bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sustainable Photocatalytic Acylation of Transition Metal Dichalcogenides with Atom Economy
Authors: Sideri Ioanna K. , Canton‐Vitoria Ruben , Ojeda‐Galvan Hiram J. , Quintana Mildred , Tagmatarchis Nikos
Published: January 2024

Transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) are promising 2D nanomaterials for diverse applications, but their intrinsic chemical inertness hinders their modification. Herein, a novel approach is presented for the photocatalytic acylation of 2H‐MoS2 and 2H‐MoSe2, utilizing tetrabutyl ammonium decatungstate ((nBu4N)4W10O32) polyoxometalate complex as a catalyst and a conventional halogen lamp as a source of irradiation. By harnessing the semiconducting properties of TMDs, new avenues emerge for the functionalization of these materials. This novel photocatalytic protocol constitutes the first report on the chemical modification of 2D nanomaterials based on a catalytic protocol and applies to both aliphatic and aromatic substrates. The scope of the decatungstate‐photocatalyzed acylation reaction of TMDs is explored by employing an alkyl and an aromatic aldehyde and the success of the methodology is confirmed by diverse spectroscopic, thermal, microscopy imaging, and redox techniques. This catalytic approach on modifying 2D nanomaterials introduces the principles of atom economy in a functionalization protocol for TMDs. It marks a transformative shift toward more sustainable and efficient methodologies in the realm of TMD modification and nanomaterial chemistry.
Light‐driven reversible and repeatable switching between ultrastable and unstable liquid foam
Authors: Yu Xiaoyang , Li Huan , Qiu Ke , Kang Ning , Xu Zhoumei , Li Qian , Lu Shouxiang
Published: January 2024

Liquid foams with tunable and photoresponsive stabilities and mechanical properties are highly desired in many domains, including the chemical and environmental protection industries. Here, we constructed photoresponsive liquid foams by structuring the interfacial adsorption layers and nanoparticle‐embedded Plateau borders of the foam with biodegradable components. These foams exhibited ultrahigh foam stability but were easily destroyed by light, leading to a clean recovery of the liquid phase. In the absence of light, the hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC) coils in the foam formed mechanically strong liquid films or “cohesive states.” Under irradiation, the ultrathin black phosphorus nanosheets induced changes in the packing parameters of the HPC assemblies within the Plateau borders and led to coil‐to‐globule transitions of the HPC and formed unstable liquid films with a “mobile state.” The two interfacial states were reversibly and repeatedly switched by turning the light on and off, which caused rapid bubble coalescence and foam collapse, and we also proved that this destabilizing mechanism was inhibited by cellulose nanocrystals. This work provides an environmentally friendly approach to controlling foam stability, and the proposed strategy can be expanded to the production of multiresponsive fully liquid objects in theory.
Trade‐Off Break between the Crystallinity and Phase Separation of Donor/Acceptor via a General Two‐Dimensional Transition‐Metal Phosphorus Trichalcogenides Nanoparticle Dopant Concept for Efficient and Stable All‐Polymer Solar Cells
Authors: She Luobin , Zou Chuankai , Yang Kaihang , Kang Xiaomin , Chen Lin , Tang Jing , Li Zhenye
Published: January 2024

All‐polymer solar cells (all‐PSCs) demonstrate splendid advantages of thermal and mechanical stability. Nevertheless, the rock‐ribbed trade‐off between the crystallinity and phase separation scale of donor/acceptor (D/A) hinder the power conversion efficiency (PCE) improvement of all‐PSCs. Here, a novel two‐dimensional transition‐metal phosphorus trichalcogenides (TMPTCs) namely Cd0.85PS3Li0.3 is intelligently designed and synthesized, and firstly employed as a nanoparticle dopant for PBDB‐T:N2200‐based all‐PSCs. The two‐dimensional Cd0.85PS3Li0.3 possess enormous surface area that can serve as the nucleation center, inducing the crystallinity of D/A without influencing the original phase separation. Such feature significantly boosted the charge transport, PCE (from 7.18% to 8.79%) and stability of PBDB‐T:N2200‐based device. Moreover, the Cd0.85PS3Li0.3 nanoparticle dopant was proved to be universal in non‐fullerene small molecule acceptor (NFSMA)‐based organic solar cells (OSCs), for which the PCE was boosted from 15.05% to 17.27% for PM6:L8‐BO‐based OSCs and from 17.29% to 19.10% for D18:L8‐BO‐based OSCs. These observations exemplify the significance of two‐dimensional TMPTCs nanoparticle dopant as a tool for breaking the rock‐ribbed trade‐off between the crystallinity and phase separation scale of D/A in OSCs, which may open up a special field for making two‐dimensional TMPTCs work in a unprecedented way in OSCs.
Development of network‐guided transcriptomic risk score for disease prediction
Authors: Cao Xuan , Zhang Liangliang , Lee Kyoungjae
Published: January 2024

Omics data, routinely collected in various clinical settings, are of a complex and network‐structured nature. Recent progress in RNA sequencing (RNA‐seq) allows us to explore whole‐genome gene expression profiles and to develop predictive model for disease risk. In this study, we propose a novel Bayesian approach to construct RNA‐seq‐based risk score leveraging gene expression network for disease risk prediction. Specifically, we consider a hierarchical model with spike and slab priors over regression coefficients as well as entries in the inverse covariance matrix for covariates to simultaneously perform variable selection and network estimation in high‐dimensional logistic regression. Through theoretical investigation and simulation studies, our method is shown to both enjoy desirable consistency properties and achieve superior empirical performance compared with other state‐of‐the‐art methods. We analyse RNA‐seq gene expression data from 441 asthmatic and 254 non‐asthmatic samples to form a weighted network‐guided risk score and benchmark the proposed method against existing approaches for asthma risk stratification.
Kerbfallkombinationsmodell zur Berücksichtigung von Schweißnahtimperfektionen beim Ermüdungsnachweis
Authors: Bartsch Helen , Feldmann Markus
Published: January 2024

