bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Nothing really matters
Authors: Dibitetto Giuseppe , Petri Nicolò , Schillo Marjorie
Published: August 2020

We study non-perturbative instabilities of AdS spacetime in General Relativity with a cosmological constant in arbitrary dimensions. In this simple setup we explicitly construct a class of gravitational instantons generalizing Witten’s bubble of nothing. We calculate the corresponding Euclidean action and show that its change is finite. The expansion of these bubbles is described by a lower-dimensional de Sitter geometry within a non- compact foliation of the background spacetime. Moreover we discuss the existence of covariantly constant spinors as a possible topological obstruction for such decays to occur. This mechanism is further connected to the stability of supersymmetric vacua in string theory.
Spirituelle Kompetenz in Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie – Hindernisse und Erfolgsfaktoren
Authors: Frick Eckhard , Ziemer Philip , Heres Stephan , Ableidinger Karl , Pfitzer Franz , Büssing Arndt
Published: August 2020

Hintergrund

Ebenso wie die World Psychiatric Association (WPA) und andere nationale psychiatrische Fachgesellschaften hat auch die Deutsche Gesellschaft für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Psychosomatik und Nervenheilkunde (DGPPN) ein Positionspapier zu Religiosität und Spiritualität (R/Sp) in Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie veröffentlicht, in dem sie Patientenzentrierung und spirituelle Kompetenz (SpK) der psychiatrischen Berufe fordert. Es ist bekannt, dass Kompetenzmangel das wichtigste Hindernis für die Implementierung von Spiritual Care (SpC) in die klinische Praxis darstellt.

Fragestellung

Ziel der vorliegenden Studie ist die praxisnahe Untersuchung der SpK in Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie. Wie schätzen psychiatrisch Tätige die SpK ihrer eigenen Berufsgruppe ein und welche Variablen beeinflussen dieses Urteil?

Material und Methoden

Insgesamt 391 psychiatrische Pflegekräfte, 75 Psychiater, 119 Therapeuten verschiedener Professionen und 62 andere (n = 647) aus Krankenhäusern in Deutschland und Österreich füllten den SpC Competency Questionnaire (SCCQ) aus.

Ergebnisse

Pflegekräfte, ältere und spirituell erfahrenere Personen schätzen die SpK der eigenen Berufsgruppe vergleichsweise höher ein und meinen seltener, diesbezüglich nicht zuständig zu sein. Pflegende nennen häufiger als andere Berufsgruppen das Fehlen geeigneter Räumlichkeiten als Hindernis für die Implementierung von SpC. Höhere Einschätzung der SpK der eigenen Berufsgruppe geht mit höheren Werten in den SCCQ-Faktoren „Selbsterfahrung und proaktive Öffnung“, „Team-Spirit“, „Wahrnehmungs‑/Dokumentationskompetenz“ einher.

Diskussion

Die Zuständigkeit der Gesundheitsberufe für SpC in Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie wird unter den deutschsprachigen psychiatrischen Berufsgruppen noch kontrovers diskutiert. Dies hängt mit mangelnder Kompetenz in diesem Feld zusammen.
An investigation of mass changes in the Bohai Sea observed by GRACE
Authors: Mu Dapeng , Xu Tianhe , Xu Guochang
Published: August 2020

The Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) satellite mission has profoundly advanced our knowledge of contemporary sea level change. Owing to the coarse spatial resolution and leakage issue across the land–ocean boundary, it is challenging (even impossible) for GRACE to detect mass changes over a region smaller than its spatial resolution, especially a semi-enclosed basin (e.g., the Bohai Sea) that is adjacent to land with significant mass variation. In this contribution, the causes for the GRACE RL06 mass changes in the Bohai Sea are investigated using a reconstruction technique that is implemented with multisource data, including altimeter observations, steric estimates, and land mass changes from GRACE RL06 mascon solution. Our results by the reconstruction technique demonstrate that the GRACE annual cycles are primarily caused by water mass changes rather than sediment changes. On the other hand, the mass trends from both reconstructed signals and those observed by the GRACE RL06 spherical harmonic coefficients (SHCs) are small, ranging from − 0.38 mm/year to 0.51 mm/year (depending on different data sources). Given that our estimated accuracies are > 0.8 mm/year (the real accuracies should be larger), our reconstructed results cannot directly confirm the presence of sediment accumulation or water mass increase; however, analysis of only the altimetry data suggests the mass trends are due to water mass increase, which would amount to ~ 0.44 Gt/year. Further investigation suggests that the mass trends in the Bohai Sea suffer from a − 2.9 mm/year leakage-in effect from groundwater depletion in the North China and about 2.5 mm/year signal attenuation (resulting in a ~ 2.5 mm/year remaining trend that is roughly equivalent to the leakage-in trend, consequently leading to the small mass trend in the Bohai Sea). Our reconstruction results exemplify that elaborate data processing is necessary for specific cases. We also test whether the recently released RL06 mascon solutions that are resolved with constraints and require no further processing would improve the agreement with altimeter observations. We find that the seasonal cycles are improved relative to the RL06 SHCs; however, the rates derived from the mascon solutions cannot properly represent the altimeter-derived ocean mass estimates for the Bohai Sea, probably because the mascon solutions underestimate the rates or contain some processing artifacts. Nevertheless, the mascon solutions show enhanced signals, which offer new opportunities to investigate regional sea level change.
Automated 3D MRI rendering of the craniofacial skeleton: using ZTE to drive the segmentation of black bone and FIESTA-C images
Authors: Eley Karen A , Delso Gaspar
Published: August 2020

