bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Growth on stiffer substrates impacts animal health and longevity in C. elegans
Authors: Oorloff Maria , Hruby Adam , Averbukh Maxim , Alcala Athena , Dutta Naibedya , Minor Cray , Castro Torres Toni , Moaddeli Darius , Vega Matthew , Kim Juri , Bong Andrew , Coakley Aeowynn J. , Hicks Daniel , Wang Jing , Wang Tiffany , Hoang Sally , Tharp Kevin M. , Garcia Gilberto , Higuchi-Sanabria Ryo
Published: September 2024

Mechanical stress is a measure of internal resistance exhibited by a body or material when external forces, such as compression, tension, bending, etc. are applied. The study of mechanical stress on health and aging is a continuously growing field, as major changes to the extracellular matrix and cell-to-cell adhesions can result in dramatic changes to tissue stiffness during aging and diseased conditions. For example, during normal aging, many tissues including the ovaries, skin, blood vessels, and heart exhibit increased stiffness, which can result in a significant reduction in function of that organ. As such, numerous model systems have recently emerged to study the impact of mechanical and physical stress on cell and tissue health, including cell-culture conditions with matrigels and other surfaces that alter substrate stiffness and ex vivo tissue models that can apply stress directly to organs like muscle or tendons. Here, we sought to develop a novel method in an in vivo model organism setting to study the impact of altering substrate stiffness on aging by changing the stiffness of solid agar medium used for growth of C. elegans. We found that greater substrate stiffness had limited effects on cellular health, gene expression, organismal health, stress resilience, and longevity. Overall, our study reveals that altering substrate stiffness of growth medium for C. elegans has only mild impact on animal health and longevity; however, these impacts were not nominal and open up important considerations for C. elegans biologists in standardizing agar medium choice for experimental assays.
Gene sequence analysis model construction based on k-mer statistics
Authors: Gao Dongjie
Published: September 2024

With the rapid development of biotechnology, gene sequencing methods are gradually improved. The structure of gene sequences is also more complex. However, the traditional sequence alignment method is difficult to deal with the complex gene sequence alignment work. In order to improve the efficiency of gene sequence analysis, D2 series method of k-mer statistics is selected to build the model of gene sequence alignment analysis. According to the structure of the foreground sequence, the sequence to be aligned can be cut by different lengths and divided into multiple subsequences. Finally, according to the selected subsequences, the maximum dissimilarity in the alignment results is determined as the statistical result. At the same time, the research also designed an application system for the sequence alignment analysis of the model. The experimental results showed that the statistical power of the sequence alignment analysis model was directly proportional to the sequence coverage and cutting length, and inversely proportional to the K value and module length. At the same time, the model was applied to the system designed in this paper. The maximum storage capacity of the system was 71 GB, the maximum disk capacity was 135 GB, and the running time was less than 2.0s. Therefore, the k-mer statistic sequence alignment model and system proposed in this study have considerable application value in gene alignment analysis.
Assigning goal-probability value to high intensity runs in football
Authors: Gregory Sam , Robertson Sam , Aughey Robert , Spencer Bartholomew , Alexander Jeremy
Published: September 2024

High intensity run counts—defined as the number of runs where a player reaches and maintains a speed above a certain threshold—are a popular football running statistic in sport science research. While the high intensity run number gives an insight into the volume or intensity of a player’s work rate it does not give any indication about the effectiveness of their runs or whether or not they provided value to the team. To provide the missing context of value this research borrows the concept of value models from sports analytics which assign continuous values to each frame of optical tracking data. In this research the value model takes the form of goal-probability for the in-possession team. By aligning the value model with high intensity runs this research identifies positive correlations between speed and acceleration with high value runs, as well as a negative correlation between tortuosity (a measure of path curvature) and high value runs. There is also a correlation between the number of players making high intensity runs concurrently and the value generated by the team, suggesting a form of movement coordination. Finally positional differences are explored demonstrating that attacking players make more in-possession high intensity runs when goal probability is high, whereas defensive players make more out-of-possession high intensity runs while goal probability is high. By assigning value to high-intensity runs practitioners are able to add new layers of context to traditional sport science metrics and answer more nuanced questions.
Peak amplitude of the normalized power spectrum of the electromyogram of the uterus in the low frequency band is an effective predictor of premature birth
Authors: Pirnar Žiga , Jager Franc , Geršak Ksenija
Published: September 2024

