bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Structural ordering at magnetic seeds with twins at boundaries of a core–shell alloy Mn60Bi40 and tailored magnetic properties
Authors: Sharma Sanjeev Kumar , Rangaswamy Prakash Haranahally , Pradhan Debabrata , Fecht Hans-Jörg , Ram Shanker
Published: June 2022

A spin Mn3d5-rich Mn60Bi40 alloy reveals a model system in order to tailor profound magnetic properties at unpaired 3d5 spins in such alloys of a core–shell structure. As annealed (at a critical temperature 573 K in H2 gas), a refined powder (in glycine) grows on α-MnBi seeds (crystallites) present in it at Mn/Bi atoms order over topological layers, preferentially along (110) planes, at a self-confined structure at seeds of an anisotropic shape of hexagonal (h) plates (25–85 nm widths). In terms of the HRTEM images, the atoms turn down at edges (at the plates grow up) in a spiral layer, ≤ 2.1 nm thickness, of small core–shells. A spin model is proposed to delineate a way at the spins can pin down at the edges, form single magnetic domains, and raise coercivity (H
c), with no much loss of net magnetic moment. The X-ray diffraction and HRTEM images corroborate the results of topological pacing of atoms at the h-plates at anneals. A novelty is that a core–shell leads to tailor a superb H
c, as much as 11.110 kOe (16.370 kOe at 350 K), with a fairly large magnetization, 76.5 emu g−1, at near 300 K. An enhanced Curie point 650.1 K (628 K at Mn50Bi50 alloy) confers a surplus 3d5-Mn spin sensitively tunes α-MnBi stoichiometry and so its final magnetic structure. A refined alloy powder so made is useful to make powerful magnets and devices in the forms of films and bonded magnets in different shapes for uses as small tools, tweezers, and other devices.
Flexibility and rigidity of free boundary MHD equilibria
Authors: Constantin Peter , Drivas Theodore D , Ginsberg Daniel
Published: June 2022

We study stationary free boundary configurations of an ideal incompressible magnetohydrodynamic fluid possessing nested flux surfaces. In 2D simply connected domains, we prove that if the magnetic field and velocity field are never commensurate, the only possible domain for any such equilibria is a disk, and the velocity and magnetic field are circular. We give examples of non-symmetric equilibria occupying a domain of any shape by imposing an external magnetic field generated by a singular current sheet charge distribution (external coils). Some results carry over to 3D axisymmetric solutions. These results highlight the importance of external magnetic fields for the existence of asymmetric equilibria.
The diatomic Hartree model at dissociation
Authors: Cazalis Jean
Published: June 2022

We study the Hartree model for two electrons with spin, living in the two-dimensional or three-dimensional space with Coulomb interactions and submitted to the potential induced by two nuclei of charge +1. In the limit where the nuclei move away from each other, we show that the two lowest eigenfunctions of the mean-field Hamiltonian are asymptotically given by an even, respectively odd, superposition of the minimiser associated with the corresponding Hartree one nucleus model. We then give upper and lower bounds on the exponentially small gap between the first two eigenvalues, due to (nonlinear) quantum tunneling.
Designing negative derivative feedback controller based on maximum damping and H
2 method
Authors: Jamshidi Rasa , Collette Christophe
Published: June 2022

In this paper, a straightforward procedure is presented for optimal design of negative derivative feedback (NDF) controller with maximum damping and

H
2

optimization method. NDF is a controller, which works as a band-pass filter, cutting off the control action far from the natural frequencies associated with the controlled modes and reducing spillover effect. Since it is a bandpass filter, it can effectively control the lower or higher frequency disturbances. It is also implementable on vibration mitigation applications with high performance. For this end, a simple one degree of freedom system is considered and afterward, the controller parameters are extracted dependent on closed loop damping. The

H
2

method is used to calculate the optimal value of closed loop damping. The effect of changing the controller parameters on the system response are evaluated and discussed in detail. Also, the control effort for various closed loop damping has been calculated and compared with performance index of controller. A detailed comparison between performance and control effort are also presented. The results show high impact of NDF controller on vibration mitigation and its applicability to employ on various systems.
Application of kernel ridge regression in predicting neutron-capture reaction cross-sections
Authors: Huang T X , Wu X H , Zhao P W
Published: June 2022

This article provides the first application of the machine-learning approach in the study of the cross-sections for neutron-capture reactions with the kernel ridge regression (KRR) approach. It is found that the KRR approach can reduce the root-mean-square (rms) deviation of the relative errors between the experimental data of the Maxwellian-averaged

(
n
,
γ
)

cross-sections and the corresponding theoretical predictions from 69.8% to 35.4%. By including the data with different temperatures in the training set, the rms deviation can be further significantly reduced to 2.0%. Moreover, the extrapolation performance of the KRR approach along different temperatures is found to be effective and reliable.
Continuous IPPP links for UTC
Authors: Petit G , Meynadier F , Harmegnies A , Parra C
Published: June 2022

