bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pain, disability, and quality of life in participants after concurrent onabotulinumtoxinA treatment of upper and lower limb spasticity: Observational results from the ASPIRE study
Authors: Bavikatte Ganesh , Francisco Gerard E. , Jost Wolfgang H. , Baricich Alessio , Duarte Esther , Tang Simon F. T. , Schwartz Marc , Nelson Mariana , Musacchio Tiziana , Esquenazi Alberto
Published: May 2024

Introduction

Upper and lower limb spasticity is commonly associated with central nervous system disorders including stroke, traumatic brain injury, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, and spinal cord injury, but little is known about the concurrent treatment of upper and lower limb spasticity with botulinum toxins.

Objective

To evaluate onabotulinumtoxinA (onabotA) utilization and to determine if concurrent onabotA treatment of the upper and lower limbs has supported improvements in participants with spasticity.

Design

Sub‐analysis of a 2‐year, international, prospective, observational registry (ASPIRE, NCT01930786).

Setting

International clinic sites (54).

Participants

Adult spasticity participants across etiologies, who received ≥1 concurrent onabotA treatment of the upper and lower limbs during the study.

Intervention

Participants were treated with onabotA at the clinician's discretion.

Outcomes

Baseline characteristics and outcomes of disability (Disability Assessment Scale [DAS]), pain (Numeric Pain Rating Scale [NPRS]), participant satisfaction, physician satisfaction, and quality of life (QoL; Spasticity Impact Assessment [SIA]) were evaluated. Adverse events were monitored throughout the study.

Results

Of 744 participants enrolled, 730 received ≥1 dose of onabotA; 275 participants received treatment with onabotA in both upper and lower limbs during ≥1 session; 39.3% of participants were naïve to onabotA for spasticity. The mean (SD) total dose per treatment session ranged from 421.2 (195.3) to 499.6 (188.6) U. The most common baseline upper limb presentation was clenched fist (n = 194, 70.5%); lower limb was equinovarus foot (n = 219, 66.9%). High physician and participant satisfaction and improvements in pain, disability and QoL were reported after most treatments. Nine participants (3.3%) reported nine treatment‐related adverse events; two participants (0.7%) reported three serious treatment‐related severe adverse events. No new safety signals were identified.

Conclusion

More than a third of enrolled participants received at least one concurrent onabotA treatment of the upper and lower limbs, with reduced pain, disability, and improved QoL after treatment, consistent with the established safety profile of onabotA for the treatment of spasticity.
Perspective: On the discontinuity between the scale realizations VPDB2020 and VPDB2006 – The underestimated role of measurement uncertainties?
Authors: Assonov Sergey
Published: May 2024

Several recent publications have discussed the discontinuity between the δ13C scale realization VPDB2020 (new IAEA carbonate reference materials (RMs) IAEA‐610/611/612) and the LSVEC‐traceable realization named as VPDB2006 (organic RMs normalized to LSVEC in 2006, and USGS44 with its δ13C based on those RMs and LSVEC). This looks like an unsolvable puzzle. The question from practical users is as follows: do we want to be correct, that is, use VPDB2020, or be compatible with the results obtained in previous years, that is, use VPDB2006? In metrology, the significance of any discrepancy is considered in terms of the associated combined uncertainty. Uncertainties estimated for VPDB2020 according to the metrological approaches are much lower than the discontinuity. However, the situation for VPDB2006 is unclear. By reviewing publications related to LSVEC and LSVEC‐normalized organic RMs of 2006, several missing and/or underestimated uncertainty components can be identified. When these missing or underestimated uncertainties are taken together, the discontinuity at negative δ13C appears to be the same as or similar to the combined underestimated uncertainties for VPDB2006.
Matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization matrix incorporation evaluation algorithm for improved peak coverage and signal‐to‐noise ratio in mass spectrometry imaging
Authors: Kuzin Andrey A. , Sobolev Daniil I. , Eliferov Vasiliy A. , Stupnikova Galina S. , Popov Igor A. , Nikolaev Eugene N. , Pekov Stanislav I.
Published: May 2024

Rationale

Despite decades of implementation, the selection of optimal sample preparation conditions for matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) imaging is still ambiguous due to the lack of a universal and comprehensive evaluation methodology. Thus, numerous experiments with different matrix application conditions accompany a translation of the method to novel sample types and matrices.

Methods

Mouse brain tissues were covered with 9‐aminoacridine through sublimation, followed by recrystallization in vapors of 5% (v/v) methanol solution in water. The samples were analyzed by MALDI time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry, and the efficiency of lipid and small‐molecule ionization was evaluated with different metrics.

Results

We first investigate the dependency of matrix density and recrystallization conditions on the thickness of an analyte‐empty matrix layer to roughly evaluate the laser shot number required to obtain an intense signal with minimal noise. Then, we introduce metrics for the analysis of small imaging datasets (small sample regions) of model samples based on median quantity of peaks in spectra (medQP) and weighted median signal‐to‐noise ratio (wmSNR). The evaluation of small regions and taking median values for metrics help overcome the sample heterogeneity and allow for the simultaneous comparison of different acquisition parameters.

