bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Asynchronous Upconversion Sampling of Frequency Modulated Combs
Authors: Täschler Philipp , Forrer Andres , Bertrand Mathieu , Kapsalidis Filippos , Beck Mattias , Faist Jérôme
Published: February 2023

In recent years, optical frequency combs with a frequency modulated output have attracted considerable attention. While first observed decades ago in externally modulated lasers, a whole class of semiconductor lasers has since been identified to spontaneously enter such a regime of self frequency modulation. However, the temporal properties of these sources could so far only be measured indirectly via phase‐resolved frequency domain measurements. In this work, an asynchronous optical sampling technique which operates directly in time domain is demonstrated. On the basis of a mid‐infrared quantum cascade laser frequency comb, both its instantaneous intensity and optical frequency are measured. The results confirm a quasi‐constant intensity output alongside a close to linear frequency chirp, in accordance with phase‐resolved spectral measurements. Contrary to previous works, stable phase‐locking is achieved in a regime of positive intracavity dispersion resulting in an inversion of the observed frequency modulation.
Fully automated segmentally boosted VMAT
Authors: Huang Charles , Nomura Yusuke , Yang Yong , Xing Lei
Published: February 2023

Purpose

Treatment planning for volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) typically involves the use of multiple arcs to achieve sufficient intensity modulation. Alternatively, we can perform segment boosting to achieve similar intensity modulation while also reducing the number of control points used. Here, we propose the MetaPlanner Boosted VMAT (MPBV) approach, which generates boosted VMAT plans through a fully automated framework.

Methods

The proposed MPBV approach is an open‐source framework that consists of three main stages: meta‐optimization of treatment plan hyperparameters, fast beam angle optimization on a coarse dose grid to select desirable segments for boosting, and final plan generation (i.e., constructing the boosted VMAT arc and performing optimization).

Results

Performance for the MPBV approach is evaluated on 21 prostate cases and 6 head and neck cases using clinically relevant plan quality metrics (i.e., target coverage, dose conformity, dose homogeneity, and OAR sparing). As compared to two baseline methods with multiple arcs, MPBV maintains or improves dosimetric performance for the evaluated metrics while substantially reducing average estimated delivery times (from 2.6 to 2.1 min).

Conclusion

Our proposed MPBV approach provides an automated framework for producing high‐quality VMAT plans that uses fewer control points and reduces delivery time as compared to traditional approaches with multiple arcs. MPBV applies automated treatment planning to segmentally boosted VMAT to address the beam utilization inefficiencies of traditional VMAT approaches that use multiple full arcs.
Predicting pulmonary ventilation damage after radiation therapy for nonsmall cell lung cancer using a ResNet generative adversarial network
Authors: Wallat Eric M. , Wuschner Antonia E. , Flakus Mattison J. , Gerard Sarah E. , Christensen Gary E. , Reinhardt Joseph M. , Bayouth John E.
Published: February 2023

Background

Functional lung avoidance radiation therapy (RT) is a technique being investigated to preferentially avoid specific regions of the lung that are predicted to be more susceptible to radiation‐induced damage. Reducing the dose delivered to high functioning regions may reduce the occurrence radiation‐induced lung injuries (RILIs) and toxicities. However, in order to develop effective lung function‐sparing plans, accurate predictions of post‐RT ventilation change are needed to determine which regions of the lung should be spared.

Purpose

To predict pulmonary ventilation change following RT for nonsmall cell lung cancer using machine learning.

Methods

A conditional generative adversarial network (cGAN) was developed with data from 82 human subjects enrolled in a randomized clinical trial approved by the institution's IRB to predict post‐RT pulmonary ventilation change. The inputs to the network were the pre‐RT pulmonary ventilation map and radiation dose distribution. The loss function was a combination of the binary cross‐entropy loss and an asymmetrical structural similarity index measure (aSSIM) function designed to increase penalization of under‐prediction of ventilation damage. Network performance was evaluated against a previously developed polynomial regression model using a paired sample t‐test for comparison. Evaluation was performed using eight‐fold cross‐validation.

Results

From the eight‐fold cross‐validation, we found that relative to the polynomial model, the cGAN model significantly improved predicting regions of ventilation damage following radiotherapy based on true positive rate (TPR), 0.14±0.15 to 0.72±0.21, and Dice similarity coefficient (DSC), 0.19±0.16 to 0.46±0.14, but significantly declined in true negative rate, 0.97±0.05 to 0.62±0.21, and accuracy, 0.79±0.08 to 0.65±0.14. Additionally, the average true positive volume increased from 104±119 cc in the POLY model to 565±332 cc in the cGAN model, and the average false negative volume decreased from 654±361 cc in the POLY model to 193±163 cc in the cGAN model.

