bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Lateral Buckling of an Elastic Pipe on a Frictional Seabed
Authors: Peek Ralf
Published: January 2023

Pipelines tend to buckle laterally under thermal expansion. In existing analytical solutions by Kerr and Hobbs, it is assumed that the seabed resistance q0 to lateral pipe movements is constant in magnitude and opposite in direction to the total displacement. Here, it is opposite to the velocity instead, i.e., the seabed is taken to be frictional rather than nonlinear elastic with a V-shaped potential function. A three-lobe (“mode 3f”) analytical solution is provided for the frictional case, using the same approximate end-of-buckle condition v = v′ = v″ = 0 used by Hobbs in his “mode 3” solution for the nonlinear elastic case. For both modes 3 and 3f solutions, the shape of the buckle does not change as it grows with increasing thermal expansion, though the scaling factors in the axial and lateral directions are different, i.e., the solutions are self-similar. A single finite element solution for the frictional case with an initial imperfection imposed by a bumper can be scaled to cover all such cases. It shows that the shape of the buckle depends on the amplitude of the initial triggering imperfection and is close to the mode 3f solution for very small initial imperfections. The difference between modes 3 and 3f is significant in regard to buckle shape and the relative size of the buckle lobes, but small in regard to the maximum bending moment for a given amount of thermal expansion accommodated by the buckle.
Non-Surgical Carpal Arch Space Augmentation for Median Nerve Decompression
Authors: Li Zong-Ming
Published: January 2023

The carpal tunnel is a tightly bounded space, making the median nerve prone to compression and eventually leading to carpal tunnel syndrome. Carpal tunnel release surgery transects the transverse carpal ligament to expand the tunnel arch space, decompress the median nerve, and relieve the associated symptoms. However, the surgical procedure unavoidably disrupts essential anatomical, biomechanical and physiological functions of the wrist, potentially causing reduced grip strength, pillar pain, carpal bone instability, scar tissue formation, and perineural fibrosis. It is desirable to decompress the median nerve without surgically transecting the transverse carpal ligament. This paper is to review several approaches we have developed for nonsurgical carpal arch space augmentation (CASA), namely, radio ulnar wrist compression, muscle-ligament interaction, palmar pulling, and collagenolysis of the transverse carpal ligament. Briefly summarized is the research work on the CASA topic about theoretical considerations, in vitro and in situ experiment, computational modeling, and human subject studies with asymptomatic and carpal tunnel syndrome hands.
Joint Coordinate System Using Functional Axes Achieves Clinically Meaningful Kinematics of the Tibiofemoral Joint as Compared to the International Society of Biomechanics Recommendation
Authors: Pourtabib Joe , Hull M. L.
Published: January 2023

Quantification of clinically meaningful tibiofemoral motions requires a joint coordinate system (JCS) with motions free from kinematic crosstalk errors. The objectives were to use a JCS with literature-backed functional axes (FUNC) and a JCS recommended by the International Society of Biomechanics (ISB) to determine tibiofemoral kinematics of the native (i.e., healthy) knee, determine variability associated with each JCS, and determine whether the FUNC JCS significantly reduced kinematic crosstalk errors compared to the ISB JCS. Based on a kinematic model consisting of a three-cylindric joint chain, the FUNC JCS included functional flexion–extension (F–E) and internal-external (I–E) tibial rotation axes. In contrast, the ISB JCS included F–E and I–E axes defined using anatomic landmarks. Single-plane fluoroscopic images in 13 subjects performing a weighted deep knee bend were analyzed. Tibiofemoral kinematics using the FUNC JCS fell within the physiological range of motion in all six degrees-of-freedom. Internal tibial rotation averaged 13 deg for the FUNC JCS versus 10 deg for the ISB JCS and motions in the other four degrees-of-freedom (collectively termed off-axis motions) were minimal as expected based on biomechanical constraints. Off-axis motions for the ISB JCS were significantly greater; maximum valgus rotation was 4 deg and maximum anterior and distraction translations were 9 mm and 25 mm, respectively, which is not physiologic. Variabilities in off-axis motions were significantly greater with the ISB JCS (p < 0.0002). The FUNC JCS achieved clinically meaningful kinematics by significantly reducing kinematic crosstalk errors and is the more suitable coordinate system for quantifying tibiofemoral motions.
La Antropología en los tiempos del cólera. Una reflexión y un balance
Authors: Delgado Ruiz Manuel
Published: January 2023

Reconozcámoslo, es difícil demostrar la bondad de nuestras habilidades en orden a explicar los fenómenos sociales, o ayudar a ello al menos. Nuestra competencia para procurar claridad a las cosas que pasan o han pasado es inversa a nuestra capacidad de hacerla reconocer, seguramente porque nuestras luces oscurecen, puesto que desvelan la complejidad y la irreductibilidad de los fenómenos que abordamos, ¿Qué puede esperarse de ese oficio nuestro que requiere tenacidad y paciencia en el trabajo de campo, sensibilidad en las descripciones, escrúpulo en los análisis y prudencia en las conclusiones? ¿Cómo puede competir en un terreno copado por la trivialidad, por los juicios precipitados, el vértigo de la última noticia, el espectáculo fácil, las sentencias de intelectuales al tiempo superficiales y serviles, características que tal vez es de mí mismo de quien hablan? ¿Qué puede aportar esa extraña disciplina que escribe a mano sobre la vida que transcurre ante sus ojos? ¿Qué lugar le espera a nuestra forma de dar con las cosas, complicándolas, en una sociedad de la que se enseñorea lo fácil?
Inelastic cotunneling in the Coulomb-blockade transport of donor-atom transistors
Authors: Yadav Pooja , Chakraborty Soumya , Moraru Daniel , Samanta Arup
Published: January 2023

