bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
PDO And AMO Modulated the Interdecadal Change in Relationship of Summer Precipitation Between Western and Eastern Parts of Northern China
Authors: Du Yuchun , Chen Huopo 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTThe summer precipitation over northern China generally presents an obvious dipole pattern, but the relationship between western northern China (WNC) and eastern northern China (ENC) has experienced a significant interdecadal change, with a significant positive correlation for the periods of 1920s–1940s (P1) and 1980s–2000s (P3), while a negative correlation for 1950s–1970s (P2). Further analyses reveal that the atmospheric circulation and water vapour transport anomalies triggered by the negative phase of Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO), coupling with an eastward‐propagating Silk Road Pattern‐like teleconnection stimulated by the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO), can jointly produce the favourable conditions for summer precipitation in ENC but unfavourable for WNC during P2, comparing with P1 and P3. This results in a dipole pattern of summer precipitation over northern China, leading to a negative correlation between precipitation in these two regions. During P1 and P3, precipitation anomalies in northern China mainly exhibit strong regional consistency, with primarily positive anomalies during P1 and negative anomalies during P3. However, the instability of the precipitation relationship during P3 is greater than those of P1 and P2, which may be attributed to the enhanced impact of the interdecadal variation of ENSO at the same period.
Comparison of closed‐system transfer devices to compound cytotoxic medicines in a hospital pharmacy compounding unit
Authors: Smith Evonne Katherine 
Published: December 2024

AbstractBackgroundThe use of a closed system transfer device (CSTD) is recommended when compounding hazardous cytotoxic medicines for operator and environmental protection. The hospital pharmacy compounding unit has used the CSTD PhaSeal since 2014. Recent evidence suggests an alternative CSTD, Equashield, may be a suitable alternative.AimTo determine if Equashield provides any advantages financially, in compounding time, rubber bung contamination, cytotoxic medicine surface contamination, staff satisfaction, and work health and safety benefits when compared to PhaSeal.MethodCSTD PhaSeal was compared to Equashield by performing a financial cost comparison, time in motion study to compare compounding time, evaluation of product contamination rates and cytotoxic surface contamination levels, work health and safety (WH&S) review and staff satisfaction survey. This project was exempt due to the local policy requirements that constitute research by the Children's Health Queensland Research Ethics Committee (Reference no: EX/23/QCHQ/97690). The justification for this ethics exemption was as follows: the study conformed with the Ethical considerations in quality assurance and evaluation activities and met local requirements for a quality assurance activity and did not involve any assessment of staff. Informed consent was obtained from all staff via verbal explanation of the project and their voluntary participation. Staff consented via completion of the voluntary survey.ResultsThe cost to compound using Equashield instead of PhaSeal was increased by AUD $4684 over a 6‐month period, with a compounding time saving benefit of approximately 1 min per product. Product contamination by rubber stopper core was 16 per 100,000 products using Equashield. Surface cytotoxic contamination levels remained undetectable before and after the comparison. Staff preferred Equashield and a WH&S product review determined Equashield required less torque and force during use and may reduce repetitive strain injury.ConclusionEquashield performed better in time to compound, rate of product contamination, staff satisfaction and WH&S assessment. The cost of Equashield was greater; however, Equashield demonstrated benefits over Phaseal in other areas of comparison, which could potentially offset the cost increase. The pharmacy demonstrated Equashield may be a suitable alternative to PhaSeal.
