bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An updated review of the biological activities, production and safety of meat‐derived peptides
Authors: Ashaolu Tolulope Joshua , Le Thanh‐Do , Suttikhana Itthanan
Published: January 2023

Meat‐derived peptides (MDPs) through enzymatic hydrolysis possess an excellent potential for functional foods development except that their safety has always been a major concern. In this review, diligent efforts were made to provide the most updated perspectives on MDPs from multifarious sources, their biological activities and safety issues. In addition to these parameters, their production and market challenges were discussed. High costs involved, poor sensorial qualities, instability, and limited toxicologic and clinical data pose significant challenges to developing functional foods based on MDPs. To ensure the safety of these bioactive peptides and their commercial applications, digestibility, absorbability, metabolism, bioavailability and excretory studies should be considered in preclinical and clinical settings. Further studies in this line of research are of great importance.
Infrared‐assisted hydrodistillation as an efficient, promising approach to the extraction of essential oil from Rosmarinus officinalis
Authors: Taheri Afsaneh , Asadiamirabadi Alireza , Seyedabadi Mohammad Mahdi , Kashaninejad Mahdi
Published: January 2023

Herbs and raw plant materials usually contain essential oils that are extractable by a variety of methods. The quality and quantity of essential oils are largely influenced by the method of extraction, some of which have remained unexplored. Demands for environmentally‐friendly extractions are increasingly becoming common. The present study used infrared‐assisted hydrodistillation (IAHD) as a new extraction method that performs faster than the classical hydrodistillation (HD) method. Here, the essential oil of Rosmarinus officinalis L. (common rosemary) was extracted from the leaves by each of the two methods separately. The essential oils were evaluated in terms of extraction kinetics, antioxidant activity, and chemical composition. Compared with the HD (2.15 ± 0.01 mL/100 g, 210 min), the IAHD generated higher yields (2.17 ± 0.02–2.51 ± 0.04 mL/100 g) over shorter periods (60–120 min), depending on the power of radiation (150–375 W). The IAHD method offered important advantages over HD, such as better maintenance of antioxidant activity in the oil and higher oil quality, e.g. enhanced levels of oxygenated compounds. Thus, it can be introduced as a promising method because of its higher extraction output and simple extraction procedure. Infrared radiation extraction can be used as a valuable substitute for classical hydrodistillation when aiming to extract essential oil from R. officinalis and other aromatic plants.
What do indebted employees do? Financialisation and the decline of industrial action
Authors: Gouzoulis Giorgos
Published: January 2023

While isolated episodes of work stoppages keep occurring, aggregate industrial action rates have been on the decline over the last five decades. Attempts to explain this trend centre on the short‐term effects of the business cycle and the long‐term impacts of labour market liberalisation, deindustrialisation and globalisation. This paper argues that household indebtedness is a missing piece of the puzzle. Since indebted employees tend to become self‐disciplined at the workplace on the fear of losing their job and defaulting, this paper argues that the post‐1970 rise of household financialisation is associated with the decline of strike activity. The econometric evidence reported provides strong support to this argument for the cases of Japan, Korea, Sweden, the United States and the United Kingdom over the period 1970–2018.
An IT projects’ conceptual model to facilitate upstream decision‐making: project management method selection
Authors: Sakka Amir , Kourjieh Mounira , Kraiem Ines Ben
Published: January 2023

The selection of the most adapted project management method (PMM) can contribute to the success of information technology (IT) projects and hence the company's optimized profitability and operability. Due to many PMMs known for their operational advantages, and with the variety of companies’ strategies and policies, the decision‐making process of selecting the best‐suited PMM can get cumbersome, and some unfounded practices could, consequently, mislead its involved leaders. We propose in this work a methodological approach of decision analysis that allows a structured, reproducible, and group decision support system‐assisted execution. The methodology was fully executed and evaluated with three real case studies of IT projects, and further improvements and research perspectives were identified.
Schedule robustness in the periodic supply vessels planning problem with stochastic demand and travel time
Authors: Cruz Roberto , Mendes Andre Bergsten , Bahiense Laura
Published: January 2023

