bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
High Pseudocapacitance‐Driven CoC2O4 Electrodes Exhibiting Superior Electrochemical Kinetics and Reversible Capacities for Lithium‐Ion and Lithium–Sulfur Batteries
Authors: Zhou Zhiming , Lin Peirong , Zhao Shiqiang , Jin Huile , Qian Yudan , Chen Xi,an , Tang Xinyue , Zhang Qingcheng , Guo Daying , Wang Shun
Published: November 2022

In this study, cuboid‐like anhydrous CoC2O4 particles (CoC2O4‐HK) are synthesized through a potassium citrate‐assisted hydrothermal method, which possess well‐crystallized structure for fast Li+ transportation and efficient Li+ intercalation pseudocapacitive behaviors. When being used in lithium‐ion batteries, the as‐prepared CoC2O4‐HK delivers a high reversible capacity (≈1360 mAh g‐1 at 0.1 A g‐1), good rate capability (≈650 mAh g‐1 at 5 A g‐1) and outstanding cycling stability (835 mAh g‐1 after 1000 cycles at 1 A g‐1). Characterizations illustrate that the Li+‐intercalation pseudocapacitance dominates the charge storage of CoC2O4‐HK electrode, together with the reversible reaction of CoC2O4+2Li++2e−→Co+Li2C2O4 on discharging and charging. In addition, CoC2O4‐HK particles are also used together with carbon–sulfur composite materials as the electrocatalysts for lithium–sulfur (Li–S) battery, which displays a gratifying sulfur electrochemistry with a high reversibility of 1021.5 mAh g−1 at 2 C and a low decay rate of 0.079% per cycle after 500 cycles. The density functional theory (DFT) calculations show that CoC2O4/C can regulate the adsorption‐activation of reaction intermediates and therefore boost the catalytic conversion of polysulfides. Therefore, this work presents a new prospect of applying CoC2O4 as the high‐performance electrode materials for rechargeable Li‐ion and Li–S batteries.
Synthesis Strategies and Applications for Pitch‐Based Anode: From Industrial By‐Products to Power Sources
Authors: Li Cen , Yan Lunjing , Wang Meijun , Kong Jiao , Bao Weiren , Chang Liping
Published: November 2022

It is significant for saving energy to manufacture superb‐property batteries. Carbon is one of the most competitive anode materials in batteries, but it is hard for commercial graphite anodes to meet the increasingly higher energy‐storage requirements. Moreover, the price of other better‐performing carbon materials (such as graphene) is much higher than graphite, which is not conducive to massive production. Pitch, the cheap by‐product in the petroleum and coal industries, has high carbon content and yield, making it possible for commercialization. Developing pitch‐based anodes can not only lower raw material costs but also realize the pitch′s high value‐added utilization. We comprehensively reviewed the latest synthesis strategies of pitch‐derived materials and then introduced their application and research progress in lithium, sodium, and potassium ion batteries (LIBs, SIBs, and PIBs). Finally, we summarize and suggest the pitch′s development trend for anodes and in other fields.
Exploring Nucleobase Modifications in Oligonucleotide Analogues for Use as Environmentally Responsive Fluorophores and Beyond
Authors: Chowdhury Mria , Hudson Robert H. E.
Published: November 2022

Over the past two decades, it has become abundantly clear that nucleic acid biochemistry, especially with respect to RNA, is more convoluted and complex than previously appreciated. Indeed, the application and exploitation of nucleic acids beyond their predestined role as the medium for storage and transmission of genetic information to the treatment and study of diseases has been achieved. In other areas of endeavor, utilization of nucleic acids as a probe molecule requires that they possess a reporter group. The reporter group of choice is often a luminophore because fluorescence spectroscopy has emerged as an indispensable tool to probe the structural and functional properties of modified nucleic acids. The scope of this review spans research done in the Hudson lab at The University of Western Ontario and is focused on modified pyrimidine nucleobases and their applications as environmentally sensitive fluorophores, base discriminating fluorophores, and in service of antisense applications as well as tantalizing new results as G‐quadruplex destabilizing agents. While this review is a focused personal account, particularly influential work of colleagues in the chemistry community will be highlighted. The intention is not to make a comprehensive review, citations to the existing excellent reviews are given, any omission of the wonderful and impactful work being done by others globally is not intentional. Thus, this review will briefly introduce the context of our work, summarize what has been accomplished and finish with the prospects of future developments.
Exploring Molecular Complexity by N‐Heterocyclic Carbene Organocatalysis: New Activation and Reaction Diversity
Authors: Liu Yonggui , Wang Yanyan , Wu Xingxing , Chi Yonggui Robin
Published: November 2022

The development of catalytic synthetic approaches towards molecular complexity from simple materials continues to be an ultimate goal in synthetic chemistry. Over the past decades, N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) organocatalysis has been extensively investigated to provide opportunities for a vast number of novel chemical transformations. Various activation modes and reactive intermediates enabled by NHC small‐molecule catalysts, such as Breslow intermediates, (homo)enolates, acyl azoliums and their derived unsaturated azoliums exhibit great potential in the construction of complicated skeletons. This personal account will summarize our group's recent work in the exploration of new activation modes of NHC catalysis towards molecular complexity with a focus on the development and applications of NHC to achieve diversity and enantioselectivity in the preparation of functional molecules.
Molecular and biochemical investigation of the protective effects of rutin against liver and kidney toxicity caused by malathion administration in a rat model
Authors: Gur Cihan , Kandemir Fatih Mehmet
Published: November 2022