Purpose

Automated bone segmentation from MRI datasets would have a profound impact on clinical utility, particularly in the craniofacial skeleton where complex anatomy is coupled with radiosensitive organs. Techniques such as gradient echo black bone (GRE-BB) and short echo time (UTE, ZTE) have shown potential in this quest. The objectives of this study were to ascertain (1) whether the high-contrast of zero echo time (ZTE) could drive segmentation of high-resolution GRE-BB data to enhance 3D-output and (2) if these techniques could be extrapolated to ZTE driven segmentation of a routinely used non bone-specific sequence (FIESTA-C).

Methods

Eleven adult volunteers underwent 3T MRI examination with sequential acquisition of ZTE, GRE-BB and FIESTA-C imaging. Craniofacial bone segmentation was performed using a fully automated segmentation algorithm. Segmentation was completed individually for GRE-BB and a modified version of the algorithm was subsequently implemented, wherein the bone mask yielded by ZTE segmentation was used to initialise segmentation of GRE-BB. The techniques were subsequently applied to FIESTA-C datasets. The resulting 3D reconstructions were evaluated for areas of unexpected bony defects and discrepancies.

Results

The automated segmentation algorithm yielded acceptable 3D outputs for all GRE-BB datasets. These were enhanced with the modified algorithm using ZTE as a driver, with improvements in areas of air/bone interface and dense muscular attachments. Comparable results were obtained with ZTE+FIESTA-C.

Conclusion

Automated 3D segmentation of the craniofacial skeleton is enhanced through the incorporation of a modified segmentation algorithm utilising ZTE. These techniques are transferrable to FIESTA-C imaging which offers reduced acquisition time and therefore improved clinical utility.
Surgical management of the congenital dislocation of the knee and hip in children presented after six months of age
Authors: B.K. Amrath Raj , Singh Kumar Amerendra , Shah Hitesh
Published: August 2020

Purpose

Congenital dislocation of the knee and hip is a rare congenital disorder. The specific aim of the study was to evaluate the clinical and radiological outcomes of the children with congenital dislocation of the knee and hip who presented after six months of age.

Methods

All the consecutive children with congenital dislocation of the knee and hip joints were retrospectively reviewed. We included cases that were treated after six months of age and followed up for a minimum of two years. Twenty-four children with congenital dislocation of the knee and hip (thirteen with ligamentous laxity, eleven children with stiff joints) were included. The knee was dislocated in 45 limbs; the hip was dislocated in 40 instances. The knee joint dislocation was treated with quadricepsplasty in all twenty-four children (45 knees). The hip dislocation (n = 32) was addressed with either closed reduction (n = 8) or open reduction of the hip (n = 24). Eight hip dislocations were not addressed. The outcome of the hip and knee was evaluated.

Results

The clinical and radiological outcomes were better in children with ligamentous laxity than without laxity. Twenty-two children were community walkers. An orthosis was needed in eight children. The frequency of spontaneous reduction of unreduced dislocation of the hip was noted in three children (5/8 hips).

Conclusion

Outcome in combined dislocation of knee and hip is good in most cases with surgical interventions. The outcome is better in children with ligamentous laxity. Spontaneous reduction of the dislocated hips might be achieved after gaining knee flexion following knee surgery for congenital the knee in a few cases.
An updated systematic review and meta-analysis on adherence to mediterranean diet and risk of cancer
Authors: Morze Jakub , Danielewicz Anna , Przybyłowicz Katarzyna , Zeng Hongmei , Hoffmann Georg , Schwingshackl Lukas
Published: August 2020

Purpose

The aim of current systematic review was to update the body of evidence on associations between adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) and risk of cancer mortality, site-specific cancer in the general population; all-cause, and cancer mortality as well as cancer reoccurrence among cancer survivors.

Methods

A literature search for randomized controlled trials (RCTs), case–control and cohort studies published up to April 2020 was performed using PubMed and Scopus. Study-specific risk estimates for the highest versus lowest adherence to the MedDiet category were pooled using random-effects meta-analyses. Certainty of evidence from cohort studies and RCTs was evaluated using the NutriGrade scoring system.

Results

The updated search revealed 44 studies not identified in the previous review. Altogether, 117 studies including 3,202,496 participants were enclosed for meta-analysis. The highest adherence to MedDiet was inversely associated with cancer mortality (RRcohort: 0.87, 95% CI 0.82, 0.92; N = 18 studies), all-cause mortality among cancer survivors (RRcohort: 0.75, 95% CI 0.66, 0.86; N = 8), breast (RRobservational: 0.94, 95% CI 0.90, 0.97; N = 23), colorectal (RRobservational: 0.83, 95% CI 0.76, 0.90; N = 17), head and neck (RRobservational: 0.56, 95% CI 0.44, 0.72; N = 9), respiratory (RRcohort: 0.84, 95% CI 0.76, 0.94; N = 5), gastric (RRobservational: 0.70, 95% CI 0.61, 0.80; N = 7), bladder (RRobservational: 0.87, 95% CI 0.76, 0.98; N = 4), and liver cancer (RRobservational: 0.64, 95% CI 0.54, 0.75; N = 4). Adhering to MedDiet did not modify risk of blood, esophageal, pancreatic and prostate cancer risk.

