bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Differences in methylation profiles between long-term survivors and short-term survivors of IDH-wild-type glioblastoma
Authors: van der Meulen Matthijs , Ramos Ronald C , Voisin Mathew R , Patil Vikas , Wei Qingxia , Singh Olivia , Climans Seth A , Kalidindi Navya , Or Rosemarylin , Aldape Ken , Diamandis Phedias , Munoz David G , Zadeh Gelareh , Mason Warren P
Published: January 2024

Background

Patients with glioblastoma (GBM) have a median overall survival (OS) of approximately 16 months. However, approximately 5% of patients survive >5 years. This study examines the differences in methylation profiles between long-term survivors (>5 years, LTS) and short-term survivors (<1 year, STS) with isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH)-wild-type GBMs.

Methods

In a multicenter retrospective analysis, we identified 25 LTS with a histologically confirmed GBM. They were age- and sex-matched to an STS. The methylation profiles of all 50 samples were analyzed with EPIC 850k, classified according to the DKFZ methylation classifier, and the methylation profiles of LTS versus STS were compared.

Results

After methylation profiling, 16/25 LTS and 23/25 STS were confirmed to be IDH-wild-type GBMs, all with +7/–10 signature. LTS had significantly increased O6-methylguanine methyltransferase (MGMT) promoter methylation and higher prevalence of FGFR3-TACC3 fusion (P = .03). STS were more likely to exhibit CDKN2A/B loss (P = .01) and higher frequency of NF1 (P = .02) mutation. There were no significant CpGs identified between LTS versus STS at an adjusted P-value of .05. Unadjusted analyses identified key pathways involved in both LTS and STS. The most common pathways were the Hippo signaling pathway and the Wnt pathway in LTS, and GPCR ligand binding and cell–cell signaling in STS.

Conclusions

A small group of patients with IDH-wild-type GBM survive more than 5 years. While there are few differences in the global methylation profiles of LTS compared to STS, our study highlights potential pathways involved in GBMs with a good or poor prognosis.
On the road to equity: examining income-related inequalities in ownership of safer cars
Authors: Carrieri Vincenzo , Davillas Apostolos , de Oliveira Victor Hugo
Published: January 2024

Using administrative Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) data, matched with the UK Household Longitudinal Study (covering the period between 2013 and 2015), we estimate income-related inequalities in ownership of safer cars. We also apply regression-based decompositions to explore the source of inequalities. We find systematic pro-rich inequalities in ownership of safer cars that are almost entirely explained by the car's price and year of manufacture. A range of household-level variables, including demographics, risk aversion, time preference, personality traits, cognitive ability and education, play a much less pronounced contribution to overall inequality. The observed inequity in safer car ownership with potential effects on the socio-economic gap in road-traffic injuries may require regulatory interventions.
Hot carbonates deep within the Chicxulub impact structure
Authors: Kaskes Pim , Marchegiano Marta , Peral Marion , Goderis Steven , Claeys Philippe
Published: January 2024

Constraining the thermodynamic conditions within an impact structure during and after hypervelocity impacts is extremely challenging due to the transient thermal regimes. This work uses carbonate clumped-isotope thermometry to reconstruct absolute temperatures of impact lithologies within and close to the ∼66 Myr old Chicxulub crater (Yucatán, México). We present stable oxygen (δ18O), carbon (δ13C), and clumped-isotope (Δ47) data for carbonate-bearing impact breccias, impact melt rock, and target lithologies from four drill cores on a transect through the Chicxulub structure from the northern peak ring to the southern proximal ejecta blanket. Clumped isotope-derived temperatures (T(Δ47)) are consistently higher than maximum Late Cretaceous sea surface temperatures (35.5°C), except in the case of Paleogene limestones and melt-poor impact breccias outside of the crater, confirming the influence of burial diagenesis and a widespread and long-lived hydrothermal system. The melt-poor breccia unit outside the crater is overlain by melt-rich impact breccia yielding a much higher T(Δ47) of 111 ± 10°C (1 standard error [SE]), which likely traces the thermal processing of carbonate material during ejection. Finally, T(Δ47) up to 327 ± 33°C (1 SE) is determined for the lower suevite and impact melt rock intervals within the crater. The highest temperatures are related to distinct petrological features associated with decarbonation and rapid back-reaction, in which highly reactive CaO recombines with impact-released CO2 to form secondary CaCO3 phases. These observations have important climatic implications for the Cretaceous–Paleogene mass extinction event, as current numerical models likely overestimate the release of CO2 from the Chicxulub impact event.
Human RFX6 regulates endoderm patterning at the primitive gut tube stage
Authors: Nakamura Toshihiro , Fujikura Junji , Ito Ryo , Keidai Yamato , Inagaki Nobuya
Published: January 2024

