bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Residency training for diagnostic imaging physicists should be expanded to include nuclear medicine physics
Authors: Fahey Frederic H. , Lofton Brad K. , White Gerald A. 
Published: July 2021

OverviewThe American Board of Radiology offers certification in three specialties of medical physics: Therapeutic Medical Physics, Diagnostic Medical Physics, and Nuclear Medical Physics. Of these specialties, medical nuclear physics has the fewest active diplomates, only a few hundred. The diagnostic medical physics specialty certification incudes a variety of modalities (ultrasound, radiography, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging) yet does not address nuclear medicine imaging or therapy. This separation dates to the beginning of the ABR certification process for medical physicists in 1947; originally there were three certificates available: X‐ray and Radium Physics, Medical Nuclear Physics and, as combination of these two, Radiological Physics. Over the span of 75 years since the Medical Nuclear Physics certification was created, much has changed in the scope and proliferation of the nuclear medicine endeavor and the question arises as to the need for change in the preparation process for medical physicists in the field.I offer thanks to our contributors and note that they are writing in the classic style of a debate, the opinions that they argue may or may not reflect their personal views.
Motion artifacts assessment and correction using optical tracking in synchrotron radiation breast CT
Authors: Brombal Luca , Arana Peña Lucia Mariel , Arfelli Fulvia , Longo Renata , Brun Francesco , Contillo Adriano , Di Lillo Francesca , Tromba Giuliana , Di Trapani Vittorio , Donato Sandro , Menk Ralf Hendrik , Rigon Luigi 
Published: July 2021

AbstractPurposeThe SYRMA‐3D collaboration is setting up a breast computed tomography (bCT) clinical program at the Elettra synchrotron radiation facility in Trieste, Italy. Unlike the few dedicated scanners available at hospitals, synchrotron radiation bCT requires the patient's rotation, which in turn implies a long scan duration (from tens of seconds to few minutes). At the same time, it allows the achievement of high spatial resolution. These features make synchrotron radiation bCT prone to motion artifacts. This article aims at assessing and compensating for motion artifacts through an optical tracking approach.MethodsIn this study, patients’ movements due to breathing have been first assessed on seven volunteers and then simulated during the CT scans of a breast phantom and a surgical specimen, by adding a periodic oscillatory motion (constant speed, 1 mm amplitude, 12 cycles/minute). CT scans were carried out at 28 keV with a mean glandular dose of 5 mGy. Motion artifacts were evaluated and a correction algorithm based on the optical tracking of fiducial marks was introduced. A quantitative analysis based on the structural similarity (SSIM) index and the normalized mean square error (nMSE) was performed on the reconstructed CT images.ResultsCT images reconstructed through the optical tracking procedure were found to be as good as the motionless reference image. Moreover, the analysis of SSIM and nMSE demonstrated that an uncorrected motion of the order of the system's point spread function (around 0.1 mm in the present case) can be tolerated.ConclusionsResults suggest that a motion correction procedure based on an optical tracking system would be beneficial in synchrotron radiation bCT.
Technical Note: Performance evaluation of a small‐animal PET/CT system based on NEMA NU 4–2008 standards
Authors: Liu Qiong , Li Chaofan , Liu Jiguo , Krish Kishore , Fu Xinlei , Zhao Jie , Chen Jyh‐Cheng 
Published: July 2021