Widely used malathion (MLT) causes environmental pollution, leading to toxicity in many living things, including humans. Rutin (RUT) is a flavonoid with various biological properties. In the present study, the protective effects of rutin against liver and kidney toxicity caused by malathion were investigated. In the study, MLT (100 mg/kg) and RUT (50 or 100 mg/kg) were administered to rats alone or in combination for 28 days. Then, oxidative stress, inflammation, endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS), apoptosis, and autophagy markers in liver and kidney tissues were analyzed by biochemical and molecular methods. The results showed that MLT caused oxidative stress in both tissues, while RUT showed antioxidant properties and protected these tissues from oxidative damage. Moreover, MLT upregulated the expressions of ATF‐6, PERK, IRE1, GRP78, and CHOP, leading to ERS. However, RUT alleviated ER stress and suppressed these markers. The study also found that MLT increased inflammatory, apoptotic, and autophagic markers. All these factors affected liver and kidney functions and caused an increase in plasma ALT, AST, urea, and creatinine levels. On the other hand, it has been observed that RUT may protect liver and kidney tissues from the destructive effect of MLT by showing anti‐inflammatory, anti‐apoptotic, and anti‐autophagic properties. Thus, it was determined that ALT, AST, urea, and creatinine levels decreased after RUT treatment. As a result, it was observed that MLT had a toxic effect on the liver and kidney tissues of rats, and it was determined that this toxicity could be alleviated by RUT treatment.
Scattering of SH wave by a crack in a functionally graded one dimensional hexagonal piezoelectric quasicrystals
Authors: Yang Juan , Wang Xu , Ding Sheng‐Hu , Li Xing
Published: November 2022

In this paper, the dynamic interaction between SH wave and a crack in functionally graded one‐dimensional hexagonal piezoelectric quasicrystals (PQCs) is studied by using integral transform technique. To make the analysis executable, the material properties are assumed to vary partially in the direction perpendicular to the crack face following an exponential function. The problem was transformed through Fourier transform into three pairs of dual integral equations, which are solved numerically by the Copson method. The explicit expressions of phonon field, phason field and electric field on crack surface are determined. The dynamic field intensity factors of crack tip are given and some special cases are discussed. Numerical examples are then conducted to reveal the influences of amplitude, incident angle and wave number of SH wave and crack length, gradient parameter on the normalized dynamic stress intensity factors (DSIFs). The results of this paper lay a theoretical foundation for the design and nondestructive testing of QCs structures.
The «materialization» of forces: Why confounding mathematical concept and physical entity makes the design of metamaterials arduous
Authors: dell'Isola Francesco , Stilz Maximilian
Published: November 2022

In this paper we show why the postulation scheme based on forces and couples is detrimental when designing novel metamaterials. Instead, the most effective postulation scheme for mechanics is that based on the Principle of Virtual Work formulated by, for example, d'Alembert, Lagrange, Piola, and Paul Germain. In fact, generalized continuum mechanics can be formulated in a coherent way only by basing its foundations on the Principle of Virtual Work while the problem of synthesis of novel metamaterials can be efficiently confronted only when introducing generalized continua as their model at macroscopic level. Once work functionals are postulated, the set of involved generalized forces are identified using the representation theorem for distributions by Laurent Schwartz, forces in particular being zeroth order distributions. Actually, only when limiting the class of considered internal work functionals to first order distributions is the Principle of Virtual Work equivalent to the balances of forces and couples. The predominant Role of the Principle of Virtual Work has been denied by those inductivist scholars who claim that balance laws can be induced by experimentation. The Principle of Virtual Work postulation more truly fits in a falsificationist approach to epistemology.
Simulated Versus Monitored Building Behaviours: Sample Demo Applications of a Perfomance Gap Detection Tool in a Northern Italian Climate
Authors: Chiesa Giacomo , Fasano Francesca , Grasso Paolo
Published: November 2022

Green building technologies and design-correlated choices may significantly contribute to supporting the transition toward net energy flows in the built environment. Nevertheless, large discrepancies are underlined between standard simulated and monitored building behaviours requiring approaches able to simply correlate real building behaviours and simulated ones to further support coherent certification and/or optimization. The paper focusses on the application of a semi-automatic methodology to compare and evaluate thermal behaviours of buildings considering monitored and simulated data. The approach is based on a new Python tool developed by the authors, able to manage EnergyPlus inputs and perform multi-source KPIs calculations. The mentioned tool is used here to support semi-automatic model verifications of real weather data by optimizing model parameters to fit monitored behaviours. The approach is applied in this chapter to two demo buildings, a municipality school and a residential unit, located in the Turin metropolitan area of Piedmont, in Northwest Italy.
Bouncing inside the horizon and scrambling delays
Authors: Horowitz Gary T. , Leung Henry , Queimada Leonel , Zhao Ying
Published: November 2022

