bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A unique pancreatic phenotype in a child with a WDR19‐related ciliopathy: A case report and literature review of pancreatic involvement in ciliopathies
Authors: Keyser Michelle Nguyen , Huang Maria , Newton Kimberly , Benador Nadine , Beauchamp‐Walters Julia , Bird Lynne M.
Published: April 2022

Ciliopathies are a group of genetic disorders caused by ciliary dysfunction. Thirty‐five distinct multi‐organ phenotypes have been recognized, with 187 genes associated. We performed a literature review of pancreatic involvement in ciliopathies and found that pancreatic disease is an uncommon phenotype described in only a handful of these genetic disorders. We present a case report of a pediatric patient with WDR19‐related ciliopathy whose degree of pancreatic disease exceeds what has previously been reported in the literature for WDR19‐related ciliopathies. WDR19 is one member of the nephronophthisis (NPHP)‐related ciliopathy gene family and encodes an intra‐flagellar transport protein (IFT144). Our patient presented with restrictive and obstructive lung disease, short rib thoracic dysplasia, end‐stage renal disease (ESRD), developmental delay, hepatic fibrosis, and severe recurrent pancreatitis. Whole‐exome sequencing (GeneDx) showed two likely pathogenic WDR19 variants in trans (maternally inherited: c.742G > A, p.G248S; paternally inherited: c.617 T > C, p.L206P). Among WDR19‐related ciliopathies, pancreatic involvement is rarely reported and there have been no cases of severe, recurrent pancreatitis. Through this case report and literature review we hope to emphasize that pancreatic involvement is a rare yet important clinical phenotype to recognize in ciliopathies, especially in WDR19‐related ciliopathies.
Biomarker clustering in autosomal dominant Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Luckett Patrick H. , Chen Charlie , Gordon Brian A. , Wisch Julie , Berman Sarah B. , Chhatwal Jasmeer P. , Cruchaga Carlos , Fagan Anne M. , Farlow Martin R. , Fox Nick C. , Jucker Mathias , Levin Johannes , Masters Colin L. , Mori Hiroshi , Noble James M. , Salloway Stephen , Schofield Peter R. , Brickman Adam M. , Brooks William S. , Cash David M. , Fulham Michael J. , Ghetti Bernardino , Jack Clifford R. , Vöglein Jonathan , Klunk William E. , Koeppe Robert , Su Yi , Weiner Michael , Wang Qing , Marcus Daniel , Koudelis Deborah , Joseph‐Mathurin Nelly , Cash Lisa , Hornbeck Russ , Xiong Chengjie , Perrin Richard J. , Karch Celeste M. , Hassenstab Jason , McDade Eric , Morris John C. , Benzinger Tammie L.S. , Bateman Randall J. , Ances Beau M. ,   for the Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer Network (DIAN)
Published: April 2022

INTRODUCTION

As the number of biomarkers used to study Alzheimer's disease (AD) continues to increase, it is important to understand the utility of any given biomarker, as well as what additional information a biomarker provides when compared to others.

METHODS

We used hierarchical clustering to group 19 cross‐sectional biomarkers in autosomal dominant AD. Feature selection identified biomarkers that were the strongest predictors of mutation status and estimated years from symptom onset (EYO). Biomarkers identified included clinical assessments, neuroimaging, cerebrospinal fluid amyloid, and tau, and emerging biomarkers of neuronal integrity and inflammation.

RESULTS

Three primary clusters were identified: neurodegeneration, amyloid/tau, and emerging biomarkers. Feature selection identified amyloid and tau measures as the primary predictors of mutation status and EYO. Emerging biomarkers of neuronal integrity and inflammation were relatively weak predictors.

DISCUSSION

These results provide novel insight into our understanding of the relationships among biomarkers and the staging of biomarkers based on disease progression.
Information‐seeking when information doesn't matter
Authors: Hilchey Matthew D. , Rondina Renante , Soman Dilip
Published: April 2022

Prior research shows that investors check their portfolios less frequently when they believe negative returns on investments are likely. This so‐called ostrich effect is accounted for by belief‐based utility theories that suggest that information demand is determined by the potential of information to evoke or maintain pleasant beliefs. An alternative is that information matters as there are more courses of action that investors would take with positive than negative portfolio returns. Across three experiments, we adapt a non‐instrumental sampling paradigm to verify whether people are more likely to seek out information when expecting small gains as compared to losses when the instrumental utility of outcome information is 0. We also explore whether the effect can be attenuated by making outcome information easier to find. Our findings suggest that people are more likely to initiate and persist in search for prospective financial gains than losses, and for unknown than known financial outcomes, even though confirming any given outcome is effectively useless. The magnitude of the ostrich effect increased with increased certainty of a financial gain and loss. Making outcome information easier to find increased the likelihood that an outcome would be discovered but did not strongly modify intent to seek it out or moderate ostrich effects. We discuss how the findings are consistent with non‐instrumental utility frameworks for information demand, inconsistent with literature showing greater attention to financial loss than gain outcome information, and propose testable hypotheses for resolving the discrepancy.
Bauphysikalische Voruntersuchungen in der Planungsphase des CUBE
Authors: Stelzmann Mario , Kupke Marén , Kahnt Alexander
Published: April 2022