The technique of precise point positioning with integer ambiguity resolution (IPPP) has been developed for many years and has been shown to significantly improve the long-term performance of time and frequency transfer with respect to other GNSS-based techniques. In this paper, we present results of GPS IPPP links over a period of 22 months for a dozen time laboratories participating to UTC. We show that continuous links, in which the continuity of the GPS phase measurements is preserved, can be maintained for periods exceeding one year and further extended if data from two receivers per station are available. We quantify the frequency transfer uncertainty of IPPP by comparison to optical links and show how IPPP could improve UTC links to below 1 × 10−16 relative frequency uncertainty over averaging times of up to one month, i.e. the characteristic period of UTC publication. Comparisons of primary and secondary frequency standards reported for TAI indicate that IPPP could somewhat improve the accuracy of TAI/UTC. Comparisons of IPPP to two-way time transfer techniques reveal very long-term ns-size instabilities which must be further studied. Use of IPPP for UTC links is possible only if integer GNSS satellite products become available with a short delay and we report on such experimental products. Finally, we discuss the practical implications of using IPPP link in UTC and describe how the necessary steps could be implemented.
Climate change and health in Kuwait: temperature and mortality projections under different climatic scenarios
Authors: Alahmad Barrak , Vicedo-Cabrera Ana Maria , Chen Kai , Garshick Eric , Bernstein Aaron S , Schwartz Joel , Koutrakis Petros
Published: June 2022

It is uncertain what climate change could bring to populations and countries in the hot desert environment of the Arabian Peninsula. Not only because they are already hot, countries in this region also have unique demographic profiles, with migrant populations potentially more vulnerable and constituting a large share of the population. In Kuwait, two-thirds of the population are migrant workers and record-high temperatures are already common. We quantified the temperature-related mortality burdens in Kuwait in the mid- (2050–2059) and end-century (2090–2099) decades under moderate (SSP2-4.5) and extreme (SSP5-8.5) climate change scenarios. We fitted time series distributed lag non-linear models to estimate the baseline temperature–mortality relationship which was then applied to future daily mean temperatures from the latest available climate models to estimate decadal temperature-mortality burdens under the two scenarios. By mid-century, the average temperature in Kuwait is predicted to increase by 1.80 °C (SSP2-4.5) to 2.57 °C (SSP5-8.5), compared to a 2000–2009 baseline. By the end of the century, we could see an increase of up to 5.54 °C. In a moderate scenario, climate change would increase heat-related mortality by 5.1% (95% empirical confidence intervals: 0.8, 9.3) by end-century, whereas an extreme scenario increases heat-related mortality by 11.7% (2.7, 19.0). Heat-related mortality for non-Kuwaiti migrant workers could increase by 15.1% (4.6, 22.8). For every 100 deaths in Kuwait, 13.6 (−3.6, 25.8) could be attributed to heat driven by climate change by the end of the century. Climate change induced warming, even under more optimistic mitigation scenarios, may markedly increase heat-related mortality in Kuwait. Those who are already vulnerable, like migrant workers, could borne a larger impact from climate change.
First-principle study of highly controllable boron-doped graphene (BC20) as a high-capacity anode for potassium-ion batteries
Authors: Wei Chuanming , Niu Xiaobin , Chen Haiyuan
Published: June 2022

Designing new anode materials with high performance is vital for the development of full-cell potassium-ion batteries (KIBs). Although boron-doped graphene (BDG) anodes have been widely studied for lithium- and sodium-ion batteries, there are few works considering BDG anodes with controllable doping concentration applied for KIBS. Herein, by first-principle calculations, we propose a novel BDG with controllable doping concentration as a promising anode material for KIBs. As a result, the chemisorption ability of the proposed BDG (BC20) for K is greatly enhanced in comparison with the pristine graphene, since the B dopants introduce electron-deficiency. Besides, the diffusion energy barrier of K on the surface of BC20 is as low as 0.19 eV, indicating high-rate performance. Noticeably, the maximum K storage capacity is 854 mAh g−1 with a low open circuit voltage (OCV) of 0.29 V. Moreover, the chemical window of OCV is in a low range without large variation, which is favorable for providing a large operating voltage. The results suggest that the presented BC20 is not only a promising anode candidate for KIBs; but also opens an avenue for designing novel BDG structures with controllable doping concentration applied to energy storage.
Hydroxyl radical dynamics in a gliding arc discharge using high-speed PLIF imaging
Authors: Wang Z , Stamatoglou P , Kong C , Gao J , Bao Y , Aldén M , Ehn A , Richter M
Published: June 2022

Plasma discharges can be transient and randomly distributed where a few investigations have been carried out using laser-induced fluorescence to capture snapshots of plasma-produced radicals in the near vicinity of the discharge. Radical distribution dynamics, however, are challenging to study in situ with high spatial and temporal resolution to fully capture the interactions between the discharge and the gas. We here demonstrate a planar laser-induced fluorescence method that can capture molecular distributions of ground state hydroxyl radicals in a discharge plasma and follow how the distribution develops in time with a repetition rate of 27 kHz. The technique is demonstrated by monitoring, in real-time, how the tube-like distribution of ground state OH radicals, surrounding a gliding arc plasma, is affected by flow dynamics and how it develops as the high voltage is turned off at atmospheric pressure. The method presented here is an essential tool for capturing radical-distribution dynamics in situ of chemically active environments which is the active region of the plasma induced chemistry.
Adaptive MOMEDA model based variational mode decomposition for Pelton wheel fault detection
Authors: Vashishtha Govind , Chauhan Sumika , Yadav Nitin , Kumar Anil , Kumar Rajesh
Published: June 2022

