bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Using the effective weak mixing angle as an input parameter in SMEFT
Authors: Biekötter Anke , Pecjak Benjamin D. , Smith Tommy
Published: April 2024

Abstract

We implement electroweak renormalisation schemes involving the effective weak mixing angle to NLO in Standard Model Effective Field Theory (SMEFT). After developing the necessary theoretical machinery, we analyse a select set of electroweak precision observables in such input schemes. An attractive feature is that large corrections from top-quark loops appearing in other schemes are absorbed into the definition of the effective weak mixing angle. On the other hand, the renormalisation condition which achieves this involves a large number of flavour-specific SMEFT couplings between the Z boson and charged leptons, motivating simple flavour assumptions such as minimal flavour violation for practical applications. The results of this paper provide a valuable new component for estimating systematic uncertainties in SMEFT fits by performing analyses in multiple input schemes.
Irreducible representations of the Poincaré group with reflections and two-fold Wigner degeneracy
Authors: Ahluwalia Dharam Vir , de Gracia G. B. , Hoff da Silva Julio M. , Lee Cheng-Yang , Pimentel B. M.
Published: April 2024

Abstract

Not all complete set of spinors can be used as expansion coefficients of a quantum field. In fact, Steven Weinberg established the uniqueness of Dirac spinors for this purpose provided: (a) one paid due attention to the multiplicative phases for each of the spinors, and (b) one paired these to creation and annihilation operators in a specific manner. This is implicit in his implementation of the rotational symmetry for the spin half quantum field. Among the numerous complete set of spinors that are available to a physicist, Elko occupies a unique status that allows it to enter as expansion coefficients of a quantum field without violating Weinberg’s no go theorem. How this paradigm changing claim arises is the primary subject of this communication. Weinberg’s no go theorem is evaded by exploiting a uniquely special feature of Elko that allows us to introduce a doubling of the particle-antiparticle degrees of freedom from four to eight. Weinberg had dismissed this degeneracy on the ground that, “no examples are known of particles that furnish unconventional representations of inversions.” Here we will find that this degeneracy, once envisioned by Eugene Wigner, in fact gives rise to a quantum field that has all the theoretical properties required of dark matter.
On the oscillating electric dipole moment induced by axion-fermion couplings
Authors: Di Luzio Luca , Gisbert Hector , Sørensen Philip
Published: April 2024

Abstract

It has been recently claimed that the axion coupling to fermions is responsible for an oscillating electric dipole moment (EDM) in the background of axion dark matter. In this work, we re-examine the derivation of this effect. Contrary to previous studies, we point out the physical relevance of an axion boundary term, which is crucial in restoring the axion shift symmetry and drastically affects the EDM phenomenology. To describe the latter, we introduce the notion of a time-averaged effective axion EDM, which encodes the boundary term and whose magnitude depends on the oscillation regime. For slow oscillations, the boundary term washes out the standard oscillating EDM, resulting in an exact cancellation in the static limit. Conversely, during fast oscillations, the boundary term amplifies the effective EDM relatively to the standard EDM contribution. This observable is especially interesting in the case of the electron EDM. For an $$ \mathcal{O} $$
O
(1) axion-electron coupling, the overall size of the effective EDM in the regime of intermediate or fast oscillations is comparable to the present static EDM limit.
Is the Euclidean path integral always equal to the thermal partition function?
Authors: Diakonov D. V.
Published: April 2024

Abstract

The Euclidean path integral is compared to the thermal (canonical) partition function in curved static space-times. It is shown that if spatial sections are non-compact and there is no Killing horizon, the logarithms of these two quantities differ only by a term proportional to the inverse temperature, that arises from the vacuum energy. When spatial sections are bordered by Killing horizons the Euclidean path integral is not equal to the thermal partition function. It is shown that the expression for the Euclidean path integral depends on which integral is taken first: over coordinates or over momenta. In the first case the Euclidean path integral depends on the scattering phase shift of the mode and it is UV diverge. In the second case it is the total derivative and diverge on the horizon. Furthermore we demonstrate that there are three different definitions of the energy, and the derivative with respect to the inverse temperature of the Euclidean path integral does not give the value of any of these three types of energy. We also propose the new method of computation of the Euclidean path integral that gives the correct equality between the Euclidean path integral and thermal partition function for non-compact spaces with and without Killing horizon.
Ruled Surfaces in 3-Dimensional Riemannian Manifolds
Authors: López Marco Castrillón , Rosado M. Eugenia , Soria Alberto
Published: April 2024

In this work, ruled surfaces in 3-dimensional Riemannian manifolds are studied. We determine the expressions for the extrinsic and sectional curvatures of a parametrized ruled surface, where the former one is shown to be non-positive. We also quantify the set of ruling vector fields along a given base curve which allows us to define a relevant reference frame that we refer to as Sannia frame. The fundamental theorem of existence and equivalence of Sannia ruled surfaces in terms of a system of invariants is given. The second part of the article tackles the concept of the striction curve, which is proven to be the set of points where the so-called Jacobi evolution function vanishes on a ruled surface. This characterisation of striction curves provides independent proof for their existence and uniqueness in space forms and disproves their existence or uniqueness in some other cases.
Identification of the role of DAB2 and CXCL8 in uterine spiral artery remodeling in early-onset preeclampsia
Authors: Liu Yu , Du Lili , Gu Shifeng , Liang Jingying , Huang Minshan , Huang Lijun , Lai Siying , Zhang Shuang , Tu Zhaowei , Sun Wei , Chen Dunjin , Chen Jingsi
Published: April 2024