Conclusion

In conclusion, our results suggest that highest adherence to the MedDiet was related to lower risk of cancer mortality in the general population, and all-cause mortality among cancer survivors as well as colorectal, head and neck, respiratory, gastric, liver and bladder cancer risks. Moderate certainty of evidence from cohort studies suggest an inverse association for cancer mortality and colorectal cancer, but most of the comparisons were rated as low or very low certainty of evidence.
Cortical diffusivity investigation in posterior cortical atrophy and typical Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Torso Mario , Ahmed Samrah , Butler Christopher , Zamboni Giovanna , Jenkinson Mark , Chance Steven
Published: August 2020

Objectives

To investigate the global cortical and regional quantitative features of cortical neural architecture in the brains of patients with posterior cortical atrophy (PCA) and typical Alzheimer’s disease (tAD) compared with elderly healthy controls (HC).

Methods

A novel diffusion MRI method, that has been shown to correlate with minicolumnar organization changes in the cerebral cortex, was used as a surrogate of neuropathological changes in dementia. A cohort of 15 PCA patients, 23 tAD and 22 healthy elderly controls (HC) were enrolled to investigate the changes in cortical diffusivity among groups. For each subject, 3 T MRI T1-weighted images and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) scans were analysed to extract novel cortical DTI derived measures (AngleR, PerpPD and ParlPD). Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve analysis and the area under the curve (AUC) were used to assess the group discrimination capability of the method.

Results

The results showed that the global cortical DTI derived measures were able to detect differences, in both PCA and tAD patients compared to healthy controls. The AngleR was the best measure to discriminate HC from tAD (AUC = 0.922), while PerpPD was the best measure to discriminate HC from PCA (AUC = 0.961). Finally, the best global measure to differentiate the two patient groups was ParlPD (AUC = 0.771). The comparison between PCA and tAD patients revealed a different pattern of damage within the AD spectrum and the regional comparisons identified significant differences in key regions including parietal and temporal lobe cortical areas. The best AUCs were shown by PerpPD right lingual cortex (AUC = 0.856), PerpPD right superior parietal cortex (AUC = 0.842) and ParlPD right lateral occipital cortex (AUC = 0.826).

Conclusions

Diagnostic group differences were found, suggesting that the new cortical DTI analysis method may be useful to investigate cortical changes in dementia, providing better characterization of neurodegeneration, and potentially aiding differential diagnosis and prognostic accuracy.
Simultaneous activation of multiple vestibular pathways upon electrical stimulation of semicircular canal afferents
Authors: Boutabla Anissa , Cavuscens Samuel , Ranieri Maurizio , Crétallaz Céline , Kingma Herman , van de Berg Raymond , Guinand Nils , Pérez Fornos Angélica
Published: August 2020

Background and purpose

Vestibular implants seem to be a promising treatment for patients suffering from severe bilateral vestibulopathy. To optimize outcomes, we need to investigate how, and to which extent, the different vestibular pathways are activated. Here we characterized the simultaneous responses to electrical stimuli of three different vestibular pathways.

Methods

Three vestibular implant recipients were included. First, activation thresholds and amplitude growth functions of electrically evoked vestibulo-ocular reflexes (eVOR), cervical myogenic potentials (ecVEMPs) and vestibular percepts (vestibulo-thalamo-cortical, VTC) were recorded upon stimulation with single, biphasic current pulses (200 µs/phase) delivered through five different vestibular electrodes. Latencies of eVOR and ecVEMPs were also characterized. Then we compared the amplitude growth functions of the three pathways using different stimulation profiles (1-pulse, 200 µs/phase; 1-pulse, 50 µs/phase; 4-pulses, 50 µs/phase, 1600 pulses-per-second) in one patient (two electrodes).

Results

The median latencies of the eVOR and ecVEMPs were 8 ms (8–9 ms) and 10.2 ms (9.6–11.8 ms), respectively. While the amplitude of eVOR and ecVEMP responses increased with increasing stimulation current, the VTC pathway showed a different, step-like behavior. In this study, the 200 µs/phase paradigm appeared to give the best balance to enhance responses at lower stimulation currents.

Conclusions

This study is a first attempt to evaluate the simultaneous activation of different vestibular pathways. However, this issue deserves further and more detailed investigation to determine the actual possibility of selective stimulation of a given pathway, as well as the functional impact of the contribution of each pathway to the overall rehabilitation process.
DNA CpG methylation in sequential glioblastoma specimens
Authors: Kraboth Zoltan , Galik Bence , Tompa Marton , Kajtar Bela , Urban Peter , Gyenesei Attila , Miseta Attila , Kalman Bernadette
Published: August 2020

Purpose

Glioblastoma is the most aggressive form of brain tumors. A better understanding of the molecular mechanisms leading to its evolution is essential for the development of treatments more effective than the available modalities. Here, we aim to identify molecular drivers of glioblastoma development and recurrence by analyzing DNA CpG methylation patterns in sequential samples.