The periodic supply vessel planning problem (PSVPP) consists in determining a periodic schedule and the respective fleet composition for servicing offshore units on a regular basis. One of the challenges for the PSVPP is determining reliable schedules with a good compromise between reliability and cost. This work extends the PSVPP by including stochastic demand and travel time. We also introduce a novel methodology based on a voyage‐based model to deal with the schedule robustness. Basically, key statistical parameters related to the routes' demand and execution time are generated. They are used together with a set of probability combinations to incorporate the schedule reliability into the optimization model. Therefore, schedule reliability is an input parameter in the optimization model. The instances used in the study are based on real data from Brazil. A comparison of the new methodology to conventional approaches is presented, and a Monte Carlo simulation is used to evaluate the quality of the solutions. The proposed methodology is able to generate robust schedules at a lower cost compared to the conventional approaches. The proposed methodology might be applied to other stochastic problems, where schedule reliability is a key parameter for the problem.
A two‐stage method for the shipper lane selection problem with time windows in transportation service procurement
Authors: Yang Fang , Hwang F.J. , Huang Yao‐Huei
Published: January 2023

The shipper lane selection problem (SLSP) is determining which lanes are to be served by the shipper's vehicle fleet or outsourced to the carriers through auction. While the SLSP in previous studies assumes that each lane is associated with a set of discrete times at which it can be served, this study considers a generalized version assuming a lane service time window for each lane, which is named the SLSP with time windows (SLSPTW). The SLSPTW is formulated as a mixed integer linear programming model that minimizes the sum of the transportation and the service/setup costs incurred by the shipper to auction off the lanes served by the carriers. In the proposed two‐stage solution approach, the first stage is designed to generate quickly a set of possible solutions, the best of which is then verified by a decomposed model of the SLSPTW at the second stage. Besides, an iterative‐improvement mechanism for the proposed algorithm is adopted to achieve the efficiency of the solution quality improvement. The effectiveness and efficiency of the developed solution method is demonstrated by the conducted numerical experiments.
Newsvendor model with voucher sales: a distributionally robust approach
Authors: Zhong Yuanguang , Jiang Xinhong , Zhang Xiong , Min Jie , Cheng T.C. Edwin
Published: January 2023

Vouchers as a popular short‐term marketing tool are widely used by many firms, through which retailers can lock in customers and obtain working capital in advance. Consumers can use the voucher to reduce the product purchase price to an equal face value or purchase the product at a discount. We apply the classical newsvendor model to study the merits of vouchers for the retailer's ordering decision in the face of uncertainties in both the market demand and voucher redemption rate. We propose a distributionally robust approach to solve this newsvendor problem. The approach only requires the first and second moments of the demand and redemption rate distributions and yields a lower bound on the expected profit. Specifically, we derive the optimal ordering decision in closed form and obtain the optimal expected profit based on the limited distribution information. We find that a higher redemption rate does not necessarily increase the retailer's profit and the voucher quantity, but always increases the retailer's order quantity. Interestingly, we show that when the buyback price of the voucher is relatively high, increasing the voucher redemption rate is more profitable for the retailer. In addition, the retailer's profit, and the quantities of the product and the voucher decrease with the buyback price of the voucher.
Effects of negative pressure wound therapy with instillation and dwell time (NPWTi‐d) versus NPWT or standard of care in orthoplastic surgery: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: De Pellegrin Laura , Feltri Pietro , Filardo Giuseppe , Candrian Christian , Harder Yves , Galetti Ken , De Monti Marco
Published: January 2023

Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) is a wound‐dressing system that applies sub‐atmospheric pressure on the surface of a wound to promote healing. An evolution of this technology, NPWT with solution instillation and dwell time (NPWTi‐d), is increasingly being used to maximise wound closure and reduce failure rates. However, there is still a lack of evidence concerning its use in orthoplastic surgery. Therefore, the aim of this study is to compare NPWTi‐d with NPWT and standard of care for wound management in orthoplastic surgery. A comprehensive literature search using PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane databases up to 15 March 2022 was performed, including studies describing the outcomes of NPWTi‐d for traumatic/orthopaedic injuries. A meta‐analysis on the number of surgical debridements, as well as the rate of complete wound closure and complications was carried out, although for other outcomes, a descriptive statistic was applied. Risk of bias and quality of evidence were assessed using the Downs& Black's Checklist for Measuring Quality. Thirteen studies with a total number of 871 patients were included, in which NPWTi‐d demonstrated significantly higher primary wound closure and lower complication rates (P < .05). No difference in the number of surgical procedures required for final wound healing was observed. Moreover, five out of six studies showed better results for NPWTi‐d when the change of the bioburden and bacterial count of the wound were analysed. A singular study investigating the length of the hospital stay of patients treated with NPWTi‐d showed a reduction in the latter. The present meta‐analysis proves that NPWTi‐d is superior to NPTW or conventional dressings in orthoplastic wound care management, in terms of complete wound closure rate and the reduced number of complications. Still, the limited quality of the studies analysed shows that future randomised studies are needed to confirm the benefits and to identify the most appropriate recommendations for using NPWTi‐d in orthoplastic surgery, as well as to investigate the cost‐effectiveness of this wound‐dressing system.
Environmental orientation on the frontline: A boundary‐spanning perspective for supply chain management
Authors: Gabler Colin B. , Landers V. Myles , Agnihotri Raj , Morgan Tyler R.
Published: January 2023

Frontline employees (FLEs) are the face of every organization in the supply chain, and therefore, supply chain partners understand each other's environmental values through these interactions. An environmental orientation conveys a firm's commitment to the natural environment to both internal and external stakeholders along the supply chain. Building upon social identity theory within a boundary‐spanning perspective, we estimate a model which examines how this firm‐level orientation leads to FLE's environmental identification. These FLEs work harder and are more satisfied at higher levels of identification, which ultimately translates to perceptions of higher‐quality products and prosocial impact. FLE's perceptions of ethical leadership and trust in their organization moderate this serial mediation model. Together, we provide insights into the benefits of frontline employees who identify with an environmental organization.
Improving adolescent mental health and protection in humanitarian settings: longitudinal findings from a multi‐arm randomized controlled trial of child‐friendly spaces among South Sudanese refugees in Uganda
Authors: Metzler Janna , Saw Terry , Nono Denis , Kadondi Agatha , Zhang Yuan , Leu Cheng‐Shiun , Gabriel Aimyleen , Savage Kevin , Landers Cassie
Published: January 2023

Background

The effects of conflict and displacement on adolescent mental health and protection are profound and can have lasting consequences. We aimed to investigate the effectiveness of two group‐based psychosocial interventions on mental health and protection of South Sudanese refugee adolescents.

Methods

A randomized controlled trial was done in four villages within the Omugo extension of Rhino Camp refugee settlement in the West Nile region of Uganda. Male and female adolescents (aged 9–14 years) were randomly assigned to attend 12 weeks of either a Standard psychosocial intervention delivered in a child‐friendly space (CFS) or a more structured sequential delivery of psychosocial sessions guided by a newly developed Toolkit for Child‐Friendly Spaces in Humanitarian Settings. The primary outcomes were psychological distress and resilience 12 months after baseline assessment. The trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03897894.

Results

Between May 28, 2019, and February 20, 2020, 1,280 eligible adolescents were recruited. With 70.2% retention at follow‐up, 214 assigned to the Standard, 211 assigned to the Toolkit, and 370 assigned to the waitlist control were included in the intention‐to‐treat and as‐treated analysis. Both the Toolkit and Standard approaches were more effective in reducing psychological distress and perceived protection risks reported by adolescents compared to no intervention. Differential intervention impacts are indicated in subgroup analyses.