Conclusions

Here, we propose a methodology based on gradual laser ablation of small regions of sample and further implementation of weighted signal‐to‐noise ratio to assess various matrix application conditions. The proposed approach helps reduce the number of test samples required to determine optimal sample preparation conditions and improve the overall quality of images.
Improved detection in untargeted lipidomics through silver‐doped infrared matrix‐assisted laser desorption electrospray ionization
Authors: Eisenberg Seth M. , Muddiman David C.
Published: May 2024

Rationale

Silver doping of electrospray is known to increase the abundance of olefinic compounds detected by mass spectrometry. While demonstrated in targeted experiments, this has yet to be investigated in an untargeted study. Utilizing infrared matrix‐assisted laser desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry imaging (IR‐MALDESI‐MSI), an untargeted lipidomics experiment on mouse liver was performed to evaluate the advantages of silver‐doped electrospray.

Methods

10 ppm silver nitrate was doped into the IR‐MALDESI solvent consisting of 60% acetonitrile and 0.2% formic acid. Using an Orbitrap mass spectrometer in positive ionization mode, MSI was performed, analyzing from m/z 150 to m/z 2000 to capture all lipids with potential silver adducts. The lipids detected in the control and silver‐doped electrosprays were compared by annotating using the LIPID MAPS Structural Database and eliminating false positives using the metabolite annotation confidence score.

Results

Silver‐doped electrospray allowed for the detection of such ions of lipid molecules as [M + H]+ or [M + NH4]+ and as [M + Ag]+. Among the ions seen as [M + H]+ or [M + NH4]+, the signal was comparable between the control and silver‐doped electrosprays. The silver‐doped electrospray led to a 10% increase in the number of detected lipids, all of which contained a bay region increasing the interaction between silver and alkenes. Silver preferentially interacted with lipids that did not contain hard bases such as phosphates.

Conclusions

Silver‐doped electrospray enabled detection of 10% more olefinic lipids, all containing bay regions in their putative structures. This technique is valuable for detecting previously unobserved lipids that have the potential to form bay regions, namely fatty acyls, glycerolipids, prenol lipids, and polyketides.
Unprecedented Richness of Temperature‐ and Pressure‐Induced Polymorphism in 1D Lead Iodide Perovskite
Authors: Saski Marcin , Sobczak Szymon , Ratajczyk Paulina , Terlecki Michał , Marynowski Wojciech , Borkenhagen Aleksandra , Justyniak Iwona , Katrusiak Andrzej , Lewiński Janusz
Published: May 2024

Inherent features of metal halide perovskites are their softness, complex lattice dynamics, and phase transitions spectacularly tuning their structures and properties. While the structural transformations are well described and classified in 3D perovskites, their 1D analogs are much less understood. Herein, both temperature‐ and pressure‐dependent structural evolutions of a 1D AcaPbI3 perovskitoid incorporating acetamidinium (Aca) cation are examined. The study reveals the existence of nine phases of δ‐AcaPbI3, which present the most diverse polymorphic collection among known perovskite materials. Interestingly, temperature‐ and pressure‐triggered phase transitions in the 1D perovskotoid exhibit fundamentally different natures: the thermal transformations are mainly associated with the collective translations of rigid polyanionic units and ordering/disordering dynamics of Aca cations, while the compression primarily affects inorganic polymer chains. Moreover, in the 1‐D chains featuring the face‐sharing connection mode of the PbI6 octahedra the Pb···Pb distances are significantly shortened compared to the corner‐sharing 3D perovskite frameworks, hence operating in the van der Waals territory. Strikingly, a good correlation is found between the Pb···Pb distances and the pressure evolution of the bandgap values in the δ‐AcaPbI3, indicating that in 1D perovskitoid structures, the contacts between Pb2+ ions are one of the critical parameters determining their properties.
Recent development on the design, preparation, and application of stretchable conductors for flexible energy harvest and storage devices
Authors: Cheng Minhan , Tian Ke , Qin Tian , Li Qianyang , Deng Hua , Fu Qiang
Published: May 2024

The intensifying energy crisis has made it urgent to develop robust and reliable next‐generation energy systems. Except for conventional large‐scale energy sources, the imperceptible and randomly distributed energy embedded in daily life awaits comprehensive exploration and utilization. Harnessing the latent energy has the potential to facilitate the further evolution of soft energy systems. Compared with rigid energy devices, flexible energy devices are more convenient and suitable for harvesting and storing energy from dynamic and complex structures such as human skin. Stretchable conductors that are capable of withstanding strain (≫1%) while sustaining stable conductive pathways are prerequisites for realizing flexible electronic energy devices. Therefore, understanding the characteristics of these conductors and evaluating the feasibility of their fabrication strategies are particularly critical. In this review, various preparation methods for stretchable conductors are carefully classified and analyzed. Furthermore, recent progress in the application of energy harvesting and storage based on these conductors is discussed in detail. Finally, the challenges and promising opportunities in the development of stretchable conductors and integrated flexible energy devices are highlighted, seeking to inspire their future research directions.
Emerging high‐entropy material electrodes for metal‐ion batteries
Authors: Shen Jianyu , Zeng Zhen , Tang Weihua
Published: May 2024

