bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Development of rapid and highly accurate method to measure concentration of fibers in atmosphere using artificial intelligence and scanning electron microscopy
Authors: Iida Yukiko , Watanabe Kenji , Ominami Yusuke , Toyoguchi Toshiyuki , Murayama Takehiko , Honda Masatoshi 
Published: June 2021

Abstract

Aim
We aimed to develop a measurement method that can count fibers rapidly by scanning electron microscopy equipped with an artificial intelligence image recognition system (AI-SEM), detecting thin fibers which cannot be observed by a conventional phase contrast microscopy (PCM) method.

Methods
We created a simulation sampling filter of airborne fibers using water-filtered chrysotile (white asbestos). A total of 108 images was taken of the samples at a 5 kV accelerating voltage with 10 000X magnification scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Each of three expert analysts counted 108 images and created a model answer for fibers. We trained the artificial intelligence (AI) using 25 of the 108 images. After the training, the AI counted fibers in 108 images again.

Results
There was a 12.1% difference between the AI counting results and the model answer. At 10 000X magnification, AI-SEM can detect 87.9% of fibers with a diameter of 0.06-3 μm, which is similar to a skilled analyst. Fibers with a diameter of 0.2 μm or less cannot be confirmed by phase-contrast microscopy (PCM). When observing the same area in 300 images with 1500X magnification SEM—as listed in the Asbestos Monitoring Manual (Ministry of the Environment)—with 10 000X SEM, the expected analysis time required for the trained AI is 5 h, whereas the expected time required for observation by an analyst is 251 h.

Conclusion
The AI-SEM can count thin fibers with higher accuracy and more quickly than conventional methods by PCM and SEM.
Mortality of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders in a Chinese population
Authors: Du Qin , Shi Ziyan , Chen Hongxi , Zhang Ying , Wang Jiancheng , Qiu Yuhan , Zhao Zhengyang , Zhang Qin , Zhou Hongyu 
Published: June 2021

AbstractObjectiveNeuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is a rapidly disabling disease. Epidemiologic studies have suggested varying NMOSD mortality across ethnic groups. However, NMOSD mortality data in China are scarce. This study’s objectives were to explore mortality and causes of death among Chinese NMOSD patients and to identify independent predictors of death.MethodsWe performed a retrospective study with a 10‐year follow‐up of Chinese NMOSD patients. A Cox proportional hazards model was used to identify independent predictors of death.ResultsFive hundred and sixty‐nine patients were included; 24 patients died during follow‐up, for overall mortality of 4.2%. In these patients, the median disease duration at the time of death was 3.4 years. The most common cause of death was secondary infection (62.5%), especially respiratory infection (45.8%). The second most common cause of death was extensive cervical myelitis with respiratory failure (16.7%). Other causes included suicide (8.3%), cancer (4.2%), cerebral embolism (4.2%), and unknown causes (4.2%). The multivariate Cox analyses indicated that a short first interattack interval (HR = 0.93, 95% CI 0.89–0.98, p = 0.003), lack of regular immunotherapy (HR = 10.34, 95% CI 4.05–26.37, p < 0.001), and older age at onset were independent predictors of death. Every increasing decade of onset age increased the risk of death 2.59 times (95% CI 1.74–3.86, p < 0.001).InterpretationInfections were more common in patients not treated with any immunotherapy, indicating that early and consequent immunotherapy might prevent death by infections, which is of great importance for further treatment of NMOSD patients to avoid undertreatment due to fear of treatment‐associated infections.
Aluminum Oxide at the Monolayer Limit via Oxidant‐Free Plasma‐Assisted Atomic Layer Deposition on GaN
Authors: Henning Alex , Bartl Johannes D. , Zeidler Andreas , Qian Simon , Bienek Oliver , Jiang Chang‐Ming , Paulus Claudia , Rieger Bernhard , Stutzmann Martin , Sharp Ian D. 
Published: June 2021

