bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Impact of COVID-19 on Nuclear Medicine in Germany, Austria and Switzerland: An International Survey in April 2020
Authors: Freudenberg Lutz S. , Dittmer Ulf , Herrmann Ken 
Published: April 2020

Abstract
Introduction Preparations of health systems to accommodate large number of severely ill COVID-19 patients in March/April 2020 has a significant impact on nuclear medicine departments.
Materials and Methods A web-based questionnaire was designed to differentiate the impact of the pandemic on inpatient and outpatient nuclear medicine operations and on public versus private health systems, respectively. Questions were addressing the following issues: impact on nuclear medicine diagnostics and therapy, use of recommendations, personal protective equipment, and organizational adaptations. The survey was available for 6 days and closed on April 20, 2020.
Results 113 complete responses were recorded. Nearly all participants (97 %) report a decline of nuclear medicine diagnostic procedures. The mean reduction in the last three weeks for PET/CT, scintigraphies of bone, myocardium, lung thyroid, sentinel lymph-node are –14.4 %, –47.2 %, –47.5 %, –40.7 %, –58.4 %, and –25.2 % respectively. Furthermore, 76 % of the participants report a reduction in therapies especially for benign thyroid disease (-41.8 %) and radiosynoviorthesis (–53.8 %) while tumor therapies remained mainly stable. 48 % of the participants report a shortage of personal protective equipment.
Conclusions Nuclear medicine services are notably reduced 3 weeks after the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic reached Germany, Austria and Switzerland on a large scale. We must be aware that the current crisis will also have a significant economic impact on the healthcare system. As the survey cannot adapt to daily dynamic changes in priorities, it serves as a first snapshot requiring follow-up studies and comparisons with other countries and regions.
Total Mesorectal Excision Technique—Past, Present, and Future
Authors: Knol Joep , Keller Deborah S. 
Published: April 2020

AbstractWhile the treatment of rectal cancer is multimodal, above all, a proper oncological resection is critical. The surgical management of rectal cancer has substantially evolved over the past 100 years, and continues to progress as we seek the best treatment. Rectal cancer was historically an unsurvivable disease, with poor understanding of the embryological planes, lymphatic drainage, and lack of standardized technique. Major improvements in recurrence, survival, and quality of life have resulted from advances in preoperative staging, pathologic assessment, the development and timing of multimodal therapies, and surgical technique. The most significant contribution in advancing rectal cancer care may be the standardization and widespread implementation of total mesorectal excision (TME). The TME, popularized by Professor Heald in the early 1980s as a sharp, meticulous dissection of the tumor and mesorectum with all associated lymph nodes through the avascular embryologic plane, has shown universal reproducible reductions in local recurrence and improvement in disease-free and overall survival. Widespread education and training of surgeons worldwide in the TME have significantly impact outcomes for rectal cancer surgery, and the procedure has become the gold standard for curative resection of rectal cancer. In this article, we discuss the evolution of the standard abdominal approach to the TME, with emphasis on the history, relevant anatomy, standard procedure steps, oncologic outcomes, and technical evolution.
Traumatic Brain Injury: Comparison of Computed Tomography Findings in Pediatric and Adult Populations
Authors: Choudhary Madhur , Khan Khursheed Alam , Gora Nandkishore , Sharma Achal , Sinha Virendra Deo 
Published: April 2020

