bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Shannon information entropy, soliton clusters and Bose-Einstein condensation in log gravity
Authors: Mvondo-She Yannick
Published: March 2023

Abstract

We give a probabilistic interpretation of the configurational partition function of the logarithmic sector of critical cosmological topologically massive gravity, in which the Hurwitz numbers considered in our previous works assume the role of probabilities in a distribution on cycles of permutations. In particular, it is shown that the permutations are distributed according to the Ewens sampling formula which plays a major role in the theory of partition structures and their applications to diffusive processes of fragmentation, and in random trees. This new probabilistic result together with the previously established evidence of solitons in the theory provide new insights on the instability originally observed in the theory. We argue that the unstable propagation of a seed soliton at single particle level induces the generation of fragments of defect soliton clusters with rooted tree configuration at multiparticle level, providing a disordered landscape. The Shannon information entropy of the probability distribution is then introduced as a measure of the evolution of the unstable soliton clusters generated. Finally, based on Feynman’s path integral formalism on permutation symmetry in the λ-transition of liquid helium, we argue that the existence of permutation cycles in the configurational log partition function indicates the presence of Bose-Einstein condensates in log gravity.
Forward light-by-light scattering and electromagnetic correction to hadronic vacuum polarization
Authors: Biloshytskyi Volodymyr , Chao En-Hung , Gérardin Antoine , Green Jeremy R. , Hagelstein Franziska , Meyer Harvey B. , Parrino Julian , Pascalutsa Vladimir
Published: March 2023

Abstract

Lattice QCD calculations of the hadronic vacuum polarization (HVP) have reached a precision where the electromagnetic (e.m.) correction can no longer be neglected. This correction is both computationally challenging and hard to validate, as it leads to ultraviolet (UV) divergences and to sizeable infrared (IR) effects associated with the massless photon. While we precisely determine the UV divergence using the operator-product expansion, we propose to introduce a separation scale Λ ~ 400 MeV into the internal photon propagator, whereby the calculation splits into a short-distance part, regulated in the UV by the lattice and in the IR by the scale Λ, and a UV-finite long-distance part to be treated with coordinate-space methods, thereby avoiding power-law finite-size effects altogether. In order to predict the long-distance part, we express the UV-regulated e.m. correction to the HVP via the forward hadronic light-by-light (HLbL) scattering amplitude and relate the latter via a dispersive sum rule to γ∗γ∗ fusion cross-sections. Having tested the relation by reproducing the two-loop QED vacuum polarization (VP) from the tree-level γ∗γ∗→ e+e− cross-section, we predict the expected lattice-QCD integrand resulting from the γ∗γ∗→ π0 process.
Linear confinement in the partially-deconfined phase
Authors: Gautam Vaibhav , Hanada Masanori , Holden Jack , Rinaldi Enrico
Published: March 2023

Abstract

We consider the partially-deconfined saddle of large-N pure Yang-Mills theory lying between confined and deconfined phases, in which the color degrees of freedom split into confined and deconfined sectors. Based on the microscopic mechanism of deconfinement, we argue that a flux tube is formed in the confined sector and a linear confinement potential is generated. The string tension should not depend on the size of the confined sector. We provide evidence for the case of the finite-temperature strong-coupling lattice gauge theory. In particular, we make analytic predictions assuming linear confinement in the confined sector, and then confirm these by numerical simulations. We discuss some implications of the conjecture to QCD and holography.
Weiterbildung Urologie in Deutschland, Österreich und der Schweiz (DACH-Raum) unter der Lupe
Authors: Pohlmann Philippe-Fabian
Published: March 2023

Hintergrund

Die Facharzttitel werden im DACH-Raum (Deutschland, Österreich und Schweiz) gegenseitig anerkannt. Während der Weiterbildung bestehen jedoch deutliche Unterschiede in Struktur, Organisation und Inhalt.

Ziel der Arbeit (Fragestellung)

Die Organisation, Formalitäten und Zuständigkeiten sowie Zulassungsbedingungen für die abschließende Prüfungen, insbesondere der Prüfungsformate in den DACH-Ländern, sollen untersucht werden. Zudem sollen diese kritisch aus dem Blickwinkel moderner medizinischer Ausbildung beleuchtet werden.

Material und Methoden

Es wurden öffentlich im Internet zugänglichen Dokumente der zuständigen Autoritäten für die Ärztliche Weiterbildung im DACH-Raum analysiert. Außerdem erfolgte eine narrative Durchsicht der Literatur in medizinischen Datenbanken zum Thema Ärztliche Weiterbildung in der Urologie.

Ergebnisse

Die Mindestweiterbildungsdauer beträgt 5 (D) bis 6 Jahre (A, CH). Eine (chirurgische) Basisausbildung ist in Österreich und der Schweiz obligat. In der Schweiz muss die Ausbildungsstätte mindestens einmalig gewechselt werden. Eine Weiterbildung in Teilzeit ist in allen Staaten möglich. Forschung und Teilnahme an Jahreskongressen sind nur in der Schweiz verpflichtend. Nur in der Schweiz sind formative Prüfungen vorgesehen. In allen Ländern ist mindestens eine summative Prüfung zur Erlangung des Facharzttitels notwendig. In Österreich und der Schweiz muss der schriftliche Teil der EBU-Prüfung (European Board of Urology) bestanden werden.