A Multi‐Center Study of Ossiculoplasty Hearing Outcomes and a Grading Scale of Ear Environment Risk
Authors: Gluth Michael B. , Judd Ryan T. , Gurgel Richard K. , Dornhoffer John L. , Kutz Walter , Carlson Matthew L. , Kuthubutheen Jafri , Anderson Ryan D. , Killeen Daniel E. , Barnes Jason H. , Fussell Wanda L. , Jeganathan Chaithanya 
Published: December 2024

ObjectiveTo determine which ear environment risk factors impact ossiculoplasty hearing outcomes and to generate a statistically‐valid grading system for ossiculoplasty outcome reporting.Study TypeRetrospective case series.MethodsA multi‐institutional database was generated from cases performed between 2011 and 2019. Preoperative and postoperative hearing thresholds were recorded alongside potential ear environment risk factors. Multiple variable linear regression statistical analyses of risk factors were applied to determine independent association with postoperative pure tone average air‐bone gap (PTA‐ABG). Significant factors were used to generate a statistically‐weighted grading scale of Ear Environment Risk (EER).Results1679 cases had a mean follow‐up time of 33.6 months (SD 36.3) and a mean postoperative PTA‐ABG of 21.2 (SD 12.8). Multiple revision status (p < 0.001), presence of canal wall down mastoidectomy cavity (p = 0.020), absent malleus (p < 0.001), absent stapes superstructure (p = 0.016), frequent otorrhea (p = 0.008), pediatric age (p < 0.001), and blunted/lateralized tympanic membrane (p = 0.003) were independently correlated with PTA‐ABG. These factors were incorporated into an EER Scoring System with four distinct risk groups wherein each risk group was significantly correlated with PTA‐ABG, and this grading system was better correlated with PTA‐ABG (Kendall's τ = 0.193) than other existing published grading scales.ConclusionGrading environment risk according to a novel EER scoring system generates meaningful risk groupings that correlate with ossiculoplasty postoperative PTA‐ABG, and this holds potential to frame reporting of hearing outcomes for future ossiculoplasty research.Level of Evidence3 Laryngoscope, 2024
Glycosylated Polymers Toward Stable Protein‐Based Lighting
Authors: Gutierrez‐Armayor David , Asin Alicia , Patrian Marta , Nieddu Mattia , Costa Rubén D. 
Published: December 2024

AbstractProtein‐based optoelectronics faces two challenges to keep the performance of conventional technologies: stabilizing proteins through water‐free fabrication methods and developing bio‐friendly interfaces. In this context, bio‐hybrid lighting, which integrates fluorescent protein (FP) based photon down‐converting filters, represents an emerging concept toward ensuring a sustainable lighting sector. They promise to replace rare earth and/or toxic emitters applied for photon down‐conversion in white commercial LEDs with FP‐polymer color filters. A key component is a branched polyethylene oxide that stabilizes FPs in a water‐less environment upon film forming. Recently sugar additives are successfully used as natural desiccation protectants against osmotic dehydration stress to further enhance FP stability by reinforcing intra‐protein H‐bonding. Herein, the glycosylation of the branched polymer is disclosed to stabilize FPs in coatings that resulted in 300‐fold enhanced device stability due to a significant reduction of the heat generation and slow‐down of the H‐transfer‐assisted emission deactivation process compared to reference polymer coatings. Thermal and spectroscopic techniques suggest that this finding is related to the higher crystallinity of the coatings and rigid environment provided by the glycosylated polymers. Overall, this work reinforces the use of sugars (additives or glycosylated polymers) to preserve the emission/thermal properties of FPs in water‐less environments for optoelectronics.
