Prospective Applications Research Articles

Cardiac substructure delineation in radiation therapy - A state-of-the-art review.

Delineation of cardiac substructures is crucial for a better understanding of radiation-related cardiotoxicities and to facilitate accurate and precise cardiac dose calculation for developing and applying risk models. This review examines recent advancements in cardiac substructure delineation in the radiation therapy (RT) context, aiming to provide a comprehensive overview of the current level of knowledge, challenges and future directions in this evolving field. Imaging used for RT planning presents challenges in reliably visualising cardiac anatomy. Although cardiac atlases and contouring guidelines aid in standardisation and reduction of variability, significant uncertainties remain in defining cardiac anatomy. Coupled with the inherent complexity of the heart, this necessitates auto-contouring for consistent large-scale data analysis and improved efficiency in prospective applications. Auto-contouring models, developed primarily for breast and lung cancer RT, have demonstrated performance comparable to manual contouring, marking a significant milestone in the evolution of cardiac delineation practices. Nevertheless, several key concerns require further investigation. There is an unmet need for expanding cardiac auto-contouring models to encompass a broader range of cancer sites. A shift in focus is needed from ensuring accuracy to enhancing the robustness and accessibility of auto-contouring models. Addressing these challenges is paramount for the integration of cardiac substructure delineation and associated risk models into routine clinical practice, thereby improving the safety of RT for future cancer patients.

MicroRNAs and angiosarcoma: are there promising reports?

In recent years, microRNAs (miRNAs) have garnered increasing attention for their potential implications in cancer pathogenesis, functioning either as oncogenes or tumor suppressors. Notably, angiosarcoma, along with various other cardiovascular tumors such as lipomas, rhabdomyomas, hemangiomas, and myxomas, has shown variations in the expression of specific miRNA subtypes. A substantial body of evidence underscores the pivotal involvement of miRNAs in the genesis of angiosarcoma and certain cardiovascular tumors. This review aims to delve into the current literature on miRNAs and their prospective applications in cardiovascular malignancies, with a specific focus on angiosarcoma. It comprehensively covers diagnostic methods, prognostic evaluations, and potential treatments while providing a recapitulation of angiosarcoma’s risk factors and molecular pathogenesis, with an emphasis on the role of miRNAs. These insights can serve as the groundwork for designing randomized control trials, ultimately facilitating the translation of these findings into clinical applications. Moving forward, it is imperative for studies to thoroughly scrutinize the advantages and disadvantages of miRNAs compared to current diagnostic and prognostic approaches in angiosarcoma and other cardiovascular tumors. Closing these knowledge gaps will be crucial for harnessing the full potential of miRNAs in the realm of angiosarcoma and cardiovascular tumor research.

Revolutionizing rheumatoid arthritis therapy: harnessing cytomembrane biomimetic nanoparticles for novel treatment strategies.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic immune disease with severe implications for joint health. The issue of non-specific drug distribution potentially limits the therapeutic efficacy and increases the risk associated with RA treatment. Researchers employed cytomembrane-coated biomimetic nanoparticles (NPs) to enhance the targeting delivery efficacy to meet the demand for drug accumulation within the affected joints. Furthermore, distinct cytomembranes offer unique functionalities, such as immune cell activation and augmented NP biocompatibility. In this review, the current strategies of RA treatments were summarized in detail, and then an overview of RA's pathogenesis and the methodologies for producing cytomembrane-coated biomimetic NPs was provided. The application of cytomembrane biomimetic NPs derived from various cell sources in RA therapy is explored, highlighting the distinctive attributes of individual cytomembranes as well as hybrid membrane configurations. Through this comprehensive assessment of cytomembrane biomimetic NPs, we elucidate the prospective applications and challenges in the realm of RA therapy, and the strategy of combined therapy is proposed. In the future, cytomembrane biomimetic NPs have a broad therapeutic prospect for RA.

