bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Review: Marsh rosemary (Rhododendron tomentosum Harmaja (ex Ledum palustre Linn) growing in Lithuania) essential oils and their properties
Authors: Judžentienė Asta
Published: October 2020

The paper reviews already (in the past fifteen years) published data from research articles on essential oils (EOs) and their biological properties (such as antioxidant, antifungal, anti-inflammatory and toxic activity) of marsh rosemary (Rhododendron tomentosum (Stokes) Harmaja (ex Ledum palustre Linnaeus, Ericaceae Juss.) growing wild in Lithuania. Rh. tomentosum is a perennial woody shrub (up to 1 m in height) with evergreen leaves and small white or white-pink sticky flowers grouped in racemes. The plant emits a strong specific smell that affects the central nervous system, and may cause nausea, headache or aggressive behaviour to some people. Only one species of the plant (ex L. palustre var. palustre) grows in Lithuania, mainly forming colonies in limited areas over all the territory. Marsh rosemary are widely used in folk medicine and homeopathy for treatment of various sickness, externally and internally as well. Most applications of Rh. tomentosum and pharmacological properties have been validated by scientific researches. In Lithuania, the plant is used for healing rheumatism, different pains, insect bites, eczema and other skin problems, infections, bronchitis, asthma, cold, tuberculosis, to block bleeding, etc. Rhododendron tomentosum H. (ex Ledum palustre L.) plants, the essential oils (EOs) of which are already investigated, were collected mostly in the Eastern part of the country (Rokiškis, Utena, Vilnius and Šalčininkai districts). Monoterpene hydrocarbons, p-cymene, myrcene and limonene, bicyclic monoterpenoid ascaridole and oxygenated sesquiterpenes, ledol, palustrol and cyclocolorenone isomers, were found to be principal compounds in the investigated EOs. Some oils contained appreciable quantities of heterocyclic compound lepalol. Most of the oils could be attributed to the ledol+palustrol or ledol+palustrol+ascaridole chemotype. Antifungal activity of Rh. tomentosum EOs was evaluated by several different techniques: against Penicillium cyclopium Westling, Trichoderma harzianum Rifai and Candida parapsilosis using an agar diffusion method; and amperometricaly, using Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast-modified electrodes. Anti-inflammatory activity of Lithuanian marsh rosemary EOs has been revealed by subcutaneous carrageenan injection-induced hind paw oedema tests. However, antioxidant activity (tests using ABTS˙+, DPPH˙ and TROLOX) and toxic properties (against brine shrimp (Artemia sera) larvae) of Rh. tomentosum EOs were summarized.
Regulation of the Ukrainian labor market in the context of European integration: system priorities
Authors: Risnyy Oleh
Published: October 2020

The purpose of the study is to research the effective international practice of European integration and identify the main system priorities of an effective transformation of the state policy of labor market regulation for Ukraine. The research methods are a comparative analysis concerning the activity of the employment services, the labor market situation in Ukraine and abroad, in particular in Eastern Europe, a statistical analysis of the structure of the employment level, of annual earnings etc., and a systemic analysis, aimed to improve the direction of labor market regulation.
On the objectivity, reliability, and validity of deep learning enabled bioimage analyses
Authors: Segebarth Dennis , Griebel Matthias , Stein Nikolai , von Collenberg Cora R , Martin Corinna , Fiedler Dominik , Comeras Lucas B , Sah Anupam , Schoeffler Victoria , Lüffe Teresa , Dürr Alexander , Gupta Rohini , Sasi Manju , Lillesaar Christina , Lange Maren D , Tasan Ramon O , Singewald Nicolas , Pape Hans-Christian , Flath Christoph M , Blum Robert
Published: October 2020

Bioimage analysis of fluorescent labels is widely used in the life sciences. Recent advances in deep learning (DL) allow automating time-consuming manual image analysis processes based on annotated training data. However, manual annotation of fluorescent features with a low signal-to-noise ratio is somewhat subjective. Training DL models on subjective annotations may be instable or yield biased models. In turn, these models may be unable to reliably detect biological effects. An analysis pipeline integrating data annotation, ground truth estimation, and model training can mitigate this risk. To evaluate this integrated process, we compared different DL-based analysis approaches. With data from two model organisms (mice, zebrafish) and five laboratories, we show that ground truth estimation from multiple human annotators helps to establish objectivity in fluorescent feature annotations. Furthermore, ensembles of multiple models trained on the estimated ground truth establish reliability and validity. Our research provides guidelines for reproducible DL-based bioimage analyses.
RETRACTED: Amino acid synthesis loss in parasitoid wasps and other hymenopterans
Authors: Ye Xinhai , Xiong Shijiao , Teng Ziwen , Yang Yi , Wang Jiale , Yu Kaili , Wu Huizi , Mei Yang , Yan Zhichao , Cheng Sammy , Yin Chuanlin , Wang Fang , Yao Hongwei , Fang Qi , Song Qisheng , Werren John H , Ye Gongyin , Li Fei
Published: October 2020