The current trends in the development of methods for non-invasive prediction of premature birth based on the electromyogram of the uterus, i.e., electrohysterogram (EHG), suggest an ever-increasing use of large number of features, complex models, and deep learning approaches. These “black-box” approaches rarely provide insights into the underlying physiological mechanisms and are not easily explainable, which may prevent their use in clinical practice. Alternatively, simple methods using meaningful features, preferably using a single feature (biomarker), are highly desirable for assessing the danger of premature birth. To identify suitable biomarker candidates, we performed feature selection using the stabilized sequential-forward feature-selection method employing learning and validation sets, and using multiple standard classifiers and multiple sets of the most widely used features derived from EHG signals. The most promising single feature to classify between premature EHG records and EHG records of all other term delivery modes evaluated on the test sets appears to be Peak Amplitude of the normalized power spectrum (PA) of the EHG signal in the low frequency band (0.125-0.575 Hz) which closely matches the known Fast Wave Low (FWL) frequency band. For classification of EHG records of the publicly available TPEHG DB, TPEHGT DS, and ICEHG DS databases, using the Partition-Synthesis evaluation technique, the proposed single feature, PA, achieved Classification Accuracy (CA) of 76.5% (AUC of 0.81). In combination with the second most promising feature, Median Frequency (MF) of the power spectrum in the frequency band above 1.0 Hz, which relates to the maternal resting heart rate, CA increased to 78.0% (AUC of 0.86). The developed method in this study for the prediction of premature birth outperforms single-feature and many multi-feature methods based on the EHG, and existing non-invasive chemical and molecular biomarkers. The developed method is fully automatic, simple, and the two proposed features are explainable.
The final walk with preptin
Authors: Mrázková Lucie , Lubos Marta , Voldřich Jan , Kužmová Erika , Zrubecká Denisa , Gwozdiaková Petra , Buděšínský Miloš , Asai Seiya , Marek Aleš , Pícha Jan , Tencerová Michaela , Ferenčáková Michaela , Barrera Glenda Alquicer , Kaminský Jakub , Jiráček Jiří , Žáková Lenka
Published: September 2024

Preptin, a 34-amino acid peptide derived from pro-IGF2, is believed to influence various physiological processes, including insulin secretion and the regulation of bone metabolism. Despite its recognized involvement, the precise physiological role of preptin remains enigmatic. To address this knowledge gap, we synthesized 16 analogs of preptin, spanning a spectrum from full-length forms to fragments, and conducted comprehensive comparative activity evaluations alongside native human, mouse and rat preptin. Our study aimed to elucidate the physiological role of preptin. Contrary to previous indications of broad biological activity, our thorough analyses across diverse cell types revealed no significant biological activity associated with preptin or its analogs. This suggests that the associations of preptin with various diseases or tissue-specific abundance fluctuations may be influenced by factors beyond preptin itself, such as higher levels of IGF2 or IGF2 proforms present in tissues. In conclusion, our findings challenge the conventional notion of preptin as an isolated biologically active molecule and underscore the complexity of its interactions within biological systems. Rather than acting independently, the observed effects of preptin may arise from experimental conditions, elevated preptin concentrations, or interactions with related molecules such as IGF2.
Hacia un ecosistema tecnológico para la gestión y organización de un centro de educación musical. El caso de la ESMUC
Authors: Sempere-Comas Núria , Gisbert-Cervera Mercè
Published: September 2024

La investigación sobre transformación digital de instituciones de educación superior pone el énfasis en los aspectos de mercado (educación on-line) o de servicio (para las actividades de enseñanza y aprendizaje), a veces también aborda las relaciones externas (redes sociales y relación con otras instituciones o con alumni) pero a menudo deja de lado la propia organización interna y cómo esta puede beneficiarse de participar en un proceso de transformación digital. Este trabajo aborda las necesidades de transformación digital de las instituciones superiores de educación musical en el ámbito de su gestión y organización. Para ello se realiza un estudio de caso de la Escola Superior de Música de Catalunya (ESMUC) presentando los retos que debe afrontar la ESMUC para sostener el proceso de mutación digital emprendido y plantea, como conclusión, la necesidad de establecer un Plan de digitalización que contenga los avances hechos y ordene su desarrollo a través de la participación de su comunidad. Se adopta como tipología de análisis la que elaboran Gong y Ribiere cuando presentan el esquema “Going digital” para las organizaciones.
Hódmezővásárhelyi családok életmódjának változása a 20. században, vizuális családtörténeteik tükrében
Authors: Terendi Viktória
Published: September 2024

A doktori értekezés öt hódmezővásárhelyi család esetében mutatja be az életmód 20. századi jellemzőit és az évszázad folyamán bekövetkezett változásait, a vizuális családtörténetek (magán fotógyűjtemények és a hozzájuk kapcsolódó elbeszélések) speciális forrásán keresztül. A téma összetettségére tekintettel a vizuális etnográfia elméleti és módszertani megfontolásait a történettudomány, a szociológia és az emlékezetkutatás bizonyos paradigmái egészítették ki. A kutatás központi hipotézise szerint a 20. század folyamán a hódmezővásárhelyi családok életmódja különböző mikroszintű (belső) és makroszintű (külső) tényezők hatására változott meg, mely jellemzők a vizuális családtörténetekben tükröződnek. Az elemzés során a választott forrás – tartalmi komplexitása révén – igazolta az előfeltevést és betekintést nyújtott a vizsgálatban résztvevő családok 20. századi életmódjának különböző szegmenseibe, például a családszerkezet, a társadalmi helyzet, a lakásmód, a térhasználat, a tevékenységszerkezet, a kapcsolatrendszer és az életkörülmények jellemzőiről tárt fel részleteket. A longitudinális vizsgálat révén feltérképezhetővé váltak a változási folyamatok részletei, következményei, valamint azok a külső és belső tényezők, amelyek a háttérben működtek. A forrásanyag a mikroszint szemszögéből világította meg a vizsgált problémakört, ugyanakkor érintette az életmódot és az életkörülményeket befolyásoló makroszintű tényezőket, például a társadalmi mobilitást, a hatalmi beavatkozásokat, a háborúkat és a gazdasági folyamatokat. Ezek a tényezők erőteljesen jelentkeztek az elbeszélésekben, de a korábbi kutatói véleményekkel ellentétben a képi utalásokban is egyértelműen megtalálhatóak voltak. Összességében megállapítható, hogy bár az élet teljes egészének feltárása, illetve a reprezentativitás nem teljesülhetett, a választott forrás mélyreható, aprólékos elemzése új perspektívákat hozott a felszínre, ismert összefüggések új részleteit tárta fel, így a tudománytörténetben gyakran tárgyalt problémakör korábbiaktól eltérő részletességű és nézőpontú áttekintését tette lehetővé.
Hadifogság az Osztrák–Magyar Monarchiában
Authors: Gorcsa Oszkár
Published: September 2024