Anti-scattering propagation in multiple-bend valley phononic crystals

Abstract Valley topological phononic crystals have attracted wide attention due to the topological properties of their edge states. In general, valley interface states can exist in the interfaces that are constructed by opposite valley topological phases. Here we study the anti-scattering propagation properties of edge states in a single valley phononic crystal. We present that the edge states can exist in different boundary terminations with different band dispersions. The boundary transport behaviors of acoustic waves along the two designed phononic crystals are demonstrated numerically. The results show that the chiral edge states are immune against additional scatterers that preserve the valley pseudospins, but the backscattering can happen when intervalley scattering is included. Nevertheless, the anti-scattering propagation in complex multiple-bend structures can be realized by the smooth transition between the edge states and the valley interface states. Similar to the designed frequency-selective device, more prospective applications can be anticipated in the manipulation of acoustic wave propagation.

Biomechanics of Macrophages on Disordered Surface Nanotopography.

Macrophages are involved in every stage of the innate/inflammatory immune responses in the body tissues, including the resolution of the reaction, and they do so in close collaboration with the extracellular matrix (ECM). Simplified substrates with nanotopographical features attempt to mimic the structural properties of the ECM to clarify the functional features of the interaction of the ECM with macrophages. We still have a limited understanding of the macrophage behavior upon interaction with disordered nanotopography, especially with features smaller than 10 nm. Here, we combine atomic force microscopy (AFM), finite element modeling (FEM), and quantitative biochemical approaches in order to understand the mechanotransduction from the nanostructured surface into cellular responses. AFM experiments show a decrease of macrophage stiffness, measured with the Young's modulus, as a biomechanical response to a nanostructured (ns-) ZrOx surface. FEM experiments suggest that ZrOx surfaces with increasing roughness represent weaker mechanical boundary conditions. The mechanical cues from the substrate are transduced into the cell through the formation of integrin-regulated focal adhesions and cytoskeletal reorganization, which, in turn, modulate cell biomechanics by downregulating cell stiffness. Surface nanotopography and consequent biomechanical response impact the overall behavior of macrophages by increasing movement and phagocytic ability without significantly influencing their inflammatory behavior. Our study suggests a strong potential of surface nanotopography for the regulation of macrophage functions, which implies a prospective application relative to coating technology for biomedical devices.

Dynamic phase-differencing profilometry with number-theoretical phase unwrapping and interleaved projection

High-speed 3D measurement is receiving increasing attention. However, simultaneously achieving high computational efficiency, algorithmic robustness, and reconstructing ratio is challenging. Therefore, a dynamic phase-differencing profilometry (DPDP) is proposed. By capturing the minimum three phase-shifting sinusoidal deformed patterns and establishing a brand-new model, the phase difference between the object on the reference plane and the reference plane is directly resolved to effectively improve computational efficiency. Although it is wrapped, by using only two auxiliary complementary gratings with a purposely designed lower frequency, a DPDP-based number-theoretical temporal phase unwrapping (NT-TPU) algorithm is also proposed to unwrap the wrapped phase difference rather than the phase itself with high robustness. Furthermore, compared to existing PSP-based NT-TPU, the proposed NT-TPU can normally work under more relaxed restrictions. In order to accomplish a high reconstructing ratio, a pentabasic interleaved projection (PIP) strategy based on time division multiplexing is proposed. It can improve the reconstructing ratio from one reconstruction per every five patterns to an equivalent of one reconstruction per every 1.67 patterns. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method achieves high computational efficiency, high algorithmic robustness, and high reconstructing ratio simultaneously and has prospective application in high-speed 3D measurement.

Unveiling the power of word-of-mouth in pre-recruitment employer branding strategy during COVID-19

