bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Developing an expansion‐based obstacle detection using panoptic segmentation
Authors: Pirasteh Saied , Varshosaz Masood , Badrloo Samira , Li Jonathan
Published: March 2024

Safe Micro Aerial Vehicle (MAV) navigation requires detecting and avoiding obstacles. For safe MAV navigation, expansion‐based algorithms are effective for detecting obstacles. However, accurate and real‐time obstacle detection is a fundamental challenge. Some traditional methods focus on extracting geometric features from images and applying geometric constraints to identify potential obstacles. Others may leverage machine learning algorithms for object detection and classification, using features such as texture, shape, and context to distinguish obstacles from background clutter. The choice of approach depends on factors such as the specific requirements of the application, the complexity of the scene, and the available computational resources. Since obstacles, in reality, take the form of objects (e.g., persons, walls, pillars, trees, automobiles, and other structures), it is preferable to represent them according to human comprehension and as objects. Therefore, the objective of this study is to reflect on the previous research and address the issues mentioned above by extracting objects from the fisheye image using a panoptic deep‐learning network. The extracted object regions are, then, used to identify obstacles with a novel area‐based expansion rate we developed in a previous study. We compared the accuracy of obstacle detection in our proposed method to the existing method when moving forward and to the right; thus, we improved it between 10% and 18%, respectively. In addition, compared with the existing method, and due to replacing a single object with multiple regions, obstacle‐detection runtime for forward and right direction is 15.71 and 25.5 times faster, respectively, and the required match points have decreased by 49% and 55%.
Design and performance analysis of soft pneumatic manipulator‐based linear cutter and stem holder for sweet pepper harvesting
Authors: Tasneem Zinat , Oka Koichi
Published: March 2024

Efficient automation of stem‐cutting processes in agricultural practices is crucial but little‐studied for improving productivity and reducing labor‐intensive tasks. To address this need, we present a customized stem cutter and stem holder designed explicitly for sweet pepper harvesting. The stem cutter comprises a fixed plate and a moving plate with a blade, which moves in a single plane at an upward angle of 30° toward the fixed plate. The movement of the blade is facilitated by a soft bellows pneumatic actuator constructed using silicon rubber material. By applying air pressure from a DC air pump, the actuator extends forward, causing the blade part to make contact with the fixed plate and effectively cut the stem. The stem holder holds the stem securely before cutting. It contains two inflatable manipulators made of soft materials that expand inwards when air‐filled, ensuring that the stem is securely held and readily collected after harvest. Both simulation and experimental results are presented, in which the average cutting time was 2.356 s. We believe that these innovations represent an efficient method for automating the stem‐cutting process in sweet pepper cultivation and thus significantly contribute to the field of agricultural robotics.
Application of nonparametric quantifiers for online handwritten signature verification: A statistical learning approach
Authors: Ospina Raydonal , Costa Ranah Duarte , Rêgo Leandro Chaves , Marmolejo‐Ramos Fernando
Published: March 2024

This work explores the use of nonparametric quantifiers in the signature verification problem of handwritten signatures. We used the MCYT‐100 (MCYT Fingerprint subcorpus) database, widely used in signature verification problems. The discrete‐time sequence positions in thex‐axis andy‐axis provided in the database are preprocessed, and time causal information based on nonparametric quantifiers such as entropy, complexity, Fisher information, and trend are employed. The study also proposes to evaluate these quantifiers with the time series obtained, applying the first and second derivatives of each sequence position to evaluate the dynamic behavior by looking at their velocity and acceleration regimes, respectively. The signatures in the MCYT‐100 database are classified via Logistic Regression, Support Vector Machines (SVM), Random Forest, and Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost). The quantifiers were used as input features to train the classifiers. To assess the ability and impact of nonparametric quantifiers to distinguish forgery and genuine signatures, we used variable selection criteria, such as: information gain, analysis of variance, and variance inflation factor. The performance of classifiers was evaluated by measures of classification error such as specificity and area under the curve. The results show that the SVM and XGBoost classifiers present the best performance.
TBAI/TBHP Catalyzed Synthesis of 2,4,6‐Trisubstituted Pyridines from Oxime Acetates Using Benzylamine as an Effective ArCO Surrogate under Transition Metal‐Free Conditions
Authors: Lakshmi Podugu Rajitha , Kadiri Sunanda Kumari , Varaprasad Bodala , Kumari Yettula , Kotyada Satish Kumar , Siddaiah Vidavalur
Published: March 2024

An efficient TBHP/TBAI mediated strategy has been developed for the synthesis of 2,4,6‐trisubstitued pyridines from ketoxime acetates and benzylamines under metal‐free conditions for the first time. In this protocol benzylamine acts as an effective ArCO surrogate. This methodology features use of inexpensive catalysts, avert of additional ligands and additives and high functional group tolerance. Moreover, 5‐Lipoxygenase enzyme inhibitory activities were performed for all synthesised compounds. Among all 2,4,6‐trisubstituted pyridines 3fg, 3fa and 3eg showed good activity.
Microwave Synthesis of (g‐C3N4)−BiVO4: Selective Adsorption and Photocatalytic Activity Towards Dye Degradation
Authors: Claudino Caroline Helena , Scola Rodrigues Bárbara , Marinho Factori Irina , dos Santos de Souza Juliana
Published: March 2024

