bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Goose grubbing and warming suppress summer net ecosystem CO2 uptake differentially across high‐Arctic tundra habitats
Authors: Petit Bon Matteo , Beard Karen H. , Bråthen Kari Anne , Lee Hanna , Jónsdóttir Ingibjörg S.
Published: December 2024

Environmental changes, such as climate warming and higher herbivory pressure, are altering the carbon balance of Arctic ecosystems; yet, how these drivers modify the carbon balance among different habitats remains uncertain. This hampers our ability to predict changes in the carbon sink strength of tundra ecosystems. We investigated how spring goose grubbing and summer warming—two key environmental‐change drivers in the Arctic—alter CO2 fluxes in three tundra habitats varying in soil moisture and plant‐community composition. In a full‐factorial experiment in high‐Arctic Svalbard, we simulated grubbing and warming over two years and determined summer net ecosystem exchange (NEE) alongside its components: gross ecosystem productivity (GEP) and ecosystem respiration (ER). After two years, we found net CO2 uptake to be suppressed by both drivers depending on habitat. CO2 uptake was reduced by warming in mesic habitats, by warming and grubbing in moist habitats, and by grubbing in wet habitats. In mesic habitats, warming stimulated ER (+75%) more than GEP (+30%), leading to a 7.5‐fold increase in their CO2 source strength. In moist habitats, grubbing decreased GEP and ER by ~55%, while warming increased them by ~35%, with no changes in summer‐long NEE. Nevertheless, grubbing offset peak summer CO2 uptake and warming led to a twofold increase in late summer CO2 source strength. In wet habitats, grubbing reduced GEP (−40%) more than ER (−30%), weakening their CO2 sink strength by 70%. One‐year CO2‐flux responses were similar to two‐year responses, and the effect of simulated grubbing was consistent with that of natural grubbing. CO2‐flux rates were positively related to aboveground net primary productivity and temperature. Net ecosystem CO2 uptake started occurring above ~70% soil moisture content, primarily due to a decline in ER. Herein, we reveal that key environmental‐change drivers—goose grubbing by decreasing GEP more than ER and warming by enhancing ER more than GEP—consistently suppress net tundra CO2 uptake, although their relative strength differs among habitats. By identifying how and where grubbing and higher temperatures alter CO2 fluxes across the heterogeneous Arctic landscape, our results have implications for predicting the tundra carbon balance under increasing numbers of geese in a warmer Arctic.
Machine learning approach to identify phenotypes in patients with ischaemic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction
Authors: Monzo Luca , Bresso Emmanuel , Dickstein Kenneth , Pitt Bertram , Cleland John G.F. , Anker Stefan D. , Lam Carolyn S.P. , Mehra Mandeep R. , van Veldhuisen Dirk J. , Greenberg Barry , Zannad Faiez , Girerd Nicolas
Published: December 2024

Aims

Patients experiencing ischaemic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) represent a diverse group. We hypothesize that machine learning clustering can help separate distinctive patient phenotypes, paving the way for personalized management.

Methods and results

A total of 8591 ischaemic HFrEF patients pooled from the EPHESUS and CAPRICORN trials (64 ± 12 years; 28% women) were included in this analysis. Clusters were identified using both clinical and biological variables. Association between clusters and the composite of (i) heart failure hospitalization or all‐cause death, (ii) cardiovascular (CV) hospitalization or all‐cause death, and (iii) major adverse CV events was assessed. The derived algorithm was applied in the COMMANDER‐HF trial (n = 5022) for external validation. Five clinical distinctive clusters were identified: Cluster 1 (n = 2161) with the older patients, higher prevalence of atrial fibrillation and previous CV events; Cluster 2 (n = 1376) with the higher prevalence of older hypertensive women and smoking habit; Cluster 3 (n = 1157) with the higher prevalence of diabetes and peripheral artery disease; Cluster 4 (n = 2073) with relatively younger patients, mostly men and with the higher left ventricular ejection fraction; Cluster 5 (n = 1824) with the younger patients and lower CV events burden. Cluster membership was efficiently predicted by a random forest algorithm. Clusters were significantly associated with outcomes in derivation and validation datasets, with Cluster 1 having the highest risk, and Cluster 4 the lowest. Mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist benefit on CV hospitalization or all‐cause death was magnified in clusters with the lowest risk of events (Clusters 2 and 4).

Conclusion

Clustering reveals distinct risk subgroups in the heterogeneous array of ischaemic HFrEF patients. This classification, accessible online, could enhance future outcome predictions for ischaemic HFrEF cases.
Tumor‐Expressed SPPL3 Supports Innate Antitumor Immune Responses
Authors: Verkerk Tamara , de Waard Antonius A. , Koomen Sofie J. I. , Sanders Jasper , Jorritsma Tineke , Pappot Anouk T. , Zandhuis Nordin D. , Zhang Tao , Wuhrer Manfred , Hoogendijk Arie J. , van Alphen Floris P. J. , van den Biggelaar Maartje , Stockinger Hannes S. J. , van Gisbergen Klaas P. J. M. , Spaapen Robbert M. , van Ham S. Marieke
Published: December 2024

