bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Variations in risk‐adjusted outcomes following 4318 laparoscopic liver resections
Authors: Cucchetti Alessandro , Aldrighetti Luca , Ratti Francesca , Ferrero Alessandro , Guglielmi Alfredo , Giuliante Felice , Cillo Umberto , Mazzaferro Vincenzo , De Carlis Luciano , Ercolani Giorgio ,   the I Go MILS Group
Published: March 2022

Background/Purpose

Quality measures in surgery are important to establish appropriate levels of care and to develop improvement strategies. The purpose of this study was to provide risk‐adjusted outcome measures after laparoscopic liver resection (LLR).

Methods

Data from a prospective, multicenter database involving 4318 patients submitted to LLRs in 41 hospitals from an intention‐to‐treat approach (2014–2020) were used to analyze heterogeneity (I2) among centers and to develop a risk‐adjustment model on outcome measures through multivariable mixed‐effect models to account for confounding due to case‐mix.

Results

Involved hospitals operated on very different patients: the largest heterogeneity was observed for operating in the presence of previous abdominal surgery (I2:79.1%), in cirrhotic patients (I2:89.3%) suffering from hepatocellular carcinoma (I2:88.6%) or requiring associated intestinal resections (I2:82.8%) and in regard to technical complexity (I2 for the most complex LLRs: 84.1%). These aspects determined substantial or large heterogeneity in overall morbidity (I2:84.9%), in prolonged in‐hospital stay (I2:86.9%) and in conversion rate (I2:73.4%). Major complication had medium heterogeneity (I2:46.5%). The heterogeneity of mortality was null. Risk‐adjustment accounted for all of this variability and the final risk‐standardized conversion rate was 8.9%, overall morbidity was 22.1%, major morbidity was 5.1% and prolonged in‐hospital stay was 26.0%. There were no outliers among the 41 participating centers. An online tool was provided.

Conclusions

A benchmark for LLRs including all eligible patients was provided, suggesting that surgeons can act accordingly in the interest of the patient, modifying their approach in relation to different indications and different experience, but finally providing the same quality of care.
Global, regional, and national burden of periodontitis from 1990 to 2019: Results from the Global Burden of Disease study 2019
Authors: Wu Leng , Zhang Sheng‐Qi , Zhao Lei , Ren Zhen‐Hu , Hu Chuan‐Yu
Published: March 2022

Background

To evaluate the prevalence and incidence of periodontitis and associated disability‐adjusted life years (DALYs) from 1990 to 2019.

Methods

We collected data on periodontitis between 1990 and 2019 from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2019 Study. The global prevalence, incidence, and DALYs attributed to periodontitis were analyzed. The age‐standardized rate (ASR) and estimated annual percentage changes (EAPCs) were calculated to quantify the burden of the disease and temporal trends.

Results

The ASR of the prevalence, incidence, and DALYs increased worldwide from 1990 to 2019. In 2019, Western Sub‐Saharan Africa carried the heaviest burden of periodontitis, whereas the nation with the highest periodontitis burden was Gambia. The burden of periodontitis was negatively associated with the level of socioeconomic development. Although, the majority of periodontitis burden was observed among those aged 55–59 years, the incidence of periodontitis has shown an increasing trend among younger individuals.

Conclusion

Periodontitis continues to be a global public health problem. Current prevention and control strategies should be enhanced to prevent an increase in periodontitis.
Measuring the Area of the Interventricular Septum in the 4‐Chamber View: A New Technique to Evaluate the Fetus at Risk for Septal Hypertrophy
Authors: DeVore Greggory R. , Klas Berthold , Satou Gary , Sklansky Mark
Published: March 2022

Objectives

One of the problems for the clinician who desires to measure the interventricular septum (IVS) in a high‐risk fetus is to know where to make the measurement. The purpose of this study was to use speckle‐tracking analysis to measure the IVS area, 24‐segment widths, and length at end‐diastole (ED) and end‐systole (ES) in normal fetuses.

Methods

From the 4‐chamber view, speckle‐tracking analysis was performed at ED and ES on the IVS in 200 normal fetuses. The following were computed and regressed against gestational age (GA) and fetal biometric (FB) measurements: area, length, and the 24‐segment transverse widths from the apex to the crux. The 24‐segment width/length ratio was also measured. The speckle‐tracking measurements of the ED area and length were compared using a point‐to‐point measurement tool available on all ultrasound machines.

Results

The ED and ES areas, lengths, and 24‐segment widths increased with GA and FB. The ED and ES areas were virtually identical. The 24‐segment width/length ratio decreased from the apex to the crux of the septum. There was no significant difference in the measurement of the ED area and the length between speckle‐tracking and the point‐to‐point measurements.