Aberrant remodeling of uterine spiral arteries (SPA) is strongly associated with the pathogenesis of early-onset preeclampsia (EOPE). However, the complexities of SPA transformation remain inadequately understood. We conducted a single-cell RNA sequencing analysis of whole placental tissues derived from patients with EOPE and their corresponding controls, identified DAB2 as a key gene of interest and explored the mechanism underlying the communication between Extravillous trophoblast cells (EVTs) and decidual vascular smooth muscle cells (dVSMC) through cell models and a placenta-decidua coculture (PDC) model in vitro. DAB2 enhanced the motility and viability of HTR-8/SVneo cells. After exposure to conditioned medium (CM) from HTR-8/SVneoshNC cells, hVSMCs exhibited a rounded morphology, indicative of dedifferentiation, while CM-HTR-8/SVneoshDAB2 cells displayed a spindle-like morphology. Furthermore, the PDC model demonstrated that CM-HTR-8/SVneoshDAB2 was less conducive to vascular remodeling. Further in-depth mechanistic investigations revealed that C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 8 (CXCL8, also known as IL8) is a pivotal regulator governing the dedifferentiation of dVSMC. DAB2 expression in EVTs is critical for orchestrating the phenotypic transition and motility of dVSMC. These processes may be intricately linked to the CXCL8/PI3K/AKT pathway, underscoring its central role in intricate SPA remodeling.

Graphical abstract
Stratospheric Gravity Waves Impact on Infrasound Transmission Losses Across the International Monitoring System
Authors: Listowski C. , Stephan C. C. , Le Pichon A. , Hauchecorne A. , Kim Y.-H. , Achatz U. , Bölöni G.
Published: April 2024

The international monitoring system (IMS) has been put in place to monitor compliance with the comprehensive nuclear-test-ban treaty (CTBT). Its infrasound component, dedicated to the monitoring of atmospheric events, gives also room to civil applications (e.g. monitoring of volcanic eruptions, meteorites, severe weather). Infrasound detection capabilities are largely determined by the state of the middle atmosphere. This requires an accurate knowledge of the atmospheric processes at play. More particularly internal gravity waves (GW) pose a challenge to atmospheric modelling because of unresolved processes. Using high-resolution simulation outputs over winter 2020 (20 January–1 March) we present a method to assess the impact of GW on infrasound surface transmission losses across the IMS. We validate the method by comparing simulated GW perturbations to GW lidar observations at Observatoire de Haute-Provence in France, and satellite-based GW energy estimations globally. We perform propagation simulations using atmospheric specifications where GW are filtered out and kept in, respectively. We demonstrate that the largest impact of GW across the IMS is not where GW activity is the largest, but rather where GW activity combines with infrasound waveguides not firmly set in a given direction. In northern winter, the largest variations of transmission losses at 1 Hz due to GW occur in the southern (summer) hemisphere in the direction of the main guide (westward propagation), with average values ranging between 10 and 25 dB in the first shadow zone. It corresponds to an average signal amplification of at least a factor 5 to 15, while this amplification is around 2 to 5 for the main guide in the northern winter hemisphere (eastward propagation).
Global Nilpotent Reversible Centers with Cubic Nonlinearities Symmetric with Respect to the x-Axis
Authors: Corbera Montserrat , Valls Claudia
Published: April 2024

Let $$P_3(x,y)$$

P
3

(
x
,
y
)

and $$Q_3(x,y)$$

Q
3

(
x
,
y
)

be polynomials of degree three without constant or linear terms. We characterize the global centers of all polynomial differential systems of the form $$\dot{x} = y+ P_3(x,y)$$

x
˙

=
y
+

P
3

(
x
,
y
)

, $$\dot{y} =Q_3(x,y)$$

y
˙

=

Q
3

(
x
,
y
)

that are reversible and invariant with respect to the x-axis.
Potential of cold-atom airborne gravimetry to improve coastal gravity field and quasigeoid modelling
Authors: Vu Dinh Toan , Bonvalot Sylvain , Seoane Lucia , Gabalda Germinal , Remy Dominique , Bruinsma Sean , Bidel Yannick , Bresson Alexandre , Zahzam Nassim , Rouxel Didier , Salaün Corinne , Lalancette Marie-Françoise , Forsberg René , Jensen Tim , Jamet Olivier
Published: April 2024