The development of an effective antitumor response relies on the synergistic actions of various immune cells that recognize tumor cells via distinct receptors. Tumors, however, often manipulate receptor–ligand interactions to evade recognition by the immune system. Recently, we highlighted the role of neolacto‐series glycosphingolipids (nsGSLs), produced by the enzyme β1,3‐N‐acetylglucosaminyltransferase 5 (B3GNT5), in tumor immune escape. We previously demonstrated that loss of signal peptide peptidase like 3 (SPPL3), an inhibitor of B3GNT5, results in elevated levels of nsGSLs and impairs CD8 T cell activation. The impact of loss of SPPL3 and an elevated nsGSL profile in tumor cells on innate immune recognition remains to be elucidated. This study investigates the antitumor efficacy of neutrophils, NK cells, and γδ T cells on tumor cells lacking SPPL3. Our findings demonstrate that SPPL3‐deficient target cells are less susceptible to trogocytosis by neutrophils and killing by NK cells and γδ T cells. Mechanistically, SPPL3 influences trogocytosis and γδ T cell‐instigated killing through modulation of nsGSL expression, whereas SPPL3‐mediated reduced killing by NK cells is nsGSL‐independent. The nsGSL‐dependent SPPL3 sensitivity depends on the proximity of surface receptor domains to the cell membrane and the affinity of receptor–ligand interactions as shown with various sets of defined antibodies. Thus, SPPL3 expression by tumor cells alters crosstalk with immune cells through the receptor–ligand interactome thereby driving escape not only from adaptive but also from innate immunity. These data underline the importance of investigating a potential synergism of GSL synthesis inhibitors with current immune cell‐activating immunotherapies.
Is Hydrogel an Appropriate Bioadhesive Material for Sutureless Oral Wound Closure?
Authors: Al‐Azzawi Huda Moutaz Asmael , Paolini Rita , Celentano Antonio
Published: December 2024

Background and Aims

An effective surgical adhesive must possess strength, biodegradability, flexibility, non‐toxicity, and the ability to accommodate to tissue movement. However, existing adhesives in the market lack some of these crucial properties. Both synthetic cyanoacrylate and natural fibrin glue have been explored for sutureless oral surgery, but they come with specific limitations. This perspective review aims to explore the novel potential of hydrogels as bioadhesives for wound closure in the oral cavity.

Methods

This review thoroughly examines the properties, applications, and limitations of hydrogels as bioadhesive materials for wound closure within the human body.

Results

We first provide a comprehensive description of materials used for sutureless oral surgery. Next, drawing on our expertise in the field of oral surgery, we propose novel potential applications for hydrogels in oral wound closure. We showed that Hydrogels represent promising bioadhesives in medical field and are undergoing continuous enhancement to expand their applications in wound closure.

Conclusion

Although hydrogels have been utilized in various dental conditions, their potential for closing wounds in the oral cavity remains unexplored.
Effect of Tray Geometry on Multitray Stepped Solar Still Performance: An Experimental Study
Authors: Rahmani Ahmed , Saadi Zine , Keblouti Ouahid
Published: December 2024

The multitray solar still (MTSS) is one of the most efficient and economical designs compared with other solar still systems. MTSS has lower heat loss and a large evaporation area, and its basin is more exposed to solar radiation. Nevertheless, optimizing the tray's geometry is essential to improve the still's thermal behavior and productivity. The primary goal of this study is to examine the effect of the tray's geometry on the MTSS performance under outdoor experiments. A comparative analysis was conducted between the triangular‐trays solar still (TTSS), the rectangular‐trays solar still (RTSS), and the single‐slope conventional solar still (CSS) in winter and summer weather conditions. Results show that integrating a multitray evaporator improves the daily yield compared with the CSS and that the thermal performance of the modified solar still depends mainly on the weather conditions. The comparison shows that the triangular trays are more effective than the rectangular ones. The daily productivity of TTSS exceeds that of RTSS by 10% in winter and 24.24% in summer. Moreover, the daily thermal efficiencies of CSS, RTSS, and TTSS are maximum in summer conditions by about 28.1%, 41.2%, and 44.15%, respectively.
Advanced Image Enhancement and a Lightweight Feature Pyramid Network for Detecting Microaneurysms in Diabetic Retinopathy Screening
Authors: Tahir Muhammad Zeeshan , Lyu Xingzheng , Nasir Muhammad , Zhang Sanyuan
Published: December 2024

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a complication of diabetes that can lead to vision impairment and even permanent blindness. The increasing number of diabetic patients and a shortage of ophthalmologists highlight the need for automated screening tools for early detection. Microaneurysms (MAs) are the earliest indicators of DR. However, detecting MAs in fundus images is a challenging task due to its small size and subtle features. Additionally, low contrast, noise, and lighting variations in fundus images, such as glare and shadows, further complicate the detection process. To address these challenges, we incorporated image enhancement techniques such as green channel utilization, gamma correction, and median filtering to improve image quality. Furthermore, to enhance the performance of the MA detection model, we employed a lightweight feature pyramid network (FPN) with a pretrained ResNet34 backbone to capture multiscale features and the convolutional block attention module (CBAM) to enhance feature selection. CBAM applies spatial and channel‐wise attention, which allows the model to focus on the most relevant features for improved detection. We evaluated our method on the IDRID and E‐ophtha datasets, achieving a sensitivity of 0.607 and F1 score of 0.681 on IDRID and a sensitivity of 0.602 and F1 score of 0.650 on E‐ophtha. These experimental results show that our proposed method gives better results than previous methods.
Anxiety‐Like Behaviors in Mice Unmasked: Revealing Sex Differences in Anxiety Using a Novel Light‐Heat Conflict Test
Authors: Lee Sydney E. , Park Sung‐Hoon , Aldrich John C. , Fonken Laura K. , Gaudet Andrew D.
Published: December 2024