Fertigungsbedingte Imperfektionen treten in jeder Schweißnaht auf, die insbesondere in ermüdungsbeanspruchten Stahlkonstruktionen, wie z. B. Stahlbrücken, eine große Rolle spielen. Denn diese Schweißnahtimperfektionen beeinflussen die Ermüdungsfestigkeit der Schweißverbindung. Die Verknüpfung der Ermüdungsfestigkeitswerte mit dem Qualitätsniveau der Schweißverbindungen ist jedoch bisher nur unzureichend geschehen. Die Größen tolerierbarer Schweißnahtimperfektionen sind zwar gemäß DIN EN 1090‐2, DIN EN 1993‐1‐9 und DIN EN ISO 5817 vorgegeben, doch sie wurden ohne wissenschaftlichen Hintergrund festgelegt. Die wahren Grenzwerte sind unbekannt. Dies bot den Anlass, eine Methode zu entwickeln, mit der Kerbfälle abhängig von der Größe der Schweißnahtimperfektionen bestimmt werden können. Auf Basis von Ermüdungsversuchen geschweißter Details des Kreuzstoßes und der Quersteife mit Imperfektionen wurden numerische Untersuchungen mithilfe der Finite‐Elemente‐Methode und lokaler Ermüdungskonzepte durchgeführt. Die Ergebnisse dieser Berechnungen liefern einen quantitativen Zusammenhang zwischen Ermüdungsfestigkeit und Größe einzelner Schweißnahtimperfektionen. Zusätzlich wurde das Kerbfallkombinationsmodell entwickelt, mit dem mehrere Imperfektionen auf probabilistische Weise im Kerbfall effizient berücksichtigt werden können. Da bei Anwendung des vorgestellten Verfahrens zeitaufwendige Überarbeitungen von Schweißnähten in Zukunft entfallen können, wird das Nachweiskonzept für ausreichende Sicherheit gegen Ermüdungsversagen hinsichtlich der Kosten‐ und Ressourceneffizienz verbessert.
Pressure stabilization method for the 2D/3D time‐dependent natural convection equations with salt concentration
Authors: Liang Youlei , Liu Demin
Published: January 2024

In this paper, the pressure stabilization method for the 2D/3D time‐dependent natural convection equations with salt concentration (NCSC) is considered. The artificial pressure diffusion term is introduced to reduce the constraint of the incompressible condition. The first‐order backward difference formula is adopted to approximate the temporal derivative terms, the diffusion terms in NCSC are treated implicitly, the convective terms in momentum equation are treated semi‐implicitly, the convective terms in energy equation and salt concentration equation are treated implicitly. The error estimates for the semi‐discrete pressure stabilization method are given. Some numerical experiments are presented to verify the theoretical results and show the reliability of the proposed method.
Psychotic Disorders
Authors: Krüger Reinhard T.
Published: January 2024

The disorder-specific psychodrama therapy of psychoses was the first step toward the development of psychodrama as a psychotherapy method. In the as-if mode of play, the patient directly develops his rudimentary metacognitive processes that produce his dysfunctional delusional thought content with the help of the therapist as a doppelganger. He tries to develop his delusion production into a coping story. In doing this, the patient gains ego control over his delusional production as well as an insight into his illness. This stops the disintegration of his self. Over time, he learns to stop his production of delusional content in a self-determined manner. The method requires the therapist to be willing to give up his own natural defense against the absurdity of delusion and, as a doppelganger, to courageously engage transmodally with the patient’s symptom production. The author has adapted and expanded the methodological approach developed by Moreno to suit the conditions and necessities of the present time. The described disorder-specific psychodramatic action methods complement depth-psychological, behavioral, and systemic psychotherapy approaches to psychoses with a disorder-specific essential quality.
Diagnostic accuracy of doctors at the emergency department and radiologists in differentiating between complicated and uncomplicated acute appendicitis
Authors: Scheijmans Jochem C G , Bom Wouter J , Deniz Rabia S , van Geloven Anna A W , Boermeester Marja A ,   The SAS Collaborative, Alberts F , Bachiriden Bakker S MA , Bisschops B , Boersma E , Bolmers M D M , Bosman W M , Bril H , Buurman C , Courrech Staal E F W , Davids P , Detering R , Dijkgraaf M G W , Dijkstra B L , Drillenburg P , Dinaux A , van Duijvendijk P , van Eden W J , Franken R , Gans S , Gaspersz M , van Geel A M , Gerhards M F , Ghori H , Gratama J W C , Groenendijk I , Hellebrekers P , van Hemert A , Henebiens M , Heydari H , Hof K in ’t , Hoogteijling T J , Huisman P M , van Ingen G , Jensch S , Jonker A M , Joosten F , Koens L , Kraaijvanger N , Kuijpers K C , Le Large T Y S , Linzel D , Loos M H J , Lopes Cardozo A M F , Meijer-Jorna L B , Mulder M , Mullaart N , Oosterling S J , Oudejans J , Pappot T , Peeters S , Pleiter C , de Roos MA , Rosman C , van Rossem C C , Scheurkogel M M , Scholten L , Schut T , Stoker J , Tiddens O W T , Ubels S , de Vries F E E , Walraven L F J , Wiegerinck E M A , Wiggers J K , Witt M , Wolfhagen N , van de Wouw L
Published: January 2024

Purpose

To determine the accuracy of final judgements of doctors at the emergency department (ED) and radiologists to differentiate between complicated and uncomplicated acute appendicitis, because these have different treatment options.