Bei der Planung und Entwicklung des CUBE wurden die bauphysikalischen Aspekte des Gebäudes betrachtet. Im Vorfeld erfolgten dafür verschiedene rechnerische und experimentelle Untersuchungen wie Simulationen zum Energiebedarf nach DIN V 18599. Der im Planungsprozess angestrebte Passivhausstandard konnte nicht realisiert werden. Messungen zur Luftschalldämmung des TWIST‐Bauteilaufbaus in einem Schallprüfstand zeigten keine schallschutztechnische Entkopplung der 4 cm dicken Wetterschale. Ferner ging aus raumakustischen Simulationsberechnungen hervor, dass die harten Oberflächen der Sichtbetonwände und der Sichtbetondecken sowie des Fußbodens und der Glasfassade zu einer ungünstigen Akustik mit langen Nachhallzeiten führen würde. Für die Entwicklung eines Feuchteschutzkonzepts wurden verschiedene theoretische Betrachtungen sowie Untersuchungen durchgeführt.
Recent patents in allergy and immunology: A quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction method for diagnosing asthma and asthma exacerbation
Authors: Lee Pureun‐Haneul , Choi SeonMuk , An MinHyeok , Jang An‐Soo
Published: April 2022

Background

Asthma is diagnosed based on a history of the characteristic symptoms and evidence of expiratory airflow limitation. However, asthma diagnosis using the existing tests is associated with a risk of coronavirus disease 2019 caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 spread. In this study, we developed a quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR)‐based asthma diagnosis tool.

Methods

We detected nectin‐4 in the plasma of patients with asthma using qRT‐PCR, explored the relationship of clinical variables.

Results

quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction revealed that plasma nectin‐4 mRNA levels were higher in asthmatics than controls. These results correlated with lung function.

Conclusions

Those results suggest that qRT‐PCR for nectin‐4 may aid asthma diagnosis and monitoring.
The effect of neuroactive steroids in sex differences in the developmental neurotoxicity of the anaesthetic
Authors: Li Ningning , Zhu Ruilou , Zeng Shuang , Fu Ningning , Zhang Jiaqiang
Published: April 2022

The rapid growth of the number of surgical cases in the world has brought opportunities and challenges to the development of anaesthesia. Modern anaesthesia technology provides safe and effective anaesthesia for hundreds of millions of surgical procedures each year, but there is a lot of concern about the complications (mainly cognitive dysfunction) that occur after anaesthesia exposure. Preclinical studies have demonstrated cognitive dysfunction and behavioural abnormalities that persist into adulthood after exposure to anaesthesia in rodents, revealing the potential neurotoxicity of anaesthetic drugs. In a further study, Sprague–Dawley rats treated with sevoflurane in the first week of life were then subjected to behavioural tests, and female rats were significantly more negatively affected in spatial learning than male rats, suggesting that there may be gender differences in neurotoxicity of the anaesthetic, but the specific mechanisms are unclear. According to the available data, the main hypothesis that can explain the sex difference in the effect of anaesthesia on the central nervous system development remains the difference in hormone levels between males and females. Therefore, this review briefly describes the role of neuroactive steroids in the mechanism of sex differences in neurotoxicity during the development of general anaesthetics.
Maintenance of community function through compensation breaks down over time in a desert rodent community
Authors: Diaz Renata M. , Ernest S. K. Morgan
Published: April 2022

Understanding the ecological processes that maintain community function in systems experiencing species loss, and how these processes change over time, is key to understanding the relationship between community structure and function and predicting how communities may respond to perturbations in the Anthropocene. Using a 30‐year experiment on desert rodents, we show that the impact of species loss on community‐level energy use has changed repeatedly and dramatically over time, due to (1) the addition of new species to the community, and (2) a reduction in functional redundancy among the same set of species. Although strong compensation, initially driven by the dispersal of functionally redundant species to the local community, occurred in this system from 1997 to 2010, since 2010, compensation has broken down due to decreasing functional overlap within the same set of species. Simultaneously, long‐term changes in sitewide community composition due to niche complementarity have decoupled the dynamics of compensation from the overall impact of species loss on community‐level energy use. Shifting, context‐dependent compensatory dynamics, such as those demonstrated here, highlight the importance of explicitly long‐term, metacommunity, and eco‐evolutionary perspectives on the link between species‐level fluctuations and community function in a changing world.
State‐of‐the‐art electrochemistry for the assessment of oxidative stress and integral antioxidant activity of biological environments
Authors: Brainina Khiena Z. , Shpigun Liliya K.
Published: April 2022

The present review focuses on the interplay between electrochemistry and life, events on the border of electrochemistry‐biology‐life science, electrochemistry as the basis, and the information source on oxidative stress (OS) or Red/Ox state of biological systems and food to be investigated. Electroanalytical chemistry provides rapid, relatively simple, and sensitive approaches to assess the redox characteristics and antioxidant activity of biologically active compounds in various samples.

OS is a relatively new physiological response concept, recognized in medicine and biology in the last three decades. This phenomenon is caused by an imbalance between (pro)oxidants and antioxidants in living organisms and it is related to the fundamental redox reactions that underlie health signaling and life processes in general. OS can contribute to many pathological conditions and diseases. In particular, it is recognized that a highly contagious infectious disease, coronavirus disease 2019, is associated with an inflammation process related to OS‐induced cellular changes. Recent years have shown a marked increase in electrochemical studies of OS and quantitation of its reductant‐oxidant markers (signaling agents), such as reactive oxygen species and antioxidants.