Abstract
Introduction Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a global health issue, accounting for a significant number of adult and pediatric deaths and morbidity. Computed tomography (CT) is an important diagnostic modality for TBI. The primary goal of this study was to determine if there were any significant radiological differences in CT brain findings between adult and pediatric populations.
Materials and Methods Data of individual patients were collected from admission to discharge/death, which included various parameters in terms of demographics, mechanism of injury, and patient outcome which were later analyzed. A total of 1,150 TBI patients were enrolled in the study.
Results The most common mode of injury in adults is road traffic accident (RTA) followed by fall from height (FFH), while in pediatrics it is vice versa. Findings of basal cisterns on CT brain were found to be statistically significant in both groups; 65% adults and 71% pediatrics had only one abnormal CT finding. Most common combination CT finding in adults was acute subdural hematoma (ASDH) and basal cistern abnormality, while in pediatrics it was traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) and contusion. Rotterdam score (based on CT brain findings) was significantly lower for pediatric age group compared with adults. It was 2.2 ± 0.85 for adults and 1.99 ± 0.74 for pediatrics, which was statistically significant (p < 0.001).
Conclusions The Rotterdam score has immense predictive power for prognostication of mortality status. Pediatric age group has better prognosis in terms of survival as compared with adults, thus justifying the role of Rotterdam CT score for mortality risk stratification in providing clinical care.
General Guidelines in the Management of an Obstetrical Patient on the Labor and Delivery Unit during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Stephens Angela J. , Barton John R. , Bentum Nana-Ama Ankumah , Blackwell Sean C. , Sibai Baha M. 
Published: April 2020

Novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a respiratory tract infection that was first identified in China. Since its emergence in December 2019, the virus has rapidly spread, transcending geographic barriers. The World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have declared COVID-19 as a public health crisis. Data regarding COVID-19 in pregnancy is limited, consisting of case reports and small cohort studies. However, obstetric patients are not immune from the current COVID-19 pandemic, and obstetric care will inevitably be impacted by the current epidemic. As such, clinical protocols and practice on labor and delivery units must adapt to optimize the safety of patients and health care workers and to better conserve health care resources. In this commentary, we provide suggestions to meet these goals without impacting maternal or neonatal outcomes.
Key Points
• Novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a pandemic.• COVID-19 impacts care of obstetric patients.• Health care should be adapted for the COVID-19 pandemic.
The evolutionary scaling of cellular traits imposed by the drift barrier
Authors: Lynch Michael 
Published: April 2020

Significance
Owing to internal homeostatic mechanisms, cellular traits may experience long periods of stable selective pressures. Nonetheless, drift and mutation still conspire to generate significant variation in mean phenotypes among phylogenetic lineages. Provided there are classes of mutations with sufficiently small effects, even in the face of constant selection, variation in genetic effective population sizes will result in gradients of mean phenotypes with respect to organism size across the tree of life. Mutation is an important determinant of such patterns, even in the absence of directional bias. Thus, a substantial amount of variation in cellular features may be a simple consequence of lineage-specific differences in the power of drift rather than a reflection of adaptive divergence.
Website localization
Authors: Floros Georgios , Charalampidou Parthena 
Published: April 2020

AbstractTraditionally, website translation has been considered a process moving from the global to the local, or from the major to the minor, and has largely been termed localization. Yet, the various meanings and interpretations of the term create the need for more specific terms that designate specific types of localization such as the cases where a locally generated website, created in a locale with ‘minor’ presence on the international market, needs to be provided in a language that is considered ‘major’ in cyberspace, e.g. websites into English as a lingua franca. In such cases, the website content transfer follows an opposite direction, i.e. from the local to the global. We would like to capitalize on the major-minor metaphor as a methodological tool for cases emerging as a quasi-opposite process to the prevailing conceptualization of localization, in an attempt to highlight differences which might justify new terminology. It will be argued that the concept of locale from which the term localization stems does not apply when a culturally undefined audience is addressed, and a new term will be proposed.
Crisis of political leadership in Zimbabwe
Authors: Chipere Mike 
Published: April 2020

SUMMARY
Zimbabwe faces the deepest crisis of its time. The three main impediments to getting out of the crisis are, first, the current kleptocratic and dictatorial rule of President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his ZANU–PF party; second, the leadership and policies of the largest opposition party, the MDC; and last but not least, the operations of the World Bank and the IMF in Zimbabwe.
Semileptonic decays

in the PQCD approach with the lattice QCD input *
Authors: Hu Xue-Qing , Jin Su-Ping , Xiao Zhen-Jun 
Published: April 2020

