bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Improved Strategies for Handling Entire Sounders of Wild Pigs
Authors: LAVELLE MICHAEL J. , SNOW NATHAN P. , ELLIS CHRISTINE K. , HALSETH JOSEPH M. , FISCHER JUSTIN W. , GLOW MICHAEL P. , VANNATTA ERIC H. , FRIESENHAHN BETHANY A. , VERCAUTEREN KURT C.
Published: March 2021

As wild pigs (Sus scrofa) expand throughout North America researchers are increasingly being tasked with trapping and marking entire sounders (family groups) to attach monitoring devices or other identifying markers to gather knowledge to inform management. Capture and marking procedures can be challenging, dangerous for both researchers and animals, and time consuming, particularly when handling sounders. We developed an integrated pig‐handling system to efficiently sort, weigh, chemically immobilize, and mark multiple wild pigs simultaneously in a controlled manner. To assess the functionality of the system, we evaluated 18 capture events in Texas, USA, from January 2018 to March 2019, where we marked 221 pigs of varied age classes and group sizes (2–19 animals). Using the pig‐handling system, we chemically immobilized 51 large (41–101 kg) pigs and manually restrained 170 smaller (<45 kg) pigs with injury rates below 4%. Average handling times for large pigs was 71.9 (SD = 25.7) min and <1 min for smaller ones. We released sounders intact and routinely recorded them together on motion‐activated cameras. Incorporating a handling system into wild pig research and management is encouraged to facilitate safe handling procedures for both pigs and handlers. © 2021 The Wildlife Society. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.
Synthesis and Characterization of Rhodium Complex Bearing Anionic CNC‐Type Pincer Ligand with Pyrrolide and Imidazo[1,5‐a]pyridin‐3‐ylidene Moieties
Authors: Kuriyama Shogo , Zhao Wenhao , Nishibayashi Yoshiaki
Published: March 2021

A novel monoanionic CNC‐type pincer ligand featuring a pyrrolide as a central donor and imidazo[1,5‐a]pyridin‐3‐ylidenes as arm donors is designed and synthesized. The reaction of the lithium complex prepared from the pincer ligand with [RhCl(CO)2]2 gave the corresponding rhodium(I) carbonyl complex. X‐ray analysis and IR spectroscopy of the rhodium complex indicate that the newly designed and synthesized pincer ligand has an electron‐withdrawing character with a planar backbone.
Rank-2 attractors and Deligne’s conjecture
Authors: Yang Wenzhe
Published: March 2021

Abstract

In this paper, we will study the arithmetic geometry of rank-2 attractors, which are Calabi-Yau threefolds whose Hodge structures admit interesting splits. We will develop methods to analyze the algebraic de Rham cohomologies of rank-2 attractors, and we will illustrate how our methods work by focusing on an example in a recent paper by Candelas, de la Ossa, Elmi and van Straten. We will look at the interesting connections between rank-2 attractors in string theory and Deligne’s conjecture on the special values of L-functions. We will also formulate several open questions concerning the potential connections between attractors in string theory and number theory.
The emergence of electroweak Skyrmions through Higgs bosons
Authors: Criado Juan Carlos , Khoze Valentin V. , Spannowsky Michael
Published: March 2021

Abstract

Skyrmions are extended field configurations, initially proposed to describe baryons as topological solitons in an effective field theory of mesons. We investigate and confirm the existence of skyrmions within the electroweak sector of the Standard Model and study their properties. We find that the interplay of the electroweak sector with a dynamical Higgs field and the Skyrme term leads to a non-trivial vacuum structure with the skyrmion and perturbative vacuum sectors separated by a finite energy barrier. We identify dimension-8 operators that stabilise the electroweak skyrmion as a spatially localised soliton field configuration with finite size. Such operators are induced generically by a wide class of UV models. To calculate the skyrmion energy and radius we use a neural network method. Electroweak skyrmions are non-topological solitons but are exponentially long lived, and we find that the electroweak skyrmion is a viable dark matter candidate. While the skyrmion production cross section at collider experiments is suppressed, measuring the size of the Skyrme term in multi-Higgs-production processes at high-energy colliders is a promising avenue to probe the existence of electroweak skyrmions.
A Study of Extensions of Classical Summation Theorems for the Series $$_{3}F_{2}$$ and $$_{4}F_{3}$$ with Applications
Authors: Awad Mohamed M. , Koepf Wolfram , Mohammed Asmaa O. , Rakha Medhat A. , Rathie Arjun K.
Published: March 2021

Very recently, Masjed-Jamei & Koepf [Some summation theorems for generalized hypergeometric functions, Axioms, 2018, 7, 38, 10.3390/axioms 7020038] established some summation theorems for the generalized hypergeometric functions. The aim of this paper is to establish extensions of some of their summation theorems in the most general form. As an application, several Eulerian-type and Laplace-type integrals have also been given. Results earlier obtained by Jun et al. and Koepf et al. follow special cases of our main findings.
Banach–Mazur Distance from the Parallelogram to the Affine-Regular Hexagon and Other Affine-Regular Even-Gons
Authors: Lassak Marek
Published: March 2021

We show that the Banach–Mazur distance between the parallelogram and the affine-regular hexagon is $$\frac{3}{2}$$

3
2

and we conclude that the diameter of the family of centrally-symmetric planar convex bodies is just $$\frac{3}{2}$$

3
2

. A proof of this fact does not seem to be published earlier. Asplund announced this without a proof in his paper proving that the Banach–Mazur distance of any planar centrally-symmetric bodies is at most $$\frac{3}{2}$$

3
2

. Analogously, we deal with the Banach–Mazur distances between the parallelogram and the remaining affine-regular even-gons.
Sign Retrieval in Shift-Invariant Spaces with Totally Positive Generator
Authors: Romero José Luis
Published: March 2021

We show that a real-valued function f in the shift-invariant space generated by a totally positive function of Gaussian type is uniquely determined, up to a sign, by its absolute values $$\{|f(\lambda )|: \lambda \in \Lambda \}$$

{
|
f
(
λ
)
|
:
λ
∈
Λ
}

on any set $$\Lambda \subseteq {\mathbb {R}}$$

Λ
⊆
R

with lower Beurling density $$D^{-}(\Lambda )>2$$

D
-

(
Λ
)

>
2

.