Anxiety and chronic pain afflict hundreds of millions worldwide. Anxiety and pain are more prevalent in females compared to males. Unfortunately, robust sex differences in human anxiety are not recapitulated in rodent tests, and results from rodent pain studies frequently fail to translate clinically. Therefore, there is a need to develop tests that reflect the differential salience of anxiety or pain‐related stimuli between the sexes. Accordingly, here we introduce the Thermal Increments Dark–Light (TIDAL) conflict test. The TIDAL test places an anxiety‐relevant stimulus (dark vs. illuminated chamber) in conflict with a heat‐related stimulus (incrementally heated vs. isothermic chamber); mice freely explore both apparatus chambers. Here, we aim to determine whether the TIDAL conflict test reveals in mice underappreciated sex differences in anxiety and/or heat sensitivity. We establish in four distinct experiments that females on the TIDAL conflict test persist substantially longer on the dark‐heated plate, suggesting that female mice exhibit elevated anxiety‐like behavior. Mice more strongly prefer the heated‐dark plate on the TIDAL conflict test compared to control thermal place preference with both chambers illuminated. We also reveal that an anxiety‐relieving drug, paroxetine, reduces mouse preference for the heating dark plate, supporting the validity of the TIDAL test. Therefore, our new TIDAL conflict test reliably unmasks the relative salience of anxiety (vs. heat sensitivity): mice that are female exhibit robust anxiety‐like behaviors not consistently observed in classical tests. Future studies should incorporate TIDAL and other conflict tests to better understand rodent behavior and to identify mechanisms underlying anxiety and pain.
Not All Games Play the Same: Specifying How Components of Video Games May be Associated With Creativity
Authors: Stapleton Darian , Goldstein Thalia R.
Published: December 2024

Understanding the impacts of digital media such as video games is critical for scholarship during the digital transformation. While the literature on the effects of video games continues to grow, there is little work on positive effects, including creativity, either as an outcome from or process within games. Video games are a media type that often requires creative problem‐solving and multiple idea generation. Importantly, adequately theorizing, measuring, and assessing creativity as both an action within video games and a possible outcome of engaging with video games necessitates a detailed understanding of what video games are. Here we propose and outline a taxonomy of the various components within video games that could impact different aspects of creativity interventions and creative processes. We then break down those components, including genre, graphics, mechanics, instructions, incentive systems, and multiplayer functionality. We apply this taxonomy briefly in several games, and Minecraft and Baldur's Gate 3 are used in more depth to show how researchers can apply our proposed framework. Knowing which video game components affect which creativity outcomes can clarify our understanding of creativity and the creative process in a digital world, and identify how gameplay itself can be a creative artifact.
Farnesol inhibits growth and development of Ustilaginoidea virens
Authors: Yu Mina , Yu Junjie , Pan Xiayan , Cao Huijuan , Song Tianqiao , Liu Yongfeng
Published: December 2024

Rice false smut disease, caused by the pathogen Ustilaginoidea virens, specifically infects rice panicles. This disease leads to significant quantitative and qualitative losses in the rice industry. Farnesol, a naturally occurring terpene produced by plants, exhibits diverse toxic potentials against various fungi. Here, we investigate the in vitro inhibitory effects of farnesol on U. virens isolates. The results indicate that farnesol could retard conidial germination at a concentration of 20 μM and inhibit germination at concentrations exceeding 40 μM. Additionally, farnesol demonstrates inhibitory activity on the mycelial growth and adhesion of U. virens in a dose‐dependent manner. RNA‐seq data show that farnesol treatment results in the misregulation of a subset of genes involved in oxidoreductase activity, membrane components, molecular function, and transcription factor activity. Furthermore, farnesol induces a significant accumulation of reactive oxygen species, including superoxide anions, which may subsequently trigger cell death. Notably, farnesol also induces the expression of genes encoding GTPase activity of UvRas1 and UvRas2, leading to the expression of genes encoding adenylate cyclase, which promotes the synthesis of intracellular cAMP, and activates genes involved in MAPK pathway. Collectively, this study proposes a mechanism by which farnesol affects the growth and development of U. virens.
Food insecurity and coping strategies of low‐income households in Tshwane, South Africa
Authors: Mazenda Adrino , Mushayanyama Tinashe
Published: December 2024

This study used principal component analysis to provide targeted policy interventions in response to livelihood coping strategies adopted by low‐income households in Tshwane (Pretoria), South Africa. The empirical findings are categorized into four food‐coping strategy groups. The first group comprises households that depend on begging and borrowing to survive. The second group comprises households who use credit to purchase food and subsequently restrict their meals or skip them altogether. The third group comprises households that frequently borrow money to purchase food. These households prioritize buying necessities and sticking to a budget. These households also resort to selling assets to cushion against income shocks. The final group comprises households that do not have food gardens and rely on buying cheap, undesired food that they eat in smaller portions during their meal times. These findings raise concerns about the need for policies that increase household income and food access for the vulnerable urban population. Raising awareness about healthy and nutritious foods that can be obtained at a lower cost is also essential.
Axial/Peripheral Halogen‐Substituted Phenoxy Boron Subphthalocyanines for Application as Electron Acceptors Materials for Organic Solar Cells and Hole Transport Materials for Perovskite Solar Cells: A DFT Approach
Authors: Lakehal Brahim , Lakehal Salima , Bencherif Hichem , Hannachi Douniazed , Morell Christophe , Chermette Henry
Published: December 2024

