bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Multi‐institutional consensus on machine QA for isochronous cyclotron‐based systems delivering ultra‐high dose rate (FLASH) pencil beam scanning proton therapy in transmission mode
Authors: Spruijt Kees , Mossahebi Sina , Lin Haibo , Lee Eunsin , Kraus James , Dhabaan Anees , Poulsen Per , Lowe Matthew , Ayan Ahmet , Spiessens Sylvie , Godart Jeremy , Hoogeman Mischa 
Published: December 2023

AbstractBackgroundThe first clinical trials to assess the feasibility of FLASH radiotherapy in humans have started (FAST‐01, FAST‐02) and more trials are foreseen. To increase comparability between trials it is important to assure treatment quality and therefore establish a standard for machine quality assurance (QA). Currently, the AAPM TG‐224 report is considered as the standard on machine QA for proton therapy, however, it was not intended to be used for ultra‐high dose rate (UHDR) proton beams, which have gained interest due to the observation of the FLASH effect.PurposeThe aim of this study is to find consensus on practical guidelines on machine QA for UHDR proton beams in transmission mode in terms of which QA is required, how they should be done, which detectors are suitable for UHDR machine QA, and what tolerance limits should be applied.MethodsA risk assessment to determine the gaps in the current standard for machine QA was performed by an international group of medical physicists. Based on that, practical guidelines on how to perform machine QA for UHDR proton beams were proposed.ResultsThe risk assessment clearly identified the need for additional guidance on temporal dosimetry, addressing dose rate (constancy), dose spillage, and scanning speed. In addition, several minor changes from AAPM TG‐224 were identified; define required dose rate levels, the use of clinically relevant dose levels, and the use of adapted beam settings to minimize activation of detector and phantom materials or to avoid saturation effects of specific detectors. The final report was created based on discussions and consensus.ConclusionsConsensus was reached on what QA is required for UHDR scanning proton beams in transmission mode for isochronous cyclotron‐based systems and how they should be performed. However, the group discussions also showed that there is a lack of high temporal resolution detectors and sufficient QA data to set appropriate limits for some of the proposed QA procedures.
Pushing MP2RAGE boundaries: Ultimate time‐efficient parameterization combined with exhaustive T1 synthetic contrasts
Authors: Bapst Blanche , Massire Aurélien , Mauconduit Franck , Gras Vincent , Boulant Nicolas , Dufour Juliette , Bodini Benedetta , Stankoff Bruno , Luciani Alain , Vignaud Alexandre 
Published: December 2023

AbstractPurposeMP2RAGE parameter optimization is redefined to allow more time‐efficient MR acquisitions, whereas the T1‐based synthetic imaging framework is used to obtain on‐demand T1‐weighted contrasts. Our aim was to validate this concept on healthy volunteers and patients with multiple sclerosis, using plug‐and‐play parallel‐transmission brain imaging at 7 T.MethodsA “time‐efficient” MP2RAGE sequence was designed with optimized parameters including TI and TR set as small as possible. Extended phase graph formalism was used to set flip‐angle values to maximize the gray–to–white‐matter contrast‐to‐noise ratio (CNR). Several synthetic contrasts (UNI, EDGE, FGATIR, FLAWSMIN, FLAWSHCO) were generated online based on the acquired T1 maps. Experimental validation was performed on 4 healthy volunteers at various spatial resolutions. Clinical applicability was evaluated on 6 patients with multiple sclerosis, scanned with both time‐efficient and conventional MP2RAGE parameterizations.ResultsThe proposed time‐efficient MP2RAGE protocols reduced acquisition time by 40%, 30%, and 19% for brain imaging at (1 mm)3, (0.80 mm)3 and (0.65 mm)3, respectively, when compared with conventional parameterizations. They also provided all synthetic contrasts and comparable contrast‐to‐noise ratio on UNI images. The flexibility in parameter selection allowed us to obtain a whole‐brain (0.45 mm)3 acquisition in 19 min 56 s. On patients with multiple sclerosis, a (0.67 mm)3 time‐efficient acquisition enhanced cortical lesion visualization compared with a conventional (0.80 mm)3 protocol, while decreasing the scan time by 15%.ConclusionThe proposed optimization, associated with T1‐based synthetic contrasts, enabled substantial decrease of the acquisition time or higher spatial resolution scans for a given time budget, while generating all typical brain contrasts derived from MP2RAGE.
Exploiting gradient‐echo frequency evolution: Probing white matter microstructure and extracting bulk susceptibility‐induced frequency for quantitative susceptibility mapping
Authors: Chen Lin , Shin Hyeong‐Geol , van Zijl Peter C. M. , Li Xu 
Published: December 2023