Methods

DNA was isolated from 22 pairs of primary and recurrent formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded glioblastoma specimens, and subjected to reduced representation bisulfite sequencing. Bioinformatic analyses were conducted to identify differentially methylated sites and pathways, and biostatistics was used to test correlations among clinical and pathological parameters.

Results

Differentially methylated pathways likely involved in primary tumor development included those of neuronal differentiation, myelination, metabolic processes, synapse organization and endothelial cell proliferation, while pathways differentially active during glioblastoma recurrence involved those associated with cell processes and differentiation, immune response, Wnt regulation and catecholamine secretion and transport.

Conclusion

DNA CpG methylation analyses in sequential clinical specimens revealed hypomethylation in certain pathways such as neuronal tissue development and angiogenesis likely involved in early tumor development and growth, while suggested altered regulation in catecholamine secretion and transport, Wnt expression and immune response contributing to glioblastoma recurrence. These pathways merit further investigations and may represent novel therapeutic targets.
Generational Accounting in Portugal
Authors: Pinheiro Jorge
Published: August 2020

The social and economic developments in European countries have put pressure on their national budgets and threaten the sustainability of public policies. The traditional fiscal indicators, specifically, the deficit and the debt, which are still used today as guiding tools, have proved to be insufficient, due to their arbitrary nature and short-term focus. In this paper, we resort to an alternative fiscal indicator, known as ‘generational accounting’, which is able to incorporate the future changes in the demographic structure of the population, and their corresponding impact on public accounts. It is also able to evaluate how current fiscal policy affects, not only, current generations, but also future generations. We apply this methodology to assess the long-term fiscal situation of Portugal, and compare the results with those obtained in 1999. In this context, we also explore additional scenarios, as well as additional indicators, in order to provide some robustness to our findings. Our results show that, if the current fiscal policy is not significantly changed, future generations will face a much heavier fiscal burden than current generations.
Evaluation of scenario reduction algorithms with nested distance
Authors: Horejšová Markéta , Vitali Sebastiano , Kopa Miloš , Moriggia Vittorio
Published: August 2020

Multistage stochastic optimization is used to solve many real-life problems where decisions are taken at multiple times. Such problems need the representation of stochastic processes, which are usually approximated by scenario trees. In this article, we implement seven scenario reduction algorithms: three based on random extraction, named Random, and four based on specific distance measures, named Distance-based. Three of the latter are well known in literature while the fourth is a new approach, namely nodal clustering. We compare all the algorithms in terms of computational cost and information cost. The computational cost is measured by the time needed for the reduction, while the information cost is measured by the nested distance between the original and the reduced tree. Moreover, we also formulate and solve a multistage stochastic portfolio selection problem to measure the distance between the optimal solutions and between the optimal objective values of the original and the reduced tree.
Educational Differences in Cohort Fertility Across Sub-national Regions in Europe
Authors: Nisén Jessica , Klüsener Sebastian , Dahlberg Johan , Dommermuth Lars , Jasilioniene Aiva , Kreyenfeld Michaela , Lappegård Trude , Li Peng , Martikainen Pekka , Neels Karel , Riederer Bernhard , te Riele Saskia , Szabó Laura , Trimarchi Alessandra , Viciana Francisco , Wilson Ben , Myrskylä Mikko
Published: August 2020

Educational differences in female cohort fertility vary strongly across high-income countries and over time, but knowledge about how educational fertility differentials play out at the sub-national regional level is limited. Examining these sub-national regional patterns might improve our understanding of national patterns, as regionally varying contextual conditions may affect fertility. This study provides for the first time for a large number of European countries a comprehensive account of educational differences in the cohort fertility rate (CFR) at the sub-national regional level. We harmonise data from population registers, censuses, and large-sample surveys for 15 countries to measure women’s completed fertility by educational level and region of residence at the end of the reproductive lifespan. In order to explore associations between educational differences in CFRs and levels of economic development, we link our data to regional GDP per capita. Empirical Bayesian estimation is used to reduce uncertainty in the regional fertility estimates. We document an overall negative gradient between the CFR and level of education, and notable regional variation in the gradient. The steepness of the gradient is inversely related to the economic development level. It is steepest in the least developed regions and close to zero in the most developed regions. This tendency is observed within countries as well as across all regions of all countries. Our findings underline the variability of educational gradients in women’s fertility, suggest that higher levels of development may be associated with less negative gradients, and call for more in-depth sub-national-level fertility analyses by education.
Predicting the growth of lettuce from soil infrared reflectance spectra: the potential for crop management
Authors: Breure T. S. , Milne A. E. , Webster R. , Haefele S. M. , Hannam J. A. , Moreno-Rojas S. , Corstanje R.
Published: August 2020