Photocatalytic degradation of pollutants has been extensively studied. Among the investigated photocatalysts, BiVO4 has emerged as a very promising material. BiVO4 is known for its narrow band‐gap energy suitable for solar‐driven reactions; however, it is subjected to challenges such as charge recombination and slow electron transfer kinetics. Combining BiVO4 with g‐C3N4 proves promising, aligning energy levels and leveraging unique charge transport properties to enhance dye degradation under visible light. This study reports a novel synthesis of g‐C3N4−BiVO4 heterojunction through in‐situ urea pyrolysis, ensuring homogeneous dispersion. While maintaining the monoclinic structure of BiVO4, the heterojunction exhibits increased surface area and a more negative zeta potential, influencing catalyst‐substrate to be degraded interactions. Adsorption studies reveal distinct behaviors with cationic dyes (MB and RhB) forming multilayers, hindering light absorption, and reducing photocatalytic efficiency. Conversely, the heterojunction performs efficiently with the anionic MO dye. Photoelectrochemical studies show that the heterojunction has succeeded in promoting the separation of photogenerated charges. The study lays the groundwork for optimizing synthesis methods and designing nanocomposites with superior photocatalytic activities.
Directed Assembly of Ordered Mixed‐Spacer Quasi‐2D Halide Perovskites through Homomeric Chains of Intermolecular Bonds
Authors: Wei Qingyin , Zhang Fen , Li Xiaoqi , Wu Fafa , Yue Zengshan , Luo Junhua , Liu Xitao
Published: March 2024

Two‐dimensional (2D) halide perovskites (HPs) are of significant interest to researchers because of their natural structural frameworks and intriguing optoelectronic properties. However, the direct fabrication of ordered mixed‐spacer quasi‐2D HPs remains challenging. Herein, a synthetic strategy inspired by the principle of supramolecular synthons is employed for the self‐assembly of a series of ordered mixed‐spacer bilayered HPs. The key innovation involves the introduction of intermolecular hydrogen bonds using a bifunctional 3‐aminopropionitrile cation. Three homogeneous n = 2 structures are obtained, with a subtly ordered perovskite connected by two distinct types of organic cation layers, resulting in a recurrent ABABʹ stacking sequence. These three compounds exhibit attractive semiconducting properties. Moderate bandgaps in the range of 2.70 to 2.76 eV with an absorption wavelength range of 448–459 nm exhibit excellent photoelectric response. Moreover, the ordered structures facilitate excellent polarization‐sensitive photodetection, with an impressive on/off ratio of 103. The response speed ranged from 298 to 381 µs, and the out‐of‐plane polarization‐related dichroism ratio is determined to be 1.19. Such ordered mixed‐spacer bilayered perovskites have not been reported. These results enrich the HPs system and play a significant role in the direct assembly of novel perovskites with ordered structures.
Mononormativity: The Social Elevation of the Singular
Authors: Beck Armani
Published: March 2024

The elevation of one‐ness and the singular is a social pattern that can be identified across domains and contexts. I call this phenomenon mononormativity and define it as the normativity of “one‐ness” and “singularity” in contemporary U.S. society. Social pattern analysis is used to demonstrate how conventions of social marking can reveal previously unexplored patterns across seemingly unrelated institutions, identities, and relationships to show that mononormativity reflects the very basic ideals of how society is organized. This article takes what has been taken for granted and baked into the social mindscape and foregrounds what has previously been unexplored.
Nanodiamonds: A Cutting‐Edge Approach to Enhancing Biomedical Therapies and Diagnostics in Biosensing
Authors: Hyder Ali , Ali Akbar , Buledi Jamil A. , Memon Ayaz Ali , Iqbal Muzaffar , Bangalni Talib Hussain , Solangi Amber R. , Thebo Khalid Hussain , Akhtar Javeed
Published: March 2024

Nanodiamonds (NDs) have garnered attention in the field of nanomedicine due to their unique properties. This review offers a comprehensive overview of NDs synthesis methods, properties, and their uses in biomedical applications. Various synthesis techniques, such as detonation, high‐pressure, high‐temperature, and chemical vapor deposition, offer distinct advantages in tailoring NDs′ size, shape, and surface properties. Surface modification methods further enhance NDs′ biocompatibility and enable the attachment of bioactive molecules, expanding their applicability in biological systems. NDs serve as promising nanocarriers for drug delivery, showcasing biocompatibility and the ability to encapsulate therapeutic agents for targeted delivery. Additionally, NDs demonstrate potential in cancer treatment through hyperthermic therapy and vaccine enhancement for improved immune responses. Functionalization of NDs facilitates their utilization in biosensors for sensitive biomolecule detection, aiding in precise diagnostics and rapid detection of infectious diseases. This review underscores the multifaceted role of NDs in advancing biomedical applications. By synthesizing NDs through various methods and modifying their surfaces, researchers can tailor their properties for specific biomedical needs. The ability of NDs to serve as efficient drug delivery vehicles holds promise for targeted therapy, while their applications in hyperthermic therapy and vaccine enhancement offer innovative approaches to cancer treatment and immunization. Furthermore, the integration of NDs into biosensors enhances diagnostic capabilities, enabling rapid and sensitive detection of biomolecules and infectious diseases. Overall, the diverse functionalities of NDs underscore their potential as valuable tools in nanomedicine, paving the way for advancements in healthcare and biotechnology.
Regulatory T cells subgroups in the tumor microenvironment cannot be overlooked: Their involvement in prognosis and treatment strategy in melanoma
Authors: Huang Wenyi , Kim Byeong Seop , Zhang Yichi , Lin Li , Chai Gang , Zhao Zhijie
Published: March 2024

Background

Melanoma, the most lethal form of skin cancer, presents substantial challenges despite effective surgical interventions for in situ lesions. Regulatory T cells (Tregs) wield a pivotal immunomodulatory influence within the tumor microenvironment, yet their impact on melanoma prognosis and direct molecular interactions with melanoma cells remain elusive. This investigation employs single‐cell analysis to unveil the intricate nature of Tregs in human melanoma.

