Study of linear energy transfer effect on rib fracture in breast patients receiving pencil-beam-scanning proton therapy

Purpose: To study the effect of proton linear energy transfer (LET) on rib fracture in breast cancer patients treated with pencil-beam scanning proton therapy (PBS) using a novel tool of dose-LET volume histogram (DLVH). Methods: From a prospective registry of patients treated with post-mastectomy proton therapy to the chest wall and regional lymph nodes for breast cancer between 2015 and 2020, we retrospectively identified rib fracture cases detected after completing treatment. Contemporaneously treated control patients that did not develop rib fracture were matched to patients 2:1 considering prescription dose, boost location, reconstruction status, laterality, chest wall thickness, and treatment year. The DLVH index, V(d, l), defined as volume(V) of the structure with at least dose(d) and LET(l), was calculated. DLVH plots between the fracture and control group were compared. Conditional logistic regression (CLR) model was used to establish the relation of V(d, l) and the observed fracture at each combination of d and l. The p-value derived from CLR model shows the statistical difference between fracture patients and the matched control group. Using the 2D p-value map, the DLVH features associated with the patient outcomes were extracted. Results: Seven rib fracture patients were identified, and fourteen matched patients were selected for the control group. The median time from the completion of proton therapy to rib fracture diagnosis was 12 months (range 5 to 14 months). Two patients had grade 2 symptomatic rib fracture while the remaining 5 were grade 1 incidentally detected on imaging. The derived p-value map demonstrated larger V(0-36 Gy[RBE], 4.0-5.0 keV/um) in patients experiencing fracture (p<0.1). Conclusions: In breast cancer patients receiving PBS, a larger volume of chest wall receiving moderate dose and high LET may result in increased risk of rib fracture.Comment: 1 Table and 3 Figure

A shortest-path-based topology control algorithm in wireless multihop networks

In this paper, we present a shortest-path-based algorithm, called local shortest path(LSP), for topology control in wireless multihop networks. In this algorithm, each node locally computes the shortest paths connecting itself to nearby nodes based on some link weight function, and then it selects all the second nodes on the shortest paths as its logical neighbors in the final topology. Any energy model can be employed in LSP to design the link weight function whose value represents the power consumption required in the transmission along a link. We analytically prove that such a simple algorithm maintains network connectivity and guarantees that the minimal energy path between any two nodes is preserved in the final topology. Simulation results show that LSP can reduce the energy consumption, especially in heterogenous networks

Music Game to Teach STEM Concept

There are many important STEM concepts introduced during elementary education. - However, traditional approaches to this instruction are not always understood and embraced by students. In this study, our IQP team developed a software-based music game for pre-teens to help teach STEM concepts informally based on a review of the current literature on informal learning, educational games, and STEM education. After the prototype was completed, our team did the survey to test users and get some feedback: in general, its potential to be an informal learning mechanism, and the participants’ level of engagement in the activity. From this, we conducted an analysis of the data and made several recommendations for future research

Scientific connotation of “treating different diseases with the same method” from the perspective of metabolic–immune dysregulation in inflammation-mediated carcinogenesis of digestive organs

Inflammation-mediated carcinogenesis develops in the context of chronic inflammation and is a significant cause of cancer within the digestive system. In the chronic inflammation microenvironment, the metabolic activity of tissue cells undergoes extensive changes, which interfere with the normal function of immune cells. Dysregulation of cell metabolism and immune function has been identified as a key factor contributing to inflammation-mediated carcinogenesis within the major digestive organs, such as the stomach, liver, and colorectum. This metabolic–immune imbalance also corresponds to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) theories of “yin-yang disharmony” and “disharmony between Ying-nutrients and Wei-defense.” The metabolic–immune imbalance has also been regarded as the key factor supporting “treatment of different diseases with the same method,” in which the same approach is adopted in the treatment of different conditions. In the TCM treatment process, it is necessary to first identify TCM patterns and then apply the corresponding TCM to correct the dysregulated metabolic and immune function, thereby blocking the progression from inflammation to malignancy. Our study findings deepen the TCM understanding of metabolic–immune dysregulation and the relationship between metabolic–immune dysregulation, pattern identification, and treatment method. They also provide new insights for the treatment of inflammation-mediated carcinogenesis in major digestive organs and help us further explore the scientific connotation of the TCM strategy of “treating different diseases with the same method