Conclusions

The trial found that both psychosocial interventions when implemented in a CFS are well suited as a first‐line mental health and violence prevention intervention for adolescent populations exposed to conflict and forced displacement. Where feasible, CFS should be implemented as a primary response strategy soon after displacement to improve psychological health and reduce the risk environment for adolescents.
Impact of the Great East Japan Earthquake on spontaneous abortion and induced abortion: A population‐based cross‐sectional and longitudinal study in the Fukushima Prefecture based on the census survey of the Fukushima maternity care facility and vital statistics
Authors: Inoue Yuta , Ohno Yuko , Sobue Tomotaka , Fujimaki Takako , Zha Ling , Nomura Yasuhisa , Kyozuka Hyo , Yasuda Shun , Yamaguchi Akiko , Kurasawa Kentaro , Fujimori Keiya
Published: January 2023

Aim

The 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake (GEJE) was a disaster leading to radiation exposure and psychological distress, particularly among pregnant women. However, it is not known how this affected the seasonal changes of pregnancy and childbirth. Therefore, this study investigated the impact of the GEJE in the Fukushima Prefecture on spontaneous and induced abortions with regard to seasonal variability.

Methods

We used the data of vital statistics of live birth and stillbirth registry and the census survey of the Fukushima Maternity Care Facility. We calculated the spontaneous and induced abortion rate for 2011–2016 using two different methods (cross‐sectional and longitudinal). We calculated the quartiles and outliers to determine the impact and duration of the GEJE. Periodicity was investigated using spectral density analysis. The data were analyzed for the entire Fukushima Prefecture and by region.

Results

The spontaneous abortion rate did not show specific changes after the GEJE. Contrarily, the monthly analysis in the cross‐sectional method, revealed specific increases in induced abortion rate during the year after the GEJE; in the longitudinal method, induced abortions increased among women who became pregnant within 1 year after the GEJE. Spontaneous abortion showed no specific periodicity, while induced abortion showed cycles of 6 and 12 months, with a particular increase in May each year.

Conclusions

The spontaneous abortion rate was not affected by the GEJE. The changes in the induced abortion rate after the disaster may have overlapped with the timing of the increased periodicity, and cannot be attributed solely to the GEJE.
Importance of complete response for outcomes of pregnancy in patients with autoimmune hepatitis
Authors: Fischer Susan E. , de Vries Elsemieke S. , Tushuizen Maarten E. , de Boer Ynto S. , van der Meer Adriaan J. P. , de Man Robert A. , Brouwer Johannes T. , Kuyvenhoven Johan P. , Klemt‐Kropp Michael , Gevers Tom J. G. , Tjwa Eric T. T. L. , Kuiper Edith M. M. , Verhagen Marc A. M. T. , Friederich Philip W. , van Hoek Bart
Published: January 2023

Background and Aims

While some articles describe outcome of pregnancy in autoimmune hepatitis (AIH), there are less data evaluating influence of AIH control on maternal and perinatal outcomes. This study analysed outcomes of pregnancy and related possible risk factors in AIH.

Method

A retrospective multicentre cohort study on pregnancy in AIH was performed in 11 hospitals in the Netherlands. Maternal and neonatal outcomes were collected from records and completed by interview. Risk factors—including incomplete response, relapse and cirrhosis—for adverse outcomes were identified using logistic regression analysis.

Results

Ninety‐seven pregnancies in 50 women resulted in 70 deliveries (72%) with a live birth rate of 98.5%. AIH relapse occurred in 6% during pregnancy, and in 27% of post‐partum episodes. Absence of complete biochemical response at conception was identified as risk factor for the occurrence of gestational and post‐partum relapses. Relapse of AIH in the year before conception was a risk factor for the occurrence of both gestational relapses and post‐partum relapses. No complete biochemical response increased the risk for hypertensive disorders during pregnancy and intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP). Cirrhosis was found to be a risk factor for miscarriages, but not for other outcomes.