Abstract

We study charged perturbations of the thermofield double state dual to a charged AdS black hole. We model the perturbation by a massless charged shell in the bulk. Unlike the neutral case, all such shells bounce at a definite radius, which can be behind the horizon. We show that the standard “shock wave” calculation of a scrambling time indicates that adding charge increases the scrambling time. We then give two arguments using the bounce that suggest that scrambling does not actually take longer when charge is added, but instead its onset is delayed. We also construct a boundary four point function which detects whether the shell bounces inside the black hole.
CFT correlators from shape deformations in Cubic Curvature Gravity
Authors: Anastasiou Giorgos , Araya Ignacio J. , Argandoña Andrés , Olea Rodrigo
Published: November 2022

Abstract

We find a covariant expression for the universal part of the holographic entanglement entropy which is valid for CFTs dual to generic higher curvature gravities in up to five bulk dimensions. We use this functional to compute universal coefficients of stress-tensor correlators in three-dimensional CFTs dual to Cubic Curvature Gravity. Using gauge/gravity duality, we work out an expression for the entanglement entropy of deformed entangling regions and read the coefficients from the power expansion of the entropy in the deformation parameter. In particular, we obtain the t4 coefficient of the 3-point function and exhibit a difference between the results obtained using the entanglement entropy functional for minimal and non-minimal splittings. We compare the obtained expressions for t4 derived considering both splittings with results obtained through other holographic methods which are splitting-independent. We find agreement with the result obtained from the non-minimal splitting, whereas the result derived from the minimal splitting is inconsistent and it is therefore ruled out.
Aspects of univalence in holographic axion models
Authors: Baggioli Matteo , Grieninger Sebastian , Grozdanov Sašo , Lu Zhenkang
Published: November 2022

Abstract

Univalent functions are complex, analytic (holomorphic) and injective functions that have been widely discussed in complex analysis. It was recently proposed that the stringent constraints that univalence imposes on the growth of functions combined with sufficient analyticity conditions could be used to derive rigorous lower and upper bounds on hydrodynamic dispersion relation, i.e., on all terms appearing in their convergent series representations. The results are exact bounds on physical quantities such as the diffusivity and the speed of sound. The purpose of this paper is to further explore these ideas, investigate them in concrete holographic examples, and work towards a better intuitive understanding of the role of univalence in physics. More concretely, we study diffusive and sound modes in a family of holographic axion models and offer a set of observations, arguments and tests that support the applicability of univalence methods for bounding physical observables described in terms of effective field theories. Our work provides insight into expected ‘typical’ regions of univalence, comparisons between the tightness of bounds and the corresponding exact values of certain quantities characterising transport, tests of relations between diffusion and bounds that involve chaotic pole-skipping, as well as tests of a condition that implies the conformal bound on the speed of sound and a complementary condition that implies its violation.
Transient phenomena in the axion assisted Schwinger effect
Authors: Domcke Valerie , Ema Yohei , Mukaida Kyohei
Published: November 2022

Abstract

Particle production induced by a time-dependent background is well understood as the projection of the time-evolved initial state onto a set of final states. While the asymptotic initial and final states are well defined in the usual way, the definition of particles and antiparticles at intermediate times in the presence of external fields is ambiguous. These external fields moreover induce divergences which require regularization. In this paper we clarify some subtleties in the computation of transient effects in physical quantities for fermions in a homogeneous axion background, including Schwinger production in background electromagnetic fields. The presence of the axion requires particular care as well as knowledge of the UV theory when regulating the theory and computing the vacuum contribution to the fermion energy.
A derivation of the planar limit of $$ \mathcal{N} $$ = 2 chiral correlators
Authors: Fiol Bartomeu , Fukelman Alan Rios
Published: November 2022

Abstract

We derive analytically the terms of maximal transcendentality of the planar 2- and 3-point functions of single-trace chiral primary operators of $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= 2 SQCD on ℝ4, to all orders in the ’t Hooft coupling. These results prove two conjectures we formulated in previous work. Furthermore, we also provide an explicit expression for the terms in the planar 2-point functions of these operators that contain products of two values of the ζ function.
Activation of the STING pathway induces peripheral sensitization via neuroinflammation in a rat model of bone cancer pain
Authors: Zhang Yuxin , Wang Wei , Gong Zhihao , Peng Yuan , Li Xin , Zhang Zuojing , Zhang Xiaoxuan , You Xingji , Wu Jingxiang
Published: November 2022

Background

Neuroinflammation in the peripheral nervous system has been linked to cancer metastasis-induced bone pain. The stimulator of interferon genes (STING), an innate immune sensor for cytosolic DNA, plays an important role in inflammation and cancer metastasis and is reported to be a critical regulator of nociception. Here, we examined the role of STING in primary nociceptive neurons and chronic pain to determine if it could be a new target for treating bone cancer pain (BCP).

Methods

Walker 256 cancer cells were injected intratibially to induce bone cancer pain in rats. STING and its downstream inflammatory factors in dorsal root ganglia (DRG) were detected using western blotting and immunofluorescent staining. Transmission electron microscopy and the BCL2-associated X (Bax) expression were used to detect the mitochondrial stress in DRG neurons. C-176, a specific inhibitor of STING, was used to block STING activation and to test the pain behavior.

Results

Mechanical hyperalgesia and spontaneous pain were observed in BCP rats, accompanied by the upregulation of the STING expression in the ipsilateral L4-5 DRG neurons which showed significant mitochondrion stress. The STING/TANK-binding kinase 1 (TBK1)/nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) pathway activation was observed in the DRGs of BCP rats as well as increased IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α expression. C-176 alleviated bone cancer pain and reduced the STING and its downstream inflammatory pathway.