How well could one predict the growth of a leafy crop from reflectance spectra from the soil and how might a grower manage the crop in the light of those predictions? Topsoil from two fields was sampled and analysed for various nutrients, particle-size distribution and organic carbon concentration. Crop measurements (lettuce diameter) were derived from aerial-imagery. Reflectance spectra were obtained in the laboratory from the soil in the near- and mid-infrared ranges, and these were used to predict crop performance by partial least squares regression (PLSR). Individual soil properties were also predicted from the spectra by PLSR. These estimated soil properties were used to predict lettuce diameter with a linear model (LM) and a linear mixed model (LMM): considering differences between lettuce varieties and the spatial correlation between data points. The PLSR predictions of the soil properties and lettuce diameter were close to observed values. Prediction of lettuce diameter from the estimated soil properties with the LMs gave somewhat poorer results than PLSR that used the soil spectra as predictor variables. Predictions from LMMs were more precise than those from the PLSR using soil spectra. All model predictions improved when the effects of variety were considered. Predictions from the reflectance spectra, via the estimation of soil properties, can enable growers to decide what treatments to apply to grow lettuce and how to vary their treatments within their fields to maximize the net profit from the crop.
The Archives Made Me Do It
Authors: Mukerji Chandra
Published: August 2020

This paper is a reflection on the power of archives in driving research. Just as much as informants draw the attention of researchers to social patterns, archives do, too. Both archival and ethnographic research depends on the authority of written documents like field notes and official papers—even in the sociology of art. Archives consist mainly of papers about objects and property. I argue that the material turn in my work and the study of logistics as a form of power became important to me because of my archival experience. Sociologists recognize the importance of property as a driver of social relations of power, but they rarely study logistical power. I do, but only because the archives demonstrated its importance.
A novel six-legged walking machine tool for in-situ operations
Authors: Liu Jimu , Tian Yuan , Gao Feng
Published: August 2020

The manufacture and maintenance of large parts in ships, trains, aircrafts, and so on create an increasing demand for mobile machine tools to perform in-situ operations. However, few mobile robots can accommodate the complex environment of industrial plants while performing machining tasks. This study proposes a novel six-legged walking machine tool consisting of a legged mobile robot and a portable parallel kinematic machine tool. The kinematic model of the entire system is presented, and the workspace of different components, including a leg, the body, and the head, is analyzed. A hierarchical motion planning scheme is proposed to take advantage of the large workspace of the legged mobile platform and the high precision of the parallel machine tool. The repeatability of the head motion, body motion, and walking distance is evaluated through experiments, which is 0.11, 1.0, and 3.4 mm, respectively. Finally, an application scenario is shown in which the walking machine tool steps successfully over a 250 mm-high obstacle and drills a hole in an aluminum plate. The experiments prove the rationality of the hierarchical motion planning scheme and demonstrate the extensive potential of the walking machine tool for in-situ operations on large parts.
1H, 13C, and 15N backbone chemical shift assignments of the nucleic acid-binding domain of SARS-CoV-2 non-structural protein 3e
Authors: Korn Sophie M. , Dhamotharan Karthikeyan , Fürtig Boris , Hengesbach Martin , Löhr Frank , Qureshi Nusrat S. , Richter Christian , Saxena Krishna , Schwalbe Harald , Tants Jan-Niklas , Weigand Julia E. , Wöhnert Jens , Schlundt Andreas
Published: August 2020

The ongoing pandemic caused by the Betacoronavirus SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2) demonstrates the urgent need of coordinated and rapid research towards inhibitors of the COVID-19 lung disease. The covid19-nmr consortium seeks to support drug development by providing publicly accessible NMR data on the viral RNA elements and proteins. The SARS-CoV-2 genome encodes for approximately 30 proteins, among them are the 16 so-called non-structural proteins (Nsps) of the replication/transcription complex. The 217-kDa large Nsp3 spans one polypeptide chain, but comprises multiple independent, yet functionally related domains including the viral papain-like protease. The Nsp3e sub-moiety contains a putative nucleic acid-binding domain (NAB) with so far unknown function and consensus target sequences, which are conceived to be both viral and host RNAs and DNAs, as well as protein-protein interactions. Its NMR-suitable size renders it an attractive object to study, both for understanding the SARS-CoV-2 architecture and drugability besides the classical virus’ proteases. We here report the near-complete NMR backbone chemical shifts of the putative Nsp3e NAB that reveal the secondary structure and compactness of the domain, and provide a basis for NMR-based investigations towards understanding and interfering with RNA- and small-molecule-binding by Nsp3e.
Hypercalcaemia after treatment with denosumab in children: bisphosphonates as an option for therapy and prevention?
Authors: Sydlik Carmen , Dürr Hans Roland , Pozza Susanne Bechtold-Dalla , Weißenbacher Claudia , Roeb Julia , Schmidt Heinrich
Published: August 2020

Background

Pharmacologic options for treatment of osteolytic diseases especially in children are limited. Although not licensed for use, denosumab, a fully humanized antibody to RANKL, is used in children with good effects. Among others, one possible indication are giant cell tumors and aneurysmatic bone cysts. However, there are reports of severe hypercalcemia during weeks to months after termination of denosumab, that are rarely seen in adults.

Methods

We collected data of four patients, aged 6–17 years, who experienced severe hypercalcemia after completion of treatment with denosumab for unresectable giant cell tumors of bone or aneurysmal bone cysts and methods of their treatment. The detailed case information were described.

Results

One patient was treated with long-term, high-dose steroid therapy, leading to typical Cushing’s syndrome. Another patient was restarted on denosumab repeatedly due to relapses of hypercalcemia after every stop. Finally, in two patients, hypercalcemia ceased definitely after treatment with bisphosphonates. However, several applications were necessary to stabilize calcium levels.