Methods

Single‐cell RNA and bulk sequencing data, alongside clinical information, were obtained from public repositories. Initially, GO and GSEA analyses were employed to delineate functional disparities among distinct cell subsets. Pseudotime and cell–cell interconnection analyses were conducted, followed by an endeavor to construct a prognostic model grounded in Treg‐associated risk scores. This model's efficacy was demonstrated via PCA and K‐M analyses, with multivariate Cox regression affirming its independent prognostic value in melanoma patients. Furthermore, immune infiltration analysis, immune checkpoint gene expression scrutiny, and drug sensitivity assessments were performed to ascertain the clinical relevance of this prognostic model.

Results

Following batch effect correction, 80 025 cells partitioned into 31 clusters, encompassing B cells, plasma cells, endothelial cells, fibroblasts, melanoma cells, monocytes, macrophages, and T_NK cells. Within these, 4240 CD4+ T cells were subclassified into seven distinct types. Functional analysis underscored the immunomodulatory function of Tregs within the melanoma tumor microenvironment, elucidating disparities among Treg subpopulations. Notably, the ITGB2 signaling pathway emerged as a plausible molecular nexus linking Tregs to melanoma cells. Our prognostic signature exhibited robust predictive capacities for melanoma prognosis and potential implications in evaluating immunotherapy response.

Conclusion

Tregs exert a critical role in immune suppression within the melanoma tumor microenvironment, revealing a potential molecular‐level association with melanoma cells. Our innovative Treg‐centered signature introduces a promising prognostic marker for melanoma, holding potential for future clinical prognostic assessments.
Earth Science and Extractive Capitalism in the Age of Empire
Authors: Rieppel Lukas
Published: March 2024

This chapter situates the practice of geology within the history of European imperialism, arguing that the earth sciences are deeply bound up with the political economy of extractive capitalism. On a mundane level, the practice of geology primarily consists of extracting specimen collections from far-flung parts of the world to make broader claims about the history, morphology, and physical structure of the earth. In addition, the earth sciences also developed in tandem with the imperial project of resource extraction. In what follows, I draw out these connections by offering a schematic history of geology that links the practice of science to the political economy of extractive capitalism.
Land, Mines, and Bones: African History and Deep Knowledges of the Earth
Authors: Manias Chris
Published: March 2024

This chapter considers the connections between histories of the earth sciences (and knowledges of the earth more generally) and African history. It argues there is great potential synergy between them, both fields providing cross-disciplinary and long-durational means of considering the history of knowledge and engagement with the earth, especially through different forms of conceptual, political, and economic power. This is followed across two sections. The first is the history of mining and use of mineral resources in Africa, which has been a dynamic field, aiming to recover the agency and importance of African actors, processes, and institutions, while engaging with the importance of mineral extraction for the formation of colonial systems and maintenance of global inequalities. And secondly, the chapter examines the historiography of the sciences of ancient life as related to Africa, especially palaeontology and palaeoanthropology, and how these more conceptual fields have been entangled with values and engagements with African nature, and citations of the importance of the continent to the whole of humanity.
Mapping the Ambiguous—Intercultural Encounters in Matteo Ricci’s World Map Kunyu Wanguo Quantu
Authors: Kästl Michaela
Published: March 2024

This article highlights the complex nature of intercultural cooperation in the early Jesuit Mission in China through the example of the world map Kunyu wanguo quantu—Complete Geographical Map of Ten Thousand Countries (1603), a work most commonly attributed to Matteo Ricci S.J. Based on current research in the fields of the history of cartography as well as translation studies, I argue that the map itself is reflective of a collaborative construction process and can thus be interpreted as a space of encounter. In this space, literal and cultural translation processes between the actors took place and shaped the map as a whole. By zooming in and out of the map and playing with different levels of focus, said translation processes, and the resulting ambiguities, can be detected and analyzed, revealing the collaboration between Ricci and Chinese literati such as Li Zhizao, two authors who held various coinciding and contradicting views and whose power relationship to each other was ambiguous.
Lost in Transmission. Maps of Japan by Daikokuya Kōdayū 大黒屋 光太夫 (1751–1828)*
Authors: Dorofeeva-Lichtmann Vera , Simonova-Gudzenko Ekaterina
Published: March 2024

The maps of Japan by Daikokuya Kōdayū (1751–1828) were drawn during the author’s detention in Russia (1783–1792). Though rooted in Japanese cartographic tradition, they do not copy any known map of Japan. Because they were created specifically for “foreign” usage, they contain a wealth of translations and comments. All of the maps are large-scale coloured manuscripts (ca. 65–75 × 120–150 cm) and resemble one another but are not identical. We begin by determining when and where Kōdayū could have made his maps and comparing the material attributes and general characteristics of the extant copies. Then we go on to trace the maps’ afterlife, placing special emphasis on the Asch Collection. Kōdayū’s work amounts to a multi-lingual diachronic enterprise of drawing and translating a map of Japan for the benefit of the Russian state. The focus of our study is to analyze why this so very interesting enterprise failed: hardly had the maps been completed than they were sent off to Germany as curiosities—or simply forgotten.
Politiken der Übersetzung – Übersetzung von Machtbeziehungen. Ein Nachwort
Authors: Flüchter Antje , Lüsebrink Hans-Jürgen
Published: March 2024