AbstractAtomic layer deposition (ALD) is an essential tool in semiconductor device fabrication that allows the growth of ultrathin and conformal films to precisely form heterostructures and tune interface properties. The self‐limiting nature of the chemical reactions during ALD provides excellent control over the layer thickness. However, in contrast to idealized growth models, it is challenging to create continuous monolayers by ALD because surface inhomogeneities and precursor steric interactions result in island growth. Thus, the ability to create closed monolayers by ALD would offer new opportunities for controlling interfacial charge and mass transport in semiconductor devices, as well as for tailoring surface chemistry. Here, encapsulation of c‐plane gallium nitride (GaN) with ultimately thin (≈3 Å) aluminum oxide (AlOx) is reported, which is enabled by the partial conversion of the GaN surface oxide into AlOx using sequential exposure to trimethylaluminum (TMA) and hydrogen plasma. Introduction of monolayer AlOx decreases the work function and enhances reactivity with phosphonic acids under standard conditions, which results in self‐assembled monolayers with densities approaching the theoretical limit. Given the high reactivity of TMA with surface oxides, the presented approach likely can be extended to other dielectrics and III–V‐based semiconductors, with relevance for applications in optoelectronics, chemical sensing, and (photo)electrocatalysis.
Eco‐friendly foams of castor oil based‐polyurethane with Artemisia residue fillers for discarded vegetable oil sorption
Authors: Maia Lana S. , Zanini Noelle C. , Claro Amanda Maria , do Amaral Nayara Cavichiolli , Barud Hernane S. , Mulinari Daniella R. 
Published: June 2021

AbstractIn this article, a new approach is applied to reuse Artemisia residue (AR) as filler in polyurethane (PU) foam for vegetable oil sorption for discarded cooking oil applications. The pristine PU and PU/X%AR foams (X stands for AR content of 5–20%wt/wt) were characterized by SEM, density, contact angle (CA), thermogravimetric analysis, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The influence of two experimental factors, such as contact time (30–180 s) and initial vegetable oil concentration (20–200 g/L), was investigated in vegetable oil and vegetable oil/mineral water systems. The AR loading of the foams increased the foams' density and influenced the morphological, physical, thermal, and sorption properties. The PU/20%AR sample presented the highest CA (122.5°) and the best sorption capacity and efficiency in both systems due to the small pores size and higher frequency of pores. Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models well defined the sorption mechanisms. The Langmuir model represented the best fit of experimental data for PU/20%AR with a maximum adsorption capacity of 16.86 g/g. The PU/20%AR presented reusability of 7 cycles, conserving their hydrophobicity after the process. Therefore, AR is an innovative route as fillers in PU foams for discarded vegetable oil sorption, and the circular economy can benefit from the reuse of discarded vegetable cooking oil.
Effect of poly(ε‐caprolactone) and titanium (IV) dioxide content on the UV and hydrolytic degradation of poly(lactic acid)/poly(ε‐caprolactone) blends
Authors: Luyt Adriaan Stephanus , Antunes Ana , Popelka Anton , Mahmoud Abdelrahman , Hassan Mohammad Korany , Kasak Peter 
Published: June 2021

AbstractThe effect of accelerated weathering degradation on the properties of poly(lactic acid) (PLA)/poly(ε‐caprolactone) (PCL) blends and PLA/PCL/titanium (IV) dioxide (TiO2) nanocomposites are presented in this paper. The results show that both polymers are susceptible to weathering degradation, but their degradation rates are different and are also influenced by the presence of TiO2 in the samples. Visual, microscopic and atomic force microsocpy observations of the surface after accelerated weathering tests confirmed that degradation occurred faster in the PLA/PCL blends than in the PLA/PCL/TiO2 nanocomposites. The X‐ray diffraction results showed the degradation of PCL in the disappearance of its characteristic peaks over weathering time, and also confirmed that PLA lost its amorphous character and developed crystals from the shorter chains formed as a result of degradative chain scission. It was further observed that the presence of TiO2 retarded the degradation of both PLA and PCL. These results were supported by the differential scanning calorimetry results. The thermogravimetric analysis results confirmed that that PLA and PCL respectively influenced each other's thermal degradation, and that TiO2 played a role in the thermal degradation of both PLA and PCL. The tensile properties of both PLA/PCL and PLA/PCL/TiO2 were significantly reduced through weathering exposure and the incorporation of TiO2.
A model transformation approach for multiscale modeling of software architectures applied to smart cities
Authors: Khlif Ilhem , Hadj Kacem Mohamed , Eichler Cédric , Drira Khalil , Hadj Kacem Ahmed 
Published: June 2021