We report finite-bias characteristics of electrical transport through phosphorus donors in silicon nanoscale transistors, in which we observe inelastic-cotunneling current in the Coulomb-blockade region. The cotunneling current appears like a resonant-tunneling current peak emerging from the excited state and sustain within the blockade regions. These cotunneling features are unique, since the inelastic-cotunneling currents have so far been reported either as a broader hump or as a continuous increment of current. This finding is ascribed purely due to excitation-related inelastic cotunneling involving the ground and excited states. Theoretical calculations were performed for a two-level quantum dot, supporting our experimental observation.
A novel thermionic crystal electron emission effect similar to Kikuchi lines
Authors: Katsap Victor
Published: January 2023

Kikuchi lines, known since 1928 [S. Kikuchi, Jpn. J. Phys. 5, 83 (1928)], are generated by irradiating a crystal with high-energy e-beam in SEM or TEM and observing backscattered electrons diffraction on crystalline planes. The Kikuchi line effect gave rise to several useful tools in electron microscopy of crystalline and nanocrystalline materials [K. Saruwatari, et al., J. Mineral. Petrol. Sci. 103, 16 (2007)]. We have discovered a similar diffraction effect but of the crystal’ own thermally emitted electrons.
Gender Equality and Economic Entanglements in Male-Dominated Sport Organizations: The Disruptive Value of Australian Rules Football Women
Authors: Pavlidis Adele , Fullagar Simone , O’Brien Wendy
Published: January 2023

Focusing on the Australian Football League and its development of a national competition for women, this article contributes toward broader debates around the inclusion and incorporation of women in professional sport. It traces the particular logics and desires (such as corporate expansion) that drove the Australian Football League to develop a women’s competition in the name of equality. We map the organizational tensions and affects that produce (the doing of) gender equality through different desires. Drawing on feminist new materialist conceptions of assemblage, we work to identify the material (numbers of women and girls participating, revenue, and expenses) and discursive (attitudes toward girls and women, meanings attached to sport, and gender) entanglements that contribute to the (de)valuing of women in male-dominated sporting organizations and how this might be disrupted both now and in the future.
2D metal-organic frameworks for ultraflexible electrochemical transistors with high transconductance and fast response speeds
Authors: Song Jiajun , Liu Hong , Zhao Zeyu , Guo Xuyun , Liu Chun-ki , Griggs Sophie , Marks Adam , Zhu Ye , Law Helen Ka-wai , McCulloch Iain , Yan Feng
Published: January 2023

Electrochemical transistors (ECTs) have shown broad applications in bioelectronics and neuromorphic devices due to their high transconductance, low working voltage, and versatile device design. To further improve the device performance, semiconductor materials with both high carrier mobilities and large capacitances in electrolytes are needed. Here, we demonstrate ECTs based on highly oriented two-dimensional conjugated metal-organic frameworks (2D c-MOFs). The ion-conductive vertical nanopores formed within the 2D c-MOFs films lead to the most convenient ion transfer in the bulk and high volumetric capacitance, endowing the devices with fast speeds and ultrahigh transconductance. Ultraflexible device arrays are successfully used for wearable on-skin recording of electrocardiogram (ECG) signals along different directions, which can provide various waveforms comparable with those of multilead ECG measurement systems for monitoring heart conditions. These results indicate that 2D c-MOFs are excellent semiconductor materials for high-performance ECTs with promising applications in flexible and wearable electronics.
In Vitro
Activity of the Novel Antifungal Olorofim against
Scedosporium
and
Lomentospora prolificans
Authors: Georgacopoulos Ourania , Nunnally Natalie , Law Derek , Birch Mike , Berkow Elizabeth L. , Lockhart Shawn R.
Published: January 2023

Scedosporium
and
Lomentospora
infections are notoriously hard to treat as these organisms can be resistant to numerous antifungals. The manuscript contributes to our knowledge of the activity of the new antifungal agent olorofim and comparator agents against
Lomentospora
and against
Scedosporium
isolates that have been molecularly identified to the species level. The efficacy of olorofim against all species of
Scedosporium
and
Lomentospora
was confirmed.
Porphyromonas gingivalis Outer Membrane Vesicles Promote Apoptosis via msRNA-Regulated DNA Methylation in Periodontitis
Authors: Fan Ruyi , Zhou Yi , Chen Xu , Zhong Xianmei , He Fanzhen , Peng Wenzao , Li Lu , Wang Xiaoqian , Xu Yan
Published: January 2023

P. gingivalis
is a bacterium often associated with periodontitis. This study demonstrates that (i) sRNA45033 in
P. gingivalis
OMVs targets CBX5, (ii) CBX5 regulates the methylation of p53 DNA and its expression, which is associated with apoptosis, and (iii) a novel mechanism of interaction between hosts and pathogens is mediated by OMVs in the occurrence of periodontitis.
Late Holocene volcanic stratigraphy and eruption chronology of the dacitic Young Doña Juana volcano, Colombia
Authors: Pardo Natalia , Sulpizio Roberto , Lucchi Federico , Giordano Guido , Cronin Shane , Pulgarín Bernardo A. , Roverato Matteo , Correa-Tamayo Ana María , Camacho Ricardo , Cabrera Miguel A.
Published: January 2023