Conclusions

The proposed cGAN model demonstrated significant improvement in TPR and DSC. The higher sensitivity of the cGAN model can improve the clinical utility of functional lung avoidance RT by identifying larger volumes of functional lung that can be spared and thus decrease the probability of the patient developing RILIs.
Effects of BAMBI on luteinized follicular granulosa cell proliferation and steroid hormone production in sheep
Authors: Zhang Yaqi , Guo Zeyuan , Du Zhangsheng , Yao Zhichao , Guo Tong , Cheng Yin , Wang Kai , Ma Xiaoyan , Chen Chunlu , Kebreab Ermias , Wang Dong , Lyu Lihua
Published: February 2023

Bone morphogenetic protein and activin membrane‐bound inhibitor (BAMBI) regulates mammalian ovarian follicle growth and maturation; however, its effect on luteinized granulosa cells (LGCs) in sheep ovarian follicles remains unknown. Here we explored the regulatory role of LGC functions and steroid hormone synthesis by BAMBI. Multiple sequence alignment revealed that the sheep BAMBI gene sequence was relatively conserved. Sheep LGCs were strongly positive for BAMBI. LGC proliferation increased when BAMBI was silenced and decreased when BAMBI was overexpressed. After BAMBI overexpression, the expression of CASP3, CASP8, CASP9, and BAX significantly increased, whereas that of BCL2 and the ratio of BCL2/BAX expression decreased. The opposite was observed after BAMBI silencing. CDKN1A, CCND1, and CCND2 were downregulated with BAMBI overexpression and upregulated with BAMBI silencing. Expression of steroid hormone‐related genes (CYP11A1, STAR, and 3BHSD), except CYP19A1, significantly increased after BAMBI overexpression. Moreover, estrogen and progesterone secretion increased after BAMBI overexpression and decreased after BAMBI interference. The effect of the exogenous addition of bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2) on GCs was similar to that of BAMBI overexpression. In conclusion, BAMBI can regulate the proliferation and steroid hormone synthesis of sheep LGCs, and BMP2 can affect LGCs as an activator of BAMBI. These findings provide a basis for further research on the physiological role of BAMBI.
Combined use of lipopolysaccharide‐binding protein dsRNA and Gram‐negative bacteria for pest management of Coptotermes formosanus
Authors: Chen Wei‐Wen , Zhang Hong , Chen Yong , Zeng Wen‐Hui , Li Zhi‐Qiang
Published: February 2023

BACKGROUND

RNA interference (RNAi) technology is an environmentally friendly strategy for controlling insect pests. Lipopolysaccharide‐binding protein (LBP) recognizes lipopolysaccharides, which are a major outer membrane constituent of Gram‐negative bacteria. We propose that the LBP gene is a potential target for termite management; however, to date, no studies have examined this gene in termites.

RESULTS

In this study, we cloned the LBP gene of Coptotermes formosanus (Cf) and found that the mortality rate of termite workers significantly increased, and the repellence of these workers to Gram‐negative bacteria was suppressed after knockdown of CfLBP using double‐stranded RNA (dsRNA) injection and feeding. Moreover, the mortality rate of termite workers fed with CfLBP dsRNA and three Gram‐negative bacteria (provided separately) was over 50%, which was much higher than that of termites treated with either CfLBP dsRNA or Gram‐negative bacteria. Finally, we found that CfLBP impacts the IMD pathway to regulate the immune response of C. formosanus to Gram‐negative bacteria.

CONCLUSION

CfLBP plays a important role in the immune defense of termites against Gram‐negative bacteria. It can be used as an immunosuppressant for RNAi‐based termite management and is an ideal target for termite control based on the combined use of RNAi and pathogenic bacteria. © 2023 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.
Multivariate auto‐correlated process control by a residual‐based mixed CUSUM‐EWMA model
Authors: Wang Kung‐Jeng , Asrini Luh Juni
Published: February 2023

Multivariate auto‐correlated process control issues in industrial systems are a concern for statistical process monitoring (SPM). Traditional control charts produce large false alarms and/or miss timely detections of quality deterioration because they are unable to recognize the signals from multivariate auto‐correlated response variables. To track multivariate auto‐correlated processes, this paper presents a new residual‐based mixed multivariate control chart using cumulative sum (CUSUM) and exponentially weighted moving average (EWMA) approaches. Using in‐control data, the multi‐output least square support vector regression model's optimal hyper‐parameters are determined, and a bootstrap method is used to estimate the upper control limit of the proposed control chart. The suggested control chart has strong detection performance for a small magnitude mean vector shift based on the average run length (ARL) performance for a particular range of shifts. Experimental result elaborates that the proposed control chart is more sensitive to detecting the mean vector shift compared with the existing commonly used models, such as multivariate CUSUM and multivariate EWMA control charts. The proposed control chart model and corresponding computational algorithm are successfully applied to SPM in an electronic conductor production line with multivariate auto‐correlated attributes.
Ethanol Oxidation via 12‐Electron Pathway on Spiky Au@AuPd Nanoparticles Assisted by Near‐Infrared Light
Authors: Zhang Mengmeng , Zhang Xiang , Lv Min , Yue Xinru , Zheng Zhaoke , Xia Haibing
Published: February 2023