α‐Synuclein Gene Hypomethylation in LRRK2 Parkinson's Disease Patients
Authors: de Mena Lorena , Parés Guillem , Garrido Alicia , Pilco‐Janeta Daniel F. , Fernández Manel , Pérez Jesica , Tolosa Eduardo , Cámara Ana , Valldeoriola Francesc , Ezquerra Mario , Martí María‐José , Fernández‐Santiago Rubén ,   the Barcelona LRRK2 Study Group
Published: December 2024

AbstractBackgroundα‐Synuclein (SNCA) gene hypomethylation was reported in idiopathic Parkinson's disease (iPD). Based on a high clinical resemblance between iPD and leucine‐rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2)‐driven Parkinson's disease (L2PD), we investigated the epigenetic status of SNCA in an extensive LRRK2 clinical cohort from Spain.MethodsWe assessed the methylation levels of 23 CpG sites in the SNCA promoter region using peripheral blood DNA from L2PD patients (n = 151), LRRK2 nonmanifesting carriers (n = 55), iPD patients (n = 115), and healthy control subjects (n = 154) (total: N = 475).ResultsCompared with control subjects, we found significant SNCA hypomethylation in 11 of 23 CpGs in L2PD (48%), whereas 22 CpGs (96%) were hypomethylated in iPD. In line with a healthy status, asymptomatic mutation carriers had similar SNCA methylation profiles to control subjects.ConclusionsThis study shows for the first time that SNCA hypomethylation occurs in patients with L2PD. Further studies addressing SNCA methylation status in additional worldwide LRRK2 cohorts are warranted. © 2024 The Author(s). Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.
Feasibility study of using next‐generation reservoir computing (NG‐RC) model to estimate liver tumor motion from external breathing signals
Authors: Samadi Miandoab Payam , Setayeshi Saeed , Blanck Oliver , Saramad Shahyar 
Published: December 2024

AbstractBackgroundRespiratory motion is a challenge for accurate radiotherapy that may be mitigated by real‐time tracking. Commercial tracking systems utilize a hybrid external‐internal correlation model (ECM), integrating continuous external breathing monitoring with sparse X‐ray imaging of the internal tumor position.PurposeThis study investigates the feasibility of using the next generation reservoir computing (NG‐RC) model as a hybrid ECM to transform measured external motions into estimated 3D internal motions.MethodsThe NG‐RC model utilizes the nonlinear vector autoregressive (NVAR) machine to account for the hysteresis or phase differences between external and internal motions. The datasets used to evaluate the efficacy of the NG‐RC model include 57 motion traces from the CyberKnife system. The datasets were divided into three regions (central, lower, and upper livers) and three motion patterns. These patterns include linear and nonlinear motion patterns (Group A), hysteresis motion patterns (Group B), and all motion patterns (Group C). Moreover, various updating techniques were examined, such as continuously updating the NG‐RC model using the first‐in‐first‐out (FIFO) approach and sampling the internal tumor position every 0 s (strategy A), 60 s (strategy B), 30 s (strategy C), and 50 s (strategy D).ResultsThe NG‐RC model combined with strategy C resulted in better estimation accuracy than the reported CyberKnife cases (Wilcoxon signed rank p < 0.05). For linear and nonlinear motion patterns, the 3D radial estimation accuracy (mean ± SD) using the NG‐RC model combined with strategy C and the CyberKnife system was 1.20 ± 0.78 and 1.1 ± 0.20 mm in the central liver, 0.66 ± 0.25 and 1.49 ± 0.50 mm in the lower liver, and 1.73 ± 0.86 and 1.61 ± 0.42 mm in the upper liver. For hysteresis motion patterns, the corresponding values were 1.13 ± 0.37 and 1.45 ± 0.33 mm, 1.43 ± 1.30 and 1.67 ± 0.42 mm, and 1.20 ± 0.68 and 1.46 ± 0.54 mm in the central, lower, and upper livers, respectively.ConclusionThis study proposed a new hybrid correlation model for real‐time tumor tracking, which can be used to account for both linear and nonlinear motion patterns, as well as hysteresis motion patterns. Additionally, the NG‐RC model required shorter training data sets (15 s) during pre‐treatment and short internal motion sampling (every 30 s) during treatment compared to other ECMs.