We present the late Holocene eruption history of the poorly known Doña Juana volcanic complex, in SW Colombia, which last erupted in the twentieth century. This represents a case study for potentially active volcanism in the rural Northern Andes, where tropical climate conditions and a fragmented social memory blur the record of dormant volcanoes. We reconstructed the volcanic stratigraphy of the central-summit vent area by integrating new mapping at 1:5000 scale with radiocarbon ages, sedimentology analysis, and historical chronicles. Our results revealed cyclic transitions from lava-dome growth phases and collapse to explosive Vulcanian and possibly subplinian phases. Pyroclastic density currents were generated by dome collapse producing block-and-ash flows or by pyroclastic fountain/column collapse and were rapidly channelized into the deeply incised fluvial valleys around the volcano summit. The pyroclastic density currents were ∼4−10 × 106 m3 in volume and deposited under granular flow− or fluid escape−dominated depositional regimes at high clast concentrations. In places, more dilute upper portions reached a wider areal distribution that affected the inhabited areas on high depositional terraces. The coefficient of friction (ΔH/L) is higher for block-and-ash flows and dense lava−bearing fountain/low-column-collapse pyroclastic density currents compared to pumice-bearing, column-collapse pyroclastic density currents. Associated mass-wasting processes included syneruptive and intereruptive debris flows, with the last one documented in 1936 CE.
Impact of rapid near-patient STI testing on service delivery outcomes in an integrated sexual health service in the United Kingdom: a controlled interrupted time series study
Authors: Walter Scott R , Jackson Joni , Myring Gareth , Redaniel Maria Theresa , Margelyte Ruta , Gardiner Rebecca , Clarke Michael D , Crofts Megan , McLeod Hugh , Hollingworth William , Phillips David , Muir Peter , Steer Jonathan , Turner Jonathan , Horner Paddy J , De Vocht Frank
Published: January 2023

Objectives

To evaluate the impact of a new clinic-based rapid sexually transmitted infection testing, diagnosis and treatment service on healthcare delivery and resource needs in an integrated sexual health service.

Design

Controlled interrupted time series study.

Setting

Two integrated sexual health services (SHS) in UK: Unity Sexual Health in Bristol, UK (intervention site) and Croydon Sexual Health in London (control site).

Participants

Electronic patient records for all 58 418 attendances during the period 1 year before and 1 year after the intervention.

Intervention

Introduction of an in-clinic rapid testing system for gonorrhoea and chlamydia in combination with revised treatment pathways.

Outcome measures

Time-to-test notification, staff capacity, cost per episode of care and overall service costs. We also assessed rates of gonorrhoea culture swabs, follow-up attendances and examinations.

Results

Time-to-notification and the rate of gonorrhoea swabs significantly decreased following implementation of the new system. There was no evidence of change in follow-up visits or examination rates for patients seen in clinic related to the new system. Staff capacity in clinics appeared to be maintained across the study period. Overall, the number of episodes per week was unchanged in the intervention site, and the mean cost per episode decreased by 7.5% (95% CI 5.7% to 9.3%).

Conclusions

The clear improvement in time-to-notification, while maintaining activity at a lower overall cost, suggests that the implementation of clinic-based testing had the intended impact, which bolsters the case for more widespread rollout in sexual health services.
Effects of an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Mental Health First Aid training programme for non-suicidal self-injury on stigmatising attitudes, confidence in ability to assist, and intended and actual assisting actions: an uncontrolled trial with precourse and postcourse measurement and 6-month follow-up
Authors: Armstrong Gregory , Sutherland Georgina , Pross Eliza , Mackinnon Andrew , Reavley Nicola , Jorm Anthony
Published: January 2023

Objectives

Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is a complex issue affecting Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Peoples in Australia. We evaluated the effects of an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Mental Health First Aid (AMHFA) training course on assisting an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person engaging in NSSI, including the effects on stigmatising attitudes, confidence in ability to assist, and intended and actual assisting actions.

Design

Uncontrolled trial with precourse and postcourse measurement (n=49) and 6-month follow-up (n=17).

Setting

Participants attended courses that were run in Queensland and Victorian communities and through one national organisation.

Participants

Participants were 49 adults who worked directly with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Peoples.

Intervention

The 5-hour ‘Talking About Non-Suicidal Self-Injury’ course was delivered by accredited AMHFA instructors and teaches people how to support an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person who is engaging in NSSI.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

The outcome measures were stigmatising attitudes, confidence in ability to assist, and intended and actual actions to assist a person engaging in NSSI.

Results

Improvements were observed in stigmatising attitudes, with significant changes from precourse in both the ‘weak-not-sick’ (postcourse p<0.0623; follow-up p=0.0058) and ‘dangerous/unpredictable’ (postcourse p<0.0001; follow-up p=0.0036) subscales. Participants’ confidence in ability to assist increased significantly both postcourse (p<0.0001) and at follow-up (p<0.0001). Despite a high level of endorsement for the nine recommended assisting actions at precourse, significant improvements (p<0.05) were observed in endorsement for six and four of the assisting actions postcourse and at follow-up, respectively. Course content was rated as being somewhat (3.4%), mostly (13.8%) or very (82.7%) culturally appropriate by participants who identified as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.