Az első világháborúról napjainkig számos munka született, és erről a kérdésről már sokan sokféleképpen írtak. Ugyanakkor, tekintettel arra, hogy a hadifogolykérdés még a korábban elhanyagolt első világháborús kutatások között is mostohagyereknek számított, a témát viszonylag kevesen kutatták. Különösen igaz ez a viszonylag kis létszámú szerb hadifogolycsoportokra, akiknek történetét a hazai történészközösség érdemben mindmáig nem vizsgálta. Ezért, annak ellenére, hogy Magyarországon a hadifoglyokkal kapcsolatos komolyabb kutatások a centenárium környékén megkezdődtek, napjainkig mégis meglehetősen keveset tudunk a mindennapjaikról és megpróbáltatásaikról. Ehhez az is hozzájárult, hogy a szakmunkák nagyobbik része a Monarchia egykori katonái közül az idegen földön fogvatartottakkal foglalkozott. Ezért, a meglévő fehér foltok kitöltésének elősegítése érekében a doktori értekezésemben a Magyarország területén 1914–1918-ig fogva tartott szerb hadifoglyok mindennapjait és életkörülményeit igyekeztem bemutatni. Azért is tartottam ezt kiemelkedő fontosságúnak, mert a téma elhanyagolásának köszönhetően a Monarchia kapcsán egyes nyugati, valamint szerbiai szakirodalomban az olykor propaganda céllal papírra vetett írások is tovább élnek. Ezek megállapításait a szerb történészek komolyabb forráskritika nélkül elfogadják, és munkáikban még napjainkban is az Osztrák–Magyar Monarchia „hunjainak” népmegsemmisítő törekvéseiről olvashatunk. Így dolgozatomban erről a kérdésről is igyekeztem árnyaltabb képet festeni. Az értekezésem felépítésekor a hadifogoly-mindennapok mellett fontosnak tartottam a téma elméleti hátterének a bemutatását, aminek a keretein belül a hadifogság intézményének fejlődéstörténetére helyeztem a hangsúlyt. Ez lehetőséget teremtett az egyes történelmi korok hadifogsággal kapcsolatos álláspontjának, illetve a foglyok háborúban betöltött szerepének az ismertetésére. Emellett, a dolgozat megírásakor egyes, a hadifogsághoz kapcsolódó történeti kérdéseknek nem csupán a leírására, hanem annak genezisének a feltárására is törekedtem. A diszszertációban meghatározott fő téma mellé így került be a Szerb Királyság elleni offenzíváknak az ismertetése, valamint a hadifogolyok munkáltatásához vezető okok szemléltetése, ami véleményem szerint hozzájárulhat a hadifogoly kérdéskör jobb megismeréséhez.
Heroes, exemplars and mediators
Authors: Cann Typhaine
Published: September 2024

A kutatás célja az volt, hogy a mongol példából kiindulva hozzájáruljon az identitások létrejöttéről szóló vitához. Az a tény, hogy ehhez már létezik szilárd elméleti keret, nem teszi kevésbé érdekessé az esettanulmányokat, mivel mindegyikük új és kiegészítő információkkal szolgáló fényt vet a korábbiakra. Az esettanulmányok célja azonban az is, hogy kihasználják az elméleti háttér által biztosított eszközöket, hogy ezáltal jobban megértessék az adott területen zajló folyamatokat. Ez a tanulmány, amely a mongol patriotizmusnak a huszadik századi mongol irodalomban tetten érhető megnyilvánulásaira összpontosít, kétféleképpen ötvözi az irodalmat és a történelmet. Egyrészt a múlt századi mongol irodalom történetének tanulmányozásával, másrészt a történeti irodalom vizsgálatával. A "közvetítő" antropológiai alakja itt párhuzamosan két szinten is beavatkozik. A "közvetítő" antropológiai modellje természetes módon alakult ki ebben a munkában a történelmet alkotó reprezentációk előállítására vonatkozó reflexió részeként. A huszadik századi mongol irodalom kontextusában a közvetítő az "új ember", akinek portréja a szocialista regény - történelmi, beavató - hősén keresztül rajzolódik ki, egy olyan hősön keresztül, akinek modellként kellett szolgálnia az olvasó számára, és aki az útja révén megmutathatta az olvasónak azt az utat, amelyet neki magának is be kell járnia, rámutatva arra a társadalomra, amelyre törekednie kell. Ezek a hősök gyakran a "vezetők" mintájára alakítják saját törekvéseiket, a regényekben megjelenő hősök többsége olyan történelmi személyiségek karaktere, akiket Rolland Barthes munkásságának értelmében mítoszokká emeltek, vagyis olyan jelképekké, amelyek tartalmát kiüresítették, hogy üzenetet közvetítsenek (Sükhbaatar, Magsarzhav). De modell nagyrészt a szerző is, aki a pártutasításoknak engedelmeskedve és a rá osztott szerepet vállalva jó hazafiként viselkedik. Ez a kutatás egyben reflexió is arról, hogy egy tudományág milyen módon kölcsönözhet más tudományterületekről, miközben megőrzi sajátosságait és autonómiáját.
Multiple Gastrointestinal Immune-Related Adverse Events From Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy
Authors: Barlowe Trevor S. , Saxena-Beem Shruti , Ishizawar Rumey C. , Herfarth Hans , Moon Andrew M.
Published: September 2024

INTRODUCTION:

We aimed to describe immune-related adverse events (irAEs) affecting multiple organs of the gastrointestinal system in patients who received immune checkpoint inhibitors.

