bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Saturation magnetisation as an indicator of the disintegration of barium hexaferrite nanoplatelets during the surface functionalisation
Authors: Lisjak Darja , Arčon Iztok , Poberžnik Matic , Herrero-Saboya Gabriela , Tufani Ali , Mavrič Andraž , Valant Matjaz , Boštjančič Patricija Hribar , Mertelj Alenka , Makovec Darko , Martin-Samos Layla 
Published: January 2023

AbstractBarium hexaferrite nanoplatelets (BHF NPLs) are permanent nanomagnets with the magnetic easy axis aligned perpendicular to their basal plane. By combining this specific property with optimised surface chemistry, novel functional materials were developed, e.g., ferromagnetic ferrofluids and porous nanomagnets. We compared the interaction of chemically different phosphonic acids, hydrophobic and hydrophilic with 1–4 phosphonic groups, with BHF NPLs. A decrease in the saturation magnetisation after functionalising the BHF NPLs was correlated with the mass fraction of the nonmagnetic coating, whereas the saturation magnetisation of the NPLs coated with a tetraphosphonic acid at 80 °C was significantly lower than expected. We showed that such a substantial decrease in the saturation magnetisation originates from the disintegration of BHF NPLs, which was observed with atomic-resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy and confirmed by a computational study based on state-of-the-art first-principles calculations. Fe K-edge XANES (X-ray absorption near-edge structure) and EXAFS (Extended X-ray absorption fine structure) combined with Fourier-transformed infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy confirmed the formation of an Fe–phosphonate complex on the partly decomposed NPLs. Comparing our results with other functionalised magnetic nanoparticles confirmed that saturation magnetisation can be exploited to identify the disintegration of magnetic nanoparticles when insoluble disintegration products are formed.
Hohe klinische Wertigkeit der Skelettszintigrafie beim Staging des Mammakarzinoms
Authors: Eilsberger Friederike , Girmond Clara , Boekhoff Jelena , Librizzi Damiano , Luster Markus , Pfestroff Andreas 
Published: January 2023

ZUSAMMENFASSUNG
Hintergrund Die Skelettszintigrafie ist eine sensitive Methode für die Darstellung von Knochenmetastasen. Trotz der festen Etablierung in die klinische Routine gibt es kaum Daten aus größeren homogenen Kollektiven zur Wertigkeit der Skelettszintigrafie im Rahmen des Stagings.
Ziel Ziel unserer Arbeit war die Evaluierung der Real-Life-Performance der Skelettszintigrafie als Staginguntersuchung bei Patientinnen mit der Erstdiagnose eines Mammakarzinoms.
Patienten und Methoden Wir werteten retrospektiv die Daten der im Jahr 2015 in unserer Klinik mittels Skelettszintigrafie untersuchten Patientinnen aus. Zusätzlich wurde über einen Zeitraum von 30 Monaten evaluiert, ob sich im Verlauf diese Ergebnisse bestätigten; hierzu wurden anschließende Untersuchungen ausgewertet.
Ergebnisse 207/258 Patientinnen zeigten in der initialen Skelettszintigrafie keine verdächtigen Befunde, bei 48 zeigte sich ein unklarer Befund, weshalb bei 42 Patientinnen weitere Diagnostik angeschlossen wurde. Im Follow-up wurden bei 4 Patientinnen neue Skelettmetastasen gefunden, diese hatten alle in der Primärdiagnostik Szintigrafiebefunde, die als „unklar“ gewertet wurden. Es ergab sich je nach Wertung des Ereignisses (metastasenverdächtig/metastasenverdächtig und unklar) eine Sensitivität von 37,5 %/100 %, eine Spezifität von 100 %/80 %, ein positiv prädiktiver Wert von 100 %/15,7 % und ein negativ prädiktiver Wert von 98 %/100 %.
Schlussfolgerung Mittels der Skelettszintigrafie und weiterer Abklärung konnte in 99,2 % der vollständig untersuchten Patientinnen ein klinisch aussagekräftiger Befund erhoben werden, welcher sich im F17808378ollow-up bestätigte. Dieses Ergebnis zeigt die gute Real-Life-Performance der Skelettszintigrafie als Staginguntersuchung bei Patientinnen mit erstdiagnostiziertem Mammakarzinom.
Magnetic coupling of divalent metal centers in postsynthetic metal exchanged bimetallic DUT-49 MOFs by EPR spectroscopy
Authors: Thangavel Kavipriya , Mendt Matthias , Garai Bikash , Folli Andrea , Bon Volodymyr , Murphy Damien M. , Kaskel Stefan , Pöppl Andreas 
Published: January 2023