Methods

This prospective, multicenter study included adult patients with imaging-confirmed acute appendicitis, operated with intention to appendectomy. Both doctors at ED and radiologists assessed appendicitis severity as a final judgement of “uncomplicated” or “complicated” appendicitis. Doctors at ED integrated clinical, laboratory, and imaging findings. Radiologists relied solely on imaging findings. Outcomes were accuracy of these judgements for diagnosis of complicated appendicitis compared to the reference standard by an adjudication committee.

Results

After imaging, 1070 patients with confirmed acute appendicitis were included. Doctors at ED accurately labelled 656 of 701 (93.6%) patients with true uncomplicated appendicitis as uncomplicated, and 163 of 369 (44.2%) patients with true complicated appendicitis were labelled as complicated. Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values (PPV and NPV) for complicated appendicitis were 44.2%, 93.6%, and 78.4% and 76.1%, respectively. Comparable accuracy was found for the radiologist’s assessment in 941 patients, with true positive rates of 92.2% (581 of 630 patients) for uncomplicated appendicitis and 46.6% (145 of 311 patients) for complicated appendicitis.

Conclusion

More than half of all patients with true complicated appendicitis is incorrectly classified as uncomplicated appendicitis according to the judgements of doctors at ED, integrating clinical, laboratory, and imaging results, and of radiologists assessing diagnostic imaging. These judgements are thereby not sufficiently reliable in ruling out complicated appendicitis.
Real-time tilting and twisting motions of ligand-bound states of α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor
Authors: Yang Yue , Arai Tatsuya , Sasaki Daisuke , Kuramochi Masahiro , Inagaki Hidetoshi , Ohashi Sumiko , Sekiguchi Hiroshi , Mio Kazuhiro , Kubo Tai , Sasaki Yuji C.
Published: January 2024

The α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor is a member of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor family and is composed of five α7 subunits arranged symmetrically around a central pore. It is localized in the central nervous system and immune cells and could be a target for treating Alzheimer’s disease and schizophrenia. Acetylcholine is a ligand that opens the channel, although prolonged application rapidly decreases the response. Ivermectin was reported as one of the positive allosteric modulators, since the binding of Ivermectin to the channel enhances acetylcholine-evoked α7 currents. One research has suggested that tilting motions of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor are responsible for channel opening and activation. To verify this hypothesis applies to α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor, we utilized a diffracted X-ray tracking method to monitor the stable twisting and tilting motion of nAChR α7 without a ligand, with acetylcholine, with Ivermectin, and with both of them. The results show that the α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor twists counterclockwise with the channel transiently opening, transitioning to a desensitized state in the presence of acetylcholine and clockwise without the channel opening in the presence of Ivermectin. We propose that the conformational transition of ACh-bound nAChR α7 may be due to the collective twisting of the five α7 subunits, resulting in the compression and movement, either downward or upward, of one or more subunits, thus manifesting tilting motions. These tilting motions possibly represent the transition from the resting state to channel opening and potentially to the desensitized state.
Class VI G protein-coupled receptors in Aspergillus oryzae regulate sclerotia formation through GTPase-activating activity
Authors: Kim Dong Min , Sakamoto Itsuki , Arioka Manabu
Published: January 2024

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) comprise the largest family of transmembrane receptors in eukaryotes that sense and transduce extracellular signals into cells. In Aspergillus oryzae, 16 canonical GPCR genes are identified and classified into nine classes based on the sequence similarity and proposed functions. Class VI GPCRs (AoGprK-1, AoGprK-2, and AoGprR in A. oryzae), unlike other GPCRs, feature a unique hybrid structure containing both the seven transmembrane (7-TM) and regulator of G-protein signaling (RGS) domains, which is not found in animal GPCRs. We report here that the mutants with double or triple deletion of class VI GPCR genes produced significantly increased number of sclerotia compared to the control strain when grown on agar plates. Interestingly, complementation analysis demonstrated that the expression of the RGS domain without the 7-TM domain is sufficient to restore the phenotype. In line with this, among the three Gα subunits in A. oryzae, AoGpaA, AoGpaB, and AoGanA, forced expression of GTPase-deficient mutants of either AoGpaA or AoGpaB caused an increase in the number of sclerotia formed, suggesting that RGS domains of class VI GPCRs are the negative regulators of these two GTPases. Finally, we measured the expression of velvet complex genes and sclerotia formation-related genes and found that the expression of velB was significantly increased in the multiple gene deletion mutants. Taken together, these results demonstrate that class VI GPCRs negatively regulate sclerotia formation through their GTPase-activating activity in the RGS domains.

