bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
How low can you go? A CBCT dose reduction study
Authors: Olch Arthur J. , Alaei Parham 
Published: January 2021

AbstractPurposeCone beam computed tomography (CBCT) is often used for patient setup based solely on bony anatomy. The goal of this work was to evaluate whether CBCT dose can be lowered to the level of kV image pair doses when used for bony anatomy‐based IGRT without compromising positioning accuracy.MethodsAn anthropomorphic phantom was CT scanned in the head, head and neck, chest, and pelvis regions and setup on the linear accelerator couch with the isocenter near the planned location. Cone beam computed tomographies were performed with the standard “full dose” protocol supplied by the linac vendor. With sequentially lowering the dose, three‐dimensional (3D) matching was performed for each without shifting the couch. The standard kV image pair protocol for each site was also used to image the phantoms. For all studies, six degrees of freedom was included in the 2D or 3D matching to the extent they could be employed. Imaging doses were determined in air at isocenter following the TG‐61 formalism.ResultsCone beam computed tomography dose was reduced by 81–98% of the standard CBCT protocol to nearly that of the standard kV image pair dose for each site. Relative to the standard CBCT shift values, translational shifts were within 0.3 and 1.6 mm for all sites, for the reduced dose CBCT and kV image pair, respectively. Rotational shifts were within 0.2 degree and 0.7 degrees for all sites, for the reduced dose CBCTs and kV image pair, respectively.ConclusionFor bony anatomy‐based image guidance, CBCT dose can be reduced to a value similar to that of a kV image pair with similar or better patient positioning accuracy than kV image pair alignment. Where rotations are important to correct, CBCT will be superior to orthogonal kV imaging without significantly increased imaging dose. This is especially important for image guidance for pediatric patient treatments.
Biofilm Adhesion to Surfaces is Modulated by Biofilm Wettability and Stiffness
Authors: Kretschmer Martin , Schüßler Carina Anke , Lieleg Oliver 
Published: January 2021

AbstractAlthough many surfaces in industry and medicine are colonized by bacterial biofilms, little is known about the physical principles that govern the adhesion properties of such bacterial communities. In part, this is due to the technical challenge associated with the characterization of a biofilm directly on the substrate it is grown on. Moreover, distinguishing between the cohesive and adhesive properties of a (bio)material requires information on the amount of material transferred between the interacting surfaces, which is not easily possible in existing measurement techniques applied in biofilm research. Here, a new method is introduced which allows for characterizing the detachment process of biofilms in situ and makes it possible to identify the dominant mode of fracture. As a countersurface in those detachment tests with biofilm layers, either a synthetic/inorganic material surface or another biofilm layer can be used. By comparing results obtained with different biofilms generated at distinct cultivation conditions, how two selected material properties, i.e., the biofilm wettability and the biofilm stiffness, contribute to the detachment process can be shown. The novel measurement approach demonstrated here can easily be adapted further to enable adhesion/detachment measurements with a broad range of other biofilms including those grown at submerged conditions.
Toward Hijacking Bioelectricity in Cancer to Develop New Bioelectronic Medicine
Authors: Robinson Andie J. , Jain Akhil , Sherman Harry G. , Hague Richard J. M. , Rahman Ruman , Sanjuan‐Alberte Paola , Rawson Frankie J. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractBioelectronic medicine is a treatment modality that uses electricity to treat disease by altering the body's electrical communication systems. All cells are electrically active, in that they possess bioelectric circuitry generating a resting membrane potential and endogenous electric fields that influence cell functions and communication. There is now an accepted paradigm that cancer is characterized by malfunctions in cells’ bioelectrical circuitry. This yields opportunities for bioelectronic medicine as novel treatments for cancer by manipulating its bioelectrical properties. To highlight the possibilities a bioelectrical approach can offer cancer therapy, the relevance of bioelectrical activity in cancer is reviewed and also how such activity can be hijacked in novel treatments. This includes sensing or measuring the electrical activity of cells for diagnostic and prognostic applications, controlling or altering bioelectricity including both ionic and faradaic current processes, and eliciting morphological changes using electric fields. Importantly, key links between cellular ionic and faradaic processes that contribute to cancer phenotypes are presented, which if considered and understood as a whole, can bring broad‐reaching improvements to cancer therapy.
Comparison of self‐expandable metallic stent placement followed by laparoscopic resection and elective laparoscopic surgery without stent placement for left‐sided colon cancer
Authors: Ueki Tomoyuki , Miyake Toru , Kojima Masatsugu , Kaida Sachiko , Iida Hiroya , Shimizu Tomoharu , Tani Masaji 
Published: January 2021