In this work, ethanol oxidation reaction (EOR) via 12‐electron (C1‐12e) pathway on spiky Au@AuPd nanoparticles (NPs) with ultrathin AuPd alloy shells is achieved in alkaline media with the assistance of the near‐infrared (NIR) light. It is found that OH radicals can be produced from the OHads species adsorbed on the surfaces of Pd atoms led by surface plasmon resonance (SPR) effect of spiky Au@AuPd NPs under the irradiation of NIR light. Moreover, OH radicals play the key role for the achievement of EOR proceeded by the desirable C1‐12e pathway because OH radicals can directly break the C–C bonds of ethanol. Accordingly, the electrocatalytic performance of spiky Au@AuPd NPs toward EOR under NIR light is greatly improved. For instance, their mass activity can be up to 33.2 A mgpd−1 in the 0.5 m KOH solution containing 0.5 m ethanol, which is about 158 times higher than that of commercial Pd/C catalysts (0.21 A mgpd−1) and is better than those of the state‐of‐the‐art Pd‐based catalysts reported in literature thus far, to the best of our knowledge. Moreover, their highest mass activity can be further improved to 118.3 A mgpd−1 in the 1.5 m KOH solution containing 1.25 m ethanol.
Recent progress in electrolyte design for advanced lithium metal batteries
Authors: Li Mingnan , Wang Caoyu , Davey Kenneth , Li Jingxi , Li Guanjie , Zhang Shilin , Mao Jianfeng , Guo Zaiping
Published: February 2023

Lithium metal batteries (LMBs) have attracted considerable interest for use in electric vehicles and as next‐generation energy storage devices because of their high energy density. However, a significant practical drawback with LMBs is the instability of the Li metal/electrolyte interface, with concurrent parasitic reactions and dendrite growth, that leads to low Coulombic efficiency and poor cycle life. Owing to the significant role of electrolytes in batteries, rationally designed electrolytes can improve the electrochemical performance of LMBs and possibly achieve fast charge and a wide range of working temperatures to meet various requirements of the market in the future. Although there are some review papers about electrolytes for LMBs, the focus has been on a single parameter or single performance separately and, therefore, not sufficient for the design of electrolytes for advanced LMBs for a wide range of working environments. This review presents a systematic summary of recent progress made in terms of electrolytes, covering the fundamental understanding of the mechanism, scientific challenges, and strategies to address drawbacks of electrolytes for high‐performance LMBs. The advantages and disadvantages of various electrolyte strategies are also analyzed, yielding suggestions for optimum properties of electrolytes for advanced LMBs applications. Finally, the most promising research directions for electrolytes are discussed briefly.
Recent advances in liver‐on‐chips: Design, fabrication, and applications
Authors: Qiu Linjie , Kong Bin , Kong Tiantian , Wang Huan
Published: February 2023

The liver is a multifunctional organ and the metabolic center of the human body. Most drugs and toxins are metabolized in the liver, resulting in varying degrees of hepatotoxicity. The damage of liver will seriously affect human health, so it is very important to study the prevention and treatment of liver diseases. At present, there are many research studies in this field. However, most of them are based on animal models, which are limited by the time‐consuming processes and species difference between human and animals. In recent years, liver‐on‐chips have emerged and developed rapidly and are expected to replace animal models. Liver‐on‐chips refer to the use of a small number of liver cells on the chips to simulate the liver microenvironment and ultrastructure in vivo. They hold extensive applications in multiple fields by reproducing the unique physiological functions of the liver in vitro. In this review, we first introduced the physiology and pathology of liver and then described the cell system of liver‐on‐chips, the chip‐based liver models, and the applications of liver‐on‐chips in liver transplantation, drug screening, and metabolic evaluation. Finally, we discussed the currently encountered challenges and future trends in liver‐on‐chips.
Plant poaching in southern Africa is aided by taxonomy: Is a return to Caput bonae spei inevitable?
Authors: Smith Gideon F. , Figueiredo Estrela , Victor Janine , Klopper Ronell R.
Published: February 2023

In recent years the poaching of, especially, succulent plants from the wild in South Africa has developed into an enormous, illegal industry, with the number of such plants confiscated increasing annually by over 250%. It has been estimated that more than 1.5 million plants have been illegally removed from the wild in the past three years. This conservation crisis has seen an unprecedented surge in poaching of representatives of families such as the Aizoaceae, Anacampserotaceae, Asphodelaceae, Crassulaceae, and several others, given that South Africa and neighbouring countries are host to about 45% of the known succulents of the world. Apart from annotated, geo‐referenced (type and other) herbarium specimens, further easily accessible sources of information on accurate occurrences of species are type localities published in protologues of plant names, and online resources that aim to mobilise biodiversity data. We propose drastic measures regarding the non‐disclosure of accurate locality information on specimens, in the literature, and on websites.
Narrating science: Can it benefit science learning, and how? A theoretical review
Authors: Soares Sara , Gonçalves Matilde , Jerónimo Rita , Kolinsky Régine
Published: February 2023

Narrative texts have been advocated as tools to tackle science learning challenges, and there is even the proposal of a “narrative effect” on learning. We believe it is necessary to examine previous evidence on this effect, as well as to characterize the process of learning through science narrative texts more broadly. In this article, we offer a theoretical review drawing on three frameworks, namely on pedagogical aspects of text learning, linguistic features of texts, and cognitive aspects of text comprehension. Based on that, we analyzed two complementary questions. First, we reviewed 36 studies to ask if science narrative texts can benefit learning and memory outcomes at different educational levels (i.e., the “If” question). We found encouraging evidence for the use of science narrative texts at various educational levels, especially in delayed assessments and longer‐lasting interventions. Second, we gathered and linked ideas, hints, and evidence on how the process of learning with science narrative texts takes place, namely on conditions and underlying processes (i.e., the “How” question). There are many features from conditions (texts, learners, activities, wider context) and underlying processes (integration with prior knowledge, affective dispositions, and cognitive abilities) that can help to account for variability in outcomes; yet, ideas and evidence are not always tightly connected. We suggest that education and research should focus on specific narrative effects, that specify with what (texts), with whom (learners), when and where (activities and wider context) these effects occur, as well as “why” (underlying processes). We believe the proposed framing can help both make sense of previous evidence and inform future educational practices and research and provide some recommendations in this regard.
Prediction of postnatal circulation in pulmonary atresia/critical stenosis with intact ventricular septum: systematic review and external validation of models
Authors: Villalaín C. , Moon‐Grady A. J. , Herberg U. , Strainic J. , Cohen J. L. , Shah A. , Levi D. S. , Gómez‐Montes E. , Herraiz I. , Galindo A.
Published: February 2023

