bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A photobioreactor for production of algae biomass from gaseous emissions of an animal house
Authors: Glockow Till , Velaz Martín Marta , Meisch Laura , Kapieske Denis , Meissner Kai , Correa Cassal Maximiano , Kaster Anne-Kristin , Rabe Kersten S. , Niemeyer Christof M.
Published: October 2023

Sustainable approaches to circular economy in animal agriculture are still poorly developed. Here, we report an approach to reduce gaseous emissions of CO2 and NH3 from animal housing while simultaneously using them to produce value-added biomass. To this end, a cone-shaped, helical photobioreactor was developed that can be integrated into animal housing by being freely suspended, thereby combining a small footprint with a physically robust design. The photobioreactor was coupled with the exhaust air of a chicken house to allow continuous cultivation of a mixed culture of Arthrospira spec. (Spirulina). Continuous quantification of CO2 and NH3 concentration showed that the coupled algae reactor effectively purifies the exhaust air from the chicken house while producing algal biomass. Typical production rates of greater than 0.3 g/l*day dry mass were obtained, and continuous operation was possible for several weeks. Morphological, biochemical, and genomic characterization of Spirulina cultures yielded insights into the dynamics and metabolic processes of the microbial community. We anticipate that further optimization of this approach will provide new opportunities for the generation of value-added products from gaseous CO2 and NH3 waste emissions, linking resource-efficient production of microalgae with simultaneous sequestration of animal emissions.

Key points

• Coupling a bioreactor with exhaust gases of chicken coop for production of biomass.

• Spirulina mixed culture removes CO2 and NH3 from chicken house emissions.

• High growth rates and biodiversity adaptation for nitrogen metabolism.

Graphical abstract

Towards a sustainable circular economy in livestock farming. The functional coupling of a helical tube photobioreactor with exhaust air from a chicken house enabled the efficient cultivation of Spirulina microalgae while simultaneously sequestering the animals’ CO2 and NH3 emissions.
Acute appendicitis in children: is preoperative hyponatremia a predictive factor of perforation/gangrene? A prospective study
Authors: Elgendy Ahmed , Khirallah Mohammad Gharieb , Elsawaf Mohamed , Hassan Hussam S. , Ghazaly Mohamed
Published: October 2023

Purpose

Distinguishing between perforated/gangrenous from uncomplicated appendicitis in children helps management. We evaluated hyponatremia as a new diagnostic marker for perforated/gangrenous appendicitis in children.

Methods

A prospective study including all children with acute appendicitis who underwent appendectomy at our institution from May 2021 to May 2023. Medical history and clinical criteria were analyzed. All blood samples were taken upon admission including serum inflammatory markers and electrolytes. Patients were divided into two groups (Group I: uncomplicated and Group II: perforated/gangrenous), and data between both groups were compared.

Results

The study included 153 patients [Group I: 111 (73%), Group II: 42 (27%)]. Mean serum sodium concentration in children with perforated/gangrenous appendicitis was significantly lower compared to children with uncomplicated appendicitis (131.8 mmol/L vs. 138.7 mmol/L; p < 0.001). The ROC curve of preoperative sodium level to differentiate between perforated/gangrenous and uncomplicated appendicitis revealed an AUC of 0.981. The cut-off-value of sodium level < 135 mmol/L identified perforated/gangrenous appendicitis with a sensitivity of 94% and a specificity of 91% (p < 0.001). Predictive factors of perforated/gangrenous appendicitis were: age less than 5 years (12% vs. 3%; p = 0.02), experiencing symptoms for more than 24 h (100% vs. 58%; p < 0.001), body temperature more than 38.5 °C (52% vs. 13%; p < 0.001), a serum sodium level less than 135 mmol/L (90% vs. 6%; p < 0.001), and a CRP serum level more than 50 mg/L (71% vs. 17%; p < 0.001).

Conclusions

Hyponatremia, upon admission, is a novel, objective biochemical marker that can identify perforated/gangrenous appendicitis in children. We advocate that the assessment of serum sodium level should be added to the diagnostic algorithm in children with suspected acute appendicitis. Surgical intervention in patients with hyponatremia should not be delayed, and non-operative management should be avoided.
Use of patient-derived explants as a preclinical model for precision medicine in colorectal cancer: A scoping review
Authors: Mui Milton , Clark Molly , Vu Tamara M. S. H. , Clemons Nicholas , Hollande Frédéric , Roth Sara , Ramsay Robert , Michael Michael , Heriot Alexander G. , Kong Joseph C. H.
Published: October 2023

Purpose

Whilst the treatment paradigm for colorectal cancer has evolved significantly over time, there is still a lack of reliable biomarkers of treatment response. Treatment decisions are based on high-risk features such as advanced TNM stage and histology. The role of the tumour microenvironment, which can influence tumour progression and treatment response, has generated considerable interest. Patient-derived explant cultures allow preservation of native tissue architecture and tumour microenvironment. The aim of the scoping review is to evaluate the utility of patient-derived explant cultures as a preclinical model in colorectal cancer.

