bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Knowledge, awareness, and approaches of dentistry students about separated instruments in root canals: A cross‐sectional study
Authors: Akkaya Elif , Durmazpinar Parla Meva , Basmaci Gülsüm Kutlu 
Published: August 2024

AbstractPurposeThis survey aims to assess the understanding, viewpoints, and methods employed by undergraduate dental students in the fourth and fifth grades regarding broken endodontic instruments in root canal procedures.MethodsA survey comprising 27 questions across three sections—demographic information, practical application, and knowledge‐approach‐awareness inquiries—was developed. It was distributed to 282 students either in person or via a link shared through WhatsApp groups using Google Forms.ResultsOut of the total 219 respondents (77.6%), 10.6% experienced instrument breakage once during their clinical internship, while 2.8% encountered it more than once. The majority (86.7%) did not face instrument fracture incidents. Among these occurrences, it was observed that endodontic instruments were most commonly separated in molars, accounting for 51.9%. Nearly half (48.1%) of the students noted instrument breakage during the initial attempt to reach the apical part of the canal, while 55.6% reported breakage during root canal cleaning and shaping.ConclusionsMost dental students opted to leave the separated instrument in the root canal and proceed with filling it. Enhancing students' understanding and awareness of this matter will help prevent potential complications and enable them to handle such situations appropriately when they arise.
Development and preliminary evaluation of a genetics education booklet for retinoblastoma
Authors: Irvine Taylor , Brundage Monica , Hudani Ashna , Kabiru Joy , Kimani Kahaki , Njuguna Festus , Njambi Lucy , Dimaras Helen 
Published: August 2024

AbstractBackgroundParents and survivors of retinoblastoma often hold misconceptions about the disease and desire more extensive and detailed information about its genetic nature. The aim of this study was to co‐develop and evaluate a genetic education booklet for retinoblastoma.MethodsA human‐centered design approach was employed, in which the study team consulted with clinician and patient knowledge user groups to design, produce, and refine an educational booklet. Over three phases of consultation, the study team met with each knowledge user group to review booklet prototypes and collect feedback for its further refinement. A preliminary evaluation using quantitative and qualitative methods was completed with six mothers of children with retinoblastoma.ResultsThe iterative, phased design process produced an educational booklet rich in images and stories, with complex genetic topics described in simplified terms. The preliminary evaluation showed an average improvement in knowledge between pre‐ and post‐test questionnaire of 10%. Participants were satisfied with content and comprehensiveness of the information included in the booklet.ConclusionA novel educational tool for families affected by retinoblastoma was developed through collaboration with health care and patient knowledge users. Preliminary evaluation results indicate it is feasible to implement and study the booklet in a prospective, pragmatic trial to evaluate its efficacy.
The effect of occlusal loading on secondary tooth eruption: An experimental study using a rat model
Authors: Stergiopulos Ourania , Lagou Aikaterini , Antonarakis Gregory S. , Pandis Nikolaos , Kiliaridis Stavros 
Published: August 2024

AbstractThis study aimed to assess the impact of occlusal loading on secondary tooth eruption and to determine the extent to which altering the occlusal loading influences the magnitude of secondary eruption through an experimental rat model. The present sample consisted of 48 male Wistar rats. At the onset of the experiment, 24 rats were 4 weeks old (young rats) and 24 rats were 26 weeks old (adult). Within each age group, the rats were further divided into two equal subgroups (12 rats each), receiving either a soft‐ or hard‐food diet for the 3‐month duration of the experiment. The primary outcome was the tooth position changes relative to stable references in the coronal plane by evaluating the distance between the mandibular first molars and the inferior alveolar canal. Microcomputed tomography scans were taken from all rats at three standardized intervals over the 3‐month study period. Descriptive statistics were calculated by age and diet over time, and the evolution of the outcomes were plotted by age and diet over time. Longitudinal data analysis via generalized estimating equations was performed to examine the effect of age, diet and time on the primary outcomes. Secondary tooth eruption was observed in all age groups (young and adult) regardless of diet consistency (soft or hard food). In young rats, the secondary eruption was greater in the animals fed a soft diet than those fed a hard diet. In adult rats, minimal difference in secondary tooth eruption were found between different diet consistencies. Occlusal loading influences secondary tooth eruption in teeth with an established occlusal contact. The quantity of eruption in growing rats is higher when occlusal loading is less, providing a certain amount of secondary tooth eruption occurs. This difference, however, is not evident in adult rats, at least during the given 3‐month time frame.
Insect oils as sustainable feedstock for natural alcohols
Authors: Rommerskirchen Renke 
Published: August 2024