Objective

A favorable postnatal prognosis in cases of pulmonary atresia/critical stenosis with intact ventricular septum (PA/CS‐IVS) is generally equated with the possibility of achieving biventricular (BV) repair. Identification of fetuses that will have postnatal univentricular (UV) circulation is key for prenatal counseling, optimization of perinatal care and decision‐making regarding fetal therapy. We aimed to evaluate the accuracy of published models for predicting postnatal circulation in PA/CS‐IVS using a large internationally derived validation cohort.

Methods

This was a systematic review of published uni‐ and multiparametric models for the prediction of postnatal circulation based on echocardiographic findings at between 20 and 28 weeks of gestation. Models were externally validated using data from the International Fetal Cardiac Intervention Registry. Sensitivity, specificity, predictive values, area under the receiver‐operating‐characteristics curves (AUCs) and proportion of cases with true vs predicted outcome were calculated.

Results

Eleven published studies that reported prognostic parameters of postnatal circulation were identified. Models varied widely in terms of the main outcome (UV (n = 3), non‐BV (n = 3), BV (n = 3), right‐ventricle‐dependent coronary circulation (n = 1) or tricuspid valve size at birth (n = 1)) and in terms of the included predictors (single parameters only (n = 6), multiparametric score (n = 4) or both (n = 1)), and were developed on small sample sizes (range, 15–38). Nine models were validated externally given the availability of the required parameters in the validation cohort. Tricuspid valve diameter Z‐score, tricuspid regurgitation, ratios between right and left cardiac structures and the presence of ventriculocoronary connections (VCC) were the most commonly evaluated parameters. Multiparametric models including up to four variables (ratios between right and left structures, right ventricular inflow duration, presence of VCC and tricuspid regurgitation) had the best performance (AUC, 0.80–0.89). Overall, the risk of UV outcome was underestimated and that of BV outcome was overestimated by most models.

Conclusions

Current prenatal models for the prediction of postnatal outcome in PA/CS‐IVS are heterogeneous. Multiparametric models for predicting UV and non‐BV circulation perform well in identifying BV patients but have low sensitivity, underestimating the rate of fetuses that will ultimately have UV circulation. Until better discrimination can be achieved, fetal interventions may need to be limited to only those cases in which non‐BV postnatal circulation is certain. © 2023 The Authors. Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Serum amyloid A does not predict non‐survival in hospitalised adult horses with acute colitis
Authors: Runge Kira Elisabeth , Bak Maj , Vestergaard Amalie , Stærk‐Østergaard Jacob , Jacobsen Stine , Pihl Tina Holberg
Published: February 2023

Background

Predicting non‐survival in horses with acute colitis improves early decision making. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the prognostic value of serum amyloid A (SAA) and other clinicopathological and clinical variables in adult horses with acute colitis.

Methods

Clinical variables, SAA and other blood biomarkers, including plasma L‐lactate (lactate), were assessed in 176 horses with acute colitis. A multivariate model for the prediction of non‐survival was constructed. Icelandic horses were analysed separately.

Results

Admission SAA was similar in survivors (median 548 mg/L; range 0–5453 mg/L) and non‐survivors (396 mg/L; 0–5294) (p = 0.43). A model for non‐survival included year of admission, lactate, heart rate, age and colic duration of more than 24 hours. Icelandic horses had a relative risk of 2.9 (95% confidence interval = 2.2–3.8) for acute colitis compared to other breeds. Lactate in Icelandic horses was higher than that in other breeds in both survivors (4.0 mmol/L, range 1.0–12.7 vs. 2.0, 0.7–12.5) and non‐survivors (10.0, 1.5–26 vs. 5.4, 0.8–22) (p < 0.001).

Limitations

The prognostic value of repeated measurements of SAA could not be assessed in this study, as 71% of the non‐surviving horses died within a day of admission.