High‐entropy materials (HEMs) have recently attracted extensive research interest. Featuring unique structural characteristics and excellent mechanical/chemical properties, HEMs (especially high‐entropy alloys and oxides) emerge as promising electrode materials for electrochemical energy storage. We herein present a critical review to update the recent progress in developing new HEMs electrodes for various metal‐ion batteries. Their design principle is discussed along with the preparation, characterization, and electrochemical performance as electrode materials. The current state‐of‐the‐art HEM electrodes is presented, covering good capacity, rate capacity, and long‐term cycle stability in ion batteries. By addressing both the success and challenges associated with HEM development, this review contributes to the recent research efforts toward achieving higher capacity and more stable ion batteries.
A Study on Dielectric Breakdown Properties of Hot CO2/O2/C5F10O Gas Mixture: Focus on Concentration Rate ofO2Gas
Authors: Tsusaka Akihiro , Yokoi Toshiya , Matsumura Toshiro , Yukita Kazuto , Nanahara Toshiya , Goto Yasuyuki , Yokomizu Yasunobu
Published: May 2024

A gaseous mixture of CO2and C5F10O has been widely investigated as one of the alternative gases for SF6. Due to the better electron attachment ability of oxygen molecule O2, it is generally expected that adding of O2gas would improve the dielectric strength of arc quenching and insulating gas for electric power equipment. Therefore, in this paper, the dielectric breakdown properties of hot CO2/O2/C5F10O gas mixture were numerically estimated. The calculation results revealed that the critical electric field strength of the CO2/C5F10O gas mixture is disappointingly decreased by the addition of O2gas, especially in the temperature range of 3000 K to 1000 K. This is brought about by the increase of ionization reaction of CO2molecules with an increase in the O2concentration in the arc‐quenching gas of CO2/O2/C5F10O. © 2024 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan and Wiley Periodicals LLC.
The impact of land use and land cover change on the stream water quality in Limbe I municipality, Cameroon
Authors: Asmare Betelhem , Neculina Anyinkeng , Wubie Alemayehu , Egbe Awo Miranda , Charleine Djouego Sob , Ambo Fonge Beatrice
Published: May 2024

Inland aquatic ecosystems cover 0.1%–3.0% of Earth's surface. They provide different ecosystem services to the area, such as drinking water, transportation, and hydropower generation. However, increasing land use changes threaten their ecological integrity. This study aims to assess land use and land cover change and their impact on stream water quality in Limbe I municipality. The study was conducted in the rainy season, with sampling points chosen based on anthropogenic impacts. Hanna multi‐probe model number HI9829 was used for in‐situ measurements. The research detects and presents changes in the vegetation cover between three LULC maps (1990, 2010, and 2021). The result suggested that over the last 31 years, vegetation cover decreased by 8.1, 4.8, and 10.6 hectares, respectively. The settlement expanded by 23.5 hectares in the years 1990–2021. In situ measurements, temperature ranged from 23 to 25.8°C; pH, 8–9.4; DO, 1.0–5.9 mg/L; turbidity, 12.4–449.5 NTU; phosphorus, 1–3.4 mg/L. Iron ranges from 0.39 to 0.49 mg/L; cadmium from 0.025 to 0.03 mg/L; and lead from 0.07 to 0.15 mg/L. The heavy metal levels exceed the World Health Organization's acceptable limits for recreational water. The study indicated that the water quality was poor for swimming and aesthetic uses. Total bacteria count ranges from 8500 to 41,000 cfu/mL; total coliforms, 720–6400 cfu/mL; Escherichia coli, 65–300 cfu/mL; and salmonella, 1–46 cfu/mL. The water's bacteriological load indicates high fecal contamination and exceeds the World Health Organization's drinking water limit. LUCC has affected the physico‐chemical and bacteriological quality of the stream water. Hence, the stream needs continuous monitoring of the physico‐chemical and biological indicators to safeguard the aquatic ecosystem's environment and public health.
Determination of a pedotransfer function for specific air–water interfacial area in sandy soils: A pore network‐informed multigene genetic programming approach
Authors: Mirghafari Rasoul , Nikooee Ehsan , Raoof Amir , Habibagahi Ghassem
Published: May 2024

Understanding specific air–water interfacial area (SAWIA) is essential for characterizing and modeling various phenomena in vadose zone hydrology, such as virus and colloid transport, contaminant dissolution, evaporation, and the hydro‐mechanical behavior of unsaturated soils. Traditional measurement methods, including X‐ray imaging and tracer techniques, often encounter challenges, leading to a scarcity of studies that provide a reliable relationship for SAWIA. Currently, no pedotransfer function in the literature links SAWIA with saturation and suction using readily measurable soil properties such as median grain size and porosity. In this study, we initially developed a pore network model capable of predicting SAWIA by calibrating it with corresponding soil‐water retention curves (SWRCs). We then used these models to compile a comprehensive database of SAWIA for six sandy soils, for which experimental SWRCs were available, covering a range of median grain sizes and porosities. Utilizing this database, we established a pedotransfer function through multigene genetic programming. The accuracy of this function was validated against experimental data not previously used in its training and testing. Our parametric study indicated that increases in either porosity or median particle size led to a decrease in the regions exhibiting higher SAWIA in terms of saturation and suction.
Collaborative international partnership: Enabling the development of a state‐of‐the‐art minimally invasive surgical center in rural Uganda through telementoring
Authors: Tsai Catherine , Damoi Joseph Okello , Zhang Linda P. , Sarpel Umut , Binoga Moses , Kalumuna Anna , Glerum Katie , Marin Michael L. , Herron Daniel M.
Published: May 2024