Conclusion

Pregnancy in AIH is related to an increased incidence of maternal and fetal/neonatal complications; in most cases, outcome is good. Incomplete biochemical response at conception or relapse in the year before conception are risk factors for gestational and post‐partum relapses, for hypertensive disorders and for ICP. Cirrhosis was a risk factor for miscarriages.
Ontogenetic shifts in feeding habits of orangemouth weakfish (Cynoscion xanthulus): From estuarine benthic feeder to marine nektivore top predator
Authors: Muro‐Torres Víctor M. , Amezcua Felipe , Green Lucinda , Payan Jorge , Balart‐Páez Eduardo F. , Amezcua‐Linares Felipe
Published: January 2023

Orangemouth weakfish is a highly important commercial and game fish species in the Tropical Eastern Pacific. However, studies assessing changes in its trophic ecology relevant to size, habitat (estuarine or marine), sex, and season are non‐existent. We assessed its feeding habits and trophic position (TP) according to the aforementioned factors. Its dietary breadth was composed of 33 types of prey. The feeding habits and isotopic values (δ15N and δ13C) registered differences between sizes and habitat, indicating ontogenetic changes in habitat as well as TP, as small organisms (TP 3.1) inhabited the estuarine area, feeding on benthic and demersal organisms, whilst large individuals (TP 4.1) were found in the marine environment, preying on nektonic fauna. No differences were found according to sex or season. The isotopic niche showed that the different sizes of this species are generalist consumers with a clear separation between them and between habitats, as estuarine juvenile and preadult organisms have a larger isotopic niche than adult marine organisms, being an opportunist tertiary estuarine consumers during their early stages, and a top marine predator during the adult phase.
PRpnp, a novel dual activity PNP family protein improves plant vigour and confers multiple stress tolerance in Citrus aurantifolia
Authors: Singh Sweta , Chaudhary Chanderkant , Bharsakale Rushikesh D. , Gazal Snehi , Verma Lokesh , Tarannum Zeba , Behere Ganesh T. , Giri Jitender , Germain Hugo , Ghosh Dilip K. , Sharma Ashwani K. , Chauhan Harsh
Published: January 2023

Under field conditions, plants are often simultaneously exposed to several abiotic and biotic stresses resulting in significant reductions in growth and yield; thus, developing a multi‐stress tolerant variety is imperative. Previously, we reported the neofunctionalization of a novel PNP family protein, Putranjiva roxburghii purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PRpnp) to trypsin inhibitor to cater to the needs of plant defence. However, to date, no study has revealed the potential role and mechanism of either member of this protein group in plant defence. Here, we overexpressed PRpnp in Citrus aurantifolia which showed nuclear‐cytoplasmic localization, where it functions in maintaining the intracellular purine reservoir. Overexpression of PRpnp significantly enhanced tolerance to salt, oxidative stress, alkaline pH, drought and two pests, Papilio demoleus and Scirtothrips citri in transgenic plants. Global gene expression studies revealed that PRpnp overexpression up‐regulated differentially expressed genes (DEGs) related to ABA‐ and JA‐biosynthesis and signalling, plant defence, growth and development. LC–MS/MS analysis validated higher endogenous ABA and JA accumulation in transgenic plants. Taken together, our results suggest that PRpnp functions by enhancing the endogenous ABA and JA, which interact synergistically and it also inhibits trypsin proteases in the insect gut. Also, like other purine salvage genes, PRpnp also regulates CK metabolism and increases the levels of CK‐free bases in transgenic Mexican lime. We also suggest that PRpnp can be used as a potential candidate to develop new varieties with improved plant vigour and enhanced multiple stress resistance.
The Well‐Being Cost of Inflation Inequalities
Authors: Prati Alberto
Published: January 2023