Methods

A search was conducted using Ovid MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Cochrane databases from start of database records to September 1, 2022. We included all peer-reviewed human studies in English language which used patient-derived explants as a preclinical model in primary colorectal cancer. Eligible studies were grouped into the following categories: assessing model feasibility; exploring tumour microenvironment; assessing ex vivo drug responses; discovering and validating biomarkers.

Results

A total of 60 studies were eligible. Fourteen studies demonstrated feasibility of using patient-derived explants as a preclinical model. Ten studies explored the tumour microenvironment. Thirty-eight studies assessed ex vivo drug responses of chemotherapy agents and targeted therapies. Twenty-four studies identified potential biomarkers of treatment response.

Conclusions

Given the preservation of tumour microenvironment and tumour heterogeneity, patient-derived explants has the potential to identify reliable biomarkers, treatment resistance mechanisms, and novel therapeutic agents. Further validation studies are required to characterise, refine and standardise this preclinical model before it can become a part of precision medicine in colorectal cancer.
Contributing and limiting factors to guideline-adherent therapy in senior and elderly breast cancer patients: a questionnaire-based cross-sectional study using clinical and cancer registry data in Germany
Authors: Heidenreich Andreas , Fuchshofen Rabea , Elsner Susanne , Gieseler Frank , Katalinic Alexander , Hübner Joachim
Published: October 2023

Purpose

Elderly cancer patients are less likely to be treated in accordance with evidence-based guideline recommendations. This study examines patient-related factors associated with deviations from guideline recommendations.

Methods

Using medical documentation and cancer registry data, we investigated the treatment courses of female breast cancer patients aged 50 and older in Germany regarding compliance with German guidelines. Participants completed a questionnaire querying factors hypothesized to be associated with guideline adherence. We conducted univariate analyses to explore the data and select variables for multivariate logistic regression to estimate adjusted odds ratios.

Results

Of 1150 participants, 206 (17.9%) were treated in deviation from guideline recommendations. Patients 70 years and older were more likely to be treated deviating from guideline recommendations than patients 50–69 years old (OR: 2.07; 95% CI: 1.52–2.80). Patients aged 50–69 years who reported that quality of life guided their treatment decision were more likely to be treated in deviation from guideline recommendations (AOR: 2.08; 95% CI: 1.11–3.92) than the elderly. In older patients, higher age was associated with an increased chance of receiving guideline-discordant care (AOR: 1.06; 95% CI: 1.01–1.11), as was depression diagnosed prior to cancer (AOR: 1.84; 95% CI: 1.00–3.40).

Conclusion

Reasons for deviations from guideline recommendations in breast cancer patients differ by age. In decision-making concerning elderly patients, particular attention should be paid to those with pre-existing depressive disorders. Adequately addressing their needs and concerns could prevent inappropriate deviations from guideline recommendations.
The importance of patch shape at threshold occupancy: functional patch size within total habitat amount
Authors: Keller Jeffrey K. , Sullivan Patrick J.
Published: October 2023

The habitat amount hypothesis (HAH) stresses the importance of total patch amount over the size of individual patches in determining species richness within a local landscape. However, the absence of some species from patches too small to contain a territory would be inconsistent with the HAH. Using the association of territory size with body size and the circle as optimal territory shape, we tested several HAH predictions of threshold patch occupancy and richness of 19 guilds of primarily insectivorous breeding birds. We characterized 16 guild-associated patch types at high spatial resolution and assigned one type to each guild. We measured functional patch size as the largest circle that fit within each patch type occurring in a local landscape. Functional patch size was the sole or primary predictor in regression models of species richness for 15 of the 19 guilds. Total patch amount was the sole or primary variable in only 2 models. Quantifying patch size at high resolution also demonstrated that breeding birds should be absent from patches that are too small to contain a territory and larger species should occur only in larger patches. Functional patch size is a readily interpretable metric that helps explain the habitat basis for differences in species composition and richness between areas. It provides a tool to assess the combined effects of patch size, shape and perforation on threshold habitat availability, and with total patch amount can inform design and/or evaluation of conservation, restoration or enhancement options for focal taxa or biodiversity in general.
Randomized Strategies for Robust Combinatorial Optimization with Approximate Separation
Authors: Kawase Yasushi , Sumita Hanna
Published: October 2023

In this paper, we study the following robust optimization problem. Given a set family representing feasibility and candidate objective functions, we choose a feasible set, and then an adversary chooses one objective function, knowing our choice. The goal is to find a randomized strategy (i.e., a probability distribution over the feasible sets) that maximizes the expected objective value in the worst case. This problem is fundamental in wide areas such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, game theory, and optimization. To solve the problem, we provide a general framework based on the dual linear programming problem. In the framework, we utilize the ellipsoid algorithm with the approximate separation algorithm. We prove that there exists an $$\alpha $$
α
-approximation algorithm for our robust optimization problem if there exists an $$\alpha $$
α
-approximation algorithm for finding a (deterministic) feasible set that maximizes a nonnegative linear combination of the candidate objective functions. Using our result, we provide approximation algorithms for the max–min fair randomized allocation problem and the maximum cardinality robustness problem with a knapsack constraint.
Practical Concepts for Design, Construction and Application of Halbach Magnets in Magnetic Resonance
Authors: Blümler Peter , Soltner Helmut
Published: October 2023