A critical step in fault diagnosis is determining the frequency of faults. Variational mode decomposition (VMD) is extensively employed for this purpose since it can describe the signal in the time-frequency domain. On the other hand, the VMD frequently fails to analyse non-stationary data containing low-frequency disturbances/noises. A multipoint optimal minimal entropy deconvolution adjusted (MOMEDA) is used with VMD in this research to improve defect detection performance in the presence of low-frequency disturbances. The filter length has a strong influence on the output of MOMEDA thus choosing the right one is a critical step in recovering a periodic pulse in the event of a weak defective signal. Improved grey wolf optimization (GWO) adaptively selects the appropriate filter length using the autocorrelation energy as its fitness function. The GWO is improved by introducing a gaussian mutation strategy which maintains the proper balance between the exploration and exploitation process. The proposed method has been applied to investigate the bucket defects of the Pelton wheel. The raw vibration signal is first decomposed into a series of modes using VMD. Second, the MOMEDA model is used to purify each mode by reducing low-frequency noise interference. The modes processed by MOMEDA are reconstructed again into a pure signal. Finally, the Hilbert envelop spectrum of the pure signal is obtained to determine the fault frequency. The same is verified from the theoretical fault feature frequency of the turbine bucket. The performance of the proposed method in extracting fault frequency accurately is also compared with other two models: (a) MOMEDA model with ensemble empirical mode decomposition (EEMD) and (b) MOMEDA model with complete ensemble empirical mode decomposition with adaptive noise (CEEMDAN). The comparison results proved the efficacy and superiority of the proposed method.
Cumulative Erythemal Ultraviolet Radiation and Risk of Cancer in 3 Large US Prospective Cohorts
Authors: Chang Michael S , Hartman Rebecca I , Trepanowski Nicole , Giovannucci Edward L , Nan Hongmei , Li Xin
Published: June 2022

Ultraviolet radiation (UVR) exposure is the major risk factor for melanoma. However, epidemiologic studies on UVR and noncutaneous cancers have reported inconsistent results, with some suggesting an inverse relationship potentially mediated by vitamin D. To address this, we examined 3 US prospective cohorts, the Health Professionals Follow-up Study (HPFS) (1986) and Nurses’ Health Study (NHS) I and II (1976 and 1989), for associations between cumulative erythemal UVR and incident cancer risk, excluding nonmelanoma skin cancer. We used a validated spatiotemporal model to calculate erythemal UVR. Participants (47,714 men; 212,449 women) were stratified into quintiles by cumulative average erythemal UVR, using the first quintile as referent, for Cox proportional hazards regression analysis. In the multivariable-adjusted meta-analysis of all cohorts, compared with the lowest quintile, risk of any cancer was slightly increased across all other quintiles (highest quintile hazard ratio (HR) = 1.04, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.01, 1.07; P for heterogeneity = 0.41). All UVR quintiles were associated with similarly increased risk of any cancer excluding melanoma. As expected, erythemal UVR was positively associated with risk of melanoma (highest quintile HR = 1.17, 95% CI: 1.04, 1.31; P for heterogeneity = 0.83). These findings suggest that elevated UVR is associated with increased risk of both melanoma and noncutaneous cancers.
Effect of fixed-dose hydrocortisone on vasopressor dose and mean arterial pressure in obese and nonobese patients with septic shock
Authors: Lenney Morgan , Kopp Brian , Erstad Brian
Published: June 2022

Purpose

Several studies have shown hydrocortisone to be beneficial in the treatment of vasopressor-refractory septic shock, but there are minimal data evaluating the efficacy of this fixed dosing regimen in overweight and obese patients. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of fixed-dose hydrocortisone on vasopressor dose and mean arterial pressure in obese and nonobese patients with septic shock refractory to adequate fluid resuscitation and vasopressor administration.

Methods

In this multicenter, retrospective study, we included adult patients with a confirmed or suspected diagnosis of septic shock who received hydrocortisone (200 mg/day). Patients were divided into 4 study groups based on admission body mass index (BMI; defined as BMI of <25 kg/m2, 25-29.9 kg/m2, 30-34.9 kg/m2, and ≥35 kg/m2). The primary outcomes analyzed were change in norepinephrine equivalent dose requirements and mean arterial pressure (MAP) at 6, 12, and 24 hours after initiating hydrocortisone.

Results

Between October 1, 2017, and September 30, 2020, 431 patients were screened of whom 219 met inclusion criteria. Baseline characteristics were comparable among the groups. Mean vasopressor requirements (in μg/min) at 6, 12, and 24 hours were as follows: BMI of <25 kg/m2: 28.8, 24.8, and 20; BMI of 25-29.9 kg/m2: 34.1, 33.5, and 24.8; BMI of 30-34.9 kg/m2: 29.5, 33.5, and 24.8; and BMI of ≥35 kg/m2: 32, 25.7 and, 21.2 (P = 0.75, 0.41, and 0.61, respectively). Mean MAP (in mm Hg) at 6, 12, and 24 hours was as follows: BMI of <25 kg/m2: 73.5, 73.6, and 74; BMI of 25-29.9 kg/m2: 71.6, 73.8, and 71.9; BMI of 30-34.9 kg/m2: 72.2, 70, and 72.7; and BMI of ≥35 kg/m2: 70.7, 73.5, and 71.4 (P = 0.56, 0.15, and 0.62, respectively).