Background

Access to minimally invasive surgery (MIS) is limited in Sub‐Saharan African countries. In 2019, the Mount Sinai Department of Surgery in New York collaborated with local Ugandans to construct the Kyabirwa Surgical Center (KSC), an independent, replicable, self‐sustaining ambulatory surgical center in Uganda. We developed a focused MIS training program using a combination of in‐person training and supervised telementoring. We present the results of our initial MIS telementoring experience.

Methods

We worked jointly with Ugandan staff to construct the KSC in the rural province of Jinja. A solar‐powered backup battery system ensured continuous power availability. Underground fiber optic cables were installed to provide stable high‐speed Internet. The local Ugandan general surgeon (JOD) underwent a mini‐fellowship in MIS and then trained extensively using the Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery program. After a weeklong in‐person session to train the Ugandan OR team, JOD performed laparoscopic cases with telementoring, which was conducted remotely by surgeons in New York via audiovisual feeds from the KSC OR.

Results

From October 2021 to February 2024, JOD performed 61 telementored laparoscopic operations at KSC including 37 appendectomies and 24 cholecystectomies. Feedback was provided regarding patient positioning, port placement, surgical technique, instrument use, and critical steps of the operation. There were no intra‐operative complications. Postoperatively, field medical workers visited patients at home to collect follow‐up information. Two superficial wound infections (3.3%) were reported in the short‐term follow‐up.

Conclusion

Telementoring can be safely implemented to assist surgeons in previously underserved areas to provide advanced laparoscopic surgical care to the local patient population.
Exploring Human-AI Collaboration in Agile: Customised LLM Meeting Assistants
Authors: Cabrero-Daniel Beatriz , Herda Tomas , Pichler Victoria , Eder Martin
Published: May 2024

This action research study focuses on the integration of “AI assistants” in two Agile software development meetings: the Daily Scrum and a feature refinement, a planning meeting that is part of an in-house Scaled Agile framework. We discuss the critical drivers of success, and establish a link between the use of AI and team collaboration dynamics. We conclude with a list of lessons learnt during the interventions in an industrial context, and provide a assessment checklist for companies and teams to reflect on their readiness level. This paper is thus a road-map to facilitate the integration of AI tools in Agile setups.
Software Product Management in Large-Scale Agile
Authors: Moe Nils Brede , Berntzen Marthe , Barbala Astri , Stray Viktoria
Published: May 2024

Large-scale agile software development is increasingly being organized with product management. Although product management is familiar to software engineering, we need research-based knowledge about organizing product management in an agile development context. This study focuses on product management challenges and configurations in a Nordic fintech organization with 10,000 employees. We conducted 19 interviews with participants involved in core product management activities. The study identifies ten key factors that hinder product management performance in a large-scale agile product company. Further, we present six product management configurations used in the fintech organization. The most suitable setup depends on the product lifecycle stage, product size, and development team setup. Our summary of the product management configurations and challenges can guide software product managers working in large-scale agile companies.
The Current State of Operationalizing Value by Dutch Product Owners in Agile Software Development
Authors: van Daalen Erik , van Solingen Rini
Published: May 2024

Agile software development (ASD) teams show their relevance through the continuous delivery of valuable software. As part of ASD, product owners have an important role in four activities: determining most valuable backlog items, refining them, and in validating and measuring business value. In this research we investigate how product owners operationalize business value delivery in these activities. We conducted 38 semi-structured in-depth interviews with product owners in the Netherlands. Overall we found that 55% operationalize value using only two of the four activities, and that 11% apply all four activities. We furthermore found that only 26.5% of these product owners use a structured prioritization method, 47% prioritize based on individual preferences and gut feeling, and 26.5% do not use any prioritization approach at all. We found five different approaches to refinement. The majority (84%) of the product owners state that they validate business value delivery, while just 24% actually measure business value. Overall we conclude that there are opportunities to bring product ownership to a higher level on operationalizing business value delivery, and that there is a clear need in practice for better structure and guidance in operationalizing business value delivery to do so.
The Trinity of Aid, Trade, and Investment: The Reemergence of a Japanese-Style Development Term as China Rises
Authors: Wang Muyun
Published: May 2024

This chapter analyzes the historical roots of the term “the trinity” (sanmi-ittai) in the context of development cooperation, which refers to the combined implementation of aid, investment, and trade. Specifically, it examines how the interpretation of the trinity in development practice has evolved over time. While the trinity received little attention in Japan during the 1980s when it was first introduced as an economic cooperation policy, it became a subject of considerable debate due to China’s emergence as a prominent aid donor. This chapter examines the chronology of how the term emerged in the 1980s in Japan, how it was transmitted to China during the same period, and how it is currently being discussed today, to reveal the issues and perspectives within its current meaning, which is increasingly centered around the establishment of mutually beneficial relationships.
Doboku: Changes in the Social Evaluation of Infrastructure Development in Japan
Authors: Kuramoto Ryosuke
Published: May 2024