AbstractPurposeThe MetisTM PET/CT is a self‐developed, silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) detector‐based, rodent PET/CT system. The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of the system using the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) NU 4–2008 standard protocol.MethodsEnergy resolution, spatial resolution, sensitivity, scatter fraction (SF), noise‐equivalent count rate (NECR), and image quality (IQ) characteristics were measured. A micro Derenzo phantom experiment was performed to evaluate the spatial resolution using three‐dimensional ordered‐subsets expectation maximization (3D‐OSEM) and maximum likelihood expectation maximization (MLEM) reconstructed images. In addition, the CT imaging agent Ioverol 350 was mixed with fluorine‐18 (18F)‐fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) and then injected into the micro Derenzo phantom to evaluate the PET/CT imaging. In vivo PET/CT imaging studies were also conducted in a healthy mouse and rat using 18F‐FDG.ResultsThe mean energy resolution of the system was 15.3%. The tangential resolution was 0.82 mm full‐width half‐maximum (FWHM) at the center of the field of the view (FOV), and the radial and axial resolution were generally lower than 2.0 mm FWHM. The spatial resolution was significantly improved when using 3D‐OSEM, especially the axial FWHM could be improved by up to about 57%. The system absolute sensitivity was 7.7% and 6.8% for an energy window of 200–750 and 350–750 keV respectively. The scatter fraction was 8.2% and 12.1% for the mouse‐ and rat‐like phantom respectively. The peak NECR was 1343.72 kcps at 69 MBq and 640.32 kcps at 53 MBq for the mouse‐ and rat‐like phantom respectively. The 1‐mm fillable rod in the IQ phantom can be clearly observed. We can identify the 0.6‐mm aperture of the micro Derenzo phantom image clearly using 3D‐OSEM (10 subsets, 5 iterations). We also performed the fusion of the PET and CT images of the mouse and the brain imaging of the rat.ConclusionsThe results show that the system has the characteristics of high‐resolution, high‐sensitivity, and excellent IQ and is suitable for rodent imaging‐based research.
Synthesis, isolation and characterisation of fluorinated‐benzimidazoisoquinoline regioisomers
Authors: Lim Ting Xiang , Pierens Gregory K. , Bernhardt Paul V. , Ahamed Muneer , Reutens David C. 
Published: July 2021

AbstractA pair of novel fluorinated‐benzimidazoisoquinoline regioisomers was synthesised and isolated. Initial structural characterisation and identification employed 1D proton, 1D carbon, correlated spectroscopy (COSY), heteronuclear single quantum coherence (HSQC), and heteronuclear multiple bond correlation (HMBC) nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. However, the fluorinated regioisomers could not be differentiated using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) alone. Density functional theory calculations and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction experiments were used to completely characterise and identify the compounds.
Designing interview guides on stress and coping related to parenting pre‐teen children: an example from a hermeneutic phenomenological study
Authors: Oerther Sarah 
Published: July 2021

AbstractAimsTo develop a semi‐structured interview guide on stress and coping related to parenting pre‐teen children for a hermeneutic phenomenological research study.DesignHermeneutic phenomenological research approach which describes the development of an interview guide with semi‐structured questions.MethodsOvid MEDLINE, CIHAHL, ERIC, SCOPUS, Web of Science, JSTOR, Education Source, PsyINFO and ProQuest were searched to identify possible interview guides with questions related to stress and coping. The literature was searched in 2019 and included manuscripts from 1970–2019. An initial interview guide was constructed. Mock interviews were used to confirm the rigour of the guide.ResultsThe final outcome was a semi‐structured interview guide on stress and coping related to parenting pre‐teen children.ConclusionThe development of this semi‐structured interview guide is relevant to hermeneutic phenomenological researchers who are interested in discovering how personal background meanings and interpersonal concerns shape parents’ day‐to‐day stress appraisals and coping with parenting pre‐teen children.
Prescriptions of analgesics during chronic cancer disease trajectories: A complete national cohort study
Authors: Fredheim Olav Magnus , Skurtveit Svetlana , Sjøgren Per , Aljabri Belal , Hjellvik Vidar 
Published: July 2021