Insects utilize diverse food resources which can affect the evolution of their genomic repertoire, including leading to gene losses in different nutrient pathways. Here, we investigate gene loss in amino acid synthesis pathways, with special attention to hymenopterans and parasitoid wasps. Using comparative genomics, we find that synthesis capability for tryptophan, phenylalanine, tyrosine, and histidine was lost in holometabolous insects prior to hymenopteran divergence, while valine, leucine, and isoleucine were lost in the common ancestor of Hymenoptera. Subsequently, multiple loss events of lysine synthesis occurred independently in the Parasitoida and Aculeata. Experiments in the parasitoid Cotesia chilonis confirm that it has lost the ability to synthesize eight amino acids. Our findings provide insights into amino acid synthesis evolution, and specifically can be used to inform the design of parasitoid artificial diets for pest control.
A multi-task pipeline with specialized streams for classification and segmentation of infection manifestations in COVID-19 scans
Authors: El-bana Shimaa , Al-Kabbany Ahmad , Sharkas Maha
Published: October 2020

We are concerned with the challenge of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) detection in chest X-ray and Computed Tomography (CT) scans, and the classification and segmentation of related infection manifestations. Even though it is arguably not an established diagnostic tool, using machine learning-based analysis of COVID-19 medical scans has shown the potential to provide a preliminary digital second opinion. This can help in managing the current pandemic, and thus has been attracting significant research attention. In this research, we propose a multi-task pipeline that takes advantage of the growing advances in deep neural network models. In the first stage, we fine-tuned an Inception-v3 deep model for COVID-19 recognition using multi-modal learning, that is, using X-ray and CT scans. In addition to outperforming other deep models on the same task in the recent literature, with an attained accuracy of 99.4%, we also present comparative analysis for multi-modal learning against learning from X-ray scans alone. The second and the third stages of the proposed pipeline complement one another in dealing with different types of infection manifestations. The former features a convolutional neural network architecture for recognizing three types of manifestations, while the latter transfers learning from another knowledge domain, namely, pulmonary nodule segmentation in CT scans, to produce binary masks for segmenting the regions corresponding to these manifestations. Our proposed pipeline also features specialized streams in which multiple deep models are trained separately to segment specific types of infection manifestations, and we show the significant impact that this framework has on various performance metrics. We evaluate the proposed models on widely adopted datasets, and we demonstrate an increase of approximately 2.5% and 4.5% for dice coefficient and mean intersection-over-union (mIoU), respectively, while achieving 60% reduction in computational time, compared to the recent literature.
A study of soil seed banks across one complete chronosequence of secondary succession in a karst landscape
Authors: He Xiaole , Yuan Li , Wang Zhen Hong , Zhou Zizong , Wan Li
Published: October 2020

Anthropogenic disturbance and distinctive geochemistry have resulted in rocky desertification in many karst regions of the world. Seed banks are crucial to vegetation regeneration in degraded karst ecosystems characterized by a discontinuous distribution of soil and seasonal drought stress. However, the dynamics of seed banks across one complete series of secondary succession and the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. We selected eight typical stages during secondary succession, conducted aboveground vegetation survey and collected 960 soil samples in the Guiyang karst landscape of China. Seed density, species richness and plant life forms in seed banks were determined via the germination method. The results indicated that the seed density in seed banks before and after field seed germination was significantly different among most succession stages. Community succession had impacts on the seed density of seed banks before and after field seed germination. Seed density ranged from 1,042 seedlings.m−2 in evergreen broadleaf forests to 3,755 seedlings.m−2 in the herb community, which was a relatively high density. The seed density and similar species composition between the seed banks and vegetation declined with succession from early to later stages. Species richness in seed banks was highest in middle succession stages and increased with increasing species richness of aboveground vegetation. The species richness of the five life forms in the seed banks showed different variations across these succession stages. The conservation of diverse aboveground vegetation can maintain the diversity of seed banks for restoration.
Aquatic insects, a tool for monitoring the health of riverine ecosystem, a case study of Killiyar, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
Authors: Lakshmi Jyothy , Abraham Kurian Mathew , Nandakumar S , Sanal Kumar M. G.
Published: October 2020

Aquatic insects are used as model organisms for assessing the health status of lenthic or lotic ecosystems. Biomonitoring using entomological indicators is one of the widely accepted tools to analyze the impacts of sewages in aquatic environment. The present study was aimed to assess the health status of a semi urban river system, Killiyar using entomological indicators. Season wise sampling of aquatic insects was done at four selected segments according to the rapid bioassessment protocol recommended by Environmental Protection Agency. The present study could identify 29 families of aquatic insects for screening the levels of pollution in Killiyar. Family Biotic Index (FBI) showed that there was a remarkable variation in water quality along the river. Hilsenhoff’s family biotic index obtained for river origin was in the range 4.40 - 5.02 indicating excellent water quality. High value of family biotic index, least occurrence of intolerant groups and dominance of tolerant taxa in the midstream and downstream segments showed that increased contamination of water by various sources. Immediate attention is needed to cease the degradation of this precious ecosystem.      Keywords: Aquatic insects, Biomonitoring, Family Biotic Index, Killiyar, Water pollution
Exposure to Excessive Sound Volume: A Major Challenge in the South-Western Nigeria Church Auditoria
Authors: Ikibe Solomon , Adekogbe Olatunbosun Samuel
Published: October 2020