Organic photovoltaic cells (OPVs) are a promising low‐cost renewable energy technology. Among various semiconductors studied for OPVs, boron subphthalocyanine chloride (Cl‐BsubPc) is one of the most explored. Phenoxy‐substituted BsubPc (PhO‐subPc) is an analogue of Cl‐BsubPc that introduces an axial phenoxy ligand in order to tune its electronic properties. In this paper, the effects of halogen substitution on the optoelectronic properties of PhO‐subPc are discussed in terms of the nature, number, and location of halogen atoms. DFT calculations show that the peripheral halogen substitutions significantly decrease the exciton binding energy value, increase the reorganization energy value, and also improve the light‐harvesting efficiency of the mentioned molecules. These modifications are symptoms of improved exciton separation and charge transport; hence, the peripherally halogenated PhO‐subPc are those that exhibit the best performances. However, the phenoxy‐substituted BsubPc do not enhance the performance of the boron subphthalocyanine chloride as far as the hole transport materials (HTM) of organic solar cells are concerned.
Nanoporous High Entropy Alloy Al‐Pt‐Pd‐Ru as an Efficient Catalyst for One‐Pot Reductive Amination of Nitroarenes
Authors: Wang Yunpeng , Wang Shize , Xu Qiang , Feng Xiujuan , Li Yanhui , Sun Ruiqi , Zhang Wei , Yamamoto Yoshinori , Bao Ming
Published: December 2024

High entropy alloys (HEAs) are promising heterocatalysts because of their unique physicochemical properties, but research on HEA‐catalyzed tandem reactions is lacking. Moreover, limited research on HEAs for molecular transformation has hindered their development. Herein, an unsupported nanoporous HEA Al‐Pt‐Pd‐Ru (HEANPore) prepared using a top‐down dealloying method is reported. The Lewis acidity and electron redistribution of the noble metals Pt, Pd, and Ru are identified to be intrinsic of high activity and selectivity of HEANPore in the one‐pot reductive amination of nitroarenes. The competitive adsorption of the reactant and corresponding reaction mechanism are investigated using DFT. This study demonstrates the exceptional performance of the HEANPore in tandem reactions, presenting new possibilities for the application of HEAs in the field of catalysis.
Parsing Millions of DNS Records Per Second
Authors: Koekkoek Jeroen , Lemire Daniel
Published: December 2024

Objectives

To enhance the throughput of DNS parsing by addressing the computational expense of processing large plain text DNS zone files.

To specifically increase the speed of parsing DNS zone files compared to existing state‐of‐the‐art parsers.

Method

Development of a new approach named simdzone for DNS parsing.

Utilization of data parallelism through Single Instruction Multiple Data (SIMD) instructions available on modern processors to accelerate parsing operations.

Result

The simdzone approach significantly increased parsing speeds, being several times faster than the parsers in Knot DNS and NLnet Labs' Name Server Daemon (NSD).

The software library developed from this approach was integrated into NSD, replacing its previous parser.

Conclusion

The implementation of SIMD‐based data parallelism in DNS parsing provides a substantial performance improvement, making it a viable solution for handling large DNS zone files more efficiently. This not only reduces processing time but also enhances the overall functionality of DNS services.
Angular distributions of Drell-Yan leptons in the TMD factorization approach
Authors: Piloñeta Sara , Vladimirov Alexey
Published: December 2024

Abstract

We present a comprehensive study of the angular structure functions for Drell-Yan leptons in Z/γ-boson production within the framework of the transverse momentum dependent (TMD) factorization theorem, including kinematic power corrections (KPCs). We find good agreement with the data in the applicability region of the TMD factorization theorem. The inclusion of KPCs allows us to describe all angular coefficients in a frame-independent manner using only the leading-twist TMD distributions: the unpolarized and the Boer-Mulders functions. The value of the Boer-Mulders function is determined using the ATLAS measurement of the A2 angular coefficient. The analysis is performed at N4LL perturbative order. Additionally, we discuss the technical implementation and impact of KPCs on the phenomenology of TMD distributions.
Minimizing Movements for the Generalized Power Mean Curvature Flow
Authors: Bellettini Giovanni , Kholmatov Shokhrukh Yu.
Published: December 2024

Motivated by a conjecture of De Giorgi, we consider the Almgren–Taylor–Wang scheme for mean curvature flow, where the volume penalization is replaced by a term of the form $$\begin{aligned} \int _{E\Delta F}f\left( \tfrac{\textrm{d}_{F}}{\tau }\right) ~dx \end{aligned}$$

∫

E
Δ
F

f

d
F

τ

d
x

for $$f$$
f
ranging in a large class of strictly increasing continuous functions, where $$E \Delta F= (E \cup F){\setminus } E \cap F$$

E
Δ
F
=
(
E
∪
F
)
\
E
∩
F

is the symmetric difference between sets E and F, and $$d_F$$

d
F

is the distance function from $$\partial F$$

∂
F

. In particular, our analysis covers the case $$\begin{aligned} f( r ) = r^\alpha , \qquad r \ge 0, \ \ \alpha >0, \end{aligned}$$

f

(
r
)

=

r
α

,

r
≥
0
,

α
>
0
,

considered by De Giorgi. We show that the generalized minimizing movement scheme converges to the geometric evolution equation $$\begin{aligned} f(v) = - \kappa \quad \text {on }\partial E(t), \end{aligned}$$

f
(
v
)
=
-
κ

on

∂
E
(
t
)
,

where $$\{E(t)\}$$

{
E
(
t
)
}

are evolving subsets of $${\mathbb {R}}^n,$$

R

n

,

$$v$$
v
is the normal velocity of $$\partial E(t),$$

∂
E
(
t
)
,

and $$\kappa $$
κ
is the mean curvature of $$\partial E(t)$$

∂
E
(
t
)

. We extend our analysis to the anisotropic setting, and in the presence of a driving force. We also show that minimizing movements coincide with the smooth classical solution as long as the latter exists. Finally, we prove that in the absence of forcing, mean convexity and convexity are preserved by the weak flow.
Integrability of Nonabelian Differential–Difference Equations: The Symmetry Approach
Authors: Novikov Vladimir , Wang Jing Ping
Published: December 2024