AbstractPurposePain management principles vary considerably between chronic noncancer, acute and cancer pain. Cancer patients responding to oncological treatment may live with low tumor burden for years. Opioid treatment should reflect that the ratio between benefits and risks in these patients is different from patients with a rapidly progressive disease. Our study investigated the prescription patterns of analgesics in patients who died 6 to 9 years after cancer diagnosis.Patients and methodsA pharmaco‐epidemiological study based on the Norwegian Prescription Database and Cancer Registry of Norway. The 1‐year periodic prevalence of receiving different analgesics and of persistent opioid use were analyzed. Persistent opioid use was defined as >365 Defined Daily Doses or >9000 mg Oral Morphine Equivalents during 365 days with prescriptions in all quarters of the 365 days period.Data were reported for the first 7 years for patients who lived 8–9 years after cancer diagnosis (N = 1502), while for patients who lived 6–7 years (N = 3817) data was reported for the first 5 years after diagnosis.ResultsCompared to age‐ and gender adjusted general population, the 1‐year periodic prevalence of opioid prescription was doubled the first year after diagnosis and remained raised with approximately 50%. The prevalence of persistent opioid use was threefold of the general population. Approximately 55% of patients with persistent opioid use 4 years after a cancer diagnosis were co‐medicated with high doses of benzodiazepines and/or benzodiazepine‐related hypnotics.ConclusionThe findings of increased opioid use raise concerns regarding whether the benefits outweigh risks and side effects in this population.
Precisely controlled delivery of plant hormone using poly(vinyl alcohol)/zeolite A hydrofilm composite
Authors: Viboonratanasri Duangkamon , Thongdee Paptawan , Prajuabsuk Malee , Pungpo Pornpan , Vayachuta Lapporn , Prompinit Panida 
Published: July 2021

AbstractProgrammable release of a plant hormone, 1‐naphthylacetic acid (NAA), could be achieved by using a novel zeolite–hydrofilm (ZHF) composite. The ZHF was prepared using poly(vinyl alcohol) and glutaraldehyde as a cross‐linking agent with the addition of different amounts of zeolite A (0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, and 3.0 wt%). This reveals that ZHF was formed as a phase‐separated microcomposite with chemical interactions between zeolite A and polymer matrix. We found that the composite film with 2.5 wt% zeolite A had the largest pore size, which exhibited the highest water absorbency and the longest water retention time of over 7 h with high thermal and mechanical stabilities. Release profile displayed rapid desorption of NAA from the film at the initial stage, followed by sustained release thereafter. This behavior was explained by the Korsmeyer–Peppas model with a predominant mechanism of simple Fickian diffusion. Additionally, ZHF with NAA could effectively enhance adventitious root formation of Ocimum basilicum Linn. (sweet basil) cuttings due to accurate releasing NAA and time duration for releasing plant hormone. Finally, the NAA released at the film surface could be in a controlled manner with less negative impact on plant and environment.
Cognitive, emotional, and somatosensory behavior in professional dancers with acute and chronic pain
Authors: Paris‐Alemany Alba , Belaustegui‐Ferrández Ignacio , López‐Ruiz María , Gadea‐Mateos Luis , La Touche Roy , Suso‐Martí Luis 
Published: July 2021

AbstractBackgroundDance has been linked in a complex manner to pain and the physical and psychological peculiarities of this discipline could influence pain perception and chronicity of pain.ObjectiveTo determine the differences in cognitive, emotional, and somatosensory symptoms between dancers with acute versus chronic pain.DesignA cross‐sectional study of professional dancers with pain.SettingHigher conservatory of dance.ParticipantsThirty‐four professional dancers experiencing pain were included. The cohort was divided into two subgroups: those with acute pain (<3 months duration) and those with chronic pain (>3 months duration).InterventionsNot applicable.Main Outcome MeasuresPain intensity (as measured by the visual analogue scale or VAS), pressure pain threshold (PPT), Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS), pain‐related fear of movement (Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia [TSK‐11]), fear avoidance beliefs (Fear‐Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire [FABQ]), self‐efficacy (Chronic Pain Self‐Efficacy Scale [CPSS]). and chronic pain severity (Chronic Pain Graded Scale [CPGS]).ResultsDancers with chronic pain reported higher levels of pain intensity in daily activities (p < .01; t = 3.42; d = 1.17) and during exercise/dance (p = .02; t = 2.82; d = 0.82), as well as lower PPT in lumbar (p = .03; t = 3.22; d = 1.1) and tibialis regions (p = .01; t = 2.51; d = 0.86). Dancers with acute pain experienced worse psychological symptoms indicated by the fear of harm subscale of TSK‐11 (p = .04; t = −2.08; d = 0.72), physical activity subscale of FABQ (p = .03; t = −2.27; d = 0.78), and pain management subscale of CPSS (p = .01; t = −2.76; d = 0.94) and lower scores for CPGS scale (p = .01; t = 2.99; d = 0.7 to 1.26).ConclusionsThe results showed differences in pain intensity and PPT revealing higher values in dancers with chronic pain. It is possible that the physical and psychological characteristics of dancers, as well as the sociocultural aspects of this discipline, could influence the way in which this population interprets pain.
Long noncoding RNAs in respiratory viruses: A review
Authors: Kesheh Mina Mobini , Mahmoudvand Shahab , Shokri Somayeh 
Published: July 2021