EPR measurements at X- (9.5 GHz), Q- (34 GHz) and W-band (94 GHz) on paddlewheel (PW) type post-synthetic metal exchanged DUT-49(M,M): M- Zn, Mn, Cu MOFs are here reported (DUT–Dresden University of Technology). Temperature-dependent X-band measurements are recorded from T = 7 K to T = 170 K on monometallic DUT-49(Cu), DUT-49(Mn), and bimetallic DUT-49(Cu0.7Zn0.3), DUT-49(Cu0.5Mn0.5) MOFs. In the case of the CuII - CuII dimers in DUT-49(Cu), an isotropic exchange coupling of the metal ions (2J = −240(11) cm−1) determined from the EPR intensity of the S = 1 spin state of the CuII–CuII dimers using the Bleaney Blowers equation. The sign of the found isotropic exchange coupling constant confirms an antiferromagnetic coupling between the cupric ions. Also, the MnII ions in the paddle wheels of DUT-49(Mn) are antiferromagnetically coupled. However, at low temperatures, EPR measurements reveal the presence of CuII and MnII monomers in DUT-49(Cu) and DUT-49(Mn), respectively, either associated with extra framework sites or defective paddle wheels. Otherwise, EPR signals observed for bimetallic DUT-49(Cu0.7Zn0.3) and DUT-49(Cu0.5Mn0.5) MOFs reveal the formation of mixed ion CuII–ZnII and CuII–MnII paddle wheels with SCuZn =1/2 and SCuMn = 2 spin states, respectively.
Efficiency enhancements of a Monte Carlo beamlet based treatment planning process: implementation and parameter study
Authors: Mueller S , Guyer G , Volken W , Frei D , Torelli N , Aebersold D M , Manser P , Fix M K 
Published: January 2023

Abstract

Objective. The computational effort to perform beamlet calculation, plan optimization and final dose calculation of a treatment planning process (TPP) generating intensity modulated treatment plans is enormous, especially if Monte Carlo (MC) simulations are used for dose calculation. The goal of this work is to improve the computational efficiency of a fully MC based TPP for static and dynamic photon, electron and mixed photon-electron treatment techniques by implementing multiple methods and studying the influence of their parameters. Approach. A framework is implemented calculating MC beamlets efficiently in parallel on each available CPU core. The user can specify the desired statistical uncertainty of the beamlets, a fractional sparse dose threshold to save beamlets in a sparse format and minimal distances to the PTV surface from which 2 × 2 × 2 = 8 (medium) or even 4 × 4 × 4 = 64 (large) voxels are merged. The compromise between final plan quality and computational efficiency of beamlet calculation and optimization is studied for several parameter values to find a reasonable trade-off. For this purpose, four clinical and one academic case are considered with different treatment techniques. Main results. Setting the statistical uncertainty to 5% (photon beamlets) and 15% (electron beamlets), the fractional sparse dose threshold relative to the maximal beamlet dose to 0.1% and minimal distances for medium and large voxels to the PTV to 1 cm and 2 cm, respectively, does not lead to substantial degradation in final plan quality compared to using 2.5% (photon beamlets) and 5% (electron beamlets) statistical uncertainty and no sparse format nor voxel merging. Only OAR sparing is slightly degraded. Furthermore, computation times are reduced by about 58% (photon beamlets), 88% (electron beamlets) and 96% (optimization). Significance. Several methods are implemented improving computational efficiency of beamlet calculation and plan optimization of a fully MC based TPP without substantial degradation in final plan quality.
Development of a two-layer dense-pixel LYSO Compton camera prototype for prompt gamma imaging
Authors: Yao Zhiyang , Xiao Yongshun , Dong Minghao , Deng Heng 
Published: January 2023