The goal of this overview is to cover the brief scope of modern electrochemical analysis and sensor devices for monitoring biomarkers of OS and antioxidant status of biological systems. By discussing the great potential of potentiometric and voltammetric methods for human health assessment, it is hoped to bridge between recent electrochemical research and medical diagnostic treatment in the 21st century.
Learning from Fullerenes and Predicting for Y6: Machine Learning and High‐Throughput Screening of Small Molecule Donors for Organic Solar Cells
Authors: Irfan Ahmad , Hussien Mohamed , Mehboob Muhammad Yasir , Ahmad Aziz , Janjua Muhammad Ramzan Saeed Ashraf
Published: April 2022

In recent years, research on the development of organic solar cells has increased significantly. For the last few years, machine learning (ML) has been gaining the attention of the scientific community working on organic solar cells. Herein, ML is used to screen small molecule donors for organic solar cells. ML models are fed by molecular descriptors. Various ML models are employed. The predictive capability of a support vector machine is found to be higher (Pearson's coefficient = 0.75). The best small donors with fullerene acceptors are selected to pair with Y6. New small molecule donors are also designed taking into account quantum chemistry principles, using building units that are searched through similarity analysis. Their energy levels and power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) are predicted. Efficient small molecule donors with PCE > 13% are selected. This design and discovery pipeline provides an easy and fast way to select potential candidates for experimental work.
Identification of matB used as an endogenous reference gene for the qualitative and real‐time quantitative polymerase chain reaction detection of Lentinus edodes
Authors: Li Ling , Wei Yuanmiao , Liu Yao , Xiang Shuna , Zhang Hanyue , Shang Ying
Published: April 2022

Lentinus edodes is a fungus with rich nutritional value and good medicinal value and has accordingly become a substitute for other expensive wild edible mushrooms. In this study, for the first time, the matB gene was selected as an endogenous reference gene of L. edodes and identified as the species‐specific gene. The matB genes of L. edodes and 18 non‐L. edodes species were determined by qualitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR), but no amplification was found in non‐L. edodes species. In SYBR Green quantitative PCR analysis, the detection limit was as low as 16 pg/µl of DNA template. All of these experiments indicated that the matB gene is an ideal reference gene and can detect L. edodes material through qualitative and quantitative PCR assays. It also provides a convenient and accurate approach for the detection of L. edodes products and the adulteration in wild edible mushroom products.
Magnetoconvection around an elliptic cylinder placed in a lid‐driven square enclosure subjected to internal heat generation or absorption
Authors: Olayemi Olalekan A. , Al‐Farhany Khaled , Obalalu Adebowale M. , Ajide Tomisin F. , Adebayo Kehinde R.
Published: April 2022

The impacts of MHD and heat generation/absorption on lid‐driven convective fluid flow occasioned by a lid‐driven square enclosure housing an elliptic cylinder have been investigated numerically. The elliptic cylinder and the horizontal enclosure boundaries were insulated and the left vertical lid‐driven wall was experienced at a fixed hot temperature, and the right wall was exposed to a fixed cold temperature. COMSOL Multiphysics 5.6 software was used to resolve the nondimensional equations governing flow physics. A set of parameters, such as Hartmann number (), Reynolds number (), Grashof number (), heat generation‐absorption parameter (), and elliptical cylinder aspect ratio (AR) () have been investigated. The current study discovered that for low Reynolds number, the adiabatic cylinder AR of 2.0 provided the optimum heat transfer enhancement for the model investigated, also the impact of cylinder size diminishes beyond Gr = 104. But for high Reynolds (Re = 1000), the size of the cylinder with AR = 3.0 offered the highest heat transfer augmentation. The clockwise flow circulation reduces because of an increase in AR, which hinders the flow circulation. In addition, heat absorption supports heat transfer augmentation while heat generation can suppress heat transfer improvement.
Hydrology and thermal regime of an ice‐contact proglacial lake: Implications for stream temperature and lake evaporation
Authors: Bird Lawrence A. , Moyer Alexis N. , Moore R. Daniel , Koppes Michelle N.
Published: April 2022

The formation of lakes as glaciers retreat can potentially influence stream temperature and enhance catchment water losses via evaporation. This study quantified the summer water and energy budgets and thermal regime of an ice‐contact proglacial lake below Bridge Glacier, British Columbia, to link ongoing glacier retreat with downstream effects. The ice‐proximal and distal portions of the lake behave differently due to a mid‐lake recessional moraine, against which icebergs are pinned by the dominant katabatic wind. Iceberg cover of the ice‐proximal basin ranged from 16% to 75%. Temperature profiles in the ice‐proximal basin were dominantly near‐isothermal at 1 to 1.4°C, with the exception of diurnal warming of the top 1 m of water and the presence of a colder layer near the lake bed at some sites, presumably caused by subglacial discharge of turbid water. Subaqueous iceberg melt limited warming by consuming heat from the water column. The distal basin exhibited varying degrees of thermal stratification, with turbidity inferred to have a greater influence on water density than temperature. Most of the warming between lake inflow and outflow occurred in the distal basin, where net radiation was the dominant surface energy input and net lateral advection the dominant energy sink. As a result of the suppressed water temperature, humidity gradients over the lake favoured condensation, not evaporation. Estimates of iceberg melt volume for 2013 exceeded glacier discharge into the lake. Therefore, when the glacier eventually becomes land‐terminating, icebergs are expected to disappear within a year, resulting in higher water temperatures both in the lake and downstream. Higher lake temperatures could also cause an eventual shift from condensation to evaporation, which would tend to reduce catchment water yield over and above reductions associated with loss of glacier area.
Special issue “The advance of solid tumor research in China”: Participants with a family history of cancer have a higher participation rate in low‐dose computed tomography for lung cancer screening
Authors: Guo Lan‐Wei , Meng Qing‐Cheng , Zheng Li‐Yang , Chen Qiong , Liu Yin , Xu Hui‐Fang , Kang Rui‐Hua , Zhang Lu‐Yao , Liu Shu‐Zheng , Sun Xi‐Bin , Zhang Shao‐Kai
Published: April 2022