We extend the approach proposed in Mikhailov et al. (Commun Math Phys 393:1063–1104, 2022) to tackle the integrability problem for evolutionary differential–difference equations (D

$$\Delta $$

Δ

Es) on free associative algebras, also referred to as nonabelian D

$$\Delta $$

Δ

Es. This approach enables us to derive necessary integrability conditions, determine the integrability of a given equation, and make progress in the classification of integrable nonabelian D

$$\Delta $$

Δ

Es. This work involves establishing symbolic representations for the nonabelian difference algebra, difference operators, and formal series, as well as introducing a quasi-local extension for the algebra of formal series within the context of symbolic representations. Applying this formalism, we solve the classification problem of integrable skew-symmetric quasi-linear nonabelian equations of orders

$$(-1,1)$$

(
-
1
,
1
)

,

$$(-2,2)$$

(
-
2
,
2
)

, and

$$(-3,3)$$

(
-
3
,
3
)

, consequently revealing some new equations in the process.
Outcomes of Intranodal and Modified Intranodal Lymphangiography for Treatment of Traumatic Chylous Leaks in the Thorax and Neck
Authors: Parikh Rupal , Seyferth Elisabeth R. , Palat Sanjay , Itkin Maxim , Nadolski Gregory J.
Published: December 2024

Purpose

To report outcomes, procedure and fluoroscopy times, and adverse event rates after intranodal lymphangiography (IL) and modified IL (mIL) for treatment of traumatic chylous leaks in the thorax and neck.

Methods

Under an IRB-approved protocol, retrospective review of a quality assurance database identified all lymphangiograms for post-surgical refractory chylous leaks in the thorax and neck at a tertiary center from 2002–2022. Records were reviewed for technical and clinical outcomes, procedure and fluoroscopy times, and adverse events. Pedal lymphangiograms were excluded. Patients were categorized into IL (pre-2016) and mIL (post-2016) cohorts. mIL incorporated pneumatic calf compression throughout the procedure. Technical success was defined as successful thoracic duct cannulation. Clinical success was defined as leak resolution and eventual chest or other drain removal within 2 weeks post-procedure. A two-tailed Fischer’s exact test was used to compare categorical outcomes. A two-tailed t test was used to compare means.

Results

Two hundred and thirty-nine patients underwent 263 thoracic duct embolizations of traumatic chylous leaks in the thorax/neck. Intranodal lymphangiography was used in 167 cases in 150 patients. Overall clinical success was 94.6% [n = 142/150]. Technical success was higher in mIL (94.2% [81/86]) than IL (76.5% [62/81]) (p = 0.002). Clinical success per patient and procedure were similar between cohorts (92.3% [72/78] mIL versus 97.2% [70/72] IL, p = 0.27, and 83.7% [72/86] mIL versus 85.1% [69/81] IL, p = 0.83, respectively). Mean procedure time in mIL (83.4 ± 31.9 min) was shorter than in IL (119.2 ± 45.9 min) (p < 0.0001). Mean fluoroscopy time in mIL (33.8 ± 17.3 min) was shorter than in IL (41.7 ± 23.2 min) (p = 0.02). Adverse event rate was not significantly different between groups.

Conclusion

Overall, thoracic duct embolization for traumatic chylothorax has high clinical success, approaching 95%. While clinical success of mIL was similar to IL, technical success and mean procedure and fluoroscopic times were significantly improved. Findings suggest modified intranodal lymphangiography should be utilized to treat traumatic chylothorax.

Level of Evidence

Level 4, Case Series.

Graphical Abstract
The role of deep learning in diagnostic imaging of spondyloarthropathies: a systematic review
Authors: Omar Mahmud , Watad Abdulla , McGonagle Dennis , Soffer Shelly , Glicksberg Benjamin S. , Nadkarni Girish N. , Klang Eyal
Published: December 2024

Aim

Diagnostic imaging is an integral part of identifying spondyloarthropathies (SpA), yet the interpretation of these images can be challenging. This review evaluated the use of deep learning models to enhance the diagnostic accuracy of SpA imaging.

Methods

Following PRISMA guidelines, we systematically searched major databases up to February 2024, focusing on studies that applied deep learning to SpA imaging. Performance metrics, model types, and diagnostic tasks were extracted and analyzed. Study quality was assessed using QUADAS-2.

Results

We analyzed 21 studies employing deep learning in SpA imaging diagnosis across MRI, CT, and X-ray modalities. These models, particularly advanced CNNs and U-Nets, demonstrated high accuracy in diagnosing SpA, differentiating arthritis forms, and assessing disease progression. Performance metrics frequently surpassed traditional methods, with some models achieving AUCs up to 0.98 and matching expert radiologist performance.

Conclusion

This systematic review underscores the effectiveness of deep learning in SpA imaging diagnostics across MRI, CT, and X-ray modalities. The studies reviewed demonstrated high diagnostic accuracy. However, the presence of small sample sizes in some studies highlights the need for more extensive datasets and further prospective and external validation to enhance the generalizability of these AI models.

Key Points

QuestionHow can deep learning models improve diagnostic accuracy in imaging for spondyloarthropathies (SpA), addressing challenges in early detection and differentiation from other forms of arthritis?

FindingsDeep learning models, especially CNNs and U-Nets, showed high accuracy in SpA imaging across MRI, CT, and X-ray, often matching or surpassing expert radiologists.