The study examines the exposure to excessive sound volume as a major challenge to grapple with in church auditoria in South-western Nigeria. This exposure to excessive sound has become a source of noise pollution and it is dangerous to human health. Data for this paper were gathered through participant observation of musical acoustics in worship auditoria using a Virtual Instrument; a Sound Pressure Level mobile application installed on a mobile phone for sound volume measurement. The equivalent noise level using A-weighting was taken for twenty minutes per day, this was observed for the three different worship services at different dates and time in each of the selected church auditoria during each worship service. The LAeq, T, of each musical session was calculated. Findings show that the worshippers are exposed to average noise levels of 90.29 dB (Threshold of Pain) at every worship service which is higher than the recommended 60dB for normal human ear by World Health Organization (WHO). It was also observed that all the selected church auditoria lack appropriate acoustic treatment which led to sound reflections and severe echo. The paper concludes that the culture of noise pollution has become a social phenomenon in the Nigerian society especially, in church auditoria where loud musical sound is arrogated to power and domination of space. This paper recommends that acceptable optimal standards for sound production either in enclosures or in open spaces be emphasized by the Nigerian local, state and federal governments to effectively control noise for human and societal wellbeing.
Antioxidant Potential and the Effects of the Aqueous Extract of Spondias cytherea Fruit Pulp on B16-F10 Melanoma Cell Cycle
Authors: Yolande Feudjio Ndemanou , Simplice Mouokeu Raymond , Odette Kamtchueng Monique , Gires Teboukeu , Norbert Kodjio , Jinette Ndonkou , Christopher Tume B.
Published: October 2020

Consumption of diets rich in fruits and vegetables bring substantial health benefits. Spondias cytherea is a plant belonging to the family of Anacardiaceae, the fruits are highly consumed in Cameroon and commonly known as “kassimango”. In this work, the antioxidant and cytotoxic activities of the aqueous extract of Spondias cytherea pulp was investigated. The antioxidant capacity was evaluated by DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl) ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and metal chelating power assays. The Total phenolic and flavonoid contents were determined by Folin-ciocalteu test and aluminum chloride colorimetric test respectively. Selenium, and Zinc contents were evaluated. The effect of S. cytherea fruit aqueous extract on cell cycle of B16-F10 skin cancer cells was investigated using propidium iodide staining. The results revealed that the extract was efficient in reducing Fe3+ into Fe2+ and its ion chelating power increased with the extract concentration. The IC50 value for DPPH radical was found to be 96.28 µg/ mL. Total phenolic and flavonoid contents of Spondias cytherea fruits were 649.45 ± 0.71 mg GAE/100 g and 86.69 ± 0.02 mg CE/100 g of dry matter respectively. As far as the tested minerals are concerned, S. cytherea fruit presented 4.48 mg/100 g of zinc and 0.86 µg/100 g of selenium. It was observed that S. cytherea fruit aqueous extract inhibit the proliferation of B16-F10 cancer cells by inducing the cell cycle arrest at Sub G0 phase (apoptotic phase), G0/G1 (proliferation phase) and G2/M phase (mitosis phase). These results indicated that Spondias cytherea fruit have antioxidant and can be used in the management of cancer pending on further researches.
The Biodiversity Status and Conservation Activities of Singra National Park (SNP) in the Link of Co-Management Strategy
Authors: Ali M. M. , Akter N. , Kabir M. R. , Hasan M. M. , Rahman M. M. , Bari M. S.
Published: October 2020

This paper emphasizes the trend of biodiversity and their conservation strategy of Singra National Park (SNP), which is very well known for its characteristics as deciduous forest. Two types of studies were conducted: (i) Study of the vegetation composition and structure and (ii) conservation strategy of the Forest. In the first study, the diversity of plant (trees, shrubs, herbs and climbers) and animal (birds, amphibians, reptiles and mammals) species were measured. A stratified random quadrat method was employed to determine the floral diversity. A total of 32 plant species  were recorded including 19 tree species, 5 herbs, 4 shrubs and four climbers. Inventory of fauna species was conducted using a combination of transect walk/ opportunistic and ethno zoological interview methods. Total 28 animal species were recorded of which 13 were birds, 3 were amphibians, 6 were reptiles and 6 were mammals. With regard to the quantitative attributes of total flora and fauna species, the highest number was found in trees (mean, 126.00) and the lowest number was found in mammals (mean, 7.00). The result showed very high significant variation among them. The second study examined the management of the forest, causes of biodiversity loss, administrative problems with management of wildlife. Data were collected from the SNPauthority and questionnaire survey among local people in the study area. It was evident from the study that the people around the forest collect forest flora and fauna illegally. The people are not aware of the importance of forest in various aspects like  social, economic, ecological and environmental domains. Forest authorities are trying to involve the people in and around the forest to co-management for conservation and restoration of the forest.
Intraperitoneal Versus Ultrasound Guided Transversus Abdominis Plane Block by Bupivacaine-Magnesium Sulphate for Pain Relieafter Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy
Authors: Hamoda Nashwa I. , Tatawy Hesham I. El , Shmaa Nagat S. El , Okab Mohammad I.
Published: October 2020

Background and Aim: Intraperitoneal (IP) administration of local anesthetic is considered a method of control of visceral component of pain. This method cannot be used as sole agent for pain relief after laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). Transversus Abdominis Plane block (TAP) becomes a useful anesthetic technique in the treatment of postoperative pain after the LC surgery. The aim of the study was to compare between IP bupivacaine –Magnesiu;m Sulfate (MgSO4) and TAP by bupivacaine- MgSO4 for pain relief after LC.

