Presentation_1_Dynamic Characteristics and Predictive Capability of Tumor Voxel Dose–Response Assessed Using 18F-FDG PET/CT Imaging Feedback.pdf

PurposeTumor voxel dose–response matrix (DRM) can be quantified using feedback from serial FDG-PET/CT imaging acquired during radiotherapy. This study investigated the dynamic characteristics and the predictive capability of DRM.MethodsFDG-PET/CT images were acquired before and weekly during standard chemoradiotherapy with the treatment dose 2 Gy × 35 from 31 head and neck cancer patients. For each patient, deformable image registration was performed between the pretreatment/baseline PET/CT image and each weekly PET/CT image. Tumor voxel DRM was derived using linear regression on the logarithm of the weekly standard uptake value (SUV) ratios for each tumor voxel, such as SUV measured at a dose level normalized to the baseline SUV0. The dynamic characteristics were evaluated by comparing the DRMi estimated using a single feedback image acquired at the ith treatment week (i = 1, 2, 3, or 4) to the DRM estimated using the last feedback image for each patient. The predictive capability of the DRM estimated using 1 or 2 feedback images was evaluated using the receiver operating characteristic test with respect to the treatment outcome of tumor local–regional control or failure.ResultsThe mean ± SD of tumor voxel SUV measured at the pretreatment and the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and last treatment weeks was 6.76 ± 3.69, 5.72 ± 3.43, 3.85 ± 2.22, 3.27 ± 2.25, 2.5 ± 1.79, and 2.23 ± 1.27, respectively. The deviations between the DRMi estimated using the single feedback image obtained at the ith week and the last feedback image were 0.86 ± 4.87, −0.06 ± 0.3, −0.09 ± 0.17, and −0.09 ± 0.12 for DRM1, DRM2, DRM3, and DRM4, respectively. The predictive capability of DRM3 and DRM4 was significant (p ConclusionTumor voxel metabolic activity measured using FDG-PET/CT fluctuated noticeably during the first 2 treatment weeks and obtained a stabilized reduction rate thereafter. Tumor voxel DRM constructed using a single FDG-PET/CT feedback image after the 2nd treatment week (>20 Gy) has a good predictive capability. The predictive capability improved continuously using a later feedback image and marginally improved when two feedback images were applied.</p

Ultrasensitive Fiber Enhanced UV Resonance Raman Sensing of Drugs

Fiber enhanced UV resonance Raman spectroscopy is introduced for chemical selective and ultrasensitive analysis of drugs in aqueous media. The application of hollow-core optical fibers provides a miniaturized sample container for analyte flow and efficient light-guiding, thus leading to strong light–analyte interactions and highly improved analytical sensitivity with the lowest sample demand. The Raman signals of the important antimalaria drugs chloroquine and mefloquine were strongly enhanced utilizing deep UV and electronic resonant excitation augmented by fiber enhancement. An experimental design was developed and realized for reproducible and quantitative Raman fiber sensing, thus the enhanced Raman signals of the pharmaceuticals show excellent linear relationship with sample concentration. A thorough model accounts for the different effects on signal performance in resonance Raman fiber sensing, and conclusions are drawn how to improve fiber enhanced Raman spectroscopy (FERS) for chemical selective analysis with picomolar sensitivity

sj-docx-1-hhc-10.1177_10848223221140502 – Supplemental material for Did Minimum Wage Policy Changes Impact Home Health Workforce?

Supplemental material, sj-docx-1-hhc-10.1177_10848223221140502 for Did Minimum Wage Policy Changes Impact Home Health Workforce? by Di Yan, Helena Temkin-Greener, Ronni Pavan, Hao Yu and Shubing Cai in Home Health Care Management & Practice</p

Fiber-Enhanced Raman Multigas Spectroscopy: A Versatile Tool for Environmental Gas Sensing and Breath Analysis

Versatile multigas analysis bears high potential for environmental sensing of climate relevant gases and noninvasive early stage diagnosis of disease states in human breath. In this contribution, a fiber-enhanced Raman spectroscopic (FERS) analysis of a suite of climate relevant atmospheric gases is presented, which allowed for reliable quantification of CH₄, CO₂, and N₂O alongside N₂ and O₂ with just one single measurement. A highly improved analytical sensitivity was achieved, down to a sub-parts per million limit of detection with a high dynamic range of 6 orders of magnitude and within a second measurement time. The high potential of FERS for the detection of disease markers was demonstrated with the analysis of 27 nL of exhaled human breath. The natural isotopes ¹³CO₂ and ¹⁴N¹⁵N were quantified at low levels, simultaneously with the major breath components N₂, O₂, and ¹²CO₂. The natural abundances of ¹³CO₂ and ¹⁴N¹⁵N were experimentally quantified in very good agreement to theoretical values. A fiber adapter assembly and gas filling setup was designed for rapid and automated analysis of multigas compositions and their fluctuations within seconds and without the need for optical readjustment of the sensor arrangement. On the basis of the abilities of such miniaturized FERS system, we expect high potential for the diagnosis of clinically administered ¹³C-labeled CO₂ in human breath and also foresee high impact for disease detection via biologically vital nitrogen compounds