We investigate using the GIRAFE cold-atom gravimeter during an airborne gravity survey for improving gravity field and quasigeoid modelling. The study is conducted over the Bay of Biscay, France. Geoid/quasigeoid determination is usually a major challenge over such coastal areas due to scarce and inconsistent gravity data. In a first step, the GIRAFE dataset is analysed and compared with available surface gravity data as well as with global altimetry models from UCSD and DTU. The comparisons indicate that the DTU model is better than the UCSD model within around 10 km from the coastline. Furthermore, recent satellite altimeter missions significantly improve the altimetry models in coastal areas. A significant bias (− 4.00 mGal) in shipborne data is also found from this comparison. In a second step, eight quasigeoid solutions are calculated to evaluate the contribution of GIRAFE data. This contribution reaches 3 cm in terms of height anomaly for DTU21 while being much larger for UCSDv31 and shipborne data. Finally, the quasigeoid solutions are validated using GNSS-levelling data. The results indicate that using GIRAFE data improves by approximately 50% the quality of quasigeoid models over land near the coast. The highest accuracy, around 1 cm, is achieved when GIRAFE data are merged with refined gravity data. Importantly, the standard deviation is just 1.2 cm when compared with GNSS-levelling points if using only GIRAFE data over marine areas, which is very close to the 1 cm goal of geoid/quasigeoid model determination in modern geodesy. This study thus confirms the benefits of performing airborne gravity survey using quantum sensors.
Stability of the surface diffusion flow and volume-preserving mean curvature flow in the flat torus
Authors: De Gennaro Daniele , Diana Antonia , Kubin Andrea , Kubin Anna
Published: April 2024

We prove that, in the flat torus and in any dimension, the volume-preserving mean curvature flow and the surface diffusion flow, starting $$C^{1,1}$$

C

1
,
1

-close to a strictly stable critical set of the perimeter E,  exist for all times and converge to a translate of E exponentially fast as time goes to infinity.
Simples in a cotilting heart
Authors: Angeleri Hügel Lidia , Herzog Ivo , Laking Rosanna
Published: April 2024

Every cotilting module over a ring R induces a t-structure with a Grothendieck heart in the derived category D(Mod-R). We determine the simple objects in this heart and their injective envelopes, combining torsion-theoretic aspects with methods from the model theory of modules and Auslander-Reiten theory.
Leveraging meta-regression to test if medication effects on cue-induced craving are associated with clinical efficacy
Authors: Nieto Steven J. , Du Han , Meredith Lindsay R. , Donato Suzanna , Magill Molly , Ray Lara A.
Published: April 2024

Rationale

The alcohol cue exposure paradigm is a common method for evaluating new treatments for alcohol use disorder (AUD); however, it is unclear if medication-related reductions in cue-induced craving in the human laboratory can predict the clinical success of those medications in reducing alcohol consumption during clinical trials.

Objectives

To use a novel meta-analytic approach to test whether medication effect sizes on cue-induced alcohol craving are associated with clinical efficacy in clinical trials.

Method

We searched the literature for medications tested for AUD treatment using both the alcohol cue-reactivity paradigm and randomized clinical trials (RCTs). For alcohol cue-reactivity studies, we computed medication effect sizes for cue-induced alcohol craving (k = 36 studies, 15 medications). For RCTs, we calculated medication effect sizes for heavy drinking and abstinence (k = 139 studies, 19 medications). Using medication as the unit of analysis, we applied the Williamson-York bivariate weighted least squares estimation to account for errors in both independent and dependent variables. We also conducted leave-one-out cross validation simulations to examine the predictive utility of cue-craving medication effect sizes on RCT heavy drinking and abstinence endpoints.

Results

There was no significant relationship between medication effects on cue-induced alcohol craving in the human laboratory and medication effects on heavy drinking ($$\widehat{\beta }$$

β
^

= 0.253, SE = 0.189, p = 0.090) and abstinence ($$\widehat{\beta }$$

β
^

= 0.829, SE = 0.747, p = 0.133) in RCTs.

Conclusions

The preliminary results of the current study challenge the assumption that alcohol cue-reactivity alone can be used as an early efficacy indicator for AUD pharmacotherapy development. These findings suggest that a wider range of early efficacy indicators and experimental paradigms be considered for Phase II testing of novel compounds.
Diagnostic magnetic resonance imaging characteristics of congenital mesoblastic nephroma: a retrospective multi-center International Society of Pediatric Oncology-Renal Tumor Study Group (SIOP-RTSG) radiology panel study
Authors: van der Beek Justine N. , Schenk Jens-Peter , Morosi Carlo , Watson Tom A. , Coma Ana , Graf Norbert , Chowdhury Tanzina , Ramírez-Villar Gema L. , Spreafico Filippo , Welter Nils , Dzhuma Kristina , van Tinteren Harm , de Krijger Ronald R. , van den Heuvel-Eibrink Marry M. , Littooij Annemieke S.
Published: April 2024

Background

Congenital mesoblastic nephroma is the most common solid renal tumor in neonates. Therefore, patients <3 months of age are advised to undergo upfront nephrectomy, whereas invasive procedures at diagnosis in patients ≥3 months of age are discouraged by the International Society of Pediatric Oncology-Renal Tumor Study Group (SIOP-RTSG). Nevertheless, discriminating congenital mesoblastic nephroma, especially from the more common Wilms tumor, solely based on imaging remains difficult. Recently, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has become the preferred modality. Studies focusing on MRI characteristics of congenital mesoblastic nephroma are limited.

Objective

This study aims to identify diagnostic MRI characteristics of congenital mesoblastic nephroma in the largest series of patients to date.

Materials and methods

In this retrospective multicenter study, five SIOP-RTSG national review radiologists identified 52 diagnostic MRIs of histologically proven congenital mesoblastic nephromas. MRI was performed following SIOP-RTSG protocols, while radiologists assessed their national cases using a validated case report form.