Key points

• Class VI GPCRs in A. oryzae regulate sclerotia formation in A. oryzae

• RGS function of class VI GPCRs is responsible for regulation of sclerotia formation

• Loss of class VI GPCRs resulted in increased expression of sclerotia-related genes
Allogeneic CAR-T cells with of HLA-A/B and TRAC disruption exhibit promising antitumor capacity against B cell malignancies
Authors: Chen Xinfeng , Tan Binghe , Xing Haizhou , Zhao Xuan , Ping Yu , Zhang Zhen , Huang Jianmin , Shi Xiujuan , Zhang Na , Lin Boxu , Cao Weijie , Li Xin , Zhang Xudong , Li Ling , Jiang Zhongxing , Zhang Mingzhi , Li Wei , Liu Mingyao , Du Bing , Zhang Yi
Published: January 2024

Background

Although chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) cells have been proven to be an effective way of treating B cell malignancies, a lot of patients could not benefit from it because of failure in CAR-T cell manufacturing, disease progression, and unaffordable price. The study aimed to explore universal CAR-T cell products to extend the clinical accessibility.

Methods

The antitumor activity of CRISPR/Cas9-edited allogeneic anti-CD19 CAR-T (CAR-T19) cells was assessed in vitro, in animal models, and in patients with relapsed/refractory (R/R) acute B cell lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) or diffuse large B cell lymphoma.

Results

B2M−/TRAC− universal CAR-T19 (U-CAR-T19) cells exhibited powerful anti-leukemia abilities both in vitro and in animal models, as did primary CD19+ leukemia cells from leukemia patients. However, expansion, antitumor efficacy, or graft-versus-host-disease (GvHD) was not observed in six patients with R/R B cell malignancies after U-CAR-T19 cell infusion. Accordingly, significant activation of natural killer (NK) cells by U-CAR-T19 cells was proven both clinically and in vitro. HLA-A−/B−/TRAC− novel CAR-T19 (nU-CAR-T19) cells were constructed with similar tumoricidal capacity but resistance to NK cells in vitro. Surprisingly, robust expansion of nU-CAR-T19 cells, along with rapid eradication of CD19+ abnormal B cells, was observed in the peripheral blood and bone marrow of another three patients with R/R B-ALL. The patients achieved complete remission with no detectable minimal residual disease 14 days after the infusion of nU-CAR-T19 cells. Two of the three patients had grade 2 cytokine release syndrome, which were managed using an IL-6 receptor blocker. Most importantly, GvHD was not observed in any patient, suggesting the safety of TRAC-disrupted CAR-T cells generated using the CRISPR/Cas9 method for clinical application.

Conclusions

The nU-CAR-T19 cells showed a strong response in R/R B-ALL. nU-CAR-T19 cells have the potential to be a promising new approach for treating R/R B cell malignancies.
Generation and assessment of cytokine-induced killer cells for the treatment of colorectal cancer liver metastases
Authors: Li Celine Man Ying , Tomita Yoko , Dhakal Bimala , Tin Teresa , Li Runhao , Wright Josephine A. , Vrbanac Laura , Woods Susan L. , Drew Paul , Price Timothy , Smith Eric , Maddern Guy J. , Fenix Kevin
Published: January 2024

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cells are an adoptive immunotherapy reported to have strong anti-tumour activity across a range of cancers. They are a heterogeneous mix of lymphoid cells generated by culturing human peripheral blood mononuclear cells with cytokines and monoclonal antibodies in vitro. In this study, we investigated the yield and function of CIK cells generated from patients with CRC liver metastases. We first showed that CIK cells generated in serum free medium X-VIVO 15 were comparable to those from RPMI medium with 10% FBS in terms of the number and percentages of the main subsets of cells in the CIK culture, and the intracellular levels of granzyme B and perforin, and the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-2, IFN-γ and TNF-α. The CIK cells were cytotoxic to CRC cell lines grown in 2D cultures or as spheroids, and against autologous patient-derived tumour organoids. Donor attributes such as age, sex, or prior chemotherapy exposure had no significant impact on CIK cell numbers or function. These results suggest that functional CIK cells can be generated from patients with CRC liver metastatic disease, and support further investigations into the therapeutic application of autologous CIK cells in the management of patients with CRC liver metastases.
Feasibility and effectiveness of communication tools for addressing intimacy and sexuality in patients with cancer: a systematic review
Authors: Arends Susanne A. M. , van Rossum Carlijn E. , Eeltink Corien M. , Robertus Jantien E. , Schoonmade Linda J. , Francke Anneke L. , Jongerden Irene P.
Published: January 2024

Purpose

Patients diagnosed with cancer might experience changes in intimacy and sexuality due to the illness itself, treatment, or psychological and social factors. Healthcare professionals (HCPs) often feel reluctant to discuss these changes. This study aimed to provide an overview of the feasibility and effectiveness of communication tools that support communication regarding changes in intimacy or sexuality among patients with cancer.

Methods

This is a systematic review. Databases are PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, PsycInfo, Web of Science and Cochrane Library from inception to June 2023. The Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool was used to assess included studies. Data were summarized in data charting forms.

Results

In total 35 studies were included, published between 2001 and 2023. Most had a quantitative design and moderate methodological quality. In 11 studies, the PLISSIT model (Permission, Limited Information, Specific Suggestions, Intensive Therapy) was used. Tools were integrated in counselling sessions or training programmes for individual patients, couples, groups of patients, or HCPs. All tools were considered feasible by patients or HCPs. Twenty studies reported significant improvement in sexual functioning, quality of life, quality of care or combined outcomes.