Diskussion

Die Schweiz bietet und fordert aus medizindidaktischer Sicht aktuell die meisten modernen Elemente in der Weiterbildung. Die zertifizierte strukturierte Weiterbildung nach Vorbild der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Urologie (DGU; Weiterbildungscurriculum Urologie, WECU) integriert moderne Ansätze in Deutschland. Mit der zeitnahen Anwendung von z. B. EPA („entrustable professional activities“) könnte die deutschsprachige Urologie international zu den Vorreiternationen und -fachdisziplinen gehören.
Static and dynamic topology optimization: an innovative unifying approach
Authors: Venini Paolo , Pingaro Marco
Published: March 2023

This paper presents a topology optimization approach that is innovative with respect to two distinct matters. First of all the proposed formulation is capable to handle static and dynamic topology optimization with virtually no modifications. Secondly, the approach is inherently a multi-input multi-output one, i.e., multiple objectives can be pursued in the presence of multiple loads. The input-to-output transfer matrix, say $${{{\varvec{G}}}}$$

G

, is the key ingredient that governs the algebraic mapping between applied loads and structural response. In statics $${{{\varvec{G}}}}$$

G

depends on the design variables only, whereas it depends on the frequency variable as well in the dynamic case. The Singular Value Decomposition (SVD) of $${{{\varvec{G}}}}$$

G

represents then the core of the proposed approach. Singular values are shown to be the gains of the input/output mapping and are used to compute proper norms of $${{\varvec{G}}}$$

G

that represent the goal functions to be minimized. Singular vectors provide at no extra cost the plant directions, i.e., the load combination factors that stress the structure the most. Numerical examples are discussed in much detail and open issues object of ongoing investigations are highlighted. A full Matlab code handling the static topology optimization problem is provided as an online Appendix to the manuscript. Its extension to the dynamic case may be gathered following the formulation proposed in Sect. 5.
Quantification and stability assessment of urinary phenolic and acidic biomarkers of non-persistent chemicals using the SPE-GC/MS/MS method
Authors: Klimowska Anna , Wynendaele Evelien , Wielgomas Bartosz
Published: March 2023

Nowadays, people are exposed to numerous man-made chemicals, many of which are ubiquitously present in our daily lives, and some of which can be hazardous to human health. Human biomonitoring plays an important role in exposure assessment, but complex exposure evaluation requires suitable tools. Therefore, routine analytical methods are needed to determine several biomarkers simultaneously. The aim of this study was to develop an analytical method for quantification and stability testing of 26 phenolic and acidic biomarkers of selected environmental pollutants (e.g., bisphenols, parabens, pesticide metabolites) in human urine. For this purpose, a solid-phase extraction coupled with gas chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry (SPE-GC/MS/MS) method was developed and validated. After enzymatic hydrolysis, urine samples were extracted using Bond Elut Plexa sorbent, and prior to GC, the analytes were derivatized with N-trimethylsilyl-N-methyl trifluoroacetamide (MSTFA). Matrix-matched calibration curves were linear in the range of 0.1–1000 ng mL−1 with R > 0.985. Satisfactory accuracy (78–118%), precision (< 17%), and limits of quantification (0.1–0.5 ng mL−1) were obtained for 22 biomarkers. The stability of the biomarkers in urine was assayed under different temperature and time conditions that included freezing and thawing cycles. All tested biomarkers were stable at room temperature for 24 h, at 4 °C for 7 days, and at −20 °C for 18 months. The total concentration of 1-naphthol decreased by 25% after the first freeze–thaw cycle. The method was successfully used for the quantification of target biomarkers in 38 urine samples.
Analysis of cellulose synthesis in a high-producing acetic acid bacterium Komagataeibacter hansenii
Authors: Bimmer Martin , Reimer Martin , Klingl Andreas , Ludwig Christina , Zollfrank Cordt , Liebl Wolfgang , Ehrenreich Armin
Published: March 2023

Bacterial cellulose (BC) represents a renewable biomaterial with unique properties promising for biotechnology and biomedicine. Komagataeibacter hansenii ATCC 53,582 is a well-characterized high-yield producer of BC used in the industry. Its genome encodes three distinct cellulose synthases (CS), bcsAB1, bcsAB2, and bcsAB3, which together with genes for accessory proteins are organized in operons of different complexity. The genetic foundation of its high cellulose-producing phenotype was investigated by constructing chromosomal in-frame deletions of the CSs and of two predicted regulatory diguanylate cyclases (DGC), dgcA and dgcB. Proteomic characterization suggested that BcsAB1 was the decisive CS because of its high expression and its exclusive contribution to the formation of microcrystalline cellulose. BcsAB2 showed a lower expression level but contributes significantly to the tensile strength of BC and alters fiber diameter significantly as judged by scanning electron microscopy. Nevertheless, no distinct extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) from this operon was identified after static cultivation. Although transcription of bcsAB3 was observed, expression of the protein was below the detection limit of proteome analysis. Alike BcsAB2, deletion of BcsAB3 resulted in a visible reduction of the cellulose fiber diameter. The high abundance of BcsD and the accessory proteins CmcAx, CcpAx, and BglxA emphasizes their importance for the proper formation of the cellulosic network. Characterization of deletion mutants lacking the DGC genes dgcA and dgcB suggests a new regulatory mechanism of cellulose synthesis and cell motility in K. hansenii ATCC 53,582. Our findings form the basis for rational tailoring of the characteristics of BC.