Conclusions

Measurement of the area and length of the IVS are simple to obtain and provide a new diagnostic tool to evaluate the fetus at risk for IVS hypertrophy which may be observed in fetuses of mothers with pregestational and gestational diabetes.
Toroidal‐Assisted Generalized Huygens’ Sources for Highly Transmissive Plasmonic Metasurfaces
Authors: Hassanfiroozi Amir , Cheng Yi‐Chen , Huang Shih‐Hsiu , Lin Yu‐Tsung , Huang Po‐Sheng , Shi Yuzhi , Wu Pin Chieh
Published: March 2022

Metasurface operating in the transmission scheme has shown a promising scenario for flat optics applications. Nevertheless, the inherently low working efficiency of transmissive plasmonic metasurfaces at optical frequencies severely hinders them from future technology development. This work reports on a hybrid plasmonic meta‐atom (HPMA) with a simple fabrication and cost‐effective single‐lithographic process featuring a toroidal‐assisted generalized Huygens’ source with a state‐of‐the‐art circular polarization conversion efficiency beyond 50%. The HPMA representsa new upper limit for transmission efficiency in the near‐infrared. The high transmission is realized via balanced multipoles of different orders including toroidal dipole that satisfies the generalized Kerker condition. The introduction of toroidal dipole provides an additional degree of freedom to tailor the wave interference and radiation symmetry rather than the use of a conventional electric and magnetic multipolar coupling. In addition, two high‐performance metasurfaces by combining the HPMAs with the geometric phase method are highlighted. The highly‐transmissive beam deflection metasurface and plasmonic metalens respectively yield anomalous refraction with 38.2% optical efficiency and 46.56% focusing efficiency, both experimentally showing a record transmission level. The findings may open new ways to design highly‐efficient plasmonic metasurfaces and to take one step forward to facilitate nearly optimal and practical nanophotonic devices.
On proper (1,2)‐dominating sets in graphs
Authors: Michalski Adrian , Włoch Iwona , Dettlaff Magda , Lemańska Magdalena
Published: March 2022

In 2008, Hedetniemi et al. introduced the concept of
‐domination and obtained some interesting results for
 ‐domination. Obviously every
 ‐dominating set of a graph (known as 2‐dominating set) is
 ‐dominating; to distinguish these concepts, we define a proper
 ‐dominating set of a graph as follows: a subset
is a proper
 ‐dominating set of a graph if
is
 ‐dominating and it is not a
 ‐dominating set of a graph. In particular, we introduce proper
 ‐domination parameters and study their relations with
 ‐domination parameters and the classical domination numbers.
Rothe's method for solving multi‐term Caputo–Katugampola fractional delay integral diffusion equations
Authors: Du Jinsheng , Lu Cuizhi , Jiang Yirong
Published: March 2022

This paper discusses a class of multi‐term Caputo–Katugampola fractional delay integral diffusion equations (MCKFIDEs, for short) in Hilbert spaces. A iterative scheme in interval
corresponding to the MCKFIDE is introduced by using a temporally semi‐discrete method based on the backward Euler difference scheme, i.e., Rothe's method. First, we apply the iterative scheme and the
‐accretivity of operator
to establish existence, uniqueness, and a priori estimate for strong solutions to an approximate problem. Based on this result, we obtain existence, regularity of the strong solution for MCKFIDEs on interval
or the maximum interval
. Then, we also prove that the strong solution is unique if and only if the delay boundary condition is unique on
. Finally, two examples are given to illustrate the main results.
An original deep learning model using limited data for COVID‐19 discrimination: A multicenter study
Authors: Xu Fangyi , Lou Kaihua , Chen Chao , Chen Qingqing , Wang Dawei , Wu Jiangfen , Zhu Wenchao , Tan Weixiong , Zhou Yong , Liu Yongjiu , Wang Bing , Zhang Xiaoguo , Zhang Zhongfa , Zhang Jianjun , Sun Mingxia , Zhang Guohua , Dai Guojiao , Hu Hongjie
Published: March 2022

Objectives

Artificial intelligence (AI) has been proved to be a highly efficient tool for COVID‐19 diagnosis, but the large data size and heavy label force required for algorithm development and the poor generalizability of AI algorithms, to some extent, limit the application of AI technology in clinical practice. The aim of this study is to develop an AI algorithm with high robustness using limited chest CT data for COVID‐19 discrimination.

Methods

A three dimensional algorithm that combined multi‐instance learning with the LSTM architecture (3DMTM) was developed for differentiating COVID‐19 from community acquired pneumonia (CAP) while logistic regression (LR), k‐nearest neighbor (KNN), support vector machine (SVM), and a three dimensional convolutional neural network set for comparison. Totally, 515 patients with or without COVID‐19 between December 2019 and March 2020 from five different hospitals were recruited and divided into relatively large (150 COVID‐19 and 183 CAP cases) and relatively small datasets (17 COVID‐19 and 35 CAP cases) for either training or validation and another independent dataset (37 COVID‐19 and 93 CAP cases) for external test. Area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), sensitivity, specificity, precision, accuracy, F1 score, and G‐mean were utilized for performance evaluation.

Results

In the external test cohort, the relatively large data‐based 3DMTM‐LD achieved an AUC of 0.956 (95% confidence interval, 95% CI, 0.929∼0.982) with 86.2% and 98.0% for its sensitivity and specificity. 3DMTM‐SD got an AUC of 0.937 (95% CI, 0.909∼0.965), while the AUC of 3DCM‐SD decreased dramatically to 0.714 (95% CI, 0.649∼0.780) with training data reduction. KNN‐MMSD, LR‐MMSD, SVM‐MMSD, and 3DCM‐MMSD benefited significantly from the inclusion of clinical information while models trained with relatively large dataset got slight performance improvement in COVID‐19 discrimination. 3DMTM, trained with either CT or multi‐modal data, presented comparably excellent performance in COVID‐19 discrimination.