Transcriptional factor RFX6 is known to be a causal gene of Mitchell–Riley syndrome (MRS), an autosomal recessive neonatal diabetes associated with pancreatic hypoplasia and intestinal atresia/malformation. The morphological defects are limited to posterior foregut and mid-hindgut endodermal lineages and do not occur in the anterior foregut lineage; the mechanism remains to be fully elucidated. In this study, we generated RFX6+/eGFP heterozygous knockin and RFX6eGFP/eGFP homozygous knockin/knockout human-induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC) lines and performed in vitro endoderm differentiation to clarify the role of RFX6 in early endoderm development. RFX6 expression was found to surge at the primitive gut tube (PGT) stage in comparison with that in the undifferentiated or definitive endoderm stage. At the PGT stage, the expression of PDX1 and CDX2, posterior foregut and mid-hindgut master regulators, respectively, was decreased by the RFX6 deficit. PDX1+ and CDX2+ cells were mostly green fluorescent protein (GFP)+ in RFX6+/eGFP hiPSCs, but their cell number was markedly decreased in RFX6eGFP/eGFP hiPSCs. The expression of SOX2, an anterior foregut marker, was not affected by the RFX6 deficit. In addition, we found a putative RFX6-binding X-box motif using cap analysis of gene expression-seq and the motif-containing sequences in the enhancer regions of PDX1 and CDX2 bound to RFX6 in vitro. Thus, RFX6 regulates the ParaHox genes PDX1 and CDX2 but does not affect SOX2 in early endodermal differentiation, suggesting that defects in early stage endoderm patterning account for the morphological pathology of MRS.
Impact of sleep disruption on cognitive function in patients with postacute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection: initial findings from a Neuro-COVID-19 clinic
Authors: Reid Kathryn J , Ingram Louis T , Jimenez Millenia , Orban Zachary S , Abbott Sabra M , Grimaldi Daniela , Knutson Kristen L , Zee Phyllis C , Koralnik Igor J , Maas Mathew B
Published: January 2024

Introduction

Fatigue, brain fog, and sleep disturbance are among the most common symptoms of postacute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC). We sought to determine the impact of sleep disruption on cognition and quality of life in patients with neurologic manifestations of PASC (Neuro-PASC).

Methods

Thirty-nine patients were recruited from Neuro-COVID-19 clinic. Mean age was 48.1 years, 71.8% were female, and 82% were never hospitalized for COVID-19. Patients were evaluated via clinical assessment, quality-of-life measures in domains of cognitive function, fatigue, sleep disturbance, anxiety, and depression, NIH Toolbox cognitive tests, and 7 days of wrist actigraphy.

Results

The median number of neurologic symptoms attributed to PASC was 6, with brain fog being the most common in 89.7%. Regarding non-neurologic symptoms, 94.9% complained of fatigue and 74.4% of insomnia. Patients reported significant impairment in all quality-of-life domains and performed worse in a task of attention compared to a normative US population. Actigraphy showed Neuro-PASC patients had lower sleep efficiency, longer sleep latency (both p < 0.001), and later sleep midpoint (p = 0.039) compared to 71 age-matched healthy controls with no PASC history. Self-reported cognitive symptoms correlated with the severity of fatigue (p < 0.001), anxiety (p = 0.05), and depression (p < 0.01). Objective evidence of sleep disruption measured by wakefulness after sleep onset, sleep efficiency, and latency were associated with decreased performance in attention and processing speed.

Conclusion

Prospective studies including larger populations of patients are needed to fully determine the interplay of sleep disruption on the cognitive function and quality of life of patients with PASC.
Molecular insights into codon usage analysis of mitochondrial fission and fusion gene: relevance to neurodegenerative diseases
Authors: Khandia Rekha , Pandey Megha Katare , Garg Rajkumar , Khan Azmat Ali , Baklanov Igor , Alanazi Amer M. , Nepali Prakash , Gurjar Pankaj , Choudhary Om Prakash
Published: January 2024

Mitochondrial dysfunction is the leading cause of neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. Mitochondria is a highly dynamic organelle continuously undergoing the process of fission and fusion for even distribution of components and maintaining proper shape, number, and bioenergetic functionality. A set of genes governs the process of fission and fusion. OPA1, Mfn1, and Mfn2 govern fusion, while Drp1, Fis1, MIEF1, and MIEF2 genes control fission. Determination of specific molecular patterns of transcripts of these genes revealed the impact of compositional constraints on selecting optimal codons. AGA and CCA codons were over-represented, and CCC, GTC, TTC, GGG, ACG were under-represented in the fusion gene set. In contrast, CTG was over-represented, and GCG, CCG, and TCG were under-represented in the fission gene set. Hydropathicity analysis revealed non-polar protein products of both fission and fusion gene set transcripts. AGA codon repeats are an integral part of translational regulation machinery and present a distinct pattern of over-representation and under-representation in different transcripts within the gene sets, suggestive of selective translational force precisely controlling the occurrence of the codon. Out of six synonymous codons, five synonymous codons encoding for leucine were used differently in both gene sets. Hence, forces regulating the occurrence of AGA and five synonymous leucine-encoding codons suggest translational selection. A correlation of mutational bias with gene expression and codon bias and GRAVY and AROMA signifies the selection pressure in both gene sets, while the correlation of compositional bias with gene expression, codon bias, protein properties, and minimum free energy signifies the presence of compositional constraints. More than 25% of codons of both gene sets showed a significant difference in codon usage. The overall analysis shed light on molecular features of gene sets involved in fission and fusion.
Prevalence and clinical characteristics of hyperuricemia among patients with chronic kidney disease under haemodialysis in a tertiary care center: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Bhattarai Ayush Mohan , Gurung Shekhar , Adhikari Ayush , Karki Saurab , Pathak Bishnu Deep , Regmi Bishal , Khadka Manoj , Yadav Gopal Kumar , Basnet Somika
Published: January 2024

Background:

Hyperuricemia is common in chronic kidney disease patients. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and clinical characteristics of hyperuricemia in patients with chronic kidney disease undergoing haemodialysis.

