bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A procedure for Dex-induced gene transactivation in Arabidopsis ovules
Authors: Schubert Jasmin , Li Yanru , Mendes Marta A. , Fei Danli , Dickinson Hugh , Moore Ian , Baroux Célia
Published: March 2022

Background

Elucidating the genetic and molecular control of plant reproduction often requires the deployment of functional approaches based on reverse or forward genetic screens. The loss-of-function of essential genes, however, may lead to plant lethality prior to reproductive development or to the formation of sterile structures before the organ-of-interest can be analyzed. In these cases, inducible approaches that enable a spatial and temporal control of the genetic perturbation are extremely valuable. Genetic induction in reproductive organs, such as the ovule, deeply embedded in the flower, is a delicate procedure that requires both optimization and validation.

Results

Here we report on a streamlined procedure enabling reliable induction of gene expression in Arabidopsis ovule and anther tissues using the popular pOP/LhGR Dex-inducible system. We demonstrate its efficiency and reliability using fluorescent reporter proteins and histochemical detection of the GUS reporter gene.

Conclusion

The pOP/LhGR system allows for a rapid, efficient, and reliable induction of transgenes in developing ovules without compromising developmental progression. This approach opens new possibilities for the functional analysis of candidate regulators in sporogenesis and gametogenesis, which is otherwise affected by early lethality in conventional, stable mutants.
Contained rupture of a sinus of Valsalva aneurysm: Is it just a matter of luck?
Authors: Vigano Giorgio , Vliegenthart Rozemarijn , Pollack Daniël K. M. , Mariani Massimo A.
Published: March 2022

Background

Contained rupture of the ascending aorta is a rare condition, but the severity of this complication enforces strict guidelines for its prevention and a prompt diagnosis, once already occurred.

Case presentation

A 66-year-old man with a history of type 2 diabetes, longstanding aortic valve stenosis and aortic root aneurysm of 47 mm was hospital admitted for elective surgery. A Bentall-De Bono procedure was performed in order to replace the stenotic bicuspid aortic valve and exclude the dilated portion of the aortic wall. Intraoperatively, a discontinuity of the aortic wall, just above the aortic annulus, at the non-coronary sinus of Valsalva was incidentally observed. The aortic wall discontinuity was none other than a contained aortic rupture. The preoperative CT-scan images were afterwards analyzed by the radiologist, in order to identify the contained aortic rupture. Indeed a false aneurysm of the non-coronary sinus of Valsalva of a maximum diameter of 15 mm was detected, thanks to a 3D reconstruction.

Conclusions

The diagnosis of contained aortic rupture is certainly demanding, particularly in absence of signs or symptoms of rupture in a chamber of the heart or in the pericardium. Although this case represents a consensus of experts’ opinion, the recognition of these specific cases in which the risk of dissection, rupture or death is at its highest, would allow to operate at the appropriate time, improving the outcomes.
Surgical treatment of costal cartilage fractures with titanium plate internal fixation
Authors: Li Yang , Zhao Yonghong , Yang Yi , Wu Weiming , Guo Xiang , Zhao Tiancheng
Published: March 2022

Background

This study aim to evaluate surgical procedures for titanium plate internal fixation of costal cartilage fractures with displacement or nonunion.

Methods

From January 2019 to October 2020, 13 patients with costal cartilage fractures were treated with titanium plate internal fixation in the thoracic surgery department of the Shanghai Sixth People’s Hospital. Pain severity scale scores and respiratory function were evaluated preoperatively and postoperatively. All the patients had a 6-month follow-up for treatment evaluation.

Results

The mean hospital length of stay was 10.7 days. A statistically significant difference (P < 0.05) was found between preoperative and postoperative pain severity scores (7.69 vs. 5.00). VC (24.6% vs. 44.5%) and FEV1 (25.3% vs. 44.0%) were also significantly different before operation and after operation (P < 0.05). At follow-up, healing of the nonunion or fracture was confirmed in all the cases.

Conclusion

The rigid titanium plate application ensured a safe and easy management of costal cartilage fractures and nonunion with a good prognosis as compared with other methods.
Cellular stress signaling and the unfolded protein response in retinal degeneration: mechanisms and therapeutic implications
Authors: McLaughlin Todd , Medina Andy , Perkins Jacob , Yera Maria , Wang Joshua J. , Zhang Sarah X.
Published: March 2022

Background

The retina, as part of the central nervous system (CNS) with limited capacity for self-reparation and regeneration in mammals, is under cumulative environmental stress due to high-energy demands and rapid protein turnover. These stressors disrupt the cellular protein and metabolic homeostasis, which, if not alleviated, can lead to dysfunction and cell death of retinal neurons. One primary cellular stress response is the highly conserved unfolded protein response (UPR). The UPR acts through three main signaling pathways in an attempt to restore the protein homeostasis in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) by various means, including but not limited to, reducing protein translation, increasing protein-folding capacity, and promoting misfolded protein degradation. Moreover, recent work has identified a novel function of the UPR in regulation of cellular metabolism and mitochondrial function, disturbance of which contributes to neuronal degeneration and dysfunction. The role of the UPR in retinal neurons during aging and under disease conditions in age-related macular degeneration (AMD), retinitis pigmentosa (RP), glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy (DR) has been explored over the past two decades. Each of the disease conditions and their corresponding animal models provide distinct challenges and unique opportunities to gain a better understanding of the role of the UPR in the maintenance of retinal health and function.