Conclusion

BMI does not appear to impact the effects of fixed-dose hydrocortisone on vasopressor dose or blood pressure in patients with septic shock. Fixed-dose hydrocortisone should continue to be used for vasopressor-refractory septic shock in obese patients.
Implementation of a Hybrid Teleneuropsychology Method to Assess Middle Aged and Older Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Ceslis Amelia , Mackenzie Lisa , Robinson Gail A
Published: June 2022

Objective

Hybrid teleneuropsychology has emerged as a useful assessment method to manage physical distancing requirements during the COVID-19 pandemic. We describe the development of a hybrid teleneuropsychology clinic and compare results of six neuropsychological tasks across testing modalities, as well as a participant experience survey.

Method

Healthy middle-aged and older adults completed a face-to-face assessment two years previously. Participants either completed reassessment face-to-face or via the hybrid setup. Results were compared across time points and delivery modality.

Results

There were no significant differences in scores at reassessment between face-to-face and a hybrid setup on nonverbal fluid intelligence, verbal memory, visual memory, language, working memory or verbal initiation. Retest reliability was moderate to excellent for verbal and visual memory, attention and naming. Results of an anonymous survey indicated that participants felt comfortable and established good rapport with the examiner.

Conclusions

This hybrid method of teleneuropsychology can be used to obtain high quality and reliable results including on tasks yet to be evaluated for teleneuropsychology, including the Graded Naming Test and the Topographical Recognition Memory Test.
Typical resting-state activity of the brain requires visual input during an early sensitive period
Authors: Rączy Katarzyna , Hölig Cordula , Guerreiro Maria J S , Lingareddy Sunitha , Kekunnaya Ramesh , Röder Brigitte
Published: June 2022

Sensory deprivation, following a total loss of one sensory modality e.g. vision, has been demonstrated to result in compensatory plasticity. It is yet not known to which extent neural changes, e.g. higher resting-state activity in visual areas (cross-modal plasticity) as a consequence of blindness, reverse, when sight is restored. Here, we used functional MRI to acquire blood oxygen level-dependent resting-state activity during an eyes open and an eyes closed state in congenital cataract-reversal individuals, developmental cataract-reversal individuals, congenitally permanently blind individuals and sighted controls. The amplitude of low frequency fluctuation of the blood oxygen level-dependent signal—a neural marker of spontaneous brain activity during rest—was analyzed. In accordance with previous reports, in normally sighted controls we observed an increase in amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation during rest with the eyes open compared with rest with eyes closed in visual association areas and in parietal cortex but a decrease in auditory and sensorimotor regions. In congenital cataract-reversal individuals, we found an increase of the amplitude of slow blood oxygen level-dependent fluctuations in visual cortex during rest with eyes open compared with rest with eyes closed too but this increase was larger in amplitude than in normally sighted controls. In contrast, congenital cataract-reversal individuals lagged a similar increase in parietal regions and did not show the typical decrease of amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation in auditory cortex. Congenitally blind individuals displayed an overall higher amplitude in slow blood oxygen level-dependent fluctuations in visual cortex compared with sighted individuals and compared with congenital cataract-reversal individuals in the eyes closed condition. Higher amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation in visual cortex of congenital cataract-reversal individuals than in normally sighted controls during eyes open might indicate an altered excitatory–inhibitory balance of visual neural circuits. By contrast, the lower parietal increase and the missing downregulation in auditory regions suggest a reduced influence of the visual system on multisensory and the other sensory systems after restoring sight in congenitally blind individuals. These results demonstrate a crucial dependence of visual and multisensory neural system functioning on visual experience during a sensitive phase in human brain development.
Impaired body-centred sensorimotor transformations in congenitally deaf people
Authors: Li Hui , Song Li , Wang Pengfei , Weiss Peter H , Fink Gereon R , Zhou Xiaolin , Chen Qi
Published: June 2022

Congenital deafness modifies an individual’s daily interaction with the environment and alters the fundamental perception of the external world. How congenital deafness shapes the interface between the internal and external worlds remains poorly understood. To interact efficiently with the external world, visuospatial representations of external target objects need to be effectively transformed into sensorimotor representations with reference to the body. Here, we tested the hypothesis that egocentric body-centred sensorimotor transformation is impaired in congenital deafness. Consistent with this hypothesis, we found that congenital deafness induced impairments in egocentric judgements, associating the external objects with the internal body. These impairments were due to deficient body-centred sensorimotor transformation per se, rather than the reduced fidelity of the visuospatial representations of the egocentric positions. At the neural level, we first replicated the previously well-documented critical involvement of the frontoparietal network in egocentric processing, in both congenitally deaf participants and hearing controls. However, both the strength of neural activity and the intra-network connectivity within the frontoparietal network alone could not account for egocentric performance variance. Instead, the inter-network connectivity between the task-positive frontoparietal network and the task-negative default-mode network was significantly correlated with egocentric performance: the more cross-talking between them, the worse the egocentric judgement. Accordingly, the impaired egocentric performance in the deaf group was related to increased inter-network connectivity between the frontoparietal network and the default-mode network and decreased intra-network connectivity within the default-mode network. The altered neural network dynamics in congenital deafness were observed for both evoked neural activity during egocentric processing and intrinsic neural activity during rest. Our findings thus not only demonstrate the optimal network configurations between the task-positive and -negative neural networks underlying coherent body-centred sensorimotor transformations but also unravel a critical cause (i.e. impaired body-centred sensorimotor transformation) of a variety of hitherto unexplained difficulties in sensory-guided movements the deaf population experiences in their daily life.
A domain-general frontoparietal network interacts with domain-preferential intermediate pathways to support working memory task
Authors: Zhou Hui , Su Conghui , Wu Jinglan , Li Jiaofeng , Lu Xiqian , Gong Liangyu , Geng Fengji , Gao Zaifeng , Hu Yuzheng
Published: June 2022