Abstract
We study the semileptonic

decays in the framework of the Standard Model (SM), by employing the perturbative QCD (PQCD) factorization formalism combined with the lattice QCD input for the relevant transition form factors. We calculate the branching ratios

with

, the ratios of the branching fractions

and

, and the physical observables

,

and

. The “PQCD+Lattice” predictions for

and

agree with the available experimental measurements within errors. For the ratios

and

, the "PQCD+Lattice" predictions agree with the other predictions. For

and

, our theoretical predictions agree with the measured values within errors. Our theoretical predictions of the semileptonic

decays considered could be tested in the near future by the LHCb and Belle II experiments.
Probe chiral magnetic effect with signed balance function *
Authors: Tang A. H. 
Published: April 2020

Abstract
In this paper a pair of observables are proposed as alternative ways, by examining the fluctuation of net momentum-ordering of charged pairs, to study the charge separation induced by the Chiral Magnetic Effect (CME) in relativistic heavy ion collisions. They are, the out-of-plane to in-plane ratio of fluctuation of the difference between signed balance functions measured in pair’s rest frame, and the ratio of it to similar measurement made in the laboratory frame. Both observables have been studied with simulations including flow-related backgrounds, and for the first time, backgrounds that are related to resonance's global spin alignment. The two observables have similar positive responses to signal, and opposite, limited responses to identifiable backgrounds arising from resonance flow and spin alignment. Both observables have also been tested with two realistic models, namely, a multi-phase transport (AMPT) model and the anomalous-viscous fluid dynamics (AVFD) model. These two observables, when cross examined, will provide useful insights in the study of CME-induced charge separation.
Modification of the spectra of correlated charm-anticharm quark pairs in the quark-gluon plasma *
Authors: Ullah Ismat , He Min 
Published: April 2020

Abstract
Heavy quarks play an important role in probing the properties of strongly interacting quark-gluon plasma (QGP) created in ultra-relativistic heavy-ion collisions. We study the interactions of single heavy (charm) quarks and correlated charm and anticharm (

) quark pairs with the medium constituents of QGP by performing fireball+Langevin simulations of the pertinent Brownian motion with elastic collisions. Besides studying the traditional observables, the nuclear modification factor and the elliptic flow of single heavy quarks in QGP for different thermal relaxation rates, we also study the broadening of the azimuthal correlations of charm and anticharm quark pairs in the QGP medium for different relaxation rates and transverse momenta classes. We quantified the smearing of

pair azimuthal correlations with an increasing thermal relaxation rate: while the (nearly) back-to-back correlations among

pairs are almost completely washed out at low transverse momentum (pT
), these correlations at high pT
largely survive the pair diffusion. This provides a novel observable for diagnosing the properties of QGP.
Prediction of possible exotic states in the

system *
Authors: Zhang Xu , Xie Ju-Jun 
Published: April 2020

Abstract
We investigate the

three-body system in order to look for possible

exotic states in the framework of the fixed-center approximation of the Faddeev equation. We assume the scattering of

on a clusterized system

, which is known to generate

, or a

in a clusterized system

, which is shown to generate

. In the case of

-

scattering, we find evidence of a bound state

below the

threshold with a mass of around 1700 MeV and a width of about 180 MeV. Considering

-

scattering, we obtain a bound state

just below the

threshold with a mass of around 1680 MeV and a width of about 160 MeV.
Scientific and technical problems of CNFC in two-component NPE and their solution in “Proryv” project
Authors: Rachkov V I , Adamov E O 
Published: April 2020

Abstract
Modern Nuclear Energetics (NE) based on Thermal Reactors (TR) with Uranium fuel in Open Nuclear Fuel Cycle (ONFC) has systemic problems that limit its further development: low utilization efficiency of extracted U, absence of ecologically suitable solution for long-lived high-level radioactive waste treatment and nonproliferation. Besides that one of the most serious barriers for modern NE development is the problem of competitiveness that is closely related to safety problem. Attempts to solve the safety problem by development of additional active means of safety protection led to the decrease of competitive ability of NE compared to organic power industry. Fast Reactors with inherent safety as the basis for the New Technological Platform (NTP) are to overcome the current development barriers. The near future transfer towards the two-component NE structure with Fast and Thermal Reactors and CNFC is the key direction of the nuclear energy development strategy. Reprocessing of spent fuel (SF) and recycling of accumulated Pu and unburned U in Fast Reactors fuels cycle allows to cut the need in natural U in 100 times and in 10 times the mass of heavy nuclei in long-lived high-level radioactive waste, which is one of the key means of ensuring ecological safety of NTP. This article presents the goals and means of achieving technological and ecological safety, political neutrality, resource stability and competitive ability of the New Technological Platform. Introduction
Role of fast sodium reactors in closure of the nuclear fuel cycle in the nuclear power system
Authors: Gulevich A V , Dekusar V M , Kamaev A A , Klinov D A , Moseev A L , Vasiliev B A , Vasyaev A V , Shepelev S F 
Published: April 2020