We consider a totally positive function of Gaussian type, i.e., a function $$g \in L^2({\mathbb {R}})$$

g
∈

L
2

(
R
)

whose Fourier transform factors as $$\begin{aligned} \hat{g}(\xi )= \int _{{\mathbb {R}}} g(x) e^{-2\pi i x \xi } dx = C_0 e^{- \gamma \xi ^2}\prod _{\nu =1}^m (1+2\pi i\delta _\nu \xi )^{-1}, \quad \xi \in {\mathbb {R}}, \end{aligned}$$

g
^

(
ξ
)

=

∫
R

g

(
x
)

e

-
2
π
i
x
ξ

d
x
=

C
0

e

-
γ

ξ
2

∏

ν
=
1

m

(
1
+
2
π
i

δ
ν

ξ
)

-
1

,

ξ
∈
R
,

with $$\delta _1,\ldots ,\delta _m\in {\mathbb {R}}, C_0, \gamma >0, m \in {\mathbb {N}} \cup \{0\}$$

δ
1

,
…
,

δ
m

∈
R
,

C
0

,
γ
>
0
,
m
∈
N
∪

{
0
}

, and the shift-invariant space$$\begin{aligned} V^\infty (g) = \Big \{ f=\sum _{k \in {\mathbb {Z}}} c_k\, g(\cdot -k): c \in \ell ^\infty ({\mathbb {Z}}) \Big \}, \end{aligned}$$

V
∞

(
g
)

=

{

f
=

∑

k
∈
Z

c
k

g

(
·
-
k
)

:
c
∈

ℓ
∞

(
Z
)

}

,

generated by its integer shifts within $$L^\infty ({\mathbb {R}})$$

L
∞

(
R
)

. As a consequence of (1), each $$f \in V^\infty (g)$$

f
∈

V
∞

(
g
)

is continuous, the defining series converges unconditionally in the weak$$^*$$

∗

topology of $$L^\infty $$

L
∞

, and the coefficients $$c_k$$

c
k

are unique [6, Theorem 3.5].
Single‐Centre Experience of Supra‐Renal Vena Cava Resection and Reconstruction
Authors: Vladov Nikola , Kostadinov Radoslav , Mihaylov Vassil , Takorov Ivelin , Lukanova Tsonka , Yakova Maria , Trichkov Tsvetan , Odisseeva Evelina , Mutafchiyski Ventsislav
Published: March 2021

Background

Tumours involving the supra‐renal segment of IVC have dismal prognosis if left untreated. Currently, aggressive surgical management is the only potentially curative treatment but is associated with relatively high morbidity and mortality. This study aims to evaluate perioperative factors, associated with adverse postoperative outcomes, based on the perioperative characteristics and type of IVC reconstruction.

Methods

We identified 44 consecutive patients, who underwent supra‐renal IVC resection with a mean age of 57.3 years. Isolated resection of IVC was performed in four patients, concomitant liver resection was performed in 27 patients and other associated resection in 13 patients. Total vascular exclusion was applied in 21 patients, isolated IVC occlusion in 11 patients. Neither venovenous bypass (VVB) nor hypothermic perfusion was used in any of the cases.

Results

The mean operative time was 205 min (150–324 min) and the mean estimated blood loss was 755 ml (230–4500 ml). Overall morbidity was 59% and major complications (Dindo‐Clavien ≥ III) occurred in 11 patients (25%). The 90‐day mortality was 11% (5pts). Intraoperative haemotransfusion was significantly associated with postoperative general complications (p < 0,001). With a mean follow‐up of 26.2 months, the actuarial 1‐, 3‐ and 5‐year survival is 69%, 34%, and 16%, respectively.

Conclusions

IVC resection and reconstruction in the aspect of aggressive surgical management of malignant disease confers a survival advantage in patients, often considered unresectable. When performed in experienced centres it is associated with acceptable morbidity and mortality.
The diagnostic performance of chest computed tomography in the detection of rib fractures in children investigated for suspected physical abuse: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Alzahrani Nasser M , Jeanes Annmarie , Paddock Michael , Shuweihdi Farag , Offiah Amaka C.
Published: March 2021

Objectives

To assess the diagnostic performance of chest CT in the detection of rib fractures in children investigated for suspected physical abuse (SPA).

Methods

Medline, Web of Science and Cochrane databases were searched from January 1980 to April 2020. The QUADAS-2 tool was used to assess the quality of the eligible English-only studies following which a formal narrative synthesis was constructed. Studies reporting true-positive, false-positive, true-negative, and false-negative results were included in the meta-analysis. Overall sensitivity and specificity of chest CT for rib fracture detection were calculated, irrespective of fracture location, and were pooled using a univariate random-effects meta-analysis. The diagnostic accuracy of specific locations along the rib arc (anterior, lateral or posterior) was assessed separately.