Conclusion

Tools to support communication about changes in intimacy and sexuality among patients with cancer seem feasible and effective. The most commonly used tool, the PLISSIT model, proved to be feasible for HCPs and to have a positive effect on patients’ and partners’ sexual functioning and quality of life. Giving attention to changes in intimacy and sexuality seems to be important in itself, regardless of the communication tool or approach used.
I’m still me, I’m still a person: war metaphor use and meaning making in women with metastatic breast cancer
Authors: Hulse Sarah B. , Balogun Zainab , Rosenzweig Margaret Q. , Marsland Anna L. , Palmer Vanessa M.
Published: January 2024

Purpose

The war metaphor is one strategy used frequently in breast cancer to inspire individuals in a “fight” against cancer and assist patients in navigating their illness experience. Despite prominent use, the emotional impact of this language has not been examined in the context of meaning making among women with metastatic breast cancer (MBC).

Methods

This study involved a semi-structured interview considering the war metaphor’s impact on women’s illness experience with MBC. Participants (n = 22) had been diagnosed with MBC for at least 6 months or following 1 disease progression and were undergoing treatment at an NCI-designated cancer center in Western Pennsylvania at the time of interview. Each participant underwent an individual interview exploring the war metaphor’s impact on illness experience. Qualitative thematic analysis was performed to assess feelings about the war metaphor and emotional response to the lived experience of cancer.

Results

Two themes were identified surrounding metaphor use and participants’ experiences with meaning making in cancer. First, women with MBC perceive the diagnosis as an “unfair fight” due to its incurable nature. Second, patients use alternative language of “living life” and communicate resistance to being defined by their cancer diagnosis.

Conclusion

War metaphors are one collection of terminology people use to understand their diagnosis. However, their use may apply pressure to prioritize positivity in the face of diagnosis and treatment, in a unique clinical context where this may not be adaptive. These findings affirm a need to consider patients’ lived experiences to best facilitate psychological adjustment to illness.
ITrans: generative image inpainting with transformers
Authors: Miao Wei , Wang Lijun , Lu Huchuan , Huang Kaining , Shi Xinchu , Liu Bocong
Published: January 2024

Despite significant improvements, convolutional neural network (CNN) based methods are struggling with handling long-range global image dependencies due to their limited receptive fields, leading to an unsatisfactory inpainting performance under complicated scenarios. To address this issue, we propose the Inpainting Transformer (ITrans) network, which combines the power of both self-attention and convolution operations. The ITrans network augments convolutional encoder–decoder structure with two novel designs, i.e. , the global and local transformers. The global transformer aggregates high-level image context from the encoder in a global perspective, and propagates the encoded global representation to the decoder in a multi-scale manner. Meanwhile, the local transformer is intended to extract low-level image details inside the local neighborhood at a reduced computational overhead. By incorporating the above two transformers, ITrans is capable of both global relationship modeling and local details encoding, which is essential for hallucinating perceptually realistic images. Extensive experiments demonstrate that the proposed ITrans network outperforms favorably against state-of-the-art inpainting methods both quantitatively and qualitatively.
Acute evacuation of 54 intracerebral hematomas (aICH) during the microsurgical clipping of a ruptured middle cerebral artery bifurcation aneurysm—illustration of the individual clinical courses and outcomes with a serial brain CT/MRI panel until 12 months
Authors: Autio Anniina H. , Paavola Juho , Tervonen Joona , Lång Maarit , Elomaa Antti-Pekka , Huuskonen Terhi J. , Huttunen Jukka , Kärkkäinen Virve , von Und Zu Fraunberg Mikael , Lindgren Antti E. , Koivisto Timo , Kurola Jouni , Jääskeläinen Juha E. , Kämäräinen Olli-Pekka
Published: January 2024

Purpose

In aneurysmal intracerebral hemorrhage (aICH), our review showed the lack of the patient’s individual (i) timeline panels and (ii) serial brain CT/MRI slice panels through the aICH evacuation and neurointensive care until the final brain tissue outcome.

Methods

Our retrospective cohort consists of 54 consecutive aICH patients from a defined population who acutely underwent the clipping of a middle cerebral artery bifurcation saccular aneurysm (Mbif sIA) with the aICH evacuation at Kuopio University Hospital (KUH) from 2010 to 2019. We constructed the patient’s individual timeline panels since the emergency call and serial brain CT/MRI slice panels through the aICH evacuation and neurointensive care until the final brain tissue outcome. The patients were indicated by numbers (1.–54.) in the pseudonymized panels, tables, results, and discussion.

Results

The aICH volumes on KUH admission (median 46 cm3) plotted against the time from the emergency call to the evacuation (median 8 hours) associated significantly with the rebleeds (n=25) and the deaths (n=12). The serial CT/MRI slice panels illustrated the aICHs, intraventricular hemorrhages (aIVHs), residuals after the aICH evacuations, perihematomal edema (PHE), delayed cerebral injury (DCI), and in the 42 survivors, the clinical outcome (mRS) and the brain tissue outcome.

Conclusions

Regarding aICH evacuations, serial brain CT/MRI panels present more information than words, figures, and graphs. Re-bleeds associated with larger aICH volumes and worse outcomes. Swift logistics until the sIA occlusion with aICH evacuation is required, also in duty hours and weekends. Intraoperative CT is needed to illustrate the degree of aICH evacuation. PHE may evoke uncontrollable intracranial pressure (ICP) in spite of the acute aICH volume reduction.
Stereotactic radiosurgery for brain arteriovenous malformations in patients with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia
Authors: González Eduardo Orrego , Runge Sean , Mantziaris Georgios , Ironside Natasha , Sheehan Jason P.
Published: January 2024

Objective

Brain arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) in patients with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) present different characteristics from sporadic AVMs, and they have lower initial bleeding rates. Conservative management is usually preferred for the treatment of these lesions. In this case study, we present the largest series of HHT patients treated with stereotactic radiosurgery to date.