AbstractAimSelf‐expandable metallic stent (SEMS) placement for obstructive colon cancer is widely performed as a bridge to surgery (BTS) procedure before resection. This study aimed to investigate the surgical and oncological results of laparoscopic elective surgery with or without SEMS placement to assess the efficacy of SEMS placement as a BTS.MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed consecutive patients with stage II, III, and IV left‐sided colon cancer who underwent elective laparoscopic resection between 2013 and 2019. All patients were divided into two groups: with and without SEMS placement.ResultsThe SEMS group included 24 patients, whereas the non‐SEMS group included 86 patients. The serum hemoglobin and albumin levels were lower (P = .049, P = .03), and the serum leukocyte and C‐reactive protein levels were higher (P < .0001, P = .022) in the SEMS group. The tumor diameter and tumor circumferential rate were higher in the SEMS group (both P < .0001). No significant differences were observed in operation time, blood loss, postoperative complications, or postoperative hospital stay. After 1:1 propensity score matching, 15 patients in the SEMS group were compared with 15 patients in the non‐SEMS group. The 3‐year overall survival rates of the SEMS and non‐SEMS groups were 87.5% and 88.9%, respectively (P = .97). The 3‐year recurrence‐free survival rates of the SEMS and non‐SEMS groups were 58.2% and 81.7%, respectively (P = .233). No significant difference was found in the sites of recurrence.ConclusionThe perioperative and long‐term outcomes of SEMS placement as a BTS before laparoscopic resection could be acceptable compared with other elective laparoscopic operations without SEMS placement.
Supramolecular control over thermo‐responsive systems with lower critical solution temperature behavior
Authors: Zhang Qiao , Dong Shengyi , Zhang Mingming , Huang Feihe 
Published: January 2021

AbstractLower critical solution temperature (LCST) is the critical temperature below which the solution is miscible for all compositions and above which the solution becomes a suspension. The study of LCST properties has become a central research topic due to its profound impact on the applications of stimuli‐responsive materials. Inspired by the marriage between materials science and supramolecular chemistry, the introduction of supramolecular pairs and interactions into polymeric LCST systems is increasingly practiced. Especially, supramolecular interactions provide precise control over LCST behavior in both water and organic solvents. Furthermore, supramolecular interactions not only control or adjust LCST behavior (supramolecular interaction controlled LCST), but also induce LCST phase behavior in species lack of thermo‐sensitive properties (supramolecular interaction induced LCST). In this review, we summarize the applications of supramolecular interactions in LCST systems. By examining the relationship between supramolecular interactions and LCST changes, we further discuss the differences between supramolecular interaction controlled LCST and supramolecular interaction induced LCST. We hope this review will give our readers a snapshot on how the supramolecular interactions influence the LCST behavior in various systems, and benefit them with different applications.
Engineering inorganic lead halide perovskite deposition toward solar cells with efficiency approaching 20%
Authors: Qiu Fa‐Zheng , Li Ming‐Hua , Qi Jun‐Jie , Jiang Yan , Hu Jin‐Song 
Published: January 2021

AbstractInorganic perovskite materials have gained tremendous attention due to their superior chemical and thermal stability than organic‐inorganic hybrid perovskites. In the past years, substantial research efforts have been devoted to developing uniform and pin‐hole free inorganic perovskite films with high electronic quality. As a result, power conversion efficiency of inorganic perovskite solar cells (PSCs) has boosted to over 19%, which presents a promising potential for technology commercialization. Herein, we give a comprehensive review of the recent progress on state‐of‐the‐art inorganic cesium lead halide based PSCs, particularly on the perovskite deposition approaches. We show a clear roadmap to fabricate high electronic quality inorganic perovskite films by tuning the precursor crystallization kinetics, performing post‐deposition treatments, and passivating surface/interface defects. Inorganic perovskite films prepared by these approaches exhibit not only high crystallinity, favorable morphology, and low trap densities but also improved phase stability. The advanced deposition approaches lay the foundation for further improving the performance and long‐term operational stability of inorganic perovskite photovoltaics.
Temporal consistency and ecological validity of personality structure in common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus): A unifying field and laboratory approach
Authors: Šlipogor Vedrana , Massen Jorg J. M. , Schiel Nicola , Souto Antonio , Bugnyar Thomas 
Published: January 2021