Results

Of 242 identified studies, 4 met the inclusion criteria. Of these, 2 were included in the meta-analysis. Chest CT identified 142 rib fractures compared to 79 detected by initial skeletal survey chest radiographs in live children with SPA. Post-mortem CT (PMCT) has low sensitivity (34%) but high specificity (99%) in the detection of rib fractures when compared to the autopsy reference standard. PMCT has low sensitivity (45%, 21% and 42%) but high specificity (99%, 97% and 99%) at anterior, lateral and posterior rib locations, respectively.

Conclusions

Chest CT detects more rib fractures than initial skeletal survey chest radiographs in live children with SPA. PMCT has low sensitivity but high specificity for detecting rib fractures in children investigated for SPA.

Key Points

• PMCT has low sensitivity (34%) but high specificity (99%) in the detection of rib fractures; extrapolation to CT in live children is difficult.

• No studies have compared chest CT with the current accepted practice of initial and follow-up skeletal survey chest radiographs in the detection of rib fractures in live children investigated for SPA.
Ischemic stroke, hemorrhage, and mortality in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation and renal dysfunction treated with rivaroxaban: sub-analysis of the EXPAND study
Authors: Atarashi Hirotsugu , Uchiyama Shinichiro , Inoue Hiroshi , Kitazono Takanari , Yamashita Takeshi , Shimizu Wataru , Ikeda Takanori , Kamouchi Masahiro , Kaikita Koichi , Fukuda Koji , Origasa Hideki , Shimokawa Hiroaki
Published: March 2021

The EXPAND Study demonstrated the effectiveness and safety of rivaroxaban in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) in routine clinical practice in Japan. This sub-analysis was conducted to reveal the effectiveness and safety of rivaroxaban in Japanese NVAF patients according to baseline creatinine clearance (CrCl) levels and rivaroxaban doses in the EXPAND Study. We examined 6806 patients whose baseline CrCl data were available and classified them into 2 groups: normal renal function group with CrCl ≥ 50 mL/min (n = 5326, 78%) and renal dysfunction group with CrCl < 50 mL/min (n = 1480, 22%). In the normal renal function group, 1609 (30%) received 10 mg/day (under-dose), while in the renal dysfunction group, 108 (7%) received 15 mg/day (over-dose). In the normal renal function group, under-dose of rivaroxaban was associated with higher all-cause mortality, while in the renal dysfunction group, over-dose was associated with higher incidence of major bleeding. In contrast, the incidence of stroke or systemic embolism was not different between the 2 groups regardless of the dose of rivaroxaban. In the propensity score matched analysis to adjust the difference in characteristics according to doses of rivaroxaban, the incidences of clinical outcomes were comparable between the 2 dose groups in both renal function groups. These results indicate that the dose of rivaroxaban should be reduced depending on the renal function, considering the balance between risks of bleeding and ischemia.
Fachärztliche Unterversorgung bei Heimbewohnern – Prävalenzstudie und Hochrechnung
Authors: Schulz Maike , Czwikla Jonas , Schmidt Annika , Tsiasioti Chrysanthi , Schwinger Antje , Gerhardus Ansgar , Schmiemann Guido , Wolf‑Ostermann Karin , Rothgang Heinz
Published: March 2021

Hintergrund

Bisherige Studien deuten darauf hin, dass Pflegebedürftige eine geringere fachärztliche Versorgung aufweisen als Nichtpflegebedürftige. Insbesondere im stationären Setting ist die fachärztliche Versorgungsintensität gering. Aus den bestehenden quantitativen Versorgungsunterschieden lässt sich bislang jedoch nicht ableiten, inwieweit von einer Unterversorgung bei Pflegebedürftigen ausgegangen werden muss. Für die Versorgungsbereiche Sehfähigkeit, Hörfähigkeit, Mundgesundheit und Parkinson-Syndrom wird geprüft, inwieweit Heimbewohner fachärztlich unterversorgt sind.

Material und Methoden

In 44 Pflegeheimen in Bremen und Niedersachsen wurde der Gesundheitszustand von 409 Pflegebedürftigen mittels standardisierter Assessments und Befragungen erhoben; zusätzlich wurden Diagnosen und die medizinische Versorgung aus der Pflegedokumentation ausgewertet. Ärzteteams beurteilten auf dieser Grundlage für jeden Pflegebedürftigen, inwieweit eine bedarfsgerechte fachärztliche Versorgung vorlag oder nicht.

Ergebnisse

Gemäß ärztlichem Urteil zeigt sich bei 45 % (Sehfähigkeit), 19 % (Parkinson-Syndrom), 16 % (Mundgesundheit) und 15 % (Hörfähigkeit) der Bewohner mit entsprechendem Versorgungsbedarf eine fachärztliche Unterversorgung. Bei 27 % aller Bewohner zeigt sich in mindestens einem der 4 Versorgungsbereiche eine fachärztliche Unterversorgung. Hochgerechnet entspricht dies bis zu 205.000 fachärztlich unterversorgten Pflegeheimbewohnern in Deutschland.