Materials and Methods: This was a randomized double blinded study on sixty patients ASA I &II, age from 18 to 60 years old, undergoing elective LC surgery were randomly classified into two equal groups (30 patients in each group). Group I: IP instillation of 30 ml [15 ml bupivacaine 0.5% (75mg) plus 2.5ml MgSO4 (250 mg) plus 12.5 normal saline].Group II: Ultrasound guided subcostal TAP block was performed by using total volume 20 ml on each side [10 ml bupivacaine %0.5 (50 mg) plus 1.5ml MgSO4 (150 mg) plus 8.5 normal saline]. Heart rate (HR) and Mean Arterial Blood Pressure (MAP) were measured at 5 min before induction and every 15min after induction till the end of operation and then every 5 min for the first 20 mins after administration of study drugs then they recorded at interval of 30mins, 1hr, 2hrs, 4hr and 6hr postoperative. Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) at emergence, 2, 4, 8, 12, 18 and 24hr after recovery, first rescue analgesia time, postoperative analgesic consumption, length of hospital stay(LOS), patients’ satisfaction and post-operative complications were recorded.

Results: There were insignificant differences in HR and MAP between the two groups. There was a significant decrease in NRS at 4hr and 8 hr in group II than group I. There was a significant decrease regarding to time of first rescue analgesia, total postoperative analgesic consumption and LOS in group II compared to group I. There was a significant increase of satisfaction in group II compared to group I. There was an insignificant difference between both groups in nausea, vomiting, hypotension, bradycardia, bradypnea or MgSO4 toxicity.

Conclusion: TAP by bupivacaine-MgSO4 has superior analgesia, longer duration, less postoperative analgesic consumption and more satisfaction in patients undergoing LC than IP block by bupivacaine-MgSO4.
Políticas Culturais no Brasil: O Edital Circula Minas e o Soft Power mineiro
Authors: Tavares Thiago Rodrigues , Castro Vanessa Gomes de
Published: October 2020

O presente artigo visa refletir sobre as políticas públicas culturais, pelo viés do soft power, termo cunhado por Joseph Samuel Nye Jr., no intuito de definir a capacidade de influenciar os outros a fazer o que se deseja pela atração, ao invés da coerção, “poder brando”. Nesse sentido, a identidade cultural é um dos elemento que compõem o poder brando de um país, uma vez que o soft power possibilita a utilização da produção cultural enquanto elemento de diplomacia e fomento de boas relações externas. Desse modo, será analisado o edital Circula Minas, programa de intercâmbio promovido pelo governo de Minas Gerais, por intermédio da Secretaria de Estado de Cultura, do ano de 2018. Esse edital de fomento a cultura proporciona o estreitamento das relações intencionais, a troca de experiências e a difusão da cultura mineira em diversas áreas.
Softwares livres e políticas culturais no Brasil: o caso do Mapa Cultural
Authors: Penteado Claudio Luis de Camargo , Homma Luana Hanae Gabriel , Tori Lucca Amaral , Homma Jana Tiemi Gabriel
Published: October 2020

Neste artigo apresentamos uma discussão da importância estrutural e estratégia do uso de softwares livres na gestão de políticas culturais através do estudo de caso do Mapas Culturais, software de gestão cultural de mapeamento cultural colaborativo. Para a realização deste estudo foram utilizados dados coletados por meio de entrevistas com agentes e gestores de diferentes regiões do país, realizadas pelo LabLivre/UFABC. A partir da análise de três exemplos (Mapa Cultural do Ceará, o Mapa nas Nuvens (DF), e o Londrina Cultura), foi possível identificar que o Mapa Cultural enquanto plataforma de código aberto permite que estados e municípios tenham uma plataforma versátil, possibilitando o uso e adaptações sem necessidade de desembolso de grandes verbas e pagamento para licenças de uso.
Celso Furtado e a política de patrimônio cultural
Authors: Villares Luise Gonçalves , Borja Bruno Nogueira Ferreira
Published: October 2020

O artigo apresenta uma síntese do entendimento de Celso Furtado sobre a importância do patrimônio cultural e como seu reconhecimento corrobora a criação de políticas culturais preocupadas com o desenvolvimento nacional. Objetiva-se entender como as políticas patrimoniais estavam sendo implementadas no Ministério da Cultura durante a gestão de Furtado (1986-1988). Três pontos centrais são abordados no artigo: i) a reestruturação do Ministério da Cultura em sua gestão e as políticas de patrimônio; ii) pensamento e prática de Furtado sobre o que venha ser patrimônio cultural e o vínculo entre política patrimonial e desenvolvimento nacional; iii) o legado de Furtado para a política de patrimônio e sua contribuição para as leis de patrimônio consolidadas na Constituição de 1988.
O novo som de Salvador: a ocupação política/estética da nova cena musical no Carnaval
Authors: Gumes Nadja Vladi
Published: October 2020

Este artigo traz os resultados preliminares de uma pesquisa em curso, iniciada durante o pós-doutorado, no qual fazemos uma reflexão sobre a ocupação de territorialidades do carnaval de Salvador por atores da nova cena da música pop de Salvador, para pensar as alianças estabelecidas no cotidiano da cidade. A partir da observação de determinadas experiências estéticas/políticas, nossa tentativa é uma análise sócio-comunicacional para entender a urbe como um espaço de midiatização tendo como cenário o carnaval e a circulação de artistas nestes ambientes, a partir do uso da noção de cenas musicais em diálogo com questões como territorialidades, ativismo, com o objetivo de contribuir para debate do papel das cidades nos estudos da cultura.
O Lugar e a Mobilidade: a Pequena África carioca no anverso da circulação turística
Authors: Farias Edson Silva de
Published: October 2020