Abstract

Objective. Lutetium–yttrium orthosilicate (LYSO)-based Compton camera (CC) has been proposed for prompt gamma imaging due to its high detection efficiency and position resolution. However, very few LYSO CC prototypes have been built and used for practical evaluation. In this study, we built a lightweight dense-pixel silicon photomultiplier-based two-layer LYSO CC prototype for future prompt gamma imaging. Approach. We attempt the first-ever effort to use the double-encoding with the thick light guide and coding circuit structure for 46 × 46 dense-pixel LYSO detectors construction and use pixel segmentation based on centroid mapping to obtain 4232 spectral calibrations. We also present a framework for list-mode projection data acquisition based on the decoding of the time series data obtained by data acquisition card in this study. Finally, the standard source calibration, ring-like 22Na source with non-uniform intensity, and mixed point-like source with a wide energy spectrum experiments were implemented to evaluate the resolution metrics and imaging performance of the prototype. Main results. The lateral position resolution of the prototype was 1 mm, and the maximum measurement deviation is 2.5 mm and 5 mm in the depth direction for the scatterer and absorber, respectively. In the experiments, the measured energy resolution was 9.63% @ 1.33 MeV for the scatterer and 10.8% @ 1.33 MeV for the absorber. And the detection efficiency of the prototype for a spherical 60Co source with a diameter of 2.8 mm at 10 cm far was 5.7 × 10−3 @ 1.33 MeV and the full width at half maximum of the reconstruction was 5.5 mm. Besides, the spatial position offset within 2 mm of the radioactive source at 10 cm can be distinguished. Signification. The developed two-layer dense-pixel LYSO CC contributes to incorporating Compton imaging techniques for prompt gamma detection and multiple energy sources into nuclear medical imaging.
Lignin precipitation-driven fabrication of gradient porous hydrogel actuator with temperature response
Authors: Chen Ying , Kuang Peipei , Shen Xiaochen , Lv Xiaowei , Wang Yushu , Yin Weihan , Zou Tongqing , Wang Ben , Liu Yupeng , Fan Quli 
Published: January 2023

Abstract
An operative and straightforward precipitation-driven approach was reported to fabricate an anisotropic hydrogel actuator with temperature response. Through in situ deposition of lignin nanoparticles (LNP) in the process of polyacrylamide (PAM) polymerization with the presence of hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC), an inhomogeneous hydrogel network (PAM/HPC/lignin hydrogel, PHL hydrogel) with distinct gradient porous structure was achieved that could be tailored to form a hydrogel actuator. The PHL hydrogels exhibit faster shape deformation as responding to temperature and higher mechanical properties caused by introducing the LNP and HPC chains. The deformation direction and rate of the hydrogel actuator could be influenced by the lignin content, temperature, and as well as their shape. The maximum bending angle could reach near 360° with 60 s as it was exposed to 60 °C. Due to the excellent bending behavior of the PHL hydrogel, the potential applications as grippers and valves were studied, and the results showed its sensitive response to temperature, suggesting its potential application as an intelligent actuator in the future.
Vortex glass phase transition in two-dimensional Bi2Sr2Ca2Cu3O

10+δ

sub-microbridge
Authors: Yu Aobo , Zhang Tianzhu , Fan Donghui , Yuan Pusheng , Peng Wei , Li Hao , Lin Chengtian , Mu Gang , Zhang Xiaofu , You Lixing 
Published: January 2023

Abstract
Vortex dynamics is crucial for practical applications and to understand the nature of the mixed state for high-T

c
superconductors. Mechanically exfoliated ultra-thin single crystals provide a unique platform for exploring vortex physics in the two-dimensional (2D) limit. Here, we systematically investigated the current–voltage (I–V) characteristics as functions of the temperature and magnetic field in a single-crystalline Bi2223 sub-microbridge of 2.5 unit cells thickness. The nonlinear I–V characteristics are excellently described by the scaling theory for a quasi-2D vortex glass (VG) phase transition, and a phase diagram revealing the VG and vortex liquid phase is drawn. The scaling parameter v is consistent with previous reports, while the critical exponent z is far smaller than that in most investigations. Moreover, the VG transition temperature T

g
of the present sample is higher than that in the reported Bi2223 epitaxial thin films and tapes. In addition, the pinning force density of our sample is calculated, which is stronger than that reported in Bi2223 epitaxial thin films and tapes. Our results indicate that a high pinning force density may suppress the dynamical critical exponent z and enhance the VG phase transition temperature, providing new insight into the flux dynamics in cuprates.
Skin microvasculature determined using OCT angiography: first evidence of its relation with aging
Authors: Barrera-Patiño C P , de Oliveira Lucas Orlandi , Mattos Vicente Silva , Stringasci Mirian Denise , Requena Michelle Barreto , Bagnato Vanderlei Salvador 
Published: January 2023