AbstractLong noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are defined as RNA molecules longer than 200 nucleotides that can regulate gene expression at the transcriptional or post‐transcriptional levels. Both human lncRNAs and lncRNAs encoded by viruses can modulate the expression of host genes which are critical for viral replication, latency, activation of signalling pathways, cytokine and chemokine production, RNAi processing, expression of interferons (IFNs) and interferon‐stimulated genes (ISGs). Studies on lncRNAs as key regulators of host‐virus interactions may give new insights into therapeutic strategies for the treatment of related diseases. This current review focuses on the role of lncRNAs, and their interactions with respiratory viruses including influenza A virus (IAV), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2).
Continuous positive airway pressure adherence trajectories in sleep apnea: Clustering with summed discrete Fréchet and dynamic time warping dissimilarities
Authors: Bottaz‐Bosson Guillaume , Hamon Agnès , Pépin Jean‐Louis , Bailly Sébastien , Samson Adeline 
Published: July 2021

BackgroundObstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a chronic disease characterized by recurrent pharyngeal collapses during sleep. In most severe cases, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) consists in keeping the airways open by administering mild air pressure. This treatment faces adherence issues.ObjectivesEight hundred and forty‐eight subjects were equipped with CPAP prescribed at the Grenoble University Hospital between 2016 and 2018. Their daily CPAP uses have been recorded during the first 3 months. Our aim is to cluster these adherence time series. With hierarchical agglomerative clustering, we focused on the choices of the dissimilarity measure and the internal cluster validation index (CVI).MethodsThe Euclidean distance, the dynamic time warping (DTW) and the generalized summed discrete Fréchet dissimilarity were implemented with three linkage strategies (“average,” “complete,” and “Ward”). The performances of each method (dissimilarity and linkage) were evaluated on a simulation study through the adjusted Rand index (ARI). The Ward linkage with DTW dissimilarity provided the best ARI. Then six different internal CVIs (Silhouette, Calinski Harabasz, Davies Bouldin, Modified Davies Bouldin, Dunn, and COP) were compared on their ability to choose the best number of clusters. The Dunn index beat the others.ResultsCPAP data were clustered with the Ward linkage, the DTW dissimilarity and the Dunn index. It identified six clusters, from a cluster of patients (N = 29 subjects) whose stopped the therapy early on to a cluster (N = 105) with increasing adherence over time. Other clusters were extremely good users (N = 151), good users (N = 150), moderate users (N = 235), and poor adherers (N = 178).
Community‐based system dynamics modelling of stigmatized public health issues: Increasing diverse representation of individuals with personal experiences
Authors: Deutsch Arielle R. , Lustfield Rebecca , Jalali Mohammad S. 
Published: July 2021

AbstractUtility of community‐based system dynamics (CBSD) models on stigmatized public health issues and health disparities depends upon how representative the model is to real‐world experience within the community. ‘Personal experience’ participants (PEP), especially from marginalized groups, are essential model contributors but are often underrepresented in modelling groups due to multiple barriers. This study details a method to increase PEP representation for models on stigmatized issues. We use a case study from a CBSD project on health disparities within the association between alcohol misuse (AM) and intimate partner violence (IPV) for Northern Plains Indigenous women. Short group model building sessions were held at three community organizations providing relevant resources. Each model contributed unique system components, and there were few similarities between models. A consolidated model provided a rich picture of the complex system. Adding brief PEP‐based group modelling sessions can enhance PEP representation in model development for stigmatized public health issues.
A systematic review and network meta‐analysis of interventions for subjective cognitive decline
Authors: Roheger Mandy , Hennersdorf Xenia‐Serena , Riemann Steffen , Flöel Agnes , Meinzer Marcus 
Published: July 2021