Conclusions

The results of this uncontrolled trial were encouraging, suggesting that the Talking About Non-Suicidal Self-Injury course was able to improve participants’ attitudes, confidence and intended assisting actions.
Trends in inpatient and post-discharge mortality among young infants admitted to Kilifi County Hospital, Kenya: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Talbert Alison , Ngari Moses , Obiero Christina , Nyaguara Amek , Mwangome Martha , Mturi Neema , Ouma Nelson , Otiende Mark , Berkley James
Published: January 2023

Objectives

To describe admission trends and estimate inpatient and post-discharge mortality and its associated exposures, among young infants (YI) admitted to a county hospital in Kenya.

Design

Retrospective cohort study.

Setting

Secondary level hospital.

Participants

YI aged less than 60 days admitted to hospital from January 2009 to December 2019: 12 271 admissions in 11 877 individuals. YI who were resident within a Kilifi Health and Demographic Surveillance System (KHDSS): n=3625 with 4421 admissions were followed-up for 1 year after discharge.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

Inpatient and 1-year post-discharge mortality, the latter in KHDSS residents.

Results

Of 12 271 YI admissions, 4421 (36%) were KHDSS-resident. Neonatal sepsis, preterm complications and birth asphyxia accounted for 83% of the admissions. The proportion of YI among under-5s admissions increased from 19% in 2009 to 34% in 2019 (Ptrend=0.02). Inpatient case fatality was 16%, with 66% of the deaths occurring within 48 hours of admission. The introduction of free maternity care in 2013 was not associated with a change in admissions or inpatient mortality among YI. During 1-year post-discharge, 208/3625 (5.7%) YI died, 64.3 (95% CI 56.2 to 73.7) per 1000 infant-years. 49% of the post-discharge deaths occurred within 1 month of discharge, and 49% of post-discharge deaths occurred at home. Both inpatient and post-discharge deaths were associated with low admission weight. Inpatient mortality was associated with clinical signs of disease severity, while post-discharge mortality was associated with the length of hospitalisation, leaving against advice and referral to a specialised hospital.

Conclusions

YIs accounted for an increasing proportion of paediatric admissions and their overall mortality remains high. Post-discharge mortality accounts for a lower proportion of deaths but mortality rate is higher than among children aged 2–59 months. Services to address post-discharge mortality are needed and should focus on infants at higher risk.
Visual outcomes and safety profile of intraocular lens implantation versus aphakia in children with microspherophakia with no subluxation
Authors: Chattannavar Goura , Mohamed Ashik , Malgi Vishwesh , Kekunnaya Ramesh
Published: January 2023

Objective

To study the visual, refractive and surgical outcomes of intraocular lens (IOL) implantation versus aphakia in children with microspherophakia.

Design

Retrospective, comparative, non-randomised interventional study.

Methods

All consecutive children with microspherophakia who satisfied the inclusion criteria were included. The eyes that underwent in-the-bag IOL implantation and those that were left aphakic were included in groups A and B, respectively. The postoperative visual outcomes, IOL stability and complications during the follow-up period were studied.

Results

22 eyes (13 patients, male 76%), of which 12 eyes were in group A and 10 eyes in group B. The mean±SE of age at surgery was 9.4±1.4 and 7.3±0.9 years in group A and group B, respectively (p value 0.18). The mean follow-up of group A was 0.9±0.4 years (median 0.5 years; Q1 0.04, Q3 2.16) and group B was 1.3±0.9 years (median 0.147 years; Q1 0.08, Q3 0.39) (p value 0.76). All the baseline biometric variables including best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) were comparable in each group. The final BCVA in logMAR adjusted for follow-up was comparable in both group A (0.29±0.06) and group B (0.52±0.09) (p value 0.06). Mean predictive error of IOL power in microspherophakia was 0.17±0.43.

The most common complication in group A was visual axis opacification of two eyes (16.7%, 95% CI 2.9% to 49.1%), of which one eye (8.3%, 95% CI 0.4% to 40.2%) needed membranectomy. Vitreous in anterior chamber was the most common complication in group B, seen in two eyes (20%, 95% CI 3.5% to 55.8%), of which one eye (10%, 95% CI 0.5% to 45.9%) underwent YAG laser vitreolysis. The survival analysis (p value 0.18) was comparable in each group.

Conclusion

In-the-bag IOL is an option, which can be considered in selected cases of microspherophakia in developing nations where regular follow-up and economic constraints are a major concern.
Improving the management of left ventricular thrombus in a tertiary cardiology centre: a quality improvement project
Authors: Rahunathan Nithusa , Hurdus Ben , Straw Sam , Iqbal Hansa , Witte Klaus , Wheatcroft Stephen
Published: January 2023

Left ventricular (LV) thrombus is an increasingly recognised complication following anterior myocardial infarction and non-ischaemic cardiomyopathy. Whilst vitamin K antagonists (VKA) remain the only approved therapeutic option to reduce the risk of systemic thromboembolism including stroke, the off-label use of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) is becoming an attractive alternative.

We aimed to improve the diagnosis and management of LV thrombus at a tertiary cardiology centre using quality improvement methodology. Outcomes included increasing the use of DOACs from 25% to 70% over a period of 1 year and shorten length of time from diagnosis to repeat imaging to within 3–6 months as recommended by guidelines.