In terms of well‐being, how costly is inflation? To answer this question, empirical evaluations have typically studied average inflation rates at the national level, thus disregarding the role of inflation inequalities within a country. In this article, we relax the assumptions that heterogeneous consumers face homogeneous inflation rates, and study the correlation between price changes and self‐reported satisfaction with living standards. We use newly available data from France and adopt two approaches. First, we focus on individually perceived inflation and use the internationally harmonized Opinion Price Index as a proxy for experienced inflation. Variations in perceived inflation help predict well‐being differences among consumers, even when controlling for relevant sociodemographic factors, personality traits, and common method variance. We estimate their marginal impact to be higher than equivalent variations in nominal income. Second, we compare groups of consumers over time and find that changes in the price of a good disproportionately affect the relative well‐being of those who consume it. The study shows that the well‐being cost of the inflation crisis would be underestimated if looking at aggregate figures only.
A novel HLA‐DQB1*03 allele, HLA‐DQB1*03:509N, was identified by next generation sequencing
Authors: Loginova Maria , Repnicyna Kristina , Paramonov Igor
Published: January 2023

The novel allele HLA‐DQB1*03:509N was identified in a Russian individual by next generation sequencing.
Accretionary orogenesis triggered by collision across continent distance: Evidence from the Proto‐Tethyan West Kunlun, China
Authors: Wang Yan‐Jun , Zhu Wei‐Guang , Zhang Zheng‐Wei , Yang Kang , Wu Cheng‐Quan , Xu Jin‐Hong , Leng Cheng‐Biao , Xu Jian‐Bing
Published: January 2023

Proto‐Tethyan orogenic processes prior to the late Ordovician collision remain unclear. Both whole‐rock La/Yb‐ and zircon Eu/Eu*‐based crustal thickness proxies along with petrological and geological observations were used to reconstruct mountain‐building history for the West Kunlun orogenic belt, China, over the span of Early Palaeozoic. Here, we demonstrate that Proto‐Tethyan West Kunlun crust has observed significant accretionary orogeneses at 520–480 Ma and 480–450 Ma and collisional orogenesis at 450–400 Ma. The 520–480 Ma accretionary orogenesis in West Kunlun together with the coeval Delamerian accretionary contractional orogenesis in eastern Australia were simultaneously induced by continent‐continent collisions that welded the Gondwana landmass. Ca. 440 Ma docking of Tarim and its eastern neighbouring blocks along the northern margin of Gondwana in turn triggered the Lachlan accretionary orogenesis along the opposite margin. This study highlights that accretionary orogenesis could be a manifestation of far‐field compressional stress from continent‐continent collision.
Computed tomographic findings may be useful for differentiating small intestinal adenocarcinomas, lymphomas, and spindle cell sarcomas in dogs
Authors: Lee Seonah , Hwang Jeongyeon , Kim Hyunwook , Hong Yeonjung , Lee Gahyun , Chung Doori , Kim Jaehwan , Eom Kidong
Published: January 2023

An improved understanding of the CT characteristics for histologically confirmed primary intestinal tumors would be helpful for guiding prognosis and treatment plans in affected dogs. This retrospective, multi‐center, analytical study aimed to evaluate the CT characteristics for the differentiation of adenocarcinoma, lymphoma, and spindle cell sarcoma (SCS) in dogs. Thirty‐seven dogs who underwent contrast CT and histopathological examinations were included (adenocarcinomas, n = 11; lymphomas, n = 12; SCS, n = 14). Quantitative and qualitative CT parameters, including tumor morphology, contrast enhancement pattern, Hounsfield unit (HU) value, and presence or absence of intraabdominal lymphadenopathy, were evaluated for each included small intestine tumor CT case. Adenocarcinomas tended to show endophytic growth, intestinal obstruction, and a heterogeneous enhancement pattern. Lymphomas tended to show exophytic growth, contrast enhancement of the intestinal tumor mucosal layer, a homogeneous enhancement pattern, and the presence of lymphadenopathies in the abdominal cavity. SCSs tended to show lobulated growth, a large cystic portion within the tumor, a heterogeneous enhancement pattern, a large size with fat stranding sign, and lower HU values in postcontrast images. Cut‐off values of the minimum diameter/fifth lumbar vertebral mid‐body height (≥5.80; area under the curve [AUC] = 0.97, P < 0.001) and minimum HU value/HU value of the aorta (≤0.26; AUC = 0.96, P < 0.001) were derived to discriminate SCS from the two other tumor types. In conclusion, contrast CT characteristics may be useful in differentiating small intestinal adenocarcinomas, lymphomas, and SCSs in dogs.
On a topological Erdős similarity problem
Authors: Gallagher John , Lai Chun‐Kit , Weber Eric
Published: January 2023

