bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Equal Access to Telemedicine during COVID‐19 Pandemic: A Pediatric Otolaryngology Perspective
Authors: Jiang Wen , Magit Anthony E. , Carvalho Daniela 
Published: September 2020

Objectives/HypothesisDuring the current COVID‐19 pandemic, the demand for direct‐to‐home telemedicine services has risen to an unprecedented level. Equal access to specialty care was assessed to identify potential barriers that may negatively impact telemedicine utilization.Study designRetrospective case series.MethodsWe examined the 6‐week period between March and May 2020 when the only access to nonurgent pediatric otolaryngology service was through telemedicine and compared it to in‐person visits during the same period in 2019. We compared patient demographics, including age, gender, preferred language, zip code of residence, and primary insurance plan.ResultsA total of 1,495 visits were conducted through telemedicine from March 23, 2020 to May 1, 2020, and 1983 in‐person visits were completed in 2019. There was no difference in patient age and gender. The proportions of Spanish‐speaking families were similar (15.8% in 2019 vs. 14.4% in 2020, P = .96). The percentage of Medi‐Cal‐insured patients (51.4% in 2019 vs. 49.8% in 2020, P = .73) and the mean poverty level (12.6% in 2019 vs. 12.2% in 2020, P = .38) also remained the same. Spanish‐speaking families were statistically more likely to require rescheduling of their telemedicine visits (17.2%) when compared to the overall rescheduling rate of 11.9% (P = .0083).ConclusionsWe were able to successfully provide access to telemedicine services to our vulnerable populations during the current COVID‐19 pandemic. Telemedicine is likely to remain an essential mode of delivering patient care going forward. It is important to evaluate and identify potential disparities to telemedicine access and proactively implement changes to address these barriers.Level of Evidence4. Laryngoscope, 131:1175–1179, 2021
S1P Lyase siRNA Dampens Malignancy of DLD‐1 Colorectal Cancer Cells
Authors: Faqar‐Uz‐Zaman Wajiha Farha , Schmidt Katrin G. , Thomas Dominique , Pfeilschifter Josef M. , Radeke Heinfried H. , Schwiebs Anja 
Published: September 2020

AbstractSphingosine‐1‐phosphate lyase 1 (S1P lyase or SGPL1) is an essential sphingosine‐1‐phosphate‐degrading enzyme. Its manipulation favors onset and progression of colorectal cancer and others in vivo. Thus, SGPL1 is an important modulator of cancer initiation. However, in established cancer, the impact of retrospective SGPL1 modulation is elusive. Herein, we analyzed how SGPL1 siRNA affects malignancy of the human colorectal cancer cells DLD‐1 and found that in parallel to the reduction of SGPL1 expression levels, migration, invasion, and differentiation status changed. Diminished SGPL1 expression was accompanied with reduced cell migration and cell invasion in scratch assays and transwell assays, whereas metabolic activity and proliferation was not altered. Decreased migration was attended by increased cell–cell‐adhesion through upregulation of E‐cadherin and formation of cadherin‐actin complexes. Spreading cell islets showed lower vimentin abundance in border cells. Furthermore, SGPL1 siRNA treatment induced expression of epithelial cell differentiation markers, such as intestinal alkaline phosphatase and cytokeratin 20. Hence, interference with SGPL1 expression augmented a partial redifferentiation of colorectal cancer cells toward normal colon epithelial cells. Our investigation showed that SGPL1 siRNA influenced tumorigenic activity of established colorectal cancer cells. We therefore suggest SGPL1 as a target for lowering malignant potential of already existing cancer.
Controlled Curcumin Release from Hydrogel Scaffold Platform Based on 2‐Hydroxyethyl Methacrylate/Gelatin/Alginate/Iron(III) Oxide
Authors: Babić Marija M. , Vukomanović Marija , Stefanič Martin , Nikodinović‐Runić Jasmina , Tomić Simonida Lj. 
Published: September 2020