T1‐contrast enhanced MRI generation from multi‐parametric MRI for glioma patients with latent tumor conditioning
Authors: Eidex Zach , Safari Mojtaba , Qiu Richard L. J. , Yu David S. , Shu Hui‐Kuo , Mao Hui , Yang Xiaofeng 
Published: December 2024

AbstractBackgroundGadolinium‐based contrast agents (GBCAs) are commonly used in MRI scans of patients with gliomas to enhance brain tumor characterization using T1‐weighted (T1W) MRI. However, there is growing concern about GBCA toxicity. This study develops a deep‐learning framework to generate T1‐postcontrast (T1C) from pre‐contrast multiparametric MRI.PurposeWe propose the tumor‐aware vision transformer (TA‐ViT) model that predicts high‐quality T1C images. The predicted tumor region is significantly improved (p < 0.001) by conditioning the transformer layers from predicted segmentation maps through the adaptive layer norm zero mechanism. The predicted segmentation maps were generated with the multi‐parametric residual (MPR) ViT model and transformed into a latent space to produce compressed, feature‐rich representations. The TA‐ViT model was applied to T1w and T2‐FLAIR to predict T1C MRI images of 501 glioma cases from an open‐source dataset. Selected patients were split into training (N = 400), validation (N = 50), and test (N = 51) sets. Model performance was evaluated with the peak‐signal‐to‐noise ratio (PSNR), normalized cross‐correlation (NCC), and normalized mean squared error (NMSE).ResultsBoth qualitative and quantitative results demonstrate that the TA‐ViT model performs superior against the benchmark MPR‐ViT model. Our method produces synthetic T1C MRI with high soft tissue contrast and more accurately synthesizes both the tumor and whole brain volumes. The synthesized T1C images achieved remarkable improvements in both tumor and healthy tissue regions compared to the MPR‐ViT model. For healthy tissue and tumor regions, the results were as follows: NMSE: 8.53 ± 4.61E‐4; PSNR: 31.2 ± 2.2; NCC: 0.908 ± 0.041 and NMSE: 1.22 ± 1.27E‐4, PSNR: 41.3 ± 4.7, and NCC: 0.879 ± 0.042, respectively.ConclusionThe proposed method generates synthetic T1C images that closely resemble real T1C images. Future development and application of this approach may enable contrast‐agent‐free MRI for brain tumor patients, eliminating the risk of GBCA toxicity and simplifying the MRI scan protocol.
Efficient Synthesis and Characterization of Antibacterial Xanthan Gum–Based Self‐Healing Hydrogels: Conventional Versus Microwave Treated
Authors: Etemadi Moghaddam Homa , Baghban Salehi Mahsa 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTThe development of self‐healing hydrogels with mechanical integrity is vital for biomedical applications. This study synthesizes multi‐network (MN) self‐healing hydrogels using xanthan gum (XG) through conventional and microwave‐assisted methods via free‐radical polymerization. The synthesis materials included XG, acrylamide, acrylonitrile, sodium dodecyl sulfate, ferric chloride hexahydrate, and ammonium persulfate. Conventional synthesis took 60 min at 70°C, while microwave synthesis was completed in 4.5 min at 540 W, enhancing energy and material efficiency. Structural tests like FTIR and SEM confirmed the results. Microwave synthesis produced a layered structure with smaller pores, leading to slower swelling kinetics, and EDX mapping showed higher Fe3+ ion concentrations, indicating better crosslinking. Thermal gravimetric analysis demonstrated that degradation onset temperatures were 184°C for microwave‐assisted synthesis XG hydrogel (MHXG) and 163°C for the water bath XG hydrogel method (HXG), indicating a 20°C enhancement due to the coherent structure induced by microwave treatment. Evaluation of self‐healing capabilities through visual and rheological tests showed significant enhancements in MHXG, which exhibited a self‐healing time of 2 h compared to 1 day required by HXG, attributed to increased crosslink density and hydrogen bonding facilitated by microwave treatment. Rheological assessments confirmed that both hydrogel types maintained their structural integrity and viscoelastic properties after healing. MHXG exhibited a mechanical strength of 21.12 kPa and elasticity of 10 kPa, whereas HXG showed 11.59 kPa and 1 kPa, respectively. Microwave‐treated hydrogel showed enhanced antibacterial effectiveness against Staphylococcus aureus due to better distribution of agents in the matrix. This method for synthesizing XG‐based self‐healing hydrogels is promising for advanced biomedical applications.