SummaryModeling and specifying correct software systems is a challenging task that can be supported by providing appropriate modeling abstractions. This article proposes an approach for graphical multiscale modeling of such systems using model transformation techniques. The approach is founded on a guided rule‐based iterative modeling process ensuring controlled transition from a coarse‐grained description to a fine‐grained description. It provides also user‐friendly graphical descriptions by extension of UML notations, hence preserving the common practices from software architectures design. The iterative design process is supported by a set of model transformation rules. The rules manage the refinement process (by adding or removing subsystems or by adding or removing details on a given subsystem) as a model transformation. Our approach is supported by a rule‐based generator that implements the automatic transformation of UML diagrams into Event‐B specifications allowing formal verification of their correctness properties, and relieving software architects of mastering formal techniques. To experiment and validate our approach, we consider a case study dedicated to the smart cities.
Repeated influenza vaccination provides cumulative protection from distinct H3N2 viruses
Authors: Kavian Niloufar , Hachim Asmaa , Cowling Benjamin J , Valkenburg Sophie A 
Published: June 2021

AbstractObjectivesCurrent inactivated influenza vaccines provide suboptimal protection against antigenic drift, and repeated annual vaccinations shape antibody specificity but the effect on protection from infection is not well understood.MethodsWe studied the effects of cumulative and staggered vaccinations in mice to determine the effect of influenza vaccination on protection from infection and immune quality.ResultsWe found that the timing of vaccination and antigenic change impacted the quality of immune responses. When mice received two different H3N2 strains (A/Hong Kong/4801/2014 and A/Singapore/INFIMH‐16‐0019/2016) by staggered timing of vaccination, there were higher H3HA antibody and B‐cell memory responses than four cumulative vaccinations or when two vaccinations were successive. Interestingly, after challenge with a lethal‐drifted H3N2 virus (A/Hong Kong/1/1968), mice with staggered vaccination were unable to produce high titres of antibodies specific to the challenge strain compared to other vaccination regimens because of high levels of vaccine‐specific cross‐reactive antibodies. All vaccination regimens resulted in protection, in terms of viral loads and survival, from lethal challenge, while lung IL‐6 and inflammation were lowest in staggered or cumulative vaccination groups, indicating further advantage.ConclusionOur findings help justify influenza vaccination policies that currently recommend repeat vaccination in infants and annual seasonal vaccination, with no evidence for impaired immunity by repeated seasonal vaccination.
Curriculum making and knowledge conceptions in classrooms in the context of standards‐based curricula
Authors: Alvunger Daniel 
Published: June 2021

AbstractThis paper explores the knowledge conceptions in teachers’ curriculum making within a classroom perspective through a lens of social realist theory. Curriculum making is conceptualised as a process that occurs between students, teachers, knowledge content and contextual factors, in which teachers must balance various priorities and knowledge boundaries. The analytical distinctions between knowledge conceptions, boundaries and structures are based on Young and Muller's three future curriculum scenarios and applied to empirical data retrieved from two eighth‐grade (14–15 year olds) classrooms in Sweden regarding lessons on Swedish and the natural sciences. The findings show that the curriculum knowledge requirements impede the agency of teachers and shape the conditions for curriculum making. Teachers seek to balance priorities in terms of the aim and content of subject knowledge, teaching activities and their knowledge of the students. Conceptions of knowledge and boundaries are constructed in complex ways as teachers try to build bridges and engage in disciplinary boundary crossing between subject‐specific knowledge and knowledge from the world of students’ subjective experience. These movements and epistemic transactions in curriculum making are ways of integrating different knowledge structures, and they have the potential to encourage exploration and moving beyond social contexts and everyday experience.
Climate change lifestyle narratives among Norwegian citizens: A linguistic analysis of survey discourse
Authors: Gjerstad Øyvind , Fløttum Kjersti 
Published: June 2021

AbstractThe present study proposes an analysis of climate change (CC) narratives in answers to an open‐ended survey question, where we ask what a climate‐friendly lifestyle may imply. The representative survey has been conducted online by the Norwegian Citizen Panel/DIGSSCORE, located at the University of Bergen. The survey provided 1,149 answers from respondents across Norway. The analysis combines a lexical and a text linguistic approach (Fløttum & Gjerstad, 2017), based on Adam's (2008) analysis of the narrative text sequence (initial situation–complication–(re)action–resolution–final situation), and inspired by the Narrative Policy Framework's (NPF) notions of plot and narrative characters (Jones et al., 2014). Our analysis identified four main topics: consumption, transportation, politics, and energy, while the cast of characters is dominated by the first‐person singular, frequently portrayed as hero, and the first‐person plural in a predominantly villainous role. The frequent use of negation and argumentative connectives reflects the contentious nature of the issue.
Inclusive Quantification Assay of Serum Des‐γ‐Carboxyprothrombin Proteoforms for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Surveillance by Targeted Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Lee Jihyeon , Lim Young‐Suk , Lee Jeong‐Hoon , Gwak Geum‐Youn , Do Misol , Yeo Injoon , Shin Dongyoon , Han Dohyun , Park Taesung , Kim Youngsoo 
Published: June 2021