AbstractThe strategy of combining polymers of natural and synthetic origin with inorganic components to use their unique synergistic effect for the development of the novel, sophisticated, and efficient 3D polymeric biomaterials, whose structure and properties mimic the extracellular matrix and simultaneously represent the suitable hydrogel platform for controlled drug release, is presented. The novel versatile 2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate/gelatin/alginate/iron(III) oxide based hydrogels are prepared by a simple but effective method‐modified porogenation. Chemical composition, morphology, swelling capacity, porosity, mechanical properties, effects on cell viability, and in vitro degradation are tested to correlate the material's composition with the corresponding properties. The hydrogels show an interconnected porous microstructure, satisfactory mechanical strength, pH‐sensitivity, and favorable curcumin release performances. The materials show good compatibility with healthy human fibroblast in cell culture judged by 3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2,5‐diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay, suggesting newly synthesized hydrogels as potentially a new generation of 3D biomaterials with tunable properties for versatile biomedical and pharmaceutical applications.
Fluorine‐Free Superhydrophobic Coatings: Rapid Fabrication and Highly Efficient Oil/Water Separation
Authors: da Silva Ítalo G. M. , Lucas Elizabete F. , Advincula Rigoberto 
Published: September 2020

AbstractIn this work, a rapid method is demonstrated to obtain a fluorine‐free superhydrophobic/superoleophilic coating by a simple two‐step method: dip‐coating and oven curing. The chemical structure of the coating is based on the crosslinking reaction of an alkyl methacrylate, a dimethacrylate (crosslinker) and a silane (adhesive), using AIBN as initiator, toluene as solvent, and silica nanoparticles to enhance surface roughness. Chemorheology results show that the coating is fully cured even in 20 min at 100 °C, exhibiting a water contact angle (CA) of 162 ± 2°, sliding angle (SA) of 4 ± 1°, nanometrical structures throughout the surface, and excellent adhesion properties for the mesh screen. The coating exhibits outstanding oil/water separation efficiency (96–99%) for seven different types of oil (gasoline, diesel, petroleum ether, hexane, toluene, chloroform, and dichloromethane), and in addition presents high recyclability. Based on nonisothermal TGA, the activation energy of degradation, calculated using the Kissinger and Ozawa models, is 113.5 and 114 kJ mol‐1, respectively. Finally, the coating is thermally aged at 150 °C: the CA exhibits a smooth decrease up to 129 ± 1° at 120 min, and FTIR analysis shows structural changes possibly related to the generation of thermal oxidation products.
Novel Nanocellulose/Polymer Composite Aerogel as Solid‐State Fluorescence Probe by Pickering Emulsion Route
Authors: Li Shuai , Zhou Changbing , He Yingying , Liu Hongxia , Zhou Li , Yu Chuanbai , Wei Chun , Wang Chaoyang 
Published: September 2020

AbstractIn this study, cellulose nanofibrils (CNF)/polymer (nonwater soluble) composite aerogels are facilely fabricated using CNF‐stabilized Pickering emulsion gel technology combined with the freeze‐drying method. Pior to the formation of the O/W Pickering emulsion stabilized by the CNF, a nonwater‐soluble polymer, such as polymethyl methacrylate, polylactic acid (PLA), polycabonate, polystyrene, and so on, is dissolved into the oil phase, and the CNF are effectively dispersed in the water phase. The subsequent gelation of the Pickering emulsion through ultrasonic emulsification followed by freeze‐drying is carried out to obtain the CNF/polymer composite aerogels. The obtained CNF/polymer with a low density of ≈0.01g cm−3 have better dimentional stability and mechanical properties compared with the pure CNF aerogel. Additionally, 1,4‐dihydroxyanthraquinone (1,4‐DHAQ, a fluorophore) is loaded into the A‐CNF/PLA composite aerogel by dissolving it along with PLA into the oil phase to form a novel solid‐state fluorescence probe for Cu2+ detection with an extremely low detection concentration of 10−8 mol L−1. Interestingly, neither solvent exchange nor chemical reaction (or polymerization) is required in the preparation of aerogels. This study provides a facile and universal route for the fabrication of CNF/polymer composite aerogels and the development of their functional products.
Analysis of the fractional corona virus pandemic via deterministic modeling
Authors: Tuan Nguyen Huy , Tri Vo Viet , Baleanu Dumitru 
Published: September 2020