Conclusions

The 3DMTM algorithm presented excellent robustness for COVID‐19 discrimination with limited CT data. 3DMTM based on CT data performed comparably in COVID‐19 discrimination with that trained with multi‐modal information. Clinical information could improve the performance of KNN, LR, SVM, and 3DCM in COVID‐19 discrimination, especially in the scenario with limited data for training.
Robust automated radiation therapy treatment planning using scenario‐specific dose prediction and robust dose mimicking
Authors: Eriksson Oskar , Zhang Tianfang
Published: March 2022

Purpose

We present a framework for robust automated treatment planning using machine learning, comprising scenario‐specific dose prediction and robust dose mimicking.

Methods

The scenario dose prediction pipeline is divided into the prediction of nominal dose from input image and the prediction of scenario dose from nominal dose, each using a deep learning model with U‐net architecture. By using a specially developed dose–volume histogram–based loss function, the predicted scenario doses are ensured sufficient target coverage despite the possibility of the training data being non‐robust. Deliverable plans may then be created by solving a robust dose mimicking problem with the predictions as scenario‐specific reference doses.

Results

Numerical experiments are performed using a data set of 52 intensity‐modulated proton therapy plans for prostate patients. We show that the predicted scenario doses resemble their respective ground truth well, in particular while having target coverage comparable to that of the nominal scenario. The deliverable plans produced by the subsequent robust dose mimicking were showed to be robust against the same scenario set considered for prediction.

Conclusions

We demonstrate the feasibility and merits of the proposed methodology for incorporating robustness into automated treatment planning algorithms.
Understanding social influence in Facebook fundraising: Relationship strength, immediacy of needs, and number of donations
Authors: Xue Fei , Zhou Lijie
Published: March 2022

Crowdfunding through social media has presented challenges and opportunities for nonprofit and voluntary sector organizations. To better understand how organizations can harness the power of social media in fundraising, the current research examined the effects of different types of Facebook fundraising posts on donor engagement. Based on Social Impact Theory, three factors of social influence were investigated, including relationship strength with the fundraiser creator, immediacy or urgency of the fundraising need, and number of donations. An online experiment was conducted using samples recruited through Amazon Mechanical Turk. A repeated measures test was performed to explore the effects of three social influence factors on perceived source credibility, feeling of social presence, attitude toward the post, and intention to click, share, and donate. Strongest main effects were found for immediacy of needs. Facebook fundraising posts for an urgent need generated much more positive responses than posts for a nonurgent need. Interaction effects were also found among three variables in perceived credibility and intention to click. Personal relevance and perceived risk moderated the effects of number of donations on intention to donate. Implications for nonprofit and voluntary sector organizations were discussed.
‘This funny place’: Uncovering the ambiguity of saltmarshes using a multimodal approach
Authors: Thomas Merryn , Roberts Erin , Pidgeon Nick , Henwood Karen
Published: March 2022

Saltmarshes are increasingly recognised for the range of benefits they offer, including coastal protection, flood regulation and carbon sequestration. However, much less is known about how people perceive these environments and their importance for non‐material aspects of human well‐being.

As climate change and sea‐level rise render these environments increasingly vulnerable, there is a need to better understand how saltmarshes are valued. This is because these values influence—and are influenced by—the ways in which people interact with places and therefore gain well‐being benefits from them. These values also shape management decisions, which in turn affect the well‐being of people and environment.

To address this need, we use a multimodal qualitative approach (mobile interviews, photo elicitations, mapping and word association) to explore the values held in connection to saltmarshes at two Welsh case study sites: the Taf Estuary in Carmarthenshire and the Mawddach Estuary in Gwynedd.

We find that saltmarshes are ambiguous places, not having one obvious meaning, and being open to more than one interpretation. They are both known and unknown; valued and (literally) overlooked. We suggest that this ambiguousness is related to both the physical characteristics of saltmarshes, which change and shift on short and long time‐scales, as well as to the ways in which people (can) relate with them.

We discuss how ambiguity renders saltmarshes as places of exclusive, privileged human–nature relationships, and reflect on the implications of our findings for human well‐being and the management of threatened environments. We also consider how multimodal, in‐depth and place‐based methods such as ours provide ways in which to explore the more intangible and changeable values associated with particular habitats.

Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.
Breeding Realistic D‐Brane Models
Authors: Loges Gregory J. , Shiu Gary
Published: March 2022

Intersecting branes provide a useful mechanism to construct particle physics models from string theory with a wide variety of desirable characteristics. The landscape of such models can be enormous, and navigating towards regions which are most phenomenologically interesting is potentially challenging. Machine learning techniques can be used to efficiently construct large numbers of consistent and phenomenologically desirable models. In this work we phrase the problem of finding consistent intersecting D‐brane models in terms of genetic algorithms, which mimic natural selection to evolve a population collectively towards optimal solutions. For a four‐dimensional supersymmetric type IIA orientifold with intersecting D6‐branes, we demonstrate that unique, fully consistent models can be easily constructed, and, by a judicious choice of search environment and hyper‐parameters, of the found models contain the desired Standard Model gauge group factor. Having a sizable sample allows us to draw some preliminary landscape statistics of intersecting brane models both with and without the restriction of having the Standard Model gauge factor.
Local Structural Investigation of (Ba,Ca)(Zr,Ti)O3 and Ca(Zr,Ti)O3 by X‐Ray Fluorescence Holography
Authors: Yamamoto Yuta , Kimura Koji , Gadelmawla Ahmed , Kawamura Keisuke , Sugimoto Hina , Liu Donglin , Li Qiang , Yan Qingfeng , Khansur Neamul H. , Happo Naohisa , Kakimoto Ken‐ichi , Webber Kyle G. , Hayashi Kouichi
Published: March 2022