Method

We performed an extensive literature search on PubMed and Google Scholar using the following keywords: unfolded protein response, metabolism, ER stress, retinal degeneration, aging, age-related macular degeneration, retinitis pigmentosa, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy.

Results and conclusion

We summarize recent advances in understanding cellular stress response, in particular the UPR, in retinal diseases, highlighting the potential roles of UPR pathways in regulation of cellular metabolism and mitochondrial function in retinal neurons. Further, we provide perspective on the promise and challenges for targeting the UPR pathways as a new therapeutic approach in age- and disease-related retinal degeneration.
HPV types 16/18 L1 E6 and E7 proteins seropositivity and cervical cancer risk in HIV-positive and HIV-negative black South African women
Authors: Singini Mwiza Gideon , Singh Elvira , Bradshaw Debbie , Chen Wenlong Carl , Motlhale Melitah , Kamiza Abram Bunya , de Villiers Chantal Babb , Muchengeti Mazvita , Mathew Christopher G. , Newton Robert , Bender Noemi , Waterboer Tim , Sitas Freddy
Published: March 2022

Background

In populations with high rates of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-coinfection, the nature of the relationship between human papillomavirus (HPV)-16 and -18 (L1, E6 and E7) antibodies and cervical cancer is still uncertain. We measured the association between seropositivity to HPV (L1, E6 and E7) proteins and cervical cancer among black South African women with and without HIV co-infection.

Methods

We used questionnaire data and serum collected from consecutively recruited patients with a newly diagnosed cancer from the Johannesburg Cancer Study from 1346 cervical cancer cases and 2532 controls (diagnosed with other non-infection related cancers). Seropositivity to HPV proteins was measured using a multiplex serological assay based on recombinant glutathione S-transferase (GST) fusion proteins. We measured associations between their presence and cervical cancer using unconditional logistic regression models and evaluated the sensitivity and specificity of these HPV biomarkers.

Results

Among controls, HIV-negative women from rural areas compared to urban had significantly higher HPV seroprevalence, HPV16 E7 (8.6% vs 3.7%) and HPV18 E7 (7.9% vs 2.0%). HPV16 E6 and E7 antibodies were positively associated with cervical cancer in HIV-positive (Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) = 33; 95% CI 10–107) and HIV-negative women (AOR = 97; 95% CI 46–203). In HIV-positive women, HPV E6/E7 antibodies had low sensitivity (43.0%) and high specificity (90.6%) for cervical cancer detection. In HIV-negative women, HPV E6/E7 antibodies sensitivity was 70.6% and specificity was 89.7%.

Conclusions

Our data show that HPV (L1, especially E6 and E7) antibody positivity is associated with cervical cancer in both HIV-positive and HIV-negative women. Nonetheless, being HIV-positive plays an important role in the development of cervical cancer.
Species and genotypes belonging to Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato complex causing human cystic echinococcosis in Europe (2000–2021): a systematic review
Authors: Casulli Adriano , Massolo Alessandro , Saarma Urmas , Umhang Gérald , Santolamazza Federica , Santoro Azzurra
Published: March 2022

Background

This study aimed to fill a gap of knowledge by providing a quantitative measure of molecularly identified species and genotypes belonging to Echinococcus granulosussensu lato (s.l.) causing human cystic echinococcosis (CE) in Europe during the period 2000–2021. As these species and genotypes are characterized by genetic, animal host and geographical differences, studying the E. granulosuss.l. complex is epidemiologically relevant.

Methods

A systematic review (SR) was conducted on the basis of both scientific and grey literature considering primary studies between 2000 and 2021 in four databases. From a total of 1643 scientific papers, 51 records were included in the SR. The main inclusion criterion for this study was the molecular confirmation of E. granulosuss.l. at the genotype/species level as a causative agent of human CE cases in selected European countries.

Results

Relevant data were obtained from 29 out of 39 eligible European countries. This SR identified 599 human molecularly confirmed echinococcal cysts: 460 (76.8%) identified as E. granulosussensu stricto (s.s.), 130 (21.7%) as E. canadensis cluster (G6/7 and G10), 7 (1.2%) as E. ortleppi (G5), and 2 as E. vogeli (0.3%). Three geographical hotspots of human CE caused by different species of the E. granulosuss.l. complex were identified: (1) E. granulosuss.s. in Southern and South-eastern Europe (European-Mediterranean and Balkan countries); (2) E. canadensis (G6/7) in Central and Eastern Europe; (3) E. ortleppi in Central and Western Europe. This SR also identified data gaps that prevented a better definition of the geographical distribution of the Echinococcus granulosuss.l. species complex in Europe: western Balkan countries, part of Central Europe, and Baltic countries.

Conclusions

These results mandate longitudinal, multi-centre, intersectoral and transdisciplinary studies which consider both molecular and clinical epidemiology in animals and humans. Such studies would be valuable for a better understanding of the transmission of the E. granulosuss.l. species complex and their potential clinical impact on humans.