METHODS:

Within a 2,843 patient retrospective cohort consisting of patients with cancer treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors, we used the Electronic Medical Record Search Engine, an information retrieval system, to search free text in the medical record to identify patients with multiple gastrointestinal irAEs.

RESULTS:

Thirteen patients developed multiple gastrointestinal irAEs (0.46%). The most common patterns of multisystem gastrointestinal irAE were colitis + pancreatitis and colitis + enteritis.

DISCUSSION:

Multisystem gastrointestinal irAEs are rare but warrant further characterization and attention.
Revisiting the Debates on the 2010 Constitutional Referendum in Turkey: Democratic Transition or Authoritarian Populism?
Authors: Taşçıoğlu İrem
Published: September 2024

This article revisits the scholarly debates on the AKP’s constitutional amendment package that was put to vote in the 2010 Constitutional Referendum. It takes the democratic theorist Andrew Arato and constitutional scholar Aslı Bali as major representatives of the two opposing views on the political implications of the reform proposal. It compares and contrasts their arguments particularly in light of their different assessments of the amendments which concern the restructuring of the judiciary, especially the Turkish Constitutional Court. It argues that their fundamental controversy with regard to the democratic or authoritarian nature of these amendments is rooted in the contrast between Bali’s predominantly contextual and Arato’s predominantly global approach. While Bali affirms the reform proposal as a democratic step forward in transcending the persistent legacy of the Kemalist authoritarian “tutelary” regime represented by the Constitutional Court, Arato interprets it as a manifestation of the global populist-authoritarian retreat that is expresses itself most visibly through assaults against the independent judiciary. After a critical reading of these two approaches, this paper finalizes by way of introducing a new framework that would counterbalance the contextual with the global and vice versa that would arguably provide a new perspective through which one could unveil the particular characteristics of the AKP’s populist constitutional politics at the time of the Referendum.
Dynamics of gas exchange and heart rate signal entropy in standard cardiopulmonary exercise testing during critical periods of growth and development
Authors: Blanks Zachary , Brown Donald E. , Cooper Dan M. , Aizik Shlomit Radom , Bar‐Yoseph Ronen
Published: September 2024

Standard cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) produces a rich dataset but its current analysis is often limited to a few derived variables such as maximal or peak oxygen uptake (V̇O2). We tested whether breath‐by‐breath CPET data could be used to determine sample entropy (SampEn) in 81 healthy children and adolescents (age 7–18 years old, equal sex distribution). To overcome challenges of the relatively small time‐series CPET data size and its nonstationarity, we developed a Python algorithm for short‐duration physiological signals. Comparing pre‐ and post‐ventilatory threshold (VT1) CPET phases, we found: (1) SampEn decreased by 9.46% for V̇O2 and 5.01% for V̇CO2 (p < 0.05), in the younger, early‐pubertal participants; and (2) HR SampEn fell substantially by 70.8% in the younger and 77.5% in the older participants (p < 0.001). Across all ages, females exhibited greater HR SampEn than males during both pre‐ and post VT1 CPET phases by 14.10% and 23.79%, respectively, p < 0.01. In females, late‐pubertal had 17.6% lower HR SampEn compared to early‐pubertal participants (p < 0.05). Breath‐by‐breath gas exchange and HR data from CPET are amenable to SampEn analysis that leads to novel insight into physiological responses to work intensity, and sex and maturational effects.
Innovating Instrument Handover Techniques for Robotic Scrub Nurses
Authors: Scheppach Carl , Wagner Lars , Spinner Caroline , Jell Alissa , Wilhelm Dirk
Published: September 2024

A proposed solution to address increasing scarcity of operating room (OR) nurses is the deployment of robotic scrub nurses (RSNs). One of the primary responsibilities of these robots is the handover of surgical instruments to the surgeon. Despite this tasks’ apparent simplicity, it requires great precision and timing, while seamless execution is essential for the surgical workflow. This paper outlines the unique challenges of the instrument handover process between a RSN and a surgeon taking place during laparoscopic surgery. After customizing existing solutions from different domains to meet the specific needs of laparoscopic surgery, we introduced these solutions to medical professionals in a simulated OR scenario, and performed a utility analysis to identify the most suitable solutions.
Optical coherence tomography-guided laser osteotomy: toward improvement of ablation efficiency
Authors: Hamidi Arsham , Cattin Philippe C. , Canbaz Ferda
Published: September 2024