This chapter discusses the emergence and significance of doboku as an essential concept of Japanese development assistance that emphasizes support for developing infrastructure. Through an analysis of historical processes, it shows how the meaning of doboku has changed from the construction or repair of large buildings to infrastructure development to a translation of the English “civil engineering,” which focuses on technology, without incorporating a philosophy of how or why technology should be built or used. On one hand, such a lack of philosophy leads to a negative image of doboku as “crude and muddy.” On the other hand, there have also been attempts to re-establish the philosophy of doboku through explanations of its historical origins adopted early in the Meiji era. Moreover, doboku redeems its negative image in the context of development assistance, since working “in the mud” together with local people is a way to gain their trust. By expanding our perspective on this Japanese doctrine to include development assistance, we can more fully evaluate the unique characteristics and potential of the practical knowledge embodied in doboku.
Hito-zukuri: It is Not Just Human Resources Development
Authors: Hashimoto Noriyuki
Published: May 2024

This chapter aims to examine and clarify the Japanese concept of hito-zukuri, paying attention to international and internal development policies of the Japanese government. Hito-zukuri has been generally translated as “human resourses development” related to technical cooperation in the context of international development. However, hito-zukuri also includes an element of formal and nonformal moral education to nurture “Japaneseness” both for Japanese youth, especially historically in the postwar high economic growth period, and for people in developing countries through international development and cooperation. Hito-zukuri holds two types education: technological and moral. In hito-zukuri, practitioners see its targets for education not only as technologically but also as morally developing people. Therefore hito-zukuri cannot be translated directly as human resources development without extensive qualification. Moreover, the restriction of hito-zukuri operations to the developing world betrays a stratified perspective on who is in need of moral development, which is problematic given the particular aim of moral education to promote “Japaneseness.”
Endogenous Development: Situating Kazuko Tsurumi’s Work in International Development
Authors: Omi Kanako
Published: May 2024

Endogenous development theory (naihatsuteki hattenron) by Kazuko Tsurumi frequently appears in Japanese development discourse. However, although the idea of endogenous development has been discussed in international development discourse as well, the specifics of Tsurumi’s theory have not been widely adopted. This chapter reviews the genealogy of endogenous development both in the West and Japan. Through its comparison, the chapter presents the features of Tsurumi’s endogenous development theory rooted in the Asian development experience. It then discusses how the theory might be applied in the contemporary development context and concludes by making a case for Tsurumi’s naihatsuteki hattenron in international development research and practice.
Yōsei-Shugi: The Mystery of the Japanese Request-Based Aid
Authors: Sato Jin
Published: May 2024

It is intriguing how the request-based principle, which started as little more than a name for project formulation procedures, has come to attain a philosophy-like status in Japanese aid.1 This chapter examines three aspects of this mystery: (1) the context that elevated this practice to the status of a principle (shugi), (2) the basic logic used by the Japanese government to substantiate such a principle, and (3) the effects it had on recipient countries. This chapter argues that the request-based principle is a historical vestige that reveals the peculiarity of Japan as a latecomer to the field of foreign aid. The request-based principle has endured as a consistent undercurrent of Japanese aid since the end of the war, but it only attained the status of a principle in the late 1980s. By tracing the evolution of aid to practices of the war reparations period in the 1950s, this chapter explores how this principle became institutionalized as a defining feature of the “Japanese style” of aid provision.
Physical signatures of fermion-coupled axion dark matter
Authors: Berlin Asher , Millar Alexander J. , Trickle Tanner , Zhou Kevin
Published: May 2024

Abstract

In the presence of axion dark matter, fermion spins experience an “axion wind” torque and an “axioelectric” force. We investigate new experimental probes of these effects and find that magnetized analogs of multilayer dielectric haloscopes can explore orders of magnitude of new parameter space for the axion-electron coupling. We also revisit the calculation of axion absorption into in-medium excitations, showing that axioelectric absorption is screened in spin-polarized targets, and axion wind absorption can be characterized in terms of a magnetic energy loss function. Finally, our detailed theoretical treatment allows us to critically examine recent claims in the literature. We find that axioelectric corrections to electronic energy levels are smaller than previously estimated and that the purported electron electric dipole moment due to a constant axion field is entirely spurious.
Interacting chiral form field theories and $$ T\overline{T} $$-like flows in six and higher dimensions
Authors: Ferko Christian , Kuzenko Sergei M. , Lechner Kurt , Sorokin Dmitri P. , Tartaglino-Mazzucchelli Gabriele
Published: May 2024

Abstract

In this paper we initiate the study of six-dimensional non-linear chiral two-form gauge theories as deformations of free chiral two-form gauge theories driven by stress-tensor $$ T\overline{T} $$
T