Methods

We identified eight patients with HHT and 14 AVMs. We retrospectively collected clinical, radiographic, and treatment characteristics of the patients and each AVM.

Results

Most patients in our sample presented with small AVMs. The median volume of these AVMs was 0.22 cm3 (IQR 0.08–0.59). Three out of eight patients presented with initial intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). The majority of lesions had low (12/14) Spetzler-Martin grades (I–II). Median maximum and margin doses used for treatment were 36.2 (IQR 35.25–44.4) and 20 (IQR 18–22.5) Gy, respectively. The overall obliteration rate after SRS was 11/14, and the median time to obliteration across all 11 obliterated AVMs was 35.83 months (IQR, 17–39.99). Neurological status was favorable with all patients having a mRS of 0 or 1 at the last follow-up. Symptomatic radiation-induced changes (RIC) after SRS were low (7.1%), and there were no permanent RIC.

Conclusions

Patients with HHT who present with multiple brain AVMs are generally well served by SRS. Obliteration can be achieved in the majority of HHT patients and with a low complication rate. In the current study, initial hemorrhage rates prior to SRS were noticeable which supports the decision to treat these AVMs. Future studies are needed to better address the role of SRS for HHT patients harboring ruptured and unruptured AVMs.
Sondersituation der Daten in der Onkologie
Authors: Metzger P. , Gräßel L. , Illert A. L. , Boerries M.
Published: January 2024

Die Nutzung künstlicher Intelligenz (KI) in der Onkologie verspricht eine kontinuierliche Verbesserung der Krebsbehandlung und der Krebsprävention. Neben der Verbesserung von Diagnostik und Therapieoptimierung trägt KI auch zur Effizienzsteigerung klinischer Prozesse bei. Die Automatisierung von Routineaufgaben und KI-gestützte Entscheidungsunterstützungssysteme erleichtern die Arbeit der Ärzt:innen, indem sie relevante Informationen in Echtzeit bereitstellen. Zudem zeigen KI-Algorithmen beeindruckende Fähigkeiten bei der präzisen Erkennung von Tumoren (z. B. durch die Analyse medizinischer Bilddaten sowie bei der Identifizierung genetischer Marker für personalisierte Therapieansätze). Voraussetzung dafür ist die Bereitstellung von standardisierten Datensätzen, was auch in der Onkologie eine Herausforderung darstellt. Die Komplexität der verschiedenen Datentypen, einschließlich medizinischer Bilder, genomischer Daten und klinischer Informationen, erfordert nicht nur fortgeschrittene Analysemethoden, sondern auch die Bereitstellung der Daten in einer standardisierten Form. Zudem müssen Datenschutz- und ethische Aspekte bei der Verwendung sensibler Patient:innendaten adressiert und berücksichtigt werden. Transparenz und Interpretierbarkeit von KI-Algorithmen sind hier entscheidend, um das Vertrauen in die Technologie zu stärken. Die Kombination von KI und Onkologie signalisiert einen Paradigmenwechsel hin zu einer präziseren, personalisierten und effizienteren Patient:innenversorgung bei gleichzeitiger Verbesserung der Lebensqualität. Während die positiven Auswirkungen auf die diagnostische Genauigkeit und die Therapieoptimierung vielversprechend sind, erfordert die Bewältigung der datenbezogenen Herausforderungen eine kontinuierliche Zusammenarbeit zwischen Wissenschaftler:innen, Informatiker:innen, Ärzt:innen und Patient:innen.
Automatic 3D Segmentation and Identification of Anomalous Aortic Origin of the Coronary Arteries Combining Multi-view 2D Convolutional Neural Networks
Authors: Pascaner Ariel Fernando , Rosato Antonio , Fantazzini Alice , Vincenzi Elena , Basso Curzio , Secchi Francesco , Lo Rito Mauro , Conti Michele
Published: January 2024

This work aimed to automatically segment and classify the coronary arteries with either normal or anomalous origin from the aorta (AAOCA) using convolutional neural networks (CNNs), seeking to enhance and fasten clinician diagnosis. We implemented three single-view 2D Attention U-Nets with 3D view integration and trained them to automatically segment the aortic root and coronary arteries of 124 computed tomography angiographies (CTAs), with normal coronaries or AAOCA. Furthermore, we automatically classified the segmented geometries as normal or AAOCA using a decision tree model. For CTAs in the test set (n = 13), we obtained median Dice score coefficients of 0.95 and 0.84 for the aortic root and the coronary arteries, respectively. Moreover, the classification between normal and AAOCA showed excellent performance with accuracy, precision, and recall all equal to 1 in the test set. We developed a deep learning-based method to automatically segment and classify normal coronary and AAOCA. Our results represent a step towards an automatic screening and risk profiling of patients with AAOCA, based on CTA.
A Complete Analysis Pipeline for the Processing, Alignment and Quantification of HPLC–UV Wine Chromatograms
Authors: Ianeselli Alan , Longo Edoardo , Poggesi Simone , Montali Marco , Boselli Emanuele
Published: January 2024