A pH-responsive PVDF membrane with superwetting properties for the separation of oil and water

Responsive materials with surfaces that have controllable oil wettability under water offer considerable potential in advanced applications. We have developed an economical and convenient method for constructing a superwetting polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membrane, giving super-hydrophobicity under oil and super-oleophobicity under water. The membrane has been achieved by incorporating pH-responsive N, N-dimethylaminoethylmethacrylate (DMAEMA) hydrogels into PVDF using a combination of in situ polymerization and conventional phase separation. In pure or acidic water the poly-DMAEMA chains modify wettability by the protonation or deprotonation of their tertiary amine side-groups, affecting the wettability of the membrane under water. In addition, this responsive membrane has been utilized for the separation of surfactant-stabilized water-in-oil and oil-in-water emulsions. High flux and separation efficiency can be obtained, together with excellent antifouling properties, suggesting that the membranes will find wide application in the separation of oil and water systems

Deep 16S rRNA pyrosequencing reveals a bacterial community associated with Banana Fusarium Wilt disease suppression induced by bio-organic fertilizer application.

Our previous work demonstrated that application of a bio-organic fertilizer (BIO) to a banana mono-culture orchard with serious Fusarium wilt disease effectively decreased the number of soil Fusarium sp. and controlled the soil-borne disease. Because bacteria are an abundant and diverse group of soil organisms that responds to soil health, deep 16 S rRNA pyrosequencing was employed to characterize the composition of the bacterial community to investigate how it responded to BIO or the application of other common composts and to explore the potential correlation between bacterial community, BIO application and Fusarium wilt disease suppression. After basal quality control, 137,646 sequences and 9,388 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were obtained from the 15 soil samples. Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Gemmatimonadetes and Actinobacteria were the most frequent phyla and comprised up to 75.3% of the total sequences. Compared to the other soil samples, BIO-treated soil revealed higher abundances of Gemmatimonadetes and Acidobacteria, while Bacteroidetes were found in lower abundance. Meanwhile, on genus level, higher abundances compared to other treatments were observed for Gemmatimonas and Gp4. Correlation and redundancy analysis showed that the abundance of Gemmatimonas and Sphingomonas and the soil total nitrogen and ammonium nitrogen content were higher after BIO application, and they were all positively correlated with disease suppression. Cumulatively, the reduced Fusarium wilt disease incidence that was seen after BIO was applied for 1-year might be attributed to the general suppression based on a shift within the bacteria soil community, including specific enrichment of Gemmatimonas and Sphingomonas

Enhanced Temperature Stratification with Deflectors Laid within the Horizontal Water Storage Tank

In the passive solar water heater, temperature stratification is a valuable thermodynamic parameter for horizontal water storage tanks. This investigation aims to optimize the deflector and numerically study the effects of various deflector lengths and materials on temperature stratification of a horizontal water storage tank during natural convection. Firstly, comparative thermal performances of the tanks with various deflector lengths are studied through a computational fluid dynamics solver. The cases are: 100 mm, 200 mm, and 300 mm long deflectors. It is found for the tank with 300 mm long deflector, Stratification number is increased by 3.49% and 32.96% compared to the tank with 100 mm long deflector or 200 mm long deflector, respectively. The 100 mm long deflector or 300 mm long deflector has a negative effect on the thermal efficiency. Secondly, the temperature stratification of the tanks with various deflector materials are investigated. The materials are Aerogel, Polymethyl methacrylate, and Stainless steel. It is found that among the tanks with various deflector materials, the tank with an Aerogel deflector has the best temperature stratification. In summary, the tank with a 300 mm long Aerogel deflector is the good structure optimization and is beneficial to strengthen temperature stratification of a horizontal water storage tank