Conclusion

Admission SAA did not predict non‐survival. Breed needs consideration when lactate is evaluated as a predictor for non‐survival in horses with colitis.
Counterfactuals with Experimental and Quasi-Experimental Variation
Authors: Battistin Erich , Bertoni Marco
Published: February 2023

Inference about the causal effects of a policy intervention requires knowledge of what would have happened to the outcome of the units affected had the policy not taken place. Since this counterfactual quantity is never observed, the empirical investigation of causal effects must deal with a missing data problem. Random variation in the assignment to the policy offers a solution, under some assumptions. We discuss identification of policy effects when participation to the policy is determined by a lottery (randomized designs), when participation is only partially influenced by a lottery (instrumental variation), and when participation depends on eligibility criteria making a subset of participant and non-participant units as good as randomly assigned to the policy (regression discontinuity designs). We offer guidelines for empirical analysis in each of these settings and provide some applications of the methods proposed to the evaluation of education policies.
Correlation Is Not Causation, Yet… Matching and Weighting for Better Counterfactuals
Authors: Negri Fedra
Published: February 2023

Anyone who has attended a statistics class has heard the old adage “correlation does not imply causation,” usually followed by a series of hilarious graphs showing spurious correlations. Even if we strongly agree with it, this reminder has been taken a little too far: it is repeated like a mantra to criticize every observational study as being unable to detect causation behind statistical association. This chapter helps the reader go beyond the mantra, firstly, by explaining that “correlation does not imply causation” in observational studies because of selection bias (i.e. the composition of treatment and control groups follows a non-random selection) and parametric model dependence. Then, it introduces readers to weighting and matching techniques, smart statistical tools for reducing imbalance in the empirical distribution of pretreatment covariates between the treatment and control groups. Lastly, it provides an empirical illustration by focusing on two powerful algorithms: the entropy balancing (EB) and the coarsened exact matching (CEM). The chapter ends with caveats.
Causal Inference and Policy Evaluation from Case Studies Using Bayesian Process Tracing
Authors: Bennett Andrew
Published: February 2023

Case studies enable policy-relevant causal inferences when experimental and quasi-experimental methods are not possible. Even when other methods are possible, case studies can strengthen inferences either as a standalone method or as part of a multimethod research design. The chapter outlines the case study method of process tracing (PT), which is a within-case mode of analysis that builds upon Bayesian logic to make inferences to the best explanation of the outcomes of single cases. The chapter locates the epistemological basis of PT in the development and testing of theories about the ways in which causal mechanisms operate to generate outcomes. It then defines PT and outlines best practices on how to do it, illustrating these with examples of case study research on the COVID pandemic. The chapter then outlines the comparative advantages of PT vis-à-vis other methods, and identifies the kinds of research questions and research contexts for which PT is most useful. This leads to a brief discussion of two methodological innovations: formal Bayesian PT and the use of causal models in the form of Directed Acyclic Graphs to assist PT and integrate qualitative and quantitative evidence. The chapter concludes with the strengths and limits of PT.
Covid-19 and the Politics of Migration Policy in Estonia
Authors: Kalev Leif
Published: February 2023

Migration is one of the most politically highly sensitive policy fields. This makes it interesting to study in terms of the Covid-19 policy response. The chapter focuses on the political context of the Covid related migration policies and measures of the two national governments in Estonia: the conservative-leaning cabinet of Jüri Ratas 2019-21 and the liberal-leaning cabinet of Kaja Kallas since January 2021. Estonia is a good case for the study as it has had a relatively consistent and evolutionary migration policy since the 1990s. The key interest is to what extent did the Covid-19 crisis function as a focusing event fostering policy changes. The chapter starts with a theoretical discussion, where the concept of politics of migration policy will be elaborated and operationalised for this study. Then the empirical approach will be developed and the Estonian case contextualised and studied, developing the basis for the subsequent discussion and conclusions.
The Mediatisation of Migration Issues During the ‘Refugee Crisis’: A Comparative Case-Study of the UK, Denmark and Germany
Authors: Temizisler Sevgi
Published: February 2023

Spurred on by civil war in Iraq, Libya and Syria and by instability in several African countries, more than 1.8 million migrants/refugees arrived in the EU in 2015. This massive pressure from immigrants and refugees led to a humanitarian crisis on a global scale while threatening the key instruments of border control in the EU and, at the same time, increasing uncertainty about the political, economic and societal implications for member states. The ‘crisis’ was highly politicised in domestic politics owing to the heightened salience in media coverage, the mobilisation of citizens holding exclusive nationalist identities by mostly right-wing populist parties and exacerbated polarisation in public debates. In such circumstances, popular disapproval of the EU’s management of the crisis grew and provided a suitable platform for the growth of anti-EU and anti-refugee/immigrant discourses, in which the domestic mass media played a major role by reflecting these tendencies and shaping public opinion concerning the ‘crisis’. Employing a comparativist methodology, this chapter investigates how migration issues were mediatised during the ‘refugee crisis’ in three different countries – the UK, Denmark and Germany – and the consequent implications.
Who Is the Worst Migrant? Migrant Hierarchies in Populist Radical-Right Rhetoric in Estonia
Authors: Koppel Katrina , Jakobson Mari-Liis
Published: February 2023

Migrants are often an antagonised group in populist radical-right rhetoric and are even perceived quite negatively by mainstream publics. Immigrants’ contributions (societal, economic, cultural etc.) are, on the whole, undervalued even by those who consider their own position to be neutral or positive toward migrants, while the negative effects (e.g. criminality or lowering property values) are overestimated. Often, immigrants are associated with or blamed for the turbulent times that the host society is experiencing and are depicted using anxiety-inducing rhetoric. While populism tends towards simplifying and homogenising the good and morally virtuous people as well as the unworthy and/or morally corrupt antagonist groups, there is often more nuance to this. In fact, migrants are not always perceived as a completely homogeneous group even by the populist radical right, especially when contemplating migration policy. Such an approach becomes inevitable as soon as the populists begin to make policy proposals. Yet, these internal hierarchies that exist within primarily negative perceptions have thus far merited little attention. With reference to Estonia, this chapter aims to deconstruct the phenomenon of migrant hierarchies in populist radical-right rhetoric.
Left to Their Own Devices: Refugees’ Labour-Market Integration Challenges in Austria during the Covid-19 Pandemic
Authors: Aigner Petra , Bešić Almina
Published: February 2023