PurposeThis study, based on signaling theory, examines the pre-recruitment employer branding strategy during the COVID-19 pandemic. It investigates the relationship between spontaneous word-of-mouth (WOM) recommendations for companies and prospective candidates' job application intentions. Specifically, the study explores serial mechanisms mediating the characteristics of company online career pages, including the perceived informativeness of online job advertisements (ads), candidates' preferences for its web approach to them and the company’s reputation.Design/methodology/approachReflecting prospective candidates from students and young alumni of universities, partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was employed on a sample of 737 individuals representing various fields of study from Greek universities.FindingsThe findings highlight the effectiveness of positive WOM recommendations during the initial stages of recruitment, particularly amidst COVID-19 challenges in the labor market, notably impacting young candidates. The study suggests that spontaneous WOM, originating from trustful sources, motivates job seekers to actively engage with the company’s web career channels, seeking information and favorable indications of the company’s approach toward its candidates. Positive WOM, combined with informative content and a friendly communication style, plays a critical role in shaping the company’s reputation. Consequently, this encouragement motivates individuals to start their job search efforts and consider applying for positions within the specific organization.Practical implicationsThis research provides valuable empirical evidence in the pre-recruitment field, particularly in unforeseen crisis circumstances such as the COVID-19 pandemic. It examines how spontaneous, positive WOM from sources, like peers and alumni, significantly influences young job seekers' perceptions and preferences regarding the company’s career web channels as sources of information and signals about working conditions. The combination of positive WOM with informative content and a friendly communication style in the web approach plays a crucial role in shaping a positive company reputation. Consequently, this encourages candidates to consider applying for positions within the company.Originality/valueThis research contributes to pre-recruitment studies, especially amidst crises like COVID-19. It examines how positive WOM from trusted sources like peers and alma mater alumni influences young job seekers' views on the company’s career web channels. By emphasizing the importance of combining positive WOM with informative web content and a friendly communication style, the study offers insights into effective recruitment strategies. It highlights the significance of positive and spontaneous WOM in attracting young talent and its impact on job seekers' decision-making, even in uncertain conditions. Overall, it advances recruitment practices for attracting candidates.

Comprehensive analysis of the phase stability, optoelectronic, mechanical, thermodynamic, and vibrational properties for prospective optoelectronic applications of novel combinations of chalcogenides XScTe2 (X = Li, Rb) by employing density functional theory

Comprehensive analysis of the phase stability, optoelectronic, mechanical, thermodynamic, and vibrational properties for prospective optoelectronic applications of novel combinations of chalcogenides XScTe2 (X = Li, Rb) by employing density functional theory

An evaluation of burn fellowship program websites' presence and content.

Fellowship program websites pertaining to various subspecialties have been evaluated according to the amount and type of content they communicate to prospective applicants. This study aimed to evaluate what information specifically burn fellowship programs communicate through their websites and to what extent, if at all. Ten of the 30 unique burn fellowship programs, American Burn Association (ABA)-verified or otherwise, identified through the ABA website did not have official websites which could be readily located at time of data collection. Thus, twenty burn fellowship program websites were included in analysis. Burn fellowship program websites were assessed according to 23 criteria relating to recruitment, education, and social life. On average, each website contained an average of 8.5 ± 2.6 criteria (range, 2 - 13), with all of them listing a program contact email/phone, and 95% containing a program description. Only 35% of programs listed the faculty, and a single program advertised alumni job placement. Neither total number of fellows, total number of clinical faculty, nor Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education accreditation status were significantly associated with amount or type of content. Geographic region was associated with a significant difference in amount of education-related content. Fellowship program websites are important to prospective applicants when comparing programs and deciding where to apply. These results show where burn fellowship programs can increase the amount of publicly-available information that applicants tend to find helpful in order to hopefully both diversify and tailor their applicant pool to those whose goals align with the programs'.

Human Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Colonize and Promote Healing of Leprosy Ulcer by Inducing Neuro-Vascularization.