Results

Patients (24/52 classic, 11/52 cellular, and 15/52 mixed type congenital mesoblastic nephroma, 2/52 unknown) had a median age of 1 month (range 1 day–3 months). Classic type congenital mesoblastic nephroma appeared homogeneous with a lack of hemorrhage, necrosis and/or cysts, showing a concentric ring sign in 14 (58.3%) patients. Cellular and mixed type congenital mesoblastic nephroma appeared more heterogeneous and were larger (311.6 and 174.2 cm3, respectively, versus 41.0 cm3 for the classic type (P<0.001)). All cases were predominantly T2-weighted isointense and T1-weighted hypointense, and mean overall apparent diffusion coefficient values ranged from 1.05–1.10×10−3 mm2/s.

Conclusion

This retrospective international collaborative study showed classic type congenital mesoblastic nephroma predominantly presented as a homogeneous T2-weighted isointense mass with a typical concentric ring sign, whereas the cellular type appeared more heterogeneous. Future studies may use identified MRI characteristic of congenital mesoblastic nephroma for validation and for exploring the discriminative non-invasive value of MRI, especially from Wilms tumor.

Graphical Abstract
Reaction of KHP with excess NaOH or TRIS as standard reactions for calibration of titration calorimeters from 0 to 60 °C
Authors: Kenealey Jason D. , Bastos Margarida , Assaf Zaid , Bai Guangyue , Zhao Wenqi , Jarrard Tyler , Tower Colter , Hansen Lee D.
Published: April 2024

Calibration of titration calorimeters is an ongoing problem, particularly with calorimeters with reaction vessel volumes < 10 mL in which an electrical calibration heater is positioned outside the calorimetric vessel. Consequently, a chemical reaction with a known enthalpy change must be used to accurately calibrate these calorimeters. This work proposes the use of standard solutions of potassium acid phthalate (KHP) titrated into solutions of excess sodium hydroxide (NaOH) or excess tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane (TRIS) as standard reactions to determine the collective accuracy of the relevant variables in a determination of the molar enthalpy change for a reaction. KHP is readily available in high purity, weighable for easy preparation of solutions with accurately known concentrations, stable in solution, not compromised by side reactions with common contaminants such as atmospheric CO2, and non-corrosive to materials used in calorimeter construction. Molar enthalpy changes for these reactions were calculated from 0 to 60 °C from reliable literature data for the pKa of KHP, the molar enthalpy change for protonation of TRIS, and the molar enthalpy change for ionization of water. The feasibility of using these reactions as enthalpic standards was tested in several calorimeters; a 50 mL CSC 4300, a 185 μL NanoITC, a 1.4 mL VP-ITC, and a TAM III with 1 mL reaction vessels. The results from the 50 mL CSC 4300, which was accurately calibrated with an electric heater, verified the accuracy of the calculated standard values for the molar enthalpy changes of the proposed reactions.
Single and basal crop coefficients for estimation of water requirements of subtropical and tropical orchards and plantations with consideration of fraction of ground cover, height, and training system
Authors: Paredes Paula , Petry Mirta T. , Oliveira Cristina M. , Montoya Francisco , López-Urrea Ramón , Pereira Luis S.
Published: April 2024

This paper provides an overview of the research carried out over the last 25 years on the FAO56 single and basal crop coefficients of subtropical and tropical orchards and plantations of cactus pear, dragon fruit, fig, jujube, passion fruit, pomegranate, cape gooseberry, cherimoya, guava, longan, lychee, mango, papaya, acerola, carambola, cashew, cacao, coffee, jaboticaba, jatropha, macadamia, açai palm, coconut, date palm, guayule, oil palm, peach palm, ramie and rubber tree. The main objective of this review is to update standard single crop coefficients (Kc) and basal crop coefficients (Kcb) and complete the Kc and Kcb values tabulated in FAO56. Kc is the ratio between the non-stressed crop evapotranspiration (ETc) and the grass reference evapotranspiration (ETo), and Kcb is the ratio between the crop transpiration (Tc) and the ETo. When selecting and analysing the literature, only studies that used the FAO Penman–Monteith equation, or another equation well related to the former to compute ETo were considered, while ETc or Tc were obtained from accurate field measurements on crops under pristine (non-stress cropping conditions) or eustress (“good stress”) conditions. Articles meeting these conditions were selected to provide data for updating Kc and Kcb under standard conditions. The related description of orchards and plantations refers to crop cultivar and rootstock, irrigation systems and scheduling, planting spacing, fraction of ground cover (fc) by the crops, crop height (h), crop age and training systems, as Kc and Kcb values depend on these characteristics. To define the standard Kc and Kcb values of the selected crops, the values collected in the literature were compared with previously tabulated standard Kc and Kcb values. The updated tabulated values are transferable to other locations and climates and can be used to calculate and model crop water requirements, primarily for irrigation planning and scheduling, and thereby supporting of improved water use and savings, which is the overall aim of the current review.
Role of oxygen reserve index monitoring in patients undergoing robot-assisted radical prostatectomy: a retrospective study
Authors: Ryu Jung-Hee , Jeon Young-Tae , Sim Kyu Man , Lee Soowon , Oh Ah-Young , Koo Chang-Hoon
Published: April 2024

Purpose

Robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) is a common surgical procedure for the treatment of prostate cancer. Although beneficial, it can lead to intraoperative hypoxia due to high-pressure pneumoperitoneum and Trendelenburg position. This study explored the use of oxygen reserve index (ORi) to monitor and predict hypoxia during RARP.