AbstractBackgroundSubjective cognitive decline (SCD) is considered a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD), highlighting the need for identifying and ranking effective interventions. This was addressed in a systematic review and network meta‐analysis (NMA) of pharmacological and non‐pharmacological interventions for SCD.MethodsMEDLINE, Web of Science Core Collection, CENTRAL, and PsycINFO were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating effects on memory, global cognition, and quality of life. Random‐effect model NMAs were conducted. The Cochrane Risk‐of‐Bias‐2 tool assessed methodological quality. Prospero‐Registration: CRD42020180457.ResultsThe systematic review included 56 RCTs. Education programs were most effective for improving memory, second most effective for improving global cognition. Quality of life and adverse events could not be included due to insufficient data. Overall methodological quality of studies was low.ConclusionEducation programs were most effective for improving memory and cognition, warranting further research into effective elements of this intervention. There is urgent need to address identified methodological shortcomings in SCD intervention research.
Yesprit and Yeaseq: Applications for designing primers and browsing sequences for research using the fourSchizosaccharomycesspecies
Authors: Wang Xindi , Xu Ruoming , Wang Yichen , Liu Ziyue , Lou Ronghui , Sugiyama Tomoyasu 
Published: July 2021

AbstractThe polymerase chain reaction (PCR)‐based gene targeting method, which can delete a specific gene or introduce tags, has been widely utilized to study gene function in fission yeast. One of the critical steps in this method is to design primers for amplifying DNA fragments of deletion or tagging modules and for checking the integration of those DNA fragments at designated loci. Although the primer design tool Pombe PCR Primer Program (PPPP) is available forSchizosaccharomyces pombe, there is no such publicly available application for the other three fission yeast species,S. cryophilus,S. japonicus, andS. octosporus. Likewise, no application enabling DNA/protein sequence retrieval for these three fission yeast species is available either. Therefore, access to such functionality would substantially assist in retrieval of gene sequences of interest and primer design in these fission yeast species. In this report, we describe two applications for fission yeast study: Yesprit and Yeaseq. Yesprit is a primer design tool for strain construction using the PCR‐based method, and Yeaseq is a sequence viewer that can acquire the DNA/protein sequences of specific genes. Both tools can be run on the Windows, macOS, and Linux platforms. We believe that the Yesprit and Yeaseq will facilitate research using the four fission yeast species.
Umschulung zum IHK-Fachinformatiker in Anwendungsentwicklung und Systemintegration
Authors: Ellmann Mathias 
Published: July 2021

ZusammenfassungIn diesen Artikel berichten wir über unsere Erfahrungen welche wir im Rahmen einer Umschulung zum Fachinformatiker der Anwendungsentwicklung und Systemintegration gemacht haben. Unsere Erfahrungen haben gezeigt, dass eine projektbezogene Gestaltung des Unterrichts Umschüler stetig durch ein komplexes Fach wie Datenbankdesign und Datenentwicklung motiviert. Wir begründen unser Lehrkonzept durch verschiedene Lehrtheorien und Lerntheorien und beschreiben wie dieses in einem Kurs wie Datenbankdesign und Datenbankentwicklung während einer Umschulung umgesetzt werden kann. Wir diskutieren unser Lehrkonzept und zeigen auf, welche Lehrergebnisse und Lernergebnisse wir im Vergleich zu traditionellen Lehrkonzepten erzielt haben. Traditionelle Lehrkonzepte wie das Vortragen von wissenschaftlichen Theorien aus einem Lehrbuch, ohne Praxisbezug wurden von den Teilnehmern abgelehnt oder hat sie überfordert. Es konnte die Fülle an Information oder Terminologie, die in Fachbüchern häufig verwendet wird, schwer von den Teilnehmern, meist auch Nicht-Muttersprachlern verstanden werden. Wir glauben, dass eine Vereinfachung der Lehrinhalte im Kontext eines Praxisprojektes auch Nicht-Muttersprachlern und Kursteilnehmern mit diversen Bildungsabschlüssen zugute kommt.