This study proposes an additional feature of optical coherence tomography (OCT) as a guidance system for laser surgery, aiming to enhance ablation efficiency during laser osteotomy. A long-range Bessel-like beam OCT system is integrated with an Er:YAG laser. The signal sensitivity of the OCT system is measured under various conditions encountered during laser osteotomy. The results demonstrate that the OCT sensitivity decreases from 87.53 dB to 79.54 dB and 68.93 dB in the presence of debris and water, respectively. These findings highlight the potential application signal sensitivity of OCT as a criterion for detecting the accumulation of water and debris, which could lead to a reduction in ablation efficiency during laser osteotomy using Er:YAG laser.
Deep Learning-based Artificial Intelligence in Audio based Analysis of Swallowing using Cervical Auscultation
Authors: Salloum Hazem , Graf Simone , Schilling Berit , Richter Lena , Jeleff-Wölfler Olivia , Feussner Hubertus , Ostler Daniel , Wilhelm Dirk , Fuchtmann Jonas
Published: September 2024

Swallowing problems (dysphagia) is associated with significant morbidity and mortality therefore diagnosis and treatment of dysphagia is important. Diagnostic tests include screening procedures, clinical swallowing examinations, and instrumental examination procedures. A non-invasive diagnostic option is auscultation of the swallowing act. However, there are different statements about the reliability and validity of the manual execution of this test. We developed a mobile hardware system to record cervical sounds using two microphones on the neck to acquire audio a data set. To generate ground truth data, fiberendoscopic swallow examinations were performed simultaneously to identify dysphagia. In order to diagnostically assess the swallowing sounds a spectrogram based classification pipeline was developed. In a first step this enabled us to identify different swallowing patterns in healthy individuals. With an accuracy of ~95%, we were able to reliably detect swallows within audio recordings, while the classification of types of swallow (dry, water, solid food) indicate the need for further improvements within the project ahead. In the future, we anticipate AI based analysis of auscultated swallowing sounds to detect swallowing disorders and aspirations.
Model to Simulate Brain Biopsies Using a Navigated Robotic Guiding System and a Bone Cutting Laser
Authors: Tu Ha Thanh , Luder Yann , Röthlisberger Michel , Schicker Martina , Morawska Marta , Cordier Dominik
Published: September 2024

Brain biopsies are necessary in cases of unclear lesions on imaging studies to establish a treatment plan based on the histologic diagnosis. A previous study investigated the potential of lasers to make brain biopsies less invasive, faster and safer. The study demonstrated that lasers can create highly precise burr holes which themselves can act as a sufficient guide for the biopsy needle. Furthermore, lasers can create tangential canals in the bone which allows to biopsy brain regions that are usually impossible or hazardous to access. Building upon the results of the previous study, further research and technological advancements were pursued. This includes a biopsy needle attachment for the robot, which will be used to simulate brain biopsies using CARLO© (Cold Ablation Robot-guided Laser Osteotome) with its Er:YAG laser and navigated robotic guiding system. The study utilizes five freshly frozen skulls, which are immobilized using a Mayfield clamp. Prior to conducting the experiment, the NeuroPlan© software is employed to plan the path and angle of the biopsies. To align the preexperimental CT with the skull, referencing points on the skull and its surface are registered using a pointer. A small skin incision is performed to reach the area of bone where the laser ablates the bone for the biopsy. Preliminary experimental results suggest that the combined use of laser ablation and a guidance device enables precise bone ablation and accurate needle guidance for biopsies. These initial results demonstrate the potential of integrating laser technology and robotics in neurosurgery, potentially enabling less invasive, faster and safer biopsies, ultimately leading to better patient outcomes.
A Novel End Effector for Telemanipulated Suturing in Robot-Assisted Laparoscopy
Authors: Kirst Alexander , Hellings-Kuß Anja , Hagmann Katharina , Dyck Michael , Schlenk Christopher , Klodmann Julian
Published: September 2024

Suturing is an integral part of surgery. Specialized instrumentation facilitates manual needle handling to support laparoscopic suturing tasks, e.g. uterine closure, in minimally invasive surgery. Current solutions for robotassisted laparoscopy lack the possibility to integrate these instruments, making them suitable only for conventional laparoscopic surgery. This paper introduces a novel end effector design actuating a conventional suturing instrument. The end effector is integrated into the DLR MiroSurge system to facilitate telemanipulated suturing. The mechanical properties of the end effector are characterized and its feasibility for use in robot-assisted laparoscopy is demonstrated.
Nullspace Control for Automatic Ultrasound Gel Supply
Authors: Osburg Jonas , Ernst Floris
Published: September 2024

Ultrasound gel is used as a coupling medium in ultrasound procedures, thereby ensuring the entry of sound waves into the body of the patient and providing ultrasound images of high quality. In this paper, we present an approach to automatically supply ultrasound gel during robot guided ultrasound examinations. For this purpose, we combine a simple mechanical design consisting of a gel tube and a push mechanism with a specialized control strategy exploiting the robotic nullspace of 7 DoF redundant manipulator. Functionality is demonstrated by robotic ultrasound scans on phantoms, with gel being automatically applied when needed.
A Laryngoscope with Shape Memory Actuation
Authors: Fischer Nikola , Ho Patty , Marzi Christian , Schuler Patrick , Mathis-Ullrich Franziska
Published: September 2024

Endotracheal intubation is a medical procedure to secure a patient’s airways, which can be challenging in emergency situations due to an individual’s anatomy. Intubation blades can benefit from an adjustable design with shape memory alloys. We present a novel blade design with two degrees of freedom, continuously transforming a straight into a curved blade. Our demonstrators reached mean angular deflections up to 16∘ without exceeding outer blade temperatures of 40∘C. Mean forces of almost 24N were applicable. This approach has the potential to reduce the complexity of intubation procedures and increase the success rate, especially in time-critical emergency situations.
In situ minimally invasive 3D printing for bone and cartilage regeneration - a scoping review
Authors: Maintz Michaela , Tomooka Yukiko , Eugster Manuela , Gerig Nicolas , Sharma Neha , Thieringer Florian M. , Rauter Georg
Published: September 2024