Key points

• BcsAB1 induces formation of microcrystalline cellulose fibers.

• Modifications by BcsAB2 and BcsAB3 alter diameter of cellulose fibers.

• Complex regulatory network of DGCs on cellulose pellicle formation and motility.
Cardiac dysfunction in mixed connective tissue disease: a nationwide observational study
Authors: Berger Simon Girmai , Witczak Birgit Nomeland , Reiseter Silje , Schwartz Thomas , Andersson Helena , Hetlevik Siri Opsahl , Berntsen Kristin Schjander , Sanner Helga , Lilleby Vibke , Gunnarsson Ragnar , Molberg Øyvind , Sjaastad Ivar , Stokke Mathis Korseberg
Published: March 2023

We aimed to identify cardiac function in patients with established mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD). This was a cross-sectional case–control study of well-characterised MCTD patients who had previously been included in a nationwide cohort. Assessments comprised protocol transthoracic echocardiography, electrocardiogram and blood samples. In patients only, we evaluated the findings of high-resolution pulmonary computed tomography and disease activity. We assessed 77 MCTD patients (mean age 50.5 ± 12.3 years) with a mean disease duration of 16.4 years, and 59 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (49.9 ± 11.7 years). By echocardiography, measures of left ventricular function, i.e. fractional shortening (38.1 ± 6.4% vs. 42.3 ± 6.6%, p < 0.001), mitral annulus plane systolic excursion (MAPSE) (13.7 ± 2.1 mm vs. 15.3 ± 2.3 mm, p < 0.001) and early diastolic velocity of the mitral annulus (e’) (0.09 ± 0.02 m/s vs. 0.11 ± 0.03 m/s, p = 0.002) were subclinical and lower in patients than controls. Right ventricular dysfunction was found in patients assessed by tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) (22.7 ± 4.0 mm vs. 25.5 ± 4.0 mm, p < 0.001). While cardiac dysfunction was not associated with pulmonary disease, e’ and TAPSE were found to correlate with disease activity at baseline. In this cohort of MCTD patients, echocardiographic examinations demonstrated a higher frequency of cardiac dysfunction than in matched controls. Cardiac dysfunction was associated with disease activity at baseline, but was independent of cardiovascular risk factors and pulmonary disease. Our study indicates that cardiac dysfunction is part of the multi-organ affliction seen in MCTD.
Occupational exposure to ionizing radiation in medical staff: trends during the 2009–2019 period in a multicentric study
Authors: Baudin Clémence , Vacquier Blandine , Thin Guillemette , Chenene Lamine , Guersen Joël , Partarrieu Isabelle , Louet Martine , Ducou Le Pointe Hubert , Mora Stéphanie , Verdun-Esquer Catherine , Feuardent Juliette , Rousseau Frédéric , Roy Hervé , Bensefa-Colas Lynda , Boyer Louis , Bernier Marie-Odile
Published: March 2023

Objectives

Health workers exposed to ionizing radiation account for  + 50% of workers exposed to man-made radiation in France. Over the last decade, the use of radiation in medicine has increased due to the introduction of new practices. The EXposition des Professionnels de santE aux RayonnemenTs ioniSants study aims to evaluate and characterize the trends in radiation exposure of health workers in France between 2009 and 2019.

Methods

This retrospective study includes all health workers with at least one dosimetric record in the system for occupational dosimetry registration (Système d’information de la surveillance de l’exposition aux rayonnements ionisants) database for each of the years 2009, 2014, and 2019, in the hospitals included in the study. Individual external doses and socio-professional data were collected. Statistical analyses include descriptions, graphs, and logistic regressions.

Results

A total of 1457 workers were included (mean age: 39.8 years, 59% women). The average exposure significantly decreased between 2009 and 2019 (−0.008 mSv/year, p < 0.05). There were large discrepancies in trends according to professions, departments, hospitals, and gender. Over the 10-year study period, radiologic technologists and physicians were the most exposed (0.15 mSv (95%CI 0.14–0.16) and 0.13 mSv (0.06–0.21), respectively), but their exposure tended to decrease. Workers in nuclear medicine departments had the highest radiation exposure (0.36 mSv (0.33–0.39)), which remained stable over time. Thirty-eight percent of recorded doses were nonzero in 2009, decreasing to 20% in 2019.

Conclusions

This study allowed to identify physicians and radiologic technologists in nuclear medicine departments as the most exposed medical workers in France, and to show an overall decrease trend in radiation exposure. This should be instructive for radiation monitoring and safety of exposed medical workers.

Key Points

• Radiation exposure of healthcare workers in most medical departments has steadily decreased between 2009 and 2019 in several French hospitals.

• The number of zero doses consistently increased during the study period.