Conclusion

We provide evidence that STING pathway activation leads to neuroinflammation and peripheral sensitization. Pharmacological blockade of STING may be a promising novel strategy for preventing BCP.
Visualization of the inflammatory response to injury by neutrophil phenotype categories
Authors: de Fraiture Emma J. , Bongers Suus H. , Jukema Bernard N. , Koenderman Leo , Vrisekoop Nienke , van Wessem Karlijn J. P. , Leenen Luke P. H. , Hietbrink Falco
Published: November 2022

Purpose

The risk of infectious complications after trauma is determined by the amount of injury-related tissue damage and the resulting inflammatory response. Recently, it became possible to measure the neutrophil phenotype in a point-of-care setting. The primary goal of this study was to investigate if immunophenotype categories based on visual recognition of neutrophil subsets are applicable to interpret the inflammatory response to trauma. The secondary goal was to correlate these immunophenotype categories with patient characteristics, injury severity and risk of complications.

Methods

A cohort study was conducted with patients presented at a level 1 trauma center with injuries of any severity, who routinely underwent neutrophil phenotyping. Data generated by automated point-of-care flow cytometry were prospectively gathered. Neutrophil phenotypes categories were defined by visual assessment of two-dimensional CD16/CD62L dot plots. All patients were categorized in one of the immunophenotype categories. Thereafter, the categories were validated by multidimensional analysis of neutrophil populations, using FlowSOM. All clinical parameters and endpoints were extracted from the trauma registry.

Results

The study population consisted of 380 patients. Seven distinct immunophenotype Categories (0–6) were defined, that consisted of different neutrophil populations as validated by FlowSOM. Injury severity scores and risk of infectious complications increased with ascending immunophenotype Categories 3–6. Injury severity was similarly low in Categories 0–2.

Conclusion

The distribution of neutrophil subsets that were described in phenotype categories is easily recognizable for clinicians at the bedside. Even more, multidimensional analysis demonstrated these categories to be distinct subsets of neutrophils. Identification of trauma patients at risk for infectious complications by monitoring the immunophenotype category is a further improvement of personalized and point-of-care decision-making in trauma care.
Motion-region annotation for complex videos via label propagation across occluders
Authors: Mahmood Muhammad Habib , Diéz Yago , Oliver Arnau , Salvi Joaquim , Lladó Xavier
Published: November 2022

Motion cue is pivotal in moving object analysis, which is the root for motion segmentation and detection. These preprocessing tasks are building blocks for several applications such as recognition, matching and estimation. To devise a robust algorithm for motion analysis, it is imperative to have a comprehensive dataset to evaluate an algorithm’s performance. The main limitation in making these kind of datasets is the creation of ground-truth annotation of motion, as each moving object might span over multiple frames with changes in size, illumination and angle of view. Besides the optical changes, the object can undergo occlusion by static or moving occluders. The challenge increases when the video is captured by a moving camera. In this paper, we tackle the task of providing ground-truth annotation on motion regions in videos captured from a moving camera. With minimal manual annotation of an object mask, we are able to propagate the label mask in all the frames. Object label correction based on static and moving occluder is also performed by applying occluder mask tracking for a given depth ordering. A motion annotation dataset is also proposed to evaluate algorithm performance. The results show that our cascaded-naive approach provides successful results. All the resources of the annotation tool are publicly available athttp://dixie.udg.edu/anntool/.
Aktuelle Aspekte der Behandlung der Rotatorenmanschette
Authors: Eckers Franziska , Müller Andreas M. , Loske Stefan
Published: November 2022

Rotatorenmanschettenrupturen gehören zu den häufigsten muskuloskeletalen Erkrankungen und können mit ausgeprägten Schmerzen und Funktionseinschränkungen einhergehen. Für ihre Entstehung ist eine Vielzahl von Faktoren relevant, u. a. die individuelle Anatomie des Akromions. Mit Hilfe der heutigen technischen Möglichkeiten wurde nun festgestellt, dass zusätzlich zu seiner lateralen Ausdehnung auch die sagittale Ausdehnung des Akromions eine Rolle zu spielen scheint. Die bildgebende Darstellung der Rotatorenmanschette (RM) hat von den technischen Fortschritten der letzten Jahrzehnte ebenfalls profitiert. Magnetresonanztomographie (MRT) und MR-Arthrographie werden heute flächendeckend eingesetzt. Letztere bietet die höchste Sensitivität für die Entdeckung selbst kleiner Partialläsionen. Neue Sequenzen und Nachbearbeitungsmöglichkeiten können als hilfreiche tools für die operative Planung eingesetzt werden. Grundsätzlich richtet sich die Behandlung der RM neben der Symptomatik nach der Rupturgenese und -morphologie sowie der erwarteten Gewebequalität des Muskel-Sehnen-Kontinuums. Auch das Gesamtprofil, die Erwartungshaltung und die Rehabilitationsmöglichkeiten des Patienten sind wichtig. Die heutigen operativen Techniken werden durch spannende Entwicklungen der Industrie mitbestimmt, die in den letzten Jahren immer bessere Fadenankersysteme, aber auch Augmentationsmaterialien auf den Markt gebracht hat. Letztere zielen nicht nur auf die mechanische Verstärkung der Sehnenrekonstruktion, sondern auch auf die Optimierung der biologischen Eigenschaften des Konstrukts ab. Hinsichtlich Fixation konnte die biomechanische Forschung zeigen, dass zweireihige oder Suture-Bridge-Fixationen einreihigen oder transossären Fixationen überlegen sind. Diese Überlegenheit im Labor spiegelt sich noch nicht klar in den klinischen Ergebnissen wider, dennoch sind die meisten Chirurgen heute auf diese Technik übergegangen. Was die postoperative Nachbehandlung angeht, stellen jüngste randomisiert-kontrollierte Untersuchungen das Konzept der postoperativen Immobilisation in Abduktion in Frage. Hier scheint das letzte Wort noch nicht gesprochen zu sein.
Systemic innate myeloid responses to acute ischaemic and haemorrhagic stroke
Authors: Stephens Ruth , Grainger John R. , Smith Craig J. , Allan Stuart M.
Published: November 2022