Graphical Abstract
Impending perforation near ileocecal junction due to phytobezoar impaction and intraluminal polyp: a case report
Authors: Mooghal Mehwish , Ahmad Asrar , Safi Adnan , Khan Wajiha , Ahmad Naveed
Published: March 2022

Introduction

Bezoars and polyps are an uncommon cause of mechanical intestinal obstruction. There are four different kinds of bezoars: phytobezoars, made of vegetables and fibers; trichobezoars, resulting from the ingestion of hair and frequently an expression of psychiatric disorders; lactobezoars, which are formed of milk curd; and pharmacobezoars, caused by drugs and medications. Signs and symptoms classically vary from abdominal pain to constipation, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal distension. We present a rare case of impending perforation along with an intraluminal polyp near ileocecal junction due to phytobezoar impaction.

Case presentation

Our patient was a 59-year-old Sindhi female with a known history of interstitial lung disease and hypertension who presented to the emergency department with complaints of abdominal pain and constipation for 1 week, vomiting for 5 days, and abdominal distension for 2 days. After a preoperative examination and her failure to respond to conservative therapy, she was taken to the operating room for exploratory laparotomy. A hard intraluminal mass was suspected to be obstructing the small bowel at the site of impending perforation. This mass was a phytobezoar along with an intraluminal polyp. Resection of the affected segment was performed, followed by ileoileal anastomosis, and a drain was left. The patient was discharged 1 week later and was found to be well with no complaints at 3 weeks follow-up.

Conclusions

Early diagnosis of bezoars is important for early intervention and prevention of complications. Our case is unique as phytobezoar with intraluminal polyp is a rare clinical finding. Moreover, the signs and symptoms with which the patient presented are nonspecific and can be seen with multiple surgical emergencies.
Coverless image steganography using morphed face recognition based on convolutional neural network
Authors: Li Yung-Hui , Chang Ching-Chun , Su Guo-Dong , Yang Kai-Lin , Aslam Muhammad Saqlain , Liu Yanjun
Published: March 2022

In recent years, information security has become a prime issue of worldwide concern. To improve the validity and proficiency of the image data hiding approach, a piece of state-of-the-art secret information hiding transmission scheme based on morphed face recognition is proposed. In our proposed data hiding approach, a group of morphed face images is produced from an arranged small-scale face image dataset. Then, a morphed face image which is encoded with a secret message is sent to the receiver. The receiver uses powerful and robust deep learning models to recover the secret message by recognizing the parents of the morphed face images. Furthermore, we design two novel Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) architectures (e.g. MFR-Net V1 and MFR-Net V2) to perform morphed face recognition and achieved the highest accuracy compared with existing networks. Additionally, the experimental results show that the proposed schema has higher retrieval capacity and accuracy and it provides better robustness.
Spatiotemporal evolution of tremor activity near the Nankai Trough trench axis inferred from the spatial distribution of seismic amplitudes
Authors: Ogiso Masashi , Tamaribuchi Koji
Published: March 2022

Slow earthquakes have gained importance due to their proximity to the focal regions of megathrust earthquakes. Among slow earthquakes, tectonic tremors have the highest dominant frequency and are thus best resolved. Here, we estimated the locations of tectonic tremors off the Kii Peninsula, southwestern Japan, from December 2020 through January 2021 using the seismograms of the Dense Oceanfloor Network system for Earthquakes and Tsunamis (DONET). The study area is adjacent to the Nankai Trough, where large megathrust earthquakes are known to occur. We successfully estimated the locations of 3578 tectonic tremor events within an area of $${\sim }\,130$$

∼

130

km in northeast–southwest and $${\sim}\,50$$

∼

50

km in northwest–southeast directions along the trench axis. Tremor activity differed between the northeastern and southwestern areas of the focal region, which were separated by a central region of markedly low activity. During the study period, tremor activity began at the northeastern edge of the focal region, and expanded to the southwest along the trench axis until reaching the central low-activity region. Renewed tremor activity later began at the southwestern edge of the low-activity region and migrated southwest along the trench axis. We also detected two distinct events similar to rapid tremor reversals that migrated to the northeast, the first of which may have been triggered by the combined effects of teleseismic surface waves and Earth’s tides. Such detailed locations of tectonic tremors can be used as a proxy of the stress state in the accretionary prism and/or along the plate boundary in the Nankai Trough.

Graphical Abstract
A matched filter for S-wave sonic imaging
Authors: Hirabayashi Nobuyasu , Dahlhaus Leon , Kumar Rajeev , Karpekin Yevgeniy
Published: March 2022

A matched filter is developed and applied to sonic waveforms for extracting reflected signals and minimizing borehole mode waves for S-wave sonic imaging using dipole sources. Sonic imaging uses waveforms acquired by a sonic logging tool in a fluid-filled borehole. Signals from a source are reflected from geological interfaces and recorded by arrays of receivers of the same tool. The reflected signals in the recorded waveforms are extracted and migrated to image geological structures. Because the reflected signals are covered by the strong borehole mode waves, they often are difficult to extract. To overcome this difficulty, a new matched filter has been developed. In the new matched filter, the second derivative of the driving waveform of the dipole source is used for the reference signal, and an average of spectral densities of array data is used to approximate those of the borehole mode waves, which are treated as noise. Because the spectral density of sonic waveforms generally varies for different time intervals, the matched filter is applied using a windowed approach. The matched filter effectively suppresses the borehole mode waves, and reflected signals are well conserved. Application of the matched filter is followed by additional filtering to further remove remaining borehole mode waves. The resulting reflected signals indicate high signal-to-noise ratio compared with those by existing filtering procedures without the matched filter. The use of the matched filter significantly increases applicability of sonic imaging by extracting weaker reflected signals that cannot be obtained by the existing filtering procedures.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder symptoms and cannabis use after 1 year among students of the i-Share cohort
Authors: Jean François Arnaud Matthieu , Arsandaux Julie , Montagni Ilaria , Collet Ophélie , Fatséas Mélina , Auriacombe Marc , Ramos-Quiroga Josep Antoni , Côté Sylvana M. , Tzourio Christophe , Galéra Cédric
Published: March 2022