Os objetivos perseguidos neste texto giram em torno da dimensão imóvel que envolve o protocolo da circulação contemporânea. A prioridade analítica e interpretativa terá por objeto de conhecimento os mútuos envolvimentos entre redes de vizinhanças, políticas culturais e usos de espaços patrimoniais, no que toca ao “Circuito Histórico e Arqueológico da Herança Africana” (CHACHA), situado na Zona Portuária do Rio de Janeiro. Versão contemporânea do território mítico-geográfico da lendária Pequena África Carioca, o Circuito se inscreve na paisagem resultante do processo de requalificação urbana daquela parte da cidade. É feito o exame do traço dúbio desse patrimônio urbano – registro da saga de um dos mais expressivos grupos formadores da sociedade e do povo-nação brasileiros e ícone de uma entre as tantas culturas de diásporas afroamericanas. Em particular, do fato se constituir numa mediação decisiva à mobilidade turísticas de pessoas e imagens que justificam os empreendimentos públicos e privados no setor de turismo e entretenimento na Zona Portuária.
Expression profiles and prognostic significance of AFTPH in different tumors
Authors: Zhu Tengjiao , Chen Yingtong , Liu Zhongjun , Leng Yuxin , Tian Yun
Published: October 2020

Aftiphilin (AFTPH) plays an important role in regulating intracellular trafficking, exocytosis, and the pro‐inflammatory response. However, the potential prognostic role of AFTPH in cancers remains unclear. Here, we examined the expression profiles and prognostic significance of AFTPH in breast invasive carcinoma (BRCA), diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma (DLBC), lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC), and pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PADD) using the GEPIA and UALCAN databases. AFTPH expression was observed to be higher in cancer tissues than in normal tissues, but expression did not differ significantly between tumor stages for the four cancer types. AFTPH expression in cancer cell lines was investigated using the CCLE database; AFTPH was found to be highly expressed in four cancer cell lines. The relationship between AFTPH expression and patient prognosis was analyzed using GEPIA, LinkedOmics, and Kaplan–Meier plotter databases. Low expression of AFTPH was associated with improved prognosis for BRCA, DLBC, LUSC, and PAAD. Genetic alterations of AFTPH in cancers were explored using the cBioPortal website, revealing that gene copy number gains and amplification are common in BRCA, DLBC, LUSC, and PAAD. Related genes and markers associated with AFTPH were discovered using the LinkedOmics database. Furthermore, transfection of cells with AFTPH siRNA demonstrated that AFTPH exerts positive effects on cell proliferation in BRCA, LUSC, and PAAD cells. In conclusion, AFTPH may be a potential therapeutic target and prognostic biomarker for BRCA, DLBC, LUSC, and/or PAAD.
Beam angle comparison for distal esophageal carcinoma patients treated with intensity‐modulated proton therapy
Authors: Feng Hongying , Sio Terence T. , Rule William G. , Bhangoo Ronik S. , Lara Pedro , Patrick Christopher L. , Korte Shawn , Fatyga Mirek , Wong William W. , Schild Steven E. , Ashman Jonathan B. , Liu Wei
Published: October 2020

Purpose

To compare the dosimetric performances of intensity‐modulated proton therapy (IMPT) plans generated with two different beam angle configurations (the Right–Left oblique posterior beams and the Superior–Inferior oblique posterior beams) for the treatment of distal esophageal carcinoma in the presence of uncertainties and interplay effect.

Methods and Materials

Twenty patients’ IMPT plans were retrospectively selected, with 10 patients treated with the R‐L oblique posterior beams (Group R‐L) and the other 10 patients treated with the S‐I oblique posterior beams (Group S‐I). Patients in both groups were matched by their clinical target volumes (CTVs—high and low dose levels) and respiratory motion amplitudes. Dose‐volume‐histogram (DVH) indices were used to assess plan quality. DVH bandwidth was calculated to evaluate plan robustness. Interplay effect was quantified using four‐dimensional (4D) dynamic dose calculation with random respiratory starting phase of each fraction. Normal tissue complication probability (NTCP) for heart, liver, and lung was calculated, respectively, to estimate the clinical outcomes. Wilcoxon signed‐rank test was used for statistical comparison between the two groups.

Results

Compared with plans in Group R‐L, plans in Group S‐I resulted in significantly lower liver Dmean and lung V30Gy[RBE] with slightly higher but clinically acceptable spinal cord Dmax. Similar plan robustness was observed between the two groups. When interplay effect was considered, plans in Group S‐I performed statistically better for heart Dmean and V30Gy[RBE], lung Dmean and V5Gy[RBE], and liver Dmean, with slightly increased but clinically acceptable spinal cord Dmax. NTCP for liver was significantly better in Group S‐I.

Conclusions

IMPT plans in Group S‐I have better sparing of liver, heart, and lungs at the slight cost of spinal cord maximum dose protection, and are more interplay‐effect resilient compared to IMPT plans in Group R‐L. Our study supports the routine use of the S‐I oblique posterior beams for the treatments of distal esophageal carcinoma.
Fabrication of a pediatric torso phantom with multiple tissues represented using a dual nozzle thermoplastic 3D printer
Authors: Mille Matthew M. , Griffin Keith T. , Maass‐Moreno Roberto , Lee Choonsik
Published: October 2020

Purpose

To demonstrate an on‐demand and nearly automatic method for fabricating tissue‐equivalent physical anthropomorphic phantoms for imaging and dosimetry applications using a dual nozzle thermoplastic three‐dimensional (3D) printer and two types of plastic.