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a malignant cancer with one of the highest mortality rates. Des‐γ‐carboxyprothrombin (DCP) is an HCC serologic surveillance marker that can complement the low sensitivity of alpha‐fetoprotein (AFP). DCP exists in the blood as a mixture of proteoforms from an impaired carboxylation process at glutamic acid (Glu) residues within the N‐terminal domain. The heterogeneity of DCP may affect the accuracy of measurements because DCP levels are commonly determined using an immunoassay that relies on antibody reactivity to an epitope in the DCP molecule. In this study, we aimed to improve the DCP measurement assay by applying a mass spectrometry (MS)‐based approach for a more inclusive quantification of various DCP proteoforms. We developed a multiple‐reaction monitoring–MS (MRM‐MS) assay to quantify multiple noncarboxylated peptides included in the various des‐carboxylation states of DCP. We performed the MRM‐MS assay in 300 patients and constructed a robust diagnostic model that simultaneously monitored three noncarboxylated peptides. The MS‐based quantitative assay for DCP had reliable surveillance power, which was evident from the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) values of 0.874 and 0.844 for the training and test sets, respectively. It was equivalent to conventional antibody‐based quantification, which had AUROC values at the optimal cutoff (40 mAU/mL) of 0.743 and 0.704 for the training and test sets, respectively. The surveillance performance of the MS‐based DCP assay was validated using an independent validation set consisting of 318 patients from an external cohort, resulting in an AUROC value of 0.793. Conclusion: Due to cost effectiveness and high reproducibility, the quantitative DCP assay using the MRM‐MS method is superior to antibody‐based quantification and has equivalent performance.
An electrospray ionization study on complexes of amylin with Cu(II) and Cu(I)
Authors: Moracci Laura , Crotti Sara , Traldi Pietro , Cosma Chiara , Lapolla Annunziata , Pucciarelli Salvatore , Agostini Marco 
Published: June 2021

AbstractHuman amylin (hIAPP) is one of a number of different peptides known to be responsible for the formation of amyloid fibrils in the pancreas of subjects with Type 2 diabetes mellitus. It was recognized that metal ions such as Cu(II) are implicated in the aggregation process of amyloidogenic peptides. However, the role of Cu(II) ions in the aggregation and dyshomeostasis of amylin has been controversial. Considering that most of the research reported in the literature pertain to the interactions between Cu(II) and amylin, we thought of interest to compare the interactions of Cu(II) and Cu(I) ions with amylin by electrospray ionization (ESI) mass spectrometry and collisional experiments, to elucidate possible differences in structural aspects of the complexes so formed. The ESI mass spectra of solutions containing hIAPP and Cu(I) or Cu(II) ions show the formation of hIAPP–Cu complexes. In both cases, M + Cu ions with three and four positive charges are detected. However, a series of fragment ions, absent in the ESI spectrum of untreated hIAPP, become detectable. Some of them are common for both Cu(I) and Cu(II) complexes, whereas others are specific for the complexes containing Cu in different oxidation states. Some fragments imply the involvement of residues His18, Ser19, Ser20, Asn21, and Asn22 in the complex formation, but the detection of the fragment b223+ indicates the presence of copper ions in a different position. This suggests different interaction sites between Cu(II) and Cu(I) and hIAPP. In contrast to Cu(II) complex, in the Cu(I) complex, some peculiar structures are present, corresponding to the cleavage of Asn–Asn peptidic bond and to [b30 + Cu(I)]4+ and [b28 + Cu(I)]4+ species. These results are in agreement with the coordination vacancy in [Cu(I)–(peptide)] species, which promotes Cu(I) interaction with additional neighboring donors (mainly N‐histidine, and also S‐methionine or other groups depending on the peptide conformation) through formation of trigonal T‐shaped intermediates.
Accuracy of cytopathology evaluation for resected benign and malignant pancreatic disease
Authors: Nerwal Teena , Goetz Austin , Nevler Avinoam , Barmettler Gabi , Solomides Charalambos , Kowalski Thomas , Loren David , Lavu Harish , Yeo Charles J. , HooKim Kim , Winter Jordan M. 
Published: June 2021