Materials and methods:

This cross-sectional study was conducted among 104 patients with chronic kidney disease who visited the haemodialysis unit of a tertiary centre hospital from 11 September 2022, to 11 November 2022. A convenience sampling technique was used. The data were collected using a proforma form, entered into, and analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 21.

Results:

The mean age group of the study participants was 54.02 ± 14.03 years, and around two-thirds were male (n=70, 67.3%). Almost half of the participants (50, 48.07%) had hyperuricemia with a mean uric acid level of 6.76 ± 2.62 mg/dl. The majority of the participants had associated hypertension (n=100, 96.2%). More than three-fourths of the respondents (83, 79.8%) had haemoglobin levels below the target range.

Conclusion:

Nearly half of the study participants had hyperuricemia.
Effect of High-Intensity Laser Therapy on Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Patients
Authors: ElMeligie Mohamed M. , Ismail Mahmoud M. , Gomaa Yasmine S. , Yehia Amr M. , Sakr Hend R. , ElGendy Omnia M.
Published: January 2024

Objective

To provide a strong foundation for the use of high-intensity laser therapy in carpel tunnel syndrome, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the outcomes of short- and long-term follow-up studies.

Design

This is a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Results

Sample sizes of included studies ranged from 16 to 98 patients (N = 308). Overall, a significant difference between the treatment and control groups were found across majority of the measures. Studies using a 4-wk follow-up period, however, only found significantly greater benefits for high-intensity laser therapy in visual analog scale compared with placebo (P = 0.0191), transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (P = 0.0026), and low-intensity laser therapy 20 J/cm2 (P < 0.0002), and exercise (P < 0.0001). For improvement in visual analog scale score over a long treatment period, high-intensity laser therapy was also preferred over control group (P < 0.0071). Insufficient evidence exists to determine effect of high-intensity laser therapy on nerve conduction examinations. The only statistically significant differences observed in examinations were in relation to sensory nerve action potential (P = 0.0083) and sensory nerve conduction velocity (P = 0.0468).

Conclusions

Moderate evidence exists regarding efficacy of high-intensity laser therapy compared with placebo, high-intensity laser therapy + wrist splint, and exercise in a short period of follow-up time but evidence on long-term follow-up is limited.
Enhanced External Counterpulsation Improves Cognitive Function of Persons With Long COVID
Authors: Sathyamoorthy Mohanakrishnan , Sevak Rajkumar J. , Cabrera Juan , Lopez Marielisa , Fox Jessie , Shah Sachin A. , Verduzco-Gutierrez Monica
Published: January 2024

Objective

The aim of this study is to determine the effects of enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) in patients with long COVID and objectively assessed cognitive impairment.

Design

A retrospective evaluation of long COVID patients referred for EECP, with cognitive sequela, and having completed an objective digital assessment before and after therapy. Patients had either cognitive impairment or no cognitive impairment at baseline. We assessed changes in composite score using multifactor analysis of variance. Multiple linear and logistic regression analyses were conducted to evaluate several independent variables.

Results

Eighty long COVID patients (38 cognitive impairment vs. 42 no cognitive impairment) were included for analyses. All baseline characteristics were well matched. There was significant improvement in composite score post EECP in those with objective cognitive impairment at baseline. There were no notable documented safety concerns.

Conclusions

This is the first study showing that EECP led to significant improvement in cognitive functioning of long COVID patients with objectively defined cognitive impairment. Although a lack of a negative control group is a limitation of this study, EECP seems to be highly safe and effective with the potential for widespread application.
Cellulomonas alba sp. nov. and Cellulomonas edaphi sp. nov., isolated from wetland soils
Authors: Park Sunho , Kim Inhyup , Chhetri Geeta , Jung Yonghee , Woo Haejin , Seo Taegun
Published: January 2024

Two novel strains were isolated from wetland soils in Goyang, Republic of Korea. The two Gram-stain-positive, facultatively anaerobic, rod-shaped bacterial-type strains were designated MW4T and MW9T. Phylogenomic analysis based on whole-genome sequences suggested that both strains belonged to the genus

Cellulomonas

. The cells of strain MW4T were non-motile and grew at 20–40 °C (optimum, 35 °C), at pH 6.0–10.0 (optimum, pH 8.0) and in the presence of 0–1.0% NaCl (optimum, 0 %). The cells of strain MW9T were non-motile and grew at 20–40 °C (optimum, 35 °C), at pH 5.0–9.0 (optimum, pH 8.0) and in the presence of 0–1.0% NaCl (optimum, 0 %). The average nucleotide identity (77.1–88.1 %) and digital DNA–DNA hybridization values (21.0–34.8 %) between the two novel strains and with their closely related strains fell within the range for the genus

Cellulomonas

. The novel strains MW4T and MW9T and reference strains possessed alkane synthesis gene clusters (oleA, oleB, oleC and oleD). Phylogenomic, phylogenetic, average nucleotide identity, digital DNA–DNA hybridization, physiological and biochemical data indicated that the novel strains were distinct from other members of the family