With every passing day, one comes to know that cases of the corona virus disease are increasing. This is an alarming situation in many countries of the globe. So far, the virus has attacked as many as 188 countries of the world and 5 549 131 (27 May 2020) human population is affected with 348 224 deaths. In this regard, public and private health authorities are looking for manpower with modeling skills and possible vaccine. In this research paper, keeping in view the fast transmission dynamics of the virus, we have proposed a new mathematical model of eight mutually distinct compartments with the help of memory‐possessing operator of Caputo type. The fractional order parameter ψ of the model has been optimized so that smallest error can be attained while comparing simulations and the real data set which is considered for the country Pakistan. Using Banach fixed point analysis, it has been shown that the model has a unique solution whereas its basic reproduction number
is approximated to be 6.5894. Disease‐free steady state is shown to be locally asymptotically stable for
, otherwise unstable. Nelder‐Mead optimization algorithm under MATLAB Toolbox with daily real cases of the virus in Pakistan is employed to obtain best fitted values of the parameters for the model's validation. Numerical simulations of the model have come into good agreement with the practical observations wherein social distancing, wearing masks, and staying home have proved to be the most effective measures in order to prevent the virus from further spread.
Saturated Fatty Acids Promote Hepatocytic Senecence through Regulation of miR‐34a/Cyclin‐Dependent Kinase 6
Authors: Qin Yu‐e , Duan Li , He Yumin , Yuan Chengfu , Wang Ting , Yuan Ding , Zhang Changcheng , Liu Chaoqi 
Published: September 2020

ScopeObesity increases intracellular lipid accumulation in hepatocytes, which can induce non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). With progression of NAFLD, a sizable fraction of patients develop non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), eventually leading to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The mechanism involved in obesity‐induced NAFLD remains unclear. Free fatty acids and high‐fat diets, which induce hepatocyte senescence, are major risk factors for NAFLD. Therefore in this study, the mechanism of lipotoxicity‐induced hepatocyte senescence is investigated.Methods and ResultsThe mice are fed a high‐fat diet (HFD) and BNL CL.2 cells are treated with palmitate acid (PA) to establish in vivo and in vitro models of lipotoxicity, respectively. SA‐β‐gal staining is used to analyze the positively stained senescent hepatocytes. The results show that both PA and HFD induce cellular senescence. Real‐time‐PCR quantitative analysis reveals that miR‐34a is significantly upregulated in the liver tissues of the HFD mice and in the PA‐treated BNL CL.2 cells. Western blotting analysis shows that cyclin‐dependent kinase inhibitor 1 (CDKN1, also known as p21) is upregulated, while cyclin‐dependent kinase 6 (CDK6) is downregulated. Further investigation of the mechanism reveals that CDK6 is a target of miR‐34a, which binds to the 3′ UTR of CDK6 and inhibits its expression.ConclusionThe findings reveal that miR‐34a is upregulated in a high‐fat environment in the liver, and induces hepatocyte senescence by targeting CDK6. The miR‐34a‐CDK6 signaling axis may promote NAFLD development in a high‐fat environment and therefore represents a potential target for NAFLD therapy.
Human Gut Microbiota Metabolism of Dietary Sesquiterpene Lactones: Untargeted Metabolomics Study of Lactucopicrin and Lactucin Conversion In Vitro and In Vivo
Authors: García Carlos J. , Beltrán David , Tomás‐Barberán Francisco A. 
Published: September 2020

ScopeGut microbiota converts dietary phytochemicals into metabolites and modulates their health effects. The microbial metabolism of dietary terpenoids, as the sesquiterpene lactones of leafy vegetables, is unknown.Methods and ResultsIn vitro fermentation of lactucopicrin, lactucin, and romaine lettuce with gut microbiota from independent donors, show their extensive metabolism through untargeted metabolomics of the fecal incubations. Dehydroxylations and double bond hydrogenations are the main catabolic reactions. Isomers of dihydrolactucopicrin, tetrahydrolactucopicrin, and deoxylactucin, are observed after lactucopicrin metabolism. Tetrahydrolactucin and hexahydrolactucin are also found after lactucin metabolism. Lettuce fermentation shows similar metabolic conversions. Phase II conjugates of most of these metabolites are detected in the urine of healthy volunteers after escarole salad intake. Glucuronides, and sulfates, of dihydrolactucopicrin, tetrahydrolactucopicrin, dihydrolactucin, and deoxylactucin, are detected in the urine although with large inter‐subject variability.ConclusionThis is the first report on the gut microbiota metabolism of sesquiterpene lactones in humans, and one of the first reports to describe that dietary terpenoids of widely consumed leafy vegetables are extensively catabolized by human gut microbiota. A large inter‐subject variation in the metabolism of sesquiterpene lactones also reflects differences in gut microbiota composition. It suggests that inter‐individual differences in their health effects should be expected.
Wave optics simulation of grating‐based X‐ray phase‐contrast imaging using 4D Mouse Whole Body (MOBY) phantom
Authors: Sung Yongjin , Nelson Brandon , Shanblatt Elisabeth R. , Gupta Rajiv , McCollough Cynthia H. , Graves William S. 
Published: September 2020

