúdos de Citologia. Ficou evidenciado também que a não relação de trabalho entre esses profissionais compromete o processo de aprendizagem do aluno surdo.
Dupilumab Drug Survival and Associated Predictors in Patients With Moderate to Severe Atopic Dermatitis
Authors: Spekhorst Lotte S. , de Graaf Marlies , Zuithoff Nicolaas P. A. , van den Reek Juul M. P. A. , Kamsteeg Marijke , Boesjes Celeste M. , Romeijn Geertruida L. E. , Loman Laura , Haeck Inge , Oosting Albert J. , de Boer-Brand Astrid , Touwslager Wouter R. H. , Flinterman Annebeth , van Lynden-van Nes Anneke M. T. , Gostynski Antoni H. , de Bruin-Weller Marjolein S. , Schuttelaar Marie-Louise
Published: August 2022

Importance

Long-term data on dupilumab drug survival in patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) are scarce. Furthermore, little is known about the factors associated with drug survival of dupilumab in AD.

Objective

To describe the drug survival of dupilumab in patients with AD and to identify associated predictors.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This cohort study was based on data from the multicenter prospective daily practice BioDay registry, in which 4 university and 10 nonuniversity hospitals in the Netherlands participated. Analysis included patients (age ≥18 years) participating in the BioDay registry with a follow-up of at least 4 weeks. The first patient treated with dupilumab was recorded in the BioDay registry in October 2017; data lock took place in December 2020, and data analysis was performed from October 2017 to December 2020.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Drug survival was analyzed by Kaplan-Meier survival curves and associated characteristics by using univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis.

Results

A total of 715 adult patients with AD (mean [SD] age, 41.8 [16.0] years; 418 [58.5%] were male) were included with a 1-year, 2-year, and 3-year overall dupilumab drug survival of 90.3%, 85.9%, and 78.6%, respectively. Characteristics associated with shorter drug survival owing to ineffectiveness were the use of immunosuppressant drugs at baseline (hazard ratio [HR], 2.64; 95% CI, 1.10-6.37) and being a nonresponder at 4 weeks (HR, 8.68; 95% CI, 2.97-25.35). Characteristics associated with shorter drug survival owing to adverse effects were the use of immunosuppressant drugs at baseline (HR, 2.69; 95% CI, 1.32-5.48), age 65 years or older (HR, 2.94; 95% CI, 1.10-7.87), and Investigator Global Assessment score of very severe AD (HR, 3.51; 95% CI, 1.20-10.28).

Conclusions and Relevance

This cohort study demonstrated a good overall 1-year, 2-year, and 3-year dupilumab drug survival. Patients using immunosuppressive therapy at baseline and those with an absence of treatment effect at week 4 tended to discontinue treatment owing to ineffectiveness more frequently. Using immunosuppressant drugs at baseline, older age, and Investigator Global Assessment score of very severe AD were characteristics associated with an increased risk for discontinuation owing to adverse effects. These data provide more insight and new perspectives regarding dupilumab treatment in AD and can contribute to the optimization of patient outcomes.
Cutaneous Blastomycosis
Authors: Caldito Elena Gonzalez , Antia Camila , Petronic-Rosic Vesna
Published: August 2022

This case report describes a verrucous oval plaque with central atrophy on the right thigh.
Comparative study of SRS end‐to‐end QA processes of a diode array device and an anthropomorphic phantom loaded with GafChromic XD film
Authors: Lim Seng Boh , Kuo LiCheng , Li Tianfang , Li Xiang , Ballangrud Ase M. , Lovelock Michael , Chan Maria F.
Published: August 2022

Purpose

End‐to‐end testing (E2E) is a necessary process for assessing the readiness of the stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) program and annual QA of an SRS system according to the AAPM MPPG 9a. This study investigates the differences between using a new SRS MapCHECK (SRSMC) system and an anthropomorphic phantom film‐based system in a large network with different SRS delivery techniques.