A pattern is called universal in another collection of sets, when every set in the collection contains some linear and translated copy of the original pattern. Paul Erdős proposed a conjecture that no infinite set is universal in the collection of sets with positive measure. This paper explores an analogous problem in the topological setting. Instead of sets with positive measure, we investigate the collection of dense sets and the collection of generic sets (dense and complement has Lebesgue measure zero). We refer to such pattern as topologically universal and generically universal, respectively. It is easy to show that any countable set is topologically universal, while any set containing an interior cannot be topologically universal. In this paper, we will show that Cantor sets on are not topologically universal and Cantor sets with positive Newhouse thickness on are not generically universal. This gives a positive partial answer to a question by Svetic concerning the Erdős similarity problem on Cantor sets. Moreover, we also obtain a higher dimensional generalization of the generic universality problem.
Identification of Motor Control Objectives in Human Locomotion via Multi-Objective Inverse Optimal Control
Authors: Tomasi Matilde , Artoni Alessio
Published: January 2023

Predictive simulations of human motion are a precious resource for a deeper understanding of the motor control policies encoded by the central nervous system. They also have profound implications for the design and control of assistive and rehabilitation devices, for ergonomics, as well as for surgical planning. However, the potential of state-of-the-art predictive approaches is not fully realized yet, making it difficult to draw convincing conclusions about the actual optimality principles underlying human walking. In the present study, we propose a novel formulation of a bilevel, inverse optimal control strategy based on a full-body three-dimensional neuromusculoskeletal model. In the lower level, prediction of walking is formulated as a principled multi-objective optimal control problem based on a weighted Chebyshev metric, whereas the contributions of candidate control objectives are systematically and efficiently identified in the upper level. Our framework has proved to be effective in determining the contributions of the selected objectives and in reproducing salient features of human locomotion. Nonetheless, some deviations from the experimental kinematic and kinetic trajectories have emerged, suggesting directions for future research. The proposed framework can serve as an inverse optimal control platform for testing multiple optimality criteria, with the ultimate goal of learning the control objectives that best explain observed human motion.2
Foam gratings as an alternative to customized acoustic lenses
Authors: Richards Luke A. , Stride Eleanor , Cleveland Robin O.
Published: January 2023

This article describes a method of manipulating acoustic fields using transmission through foam gratings. The approach is investigated with an analytical model, a numerical model simulating full wave ultrasound propagation through the gratings, and experimental measurements. A grating is demonstrated that mimics a conventional ultrasound lens, modulating the phase of transmitted ultrasound while maximizing the transmitted amplitude. The performance of a foam grating is compared to a lens made of polydimethylsiloxane or three-dimensional printed resin. Using two gratings, independent control of amplitude and phase is demonstrated, with increased insertion loss. The primary advantages of this technique over conventional lenses are very rapid manufacture (<30 min), high repeatability due to the simplicity of manufacture, and the ability to control the amplitude of the transmitted ultrasound. Potential applications include generation of complex ultrasound fields for patient specific treatments in ultrasound therapy.
Natural growth of gold dendrites within silica gels
Authors: Monecke Thomas , Reynolds T. James , Taksavasu Tadsuda , Tharalson Erik R. , Zeeck Lauren R. , Guzman Mario , Gissler Garrett , Sherlock Ross
Published: January 2023