Methods

A retrospective analysis was conducted on 329 patients who underwent RARP at the Seoul National University Bundang Hospital between July 2021 and March 2023. Various pre- and intraoperative variables were collected, including ORi values. The relationship between ORi values and hypoxia occurrence was assessed using receiver operating characteristic curves and logistic regression analysis.

Results

Intraoperative hypoxia occurred in 18.8% of the patients. The receiver operating characteristic curve showed a satisfactory area under the curve of 0.762, with the ideal ORi cut-off value for predicting hypoxia set at 0.16. Sensitivity and specificity were 64.5% and 75.7%, respectively. An ORi value of < 0.16 and a higher body mass index were identified as independent risk factors of hypoxia during RARP.

Conclusions

ORi monitoring provides a non-invasive approach to predict intraoperative hypoxia during RARP, enabling early management. Additionally, the significant relationship between a higher body mass index and hypoxia underscores the importance of individualized patient assessment.
Experimental assessment of square-wave spatial spanwise forcing of a turbulent boundary layer
Authors: Knoop Max W. , Hartog Friso H. , Schrijer Ferdinand F. J. , van Campenhout Olaf W. G. , van Nesselrooij Michiel , van Oudheusden Bas W.
Published: April 2024

We present an experimental realisation of spatial spanwise forcing in a turbulent boundary layer flow, aimed at reducing the frictional drag. The forcing is achieved by a series of spanwise running belts, running in alternating spanwise direction, thereby generating a steady spatial square-wave forcing. Stereoscopic particle image velocimetry in the streamwise–wall-normal plane is used to investigate the impact of actuation on the flow in terms of turbulence statistics, drag performance characteristics, and spanwise velocity profiles, for a non-dimensional wavelength of $$\lambda _x^+ = 397$$

λ
x
+

=
397

. In line with reported numerical studies, we confirm that a significant flow control effect can be realised with this type of forcing. The scalar fields of the higher-order turbulence statistics show a strong attenuation of stresses and production of turbulence kinetic energy over the first belt already, followed by a more gradual decrease to a steady-state energy response over the second belt. The streamwise velocity in the near-wall region is reduced, indicative of a drag-reduced flow state. The profiles of the higher-order turbulence statistics are attenuated up to a wall-normal height of $$y^+ \approx 100$$

y
+

≈
100

, with a maximum streamwise stress reduction of 45% and a reduction of integral turbulence kinetic energy production of 39%, for a non-dimensional actuation amplitude of $$A^+ = 12.7$$

A
+

=
12.7

. An extension of the classical laminar Stokes layer theory is introduced, based on the linear superposition of Fourier modes, to describe the non-sinusoidal boundary condition that corresponds to the current case. The experimentally obtained spanwise velocity profiles show good agreement with this extended theoretical model. The drag reduction was estimated from a linear fit in the viscous sublayer in the range $$2 \le y^+\le 5$$

2
≤

y
+

≤
5

. The results are found to be in good qualitative agreement with the numerical implementations of Viotti et al. (Phys Fluids 21, 2009), matching the drag reduction trend with $$A^+$$

A
+

, and reaching a maximum of 20%.

Graphical abstract
A novel approach for improving open scene text translation with modified GAN
Authors: Cheema Yasmeen , Cheema Muhammad Nadeem , Nazir Anam , Khokhar Fahad Ahmed , Li Ping , Ahmed Ayaz
Published: April 2024

Text, as a vital tool for communication, is playing an imperative role in modern society. Precise high-level text translation systems are essential requirements in a wide range of real-world applications, such as robot navigation, industrial automation, image search, and instant translation. Regardless of improved research, a series of grand challenges may still become upon when translating text automatically in the real-world from open scene images. The difficulties mainly stem from multiplicity and inconsistency of text in open scenes, complication and obstruction of backgrounds, and deficient imaging conditions in uncontrolled circumstances for open scene images. The existing deep learning-based text translation systems do not eliminate the text for translation, and these applications just replace text on the reconstructed scene. To address the abovementioned shortcomings, this study proposed a novel approach for open scene text translation. Our system consists of five modules including scene text detection, text recognition, text elimination, text translation, and text insertion along with scene reconstruction. The novelty presented by our model lies in the idea of first eliminating the text from the open scene for accurate translation and then reconstructs the translated text on the image for its proper alignment. We specifically modified the existing generative adversarial network (GAN) architecture for improved performance of text elimination by introducing a novel strategy of text and scene concatenation to reduce the overall loss function. For this purpose, we created a synthetic dataset to train our GAN for text elimination module. Experiments on various standard text translation systems demonstrate that our integrated system is able to outperform state-of-the-art approaches in terms of result quality. We have achieved 90.87% of precision, 83.66% of recall, 87.116% of F1-score, and reduced both losses (

$$l_1$$

l
1

and

$$l_2$$

l
2

) up to 50% which is remarkable upon state-of-the-art translation systems.
Percutaneous intramedullary screw or rush pin fixation of unstable ankle fractures in patients with fragile soft tissue – retrospective study of 80 cases
Authors: Mortensen Simon Oksbjerre , Barckman Jeppe , Gundtoft Per Hviid
Published: April 2024

Introduction

The standard surgical procedure for unstable ankle fractures is fixation of the lateral malleolus with a plate and screws. This method has a high risk of complications, especially among patients with fragile skin conditions. The aim of this study was to estimate the re-operation rates and identify complications in patients with an unstable ankle fracture, surgically treated with an intramedullary screw or rush pin.