Acute ischaemic and haemorrhagic stroke account for significant disability and morbidity burdens worldwide. The myeloid arm of the peripheral innate immune system is critical in the immunological response to acute ischaemic and haemorrhagic stroke. Neutrophils, monocytes, and dendritic cells (DC) contribute to the evolution of pathogenic local and systemic inflammation, whilst maintaining a critical role in ongoing immunity protecting against secondary infections. This review aims to summarise the key alterations to myeloid immunity in acute ischaemic stroke, intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH), and subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH). By integrating clinical and preclinical research, we discover how myeloid immunity is affected across multiple organ systems including the brain, blood, bone marrow, spleen, and lung, and evaluate how these perturbations associate with real-world outcomes including infection. These findings are placed in the context of the rapidly developing field of human immunology, which offers a wealth of opportunity for further research.
`Risk of cardiovascular disease associated with febuxostat versus allopurinol use in patients with gout: a retrospective cohort study in Korea
Authors: Jeong Hoon , Choi Eunmi , Suh Ahyoung , Yoo Myungsik , Kim Bonggi
Published: November 2022

Febuxostat is the drug used to treat hyperuricemia in patients with gout. Recently, the usage of Febuxostat has been controversial over the side effects in cardiovascular. The study aimed to comparatively analyze the risk of cardiovascular disease associated with febuxostat and allopurinol use in Korean patients with gout. A cohort study was conducted using national insurance claim data from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA). Adult patients who were diagnosed with gout and prescribed febuxostat or allopurinol more than once from July 1, 2015, to June 30, 2018 were studied. The outcome was cardiovascular disease. Analysis was performed using Cox’s proportional hazard model following 1:1 propensity score matching to estimate the hazard ratio with a 95% confidence interval. In total, 90,590 patients were defined as the final study cohort who had an average follow-up of 467 days, including 28,732 and 61,858 patients in the febuxostat and allopurinol groups, respectively. After the 1:1 propensity score matching, the risk of cardiovascular disease in the febuxostat group was significantly higher than in the allopurinol group (HR: 1.17; 95% CI: 1.10–1.24). In the sensitivity analysis, the risk of cardiovascular disease in the febuxostat group was significantly higher than in the allopurinol group (HR: 1.09; 95% CI: 1.04–1.15). However, further sensitivity analysis showed no statistically significant difference between the febuxostat group and allopurinol group after adjusting for cardiovascular disease history before the index date. Similarly, no statistically significant difference was found between the two drugs in the subgroup analysis. Febuxostat was not associated with a significantly increased risk of cardiovascular disease.
Focusing on the amount of immediate changes in spinopelvic radiographic parameters to predict the amount of mid-term improvement of quality of life in adult degenerative scoliosis patients with surgery
Authors: Liu Yanbin , Liu Jinlong , Luo Dawei , Sun Jianmin , Lv Feng , Sheng Bin
Published: November 2022

Introduction

Surgery is still an effective treatment option for adult degenerative scoliosis (ADS), but how to predict patients’ significant amount of the improvement in quality of life remains unclear. The previous studies included an inhomogeneous population. This study aimed to report the results about concentrating on the amount of immediate changes in spinopelvic radiographic parameters to predict the amount of mid-term improvement in quality of life in ADS patients.

Materials and methods

Pre-operative and immediately post-operative radiographic parameters included Cobb angle, coronal vertical axis (CVA), sagittal vertical axis (SVA), lumbar lordosis (LL), thoracic kyphosis (TK), pelvic tilt (PT), sacral slope (SS), pelvic incidence (PI) and LL/PI matching (PI–LL). Quality of life scores were evaluated pre-operatively and at the final follow-up using Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and visual analogue scale (VAS). The amount of immediate changes in spinopelvic radiographic parameters (Δ) and the amount of mid-term improvement in quality of life (Δ) were defined, respectively.

