bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Monte-Carlo techniques for radiotherapy applications II: equipment and source modelling, dose calculations and radiobiology
Authors: Fielding Andrew L. 
Published: March 2023

Abstract

Introduction:
This is the second of two papers giving an overview of the use of Monte-Carlo techniques for radiotherapy applications.

Methods:
The first paper gave an introduction and introduced some of the codes that are available to the user wishing to model the different aspects of radiotherapy treatment. It also aims to serve as a useful companion to a curated collection of papers on Monte-Carlo that have been published in this journal.

Results and Conclusions:
This paper focuses on the application of Monte-Carlo to specific problems in radiotherapy. These include radiotherapy and imaging beam production, brachytherapy, phantom and patient dosimetry, detector modelling and track structure calculations for micro-dosimetry, nano-dosimetry and radiobiology.
Dark Virtuosity: Violin Symbolism in Alberto Iglesias's Score for Pedro Almodóvar's FilmThe Skin I Live In(2011)
Authors: ALONSO TOMÁS DIEGO 
Published: March 2023

AbstractSingled out as one of the finest and most original works by the leading film-music composer Alberto Iglesias, the score for Pedro Almodóvar'sThe Skin I Live In(2011) stands out for its inclusion of a (neo-baroque) virtuoso part for solo violin with key symbolic functions in the film. This part is largely derived from the composer's post-minimalist string trioCautiva(c. 1990). The present article analyses Iglesias's reconfiguration of key materials fromCautivato express the relationship of domination, violence, and desire between the film's villain and the heroine as well as the role played by violin virtuosity in establishing links to the (gothic) horror genre and in the exaltation of the artist's power as creator that Almodóvar ultimately reflects upon inThe Skin I Live In.The article adds to recent studies on the centuries-old symbolism of the violin as a topos of the demonic and otherworldly by analysing these meanings in one of the finest contemporary film scores. The study is part of a recent upsurge of critical assessments of Almodóvar–Iglesias's work from cultural and musico-analytical perspectives.
Identification of yield contributing traits and genotypes to drought tolerance in finger millet (Eleusine coracana L. Gaertn.)
Authors: Nanja Reddy Y. A. 
Published: March 2023

AbstractScreening of germplasm for specific traits is a continuous pre-breeding process in deriving the drought-tolerant donors required for crop improvement. The study evaluated 17 medium-late duration finger millet genotypes under drought stress (DS) for 28 days during the reproductive stage to identify the traits and genotypes for drought tolerance using different statistical analysis. The photosynthetic rate (by 26.3%), stomatal conductance (by 26.4%), transpiration rate (by 24.8%) and grain yield (by 13.2%) were decreased and found sensitive to DS, but the leaf temperature was increased (4.7%). From the path analysis and multiple linear regression analysis, the mean ear weight and productive tillers were found to contribute to the grain yield significantly under well-watered conditions. While under DS conditions, the mean ear weight, productive tillers and threshing percentage equally contributed to grain yield. Based on the ranking of traits significantly contributing to grain yield, the genotype GE-4683 with a higher mean ear weight (10.65 g) was found superior to the popular variety, GPU-28. The Multiple linear regression equation predicts the possibility to increase the yield of GPU-28 under DS from the existing 360.0 to 459.5 g per square metre (by 29.1%) by the incorporation of three productive tillers instead of the existing two tillers per plant in the MLR equation. An additional 1.0 g of mean ear weight will be able to predict an increased grain yield from 360.0 to 392.0 gm−2, equivalent to 3.60 to 3.92 t/ha (by 9.4%).
Design of dual-band Wilkinson power divider based on novel stubs using PSO algorithm
Authors: Zonouri Seyed Abed , Hayati Mohsen , Bahrambeigi Mehran 
Published: March 2023

AbstractIn this paper, a new dual-band Wilkinson power divider (WPD) is designed and fabricated using novel low and high impedance stubs instead of quarter-wavelength transmission lines. The proposed circuit was analyzed using odd and even mode analysis, and the optimal values of design parameters were obtained using the particle swarm optimization algorithm. The designed power divider has input reflection coefficients (S11) of −22.1 and −17 dB at the first operating frequency of 2.2 GHz and the second operating frequency of 14.2 GHz, respectively. It also improves stop-band and fractional bandwidth (FBW) while maintaining a simple topology. The proposed WPD suppresses undesired harmonics from the second to the fifth with an attenuation level of less than −20 dB in the first band and generates a broad stop-band (4.4–11.5 GHz). In the first band, the FBW is 54.5%, and in the second band, it is 20.1%.
Genetic and Environmental Influences on Serum Alanine Aminotransferase Level: A Chinese Twin Study
Authors: Li Jingxian , Kang Xiao , Zhang Tianhao , Wang Weijing , Xu Chunsheng , Duan Haiping , Tian Xiaocao , Zhang Dongfeng 
Published: March 2023