During the first Plan–Do–Study–Action (PDSA) cycle, we identified 84 patients diagnosed with LV thrombus between 1 December 2012 and 30 June 2018. The majority (74%) were prescribed VKA. Repeat imaging occurred in 89% of patients, but only 55% using the same modality. The mean duration between diagnosis and repeat imaging was 233±251 days. There were no significant differences between VKA and DOAC in terms of thrombus resolution, systemic embolisation or clinically significant bleeding. We published trust-wide guidelines on the management of LV thrombus with recommendations supporting the use of DOACs and appropriate follow-up imaging. A second PDSA cycle undertaken between 1 October 2019 and 31 March 2020 identified a further 20 patients. DOAC use increased to 70% and 70% of patients underwent follow-up imaging following a mean duration of 140±61 days, although in only 36% using the same modality.

Using quality improvement methodology, we confirmed safe and efficient use of DOAC in the setting of LV thrombus. We published trust guidelines supporting their use, which was associated with an increase in DOAC use and in earlier follow-up imaging in line with our recommendations.
Beyond the medals: a cross-sectional study exploring retired elite female athletes’ health
Authors: Thornton Jane , Rosen Casey , Davenport Margie , Mountjoy Margo Lynn , Dorian Paul , Gouttebarge Vincent , Breau Becky , Pila Eva , Reilly Kristen , Yuan Jane , Mok Kelly , Di Ciacca Steve , Speechley Mark , Crossley Kay
Published: January 2023

Objectives

Little is known about the impact of elite sport participation on long-term athlete health. We aimed to: (1) describe musculoskeletal, mental health, reproductive/endocrine and cardiovascular characteristics in retired elite female athletes and compare to the general population and (2) explore athletes’ perceptions of their elite sport participation and its impact on health.

Methods

A 136-item online questionnaire was disseminated to Canadian elite female rowing and rugby athletes >18 years old,>2 years retired from elite competition. Matched general population data were obtained from Statistics Canada when available.

Results

Seventy-four (24% response rate) athletes (average age 45 (±9) years; retired 15 (±9) years) completed the questionnaire (30 rowing, 44 rugby athletes). During their career, 63 athletes (85%) experienced a hip/groin, knee, foot/ankle injury, or low back pain, with 42 (67%) reporting ongoing symptoms. Athletes 35–54 years reported worse knee symptoms and quality of life compared with the general population (symptom: p=0.197; d=1.15 [0.66, 1.63]; quality of life: p=0.312 d=1.03 [0.54, 1.51]) while other hip, knee and foot/ankle outcome scores were similar. Retired athletes had lower odds of anxiety (OR=0.155 [95% CI0.062 to 0.384]), greater lifetime/ever odds of amenorrhea (OR=6.10 [95%CI 2.67 to 13.96]) and gave birth when older (p<0.05). Fifty-nine (79%) recalled witnessing or experiencing at least one form of harassment/abuse during their career. Sixty athletes (81%) rated their current health as above average or excellent and 61 (82%) would compete at the same level again if given the choice.

Conclusion

These novel insights can inform future preventative efforts to promote positive elite sport-related outcomes for current, former and future female athletes.
Activated regulatory T-cells promote duodenal bacterial translocation into necrotic areas in severe acute pancreatitis
Authors: Glaubitz Juliane , Wilden Anika , Frost Fabian , Ameling Sabine , Homuth Georg , Mazloum Hala , Rühlemann Malte Christoph , Bang Corinna , Aghdassi Ali A , Budde Christoph , Pickartz Tilmann , Franke Andre , Bröker Barbara M , Voelker Uwe , Mayerle Julia , Lerch Markus M , Weiss Frank-Ulrich , Sendler Matthias
Published: January 2023

Objective

In acute pancreatitis (AP), bacterial translocation and subsequent infection of pancreatic necrosis are the main risk factors for severe disease and late death. Understanding how immunological host defence mechanisms fail to protect the intestinal barrier is of great importance in reducing the mortality risk of the disease. Here, we studied the role of the Treg/Th17 balance for maintaining the intestinal barrier function in a mouse model of severe AP.

Design

AP was induced by partial duct ligation in C57Bl/6 or DEREG mice, in which regulatory T-cells (Treg) were depleted by intraperitoneal injection of diphtheria toxin. By flow cytometry, functional suppression assays and transcriptional profiling we analysed Tregactivation and characterised T-cells of the lamina propria as well as intraepithelial lymphocytes (IELs) regarding their activation and differentiation. Microbiota composition was examined in intestinal samples as well as in murine and human pancreatic necrosis by 16S rRNA gene sequencing.

Results

The prophylactic Treg-depletion enhanced the proinflammatory response in an experimental mouse model of AP but stabilised the intestinal immunological barrier function of Th17 cells and CD8+/γδTCR+IELs. Tregdepleted animals developed less bacterial translocation to the pancreas. Duodenal overgrowth of the facultative pathogenic taxaEscherichia/Shigellawhich associates with severe disease and infected necrosis was diminished in Tregdepleted animals.

Conclusion

Tregsplay a crucial role in the counterbalance against systemic inflammatory response syndrome. In AP, Treg-activation disturbs the duodenal barrier function and permits translocation of commensal bacteria into pancreatic necrosis. Targeting Tregsin AP may help to ameliorate the disease course.
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines on myocardial revascularisation
Authors: Jabbour Richard J , Curzen Nick
Published: January 2023

Cardiologists in the UK predominantly use the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and European Society of Cardiology guidelines to help guide decision-making. This article will appraise the current recommendations from NICE regarding myocardial revascularisation and compare them with other major international guidelines. While there are many similarities, subtle differences exist. These differences arise in part due to the evidence base at time of publication, as well as from the different healthcare systems that they are designed for, and from the cost-effectiveness models that dominate the methodology used by NICE. The clinical implications of the differences between the international guidelines will be analysed.
Coronary low-attenuation plaque and high-sensitivity cardiac troponin
Authors: Meah Mohammed N , Wereski Ryan , Bularga Anda , van Beek Edwin J R , Dweck Marc R , Mills Nicholas L , Newby David E , Dey Damini , Williams Michelle Claire , Lee Kuan Ken
Published: January 2023

Objective

In patients with acute chest pain who have had myocardial infarction excluded, plasma cardiac troponin I concentrations ≥5 ng/L are associated with risk of future adverse cardiovascular events. We aim to evaluate the association between cardiac troponin and coronary plaque composition in such patients.