AbstractCurrent natural sources of mid‐cut alcohol (MCA), a key ingredient in cleaning formulations, present several challenges. One solution is to use insect oils instead of palm kernel oil (PKO) or coconut oil (CNO). In particular, black soldier fly (BSF) larvae oil is a promising raw material that provides a sustainable, natural feedstock for MCA. The estimation of its PCF leads to strongly negative values, driven by a very low land use change. The fact that low‐value by‐products are upgraded by BSF larvae is an additional advantage and avoids any competition with food crops. This study shows that BSF larvae oil can be a drop‐in replacement for PKO and CNO, leading to more sustainable ingredients for cleaning formulations. The technical proof of principle for the production of fatty alcohols has been demonstrated and up‐scaling to large commercial volumes should be straightforward. A potential barrier to consumer acceptance is expected to be lowered in the future. In certain regions or applications, successful market entry may already be possible today.
Conductivity at varying frequencies as a method for differentiating strawberry ripeness and association with colour acceptance of strawberry nectars
Authors: Murray Helen , Stipkovits Fabio , Lindner Marlene , Wühl Jasmin , Halbwirth Heidrun , Gössinger Manfred 
Published: August 2024

AbstractBACKGROUNDIdentifying the best strawberries to produce colour stable nectars is a priority for the juice industry. Although riper strawberries produce nectars with better colour stability, variability between cultivars means that surface colour cannot be used as a single quality attribute to determine stability. Conductivity and bio‐impedance measurements can be used to differentiate ripeness of strawberries. The commercially available PEF Control System (ELEA) can measure cell disruption by measuring conductivity at different frequencies. Updated software measured strawberry conductivity at 121 frequencies between 100 Hz and 1 MHz to determine whether conductivity at these frequencies could differentiate ripeness, and be compared with the colour acceptance and stability of nectars produced from these strawberries.RESULTSA high‐low ratio (HLR) was calculated by dividing the conductivity at frequency 1 MHz by conductivity at 1 kHz. HLR could be used to separate five strawberry ripeness stages, with decreasing HLR associated with increasing ripeness. HLR was then compared with the colour of nectars produced from these strawberries. Although there was a good correlation between HLR and an acceptable colour to consumers on initial production (r = −0.823, P < 0.001) and after 12 weeks of storage (−0.759, P < 0.001), cultivars differed greatly in both HLR and colour stability. Additionally, HLR had a strong correlation with firmness.CONCLUSIONThe PEF Control System could be used to differentiate ripeness of strawberries by HLR, and therefore was associated with colour stability. However, no additional information on colour stability was gained from conductivity beyond what could already be deduced from differentiating ripeness based on surface colour. © 2024 The Author(s). Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.
In silico modeling the potential clinical effect of growth factor treatment on the metabolism of human nucleus pulposus cells
Authors: McDonnell Emily E. , Ní Néill Tara , Wilson Niamh , Darwish Stacey L. , Butler Joseph S. , Buckley Conor T. 
Published: August 2024