Komplementär zu den im Vorwort entwickelten Überlegungen, stehen im Nachwort vier Reflexionsstränge theoretischer Ausrichtung im Mittelpunkt: zunächst die an Ansätze von Michel Foucault anschließende theoretische Reflexion über die Beziehung von Übersetzung, Politik und Macht, die sich in unterschiedlichen Phänomenen wie dem politischen Einfluss auf Übersetzungsprojekte oder auch der kulturellen Hegemonie bestimmter Ausgangs- und Zielsprachen in der Übersetzungspraxis zeigt. Zweitens die Reflexion über die Rolle unterschiedlicher, semiotisch gefasster Materialitäten und Textsorten im Kontext von Übersetzungen, die eine notwendige systematische Ausweitung des traditionellen Übersetzungsbegriffs über verbale und schriftbasierte Zeichen hinaus impliziert. Drittens wird Übersetzen als komplexe (inter-)kulturelle Kontaktzone reflektiert, in der sich zwischen den häufig in der Forschungsdiskussion schematisch unterschiedenen Polen der ‚Domestication‘ und der ‚Foreignization‘ bei genauer Betrachtung ebenso vielfältige wie ambivalente transkulturelle und machtbestimmte Prozesse des Aushandelns von Bedeutungen beobachten lassen.
Translation Policy and the Politics of Translation—The Translation of Power Relationships: An Afterword
Authors: Flüchter Antje , Lüsebrink Hans-Jürgen
Published: March 2024

Complementing the deliberations set forth in the foreword, the afterword focuses on four strands of theoretically oriented reflection: to begin with, theoretical reflection on the relationship between translation, politics, and power as discussed by Michel Foucault, a relationship manifest in various phenomena such as political influence on translation projects or the cultural hegemony of certain source and target languages in translation. The second strand of reflection has to do with the role of different semiotically conceived materialities and text types in the context of translation, which implies a necessary systematic expansion of the traditional concept of translation beyond verbal and writing-based signs. Thirdly, we reflect on translation here as a complex (inter-)cultural contact zone in which, on closer examination, transcultural and power-determined processes of meaning negotiation—processes as diverse as they are ambivalent—can be observed between the poles of “domestication” and “foreignization” often schematically distinguished in the research discussion. And fourthly we are concerned with reflection on “historicity and anachronism”, particularly with regard to the problem of Eurocentrism and its epistemologically distortive influence on the historical analysis of translation processes.
Glottopolitik und Translationspolitik in Neu-Spanien. Der Einfluss des ‚miserables-Diskurses‘ auf koloniale Translationspraktiken
Authors: Schrader-Kniffki Martina , Klamp Yannic , Kneifel Malte
Published: March 2024

This article revolves around translation politics as a consequence of colonial politics in New Spain. The colonizers categorized the indigenous population as personas miserables, a juridical term which had emerged in Europe. We examine the influence of this label on translation practices taking place in the context of the Catholic mission as well as in the juridical and notarial sphere. To this end, we analyze Spanish-Zapotec documents dating from the sixteenth to eighteenth centuries from Oaxaca, Mexico. The hypothesis is that this ambiguous status, which characterizes the population as immature and in need of protection, shaped translation procedures in translations into Zapotec, but also created scope for the indigenous population to participate in political decision-making processes, as can be demonstrated on the basis of translations from Zapotec into Spanish.
Einleitung
Authors: Höhl Karolin , Dreyer Jana , Lichtenstein Silke
Published: March 2024

Essen ist politisch geworden (Schröder, 2016). Und das nicht erst, seitdem im Auftrag der Deutschen Bundesregierung eine Ernährungsstrategie aufgelegt wurde (Bundesministerium für Ernährung und Landwirtschaft, 2024) und es im Auftrag des Deutschen Bundestages den ersten „Bürgerrat Ernährung im Wandel“ gibt (Mehr Demokratie et al., 2023).
Diskussion
Authors: Höhl Karolin , Dreyer Jana , Lichtenstein Silke
Published: March 2024

Die vorliegende, multidisziplinäre Betrachtung von Theorien im Kontext von Werten hat gezeigt, dass eine transdisziplinär anwendbare und interdisziplinär anerkannte Auffassung fehlt. Der vorliegende Text hat für dieses „Phänomen“ zahlreiche Erläuterungen gegeben, so bspw., dass die Bedeutsamkeit und Auslegung eines Wertes unter der jeweiligen Perspektive des wertenden aber auch des bewerteten Subjektes zu erfolgen hat.
Telemedizin bei Fazialisparese
Authors: Ballmaier Jonas , Hölzer Sabrina , Geitner Maren , Kuttenreich Anna-Maria , Erfurth Christian , Guntinas-Lichius Orlando , Volk Gerd Fabian
Published: March 2024

Auch in der Medizin gewinnt die Digitalisierung immer schneller an Bedeutung. Die COVID-19-Pandemie beschleunigte diesen Prozess zusätzlich, und die Politik versucht, Rahmenbedingungen für einen erfolgreichen Wissenstransfer und eine bessere digitale medizinische Versorgung zu schaffen. Im vorliegenden Artikel wird die Rolle der Telemedizin bei der Behandlung von Patientinnen und Patienten mit Fazialisparese erörtert. Eine Fazialisparese hat vielfältige Auswirkungen, von Einschränkungen der Gesichtsbeweglichkeit bis zu psychologischen Folgeerkrankungen. Während viele der akuten idiopathischen Fazialisparesen sich nach einigen Wochen bessern, entwickeln etwa ein Drittel der Betroffenen Synkinesien, unwillkürliche Mitbewegungen, welche lebenslange funktionelle und psychologische Folgen haben. Die Therapie umfasst verschiedene Modalitäten, über Medikamente und Chirurgie bis zum Bewegungstraining. Bei regionaler Unterversorgung, aber auch in der Versorgung chronischer Fazialisparesen, bietet die Telemedizin innovative Lösungsansätze. Der Artikel definiert den Begriff „Telemedizin“ im aktuellen Kontext und zeigt verschiedene Anwendungsarten auf. Eine detaillierte Analyse der Anwendungsszenarien von Telemedizin bei Patientinnen und Patienten mit Fazialisparese zeigt, dass trotz geringer Evidenz viele potenziell nützliche Konzepte existieren.
Dosimetry and pharmacokinetics of [177Lu]Lu-satoreotide tetraxetan in patients with progressive neuroendocrine tumours
Authors: Schürrle Seval Beykan , Eberlein Uta , Ansquer Catherine , Beauregard Jean-Mathieu , Durand-Gasselin Lucie , Grønbæk Henning , Haug Alexander , Hicks Rodney J. , Lenzo Nat P. , Navalkissoor Shaunak , Nicolas Guillaume P. , Pais Ben , Volteau Magali , Wild Damian , McEwan Alexander , Lassmann Michael
Published: March 2024