This review is a compilation of relevant concepts in designing Halbach multipoles for magnetic resonance applications. The main focus is on providing practical guidelines to plan, design and build such magnets. Therefore, analytical equations are presented for estimating the magnetic field from ideal to realistic systems. Various strategies of homogenizing magnetic fields are discussed together with concepts of opening such magnets without force or combining them for variable fields. Temperature compensation and other practical aspects are also reviewed. For magnetic resonance two polarities (di- and quadrupole) are of main interest, but higher polarities are also included.
Investigation of friction and scuffing during loss of lubrication on a high velocity twin-disc test rig
Authors: Cihak-Bayr Ulrike , Wopelka Thomas , Wintersteiger Christoph
Published: October 2023

Increasing demands on gear components such as high-pressure and high speeds are aggravated by weight saving strategies eliminating an optional secondary lubrication system during negative g operations or windmilling, which result in loss of lubrication conditions (LOL) and scuffing. In order to understand gear design options able to withstand LOL at high velocities, systematic, fundamental studies on model test-rigs, e.g. twin-disc rigs, are required. For this purpose, a twin-disc rig was designed which is able to perform test at high entrainment velocities of up to 80 m/s and high lubricant injection temperatures. Systematic studies have been carried out in continuous lubrication and LOL condition and evaluated in terms of friction and time-of failure (TOF). A mixed EHL model complemented the experimental matrix for wider range of temperatures and additionally compared the influence of the grinding direction on the lubricant gap.

Entrainment velocity showed to have the most prominent influence on friction in continuous mode, mostly for the increase from 8 m/s to 23 m/s, followed by minor changes upon further increase to 30 m/s. The influence of injection temperature was mostly prominent at high entrainment velocities. Contact pressure had the strongest influence on TOF. Comparisons with superfinished disc surfaces exhibited a high increase in TOF and significantly less scuffing damage fractures on the runway.
STRONGHOLD first-year results of biomechanically calculated abdominal wall repair: a propensity score matching
Authors: Lesch C. , Nessel R. , Adolf D. , Hukauf M. , Köckerling F. , Kallinowski F. ,   For the STRONGHOLD/Herniamed-Collaborators GROUP, Willms A. , Schwab R. , Zarras K.
Published: October 2023

Purpose

Every year around 70,000 people in Germany suffer from an abdominal incisional hernia that requires surgical treatment. Five years after reconstruction about 25% reoccur. Incisional hernias are usually closed with mesh using various reconstruction techniques, summarized here as standard reconstruction (SR). To improve hernia repair, we established a concept for biomechanically calculated reconstructions (BCR). In the BCR, two formulas enable customized patient care through standardized biomechanical measures. This study aims to compare the clinical outcomes of SR and BCR of incisional hernias after 1 year of follow-up based on the Herniamed registry.

Methods

SR includes open retromuscular mesh augmented incisional hernia repair according to clinical guidelines. BCR determines the required strength (Critical Resistance to Impacts related to Pressure = CRIP) preoperatively depending on the hernia size. It supports the surgeon in reliably determining the Gained Resistance, based on the mesh-defect-area-ratio, further mesh and suture factors, and the tissue stability. To compare SR and BCR repair outcomes in incisional hernias at 1 year, propensity score matching was performed on 15 variables. Included were 301 patients with BCR surgery and 23,220 with standard repair.

Results

BCR surgeries show a significant reduction in recurrences (1.7% vs. 5.2%, p = 0.0041), pain requiring treatment (4.1% vs. 12.0%, p = 0.001), and pain at rest (6.9% vs. 12.7%, p = 0.033) when comparing matched pairs. Complication rates, complication-related reoperations, and stress-related pain showed no systematic difference.

Conclusion

Biomechanically calculated repairs improve patient care. BCR shows a significant reduction in recurrence rates, pain at rest, and pain requiring treatment at 1-year follow-up compared to SR.
A new foundation for the study of bird behaviour: Konrad Lorenz’s ‘Kumpan’ paper of 1935
Authors: Birkhead Tim , Schulze-Hagen Karl
Published: October 2023