• Workers in nuclear medicine departments are the most exposed, especially radiologic technologists and physicians.
Saddle-Type Blow-Up Solutions with Computer-Assisted Proofs: Validation and Extraction of Global Nature
Authors: Lessard Jean-Philippe , Matsue Kaname , Takayasu Akitoshi
Published: March 2023

In this paper, blow-up solutions of autonomous ordinary differential equations (ODEs) which are unstable under perturbations of initial points, referred to assaddle-type blow-up solutions, are studied. Combining dynamical systems machinery (e.g., compactifications, timescale desingularizations of vector fields) with tools from computer-assisted proofs (e.g., rigorous integrators, the parameterization method for invariant manifolds), these blow-up solutions are obtained as trajectories on local stable manifolds of hyperbolic saddle equilibria at infinity. With the help of computer-assisted proofs, global trajectories on stable manifolds, inducing blow-up solutions, provide a global picture organized by global-in-time solutions and blow-up solutions simultaneously. Using the proposed methodology, intrinsic features of saddle-type blow-ups are observed: locally smooth dependence of blow-up times on initial points, level set distribution of blow-up times and decomposition of the phase space playing a role as separatrixes among solutions, where the magnitude of initial points near those blow-ups does not matter for asymptotic behavior. Finally, singular behavior of blow-up times on initial points belonging to different family of blow-up solutions is addressed.
Associations between dairy intake and mortality due to all-cause and cardiovascular disease: the Japan Public Health Center-based prospective study
Authors: Ge Sanyu , Zha Ling , Sobue Tomotaka , Kitamura Tetsuhisa , Iso Hiroyasu , Ishihara Junko , Kito Kumiko , Iwasaki Motoki , Inoue Manami , Yamaji Taiki , Tsugane Shoichiro , Sawada Norie
Published: March 2023

Background

Some studies have investigated the relation between dairy products and mortality, but with inconsistent results.

Objective

We examined the association between the consumption of dairy products and the risk of all-cause, cancer-related, and cardiovascular disease (CVD)-related mortality.

Methods

From the Japan Public Health Center-based Prospective (JPHC) study, 43,117 males and 50,193 females with no history of cancer or CVD finished the food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) and were included in the study. Intake of dairy products was assessed using the FFQ and adjusted for total energy by using the residual method. We used multivariate Cox proportional hazard models to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) for mortality risk in males and females.

Results

14,211 deaths in males and 9547 deaths in females from all causes were identified during an average follow-up of 19.3 years. For males, total dairy consumption was nonlinearly and significantly associated with lower risk of mortality from all causes [the third quartile, HR = 0.87 (0.83, 0.91), the fourth quartile, HR = 0.89 (0.85, 0.94), P for nonlinearity < 0.001] and CVD [the third quartile, HR = 0.77 (0.70, 0.85), the fourth quartile, HR = 0.78 (0.70, 0.86), P for nonlinearity < 0.001]. Milk and fermented milk intake were inversely associated with all-cause and CVD-related mortality in males. Cheese consumption was inversely associated with CVD-related mortality among males. There was no association between total dairy intake and mortality risk among females.

Conclusion

For Japanese people, consumption of dairy products was associated with a decreased risk of mortality from all-cause and cardiovascular diseases among males.
Immune-mediated cytopenias (IMCs) after HSCT for pediatric non-malignant disorders: epidemiology, risk factors, pathogenesis, and treatment
Authors: Spadea Manuela , Saglio Francesco , Ceolin Valeria , Barone Marta , Zucchetti Giulia , Quarello Paola , Fagioli Franca
Published: March 2023

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) represents a curative option for pediatric patients affected by malignant and non-malignant disorders. Several complications may arise during the post-transplantation period, including immune-mediated disorders. Immune-mediated cytopenias (IMCs) account for up to 22% of pediatric HSCT complications, representing an important cause of morbidity and mortality post-HSCT. So far, their pathogenesis is not well-understood, and their management may be very challenging. Further, most patients are refractory to first-line treatment which is based on high-dose intravenous steroids, immunoglobulin, and the monoclonal anti-CD20 antibody — rituximab. No clear consensus has been reached for second- and third-line therapeutic options.

Conclusion: We reviewed the epidemiology, risk factors, pathogenesis, and treatment of IMCs, aiming to offer a deeper understanding of these complications as a guide to improving the management of these fragile patients and a cue for the design of tailored clinical trials.

What is Known:• IMCs arising in the post-HSCT setting represent a rare but potentially life-threatening complication. Younger patients affected by non-malignant disorders are at the greatest risk of IMCs arising after HSCT. Corticosteroids, intravenous immunoglobulin, and rituximab represent the undiscussed first-line therapeutic approach.

What is New:• This review highlitghts how children present unique risk factors for post HSCT IMCs, which are the result of the complex relationship between the immaturity of their infantile immune system and all the perturbing agents and factors which characterize the post-HSCT setting. Future efforts are warranted to establish the best option for refractory patients, for whom a standard and validated approach is not currently available. Among new agents, ibrutinib or bortezomib and fostamatinib or low-dose IL-2 could represent a good therapeutic option for patients with graft-versus-host disease and hemolytic anemia or graft-versus-host disease and thrombocytopenia, respectively.
Advances in our understanding of pyroclastic current behavior from the 1980 eruption sequence of Mount St. Helens volcano (Washington), USA
Authors: Brand Brittany D , Pollock Nicholas , Vallance James W , Ongaro Tomaso Esposti , Roche Olivier , Trolese Matteo , Giordano Guido , Marshall Aaron A , Criswell C William
Published: March 2023