Leprosy ulcer is a chronic and recurrent disease resulting from nerve injury. While existing treatments partially facilitate ulcer healing, they exhibit limited ability to address localized nerve repair, leading to a risk of recurrence. Moreover, there is a dearth of animal models to evaluate the preclinical efficacy and safety of novel therapeutic approaches. Over the years, adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells have been extensively employed in regenerative medicine as an optimal cell therapy source for fostering skin ulcer healing. They have also demonstrated the capacity to enhance nerve regeneration in in vitro experiments and clinical trials. In this study, we established a NU/NU mouse foot pad leprosy ulcer model, transplanted human adipose-derived stem cells (hADSCs) into leprosy ulcers via local injection, and conducted subsequent follow-up. Our findings revealed that hADSCs persisted in the leprosy ulcer and facilitated the healing process. In this respect, gross observation and histological analysis revealed increased granular formation, collagen synthesis, and re-epithelialization in the local ulcer area. RNA-Seq data revealed that the upregulated differential genes resulting from the transplantation intervention were not only enriched in pathways related to re-epithelialization and collagen synthesis but also contributed to local nerve regeneration. Furthermore, immunofluorescence assays revealed the increased expression of angiogenesis markers-CD31 and VEGFa, cell proliferation markers-Ki67 and TGF-β, and nerve regeneration markers-β3-tubulin, SOX10, NGF, and NT-3. These results underscore the potential of hADSCs in promoting the healing of leprosy ulcers and offer valuable preclinical data for their prospective clinical application.

Predictors of Plastic Surgery Applicant Success: An Analysis of the Texas STAR Database.

Integrated plastic surgery residency is one of the most competitive medical specialties. Although previous studies have surveyed integrated plastic surgery residency program directors regarding desired applicant characteristics, there is a paucity of literature assessing detailed application characteristics and reported match outcomes from applicants in recent application cycles. This study examines application characteristics associated with matching into integrated plastic surgery residency from 2017 to 2023. The authors accessed the Texas Seeking Transparency in Application to Residency database, which contains survey information from graduating medical students nationwide regarding residency application characteristics and specialties/programs to which applications were submitted. Characteristics of matched versus unmatched applicants between 2017 and 2023 were compared using χ2 and 2-sided, independent t tests. Univariate logistic regression models were used to assess predictors of a successful match. A total of 381 integrated plastic surgery residency applicants responded to the Texas Seeking Transparency in Application to Residency survey from 2017 to 2023. Mean United States Medical Licensing Exam Step 2 CK scores; the number of away rotations, interview offers, and honored clerkships; and Alpha Omega Alpha membership rate were significantly associated with and predictive of matching. Preference signaling of programs was associated with an increased interview offer rate. Higher board examination scores, increasing numbers of honored clerkships, away rotations, and Alpha Omega Alpha membership were identified as statistically significant predictors of matching into integrated plastic surgery residency. Prospective applicants should use this information to help guide their efforts in these areas that appear to be associated with a successful transition to residency.

Neoantigen Identification and Dendritic Cell-Based Vaccines for Lung Cancer Immunotherapy

Neoantigen Identification and Dendritic Cell-Based Vaccines for Lung Cancer Immunotherapy

Montmorillonite-reinforced xanthan gum-based biomaterial enhances biomineralization suitable for bone tissue engineering

In the present study, we effectively constructed a biomaterial that consists of Xanthan gum, DEGDMA and montmorillonite infused as nanofillers for their prospective application in the restoration of bone. Utilizing FTIR, XRD, TGA, SEM, and numerous other techniques, each of the physicochemical features related to the synthesized biomaterial was characterized. The incorporation of montmorillonite was found to induce noticeable rheological characteristics. The fabricated biomaterial shows a more controlled release of drugs. The biocompatibility and the cytocompatibility of the synthesized biomaterial were demonstrated by the cellular attachment and growth of different secondary cell lines which remain active but do not produce enhanced ROS. An elevated ALP-activity, improved differentiation and increased mineralization by SaOS-2 cells on the developed biomaterial under an osteoinductive environment impart its capability for osteogenesis. This material can be used for delivering drugs and can serve as an affordable substrate for cellular activity. We claim that this material possesses the features suitable for bone tissue regeneration and restoration. We propose that the developed biomaterial has future implications in the biomedical sector at low cost.

Ag-modified enhance the performances of ZnO@CFs based omnidirectional photoelectrochemical ultraviolet detectors.