Methods

In a prespecified secondary analysis of a prospective cohort study, blinded quantitative plaque analysis was performed on 242 CT coronary angiograms of patients with acute chest pain in whom myocardial infarction was excluded. Patients were stratified by peak plasma cardiac troponin I concentration ≥5 ng/L or <5 ng/L. Associations were assessed using univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses.

Results

The cohort was predominantly middle-aged (62±12 years) men (69%). Patients with plasma cardiac troponin I concentration ≥5 ng/L (n=161) had a higher total (median 33% (IQR 0–47) vs 0% (IQR 0–33)), non-calcified (27% (IQR 0–37) vs 0% (IQR 0–28)), calcified (2% (IQR 0–8) vs 0% (IQR 0–3)) and low-attenuation (1% (IQR 0–3) vs 0% (IQR 0–1)) coronary plaque burden compared with those with concentrations <5 ng/L (n=81; p≤0.001 for all). Low-attenuation plaque burden was independently associated with plasma cardiac troponin I concentration ≥5 ng/L after adjustment for clinical characteristics (adjusted OR per doubling 1.62 (95% CI 1.17 to 2.32), p=0.005) or presence of any visible coronary artery disease (adjusted OR per doubling 1.57 (95% CI 1.07 to 2.37), p=0.026).

Conclusion

In patients with acute chest pain but without myocardial infarction, plasma cardiac troponin I concentrations ≥5 ng/L are associated with greater burden of low-attenuation coronary plaque.
Intratumoral BO-112 in combination with radiotherapy synergizes to achieve CD8 T-cell-mediated local tumor control
Authors: Rodriguez-Ruiz Maria E , Serrano-Mendioroz Irantzu , Garate-Soraluze Eneko , Sánchez-Mateos Paloma , Barrio-Alonso Celia , Rodríguez López Inmaculada , Diaz Pascual Victor , Arbea Moreno Leire , Alvarez Maite , Sanmamed Miguel F , Perez-Gracia Jose Luis , Escuin-Ordinas Helena , Quintero Marisol , Melero Ignacio
Published: January 2023

Background

Radioimmunotherapy combines irradiation of tumor lesions with immunotherapy to achieve local and abscopal control of cancer. Most immunotherapy agents are given systemically, but strategies for delivering immunotherapy locally are under clinical scrutiny to maximize efficacy and avoid toxicity. Local immunotherapy, by injecting various pathogen-associated molecular patterns, has shown efficacy both preclinically and clinically. BO-112 is a viral mimetic based on nanoplexed double-stranded RNA (poly I:C) which exerts immune-mediated antitumor effects in mice and humans on intratumoral delivery. BO-112 and focal irradiation were used to make the proof-of-concept for local immunotherapy plus radiation therapy combinations.

Methods

Murine transplantable tumor cell lines (TS/A, MC38 and B16-OVA) were used to show increased immunogenic features under irradiation, as well as in bilateral tumor models in which only one of the lesions was irradiated or/and injected with BO-112. Flow cytometry and multiplex tissue immunofluorescence were used to determine the effects on antitumor immunity. Depletions of immune cell populations and knockout mice for the IFNAR and BATF-3 genes were used to delineate the immune system requirements for efficacy.

Results

In cultures of TS/A breast cancer cells, the combination of irradiation and BO-112 showed more prominent features of immunogenic tumor cell death in terms of calreticulin exposure. Injection of BO-112 into the tumor lesion receiving radiation achieved excellent control of the treated tumor and modest delays in contralateral tumor progression. Local effects were associated with more prominent infiltrates of antitumor cytotoxic tumor lymphocytes (CTLs). Importantly, local irradiation plus BO-112 in one of the tumor lesions that enhanced the therapeutic effects of radiotherapy on distant irradiated lesions that were not injected with BO-112. Hence, this beneficial effect of local irradiation plus BO-112 on a tumor lesion enhanced the therapeutic response to radiotherapy on distant non-injected lesions.

Conclusion

This study demonstrates that local BO-112 immunotherapy and focal irradiation may act in synergy to achieve local tumor control. Irradiation plus BO-112 in one of the tumor lesions enhanced the therapeutic effects on distant irradiated lesions that were not injected with BO-112, suggesting strategies to treat oligometastatic patients with lesions susceptible to radiotherapy and with at least one tumor accessible for repeated BO-112 intratumoral injections.
Metabolic features and glucocorticoid-induced comorbidities in patients with giant cell arteritis and polymyalgia rheumatica in a Dutch and Danish cohort
Authors: Esen Idil , Arends Suzanne , Dalsgaard Nielsen Berit , Therkildsen Philip , Hansen Ib , van 't Ende Anna , Heeringa Peter , Boots Annemieke , Hauge Ellen , Brouwer Elisabeth , van Sleen Yannick
Published: January 2023

Objectives

Giant cell arteritis (GCA) and polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) are age-associated inflammatory diseases that frequently overlap. Both diseases require long-term treatment with glucocorticoids (GCs), often associated with comorbidities. Previous population-based cohort studies reported that an unhealthier metabolic profile might prevent the development of GCA. Here, we report metabolic features before start of treatment and during treatment in patients with GCA and PMR.