T
¯

-like flows. To lay the background for this study, we elaborate on the relationship between different Lagrangian formulations of duality-invariant p-form theories and corresponding $$ T\overline{T} $$
T

T
¯

-like flows in various dimensions. To this end we propose a new formulation which (i) is a generalization of the four-dimensional construction by Ivanov, Nurmagambetov and Zupnik (INZ) and (ii) turns into the PST formulation upon integrating out an auxiliary self-dual field. We elucidate space-time covariant properties of the PST formulation by clarifying and making use of its relation to the INZ-type formulation and to a so-called “clone” construction.
Simple Constructions from (Almost) Regular One-Way Functions
Authors: Mazor Noam , Zhang Jiapeng
Published: May 2024

Two of the most useful cryptographic primitives that can be constructed from one-way functions are pseudorandom generators (PRGs) and universal one-way hash functions (UOWHFs). In order to implement them in practice, the efficiency of such constructions must be considered. The three major efficiency measures are: the seed length, the call complexity to the one-way function, and the adaptivity of these calls. Still, the optimal efficiency of these constructions is not yet fully understood: there exist gaps between the known upper bound and the known lower bound for black-box constructions. A special class of one-way functions called unknown-regular one-way functions is much better understood. Haitner, Harnik and Reingold (CRYPTO 2006) presented a PRG construction with semi-linear seed length and linear number of calls based on a method called randomized iterate. Ames, Gennaro and Venkitasubramaniam (ASIACRYPT 2012) then gave a construction of UOWHF with similar parameters and using similar ideas. On the other hand, Holenstein and Sinha (FOCS 2012) and Barhum and Holenstein (TCC 2013) showed an almost linear call-complexity lower bound for black-box constructions of PRGs and UOWHFs from one-way functions. Hence, Haitner et al. and Ames et al. reached tight constructions (in terms of seed length and the number of calls) of PRGs and UOWHFs from regular one-way functions. These constructions, however, are adaptive. In this work, we present non-adaptive constructions for both primitives which match the optimal call complexity given by Holenstein and Sinha and Barhum and Holenstein. Our constructions, besides being simple and non-adaptive, are robust also for almost-regular one-way functions.
Red-on-Yellow Queen: Bio-Layer Interferometry Reveals Functional Diversity Within Micrurus Venoms and Toxin Resistance in Prey Species
Authors: Dashevsky Daniel , Harris Richard J. , Zdenek Christina N. , Benard-Valle Melisa , Alagón Alejandro , Portes-Junior José A. , Tanaka-Azevedo Anita M. , Grego Kathleen F. , Sant’Anna Sávio S. , Frank Nathaniel , Fry Bryan G.
Published: May 2024

Snakes in the family Elapidae largely produce venoms rich in three-finger toxins (3FTx) that bind to the $$\upalpha _1$$

α
1

subunit of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs), impeding ion channel activity. These neurotoxins immobilize the prey by disrupting muscle contraction. Coral snakes of the genus Micrurus are specialist predators who produce many 3FTx, making them an interesting system for examining the coevolution of these toxins and their targets in prey animals. We used a bio-layer interferometry technique to measure the binding interaction between 15 Micrurus venoms and 12 taxon-specific mimotopes designed to resemble the orthosteric binding region of the muscular nAChR subunit. We found that Micrurus venoms vary greatly in their potency on this assay and that this variation follows phylogenetic patterns rather than previously reported patterns of venom composition. The long-tailed Micrurus tend to have greater binding to nAChR orthosteric sites than their short-tailed relatives and we conclude this is the likely ancestral state. The repeated loss of this activity may be due to the evolution of 3FTx that bind to other regions of the nAChR. We also observed variations in the potency of the venoms depending on the taxon of the target mimotope. Rather than a pattern of prey-specificity, we found that mimotopes modeled after snake nAChRs are less susceptible to Micrurus venoms and that this resistance is partly due to a characteristic tryptophan$$\rightarrow$$
→
serine mutation within the orthosteric site in all snake mimotopes. This resistance may be part of a Red Queen arms race between coral snakes and their prey.
Transfemoral-Transcaval Liver Biopsy (TFTC) and Transjugular Liver Biopsy (TJLB) in Patients with Fontan-Associated Liver Disease (FALD)
Authors: Shahid Muhammad Usman , Frenkel Yosef , Kuc Norbert , Golowa Yosef , Cynamon Jacob
Published: May 2024

Purpose

To describe our experience in performing transfemoral-transcaval liver biopsy (TFTC) and transjugular liver biopsy (TJLB) in patients with Fontan-associated liver disease (FALD).

Methods

A single-center, retrospective review of 23 TFTC and seven TJLB performed between August 2011 and May 2023 on patients who previously underwent the Fontan procedure (median age 23.1 years, ranging 11–43 years, 48% female). Patient demographics, laboratory values, pathology, radiology, and cardiology reports were reviewed. Liver explants were correlated with histopathological evaluation to determine sampling accuracy when available.