We aimed to determine participation in low‐dose computed tomography (LDCT) of individuals with a family history of common cancers in a population‐based screening program to provide timely evidence in high‐risk populations in China. The analysis was conducted using data from the Cancer Screening Program in Urban China (CanSPUC), which recruited 282 377 participants aged 40 to 74 years from eight cities in the Henan province. Using the CanSPUC risk score system, 55 428 participants were evaluated to have high risk for lung cancer and were recommended for LDCT. We calculated the overall and group‐specific participation rates using family history of common cancers and compared differences in participation rates between different groups. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals were derived by multivariable logistic regression. Of the 55 428 participants, 22 260 underwent LDCT (participation rate, 40.16%). Family history of lung, esophageal, stomach, liver and colorectal cancer was associated with increased participation in LDCT screening. The odds of participants with a family history of one, two, three and four or more cancer cases undergoing LDCT screening were 1.9, 2.7, 2.8 and 3.5 times, respectively, than those without a family history of cancer. Compared to those without a history of cancer, participation in LDCT gradually increased as the number of cancer cases in the family increased (P < .001). Our findings suggest that there is room for improvement in lung cancer screening given the relatively low participation rate. Lung cancer screening in populations with a family history of cancer may improve efficiency and cost‐effectiveness; however, this requires further verification.
Using Disability Studies in Education (DSE) for Effective Literacy Instruction
Authors: Harkins Monaco Elizabeth A. , Ankrum Julie Winneur
Published: April 2022

The Disability Studies in Education (DSE) framework can support teachers as they develop inclusive lessons integrating diverse instructional texts. It promotes the concept that all learners can read, comprehend, and discuss complex texts and it can expand opportunities for students with disabilities to participate in the same learning contexts as their nondisabled peers. The purpose of this manuscript is to provide teachers with background on the theory of DSE and offer practical strategies for integrating the principles of DSE into literacy instruction. The authors use a vignette to describe one way to experience integrating DSE in a high school English Language Arts special education classroom.
Cultural auditing to enhance reflective counseling practices with Indigenous families
Authors: Boyer Wanda
Published: April 2022

Contemporary researchers in counseling consider cultural sensitivity and respectfulness as vital to developing a therapeutic working alliance. The author explores using a cultural audit to reflexively support cultural reflection, sensitivity, and respectfulness. A case example is used to present the cultural audit process in the client cultural context of a First Nations elder and grandfather. Implications are discussed, including cultural repertoire expansion of counselors and counseling practitioners via culture‐infused therapeutic working alliances.
A Modified Progressive Supranuclear Palsy Rating Scale for Virtual Assessments
Authors: Wills Anne‐Marie , Pantelyat Alexander , Espay Alberto , Chan James , Litvan Irene , Xie Tao , Dale Marian L. , Gunzler Steven A. , Tartaglia Maria Carmela , Fox Susan H. , Rodriguez‐Porcel Federico , Sharma Mansi , Lang Anthony E. , Boxer Adam L. ,   AL‐108‐231 Study Group, Golbe Lawrence I.
Published: April 2022

Background

The reliability of the Progressive Supranuclear Palsy Rating Scale (PSPRS) using teleneurology has not been assessed.

Objectives

To test whether removing items inadequately assessed by video would impact measurement of PSP severity and progression.

Methods

We performed secondary analyses of two data sets: the phase 2/3 trial of Davunetide in PSP and a large single‐center cohort. We examined two modifications of the PSPRS: (1) removing neck rigidity, limb rigidity, and postural stability (25 items; mPSPRS‐25) and (2) also removing three ocular motor items and limb dystonia (21 items; mPSPRS‐21). Proportional agreement relative to the possible total scores was measured using the intraclass correlation coefficient, compared to the original PSPRS baseline values and change over 6 and 12 months. We examined the ability of both scales to predict survival in the single‐center cohort using proportional hazards models.

Results

The mPSPRS‐25 showed excellent agreement (0.99; P < 0.001) with the original PSPRS at baseline, 0.98 (P < 0.001) agreement in measuring change over 6 months, and 0.98 (P < 0.001) over 12 months. The mPSPRS‐21 showed agreement of 0.94 (P < 0.001) with the original PSPRS at baseline, 0.92 (P < 0.001) at 6 months, and 0.95 (P < 0.001) at 12 months. Baseline and 6‐month change in both modified scales were highly predictive of survival in the single‐center cohort.

Conclusions

Modified versions of the PSPRS which can be administered remotely show excellent agreement with the original scale and predict survival in PSP. The mPSPRS‐21 should facilitate clinical care and research in PSP via teleneurology. © 2022 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
Virtual planning of the anterolateral thigh free flap for heel reconstruction
Authors: Ellabban Mohamed A. , Elsayed Malek A. , Zein Abo Bakr , Ghorab Mohamed , Elmasry Moustafa , Masadeh Suhail , Abo‐Ella Mohamed Mokhtar , Sadek Ahmed Fathy
Published: April 2022

Purpose

three dimensional (3‐D) virtual planning is an example of computer assisted surgery that improved management of composite tissue defects. However, converting the 3‐D construct into two dimensional format is challenging. The purpose of this study was to assess 3‐D virtual planning of complex heel defects for better optimized reconstruction.