Conclusions

There is a considerable risk of hypercalcemia as an adverse effect after denosumab treatment in children. Therapeutic and, preferably, preventive strategies are needed. Bisphosphonates seem to be an option for both, but effective proceedings still remain to be established.
Anthraquinone Derivatives as an Immune Booster and their Therapeutic Option Against COVID-19
Authors: Khanal Pukar , Patil B. M. , Chand Jagdish , Naaz Yasmin
Published: August 2020

Anthraquinone derivatives are identified for their immune-boosting, anti-inflammatory, and anti-viral efficacy. Hence, the present study aimed to investigate the reported anthraquinone derivatives as immune booster molecules in COVID-19 infection and evaluate their binding affinity with three reported targets of novel coronavirus i.e. 3C-like protease, papain-like protease, and spike protein. The reported anthraquinone derivatives were retrieved from an open-source database and filtered based on a positive druglikeness score. Compounds with positive druglikeness scores were predicted for their targets using DIGEP-Pred and the interaction among modulated proteins was evaluated using STRING. Further, the associated pathways were recorded concerning the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway database. Finally, the docking was performed using autodock4 to identify the binding efficacy of anthraquinone derivatives with 3C-like protease, papain-like protease, and spike protein. After docking the pose of ligand scoring minimum binding energy was chosen to visualize the ligand–protein interaction. Among 101 bioactives, 36 scored positive druglikeness score and regulated multiple pathways concerned with immune modulation and (non-) infectious diseases. Similarly, docking study revealed torososide B to possess the highest binding affinity with papain-like protease and 3C-like protease and 1,3,6-trihydroxy-2-methyl-9,10-anthraquinone-3-O-(6′-O-acetyl)-β-d-xylopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-β-d-glucopyranoside with spike protein.

Graphic Abstract
Arc-welding based additive manufacturing for body reinforcement in automotive engineering
Authors: Josten A. , Höfemann M.
Published: August 2020

Arc-welding based additive manufacturing is a cost-efficient, productive technology which has been shown to be capable of producing high-integrity components. It is suggested that in automotive engineering, this manufacturing process can be used to reinforce body components by generating stiffening elements. Benefits of this method could be more flexural rigidity with comparatively lower material volume. In the current study, wire arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) with an advanced short arc welding process with low heat input was chosen. The first objective of the work was to check possibility of generating a gusset plate on zinc-coated car body parts by additive manufacturing, for reinforcing of formed thin steel sheets. The second aim was to increase flexural rigidity of the sheets by depositing weld metal as a grid. Bending tests of the sheets indicated an increased flexural rigidity compared with the parent material. This production method and the results of this study are related to automotive engineering but could be employed for other applications. The aim is to demonstrate how these goals could be approached, what difficulties and limitations exist, and where further research work could be initiated.
What factors have impact on glucocorticoid replacement in adrenal insufficiency: a real-life study
Authors: Puglisi S. , Rossini A. , Tabaro I. , Cannavò S. , Ferrau’ F. , Ragonese M. , Borretta G. , Pellegrino M. , Dughera F. , Parisi A. , Latina A. , Pia A. , Terzolo M. , Reimondo G.
Published: August 2020

Purpose

The impact of patient’s characteristics on glucocorticoid (GC) replacement therapy in adrenal insufficiency (AI) is poorly evaluated. Aims of this study were to assess the influence of sex and body weight on GC dosing and to describe the choice of GC in AI of different etiologies.

Methods

We retrospectively evaluated hydrocortisone (HC) equivalent total daily dose (HC-TDD) and per-kg-daily dose (HC-KDD) in 203 patients (104 primary AI [pAI], 99 secondary AI [sAI]) followed up for ≥ 12 months. They were treated with HC, modified-release HC (MRHC) or cortisone acetate (CA) and fludrocortisone acetate (FCA) in pAI.

Results

At baseline, CA was preferred both in pAI and sAI; at last visit, MRHC was most used in pAI (49%) and CA in sAI (73.7%). Comparing the last visit with baseline, in pAI, HC-TDD and HC-KDD were significantly lower (p = 0.04 and p = 0.006, respectively), while FCA doses increased during follow-up (p = 0.02). The reduction of HC-TDD and HC-KDD was particularly relevant for pAI women (p = 0.04 and p = 0.002, respectively). In sAI patients, no change of HC-KDD and HC-TDD was observed, and we found a correlation between weight and HC-TDD in males (r 0.35, p = 0.02).