AbstractBackgroundWhile growth factors have the potential to halt degeneration and decrease inflammation in animal models, the literature investigating the effect of dosage on human cells is lacking. Moreover, despite the completion of clinical trials using growth differentiation factor‐5 (GDF‐5), no results have been publicly released.AimsThe overall objective was to quantitatively assess the effect of three clinically relevant concentrations of GDF‐5 (0.25, 1, and 2 mg) as a therapeutic for disc regeneration.Materials and methodsFirstly, this work experimentally determined the effects of GDF‐5 concentration on the metabolic and matrix synthesis rates of human nucleus pulposus (NP) cells. Secondly, in silico modeling was employed to predict the subsequent regenerative effect of different GDF‐5 treatments (± cells).ResultsThis study suggests a trend of increased matrix synthesis with 0.25 and 1 mg of GDF‐5. However, 2 mg of GDF‐5 significantly upregulates oxygen consumption. Despite this, in silico models highlight the potential of growth factors in promoting matrix synthesis compared to cell‐only treatments, without significantly perturbing the nutrient microenvironment.DiscussionThis work elucidates the potential of GDF‐5 on human NP cells. Although the results did not reveal statistical differences across all doses, the variability and response among donors is an interesting finding. It highlights the complexity of human response to biological treatments and reinforces the need for further human research and personalized approaches. Furthermore, this study raises a crucial question about whether these potential biologics are more regenerative in nature or better suited as prophylactic therapies for younger patient groups.ConclusionBiological agents exhibit unique characteristics and features, demanding tailored development strategies and individualized assessments rather than a one‐size‐fits‐all approach. Therefore, the journey to realizing the full potential of biological therapies is long and costly. Nonetheless, it holds the promise of revolutionizing spinal healthcare and improving the quality of life for patients suffering from discogenic back pain.
Collagen integrity of the annulus fibrosus in degenerative disc disease individuals quantified with collagen hybridizing peptide
Authors: Dhiman Manmeet S. , Bader Taylor J. , Ponjevic Dragana , Salo Paul T. , Hart David A. , Swamy Ganesh , Matyas John R. , Duncan Neil A. 
Published: August 2024

AbstractIntroductionDegenerative disc disease (DDD) is accompanied by structural changes in the intervertebral discs (IVD). Extra‐cellular matrix degradation of the annulus fibrosus (AF) has been linked with degeneration of the IVD. Collagen is a vital component of the IVD. Collagen hybridizing peptide (CHP) is an engineered protein that binds to degraded collagen, which we used to quantify collagen damage in AF. This method was used to compare AF samples obtained from donors with no DDD to AF samples from patients undergoing surgery for symptomatic DDD.MethodsFresh AF tissue was embedded in an optimal cutting temperature compound and cryosectioned at a thickness of 8 μm. Hematoxylin and Eosin staining was performed on sections for general histomorphological assessment. Serial sections were stained with Cy3‐conjugated CHP and the mean fluorescence intensity and areal fraction of Cy3‐positive staining were averaged for three regions of interest (ROI) on each CHP‐stained section.ResultsIncreases in mean fluorescence intensity (p = 0.0004) and percentage of positively stained area (p = 0.00008) with CHP were detected in DDD samples compared to the non‐DDD samples. Significant correlations were observed between mean fluorescence intensity and percentage of positively stained area for both non‐DDD (R = 0.98, p = 5E‐8) and DDD (R = 0.79, p = 0.0012) samples. No significant differences were detected between sex and the lumbar disc level subgroups of the non‐DDD and DDD groups. Only tissue pathology (non‐DDD versus DDD) influenced the measured parameters. No three‐way interactions between tissue pathology, sex, and lumbar disc level were observed.Discussion and ConclusionsThese findings suggest that AF collagen degradation is greater in DDD samples compared to non‐DDD samples, as evidenced by the increased CHP staining. Strong positive correlations between the two measured parameters suggest that when collagen degradation occurs, it is detected by this technique and is widespread throughout the tissue. This study provides new insights into the structural alterations associated with collagen degradation in the AF that occur during DDD.
Recent advances in high‐resolution traveling wave‐based ion mobility separations coupled to mass spectrometry
Authors: Naylor Cameron N. , Nagy Gabe 
Published: August 2024