Results

Patients showed significant change in radiographic parameters, ODI and VAS pre- and post-surgery, except CVA and PI. Univariate analysis showed a significant correlation between ΔTK, ΔLL, ΔCVA and the amount of mid-term improvement in quality of life, but multivariate analysis did not get a significant result. Univariate and multivariate analyses showed that ΔSVA was still a significant predictor of ΔVAS and ΔODI. The changes in the other radiographic parameters were not significant. The equations were developed by linear regression: ΔODI = 0.162 × ΔSVA − 21.592, ΔVAS = 0.034 × ΔSVA − 2.828. In the ROC curve for ΔSVA in the detection of a strong ΔODI or ΔVAS, the cut-off value of ΔSVA was − 19.855 mm and − 15.405 mm, respectively.

Conclusions

This study shows that ΔSVA can predict the amount of mid-term improvement in quality of life in ADS patients. The changes in the other radiographic parameters were not significant. Two equations were yielded to estimate ΔODI and ΔVAS. ΔSVA has respective cut-off value to predict ΔODI and ΔVAS.
Lung cancer incidence attributable to residential radon exposure in Finland
Authors: Kurkela Olli , Nevalainen Jaakko , Pätsi Salla-Maaria , Kojo Katja , Holmgren Olli , Auvinen Anssi
Published: November 2022

This study aimed to estimate (1) the number of avoidable lung cancer cases attributable to residential radon in Finland in 2017, separately by age, sex, dwelling type and smoking status, (2) the impact of residential radon alone and the joint effect of residential radon and smoking on the number of lung cancers and (3) the potential decrease in the number of radon-attributable lung cancers if radon concentrations exceeding specified action levels (100, 200 and 300 Bq m−3) would have been mitigated to those levels. Population-based surveys of radon concentrations and smoking patterns were used. Observed radon levels were contrasted with 25 Bq m−3 representing a realistic minimum level of exposure. Lung cancer risk estimates for radon and smoking were derived from literature. Lastly, the uncertainty due to the estimation of exposure and risk was quantified using a computationally derived uncertainty interval. At least 3% and at most 8% of all lung cancers were estimated as being attributable to residential radon. For small cell carcinoma, the proportion of cases attributable to radon was 8–13%. Among smokers, the majority of the radon-related cases were attributable to the joint effect of radon and smoking. Reduction of radon exposure to 100 Bq m−3 action level would eliminate approximately 30% of radon-attributable cases. Estimates were low compared with the literature, given the (relatively high) radon levels in Finland. This was mainly due to the lower radon levels and higher smoking prevalence in flats than in houses and a more realistic point of comparison, factors which have been ignored in previous studies. The results can guide actions in radon protection and in prevention of lung cancers.
The F-bZIP-regulated Zn deficiency response in land plants
Authors: Assunção Ana G. L.
Published: November 2022

Main conclusion

This review describes zinc sensing and transcriptional regulation of the zinc deficiency response in Arabidopsis, and discusses how their evolutionary conservation in land plants facilitates translational approaches for improving the Zn nutritional value of crop species.

Zinc is an essential micronutrient for all living organisms due to its presence in a large number of proteins, as a structural or catalytic cofactor. In plants, zinc homeostasis mechanisms comprise uptake from soil, transport and distribution throughout the plant to provide adequate cellular zinc availability. Here, I discuss the transcriptional regulation of the response to zinc deficiency and the zinc sensing mechanisms in Arabidopsis, and their evolutionary conservation in land plants. The Arabidopsis F-group basic region leucine-zipper (F-bZIP) transcription factors bZIP19 and bZIP23 function simultaneously as sensors of intracellular zinc status, by direct binding of zinc ions, and as the central regulators of the zinc deficiency response, with their target genes including zinc transporters from the ZRT/IRT-like Protein (ZIP) family and nicotianamine synthase enzymes that produce the zinc ligand nicotianamine. I note that this relatively simple mechanism of zinc sensing and regulation, together with the evolutionary conservation of F-bZIP transcription factors across land plants, offer important research opportunities. One of them is to use the F-bZIP-regulated zinc deficiency response as a tractable module for evolutionary and comparative functional studies. Another research opportunity is translational research in crop plants, modulating F-bZIP activity as a molecular switch to enhance zinc accumulation. This should become a useful plant-based solution to alleviate effects of zinc deficiency in soils, which impact crop production and crop zinc content, with consequences for human nutrition globally.
DNA methylation status of the SPHK1 and LTB genes underlies the clinicopathological diversity of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis-related hepatocellular carcinomas
Authors: Tsuda Noboru , Tian Ying , Fujimoto Mao , Kuramoto Junko , Makiuchi Satomi , Ojima Hidenori , Gotoh Masahiro , Hiraoka Nobuyoshi , Yoshida Teruhiko , Kanai Yae , Arai Eri
Published: November 2022

Purpose

This study was performed to identify the DNA methylation profiles underlying the clinicopathological diversity of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)-related hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs). 

Methods

Genome-wide DNA methylation analysis of 88 liver tissue samples was performed using the Infinium assay.