Analyses of the local structures around Zr doped in ferroelectric (Ba,Ca)(Zr,Ti)O3 (BCZT) and paraelectric Ca(Zr,Ti)O3 (CZT) are carried out by X‐ray fluorescence holography. The images of the cations at the A and B sites of these ABO3 perovskites are clearly reconstructed from the measured holograms. In the real space images, a 0.2 Å outward displacement of the nearest Ba and Ca is observed in the atomic images of both BCZT and CZT, attributable to the difference in the ionic radius between Zr4+ and Ti4+. In addition, the first‐neighboring Ti in BCZT is displaced inward by 0.5 Å, whereas no such displacement is observed in CZT. This shift of Ti in BCZT appears due to the large strain of the local lattice, and it can affect to the piezoelectric response of BCZT.
Statistical Methods for Quantum State Verification and Fidelity Estimation
Authors: Yu Xiao‐Dong , Shang Jiangwei , Gühne Otfried
Published: March 2022

The efficient and reliable certification of quantum states is essential for various quantum information processing tasks as well as for the general progress on the implementation of quantum technologies. In the last few years several methods have been introduced which use advanced statistical methods to certify quantum states in a resource‐efficient manner. In this article, a review of the recent progress in this field is presented. How the verification and fidelity estimation of a quantum state can be discussed in the language of hypothesis testing is explained first. Then, various strategies for the verification of entangled states with local measurements or measurements assisted by local operations and classical communication are explained in detail. Finally, several extensions of the problem, such as the certification of quantum channels and the verification of entanglement are discussed.
Extending the Absorption Limit of BiVO4 Photoanodes with Hydrogen Sulfide Treatment
Authors: Gahlawat Soniya , Schnell Patrick , Irani Rowshanak , Ahmet Ibbi Y. , Choubrac Leo , Fiechter Sebastian , Ingole Pravin P. , Abdi Fatwa F.
Published: March 2022

Bismuth vanadate is a promising photoanode material for photoelectrochemical water splitting due to its relative stability, low cost, and nontoxic properties. However, its performance is limited by the large bandgap (Eg) of 2.4 eV, and the record photocurrent is already within 90% of its theoretical limit. Further photocurrent enhancement could only be obtained by increasing its optical absorption, for example, by reducing Eg. Herein, sulfur‐incorporated bismuth vanadate (S‐BiVO4) thin films are synthesized via spray pyrolysis combined with post‐treatment in hydrogen sulfide environment. Under optimal H2S treatment conditions, sulfur can be incorporated successfully into the BiVO4 lattice, without the formation of any secondary phases. The use of reactive H2S, instead of solid sulfur powders, allows us to decrease the required annealing temperature and increase the kinetics for sulfur incorporation into BiVO4. The Eg of the resulting S‐BiVO4 films is decreased by >200 meV (vs. pristine BiVO4), which theoretically corresponds to a 20% increase in the theoretical photocurrent limit. Finally, the stability limitation of S‐BiVO4 is overcome by introducing pulsed‐laser‐deposited NiOx protection layers. The modified S‐BiVO4/ NiOx film exhibits higher photocurrent density with no reduction of photocurrent during the 9 h stability test with AM1.5 illumination.
Effects of Glyceryl Monostearate on the Retrogradation of Pea Starch
Authors: Wang Ling , Lan Xuyue , Xu Wen , Du Qinling , Deng Sha , Jia Dongying
Published: March 2022

Pea starch (PS) jelly is prone to retrograde, resulting in increased hardness and decreased taste. Based on this, the effects of glyceryl monostearate (GMS) on the retrogradation properties of pea starch are investigated. The rheological, texture, thermal, molecular, and crystal properties of PS‐GMS blends are studied, and the possible interaction between PS and GMS is also analyzed. The addition of GMS reduces the hardness of pea starch gel, increases its springiness, and improves its quality. As the concentration of GMS increases, the onset temperature, conclusion temperature, and gelatinization enthalpy of the blend gels decrease. Moreover, GMS also reduces their ordered structure and crystallinity. The changes in the storage modulus after the addition of NaCl and urea indicate that GMS interactes with amylose mainly through hydrogen bonding. It can be concluded that GMS inhibits the retrogradation of PS gel by interacting with amylose through hydrogen bonds.
Slender precast voided slabs underwalking‐inducedvibration
Authors: Dal Lago Bruno , Martinelli Luca , Foti Francesco
Published: March 2022

Disturbance/discomfort caused by vibrations, induced by pedestrian walking on slabs in residential/office buildings, is a typical design issue for lightweight slender slabs, including prestressed concrete ones. Precast slabs are typically made with pretensioned members which allow for only partial collaboration in the transverse slab direction, which becomes even less effective when they are dry‐assembled without cast‐in‐situ topping since it relies on the arrangement of mutual mechanical connections only. This study investigates through tests and numerical analyses the response of slender precast long‐span slabs made with voided members, dry‐assembled with mechanical connections, when subjected to vibrations generated by human activities. A parametric set of dynamic modal and time‐history analyses encompassing floor member geometry, connection arrangement, mass, and damping, is carried out. The numerical models are validated against results from an experimental test program carried out on two decks of a prototype precast building. The tests and the numerical models allowed to characterize the fundamental dynamic properties of the slab and its vibrational performance, identifying the most efficient technological solutions among those investigated to mitigate human‐induced vibrations
Grey-body factors, irreversibility and multiple island saddles
Authors: Hollowood Timothy J. , Kumar S. Prem , Legramandi Andrea , Talwar Neil
Published: March 2022