Elucidating the chemistry of wine would help defining its quality, chemical and sensory characteristics and optimise the wine-making processes. High-performance liquid chromatography coupled with UV–Vis spectroscopy (HPLC–UV–Vis) is a common analysis method used to obtain the molecular profile of wine samples. We propose a complete procedure for the analysis of wine chromatograms. Data are pre-processed using standard methods of down-sampling, smoothing and baseline subtraction. Multiple samples are then merged in a three-dimensional tensor, decomposed using parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC2) into three factors: (i) one reduced (rank-one) chromatogram per sample, (ii) an estimate of the samples’ spectral UV–Vis profile and (iii) an estimate of the samples’ concentrations. If the decomposition is performed on a single peak of the tensor, the second and third factors correspond to the representative wavelength spectrum and to the relative concentrations of the samples, respectively. Otherwise, when multiple peaks are analysed, further processing is required. In the latter case, the decomposed rank-one chromatograms are peak-detected and aligned, clustered and integrated. A table containing the concentration of the peaks at different retention times is obtained. The pipeline proposed in this study is a guideline for a quantitative and reproducible chemical analysis of wine, or other samples, via the HPLC–UV–Vis method.
Differentiation, maturation, and collection of THP-1-derived dendritic cells based on a PEG hydrogel culture platform
Authors: Choi Jaeho , Ki Chang Seok
Published: January 2024

Purpose

Dendritic cell (DC) is a spearhead responsible for immune response and surrounded by extracellular matrix in three-dimensional (3D) tissue. Nevertheless, conventional DC culture has relied on suspension or two-dimensional (2D) tissue culture plate (TCP)-based culture system. This culture condition often fails to recapitulate the physiological behavior of DC in real tissue. In this work, the effect of culture condition on DC physiology was explored with varying 3D hydrogel property (i.e., degradability, adhesion, and stiffness). In particular, DC differentiation and maturation in 3D were evaluated comparing the conventional TCP-based culture condition.

Method

THP-1 cells were encapsulated in poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) hydrogel via thiol-ene photocrosslinking with non-degradable or proteolytically degradable peptide crosslinker. Hydrogel stiffness was manipulated by controlling the concentration of crosslinker. The metabolic activities and cytotoxicity of the encapsulated cells were measured by resazurin and Live/Dead assays, respectively. Cell harvesting was conducted via enzymatic degradation using α-chymotrypsin, and differentiation and maturation of the liberated DCs were evaluated by quantitative polymerase chain reaction and flow cytometry.

Results

THP-1 cells well proliferated in the soft degradable hydrogel with a higher metabolic activity. However, the stiff matrix inhibited cell growth in 3D. The gene expression assay indicated that the 3D hydrogel condition was superior to 2D culture in terms of differentiation and maturation of DC. Interestingly, the stiffness of matrix was important factor in DC function. In the stiff hydrogel, the expression levels of differentiation and maturation markers were higher compared to the low stiffness hydrogel. The mature DCs caged in the hydrogel matrix were harvested after short enzymatic digestion of hydrogel and the liberated cells had over 90% viability. The flow cytometric result revealed that the proportion of CD80 + /CD86 + cells from the stiff hydrogel was relatively higher than cells either from 2D or soft hydrogel in 3D.

Conclusion

The collected evidence indicated that the proteolytically degradable PEG hydrogel matrix promoted DC differentiation and maturation. In addition, the matrix stiffness control could manipulate the marker expressions of differentiation and maturation. Particularly, the mature DC was successfully collected from the hydrogel matrix. These results highlighted the PEG hydrogel-based DC culture might be a useful tool for potential DC-based immunotherapies.
No Such Thing as Free Speech? Performativity, Free Speech, and Academic Freedom in the UK
Authors: Bacevic Jana
Published: January 2024

The relationship between academic freedom and freedom of speech features prominently in public and political discussions concerning the role of universities in Western liberal democracies. Recently, these debates have attracted increased attention, owing in part to media framing of a ‘free speech crisis’, especially in UK and US universities. One type of response is to regulate academic expression through legislation, such as the UK’s 2023 Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act. This article offers a critical analysis of the assumptions concerning the performativity of speech in this kind of legal intervention. It extends Judith Butler’s discussion of the concept of ‘harmful speech’ (Excitable speech: a politics of the performative, Routledge Classics, London, 1997) to conceptualize speech-acts as performative not only when it comes to populations, but also when it comes to institutions. Reconceptualizing universities as producing as well as being constituted by speech-acts, the article argues that the effects of free speech legislation need to be considered in the context of the transformation of universities and other political actors (including governments and student unions) in the second half of the twentieth and the beginning of the twenty-first century. It argues that legal enforcement of free speech at universities further obscures the distinction between negative and positive liberties identified by Isaiah Berlin (Two Concepts of Liberty, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 1958), and considers this shift as part of the reconfiguration of political ontology in late modernity.
Long-term vegetation responses to climate depend on the distinctive roles of rewilding and traditional grazing systems
Authors: Rincon-Madroñero Marina , Sánchez-Zapata Jose Antonio , Barber Xavier , Barbosa Jomar M.
Published: January 2024

Context

The abandonment of traditional practices has transformed agro-pastoral systems, leading to a more frequent occurrence of passive rewilding of Mediterranean landscapes. Reconstructing ecosystem responses to climate under different grazing conditions (i.e., wild, and domestic ungulates) is important to understand the future of these ecosystems.

Objectives

Here we study the different roles of domestic and wild herbivory in defining the climate-vegetation interaction. Specifically, we evaluated (1) the effect of climate on primary productivity at the landscape scale and (2) the long-term trends of vegetation biomass in response to passive rewilding or maintenance of traditional grazing systems.