Advancements in personalized medicine, threedimensional (3D) printing, miniaturization, and robot-assisted surgery are driving innovation in tissue engineering. A novel approach, known as in situ printing, focuses on the direct deposition of materials at the surgical site. Using the in situ printing approach, bone and/or cartilage defects can be addressed with high precision. Furthermore, highly customized 3D printed tissue constructs or implants can be deposited directly inside the body. Currently, most applications of in situ printing are limited to areas near the skin or open surgeries. Even though a minimally invasive approach would bring clinical benefits, only a few research groups have focused on this field. In this scoping review, we provide an overview of the current state of in situ minimally invasive 3D printing technology for bone and cartilage regeneration and discuss its advantages and current challenges.
Adaptive Contrast Enhancement for Digital Radiographic Images using Image-to-Image Translation
Authors: Popp Ann-Kathrin , Schumacher Mona , Himstedt Marian
Published: September 2024

Digital radiography in medicine is a widely used imaging method for obtaining visual information about the inside of a body. To prepare the acquired raw image for diagnostic evaluation, the contrast must be adjusted depending on the examined part of the body and the reason of acquisition. The contrast enhancement of an image can be considered as a style transfer or an image-to-image translation which is an important field in deep learning. Based on common methods like the pix2pix network that only translate from one domain into one other, we propose a method (cc-pix2pix) for translating into multiple domains in one training. We provide additional information about the examination to the network for a specific contrast adjustment. Compared to the pix2pix network, the ccpix2pix reduces the mean squared error by a factor of six and achieves an improvement of approximately seven percentage points based on the histogram intersection of source and target images.
Morphologic and hemodynamic analysis of intracranial mirror aneurysms
Authors: Spitz L. , Schmidt J. , Korte J. , Berg P. , Behme D. , Neyazi B. , Preim B. , Saalfeld S.
Published: September 2024

Intracranial mirror aneurysms are pathologic dilatations of cerebral arteries that occur at identical locations in both hemispheres. They do not always have identical sizes, shapes, or rupture states, despite identical patient-specific risk factors. As a subgroup of multiple aneurysms and thus small amounts of data, clinical research about their causes and development has not been conclusive. Using eight patients with 16 mirror aneurysms with different rupture states, we investigated differences between the hemispheres. We virtually performed stitching: detaching the aneurysm domes to place them on the opposite parent vessel to assess the influence of aneurysm morphology and upstream parent vessel shape on hemodynamics. In the unaltered datasets, we found that blood flow within aneurysms in the left hemisphere has higher wall shear stress and velocity. After stitching, we found that both upstream parent vessel as well as aneurysm morphology influence hemodynamics. Morphologic parameters like size, undulation index, and aneurysm angle had a higher influence. In a short rupture risk analysis we found a correlation between rupture and aspect ratio and non-sphericity index. Overall, we found possible indicators for mirror aneurysm analysis that illustrated the importance of morphological analysis, though more datasets are necessary for conclusive statements about special treatment for mirror aneurysms.
Hyper-redundant endoscopic manipulator position compensation under external load
Authors: Giacoppo Giuliano A. , Schulze Eric , Pott Peter P.
Published: September 2024

This paper focuses on determining the cable tension required for a cable-driven endoscopic manipulator to reach a given position under an external load at the end effector. The aim is to restore the initial position of the end effector without an external force. A simulation was performed using MATLAB, where mathematical models and algorithms were used to calculate the required tension. The mathematical model, based on Optimized Motion Estimation Analysis, considers the joint stiffness and the influence of gravity, in addition to the cable tensions and external load. The algorithm minimizes the sum of moments to achieve a stable position. An optical tracking system was used to validate the simulation results against experimental data. The manipulator successfully compensated for an external load of 1.96N and returned to its initial position with adjusted cable tensions. The results showed that the manipulator was deformed by an external load, highlighting the need to adjust the cable tension for position compensation. The discrepancies between the experimental and simulation results were due to factors such as marker size, as well as joint imperfections due to manufacturing and friction effects. Nevertheless, the proposed method proved to be effective in compensating for external loads and restoring the manipulator to the desired position.
Interactive Surgical Liver Phantom for Cholecystectomy Training
Authors: Schüßler Alexander , Younis Rayan , Paik Jamie , Wagner Martin , Mathis-Ullrich Franziska , Kunz Christian
Published: September 2024

Training and prototype development in robotassisted surgery requires appropriate and safe environments for the execution of surgical procedures. Current dry lab laparoscopy phantoms often lack the ability to mimic complex, interactive surgical tasks. This work presents an interactive surgical phantom for the cholecystectomy. The phantom enables the removal of the gallbladder during cholecystectomy by allowing manipulations and cutting interactions with the synthetic tissue. The force-displacement behavior of the gallbladder is modelled based on retraction demonstrations. The force model is compared to the force model of ex-vivo porcine gallbladders and evaluated on its ability to estimate retraction forces.
Symmetric single-input eccentric tube robot (ETR) for manual use
Authors: Mayer Juliane , Dumancic Marcel , Pott Peter P.
Published: September 2024