Frequency and Management of Sleep Disturbance in Adults with Atopic Dermatitis: A Systematic Review

<p><b>Article full text</b></p> <p><br></p> <p>The full text of this article can be found here<b>. </b><a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13555-017-0192-3">https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13555-017-0192-3</a></p><p></p> <p><br></p> <p><b>Provide enhanced content for this article</b></p> <p><br></p> <p>If you are an author of this publication and would like to provide additional enhanced content for your article then please contact <a href="http://www.medengine.com/Redeem/”mailto:[email protected]”"><b>[email protected]</b></a>.</p> <p><br></p> <p>The journal offers a range of additional features designed to increase visibility and readership. All features will be thoroughly peer reviewed to ensure the content is of the highest scientific standard and all features are marked as ‘peer reviewed’ to ensure readers are aware that the content has been reviewed to the same level as the articles they are being presented alongside. Moreover, all sponsorship and disclosure information is included to provide complete transparency and adherence to good publication practices. This ensures that however the content is reached the reader has a full understanding of its origin. No fees are charged for hosting additional open access content.</p> <p><br></p> <p>Other enhanced features include, but are not limited to:</p> <p><br></p> <p>• Slide decks</p> <p>• Videos and animations</p> <p>• Audio abstracts</p> <p>• Audio slides</p

Guselkumab for the Treatment of Psoriasis: A Review of Phase III Trials

<p><b>Article full text</b></p> <p><br></p> <p>The full text of this article can be found here<b>. </b><a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13555-017-0187-0">https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13555-017-0187-0</a></p><p></p> <p><br></p> <p><b>Provide enhanced content for this article</b></p> <p><br></p> <p>If you are an author of this publication and would like to provide additional enhanced content for your article then please contact <a href="http://www.medengine.com/Redeem/”mailto:[email protected]”"><b>[email protected]</b></a>.</p> <p><br></p> <p>The journal offers a range of additional features designed to increase visibility and readership. All features will be thoroughly peer reviewed to ensure the content is of the highest scientific standard and all features are marked as ‘peer reviewed’ to ensure readers are aware that the content has been reviewed to the same level as the articles they are being presented alongside. Moreover, all sponsorship and disclosure information is included to provide complete transparency and adherence to good publication practices. This ensures that however the content is reached the reader has a full understanding of its origin. No fees are charged for hosting additional open access content.</p> <p><br></p> <p>Other enhanced features include, but are not limited to:</p> <p><br></p> <p>• Slide decks</p> <p>• Videos and animations</p> <p>• Audio abstracts</p> <p>• Audio slides</p

Tryptophan Promotes Intestinal Immune Defense through Calcium-Sensing Receptor (CaSR)-Dependent Metabolic Pathways

The gastrointestinal tract forms a robust line of defense against invading pathogens through the production of endogenous antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), which are crucial molecules of the innate defense system. Tryptophan could modulate intestinal immunity through promoting the expression of AMPs. However, the precise mechanism needs to be further clarified. In this study, we show that treatment with tryptophan for 24 h triggers (p < 0.05) the expression of porcine β-defensin (pBD) 1 (62.67 ± 3.10 pg/mL) and pBD2 (74.41 ± 1.33 pg/mL) in the porcine intestinal epithelial cells (IPEC-J2) though calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR)-tryptophan metabolic pathways. Meanwhile, tryptophan alleviates (p < 0.05) intestinal inflammation induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) through induction of the defensins and activation of the CaSR-AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) pathways in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, the activation of CaSR induces the expression of defensins and decreases the levels of IL-1β (75.26 ± 2.74 pg/mL) and TNF-α (449.8 ± 23.31 pg/mL) induced by LPS (p < 0.05). Importantly, tryptophan maintains kynurenine homeostasis through the activation of CaSR during the inflammatory response. To that end, the work identifies a regulatory circuit between CaSR signaling and tryptophan metabolic pathways involved in the tryptophan-trigged AMP expression, which contributes to improving intestinal immune defense