AbstractPurposeThis work is to investigate the microstructure‐induced frequency shift in white matter (WM) with crossing fibers and to separate the microstructure‐related frequency shift from the bulk susceptibility‐induced frequency shift by model fitting the gradient‐echo (GRE) frequency evolution for potentially more accurate quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM).MethodsA hollow‐cylinder fiber model (HCFM) with two fiber populations was developed to investigate GRE frequency evolutions in WM voxels with microstructural orientation dispersion. The simulated and experimentally measured TE‐dependent local frequency shift was then fitted to a simplified frequency evolution model to obtain a microstructure‐related frequency difference parameter () and a TE‐independent bulk susceptibility‐induced frequency shift (). The obtained was then used for QSM reconstruction. Reconstruction performances were evaluated using a numerical head phantom and in vivo data and then compared to other multi‐echo combination methods.ResultsGRE frequency evolutions and ‐based tissue parameters in both parallel and crossing fibers determined from our simulations were comparable to those observed in vivo. The TE‐dependent frequency fitting method outperformed other multi‐echo combination methods in estimating in simulations. The fitted , , and QSM could be improved further by navigator‐based B0 fluctuation correction.ConclusionA HCFM with two fiber populations can be used to characterize microstructure‐induced frequency shifts in WM regions with crossing fibers. HCFM‐based TE‐dependent frequency fitting provides tissue contrast related to microstructure () and in addition may help improve the quantification accuracy of and the corresponding QSM.
Phase‐field modelling of cohesive interface failure
Authors: de Borst R. , Chen L. 
Published: December 2023

AbstractA cohesive interface model is proposed in the framework of the phase‐field approach. The discrete interface is transformed into a smeared interface by a regularisation strategy. Nevertheless, the fracture energy is made dependent on the displacement jump, which is approximated by a first‐order Taylor expansion of the displacement at the interface. Its value relies on a proper choice of the distance parameter from the interface. We have derived an optimal distance parameter from the analytical solution of a uniaxial tension problem. The accuracy of the approach for cohesive interface modelling is validated in a one‐dimensional numerical test and is demonstrated by two examples, including a ‘H’‐shaped plate and a fibre embedded in an epoxy matrix, featuring straight and curved interfaces.
Characterization of biodegradable composite based on microalgae modified glycerol‐plasticized‐starch films
Authors: El Mogy Soma A. , Mourad Reda M. , Abdel‐Hakim Ahmed 
Published: December 2023

AbstractThe present study focuses on how microalgae protein biomass, such as spirulina (SP), can be used to create thermoplastic blends and algal‐based bioplastics. Algal bioplastics can be customized for a variety of material properties and applications while remaining biodegradable. In this work, the casting approach has been performed to create spirulina‐starch‐glycerol composite films by adding SP to plasticized starch films. The characteristics and properties of the composite films were inspected by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), scanning electron microscope (SEM), tensile strength, antimicrobial activity, and biodegradation analysis. The composite film with 3% SP was found to have the best combination of mechanical and chemical properties, and additional SP causes the mechanical properties to degrade. The results demonstrated that bio‐composites prepared by plasticized starch and containing SP could be promising in the development of new environmentally friendly bio‐nanocomposites for interesting applications in food packaging.
Malignancy, masculinities, and psychological distress: Comparisons made between men with testicular cancer and healthy controls
Authors: Dax Victoria , Ftanou Maria , Tran Ben , Lewin Jeremy , Wiley Joshua F. 
Published: December 2023