Labour-market integration is understood as an important pillar in the successful integration processes of refugees into host societies. In the European Union at large and in Austria specifically, refugee integration processes regarding societies and the labour market have become hotly debated topics in public and scholarly debates. Focusing on Austria, this chapter analyses challenges and barriers to labour-market integration of refugees in crisis and beyond. Results from interviews with refugees indicate three areas of the pandemic’s impact: on employment search processes of refugees; the effect of digitalisation of communication; and increased feelings of disorientation.
Different Systems, Similar Responses: Policy Reforms on Asylum-Seekers’ and Refugees’ Access to Healthcare in Germany and Sweden in the Wake of the 2015–17 ‘Migration Crisis’
Authors: Roos Mechthild
Published: February 2023

Who has – and who deserves – full or partial access to a state’s healthcare system? This question has become an issue of controversial political debate in many countries, not least in the context of recent crises such as the Covid-19 pandemic and, previously, the so-called ‘migration crisis’ of 2015–17. This chapter focuses on the latter crisis and its repercussions on the political regulation of healthcare access for a group at the very margins of society: asylum-seekers and refugees. By analysing recent asylum and health policy reforms in two main recipient countries in the EU, Germany and Sweden, the chapter sheds light on the intensifying level of politicisation of both health and incorporation policies in times of crisis.
Searches for heavy QCD axions via dimuon final states
Authors: Co Raymond T. , Kumar Soubhik , Liu Zhen
Published: February 2023

Abstract

Heavy QCD axions are well-motivated extensions of the QCD axion that address the quality problem while still solving the strong CP problem. Owing to the gluon coupling, critical for solving the strong CP problem, these axions can be produced in significant numbers in beam dump and collider environments for axion decay constants as large as PeV, relevant for addressing the axion quality problem. In addition, if these axions have leptonic couplings, they can give rise to long-lived decay into lepton pairs, in particular, dominantly into muons above the dimuon threshold and below the GeV scale in a broad class of axion models. Considering existing constraints, primarily from rare meson decays, we demonstrate that current and future neutrino facilities and long-lived particle searches have the potential to probe significant parts of the heavy QCD axion parameter space via dimuon final states.
Homological kernels of monoidal functors
Authors: Coulembier Kevin
Published: February 2023

We show that each rigid monoidal category $${\textbf{a}}$$
a
over a field defines a family of universal tensor categories, which together classify all faithful monoidal functors from $${\textbf{a}}$$
a
to tensor categories. Each of the universal tensor categories classifies monoidal functors of a given ‘homological kernel’ and can be realised as a sheaf category, not necessarily on $${\textbf{a}}$$
a
. This yields a theory of ‘local abelian envelopes’ which completes the notion of monoidal abelian envelopes.
The validation of low-dose CT scans from the [18F]-FDG PET-CT scan to assess skeletal muscle mass in comparison with diagnostic neck CT scans
Authors: Zwart Aniek T. , Cavalheiro Vitor J. , Lamers Maria J. , Dierckx Rudi A. J. O. , de Bock Geertruida H. , Halmos Gyorgy B. , van der Hoorn Anouk
Published: February 2023

Purpose

Radiologically defined sarcopenia, or a low skeletal muscle index (SMI), is an emerging biomarker for adverse clinical outcomes in head and neck cancer (HNC) patients. Recently, SMI measurements have been validated at the level of the third cervical vertebra (C3) on diagnostic neck CT scans but are not yet validated on low-dose (LD) neck CT scans from the [18F]-FDG PET-CT. This hampers SMI analysis in HNC patients without a diagnostic neck CT but with a [18F]-FDG PET-CT scan. Therefore, the aim was to study whether (low) SMI based on LD CT scan from [18F]-FDG PET-CT is comparable to those derived from diagnostic neck CT scans.

Methods

HNC patients with both diagnostic CT and [18F]-FDG PET-CT of the neck were prospectively included into the OncoLifeS data-biobank. Skeletal muscle was retrospectively delineated at the level of the third cervical vertebra (C3), and (low) SMI (cm2/m2) was calculated for diagnostic and LD neck CTs. (Low) SMI from the diagnostic neck CT was considered the reference standard. Intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC), Bland–Altman plots, and Cohen’s Kappa analysis were performed.

Results

The cohort (n = 233) mean age was 66.2 ± 12.8 years, and 74.2% of patients were male. Inter-rater reliability was excellent (ICC > 0.990, 95% confidence interval 0.975–0.996, p < 0.001). The agreement of SMI between both modalities was high according to the Bland–Altman plot (mean ΔSMI =  − 0.19 cm2/m2), and there was no substantial bias. Cohen’s Kappa analysis showed an almost perfect agreement of low SMI between the two modalities (κ = 0.911, p < 0.001). The position of arms didn't affect the high agreement of (low) SMI.