PurposeDemonstrate realistic simulation of grating‐based x‐ray phase‐contrast imaging (GB‐XPCI) using wave optics and the four‐dimensional Mouse Whole Body (MOBY) phantom defined with non‐uniform rational B‐splines (NURBS).MethodsWe use a full‐wave approach, which uses wave optics for x‐ray wave propagation from the source to the detector. This forward imaging model can be directly applied to NURBS‐defined numerical phantoms such as MOBY. We assign the material properties (attenuation coefficient and electron density) of each model part using the data for adult human tissues. The Poisson noise is added to the simulated images based on the calculated photon flux at each pixel.ResultsWe simulate the intensity images of the MOBY phantom for eight different grating positions. From the simulated images, we calculate the absorption, differential phase, and normalized visibility contrast images. We also predict how the image quality is affected by different exposure times.ConclusionsGB‐XPCI can be simulated with the full‐wave approach and a realistic numerical phantom defined with NURBS.
Technical Note: Evaluation of audiovisual biofeedback smartphone application for respiratory monitoring in radiation oncology
Authors: Capaldi Dante P. I. , Nano Tomi F. , Zhang Hao , Skinner Lawrie B. , Xing Lei 
Published: September 2020

PurposeRadiation dose delivered to targets located near the upper abdomen or thorax are significantly affected by respiratory motion, necessitating large margins, limiting dose escalation. Surrogate motion management devices, such as the Real‐time Position Management (RPM™) system (Varian Medical Systems, Palo Alto, CA), are commonly used to improve normal tissue sparing. Alternative to current solutions, we have developed and evaluated the feasibility of a real‐time position management system that leverages the motion data from the onboard hardware of Apple iOS devices to provide patients with visual coaching with the potential to improve the reproducibility of breathing as well as improve patient compliance and reduce treatment delivery time.Methods and materialsThe iOS application, coined the Instant Respiratory Feedback (IRF) system, was developed in Swift (Apple Inc., Cupertino, CA) using the Core‐Motion library and implemented on an Apple iPhone® devices. Operation requires an iPhone®, a three‐dimensional printed arm, and a radiolucent projector screen system for feedback. Direct comparison between IRF, which leverages sensor fusion data from the iPhone®, and RPM™, an optical‐based system, was performed on multiple respiratory motion phantoms and volunteers. The IRF system and RPM™ camera tracking marker were placed on the same location allowing for simultaneous data acquisition. The IRF surrogate measurement of displacement was compared to the signal trace acquired using RPM™ with univariate linear regressions and Bland‐Altman analysis.ResultsPeriodic motion shows excellent agreement between both systems, and subject motion shows good agreement during regular and irregular breathing motion. Comparison of IRF and RPM™ show very similar signal traces that were significantly related across all phantoms, including those motion with different amplitude and frequency, and subjects’ waveforms (all r > 0.9, P < 0.0001). We demonstrate the feasibility of performing four‐dimensional cone beam computed tomography using IRF which provided similar image quality as RPM™ when reconstructing dynamic motion phantom images.ConclusionsFeasibility of an iOS application to provide real‐time respiratory motion is demonstrated. This system generated comparable signal traces to a commercially available system and offers an alternative method to monitor respiratory motion.
Technical Note: Fricke dosimetry for blood irradiators
Authors: Mantuano Andrea , Salata Camila , Mota Carla Lemos , Pickler Arissa , Pacífico Leonardo de Castro , Magalhães Luís Alexandre Gonçalves , Almeida Carlos Eduardo de 
Published: September 2020