Methods

This study was carried out in South-eastern Spain. We used satellite images to generate NDVI time series that proxy primary productivity and vegetation biomass. We combined the NDVI and climate data from two key landscapes: one with wild ungulates and another predominantly with domestic ungulates.

Results

We detected a secondary succession process in areas with only wild ungulates. In domestic herbivory areas, vegetation biomass remained constant throughout time (30 years). In domestic herbivory areas temperature and seasonal precipitation affected primary productivity. In areas with only wild herbivory, primary productivity was mainly driven by annual precipitation, and it was less dependent on seasonal precipitation.

Conclusion

These results highlight the distinctive roles of herbivores in defining Mediterranean landscapes' adaptability to climate, through passive rewilding or traditional livestock use. Maintaining both ecosystems can enhance landscape heterogeneity and ecological sustainability in a context of climatic changes.
Establishment of a Novel Short Tandem Repeat Typing Method for Exophiala dermatitidis
Authors: Zoqi Hamide , Schmidt Dirk , Sedlacek Ludwig , Rath Peter-Michael , Steinmann Joerg , Kirchhoff Lisa
Published: January 2024

The opportunistic black yeast-like fungus Exophiala dermatitidis frequently colonizes the respiratory tract of cystic fibroses (CF) patients. Additionally, it can cause superficial, systemic, and cerebral forms of phaeohyphomycoses. The objective of this study was to develop and apply a microsatellite or short tandem repeat (STR) genotyping scheme for E. dermatitidis. In total, 82 E. dermatitidis isolates from various geographic origins (environmental = 9, CF = 63, invasive isolates = 9, melanin-deficient mutant = 1) were included in this study. After next-generation sequencing of a reference strain and sequence filtering for microsatellites, six STR markers were selected and amplified in two multiplex PCR reactions. The included isolates were discriminated in a genetic cluster analysis using the Pearson algorithm to reveal the relatedness of the isolates. The E. dermatitidis isolates clustered on basis of both, their source and their origin. The invasive isolates from Asia were unrelated to isolates from CF. Nearly all environmental isolates were grouped separately from patients’ isolates. The Simpson index was 0.94. In conclusion, we were able to establish a STR genotyping scheme for investigating population genomics of E. dermatitidis.
Diagnostic accuracy of MRI–CBCT fused images in assessment of clinically diagnosed internal derangement of the temporomandibular joint
Authors: ElShennawy Ethar M. , Hamed Walaa M. , Samir Sahar M.
Published: January 2024

Objectives

To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of Fused (MRI)–CBCT images in the assessment of internal derangement of the temporomandibular joint.

Methods

MRI and CBCT images of the TMJ were evaluated bilaterally in 10 patients with clinically diagnosed internal derangement. Image fusion was performed using Amira 3D Software (version 5.4.3, Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.).

Results

The AUC index for MRI–CBCT fused images was 0.83, which was significantly different from the null hypothesis value of 0.5. This was confirmed by inter-examiner reliability index of 0.87, which is statistically significant.

Conclusion

MRI–CBCT fused images can significantly improve the accuracy and inter-examiner reliability in the evaluation of clinically diagnosed cases with internal derangement.
The analytic hierarchy process method to design applicable decision making for the effective removal of 2-MIB and geosmin in water sources
Authors: Ozgur Cihan
Published: January 2024

Numerous utilities encounter issues with taste and odor that alter the public’s impression of the safety of drinking water. The creation of certain components in water naturally due to global climate change is another source of taste and odor components, in addition to industrial emissions. Geosmin and 2-methylisoborneol (2-MIB), both of which are generated by blue-green algae and actinomycetes, are two substances that contribute to the musty and earthy smells in drinking water sources. Unfortunately, current conventional treatment plants only partially remove 2-MIB and geosmin. Therefore, to protect the environment and public health, more up-to-date or optimized treatment methods should be applied to outdated treatment facilities. Best treatment practices, evaluation standards, and decision-making approaches, however, are still shrouded in mystery. The goal of this study was to identify the most effective treatment options for 2-MIB and geosmin. By using the analytical hierarchy process (AHP), a total of 22 assessment criteria were found and prioritized. A thorough literature search led to the identification of potential treatment options, and their effectiveness was evaluated. These options and priority rankings were decided upon using AHP in the decision-making process. Advanced oxidation techniques came out on top in the final priority ranking, followed by membrane filtering, adsorption, oxidation, hybrid processes, and traditional treatment methods. The applied analytical decision techniques may also be used to choose the optimal treatment options, even though the results are particular to 2-MIB and geosmin.
Does dispositional optimism affect entrepreneurial success? Evidence from Saudi Arabia
Authors: Ben Fatma Elhem , Dana Léo-Paul , Elleuch Souhir , Ben Mohamed Ezzeddine
Published: January 2024

This study explores the effect of dispositional optimism bias on entrepreneurial success. By reviewing a mixture of previous studies from different disciplines: psychology, business and economics, we predict that this bias can positively affect entrepreneurial success. Based on a sample of 255 entrepreneurs in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and using the LOT-R psychometric test to measure the level of dispositional optimism among entrepreneurs, the effect of this variable on entrepreneurial success was tested, and the results show that this bias positively affects entrepreneurial success. Entrepreneurial success was also measured through three different proxies: the level of entrepreneurs’ satisfaction with what has been achieved from their entrepreneurial projects, the variation in the number of employees, and sales growth and the results were stable. We also find that entrepreneurs’ experience, age, and gender can influence entrepreneurial success. Finally, we should view entrepreneurial success not only as a function of traditional variables but also as a function of psychological biases.