The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded to Konrad Lorenz, Niko Tinbergen and Karl von Frisch in 1973 for their pioneering work during the 1930s and 1940s, in the study of animal behaviour. Lorenz established the foundations of ethology in 1935 in what has become known as his “Kumpan paper”. The paper focussed on the social relationships between conspecifics (i.e. ‘kumpans’, companions) and provided a much-needed conceptual framework for the study of animal behaviour. We describe the origins and immediate reception of Lorenz’s paper using his correspondence with colleagues, mainly Erwin Stresemann who was then the influential editor of Journal für Ornithologie. The Kumpan paper was notable for its extraordinary originality, but also for its length and—in parts—its incomprehensible language. Most of Lorenz’s concepts were rapidly superseded as the field of Ethology/Animal Behaviour developed over the following decades. The paper (translated in full into English only in 1970) is rarely read today, but as we show, many of Lorenz’s observations of birds are both timeless and highly original and have the potential to inspire further research today.
The Strength of Diversity: Macrolithic Artefacts and Productive Forces During the Chalcolithic of Southern Iberia
Authors: Eguíluz Marina , Delgado-Raack Selina , Risch Roberto
Published: October 2023

Any approach to the economic organization of a society depends on our knowledge of the productive forces and relations of production involved. In archaeology, this line of research requires an analysis of the technical quality and quantity of the means of production, as well as their spatial distribution and contextualisation. Macrolithic artefacts constituted the means of production in many of the productive processes of past communities, from the Neolithic period to the end of prehistory. This article seeks to utilize macrolithic data to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the economic organisation of the Chalcolithic communities in the southern half of the Iberian Peninsula between c. 3100 and 2200 cal BC. These communities produced one of the most outstanding, but at the same time puzzling archaeological records known in later prehistory. The main aim of this exploratory approach, the first of its kind, is to determine if the different forms of occupation of the Chalcolithic, namely monumental, ditched enclosures, fortified and unfortified hill-top settlements, and simple, open settlements were distinguished by specific modes of production. This issue is crucial to the on-going debate about the meaning and relevance of the notion of social complexity in the context of Chalcolithic societies and their political organisation. Our study describes the productive forces of the Chalcolithic settlements as highly variable, both in the type of productive tasks performed and in their intensity, and such variability is not explained by aspects like geographic location, form of occupation, or monumentality. The observed wealth and productive diversity, without signs of marked social hierarchies, emerge as a characteristic feature of what can be defined as cooperative affluent societies.
Practice makes imperfect: stronger implicit interference with practice in individuals at high risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Hung Shao-Min , Adams Sara W. , Molloy Cathleen , Wu Daw-An , Shimojo Shinsuke , Arakaki Xianghong
Published: October 2023

Early screening to determine patient risk of developing Alzheimer’s will allow better interventions and planning but necessitates accessible methods such as behavioral biomarkers. Previously, we showed that cognitively healthy older individuals whose cerebrospinal fluid amyloid/tau ratio indicates high risk of cognitive decline experienced implicit interference during a high-effort task, signaling early changes in attention. To further investigate attention’s effect on implicit interference, we analyzed two experiments completed sequentially by the same high- and low-risk individuals. We hypothesized that if attention modulates interference, practice would affect the influence of implicit distractors. Indeed, while both groups experienced a strong practice effect, the association between practice and interference effects diverged between groups: stronger practice effects correlated with more implicit interference in high-risk participants, but less interference in low-risk individuals. Furthermore, low-risk individuals showed a positive correlation between implicit interference and EEG low-range alpha event-related desynchronization when switching from high- to low-load tasks. This suggests that lower attention on the task was correlated with stronger interference, a typical phenomenon in the younger population. These results demonstrate how attention impacts implicit interference and highlight early differences in perception between high- and low-risk individuals.
Workflow disruptions in robot-assisted surgery
Authors: Wong Shing Wai , Crowe Philip
Published: October 2023

Surgical flow disruptions are unexpected deviations from the natural progression which can potentially compromise the safety of the operation. Separation of the surgeon from the patient and team members is the main contributor for flow disruptions (FDs) in robot-assisted surgery (RAS). FDs have been categorised as communication, coordination, surgeon task considerations, training, equipment/ technology, external factors, instrument changes, and environmental factors. There may be an association between FDs and task error rate. Intervention to counter FDs include training, operating room adjustments, checklists, teamwork, communication improvement, ergonomics, technology, guidelines, workflow optimisation, and team briefing. Future studies should focus on identifying the significant disruptive FDs and the impact of interventions on surgical flow during RAS.
Facing and challenging language ideologies towards a more inclusive understanding of language in mathematics education research—the case of sign languages
Authors: Krause Christina M.
Published: October 2023

Research on language in mathematics education is largely dominated by a ‘normalcy’ of spoken languages. This modal hegemony does not only affect a whole group of learners in failing to provide access that is epistemologically equitable—those using sign language as their preferred mode for mathematical discourse—it also obscures our view on the roles language can play in mathematical thinking and learning. As a field, we can only win from seeking to understand Deaf learners of mathematics beyond a disability, as learners of mathematics with a specific linguistic background that influences mathematical thinking and learning in peculiar ways. In this contribution, I suggest a shift in mindset towards a more inclusive view on language in mathematics education research and practice. I propose basic principles to inform a perspective for reconsidering the role of language in mathematics thinking and learning, inspired by work of philosopher Francois Jullien. This perspective counters a perspective that merely integrates sign language into existing research and instead searches for dialogue between linguistic modalities in learning mathematics, looking beyond language as spoken or written. This approach will be illustrated by the case of the modal affordance of iconicity foregrounded in signed mathematical discourse, its role in Deaf students’ mathematics thinking and learning, and how this can inform existing research and practice dealing with language in mathematics education.
Application of FTIR Microspectroscopy in Oenology: Shedding Light on Cell Wall Composition of Saccharomyces cerevisiae Strains
Authors: L. Binati Renato , Ferremi Leali Nicola , Avesani Michele , Salvetti Elisa , Felis Giovanna E. , Monti Francesca , Torriani Sandra
Published: October 2023

