Publications by authors named "M J Staruch"
Xerostomia is a common radiation-associated toxicity in patients with head and neck cancer. Although several studies examined the decrease in saliva production due to radiotherapy (RT) and investigated the factors associated with this side effect, little is known about the change in radiation-associated saliva composition. This systematic review is the first to summarize existing data and give an overview of the change in pH/buffer capacity, electrolytes, proteins, enzymes, and mucins due to radiation to the salivary glands.
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- - Magnetoelectric (ME) magnetometers are gaining popularity due to their ultra-low-power consumption and compact size, with a detection capability in the picotesla range, suitable for monitoring magnetic signatures continuously.
- - Most current ME magnetic sensors utilize a resonant microelectromechanical system (MEMS) and the study focuses on optimizing this configuration by creating a new fixed-fixed resonant beam structure using low-stress materials like piezoelectric aluminum nitride and a novel iron-cobalt-hafnium alloy.
- - The developed MEMS resonators demonstrate a significant sensitivity of 125 Hz/mT and improved resistance to vibration, with discussions on their detection limits, noise sources, and potential design guidelines for future sensors.
Article Synopsis
- - Dilutely doped ferroelectric materials, like barium titanate (BTO), show unique behaviors when point defects are introduced, which can enhance properties like polarization and dielectric characteristics due to defect dipole formation.
- - In a study of BTO doped with 1.0% copper, iron, or cobalt, the copper-doped version demonstrated the highest levels of polarization and strain, attributed to copper's ability to form stable defect dipoles compared to the other metals.
- - The findings also revealed that grain size impacts properties such as transition temperature (T), with the copper-doped BTO achieving a higher T than undoped BTO due to its larger average grain size, highlighting its potential for improving material performance.
Article Synopsis
- This study aimed to identify factors that predict a good response to low-dose radiotherapy (LDRT) in patients suffering from greater trochanteric pain syndrome (GTPS).
- Patients received LDRT at doses of 0.5-1.0 Gy per fraction, and a good response was noted if there was significant pain relief after two months, assessed by the von Pannewitz score.
- Results showed that prior pain relief from steroid injections, receiving two series of LDRT, and not having structural abnormalities significantly increased the chances of a good response to the treatment.