Investigation of the Physicochemical and Antibacterial Activities of Plant Extract of Juniperus communis L. With Poly(Butylene Adipate‐Co‐Terephthalate) Films for Food Packaging
Authors: Venkatesan Raja , Mayakrishnan Vishnuvarthanan , Kamaraj Eswaran , Alrashed Maher M. , Kim Seong‐Cheol 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTIn this work, a plant‐based composite materials that can be used as food packaging has been developed. Juniperus communis L. extract, which is known to have good antibacterial activity, was added to poly(butylene adipate‐co‐terephthalate) (PBAT) at different percentage (1%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%) and produced films by solution casting method. All the prepared PBAT films were subjected to characterization techniques like attenuated total reflection‐infrared spectroscopy (ATR‐IR), x‐ray diffraction (XRD), surface morphology, thermal stability, mechanical strength, film color, opacity, wettability, and antibacterial properties. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) was conducted on thermal stability of PBAT composite films. To examine the suitability of composite films for food packaging, measurements on opacity and water vapor permeability have been performed. It was determined that the higher the percentage of Juniperus communis L., which enhanced the test results. The PBAT composite films' antibacterial activity against both gram‐positive (S. aureus) and gram‐negative (E. coli) bacteria was tested. The optimum antibacterial activity against S. aureus and E. coli was observed in the PBAT composite film with 20% of Juniperus communis L. plant extract. However, it can be supposed that the food packaging characteristics are improved by adding Juniperus communis L. plant extract to the PBAT.
Tumour purity assessment with deep learning in colorectal cancer and impact on molecular analysis
Authors: Schoenpflug Lydia A , Chatzipli Aikaterini , Sirinukunwattana Korsuk , Richman Susan , Blake Andrew , Robineau James , Mertz Kirsten D , Verrill Clare , Leedham Simon J , Hardy Claire , Whalley Celina , Redmond Keara , Dunne Philip , Walker Steven , Beggs Andrew D , McDermott Ultan , Murray Graeme I , Samuel Leslie M , Seymour Matthew , Tomlinson Ian , Quirke Philip ,   S:CORT consortium, Rittscher Jens , Maughan Tim , Domingo Enric , Koelzer Viktor H 
Published: December 2024

AbstractTumour content plays a pivotal role in directing the bioinformatic analysis of molecular profiles such as copy number variation (CNV). In clinical application, tumour purity estimation (TPE) is achieved either through visual pathological review [conventional pathology (CP)] or the deconvolution of molecular data. While CP provides a direct measurement, it demonstrates modest reproducibility and lacks standardisation. Conversely, deconvolution methods offer an indirect assessment with uncertain accuracy, underscoring the necessity for innovative approaches. SoftCTM is an open‐source, multiorgan deep‐learning (DL) model for the detection of tumour and non‐tumour cells in H&E‐stained slides, developed within the Overlapped Cell on Tissue Dataset for Histopathology (OCELOT) Challenge 2023. Here, using three large multicentre colorectal cancer (CRC) cohorts (N = 1,097 patients) with digital pathology and multi‐omic data, we compare the utility and accuracy of TPE with SoftCTM versus CP and bioinformatic deconvolution methods (RNA expression, DNA methylation) for downstream molecular analysis, including CNV profiling. SoftCTM showed technical repeatability when applied twice on the same slide (r = 1.0) and excellent correlations in paired H&E slides (r > 0.9). TPEs profiled by SoftCTM correlated highly with RNA expression (r = 0.59) and DNA methylation (r = 0.40), while TPEs by CP showed a lower correlation with RNA expression (r = 0.41) and DNA methylation (r = 0.29). We show that CP and deconvolution methods respectively underestimate and overestimate tumour content compared to SoftCTM, resulting in 6–13% differing CNV calls. In summary, TPE with SoftCTM enables reproducibility, automation, and standardisation at single‐cell resolution. SoftCTM estimates (M = 58.9%, SD ±16.3%) reconcile the overestimation by molecular data extrapolation (RNA expression: M = 79.2%, SD ±10.5, DNA methylation: M = 62.7%, SD ±11.8%) and underestimation by CP (M = 35.9%, SD ±13.1%), providing a more reliable middle ground. A fully integrated computational pathology solution could therefore be used to improve downstream molecular analyses for research and clinics. © 2024 The Author(s). The Journal of Pathology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.
