bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
QTc Changes Associated with Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors in Cancer Patients
Authors: Zaka Marvi , Ghaffar Bushra , Fahad Muhammad 
Published: January 2022

Objective: To look for QTc changes associated with tyrosine kinase inhibitors and factors related to these changes among patients suffering from cancer.
Study Design: This correlational study was conducted in Avicenna Medical College and Hospital Lahore with the collaboration of SKMH during November 2020 to May 2021.
Methodology: One hundred and eighty patients with solid or hematological malignancies taking tyrosine kinase inhibitors for more than three months were included in the study. They underwent 12 lead ECG inside oncology department. QTc interval was calculated on ECG of all the patients and they were evaluated for presence of prolonged QT interval. Age, gender, duration of tyrosine kinase inhibitor use and presence of comorbid illness were correlated with presence of QTc changes in our study participants.
Results: Out of 180 cancer patients using tyrosine kinase inhibitors for more than three months included in the study, 96 (53.3%) were male while 84 (46.7%) were female. One hundred and eighteen (65.5%) had normal QTc interval while 62 (34.5%) had prolonged QTc interval in our study participants. Binary logistic regression analysis revealed that advanced age of the patient and prolong use of tyrosine kinase inhibitors was statistically significantly associated with QTc prolongation in our study (p-value<0.001).
Conclusion: Significant number of cancer patients using tyrosine kinase inhibitors had prolonged QTc interval in our study. Special attention should be paid to the cancer patients with advancing age and prolonged use of tyrosine kinase inhibitors.
Accuracy evaluation of surface registration algorithm using normal distribution transform in stereotactic body radiotherapy/radiosurgery: A phantom study
Authors: Lee Haenghwa , Park Jeong‐Mee , Kim Kwang Hyeon , Lee Dong‐Hoon , Sohn Moon‐Jun 
Published: January 2022

AbstractPurposeTo evaluate a feasibility of normal distribution transform (NDT) algorithm compared with the iterative closest point (ICP) method as a useful surface registration in stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT)/stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS).MethodsPoint cloud images using the 3D triangulation technology were obtained from a depth camera‐based optical imaging (OSI) system equipped in a radiosurgery room. Two surface registration algorithms, NDT and ICP, were used to measure and compare the discrepancy values between the reference and the current surfaces during the positioning of the patient. The performance evaluation was investigated by calculating the registration error and root‐mean‐square (RMS) values for the surface model, reposition, and target accuracy, which were analyzed statistically using a paired t‐test.ResultsFor surface model accuracy, the average of the registration error and RMS values were measured as 3.56 ± 2.20 mm and 6.98 ± 1.89 mm for ICP method, and 1.76 ± 1.32 mm and 3.58 ± 1.30 mm for NDT method (p < 0.05). For reposition accuracy, the average registration error and RMS values were calculated as 1.41 ± 0.98 mm and 2.53 ± 1.64 mm using ICP method, and 0.92 ± 0.61 mm and 1.75 ± 0.80 mm using NDT method (p = 0.005). The overall target accuracy using the NDT method reduced the average of the reposition error and overall RMS value by 0.71 and 1.32 mm, respectively, compared to the ICP method (p = 0.03).ConclusionsWe found that the surface registration algorithm based on NDT method provides more reliable accuracy in the values of surface model, reposition, and target accuracies than the classic ICP method. The NDT method in OSI systems offers reasonable accuracy in SBRT/SRS.
Driving Droplets on Liquid Repellent Surfaces via Light‐Driven Marangoni Propulsion
Authors: Hwang Hyesun , Papadopoulos Periklis , Fujii Syuji , Wooh Sanghyuk 
Published: January 2022

AbstractMarangoni flow, a surface shear flow, is a promising option for propulsion when controlling liquid droplet motion on solid substrates. However, the applicability of Marangoni flow induced by heating the substrate for droplet manipulation is limited by low precision of motion control and a narrow range of substrate types. Herein, a novel noncontact light‐driven droplet manipulation method by using photothermally active droplets is introduced. Marangoni flow is induced by local photothermal heating via near‐infrared (NIR) irradiation resulting in an internal flow that drives the droplets. The photothermally active droplets slide away from the NIR light and the direction of motion can be precisely controlled by changing the irradiation position remotely. In addition, it is demonstrated that the addition of a miscible liquid to the droplets can reverse the direction of motion. Moreover, the authors show that spherical droplets on conventional liquid repellent surfaces move through a rolling mechanism instead of sliding. It is believed that this droplet manipulation method can provide a general way of droplet transportation on solid surfaces.
3D Flexible Frequency Selective Surface with Stable Electromagnetic Transmission Properties
Authors: Fan Xuanqing , Pan Zijian , Chen Sihong , Li Yuhang , Zhao Zhao , Pan Taisong 
Published: January 2022