Diskussion

Die Studie liefert für ausgewählte Versorgungsbereiche die ersten empirischen Belege über das Ausmaß fachärztlicher Unterversorgung von Pflegeheimbewohnern. Daher erscheint es notwendig, entsprechende Interventionen zur Reduktion der Unterversorgung zu entwickeln und zu erproben.
Cryo-EM structures of tau filaments from Alzheimer’s disease with PET ligand APN-1607
Authors: Shi Yang , Murzin Alexey G. , Falcon Benjamin , Epstein Alexander , Machin Jonathan , Tempest Paul , Newell Kathy L. , Vidal Ruben , Garringer Holly J. , Sahara Naruhiko , Higuchi Makoto , Ghetti Bernardino , Jang Ming-Kuei , Scheres Sjors H. W. , Goedert Michel
Published: March 2021

Tau and Aβ assemblies of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) can be visualized in living subjects using positron emission tomography (PET). Tau assemblies comprise paired helical and straight filaments (PHFs and SFs). APN-1607 (PM-PBB3) is a recently described PET ligand for AD and other tau proteinopathies. Since it is not known where in the tau folds PET ligands bind, we used electron cryo-microscopy (cryo-EM) to determine the binding sites of APN-1607 in the Alzheimer fold. We identified two major sites in the β-helix of PHFs and SFs and a third major site in the C-shaped cavity of SFs. In addition, we report that tau filaments from posterior cortical atrophy (PCA) and primary age-related tauopathy (PART) are identical to those from AD. In support, fluorescence labelling showed binding of APN-1607 to intraneuronal inclusions in AD, PART and PCA. Knowledge of the binding modes of APN-1607 to tau filaments may lead to the development of new ligands with increased specificity and binding activity. We show that cryo-EM can be used to identify the binding sites of small molecules in amyloid filaments.
Accuracy of digital templating of uncemented total hip arthroplasty at a certified arthroplasty center: a retrospective comparative study
Authors: Dammerer D. , Keiler A. , Herrnegger S. , Putzer D. , Strasser S. , Liebensteiner M.
Published: March 2021

Introduction

To investigate the accuracy of preoperative digital templating for total hip arthroplasty (THA) at a certified arthroplasty center (EndoCert EPZmax).

Materials and methods

In a retrospective study design, we analysed 620 uncemented primary THAs for templating accuracy by comparing the preoperatively planned THA component size and the implanted size as documented by the surgeon. Templating was determined to be a) exact if the planned and the implanted component were the same size and b) accurate if they were exact ± one size. Moreover, we investigated factors that potentially influence templating accuracy: overweight and obesity (WHO criteria), sex, implant design, surgeon experience, preoperative diagnosis. Digital templating was done with MediCAD software. The Mann–Whitney U test and the Kruskal–Wallis test were used for statistical analysis.

Results

Templating was exact in 52% of stems and 51% of cups and was accurate in 90% of the stems and 85% of the cups. Regarding the factors potentially influencing templating accuracy, the type of cup implant had a significant influence (p = 0.016). Moreover, greater accuracy of stem templating was achieved in female patients (p = 0.004). No such effect was determined for the other factors investigated.

Conclusions

We conclude that preoperative 2D templating is accurate in 90% of the stems and 85% of the cups. Greater accuracy may be achieved in female patients. In addition to gender, the type of implant used may influence planning accuracy as well. Surgeon experience, BMI and preoperative diagnosis did not influence templating accuracy.

Level of evidence

Level III (retrospective comparative study with prospective cohort).
Deep neural network correlation learning mechanism for CT brain tumor detection
Authors: Woźniak Marcin , Siłka Jakub , Wieczorek Michał
Published: March 2021

Modern medical clinics support medical examinations with computer systems which use Computational Intelligence on the way to detect potential health problems in more efficient way. One of the most important applications is evaluation of CT brain scans, where the most precise results come from deep learning approaches. In this article, we propose a novel correlation learning mechanism (CLM) for deep neural network architectures that combines convolutional neural network (CNN) with classic architecture. The support neural network helps CNN to find the most adequate filers for pooling and convolution layers. As a result, the main neural classifier learns faster and reaches higher efficiency. Results show that our CLM model is able to reach about 96% accuracy, and about 95% precision and recall. We have described our proposed mechanism and discussed numerical results to draw conclusions and show future works.
Patients referred to a German TMD-specialized consultation hour—a retrospective on patients without a diagnosis according to RDC/TMD decision trees
Authors: Rauch Angelika , Hahnel Sebastian , Kloss-Brandstätter Anita , Schierz Oliver
Published: March 2021

Objectives

The objective was to describe the physical and psychosocial features of patients attending a specialized consultation hour for temporomandibular disorders (TMD). This investigation focused on those patients who did not receive a diagnosis according to the Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (RDC/TMD).

Materials and methods

From 2004 to 2017, patients seeking care during a TMD-specialized consultation hour were consecutively recruited. Each patient completed a TMD-related questionnaire, psychosocial questionnaires (Graded Chronic Pain Scale, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Beschwerden-Liste), and the Oral Health Impact Profile-49. The clinical examination was performed according to the RDC/TMD.

Results

The mean age of the 1020 patients was 43.3 years (75.3% female). According to the RDC/TMD decision trees, 351 patients were categorized without a TMD diagnosis (NoTMDdx). The most frequent reasons for seeking care were orofacial pain/TMJ pain or headaches revealing an OR of 1.89 (for TMDdx group). A relevant proportion of patients was categorized as positive for anxiety (NoTMDdx/TMDdx 30.8/41.2%; p = 0.072), depression (20.8/23.9%; p = 0.433), non-specific physical symptoms (31.4/44.1%; p < 0.001), or dysfunctional chronic pain (11.5/18.2%; p < 0.001). In both patient groups, the oral health-related quality of life was impaired (42.9/52.7 points; p < 0.001), and the frequency of therapy measures prior to the consultation hour was high.