Photovoltaic and Piezoelectric Power Generation Characteristics of Flexible Poly(Vinylidene Fluoride‐Ran‐Trifluoroethylene) Thin Films
Authors: Lee Eunmi , Son Jong Yeog 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTWe investigated the photovoltaic and piezoelectric power generation characteristics of ferroelectric poly(vinylidene fluoride‐ran‐trifluoroethylene, PVDF‐TrFE) thin films on flexible indium tin oxide (ITO)/polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrates. The solar cells and piezoelectric hybrid devices provide consistent energy to extend battery life and improve self‐charging. The flexible PVDF‐TrFE thin films with a transmittance of about 60% in the visible region showed a remanent polarization of about 10.5 μC/cm2 (2Pr ~ 21.0 μC/cm2) with excellent β‐phase formation. The flexible PVDF‐TrFE thin films exhibited optimal ferroelectric and piezoelectric properties by exhibiting β‐phase without α‐phase. Since β‐phase is the phase that carries high dipole alignment of the material, which is important for maximizing power output, the performance of the material in photovoltaic and piezoelectric applications is enhanced. The PVDF‐TrFE capacitor exhibited not only a piezoelectric generation characteristic with an approximate voltage of 1.1 V under compression, but also a photovoltaic generation feature with an open‐circuit voltage of about 0.23 V and a short‐circuit current of approximately 0.13 mA/cm2.
High Tg, Low CTE Transparent Poly(Amide‐Imide)s Based on Synergistic Regulation of Lithium Ions Coordination and Ortho‐Position Effect of 9,9‐Bis(4‐Aminophenyl)Fluorene
Authors: Yang Lei , Xing Jinglei , Bai Minghui , Fang Xingzhong , Chen Guofei 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTTransparent polyimides were expected to be an alternative to glass substrates. To meet the requirements of high transparency, high heat resistance, and low coefficients of thermal expansion (CTE) for substrate materials, a series of poly(amide‐imide)s (PAIs) were synthesized from 2,2′‐bis(trifluoromethyl)benzidine (TFDB), (hexafluoroisopropylidene)diphthalic anhydride (6FDA), cyclobutane‐1,2,3,4‐tetracarboxylic dianhydride (CBDA), terephthaloyl chloride (TPC) and 9,9‐bis(4‐aminophenyl)fluorene (FDA) with different substituents. And the corresponding films were prepared by adding 0 or 2 pph lithium chloride (LiCl). Through the adjustment of monomer ratio, regulation of the amino ortho‐position of diamine monomer, and coordination of Li ions, all PAIs exhibited high glass transition temperatures (T
g) of 390°C–436°C, low CTE of 12.5–60.9 ppm K−1, excellent optical transmittances of 71%–84% at 400 nm, high tensile strengths of 140–204 MPa, and high tensile moduli of 4.4–7.2 GPa. In particular, PAI‐M‐1‐2‐2Li showed the best comprehensive properties with the transmittance of 83% at 400 nm, T
g of 432°C, CTE of 18.7 ppm K−1, tensile modulus of 6.9 GPa and tensile strength of 204 MPa, which made it competitive in flexible display applications.