AbstractObjectivePsychological distress is common in men with testicular cancer (TC), and masculinities may work to explain this. This study aimed to compare masculinities and distress in TC and healthy control (HC) populations and explore relationships between correlates of distress (psychological flexibility and coping style) and masculinities in TC.MethodsA cross‐sectional, online survey was completed by 92 men with TC (Mage = 34.8) and 90 HC (Mage = 30.7). Measures included psychological distress (Patient‐Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Depression/Anxiety, fear of cancer recurrence inventory‐short form), masculinities (gender role conflict‐short form, inventory of subjective masculinity experiences/subjective masculinity stress scale, masculinity in chronic disease inventory), coping style (mini‐mental adjustment to cancer ) and psychological flexibility (comprehensive assessment of acceptance commitment therapy). Linear regressions were conducted to compare groups and analyse associations.ResultsThere were no differences in masculinities or psychological distress between populations (all p > 0.05 and all Cohen's d < 0.20), except for subjective masculine stress and restrictive affectionate behaviour between men. For men with TC, restrictive affection/emotion, conflicts between family/work and subjective masculine stress were associated with psychological distress (rs 0.21–0.58). Optimistic action was negatively associated with depression/anxiety, helplessness/hopelessness coping (rs −0.27 to −0.42) and positively associated with psychological flexibility (r = 0.35).ConclusionsMasculinities are implicated in psychological distress in men with TC. Psychological flexibility as well as leveraging masculine beliefs (e.g., optimistic action) may be modifiable targets to reduce distress in men with TC.
Early experiences in robotic single‐site plus one port platform for complex hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery
Authors: Chong Jae Uk , Lee Ju Yeon , Lim Jin Hong 
Published: December 2023

AbstractBackgroundMinimal invasive surgery in hepatobiliary and pancreatic (HBP) surgery has been accepted worldwide in recent years. However, applications of single‐site laparoscopic surgery in complex HBP surgery have been limited due to difficulty in manoeuvring instruments and the limited range of motion resulting from clashing instruments.MethodsTo overcome the limitations, we have used the Da Vinci single‐site surgical platform with one additional port in a Da Vinci Xi system to perform donor right hepatectomy, pancreaticoduodenectomy, and combined resection of the common bile duct and spleen vessels preserving distal pancreatectomy.ResultsIn selected patients, using a robotic single‐site plus one port system allowed the successful completion of complex HBP surgery.DiscussionComplex HBP surgery can be performed safely in a stable environment using the robotic single‐site plus one port system. Further exploration of a robotic single‐site plus one port in complex HBP surgery is necessary.
Adopting a socio‐material perspective on life cycle assessment: Environmental impacts of circular tableware systems in Italy's bioplastics context
Authors: Walker Anna M. , Simboli Alberto , Vermeulen Walter J. V. , Raggi Andrea 
Published: December 2023

AbstractLife cycle assessment (LCA) is amongst the most frequently used methodologies to identify and evaluate the environmental impacts of the circular supply chain configurations. This article aims to showcase how a socio‐material perspective can increase the embeddedness of such an assessment within inter‐firm networks. A comparative LCA of two circular product systems is conducted, namely single‐use and reusable tableware within a canteen located in northern Italy. To contextualise the LCA, the Actor Network Theory (ANT) is used as an epistemological lens to identify the framing and problematisation of bioplastics in Italy, as well as the power constellation of actors affecting the bioplastics life cycle. The ANT complements the LCA in three ways: firstly, it informs the end‐of‐life modelling of the product systems away from public narratives to the actual waste management practices and secondly, it contextualises the interpretation of the LCA results—in favour of the reuse system—with the socio‐technical factors in Italy. Finally, the socio‐material perspective allows for a discussion on the performative role of LCA in the light of its increasing popularity in the public and private sectors and on its potential to guide more sustainable production and consumption patterns.
Towards a software industry corporate social responsibility reference model for software sustainability
Authors: Jiménez Elisa , Moraga Mª. Ángeles , García Félix , Calero Coral , García‐Mireles Gabriel Alberto 
Published: December 2023

AbstractOver the last few years, sustainability has become increasingly relevant in different areas of industry. However, from the point of view of the software companies, the concept of software sustainability is still underdeveloped, as software emissions are not as easily observable as in other sectors, such as the power generation. A starting point for software development companies to tackle software sustainability is the inclusion of actions focused on improving software sustainability within their corporate social responsibility (CSR). For this reason, in this work, a set of specific software sustainability actions aligned with ISO 26000 corporate social responsibility standard is proposed. By including these actions in the CSR of software companies, they can improve sustainability aspects associated with software. In addition, the proposal was applied to six leading companies in the software sector in order to check its suitability and applicability.
Effect of renewable energy on economic growth in sub‐Saharan Africa: Role of institutional quality
Authors: Diallo Souleymane , Ouoba Youmanli 
Published: December 2023