Results

All biopsies achieved technical success (accurate targeting and safe tissue sample extraction) and histopathological success (yielding sufficient tissue for accurate diagnosis). Liver biopsies were performed during simultaneous cardiac catheterization in 28 of 30 (93%) procedures. There was no statistically significant change in hemoglobin, hematocrit, platelet count post-procedure, and fluoroscopy times. There was one major complication within the TJLB group and one minor complication within the TFTC group.

Conclusion

Transvenous liver biopsies, whether via transfemoral or transjugular route, may be safely performed in FALD patients while yielding samples with technical and histopathological success. The transfemoral approach, which is our preferred method; its compatibility with simultaneous cardiac catheterization and its potentially increased safety profile stemming from the avoidance of transversing the Fontan shunt—makes it a particular advantageous option in the management of FALD.

Graphical Abstract
Evaluation of Automated Disk Diffusion Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing Using Radian® In-Line Carousel
Authors: Callebaut Kim , Stoefs Anke , Emmerechts Kristof , Vandoorslaer Kristof , Wybo Ingrid , De Geyter Deborah , Demuyser Thomas , Piérard Denis , Muyldermans Astrid
Published: May 2024

Antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) by disk diffusion provides an accurate image of bacterial growth, enabling the detection of culture purity, heterogeneous growth, and antibiotic interactions. However, this manual method is time-consuming and visual interpretation is prone to errors. To overcome these disadvantages, the Radian® In-Line Carousel (Copan, Brescia, Italy) was launched, which is a WASPLab® module dedicated to full automation of (pre)-analytical steps as well as interpretation of disk diffusion AST. However, until now, no evaluation of Radian® against manual disk diffusion has been performed. We assessed the categorical agreement (CA) between standardized disk diffusion (reference method) and Radian® using EUCAST 2021 breakpoints. We tested 135 non-duplicate strains, selected from the National EUCAST challenge panel, clinical strains, and external quality controls. The strains included Enterobacterales (n = 63), Enterococcus faecalis (n = 3), Enterococcus faecium (n = 10), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (n = 16), Staphylococcus aureus (n = 19), coagulase-negative staphylococci (n = 4), and Streptococcus spp. (n = 20). Furthermore, we explored antibiotic disk thermolability in the WASP Radian® carousel by testing 10 ATCC® strains up to 7 days. The observed CA was 95.3%, 96.3%, 93.8%, 97.3% and 98.0% for Enterobacterales, Enterococcus spp., P. aeruginosa, Staphylococcus spp. and Streptococcus spp., respectively, resulting in an acceptable overall CA for all groups. (Very) major error rates were ≤ 5% for all antibiotics. Antibiotic disk thermostability was confirmed up to 4 days in the WASP Radian® In-Line Carousel. The Radian® In-Line Carousel provides a fully automated solution for accurate disk diffusion AST, reducing workload and improving standardization and traceability. In addition, our study demonstrated the thermostability of antibiotic disks up to 4 days in the WASP Radian® In-Line Carousel.
The Impacts of Chitosan on Plant Root Systems and Its Potential to be Used for Controlling Fungal Diseases in Agriculture
Authors: Suwanchaikasem Pipob , Idnurm Alexander , Selby-Pham Jamie , Walker Robert , Boughton Berin A.
Published: May 2024

Chitosan is a natural elicitor, used for stimulating plant growth and inducing plant defense. However, due to difficulty in monitoring root growth and activity, the effects of chitosan treatment on plant root systems have been less studied as compared to plant shoot parts that include leaves, seeds, and fruits. This results in an indefinite outcome of the benefits of chitosan on plant roots. Therefore, this review aims to evaluate the effects of chitosan treatment on root growth and defense responses based on current evidence. Interestingly, many studies have demonstrated that chitosan can induce plant root defense systems, yet conversely inhibiting root growth. The effects were most clearly observed from studies using liquid or solid media as substrates, while the results from the studies using soil were inconclusive and require additional investigation to observe the effects of environmental factors. In addition, root chitosan treatment showed variable effects on shoot growth, where low chitosan concentrations tend to promote shoot growth, but high chitosan concentrations may affect shoot development. Additionally, this review discusses the potential methods of chitosan application onto plant roots. Water insolubility of chitosan is likely a major issue for root treatment. Chitosan can be dissolved in acids, but this could induce acidity stress in plant roots. Modified versions of chitosan, such as chitosan nanoparticles, carboxylated chitosan, and graft chitosan copolymers have been developed to improve solubility and functionality. Chitosan nanoparticles can also be used to encapsulate other biocontrol agents to augment biological effects on plant defense. In conclusion, root chitosan treatment could help to promote plant defense and prevent root infections, abating the uses of chemical fungicides in agriculture. However, further research is required to monitor the impact of root chitosan treatment on long-term plant growth in order to gain multifaceted information to maximize the effectiveness of root chitosan application.
Training in robotic-assisted surgery: a systematic review of training modalities and objective and subjective assessment methods
Authors: Rahimi A. Masie , Uluç Ezgi , Hardon Sem F. , Bonjer H. Jaap , van der Peet Donald L. , Daams Freek
Published: May 2024

Introduction

The variety of robotic surgery systems, training modalities, and assessment tools within robotic surgery training is extensive. This systematic review aimed to comprehensively overview different training modalities and assessment methods for teaching and assessing surgical skills in robotic surgery, with a specific focus on comparing objective and subjective assessment methods.