The evaluation of cell parietal components of yeasts is an important criterium for the selection of wine starters since they play a key role in the vinification process. The aim of this study was to characterize and compare the cell wall composition of four industrial (BM45, D47, EC1118, K1) and three native Saccharomyces cerevisiae (MY8, MY11, PEDRO2000E) wine strains by means of scanning and transmission electron microscopy and ATR-FTIR microspectroscopy. A statistically significant variability in the cell wall thickness and cell diameter was observed among the yeast cells, with native strains showing higher cell diameter values. FTIR microspectroscopy applied on the intact cells without any previous invasive treatment and on the separated cell walls highlighted profound differences among the strains in terms of the overall content of parietal polysaccharides as related to the thickness of the cell walls and in terms of the relative concentration of β-glucans and mannans in the cell walls. The strains EC1118, MY11, and PEDRO2000E showed a higher overall content of β-glucans and mannans, whose lower relative concentration in PEDRO2000E was compensated by a thicker cell wall; BM45 and D47 were characterized by a high relative concentration of polysaccharides in a thinner wall, while K1 and MY8 displayed a low relative concentration of polysaccharides. ATR-FTIR microspectroscopy allows identifying polysaccharide-rich yeast strains and can become a smart option for the selection of starter cultures to be used in oenology and for other applications in food industry, thanks to the interesting technological properties of parietal polysaccharides.

Graphical Abstract
Serum sex hormones correlate with pathological features of papillary thyroid cancer
Authors: Xu Fa-Zhan , Zheng Lu-Lu , Chen Ke-Hao , Wang Ru , Yi Dan-Dan , Jiang Chao-Yu , Liu Zhi-Jian , SHI Xian-Biao , Sang Jian-Feng
Published: October 2023

Purpose

Sex hormones are thought to be responsible for the unique gender differences in papillary thyroid cancer(PTC). Most previous studies on these have focused on the expression of estrogen receptors, or have been limited to animal studies. The aim of our study was to explore the relationship between serum sex hormones and the pathological features of PTC in the clinical setting, as further evidence of the role of sex hormones in PTC.

Methods

Retrospective data analysis of patients who underwent thyroid surgery at the Department of Thyroid Surgery, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital from January 2022 to September 2022 Correlation between serum sex hormone and pathological features was analyzed in male patients and in menopausal female patients. Serum sex hormones include luteinizing hormone(LH), follicle stimulating hormone(FSH), estradiol(E2), total testosterone(TT), progesterone(P), and prolactin(PRL). Tumor pathological characteristics include the number and size of tumor, presence of extrathyroidal extension(ETE), presence of lymph node metastasis(LNM).

Results

Preoperative serum E2 in male patients was positively correlated with tumor size in PTC, LH was negatively correlated with LNM, while TT and P were negatively correlated with ETE. Similar findings were not observed in menopausal female patients.

Conclusion

We observed that serum sex hormones correlate with the pathological features of PTC in male patients, for the first time in a clinical study. High serum estrogens may be a risk factor for PTC, while androgens are the opposite. This somewhat corroborates previous research and provides new variables for future PTC prediction models.
Genotyping of Campylobacter jejuni and prediction tools of its antimicrobial resistance
Authors: Strakova Nicol , Michova Hana , Shagieva Ekaterina , Ovesna Petra , Karpiskova Renata , Demnerova Katerina
Published: October 2023

Although Campylobacter jejuni is the pathogen responsible for the most common foodborne illness, tracing of the infection source remains challenging due to its highly variable genome. Therefore, one of the aim of the study was to compare three genotyping methods (MLST, PFGE, and mP-BIT) to determine the most effective genotyping tool. C. jejuni strains were divided into 4 clusters based on strain similarity in the cgMLST dendrogram. Subsequently, the dendrograms of the 3 tested methods were compared to determine the accuracy of each method compared to the reference cgMLST method. Moreover, a cost-benefit analysis has showed that MLST had the highest inverse discrimination index (97%) and required less workflow, time, fewer consumables, and low bacterial sample quantity. PFGE was shown to be obsolete both because of its low discriminatory power and the complexity of the procedure. Similarly, mP‑BIT showed low separation results, which was compensated by its high availability. Therefore, our data showed that MLST is the optimal tool for genotyping C. jejuni. Another aim was to compare the antimicrobial resistance to ciprofloxacin, erythromycin, and tetracycline in C. jejuni strains isolated from human, water, air, food, and animal samples by two gene sequence-based prediction methods and to compare them with the actual susceptibility of C. jejuni strains using the disc diffusion method. Both tools, ResFinder and RGI, synchronously predict the antimicrobial susceptibility of C. jejuni and either can be used.
A feasible molecular diagnostic strategy for rare genetic disorders within resource-constrained environments
Authors: Mudau Maria Mabyalwa , Seymour Heather , Nevondwe Patracia , Kerr Robyn , Spencer Careni , Feben Candice , Lombard Zané , Honey Engela , Krause Amanda , Carstens Nadia
Published: October 2023