Methods

Two 3D printing plastics were investigated: (a) Normal polylactic acid (PLA) as a soft tissue simulant and (b) Iron PLA (PLA‐Fe), a composite of PLA and iron powder, as a bone simulant. The plastics and geometry of a 1‐yr‐old computational phantom were combined with a dual extrusion 3D printer to fabricate an anthropomorphic imaging phantom. The volumetric fill density of the 3D‐printed parts was varied to approximate tissues of different radiographic density using a calibration curve relating the printer infill density setting to measured CT number. As a demonstration of our method we printed a 10 cm axial cross‐section of the computational phantom’s torso at full scale. We imaged the phantom on a CT scanner and compared HU values to those of a 1‐yr‐old patient and a commercial 5‐yr‐old physical phantom.

Results

The phantom was printed in six parts over the course of a week. The printed phantom included 30 separate anatomical regions including soft tissue remainder, lungs (left and right), heart, esophagus, rib cage (left and right ribs 1 to 10), clavicles (left and right), scapulae (left and right), thoracic vertebrae (one solid object defining thoracic vertebrae T1 to T9). CT scanning of the phantom showed five distinct radiographic regions (heart, lung, soft tissue remainder, bone, and air cavity) despite using only two types of plastic. The 3D‐printed phantom demonstrated excellent similarity to commercially available phantoms, although key limitations in the printer and printing materials leave opportunity for improvement.

Conclusion

Patient‐specific anthropomorphic phantoms can be 3D printed and assembled in sections for imaging and dosimetry applications. Such phantoms will be useful for dose verification purposes when commercial phantoms are unavailable for purchase in the specific anatomies of interest.
A meta‐analytic review of the Self‐Administered Interview©: Quantity and accuracy of details reported on initial and subsequent retrieval attempts
Authors: Horry Ruth , Hughes Chelsea , Sharma Anagha , Gabbert Fiona , Hope Lorraine
Published: October 2020

The Self‐Administered Interview (SAI©) is designed to elicit detailed witness reports in the aftermath of incidents. In two sets of meta‐analyses, we compared the number of correct details reported, the number of incorrect details reported, and the accuracy of reports provided by witnesses in initial reports (SAI© vs. other reporting formats) and in subsequent accounts (initial SAI© vs. no initial SAI©). The number of comparisons ranged from 15 to 19, (N = 722 to 977). For initial accounts, the SAI© was associated with more correct details and more incorrect details than other reporting formats; accuracy was slightly lower for the SAI© than for other reporting formats. Subsequent accounts were more detailed and accurate for witnesses who had completed an initial SAI© than for those who had not. The SAI© is an effective tool for capturing detailed initial accounts and for preserving witness memory until a formal interview can be conducted.
Excellent Mechanical Durability of In‐Folding Stress of Poly‐Si Thin‐Film Transistor on Plastic Substrate Compared with Out‐Folding: Generation of Gate Leakage Currents in Flexible Poly‐Si Thin‐Film Transistor by Out‐Folding and Bias‐Temperature Stress
Authors: Kim Dongjin , Billah Mohammad Masum , Lee Suhui , Siddik Abu Bakar , Cho Young Joo , Jang Jin , Lee Jaeseob , Lee Yongsu , Shin Jiyeong
Published: October 2020

The effect of electro‐thermal stress on the electrical performance of flexible, low‐temperature polysilicon (LTPS) thin‐film transistors (TFTs) after mechanical‐folding stress aiming to improve the reliability of foldable display backplanes is studied (IG). Herein, for the first time, the significant increase of gate leakage currents upon the negative bias temperature stress (NBTS) or positive bias temperature stress (PBTS) after the out‐folding test on excimer laser annealing (ELA) TFTs is reported. Out‐folding stress increases the drain current, shifts the threshold voltage (ΔVTH) by 2.4 V, and increases the subthreshold swing without affecting the (IG). However, the ΔVTH is 1.8 V upon NBTS, and the negative ΔVTH is −4.7 V upon PBTS after out‐folding stress along with a drastic increase in IG. A thermal annealing at 250 °C for 10 h for the electro‐thermal stressed TFTs after out‐folding is performed, and initial electrical characteristics recovery is achieved; except the abruptly increased IG. These results are correlated with charge trapping at the damaged grain boundary and (GI). A model with moisture/water molecule diffusion through the nanocracks generated by out‐folding is proposed. The ionized charges (H+, OH−) captured at the nanocrack‐induced trap sites in poly‐Si and GI appear to be the origin of abnormal ΔVTH and IG.
Stacking of 2D Materials
Authors: Guo Hao‐Wei , Hu Zhen , Liu Zhi‐Bo , Tian Jian‐Guo
Published: October 2020

2D layered materials have sparked great interest from the perspective of basic physics and applied science in the past few years. Extraordinarily, many novel stacked structures that bring versatile properties and applications can be artificially assembled, as exemplified by vertical van der Waals (vdW) heterostructures, twisted multilayer 2D materials, hybrid dimensional structures, etc. Compared with the ordinary synthesis process, the stacking technique is a powerful strategy to achieve high‐quality and freely controlled 2D material stacked structures with atomic accuracy. This review highlights the most advanced stacking techniques involving the preparation, transfer, and stacking of high‐quality single crystal 2D materials. Apart from the 2D–2D stacked structures, 2D–0D, 2D–1D, and 2D–3D structures offer a prospective platform for the increasing application of 2D materials. The assembly strategy and physical properties of these stacked structures strongly depend on the factors in the stacking process, including the surface quality, angle control, and sample size. In addition, comparative analysis tables on the techniques involved are also available. The summary of these strategies and techniques will hopefully provide a valuable reference for relevant work.
Tissue Engineered Vascular Graft Recipient Interleukin 10 Status Is Critical for Preventing Thrombosis
Authors: Mirhaidari Gabriel J. M. , Barker Jenny C. , Zbinden Jacob C. , Santantonio Brevan M. , Chang Yu‐Chun , Best Cameron A. , Reinhardt James W. , Blum Kevin M. , Yi Tai , Breuer Christopher K.
Published: October 2020