Conclusion

Skeletal muscle mass, as measured with (low) SMI, remains constant irrespective of CT acquisition parameters (diagnostic neck CT scans versus LD neck scans of the [18F]-FDG PET-CT scan), positioning of arms, and observers. These findings contribute to the construction of a clinically useful radiological biomarker for SMI and therefore identify patients at risk for adverse clinical outcomes.
Beyond BMI: cardiometabolic measures as predictors of impulsivity and white matter changes in adolescents
Authors: Prunell-Castañé Anna , Jurado María Ángeles , Ottino-González Jonatan , Prats-Soteras Xavier , Sánchez Garre Consuelo , Cano Marco Neus , Salas Gómez-Pablos Paloma , García-García Isabel , Garolera Maite
Published: February 2023

Obesity is characterized by cardiometabolic and neurocognitive changes. However, how these two factors relate to each other in this population is unknown. We tested the association that cardiometabolic measures may have with impulse behaviors and white matter microstructure in adolescents with and without an excess weight. One hundred and eight adolescents (43 normal-weight and 65 overweight/obesity; 11–19 years old) were medically and psychologically (Temperament Character Inventory Revised, Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire-R18, Conners’ Continuous Performance Test-II, Stroop Color and Word Test, Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, Kirby Delay Discounting Task) evaluated. A subsample of participants (n = 56) underwent a brain magnetic resonance imaging acquisition. In adolescents, higher triglycerides and having a body mass index indicative of overweight/obesity predicted a more impulsive performance in Conners’ Continuous Performance Test-II (higher commission errors). In addition, higher glucose and diastolic blood pressure values predicted increments in the Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire-R18 emotional eating scale. Neuroanatomically, cingulum fractional anisotropy showed a negative relationship with glycated hemoglobin. The evaluation of the neurocognitive differences associated with obesity, usually based on body mass index, should be complemented with cardiometabolic measures.
RAI3 expression is not associated with clinical outcomes of patients with non-small cell lung cancer
Authors: Melling Nathaniel , Reeh Matthias , Ghadban Tarik , Tachezy Michael , Hajek André , Izbicki Jakob Robert , Grupp Katharina
Published: February 2023

Purpose

Retinoic acid inducible protein 3 (RAI3) has been suggested as prognostic biomarker in several cancer types. The present study aimed to examine the role of RAI3 expression in non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLCs).

Methods

RAI3 protein expression was evaluated by immunohistochemistry in tissue microarray (TMA) sections from a retrospective cohort of more than 600 surgically resected NSCLCs and results were compared with clinicopathological features and follow-up data.

Results

While membranous RAI3 immunostaining was always strong in benign lung, strong RAI3 staining was only detectable in 14.7% of 530 interpretable NSCLCs. Within NSCLC subtypes, immunostaining intensity for RAI3 was significantly decreased in large cell lung cancers (LCLCs) and squamous cell carcinomas (SQCCs) relative to lung adenocarcinomas (LUACs) (P < 0.0001 each). However, RAI3 staining was neither associated with pathological features of NSCLCs nor with survival of patients (P = 0.6915).

Conclusion

Our study shows that RAI3 expression was not associated with clinical outcomes of NSCLC patients and cannot be considered as prognostic marker in lung cancer patients.
Robot-assisted versus laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy: a systematic review and meta-analysis including patient subgroups
Authors: van Ramshorst Tess M. E. , van Bodegraven Eduard A. , Zampedri Pietro , Kasai Meidai , Besselink Marc G. , Abu Hilal Mohammad
Published: February 2023

Background

Robot-assisted distal pancreatectomy (RDP) has been suggested to hold some benefits over laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy (LDP) but consensus and data on specific subgroups are lacking. This systematic review and meta-analysis reports the surgical and oncological outcome and costs between RDP and LDP including subgroups with intended spleen preservation and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC).

Methods

Studies comparing RDP and LDP were included from PubMed, Cochrane Central Register, and Embase (inception-July 2022). Primary outcomes were conversion and unplanned splenectomy. Secondary outcomes were R0 resection, lymph node yield, major morbidity, operative time, intraoperative blood loss, in-hospital mortality, operative costs, total costs and hospital stay.

Results

Overall, 43 studies with 6757 patients were included, 2514 after RDP and 4243 after LDP. RDP was associated with a longer operative time (MD = 18.21, 95% CI 2.18–34.24), less blood loss (MD = 54.50, 95% CI ﻿− 84.49–24.50), and a lower conversion rate (OR = 0.44, 95% CI﻿ 0.36–0.55) compared to LDP. In spleen-preserving procedures, RDP was associated with more Kimura procedures (OR = 2.23, 95% CI﻿ 1.37–3.64) and a lower rate of unplanned splenectomies (OR = 0.32, 95% CI﻿ 0.24–0.42). In patients with PDAC, RDP was associated with a higher lymph node yield (MD = 3.95, 95% CI ﻿1.67–6.23), but showed no difference in the rate of R0 resection (OR = 0.96, 95% CI﻿ 0.67–1.37). RDP was associated with higher total (MD = 3009.31, 95% CI ﻿1776.37–4242.24) and operative costs (MD = 3390.40, 95% CI ﻿1981.79–4799.00).