This review summarizes what the volcanology community has learned thus far from studying the deposits of pyroclastic currents (PCs) from the 1980 eruption sequence at Mount St. Helens. The review includes mass flow events during the May 18 eruption, including the lateral blast, the afternoon column collapse and boil-over PC activity, and some aspects of the debris avalanche. We also include a summary of PCs generated in the smaller eruptions following the climactic May 18 event. Our objective is to summarize the state of our understanding of PC transport and emplacement mechanisms from the combination of field and laboratory observations, granular flow experiments, and numerical modeling techniques. Specifically, we couple deposit characteristics, experiments, and numerical modeling techniques to critically address the problems of (1) constraining conditions in the flow boundary zone at the time of deposition; (2) the influence of substrate roughness and topography on PC behavior; (3) the prevalence, causes, and consequences of substrate erosion by PCs; and (4) the reconstruction of PC transportation and sedimentation processes from a combination of geophysical and sedimentological observations. We conclude by providing opportunities for future research as our field, experimental, and numerical research techniques advance.
Xylem formation patterns from Mediterranean to subalpine climate conditions reveal high growth plasticity of pine species on Corsica
Authors: Häusser Martin , Aryal Sugam , Barth Johannes A. C. , Bendix Jörg , Garel Emilie , van Geldern Robert , Huneau Frédéric , Juhlke Tobias R. , Knerr Isabel , Santoni Sébastien , Szymczak Sonja , Trachte Katja , Bräuning Achim
Published: March 2023

Key message

Black pine and Maritime pine exhibit considerable differences in growth phenology across elevation belts with a 1-month delay for xylogenesis and increasing growth rates from low, mid to high elevations.

Investigating seasonal wood formation is crucial to understand tree growth responses to climate impact. The present study quantifies the variability of xylogenesis along an elevation gradient on the Mediterranean island of Corsica, where two native pine species (Pinus nigra Arnold ssp. laricio Maire and Pinus pinaster Aiton) grow from the upper tree line to sea level, partly in sympatry. We extracted microcores from 35 trees at 5 sites along an East–West transect from the coasts (10 m asl) to the island's central mountain ridge (1600 m asl) during bi-weekly sampling campaigns between 2017 and 2019. We applied generalised additive models to detect radial growth differences in elevation and species along with minimum temperatures for growth initiation. We found that trees in low elevations experienced over 2 months longer growth periods with higher maximum growth rates than in high elevations. The results show a 1-month delay for the beginning of tracheid formation between the low, mid and high-elevation belts but comparable timing for its termination. At the sites where both species co-occur, P. nigra accumulates more radial cells in a shorter time than P. pinaster. Trees at the two contrasting coastal sites have similar growth period lengths, but exhibit a time shift of over a month. Minimum temperatures around growth initiation vary between 3.1 °C for P. nigra and 9.9 °C for P. pinaster. These findings emphasise the high plasticity in the growth behaviour of one of the most widespread tree genera in Mediterranean and temperate zones.
Dorsal column mapping in resection of intramedullary spinal cord tumors: a prospective comparison of two methods and neurological follow-up
Authors: Ueberschaer Moritz , Breitkopf Katharina , Siller Sebastian , Katzendobler Sophie , Weller Jonathan , Greve Tobias , Zausinger Stefan , Tonn Joerg-Christian , Szelenyi Andrea
Published: March 2023

Purpose

In surgery for intramedullary spinal cord tumors (imSCT), distortion of the anatomy challenges the visual identification of dorsal columns (DC) for midline myelotomy. Dorsal column mapping (DCM) and spinal cord stimulation (SCS) can identify DC neurophysiologically. We compare application and feasibility of both methods.

Methods

Patients with surgically treated imSCT were prospectively included between 04/2017 and 06/2019. The anatomical midline (AM) was marked. SSEPs at the DC after stimulation of tibial/median nerve with an 8-channel DCM electrode and cortical SSEP phase reversal at C3/C4 after SCS using a bipolar concentric probe were recorded. Procedural and technical aspects were compared. Standardized neurological examinations were performed preoperatively, 1 week postoperatively and after more than 12 months.

Results

The DCM electrode detected the midline in 9/13 patients with handling limitations in the remaining patients. SCS was applicable in all patients with determination of the midline in 9/13. If both recordings could be acquired (6/13), concordance was 100%. If baseline SSEPs were poor, both methods were limited. SCS was less time-consuming (p = 0.001), cheaper, and easier to handle. In 92% of cases, the AM and neurophysiologic midlines were concordant. After myelotomy, 3 patients experienced > 50% reduction in amplitude of SSEPs. Despite early postoperative worsening of DC function, long-term follow-up showed significant recovery and improvement in quality of life.

Conclusion

DCM and SCS may help confirm and correct the AM for myelotomy in imSCT, leading to a favorable long-term neurological outcome in this cohort. SCS evolved to be superior concerning applicability, cost-effectiveness, and time expenditure.
Two-site study on performances of a commercially available MALDI-TOF MS-based assay for the detection of colistin resistance in Escherichia coli
Authors: Larrouy-Maumus Gerald , Dortet Laurent , Nix Ilka D. , Maier Thomas , Oberheitmann Boris , Sparbier Katrin , Kostrzewa Markus
Published: March 2023