Purpose

To evaluate the dosimetry and pharmacokinetics of the novel radiolabelled somatostatin receptor antagonist [177Lu]Lu-satoreotide tetraxetan in patients with advanced neuroendocrine tumours (NETs).

Methods

This study was part of a phase I/II trial of [177Lu]Lu-satoreotide tetraxetan, administered at a median cumulative activity of 13.0 GBq over three planned cycles (median activity/cycle: 4.5 GBq), in 40 patients with progressive NETs. Organ absorbed doses were monitored at each cycle using patient-specific dosimetry; the cumulative absorbed-dose limits were set at 23.0 Gy for the kidneys and 1.5 Gy for bone marrow. Absorbed dose coefficients (ADCs) were calculated using both patient-specific and model-based dosimetry for some patients.

Results

In all evaluated organs, maximum [177Lu]Lu-satoreotide tetraxetan uptake was observed at the first imaging timepoint (4 h after injection), followed by an exponential decrease. Kidneys were the main route of elimination, with a cumulative excretion of 57–66% within 48 h following the first treatment cycle. At the first treatment cycle, [177Lu]Lu-satoreotide tetraxetan showed a median terminal blood half-life of 127 h and median ADCs of [177Lu]Lu-satoreotide tetraxetan were 5.0 Gy/GBq in tumours, 0.1 Gy/GBq in the bone marrow, 0.9 Gy/GBq in kidneys, 0.2 Gy/GBq in the liver and 0.8 Gy/GBq in the spleen. Using image-based dosimetry, the bone marrow and kidneys received median cumulative absorbed doses of 1.1 and 10.8 Gy, respectively, after three cycles.

Conclusion

[177Lu]Lu-satoreotide tetraxetan showed a favourable dosimetry profile, with high and prolonged tumour uptake, supporting its acceptable safety profile and promising efficacy.

Trial registration

NCT02592707. Registered October 30, 2015.
Choroidal hypertransmission width on optical coherence tomography: a prognostic biomarker in idiopathic macular hole surgery
Authors: Alkabes Micol , Rabiolo Alessandro , Govetto Andrea , Fogagnolo Paolo , Ranno Stefano , Marchetti Mattia , Frerio Filippo , Wild Davide , Gatti Valentina , Muraca Andrea , De Cillà Stefano
Published: March 2024

Purpose

To test the hypothesis that optical coherence tomography (OCT) choroidal hypertransmission width (CHW) is a prognostic biomarker in idiopathic macular hole (MH) surgery

Methods

Retrospective cohort study of consecutive patients undergoing successful pars plana vitrectomy for idiopathic MH. We collected demographic, clinical, and OCT variables at the preoperative and last available visits. Two investigators assessed the following OCT parameters: MH minimum diameter, base diameter, CHW, ellipsoid zone, and external limiting membrane status (absent vs. present). Delta CHW was calculated as the difference between CHW and MH minimum diameter. Linear models were used to investigate factors associated with postoperative best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and BCVA change.

Results

Thirty-six eyes (36 patients) with a median (interquartile range (IQR)) follow-up of 9 (8–11) months were included. The median BCVA (IQR) improved from 0.75 (1–0.6) logMAR preoperatively to 0.2 (0.6–0.1) logMAR at the last visit (p < 0.001). Preoperative MH minimum diameter (for a 10-μm increase, estimate (standard error (SE)): 0.009 (0.003) logMAR, p = 0.003), base diameter (for a 10-μm increase, 0.003 (0.001) logMAR, p = 0.032), CHW (for a 10-μm increase, 0.008 (0.002) logMAR, p < 0.001), and delta CHW (for a 10-μm increase, 0.013 (0.005) logMAR, p = 0.009) were significantly associated with postoperative BCVA. The proportion of variance explained was the highest for MH CHW (R2 0.35), followed by minimum MH diameter (R2 0.24), delta CHW (R2 0.19), and MH base diameter (R2 0.14). None of the study variables was associated with delta BCVA.

Conclusion

Preoperative CHW is associated with postoperative visual acuity in patients undergoing successful idiopathic MH surgery and may be a useful OCT prognostic biomarker.
Risk of HBV reactivation in HCC patients undergoing combination therapy of PD-1 inhibitors and angiogenesis inhibitors in the antiviral era
Authors: Wang Rui , Tan Guili , Lei Dingjia , Li Yadi , Gong JiaoJiao , Tang Yao , Pang Hao , Luo Huating , Qin Bo
Published: March 2024

Background

Although routine antiviral therapy has been implemented in HCC patients, the risk of HBV reactivation (HBVr) remains with the use of programmed cell death-1(PD-1) blockade‐based combination immunotherapy and the relevant risk factors are also unclear. Therefore, we aimed to identify the incidence and risk factors of HBVr in HCC patients undergoing combination therapy of PD-1 inhibitors and angiogenesis inhibitors and concurrent first-line antivirals.