Conclusions

RDP was associated with a lower conversion rate, a higher spleen preservation rate and, in patients with PDAC, a higher lymph node yield and similar R0 resection rate, as compared to LDP. The potential benefits of RDP need to be weighed against the higher total and operative costs in future randomized trials.
European Association for Endoscopic Surgery (EAES) consensus on Indocyanine Green (ICG) fluorescence-guided surgery
Authors: Cassinotti E. , Al-Taher M. , Antoniou S. A. , Arezzo A. , Baldari L. , Boni L. , Bonino M. A. , Bouvy N. D. , Brodie R. , Carus T. , Chand M. , Diana M. , Eussen M. M. M. , Francis N. , Guida A. , Gontero P. , Haney C. M. , Jansen M. , Mintz Y. , Morales-Conde S. , Muller-Stich B. P. , Nakajima K. , Nickel F. , Oderda M. , Parise P. , Rosati R. , Schijven M. P. , Silecchia G. , Soares A. S. , Urakawa S. , Vettoretto N.
Published: February 2023

Background

In recent years, the use of Indocyanine Green (ICG) fluorescence-guided surgery during open and laparoscopic procedures has exponentially expanded across various clinical settings. The European Association of Endoscopic Surgery (EAES) initiated a consensus development conference on this topic with the aim of creating evidence-based statements and recommendations for the surgical community.

Methods

An expert panel of surgeons has been selected and invited to participate to this project. Systematic reviews of the PubMed, Embase and Cochrane libraries were performed to identify evidence on potential benefits of ICG fluorescence-guided surgery on clinical practice and patient outcomes. Statements and recommendations were prepared and unanimously agreed by the panel; they were then submitted to all EAES members through a two-rounds online survey and results presented at the EAES annual congress, Barcelona, November 2021.

Results

A total of 18,273 abstracts were screened with 117 articles included. 22 statements and 16 recommendations were generated and approved. In some areas, such as the use of ICG fluorescence-guided surgery during laparoscopic cholecystectomy, the perfusion assessment in colorectal surgery and the search for the sentinel lymph nodes in gynaecological malignancies, the large number of evidences in literature has allowed us to strongly recommend the use of ICG for a better anatomical definition and a reduction in post-operative complications.

Conclusions

Overall, from the systematic literature review performed by the experts panel and the survey extended to all EAES members, ICG fluorescence-guided surgery could be considered a safe and effective technology. Future robust clinical research is required to specifically validate multiple organ-specific applications and the potential benefits of this technique on clinical outcomes.
Variation of butyrate production in the gut microbiome in type 2 diabetes patients
Authors: Siptroth Julienne , Moskalenko Olga , Krumbiegel Carsten , Ackermann Jörg , Koch Ina , Pospisil Heike
Published: February 2023

Background

Diabetes mellitus type 2 is a common disease that poses a challenge to the healthcare system. The disease is very often diagnosed late. A better understanding of the relationship between the gut microbiome and type 2 diabetes can support early detection and form an approach for therapies. Microbiome analysis offers a potential opportunity to find markers for this disease. Next-generation sequencing methods can be used to identify the bacteria present in the stool sample and to generate a microbiome profile through an analysis pipeline. Statistical analysis, e.g., using Student’s t-test, allows the identification of significant differences. The investigations are not only focused on single bacteria, but on the determination of a comprehensive profile. Also, the consideration of the functional microbiome is included in the analyses. The dataset is not from a clinical survey, but very extensive.

Results

By examining 946 microbiome profiles of diabetes mellitus type 2 sufferers (272) and healthy control persons (674), a large number of significant genera (25) are revealed. It is possible to identify a large profile for type 2 diabetes disease. Furthermore, it is shown that the diversity of bacteria per taxonomic level in the group of persons with diabetes mellitus type 2 is significantly reduced compared to a healthy control group. In addition, six pathways are determined to be significant for type 2 diabetes describing the fermentation to butyrate. These parameters tend to have high potential for disease detection.

Conclusions

With this investigation of the gut microbiome of persons with diabetes type 2 disease, we present significant bacteria and pathways characteristic of this disease.
High Costs and Low Benefits: Analysis and Evaluation of the “I’m Not Stupid” Argument
Authors: Jansen Henrike
Published: February 2023

This article presents an analysis and evaluation of what I call the “I’m not stupid” argument. This argument has ancient roots, which lie in Aristotle’s famous description of the weak man’s and strong man’s arguments. An “I’m not stupid” argument is typically used in a context of accusation and defense, by a defendant who argues that they did not commit the act of which they have been accused. The analysis of this type of argument takes the shape of an argumentative pattern, which displays a full-fledged representation of its argumentation structure. It is based on a collection of ten contemporary instances of the “I’m not stupid” argument. Although ten instances constitute a small collection, the wide variation in the argumentative elements that they express explicitly or leave implicit made it possible to identify five new key premises in comparison with previous analyses of the weak man’s and strong man’s arguments (Walton, Tindale and Gordon 2014 in Argumentation 28:85–119, 2014; Walton 2019 in Argumentation 33:45–74, 2019). These new premises show that the crucial point of an evaluation of this argument is the arguer's supposedly rational character in making a gain-loss calculation. They also show that we need empirical data to strengthen our analyses of argument schemes and argumentation structures.