Background

Cannabis use in university students is associated with academic achievement failure and health issues. The objective of the study was to evaluate the association between attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms and cannabis use after 1 year among students according to previous cannabis use.

Methods

Students in France were recruited from February 2013 to July 2020 in the i-Share cohort. 4,270 participants were included (2,135 who never used cannabis at inclusion and 2,135 who did). The Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS) was used to assess ADHD symptoms at inclusion. Cannabis use frequency was evaluated 1 year after inclusion. Multinomial regressions were conducted to assess the association between inclusion ADHD symptoms and cannabis use after 1 year.

Results

Increase in ASRS scores was linked with a greater probability to use cannabis after 1 year and to have a higher cannabis use frequency (once a year—once a month adjusted odds ratio [OR]: 1.24 (1.15–1.34), more than once a month adjusted OR: 1.43 (1.27–1.61)). Among participants who never used cannabis at inclusion, this association disappeared (once a year—once a month adjusted OR: 1.15 (0.95–1.39), more than once a month adjusted OR: 1.16 (0.67–2)) but remained in participants who ever used cannabis at inclusion (once a year—once a month adjusted OR: 1.17 (1.06–1.29), more than once a month adjusted OR: 1.35 (1.18–1.55)).

Conclusions

High levels of ADHD symptoms in students could lead to continued cannabis use rather than new initiations.
Ultrabroad perfect absorption of a graphene-covered compound silver grating for mid-infrared multimolecular identification
Authors: Chang Yun-Wei , Yao Jie , Wu Da-Jian
Published: March 2022

Identifying several species of molecules simultaneously is highly desirable but needs more study. We propose an ultrabroad PPA in the mid-infrared based on a graphene-covered compound silver grating (G-CSG) to detect several molecules. Different grooves are composed in one unit and the wide absorption band consists of individual magnetic plasmon resonances (MPRs). The graphene layer enhances the overall absorption without affecting MPRs. The genetic algorithm is applied to search for suitable structure parameters to further enhance the absorption. The average absorption from 3.0 to 6.0 μm is 0.96 for the optimized G-CSG, which is nearly insensitive to the incidence angle. Strong coupling between plasmons and molecular vibrations results into dips in the ultrabroad absorption band. Multiple molecules can be identified simultaneously. Our study provides an efficient way to identify several molecular vibrations at one time, which may be useful in optoelectronics and biology detection.
The Corn King of Mexico in the United States: A South-North Technology Transfer
Authors: Reed Jeri L.
Published: March 2022

The activities of Mexican banker and hacendado Zeferino Dominguez in the early twentieth century raise questions about the assumption that Mexico was merely the beneficiary of modern agricultural science developed in the United States. Dominguez was a banker and large landowner who turned his haciendas into private agricultural experiment stations, conducting research on better methods of growing corn, cotton, wheat, and beans with the labor of his peones. He shared his results through lecture tours and published works in Mexico and traveled extensively in the United States, speaking to groups of farmers and agricultural scientists about his methods of dry farming and corn propagation. He exhibited at agricultural fairs and exhibitions, attended Farmers’s Institutes and conferences, and published a manual for use by average American farmers. Like many agricultural reformers in the United States, he addressed the problems of rural poverty and land concentration not with socialism, but with visions of a Mexico filled with small, capitalistic, home-owning farmers producing with scientific methods and business efficiency.
Agrarianism and Child Labor Policy for Agriculture
Authors: Effland Anne B. W.
Published: March 2022

The belief that farm work is good for children is deeply rooted in agrarian ideals, which impute a wholesomeness to farming tied to its economic, social, and moral value to society. Nevertheless, in the context of the changing scale of work, community, and new ideas about childhood and education, Progressive reformers suggested that some farm work was unhealthy for children. To separate the agricultural labor that concerned them from the agrarian consensus, they developed a critique centered on education and industrialized agriculture. Restricting children’s labor to allow school attendance balanced two positives for farm children--education and work. Restricting child labor in industrialized agriculture simply recognized its divergence from the family farm ideal. Reformers succeeded modestly along this dual track by the 1930s. The boundaries of the agrarian framework limited further child labor regulation in agriculture, however--not until 1974 were age and hour restrictions on children’s field work applied across the industry--thirty-five years after similar protections had been provided in other industries, and exemptions continued for children working on family and small farms.
Race, Paternalism, and “California Pastoral”: Rural Rehabilitation and Mexican Labor in Greater Los Angeles
Authors: Lewthwaite Stephanie
Published: March 2022