AbstractEndoscopic ultrasound‐guided fine‐needle aspiration (EUS‐FNA) is the preferred method for diagnosing pancreatic masses. While the diagnostic success of EUS‐FNA is widely accepted, the actual performance of EUS‐FNA is not known. This study sought to define the EUS‐FNA accuracy compared with the gold standard, surgically resected specimens. The study was a single institution, retrospective, and chart review of patients with surgically resected pancreatic specimens from 2005 to 2015 with a preoperative EUS‐FNA or biliary brushing. Cytological reports were organized from least concerning (i.e., low chance of malignancy) to most concerning (high chance of malignancy) into eight cytologic categories. We identified 741 cytologic cases: 530 EUS‐FNA and 211 endoscopic brushings. For EUS‐FNA samples, 62.5% of “benign” samples proved to be “benign” on surgical pathology. A cytologic diagnosis of “suspicious for malignancy” or “positive for malignancy” were concordant with a cancer diagnosis on surgical pathology 93.3% and 98.0% of cases, respectively. EUS‐FNA proved to be highly reliable at diagnosing malignancy for cytologic samples that were “suspicious” or “positive” for malignancy. Paired with supportive clinical data, these interpretations may be used to justify cancer treatment.
Feasibility study of 3D time‐reversal reconstruction of proton‐induced acoustic signals for dose verification in the head and the liver: A simulation study
Authors: Yu Yajun , Qi Pengyuan , Peng Hao 
Published: June 2021

AbstractPurposeIn vivo range and dose verification based on proton‐induced acoustics (protoacoustics) is potentially a useful tool for proton therapy. Built upon our previous study with two‐dimensional reconstruction, the time reversal (TR) method was extended to three‐dimensional (3D) and evaluated at two treatment sites (head and liver) through simulation, with the emphasis on a number of aspects such as increased spatial coverage, computational workload, and signal interference among slices.MethodsTwo mono‐energetic pencil beams were modeled in each site. The k‐Wave toolbox was used to investigate the propagation and TR reconstruction of acoustic waves. The performance was quantitatively assessed based on mean square error (MSE) for dose verification and Bragg peak localization error (ΔBP) for range verification, with regard to five parameters: number of sensors, sampling duration, sampling timestep, spill time, and noise level.ResultsThe respective impacts of five parameters are examined. Under the optimum setting, the achievable ΔBP can be limited within 1 voxel (voxel size: 3 × 3 × 3 mm3) and the achievable MSE can be limited below 0.02, for the head case (56 sensors) and the liver case (204 sensors), respectively.ConclusionsThe feasibility of range and dose verification utilizing the 3D TR method is demonstrated, as the very first step. In spite of several challenges unique to the 3D case (spatial coverage, computational workload, and signal interference among slices, etc.), promising performance is found and can be further improved through optimizing the deployment of sensors. The proposed approach may find potential use in several applications: beam diagnostics, in vivo dosimetry, and treatment monitoring.
Benefit‐finding experiences of cervical cancer survivors in rural Yunnan province, China: A qualitative study
Authors: Sun Liyuan , Liu Ke , Li Xilin , Zhang Yao , Huang Zhilan 
Published: June 2021

AbstractAimTo explore and describe cervical cancer patients’ benefit‐finding experiences in rural China.DesignThe phenomenological approach was used in this qualitative study.MethodsIn‐depth, semi‐structured interviews were conducted with 21 patients, from July to August of 2019. The data, which were collected, were analysed using the Colaizzi analysis procedure.ResultsAccording to the analysis results, the four benefit‐finding experience themes of the cervical cancer patients were, respectively, determined to be as follows: Health cognition and behaviour changes; reshaping of personal strength; focussing on relationships with others; and facing life positively.ConclusionsThe individual's cognition of health and their own strong qualities, and their external social support systems and information obtained and transmitted through interpersonal interactions, can promote the benefit finding. The findings suggest that medical staff should understand the traditional concepts of their patients, use their positive psychological potential, and build targeted nursing measures.