Cellulomonadaceae

. We propose the names Cellulomonas alba sp. nov. (type strain MW4T=KACC 23260T=TBRC 17645T) and Cellulomons edaphi sp. nov. (type strain MW9T=KACC 23261T=TBRC 17646T) for the two strains.
A Haplotype-resolved, Chromosome-scale Genome for Malus domestica 'WA 38'
Authors: Zhang Huiting , Ko Itsuhiro , Eaker Abigail , Haney Sabrina , Khuu Ninh , Ryan Kara , Appleby Aaron , Hoffmann Brenden , Landis Henry , Pierro Kenneth , Willsea Noah , Hargarten Heidi , Yocca Alan , Harkess Alex , Honaas Loren , Ficklin Stephen
Published: January 2024

Genome sequencing for agriculturally important Rosaceous crops has made rapid progress both in completeness and annotation quality. Whole genome sequence and annotation gives breeders, researchers, and growers information about cultivar specific traits such as fruit quality, disease resistance, and informs strategies to enhance postharvest storage. Here we present a haplotype-phased, chromosomal level genome of Malus domestica, 'WA 38', a new apple cultivar released to market in 2017 as Cosmic Crisp®. Using both short and long read sequencing data with a k-mer based approach, chromosomes originating from each parent were assembled and segregated. This is the first pome fruit genome fully phased into parental haplotypes in which chromosomes from each parent are identified and separated into their unique, respective haplomes. The two haplome assemblies, 'Honeycrisp' originated HapA and 'Enterprise' originated HapB, are about 650 Megabases each, and both have a BUSCO score of 98.7% complete. A total of 53,028 and 54,235 genes were annotated from HapA and HapB, respectively. Additionally, we provide genome-scale comparisons to 'Gala', 'Honeycrisp', and other relevant cultivars highlighting major differences in genome structure and gene family circumscription. This assembly and annotation was done in collaboration with the American Campus Tree Genomes project that includes 'WA 38' (Washington State University), 'd'Anjou' pear (Auburn University), and many more. To ensure transparency, reproducibility, and applicability for any genome project, our genome assembly and annotation workflow is recorded in detail and shared under a public GitLab repository. All software is containerized, offering a simple implementation of the workflow.
Carbohydrate-active enzyme annotation in microbiomes using dbCAN
Authors: Zheng Jinfang , Huang Le , Yi Haidong , Yan Yuchen , Zhang Xinpeng , Akresi Jerry , Yin Yanbin
Published: January 2024

CAZymes or carbohydrate-active enzymes are critically important for human gut health, lignocellulose degradation, global carbon recycling, soil health, and plant disease. We developed dbCAN as a web server in 2012 and actively maintain it for automated CAZyme annotation. Considering data privacy and scalability, we provide run_dbcan as a standalone software package since 2018 to allow users perform more secure and scalable CAZyme annotation on their local servers. Here, we offer a comprehensive computational protocol on automated CAZyme annotation of microbiome sequencing data, covering everything from short read pre-processing to data visualization of CAZyme and glycan substrate occurrence and abundance in multiple samples. Using a real-world metagenomic sequencing dataset, this protocol describes commands for dataset and software preparation, metagenome assembly, gene prediction, CAZyme prediction, CAZyme gene cluster (CGC) prediction, glycan substrate prediction, and data visualization. The expected results include publication-quality plots for the abundance of CAZymes, CGCs, and substrates from multiple CAZyme annotation routes (individual sample assembly, co-assembly, and assembly-free). For the individual sample assembly route, this protocol takes ∼33h on a Linux computer with 40 CPUs, while other routes will be faster. This protocol does not require programming experience from users, but it does assume a familiarity with the Linux command-line interface and the ability to run Python scripts in the terminal. The target audience includes the tens of thousands of microbiome researchers who routinely use our web server. This protocol will encourage them to perform more secure, rapid, and scalable CAZyme annotation on their local computer servers.
Eigenvalue sensitivity from eigenstate geometry near and beyond arbitrary-order exceptional points
Authors: Schomerus Henning
Published: January 2024

Systems with an effectively non-Hermitian Hamiltonian display an enhanced sensitivity to parametric and dynamic perturbations, which arises from the nonorthogonality of their eigenstates. This enhanced sensitivity can be quantified by the phase rigidity, which mathematically corresponds to the eigenvalue condition number and physically also determines the Petermann factor of quantum noise theory. Here, we derive an exact nonperturbative expression for this sensitivity measure that applies to arbitrary eigenvalue configurations. The expression separates spectral correlations from additional geometric data and retains a simple asymptotic behavior close to exceptional points (EPs) of any order, while capturing the role of additional states in the system. This reveals that such states can have a sizable effect even if they are spectrally well separated and identifies the specific matrix whose elements determine this nonperturbative effect. The employed algebraic approach, which follows the eigenvectors-from-eigenvalues school of thought, also provides direct insights into the geometry of the states near an EP. For instance, it can be used to show that the phase rigidity follows a striking equipartition principle in the quasidegenerate subspace of a system.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
An exploratory study of factors influencing user app abandonment on smartphones
Authors: Liang Shaobo , Wei Ziyi , Zang Lan
Published: January 2024

Purpose

Not all apps can be favored on a smartphone. Users are bound to abandon some if they lose value. Analyzing the reasons behind this phenomenon can help develop strategies for avoiding app abandonment, which is the focus of this study.

Design/methodology/approach

This study conducted in-depth open interviews with 47 respondents who had abandoned or deleted mobile apps before and used the qualitative research method grounded theory to analyze the interview content, followed by open coding, axial coding and selective coding.