Abstract

We consider the effect of grey-body factors on the entanglement island prescription for computing the entropy of an arbitrary subset of the Hawking radiation of an evaporating black hole. When there is a non-trivial grey-body factor, the modes reflected back into the black hole affect the position of the quantum extremal surfaces at a subleading level with respect to the scrambling time. The grey-body factor allows us to analyse the role of irreversibility in the evaporation. In particular, we show that irreversibility allows multiple saddles to dominate the entropy, rather than just two as expected on the basis of Page’s theorem. We show that these multiple saddles can be derived from a generalization of Page’s theorem that involves a nested temporal sequence of unitary averages. We then consider how irreversibility affects the monogamy entanglement problem.
Mucosal-associated invariant T cells are associated with insulin resistance in childhood obesity, and disrupt insulin signalling via IL-17
Authors: Bergin Ronan , Kinlen David , Kedia-Mehta Nidhi , Hayes Eadaoin , Cassidy Féaron C. , Cody Declan , O’Shea Donal , Hogan Andrew E.
Published: March 2022

Aims/hypothesis

Mucosal-associated invariant T cells (MAIT cells) are an abundant population of innate T cells. When activated, MAIT cells rapidly produce a range of cytokines, including IFNγ, TNF-α and IL-17. Several studies have implicated MAIT cells in the development of metabolic dysfunction, but the mechanisms through which this occurs are not fully understood. We hypothesised that MAIT cells are associated with insulin resistance in children with obesity, and affect insulin signalling through their production of IL-17.

Methods

In a cross-sectional observational study, we investigated MAIT cell cytokine profiles in a cohort of 30 children with obesity and 30 healthy control participants, of similar age, using flow cytometry. We then used a cell-based model to determine the direct effect of MAIT cells and IL-17 on insulin signalling and glucose uptake.

Results

Children with obesity display increased MAIT cell frequencies (2.2% vs 2.8%, p=0.047), and, once activated, these produced elevated levels of both TNF-α (39% vs 28%, p=0.03) and IL-17 (1.25% vs 0.5%, p=0.008). The IL-17-producing MAIT cells were associated with an elevated HOMA-IR (r=0.65, p=0.001). The MAIT cell secretome from adults with obesity resulted in reduced glucose uptake when compared with the secretome from healthy adult control (1.31 vs 0.96, p=0.0002), a defect that could be blocked by neutralising IL-17. Finally, we demonstrated that recombinant IL-17 blocked insulin-mediated glucose uptake via inhibition of phosphorylated Akt and extracellular signal-regulated kinase.

Conclusions/interpretations

Collectively, these studies provide further support for the role of MAIT cells in the development of metabolic dysfunction, and suggest that an IL-17-mediated effect on intracellular insulin signalling is responsible.

Graphical abstract
Changes in continuum beliefs for depression and schizophrenia in the general population 2011–2020: a widening gap
Authors: Schomerus Georg , Schindler Stephanie , Baumann Eva , Angermeyer Matthias C.
Published: March 2022

Purpose

The public discourse about mental health and mental illness seems to have become more open over the last decade, giving rise to the hope that symptoms of mental illness have become more relatable. We examine whether continuum beliefs regarding schizophrenia and depression have increased on a population level over a period of 9 years, and whether notions of unfamiliarity and incomprehensibility have decreased.

Methods

In 2011 (n = 2455) and 2020 (n = 3042), two methodologically identical cross-sectional population surveys were conducted in Germany. After the presentation of an unlabeled case vignette depicting someone with schizophrenia or depression, we asked about continuum beliefs, perceived unfamiliarity and perceived incomprehensibility of the person described.

Results

Multinomial logit models holding sociodemographic variables fixed at their means for both surveys showed that agreement with continuum beliefs increased in depression from 43 to 46% [change 4%; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0; 8], but decreased in schizophrenia from 26 to 20% (change − 6%, 95% CI − 9; − 3). Unfamiliarity (change − 4%; 95% CI − 7; 0) and incomprehensibility (change − 7%, 95% CI − 10; − 4) decreased for depression, while remaining largely unchanged for schizophrenia.

Conclusion

An already pronounced gap in the perception of both disorders with regard to continuity of symptom experiences and perceived otherness further widened over the last decade. While the public’s increasing familiarity with symptoms of depression might be further aided by using continuum beliefs as part of anti-stigma messages and awareness campaigns, promulgating continuity models for schizophrenia seems more challenging.
Autonomous weapon systems and jus ad bellum
Authors: Blanchard Alexander , Taddeo Mariarosaria
Published: March 2022