AbstractFrequency selective surfaces (FSS) that can be tightly laminated to complex nondevelopable surfaces have a wide range of applications in many engineering areas. This paper presents a 3D flexible FSS prepared by mechanically guided 3D assembly, capable of being conformally adhered to complex surfaces, while maintaining stable frequency selective properties as well as transmission performance. The stretching strain applied to the prestrained ecoflex substrate can precisely tune and control the buckled 3D metal structures, which leads to the stretchability of the flexible FSS, introduces the increase of the inductance inside the metal cells, and expands the metal gap resulting in a reduction of the capacitance between the unit cells. The mutual correlation of capacitance and inductance ensures in the mechanism that the FSS transmission characteristics will not be significantly affected by the applied strain, as verified by calculations using the equivalent circuit method. Both the results obtained by the experiments and simulations indicate that the resonant frequency of the 3D flexible FSS is 5.7 GHz and the bandwidth at −10 dB is 0.94 GHz, while the resonant frequency shift will not exceed 0.45 Hz, and −10 dB bandwidth change will not exceed 0.32 GHz with applied strain of 17.8% in the ecoflex substrate. At the same time, the 3D flexible FSS maintains stable transmission performance for oblique incidence, with only 0.5 GHz frequency shift at 45° incidence. This stretchable flexible FSS with stable electromagnetic (EM) properties may find potential applications in EM shielding and spatial filtering due to its high flexibility, ready applicability, and cost‐effectiveness.
3D Dip‐Pen Nanolithography
Authors: Liu Guoqiang , Rong Mingming , Hu Hong , Chen Lina , Xie Zhuang , Zheng Zijian 
Published: January 2022

AbstractDip‐pen nanolithography (DPN) can directly write a variety of materials on the substrates at the sub‐50 nm to micrometer length scale. While this tool has been extensively exploited to construct functional nanostructures and address important scientific questions, extending the capability from low‐dimensional molecular patterning to direct additive 3D manufacturing has yet to be demonstrated. In this work, the development of 3D‐DPN is reported to enable the microscale 3D printing capability via designing a rapidly UV‐curable liquid copolymer ink with appropriate viscoelastic properties. Two categories of 3D printing strategies via patterning dot and line pixels are explored, through which micrometer‐high, arbitrary 3D structures could be programmed to generate. It is believed that this development will arouse the fundamental research and functional application interest in the field of tip‐based additive 3D nanofabrication.
Transient Super‐/Sub‐Linear Nonlinearities in Silicon Nanostructures
Authors: Huang Guan‐Jie , Cheng Hao‐Yu , Tang Yu‐Lung , Hotta Ikuto , Takahara Junichi , Lin Kung‐Hsuan , Chu Shi‐Wei 
Published: January 2022

AbstractNonlinear silicon nano‐photonics has recently attracted significant attention due to the plethora of electric and magnetic Mie resonances that offer substantial enhancement of optical nonlinearities. Conventionally, the characterization of nonlinearity and its transient nature rely on intensity‐scan methods (z‐scan) in the spatial domain and pump‐probe techniques in the temporal domain. However, most studied ultrafast nonlinear effects are instantaneous, that is, strongest at zero pump‐probe delay, and have a solitary nonlinear power dependency (square, cubic, etc.). Here the authors found that when relaxation lifetime is dependent on pump fluence, transient nonlinearity appears. The effect is exemplified via Auger‐based nonlinear carrier dynamics of a nano‐silicon Mie‐resonator. The Auger‐induced transient nonlinearity not only locates at the time delay of several tens of picoseconds, but also displays diverse nonlinearities, including sub‐linear, super‐linear, and surprisingly full saturation, which features a “crossing point” where the probe scattering is pump‐fluence independent. The crossing point exists when the relaxation lifetime is inversely dependent to second power of carrier density. Combining confocal intensity‐scan (x‐scan) and pump‐probe temporal scan, the authors demonstrate that sub‐linearity and super‐linearity lead to swelled and reduced full‐width‐at‐half‐maximum (FWHM) of single‐nanostructure images, further confirming the nonlinearity as well as the potential of sub‐diffraction microscopy. The results open up a new avenue in nonlinear silicon nano‐photonics by adding new degrees of freedom in temporally tuning the types of transient nonlinearities, which are valuable in all‐optical signal processing and nano‐imaging.
Social and nonsocial stimuli alter the performance of bonobos during a pictorial emotional Stroop task
Authors: Laméris Daan W. , Verspeek Jonas , Eens Marcel , Stevens Jeroen M. G. 
Published: January 2022