Methods

In the Dutch GCA/PMR/SENEX (GPS) cohort, we analysed metabolic features and prevalence of comorbidities (type 2 diabetes, hypercholesterolaemia, hypertension, obesity and cataract) in treatment-naïve patients with GCA (n=50) and PMR (n=42), and compared those with the population-based Lifelines cohort (n=91). To compare our findings in the GPS cohort, we included data from patients with GCA (n=52) and PMR (n=25) from the Aarhus cohort. Laboratory measurements, comorbidities and GC use were recorded for up to 5 years in the GPS cohort.

Results

Glycated haemoglobin levels tended to be higher in treatment-naïve patients with GCA, whereas high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein and cholesterol levels were lower compared with the Lifelines population. Data from the Aarhus cohort were aligned with the findings obtained in the GPS cohort. Presence of comorbidities at baseline did not predict long-term GC requirement. The incidence of diabetes, obesity and cataract among patients with GCA increased upon initiation of GC treatment.

Conclusion

Data from the GCA and PMR cohorts imply a metabolic dysregulation in treatment-naïve patients with GCA, but not in patients with PMR. Treatment with GCs led to the rise of comorbidities and an unhealthier metabolic profile, stressing the need for prednisone-sparing targeted treatment in these vulnerable patients.
Transcriptome-wide characterization of alternative splicing in five drug-type cultivars of Cannabis sativa
Authors: Severson Tonya F. , Adams Keith L.
Published: January 2023

Cannabis sativa L. is widely used for fiber, medicinal, and other purposes, and many cultivars exist, yielding varying proportions of cannabinoids and terpenes. There is considerable interest in characterizing genomes and transcriptomes of C. sativa. Alternative splicing (AS) is a fundamental aspect of gene expression that results in multiple types of mRNAs produced by differential splicing. Transcriptome-wide identification of AS events in drug-type cultivars of C. sativa has not been reported. Here, we identified AS events using a transcriptome dataset derived from five drug-type cultivars with divergent chemotypes. Intron retention is the most common event type, followed by alternative acceptor, alternative donor, and skipped exons. We also sought to assess conservation of AS events among cultivars. We found 547 events (5%) unique to a single cultivar, 2661 (25%) shared by 2–4 cultivars, and 7569 (70%) common to all 5 cultivars. Genes with AS events in each set were analyzed for gene ontology enrichment, showing that genes with AS unique to a single cultivar are enriched for molecular functions related to interactions with ATP and processes involving transport within cells and across membranes. These results provide insights into the conservation and variation of AS events in multiple cultivars of C. sativa.
Nonrelativistic quark model for mass spectra and decay constants of heavy-light mesons using conformable fractional derivative and asymptotic iteration method
Authors: Atangana Likéné A. , Ema’a Ema’a J. M. , Ele Abiama P. , Ben-Bolie G. H.
Published: January 2023

In this paper, we use the concept of conformable fractional derivative to study the nonrelativistic radial Schrödinger equation. We suggest an extended version of the Cornell potential as the quark–antiquark interaction of light and heavy mesons. We generalize the asymptotic iteration method to the fractional domain. The latter is used to calculate the energy eigenvalues, as well as the effect of the fractional order [Formula: see text] on energy spectra. To test the applicability of our model, we use the obtained results to reproduce the mass spectra of some light and heavy mesons such as [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] quarks. The mass spectra are obtained at different values of the fractional order parameter [Formula: see text] and were compared with experimental results and other relevant theoretical works. Using the wave function, we calculated the decay constants for heavy-light [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] mesons. Our results are found to be in good agreement with the experimental data, and improved in comparison with other theoretical previsions.
Updated LHC bounds on MUED after run 2
Authors: Flores Marvin M. , Kim Jong Soo , Rolbiecki Krzysztof , de Austri Bazan Roberto Ruiz
Published: January 2023

We present updated LHC limits on the minimal universal extra dimensions (MUEDs) model from the Run 2 searches. We scan the parameter space against a number of searches implemented in the public code CheckMATE and derive up-to-date limits on the MUED parameter space from 13[Formula: see text]TeV searches. The strongest constraints come from a search dedicated to squarks and gluinos with one isolated lepton, jets and missing transverse energy. In the procedure, we take into account initial state radiation and stress its importance in the MUED searches, which is not always appreciated.
Impact of Magneto-Deformation Effect in Ferrogels on the Echogenicity of Magnetic Composites
Authors: Dinislamova Olga A. , Yaryshev Ilya O. , Bugayova Antonina V. , Shklyar Tatyana F. , Safronov Alexander P. , Lotfollahi Zahra , Blyakhman Felix A.
Published: January 2023