Materials and methods

We identified all patients who were surgically treated with either a 3.5-mm screw or rush pin at Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark, from 2012 to 2018. Major complications were re-operations within three months. We included 80 patients, of which 55 (69%) were treated with a 3.5-mm intramedullary screw and 25 (31%) with a rush pin. The majority of the study population was female (59) and the mean age was 75 (range 24 to 100) years. Of the 80 patients included, 41 patients had more than 2 comorbidities.

Results

Three patients underwent re-operation within three months due to either fracture displacement or hardware cutout. Radiographs obtained after six weeks showed that nine patients had loss of reduction. Additionally, four patients had superficial wound infections and six patients had delayed wound healing.

Conclusions

Intramedullary fixation of distal fibula fractures with either a screw or rush pin has low re-operation rates. However, the high proportion of patients with radiological loss of reduction is concerning.
Early range of motion results in good elbow function following conservative treatment of non-displaced radial head fractures
Authors: Egenolf Philipp , Ott Nadine , Babasiz Tamara , Hackl Michael , Mueller Lars-Peter , Wegmann Sebastian
Published: April 2024

Introduction

The aim of this study was to evaluate the range of motion (ROM), elbow function and predictors for good elbow function after conservative treatment of non-displaced radial head fractures.

Material and methods

All patients with non-displaced radial head fractures (displacement < 2 mm), that were diagnosed between January 1st 2017 and December 31st 2021 in a level I trauma center, were included in this retrospective case series and the charts were evaluated for ROM and elbow function. Elbow function was categorized as “good” or “bad” depending on the ROM measured defined by Morrey et al. Overall, 73 patients (33 male, 40 female) with an average age of 38 years (+/- 13 years) could be included.

Results

Conservative treatment had good clinical results for ROM and elbow function. After 6 weeks mean flexion was 131° (SD 13°), extension 8° (SD 7°), Pronation 83° (SD 11°) and Supination 83° (SD 13). Patients with a good elbow function after one week showed a good elbow function after completing the treatment.

Conclusions

A clinical assessment after one week should always be performed and the study showed that it is a good predictor for good elbow function. In cases of bad elbow function further controls should be considered.
Comparative study of postpartum sexual function: Second-degree tears versus episiotomy outcomes
Authors: Fernández-Fernández María José , de Medina-Moragas Alejandro Jesús
Published: April 2024

Purpose

The effects of episiotomy and second-degree tears on postpartum sexual function are key areas of enquiry in women’s health research. Episiotomy and second-degree tears are common procedures and injuries that occur during childbirth. Understanding their impact on post-childbirth sexuality is crucial to women’s overall well-being. This study aimed to examine the relationship between episiotomy, second-degree tears, and post childbirth sexuality.

Methods

A cross-sectional design was employed, including 83 women who gave birth to Cáceres in 2017. Participants were evaluated based on sociodemographic and sexual health factors.

Results

No significant differences were found in dyspareunia or sexual function between women who underwent episiotomies and those with second-degree tears. However, women who underwent episiotomies waited longer before resuming sexual activity after childbirth. Factors such as age, number of previous births, employment status, educational level, and breastfeeding status affected the timing and frequency of postpartum sexual activity.

Conclusion

Dyspareunia negatively affects various aspects of sexual function. When comparing episiotomy and second-degree tears, their impacts on postpartum sexual function were similar. However, episiotomy delays the resumption of sexual activity. Sociodemographic factors significantly influence postpartum sexual health. These findings highlight the importance of individualised interventions and support for new mothers during the postpartum period to address potential sexual health concerns.
Validation and recalibration of sex estimation methods using pubic nonmetric traits for the Chilean population
Authors: Rojas González Natalia , Obertová Zuzana , Franklin Daniel
Published: April 2024

Chile had a violent military coup (1973–1990) that resulted in 3,000 victims declared detained, missing or killed; many are still missing and unidentified. Currently, the Human Rights Unit of the Forensic Medical Service in Chile applies globally recognised forensic anthropological approaches, but many of these methods have not been validated in a Chilean sample. As current research has demonstrated population-specificity with extant methods, the present study aims to validate sex estimation methods in a Chilean population and thereafter establish population-specific equations. A sample of 265 os coxae of known age and sex of adult Chileans from the Santiago Subactual Osteology Collection were analysed. Visual assessment and scoring of the pelvic traits were performed in accordance with the Phenice (1969) and Klales et al. (2012) methods. The accuracy of Phenice (1969) in the Chilean sample was 96.98%, with a sex bias of 7.68%. Klales et al. (2012) achieved 87.17% accuracy with a sex bias of -15.39%. Although both methods showed acceptable classification accuracy, the associated sex bias values are unacceptable in forensic practice. Therefore, six univariate and eight multivariate predictive models were formulated for the Chilean population. The most accurate univariate model was the ventral arc at 96.6%, with a sex bias of 5.2%. Classification accuracy using all traits was 97.0%, with a sex bias of 7.7%. This study provides Chilean practitioners a population-specific morphoscopic standard with associated classification probabilities acceptable to accomplish legal admissibility requirements in human rights and criminal cases specific to the second half of the 20th century.
Effect of repeated post-resistance exercise cold or hot water immersion on in-season inflammatory responses in academy rugby players: a randomised controlled cross-over design
Authors: Horgan Barry G. , West Nicholas P. , Tee Nicolin , Halson Shona L. , Drinkwater Eric J. , Chapman Dale W. , Haff G. Gregory
Published: April 2024