AbstractThe emotional Stroop task is a paradigm commonly applied in human studies to investigate how emotionally laden stimuli interfere with cognitive processes. Recent modifications of this task have enabled researchers to study similar Stroop effects in zoo‐housed primates. Across three experiments using a pictorial emotional Stroop task, we investigated if the attention of bonobos was influenced by social (facial expressions during play, conflict, and neutral events) and nonsocial stimuli (a preferred food item, predator, and flower). Four bonobos successfully learned to complete the task on a touchscreen. First, we tested the bonobos on a standard color‐interference Stroop task and found that they made more errors in color‐congruent trials. Second, we included facial expressions of unknown conspecifics and found that it took the bonobos longer to select targets with play facial expressions compared to neutral expressions. Last, we included objects and found that the negative, positive and neutral objects altered performance. Our findings show that the cognitive processes of bonobos are influenced by both relevant social and nonsocial stimuli. Specifically, play faces interfered with the bonobos’ attention suggesting that these facial expressions form a salient stimulus within bonobo society. Nonsocial stimuli also altered accuracy and reaction times during the task which may be explained by their evolutionary relevance. Our results help us to better understand the (socio‐)emotional competencies of bonobos and how they respond to external stimuli. Future studies can further examine how a wider range of biologically relevant stimuli interfere with attentional processes in bonobos.
Regional beta‐amyloid and tau deposition: Results from the Framingham Heart Study
Authors: Thibault Emma G. , Farrell Michelle E. , Beiser Alexa S. , Sanchez Justin S. , Satizabal Claudia L. , Mayblyum Danielle V. , O’Donnell Adrienne , Rubinstein Zoe B. , Jacobs Heidi I.L. , DeCarli Charles S. , Hanseeuw Bernard , Killiany Ronald J. , Sperling Reisa A. , Seshadri Sudha , Johnson Keith A. 
Published: January 2022

AbstractBackgroundThe Framingham Heart Study (FHS), a three‐generation community‐based cohort studying cardiovascular disease across the adult lifespan, has expanded to include positron emission tomography (PET) of beta‐amyloid (Aβ) and tau. Our aim is to characterize these pathologies in this unique sample and utilize the wide age range to assess the spatiotemporal ordering of emerging Aβ and tau.Method211 clinically‐normal adults aged 33‐74 from FHS underwent Pittsburgh Compound B (PIB) and Flortaucipir (FTP) PET. PIB and FTP were regionally quantified in Desikan regions using distribution volume ratio (DVR) for PIB and standardized uptake volume ratio (SUVR) for FTP. Three approaches were used to identify early accumulating regions: 1. A series of Age*APOE linear models to identify regions accumulating earlier in the lifespan in ε4 carriers. 2. Identification of early regions as those more frequently elevated as previously used in older adults, with Gaussian mixture models (GMM) conducted to evaluate bimodality and set biomarker positivity thresholds for each region. 3. Applied the same frequency approach using well‐validated PIB GMM thresholds based on older adults from the Harvard Aging Brain Study (HABS).ResultFor PIB, significant Age*APOE interactions (Fig. 1) were seen across multiple regions previously implicated as early‐accumulating based on elevation frequencies from older adult samples, as well as the pars opercularis (p=0.005) and lateral parietal cortices (p<0.04). PIB was significantly bimodal across all ROIs (LRT>36.1, p<0.001; Fig. 1). Application of GMM‐based regional positivity frequencies derived within FHS versus from HABS thresholds led to substantial discrepancies in the spatiotemporal ordering of PIB (rs=0.30, p=0.17).Age*APOE effects were not detected for any tau regions, but inferior temporal (IT), middle temporal (MT), and amygdala (AM) increased with age (Fig. 2). Higher global Aβ was also associated with higher FTP SUVR in IT, MT, and a trend for AM, as well as inferior parietal and precuneus (Fig. 2).ConclusionAβ and tau mainly follow spatiotemporal patterns consistent with prior evidence in older adult samples. GMM‐based methods used in older adult samples to dichotomize biomarker positivity may be suboptimal in younger samples. Continuous approaches may better capture early Aβ and tau in younger populations.
Liquid Crystalline Half‐Skyrmions and Their Optical Properties
Authors: Fukuda Jun‐ichi , Nych Andriy , Ognysta Uliana , Žumer Slobodan , Muševič Igor 
Published: January 2022