AbstractThe development of renewable energy is considered as an important step toward sustainable development. In sub‐Saharan African (SSA) countries, institutional quality can play an essential role in encouraging investment and implementation of policies favoring renewable energy. This paper examines the role of institutional quality in the effect of renewable energy on economic growth across 25 SSA countries from 2002 to 2018. The results from the dynamic panel threshold model reveal a significant threshold effect of institutional quality on the contribution of renewable energy to economic growth. While renewable energy consumption positively contributes to economic growth, its impact is notably amplified when the institutional quality index, set at 0.304, is above the threshold. Our findings remain robust when altering institutional quality indicators. In terms of economic implications, improving overall institutional quality by promoting good political, economic, and institutional governance could significantly increase the contribution of renewable energies to economic growth in SSA countries.
Co‐Delivery of siNRF2 and Sorafenib by a “Click” Dual Functioned Hyperbranched Nanocarrier for Synergistically Inducing Ferroptosis in Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Tong Rongliang , Feng Xiaode , Sun Jingqi , Ling Zhenan , Wang Jun , Li Shun , Yang Beng , Deng Junfang , He Guijin , Wu Jian 
Published: December 2023

AbstractIn the course of antitumor therapy, the complex tumor microenvironment and drug‐mediated changes in cell signaling and biological processes lead to drug resistance. The effect of sorafenib is greatly limited by the specific tumor microenvironment induced by antiangiogenic therapy and ferroptosis resistance induced by the upregulation of nuclear factor erythroid‐2 related factor 2 (NRF2). In this study, a pH responsive and amphiphilic hyperbranched polyglycerol, HDP, is synthesized based on a co‐graft click chemistry pathway. This nano‐scale carrier provides excellent drug‐loading capacity, storing stability and pH responsibility, and effectively co‐delivery of sorafenib and siRNA. Sorafenib and siNRF2 plays a greatly synergistic effect in inducing reactive oxygen species (ROS), iron overloading, depleting glutathione (GSH), and promoting lipid peroxidation. Importantly, verified in two different animal experiments, HDP‐ss (HDP loaded with both siNRF2 and sorafenib) presents a superior anti‐tumor effect, by achieving a tumor inhibition rate of ≈94%. Thus, HDP can serve as an excellent targeted delivery nanocarrier with good biocompatibility in antitumor therapy, and combined application of siNRF2 effectively improves the antitumor effect of sorafenib by overcoming NRF2‐mediated ferroptosis resistance. Taken together, this study provides a novel therapeutic strategy to combat the drug resistance in antiangiogenic therapy and ferroptosis.
Structural Heredity in Catalysis: CO2 Self‐Selective CeO2 Nanocrystals for Efficient Photothermal CO2 Hydrogenation to Methane
Authors: Zhang Kai , Xu Cuiping , Zhang Xingjian , Huang Zhiyi , Pian Qixiang , Che Kunhong , Cui Xiaokun , Hu Yueru , Xuan Yimin 
Published: December 2023

AbstractThe chemical inertness of CO2 molecules makes their adsorption and activation on a catalyst surface one of the key challenges in recycling CO2 into chemical fuels. However, the traditional template synthesis and chemical modification strategies used to tackle this problem face severe structural collapse and modifier deactivation issues during the often‐needed post‐processing procedure. Herein, a CO2 self‐selective hydrothermal growth strategy is proposed for the synthesis of CeO2 octahedral nanocrystals that participate in strong physicochemical interactions with CO2 molecules. The intense affinity for CO2 molecules persists during successive high‐temperature treatments required for Ni deposition. This demonstrates the excellent structural heredity of the CO2 self‐selective CeO2 nanocrystals, which leads to an outstanding photothermal CH4 productivity exceeding 9 mmol h‐1 mcat‐2 and an impressive selectivity of >99%. The excellent performance is correlated with the abundant oxygen vacancies and hydroxyl species on the CeO2 surface, which create many frustrated Lewis‐pair active sites, and the strong interaction between Ni and CeO2 that promotes the dissociation of H2 molecules and the spillover of H atoms, thereby greatly benefitting the photothermal CO2 methanation reaction. This self‐selective hydrothermal growth strategy represents a new pathway for the development of effective catalysts for targeted chemical reactions.
π‐Conjugated Macrocycles Confined Dual Single‐Atom Catalysts on Graphitized Bubbles for Oxygen Reduction, Evolution, and Batteries
Authors: Zhao Mengmeng , Sun Jiana , Luo Taigang , Yan Yibo , Huang Wei , Lee Jong‐Min 
Published: December 2023