Timely and accurate diagnosis of rare genetic disorders is critical, as it enables improved patient management and prognosis. In a resource-constrained environment such as the South African State healthcare system, the challenge is to design appropriate and cost-effective assays that will enable accurate genetic diagnostic services in patients of African ancestry across a broad disease spectrum. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) has transformed testing approaches for many Mendelian disorders, but this technology is still relatively new in our setting and requires cost-effective ways to implement. As a proof of concept, we describe a feasible diagnostic strategy for genetic disorders frequently seen in our genetics clinics (RASopathies, Cornelia de Lange syndrome, Treacher Collins syndrome, and CHARGE syndrome). The custom-designed targeted NGS gene panel enabled concurrent variant screening for these disorders. Samples were batched during sequencing and analyzed selectively based on the clinical phenotype. The strategy employed in the current study was cost-effective, with sequencing and analysis done at USD849.68 per sample and achieving an overall detection rate of 54.5%. The strategy employed is cost-effective as it allows batching of samples from patients with different diseases in a single run, an approach that can be utilized with rare and less frequently ordered molecular diagnostic tests. The subsequent selective analysis pipeline allowed for timeous reporting back of patients results. This is feasible with a reasonable yield and can be employed for the molecular diagnosis of a wide range of rare monogenic disorders in a resource-constrained environment.
Determination of acceptable Hounsfield units uncertainties via a sensitivity analysis for an accurate dose calculation in the context of prostate MRI-only radiotherapy
Authors: Chourak Hilda , Barateau Anaïs , Greer Peter , Lafond Caroline , Nunes Jean-Claude , de Crevoisier Renaud , Dowling Jason , Acosta Oscar
Published: October 2023

Radiation therapy is moving from CT based to MRI guided planning, particularly for soft tissue anatomy. An important requirement of this new workflow is the generation of synthetic-CT (sCT) from MRI to enable treatment dose calculations. Automatic methods to determine the acceptable range of CT Hounsfield Unit (HU) uncertainties to avoid dose distribution errors is thus a key step toward safe MRI-only radiotherapy. This work has analysed the effects of controlled errors introduced in CT scans on the delivered radiation dose for prostate cancer patients. Spearman correlation coefficient has been computed, and a global sensitivity analysis performed following the Morris screening method. This allows the classification of different error factors according to their impact on the dose at the isocentre. sCT HU estimation errors in the bladder appeared to be the least influential factor, and sCT quality assessment should not only focus on organs surrounding the radiation target, as errors in other soft tissue may significantly impact the dose in the target volume. This methodology links dose and intensity-based metrics, and is the first step to define a threshold of acceptability of HU uncertainties for accurate dose planning.
The Framing of the Terrorist Threat in Health Contingency: Implications for Response
Authors: Nilsen Lisa Govasli
Published: October 2023

Terrorist attacks threaten the security of states and individuals, and often spur widespread state responses once they have occurred. Recent research has focused on health contingency in relation to terrorism and unveiled divergence in terms of how European countries approach this task. To understand more about this divergence, it is relevant to investigate how states define the issue of terrorism in contingency policies. The current study utilized theories of framing as part of policymaking and document analysis with a thematic analysis approach, to scrutinize to what extent terrorism was framed as a security issue in health contingency in relation to terrorist attacks in Norway and France, and how this affected policy outcomes. The analysis unveiled that a securitized frame was not prominent in the Norwegian approach to health contingency. In the French material, however, terrorism was described as a threat to national security. Second, terrorism response within the healthcare field was described as a form of “nonmilitary defense,” clearly positioning the healthcare system in the response to this national security threat. The framing of terrorism in policy documents was linked to diverging policy responses in the two countries. The most distinct difference is that victims of terrorism hold particular rights in France, but not in Norway. This entails that in France, the definition of terrorism, and whether specific events are defined as terrorism or not, in part become decisive for the help received.
Did the citizenship income scheme do it? The supposed electoral consequence of a flagship policy
Authors: Giuliani Marco
Published: October 2023

In the aftermath of the 2022 Italian legislative elections, but also during the entire electoral campaign, several claims were made that much of the electoral support for the Five Star Movement had been triggered by the ‘Reddito di cittadinanza’ – the welfare policy introduced in 2019 by the yellow–green government. This research note first distinguishes between distributive politics and policy voting, and then explores the empirical relationship between the geographical provision at the municipal level of the citizenship income and the vote for the party led by Giuseppe Conte. While traditional multivariate analyses fail to reveal any spurious relationship, matching techniques help highlight the absence of any causal relationship between the two variables.
UNDEFINABILITY OF MULTIPLICATION IN PRESBURGER ARITHMETIC WITH SETS OF POWERS
Authors: SCHULZ CHRIS
Published: October 2023