Conclusions

Patients seeking care from TMD specialists were usually referred with TMD-associated symptoms. Of those, a relevant proportion did not receive a diagnosis according to RDC/TMD decision trees.

Clinical relevance

Psychosocial screening and the avoidance of overtreatment are recommended for patients with TMD-related symptoms.
Watching others in a positive state does not induce optimism bias in common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus), but leads to behaviour indicative of competition
Authors: Adriaense J. E. C. , Šlipogor V. , Hintze S. , Marshall L. , Lamm C. , Bugnyar T.
Published: March 2021

Emotional contagion is suggested to facilitate group life by enhancing synchronized responses to the environment. Cooperative breeders are an example of a social system that requires such intricate coordination between individuals. Therefore, we studied emotional contagion in common marmosets by means of a judgement bias test. Demonstrators were exposed to an emotion manipulation (i.e., positive, negative, control), and observers perceived only the demonstrator’s behaviour. We predicted that the positive or negative states of the demonstrator would induce matching states in the observer, indicating emotional contagion. All subjects’ emotional states were assessed through behaviour and cognition, the latter by means of a judgement bias test. Behavioural results showed a successful emotion manipulation of demonstrators, with manipulation-congruent expressions (i.e., positive calls in the positive condition, and negative calls and pilo-erect tail in the negative condition). Observers showed no manipulation-congruent expressions, but showed more scratching and arousal after the positive manipulation. Concerning the judgement bias test, we predicted that subjects in a positive state should increase their response to ambiguous cues (i.e., optimism bias), and subjects in a negative state should decrease their response (i.e., pessimism bias). This prediction was not supported as neither demonstrators nor observers showed such bias in either manipulation. Yet, demonstrators showed an increased response to the near-positive cue, and additional analyses showed unexpected responses to the reference cues, as well as a researcher identity effect. We discuss all results combined, including recently raised validation concerns of the judgement bias test, and inherent challenges to empirically studying emotional contagion.
A mapping review of sacrococcygeal pilonidal sinus disease
Authors: Kumar M. , Clay W. H. , Lee M. J. , Brown S. R. , Hind D.
Published: March 2021

Background

Pilonidal sinus is a hole in the natal cleft which may cause severe pain and become infected. The evidence base for management of pilonidal sinus is said to be poor quality, poorly focused and rapidly proliferating. We undertook a systematic mapping review to provide a broad overview of the field and support the identification of research priorities.

Methods

We searched MEDLINE, CINAHL, and EMBASE from inception to 22nd Nov 2020 for primary research studies focused on the management of pilonidal sinus. We extracted data on study design and categorised studies under five major headings (‘non-surgical treatment’, ‘surgical treatment’, ‘aftercare’ and ‘other’), producing frequency counts for different study designs. Gaps in research were identified from published systematic reviews and tabulated.

Results

We identified 983 eligible studies, of which 36 were systematic reviews and/or meta-analyses; 121 were randomised controlled trials), and 826 observational studies of various design. The majority of studies evaluated surgical techniques (n = 665), or adjuvant medical interventions (n = 98). The literature on wound care has developed most recently, and the evidence base includes 30% randomised controlled trials. Gaps analysis highlighted comparison of surgical techniques including flaps, laser depilation, and wound care interventions as potential areas for randomised controlled trials.

Conclusions

This mapping review summarises eight decades of research on the management of pilonidal sinus. Further research is needed to identify front-running interventions, understand variation in practice and patient values, and to prioritise future research.
Association of mineral metabolism biomarkers with chronic kidney disease in Chinese adults
Authors: Li Jialin , He Danni , Zhao Wenjing , Wu Xi’ai , Luo Minjing , Wang Ying , Yan Meihua , Niu Wenquan , Li Ping
Published: March 2021

Background

We aimed to examine the association of three mineral metabolism markers, including serum calcium, inorganic phosphorus, and intact parathyroid hormone with the risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD) at all stages.

Methods

This retrospective cohort study involved 3563 participants, including 3274 CKD patients and 289 healthy controls. CKD is diagnosed according to clinical guidelines from the 2012 KDIGO. Effect sizes are expressed odds ratio (OR) and 95 confidence interval (CI).

Results

After propensity score matching, per 0.5 mg/dL increment of inorganic phosphorus was significantly associated with 1.33-, 1.61-, and 2.85-fold increased risk of CKD at stages 1–2, 4, and 5, respectively. Regarding per 8 pg/mL increment of intact parathyroid hormone, significance was only noted for stage 5. In subsidiary analyses, the risk prediction of mineral metabolism markers under study was more evident in males and hypertensive subjects. A nomogram prediction model was constructed based on age, sex, and three mineral metabolism markers for CKD, with decent accuracy.