Findings

Seven main reasons are summarized after the relationship between every statement and concept is found and constructed, namely functional value, information expectation, emotional value, platform service, user trust, cost, and social influence.

Originality/value

Based on these findings, this study provided suggestions for mobile app developers to help them effectively improve the user experience and retain their customers.
Gregariousness in lepidopteran larvae
Authors: Qian Chenyu , Wen Chao , Guo Xiaoli , Yang Xinya , Wen Xiujun , Ma Tao , Wang Cai
Published: January 2024

The gregarious lifestyle of lepidopteran larvae is diverse and shaped by a complex interplay of ecological and evolutionary factors. Our review showed that the larval‐aggregation behavior has been reported in 23 lepidopteran families, indicating multiple evolution of this behavior. Some larvae live in sibling groups throughout all larval instars and even pupation stages, which may result from the kin‐selection. In contrast, group fusion may occur among different sibling or foraging groups of larvae and form larger aggregates, and the gregariousness of these species might be driven by the group‐selection. While group size and foraging patterns vary greatly across species, it is generally associated with improved larval survivorship and accelerated development. However, the advantages of group living, such as facilitating feeding activities, adjusting the temperature, and defending natural enemies, may diminish along with development, with strong intraspecific competition occurring at later instars, even when food is abundant. Therefore, the group sizes and fission–fusion dynamics of certain gregarious lepidopteran larvae may be a consequence of their cost–benefit balance depending on various biotic and abiotic factors. Trail and aggregation pheromones, silk trails, or body contact contribute to collective movement and group cohesion of gregarious lepidopteran larvae. However, frequent contact among group members may cause the horizontal transmission of pathogens and pesticides, which may bring an integrated pest management strategy controlling gregarious lepidopteran pests.
How to apply zero‐shot learning to text data in substance use research: An overview and tutorial with media data
Authors: Riordan Benjamin , Bonela Abraham Albert , He Zhen , Nibali Aiden , Anderson‐Luxford Dan , Kuntsche Emmanuel
Published: January 2024

A vast amount of media‐related text data is generated daily in the form of social media posts, news stories or academic articles. These text data provide opportunities for researchers to analyse and understand how substance‐related issues are being discussed. The main methods to analyse large text data (content analyses or specifically trained deep‐learning models) require substantial manual annotation and resources. A machine‐learning approach called ‘zero‐shot learning’ may be quicker, more flexible and require fewer resources. Zero‐shot learning uses models trained on large, unlabelled (or weakly labelled) data sets to classify previously unseen data into categories on which the model has not been specifically trained. This means that a pre‐existing zero‐shot learning model can be used to analyse media‐related text data without the need for task‐specific annotation or model training. This approach may be particularly important for analysing data that is time critical. This article describes the relatively new concept of zero‐shot learning and how it can be applied to text data in substance use research, including a brief practical tutorial.
PPSurf: Combining Patches and Point Convolutions for Detailed Surface Reconstruction
Authors: Erler Philipp , Fuentes‐Perez Lizeth , Hermosilla Pedro , Guerrero Paul , Pajarola Renato , Wimmer Michael
Published: January 2024

3D surface reconstruction from point clouds is a key step in areas such as content creation, archaeology, digital cultural heritage and engineering. Current approaches either try to optimize a non‐data‐driven surface representation to fit the points, or learn a data‐driven prior over the distribution of commonly occurring surfaces and how they correlate with potentially noisy point clouds. Data‐driven methods enable robust handling of noise and typically either focus on a global or a local prior, which trade‐off between robustness to noise on the global end and surface detail preservation on the local end. We propose PPSurf as a method that combines a global prior based on point convolutions and a local prior based on processing local point cloud patches. We show that this approach is robust to noise while recovering surface details more accurately than the current state‐of‐the‐art. Our source code, pre‐trained model and dataset are available at https://github.com/cg‐tuwien/ppsurf.
S3‐Leitlinie Atopische Dermatitis: Teil 1‐ Allgemeine Aspekte, topische und nichtmedikamentöse Therapien, besondere Patientengruppen
Authors: Werfel Thomas , Heratizadeh Annice , Aberer Werner , Augustin Matthias , Biedermann Tilo , Bauer Andrea , Fölster‐Holst Regina , Kahle Julia , Kinberger Maria , Nemat Katja , Neustädter Irena , Peters Eva , von Kiedrowski Ralph , Schmid‐Grendelmeier Peter , Schmitt Jochen , Schwennesen Thomas , Simon Dagmar , Spindler Thomas , Traidl‐Hoffmann Claudia , Werner Ricardo Niklas , Wollenberg Andreas , Worm Margitta , Ott Hagen
Published: January 2024