Conclusions

Our real-life study demonstrated the influence of etiology of AI on the type of GC used, a weight-based tailoring in sAI, a likely overdosage of GC treatment in pAI women at the start of treatment and the possibility to successfully increase FCA avoiding GC over-treatment. These observations could inform the usual clinical practice.
Experimental and modelling research on coach passengers’ safety in frontal impacts
Authors: Jamroziak Krzysztof , Joszko Kamil , Wolanski Wojciech , Gzik Marek , Burkacki Michal , Suchon Slawomir , Szarek Arkadiusz , Zielonka Karol
Published: August 2020

Road traffic accidents involving coaches do not happen very often, but they are very dangerous because they affect a large number of passengers. Coaches (or intercity buses) are not equipped with safety belt harnesses. Valid regulations do not impose any obligation on coach manufacturers to provide intercity buses with either two- or three-point safety belts. This fact may result from the unawareness of risks and injuries that might befall the passengers with no safety belts during accidents. That is the reason why this work aims to compare the aftermath of coach accidents with no safety belts and the ones with safety belts. A detailed aim of this research is to analyse the results of dynamic loads during a frontal impact exerted on coach passengers travelling with and without (two- and three-point) safety belts. This objective was achieved by performing experimental studies and modelling which focused on the process of dynamic load transfer on the human body during a traffic accident. The research was conducted parallel on an adult and a child. The equivalent of a 50th percentile male was a hybrid III dummy (M50), whereas a child at the age of about 10 was represented by a P10 dummy. A numerical model was generated and verified in experimental testing in the scope of kinematics. Also, the comparison of the recorded courses of forces, acceleration, and moments was conducted. The results obtained from the tests were analyzed regarding the injury criteria for head, neck, and thorax. It was observed that both for the two-point safety system and the lack of safety belts, there were high values of acceleration recorded in the centre of gravity of the head. On the basis of the investigations conducted, it was ascertained that only a three-point safety belt system ensures the satisfaction of all injury criteria within admissible standards both in the case of criteria defined in the rules no. 80 and the rules no. 94 determined by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe. It is the three-point safety belt system which should be obligatory in all intercity buses.
A wheelchair in the Cape Flats (South Africa)
Authors: Schnitzler Marie
Published: August 2020

As a tool for social participation and inclusion, the wheelchair constitutes an interesting entry point to study the everyday experience of people with physical disabilities. This paper offers to discuss how people learn to use the wheelchairs, how they move with them, and how the chair influences their inclusion. Based on an eighteen-month ethnography in a Coloured township in Cape Town (South Africa), such a reading of the wheelchair calls for a relational and intersectional approach of citizenship. Defined broadly as one’s relationship to their body, their environment, their relatives, and the State, citizenship is experienced through a web of social, institutional, and material relationships. This approach ultimately raises issues of inclusion, belonging, and stigmatisation. After presenting the context of the research, I discuss the notions of active citizenship, modern citizenship and the right to the city. The conclusion comes back to the ideas of relational and intersectional citizenship as a way forward for research in disability studies and in South Africa.
Gender-Related Differences in Associations Between Sexual Abuse and Hypersexuality
Authors: Slavin Melissa N. , Blycker Gretchen R. , Potenza Marc N. , Bőthe Beáta , Demetrovics Zsolt , Kraus Shane W.
Published: August 2020

Background

Individuals with histories of sexual abuse may be more likely to experience sexual-related problems including hypersexuality, but gender-related differences remain unclear.

Aim

This online study examined sexual abuse history and hypersexuality by gender among 16,823 Hungarian adults, adjusting for age, sexual orientation, relationship status, education, employment status, and residence.

Methods

An online questionnaire on one of the largest Hungarian news portals advertised this study examining sexual activities in January 2017. 3 categorizations of age-related sexual abuse were examined: child sexual abuse (CSA) occurring at age 13 and earlier (compared to no abuse), adolescent/adult sexual abuse (AASA; compared to no abuse), and CSA and AASA (CSA/AASA; compared to one age-related category of abuse or the other).

Outcomes

The outcome variable, hypersexuality, was examined as a continuous variable due to the low prevalence of clinical hypersexuality in this sample. 3 multivariate linear regression analyses adjusting for covariates aimed to predict hypersexuality from each category of abuse, along with gender and its interaction with each category.

Results

In all models, younger age, non-heterosexual sexual orientation, male gender, single relationship status, less than full-time work, and living in a capital city were associated with hypersexuality, and education was not a significant predictor. CSA, AASA, and CSA/AASA predicted hypersexuality in both men and women. There was a significant interaction between CSA/AASA and gender, such that the relationship between CSA/AASA and hypersexuality was stronger in men than in women.

Clinical Translation

Sexual abuse at each developmental time-point may influence hypersexuality among men and women, although the cumulative impact of CSA and AASA on hypersexuality may be particularly relevant among men.

Strengths & Limitations

This is one of the largest studies to examine gender-related differences in the relationship between sexual abuse and hypersexuality. Nevertheless, our study is cross-sectional, and longitudinal work is needed to determine how sexual abuse affects children, adolescents, and adults throughout their lives.