Methods and materials

Three SRS capable Linacs (Varian Medical Systems, Palo Alto, CA) at three different regional sites were chosen to represent a hospital network, a Trilogy with an M120 multi‐leaf collimator (MLC), a TrueBeam with an M120 MLC, and a TrueBeam Stx with an HD120 MLC. An anthropomorphic STEEV phantom (CIRS, Norfolk, VA) and a phantom/diode array: StereoPHAN/SRSMC (Sun Nuclear, Melbourne, FL) were CT scanned at each site. The new STV‐PHANTOM EBT‐XD films (Ashland, Bridgewater, NJ) were used. Six plans with various complexities were measured with both films and SRSMC in the StereoPHAN to establish their dosimetric correlations. Three SRS cranial plans with a total of sixteen fields using dynamic conformal arc and volumetric‐modulated arc therapy, with 1–4 targets, were planned with Eclipse v15.5 treatment planning system (TPS) using a custom SRS beam model for each machine. The dosimetric and localization accuracy were compared. The time of analysis for the two systems by three teams of physicists was also compared to assess the throughput efficiency.

Results

The correlations between films and SRSMC were found to be 0.84 (p = 0.03) and 0.16 (p = 0.76) for γ (3%, 1 mm) and γ (3%, 2 mm), respectively. With film, the local dose differences (ΔD) relative to the average dose within the 50% isodose line from the three sites were found to be −3.2%–3.7%. The maximum localization errors (Elocal) were found to be within 0.5 ± 0.2 mm. With SRSMC, the ΔD was found to be within 5% of the TPS calculation. Elocal were found to be within 0.7 to 1.1 ± 0.4 mm for TrueBeam and Trilogy, respectively. Comparing with film, an additional uncertainty of 0.7 mm was found with SRSMC. The delivery and analysis times were found to be 6 and 2 h for film and SRSMC, respectively.

Conclusions

The SRS MapCHECK agrees dosimetrically with the films within measurement uncertainties. However, film dosimetry shows superior sub‐millimeter localization resolving power for the MPPG 9a implementation.
Design of a novel 5‐camera surface guidance system with multiple imaging isocenters
Authors: Ates Ozgur , Zhao Li , Sobczak David , Pirlepesov Fakhriddin , Hua Chia‐ho , Waghorn Ben , Merchant Thomas E.
Published: August 2022

Purpose/objective(s)

Surface‐guided radiation therapy (SGRT) can track the patient surface noninvasively to complement radiographic image‐guided radiation therapy with a standard 3‐camera system and a single radiation/image isocenter. Here we report the commissioning of a novel SGRT system that monitors three imaging isocenters locations in a proton half‐gantry room with a unique 5‐camera configuration.

Materials/methods

The proton half‐gantry room has three image isocenters, designated ISO‐0, ISO‐1, and ISO‐2, to cover various anatomical sites via a robotic ceiling‐mounted cone‐beam CT. Although ISO‐0 and ISO‐1 are used to image the cranium, head and neck, and thoracic regions, ISO‐2 is often used to image body and extremity sites and contiguous craniospinal target volumes. The five‐camera system was calibrated to the radiographic isocenter by using a stereotactic radiosurgery cube phantom for each image isocenter.

Results

The performance of this 5‐camera system was evaluated for 6 degrees of freedom in three categories: (1) absolute setup accuracy relative to the radiographic kV image isocenter based on the DICOM reference; (2) relative shift accuracy based on a reference surface capture; and (3) isocenter tracking accuracy from one isocenter to another based on a reference surface capture. The evaluation revealed maximum deviations of 0.8, 0.2, and 0.6 mm in translation and 0.2°, 0.1°, and 0.1° in rotation for the first, second, and third categories, respectively. Comparing the dosimetry and latency with static and gated irradiation revealed a 0.1% dose difference and positional differences of 0.8 mm in X and 0.9 mm in Y with less than 50 ms temporal accuracy.

Conclusion

The unique 5‐camera system configuration provides SGRT at the treatment isocenter (ISO‐0) and also imaging isocenter locations (ISO‐0, ISO‐1, and ISO‐2) to ensure correct patient positioning before and after radiographic imaging, especially during transitions from the offset imaging isocenters to the treatment isocenter.
MOF‐Based Chemiresistive Gas Sensors: Toward New Functionalities
Authors: Jo Young‐Moo , Jo Yong Kun , Lee Jong‐Heun , Jang Ho Won , Hwang In‐Sung , Yoo Do Joon
Published: August 2022