Results

Principal component analysis revealed that distinct DNA methylation profiles differing from such profiles in normal control liver tissue had already been established in non-cancerous liver tissue showing NASH, which is considered to be a precancerous condition. Hierarchical clustering separated 26 NASH-related HCCs into Cluster I (n = 8) and Cluster II (n = 18). Such epigenetic clustering was significantly correlated with histopathological diversity, i.e. poorer tumor differentiation, tumor steatosis and development of a scirrhous HCC component. Significant differences in DNA methylation levels between the two clusters were accumulated in molecular pathways participating in cell adhesion and cytoskeletal remodeling, as well as cell proliferation and apoptosis. Among tumor-related genes characterizing Clusters I and II, differences in the levels of DNA methylation and mRNA expression for the SPHK1, INHBA, LTB and PDE3B genes were correlated with poorer tumor differentiation. 5-Aza-2′-deoxycytidine treatment of HCC cells revealed epigenetic regulation of the SPHK1 and LTB genes. Knockdown experiments showed that SPHK1 promotes cell proliferation, represses apoptosis and enhances migration, whereas LTB enhances migration of HCC cells. DNA hypomethylation resulting in increased expression of SPHK1 and LTB in poorly differentiated HCCs may underlie the aggressive phenotype of such HCCs.

Conclusion

These data indicate that DNA methylation profiles may determine the clinicopathological heterogeneity of NASH-related HCCs via alterations of tumor-related gene expression.
Region-based feature enhancement using channel-wise attention for classification of breast histopathological images
Authors: Rashmi R. , Prasad Keerthana , Udupa Chethana Babu K.
Published: November 2022

Breast histopathological image analysis at 400x magnification is essential for the determination of malignant breast tumours. But manual analysis of these images is tedious, subjective, error-prone and requires domain knowledge. To this end, computer-aided tools are gaining much attention in the recent past as it aids pathologists and save time. Furthermore, advances in computational power have leveraged the usage of computer tools. Yet, usage of computer-aided tools to analyse these images is challenging due to various reasons such as heterogeneity of malignant tumours, colour variations and presence of artefacts. Moreover, these images are captured at high resolutions which pose a major challenge to designing deep learning models as it demands high computational requirements. In this context, the present work proposes a new approach to efficiently and effectively extract features from these high-resolution images. In addition, at 400x magnification, the characteristics and structure of nuclei play a prominent role in the decision of malignancy. In this regard, the study introduces a novel CNN architecture called as CWA-Net that uses a colour channel attention module to enhance the features of the potential regions of interest such as nuclei. The developed model is qualitatively and quantitatively evaluated on private and public datasets and achieved an accuracy of 0.95% and 0.96%, respectively. The experimental evaluation demonstrates that the proposed method outperforms state-of-the-art methods on both datasets.
Cannabis use, abuse and dependence during the COVID-19 pandemic: a scoping review
Authors: Bonnet Udo , Specka Michael , Roser Patrik , Scherbaum Norbert
Published: November 2022

The interaction between cannabis use or addiction and SARS-COV-2 infection rates and COVID-19 outcomes is obscure. As of 08/01/2022 among 57 evaluated epidemiological/clinical studies found in Pubmed-database, most evidence for how cannabis use patterns were influenced by the pandemic was given by two systematic reviews and 17 prospective studies, mostly involving adolescents. In this age group, cannabis use patterns have not changed markedly. For adults, several cross-sectional studies reported mixed results with cannabis use having increased, decreased or remained unchanged. Two cross-sectional studies demonstrated that the severity of adults´ cannabis dependence was either increased as a consequence of increasing cannabis use during the pandemic or not changed. Regarding the effect of cannabis use on COVID-19 outcomes, we found only five retrospective/cross-sectional studies. Accordingly, (i) cannabis use did not impact mild COVID-19 symptoms; (ii) cannabis using individuals experienced more COVID-19-related hospitalizations; (iii) cannabis using veterans were associated with reduced SARS-COV-2 infection rates; (iv) frequent cannabis use was significantly associated with COVID-19 mortality, and (v) cannabis dependents were at higher risk of COVID-19 breakthrough after vaccination. It should be outlined that the validity of these retrospective/cross-sectional studies (all self-reports or register/e-health-records) is rather low. Future prospective studies on the effects of cannabis use on SARS-COV-2 infection rates and COVID-19 outcomes are clearly required for conclusive risk–benefit assessments of the role of cannabis on users’ health during the pandemic. Moreover, substance dependence (including cannabis) is associated with (often untreated) somatic comorbidity, which severity is a proven key risk factor for worse COVID-19 outcomes.
A fair-multicluster approach to clustering of categorical data
Authors: Santos-Mangudo Carlos , Heras Antonio J.
Published: November 2022

In the last few years, the need of preventing classification biases due to race, gender, social status, etc. has increased the interest in designing fair clustering algorithms. The main idea is to ensure that the output of a cluster algorithm is not biased towards or against specific subgroups of the population. There is a growing specialized literature on this topic, dealing with the problem of clustering numerical data bases. Nevertheless, to our knowledge, there are no previous papers devoted to the problem of fair clustering of pure categorical attributes. In this paper, we show that the Multicluster methodology proposed by Santos and Heras (Interdiscip J Inf Knowl Manag 15:227–246, 2020. https://doi.org/10.28945/4643) for clustering categorical data, can be modified in order to increase the fairness of the clusters. Of course, there is a trade-off between fairness and efficiency, so that an increase in the fairness objective usually leads to a loss of classification efficiency. Yet it is possible to reach a reasonable compromise between these goals, since the methodology proposed by Santos and Heras (2020) can be easily adapted in order to get homogeneous and fair clusters.
What if 0 is not equal to 0? Inter-personal health utilities anchoring using the largest health gains
Authors: Jakubczyk Michał
Published: November 2022