AbstractAn abnormal alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level is predictive of disease and all-cause mortality and may indicate liver injury. Using twin modeling, the genetic and environmental factors that affect human serum ALT levels have been well studied for the populations in the different countries, and the results showed moderate-to-high heritability. However, the heritability of ALT level has not been explored in Chinese population. Thus, we recruited 369 pairs of twins (233 monozygotic and 136 dizygotic) from the Qingdao Twin Registry in China with a median age of 50 years (40−80 years). Correlation analysis and a structural equation model (SEM) were conducted to evaluate the heritability of ALT level. The data for age, gender, body mass index and alcohol consumption were set as covariates. Intrapair correlation in monozygotic twins was 0.64 (95%CI [.56, .71]) and 0.42 (95% CI [.28, .55]) in dizygotic twins. The SEM analysis indicated that 65% (95% CI [57%, 71%]) of the variation in ALT levels can be explained by additive genetics and 35% (95% CI [29%, 44%]) of the variation is attributed to unique environmental factors or residuals. Shared environmental influences were not significant. In conclusion, serum ALT variations exhibited strong genetic effects. The variation could also be explained by unique environmental factors. However, shared environmental factors have a minor impact on the serum ALT level.
A Hydrochemical Study of Groundwater Salinization in Qinzhou Bay, Guangxi, Southern China
Authors: Hu Kaiyan , Huang Qinghua , Han Peng , Han Zhiwei , Yang Zhentao , Luo Qiang , Li Peng , Miao Miao , Zeng Zhiyi , Chen Hongyan , Wang Rui , Mo Chunyu 
Published: March 2023

AbstractThe salinity of groundwater in Qinzhou Bay has been increasing since 2013. This phenomenon affects livelihoods and the local agricultural economy, specifically in the Longmengang area. In this work, we investigate the causes of water salinization to provide evidence for effectively managing the local water resources and improving water quality. We collected 110 samples of water from spatially distributed local wells, rivers, reservoirs, and the sea, and conducted a hydrochemical study complemented by numerical modeling. We found that water pumping and mariculture practices are the principal contributors to seawater intrusion into the groundwater table, which leads to increased water salinization.
What Are the Dominant Synoptic Patterns Leading to the Summer Regional Hourly Extreme Precipitation Events Over Central‐Eastern Tibetan Plateau and Sichuan Basin?
Authors: Xu Xiaoke , Huang Anning , Huang Danqing , Zhang Yan , Gu Chunlei , Cai Shuxin , Tang Yong , Zhao Zhizhan , Zeng Jingwen 
Published: March 2023

AbstractRevealing the synoptic patterns related to hourly extreme precipitation (EP) is very important to deepen our recognition and understanding of EP formation. The predominant synoptic patterns associated with the summer regional hourly EP events (RHEPE) over the central‐eastern Tibetan Plateau (CETP) and Sichuan Basin (SCB) have been systematically identified. Results show the summer RHEPE over CETP and SCB are dominated by the background large‐scale circulations featured by the configuration of eastward‐extended South Asia high (SAH) and westward‐extended Western North Pacific Subtropical High (WNPSH) and their northward advance, except for that an obvious low‐level vortex imbedded in the background large‐scale circulations is mainly responsible for the summer RHEPE over SCB. The frequency and intensity of the total summer RHEPE over CETP and SCB all show an obvious increasing trend during 2000–2020, which is largely contributed by the synoptic pattern characterized by the configuration of eastward extended SAH and westward extended WNPSH.
Modeling the Shape and Velocity of Magmatic Intrusions, a New Numerical Approach
Authors: Furst S. , Maccaferri F. , Pinel V. 
Published: March 2023