The sensing performances of gas sensors must be improved and diversified to enhance quality of life by ensuring health, safety, and convenience. Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), which exhibit an extremely high surface area, abundant porosity, and unique surface chemistry, provide a promising framework for facilitating gas‐sensor innovations. Enhanced understanding of conduction mechanisms of MOFs has facilitated their use as gas‐sensing materials, and various types of MOFs have been developed by examining the compositional and morphological dependences and implementing catalyst incorporation and light activation. Owing to their inherent separation and absorption properties and catalytic activity, MOFs are applied as molecular sieves, absorptive filtering layers, and heterogeneous catalysts. In addition, oxide‐ or carbon‐based sensing materials with complex structures or catalytic composites can be derived by the appropriate post‐treatment of MOFs. This review discusses the effective techniques to design optimal MOFs, in terms of computational screening and synthesis methods. Moreover, the mechanisms through which the distinctive functionalities of MOFs as sensing materials, heterostructures, and derivatives can be incorporated in gas‐sensor applications are presented.
Hierarchical Thiospinel NiCo2S4/Polyaniline Hybrid Nanostructures as a Bifunctional Electrocatalyst for Highly Efficient and Durable Overall Water Splitting
Authors: Garain Samiran , Dang Van Cu , Choi Seungwoo , Nguyen Dang Tru , Ager Joel W. , Nam Ki Tae , Shin Hyeyoung , Lee Min Hyung
Published: August 2022

The development of a nonprecious, stable, and highly effective electrocatalyst for decomposition of water into oxygen and hydrogen is vitally important for sustainable energy conversion, but it still remains challenging to replace the noble metal electrocatalysts with more economically viable alternatives. Herein, a polyaniline (PANI) decorated hierarchical nickel cobalt thiospinel (NiCo2S4) hybrid catalyst (NCS‐P) has been developed that shows enhanced dual catalytic activity for both the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) compared to pristine NiCo2S4 (NCS). Benefiting from the conductive PANI coating, the hierarchical NCS‐P nanostructure exhibits outstanding electrocatalytic activity in alkaline solution with low overpotentials of 273 ± 3 and 77 ± 4 mV at 10 mA cm−2 and low Tafel slopes of 42.2 and 68.5 mV dec−1 for OER and HER, respectively, which are better than those of the benchmark noble‐metal‐based RuO2 and Pt/C.
Metal Atom Desorption from Organofluorine Surfaces: What Factors Govern Desorption?
Authors: Tsujioka Tsuyoshi , Kusaka Hatsuka
Published: August 2022

Metal pattern formation using vacuum evaporation is an essential technology in various fields such as electronics, photonics, and industrial mass production. An application of selective metal deposition, in which a metal pattern can be prepared by maskless vacuum evaporation, based on the phenomenon of metal atom desorption from the organic surface, is expected as a promising method. However, the surface physical properties that govern the desorption of metals have not been fully clarified. In this study, the metal desorption phenomenon in various organofluorine films with a low surface energy is investigated in detail, and the factors governing the desorption are clarified. It is revealed that metal desorption requires not a low total surface energy but rather the London dispersion component of surface energy as small as 20 mJ m−2, and, moreover, that the surface should have fluidity or high molecular mobility. As typical materials having such physical properties, commercially available mold release agents show efficient desorption with respect to many metals having a low intrinsic vapor pressure such as Au, Ag, Cr, and In. Furthermore, 3D integrated deposition is performed as a demonstration of efficient metal desorption. This highly efficient metal desorption phenomenon is applicable to various fields including electronics.
Multifunctional surface coating using chitosan and its chemical functionalization
Authors: Ko Sangwon
Published: August 2022

Biologically active surfaces with spatio‐selective binding capabilities minimize nonspecific adsorption and are essential to fabricate biomedical devices. Chitosan is a potential material for such a functional surface because of its good biocompatibility. In this study, a chitosan‐based bioactive surface was prepared using a facile drop‐casting method. Nonbiofouling properties of the bare chitosan film were observed against fluorescent‐tagged proteins (streptavidin and bovine serum albumin). The interaction of streptavidin with biotin was used to assess the specific binding capabilities. Biotin was spatially and selectively immobilized onto the film through surface organic reactions. Fluorescence intensities of the streptavidin‐treated chitosan film proportionally changed with the biotin concentration, suggesting a good specific binding. Furthermore, the intrinsic amine groups in the chitosan coating provided antibacterial properties, which could be further enhanced by introducing quaternary ammonium cations. The combination of nonbiofouling, specific binding, and antibacterial properties renders chitosan a viable candidate for biomedical and analytical applications.
A recent update on new synthetic chiral compounds with antileishmanial activity
Authors: Verboni Michele , Olivieri Diego , Lucarini Simone
Published: August 2022