Purpose

Uncertainty exists if post-resistance exercise hydrotherapy attenuates chronic inflammatory and hormone responses. The effects of repeated post-resistance exercise water immersion on inflammatory and hormone responses in athletes were investigated.

Methods

Male, academy Super Rugby players (n = 18, 19.9 ± 1.5 y, 1.85 ± 0.06 m, 98.3 ± 10.7 kg) participated in a 12-week programme divided into 3 $$\times$$
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4-week blocks of post-resistance exercise water immersion (either, no immersion control [CON]; cold [CWI]; or hot [HWI] water immersion), utilising a randomised cross-over pre-post design. Fasted, morning blood measures were collected prior to commencement of first intervention block, and every fourth week thereafter. Linear mixed-effects models were used to analyse main (treatment, time) and interaction effects.

Results

Repeated CWI (p = 0.025, g = 0.05) and HWI (p < 0.001, g = 0.62) reduced creatine kinase (CK), compared to CON. HWI decreased (p = 0.013, g = 0.59) interleukin (IL)-1ra, compared to CON. HWI increased (p < 0.001–0.026, g = 0.06–0.17) growth factors (PDGF-BB, IGF-1), compared to CON and CWI. CWI increased (p = 0.004, g = 0.46) heat shock protein-72 (HSP-72), compared to HWI.

Conclusion

Post-resistance exercise CWI or HWI resulted in trivial and moderate reductions in CK, respectively, which may be partly due to hydrostatic effects of water immersion. Post-resistance exercise HWI moderately decreased IL-1ra, which may be associated with post-resistance exercise skeletal muscle inflammation influencing chronic resistance exercise adaptive responses. Following post-resistance exercise water immersion, CWI increased HSP-72 suggesting a thermoregulatory response indicating improved adaptive inflammatory responses to temperature changes, while HWI increased growth factors (PDGF-BB, IGF-1) indicating different systematic signalling pathway activation. Our data supports the continued use of post-resistance exercise water immersion recovery strategies of any temperature during in-season competition phases for improved inflammatory adaptive responses in athletes.
Unpacking associations among children’s spatial skills, mathematics, and arithmetic strategies: decomposition matters
Authors: Möhring Wenke , Moll Léonie , Szubielska Magdalena
Published: April 2024

Several studies revealed links between mental rotation and mathematical tasks, but the intervening processes in this connection remain rather unexplored. Here, we aimed to investigate whether children’s mental rotation skills relate to their accuracy in solving arithmetic problems via their usage of decomposition strategies, thus probing one potential intervening process. To this end, we examined a sample of 6- to 8-year-olds (N = 183) with a chronometric mental rotation task, and asked children to solve several arithmetic problems while assessing their solution strategies. After each arithmetic problem, children were asked about their strategy to solve the respective arithmetic problem and these were classified as either counting, decomposition, or retrieval strategies. Analyses were controlled for age, sex, fluid and verbal reasoning. Results indicated that children’s response times and accuracy in the mental rotation task were best explained by linear functions of rotation angle, suggesting the usage of dynamic mental transformation strategies. A multiple mediation model revealed that children with higher mental rotation skills were more inclined to use higher-level mental strategies such as decomposition which in turn increased their accuracy of solving arithmetic problems. None of the other arithmetic strategies revealed significant indirect effects. These findings suggest that children with higher mental rotation skills may profit from visualizing and flexibly transforming numerical magnitudes, increasing the frequency of decomposition strategies. Overall, decomposition may play a unique role in the connection between children’s mental rotation and arithmetic skills, which is an essential information for planning future training and experimental studies.
Existence of energy-variational solutions to hyperbolic conservation laws
Authors: Eiter Thomas , Lasarzik Robert
Published: April 2024

We introduce the concept of energy-variational solutions for hyperbolic conservation laws. Intrinsically, these energy-variational solutions fulfill the weak-strong uniqueness principle and the semi-flow property, and the set of solutions is convex and weakly-star closed. The existence of energy-variational solutions is proven via a suitable time-discretization scheme under certain assumptions. This general result yields existence of energy-variational solutions to the magnetohydrodynamical equations for ideal incompressible fluids and to the Euler equations in both the incompressible and the compressible case. Moreover, we show that energy-variational solutions to the Euler equations coincide with dissipative weak solutions.
A comparison principle for semilinear Hamilton–Jacobi–Bellman equations in the Wasserstein space
Authors: Daudin Samuel , Seeger Benjamin
Published: April 2024