Patients and methods

a prospective analysis of 10 patients [9 male and 1 female; mean age = 27.9 years] with post‐traumatic heel defects was performed. Heel defects comprised types II (three patients) or III (seven patients) according to Hidalgo and Shaw and were managed using anterolateral thigh (ALT) free flap adopting 3‐D virtual planning of the actual defect which was converted into a silicone two dimensional mold. The mean definitive size of the defects was 63.4 cm3. Functional, aesthetic, and sensory evaluations of both donor and recipient sites were performed 1 year after surgery.

Results

Six patients received thinned ALT (mean size = 139 cm3) while four patients received musculofasciocutaneous ALT flap (mean size = 199 cm3). One flap exhibited partial skin flap necrosis. Another flap was salvaged after re‐exploration secondary to venous congestion. The mean follow‐up was 20.2 months. The Maryland foot score showed 4 excellent, 5 good, and 1 fair cases. The mean American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle hind foot scoring was 76.3 (range: 69–86). All patients regained their walking capability.

Conclusions

3‐D virtual planning of complex heel defects facilitates covering non‐elliptical defects while harvesting a conventional elliptical flap with providing satisfactory functional outcomes and near‐normal contour, volume, and sensibility.
Mathematical modelling of oscillating patterns for chronic autoimmune diseases
Authors: Della Marca Rossella , Machado Ramos Maria da Piedade , Ribeiro Carolina , Soares Ana Jacinta
Published: April 2022

Many autoimmune diseases are chronic in nature, so that in general, patients experience periods of recurrence and remission of the symptoms characterizing their specific autoimmune ailment. In order to describe this very important feature of autoimmunity, we construct a mathematical model of kinetic type describing the immune system cellular interactions in the context of autoimmunity exhibiting recurrent dynamics. The model equations constitute a nonlinear system of integro‐differential equations with quadratic terms that describe the interactions between self‐antigen presenting cells, self‐reactive T cells, and immunosuppressive cells. We consider a constant input of self‐antigen presenting cells, due to external environmental factors that are believed to trigger autoimmunity in people with predisposition for this condition. We also consider the natural death of all cell populations involved in our model, caused by their interaction with cells of the host environment. We derive the macroscopic analogue and show positivity and well‐posedness of the solution and then we study the equilibria of the corresponding dynamical system and their stability properties. By applying dynamical system theory, we prove that steady oscillations may arise due to the occurrence of a Hopf bifurcation. We perform some numerical simulations for our model, and we observe a recurrent pattern in the solutions of both the kinetic description and its macroscopic analogue, which leads us to conclude that this model is able to capture the chronic behaviour of many autoimmune diseases.
Range uncertainty reductions in proton therapy may lead to the feasibility of novel beam arrangements which improve organ‐at‐risk sparing
Authors: Tattenberg Sebastian , Madden Thomas M. , Bortfeld Thomas , Parodi Katia , Verburg Joost
Published: April 2022

Purpose

In proton therapy, dose distributions are currently often conformed to organs at risk (OARs) using the less sharp dose fall‐off at the lateral beam edge to reduce the effects of uncertainties in the in vivo proton range. However, range uncertainty reductions may make greater use of the sharper dose fall‐off at the distal beam edge feasible, potentially improving OAR sparing. We quantified the benefits of such novel beam arrangements.

Methods

For each of 10 brain or skull base cases, five treatment plans robust to 2 mm setup and 0%–4% range uncertainty were created for the traditional clinical beam arrangement and a novel beam arrangement making greater use of the distal beam edge to conform the dose distribution to the brainstem. Metrics including the brainstem normal tissue complication probability (NTCP) with the endpoint of necrosis were determined for all plans and all setup and range uncertainty scenarios.

Results

For the traditional beam arrangement, reducing the range uncertainty from the current level of approximately 4% to a potentially achievable level of 1% reduced the brainstem NTCP by up to 0.9 percentage points in the nominal and up to 1.5 percentage points in the worst‐case scenario. Switching to the novel beam arrangement at 1% range uncertainty improved these values by a factor of 2, that is, to 1.8 percentage points and 3.2 percentage points, respectively. The novel beam arrangement achieved a lower brainstem NTCP in all cases starting at a range uncertainty of 2%.

Conclusion

The benefits of novel beam arrangements may be of the same magnitude or even exceed the direct benefits of range uncertainty reductions. Indirect effects may therefore contribute markedly to the benefits of reducing proton range uncertainties.
Application of layers of protection analysis to prevent coronavirus infection
Authors: Mokhber Ali , Aggarwal Shivani , García‐Triñanes Pablo
Published: April 2022

Layers of protection analysis (LOPA) methodology is applied to an encounter with the SARS‐COV‐2 infection as an initiating event, and subsequently, independent protection layers (IPLs) (namely health safeguarding protocols), such as social distancing, ventilation, hand hygiene, face masks, and vaccinations. LOPA is applied considering numerical quantification of the COVID fatality index in order to manage the transmission risk to a tolerable level, namely the fatality risk due to seasonal flu. This measurement tool quantifies the ratio of the annual death rate due to the SARS‐COV‐2 infection to the annual death rate of the common flu, and it is applied to a chemical plant. The lower this quantified value is, the more the COVID‐19 infection death rate approaches that of the common flu. Thus, any improvement in safeguarding protocols should reduce this index. The input data is based on public domain COVID‐19 infection statistical data and websites accessible in the United Kingdom. The COVID‐19 transmission rate is statistically analyzed with random number sampling to simulate the random pattern of the virus' person‐to‐person infection in the community. The success of the COVID‐19 protection protocols is probabilistic and depends on the public's compliance, which is modeled by observational surveys.
The Impedance of Spiking Neurons Coupled by Time‐Delayed Interaction
Authors: Bisquert Juan
Published: April 2022