AbstractPersonality in animals has been extensively researched in recent decades. Temporal consistency of behaviors is almost always part of the personality definition and is usually explored in several different testing sessions or observation periods. However, it is still unclear whether the obtained personality constructs are stable across several years, which might be especially important for long‐living animals, such as primates. Further, little is known on whether the personality structures obtained in the laboratory reflect the structures obtained under ecologically relevant conditions in the wild. Therefore, we conducted a battery of personality tests on common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) (N = 27), compared it with a test battery conducted 4 years beforehand on a subset of animals in captivity (N = 13) and ran an adapted version under field conditions at Baracuhy Biological Field Station, Brazil (N = 18). Under captive conditions, we found a remarkably similar personality structure across 4 testing years. Further, we found high long‐term temporal consistency in the first two personality components, Boldness and Exploration; however, monkeys that changed their social (i.e., breeding) status between the two testing periods showed a significant increase in Boldness scores. Under field conditions, we found a somewhat similar personality structure as compared to the laboratory, which to some extent corroborates ecological validity of our personality test design. Nevertheless, whether the structure in the wild is suppressed or expanded in comparison to captivity, and in which way the social setting influences personality structure, should be further explored. Taken together, our results contribute to the discussion about the reliability and ecological validity of personality structures in nonhuman primates.
Enzyme‐Inspired Iron Porphyrins for Improved Electrocatalytic Oxygen Reduction and Evolution Reactions
Authors: Xie Lisi , Zhang Xue‐Peng , Zhao Bin , Li Ping , Qi Jing , Guo Xinai , Wang Bin , Lei Haitao , Zhang Wei , Apfel Ulf‐Peter , Cao Rui 
Published: January 2021

AbstractNature uses Fe porphyrin sites for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Synthetic Fe porphyrins have been extensively studied as ORR catalysts, but activity improvement is required. On the other hand, Fe porphyrins have been rarely shown to be efficient for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). We herein report an enzyme‐inspired Fe porphyrin 1 as an efficient catalyst for both ORR and OER. Complex 1, which bears a tethered imidazole for Fe binding, beats imidazole‐free analogue 2, with an anodic shift of ORR half‐wave potential by 160 mV and a decrease of OER overpotential by 150 mV to get the benchmark current density at 10 mA cm−2. Theoretical studies suggested that hydroxide attack to a formal FeV=O form the O−O bond. The axial imidazole can prevent the formation of trans HO‐FeV=O, which is less effective to form O−O bond with hydroxide. As a practical demonstration, we assembled rechargeable Zn‐air battery with 1, which shows equal performance to that with Pt/Ir‐based materials.
Combined effect of cassava starch nanoparticles and protein isolate in properties of starch‐based nanocomposite films
Authors: de Almeida Fabiane Cerqueira , de Souza Carolina Oliveira , Philadelpho Biane Oliveira , França Lemos Paulo Vitor , Cardoso Lucas Guimarães , Santana Jamille Santos , Alves da Silva Jania Betania , Cruz Correia Paulo Romano , Camilloto Geany Peruch , de Souza Ferreira Ederlan , Druzian Janice Izabel 
Published: January 2021

AbstractThis study aimed to evaluate the effects of incorporation of cowpea protein isolate and cassava starch nanoparticles obtained by ultrasound on the properties of cassava starch:glycerol films. The cowpea bean protein isolate was successfully obtained with 72.5% of protein and solubility about 90%. The cassava starch nanoparticles yielded 97.85%. Increasing protein isolate concentration in starch:glycerol films resulted in a progressive reduction of water vapor permeability up to 27.0%. The cassava starch nanoparticles added films presented expressive increments in tensile strength (283.83%) as well as modulus of elasticity (204.31%), accompanied by decreasing in elongation at break (24.28%). The thermal stabilities of cassava starch films were affected by the addition of both protein isolate and cassava starch nanoparticles. The cassava starch nanoparticles obtained by ultrasound ensured the maintenance of film properties, optimizing the production time, with a higher yield, and without the need for chemical reagents. Thus, it could be useful for substitution of those obtained by acid hydrolysis. Therefore, giving rise to a trend of production of nanocomposite films suitable for reinforced packaging applications.
Effect of particle size on flame retardancy and mechanical properties of hydroxyethyl diphosphate modified aluminum hydroxide intrinsic polyethylene terephthalate
Authors: Shi Jianping , Zeng Wei , Yang Zhiwang , Li Ju , Zhao Pufang , Li Hongtao , Yan Xingxing , Wen Na , Lei Ziqiang , Chen Denglong , Guan Jie 
Published: January 2021