AbstractDykes are magma‐filled fractures propagating through the brittle crust. Understanding the physics of dyking process is essential to mitigate the volcanic hazard associated with the opening of new eruptive fissures at the surface. Often, physics‐based models view either fracturing of the host rock or viscous flow of the magma as the dominating energy sink during dyke propagation. Here, we provide a numerical model that captures the coupling of fracturing at the crack tip and the transport of a viscous fluid. Built with the boundary element technique, our model allows for computation of the shape and velocity of a growing fluid‐filled crack accounting for the viscosity of the fluid: the fluid flow induces a viscous pressure drop acting at the crack walls, and modifies the shape of the crack. The energy conservation equation provides the constraints to solve for the crack growth velocity, assuming that brittle fracturing and viscous flow are the main processes that dissipate energy. Using a parameter range that represents typical magmatic intrusions, we obtain crack shapes displaying some typical characteristics, including a tear‐drop head and an open tail that depend on rock rigidity, magma viscosity, and buoyancy. We show that viscous forces significantly contribute to the energy dissipated during the propagation of magmatic dykes. Applied to the 1998 intrusion at Piton de la Fournaise (La Réunion Island), we provide ranges of dyke lengths and openings by adjusting the numerical velocity to the one deduced from the migration of volcano‐tectonic events.
Senescent cancer cell-derived nanovesicle as a personalized therapeutic cancer vaccine
Authors: Hong Jihye , Jung Mungyo , Kim Cheesue , Kang Mikyung , Go Seokhyeong , Sohn Heesu , Moon Sangjun , Kwon Sungpil , Song Seuk Young , Kim Byung-Soo 
Published: March 2023

AbstractThe development of therapeutic cancer vaccines (TCVs) that provide clinical benefits is challenging mainly due to difficulties in identifying immunogenic tumor antigens and effectively inducing antitumor immunity. Furthermore, there is an urgent need for personalized TCVs because only a limited number of tumor antigens are shared among cancer patients. Several autologous nanovaccines that do not require the identification of immunogenic tumor antigens have been proposed as personalized TCVs. However, these nanovaccines generally require exogenous adjuvants (e.g., Toll-like receptor agonists) to improve vaccine immunogenicity, which raises safety concerns. Here, we present senescent cancer cell-derived nanovesicle (SCCNV) as a personalized TCV that provides patient-specific tumor antigens and improved vaccine immunogenicity without the use of exogenous adjuvants. SCCNVs are prepared by inducing senescence in cancer cells ex vivo and subsequently extruding the senescent cancer cells through nanoporous membranes. In the clinical setting, SCCNVs can be prepared from autologous cancer cells from the blood of liquid tumor patients or from tumors surgically removed from solid cancer patients. SCCNVs also contain interferon-γ and tumor necrosis factor-α, which are expressed during senescence. These endogenous cytokines act as adjuvants and enhance vaccine immunogenicity, avoiding the need for exogenous adjuvants. Intradermally injected SCCNVs effectively activate dendritic cells and tumor-specific T cells and inhibit primary and metastatic tumor growth and tumor recurrence. SCCNV therapy showed an efficacy similar to that of immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy and synergized with ICB. SCCNVs, which can be prepared using a simple and facile procedure, show potential as personalized TCVs.
How well does neonatal neuroimaging correlate with neurodevelopmental outcomes in infants with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy?
Authors: Wu Yvonne W. , Monsell Sarah E. , Glass Hannah C. , Wisnowski Jessica L. , Mathur Amit M. , McKinstry Robert C. , Bluml Stefan , Gonzalez Fernando F. , Comstock Bryan A. , Heagerty Patrick J. , Juul Sandra E. 
Published: March 2023

Abstract
Background
In newborns with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), the correlation between neonatal neuroimaging and the degree of neurodevelopmental impairment (NDI) is unclear.

Methods
Infants with HIE enrolled in a randomized controlled trial underwent neonatal MRI/MR spectroscopy (MRS) using a harmonized protocol at 4–6 days of age. The severity of brain injury was measured with a validated scoring system. Using proportional odds regression, we calculated adjusted odds ratios (aOR) for the associations between MRI/MRS measures of injury and primary ordinal outcome (i.e., normal, mild NDI, moderate NDI, severe NDI, or death) at age 2 years.