In this article, we focus on the scholarly and policy debate on autonomous weapon systems (AWS) and particularly on the objections to the use of these weapons which rest on jus ad bellum principles of proportionality and last resort. Both objections rest on the idea that AWS may increase the incidence of war by reducing the costs for going to war (proportionality) or by providing a propagandistic value (last resort). We argue that whilst these objections offer pressing concerns in their own right, they suffer from important limitations: they overlook the difficulties of calculating ad bellum proportionality; confuse the concept of proportionality of effects with the precision of weapon systems; disregard the ever-changing nature of war and of its ethical implications; mistake the moral obligation imposed by the principle of last resort with the impact that AWS may have on political decision to resort to war. Our analysis does not entail that AWS are acceptable or justifiable, but it shows that ad bellum principles are not the best set of ethical principles for tackling the ethical problems raised by AWS; and that developing adequate understanding of the transformations that the use of AWS poses to the nature of war itself is a necessary, preliminary requirement to any ethical analysis of the use of these weapons.
Modular Structure of the Weyl Algebra
Authors: Longo Roberto
Published: March 2022

We study the modular Hamiltonian associated with a Gaussian state on the Weyl algebra. We obtain necessary/sufficient criteria for the local equivalence of Gaussian states, independently of the classical results by Araki and Yamagami, Van Daele, Holevo. We also present a criterion for a Bogoliubov automorphism to be weakly inner in the GNS representation. The main application of our analysis is the description of the vacuum modular Hamiltonian associated with a time-zero interval in the scalar, massive, free QFT in two spacetime dimensions, thus complementing the recent results in higher space dimensions (Longo and Morsella in The massive modular Hamiltonian.arXiv:2012.00565). In particular, we have the formula for the local entropy of a one-dimensional Klein–Gordon wave packet and Araki’s vacuum relative entropy of a coherent state on a double cone von Neumann algebra. Besides, we derive the type$${III}_1$$III1factor property. Incidentally, we run across certain positive selfadjoint extensions of the Laplacian, with outer boundary conditions, seemingly not considered so far.
Doxycycline sclerotherapy of cervical spine aneurysmal bone cysts: single-institution 13-year experience
Authors: Wong Megan N. , Braswell Leah E. , Murakami James W.
Published: March 2022

Background

Aneurysmal bone cysts (ABCs) are benign, locally aggressive neoplasms that typically affect patients during their first two decades of life. Curettage with or without bone grafting or adjuvants is the current standard treatment; however, other surgical and medical treatments, such as sclerotherapy, have been reported. Treatment options for cervical spine ABCs are more limited because the proximity of ABCs to critical structures leads to greater risk of spontaneous or treatment-related adverse events, including death.

Objective

To retrospectively review all children and young adults with cervical spine ABCs treated with doxycycline sclerotherapy at one referral center to assess its viability as a standalone treatment.

Materials and methods

We retrospectively reviewed the clinical notes and imaging of 16 patients treated with doxycycline sclerotherapy for pathologically proven cervical spine ABCs at our institution between May 2008 and March 2021. All patients underwent image-guided percutaneous doxycycline sclerotherapy to ablate the ABC and stimulate bone formation. We assessed clinical outcomes through chart review and described post-treatment imaging outcomes using modified Neer scoring.

Results

Of the 16 total children and young adults treated, 2 were lost to follow-up, leaving 14 patients with a median age of 14.5 years. Twelve of these 14 patients were successfully treated with doxycycline sclerotherapy for a success rate of 86%. One patient experienced one treatment-related complication (Society of Interventional Radiology [SIR] adverse event classification D), before ultimately being successfully treated. Doxycycline treatment failed in two patients, who then underwent surgical management. Post-treatment imaging of successfully treated cases had a mean modified Neer score of 1.3, whereas post-treatment imaging in failed cases had a mean score of 3.5.

Conclusion

Doxycycline sclerotherapy is a viable standalone treatment for cervical spine ABCs because it is safe and effective while avoiding the morbidity associated with open surgical treatments.
Spatiotemporal dynamics of brain function during the natural course in a dental pulp injury model
Authors: Yu Feiyan , Li Miao , Wang Qianqian , Wang Jing , Wu Shuang , Zhou Rui , Jiang Han , Li Xiaoyi , Zhou Yu , Yang Xi , He Xiao , Cheng Yan , Ren Xiuyun , Zhang Hong , Tian Mei
Published: March 2022

Purpose

Toothache, a common disorder afflicting most people, shows distinct features at different clinical stages. This study aimed to depict metabolic changes in brain and investigate the potential mechanism involved in the aberrant affective behaviors during the natural process of toothache.

Methods

We investigated the spatiotemporal patterns of brain function during the natural course of toothache in a rat model of dental pulp injury (DPI) by using positron emission tomography (PET).

Results

Glucose metabolism peaked on the 3rd day and gradually decreased in several brain regions after DPI, which was in line with the behavioral and histological results. PET imaging showed that visual pathway was involved in the regulation of toothache. Meanwhile, the process of emotional regulation underlying toothache was mediated by N-methyl-D-aspartic receptor subunit 2B (NR2B) in the caudal anterior cingulate cortex (cACC).

Conclusion

Our results revealed the spatiotemporal neurofunctional patterns during toothache process and preliminarily elucidated the role of NR2B in cACC in the regulation of toothache-related affective behaviors.
Early Versus Delayed Cholecystectomy for Acute Biliary Pancreatitis: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis
Authors: Prasanth Jayaraj , Prasad Manya , Mahapatra Soumya Jagannath , Krishna Asuri , Prakash Om , Garg Pramod Kumar , Bansal Virinder Kumar
Published: March 2022

Background

Recommendations regarding the timing of cholecystectomy for acute biliary pancreatitis (ABP) require a systematic summary of current evidence to guide clinical practice. We conducted a systematic review and meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing early cholecystectomy (EC) versus delayed cholecystectomy (DC) in patients with ABP.