We begin by proving that any Presburger-definable image of one or more sets of powers has zero natural density. Then, by adapting the proof of a dichotomy result on o-minimal structures by Friedman and Miller, we produce a similar dichotomy for expansions of Presburger arithmetic on the integers. Combining these two results, we obtain that the expansion of the ordered group of integers by any number of sets of powers does not define multiplication.
Variations in adult BMI among Indian men: a quantile regression analysis
Authors: Agnihotri Archana , Viswanathan Brinda
Published: October 2023

India has not only maintained its top position among countries with the largest number of underweight adults but has also jumped to a higher position among countries with largest increase in the proportion of overweight people in the last three decades. More studies focus on double burden of malnutrition among women than on men. This study uses the quantile regression model to analyse the covariates associated with low and high body mass index (BMI) primarily among men aged 20–54 years during 2015–2016 in India. Occupations that involve more manual work help in maintaining a normal BMI along with better education, dietary diversity, and less sedentary lifestyle. A gendered comparison of men and their spouses highlights the differences in the association of covariates with BMI for men and women. The results from this study will provide insights for behavioural change at an individual level and inputs for public health intervention for addressing ill health concerns arising from underweight, overweight, or obesity.
The mental health of paediatric cochlear implant recipients
Authors: Ma Si-Jie , Li Si-Xuan , Tan Huan , Chen Chi , Bian Pan-Pan , Xu Bai-Cheng , Guo Yu-Fen
Published: October 2023

Objectives

To evaluate the mental health of paediatric cochlear implant users and analyse the relationship between six dimensions (movements, cognitive ability, emotion and will, sociality, living habits and language) and hearing and speech rehabilitation.

Methods

Eighty-two cochlear implant users were assessed using the Mental Health Survey Questionnaire. Age at implantation, time of implant use and listening modes were investigated. Categories of Auditory Performance and the Speech Intelligibility Rating Scale were used to score hearing and speech abilities.

Results

More recipients scored lower in cognitive ability and language. Age at implantation was statistically significant (p < 0.05) for movements, cognitive ability, emotion and will, and language. The time of implant usage and listening mode indicated statistical significance (p < 0.05) in cognitive ability, sociality and language.

Conclusion

Timely attention should be paid to the mental health of paediatric cochlear implant users, and corresponding psychological interventions should be implemented to make personalised rehabilitation plans.
Autonomy, the moral circle, and the limits of ownership
Authors: Starmans Christina
Published: October 2023

Why can't we own people? Boyer proposes that the key consideration concerns inclusion in the moral circle. I propose an alternative, which is that specific mental capacities, especially the capacity for autonomy, play a key role in determining judgments about human and animal ownership. Autonomous beings are viewed as owning themselves, which precludes them from being owned by others.
A developmental perspective on the minimalist model: The case of respect for ownership
Authors: Blake Peter R.
Published: October 2023

The developmental evidence for children's respect for ownership reveals that children will enforce the property rights of third parties before they themselves respect other's property. This pattern of development suggests the need for clarification or modification of the minimalist model. Here, I consider three explanations for the gap between knowledge and behavior for respect of ownership.
Changes in soil chemical properties and their spatial distribution after logging and conversion to oil palm plantation in Sabah (Borneo)
Authors: Flynn Trevan , Tuma Jiri , Fayle Tom M , Veselá Hana , Frouz Jan
Published: October 2023

Conversion of primary forest into oil palm plantations is common in tropical countries, affecting soil properties, ecosystem services and land-use management. However, little is known about the short-range spatial soil distribution that is important for soil scientists, ecologists, entomologists, mycologists or microbiologists. In this study, seven soil properties (pH, EC (µS/m), P (mg/kg), NO3- (mg/kg), N%, C% and C:N) were measured to quantify the spatial autocorrelation across primary forest, selectively logged forest and oil palm plantation in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo. Local variograms were calculated (range ∼5 m) to determine the short-range variation, and a decision tree as well as principal component analysis were implemented to determine if the overall (global) mean differed between land uses. As hypothesised, oil palm soils deviated the most from primary forest soils, which had more fluctuating variograms and in general, a shorter range. Oil palm plantations also showed a difference in the global mean except for electrical conductivity. Selectively logged forests also differed in their short-range spatial structure; however, the global mean and variance remained similar to primary forest soil with the exception of labile phosphorus and nitrate. These results were attributed to initial plantation development, removal of topsoil, fertiliser application and topography.
Abelian tropical covers
Authors: LEN YOAV , ULIRSCH MARTIN , ZAKHAROV DMITRY
Published: October 2023