The synchronization of populations of interacting spiking neurons is a topic of interest for understanding the operation of the brain and for developing oscillatory‐based biomimetic computation. The analysis of the operation of neurons by models such as Hodgkin–Huxley (HH) and FitzHugh–Nagumo (FHN) is based on the electrical and electrochemical concepts. The application of small‐signal AC impedance and equivalent circuit methods is a promising tool for the fabrication of artificial neurons and synapses with memristor technologies for neuromorphic computation and sensory‐motor autonomous systems. The time domain and impedance spectroscopy analysis of two FHN neurons coupled with a time delay related to the propagation of the action potentials is developed. Depending on the coupling strength and delay time constant, the two neurons become synchronized, in phase opposition for a weak coupling, and in alternating spike packets for the strong interaction. The delayed interaction introduces a new element in the equivalent circuit. A new oscillatory impedance that causes curling of the basic spectral patterns associated with the onset of a limit cycle in the presence of Hopf bifurcations is found. The new pattern is appealing as an experimental tool to determine experimentally the extent of coupling between neurons.
Detection and determination of C12‐, C14‐, C16‐alkyldimethylamines in human blood using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry
Authors: Brousa Evdokia , Mastrogianni Orthodoxia , Orfanidis Amvrosios , Zaggelidou Eleni , Raikos Nikolaos , Gika Helen G.
Published: April 2022

Rationale

N,N‐Dimethyldodecylamine is produced from lauryl alcohol and dimethylamine. C12–C16 alkyldimethylamines are used as intermediates for the manufacture of amineoxides and quaternary amino compounds. In the present study a gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC/MS) method for the determination of C12–C16 alkyldimethylamines in blood was developed and validated. The reason for this study was the detection of the above compounds in the postmortem blood sample of a fatal suicide case.

Methods

Analysis of amines was performed using a gas chromatograph (Agilent Technologies 7890A) with an MS 5975C inrXL, EI/CI MSD with triple‐axis detector in selected ion monitoring mode, after liquid–liquid extraction. Four different organic solvents (butyl acetate, ethyl acetate, n‐hexane and n‐heptane) were used for the optimization of the extraction procedure, resulting in ethyl acetate being the solvent of choice for the extraction procedure. A QuEChERS step was applied (20 mg of MgSO4, 5 mg of NaCl) to 1 mL of blood and pH was adjusted at 12 (K2CO3buffer solution). After the addition of the extraction solvent, samples were vortexed, centrifuged and directly injected into the GC/MS system.

Results

In validation, the method was found to be selective and sensitive (limit of detection from 0.3 to 0.5 ng/mL, limit of quantitation from 10.0 to 20.0 ng/mL), whilst validation included recovery, stability, accuracy and precision (relative standard deviation). Validation results were found satisfactory: intra‐ and interday precision ranged from 0.4% to 2% and from 0.6% to 1.9% respectively, while intra‐ and interday accuracy ranged from 87% to 109% and from 86% to112.8%. C12–C16 alkyldimethylamines were detected in blood samples at a concentration of 8.39 μg/mL (C12), 3.01 μg/mL (C14) and 0.42 μg/mL (C16).

Conclusions

A rapid, sensitive and reliable method was developed for the determination of C12–C16 alkyldimethylamines in postmortem blood, after optimization of the sample preparation procedure, and finally successfully applied to a real postmortem blood sample from a fatal case involving these compounds.
Nanoscale imaging of oxidized copper foil covered with chemical vapor deposition‐grown graphene layers
Authors: Zhang Kai , Ban Chun‐guang , Yuan Ye , Huang Li , Gan Yang
Published: April 2022

Characterization of the geometrical and structural characteristics of oxidized Cu area in high resolution is crucial for tracking the change in morphology, exploring interactions between graphene layers and Cu substrates and revealing the mechanism for the orientation‐dependent oxidation of Cu. Here, we reported experimental results on nanoscale imaging of natural oxidation of the polycrystalline Cu substrate coated by partial‐coverage chemical vapor deposition (CVD)‐grown graphene stored in dryer under ambient conditions for up to 10 months. Scanning electron microscope (SEM), together with atomic force microscope (AFM), Raman, and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), was used for systematically studying the morphological and compositional changes at nanoscale during oxidation. The appearance of oxidized Cu substrates could be unambiguously distinguished from the unoxidized regions based on their distinctly different morphologies in SEM images, and the underlying mechanism was discussed in detail. By analyzing a millimeter‐seized polycrystalline Cu substrate, we found that the oxidation of polycrystalline Cu substrate depends sensitively on both orientation of graphene layers and Cu substrates. Furthermore, the time‐dependent oxidation evolution of Cu substrate was also established, and the oxidation rate was readily determined. The findings reported here will have important implications for developing protection coatings for Cu.
Titanium Source Choice Affects the Nonhydrolytic Sol‐Gel Synthesis and Morphology of Fe2TiO5
Authors: Jiang Feng , Yin Li , Feng Guo , Zhao Qianqian , Yu Yun , Hu Qing , Zhang Quan , Zhang Xiaojun , Jiang Weihui
Published: April 2022