Conclusion

Developmental impacts of sexual abuse may be considered in a gender-informed fashion in order to develop and optimize effective prevention and treatment strategies for hypersexuality.
High-Fidelity Finite Element Modeling and Analysis of Adaptive Gas Turbine Stator-Rotor Flow Interaction at Off-Design Conditions
Authors: Kozak Nikita , Xu Fei , Rajanna Manoj R. , Bravo Luis , Murugan Muthuvel , Ghoshal Anindya , Bazilevs Yuri , Hsu Ming-Chen
Published: August 2020

The objective of this work is to computationally investigate the impact of an incidence-tolerant rotor blade concept on gas turbine engine performance under off-design conditions. When a gas turbine operates at an off-design condition such as hover flight or takeoff, large-scale flow separation can occur around turbine blades, which causes performance degradation, excessive noise, and critical loss of operability. To alleviate this shortcoming, a novel concept which articulates the rotating turbine blades simultaneous with the stator vanes is explored. We use a finite-element-based moving-domain computational fluid dynamics (CFD) framework to model a single high-pressure turbine stage. The rotor speeds investigated range from 100% down to 50% of the designed condition of 44,700 rpm. This study explores the limits of rotor blade articulation angles and determines the maximal performance benefits in terms of turbine output power and adiabatic efficiency. The results show articulating rotor blades can achieve an efficiency gain of 10% at off-design conditions thereby providing critical leap-ahead design capabilities for the U.S. Army Future Vertical Lift (FVL) program.
A new isolate ofNosema fumiferanae(Microsporidia: Nosematidae) from the date mothApomyelois(Ectomyelois)ceratoniae, Zeller, 1839 (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)
Authors: Tosun Onur
Published: August 2020

In this study, a microsporidian pathogen of the date moth (Apomyelois(Ectomyelois)ceratoniae, Zeller, 1839) also known as the carob moth, is described based on light microscopy, ultrastructural characteristics and comparative molecular analysis. The pathogen infects the gut and hemolymph ofA. ceratoniae. All development stages are in direct contact with the host cell cytoplasm. Fresh spores with nuclei arranged in a diplokaryon are oval and measured 3.29 ± 0.23μm (4.18–3.03μm,n= 200) in length and 1.91 ± 0.23μm (2.98–1.66μm,n= 200) in width. Spores stained with Giemsa's stain measured 3.11 ± 0.31μm (3.72–2.41μm,n= 150) in length and 1.76 ± 0.23μm (2.16–1.25μm,n= 150) in width. Spores have an isofilar polar filament with 10-12 coils. An 1110 bp long alignment of the current microsporidium showed anSSU rRNAgene difference of only 0.0009, corresponding to >99.91% sequence similarity withNosema fumiferanae, whileRPB1gene sequences were 98.03% similar within an alignment of 969 bp. All morphological, ultrastructural and molecular features indicate that the microsporidian pathogen ofA. ceratoniaeis the new isolate of theN. fumiferanaeand is named here asNosema fumiferanaeTY61.
A theory limited in scope and evidence
Authors: Miu Elena , Boyd Robert , Richerson Peter J. , Morgan Thomas J. H.
Published: August 2020

What promised to be a refreshing addition to cumulative cultural evolution, by moving the focus from cultural transmission to technological innovation, falls flat through a lack of thoroughness, explanatory power, and data. A comprehensive theory of cumulative cultural change must carefully integrate all existing evidence in a cohesive multi-level account. We argue that the manuscript fails to do so convincingly.
The technical reasoning hypothesis does not rule out the potential key roles of imitation and working memory for CTC
Authors: Motes-Rodrigo Alba , Reindl Eva , Bandini Elisa
Published: August 2020

To support their claim for technical reasoning skills rather than imitation as the key for cumulative technological culture (CTC), Osiurak and Reynaud argue that chimpanzees can imitate mechanical actions, but do not have CTC. They also state that an increase in working memory in human evolution could not have been a key driver of CTC. We discuss why we disagree with these claims.
Implications for technological reserve development in advancing age, cognitive impairment, and dementia
Authors: Benge Jared F. , Scullin Michael K.
Published: August 2020

This commentary draws connections between technological culture emergence and recent trends in using assistive technology to reduce the burden of Alzheimer's disease. By the technical-reasoning hypothesis, cognitively-impaired individuals will lack the cognitive ability to employ technologies. By the technological reserve hypothesis, social-motivational and cultural transmissibility factors can provide foundations for using technology as cognitive prosthetics even during neurodegenerative illnesses.
A cognitive transition underlying both technological and social aspects of cumulative culture
Authors: Gabora Liane , Smith Cameron M.
Published: August 2020

The argument that cumulative technological culture originates in technical-reasoning skills is not the only alternative to social accounts; another possibility is that accumulation ofbothtechnical-reasoning skillsandenhanced social skills stemmed from the onset of a more basic cognitive ability such as recursive representational redescription. The paper confuses individual learning of pre-existing information with creative generation of new information.
A little too technical: The threat of intellectualising technical reasoning
Authors: Robertson Ian
Published: August 2020

Osiurak and Reynaud (O&R) claim that research into the origin of cumulative technological culture has been too focused on social cognition and has consequently neglected the importance of uniquely human reasoning capacities. This commentary raises two interrelated theoretical concerns about O&R's notion of technical-reasoning capacities, and suggests how these concerns might be met.
Threshold regressions for the resource curse
Authors: Clootens Nicolas , Kirat Djamel
Published: August 2020

This paper analyzes the behavior of cross-country growth rates with respect to resource abundance and dependence. We reject the linear model that is commonly used in growth regressions in favor of a multiple-regime alternative. Using a formal sample-splitting method, we find that countries exhibit different behaviors with respect to natural resources depending on their initial level of development. In high-income countries, natural resources play only a minor role in explaining the differences in national growth rates. On the contrary, in low-income countries, abundance seems to be a blessing but dependence restricts growth.