Parasitic diseases, including malaria, leishmaniasis, and trypanosomiasis, affect billions of people and are responsible for almost 500,000 deaths/year. In particular, leishmaniasis, a neglected tropical disease, is considered a global public health problem because current drugs have several drawbacks including to toxicity, high cost, and drug resistance, which result in a lack of effective and readily available therapies. Therefore, the synthesis of new, safe, and effective molecules still requires the attention of the scientific community. Moreover, it is well known that chirality plays a crucial role in the antiparasitic activity of molecules, driving the design of their synthesis. Therefore, in this review we report a recent update on new chiral compounds with promising antileishmanial activity, focusing on synthetic approaches. Where reported, in most cases the enantiopure compound has shown better potency against the protozoa than its enantiomer or corresponding racemic mixture.
Assessing Edible Composite Film Polymer from Potato Industry Effluent under High Hydrostatic Pressure and Its Antimicrobial Properties
Authors: Akdemir Evrendilek Gulsun , Bulut Nurullah , Uzuner Sibel
Published: August 2022

Development of edible film from potato industry effluent having antimicrobial properties against Salmonella enteritidis and Escherichia coli O157:H7 by addition of Citrus sinensis volatile oil (VO), and changes of its textural properties under high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) are investigated. The optimum operational conditions are determined as 500 MPa pressure, 36.97 µL VO, and 15 min processing time with the minimum force value of 372.33 × g. Textural properties are also modeled through empirical modeling, best fit Box‐Behnken design, and artificial neuron network. Inhibition zones for Salmonella enteritidis and E. coli O157:H7 at the optimum HHP conditions are 1.50 ± 0.11 and 2.18 ± 0.07 cm, respectively. Textural properties of force and elongation at break of the HHP‐processed films range from 2.27 ± 0.52 to 5.23 ± 0.38 N, and from 8.57 ± 1.31 to 13.36 ± 1.36 mm, respectively. Thermal transition of the edible film is observed at 87.42 °C for 7.36 min. Addition of C. sinensis VO improves the antimicrobial properties, whereas HHP improves the textural properties of the film. It is suggested that the developed film has potential to be used as an edible food packaging material.
Transoral robotic surgery for parapharyngeal carcinoma ex‐pleomorphic adenoma: A case report
Authors: Cadena‐Piñeros Enrique , Moreno‐Torres Andrey , Correa‐Marin Jessica , Melo‐Uribe Mario A.
Published: August 2022

Background

Carcinoma ex‐pleomorphic adenoma (Ca ex‐PA) comprises 0.5% of head and neck neoplasms. Transoral robotic surgery (TORS) is an approach being used to treat a variety of benign and malignant head and neck neoplasms. Recently, this technique has gained popularity as an alternative for parapharyngeal space (PPS) tumor resection. To our knowledge, this is the first case of Ca ex‐PA managed successfully by TORS of the PPS.

Case

Fifty‐nine‐year‐old male with incidental mass in PPS, initial diagnosis of pleomorphic adenoma, who underwent transoral robotic resection. The histopathology diagnosis with minimally invasive Ca ex‐PA findings and malignant component of high‐grade epithelial/myoepithelial carcinoma and salivary duct carcinoma. Patient discharged on the fifth post‐operative day without complications.

Conclusion

Based on our findings, TORS may be a safe procedure to remove selected Ca ex‐PA from the PPS; however, further research is needed.
Identification of the α2 chain of interleukin‐13 receptor as a potential biomarker for predicting castration resistance of prostate cancer using patient‐derived xenograft models
Authors: Nagai Takahiro , Terada Naoki , Fujii Masato , Nagata Yasuhisa , Nakahara Kozue , Mukai Shoichiro , Okasho Kosuke , Kamiyama Yuki , Akamatsu Shusuke , Kobayashi Takashi , Iida Kei , Denawa Masatsugu , Hagiwara Masatoshi , Inoue Takahiro , Ogawa Osamu , Kamoto Toshiyuki
Published: August 2022

Background

Several treatment strategies use upfront chemotherapy or androgen receptor axis‐targeting therapies for metastatic prostate cancer. However, there are no useful biomarkers for selecting appropriate patients who urgently require these treatments.