Methods

We searched databases Medline, Embase, SCOPUS, Web of Science and Cochrane CENTRAL for randomized controlled trials addressing this question. Pairs of reviewers abstracted data and assessed the risk of bias in included studies. A random‐effects meta‐analysis was done to study the effect of the timing of cholecystectomy on outcomes of interest in patients with ABP. GRADE methodology was used to rate the quality in the body of evidence for each outcome as high, moderate, low, or very low.

Results

11 randomized trials (1176 participants) were included. High‐quality evidence from seven RCTs (867 participants) showed a statistically significant reduction in the risk for recurrent biliary events in favour of early cholecystectomy (RR 0.10, 95% CI 0.05 to 0.19, I2 = 0%). High‐quality evidence from five trials was in favour of early cholecystectomy with a significant reduction in the risk 7of recurrent pancreatitis (RAP) in comparison to delayed cholecystectomy (RR 0.21, 95% CI 0.09 to 0.51, I2 = 0%).

Conclusion

This review showed that EC has definite advantages over DC in terms of reducing recurrent pancreaticobiliary events and LOS following mild ABP. However, more RCTs are required to study the role of EC in patients with moderately‐severe and severe ABP.

Trial Registration Protocol registered on Prospero (CRD42020192823).
Rotational atherectomy via the transradial access: success rates, procedural parameters and complications
Authors: Ferstl Paul , Drentwett Anne-Sophie , Bargon Sophie , Schacher Nora , Tröbs Monique , Marwan Mohamed , Achenbach Stephan , Gaede Luise
Published: March 2022

Radial access is recommended for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), but rotational atherectomy remains frequently performed via femoral access. Analyzing the procedural parameters, success rate and complications of rotational atherectomy, performed via radial in comparison to femoral access. We retrospectively analyzed 427 consecutive patients undergoing rotational atherectomy. Procedural parameters and outcome were determined in 171 patients, scheduled for radial and compared to 256 patients with femoral access use. In the radial access group (74 ± 9 years, 84% male), the LAD was most frequently treated (49%). Sheath size was 7F in 59% and 6F in 41%, burr size was 1.5 mm in 46% and 1.25 mm in 14% of patients. A temporary pacemaker was inserted in 14%. Procedural success rate stood at 97%. Access site complications occurred in 4% of patients, which was significantly less frequent than in in 256 patients treated via femoral access (13% p = 0.003). Compared to radial access, femoral access was associated with the use of larger sheaths (p < 0.001), more frequent treatment of non-LAD vessels (58.2% vs. 44.4%, p = 0.013) and a higher rate of temporary pacemaker use (27%; p = 0.001). No differences could be seen in procedural success (p = 0.83) and burr size (p = 0.51). Femoral access (OR 3.33; 95% CI 1.40–7.93), and female sex (OR3.40 95% CI 1.69–6.63) were independent predictors for access site complications. For coronary rotational atherectomy, radial access has a high success rate with overall use of smaller sheaths, but of equally sized burrs as well as a significant lower rate of access site-related complications than femoral access.
Iodine status in pregnant women and infants in Finland
Authors: Miles Elizabeth A. , Vahlberg Tero , Calder Philip C. , Houttu Noora , Pajunen Lotta , Koivuniemi Ella , Mokkala Kati , Laitinen Kirsi
Published: March 2022

Purpose

Iodine insufficiency during pregnancy may adversely influence fetal growth and development. There is a lack of information on iodine status in pregnant women and infants in many countries including Finland. The aim of this study is to determine dietary intake of iodine and the iodine status in a population of Finnish pregnant women and their infants.

Methods

Urine samples were collected from women participating in a mother–child clinical study at early (n = 174) and late pregnancy (n = 186) and at three months of postpartum (n = 197), when infant samples were also collected (n = 123). Urine iodine concentration was measured using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Cutoffs for iodine insufficiency were < 150 µg/L during pregnancy and < 100 µg/L at postpartum and in infants. Iodine intake was assessed using 3-day food diaries.

Results

Increased risk of insufficiency, based on urinary iodine concentrations, was observed in the groups investigated in this study. Of the women studied, 66% had urinary iodine concentrations indicating insufficient intakes and iodine insufficiency at early pregnancy, 70% at late pregnancy and 59% at three months of postpartum. This was also the case in 29% of the three-month-old infants. Estimation of iodine intake revealed that iodine insufficient women had lower intakes of iodine from the diet, from food supplements and from diet plus supplements than iodine sufficient women in early pregnancy and at three months of post-partum. In late pregnancy, this difference was seen for iodine intake from supplements.

Conclusion

The majority of the women manifested with low urine iodine concentrations both during and after pregnancy. Similarly, one-third of the infants presented with iodine insufficiency. Maternal iodine intake data support these findings. These observations may have implications for optimal child cognitive development.
Cytology-based Cancer Surgery of the Head and Neck (CyCaS-HN): a prospective, randomized, controlled clinical trial
Authors: Linxweiler Maximilian , Körner Sandrina , Wemmert Silke , Rimbach Hugo , Helfrich Johanna , Linxweiler Barbara , Takacs Zoltan Ferenc , Solomayer Erich Franz , Wagner Mathias , Morris Luc G. T. , Schick Bernhard , Kühn Jan Philipp
Published: March 2022

Purpose

Liquid-based cytology (LBC) is routinely used in gynecology but is rarely applied in head and neck oncology though many suspicious lesions are easily accessible. While several studies have evaluated the potential use of LBC for early detection and molecular characterization of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs), no study investigated its potential role in surgical management and therapy planning so far.