Additional file 1 of Developing an accurate model of spot-scanning treatment delivery time and sequence for a compact superconducting synchrocyclotron proton therapy system

Additional file 1. An intuitive example of the spot delivery sequence based on the iterative layer delivery algorithm. Fig. s1. The control interface of the IBA ProteusONE in Beaumont Proton Therapy Center to predict the BDT. Fig. s2. A morning machine look-up table reflects the relationship between uncertainty and VDee. Table s1. Energy layer switching experiment design. Fig. s3. The relationship of ion numbers per MU. Table s2. Spot scanning diagonal speed experiment design. Fig. s4. A morning machine look-up table reflects the relationship between mean charge per pulse and VDee. Table s3. Burst percentage and efficiency test for different gantry angle. Fig. s5. An example of the log file package from the IBA ProteusONE. Fig. s6. The proton system records the radiation delivery information in the csv file. Fig. s7. The command file size reflects the number of pulse and spot to be delivered in next burst. Fig. s8. Two-field SFUD plans were generated in TPS. Table s4. The normalization coefficient of ten treatment fields. Table s5. The diagonal switching time experiment result. Fig. s9. The record log file size. Fig. s10. The command file size. Table s6. Deviation comparison with log files. Fig. s11. DVH band curve of interplay effect. Fig. s12. The model prediction time compared to the actual irradiation time. Fig. s13. Time component changes. Fig. s14 Total BDT changes

Visible to Short-Wave Infrared Photodetectors Based on ZrGeTe₄ van der Waals Materials

The self-terminated, layered structure of van der Waals materials introduces fundamental advantages for infrared (IR) optoelectronic devices. These are mainly associated with the potential for low noise while maintaining high internal quantum efficiency when reducing IR absorber thicknesses. In this study, we introduce a new van der Waals material candidate, zirconium germanium telluride (ZrGeTe4), to a growing family of promising IR van der Waals materials. We find the bulk form ZrGeTe4 has an indirect band edge around ∼0.5 eV, in close agreement with previous theoretical predictions. This material is found to be stable up to 140 °C and shows minimal compositional variation even after >30 days storage in humid air. We demonstrate simple proof-of-concept broad spectrum photodetectors with responsivities above 0.1 AW–1 across both the visible and short-wave infrared wavelengths. This corresponds to a specific detectivity of ∼109 cm Hz1/2 W–1 at λ = 1.4 μm at room temperature. These devices show a linear photoresponse vs illumination intensity relationship over ∼4 orders of magnitude, and fast rise/fall times of ∼50 ns, also verified by a 3 dB roll-off frequency of 5.9 MHz. As the first demonstration of photodetection using ZrGeTe4, these characteristics measured on a simple proof-of-concept device show the exciting potential of the ZrGeTe4 for room temperature IR optoelectronic applications

Data_Sheet_1_Maternal choices and preferences for screening strategies of gestational diabetes mellitus: A exploratory study using discrete choice experiment.docx

AimsThis study aimed to investigate maternal preferences for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) screening options in rural China to identify an optimal GDM screening strategy.MethodsPregnant women at 24–28 gestational weeks were recruited from Shandong province, China. A discrete choice experiment (DCE) was conducted to elicit pregnant women's preferences for GDM screening strategy defined by five attributes: number of blood draws, out-of-pocket costs, screening waiting-time, number of hospital visits, and positive diagnosis rate. A mixed logistic model was employed to quantify maternal preferences, and to estimate the relative importance of included attributes in determining pregnant women's preferences for two routinely applied screening strategies (“one-step”: 75 g oral glucose tolerance test [OGTT] and “two-step”: 50 g glucose challenge-test plus 75 g OGTT). Preference heterogeneity was also investigated.ResultsN = 287 participants completed the DCE survey. All five predefined attributes were associated with pregnant women's preferences. Diagnostic rate was the most influential attribute (17.5 vs. 8.0%, OR: 2.89; 95%CI: 2.10 to 3.96). When changes of the attributes of “two-step” to “one-step” strategies, women's uptake probability from full “two-step” to “one-step” significantly increased with 71.3% (95%CI: 52.2 to 90.1%), but no significant difference with the first step of “two-step” (−31.0%, 95%CI: −70.2 to 8.1%).ConclusionChinese pregnant women preferred the “one-step” screening strategy to the full “two-step” strategy, but were indifferent between “one-step” and the first step of “two-step” strategies.</p