Working memory (WM) is essential for cognition, but the underlying neural mechanisms remain elusive. From a hierarchical processing perspective, this paper proposed and tested a hypothesis that a domain-general network at the top of the WM hierarchy can interact with distinct domain-preferential intermediate circuits to support WM. Employing a novel N-back task, we first identified the posterior superior temporal gyrus (pSTG), middle temporal area (MT), and postcentral gyrus (PoCG) as intermediate regions for biological motion and shape motion processing, respectively. Using further psychophysiological interaction analyses, we delineated a frontal–parietal network (FPN) as the domain-general network. These results were further verified and extended by a delayed match to sample (DMS) task. Although the WM load-dependent and stimulus-free activations during the DMS delay phase confirm the role of FPN as a domain-general network to maintain information, the stimulus-dependent activations within this network during the DMS encoding phase suggest its involvement in the final stage of the hierarchical processing chains. In contrast, the load-dependent activations of intermediate regions in the N-back task highlight their further roles beyond perception in WM tasks. These results provide empirical evidence for a hierarchical processing model of WM and may have significant implications for WM training.
Clinician Adherence to Inflammatory Bowel Disease Guidelines: Results of a Qualitative Study of Barriers and Enablers
Authors: Kanazaki Ria , Smith Ben , Girgis Afaf , Connor Susan J
Published: June 2022

Background

With the evolving inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) management landscape, it is critical that gastroenterologists keep up to date with the clinical practice guidelines (CPGs). Several studies in IBD have documented suboptimal adherence to CPGs. We aimed to gain an in-depth understanding of guideline adherence barriers reported by gastroenterologists and determine how evidence-based education can best be delivered.

Methods

Interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of gastroenterologists’ representative of the current workforce. Questions focused on previously identified problematic areas and shaped by the theoretical domains framework, a theory-informed approach to understanding clinician behavior, to assess all determinants of behavior. Questions explored perceived barriers to adherence and clinicians’ preferred content and modes of delivery for an educational intervention. Interviews were conducted by a single interviewer and qualitative analysis performed.

Results

A total of 20 interviews were conducted before data saturation was achieved (male = 12, work in a metropolitan area = 17). Five dominant subthemes for barriers to adherence emerged: negative experiences impacting future decisions, time constraints, long guidelines are impractical, unfamiliar with guideline specifics and prescribing restrictions. Adherence enablers were identified including features that improved the usability of CPGs. Computer- or smart phone-based educational interventions were preferred.

Conclusions

This study identified several barriers and enablers for IBD guideline adherence and gained insight into how gastroenterologists prefer to receive evidence-based education. These results will inform the development of a targeted intervention to improve IBD guideline adherence. Improving guideline adherence is expected to facilitate standardized IBD care, ultimately leading to improved patient outcomes.
The role of multi-modality cardiovascular imaging in a patient presenting with acute liver failure secondary to constrictive pericarditis: a case report
Authors: Demetriades Polyvios , Oatham Rosie , Satchithananda Duwarakan
Published: June 2022

Background

Constrictive pericarditis is a rare cause of heart failure which often presents a diagnostic challenge to clinicians.

Case summary

We describe the case of a 62-year-old male who presented to our institution with symptoms and signs suggestive of acute liver failure. Abdominal imaging demonstrated congestive hepatopathy. Clinical suspicion despite a ‘normal’ echocardiogram and sub-threshold NT-proBNP led to multi-modality cardiovascular imaging investigations to determine the cause of the heart failure syndrome. His cardiovascular magnetic resonance scan confirmed ventricular interdependence and extensive late enhancement in the pericardium with associated pericardial effusion. An 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography scan confirmed active pericardial inflammation. Cardiac computed tomography showed minimal pericardial calcification. Following confirming the diagnosis of effusive-constrictive pericarditis with evidence of active pericardial inflammation on imaging, a discussion within the Heart multidisciplinary team concluded that a trial of medical therapy with steroids is justifiable to avoid high-risk pericardiectomy. The patient was successfully treated with a combination of ibuprofen, colchicine, and prednisolone resulting in clinical improvement and remission of his symptoms. The imaging investigations were repeated 6 months later and confirmed radiological remission and medical therapy was discontinued.