Let$\mathfrak{A}$be a finite abelian group. In this paper, we classify harmonic$\mathfrak{A}$-covers of a tropical curve$\Gamma$(which allow dilation along edges and at vertices) in terms of the cohomology group of a suitably defined sheaf on$\Gamma$. We give a realisability criterion for harmonic$\mathfrak{A}$-covers by patching local monodromy data in an extended homology group on$\Gamma$. As an explicit example, we work out the case$\mathfrak{A}=\mathbb{Z}/p\mathbb{Z}$and explain how realisability for such covers is related to the nowhere-zero flow problem from graph theory.
Erleichterter Zugang zur ambulanten Suchthilfe für Geflüchtete
Authors: Stylianopoulos Panagiotis , Hertner Laura , Schäfer Ingo , Heinz Andreas , Penka Simone
Published: October 2023

Zusammenfassung: Zielsetzung: Ziel der Studie ist, herauszufinden, inwieweit vorliegende Strategien guter Praxis zum Erreichen und Versorgen Geflüchteter in der Suchthilfe Anwendung finden. Wie in anderen Einrichtungen der Gesundheitsversorgung erschweren auch in der Suchthilfe Barrieren den Zugang sowie die Versorgung Geflüchteter. Oftmals wird diese Zielgruppe nicht erreicht. Methodik: Um den Stand der Implementierung der Strategien zu erheben, wurde eine Befragung unter Mitgliedseinrichtungen der Deutschen Hauptstelle für Suchtfragen durchgeführt. Für 29 Strategien wurden die Frage: „Setzen Sie diese Strategie um“ gestellt, welche auf einer vier-Punkte-Likert-Skala beantwortet werden konnte. Zusätzlich wurden demografische Daten der Einrichtungen erhoben. Die Teilnahme erfolgte online oder per Post. Für die Auswertung wurden die Antworten dichotomisiert in „umgesetzt“ und „nicht umgesetzt“. Ergebnisse: Es wurden vorwiegend Strategien umgesetzt, die keine Mehrkosten erzeugen. Diese gehen entweder auf Grundhaltungen der Suchthilfe zurück wie z. B. Diskretion und Anonymität, oder werden von zentralen Stellen zur Verfügung gestellt z. B. zentral konzipiertes Informationsmaterial. Zudem zeigte sich eine mangelhafte Umsetzung von Strategien in Bezug auf Mehrsprachigkeit, aufsuchende Ansätze und der Förderung von Mitarbeitenden mit Migrationshintergrund/Fluchtgeschichte. Schlussfolgerungen: Es sind weiterhin Anstrengungen nötig, um in der Suchthilfe Geflüchtete zu erreichen und zu versorgen.
A comprehensive review of human trophoblast fusion models: recent developments and challenges
Authors: Li Xia , Li Zhuo-Hang , Wang Ying-Xiong , Liu Tai-Hang
Published: October 2023

As an essential component of the maternal-fetal interface, the placental syncytiotrophoblast layer contributes to a successful pregnancy by secreting hormones necessary for pregnancy, transporting nutrients, mediating gas exchange, balancing immune tolerance, and resisting pathogen infection. Notably, the deficiency in mononuclear trophoblast cells fusing into multinucleated syncytiotrophoblast has been linked to adverse pregnancy outcomes, such as preeclampsia, fetal growth restriction, preterm birth, and stillbirth. Despite the availability of many models for the study of trophoblast fusion, there exists a notable disparity from the ideal model, limiting the deeper exploration into the placental development. Here, we reviewed the existing models employed for the investigation of human trophoblast fusion from several aspects, including the development history, latest progress, advantages, disadvantages, scope of application, and challenges. The literature searched covers the monolayer cell lines, primary human trophoblast, placental explants, human trophoblast stem cells, human pluripotent stem cells, three-dimensional cell spheres, organoids, and placenta-on-a-chip from 1938 to 2023. These diverse models have significantly enhanced our comprehension of placental development regulation and the underlying mechanisms of placental-related disorders. Through this review, our objective is to provide readers with a thorough understanding of the existing trophoblast fusion models, making it easier to select most suitable models to address specific experimental requirements or scientific inquiries.
Reliable interpretability of biology-inspired deep neural networks
Authors: Esser-Skala Wolfgang , Fortelny Nikolaus
Published: October 2023

Deep neural networks display impressive performance but suffer from limited interpretability. Biology-inspired deep learning, where the architecture of the computational graph is based on biological knowledge, enables unique interpretability where real-world concepts are encoded in hidden nodes, which can be ranked by importance and thereby interpreted. In such models trained on single-cell transcriptomes, we previously demonstrated that node-level interpretations lack robustness upon repeated training and are influenced by biases in biological knowledge. Similar studies are missing for related models. Here, we test and extend our methodology for reliable interpretability in P-NET, a biology-inspired model trained on patient mutation data. We observe variability of interpretations and susceptibility to knowledge biases, and identify the network properties that drive interpretation biases. We further present an approach to control the robustness and biases of interpretations, which leads to more specific interpretations. In summary, our study reveals the broad importance of methods to ensure robust and bias-aware interpretability in biology-inspired deep learning.