There are several prospective applications for omnidirectional ultraviolet (UV) detectors and underwater detection detectors in optical systems and optical fields. In this work, ZnO nanorods arrays were grown on carbon fibers (CFs). An appropriate amount of Ag nanoparticles (NPs) was deposited on the surface of ZnO nanorods by photochemical deposition. This improved the performance of photoelectrochemical (PEC) based UV detectors. Under 365 nm and 10 mW cm-2 UV irradiation, the photocurrent density of the 30s-Ag/ZnO@CFs based PEC UV detector can reach 1.28 mA cm-2, which is about 7 times that of the ZnO@CFs based PEC UV detector, and the rising time is shortened from 0.17 s to 0.10 s. The reason is that increased absorption of ultraviolet light induced by the localized surface plasmon resonance. In addition, the detector exhibits a good flexibility and remains flexible after hundreds of bends and twists. Moreover, the detector is responsive in the range of rotation angle from 0 to 360°. It provides an insight to improve the photoelectric performance and underwater omnidirectional detection ability of the PEC UV detector.

Effect of network modifiers on spectroscopic properties of Sm3+ ions doped gallium silicate glasses

In this work, the glass 42AO-7Nb2O5-21Ga2O3–29SiO2-1Sm2O3(A = Ca,Sr,Ba) are prepared by the conventional melt quenching technique. The effects of modifiers on the glass network structure and luminescence properties were investigated by XRD, Raman spectroscopy, spectrophotometry, and J-O theory, respectively. The J-O intensity parameters which were calculated though the absorption spectra were used to evaluate the laser parameters such as the radiative excursion probability of Sm3+ ions in different samples at each energy level, the emission cross section, the radiative lifetime, and the optical gain parameter. When BaO is used as a network modifier, the emission cross section is maximized at the 4G5/2 → 6H7/2 transition, with σem = 9.47 × 10−22 cm2. The experiments results reveal that altering the network modifier can effectively improves the laser emission performance of the samples, and the Sm3+ ions doped gallium silicate glasses has prospective applications in solid state orange lasers.

A thermodynamic theory coupling photo-chemo-mechano interactions for light-responsive hydrogel

Light-responsive hydrogel, as a typical functional hydrogel, is composed of crosslinked hydrophilic polymer chains, photosensitive molecules and water. Under illumination, the photosensitive molecules exhibit a transition in hydrophilic/ hydrophobic properties, leading to migration of water molecules and deformation of the hydrogel based on the temporal and spatial distribution of light. In this study, we propose a nonequilibrium thermodynamic framework to study the photo-chemo-mechano behaviors of light-responsive hydrogel. We firstly describe the light propagation in the hydrogel and the photochemical reaction kinetics. New free energy functions to expound the relationship between the photochemical reaction and thermodynamic process are established, and the constitutive equations are derived. Subsequently, we implant the model into a multi-field coupling analysis software, COMSOL, to conduct a spatio-temporal analysis of the hydrogel's response under uniform light exposure. Finally, we simulate the inhomogeneous deformation of light-responsive hydrogel strips under different illumination conditions and compare the results with experiments. The results highlight the importance of the photochemical reaction rate and the redistribution of light field caused by deformation. The present research holds potential for the precise manipulation and optimal design of light-responsive hydrogel in prospective applications, and offers insights for the synthesis of similar materials as well as the design of pertinent devices.

Development and Potential Implementation of Endometrial Cancer Screening in a Poor-Prognosis Endemic Cancer Community [ID 2683642

INTRODUCTION: Endometrial cancer incidence and mortality both are increasing in the United States. Certain patient populations are disproportionately affected by this disease. Currently, there is no recommendation from any professional society to screen high-risk patients for premalignancy or cancer. Our patient population is composed of predominantly Black women, a group that experiences worse endometrial cancer outcomes than other demographics. A risk assessment nomogram may be able to be developed using data from this unique patient population that can identify women at high risk of developing endometrial disease. METHODS: Endometrial pathology specimens collected at a large safety-net hospital between the years of 2013 and 2022 were analyzed. A retrospective chart review was performed on this data, looking for the patient characteristics of race, age, body mass index (BMI), parity, hemoglobin A1C level, and tamoxifen use history at the time of specimen collection. Odds ratios were calculated for those variables individually as well as collectively to determine whether they could be used to predict risk of endometrial disease in a woman with some of all those characteristics. RESULTS: The odds ratios for age, BMI, and parity were statistically significant between benign and abnormal pathologic specimens. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.76 when combining age, BMI, and parity. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that at-risk patients can be reliably identified using simple characteristics. Strengths of our study include a unique patient population and large database. Future directions include refinement of the model and prospective application in the clinical setting.