In Southern California, regional and national myths of agrarian life as pastoral became entwined with paternalistic policy and racialized visions of the Mexican laborer. Re-worked in the context of the New Deal and increasing strike activity across California after 1928, these rural myths and policies shaped plans for the resettlement of Mexican-American workers in self-sustaining villages within Los Angeles County. Under the direction of government officials, reformers, and employers, these plans articulated diverse ideologies and agendas: the New Dealer’s commitment to reform and rehabilitation through planning and paternalism, and the employer’s drive to segregate and racialize labor under a pastoral ideal. Yet the village schemes foundered; weakened by employers’ lack of commitment to worker welfare and fears of rural sedition, by the inconsistencies of the New Deal rehabilitation policy, and by an inability to manipulate the realities of agribusiness. This failure bore testimony to the mythic nature of an agrarian tradition in California.
109 Morphological Changes in Chronic Subdural Hematomas Following Upfront Middle Meningeal Artery Embolization: Sequence, Timing, and Association with Outcomes
Authors: Khorasanizadeh MirHojjat , Chang Yu-Ming , Enriquez-Marulanda Alejandro , Mizuhashi Satomi , Moore Justin M. , Ogilvy Christopher S. , Thoma Ajith J.
Published: March 2022

INTRODUCTION:

Middle meningeal artery embolization (MMAE) is a novel approach for treatment of chronic subdural hematomas (cSDH). The course of morphological progression of cSDHs following MMAE is poorly understood.

METHODS:

Through a retrospective survey of the institutional database, cSDH cases treated by upfront MMAE, without prior/adjunctive surgical evacuation, were selected. Hematomas were categorized into 6 morphological subtypes. CT-scans were assessed for hematoma structural appearance, density, and loculations. Changes in hematoma size were quantified via 3-dimensional reconstruction for volumetric measurement.

RESULTS:

52 hematomas in 45 patients treated by upfront MMAE were identified. Hematomas were followed for a mean of 92.9 days. Volume of hematomas decreased by =50% in 79.6% of cases. The overall rescue surgery rate was 9.6%. A clear sequence of morphological changes after MMAE was identified. Hematomas not conforming to this sequence (5.4%) all required rescue surgery. Hematomas were categorized into early, intermediate and late stage on this basis. Progression from early to intermediate and then to late stage took 12.7 and 30.0 days respectively on average. Volume of early/intermediate and late-stage hematomas decreased by =50% a mean of 78.2 and 47.6 days after MMAE respectively. Early/intermediate-stage hematomas showed more favorable outcomes compared to late-stage hematomas. Density of homogenous hypodense hematomas (H-SDHs) transiently increased immediately after MMAE (p<0.001). A marked decrease in density and volume 1-3 weeks after MMAE in H-SDHs was detected, lack of which indicated eventual need for rescue surgery. In H-SDHs, a baseline mean density of <20 HU, and a lower density than baseline by 1 month post-MMAE were predictors of favorable outcomes. Baseline hematoma volume, axial thickness, and midline shift were not correlated with outcomes. Loculated, trabecular, and laminar hematomas – known to have unfavorable surgical outcomes – had outcomes similar to other “surgical” hematomas.

CONCLUSION:

This is the first study to describe nature, sequence, and timing of morphological changes after MMAE of cSDHs, and identify structural features that can predict treatment outcomes.
114 Percutaneous Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion Is Associated with Reduced Postoperative Opioid Consumption When Compared with Minimally Invasive Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion
Authors: Shalita Chidyaonga , Crutcher Clifford , Mitra Hari , Zhang Hans , Grossi Peter M. , Abd-El-Barr Muhammad M.
Published: March 2022

INTRODUCTION:

Opioid use and postoperative pain following lumbar interbody fusion is a common problem for patients during rehabilitation. Less invasive surgical techniques techniques such as minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (miTLIF) and Percutaneous transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (pTLIF) have been associated with decreased post-operative pain, estimated blood loss, and shorter hospital length of stay. While pTLIF is a newer technique, its utilization has been increasing and preliminary studies have shown a reduction in post-operative pain, blood loss, faster recovery, and shorter LOS in comparison to miTLIF.

METHODS:

We performed a multi-surgeon, single institution retrospective analysis on consecutive patients undergoing 1 or 2 level percutaneous or minimally invasive TLIF from January 1, 2018- December 31, 2020. We collected data for each patient regarding time spent in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU), PACU Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), 24-hour postoperative opioid use, hospital LOS, and documented distance ambulated on post-operative day (POD) 1.

RESULTS:

There were 37 patients who underwent pTLIF and 70 who underwent miTLIF. The average postoperative 24-hour oral morphine equivalent utilizations for pTLIF and miTLIF patients were 90 mg and 149 mg, respectively (p < 0.004). Time spent in the PACU, PACU VAS, distance ambulated on POD1, and LOS were similar between the two groups.

CONCLUSION:

Percutaneous TLIF was associated with a 40% reduction in 24-hour postoperative oral morphine equivalent utilization. Larger prospective studies maybe helpful in determining the impact of pTLIF on perioperative outcomes.
122 ECAP-Controlled Closed-Loop Spinal Cord Stimulation (CL SCS): Double-Blind, Randomized Trial for the Treatment of Chronic Pain – 24-Month Outcomes
Authors: Falowski Steven M.
Published: March 2022

INTRODUCTION:

Evoked compound action potential (ECAP) recording provides an objective measure of spinal cord (SC) activation during SCS and can assist in programing of the SCS system. ECAP-controlled CL SCS, in which the stimulation output is automatically adjusted to maintain a desired ECAP amplitude, has been shown to provide effective pain relief in an open-label study (ACTRN12615000713594).