AbstractLiquid crystals have intrigued physicists as a platform that facilitates direct visualization of topological concepts. Here, the theoretical and experimental studies demonstrating that a thin film of a chiral liquid crystal forms topological entities known as half‐Skyrmions, swirl‐like orientational order that spans the hemisphere of the order parameter space , are reviewed. They appear in the form of a hexagonal lattice or in an isolated manner, accompanied by topological line defects to satisfy topological constraints. Under an optical microscope, half‐Skyrmions appear as dark spots, and their hexagonal lattice yields a Kossel diagram comprising a hexagonal arrangement of circular arcs. These experimental observations are corroborated by numerical calculations of the orientational order based on the Landau‐de Gennes theory with an orientational order parameter of a second‐rank tensor, and construction of its optical images and Kossel diagrams by directly solving Maxwell equations for light wave. A thin film of a chiral liquid crystal thus provides an interesting system for the investigation of topological concepts, and spontaneous formation of a half‐Skyrmion lattice whose periodicity is of the order of the wavelength of visible light has a potential for photonics applications as well as poses a challenging problem on optics.
A Cholesterol Dimer Stabilizes the Inactivated State of an Inward‐Rectifier Potassium Channel
Authors: Borcik Collin G. , Eason Isaac R. , Yekefallah Maryam , Amani Reza , Han Ruixian , Vanderloop Boden H. , Wylie Benjamin J. 
Published: January 2022

AbstractCholesterol oligomers reside in multiple membrane protein X‐ray crystal structures. Yet, there is no direct link between these oligomers and a biological function. Here we present the structural and functional details of a cholesterol dimer that stabilizes the inactivated state of an inward‐rectifier potassium channel KirBac1.1. K+ efflux assays confirm that high cholesterol concentration reduces K+ conductance. We then determine the structure of the cholesterol‐KirBac1.1 complex using Xplor‐NIH simulated annealing calculations driven by solid‐state NMR distance measurements. These calculations identified an α–α cholesterol dimer docked to a cleft formed by adjacent subunits of the homotetrameric protein. We compare these results to coarse grain molecular dynamics simulations. This is one of the first examples of a cholesterol oligomer performing a distinct biological function and structural characterization of a conserved promiscuous lipid binding region.
Hydrogen Bonding Networks Enable Brønsted Acid‐Catalyzed Carbonyl‐Olefin Metathesis**
Authors: Anh To Tuong , Pei Chao , Koenigs Rene M. , Vinh Nguyen Thanh 
Published: January 2022

AbstractSynthetic chemists have learned to mimic nature in using hydrogen bonds and other weak interactions to dictate the spatial arrangement of reaction substrates and to stabilize transition states to enable highly efficient and selective reactions. The activation of a catalyst molecule itself by hydrogen‐bonding networks, in order to enhance its catalytic activity to achieve a desired reaction outcome, is less explored in organic synthesis, despite being a commonly found phenomenon in nature. Herein, we show our investigation into this underexplored area by studying the promotion of carbonyl‐olefin metathesis reactions by hydrogen‐bonding‐assisted Brønsted acid catalysis, using hexafluoroisopropanol (HFIP) solvent in combination with para‐toluenesulfonic acid (pTSA). Our experimental and computational mechanistic studies reveal not only an interesting role of HFIP solvent in assisting pTSA Brønsted acid catalyst, but also insightful knowledge about the current limitations of the carbonyl‐olefin metathesis reaction.
Site‐Specific Functionalization of Recombinant Spider Silk Janus Fibers
Authors: Lang Gregor , Grill Carolin , Scheibel Thomas 
Published: January 2022