Clinical relevanceDeep learning models can enhance diagnostic precision in SpA imaging, potentially reducing diagnostic delays and improving treatment decisions, but further validation on larger datasets is required for clinical integration.
Gastrointestinal quality of life in children born with gastroschisis
Authors: Bräutigam Matilda , Dellenmark-Blom Michaela , Abrahamsson Kate , Gatzinsky Cathrine , Gatzinsky Vladimir
Published: December 2024

Purpose

The aim was to determine gastrointestinal (GI)-related QoL in children born with gastroschisis (GS).

Methods

Totally, 58/83 families of children (aged 2–18 years) operated for GS at a tertiary pediatric surgical center accepted participation. Children aged 5–18 and one parent (child aged 2–18) completed the Swedish version of the PedsQL™ gastrointestinal symptoms module, evaluating GI-related QoL with 14 different GI-specific scales, norm values for Hirschsprung’s disease (HD), esophageal atresia (EA), and functional constipation (FC) that were used for comparison.

Results

Children with GS had significantly lower parent-reported scores on “Gas and bloating” compared with children with EA (77.0 vs 85.5, p = 0.039). In the child report and in the parent report, scores on several GI scales were like those of children with EA. Parents of children with GS had higher scores for 8/14 scales compared to HD and higher scores for 12/14 scales compared to FC. Clinical GS-specific factors for worse GI-QoL were identified, including “Days in ventilator” and “Days with Silo and Patch”.

Conclusions

GS has an impact on GI-related QoL, comparable to that in EA, but not to HD or FC. The GS-specific factors of worse QoL show the importance regarding a GS follow-up program including considering clinical factors.
Struktur- und Prozessevaluation komplexer Interventionen in der Schmerztherapie
Authors: Gnass Irmela , Berger Stefanie , Schürholz Nina , Kaiser Ulrike , Schäfer Axel , Schnabel Alexander , Pogatzki-Zahn Esther , Nestler Nadja
Published: December 2024

Zur Bewertung der Versorgungsqualität, insbesondere bei neuen Versorgungsformen (nVF), werden die zu erbringenden Gesundheitsleistungen vorab definiert und dokumentiert. Das vorgestellte Explanatory-Sequential-Mixed-Methods-Design kombiniert quantitative und qualitative Datenerhebungen, und seine Analyse ermöglicht ein vertieftes Verständnis einer nVF. Am Beispiel des Projekts POET-Pain, das die Wirkung eines perioperativen „Transitional Pain Service“ (TPS) untersucht, wird die methodische Anwendung des Explanatory-Sequential-Mixed-Methods-Designs demonstriert, um die Struktur- und Prozessevaluation der nVF (hier TPS) vorzustellen und deren Einfluss auf die Versorgungsqualität zu verstehen. Das vorgestellte Mixed-methods-Design ermöglicht es, die Ergebnisse der quantitativen Phase anhand qualitativer Daten vertiefend zu interpretieren und zu erweitern, was zu einem umfänglichen Verständnis des Gegenstands (zweite Säule der Versorgungsforschung) führt.
Ermittlung von Resonanzfaktoren zur Oberschwingungsbewertung nach VDE-AR-N 4110 basierend auf Netzimpedanzmessungen
Authors: Schräder Johannes , Meyer Marc Florian , Möbius Patrick , Schulz Detlef , Jordan Michael
Published: December 2024

Bisher werden Resonanzfaktoren auf der Grundlage verschiedener Annahmen ermittelt. Das kann zu einer Überschätzung dieser Faktoren führen und somit die elektrische Charakteristik des Netzanschlusspunkts fehlerhaft abbilden. Dadurch kann es dazu kommen, dass Erzeugungsanlagen die Netzeinspeisung versagt wird, obwohl hierfür bei genauerer Betrachtung keine sachliche Grundlage vorliegt. In diesem Beitrag wird gezeigt, wie man durch die Messung der Netzimpedanz am Verknüpfungspunkt zu praktisch relevanten Bewertungen kommen kann. Hierfür wird die Oberschwingungsbewertung im Netzanschlussprozess erläutert und eine angepasste Bewertung anhand eines realen Fallbeispiels präsentiert. Darüber hinaus werden die Resonanzfaktoren weiterer Netzanschlusspunkte auf der Basis realer Messungen ermittelt und miteinander verglichen. Anhand der Ergebnisse kann festgestellt werden, dass messwertbasierte Resonanzfaktoren in der Regel höhere Oberschwingungsstromgrenzwerte erlauben.
Particle swarm optimization with local search for height-map surface reconstruction from point clouds in reverse engineering
Authors: Gálvez Akemi , Fister Iztok , Deb Suash , Fister Iztok , Iglesias Andrés
Published: December 2024

Surface reconstruction is a classical process in industrial engineering and manufacturing, particularly in reverse engineering, where the goal is to obtain a digital model from a physical object. For that purpose, the real object is typically scanned or digitized and the resulting point cloud is then fitted to mathematical surfaces through numerical optimization. The choice of the approximating functions is crucial for the accuracy of the process. Real-world objects such as manufactured workpieces often require complex nonlinear approximating functions, which are not well suited for standard numerical methods. In a previous paper presented at the ISMSI 2023 conference, we addressed this issue by using manually selected approximation functions via optimization through the cuckoo search algorithm with Lévy flights. Building upon that work, this paper presents an enhanced and extended method for surface reconstruction by using height-map surfaces obtained through a combination of exponential, polynomial and logarithmic functions. A feasible approach for this goal is to consider continuous bivariate distribution functions, which ensures consistent models along with good mathematical properties for the output shapes, such as smoothness and integrability. However, this approach leads to a difficult multivariate, constrained, multimodal continuous nonlinear optimization problem. To tackle this issue, we apply particle swarm optimization, a popular swarm intelligence technique for continuous optimization. The method is hybridized with a local search procedure for further improvement of the solutions and applied to a benchmark of 15 illustrative examples of point clouds fitted to different surface models. The performance of the method is analyzed through several computational experiments. The numerical and graphical results show that the method is able to recover the shape of the point clouds accurately and automatically. Furthermore, our approach outperforms other alternative methods significantly in terms of the numerical errors. We conclude that our method can be successfully applied to the reconstruction of manufactured workpieces in real industrial settings.
Impfverhalten in Bezug auf COVID-19 („coronavirus disease 2019“)
Authors: Helbing Alexander
Published: December 2024