Diese S3‐Leitlinie wurde auf der Basis der europäischen S3‐Leitlinie unter besonderer Berücksichtigung der medizinischen Gegebenheiten im deutschsprachigen Raum und mit Ergänzungen der deutschsprachigen Vorgängerversion erstellt. Die interdisziplinäre Leitlinienkommission bestand aus Vertretern der Deutschen Dermatologischen Gesellschaft, dem Berufsverband der Deutschen Dermatologen, der Österreichischen Gesellschaft für Dermatologie und Venerologie, der Schweizerischen Gesellschaft für Dermatologie und Venerologie, der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Allergologie und Klinische Immunologie, der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Kinder‐ und Jugendmedizin, dem Berufsverband der Kinder‐ und Jugendärzte, der Gesellschaft für Pädiatrische Allergologie und Umweltmedizin, der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Pädiatrische Rehabilitation und Prävention, der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Psychosomatische Medizin und Ärztliche Psychotherapie, dem Deutschen Netzwerk Versorgungsforschung, dem Deutschen Neurodermitis Bund und dem Deutschen Allergie‐ und Asthmabund. Dieser erste Teil der Leitlinie geht auf die Definition und die diagnostischen Aspekte der atopischen Dermatitis (AD) ein, behandelt die topische Therapie sowie die nichtmedikamentösen Therapieverfahren wie die UV‐Therapie, die psychoedukative Therapie, diätische Interventionen bei AD, die Allergen‐spezifische Immuntherapie bei AD und die Komplementärmedizin. Auch behandelt dieser Teil der Leitlinie die besonderen Aspekte der AD bei Kindern und Jugendlichen, in der Schwangerschaft und in der Stillzeit sowie bei Kinderwunsch. Außerdem wird auf berufsbezogene Aspekte der AD eingegangen und die Perspektive der Patienten hervorgehoben. Der zweite, separat publizierte Teil der Leitlinie adressiert die systemische Therapie der AD.
Prävalenz der Psoriasis und Psoriasis‐Arthritis in Deutschland – Analyse von Routinedaten der gesetzlichen Krankenversicherung
Authors: Hagenström Kristina , Müller Katharina , Garbe Claudia , Augustin Matthias
Published: January 2024

Hintergrund und Zielsetzung

Es gibt nur wenige Studien zur Epidemiologie der Psoriasis und Psoriasis‐Arthritis in Deutschland. Ziel dieser Studie war es, diese Prävalenz anhand verschiedener Falldefinitionen zu schätzen.

Methoden

Es wurden Daten der Gesetzlichen Krankenversicherung (GKV) untersucht (2017 bis 2019). Die Prävalenz wurde anhand von drei verschiedenen Falldefinitionen analysiert und validiert: (1) mindestens eine stationäre oder ambulante Diagnose innerhalb eines Jahres (2) mindestens zwei ambulante Diagnosen innerhalb eines Jahres (3) zusätzlich innerhalb von drei Jahren.

Ergebnisse

Die administrative Prävalenz der Psoriasis inklusive Psoriasis‐Arthritis lag zwischen 1,90% und 2,51%. Bei allen Falldefinitionen nahm die Prävalenz mit dem Alter zu, wobei sie bei der Psoriasis ab einem Alter von 70 Jahren und bei der Psoriasis‐Arthritis ab einem Alter von 65 Jahren sank. Männer waren im höheren Alter häufiger betroffen (p <0,0001), während in der Altersgruppe der unter 20‐Jährigen mehr Mädchen betroffen waren (p  =  0,04).

Schlussfolgerung

Die Psoriasis ist eine häufige Hauterkrankung in Deutschland. Die interne Diagnosenvalidierung hat gezeigt, dass in zukünftigen Studien mit GKV‐Routinedaten, je nach Fragestellung, die engen oder weiten Kriterien zur Identifizierung von Patienten mit Psoriasis verwendet werden sollten.
Bobath, NeuroDevelopmental Therapy, and clinical science: Rebranding versus rigor
Authors: Damiano Diane , Novak Iona
Published: January 2024

This letter to the editor is on the invited review by Mayston et al. on pages 564–572 of this issue.
Eocene extensional tectonics in the Amakusa region, northern Ryukyu arc
Authors: Ushimaru Kentaro , Yamaji Atsushi
Published: January 2024

Paleogene surface tectonics in Japan is not well understood because of the paucity of onshore Paleogene stratigraphic records except for those from accretionary complexes. Paralic Paleogene formations remaining in SW Japan are usually so thin that it is difficult to decipher the tectonics from them. However, the Eocene paralic sedimentary package with a thickness of kilometers indicates syn‐depositional tectonic subsidence by a few kilometers in the Amakusa archipelago, west of Kyushu Island. Thus, we made a detailed geological map of the Eocene formations in an area of ~50 square kilometers in the northwestern part of the archipelago. We identified NE‐SW and NW‐SE trending normal faults, most of which were recognized by previous researchers, and also discovered low‐angle faults. NW‐SE trending ones are known to be of the Miocene. NE‐SW trending and low‐angle normal faults are the oldest map‐scale structures in the Eocene ones. It is not obvious within the above‐mentioned area whether those normal faults are accompanied by growth strata. However, the significant southeastward thickening of the Eocene formations across the Amakusa archipelago suggests that they filled a large half graben with the basin margin fault along the eastern side of the archipelago. This basin model is consistent with the N‐S to NW‐SE transport directions of the low‐angle and NE‐SW trending normal faults. Since many NE‐SW to EW trending Eocene grabens were formed in the offshore regions west of Kyushu Island and in the East China Sea, the Amakusa region was probably a northeastern branch of the rift system. The geologic structures and depositional ages of the Eocene formations indicate that the Eocene extensional tectonics removed the overlying strata to some extent for the high‐P/T Takahama Metamorphic Rocks which crops out to the south of our study area.
Predictive value of Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition criteria combined with handgrip strength for postoperative outcomes in overweight colorectal cancer patients
Authors: Chen Weizhe , Yu Dingye , Ren Qi , Shen Zile , Huang Guowei , Chen Xiaolei , Dong Qiantong , Yu Zhen
Published: January 2024

Background and Aim

The Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) criteria are increasingly used to assess the nutritional status of hospitalized patients and predict the prognosis of patients with malignant tumors; however, malnutrition is often overlooked in overweight individuals, such as colorectal cancer patients. This study aimed to investigate the predictive value of the GLIM criteria combined with handgrip strength (HGS) in overweight colorectal cancer patients.