Methods

We included a total of 218 HBV-related HCC patients with first-line antivirals who received PD-1 inhibitors alone or together with angiogenesis inhibitors. According to the anti-tumor therapy modalities, patients were divided into PD-1 inhibitors monotherapy group (anti-PD-1 group) and combination therapy group (anti-PD-1 plus angiogenesis inhibitors group). The primary study endpoint was the incidence of HBVr.

Results

HBVr occurred in 16 (7.3%) of the 218 patients, 2 cases were found in the anti-PD-1 group and the remaining 14 cases were in the combination group. The Cox proportional hazard model identified 2 independent risk factors for HBVr: combination therapy (hazard ratio [HR], 4.608, 95%CI 1.010–21.016, P = 0.048) and hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) positive (HR, 3.695, 95%CI 1.246–10.957, P = 0.018). Based on the above results, we developed a simple risk-scoring system and found that the high-risk group (score = 2) developed HBVr more frequently than the low-risk group (score = 0) (Odds ratio [OR], 17.000, 95%CI 1.946–148.526, P = 0.01). The area under the ROC curve (AUC-ROC) was 7.06 (95%CI 0.581–0.831, P = 0.006).

Conclusion

HBeAg-positive patients receiving combination therapy have a 17-fold higher risk of HBVr than HBeAg-negative patients with PD-1 inhibitors monotherapy.
A parametric study of the effect of 3D plaque shape on local hemodynamics and implications for plaque instability
Authors: Hossain Shaolie S. , Johnson Michael J. , Hughes Thomas J. R.
Published: March 2024

The vast majority of heart attacks occur when vulnerable plaques rupture, releasing their lipid content into the blood stream leading to thrombus formation and blockage of a coronary artery. Detection of these unstable plaques before they rupture remains a challenge. Hemodynamic features including wall shear stress (WSS) and wall shear stress gradient (WSSG) near the vulnerable plaque and local inflammation are known to affect plaque instability. In this work, a computational workflow has been developed to enable a comprehensive parametric study detailing the effects of 3D plaque shape on local hemodynamics and their implications for plaque instability. Parameterized geometric 3D plaque models are created within a patient-specific coronary artery tree using a NURBS (non-uniform rational B-splines)-based vascular modeling pipeline. Realistic blood flow features are simulated by using a Navier–Stokes solver within an isogeometric finite-element analysis framework. Near wall hemodynamic quantities such as WSS and WSSG are quantified, and vascular distribution of an inflammatory marker (VCAM-1) is estimated. Results show that proximally skewed eccentric plaques have the most vulnerable combination of high WSS and high positive spatial WSSG, and the presence of multiple lesions increases risk of rupture. The computational tool developed in this work, in conjunction with clinical data, -could help identify surrogate markers of plaque instability, potentially leading to a noninvasive clinical procedure for the detection of vulnerable plaques before rupture.
Hintergrund und methodische Aspekte der S2k-Leitlinie „Erster epileptischer Anfall und Epilepsien im Erwachsenenalter“
Authors: May Theodor W. , Holtkamp Martin
Published: March 2024

Seit September 2023 liegt die neue S2k-Leitlinie „Erster epileptischer Anfall und Epilepsien im Erwachsenenalter“ vor, die die „alte“ S1-Leitlinie ersetzt. Detaillierte Empfehlungen zu vielfältigen Aspekten der Diagnostik, Therapien und Komorbiditäten sowie zu psychosozialen Aspekten der Epilepsie wurden im Rahmen einer strukturierten Konsensusfindung von einer repräsentativen, multiprofessionellen Leitliniengruppe mit 66 Mitgliedern erarbeitet und abgestimmt. Die methodische Vorgehensweise bei der Entwicklung dieser Leitlinie und deren Dokumentation folgte dem
Leitfaden der Arbeitsgemeinschaft der Wissenschaftlichen Medizinischen Fachgesellschaften (AWMF) zur „Erstellung des Leitlinienreports für für Autor*innen von S2k, S2e und S3-Leitlinien“ und „AWMF-Regelwerk Leitlinien 2.0“ z. B. hinsichtlich der Graduierung der Empfehlungsstärke und der Konsensstärke. Transparenz hinsichtlich potenzieller Interessenkonflikte ist eine wichtige Voraussetzung für die Vertrauenswürdigkeit von Leitlinien und damit auch für deren Akzeptanz. Potenzielle Interessenkonflikte und dadurch bedingte Einschränkungen in der Mitarbeit an der Leitlinienentwicklung sind im Leitlinienreport detailliert dokumentiert. Die Leitlinie wurde durch die DGN und AWMF begutachtet und durch die Vorstände der beteiligten Fachgesellschaften verabschiedet. Der Anspruch der Leitlinie, die medizinische Versorgung von Menschen mit Epilepsie zu verbessern, setzt voraus, dass diese dem Adressatenkreis bekannt ist. Hierzu wurde bzw. wird die Leitlinie auf den Internetseiten der AWMF, Deutschen Gesellschaft für Epileptologie (DGfE), DGN und anderer Fachgesellschaften veröffentlicht. Von der DGfE wurde die Kampagne „Wegweiser Epilepsie“ mit Videoclips und Textbeiträgen auf der Homepage der Fachgesellschaft umgesetzt, um die Leitlinie gegenüber einer größeren Öffentlichkeit bekannt zu machen.
Lethal and sublethal effects of carlina oxide on the aphid Metopolophium dirhodum and its non-target impact on two biological control agents
Authors: Novák Matěj , Pavela Roman , Spinozzi Eleonora , Ferrati Marta , Petrelli Riccardo , Maggi Filippo , Ricciardi Renato , Benelli Giovanni
Published: March 2024