METHODS:

134 subjects were enrolled and randomized after trial leads were implanted. The primary endpoint evaluated =50% reduction in overall back and leg pain measured by the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). Opioid usage and other patient-reported outcomes (PROs) including emotional/physical functioning, sleep quality, and quality of life were also collected. Additionally, objective neurophysiological data, including SC activation and time spent in the therapeutic range, were collected.

RESULTS:

Herein the Evoke Study Group reports the 24-month outcomes from this ongoing RCT. The proportion of implanted subjects with =50% overall back and leg pain reduction at 24 months was statistically superior in the CL vs. OL group (84.0% vs. 65.9% subjects, respectively; p = 0.040). Long-term improvements in all other PROs, including POMS, ODI, PSQI, EQ-5D-5L, and SF-12, were also demonstrated. Opioids were reduced or eliminated in 66.7% (CL) and 60.9% (OL), respectively. The most frequent level of SC activation was three times greater for CL (median ECAP Amplitude: 22.5 µV CL vs. 7.5 µV OL). SC activation was better maintained within the therapeutic range with CL (median: 93.9% CL vs. 46.1% OL). There were no differences in the safety profiles between treatment groups, and the type, nature, and severity of adverse events were similar to other SCS studies.

CONCLUSION:

In this ongoing study, ECAP-controlled CL SCS provided statistically superior pain relief and greater improvement in other PROs compared with OL SCS at 24 months. CL delivered greater levels of SC activation and better maintained SC activation in the subject’s therapeutic range.
364 AlloDerm with Duragen Underlay for Duraplasty in Chiari Malformation Result in Excellent Outcomes
Authors: Eli Ilyas , Hamrick Forrest , Kim Robert , Schmidt Richard
Published: March 2022

INTRODUCTION:

Numerous tissue grafts are available for posterior fossa dural augmentation after Chiari decompression surgery. The outcomes for preventing postoperative pseudomeningocele and csf leak formation vary, but no consensus exists for the graft material with lowest complication rates. Use of Alloderm has been shown to have superior outcomes with a 2.2% rate of causing pseudomeniogcele requiring reoperation.

METHODS:

A retrospective single institution cohort included 106 patients who underwent Chiari decompression surgery by a single surgeon from 2014 through 2021. Age, sex, BMI, tonsillar descent, syrinx formation, type of dural graft used, and follow up data were analyzed with univariate statistical tests and Chi-squared test.

RESULTS:

A retrospective single institution cohort included 106 patients who underwent Chiari decompression surgery by a single surgeon from 2014 through 2021. Age, sex, BMI, tonsillar descent, syrinx formation, type of dural graft used, and follow up data were analyzed with univariate statistical tests and Chi-squared test.

CONCLUSION:

The use of the AlloDerm dural graft with Durgen underlay for duraplasty in Chiari decompressions resulted in similar pseudomeningocele formation rate when compared with the use of Alloderm alone. However, the use of Alloderrm with Duragen underlay results in a significantly lower rate for need for reoperation. There was no association between patient age, sex, BMI, on the need for reoperation.
406 The BLED2 Neurologic Event Prediction Score for Patients with Symptomatic Cerebral Cavernous Malformation
Authors: Orlev Alon , Feghali James , Kimchi Gil , Salomon Moran , Berkowitz Shani , Oxman Liat , Levitan Idan , Knoller Nachshon , Uriel Eitan , Huang Judy , Tamargo Rafael J. , Harnof Sagi
Published: March 2022

INTRODUCTION:

Studies using retrospective patient cohorts have identified risk factors associated with recurrent focal neurologic events in patients with symptomatic cerebral cavernous malformations (CCMs).

METHODS:

Adult patients presenting with symptomatic CCMs causing focal neurologic deficits or seizures were included. Baseline variables included age, gender, history of intracerebral hemorrhage, lesion multiplicity, location, eloquence, size, number of past neurologic events, and duration since last event. Stepwise multivariable Cox regression was used to derive independent predictors of recurrent neurologic events, and predictive accuracy was assessed. A scoring system based on the relative magnitude of the risk factors was devised, and Kaplan-Meier curve analysis compared event-free survival between different score values. Subsequently, 1-, 2-, and 5-year neurologic event rates were calculated for every score value based on the final model.

RESULTS:

126 (47%) of 270 patients met inclusion criteria. During a mean follow-up of 4.5 years (54.4 months, range 12-66 months), 55 patients (44%) experienced recurrent neurologic events. Multivariable analysis yielded four risk factors: Bleeding at presentation (HR=1.92, p=0.048), Large size =12mm (HR=2.06, p=0.016), Eloquent location (HR=3.01, p=0.013), and Duration of =1 year since last event (HR=9.28, p=0.002). The model achieved an optimism-corrected c-statistic of 0.7209. All factors were assigned 1 point except duration from last event, which was assigned 2 points. The acronym, BLED2 summarizes the scoring system. The 1-, 2-, and 5-year risk of a recurrent neurologic event ranged from 0.6%, 1.2%, and 2.3%, respectively for patients with a BLED2 score of 0, to 48%, 74%, and 93%, respectively for patients with a BLED2 score of 5.