Colistin is a last resort drug for the treatment of multiple drug-resistant (MDR) Gram-negative bacterial infections. Rapid methods to detect resistance are highly desirable. Here, we evaluated the performance of a commercially available MALDI-TOF MS-based assay for colistin resistance testing in Escherichia coli at two different sites. Ninety clinical E. coli isolates were provided by France and tested in Germany and UK using a MALDI-TOF MS-based colistin resistance assay. Lipid A molecules of the bacterial cell membrane were extracted using the MBT Lipid Xtract Kit™ (RUO; Bruker Daltonics, Germany). Spectra acquisition and evaluation were performed by the MBT HT LipidART Module of MBT Compass HT (RUO; Bruker Daltonics) on a MALDI Biotyper® sirius system (Bruker Daltonics) in negative ion mode. Phenotypic colistin resistance was determined by broth microdilution (MICRONAUT MIC-Strip Colistin, Bruker Daltonics) and used as a reference. Comparing the results of the MALDI-TOF MS-based colistin resistance assay with the data of the phenotypic reference method for the UK, sensitivity and specificity for the detection of colistin resistance were 97.1% (33/34) and 96.4% (53/55), respectively. Germany showed 97.1% (33/34) sensitivity and 100% (55/55) specificity for the detection of colistin resistance by MALDI-TOF MS. Applying the MBT Lipid Xtract™ Kit in combination with MALDI-TOF MS and dedicated software showed excellent performances for E. coli. Analytical and clinical validation studies must be performed to demonstrate the performance of the method as a diagnostic tool.
Pulsed thulium laser blood vessel haemostasis as an alternative to bipolar forceps during neurosurgical tumour resection
Authors: Hutfilz Alessa , Theisen-Kunde Dirk , Bonsanto Matteo Mario , Brinkmann Ralf
Published: March 2023

Due to wavelength-specific water absorption, infrared lasers like the thulium laser emitting at 1940 nm wavelength proved to be suitable for coagulation in neurosurgery. Commonly bipolar forceps used for intraoperative haemostasis can cause mechanical and thermal tissue damage, whilst thulium laser can provide a tissue-gentle haemostasis through non-contact coagulation. The aim of this work is a less-damaging blood vessel coagulation by pulsed thulium laser radiation in comparison to standard bipolar forceps haemostasis. Ex vivo porcine blood vessels in brain tissue (0.34 ± 0.20 mm diameter) were irradiated in non-contact with a thulium laser in pulsed mode (1940 nm wavelength, 15 W power, 100–500 ms pulse duration), with a CO2 gas flow provided simultaneously at the distal fibre tip (5 L/min). In comparison, a bipolar forceps was used at various power levels (20–60 W). Tissue coagulation and ablation were evaluated by white light images and vessel occlusion was visualised by optical coherence tomography (OCT) B-scans at a wavelength of 1060 nm. Coagulation efficiency was calculated by means of the quotient of the difference between the coagulation and ablation radius to the coagulation radius. Pulsed laser application achieved blood vessel occlusion rate of 92% at low pulse duration of 200 ms with no occurrence of ablation (coagulation efficiency 100%). Bipolar forceps showed an occlusion rate of 100%, however resulted in tissue ablation. Tissue ablation depth with laser application is limited to 40 μm and by a factor of 10 less traumatising than with bipolar forceps. Pulsed thulium laser radiation achieved blood vessel haemostasis up to 0.3 mm in diameter without tissue ablation and has proven to be a tissue-gentle method compared to bipolar forceps.
Stopfleber, Froschschenkel und mit Stutenhormonen erzeugtes Schweinefleisch – Feinste Küche oder Beihilfe zur Tierquälerei: Über die Strafbarkeit der Einfuhr von Tierqualprodukten nach Deutschland de lege lata und de lege ferenda
Authors: Gerhold Sönke Florian , Poplat Tim
Published: March 2023

Die Herstellung verschiedenster tierischer Produkte ist in Deutschland mit Blick auf mit dem Herstellungsprozess
unvermeidbar verbundene Tierqualen strikt verboten. Dennoch werden entsprechende Waren teilweise auch in
erheblichem Umfang nach Deutschland importiert. Der vorliegende Beitrag fragt daher nach der zutreffenden
strafrechtlichen Bewertung des Imports von Tierqualprodukten de lege lata und de lege ferenda.
FGF21 via mitochondrial lipid oxidation promotes physiological vascularization in a mouse model of Phase I ROP
Authors: Fu Zhongjie , Lundgren Pia , Pivodic Aldina , Yagi Hitomi , Harman Jarrod C. , Yang Jay , Ko Minji , Neilsen Katherine , Talukdar Saswata , Hellström Ann , Smith Lois E. H.
Published: March 2023

Hyperglycemia in early postnatal life of preterm infants with incompletely vascularized retinas is associated with increased risk of potentially blinding neovascular retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). Neovascular ROP (Phase II ROP) is a compensatory but ultimately pathological response to the suppression of physiological postnatal retinal vascular development (Phase I ROP). Hyperglycemia in neonatal mice which suppresses physiological retinal vascular growth is associated with decreased expression of systemic and retinal fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21). FGF21 administration promoted and FGF21 deficiency suppressed the physiological retinal vessel growth. FGF21 increased serum adiponectin (APN) levels and loss of APN abolished FGF21 promotion of physiological retinal vascular development. Blocking mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation also abolished FGF21 protection against delayed physiological retinal vessel growth. Clinically, preterm infants developing severe neovascular ROP (versus non-severe ROP) had a lower total lipid intake with more parenteral and less enteral during the first 4 weeks of life. Our data suggest that increasing FGF21 levels in the presence of adequate enteral lipids may help prevent Phase I retinopathy (and therefore prevent neovascular disease).
Effects of Post-awakening Light Exposure on Heart Rate Variability in Healthy Male Individuals
Authors: Petrowski Katja , Mekschrat Liza , Bührer Stefan , Siepmann Martin , Albus Christian , Schmalbach Bjarne
Published: March 2023