This study was designed to investigate the acute toxicity (mortality) and sublethal effects (fertility and potential natality) of carlina oxide, the main constituent of Carlina acaulis essential oil (EO), against adults of Metopolophium dirhodum (Walker) (Hemiptera: Aphididae). Moreover, its toxicity was evaluated against two aphid natural enemies, i.e., Aphidoletes aphidimyza Rondani (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) and Chrysoperla carnea Stephens (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae). The highest tested concentration (3.0 mL L−1) resulted in 96.7% mortality of adults of the target pest, highlighting that this concentration of carlina oxide had a similar effectiveness as the positive control we used. Furthermore, probit analysis allowed the estimation of a LC50 of 1.06 mL L−1 and a LC90 of 2.58 mL L−1 for the target pest, which resulted in a much higher mortality rate than that found on natural enemies, i.e., A. aphidimyza (6.7 ± 4.7% ± SD when exposed to the aphid LC90) and C. carnea (7.0 ± 5.5% ± SD when exposed to the aphid LC90), showing the limited non-target impact of carlina oxide. The use of LC30 and LC50 of this compound allowed the fertility inhibition of the target pest by 35.68 ± 6.21% and 23.66 ± 10.58%, respectively, and potential natality inhibition of the target pest by 52.78 ± 4.48% and 59.69 ± 5.60%, respectively. Of note, carlina oxide showed excellent insecticidal activity against M. dirhodum, comparable to the commercial insecticide considered. Overall, the low toxicity of carlina oxide toward A. aphidimyza and C. carnea makes it a safe compound for non-target organisms as well as suitable for developing a green insecticide for the management of M. dirhodum and perhaps other insects of agricultural or medical and veterinary interest.
Tibiofemoral Slip Velocity in Total Knee Arthroplasty is Design-Invariant but Activity-Dependent
Authors: Guan Shanyuanye , Dumas Raphael , Pandy Marcus G
Published: March 2024

Tibiofemoral slip velocity is a key contributor to total knee arthroplasty (TKA) component wear, yet few studies have evaluated this quantity in vivo. The aim of the present study was to measure and compare tibiofemoral slip velocities in 3 TKA designs for a range of daily activities. Mobile biplane X-ray imaging was used to measure 6-degree-of-freedom tibiofemoral kinematics and the locations of articular contact in 75 patients implanted with a posterior-stabilized, cruciate-retaining, or medial-stabilized design while each patient performed level walking, step up, step down, sit-to-stand, and stand-to-sit. Using these data, tibiofemoral slip velocity was calculated for the duration of each activity for each TKA design. The pattern of tibiofemoral slip velocity was similar for all 3 TKA designs within each activity but markedly different across the 5 activities tested, with the magnitude of peak slip velocity being significantly higher in level walking (range: 158–211 mm/s) than in all other activities (range: 43–75 mm/s). The pattern of tibiofemoral slip velocity in both the medial and lateral compartments closely resembled the pattern of tibiofemoral (knee) flexion angular velocity, with a strong linear relationship observed between slip velocity and flexion angular velocity (r = 0.81–0.97). Tibiofemoral slip velocity was invariant to TKA design but was significantly affected by activity type. Our measurements of slip velocity and articular contact locations for a wide range of daily activities may be used as inputs in joint simulator testing protocols and computational models developed to estimate TKA component wear.
KEYNOTE-434 part B: A phase 1 study evaluating the combination of epacadostat, pembrolizumab, and chemotherapy in Japanese patients with previously untreated advanced non–small-cell lung cancer
Authors: Yamamoto Noboru , Satouchi Miyako , Doi Toshihiko , Fujiwara Yutaka , Yanagitani Noriko , Kawa Yoshitaka , Yoh Kiyotaka , Leopold Lance , Munteanu Mihaela , Sawada Takashi , Han Shirong , Noguchi Kazuo , Nishio Makoto
Published: March 2024

Background

Pembrolizumab plus epacadostat (indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase-1 inhibitor) was well tolerated in Japanese patients with advanced solid tumors in part A of the nonrandomized, open-label, phase 1 KEYNOTE-434 study (NCT02862457). We report results from part B, which evaluated epacadostat plus pembrolizumab and chemotherapy in Japanese patients with advanced non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods

Eligible patients aged ≥ 20 years had histologically or cytologically confirmed stage IIIB or IV NSCLC with no prior systemic therapy, and ECOG performance status of 0 or 1. Patients received epacadostat 100 mg orally twice-daily, pembrolizumab 200 mg intravenously every-3-weeks for ≤ 35 cycles, and 4 cycles of chemotherapy (cohort 1: cisplatin plus pemetrexed, non-squamous; cohort 2: carboplatin plus pemetrexed, non-squamous; cohort 3: carboplatin plus paclitaxel, squamous or non-squamous). Primary endpoint was incidence of dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs). Following unfavorable results from other studies, a protocol amendment removed epacadostat from the treatment combination.

Results

Of 19 patients, 7 were enrolled in cohort 1, and 6 each in cohorts 2 and 3. Median follow-up was 13.7 (range, 4.2–27.8) months. Five of 17 (29%) DLT-evaluable patients experienced ≥ 1 DLT (cohort 1, n = 1; cohorts 2 and 3, n = 2 each); most commonly maculopapular rash (grade 3, n = 3) and increased alanine aminotransferase (grade 2, n = 1; grade 3, n = 2). All patients experienced treatment-related adverse events (AEs); 58% experienced grade 3 or 4 treatment-related AEs. Objective response rate was 47%.