Methods

Twenty-five patients with cT1-2 squamous cell carcinomas of the oral cavity and oropharynx were prospectively enrolled in this study and were randomized to two treatment arms: in the control arm, a diagnostic panendoscopy with incisional biopsy was followed by a second operation with transoral tumor resection ± neck dissection and tracheostomy. In the intervention arm, patients underwent LBC diagnostics and in case of a positive result received one single operation with panendoscopy and incisional biopsy for confirmation of LBC result by rapid section histology followed by transoral tumor resection ± neck dissection and tracheostomy in the same session.

Results

Time between clinical diagnosis and definitive surgical treatment was significantly shorter in the intervention group compared with the control group (p < 0.0001). Additionally, time of hospitalization (p < 0.0001) and cumulative operation time (p = 0.062) were shorter in the intervention group. No significant differences in overall, progression-free, and disease-specific survival were observed.

Conclusion

Cytology-based cancer surgery is a promising therapeutic strategy that can potentially be considered for a well-defined group of early-stage HNSCC patients and help to avoid repetitive general anesthesia, shorten the diagnosis-to-treatment interval and spare operation as well as hospitalization time.
Predation of boreal owl nests by pine martens in the boreal forest does not vary as predicted by the alternative prey hypothesis
Authors: Sonerud Geir A.
Published: March 2022

The alternative prey hypothesis (APH) states that temporally synchronous population fluctuations of microtine rodents and other small herbivores are caused by generalist predators that show functional and numerical responses to the abundance of microtines. This would lead to an increased predation of alternative prey in the low phase of the microtine population fluctuations. One candidate for such a predator is the tree-climbing pine marten (Martes martes), which includes bird eggs in its diet, among them eggs of the cavity-nesting boreal owl (Aegolius funereus). I used long-term data to test whether pine marten predation of boreal owl eggs in nest boxes varied as predicted by the APH. The probability of predation of owl nests situated < 45 km from a site where microtines were trapped in spring during four decades increased with microtine trapping index, which is opposite to the prediction from the APH. As the data set was limited to one nest per box, I extended it spatially and temporally using the clutch size of each boreal owl nest as a proxy for the actual microtine abundance at the site. The probability of nest predation increased with clutch size. However, the effects of microtine index and owl clutch size became non-significant when I controlled for habitat, and in particular cavity age, which had an overriding effect. The increase in predation probability with cavity age suggests that the long-term spatial memory of pine marten is an important factor in the pattern of its nest predation in tree cavities.
Learning from data streams for automation and orchestration of 6G industrial IoT: toward a semantic communication framework
Authors: Pokhrel Shiva Raj
Published: March 2022

Established methods of communication are based mainly on Shannon’s theory of information, which purposefully overlooks semantic elements of communication. The future wireless technology should promise to facilitate many services, based on content, needs, and semantics, precisely customized to network capabilities. This gave rise to significant concern for Semantic Communication (SC), a novel paradigm considering the message’s meaning during transmission. Federated learning (FL) and Asynchronous Advantage Actor Critic (A3C) are the two emerging distributed and artificially intelligent approaches that provide diverse and possibly massive network coverage for data-driven SC solutions of industry 4.0 automation. Although SC is still in an early development stage, FL-empowered architecture has been recognized as one of the most promising solutions to meet the ubiquitous intelligence in the anticipated sixth-generation (6G) networks. This paper identifies industry 4.0 automation needs that drive the convergence of artificial intelligence and 6G for learning from data streams. We develop a novel SC framework based on the FL and A3C networks and discuss its potential along with transfer learning to address most of the new difficulties anticipated in 6G for industrial communication networks. Our proposed framework has been evaluated with extensive simulation results.
The detrital zircon record of Variscan to post-Variscan tectonosedimentary and magmatic processes in the Tauern Window (Eastern Alps)
Authors: Veselá P. , Oriolo S. , Basei M. A. S. , Lammerer B. , Siegesmund S.
Published: March 2022

Coupled U–Pb and Lu–Hf LA-ICP-MS detrital and igneous zircon data were obtained from metasedimentary sequences (Kaserer Formation, Schmirntal Quartzite, Seidlwinkel Formation, Bündnerschiefer Basin, Riffler Basin) of the western Tauern Window (Eastern Alps). Results show maximum deposition ages between the Late Permian and the Triassic, indicating protracted sedimentation and magmatism between the Late Paleozoic and the Mesozoic. The Lu–Hf fingerprint shows a change from subchondritic to variable subchondritic to suprachondritic compositions at ca. 290 Ma, possibly documenting the transition from Late Paleozoic Variscan post-collisional processes to intracontinental extension. Lithospheric thinning and magmatic underplating may explain the observed Hf isotopic evolution as the result of mixing of crustal and mantellic sources. From a paleogeographical perspective, results confirm that the Tauern Window was situated between Alpine basement units (South Alpine, Austroalpine and External Massifs) and the Bohemian Massif during the Permian–Triassic.