Abstract
Currently, nuclear society has recognized that further development of Russian nuclear power industry will be carried out under the two-component framework represented with thermal and fast reactors operating within the total closed fuel cycle. Several scenarios of the nuclear fuel cycle closure within Russian two-component nuclear power system (NPS) have been currently discussed among the industry specialists. These scenarios are based on various philosophies of the NFC closure (centralized NFC closed by thermal and fast reactors fuel or station NFC for closure of the fuel cycle of BREST reactors only), various fast reactor technologies and various types of the fuel used: UOX/MOX or mixed nitride U-Pu. The key difference is in different understanding of fast reactors role in NPS fuel cycle closure. This results in varying requirements to fast reactors and the terms of implementation of such requirements. This report focuses on the role of fast sodium reactors as a system-forming component of the future two-component nuclear power system operating within the total fuel cycle with thermal reactors.
Development of the general design of the industrial energy complex with CNFC
Authors: Zherebtsov A A , Mochalov Yu S , Shadrin A Yu , Zaikov Yu P , Gorbachev M K , Sokolov K A , Kisly V A , Goncharov D A 
Published: April 2020

Abstract
The article discusses the technological and project aspects of the closure of the nuclear fuel cycle of fast neutron reactors on the example of the conceptual design of the industrial power complex. The advantages of using combined SNF processing technology are noted. The advantages of creating a universal production of nuclear fuel for fast neutron reactors of different configurations are given. Hypothetical sites for the production of closed nuclear fuel cycle are considered.
Experience of implementation in NRNU MEPhI of the education program focused on training of specialists for “Proryv” project
Authors: Pershukov V A , Tikhomirov G V , Lavrukhin A A , Karpov S A , Sofronov V L 
Published: April 2020

Abstract
The educational program “Nuclear power technologies of new generation” was created at the National Research Nuclear University MEPhI with the goal of selecting talented youth and organizing targeted training for specialists for Rosatom’s strategic project “Proryv”. The “Proryv” project is dedicated to the development of technologies for the transition to a two-component structure of nuclear energy based on thermal and fast reactors with a closed nuclear fuel cycle. The article discusses the experience of implementing this training program at the National Research Nuclear University MEPhI, educational technologies, and statistics on student enrollment and graduation. The possibility of extending existing experience to other universities implementing similar training profiles is also shown.
Nuclear power plants of low and medium power with SVBR-100 reactor facilities
Authors: Petrochenko V V , Grigoriev S A , Dedul A V , Komlev O G , Kondaurov A V , Toshinsky G I 
Published: April 2020

Abstract
Installed power capacity’s share of the global nuclear power engineering is about 10% (both current and forecasted) or even less, while forecasted renewables’ one is above 50%. Large-scale development of nuclear energy technologies is curbed by the existing public opinion in relation to safety (including spent fuel and radioactive wastes handling), limited uranium resources, high capital costs and non-proliferation issues. Overcoming of the impediments is assumed to be based on the next generation nuclear energy technologies among them SVBR technology could be considered as a one possible option. The safety of SVBR NPP is ensured due to using chemically inert lead-bismuth coolant. Removal of uranium resource limitations is based on possibility to operate in a closed nuclear fuel cycle. The economic competitiveness is achieved due to using relatively small amount and relatively simple equipment for the reactor production. The non-proliferation is supported by the use of reduced-enrichment fuel and reactor core physics sensitive to unreported fertile material placement. Additionally SVBR nuclear energy technology can enhance their attractiveness by abilities to place SVBR NPP near to consumers, possibilities for multi-purpose applications, capabilities to operate in weak grids and in the load following modes.
Optimization of RW volumes from reprocessing of SNF from fast reactors. Fractionation options
Authors: Kascheev V A , Shadrin A Yu , Dmitriev S A 
Published: April 2020