Discussion

We stress the importance of multi-modality cardiovascular imaging in the diagnosis of constrictive pericarditis and also emphasize its role in identifying the subset of patients who may respond to medical therapy, therefore reducing the risk of high need surgical pericardiectomy.
Low levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, intracerebral haemorrhage, and other safety issues: is there still a matter of debate?
Authors: Sabouret Pierre , Angoulvant Denis , Cannon Christopher P , Banach Maciej
Published: June 2022

Although some observational studies suggest a potential association of low levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) with intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH), these analyses have issues of confounding where other factors (e.g. older age, frailty) that likely explain the findings, and the number of events was very low. More recent results from randomized clinical trials have not found an increased risk in ICH, most notably trials using PCSK9 inhibitors that achieve very low levels of LDL-C, but also in the long-term follow-up of the IMPROVE-IT trial. Also, other statin-associated safety issues, including new onset diabetes and the cancer risk should not be the reason of statin discontinuation, especially for the former, the benefits highly outweigh the risk (even 5×), and for the latter, there is no confirmed link suggesting any increased risk, in opposite, data exist suggesting benefits of statin therapy in cancer prevention. Furthermore, use of intensive lipid-lowering strategies with statins and non-statin drugs leads to decrease of ischaemic major adverse cardiac events, without safety concern, in a large population of patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). These data should promote the concept ‘the earlier, the lower, the longer, the better’ for the lipid management of patients with ASCVD. While few uncertainties remain in several populations that have been underrepresented in clinical trials (African American and Asian patients, low weight individuals), the most recent data with intensive LDL-C lowering with PCSK9 inhibitors are reassuring that the benefit outweighs any possible risk.
Association between instrumental activities of daily living frequency and clinical outcomes in older patients with cardiovascular disease
Authors: Kariya Hidenori , Yamaoka-Tojo Minako , Hamazaki Nobuaki , Obara Shinichi , Kitasato Lisa , Matsunaga Atsuhiko , Ako Junya
Published: June 2022

Aims

Impairment in activities of daily living (ADL) is an independent predictor of poor prognosis in older patients. Nevertheless, the effects of instrumental ADL (IADL) frequency on prognosis in older patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD) are unclear. We investigate the associations between IADL frequency and all-cause mortality and hospital readmission due to cardiovascular events in older patients with CVD.

Methods and results

A total of 638 consecutive outpatients ≥65 years old with CVD were enrolled. A questionnaire, including Frenchay Activities Index (FAI) parameters, was used to determine IADL frequency at the start of the study as the baseline observation. The primary endpoint was all-cause mortality, and the secondary endpoint was readmission for cardiovascular events. We examined the relationship between IADL frequency and each endpoint. Among the 632 patients evaluated {median age 74.0 [interquartile range (IQR) 70.0–78.0] years; 439 males}, there were 39 deaths and 105 cardiovascular events during the median follow-up period of 4.0 (IQR, 2.3–4.0) years. After adjusting for clinical confounding factors, the hazard ratios for all-cause mortality and cardiovascular events in the FAI points were 0.957 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.920–0.996] and 0.973 (95% CI, 0.950–0.997), respectively.

Conclusion

A higher IADL frequency was independently associated with better outcomes in older patients with CVD, suggesting that the preservation of instrumental activities should be focused on as the components of cardiovascular rehabilitation.
COVID-19 impact on adults with congenital heart disease self-perceived vulnerability and coping
Authors: Steiner Jill M , Corage Baden Andrea , Abu-Rish Blakeney Erin , Freeman Vea , Stout Karen K , Rosenberg Abby R , Engelberg Ruth A , Curtis J Randall
Published: June 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic poses risk for worsened quality of life in patients with adult congenital heart disease. In a qualitative thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews conducted July 2020 to August 2021, we examined the pandemic’s impact on participants’ (N = 25) experiences with self-perception and coping. All had moderate or complex disease; median age 32 years. The pandemic altered some participants’ self-perception, including increased vulnerability beyond heart-attributed risk. Restrictions frequently prevented participants from using their usual coping strategies, forcing use of alternative methods. For an already at-risk population, these findings suggest the need for increased mental health awareness, assessment, and support.
Can a single-port robot be safely used for robotic total gastrectomy for advanced gastric cancer? First experience using the da Vinci SP platform
Authors: Cui Hao , Cui Jian-Xin , Zhang Ke-Cheng , Liang Wen-Quan , Li Shu-Yan , Huang Jun , Chen Lin , Wei Bo
Published: June 2022

Background

Many studies have shown the operative feasibility and safety of robotic gastrectomy. Surgeons are pursuing single-port (SP) surgery to leverage the advantages of minimally invasive gastrectomy. The purpose of this study was to describe technical considerations and short-term outcomes from the first reported SP robotic total gastrectomy (RTG) using the da Vinci SP platform.

Methods

A 75-year-old patient with a body-mass index of 19.8 kg/m2 and clinical stage III cancer (cT3N+M0) underwent SP RTG on 22 January 2022 at the Department of General Surgery, the Chinese PLA General Hospital. All procedures were performed successfully using the da Vinci SP robotic platform.