CONCLUSION:

The BLED2 risk score predicts prospective neurologic events in symptomatic CCM patients.
436 Colored Pain Drawing in Patients With Trigeminal Neuralgia and Its Impact on Gamma Knife Radiosurgery Outcomes
Authors: Samanci Yavuz , Akdemir Eyub Y. , Peker Selcuk
Published: March 2022

INTRODUCTION:

Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is one of the most common causes of facial pain and Gamma Knife radiosurgery (GKRS) has been used for a long time with high pain relief rates. However, psychological processes can influence the pain perception and adversely affect treatment outcome. Colored pain drawing (CPD) is a simple,powerful tool for capturing essential aspects of the subjective pain.

METHODS:

Fifty consecutive patients with medically intractable, ICHD-3 beta-confirmed TN were included. A numerical pain rate scale (NPRS) was used to assess usual level of pain experienced by the patient. Patients were asked to draw the distribution of usual pain pattern with a colored pen of their choice on two standardized face charts. The patients then underwent GKRS. Follow-up data were obtained by clinical examination and/or telephone questionnaire postoperatively at 1, 3 and 6 months. Outcome results were categorized based on the Barrow Neurological Institute (BNI) pain scale (BNI I–III:good outcomes and BNI IV–V:treatment failure). BNI facial numbness score was used to assess complications. All CPDs were classified as “expected” or “unexpected” based on the patient’s description of pain.

RESULTS:

The median age was 64 years (range, 27-88) years and the male/female ratio was 3:2. 86% of the patients experienced immediate pain relief within the first 3 months. Of those patients, 39 (90.7%) did not have any pain recurrence (BNI I). At last follow-up, 39 (78%) patients had good treatment outcome and 11 patients (22%) had treatment failure. 96% of the patients did not experience any facial numbness. There were 35 patients with “expected” and 15 patients with “unexpected” CPDs. NPRS scores were not significantly different between groups (p = 0.985). The preference of association of pain with black or red color was distinct and did not differ between two groups (p = 0.08). Patients with “expected” CPDs reported significantly better freedom from pain compared with those with “unexpected” CPDs (p < 0.0001).

CONCLUSION:

CPDs could serve as clinical acumen for outcomes of GKRS treatment for TN.
475 Complications Associated With Early Cranioplasty for Traumatic Brain Injury Patients: A 25-year Single-center Analysis
Authors: Eaton Jessica C. , Greil Madeline , Nistal Dominic A. , Caldwell David , Robinson Emily , Aljuboori Zaid , Temkin Nancy , Bonow Robert H. , Chesnut Randall M.
Published: March 2022

INTRODUCTION:

Cranioplasty is a technically simple procedure, but one with potentially high rates of complications. Ideal timing of cranioplasty should minimize the risk of complications, but research investigating cranioplasty timing and risk of complications has generated diverse findings.

METHODS:

We conducted a single institution retrospective review of patients undergoing cranioplasty after trauma. Patients were identified and clinical and demographic variables obtained from 2 neurotrauma databases. Patients were categorized into 3 groups based on timing of cranioplasty: early (= 90 days after craniectomy), intermediate (91-180 days after craniectomy) and late (>180 days after craniectomy). We also conducted a subgroup analysis in TBI patients who underwent ultra-early cranioplasty (<6 weeks, after craniectomy).

RESULTS:

Of 435 patients identified, 141 patients underwent early cranioplasty, 187 patients received intermediate cranioplasty, and 107 patients underwent late cranioplasty. A total of 54 patients underwent ultra-early cranioplasty. Among the total cohort, the mean rate of post-op hydrocephalus was 2.8%, the rate of seizure was 4.6%, the rate of post-operative hematoma was 3.4%, and the rate of infection was 6.0%. The total complication rate for the entire population was 16.8%. There was no significant difference in complications between any of the 3 groups. No significant differences in post-operative complications were found comparing the ultra-early cranioplasty group with all other patients combined.

CONCLUSION:

In this cohort of TB patients, early cranioplasty, including ultra-early procedures, were not associated with higher rates of complications.
Problems and prospects of modern economic thought: a textbook for students of economic areas of undergraduate training
Authors: Skripnikova G.V. , Utkina A.N. , Skripnikova G.V. , Mishin V.A. , Shirmanova G.S.
Published: March 2022

Учебное пособие «Проблемы и перспективы современной экономической мысли» предназначено преподавателям и студентам для успешного освоения учебных курсов в ходе реализации компетентностного подхода в вузе по экономическим направлениям подготовки бакалавриата.
Modern trends in the development of science: managerial and financial aspects: a textbook for students of economic areas of undergraduate education
Authors: Skripnikova G.V. , Utkina A.N. , Zelenaya L.G. , Mishin V.A.
Published: March 2022

Учебное пособие «Современные тенденции развития науки: управленческие и финансовые аспекты» предназначено преподавателям и студентам для успешного освоения учебных курсов в ходе реализации компетентностного подхода в вузе по экономическим направлениям подготовки бакалавриата.
Fast Rates for Contextual Linear Optimization
Authors: Hu Yichun , Kallus Nathan , Mao Xiaojie
Published: March 2022