Abstract
The human skin changes with time, presenting different appearances and even properties. Peripheral vascularization is one of the crucial factors that affect skin growth. The variation of vascularization with age is a topic that always arouses great interest. The quality of the skin, concerning age, can be an important factor in interventions for functional skin improvement and understanding the skin-related aging process. In particular, the statistical distribution of the size of peripheral vascularization components and their indicators of evolution with age is a quantifier that is not common in conventional medicine. Their introduction is the main objective of this report. In this work, we use optical coherent tomography angiography to investigate skin microvasculature changes in men and women from different age groups. Using our algorithms, we were able to assess the vessel density and the distribution of average vessel caliber as a function of age. The vessel’s density distribution shifts to smaller vessels’ diameters values according to aging. This finding may indicate a way of evaluating physiological skin aging and proposing alternatives for its delay. Some possible consequences of these findings are also discussed.
Modified-release hydrocortisone is associated with lower plasma renin activity in patients with salt-wasting congenital adrenal hyperplasia
Authors: Tschaidse Lea , Reisch Nicole , Arlt Wiebke , Brac de la Perriere Aude , Linden Hirschberg Angelica , Juul Anders , Mallappa Ashwini , Merke Deborah P , Newell-Price John D C , Perry Colin G , Prete Alessandro , Rees D Aled , Stikkelbroeck Nike M M L , Touraine Philippe A , Coope Helen , Porter John , Ross Richard John M , Quinkler Marcus 
Published: January 2023

Abstract

Objective
Poorly controlled salt-wasting (SW) congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) patients often require high 9α-fluorocortisol doses as they show high levels of 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17OHP), which is a mineralocorticoid (MC)-receptor antagonist.

Design
We investigated the renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system in patients with SW-CAH receiving twice daily modified-release hydrocortisone (MR-HC, Efmody) compared with standard glucocorticoid (GC) therapy.

Methods
Data were analyzed from the 6-month, phase 3 study of MR-HC (n = 42) versus standard GC therapy (n = 41). MC replacement therapy remained unchanged throughout the study. Blood pressure, serum potassium, serum sodium, plasma renin activity (PRA), and serum 17OHP and androstenedione concentrations were analyzed at baseline, 4, 12, and 24 weeks.

Results
The median serum 17OHP in the morning was significantly lower on MR-HC compared with standard GC at 24 weeks (2.5 nmol L–1 (IQR 8.3) versus 10.5 nmol L–1 (IQR 55.2), P = .001). PRA decreased significantly from baseline to 24 weeks in patients on MR-HC (0.83 ng L–1 s–1 (IQR 1.0) to 0.48 ng L–1 s–1 (IQR 0.61), P = .012) but not in patients on standard GC (0.53 ng L–1 s–1 (IQR 0.66) to 0.52 ng L–1 s–1 (IQR 0.78), P = .613). Serum sodium concentrations increased from baseline to 24 weeks in patients on MR-HC (138.8 ± 1.9 mmol L–1 to 139.3 ± 1.8 mmol L–1, P = .047), but remained unchanged on standard GC (139.8 ± 1.6 mmol L–1 to 139.3 ± 1.9 mmol L–1, P = .135). No significant changes were seen in systolic and diastolic blood pressure and serum potassium levels.

Conclusion
6 months of MR-HC therapy decreased PRA and increased sodium levels indicating a greater agonist action of the 9α-fluorocortisol dose, which may be due to the decreased levels of the MC-receptor antagonist 17OHP.
The management of postoperative disease recurrence in patients with adrenocortical carcinoma: a retrospective study in 106 patients
Authors: Calabrese Anna , Puglisi Soraya , Borin Chiara , Basile Vittoria , Perotti Paola , Pia Anna , Berchialla Paola , Volante Marco , Fiori Cristian , Porpiglia Francesco , Veltri Andrea , Reimondo Giuseppe , Terzolo Massimo 
Published: January 2023

Abstract

Objective
The management of adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) recurrences remains controversial, and we present herein our experience with postoperative ACC recurrences.

Design and methods
Retrospective analysis in a single reference center of 106 patients with ACC recurrence.

Results
The median follow-up was 45 months, the median recurrence-free survival (RFS) 12 months (IQR 6-23), and the median overall survival (OS) 45 months (IQR 29-75). ACC recurrences occurred as a unique lesion (group A) in 35.8%, multiple lesions in a single organ (group B) in 20.8%, and affecting multiple organs (group C) in 43.4% of patients. Baseline characteristics of patients stratified by the type of recurrence did not differ between them, except RFS, which was significantly longer in group A. Locoregional treatments were used in 100% of patients of group A, 68.2% in group B, and 26.1% in group C. After treatment of recurrence, 60.4% of patients became free of disease attaining a second RFS of 15 months (IQR 6-64). Margin status RX and R1, percent increase in Ki67, and recurrence in multiple organs were associated with an increased risk of mortality, while adjuvant mitotane treatment and longer time to first recurrence were associated with reduced risk. Recurrence in multiple organs and systemic treatment of recurrence had a negative impact on survival from the treatment of recurrence.