PurposeThe Fricke dosimeter has been shown to be a viable option as an absorbed dose standard. This work aims to provide the dose distribution in an irradiator container during blood irradiation using Fricke dosimetry.MethodsMeasurements were performed using a Gammacell Elan 3000 blood irradiator at Hemocenter in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. A specific phantom was constructed and patented by the authors to perform these measurements. Fricke solution was prepared according to international protocols, and polyethylene bags filled with Fricke solution (n = 19) were spatially distributed within the phantom. Control bags were also submitted to the same process, except the irradiation. The irradiation time was calculated to give 25.7 Gy to the central portion of the phantom, the same dose used for blood bags.ResultsEncouraging results were obtained with an overall uncertainty of 2.1% (k = 1). The obtained results were compared with the doses calculated by the physicist from Hemocenter based on parameters provided by the manufacturer. The mean dose delivered to the Fricke bag in the center of the phantom (cavity 2) was 28.7 ± 0.5 Gy, which is 12% higher than the planned dose of 25.7 Gy.ConclusionsThe obtained results showed that the setup (Fricke and phantom) is able to perform dosimetry for blood irradiators. The delivered dose was higher than expected. This highlights the importance in controlling all the parameters during irradiation to ensure the correct dose for all irradiated bags.
Automatic segmentation, classification, and follow‐up of optic pathway gliomas using deep learning and fuzzy c‐means clustering based on MRI
Authors: Artzi Moran , Gershov Sapir , Ben‐Sira Liat , Roth Jonathan , Kozyrev Danil , Shofty Ben , Gazit Tomer , Halag‐Milo Tali , Constantini Shlomi , Ben Bashat Dafna 
Published: September 2020

PurposeOptic pathway gliomas (OPG) are low‐grade pilocytic astrocytomas accounting for 3‐5% of pediatric intracranial tumors. Accurate and quantitative follow‐up of OPG using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is crucial for therapeutic decision making, yet is challenging due to the complex shape and heterogeneous tissue pattern which characterizes these tumors. The aim of this study was to implement automatic methods for segmentation and classification of OPG and its components, based on MRI.MethodsA total of 202 MRI scans from 29 patients with chiasmatic OPG scanned longitudinally were retrospectively collected and included in this study. Data included T2 and post‐contrast T1 weighted images. The entire tumor volume and its components were manually annotated by a senior neuro‐radiologist, and inter‐ and intra‐rater variability of the entire tumor volume was assessed in a subset of scans. Automatic tumor segmentation was performed using deep‐learning method with U‐Net+ResNet architecture. A fivefold cross‐validation scheme was used to evaluate the automatic results relative to manual segmentation. Voxel‐based classification of the tumor into enhanced, non‐enhanced, and cystic components was performed using fuzzy c‐means clustering.ResultsThe results of the automatic tumor segmentation were: mean dice score = 0.736 ± 0.025, precision = 0.918 ± 0.014, and recall = 0.635 ± 0.039 for the validation data, and dice score = 0.761 ± 0.011, precision = 0.794 ± 0.028, and recall = 0.742 ± 0.012 for the test data. The accuracy of the voxel‐based classification of tumor components was 0.94, with precision = 0.89, 0.97, and 0.85, and recall = 1.00, 0.79, and 0.94 for the non‐enhanced, enhanced, and cystic components, respectively.ConclusionThis study presents methods for automatic segmentation of chiasmatic OPG tumors and classification into the different components of the tumor, based on conventional MRI. Automatic quantitative longitudinal assessment of these tumors may improve radiological monitoring, facilitate early detection of disease progression and optimize therapy management.
Cross correlation–based misregistration correction for super resolution T2‐weighted spin‐echo images: application to prostate
Authors: Borisch Eric A. , Grimm Roger C. , Kargar Soudabeh , Kawashima Akira , Rossman Phillip J. , Riederer Stephen J. 
Published: September 2020

PurposeThe purpose is to develop a retrospective correction for subtle slice‐to‐slice positional inconsistencies that can occur when overlapped slices are acquired for super resolution in T2‐weighted spin‐echo multislice imaging.MethodsSpin‐echo acquisition of overlapped slices is typically done using multiple passes. After the passes are assembled into the final slice set, consecutive slices are correlated due to their overlap. Cross correlation was used to measure slice‐to‐slice displacement. After Z‐dependent filtering to preserve true object shape, the displacements were used to correct slice position. The method was tested in a phantom moved slowly (0.16‐0.63 mm/pass) under computer control and in vivo in 16 patients having prostate MRI.ResultsOver the motion range, the correlation method had an accuracy within 0.03 mm/pass and precision ± 0.20 mm (ie, subpixel). Corrected images visually resemble the true object. Over the patient studies, the mean range of motion in the anterior–posterior direction was 1.63 mm. Motion‐corrected axial images and the sagittal reformats were evaluated as significantly superior over those formed without motion correction.ConclusionThe retrospective correlation‐based motion‐correction method provides significant improvement in the slice‐to‐slice registration necessary for effective super resolution using overlapped slices.