Tissue engineered vascular grafts (TEVGs) are a promising technology, but are hindered by occlusion. Seeding with bone‐marrow derived mononuclear cells (BM‐MNCs) mitigates occlusion, yet the precise mechanism remains unclear. Seeded cells disappear quickly and potentially mediate an anti‐inflammatory effect through paracrine signaling. Here, a series of reciprocal genetic TEVG implantations plus recombinant protein treatment is reported to investigate what role interleukin‐10, an anti‐inflammatory cytokine, plays from both host and seeded cells. TEVGs seeded with BM‐MNCs from wild‐type and IL‐10 KO mice, plus unseeded grafts, are implanted into wild‐type and IL‐10 KO mice. Wild‐type mice with unseeded grafts also receive recombinant IL‐10. Serial ultrasound evaluates occlusion and TEVGs are harvested at 14 d for immunohistochemical analysis. TEVGs in IL‐10 KO mice have significantly higher occlusion incidence compared to wild‐type mice attributed to acute (<3 d) thrombosis. Cell seeding rescues TEVGs in IL‐10 KO mice comparable to wild‐type patency. IL‐10 from the host and seeded cells do not significantly influence graft inflammation and macrophage phenotype, yet IL‐10 treatment shows interesting biologic effects including decreasing cell proliferation and increasing M2 macrophage polarization. IL‐10 from the host is critical for preventing TEVG thrombosis and seeded BM‐MNCs exert a significant anti‐thrombotic effect in IL‐10 KO mice.
Ionic‐Liquid‐Based Safe Adjuvants
Authors: Ukidve Anvay , Cu Katharina , Goetz Morgan , Angsantikul Pavimol , Curreri Alexander , Tanner Eden E. L. , Lahann Joerg , Mitragotri Samir
Published: October 2020

Adjuvants play a critical role in the design and development of novel vaccines. Despite extensive research, only a handful of vaccine adjuvants have been approved for human use. Currently used adjuvants are mostly composed of components that are non‐native to the human body, such as aluminum salt, bacterial lipids, or foreign genomic material. Here, a new ionic‐liquid‐based adjuvant is explored, synthesized using two metabolites of the body, choline and lactic acid (ChoLa). ChoLa distributes the antigen efficiently upon injection, maintains antigen integrity, enhances immune infiltration at the injection site, and leads to a potent immune response against the antigen. Thus, it can serve as a promising safe adjuvant platform that can help to protect against pandemics and future infectious threats.
Regenerative Superhydrophobic Paper Coatings by In Situ Formation of Waxy Nanostructures
Authors: Cordt Cynthia , Geissler Andreas , Biesalski Markus
Published: October 2020

This scientific−technical approach describes a unique self‐structuring coating material made of wax and polysaccharide derivatives, which results in extremely water‐repellent properties if applied to solid surfaces. When cooling the coating down from the molten state, the material forms a nanostructured superhydrophobic surface within seconds. This possibility of a fast thermally induced regeneration of nanoscale surface textures creates the potential to restore superhydrophobic coating properties even after mechanical damage caused, among others, by long‐term use and complex processing and machining steps. Therefore, this coating material has great potential for engineering applications such as superhydrophobic wettability of paper surfaces. Depending on a particular application, there are different requirements for the interaction of paper with water. The highest possible water resistance, which is achieved by superhydrophobic properties, is a quality feature for a majority of paper products, such as packaging materials or novel construction materials, since the ingress of moisture is a major cause of paper damage.
Implementing Superhydrophobic Surfaces within Various Condensation Environments: A Review
Authors: Singh Navdeep Sangeet , Zhang Jitao , Stafford Jason , Anthony Carl , Gao Nan
Published: October 2020

Steam condensation is omnipresent, and inevitable in many industrial processes. A classic example is seen within condensers that are used to liquify various gasses. In consequence, water‐vapor is eventually deposited upon the exterior of heat pipes that passively cool the gas to form a thin film of liquid. This macroscopic film is responsible for the degradation of heat transfer efficiencies. Liquid repellent surfaces can microscopically manipulate the hydrodynamics of formulating condensate to transition toward dropwise/jumping‐droplet condensation. This effect will save operating and maintenance costs of steam condensers within power‐plants, subsequently reducing emissions, operating power, and fuel consumption. However, the challenges associated with the stabilization of dropwise/jumping‐droplet condensation, especially at large subcooling temperatures and high supersaturation ratios, have prohibited the use of liquid repellent surfaces. This review aims to discuss recent improvements and understanding of dropwise/jumping‐droplet condensation surfaces on superhydrophobic surfaces. Numerous examples shall be included, showing experimental and numerical studies of various innovative properties of superhydrophobic structures. In addition, various fabrication techniques of superhydrophobic surfaces that are applicable within industrial systems are discussed. These topics are consolidated to provide guidelines for future research into dropwise/jumping‐droplet condensation on liquid repellent surfaces.
Focusing the future of farming on agroecology
Authors: Franzluebbers Alan J. , Wendroth Ole , Creamer Nancy G. , Feng Gary G.
Published: October 2020