Concentric tube robots (CTR) have gained popularity in robotic research due to their potential for smaller instrument sizes, enhanced dexterity and reduced trauma. However, CTR control can be complex, with tip direction and curvature being kinematically coupled. To address this, a symmetric eccentric tube robot (ETR) is presented, where three identical pre-curved wires are arranged in parallel and constrained by an outer sheath. Instrument curvature is controlled by a single input angle. This study aims to demonstrate the suitability as manually actuated instrument. A model for curvature as a function of input angle is presented, and a prototype ETR with an outer diameter of 1 mm is assembled and evaluated. The results show that the ETR follows the expected shape, the curvature decreasing with the separation angle in an almost linear way that may be perceived as intuitive and predictable by the human user. However, some unsteady behavior (snapping) is observed, which may be addressed by preventing torsion of the wires through mechanical means. The simplified model neglecting the sheath stiffness provides precise enough predictions for the working space of a manual ETR. The findings suggest that manual ETRs have potential applications in superficial interventions, such as injections, arthroscopy, or ophthalmic surgery, where their curved section can be beneficial in comparison to current straight needles. Further research could explore interlocking mechanical designs to prevent torsion or modular setups for enhanced functionality.
Metaphorical constructs and semiotic expressions in the BBC Yoruba Internet memes of English Premier League match results
Authors: Osisanwo Ayo , Alugbin Matthew
Published: September 2024

This paper explores the deployment of metaphors in the BBC Yoruba-medium football results of the English Premier League, examining how cultural metaphorical choices shape meaning in online sport discourse. Through a discourse analysis of Yoruba-medium football results, the study reveals how metaphors drawn from Yoruba cultural milieu and everyday life are used to create vivid descriptions of game events, players, and teams. The study relies on Lakoff’s conceptual metaphor theory, complemented by Kress and van Leeuwen’s social semiotic approach to multimodality. Findings reveal that metaphors describe game events, teams, and players, thus, framing the contest in unique and evocative manners, drawing on cultural and shared knowledge to shape the understanding of the game in an adversarial sense. This study, therefore, argues that metaphors are deployed to convey deeper cultural meanings and values, and add creativity to match results. The findings point to the role of language and culture in shaping the experiences of football fandom in sports and media.
Crystal structure and tautomeric state of Pigment Red 48:2 from X-ray powder diffraction and solid-state NMR
Authors: Bravetti Federica , Hühn Robert , Bordignon Simone , Reibeling Sylvia , Schmidt Martin U.
Published: September 2024

Pigment Red 48:2 is an industrially important hydrazone pigment, used for the colouration of plastics and printing inks. The crystal structure of the commercial phase was solved and refined from X-ray powder diffraction data. The phase (P.R.48:2, α-phase) was found to be a monohydrate with a chemical composition of Ca[C18H11ClN2O6S]·H2O. Its tautomeric state was investigated by multinuclear solid-state NMR. The 15N CPMAS unambiguously revealed the compound to adopt the hydrazone tautomeric form in the solid state. In an unrestrained Rietveld refinement, the crystal structure did not significantly change. The crystal structure was confirmed by dispersion-corrected DFT optimisation, which also included the calculation of solid-state NMR chemical shifts. Heating the monohydrate to about 200 °C results in an anhydrate (P.R.48:2, β-phase), which has not been described before. Its crystal structure was determined by X-ray powder diffraction, and confirmed by DFT-D, too. Solid-state NMR spectra confirmed that the crystal structure of P.R.48:2 remains mostly unchanged upon dehydration and that also the hydrazone tautomeric form is maintained. Both crystal structures are similar and present a double-layer structure. The non-polar layer contains the phenyl and naphthalene moieties, whereas the polar/ionic layer comprehends the calcium ions, carboxylate, sulfonate, carbonyl groups and water molecules. The calcium ions have a coordination number of 8 and 7 in the monohydrate and anhydrate phases, respectively. For the corresponding Mn salt (Pigment Red 48:4), at least two phases were found, but the quality of the powder patterns did not allow determining their crystal structures.
“Vituð ér enn—eða hvat?” Do you want to know, or what? Understanding medieval Scandinavian relationships with the divine
Authors: Lewis-Simpson Shannon
Published: September 2024

The peoples who inhabited the worlds discussed in these two books, either in reality or within our imaginations, are at once slippery and certain. We may believe we have a grip on what the Norse/Viking worlds were about, only to have new evidence or a new approach to existing data challenge our views. These two books, The Norse myths that shape the way we think and The Norse sorceress: mind and materiality in the Viking world, explore the ways in which medieval northerners understood and interacted with the sublime, the divine, the non-human within their worlds and, in turn, how these interactions shape our own imaginations.
The life and death of cremated infants and children from the Neo-Punic tophet at Zita, Tunisia
Authors: Cerezo-Román Jessica I. , Kaufman Brett , McGowan Glenys , Drine Ali , Fenn Thomas R. , Barnard Hans , Khedher Rayed , Ben Tahar Sami , Edington Stacy , Jerray Elyssa , Daniels Megan
Published: September 2024

Tophets are Phoenician and Punic sanctuaries where cremated infants and children were buried. Many studies focus on the potentially sacrificial nature of these sites, but this article takes a different approach. Combining osteological analysis with a consideration of the archaeological and wider cultural context, the authors explore the short life-courses and mortuary treatments of 12 individuals in the tophet at the Neo-Punic site of Zita, Tunisia. While osteological evidence suggests life at Zita was hard, and systemic health problems may have contributed to the deaths of these individuals, their mortuary rites were attended to with care and without concrete indication of sacrifice.
‘Legion: life in the Roman Army’ The British Museum exhibition
Authors: Bishop M.C.
Published: September 2024