Prioritizing health technologies requires comparisons of improvements in longevity or quality of life (QoL), or both. For this purpose, value sets are constructed that contain weights assigned to health states based on societal preferences. I show that how this is typically done may distort the results by giving unjustifiably larger impact to individuals who prioritize improvements in QoL over longevity. The problem results from equating the utility differences between being dead and full health across people, ignoring the fact that interpersonal utility comparisons are forbidden (or at least problematic) in economics. I propose another approach: the numerical value of maximal health gain (either in longevity or QoL) is assumed to be equal across individuals, to remove the impact of the range of utilities differing between people. I test this approach using EQ-5D-5L and EQ-5D-3L utilities elicited in Poland for two modeling techniques: a simple econometric model and a Bayesian one that accounts for censoring. The proposed approach increases the utilities of the worst health state: from$$-0.41$$-0.41to$$-0.25$$-0.25in EQ-5D-5L and from about$$-0.54$$-0.54to$$-0.36$$-0.36in EQ-5D-3L. In the Bayesian approach, the impact is greater: from$$-0.45$$-0.45to$$-0.11$$-0.11for EQ-5D-5L and from$$-0.54$$-0.54to$$-0.22$$-0.22for EQ-5D-3L. I discuss some normative arguments why the proposed approach may be more justifiable for aggregating individual preferences for health outcomes.
Streptococcus anginosus: a stealthy villain in deep odontogenic abscesses
Authors: Furuholm Jussi , Uittamo Johanna , Rautaporras Niina , Välimaa Hanna , Snäll Johanna
Published: November 2022

Odontogenic infections (OIs) occasionally spread to deep facial and neck tissues. Our study aimed to explore the role of Streptococcus anginous group (SAG) in these severe OIs. A retrospective study of patients aged ≥ 18 years who required hospital care for acute OI was conducted. We analysed data of OI microbial samples and recorded findings of SAG and other pathogens. These findings were compared with data regarding patients’ prehospital status and variables of infection severity. In total, 290 patients were included in the analyses. The most common (49%) bacterial finding was SAG. Other common findings were Streptococcus viridans and Prevotella species, Parvimonas micra, and Fusobacterium nucleatum. Infection severity variables were strongly associated with SAG occurrence. Treatment in an intensive care unit was significantly more common in patients with SAG than in patients without SAG (p < 0.001). In addition, SAG patients expressed higher levels of C-reactive protein (p = 0.001) and white blood cell counts (p < 0.001), and their hospital stays were longer than those of non-SAG patients (p = 0.001). SAG is a typical finding in severe OIs. Clinical features of SAG-related OIs are more challenging than in other OIs. Early detection of SAG, followed by comprehensive infection care with prompt and careful surgical treatment, is necessary due to the aggressive behaviour of this dangerous pathogen.
Neo-colonialism in the Polish rural world: CAP approach and the phenomenon of suitcase farmers
Authors: Biczkowski Mirosław , Rudnicki Roman , Chodkowska-Miszczuk Justyna , Wiśniewski Łukasz , Kistowski Mariusz , Wiśniewski Paweł
Published: November 2022

Notwithstanding the opportunities it provides, the implementation of some measures of the EU Common Agricultural Policy (EU CAP), including agri-environment-climate measures (AECMs), also generates threats. The study identifies an extremely disturbing process that can be referred to as “internal neo-colonialism”, which has been driven by the technocratic agrarian policy of the EU and transformations in Poland at the turn of the twenty-first century. The associated disadvantageous practices mainly affect areas under threat of marginalisation and peripheralisation, including Poland with its post-Socialist heritage, which has shaped the attitudes and behaviour of society and has consolidated linkages between politics and business. In order to retrace such activities, the study analyses EU funds granted in support of farmers implementing AECMs, with a focus on analysing the place of residence of the “farmer” and the location of the farm. As the research shows, the attractiveness of CAP support causes Polish agriculture and Poland’s countryside, including its natural and financial resources, to be drained by so-called “suitcase farmers”, i.e. people/entities not tied to the place where the agricultural activity is pursued, many of whom live in cities. One common practice is to take over land located in legally protected areas noted for their high quality of natural environment. Not only does the practice of land grabbing strengthen the social exclusion of rural communities and the peripheralisation and pauperisation of these areas, but it also hinders discussion about environmental justice and the ecological integrity of rural areas.
Value co-destruction causing customers to stop service usage: a topic modelling analysis of dental service complaint data
Authors: Goto Hikaru , Belal H. M. , Shirahada Kunio
Published: November 2022

This study aims to identify the types of value co-destruction (VCD) emerging in healthcare services that cause patients to reduce or extinguish their intentions to continue using the services; it also aims to identify the VCD antecedents. Complaints from 1075 dental clinic patients, which are collected as textual data, are analysed in this study. The authors adopt an exploratory approach comprising a quantitative analysis based mainly on the topic model, a type of machine learning, and a qualitative analysis based on the KJ method. Twelve types of VCD were empirically identified, three of which had a significant negative effect on the intention to continue using the service. Ten antecedents that cause these types of VCD were identified, when examined based on a multi-level perspective, institutional factors and social norms were found to be related to the VCD process. This study contributes to understanding the mechanisms by which failures in healthcare services occur and to developing effective decision making to overcome them.