Fe2TiO5 powders are synthesized via nonhydrolytic sol‐gel method, and the effects of titanium sources on the synthesis and morphology of Fe2TiO5 powders are investigated via differential thermal analysis‐thermogravimetric (DTA‐TG), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM), Field Emission‐Scanning Electron Microscope (FE‐SEM) and Fourier Transform Infrared (FT‐IR). It is beneficial for the low‐temperature synthesis of Fe2TiO5 to form Fe−O−Ti bonds when TiCl4 and Ti(OC4H9)4 are used as titanium source. But it is difficult to synthesize pure Fe2TiO5 phase and the powders synthesized are seriously agglomerated, when TiCl4 is used as titanium source. When Ti{OCH(CH3)2}4 is used as the titanium source, Fe2TiO5 phase can not be synthesized until 800 °C, which is due to Fe−O−Ti bond does not form in the xerogels. Fe2TiO5 powders prepared with Ti(OC4H9)4 as titanium source are small in particles size of 100–200 nm with high dispersion and element uniformity.
Photocatalytic Easy Recovery of Orthophosphates Contaminants in Water Using Amberlite‐732 Cationic‐Resin Exchanged by Ce3+and Ce3+‐Au3+ Species
Authors: Rahmoune PhDS. Nawel , Barama Siham , Davidson Anne , Montero David , Selmane Mohamed , Miche Antoine , Benaliouche Fouad , Barama Akila
Published: April 2022

This report discusses the efficiency of photo‐recovery of orthophosphate anions in water under visible irradiation using materials containing amorphous carbon, ceria and gold‐ceria species. Catalysts were obtained by the exchange of Amberlite‐732 polymeric‐resin with isolated Ce(III) and co‐mixing of Ce(III)‐Au(III) cations. Syntheses were developed for molar ratios Ce(III)/3H+=100 and Au(III)‐Ce(III)/3H+=0.01. Solids were treated at 800 °C under Air or Ar atmosphere then characterized by: X‐ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy coupled to energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (EDS), X‐ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS) and UV‐visible spectroscopy. By XRD, non‐stoichiometric Ce2.658S4 sulfide and particles of metallic gold are identified in Ce‐Au‐Amb‐Ar and in the case of Ce‐Au‐Amb‐Air, mixture of CeO2 and Au0 is clearly observed. Moreover, XPS study of Ce3d emission spectra showed well resolved electronic states of the spin‐orbit Ce3d5/2 and Ce3d3/2 levels in the Ce4+ and Ce3+ oxidation states confirming coexistence of Ce(IV)/Ce(III). On the surfaces of both Ce‐Au‐Amb‐Air and Ce‐Au‐Amb‐Ar, XPS revealed metallic Au species. A certain amount of carbon, identified by EDS and XPS, corresponds to poorly ordered carbon formed by the resin decomposition during thermal treatments under Air and Ar. The UV‐vis spectroscopy was valuable to quantify the remaining PO43− anions in solution (at each moment of reaction) using “Molybdenum Blue” method. Photo‐recovery of orthophosphates under visible irradiation yields optimal trapping of ∼75 % of PO43− on Ce‐Au‐Amb‐Ar, attributed to a catalyst surface enrichment with Ce3+ species, which promoted structural oxygen vacancies.
Enhanced Oil Recovery from the Methyl Ester Sulfonate Derived from Flaxseed Oil: Interfacial, Adsorption and Rock Wetting Characteristics
Authors: Kesarwani Himanshu , Mandal Ajay , Sharma Shivanjali
Published: April 2022

The current work aims at the application of fatty acid methyl sulfonated products derived from Flaxseed oil for enhanced oil recovery. The product was characterized with the GCMS (gas chromatography mass spectrometry), FTIR (fourier transform infrared spectroscopy), FESEM (field emission scanning electron microscopy), EDX (energy dispersive X‐ray analysis) and TGA (therogravimetric analysis). Conductivity tests revealed that the critical micelle concentration (CMC) of Flaxseed surfactant is 7004 ppm. The amount of surfactant loss on the sand surfaces was found to be 10.42 mg/g which was quite lower as compared to that of the previous studies. Interfacial tension (IFT) was found to decrease up to 0.25 mN/m upon introduction of Flaxseed surfactant. Also, the slug showed pseudoplastic behavior at a lower shear rate whereas it showed shear thickening behavior at a higher shear rate. Finally, sand pack flooding tests were conducted and ∼48 % of oil recovered during water flooding whereas an additional ∼28 % of the oil was recovered as improved oil recovery.
Response control analysis of a new mega‐subcontrolled structural system (MSCSS) under seismic excitation
Authors: Shahzad Muhammad Moman , Zhang Xun'an , Wang Xinwei , Abdulhadi Mustapha , Wang Tianlong , Xiao Yanjie
Published: April 2022

The mega‐subcontrolled structural system (MSCSS) was proposed in the past decade as a new construction technique for high‐rise buildings because it showed an improved structural seismic response. However, research continues to focus on further increasing the response control ability, minimizing the cost, and improving the seismic performance of MSCSS. In this paper, a novel configuration named configuration 13 is proposed that incorporates an inverted V‐bracing (chevron) along the height in the center of the structure, and a mid‐story isolation system is situated under the first mega‐beam. The response control analysis and dynamic characteristics of the novel MSCSS are studied based on the structural responses to seven seismic waves. This novel configuration shows a significant improvement of at least 30.58% in the structural acceleration response with an average overall improvement of 49.7% under an El Centro wave. Moreover, nonlinear dynamic analysis is performed under the same seven waves; the proposed configuration shows the maximum pseudo‐spectral acceleration under the El Centro input at low frequencies, while under the Kobe wave, acceleration peaks also appear at higher frequencies. Furthermore, the Hilbert–Huang transform is also applied, confirming that the proposed MSCSS shows no sudden fluctuations in its structural response under seismic excitation.
Holography of time machines
Authors: Emparan Roberto , Tomašević Marija
Published: April 2022