AbstractOrganic–inorganic hybrid flame retardant was obtained by modifying aluminum hydroxide with different particle size with 1‐hydroxyethylidene‐1,1‐diphosphonic acid. The structure of the organic–inorganic hybrid flame retardant is characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy, while 1H‐NMR spectroscopy only characterizes specific samples. The thermal stability and flame retardancy of the samples were analyzed by thermogravimetric analysis, limiting oxygen index (LOI), vertical combustion of UL‐94 and cone calorimeter. The results show that the modified 10 μm aluminum hydroxide has a better effect than the 25 μm aluminum hydroxide and 100 nm aluminum hydroxide. Compared with pure polyethylene terephthalate (PET), the LOI value of the best sample is increased by 24.4%, and UL‐94 V reaches V‐0 level. Heat release rate, total heat release rate, and carbon monoxide production rate decreased by 45.8%, 33.2%, and 41.5%, respectively, compared to pure PET. The results showed that the aluminum hydroxide with a particle size of 10 μm exhibited the best flame retardant effect, which could be attributed to the decomposition of organic phosphoric acid and the dehydration of aluminum hydroxide, yielding a higher amount of residual carbon.
Inflammasome Activation in Ankylosing Spondylitis Is Associated With Gut Dysbiosis
Authors: Guggino Giuliana , Mauro Daniele , Rizzo Aroldo , Alessandro Riccardo , Raimondo Stefania , Bergot Anne‐Sophie , Rahman M. Arifur , Ellis Jonathan J. , Milling Simon , Lories Rik , Elewaut Dirk , Brown Matthew A. , Thomas Ranjeny , Ciccia Francesco 
Published: January 2021

ObjectiveWe undertook this study to evaluate the activation and functional relevance of inflammasome pathways in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients and rodent models and their relationship to dysbiosis.MethodsAn inflammasome pathway was evaluated in the gut and peripheral blood from 40 AS patients using quantitative reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR), immunohistochemistry (IHC), flow cytometry, and confocal microscopy, and was compared to that of 20 healthy controls and 10 patients with Crohn’s disease. Bacteria was visualized using silver stain in human samples, and antibiotics were administered to HLA–B27–transgenic rats. The NLRP3 inhibitor MCC950 was administered to SKG mice, and ileal and joint tissues were assessed by IHC analysis and real‐time qRT‐PCR. The role of inflammasome in modulating the interleukin‐23 (IL‐23)/IL‐17 axis was studied ex vivo.ResultsExpression levels of Nlrp3, Nlrc4, and Aim2 were increased in the gut of HLA–B27–transgenic rats and reduced by antibiotic treatment (P < 0.05). In curdlan‐treated SKG mice, NLRP3 blockade prevented ileitis and delayed arthritis onset (P < 0.05). Compared to healthy controls, AS patients demonstrated overexpression of NLRP3 (fold induction 2.33 versus 22.2; P < 0.001), NLRC4 (fold induction 1.90 versus 6.47; P < 0.001), AIM2 (fold induction 2.40 versus 20.8; P < 0.001), CASP1 (fold induction 2.53 versus 24.8; P < 0.001), IL1B (fold induction 1.07 versus 10.93; P < 0.001), and IL18 (fold induction 2.56 versus 15.67; P < 0.001) in the ileum, and caspase 1 activity was increased (P < 0.01). The score of adherent and invasive mucosa‐associated bacteria was higher in AS (P < 0.01) and correlated with the expression of inflammasome components in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (P < 0.001). NLRP3 expression was associated with disease activity (the Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score using the C‐reactive protein level) (r2 = 0.28, P < 0.01) and with IL23A expression (r2 = 0.34, P < 0.001). In vitro, inflammasome activation in AS monocytes was paralleled by increased serum levels of IL‐1β and IL‐18. Induction of IL23A, IL17A, and IL22 was IL‐1β–dependent.ConclusionInflammasome activation occurs in rodent models of AS and in AS patients, is associated with dysbiosis, and is involved in triggering ileitis in SKG mice. Inflammasomes drive type III cytokine production with an IL‐1β–dependent mechanism in AS patients.
Recruit With Diversity and Inclusion in Mind
Authors: Mulki Sapna , Stone‐Sabali Steven 
Published: January 2021