Ziel der Studie

Die Wirksamkeit von Impfkampagnen ist nur gewährleistet, wenn sich eine ausreichende Anzahl von Personen impfen lässt. In Bezug auf die COVID-19-Pandemie („coronavirus disease 2019“) gibt es bereits zahlreiche frühe Studien zur Impfbereitschaft. Es mangelt aber an Studien zum tatsächlichen Impfverhalten. Die vorliegende Studie zielt darauf ab, retrospektiv das Impfverhalten zu messen und mit Hilfe verschiedener, z. T. wenig untersuchten, Einflussfaktoren zu erklären.

Methodik

Zwischen März bis April 2023 wurde im Rahmen eines anderen Projektes eine Querschnittstudie mittels Online-Fragebogen an 2750 Personen in Deutschland durchgeführt. Die Daten wurden schließlich mit Hilfe einer multiplen logistischen Regression ausgewertet.

Ergebnisse

Es haben 88,5 % der Befragten angegeben, sich mindestens einmal gegen COVID-19 geimpft gelassen zu haben. Die Ergebnisse der multiplen logistischen Regression deuten darauf hin, dass Misstrauen gegenüber der Berichterstattung des Robert Koch-Instituts das Impfverhalten negativ beeinflusst, während Misstrauen gegenüber sozialen Medien dieses erhöht. Personen, die potenziell die AfD (Alternative für Deutschland) wählen würden, weisen die geringste Impfquote unter allen Wahlpräferenzen auf. Die Zugehörigkeit zu einer COVID-19-Risikogruppe ist positiv mit dem Impfverhalten assoziiert. Eine geringe subjektive Risikoeinschätzung in Bezug auf COVID-19 weist eine negative Assoziation auf. Schließlich zeigt sich, dass die Anzahl der geimpften Personen im sozialen Netzwerk, das individuelle Impfverhalten positiv beeinflusst.

Schlussfolgerung

Die Ergebnisse unterstreichen die Bedeutung von Vertrauen in Informationsquellen und die Risikoeinschätzung bezüglich COVID-19. Neue Erkenntnisse zu sozialen Netzwerken und der AfD-Affinität legen den Grundstein für weitere Untersuchungen.
Seismic hazard assessment in the Podhale region, Poland—zone and smoothed seismicity approach
Authors: Plesiewicz Beata , Wiszniowski Jan , Karkowska Kamila , Kijko Andrzej
Published: December 2024

Poland is characterised by weak natural seismicity. However, the last analysis of the natural seismic hazard in the country was carried out 24 years ago. Therefore, a significant fraction of the recorded seismicity is not included in the hazard estimates currently used, either because recent observations are not taken into account or because of improved seismic network capabilities. Furthermore, Podhale, in the Tatra Mountains, is the only region with recorded permanent natural seismicity. This study aims to create new seismic hazard maps of the Podhale region from a newly compiled database containing information on historical events and two complete instrumental catalogues (regional and local), each at a different level of completeness. The local catalogue was recorded over the last few years. Two seismic hazard assessment techniques were applied, namely the conventional (zone-based) (Cornell in Bull Seismol Soc Am 58(5): 1583–1606, 1968) and the smoothed seismicity model, based on the spatial distribution of seismicity. The earthquake recurrence parameters were estimated using the methodology developed by Kijko et al. (Bull Seismol Soc Am 106: 1210–1222, 2016). The new seismic hazard model incorporates several improvements, such as a comprehensive logic tree and a new set of ground motion models. The new maps provide a more detailed assessment of the seismic hazards of the investigated area. Moreover, they predict higher PGA than previous seismic hazard maps covering Podhale, like global European Seismic Hazard Maps 2013 and 2020.
Die „Hangkriterien“ der Neufassung von § 64 StGB – Implikationen für das Therapieergebnis?
Authors: Stübner Susanne , Schwarz Michael
Published: December 2024