AbstractRecently, ion mobility spectrometry‐mass spectrometry (IMS‐MS) has become more readily incorporated into various omics‐based workflows. These growing applications are due to developments in instrumentation within the last decade that have enabled higher‐resolution ion mobility separations. Two such platforms are the cyclic (cIMS) and structures for lossless ion manipulations (SLIM), both of which use traveling wave ion mobility spectrometry (TWIMS). High‐resolution separations achieved with these techniques stem from the drastically increased pathlengths, on the order of 10 s of meters to >1 km, in both cIMS‐MS and SLIM IMS‐MS, respectively. Herein, we highlight recent developments and advances, for the period 2019–2023, in high‐resolution traveling wave‐based IMS‐MS through instrumentation, calibration strategies, hyphenated techniques, and applications. Specifically, we will discuss applications including CCS calculations in multipass IMS‐MS separations, coupling of IMS‐MS with chromatography, imaging, and cryogenic infrared spectroscopy, and isomeric separations of glycans, lipids, and other small metabolites.
Renal cancer: signaling pathways and advances in targeted therapies
Authors: Jiang Aimin , Li Jinxin , He Ziwei , Liu Ying , Qiao Kun , Fang Yu , Qu Le , Luo Peng , Lin Anqi , Wang Linhui 
Published: August 2024

AbstractRenal cancer is a highlyheterogeneous malignancy characterized by rising global incidence and mortalityrates. The complex interplay and dysregulation of multiple signaling pathways,including von Hippel–Lindau (VHL)/hypoxia‐inducible factor (HIF), phosphoinositide 3‐kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), Hippo–yes‐associated protein (YAP), Wnt/ß‐catenin, cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)/c‐Met, contribute to theinitiation and progression of renal cancer. Although surgical resection is thestandard treatment for localized renal cancer, recurrence and metastasiscontinue to pose significant challenges. Advanced renal cancer is associatedwith a poor prognosis, and current therapies, such as targeted agents andimmunotherapies, have limitations. This review presents a comprehensiveoverview of the molecular mechanisms underlying aberrant signaling pathways inrenal cancer, emphasizing their intricate crosstalk and synergisticinteractions. We discuss recent advancements in targeted therapies, includingtyrosine kinase inhibitors, and immunotherapies, such as checkpoint inhibitors.Moreover, we underscore the importance of multiomics approaches and networkanalysis in elucidating the complex regulatory networks governing renal cancerpathogenesis. By integrating cutting‐edge research and clinical insights, this review contributesto the development of innovative diagnostic and therapeutic strategies, whichhave the potential to improve risk stratification, precision medicine, andultimately, patient outcomes in renal cancer.
Systematic assessment of various universal machine‐learning interatomic potentials
Authors: Yu Haochen , Giantomassi Matteo , Materzanini Giuliana , Wang Junjie , Rignanese Gian‐Marco 
Published: August 2024

AbstractMachine‐learning interatomic potentials have revolutionized materials modeling at the atomic scale. Thanks to these, it is now indeed possible to perform simulations of ab initio quality over very large time and length scales. More recently, various universal machine‐learning models have been proposed as an out‐of‐box approach avoiding the need to train and validate specific potentials for each particular material of interest. In this paper, we review and evaluate four different universal machine‐learning interatomic potentials (uMLIPs), all based on graph neural network architectures which have demonstrated transferability from one chemical system to another. The evaluation procedure relies on data both from a recent verification study of density‐functional‐theory implementations and from the Materials Project. Through this comprehensive evaluation, we aim to provide guidance to materials scientists in selecting suitable models for their specific research problems, offer recommendations for model selection and optimization, and stimulate discussion on potential areas for improvement in current machine‐learning methodologies in materials science.
Improving 3D dose prediction for breast radiotherapy using novel glowing masks and gradient‐weighted loss functions
Authors: Moore Lance C. , Nematollahi Fatemeh , Li Lingyi , Meyers Sandra M. , Kisling Kelly 
Published: August 2024