Results
Of 451 infants with MRI/MRS at a median age of 5 days (IQR 4.5–5.8), outcomes were normal (51%); mild (12%), moderate (14%), severe NDI (13%); or death (9%). MRI injury score (aOR 1.06, 95% CI 1.05, 1.07), severe brain injury (aOR 39.6, 95% CI 16.4, 95.6), and MRS lactate/n-acetylaspartate (NAA) ratio (aOR 1.6, 95% CI 1.4,1.8) were associated with worse primary outcomes. Infants with mild/moderate MRI brain injury had similar BSID-III cognitive, language, and motor scores as infants with no injury.

Conclusion
In the absence of severe injury, brain MRI/MRS does not accurately discriminate the degree of NDI. Given diagnostic uncertainty, families need to be counseled regarding a range of possible neurodevelopmental outcomes.

Impact

Half of all infants with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) enrolled in a large clinical trial either died or had neurodevelopmental impairment at age 2 years despite receiving therapeutic hypothermia.

Severe brain injury and a global pattern of brain injury on MRI were both strongly associated with death or neurodevelopmental impairment.

Infants with mild or moderate brain injury had similar mean BSID-III cognitive, language, and motor scores as infants with no brain injury on MRI.

Given the prognostic uncertainty of brain MRI among infants with less severe degrees of brain injury, families should be counseled regarding a range of possible neurodevelopmental outcomes.
Translatability of preclinical to early clinical tolerable and pharmacologically active dose ranges for central nervous system active drugs
Authors: Ferreira Guilherme S. , Dijkstra Francis M. , Veening-Griffioen Désirée H. , Boon Wouter P. C. , Schellekens Huub , Moors Ellen H. M. , van Meer Peter J. K. , Stuurman Frederik E. , van Gerven Joop M. A. 
Published: March 2023

AbstractThe primary purpose of this study was to assess the translatability of preclinical to early clinical tolerable and pharmacologically active dose ranges for central nervous system (CNS) active drugs. As a part of this, IBs were reviewed on reporting quality. Investigator’s Brochures (IBs) of studies performed at the Centre for Human Drug Research (CHDR) reporting statistically significant results of CNS activity related to the drug’s mechanism of action were included. The quality of IBs was assessed based on the presence of a rationale for the chosen animal model, completeness of pharmacokinetic (PK) results in reporting and internal validity information of the preclinical evidence. The IB-derisk tool was used to generate preclinical and early clinical data overviews data. For each compound, the overlap between pharmacologically active dose ranges and well-tolerated levels was calculated for three pharmacokinetic (PK) parameters: human equivalent dose (HED), maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) and area under the curve (AUC). Twenty-five IBs were included. In general, the quality of reporting in IBs was assessed as poor. About a third of studies did not explore the entire concentration-effect curve (pre)clinically. Single dose tolerability ranges were most accurately predicted by Cmax. Human equivalent dose and AUC were the best predictors of pharmacologically active ranges. Tolerable and pharmacologically active dose ranges in healthy volunteers can be reasonably well predicted from preclinical data with the IB-derisk tool. The translatability of preclinical studies can be improved by applying a higher reporting standard in IBs including comparable PK measurements across all preclinical and clinical studies.
Alcam-a and Pdgfr-α are essential for the development of sclerotome-derived stromal cells that support hematopoiesis
Authors: Murayama Emi , Vivier Catherine , Schmidt Anne , Herbomel Philippe 
Published: March 2023

AbstractMesenchymal stromal cells are essential components of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell (HSPC) niches, regulating HSPC proliferation and fates. Their developmental origins are largely unknown. In zebrafish, we previously found that the stromal cells of the caudal hematopoietic tissue (CHT), a niche functionally homologous to the mammalian fetal liver, arise from the ventral part of caudal somites. We have now found that this ventral domain is the sclerotome, and that two markers of mammalian mesenchymal stem/stromal cells, Alcam and Pdgfr-α, are distinctively expressed there and instrumental for the emergence and migration of stromal cell progenitors, which in turn conditions the proper assembly of the vascular component of the CHT niche. Furthermore, we find that trunk somites are similarly dependent on Alcam and Pdgfr-α to produce mesenchymal cells that foster HSPC emergence from the aorta. Thus the sclerotome contributes essential stromal cells for each of the key steps of developmental hematopoiesis.
Metal-coordinated polybenzimidazole membranes with preferential K+ transport
Authors: Wu Jine , Liao Chenyi , Li Tianyu , Zhou Jing , Zhang Linjuan , Wang Jian-Qiang , Li Guohui , Li Xianfeng 
Published: March 2023