Basically, this study was carried out in the context of the development of ferrogel-based biocompatible soft tissue implants, in particular, for the needs of regenerative medicine and replacement therapy. The magneto-deformation effect (MDE) of ferrogels (FGs) and the possibility of its visualization with the use of medical ultrasound were in the focus of this work. The aim of this investigation was addressed to search a possible relationship between the extent of MDE and the intensity of the reflected echo signal at the gel/water interface and in the gel interior. Cylindrical FGs [Formula: see text][Formula: see text]mm in diameter and [Formula: see text][Formula: see text]mm in height based on polyacrylamide (PAAm) with interpenetrating physical network of natural polysaccharide (Guar) filled with 200–300[Formula: see text]nm Fe3O4 magnetic microparticles (MPs) with weight fraction of 12% or 23% were investigated. MDE was studied using an ultrasonic medical device Sonoline Adara (Siemens, Germany), and estimated by the relative compression of FGs after application the constant gradient magnetic field (MF) up to 500 Oe by an electromagnet. Viscoelastic and acoustic properties of FGs in the absence of the application of an MF were determined as well. It was found that an increase of the weight fraction of MPs in FGs resulted in the significant increase of the ferrogel’s density, the elastic storage modulus, the loss modulus, the acoustic impedance, the reflection coefficient and some decrease of the ultrasonic velocity in FGs. At a given MPs concentration, the MDE in FGs was increased according to a quadratic law with the gradual increase of MF strength. The growth of MDE in FGs accompanies by an increase in the intensity of the reflected echo signal both from the gel/water interface and from the interior of the FGs. The obtained results are discussed from the viewpoint of the effects of MPs on the interaction of an ultrasonic wave with the structure of FGs in the course of MF application.
Poincaré Heterogeneous Graph Neural Networks for Sequential Recommendation
Authors: Guo Naicheng , Liu Xiaolei , Li Shaoshuai , Ma Qiongxu , Gao Kaixin , Han Bing , Zheng Lin , Guo Sheng , Guo Xiaobo
Published: January 2023

Sequential recommendation (SR) learns users’ preferences by capturing the sequential patterns from users’ behaviors evolution. As discussed in many works, user–item interactions of SR generally present the intrinsic power-law distribution, which can be ascended to hierarchy-like structures. Previous methods usually handle such hierarchical information by making user–item sectionalization empirically under Euclidean space, which may cause distortion of user–item representation in real online scenarios. In this article, we propose a Poincaré-based heterogeneous graph neural network named Poincaré Heterogeneous Graph Neural Networks for Sequential Recommendation (PHGR) to model the sequential pattern information as well as hierarchical information contained in the data of SR scenarios simultaneously. Specifically, for the purpose of explicitly capturing the hierarchical information, we first construct a weighted user–item heterogeneous graph by aliening all the user–item interactions to improve the perception domain of each user from a global view. Then the output of the global representation would be used to complement the local directed item–item homogeneous graph convolution. By defining a novel hyperbolic inner product operator, the global and local graph representation learning are directly conducted in Poincaré ball instead of commonly used projection operation between Poincaré ball and Euclidean space, which could alleviate the cumulative error issue of general bidirectional translation process. Moreover, for the purpose of explicitly capturing the sequential dependency information, we design two types of temporal attention operations under Poincaré ball space. Empirical evaluations on datasets from the public and financial industry show that PHGR outperforms several comparison methods.
Handwriting Velcro
Authors: Fang Fengyi , Zhang Hongwei , Zhan Lishuang , Guo Shihui , Zhang Minying , Lin Juncong , Qin Yipeng , Fu Hongbo
Published: January 2023

Text input is a desired feature for AR glasses. While there already exist various input modalities (e.g., voice, mid-air gesture), the diverse demands required by different input scenarios can hardly be met by the small number of fixed input postures offered by existing solutions. In this paper, we present Handwriting Velcro, a novel text input solution for AR glasses based on flexible touch sensors. The distinct advantage of our system is that it can easily stick to different body parts, thus endowing AR glasses with posture-adaptive handwriting input. We explored the design space of on-body device positions and identified the best interaction positions for various user postures. To flatten users' learning curves, we adapt our device to the established writing habits of different users by training a 36-character (i.e., A-Z, 0-9) recognition neural network in a human-in-the-loop manner. Such a personalization attempt ultimately achieves a low error rate of 0.005 on average for users with different writing styles. Subjective feedback shows that our solution has a good performance in system practicability and social acceptance. Empirically, we conducted a heuristic study to explore and identify the best interaction Position-Posture Correlation. Experimental results show that our Handwriting Velcro excels similar work [6] and commercial product in both practicality (12.3 WPM) and user-friendliness in different contexts.
Don't "Weight" to Board
Authors: Lee Jong Taek , Lim Yu Kai , Pan Shijia , Han Jun
Published: January 2023

Airlines overestimate the weight of their passengers by simply assigning a constant weight for everyone, causing each plane to burn more fuel than needed to carry the extra weight. Accurately estimating the passenger weights is a difficult problem for airlines as naively weighing all passengers with scales is impractical in already busy airports. Hence, we propose CamScale, a novel vision-based weight inference system that is augmented by an off-the-shelf viscoelastic mat (e.g., memory foam mat). CamScale takes the video feed of the mat placed on the floor as the passengers walk over it. It utilizes the inherent strain, or deformation of the mat due to the passengers' footsteps to infer their weights. CamScale is advantageous because it does not incur additional weighing time, while being cost-effective and accurate. We evaluate CamScale through real-world experiments by deploying RGB and infrared cameras and inviting 36 participants to walk a total of more than 17,000 steps over viscoelastic mats, equivalent to walking approximately 13.1 km. We demonstrate that CamScale is able to accurately estimate an individual's weight with an average error of 1.12 kg.