Abstract

We use holography to examine the response of interacting quantum fields to the appearance of closed timelike curves in a dynamically evolving background that initially does not contain them. For this purpose, we study a family of two-dimensional spacetimes that model very broad classes of wormhole time machines. The behavior of strongly coupled conformal theories in these spacetimes is then holographically described by three-dimensional AdS bulk geometries that we explicitly construct. The dual bulk spacetime is free from any divergences, but splits into two disconnected components, without and with CTCs, which are joined only through the boundary; then, passages across the chronology horizon are impossible for any field excitations. In dual terms, the strong self-interaction of the CFT decouples the pathological part from the rest of the spacetime. We also find that entangling the CFTs in two separate time machines connects them through a traversable bulk wormhole. Nevertheless, any entanglement-assisted chronology violations will be prevented by quantum bulk corrections, i.e., subleading 1/N effects, again without needing any gravitational backreaction of the CFT. We are led to speculate that chronology may be protected without involving Planck scale physics.
Gesundheit in der Informatik im Zeitalter der Industrie 4.0 und Digitalisierung
Authors: Ellmann Mathias
Published: April 2022

Im Rahmen der Entwicklung der Industrie 4.0 und der Digitalisierung bedarf es immer mehr Intelligenz und Kreativität, um am Markt als IT-Unternehmen zu bestehen. Agile Softwareprojektmanagement- und Entwicklungsmethoden wie Scrum fordern ein stetige Anpassung und Veränderung von Software auf Basis von Kundenwünschen, das ein hohes Maß an Intelligenz und Kreativität erfordert. Die Entwicklung zu intelligenteren und kreativeren Informatikerinnen und Informatikern führt dazu, dass ihr Risiko für physische und psychische Krankheiten steigt und ihre Gesundheit gefährdet. Dieser Artikel versucht, ein Bewusstsein für die Risiken des einhergehenden Wandels zu ermöglichen, um so bewusster gesundheitlichen Herausforderungen im Zeitalter von Industrie 4.0 und Digitalisierung zu begegnen. Wir besprechen in diesem Artikel gesundheitsförderliche und gesundheitsschädliche Kräfte. Wir besprechen in diesem Artikel Risiken wandelnder Intelligenz und Kreativität für die Gesundheit sowie Ursachen von Konflikten und Frustration, der treibenden Kraft von gesundheitlichen Problemen. Schlussendlich besprechen wir Strategien, um effektiver und gesünder in der Informatik zu kommunizieren.
Bilateral facial palsy after COVID-19 vaccination
Authors: Andreozzi Valentina , D’arco Beatrice , Pagliano Pasquale , Toriello Antonella , Barone Paolo
Published: April 2022

Guillain-Barrè syndrome (GBS) is an acute immune-mediated neuropathy, possibly triggered by a recent infection or vaccination, and driven by an immune attack targeting the peripheral nervous system. GBS typically leads to ascending limb weakness, often with sensory and cranial nerve involvement 1–2 weeks after immune stimulation, but emergency and neurology physicians should be aware of its important clinical heterogeneity. In rare cases, bilateral facial nerve palsy can be the main clinical manifestation, as the case of the variant formerly known as bilateral facial weakness with paresthesias. An increasing number of case reports of GBS in patients receiving COVID-19 vaccination have been reported both during the pre-clinical phase and after large-scale authorities’ approval. We report two cases of bifacial palsy with paresthesias, a rare variant of GBS, both occurring after the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine Vaxzevria™ (formerly COVID-19 vaccine AstraZeneca), showing a favorable outcome after high-dose immunoglobulin therapy, and discuss the literature of GBS post-COVID-19 vaccination.
Das Schülerlabor als Ort authentischer Wissenschaftsvermittlung? Entwicklung und Validierung eines Fragebogens zur Erfassung der Authentizitätswahrnehmung der Wissenschaftsvermittlung im Schülerlabor
Authors: Finger L. , van den Bogaert V. , Fleischer J. , Raimann J. , Sommer K. , Wirth J.
Published: April 2022

Im vorliegenden Beitrag wird ein Fragebogen zur mehrdimensionalen Erfassung der Wahrnehmung von Authentizität in der Wissenschaftsvermittlung (FEWAW) vorgestellt. Die Entwicklung des Messinstruments mit den Authentizitätsdimensionen Vermittler, Ort, Vorgehen und Innovation erfolgte auf der Grundlage theoretischer Modelle zur Wahrnehmung von Authentizität der Wissenschaftsvermittlung. In einer Validierungsstudie mit N = 337 Schülerinnen und Schülern im Alfried Krupp-Schülerlabor der Ruhr-Universität Bochum konnte die faktorielle Struktur mittels konfirmatorischer Faktorenanalysen bestätigt werden. Die internen Konsistenzen der vier Dimensionen sind zufriedenstellend (Cronbachs α ≥ 0,81). Außerdem konnte die Messinvarianz des Instruments für das Geschlecht sowie die Klassenstufe bestätigt werden. Die Zusammenhänge der Authentizitätsdimensionen mit Außenkriterien, wie z. B. epistemologischen Überzeugungen, liefern weitere Hinweise auf die Validität des Messinstruments. Insgesamt stellt der FEWAW ein geeignetes Instrument für die mehrdimensionale Erfassung der Authentizitätswahrnehmung in der Wissenschaftsvermittlung dar.