Results

The SP RTG was successfully performed with D2 lymphadenectomy including No. 10 lymph-nodes dissection and extracorporeal Roux-en-Y anastomosis. Except for subcutaneous emphysema, no severe adverse events occurred during the operation. According to a visual analogue scale (VAS), the subjective feeling of post-operative pain was given a VAS score of 3 of 10 on Post-Operative Day 1 (POD 1), 1 of 10 on POD 3, and 1 of 10 on POD 7. We removed the gastric tube on POD 2 and advised sipping water, a liquid diet, and a soft diet on PODs 2, 4, and 6, respectively. The patient was discharged without any complications on POD 8.

Conclusion

RTG is technically feasible and safe using the da Vinci SP robotic platform. To our knowledge, this is the first study using the da Vinci SP platform in RTG for advanced gastric cancer in elderly patients. To verify its superior operative outcomes, further clinical trials are needed.
Seismic imaging of crystalline structures: improving energy focusing and signal alignment with azimuthal binning and 2.5-D full-waveform inversion
Authors: Villamizar Brian J G , Pratt R G , Naghizadeh M
Published: June 2022

Severely crooked 2-D reflection profiles generate a swath distribution area of common midpoint (CMP) traces. These traces are scattered in all directions and no longer correspond to CMP gathers directly below the acquisition line, effectively posing a pseudo-3-D problem. Standard seismic processing techniques neglect the 3-D character of crooked seismic transects and often yield suboptimal images. The out-of-plane energy ignored in 2-D stacking techniques causes amplitude smearing effects due to anomalous reflection traveltimes. The imaging of dipping structures in geologically complex areas, such as in Larder Lake, are particularly affected because of complex energy scattering. These out-of-plane reflected wavefield components degrade energy focusing and signal alignment, worsening as the obliqueness of the profile with respect to local geology increases. To mitigate the contribution of scattered out-of-plane energy, we implement azimuthal binning. Pseudo-processing lines, parallel to the maximum geological dip, are generated by using locally optimum bin orientations. We use a priori geological information to devise optimum bin orientations in accordance to the local strike. We find that the optimized binning method significantly outperforms the standard approach in terms of in-phase amplitude stacking and reflection continuity. This is because the standard approach is based on a bin geometry always perpendicular to the seismic line traverse, ignoring 3-D effects, whereas in the optimum binning approach each individual bin may have a different orientation along the line. Moreover, we enhance the final reflectivity image by performing seismic migration with a velocity model that incorporates near-surface velocity estimations from full-waveform inversion. We demonstrate that the combination of these two innovations results in a significant impact on the imaging quality of structures at depth. In addition to imaging structures at depth, we also illustrate the significance of their continuation towards the near surface. This is especially important in the Larder Lake area where tectonic activity may have emplaced ore deposits in the first few kilometres of the subsurface.
Diagnosing chronic endometritis: when simplification fails to clarify
Authors: Murtinger Maximilian , Wirleitner Barbara , Spitzer Dietmar , Bralo Helena , Miglar Susanna , Schuff Maximilian
Published: June 2022

Reproductive immunology has grown in importance in recent years and has even developed into a discipline of its own within the field of reproductive medicine. Many aspects of reproductive failure such as repeated implantation failure or recurrent miscarriages are, meanwhile, seen as a consequence of aberrant expression of immunological factors. This is reflected by the increasing number of tests for assessing and quantifying different immune cell types as well as by a wide range of immune therapies offered to a clientele consisting of desperate patients requesting additional ‘IVF tools’: first, what is still usually disregarded is the enormous plasticity and fluctuation of most immune cells in the genital tract; second, their still poorly characterized functions in the endometrial cycle: further, their partially unknown role in embryo implantation and in establishing a pregnancy; and third, the fact that one of the fundamental hypotheses of reproductive immunology—of note—the Medawar concept or ‘Medawar's Paradox’ of semi-allogeneic graft embryo, is partially based on an erroneous assumption, i.e. the immunologic rejection and tolerance of an embryo. In the present opinion article, we comment on the diagnostic procedures and therapy approaches for chronic endometritis within the scope of reproductive medicine.
HIV-Associated Alterations of the Biophysical Features of Maternal Antibodies Correlate With Their Reduced Transfer Across the Placenta
Authors: Taylor Sean A , Sharma Shilpee , Remmel Christopher A L , Holder Beth , Jones Christine E , Marchant Arnaud , Ackerman Margaret E
Published: June 2022

Background

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection during pregnancy is associated with reduced transplacental transfer of maternal antibodies and increased risk of severe infections in children who are exposed and uninfected with HIV. The basis of this reduced transfer of maternal immunity has not yet been defined but could involve modifications in the biophysical features of antibodies. The objective of this study was to assess the impact of maternal HIV infection on the biophysical features of serum IgG and transplacental antibody transfer.

Methods

Maternal serum IgG subclass levels, Fc glycosylation, Fc receptor (FcR) binding, and transplacental transfer of pathogen-specific maternal IgG were measured in pregnant women with HIV (WWH) and pregnant women testing negative for HIV (WNH) in Cape Town, South Africa.