Methods

Novel patient‐derived xenograft (PDX) castration‐sensitive and ‐resistant models were established and gene expression patterns were comprehensively compared. The function of a gene highly expressed in the castration‐resistant models was evaluated by its overexpression in LNCaP prostate cancer cells. Protein expression in the tumors and serum of patients was examined by immunohistochemistry and ELISA, and correlations with castration resistance were analyzed.

Results

Expression of the α2 chain of interleukin‐13 receptor (IL13Rα2) was higher in castration‐resistant PDX tumors. LNCaP cells overexpressing IL13Rα2 acquired castration resistance in vitro and in vivo. In tissue samples, IL13Rα2 expression levels were significantly associated with castration‐resistant progression (p < 0.05). In serum samples, IL13Rα2 levels could be measured in 5 of 28 (18%) castration‐resistant prostate cancer patients.

Conclusion

IL13Rα2 was highly expressed in castration‐resistant prostate cancer PDX models and was associated with the castration resistance of prostate cancer cells. It might be a potential tissue and serum biomarker for predicting castration resistance in prostate cancer patients.
Object detection and multi‐object tracking based on optimized deep convolutional neural network and unscented Kalman filtering
Authors: Jaganathan Thirumalai , Panneerselvam Anandan , Kumaraswamy Senthil Kumar
Published: August 2022

The tracking of multiple objects has gained immense interest in several applications that ranges from video surveillance and robotics. The goal of tracking multiple objects is to discover correspondences and perform matching among various objects in frames. However, occlusion is a major issue in several classical techniques, which fail to track multiple moving objects. Here, the extraction of frames is done to obtain information about an action. Thereafter, the segmentation of objects is done using the entropy weighting K‐means (EWKM) algorithm to generate optimum segments from the frame. After that, the detection of the object is done using a deep convolutional neural network (DCNN) to obtain objects from segments. Proposed Jaya‐political optimizer (Jaya‐PO) is used to train DCNN, which is devised by collaborating political optimizer (PO) and Jaya optimization algorithm. After detecting the object, the tracking of multiple objects is done using the proposed Henry gas solubility optimized unscented Kalman filtering (HGSO‐based UKF), wherein the UKF is modified with HGSO. The proposed Jaya‐PO‐based DCNN and HGSO‐based UKF outperformed other methods with high accuracy of 92%, high multiple object tracking precision (MOTP) of 87.6%, high sensitivity of 91.7%, and high specificity of 92%.
Insights on α‐Glucose Biosensors/Carriers Based on Boron‐Nitride Nanomaterials from an Atomistic and Electronic Point of View
Authors: Palomino‐Asencio Luz , Chigo‐Anota Ernesto , García‐Hernández Erwin
Published: August 2022

The interaction of α‐glucose with a BN‐nanosheet, BN‐nanotube, and BN‐fullerene, was analyzed from an atomistic and electronic point of view, to evaluate such nanostructures as possible carriers and/or biosensors of the α‐glucose molecule. Adsorption energies are in the range of physisorption (−0.79 eV to −0.91 eV) for the BN‐nanosheet and ‐nanotube, and chemisorption (−2.24 eV to −2.35 eV), for the BN‐fullerene. All systems, exhibit semiconductor‐like behavior and great stability according to |LUMO‐HOMO| energy gap [GapLH] and chemical potential values, respectively. For the BN‐nanosheet and ‐nanotube, the stabilization of the complexes is through hydrogen bonds, while for BN‐fullerene is through a covalent bond and charge transfer. Furthermore, the BN‐fullerene is able to dissociate the α‐glucose molecule, which could help to decomposer such a compound, and be used for biological applications. The data taking into consideration solvent effects have no significant impact with respect to gas phase, except in the dipole moment (Md) where we noticed an increase up to ∼45 %. Our results suggest that BN‐nanosheet and ‐nanotube, may act as biosensors, while BN‐fullerene, may serve as a carrier or degrader of the α‐glucose molecule.
Unravelling the Structure of Peroxides with Antiparasitic Activity: The Relative Impact of a Trioxolane or a Tetraoxane Pharmacophore on the Overall Molecular Structure
Authors: Amado Patrícia S. M. , Jesus A. J. Lopes , Paixão José A. , Fausto Rui , Cristiano Maria L. S.
Published: August 2022