Conclusions

Our findings indicate that serum calcium was associated with all-stage CKD risk, whereas the association for inorganic phosphorus and intact parathyroid hormone was significant at advanced stages.
Transition From Wild to Domesticated Pearl Millet (Pennisetum glaucum) Revealed in Ceramic Temper at Three Middle Holocene Sites in Northern Mali
Authors: Fuller Dorian Q. , Barron Aleese , Champion Louis , Dupuy Christian , Commelin Dominique , Raimbault Michel , Denham Tim
Published: March 2021

Imprints of domesticated pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.) spikelets, observed as temper in ceramics dating to the third millennium BC, provide the earliest evidence for the cultivation and domestication process of this crop in northern Mali. Additional sherds from the same region dating to the fifth and fourth millennium BC were examined and found to have pearl millet chaff with wild morphologies. In addition to studying sherds by stereomicroscopy and subjecting surface casts to scanning electron microscopy (SEM), we also deployed X-ray microcomputed tomography (microCT) on eleven sherds. This significantly augmented the total dataset of archaeological pearl millet chaff remains from which to document the use of the wild pearl millet as ceramic temper and the evolution of its morphology over time. Grain sizes were also estimated from spikelets preserved in the ceramics. Altogether, we are now able to chart the evolution of domesticated pearl millet in western Africa using three characteristics: the evolution of nonshattering stalked involucres; the appearance of multiple spikelet involucres, usually paired spikelets; and the increase in grain size. By the fourth millennium BC, average grain breadth had increased by 28%, although spikelet features otherwise resemble the wild type. In the third millennium BC, the average width of seeds is 38% greater than that of wild seeds, while other qualitative features of domestication are indicated by the presence of paired spikelets and the appearance of nondehiscent, stalked involucres. Nonshattering spikelets had probably become fixed by around 2000 BC, while increases in average grain size continued into the second millennium BC. These data now provide a robust sequence for the morphological evolution of domesticated pearl millet, the first indigenous crop domesticated in western Africa.
Forecasting Betula and Poaceae airborne pollen concentrations on a 3-hourly resolution in Augsburg, Germany: toward automatically generated, real-time predictions
Authors: Muzalyova Anna , Brunner Jens O. , Traidl-Hoffmann Claudia , Damialis Athanasios
Published: March 2021

Airborne allergenic pollen impact the health of a great part of the global population. Under climate change conditions, the abundance of airborne pollen has been rising dramatically and so is the effect on sensitized individuals. The first line of allergy management is allergen avoidance, which, to date, is by rule achieved via forecasting of daily pollen concentrations. The aim of this study was to elaborate on 3-hourly predictive models, one of the very few to the best of our knowledge, attempting to forecast pollen concentration based on near-real-time automatic pollen measurements. The study was conducted in Augsburg, Germany, during four years (2016–2019) focusing on Betula and Poaceae pollen, the most abundant and allergenic in temperate climates. ARIMA and dynamic regression models were employed, as well as machine learning techniques, viz. artificial neural networks and neural network autoregression models. Air temperature, relative humidity, precipitation, air pressure, sunshine duration, diffuse radiation, and wind speed were additionally considered for the development of the models. It was found that air temperature and precipitation were the most significant variables for the prediction of airborne pollen concentrations. At such fine temporal resolution, our forecasting models performed well showing their ability to explain most of the variability of pollen concentrations for both taxa. However, predictive power of Betula forecasting model was higher achieving R2 up to 0.62, whereas Poaceae up to 0.55. Neural autoregression was superior in forecasting Betula pollen concentrations, whereas, for Poaceae, seasonal ARIMA performed best. The good performance of seasonal ARIMA in describing variability of pollen concentrations of both examined taxa suggests an important role of plants’ phenology in observed pollen abundance. The present study provides novel insight on per-hour forecasts to be used in real-time mobile apps by pollen allergic patients. Despite the huge need for real-time, short-term predictions for everyday clinical practice, extreme weather events, like in the year 2019 in our case, still comprise an obstacle toward highly performing forecasts at such fine timescales, highlighting that there is still a way to go to this direction.
δ2Hn-alkane and δ18Osugar biomarker proxies from leaves and topsoils of the Bale Mountains, Ethiopia, and implications for paleoclimate reconstructions
Authors: Lemma Bruk , Bittner Lucas , Glaser Bruno , Kebede Seifu , Nemomissa Sileshi , Zech Wolfgang , Zech Michael
Published: March 2021

The hydrogen isotopic composition of leaf wax–derived n-alkane (δ2Hn-alkane) and oxygen isotopic composition of hemicellulose–derived sugar (δ18Osugar) biomarkers are valuable proxies for paleoclimate reconstructions. Here, we present a calibration study along the Bale Mountains in Ethiopia to evaluate how accurately and precisely the isotopic composition of precipitation is imprinted in these biomarkers. n-Alkanes and sugars were extracted from the leaf and topsoil samples and compound–specific δ2Hn-alkane and δ18Osugar values were measured using a gas chromatograph–thermal conversion–isotope ratio mass spectrometer (GC–TC–IRMS). The weighted mean δ2Hn-alkane and δ18Osugar values range from − 186 to − 89‰ and from + 27 to + 46‰, respectively. Degradation and root inputs did not appear to alter the isotopic composition of the biomarkers in the soil samples analyzed. Yet, the δ2Hn-alkane values show a statistically significant species dependence and δ18Osugar yielded the same species–dependent trends. The reconstructed leaf water of Erica arborea and Erica trimera is 2H– and 18O–enriched by + 55 ± 5 and + 9 ± 1‰, respectively, compared to precipitation. By contrast, Festuca abyssinica reveals the most negative δ2Hn-alkane and least positive δ18Osugar values. This can be attributed to “signal–dampening” caused by basal grass leaf growth. The intermediate values for Alchemilla haumannii and Helichrysum splendidum can be likely explained with plant physiological differences or microclimatic conditions affecting relative humidity (RH) and thus RH–dependent leaf water isotope enrichment. While the actual RH values range from 69 to 82% (x̄ = 80 ± 3.4%), the reconstructed RH values based on a recently suggested coupled δ2Hn-alkane –δ18Osugar (paleo–) hygrometer approach yielded a mean of 78 ± 21%. Our findings corroborate (i) that vegetation changes, particularly in terms of grass versus non–grassy vegetation, need to be considered in paleoclimate studies based on δ2Hn-alkane and δ18Osugar records and (ii) that the coupled δ2Hn-alkane –δ18Osugar (paleo–) hygrometer approach holds great potential for deriving additional paleoclimatic information compared to single isotope approaches.
Heavy metal pollution of street dust in the largest city of Mexico, sources and health risk assessment
Authors: Aguilera Anahi , Bautista Francisco , Gutiérrez-Ruiz Margarita , Ceniceros-Gómez Agueda E. , Cejudo Rubén , Goguitchaichvili Avto
Published: March 2021