AbstractIt is a great demand to develop high‐performance electrodes for metal–air batteries to boost cathodic oxygen reduction/evolution dynamics and avoid anodic dendrites. The optimization of catalysis at electrode can be conducted by increasing effective surface exposure, active site density, and unsaturated coordination, via using metal clusters or atomic catalysts, along with conductive or defective supports. Herein, the polarized and synergistic cooperation between dual single atom sites (Fe‐N4/Co‐N4) are developed through electrolytical exfoliation of defect‐enriched π‐conjugated macrocyclic polyphthalocyanines to expose more active sites on hollow carbonized shells (HCS). Such FeCo‐N4/HCS exhibits outstanding performance in oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER), to achieve high‐performance in an aqueous zinc battery (AZB) with a high discharge capacity (763.6 mAhg−1) after 750 cycles at 10 mA cm−2, showing stable discharge voltage and excellent durability. It also possesses high performance in a lithium‐O2 battery owing to abundant defects, synergistic Fe‐N4/Co‐N4 active sites, reduced energy barriers, and boosted charge and mass transfer and reaction kinetics. This study provides novel perspectives to expand dual single‐metal catalysts on macrocycles in the exploration of efficient, durable, and eco‐friendly energy devices.
A Portable Integrated Electrochemical Sensing System for On‐Site Nitrite Detection in Food
Authors: Sun Yu , Xu Hanwen , Zhou Daqi , Xia Chenyu , Liu Wenquan , Cui Anni , Wang Ziyi , Zheng Wei , Shan Guiye , Huang Jipeng , Wang Xin 
Published: December 2023

AbstractEnsuring an appropriate nitrite level in food is essential to keep the body healthy. However, it still remains a huge challenge to offer a portable and low‐cost on‐site food nitrite analysis without any expensive equipment. Herein, a portable integrated electrochemical sensing system (IESS) is developed to achieve rapid on‐site nitrite detection in food, which is composed of a low‐cost disposable microfluidic electrochemical patch for few‐shot nitrite detection, and a reusable smartphone‐assisted electronic device based on self‐designed circuit board for signal processing and wireless transmission. The electrochemical patch based on MXene‐Ti3C2Tx/multiwalled carbon nanotubes‐cyanocobalamin (MXene/MWCNTs‐VB12)‐modified working electrode achieves high sensitivity of 10.533 µA mm−1 and low nitrite detection limit of 4.22 µm owing to strong electron transfer ability of hybrid MXene/MWCNTs conductive matrix and high nitrite selectivity of VB12 bionic enzyme‐based ion‐selective layer. Moreover, the portable IESS can rapidly collect pending testing samples through a microfluidic electrochemical patch within 1.0 s to conduct immediate nitrite analysis, and then wirelessly transmit data from a signal‐processing electronic device to a smartphone via Bluetooth module. Consequently, this proposed portable IESS demonstrates rapid on‐site nitrite analysis and wireless data transmission within one palm‐sized electronic device, which would pave a new avenue in food safety and personal bespoke therapy.
Preparation and Application of Hemostatic Hydrogels
Authors: Zhou Minyu , Lin Xiang , Wang Li , Yang Chaoyu , Yu Yunru , Zhang Qingfei 
Published: December 2023

AbstractHemorrhage remains a critical challenge in various medical settings, necessitating the development of advanced hemostatic materials. Hemostatic hydrogels have emerged as promising solutions to address uncontrolled bleeding due to their unique properties, including biocompatibility, tunable physical characteristics, and exceptional hemostatic capabilities. In this review, a comprehensive overview of the preparation and biomedical applications of hemostatic hydrogels is provided. Particularly, hemostatic hydrogels with various materials and forms are introduced. Additionally, the applications of hemostatic hydrogels in trauma management, surgical procedures, wound care, etc. are summarized. Finally, the limitations and future prospects of hemostatic hydrogels are discussed and evaluated. This review aims to highlight the biomedical applications of hydrogels in hemorrhage management and offer insights into the development of clinically relevant hemostatic materials.