Conclusions
This study shows that patients with ACC have a better prognosis when the disease recurs as a single lesion and supports the use of locoregional treatments to treat disease recurrence.
The far-right and anti-vaccine attitudes: lessons from Spain’s mass COVID-19 vaccine roll-out
Authors: Serrano-Alarcón Manuel , Wang Yuxi , Kentikelenis Alexander , Mckee Martin , Stuckler David 
Published: January 2023

AbstractBackgroundFar-right politicians in several countries have been vocal opponents of COVID-19 vaccination. But can this threaten vaccine roll-out?MethodsWe take advantage of repeated cross-sectional surveys with samples of around 3800 individuals across Spain conducted monthly from December 2020 to January 2022 (n = 51 294) to examine any association between far-right politics and vaccine hesitancy through the whole vaccine roll-out.ResultsConsistent with prior data, we found that far-right supporters were almost twice as likely to be vaccine-hesitant than the overall population in December 2020, before vaccines became available. However, with a successful vaccine roll out, this difference shrank, reaching non-significance by September 2021. From October 2021, however, vaccine hesitancy rebounded among this group at a time when the leadership of the far-right promoted a ‘freedom of choice’ discourse common among anti-vax supporters. By the latest month analysed (January 2022), far-right voters had returned to being twice as likely to be vaccine-hesitant and 7 percentage points less likely to be vaccinated than the general population.ConclusionsOur results are consistent with evidence that far-right politicians can encourage vaccine hesitancy. Nonetheless, we show that public attitudes towards vaccination are not immutable. Whereas a rapid and effective vaccine rollout can help to overcome the resistance of far-right voters to get vaccinated, they also seem to be susceptible to their party leader’s discourse on vaccines.
Mortality Associations With DNA Methylation-Based Biological Aging and Physical Functioning Measures Across a 20-Year Follow-up Period
Authors: Föhr Tiina , Waller Katja , Viljanen Anne , Rantanen Taina , Kaprio Jaakko , Ollikainen Miina , Sillanpää Elina 
Published: January 2023

AbstractBackgroundMeasures of biological aging range from DNA methylation (DNAm)-based estimates to measures of physical abilities. The purpose of this study was to compare DNAm- and physical functioning-based measures of biological aging in predicting mortality.MethodsWe studied 63- to 76-year-old women (N = 395) from the Finnish Twin Study on Aging (FITSA). Participants’ biological age (epigenetic clocks DNAm GrimAge and DunedinPACE) was estimated using blood DNAm data. Tests of physical functioning conducted under standardized laboratory conditions included the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test and 10-m walk test. Mortality hazard ratios were calculated per every 1 standard deviation (SD) increase in the predictor. Cox regression models were conducted for individuals and twin pairs, the latter controlling for underlying genetic effects. The models were adjusted for known lifestyle predictors of mortality.ResultsDuring the follow-up period (mean 17.0 years, range 0.2–20.3), 187 participants died. In both the individual-based and pairwise analyses, GrimAge and both functional biomarkers of aging were associated with mortality independent of family relatedness, chronological age, physical activity, body mass index, smoking, education, or chronic diseases. In a model including both the DNAm-based measures and functional biomarkers of aging, GrimAge and TUG remained predictive.ConclusionsThe findings suggest that DNAm GrimAge and the TUG test are strong predictors of mortality independent of each others and genetic influences. DNAm-based measures and functional tests capture different aspects of the aging process and thus complement each other as measures of biological aging in predicting mortality.
Maximizing the forecasting skill of an ensemble model
Authors: Herrmann Marcus , Marzocchi Warner 
Published: January 2023

SUMMARYAn ensemble model integrates forecasts of different models (or different parametrizations of the same model) into one single ensemble forecast. This procedure has different names in the literature and is approached through different philosophies in theory and practice. Previous approaches often weighted forecasts equally or according to their individual skill. Here we present a more meaningful strategy by obtaining weights that maximize the skill of the ensemble. The procedure is based on a multivariate logistic regression and exposes some level of flexibility to emphasize different aspects of seismicity and address different end users. We apply the ensemble strategy to the operational earthquake forecasting system in Italy and demonstrate its superior skill over the best individual forecast model with statistical significance. In particular, we highlight that the skill improves when exploiting the flexibility of fitting the ensemble, for example using only recent and not the entire historical data.