Floquet engineering of axion and high-Chern number phases in a topological insulator under illumination

Quantum anomalous Hall, high-Chern number, and axion phases in topological insulators are characterized by its Chern invariant C (respectively, C=1, integer C>1, and C=0 with half-quantized Hall conductance of opposite signs on top and bottom surfaces). They are of recent interest because of novel fundamental physics and prospective applications, but identifying and controlling these phases has been challenging in practice. Here we show that these states can be created and switched between in thin films of Bi_22Se_33 by Floquet engineering, using irradiation by circularly polarized light. We present the calculated phase diagrams of encountered topological phases in Bi_22Se_33, as a function of wavelength and amplitude of light, as well as sample thickness, after properly taking into account the penetration depth of light and the variation of the gap in the surface states. These findings open pathways towards energy-efficient optoelectronics, advanced sensing, quantum information processing and metrology.

Influence of temperature on performance and mechanism of advanced synergistic nitrogen removal in lab-scale denitrifying filter with biogenic manganese oxides

Temperature is a significant operational parameter of denitrifying filter (DF), which affects the microbial activity and the pollutants removal efficiency. This study investigated the influence of temperature on performance of advanced synergistic nitrogen removal (ASNR) of partial-denitrification anammox (PDA) and denitrification, consuming the hydrolytic and oxidation products of refractory organics in the actual secondary effluent (SE) as carbon source. When the test water temperature (TWT) was around 25, 20, 15 and 10 °C, the filtered effluent total nitrogen (TN) was 1.47, 1.70, 2.79 and 5.52 mg/L with the removal rate of 93.38%, 92.25%, 87.33% and 74.87%, and the effluent CODcr was 8.12, 8.45, 10.86 and 12.29 mg/L with the removal rate of 72.41%, 66.17%, 57.35% and 51.87%, respectively. The contribution rate of PDA to TN removal was 60.44%∼66.48%, and 0.77–0.96 mg chemical oxygen demand (CODcr) was actually consumed to remove 1 mg TN. The identified functional bacteria, such as anammox bacteria, manganese oxidizing bacteria (MnOB), hydrolytic bacteria and denitrifying bacteria, demonstrated that TN was removed by the ASNR, and the variation of the functional bacteria along the DF layer revealed the mechanism of the TWT affecting the efficiency of the ASNR. This technique presented a strong adaptability to the variation of the TWT, therefore, it has broad application prospect and superlative application value in advanced nitrogen removal of municipal wastewater.

Current Perspectives of Matrix Metalloproteinase 11 (MMP11) as a Diagnostic and Therapeutic Target for Cancer

Abstract: Matrix metalloproteinase 11 (MMP11), also known as stromelysin-3, is a member of the matrix metalloproteinases family of proteins that are involved in physiological and pathological extracellular matrix remodelling. MMP11 does not hydrolyse classical MMP substrates, such as laminin and fibronectin, and many of its substrates remain unknown, piquing the interest of researchers. Several studies have reported the role of MMP11 in inducing tumour growth by inhibiting apoptosis and promoting cancer cell migration and invasion. Various reports have shown its potential as a diagnostic and prognostic marker in a majority of cancers. MMP11 also induces an immune response as a tumour-associated antigen, and recent evidence shows the involvement of many microRNAs in targeting MMP11 in cancer, with prospective future applications in cancer immunotherapy and gene silencing. Owing to the importance of MMP11 in both cancer diagnosis and therapy, there is a need for deeper understanding of its mechanism and role in tumour progression. The current review focuses on the role of MMP11 in cell signalling pathways, its expression status in various cancers, and its potential in cancer treatment.