The future of humanity and how agriculture can continue to support the food and fiber needs of a burgeoning population are threatened by agriculture's persistent negative effects on the environment. Essential natural resources that will be needed in increasingly greater capacity are being undermined by agricultural practices that continue to deplete the soil resource base, pollute freshwater and coastal estuaries needed for life support, reduce habitat to support biodiversity, and emit harmful greenhouse gases that compromise our ability to withstand changes to the climate. Solutions to these problems are available in known and increasingly well documented approaches using agroecological principles that manage food production in harmony with nature, not against it. This commentary provides a message that we should be seeking healing of our planet, not just less harm than in the past. It is an important distinction that needs to be considered for the future health of people and the planet.
Lifetime stress and war exposure timing may predict methylation changes at NR3C1 based on a pilot study in a warrior cohort in a small‐scale society in Kenya
Authors: Straight Bilinda , Fisher Georgiana , Needham Belinda L. , Naugle Amy , Olungah Charles , Wanitjirattikal Puntipa , Root Cecilia , Farman Jen , Barkman Todd , Lalancette Claudia
Published: October 2020

Objectives

Candidate gene methylation studies of NR3C1 have identified associations with psychosocial adversity, including war trauma. This pilot study (sample sizes from 22 to 45 for primary analyses) examined NR3C1 methylation in a group of Kenyan pastoralist young men in relation to culturally relevant traumatic experiences, including participation in coalitional lethal gun violence.

Methods

Adolescent and young adult Samburu men (“warriors”) were recruited for participation. DNA was obtained from whole saliva and methylation analyses performed using mass spectrometry. We performed a data reduction of variables from a standardized instrument of lifetime stress using a factor analysis and we assessed the association between the extracted factors with culturally relevant and cross‐culturally comparative experiences.

Results

Cumulative lifetime trauma exposure and forms of violence to which warriors are particularly susceptible were associated with DNA methylation changes in the NR3C1 1F promoter region but not in the NR3C1 1D promoter region. However, sensitivity analyses revealed significant associations between individual CpG sites in both regions and cumulative stress exposures, war exposure timing, and war fatalities.

Conclusions

This study supports the importance of NR3C1 methylation changes in response to challenging life circumstances, including in a global south cultural context that contrasts in notable ways from global north contexts and from the starkly tragic examples of the Rwandan genocide and war‐associated rape explored in recent studies. Timing of traumatic exposure and culturally salient means to measure enduring symptoms of trauma remain important considerations for DNA methylation studies.
Seasonality and interindividual variation in mandrill feeding ecology revealed by stable isotope analyses of hair and blood
Authors: Oelze Vicky M. , Percher Alice M. , Nsi Akoué Gontran , El Ksabi Nory , Willaume Eric , Charpentier Marie J. E.
Published: October 2020

Mandrills are large‐bodied terrestrial forest primates living in particularly large social groups of several hundred individuals. Following these groups in the wild to assess differences in diet over time as well as among individuals is demanding. We here use isotope analyses in blood and hair obtained during repeated captures of 43 identified free‐ranging mandrills (Mandrillus sphinx) from Southern Gabon, to test how dietary variation relates to the season as well as an individual's age and sex. We measured the stable carbon (δ13C‰) and nitrogen (δ15N‰) isotope ratios in 46 blood and 214 hair section samples as well as from a small selection of mandrill foods (n = 24). We found some seasonal isotopic effects, with lower δ13C values but higher δ15N values observed during the highly competitive long dry season compared to the fruit‐rich long rainy season. Variation in δ13C was further predicted by individual age, with higher δ13C values generally found in younger individuals suggesting that they may consume more high canopy fruit than older individuals, or that older individuals consume more low canopy foliage. The best predictor for δ15N values was the interaction between age and sex, with mature and reproductively active males revealing the highest δ15N values, despite the observation that males consume substantially less animal food items than females. We interpret high δ15N values in these mature male mandrill blood and hair sections to be the result of nutritional stress associated with intense male–male competition, particularly during mating season. This is the first study showing isotopic evidence for nutritional stress in a free‐ranging primate species and may spark further investigations into male mandrill diet and energy balance.
Hypothesis: Tau pathology is an initiating factor in sporadic Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Arnsten Amy F. T. , Datta Dibyadeep , Del Tredici Kelly , Braak Heiko
Published: October 2020

The etiology of the common, sporadic form of Alzheimer's disease (sAD) is unknown. We hypothesize that tau pathology within select projection neurons with susceptible microenvironments can initiate sAD. This postulate rests on extensive data demonstrating that in human brains tau pathology appears about a decade before the formation of Aβ plaques (Aβps), especially targeting glutamate projection neurons in the association cortex. Data from aging rhesus monkeys show abnormal tau phosphorylation within vulnerable neurons, associated with calcium dysregulation. Abnormally phosphorylated tau (pTau) on microtubules traps APP‐containing endosomes, which can increase Aβ production. As Aβ oligomers increase abnormal phosphorylation of tau, this would drive vicious cycles leading to sAD pathology over a long lifespan, with genetic and environmental factors that may accelerate pathological events. This hypothesis could be testable in the aged monkey association cortex that naturally expresses characteristics capable of promoting and sustaining abnormal tau phosphorylation and Aβ production.