Results

Maternal antibody profiles were strikingly different between pregnant WWH and WNH. Antibody binding to FcγR2a and FcγR2b, IgG1 and IgG3 antibodies, and agalactosylated antibodies were all elevated in WWH, whereas digalactosylated and sialylated antibodies were reduced compared to pregnant WNH. Antibody features that were elevated in WWH were also correlated with reduced transplacental transfer of vaccine antigen-specific antibodies.

Conclusions

HIV infection is associated with marked alterations of biophysical features of maternal IgG and reduced placental transfer, potentially impairing antimicrobial immunity.
Application of a hand-held laser methane detector for measuring enteric methane emissions from cattle in intensive farming
Authors: Kang Kyewon , Cho Hyunjin , Jeong Sinyong , Jeon Seoyoung , Lee Mingyung , Lee Seul , Baek Yulchang , Oh Joonpyo , Seo Seongwon
Published: June 2022

The hand-held laser methane detector (LMD) technique has been suggested as an alternative method for measuring methane (CH4) emissions from enteric fermentation of ruminants in the field. This study aimed to establish a standard procedure for using LMD to assess CH4 production in cattle and evaluate the efficacy of the protocol to detect differences in CH4 emissions from cattle fed with diets of different forage-to-concentrate (FC) ratios. Experiment 1 was conducted with four Hanwoo steers (584 ± 57.4 kg body weight [BW]) individually housed in metabolic cages. The LMD was installed on a tripod aimed at the animal’s nostril, and the CH4 concentration in the exhaled gas was measured for 6 min every hour for 2 consecutive days. For the data processing, the CH4 concentration peaks were identified by the automatic multi-scale peak detection algorithm. The peaks were then separated into those from respiration and eructation by fitting combinations of two of the four distribution functions (normal, log-normal, gamma, and Weibull) using the mixdist R package. In addition, the most appropriate time and number of consecutive measurements to represent the daily average CH4 concentration were determined. In experiment 2, 30 Hanwoo growing steers (343 ± 24.6 kg BW), blocked by BW, were randomly divided into three groups. Three different diets were provided to each group: high FC ratio (35:65) with low-energy concentrate (HFC-LEC), high FC ratio with high-energy concentrate (HFC-HEC), and low FC ratio (25:75) with high-energy concentrate (LFC-HEC). After 10 d of feeding the diets, the CH4 concentrations for all steers were measured and analyzed in duplicate according to the protocol established in experiment 1. In experiment 1, the mean correlation coefficient between the CH4 concentration from respiration and eructation was highest when a combination of two normal distributions was assumed (r = 0.79). The most appropriate measurement times were as follows: 2 h and 1 h before, and 1 h and 2 h after morning feeding. Compared with LFC-HEC, HFC-LEC showed 49% and 57% higher CH4 concentrations in exhaled gas from respiration and eructation (P < 0.01). In conclusion, the LMD method can be applied to evaluate differences in CH4 emissions in cattle using the protocol established in this study.
Large uterine leiomyoma presenting as pseudo-Meigs’ syndrome with an elevated ca125: a case report and literature review
Authors: Abdelgawad Mohamed , Barghuthi Lutfi , Davis Tyler , Omar Mahmoud , Kamel Omar M , Gibbons Jake , Ragoza Yury , Ismael Hishaam
Published: June 2022

Ascites, pelvic mass and elevated CA-125 in females carry a grim prognosis, likely an ovarian carcinoma. However, more benign etiologies such as Meigs’ and pseudo-Meigs’ syndrome must be considered. Pseudo-Meigs’ syndrome presenting with an elevated CA-125 is rare and presents a diagnostic challenge. Medline and PubMed were queried for pseudo-Meigs’ syndrome cases. We present a 35-year-old female patient who presented with abdominal swelling and weight gain. Imaging demonstrated a 29-cm large intraabdominal mass with significant ascites with elevation of CA-125. Surgical resection was performed, and pathology identified uterine leiomyoma. Twenty-one cases of pseudo-Meigs’ syndrome were identified in the literature. Most patients presented with abdominal distention, and some also reported dyspnea. All patients, including our case, were treated surgically. No recurrence reported among these cases. Surgery is the mainstay for radical treatment in pseudo-Meigs’ syndrome. Resolution of the ascites and hydrothorax occurs following resection of the tumor.
A case of diaphragmatic hemangioma completely resected by partial diaphragmatic resection
Authors: Mori Hiroki , Nose Naohiro , Hamahiro Tomoka , Shimao Yoshiya , Tomita Masaki , Furukawa Koji
Published: June 2022

Diaphragmatic hemangiomas are rare tumors and the preferred resection range in surgical procedures is considered on a case-by-case basis. We report a case of diaphragmatic hemangioma that was completely resected by partial diaphragmatic resection. An 81-year-old man was referred for the examination of right diaphragmatic mass. Computed tomography revealed two contrast-enhanced nodules (diameter: 17 and 10 mm, respectively) on the right diaphragm. The nodules were completely resected by partial resection of the diaphragm via video-assisted thoracic surgery using an ultrasonic coagulation and incision device. Resection was performed leaving part of the muscular layer of the diaphragm. Histopathology confirmed the nodule to be hemangioma originating from the diaphragm and no hemangiomatous lesions were noted in the normal connective tissue in the resected stump. Partial diaphragmatic resection is a less invasive treatment method and may be a useful surgical procedure for diaphragmatic hemangioma.