In large industrialized cities, tons of particles containing heavy metals are released into the environment and accumulate on street surfaces. Such particles cause a potential risk to human health due to their composition and size. The heavy metal contamination levels, main emission sources, and human health risks were identified in 482 samples of street dust. Heavy metal concentrations were obtained by microwave-assisted acid digestion and ICP-OES. The results indicated that street dust in Mexico City is contaminated mainly with Pb, Zn, and Cu, according to the contamination factor and the geoaccumulation index. The pollution load index of the street dust was made with the concentrations of Pb, Zn, Cu, Cr, and Ni. The main sources of Pb, Zn, Cu, and Cr are anthropic, probably due to vehicular traffic. The highest levels of Cr and Pb in urban dust represent a health risk for children. Contamination limits were proposed for heavy metals in street dust of Mexico City. These limits might be useful to generate and apply public policies to decrease anthropic emissions of the heavy metals studied, particularly Cr and Pb.
A Local Authority v JB [2020] EWCA Civ 735; [2019] EWCOP 39
Authors: Subhi Emnani
Published: March 2021

InRe JB,a local authority, concerned with the risk the respondent posed to vulnerable women, successfully appealed against an order made in the Court of Protection that declared JB, an autistic man with impaired cognition, possessed capacity to consent to sexual relations. In this recent decision, the Court of Appeal has arguably reset the last 15 years of jurisprudence concerning P’s capacity to make decisions in regard to sexual relations. Previous case law focused on P’s ability to consent to such relations, and whether P understood the information relevant to that decision. Notwithstanding the abundance of legal authority, including the recent appellate judgments of Hayden J inLondon Borough of Tower Hamlets v NB and AU (consent to sex)[2019] EWCOP 27. andB v A Local Authority[2019] EWCA Civ 913. there was a lacuna in the existing law in relation to what information was relevant for the purposes of assessing the issue of capacity to consent to sexual relations. Judges have traditionally adopted a protectionist stance in understanding “the information relevant to the decision” under s3(1) of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA), with an emphasis on whether P understood the risks of pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. However, the Court of Appeal inRe JBhas broadened its interpretation of ‘relevant’ information to also include the ability to understand the importance of a partner’s consent to such relations. This is a welcome change to previous courts’ interpretations of the ‘nature’ of the sexual act, moving from an approach focused on the physical sexual mechanics to one which views the nature of sex as a mutually consensual engagement. However, a fundamental shift in how we view such cases is likely to have far-reaching consequences, particularly for local authorities and professionals seeking guidance in relation to their care planning.
Situating the “Cultural Reach” of Cities in a Multiscalar Field
Authors: Çağlar Ayşe
Published: March 2021

On the basis of empirical material from a city bordering Syria and Turkey, this article aims to situate the city’s emerging landscape of culture and arts in the 2000s within the dynamics of neoliberalizing city-making. It provides a political economy of the city’s “cultural reach” by connecting the dynamics of cultural production to value creating processes in and through urban regeneration to understand when, how, and which groups and sites become de- and re-valorized. It highlights the futility of nation state-city, state-civil society binaries in analysing the power geometry of multiscalar actors involved in the work, efficacy and the potency of cultural networks, institutions, and “cultural diplomacy.”
Modulation of Amygdala Response by Cognitive Conflict in Adolescents with Conduct Problems and Varying Levels of CU Traits
Authors: Sebastian Catherine L. , Stafford Jean , McCrory Eamon J. , Sethi Arjun , De Brito Stephane A. , Lockwood Patricia L. , Viding Essi
Published: March 2021

Adolescents with conduct problems and low callous-unemotional traits are characterised by high levels of reactive aggression. Prior studies suggest that they can have exaggerated neural and behavioural responses to negative emotional stimuli, accompanied by compromised affect regulation and atypical engagement of prefrontal areas during cognitive control. This pattern may in part explain their symptoms. Clarifying how neurocognitive responses to negative emotional stimuli can be modulated in this group has potential translational relevance. We present fMRI data from a cognitive conflict task in which the requirement to visually scan emotional (vs. calm) faces was held constant across low and high levels of cognitive conflict. Participants were 17 adolescent males with conduct problems and low levels of callous-unemotional traits (CP/LCU); 17 adolescents with conduct problems and high levels of callous-unemotional traits (CP/HCU, who typically show blunted reactivity to fear), and 18 typically developing controls (age range 10–16). Control participants showed typical attenuation of amygdala response to fear relative to calm faces under high (relative to low) conflict, replicating previous findings in a healthy adult sample. In contrast, children with CP/LCU showed a reduced (left amygdala) or reversed (right amygdala) attenuation effect under high cognitive conflict conditions. Children with CP/HCU did not differ from controls. Findings suggest atypical modulation of amygdala response as a function of task demands, and raise the possibility that those with CP/LCU are unable to implement typical regulation of amygdala response when cognitive task demands are high.
Kinetics of ion release from a conventional glass-ionomer cement
Authors: Nicholson John W. , Coleman Nichola J. , Sidhu Sharanbir K.
Published: March 2021