Methods

This retrospective study enrolled overweight patients who underwent radical resection for colorectal cancer at two centers between 2015 and 2021. Malnutrition was diagnosed based on the GLIM criteria. Skeletal muscle mass was assessed using the skeletal muscle index, and skeletal muscle function was assessed using the HGS test. The risk factors for complications and survival were also evaluated.

Results

A total of 850 patients were enrolled in the study. The incidence of malnutrition in the GLIM and HGS‐GLIM groups was 12.4% and 6.4%, respectively. The incidence of total complications in both the malnutrition groups was significantly higher than that in the control group. Patients in the HGS‐GLIM‐malnutrition group had worse overall survival and disease‐free survival. HGS‐GLIM was independently associated with postoperative complications (P = 0.046), overall survival (P = 0.037), and disease‐free survival (P = 0.047).

Conclusion

The GLIM criteria combined with the HGS test is an effective tool for diagnosing malnutrition. Particularly, these modalities are applicable in overweight colorectal cancer patients. Compared with the standard GLIM criteria, this tool has a better predictive value for postoperative complications and long‐term survival.
Lipidomics‐based analysis of lipid differences between dry skin of women aged 22–28 years and 29–35 years
Authors: Bi Yongxian , Liu Jinjun , Li Hao , Sun Jinyue , Ding Wenyu , He Congfen , Jia Yan
Published: January 2024

Background

The skin condition of women is different at different ages, and skin surface lipids are also different. According to the “7–7 theory” of the Huangdi Neijing, the physiological condition of women changes significantly every 7 years, and women aged 22–28 are in the “4–7” stage as mentioned in the “7–7 theory” of the Huangdi Neijing. Women's skin is in different states at different ages and produces different lipids.

Objectives

To explore the key lipids that contribute to skin differences between women aged 22–28 and 29–35 years, and to explore the relationship with physiological parameters and daily routine.

Methods

Differential lipids were detected and screened between 22–28 year old (group D1) and 29–35 year old (group D2) dry‐skinned women using UPLC‐Q‐TOF‐MS and correlated between the two groups with questionnaires and physiological parameters based on basic information, lifestyle habits, work situation, and emotional stress.

Results

The results showed that all of the eight major classes of lipids had the highest expression in the D2 group, with the largest differences in glycerophospholipids, glycerol esters, and fatty acids. The BMI value of D2 group was higher than that of D1 group, the skin elasticity index (R2) and brightness index (L, a, ITA values) were lower than that of D1 group, and Cer (d18:0/16:0) was positively correlated with the R2, L, a, and ITA, and LMSP01080056 (N,N‐dimethyl‐Safingol) was positively correlated with the b‐value, the LMSPGP03020013, LMSPGP03020014, LMSP03020024 were significantly negatively correlated with R2.

Conclusions

Cer(d18:0/16:0) is a neurosphingol that inhibits elastase expression. N,N‐dimethyl‐Safingol readily undergoes oxidation to form yellow‐brown solids. The macromolecular structure and excessive carbonyl structure of [LMGP0302] are susceptible to cross‐linking and carbonyl stress reactions, which accelerate skin aging and reduce skin elasticity, and thus, they may be key lipids contributing to skin differences between the two age groups.
Characteristic hysteroscopy appearance considerations for detecting uterine endometrial malignancies
Authors: Matsumoto Yoko , Yamaguchi Kohei , Maruyama Masanori , Sone Kenbun , Mori‐Uchino Mayuyo , Hirota Yasushi , Wada‐Hiraike Osamu , Osuga Yutaka
Published: January 2024

Aim

The effectiveness of hysteroscopy in diagnosing endometrial lesions has been demonstrated, showing high diagnostic accuracy for malignant endometrial lesions. Although the characteristic appearances of atypical and malignant endometria have been reported, they are not definitive and sometimes complicated. This study aimed to identify a small number of characteristic features to detect endometrial abnormalities using a simple judgment system and analyze the diagnostic characteristics and their accuracy in endometrial malignancy diagnosis.

Methods

We performed a retrospective analysis of hysteroscopy video data of 250 patients, of which we selected for analysis based on pathology examination 152 cases with benign changes, 16 with atypical endometrium, and 18 with carcinoma in situ or endometrial cancer. Endometrial characteristics assessed included protrusion, desquamation, extended vessel, atypical vessel, and white/yellow lesion.

Results

Multivariable analysis revealed that desquamation (p = 0.001, odds ratio [OR] 5.28), atypical vessels (p < 0.001, OR 8.50), and white/yellow lesions (p = 0.011, OR 1.37) were significant predictors for endometrial malignancy. From their contribution status, scoring points of 4, 6, and 1 were settled according to the odds ratio proportions. When scores ≥5 (at least both desquamation and white/yellow lesions or only atypical vessels) were used to define endometrial malignancy, sensitivity and specificity were 100% and 92%, respectively. When detecting cancer, atypical, and benign cases, sensitivity and specificity were 88% and 90%, respectively.