Light-induced effects on the autonomic nervous system (ANS) are assumed to be mediated by retinal projections to the hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) via different routes. Light information for the circadian system is detected by a subset of intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs), however, inconsistency exists in research concerning the effects of light exposure on heart rate variability (HRV). Two within-subject experiments were conducted in a standardized sleep laboratory to investigate effects of light intensity (study I, n = 29: 2 days dim vs. bright light) and spectral composition (study II, n = 24: 3 days using red vs. blue vs. green light) on HRV parameters (RMSSD, LF, HF-HRV, LF/HF ratio). Light exposure was conducted for one-hour in the post-awakening phase at 5:00 AM. Results revealed no significant light intensity effect comparing dim light versus bright white light on HRV parameters. Light color of different wavelengths significantly influenced all HRV parameters except the low frequency, with moderate to large effect sizes. RMSSD values were elevated for all three colors compared to norm values, indicating stronger parasympathetic activation. LED light of different spectral compositions demonstrated bidirectional effects on spectral components of the HRV. Red light decreased the LF/HF ratio within 30 min, whereas with blue light, LF/HF ratio consistently increased across 40 min of light exposure.
High consistency enzymatic pretreatment of eucalyptus and softwood kraft fibres for regenerated fibre products
Authors: Spönla Elisa , Rahikainen Jenni , Potthast Antje , Grönqvist Stina
Published: March 2023

Sustainability of regenerated cellulosic fibres could be improved by using paper grade pulp instead of dissolving pulp as a raw material in the fibre spinning process. However, the use of paper grade pulp calls for adjustment of the molar mass distribution (MMD) prior to dissolution to obtain good solubility and spinnability. The objective of this work was to adjust MMD of softwood and eucalyptus kraft pulps by enzymatic treatments at high pulp consistency. The reduction of the MMD of eucalyptus kraft pulp was found to require a nearly 30-fold higher dose of endoglucanase compared to the treatment of softwood pulp. Interestingly, when xylanase was used in combination with endoglucanase to treat eucalyptus kraft pulp, 27% of the xylan was dissolved and the required endoglucanase dose could be decreased from 0.57 to 0.06 mg/g. The endoglucanase dose could be further decreased to 0.028 mg/g when 67% of xylan was removed chemically before the enzymatic treatment. This suggests that xylan hinders endoglucanase action on eucalyptus kraft pulp. For softwood pulp, the addition of xylanase and mannanase had only a minor impact on the treatment efficiency. The different processabilities of softwood and eucalyptus kraft pulps are suggested to originate from the deviating cellulose accessibility which is affected by the fibre structures as well as their hemicellulose composition and localisation. The effect of the treatment consistency was further studied with softwood kraft pulp. Treatment at high consistency clearly enhanced the endoglucanase action whereas the effect of solid content on the hemicellulase action was modest.
Thermal gelation of cellulose based suspensions
Authors: Viitanen Leevi , Miranda-Valdez Isaac Y. , Koivisto Juha , Puisto Antti , Alava Mikko
Published: March 2023

A more sustainable future calls for bio-based alternatives to replace plastic foams for various applications, such as packaging, insulation and cushioning. Some bio-based foams emerging in scientific publications are fabricated using liquid foam templating and methyl cellulose as well as fibers as main constituents. Scaling up of the production, however, requires a comprehensive understanding of the rheology of the foam during the shaping and drying processes. In this article, we report rheological studies of cellulose based systems in the context of thermal gelation. In more precise terms, we study how the presence of cellulose fibers and other additive materials influences the thermal gelation properties of methyl cellulose. We observe that the rheological properties, while heavily dependent on the material composition, are reasonably adjustable by appropriate material choices. The fibers are seen to decrease the temperature required for methyl cellulose to undergo a viscoelastic transition which is useful in the solid foam fabrication process. We anticipate that in the present application, the fibers increase the stability of the desired structure during the drying stage of the foam.
Governing the green economy in the Arctic
Authors: Garbis Zoe , McCarthy Erin , Orttung Robert W. , Poelzer Gregory , Shaiman Melissa , Tafrate Jacob
Published: March 2023

In Sweden’s Norrbotten County, a “green transition” driven by market demand and new normative structures is underway, creating a regional mega-project designed to put Sweden at the forefront of emerging green industries. These industries, such as carbon-neutral steel fabrication, battery production, and data center hosting, all require large amounts of energy, land, and minerals. This paper applies the regional environmental governance framework to Arctic data to examine which stakeholders have the capacity to impose their agenda on the Arctic environment and the points of conflict and collaboration during this period of accelerated growth. The paper tests the assumption that regional governance accommodates a plurality of interests. A case study examining Norrbotten County’s industrial mega-project centered around Luleå, Sweden, identifies a dominant coalition uniting government and industry that supports norms seeking to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in this region. However, the existing regional governance model does a poor job of integrating the local Indigenous Sámi preferences for land use. At the core of the difference between actors advancing the green economy and the local Sámi reindeer herders are divergent conceptions of nature and sustainability.
U.S. Antitrust Policy in the Age of Amazon, Google, Microsoft, Apple, Netflix and Facebook
Authors: Hazlett Thomas W.
Published: March 2023