Plasmodium falciparum artemisinin‐resistance boosted the quest for novel plasmodial “fast killers,” uncovering antimalarial candidates OZ439 and E209, whose peroxide precursors are 1,2,4‐trioxolane (1) and 1,2,4,5‐tetraoxane (2), differing solely in the pharmacophore (trioxolane or tetraoxane). Combining X‐ray crystallography and vibrational spectroscopy, along with Hirshfeld surface analysis and calculations (CE‐B3LYP/6‐31G(d,p)) of pairwise interaction energies of intermolecular contacts existing in the crystal structure, may deepen the understanding of relative reactivity and properties of these endoperoxides classes. In the crystal, the tetraoxane ring in 2 and the trioxolane‐adamantyl fragment in 1 are disordered, with molecules 1 and 2 existing as two distinct, stable conformations. Whereas the dominant C−H⋅⋅⋅O H‐bonds in 1 connect an adamantyl C−H and O1 or O2 of the trioxolane ring, in 2 they involve the carbonyl oxygen, acting as a double acceptor from phenyl ring C−H groups. C−H⋅⋅⋅O and C−H⋅⋅⋅π H‐bonds define the molecular packing of 2, while C−H⋅⋅⋅H−C van der Waals interactions determine the packing of 1. The dispersive component dominates the interaction energies calculated for the most representative molecular pairs.
Rapid determination of NSAIDs by capillary and microchip electrophoresis with capacitively coupled contactless conductivity detection in wastewater
Authors: Alatawi Hanan , Hogan Anna , Albalawi Ibtihaj , O'Sullivan‐Carroll Emma , Alsefri Samia , Wang Yineng , Moore Eric
Published: August 2022

A simple, rapid method using CE and microchip electrophoresis with C4D has been developed for the separation of four nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in the environmental sample. The investigated compounds were ibuprofen (IB), ketoprofen (KET), acetylsalicylic acid (ASA), and diclofenac sodium (DIC). In the present study, we applied for the first time microchip electrophoresis with C4D detection to the separation and detection of ASA, IB, DIC, and KET in the wastewater matrix. Under optimum conditions, the four NSAIDs compounds could be well separated in less than 1 min in a BGE composed of 20 mM His/15 mM Tris, pH 8.6, 2 mM hydroxypropyl‐beta‐cyclodextrin, and 10% methanol (v/v) at a separation voltage of 1000–1200 V. The proposed method showed excellent repeatability, good sensitivity (LODs ranging between 0.156 and 0.6 mg/L), low cost, high sample throughputs, portable instrumentation for mobile deployment, and extremely lower reagent and sample consumption. The developed method was applied to the analysis of pharmaceuticals in wastewater samples with satisfactory recoveries ranging from 62.5% to 118%.
Recent Research Advances in Ruthenium‐Based Electrocatalysts for Water Electrolysis Across the pH‐Universal Conditions
Authors: Fan Xi-Zheng , Pang Qing-Qing
Published: August 2022

Electrocatalytic water splitting including oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), as a mild, green, and sustainable technology, is recognized as a great potential pathway to defeat the current environmental and energy‐related crisis. Electrode materials resisting the corrosion of electrolytes in the full pH range are attracting the attention of the research community, which can adapt to more complicated conditions and significantly reduce expenditure. Accordingly, considerable efforts have been made to upgrade the availability of pH‐universal electrode materials. Ruthenium‐based materials with prominent activity, pH‐universal window, cheaper price, etc. have been universally acknowledged to be the feasible alternative to platinum. Herein, the recent knowledge of the Ru‐based electrocatalysts toward HER, OER, and overall water splitting across all pH conditions, including reaction mechanism, construction of advanced electrocatalysts, and regulation strategy of activity is focused. Finally, the current challenges and future prospects are highlighted, aiming to guide the design and synthesis of the universal pH‐stable Ru‐based electrocatalysts.