The goal of this paper is to prove a comparison principle for viscosity solutions of semilinear Hamilton–Jacobi equations in the space of probability measures. The method involves leveraging differentiability properties of the 2-Wasserstein distance in the doubling of variables argument, which is done by introducing a further entropy penalization that ensures that the relevant optima are achieved at positive, Lipschitz continuous densities with finite Fischer information. This allows to prove uniqueness and stability of viscosity solutions in the class of bounded Lipschitz continuous (with respect to the 1-Wasserstein distance) functions. The result does not appeal to a mean field control formulation of the equation, and, as such, applies to equations with nonconvex Hamiltonians and measure-dependent volatility. For convex Hamiltonians that derive from a potential, we prove that the value function associated with a suitable mean-field optimal control problem with nondegenerate idiosyncratic noise is indeed the unique viscosity solution.
On Multi-Component Gas Migration in Single-Phase Systems
Authors: Pitz Michael , Jacops Elke , Grunwald Norbert , Ziefle Gesa , Nagel Thomas
Published: April 2024

The present work deals with diffusion of gases in fully saturated porous media. We test and validate the gas transport mechanism of dissolution and diffusion, implemented in the TH2M process class in the open-source finite-element software OpenGeoSys. We discuss the importance of gas diffusion for the integrity of the multi-barrier system. Furthermore, we present a multi-component mass balance equation implementation in Python, which serves as a reference for the two-component TH2M implementation and allows for a discussion of multi-component gas diffusion in liquids. We verify and validate the numerical implementations as follows: First, we come up with a set of numerical benchmarks in which solutions obtained by the two-component TH2M and multi-component implementations are compared. Thus, we show under which conditions predictions made by the TH2M model can be used for multi-component gas systems. Finally, the work is validated using a through diffusion experiment performed at Belgium’s Nuclear Research Centre SCK CEN and a sensitivity analysis is conducted based on the featured experiment. The results of this work illustrate that predictions by both the two- and four-component models match the laboratory findings very well. Therefore, we conclude that also the two-component implementation can reflect the multi-component processes well under the given constraints such as full saturation.
Paradoxical effect of anti-inflammatory drugs on IL-6 mRNA expression in patients with PTSD during treatment
Authors: Rhein Cosima , Apelt Isabella , Werner Franziska , Schäflein Eva , Adler Werner , Reichel Martin , Schug Caterina , Morawa Eva , Erim Yesim
Published: April 2024

The pathophysiology of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with the activation of the innate immune system, including cytokines like interleukin 6 (IL-6). However, the role of IL-6 in the etiology and treatment of PTSD still remains elusive. We conducted a prospective controlled trial to investigate the development of IL-6 during psychosomatic treatment in individuals with PTSD in comparison with individuals without PTSD. We assessed IL-6 mRNA expression before and after 2 months of psychosomatic treatment in individuals with and without PTSD. Severities of PTSD and depressive symptoms were assessed in parallel. Linear mixed regression was applied for statistical analysis, including the factors diagnosis PTSD and pre–post treatment after subgrouping for intake of anti-inflammatory drugs. The development of IL-6 mRNA expression during treatment was affected by the use of anti-inflammatory drugs. In the subgroup without intake of anti-inflammatory drugs, no significant statistical treatment effect in individuals with and without PTSD emerged. In the subgroup of individuals taking anti-inflammatory drugs, a significant interaction effect of the factors pre–post treatment and diagnosis PTSD was observed. Whereas IL-6 mRNA expression in individuals without PTSD decreased according to amelioration of symptoms, IL-6 mRNA expression in individuals with PTSD increased significantly during treatment, in opposite direction to symptom severity. Anti-inflammatory drugs might affect IL-6 mRNA expression in individuals with PTSD in a paradoxical way. This study offers a further piece of evidence that IL-6 could be involved in the pathophysiology of PTSD and PTSD-specific immunologic molecular mechanisms.
Advanced therapies in Parkinson’s disease: an individualized approach to their indication
Authors: Schröter Nils , Sajonz Bastian E. A. , Jost Wolfgang H. , Rijntjes Michel , Coenen Volker A. , Groppa Sergiu
Published: April 2024

Device aided therapies (DAT) comprising the intrajejunal administration of levodopa/carbidopa intestinal gel (LCIG) and levodopa/carbidopa/entacapone intestinal gel (LECIG), the continuous subcutaneous application of foslevodopa/foscarbidopa or apomorphine infusion (CSAI) and deep brain stimulation (DBS) are used to treat Parkinson’s disease with insufficient symptom alleviation under intensified pharmacotherapy. These DAT significantly differ in their efficacy profiles, indication, invasiveness, contraindications, and potential side effects. Usually, the evaluation of all these procedures is conducted simultaneously at the same point in time. However, as disease progression and symptom burden is extremely heterogeneous, clinical experience shows that patients reach the individual milestones for a certain therapy at different points in their disease course. Therefore, advocating for an individualized therapy evaluation for each DAT, requiring an ongoing evaluation. This necessitates that, during each consultation, the current symptomatology should be analyzed, and the potential suitability for a DAT be assessed. This work represents a critical interdisciplinary appraisal of these therapies in terms of their individual profiles and compares these DAT regarding contraindications, periprocedural considerations as well as their efficacy regarding motor- and non-motor deficits, supporting a personalized approach.