Sweeping changes have disrupted society courtesy of the Information Revolution, presenting great opportunities in radically transformed economic markets but also great challenges in adapting to new and different forms of organization. Antitrust laws and other elements of competition policy are being re-examined. Specifically, the House Judiciary Committee conducted hearings in 2020 in which it asked key questions about the pattern of development in U.S. markets and options for policy reform. This paper, answering such queries, finds strong evidence for the view that, relative to practical alternatives that include E.U.-style regulation, digital markets in the U.S. appear robust, generating considerable innovation that produces pro-consumer outcomes. The global Internet is dominated by U.S.-developed technologies and business models discovered and deployed in a process of competitive rivalry. Even given imperfect rules and regulations, U.S. markets have contributed strongly to economic advances embraced around the world.
Families, Language, and Equal Opportunities: Identifying Good Practices in Family Literacy Projects
Authors: Breeze Ruth , Halbach Ana
Published: March 2023

It has long been known that children who grow up in situations of economic and social disadvantage tend to have more difficulties when they enter school, and that these are often perpetuated, leading to underachievement and disaffection. The role of the family and home environment in stimulating children’s language acquisition and pre-literacy competences during their earliest years is clearly important. It is possible that with appropriate exposure and encouragement before the age of 3, children from disadvantaged backgrounds could start school on an equal footing with their more privileged counterparts. We provide a conceptual overview of the factors in the home affecting language and subsequent literacy development in children aged 0–3, and a review of programs designed to enhance the home learning environment.
Worth the Effort: the Start and Stick to Desirable Difficulties (S2D2) Framework
Authors: de Bruin Anique B. H. , Biwer Felicitas , Hui Luotong , Onan Erdem , David Louise , Wiradhany Wisnu
Published: March 2023

Desirable difficulties are learning conditions that are often experienced as effortful, but have a positive effect on learning results and transfer of knowledge and skills (Bjork & Bjork, 2011; Bjork, 1994). Learners often do not appreciate the beneficial effects of desirable difficulties, and the negative experiences of high effort and perceived low learning make them resistant to engage in desirable difficulties (Biwer et al., 2020a). This ultimately limits learning outcomes and academic achievement. With the increasing emphasis on self-regulation in education, characterized by higher learner agency and abundant choices in what, when, and how to study, the field of educational psychology is in need of theoretical and empirically testable assumptions that improve self-regulation in desirably difficult learning conditions with the aim to foster self-regulation abilities, learning outcomes, and academic achievement. Here, we present a framework that describes how to support self-regulation of effort when engaging in desirable difficulties: the “Start and Stick to Desirable Difficulties (S2D2)” framework. The framework builds on the Effort Monitoring and Regulation model (de Bruin et al., 2020). The aim of this framework is (1) to describe evidence for the central role of perceived effort and perceived learning in (dis)engagement in desirable difficulties, and (2) to review evidence on, and provide an agenda for research to improve learners’ self-regulated use of desirable difficulties to help them start and persist when learning feels tough, but is actually effective.
Self-reported insomnia symptoms, sleep duration, chronotype and the risk of acute myocardial infarction (AMI): a prospective study in the UK Biobank and the HUNT Study
Authors: Arora Nikhil , Richmond Rebecca Claire , Brumpton Ben Michael , Åsvold Bjørn Olav , Dalen Håvard , Skarpsno Eivind Schjelderup , Strand Linn Beate
Published: March 2023

Insomnia and short/long sleep duration increase the risk of AMI, but their interaction with each other or with chronotype is not well known. We investigated the prospective joint associations of any two of these sleep traits on risk of AMI. We included 302 456 and 31 091 participants without past AMI episodes from UK Biobank (UKBB; 2006–10) and the Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT2; 1995–97), respectively. A total of 6 833 and 2 540 incident AMIs were identified during an average 11.7 and 21.0 years follow-up, in UKBB and HUNT2, respectively. Compared to those who reported normal sleep duration (7–8 h) without insomnia symptoms, the Cox proportional hazard ratios (HRs) for incident AMI in UKBB among participants who reported normal, short and long sleep duration with insomnia symptoms were 1.07 (95% CI 0.99, 1.15), 1.16 (95% CI 1.07, 1.25) and 1.40 (95% CI 1.21, 1.63), respectively. The corresponding HRs in HUNT2 were 1.09 (95% CI 0.95, 1.25), 1.17 (95% CI 0.87, 1.58) and 1.02 (95% CI 0.85, 1.23). The HRs for incident AMI in UKBB among evening chronotypes were 1.19 (95% CI 1.10, 1.29) for those who had insomnia symptoms, 1.18 (95% CI 1.08, 1.29) for those with short sleep duration, and 1.21 (95% CI 1.07, 1.37) for those with long sleep duration, compared to morning chronotypes without another sleep symptom. The relative excess risk for incident AMI in UKBB due to interaction between insomnia symptoms and long sleep duration was 0.25 (95% CI 0.01, 0.48). Insomnia symptoms with long sleep duration may contribute more than just an additive effect of these sleep traits on the risk of AMI.
The Biological Production of Spacetime: A Sketch of the E-series Universe
Authors: Nomura Naoki
Published: March 2023

Space and time, which should properly be taken conjointly, are both communicatively produced and created with certain contextual perspectives—they are not independent physical entities. The standpoint of production makes the relationship between space and time comprehensible. They can either be mental-subjective, physical-objective, or social-intersubjective. Social and intersubjective (or E-series) spacetime might shed new light on biological thinking. For general readers, this paper provides a clue regarding an alternative conceptualization of spacetime based on biology.