Conclusion

Our characteristics hysteroscopic findings showed a higher predictive ability in detecting endometrial malignancies. However, further examination with more cases would be needed to accurately diagnose endometrial malignancy by hysteroscopy.
Modern welfare in the United Kingdom is a universal (dis)credit to Beveridge. Is it time for a basic income?
Authors: Beck Dave , Peters Remco , Bridge Gemma , Poitier Francis , Pearson Ben
Published: January 2024

Universal Credit signalled a revolution in the delivery and costs of welfare provisioning. UC aimed to reduce spending on welfare, but in doing so now threatens the stability of a functioning and cohesive society. Over recent years, and most notably during the COVID‐19 pandemic, it has become ever clearer that adequate social security is vital to the functioning of society, as well as to the health and well‐being of the population. Yet this period has also served to highlight the fragility and insufficiency of welfare in the United Kingdom. This article explores how the current welfare crisis, is associated with UC. In this article, we also consider the uncertainty that UC has created in most recipients. We argue that there are other ways to support the most vulnerable in society, and that we are now at that critical juncture in needing to make significant change. Universal Basic Income (UBI) offers one such alternative by offering stable, individual, non‐means tested, and unconditional money transfers, to all citizens. Over the last decade, there have been multiple experiments around the world trialling basic income, each of which has a specific focus, or target population, as different elements of a UBI were scrutinised. In this article, we reflect upon what we consider to be the potential shortcomings of the current welfare system in the United Kingdom as a move away from its origin, arguing that the United Kingdom is now primed for UBI to be considered a fair and legitimate way to provide social security.
Integrate in US or Bridge with China? Four-in-one Media’s Role during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Liu Jack Kangjie
Published: January 2024

Diasporic WeChat subscription accounts have emerged as a special media sphere in over 65 countries across five continents. This study explores their role and influencing factors during the COVID-19 pandemic. The research sample comprised the “Big Two” of the US Chinese media: Sing Tao (US edition) and The US China Press. A computer-assisted content analysis on 2022 suggests that they primarily fulfil information and integration roles rather than a bridging role with China. However, in-depth interviews with 12 editors and scholars in the US provide opposite insights: diasporic WeChat subscription accounts find it difficult to achieve dynamic integration and bridging roles, because of the pandemic’s impacts, insufficient income, shortage of professionals, and especially political impacts in China and the US. The results highlight (1) these special digital media’s role overlaps content and social environment, local and global, and present and future, (2) the methodological differences between content analysis validity and in-depth interview.
Steady and Unsteady Complex Heat Transfer in Optically Thick Medium During Film Boiling
Authors: Avramenko A. A. , Shevchuk I. V. , Kovetskaya M. M. , Kovetska Y. Y. , Konyk A. V.
Published: January 2024

The paper presents the results of a study of radiative-convective heat transfer at film boiling of a liquid on a vertical heated plate. Both a steady-state problem of heat transfer and a transient problem were considered. The latter describes the instantaneous (flash) boiling up of a liquid on a heated surface. The novelty of the present study is the use of the optically thick medium approximation in a mathematical model when studying the process of radiation-convective heat transfer in the film boiling regime. For the first time, radiation heat transfer was considered for an optically thick medium. An analytical solution of the steady-state problems is obtained for boundary conditions involving a constant wall temperature and a constant wall heat flux. The effect of radiation and the temperature difference between the wall and liquid on the temperature profiles in the vapor phase is shown. The effect of radiation becomes more pronounced with an increase in the temperature difference between the wall and the liquid. As a result of solving the transient problem, the variation in time of the temperature profile and the heat transfer coefficient in the vapor film were obtained. The effect of radiation (Stark number) on the heat transfer coefficients is elucidated. An increase in the radiative heat flux leads to an increase in the Nusselt number, as well as the time it takes for the heat transfer process to reach a steady-state regime.
Enhancement of Radiative Power Using a Divergent Splitter Plate Design in H2–Air Non-Premixed Micro-Combustor
Authors: Sankar Vinay , Mukhopadhyay Sudipto , Kishore Velamati Ratna
Published: January 2024

Micro-combustion based power generation devices can be considered as future alternatives to batteries in miniature electronic devices. Micro-combustors operating in non-premixed mode are free from flashback but face the challenge of properly mixing fuel and air within a small volume. In this work, the effect of a divergent fuel–air splitter design on the mixing performance and combustion characteristics of H2–air fueled diffusion micro-combustor is studied. The laminar reacting flow is simulated using the finite volume method and a detailed hydrogen kinetic mechanism. Three divergent splitter designs are compared with the commonly used rectangular splitter to study the effect on radiation power, an essential parameter for thermophotovoltaic power generation. The best-performing divergent and base rectangular splitter designs are investigated in detail. The study shows that the micro-combustor with divergent splitter design reduces mixing distance (Lmix) by 5–23% depending on inlet velocity and channel height. With the divergent splitter, the peak value of the heat release rate also increases slightly, implying enhanced combustion. The divergent splitter increases the high-temperature surface area of the outer wall as compared to the rectangular splitter. This leads to the micro-combustor with divergent splitter producing significantly higher radiation power (>10%) than the rectangular splitter for larger channel heights and higher inlet velocities.