AbstractBiotechnological production is a powerful tool to design materials with customized properties. The aim of this work was to apply designed spider silk proteins to produce Janus fibers with two different functional sides. First, functionalization was established through a cysteine‐modified silk protein, ntagCyseADF4(κ16). After fiber spinning, gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were coupled via thiol‐ene click chemistry. Significantly reduced electrical resistivity indicated sufficient loading density of AuNPs on such fiber surfaces. Then, Janus fibers were electrospun in a side‐by‐side arrangement, with “non‐functional” eADF4(C16) on the one and “functional” ntagCyseADF4(κ16) on the other side. Post‐treatment was established to render silk fibers insoluble in water. Subsequent AuNP binding was highly selective on the ntagCyseADF4(κ16) side demonstrating the potential of such silk‐based systems to realize complex bifunctional structures with spatial resolutions in the nano scale.
A soft and recyclable carbon nanotube/carbon nanofiber hybrid membrane for oil/water separation
Authors: Li Hui , Chang Shulong , Li Yunxing , Guo Fengmei , Xu Jie , Zhang Yingjiu , Li Hongbian , Shang Yuanyuan 
Published: January 2022

AbstractHydrophobic membranes have been considered as one of the most effective candidates in oil/water separation for their easy operation and high efficiency. Here, we prepared a hydrophobic carbon nanotube (CNT)/carbon nanofiber (CNF) hybrid membrane by in situ grafting CNTs on a CNF membrane. The CNT grafting significantly increased the porosity and hydrophobicity of the CNF membrane. As a result, the CNT/CNF hybrid membrane showed a high efficiency (80%–98%) in the separation of a range of oil/water mixtures. Moreover, the CNT/CNF hybrid membrane is recyclable, and the separation efficiency maintained after 10 cycles. This high separation efficiency and good recyclability provide feasibilities for practical applications of the CNT/CNF hybrid membrane in the purification of oil contaminated water.
Improved quasi‐uniform stability criterion of fractional‐order neural networks with discrete and distributed delays
Authors: Du Feifei , Lu Jun‐Guo 
Published: January 2022

AbstractThis article mainly investigates the quasi‐uniform stability of fractional‐order neural networks with time discrete and distributed delays (FONNDDDs). First, a novel fractional‐order Gronwall inequality with discrete and distributed delays (FOGIDDDs) is established; it can be used to study the stability of a variety of fractional‐order systems with discrete and distributed delays (FOSDDDs). Second, on the basis of this inequality and Leray‐Schauder alternative theorem, the existence and uniqueness results for the FONNDDDs are proved. Third, an improved criterion for the quasi‐uniform stability of FONNDDDs is obtained in terms of this inequality. Ultimately, one numerical example is provided to expound the effectiveness and the superiority of the proposed result.
Sex‐dependent influence of postweaning environmental enrichment in Angelman syndrome model mice
Authors: Cosgrove Jameson A. , Kelly Lauren K. , Kiffmeyer Elizabeth A. , Kloth Alexander D. 
Published: January 2022

AbstractIntroductionAngelman syndrome (AS) is a rare neurodevelopmental disorder caused by mutation or loss of UBE3A and marked by intellectual disability, ataxia, autism‐like symptoms, and other atypical behaviors. One route to treatment may lie in the role that environment plays early in postnatal life. Environmental enrichment (EE) is one manipulation that has shown therapeutic potential in preclinical models of many brain disorders, including neurodevelopmental disorders. Here, we examined whether postweaning EE can rescue behavioral phenotypes in Ube3a maternal deletion mice (AS mice), and whether any improvements are sex‐dependent.MethodsMale and female mice (C57BL/6J Ube3atm1Alb mice and wild‐type (WT) littermates; ≥10 mice/group) were randomly assigned to standard housing (SH) or EE at weaning. EE had a larger footprint, a running wheel, and a variety of toys that promoted foraging, burrowing, and climbing. Following 6 weeks of EE, animals were submitted to a battery of tests that reliably elicit behavioral deficits in AS mice, including rotarod, open field, marble burying, and forced swim; weights were also monitored.ResultsIn male AS‐EE mice, we found complete restoration of motor coordination, marble burying, and forced swim behavior to the level of WT‐SH mice. We also observed a complete normalization of exploratory distance traveled in the open field, but we found no rescue of vertical behavior or center time. AS‐EE mice also had weights comparable to WT‐SH mice. Intriguingly, in the female AS‐EE mice, we found a failure of EE to rescue the same behavioral deficits relative to female WT‐SH mice.ConclusionsEnvironmental enrichment is an effective route to correcting the most penetrant phenotypes in male AS mice but not female AS mice. This finding has important implications for the translatability of early behavioral intervention for AS patients, most importantly the potential dependency of treatment response on sex.