At a time when the Parthenon Sculptures refuse to go away (in every sense of the phrase) and uncatalogued items were allegedly found to have been sold off by a member of staff, The British Museum needs some good news. There must have been sighs of relief all round when their new exhibition in the (itself often controversial: Puffett 2023) BP Gallery, Legion: life in the Roman Army, opened to almost universal press acclaim (e.g. Clark 2024; Jones 2024); it runs from 1 February to 23 June 2024. However, some (perfectly valid) observations in her blog by a scholar qualified in the field triggered a ‘woke alarm’ in some less-qualified quarters (McGrath 2024). It was always likely to be a crowd pleaser, with something for every “exercitologist” (Bishop 2014: 24), whether amateur or professional. For those visitors who had cut their Roman military teeth on Graham Webster's seminal Roman Imperial Army (Webster 1969, 1979, 1985), it was going to have its work cut out to satisfy.
Synaptotagmin 4 Supports Spontaneous Axon Sprouting after Spinal Cord Injury
Authors: Higuchi Kyoka , Uyeda Akiko , Quan Lili , Tanabe Shogo , Kato Yuki , Kawahara Yukio , Muramatsu Rieko
Published: September 2024

Injuries to the central nervous system (CNS) can cause severe neurological deficits. Axonal regrowth is a fundamental process for the reconstruction of compensatory neuronal networks after injury; however, it is extremely limited in the adult mammalian CNS. In this study, we conducted a loss-of-function genetic screen in cortical neurons, combined with a Web resource-based phenotypic screen, and identified synaptotagmin 4 (Syt4) as a novel regulator of axon elongation. Silencing Syt4 in primary cultured cortical neurons inhibits neurite elongation, with changes in gene expression involved in signaling pathways related to neuronal development. In a spinal cord injury model, inhibition of Syt4 expression in cortical neurons prevented axonal sprouting of the corticospinal tract, as well as neurological recovery after injury. These results provide a novel therapeutic approach to CNS injury by modulating Syt4 function.
PROBABILIDAD Y DECISIÓN JUDICIAL
Authors: BLANCO ANDRÉS
Published: September 2024

El artículo explora el diseño de una estrategia simplificada para el uso de su vertiente lógica en dicha práctica. Luego de una introducción general a la probabilística, en la cual se opta por una concepción subjetiva de la misma, se analiza su aplicación a las inferencias judiciales que llevan de la prueba a los hechos. Seguidamente, se sugiere que, sin perjuicio del uso en ciertos contextos del teorema de Bayes, los axiomas de Kolmógorov son una plataforma prometedora para elaborar un plan de acción probabilístico para uso de los jueces. Para ello se propone una estrategia por etapas, que utiliza en forma libre algunos métodos de razonamiento sugeridos por dichos axiomas. Finalmente se realizan algunas reflexiones acerca de las posibilidades de uso y las limitaciones de la estrategia planteada
Effects of pre-treatment with commercial cellulase and hemicellulase and laboratory beating of unbleached pine kraft pulp on freeness, paper strength, and fiber quality
Authors: Danielewicz Dariusz
Published: September 2024

The effects of laboratory beating on unbleached regular grade pine kraft pulp (UPKP), pre-treated with commercial cellulase/hemicellulase enzymatic preparation (C/HEP) were assessed using degrees of Schopper-Riegler (°SR) and fibre-quality numbers (FQN). The tests showed a significant increase in the °SR (used in papermaking laboratories and industry to assess the degree of beating) of the UPKP after its enzymatic pre-treatment in the amount of 0.25 to 5.0 mL/kg of pulp and beating. However, only a several percent reduction of beating time was observed when the effect of this pretreatment of pulp on the speed of its beating was determined using another method. The treatment of the pulp selected for research with C/HEP before beating negatively influenced its strength properties after this process. The results correlated well with the most important basic fiber properties from the standpoint of papermaking.
Carbon footprint and techno-economic analysis to decarbonize the production of linerboard via fuel switching in the lime kiln and boiler: Development of a marginal abatement cost curve
Authors: Buitrago-Tello Rodrigo , Venditti Richard A. , Jameel Hasan , Hart Peter W. , Ghosh Ashok
Published: September 2024

The US Pulp and Paper (P&P) industry heavily relies on fossil sources, with lime kiln operations posing a significant challenge for achieving zero on-site fossil emissions. This study assesses the greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction potential and costs associated with alternative fuels in lime kiln operations for linerboard production. Various options, including bio-based fuels including pulverized biomass, gasification of biomass, crude tall oil, bio-methanol, and traditional fuels such as fuel oil and petcoke, were analyzed through detailed process simulations and Life Cycle Assessment. Results indicate that per ton of product, 2,789 kg of CO2-eq is emitted, with 69% being biogenic CO2 and 31% fossil CO2-eq. Notably, replacing the natural gas boiler with a biomass boiler reduces Global Warming Potential (GWP) by 41%, while switching lime kiln fuel to biofuels achieves a 5.5% reduction. Combining a biomass boiler with pulverized biomass fuel use in the lime kiln yields a substantial 93.1% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions, at a cost of $76/ton of CO2-eq avoided.