AbstractMembranes with fast and selective ion transport are essential for separations and electrochemical energy conversion and storage devices. Metal-coordinated polymers are promising for fabricating ion-conducting membranes with molecular channels, however, the structures and ion transport channels remain poorly understood. Here, we reported mechanistic insights into the structures of metal-ion coordinated polybenzimidazole membranes and the preferential K+ transport. Molecular dynamics simulations suggested that coordination between metal ions and polybenzimidazole expanded the free volume, forming subnanometre molecular channels. The combined physical confinement in nanosized channels and electrostatic interactions of membranes resulted in a high K+ transference number up to 0.9 even in concentrated salt and alkaline solutions. The zinc-coordinated polybenzimidazole membrane enabled fast transport of charge carriers as well as suppressed water migration in an alkaline zinc-iron flow battery, enabling the battery to operate stably for over 340 hours. This study provided an alternative strategy to regulate the ion transport properties of polymer membranes by tuning polymer chain architectures via metal ion coordination.
Untrackable distal ejecta on planetary surfaces
Authors: Xu Rui , Xiao Zhiyong , Luo Fanglu , Wang Yichen , Cui Jun 
Published: March 2023

AbstractImpact ejecta are important references to establish regional and global stratigraphy of planetary bodies. Canonical views advocate radial distributions of distal ejecta with respect to the source crater, and their trajectories are significantly deflected on fast-rotating bodies. The Hokusai crater on Mercury formed a peculiar ray that features a hyperbola shape, and the sharp swerve of orientation was interpreted as a sign of a faster planetary rotation in the near past. Here, we show that this ray was not caused by a hypothesized larger Coriolis force, but due to abruptly-steepened ejection angles. Heterogeneous shock impedances of pre-impact impactor and/or target, such as topographic undulations, affect local propagation paths of shock and rarefaction waves, causing sudden changes of ejection angles. Distal ejecta with non-radial distributions are an inherent product of planetary impacts, and their unobvious provenances could mislead stratigraphic interpretations and hamper age estimations based on spatial densities of impact craters.
Microwave-to-optical transduction with erbium ions coupled to planar photonic and superconducting resonators
Authors: Rochman Jake , Xie Tian , Bartholomew John G. , Schwab K. C. , Faraon Andrei 
Published: March 2023

AbstractOptical quantum networks can connect distant quantum processors to enable secure quantum communication and distributed quantum computing. Superconducting qubits are a leading technology for quantum information processing but cannot couple to long-distance optical networks without an efficient, coherent, and low noise interface between microwave and optical photons. Here, we demonstrate a microwave-to-optical transducer using an ensemble of erbium ions that is simultaneously coupled to a superconducting microwave resonator and a nanophotonic optical resonator. The coherent atomic transitions of the ions mediate the frequency conversion from microwave photons to optical photons and using photon counting we observed device conversion efficiency approaching 10−7. With pulsed operation at a low duty cycle, the device maintained a spin temperature below 100 mK and microwave resonator heating of less than 0.15 quanta.
Non-monotonic changes in Asian Water Towers’ streamflow at increasing warming levels
Authors: Cui Tong , Li Yukun , Yang Long , Nan Yi , Li Kunbiao , Tudaji Mahmut , Hu Hongchang , Long Di , Shahid Muhammad , Mubeen Ammara , He Zhihua , Yong Bin , Lu Hui , Li Chao , Ni Guangheng , Hu Chunhong , Tian Fuqiang 
Published: March 2023

AbstractPrevious projections show consistent increases in river flows of Asian Water Towers under future climate change. Here we find non-monotonic changes in river flows for seven major rivers originating from the Tibetan Plateau at the warming levels of 1.5 °C, 2.0 °C, and 3.0 °C based on an observation-constrained hydrological model. The annual mean streamflow for seven rivers at 1.5 °C warming level decreases by 0.1–3.2% relative to the present-day climate condition, and increases by 1.5–12% at 3.0 °C warming level. The shifting river flows for the Yellow, Yangtze, Brahmaputra, and Ganges are mostly influenced by projected increases in rainfall, but those for the Mekong, Salween, and Indus are dictated by the relative changes in rainfall, snowmelt and glacier melt. Reduced river flows in a moderately warmed climate threaten water security in riparian countries, while elevated flood risks are expected with further temperature increases over the Tibetan Plateau.