Conclusion

The combination of epacadostat plus pembrolizumab and chemotherapy was found to be tolerable in Japanese patients with advanced NSCLC.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02862457.
Effect of four-component binder on characteristics of self-compacting and fibre-reinforced self-compacting mortars
Authors: Venkateswara Rao Sarella , Palou Martin T. , Novotný Radoslav , Žemlička Matúš , Čepčianska Jana , Czirák Peter
Published: March 2024

The hydration heat of a four-component binder consisting of Portland cement (CEM I 42.5 R), blast-furnace slag (BFS), metakaolin (MK), and silica fume (SF) was investigated using a conduction calorimeter and thermal analytical method to optimize the material composition of self-compacting mortar (SCM). Then, the influence of material composition with different substitution levels (0, 25, 30, and 35% labelled as SCM100, SCM75, SCM70, and SCM65) on physical and mechanical properties of the mortars with two volumetric binder sand ratios of 1:1 and 1:2 (cement: sand) was evaluated. Furthermore, two mortar compositions comprising SCM75 and sand at 1:1 and 1:2 ratios were used to prepare fibre-reinforced self-compacting mortars in five combinations (0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, and 1%) of two fibres (polypropylene-PPF and basalt-BF) at a constant content of 1.00 vol%. The properties of the prepared samples were investigated with respect to the characteristics of self-compactibility and mechanical properties of fresh and hardened states, respectively. The rheology characteristics expressed by slump flow, V-funnel, and T20 were found following the EFNARC guidance. The partial replacement of cement by supplementary cementitious materials has enhanced the performances (compressive and flexural strengths, dynamic modulus of elasticity) of self-compacting mortars from the 7th day through pozzolanic activity. Furthermore, adding fibres has enhanced the DME and microstructure of the self-compacting mortars.
A Model Implied Instrumental Variable Approach to Exploratory Factor Analysis (MIIV-EFA)
Authors: Bollen Kenneth A. , Gates Kathleen M. , Luo Lan
Published: March 2024

Spearman (Am J Psychol 15(1):201–293, 1904. https://doi.org/10.2307/1412107) marks the birth of factor analysis. Many articles and books have extended his landmark paper in permitting multiple factors and determining the number of factors, developing ideas about simple structure and factor rotation, and distinguishing between confirmatory and exploratory factor analysis (CFA and EFA). We propose a new model implied instrumental variable (MIIV) approach to EFA that allows intercepts for the measurement equations, correlated common factors, correlated errors, standard errors of factor loadings and measurement intercepts, overidentification tests of equations, and a procedure for determining the number of factors. We also permit simpler structures by removing nonsignificant loadings. Simulations of factor analysis models with and without cross-loadings demonstrate the impressive performance of the MIIV-EFA procedure in recovering the correct number of factors and in recovering the primary and secondary loadings. For example, in nearly all replications MIIV-EFA finds the correct number of factors when N is 100 or more. Even the primary and secondary loadings of the most complex models were recovered when the sample sizes were at least 500. We discuss limitations and future research areas. Two appendices describe alternative MIIV-EFA algorithms and the sensitivity of the algorithm to cross-loadings.
Numerical investigation of gas migration behaviour in saturated bentonite with consideration of temperature
Authors: Cui Lin-Yong , Masum Shakil A. , Ye Wei-Min , Thomas Hywel R. , Zhou Chao , Hu Hong-Qiang
Published: March 2024

Gas migration behaviour in saturated, compacted bentonite, especially under rigid-boundary conditions, is controversial. Gas breakthrough phenomena, observed under higher pressure gradient conditions in laboratory experiments, are described in literatures by adopting visco-capillary or dilatancy-controlled flow concept. Since, under rigid-boundary conditions, volumetric expansion is restricted and/or water dissipation is not detected, these concepts cannot be implemented satisfactorily. Instead, a diffusion and solubility-controlled (DSC) flow concept was previously found to be adequate for describing the behaviours at lower temperatures (20 °C). The DSC concept describes gas breakthrough as a function of gas solubility. Breakthrough occurs when concentration of dissolved gas reaches or surpasses the solubility limit in the entire specimen. In this work, the DSC flow concept is applied to validate gas migration and breakthrough experiments conducted at higher temperatures, e.g. 40 and 60 °C. Good agreements are observed between the experimental and predicted results, suggesting that the DSC flow concept can be applied to describe gas migration behaviour satisfactorily in rigidly confined saturated bentonites (under constant volume conditions) for various temperature regimes. Results also show that helium dissolution and diffusion processes in saturated bentonite are sensitive to test temperature and pressure conditions. The processes become more stable with increasing gas injection pressure and ambient temperature.
Effectiveness of Malaise trap and sweep net sampling in sawfly research (Hymenoptera: Symphyta)
Authors: Haris Attila , Vidlička Lubomír , Majzlan Oto , Roller Ladislav
Published: March 2024

Malaise traps and sweep nets are commonly used to study sawfly faunas, seasonality and communities. Here we analyse a large dataset obtained with these methods in Slovakia and Hungary over the last two and a half decades. The dataset included collections from twenty-one sites, each covering the entire growing season, eleven of which were obtained with the Malaise trap and ten with the sweep net. We conclude that both methods are suitable for faunistic studies of sawflies (Hymenoptera, Symphyta), although they may lead to certain biased results for some Symphyta groups. Special attention should be paid to Siricidae, Orussidae, Xiphidriidae and Cimbicidae, which were only weakly recorded with both methods. Argidae, Blennocampinae, Dolerinae and Tenthredininae were underrepresented in the Malaise trap samples and Allantinae in the sweep net samples. Both methods gave equally good results in measuring species richness in an one-year study. Ideally, they should be used together as they complement each other well. The net method has a great advantage in determining the exact population density. In contrast, the Malaise trap collections were often heavily dominated by only a few species, with males being preferentially trapped. Use of Malasie trap should be preferred for the study of seasonal flight activity.