AbstractBackgroundThe quality of treatment plans for breast cancer can vary greatly. This variation could be reduced by using dose prediction to automate treatment planning. Our work investigates novel methods for training deep‐learning models that are capable of producing high‐quality dose predictions for breast cancer treatment planning.PurposeThe goal of this work was to compare the performance impact of two novel techniques for deep learning dose prediction models for tangent field treatments for breast cancer. The first technique, a “glowing” mask algorithm, encodes the distance from a contour into each voxel in a mask. The second, a gradient‐weighted mean squared error (MSE) loss function, emphasizes the error in high‐dose gradient regions in the predicted image.MethodsFour 3D U‐Net deep learning models were trained using the planning CT and contours of the heart, lung, and tumor bed as inputs. The dataset consisted of 305 treatment plans split into 213/46/46 training/validation/test sets using a 70/15/15% split. We compared the impact of novel “glowing” anatomical mask inputs and a novel gradient‐weighted MSE loss function to their standard counterparts, binary anatomical masks, and MSE loss, using an ablation study methodology. To assess performance, we examined the mean error and mean absolute error (ME/MAE) in dose across all within‐body voxels, the error in mean dose to heart, ipsilateral lung, and tumor bed, dice similarity coefficient (DSC) across isodose volumes defined by 0%–100% prescribed dose thresholds, and gamma analysis (3%/3 mm).ResultsThe combination of novel glowing masks and gradient weighted loss function yielded the best‐performing model in this study. This model resulted in a mean ME of 0.40%, MAE of 2.70%, an error in mean dose to heart and lung of −0.10 and 0.01 Gy, and an error in mean dose to the tumor bed of −0.01%. The median DSC at 50/95/100% isodose levels were 0.91/0.87/0.82. The mean 3D gamma pass rate (3%/3 mm) was 93%.ConclusionsThis study found the combination of novel anatomical mask inputs and loss function for dose prediction resulted in superior performance to their standard counterparts. These results have important implications for the field of radiotherapy dose prediction, as the methods used here can be easily incorporated into many other dose prediction models for other treatment sites. Additionally, this dose prediction model for breast radiotherapy has sufficient performance to be used in an automated planning pipeline for tangent field radiotherapy and has the major benefit of not requiring a PTV for accurate dose prediction.
Phase‐contrast visualization of human tissues using superimposed wavefront imaging of diffraction‐enhanced x‐rays
Authors: Sunaguchi Naoki , Yuasa Tetsuya , Shimao Daisuke , Huang Zhuoran , Ichihara Shu , Nishimura Rieko , Iwakoshi Akari , Kim Jong‐Ki , Gupta Rajiv , Ando Masami 
Published: August 2024

AbstractBackgroundPhase‐contrast computed tomography (CT) using high‐brilliance, synchrotron‐generated x‐rays enable three‐dimensional (3D) visualization of microanatomical structures within biological specimens, offering exceptionally high‐contrast images of soft tissues. Traditional methods for phase‐contrast CT; however, necessitate a gap between the subject and the x‐ray camera, compromising spatial resolution due to penumbral blurring. Our newly developed technique, Superimposed Wavefront Imaging of Diffraction‐enhanced x‐rays (SWIDeX), leverages a Laue‐case Si angle analyzer affixed to a scintillator to convert x‐rays to visible light, capturing second‐order differential phase contrast images and effectively eliminating the distance to the x‐ray camera. This innovation achieves superior spatial resolution over conventional methods.PurposeIn this paper, the imaging principle and CT reconstruction algorithm based on SWIDeX are presented in detail and compared with conventional analyzer‐based imaging (ABI). It also shows the physical setup of SWIDeX that provides the resolution preserving second‐order differential images for reconstruction. We compare the spatial resolution and the sensitivity of SWIDeX to conventional ABI.MethodsTo demonstrate high‐spatial resolution achievable by SWIDeX, the internal structures of four human tissues—ductal carcinoma in situ, normal stomach, normal pancreas, and intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm of the pancreas—were visualized using an imaging system configured at the Photon Factory's BL14B beamline under the High Energy Accelerator Research Organization (KEK). Each tissue was thinly sliced after imaging, stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) for conventional microscope‐based pathology.ResultsA comparison of SWIDeX‐CT and pathological images visually demonstrates the effectiveness of SWIDeX‐CT for biological tissue imaging. SWIDeX could generate clearer 3D images than existing analyzer‐based phase‐contrast methods and accurately delineate tissue structures, as validated against histopathological images.ConclusionsSWIDeX can visualize important 3D structures in biological soft tissue with high spatial resolution and can be an important tool for providing information between the disparate scales of clinical and pathological imaging.