Release kinetics for sodium, silicon, aluminium, calcium and phosphorus from conventional glass-ionomer dental cement has been studied in neutral and acid conditions. Specimens (6 mm height × 4 mm diameter) were made from AquaCem (Dentsply, Konstanz, Germany), 6 per experiment. They were matured (37 °C, 1 h), then placed in 5 cm3 storage solution at 20–22 °C. In the first experiment, deionised water, changed daily for 28 days, was used. In the second, deionised water, changed monthly for 21 months, was used. In the third, lactic acid (20 mmol dm−3, pH: 2.7 ± 0.1), changed monthly for 21 months was used. After storage each solution was analyzed by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). Results showed that in neutral conditions, no calcium was released, but in acid, significant amounts were released. The other elements (Na, Al, Si and P) were released in neutral as well as acid conditions, with greater amounts in acid. More frequent changes of water gave greater release. In neutral conditions, release over 21 months followed the equation: [E]c = [E]1t/(t + t½) + β√t ([E]c is the cumulative release of the element). In acid conditions, this became: [E]c = [E]1t/(t + t½) + αt. Hence release of all elements was shown to occur in two steps, a rapid initial one (half-life: 12–18 h) and a longer second one. In neutral conditions, the longer step involves diffusion; in acid it involves erosion. These patterns influence the material’s bioactivity.
The L1-dependant and Pol III transcribed Alu retrotransposon, from its discovery to innate immunity
Authors: Stenz Ludwig
Published: March 2021

The 300 bp dimeric repeats digestible by AluI were discovered in 1979. Since then, Alu were involved in the most fundamental epigenetic mechanisms, namely reprogramming, pluripotency, imprinting and mosaicism. These Alu encode a family of retrotransposons transcribed by the RNA Pol III machinery, notably when the cytosines that constitute their sequences are de-methylated. Then, Alu hijack the functions of ORF2 encoded by another transposons named L1 during reverse transcription and integration into new sites. That mechanism functions as a complex genetic parasite able to copy-paste Alu sequences. Doing that, Alu have modified even the size of the human genome, as well as of other primate genomes, during 65 million years of co-evolution. Actually, one germline retro-transposition still occurs each 20 births. Thus, Alu continue to modify our human genome nowadays and were implicated in de novo mutation causing diseases including deletions, duplications and rearrangements. Most recently, retrotransposons were found to trigger neuronal diversity by inducing mosaicism in the brain. Finally, boosted during viral infections, Alu clearly interact with the innate immune system. The purpose of that review is to give a condensed overview of all these major findings that concern the fascinating physiology of Alu from their discovery up to the current knowledge.
Determining Chemical Reaction Systems in Plasma-Assisted Conversion of Methane Using Genetic Algorithms
Authors: Reiser D. , von Keudell A. , Urbanietz T.
Published: March 2021

Even for processes with only a few gas species involved the detailed description of plasma-assisted conversion processes in gas mixtures requires a large amount of processes to be taken into account and a large number of neutral and charged particles must be considered. In addition, setting up the corresponding reaction kinetics model needs the knowledge of the rate coefficients and their temperature dependence for all possible reactions between those species. Reduced reaction networks offer a simplified and pragmatic way to obtain an overall reaction kinetics model, already useful for the analysis of experimental data even if not all details of chemistry can be covered. In this paper we present a derivation of a data driven reduced model for plasma-assisted conversion of methane in an helium environment. By consideration of a small number of elementary reactions, a simple model is set up. Experimental data are analyzed by a genetic algorithm that provides best-fit approximations for the open parameters of the model. In a further step non-relevant parameters of the model are identified and a further model reduction is achieved. The data driven analysis of methane conversion serves as an illustrative example of the proposed method. The parameters and reaction channels found are compared with known results from the literature. The method is described in detail. The main goal of this work is to present the potential of this data driven method for a simplified and pragmatic modeling in the increasingly important field of plasma-assisted catalytic processes.
Subtle discrimination: do stereotypes among teachers trigger bias in their expectations and widen ethnic achievement gaps?
Authors: Lorenz Georg
Published: March 2021

Ethnic and racial disparities in educational outcomes, such as test scores, are a core issue of educational research. While the role of student and family factors in the formation of such disparities is well established, existing studies fail to draw a similarly clear picture of how teachers contribute to ethnic and racial achievement gaps. In contrast to previous studies, which focussed on the consequences of rather blatant forms of discrimination, such as in teachers’ grading practices, this study investigates rather subtle processes that might result in discrimination of ethnic and racial minority students. In particular, I address stereotypes among teachers and analyse if they induce bias in their achievement expectations for ethnic minority school beginners. Additionally, I analyse if such bias results in a self-fulfilling prophecy and contributes to ethnic achievement gaps at the end of first grade. Multilevel regressions applied to a sample of 1007 children and 64 teachers in German primary schools reveal that different teachers internalize distinct stereotypes regarding ethnic achievement gaps and the achievement-related attributes of ethnic minority students. I also find that teachers with more negative stereotypes expect lower mathematics and reading achievements for ethnic minority students at the beginning of first grade. However, although I replicate the finding that inaccurate teacher expectations result in a self-fulfilling prophecy, I find no statistically significant effects of teacher stereotypes on ethnic differences in the development of students’ reading and mathematical skills throughout first grade.