Incorporating side observations in decision making can reduce uncertainty and boost performance, but it also requires that we tackle a potentially complex predictive relationship. Although one may use off-the-shelf machine learning methods to separately learn a predictive model and plug it in, a variety of recent methods instead integrate estimation and optimization by fitting the model to directly optimize downstream decision performance. Surprisingly, in the case of contextual linear optimization, we show that the naïve plug-in approach actually achieves regret convergence rates that are significantly faster than methods that directly optimize downstream decision performance. We show this by leveraging the fact that specific problem instances do not have arbitrarily bad near-dual-degeneracy. Although there are other pros and cons to consider as we discuss and illustrate numerically, our results highlight a nuanced landscape for the enterprise to integrate estimation and optimization. Our results are overall positive for practice: predictive models are easy and fast to train using existing tools; simple to interpret; and, as we show, lead to decisions that perform very well.

This paper was accepted by Hamid Nazerzadeh, data science.
Youth participation: a new approach based on the intersections between models, views and European policies
Authors: Barros Rita Manuela , Monteiro Angélica , Leite Carlinda
Published: March 2022

INTRODUCTION. Education policies have indicated the importance of youth participation in schools, which is one of the European Goals within the EU Youth Strategy framed by the EU youth policy cooperation for 2019-2027. The subject of youth participation refers to multiple definitions and diverse theoretical frameworks, which show the difficulty of finding a consensual definition or approach. The main objective of the current paper is to characterize youth participation models and to identify how those models convey different views, establishing possible connections with political discourses. METHOD. The study is based on an interpretive perspective. Data was collected by documentary analysis of 28 models of youth participation, which were analysed in the light of four pre-established categories: orthodox, multidimensional participation, qualitative and non-conformist. RESULTS. The majority of the 28 models of youth participation were specifically designed for children and young people; they fit a bottom-up perspective and were focused on non-formal education contexts. In addition, these models underline a multidimensional view of participation. DISCUSSION. The results evidence a trend towards considering an ideological relationship between youth participation and democracy, as advocated in European youth policies.
Composite substrate of graphene/Ag nanoparticles coupled with a multilayer film for surface-enhanced Raman scattering biosensing
Authors: Yue Weiwei , Liu Cong , Zha Zhipeng , Liu Runcheng , Gao Jinjuan , Shafi Muhammad , Feng Jingwen , Jiang Shouzhen
Published: March 2022

In this paper, we designed a surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrate for graphene/Ag nanoparticles (Ag NPs) bonded multilayer film (MLF) using the hybrid nanostructures composed of graphene and plasmonic metal components with significant plasmonic electrical effects and unique optical characteristics. This paper achieved the advantages of efficient utilization of electromagnetic field and reduction of fluorescence background based on the electromagnetic enhancement activity of Ag NPs and unique physical/chemical properties of graphene with zero gap structures. Au/Al2O3 was stacked periodically to construct MLF. As indicated by the electric field intensity at the Au/Al2O3 interface of the respective layer, bulk plasmon polariton (BPP) in the MLF was excited and coupled with localized surface plasmon (LSP) in the Ag NPs, which enhanced the electromagnetic field on the top-layer of SERS substrate. To measure the performance of the SERS substrate, rhodamine 6G (R6G) and malachite green (MG) were used as the probe molecules, with the detection limits of 10−11 M and 10−8 M, respectively. The SERS substrate had high sensitivity and uniformity, which indicated that it has a broad application prospect in the field of molecular detection.
Contrast enhancement in near-infrared electro-optic imaging
Authors: Mamaikin Mikhail , Ridente Enrico , Altwaijry Najd , Weidman Matthew , Karpowicz Nicholas
Published: March 2022

Access to subtle ultrafast effects of light-matter interaction often requires highly sensitive field detection schemes. Electro-optic sampling, being an exemplary technique in this regard, lacks high sensitivity in an imaging geometry. We demonstrate a straightforward method to significantly improve the contrast of electric field images in spatially resolved electro-optic sampling. A thin-film polarizer is shown to be an effective tool in enhancing the sensitivity of the electro-optic imaging system, enabling an adjustment of the spectral response. We show a further increase of the signal-to-noise ratio through the direct control of the carrier envelope phase of the imaged field.
Actively tunable toroidal response in microwave metamaterials
Authors: Wang Hong , Yu Yingying , Zeng Rui , Sun Bo , Yang Wenxing
Published: March 2022

Toroidal dipole moment has attracted much attention in recent years due to their novel electromagnetic response such as non-reciprocal interactions and unusual low-radiating manifestations. However, most of the previously reported toroidal dipole moment are incapable of real-time control of direction and intensity. In this paper, an actively tunable toroidal metamaterials are proposed to achieve programmable toroidal dipole manipulations with electric control. The intensity and direction of toroidal dipole can be sensitively regulated by electrically controlling the loaded diodes. Our proof-of-concept experiments show that the toroidal dipole could be dynamically switched to the electric and magnetic dipole. Meantime, the direction of toroidal dipole also could be controlled. Experimental and numerical results, in good agreement, demonstrate good performance of the proposed toroidal metamaterials, with potential applications in modulators, sensors, and filters.