Die Novellierung von § 64 des Strafgesetzbuches (StGB) ist am 01.10.2023 in Kraft getreten. Es erfolgte u. a. eine Spezifizierung des „Hangs“: Gefordert sind nun das Vorliegen einer Substanzkonsumstörung und in dessen Folge eine dauernde und schwerwiegende Beeinträchtigung von Lebensgestaltung, Gesundheit, Arbeitsfähigkeit oder Leistungsfähigkeit („Hangkriterien“). In einer vorangegangenen Arbeit der Verfasser (Schwarz und Stübner 2023) wurde eine retrospektive Aktenanalyse durchgeführt bei n = 70 männlichen Patienten, deren Unterbringung gemäß § 64 StGB in der Klinik für Forensische Psychiatrie am Bezirksklinikum Ansbach (Bayern) zwischen dem 01.07.2021 und dem 30.06.2022 beendet worden war (Querschnittvollerfassung). In der hier vorliegenden explorativen Sekundäranalyse dieser Daten sollte nun ein etwaiger Zusammenhang zwischen dem Therapieergebnis (bedingte Entlassung aus der Maßregel oder vorzeitige Erledigung) und der im jeweiligen Fall vorliegenden Art und Anzahl der Hangkriterien fokussiert werden. Es zeigte sich, dass bei Patienten mit einem regulären Therapieabschluss im Durchschnitt höhere Anzahlen von Hangkriterien vorgelegen hatten, insbesondere Beeinträchtigungen der Arbeitsfähigkeit. In dieser Gruppe waren allerdings weniger schwere psychiatrische Komorbiditäten zu verzeichnen. Zwischen den einzelnen Hangkriterien wurden teils hochsignifikante Zusammenhänge ermittelt. Insgesamt deutet sich an, dass die neue Konturierung des Hangbegriffs zu einer gezielteren Zuweisung von Patienten, die von den spezifischen Therapieangeboten in einer Entziehungsanstalt profitieren, führen könnte. Zudem scheinen sich die rechtswissenschaftlich intendierten Verbesserungen mit erfahrungswissenschaftlichen Methoden abbilden zu lassen.
Site-specific weathering of coatings: II. Comparison of natural weathering and accelerated protocols for Central Europe and Florida
Authors: Oehler Harald , Wanner Matthias , Aktas Lukas , Neumann Marie , Lellinger Dirk , Alig Ingo
Published: December 2024

Weathering protocols, which anticipate exposure behavior of coatings in the temperate climate in Central Europe (ZykStuttgart: ZS) and Florida (new protocol: NP), were applied for accelerated testing of melamine-, silicone resin/acrylate dispersion-, and polyurethane-based coating systems and compared to natural weathering at related sites in Stuttgart (Germany) and near Homestead (Florida/USA), respectively. Color parameters and infrared spectra were measured after defined exposure times and normalized to the irradiation doses. Color changes of an industrial standard with an orange pigment (ORWET) were found to depend for both artificial and natural weathering tests predominantly on irradiation dose. This confirms that the spectral power distribution of the lamp/filter configuration proposed in NP matches sufficiently well to both the sunlight spectra in Florida and Stuttgart. For a melamine-based standard crack coat, crack initiation was found only for NP and the late stage of ZS. For all coating systems studied, characteristic band intensities of infrared spectra and/or color parameters for the two protocols and from natural weathering at the related outdoor sites were shifted along the time axis to merge to master plots. To differentiate between thermally activated, photo-initiated, and hydrolytic degradation, the shift factors were plotted versus inverse annual- or cycle-averaged temperatures including irradiation ratios and averaged humidity ratios. Despite the different reaction mechanism for the acrylic component in the silicone resin/acrylate and the polyurethane coating, a dominance of thermally activated degradation was evident for both. The melamine-based binder showed coupled degradation mechanisms (photo-induced and thermally activated complimented by moisture effects). The use of irradiation doses, cycle-, and annual-averaged temperatures together with cycle- and annual-averaged humidities for data analysis provided simple possibilities for comparison of protocols and weathering sites and a rough differentiation between degradation mechanisms.
JAK2 mutations in polycythemia vera: from molecular origins to inflammatory pathways and clinical implications
Authors: Bellosillo Beatriz , Doubek Michael , Tomuleasa Ciprian , Griesshammer Martin , Marchetti Monia , Sacha Tomasz , Gisslinger Heinz
Published: December 2024

Polycythemia vera (PV) is a myeloproliferative neoplasm primarily driven by mutations in the JAK2 gene, most notably the V617F mutation, which occurs in nearly 97% of cases. This gain-of-function mutation overactivates the JAK-STAT pathway, a critical factor in developing the PV phenotype by stimulating excessive proliferation of the erythroblastic lineage. Diagnostic methods for PV focus on detecting the JAK2 mutation—primarily through polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and next-generation sequencing, which are essential for distinguishing PV from other disorders. The variant allele frequency (VAF) of JAK2V617F also serves as an important prognostic marker, with higher VAF linked to both increased thrombotic risk and disease progression to myelofibrosis or acute leukemia. Thus, managing allele burden is central to treatment strategies. Given the genetic complexity of PV, personalized treatment approaches are essential. Current therapies focus on JAK2 signaling, with ropeginterferon alfa-2b and JAK inhibitors as primary or secondary treatments to reduce clonal expansion and control inflammation, and aspirin to prevent thrombotic events. Emerging treatments are exploring anti-inflammatory strategies, such as anti-IL-1β antibodies, and agents targeting iron metabolism to maintain hematocrit levels without phlebotomy, potentially improving quality of life. Overall, reducing JAK2V617F burden and controlling inflammation are crucial for managing PV progression and improving patient outcomes, with ongoing research refining these therapeutic avenues to enhance long-term strategies.
Mythos „Kanzlerdemokratie“
Authors: Helms Ludger
Published: December 2024

Die „Kanzlerdemokratie“ gehört seit Jahrzehnten zu den prominentesten und populärsten Labels, die dem deutschen Regierungssystem bzw. dem politischen Prozess in der Bundesrepublik zugedacht wurden. Zugleich ist die Rede von der „Kanzlerdemokratie“ längst zu einer nicht weiter hinterfragten „Worthülse“ verkommen. Der vergleichend angelegte Essay nimmt diesen Umstand zum Ausgangspunkt und zeichnet die erstaunliche Karriere des Terminus bzw. Konzepts nach und fragt nach dessen durchaus problematischen Implikationen für die politikwissenschaftliche Analyse von politischer Führung sowie für den demokratischen Prozess in Deutschland.