Key TakeawaysA diverse workforce is important because it increases productivity and engagement and creates an organization that better represents the community it serves.During the hiring process, understand the value of word choice, disseminate job postings to underrepresented communities, and assess potential areas of bias.The interview process should emphasize the value that a candidate can add to an organization and not how a candidate would be a good cultural fit.To recruit a diverse workforce, ensure that all qualified candidates will feel welcomed to apply for a job opening and have a clear understanding of all job expectations.
Probability Management for Water Finance and Resource Managers
Authors: Chesnutt Thomas W. , Hollis Michael , Mitchell David L. , Kavanagh Shayne , Pekelney David M. , Putt Brian , Savage Sam 
Published: January 2021

Key TakeawaysFrom determining future water demands to setting rates, it's a given that most planning related to water requires managers to deal with uncertainties.If uncertainties are understood more clearly, then stakeholders buy in to resulting decisions more readily.Probability management provides principles, methods, standards, and tools to reduce the cost of confronting uncertainty when making decisions.
The effects of NONRATT008453.2 on autophagy in genital tubercle fibroblasts of rats with hypospadias induced by dibutyl phthalate
Authors: Feng Xiao , Huang Enfu , Gao Yuanyuan , Zhang Ya , Zhou Yun 
Published: January 2021

AbstractBackgroundHypospadias is a common birth defect that might be caused by inadequate fusion of the urethral folds in the process of male external genital development. We intended to discover the crucial long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) regulating autophagy from the gene expression profile of the genital tubercle (GT) of dibutyl phthalate (DBP) induced hypospadiac rats.MethodsWhole transcriptome resequencing was used to determine the expression of the total RNA in GTs and cultured fibroblasts obtained from GTs of DBP‐induced hypospadiac male rat fetuses. Autophagosomes and autolysosomes were examined under a transmission electron microscope after overexpression of lncRNA NONRATT008453.2 in the fibroblasts by adenovirus transfection. Finally, the protein expression levels of Atg5, Beclin‐1, Atg7, and the LC3A/B‐II:LC3A/B‐I ratio were detected in the fibroblasts by western blotting.ResultsNONRATT008453.2 suppressed autophagy by promoting the expression of Atg7, but inhibited the expressions of Atg5, Beclin‐1, and the LC3A/B‐II:LC3A/B‐I ratio in the GT fibroblasts.ConclusionsNONRATT008453.2 may have an influence on autophagy in the fibroblasts of the GT in DBP‐induced hypospadiac rats.
Hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity assessment on ethanol extract of Fructus Psoraleae in Sprague Dawley rats using a UPLC–Q‐TOF–MS analysis of serum metabolomics
Authors: Xu Longlong , Tang Xianglin , Hao Feiran , Gao Yue 
Published: January 2021

AbstractFructus Psoraleae (FP) is commonly used in the treatment of vitiligo, osteoporosis, and other diseases in clinic. As a result, the toxicity caused by FP is frequently encountered in clinical practice; however, the underlying toxicity mechanism remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the toxic effect of the ethanol extract of FP (EEFP) in rats and to explore the underlying toxic mechanisms using a metabolomics approach. The toxicity was evaluated by hematological indicators, biochemical indicators, and histological changes. In addition, a serum metabolomic method based on ultra‐performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time‐of‐flight MS (UPLC–Q‐TOF–MS) had been established to investigate the hepatorenal toxicity of FP. Multivariate statistical approaches, such as partial least squares discriminant analysis and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis, were built to evaluate the toxic effects of FP and find potential biomarkers and metabolic pathways. Ten endogenous metabolites had been identified and the related metabolic pathways were involved in phospholipid metabolism, amino acid metabolism, purine metabolism, and antioxidant system activities. The results showed that long‐term exposure to high‐dose EEFP may cause hepatorenal toxicity in rats. Therefore, serum metabolomics can improve the diagnostic efficiency of FP toxicity and make it more accurate and comprehensive.