Methods

A systematic review was conducted following the PRISMA guidelines. The electronic databases Pubmed, EMBASE, and Cochrane were searched from inception until February 1, 2022. Included studies consisted of robotic-assisted surgery training (e.g., box training, virtual reality training, cadaver training and animal tissue training) with an assessment method (objective or subjective), such as assessment forms, virtual reality scores, peer-to-peer feedback or time recording.

Results

The search identified 1591 studies. After abstract screening and full-texts examination, 209 studies were identified that focused on robotic surgery training and included an assessment tool. The majority of the studies utilized the da Vinci Surgical System, with dry lab training being the most common approach, followed by the da Vinci Surgical Skills Simulator. The most frequently used assessment methods included simulator scoring system (e.g., dVSS score), and assessment forms (e.g., GEARS and OSATS).

Conclusion

This systematic review provides an overview of training modalities and assessment methods in robotic-assisted surgery. Dry lab training on the da Vinci Surgical System and training on the da Vinci Skills Simulator are the predominant approaches. However, focused training on tissue handling, manipulation, and force interaction is lacking, despite the absence of haptic feedback. Future research should focus on developing universal objective assessment and feedback methods to address these limitations as the field continues to evolve.
Operator-valued multiplier theorems for causal translation-invariant operators with applications to control theoretic input-output stability
Authors: Guiver Chris , Logemann Hartmut , Opmeer Mark R.
Published: May 2024

We prove an operator-valued Laplace multiplier theorem for causal translation-invariant linear operators which provides a characterization of continuity from $$H^\alpha ({\mathbb {R}},U)$$

H
α

(
R
,
U
)

to $$H^\beta ({\mathbb {R}},U)$$

H
β

(
R
,
U
)

(fractional U-valued Sobolev spaces, U a complex Hilbert space) in terms of a certain boundedness property of the transfer function (or symbol), an operator-valued holomorphic function on the right-half of the complex plane. We identify sufficient conditions under which this boundedness property is equivalent to a similar property of the boundary function of the transfer function. Under the assumption that U is separable, the Laplace multiplier theorem is used to derive a Fourier multiplier theorem. We provide an application to mathematical control theory, by developing a novel input-output stability framework for a large class of causal translation-invariant linear operators which refines existing input-output stability theories. Furthermore, we show how our work is linked to the theory of well-posed linear systems and to results on polynomial stability of operator semigroups. Several examples are discussed in some detail.
Early evaluation of a natural language processing tool to improve access to educational resources for surgical patients
Authors: Booker James , Penn Jack , Noor Kawsar , Dobson Richard J. B. , Funnell Jonathan P. , Koh Chan Hee , Khan Danyal Z. , Newall Nicola , Rowland David , Sinha Siddharth , Williams Simon C. , Sayal Parag , Marcus Hani J.
Published: May 2024

Purpose

Accessible patient information sources are vital in educating patients about the benefits and risks of spinal surgery, which is crucial for obtaining informed consent. We aim to assess the effectiveness of a natural language processing (NLP) pipeline in recognizing surgical procedures from clinic letters and linking this with educational resources.

Methods

Retrospective examination of letters from patients seeking surgery for degenerative spinal disease at a single neurosurgical center. We utilized MedCAT, a named entity recognition and linking NLP, integrated into the electronic health record (EHR), which extracts concepts and links them to systematized nomenclature of medicine-clinical terms (SNOMED-CT). Investigators reviewed clinic letters, identifying words or phrases that described or identified operations and recording the SNOMED-CT terms as ground truth. This was compared to SNOMED-CT terms identified by the model, untrained on our dataset. A pipeline linking clinic letters to patient-specific educational resources was established, and precision, recall, and F1 scores were calculated.

Results

Across 199 letters the model identified 582 surgical procedures, and the overall pipeline after adding rules a total of 784 procedures (precision = 0.94, recall = 0.86, F1 = 0.91). Across 187 letters with identified SNOMED-CT terms the integrated pipeline linking education resources directly to the EHR was successful in 157 (78%) patients (precision = 0.99, recall = 0.87, F1 = 0.92).

Conclusions

NLP accurately identifies surgical procedures in pre-operative clinic letters within an untrained subspecialty. Performance varies among letter authors and depends on the language used by clinicians. The identified procedures can be linked to patient education resources, potentially improving patients’ understanding of surgical procedures.
Precision epileptology: digital biomarkers and cognitive proxies for personalized care
Authors: Jokeit Hennric , Kaufmann Elisabeth , Peltola Jukka , Imbach Lukas
Published: May 2024

The widespread accessibility of smart devices, even if not designated as medical devices, coupled with the critical need for ongoing monitoring of patients taking anti-seizure medication or undergoing new stimulation therapies highlights the urgent need for collaborative research across disciplines. These therapies, while beneficial, may cause sporadic or temporally dynamic side effects affecting cognition and behavior that cannot be adequately assessed by traditional neuropsychological testing methods at certain time points. This scenario highlights the importance of developing innovative approaches to fully monitor and understand these dynamic effects.