Abstract
In this work, are analyzed the volume of vitrified radioactive waste generated during the processing of spent nuclear fuel from fast reactors (using the example of processing mixed uranium-plutonium nitride spent nuclear fuel from the BREST-OD-300 reactor).
The analysis showed
- there is a minimum acceptable volume of HLW from spent nuclear fuel reprocessing, determined by the parameters of permissible thermal and radiation effects on the matrices used for RW utilization, as well as by the restriction on the chemical composition of the matrices, fixed in regulatory documents;
- the allocation of the fraction of minor actinides (MA) during the reprocessing of the fast reactor spent nuclear fuel significantly reduces the required volume of the matrix for disposal of HLW;
- the currently technically achievable level of MA (99.9%) and plutonium (99.975%) recovery during the reprocessing SNF allows reducing the time to achieve radiation equivalence of the generated RW and uranium feed used to produce mixed nitride uranium-plutonium nuclear fuel to 300 years;
- a complete rejection of the deep underground disposal of RW from SNF reprocessing (rejection of the formation of radioactive waste of the 1st and 2nd classes) is not economically justified, because leads to the need for the formation of a large volume of RW of the 3rd class;
- minimization of the RW volume to be deep disposed is achieved by a combination of fractionation (separation of the MA fraction) and the use of the principle of multi-stage processing of HLW, which assumes long-term intermediate controlled storage of HLW (50-60 years).
Photon mass attenuation coefficients, effective atomic numbers, CT numbers and density profiles of cured DSF-SPC-based Rhizophora spp. particleboard phantoms coupled with NaOH/IA-PAE at different concentrations
Authors: Samson D O , Mat Jafri M Z , Shukri A , Hashim R , Sulaiman O , Aziz M Z A , Yusof M F M 
Published: April 2020

Abstract

Rhizophora spp. (R. spp.) particleboard phantoms based on defatted soy flour and soy protein concentrate were fabricated using itaconic acid polyamidoamine-epichlorohydrin (IA-PAE) at different concentrations with the incorporation of NaOH. The results showed that the mass attenuation coefficients and effective atomic numbers of the particleboard phantoms at 16.59–25.26 keV photon energies were in good agreement within 0.88% and 0.01% of the XCOM values in water with p-values of 0.072 and 0.075. In addition, DSF-SPC-R. spp. phantom with 15 wt% IA-PAE content shows the nearest CT numbers, electron density, and density profiles to water substitutes at three CT energies. These results indicate the suitability of cured DSF-SPC-R. spp. particleboards as phantom materials for the selected X-ray energies.
Dose enhancement by bismuth oxide nanoparticles for HDR brachytherapy
Authors: Sisin N N T , Azam N A , Rashid R A , Abdullah R , Razak K A , Abidin S Z , Rahman W N 
Published: April 2020

Abstract
Escalation of biological damage through the induction of dose enhancement effect in radiotherapy cancer treatment by high-Z nanoparticles (NPs) has recently been the subject of growing interest. Hence, this study was conducted primarily to investigate the enhancement of brachytherapy (source Ir192) efficacy by bismuth oxide nanoparticles (BiONPs) on cervical cancer cells. Radiosensitization effect was tested against different size and concentration of BiONPs. After irradiation with radiation doses ranging from 0 to 4 Gy, the survival of the cell was quantified by clonogenic assay and presented in survival curves fitted using the LQ model. Dose enhancement (DE) factor was extrapolated from the curve at 50% of cell survival and calculated. The results marked out the dependency of DE on nanoparticles size and concentrations. The optimum size of BiONPs was found to be 80 nm with a concentration of 0.00025 mM, in which the DEF is 1.88. In conclusion, this study suggests that the induction of the DE effect is dependent on the size and concentration of the nanoparticles.