High-grade ores in low-sulfidation epithermal precious metal deposits include banded quartz veins that contain gold dendrites. The processes by which dendrite growth takes place have been subject to debate for decades, especially given that these deposits are known to form from dilute thermal liquids that contain only trace amounts of gold. It is shown here that growth of gold dendrites in epithermal veins at the McLaughlin deposit in California (western USA) originally took place within bands of gel-like noncrystalline silica. The gel provided a framework for the delicate dendrites to form. The high permeability of the gel allowed the diffusion and advection of gold from the thermal liquids flowing across the top of the silica layers to the sites of crystal growth within the gel. Over time, the gel hardened to form opal-AG. This silica phase is thermodynamically unstable and recrystallized to quartz that has a distinct mosaic texture.
Phanerozoic cratonization by plume welding
Authors: Xu Xi , Chen Hanlin , Zuza Andrew V. , Yin An , Yu Peng , Lin Xiubin , Zhao Chongjin , Luo Juncheng , Yang Shufeng , Wang Baodi
Published: January 2023

Deformation-resistant cratons comprise >60% of the continental landmass on Earth. Because they were formed mostly in the Archean to Mesoproterozoic, it remains unclear if cratonization was a process unique to early Earth. We address this question by presenting an integrated geological-geophysical data set from the Tarim region of central Asia. This data set shows that the Tarim region was a deformable domain from the Proterozoic to early Paleozoic, but deformation ceased after the emplacement of a Permian plume despite the fact that deformation continued to the north and south due to the closure of the Paleo-Asian and Tethyan Oceans. We interpret this spatiotemporal correlation to indicate plume-driven welding of the earlier deformable continents and the formation of Tarim’s stable cratonic lithosphere. Our work highlights the Phanerozoic plume-driven cratonization process and implies that mantle plumes may have significantly contributed to the development of cratons on early Earth.
Triggering of episodic back-arc extensions in the northeast Asian continental margin by deep mantle flow
Authors: Dong Yu , Xiong Shuai , Wang Feng , Ji Zheng , Li Yi-Bing , Yamamoto Shinji , Niida Kiyoaki , Xu Wen-Liang
Published: January 2023

Back-arc extension has been well documented in subduction plate tectonic regimes. However, the reasons why back-arc extensions are associated with some subduction systems but not others have remained elusive. Here, spatio-temporal variations in the composition of Cenozoic basalts in the northeast Asian continental margin are used to constrain the mechanism for episodic back-arc extensions. Using geochemical data sensitive to tectonic affinity, we show that typical volcanic arc compositions are located in the eastern margin of northeast Asia, whereas coeval intraplate volcanic compositions are located in the western part of northeast Asia, and that the intraplate and arc volcanism exhibit two eastward shifts, from 52 Ma to 33 Ma and from 33 Ma to 21 Ma. Intraplate basalts dated at ca. 11 Ma display a weak, arc-like geochemical signature, which suggests that the upwelling of asthenospheric mantle resulted in the remelting of previously melt-extracted lithospheric mantle modified by slab-derived fluids and the cessation of back-arc extensions. Thus, we propose that the eastward mantle flow resulted in eastward shifts of back-arc extensions that led to the development of extensive Cenozoic arc and intraplate volcanism in the northeast Asian continental margin.
Activity of Palladium(II) Complexes with N-Heterocyclic Carbene Ligands in Solvent-Free Telomerization of 1,3-Butadiene with Methanol
Authors: Topchiy M. A. , Rzhevskiy S. A. , Minaeva L. I. , Asachenko A. F.
Published: January 2023

This paper describes an investigation of the catalytic activity of a series of N-heterocyclic palladium(II) complexes with a cinnamyl auxiliary ligand in telomerization of butadiene with methanol. The catalytic activity of the cinnamyl N-heterocyclic complexes was compared with that of PEPPSI type complexes.
Hyperkalemic periodic paralysis with paramyotonia and the anaesthetic implications
Authors: Sender David , Doyal Alexander
Published: January 2023

Hyperkalemic periodic paralysis (HyperKPP) is a rare disease with significant anaesthetic implications. We compare two perioperative courses in the same patient. The first surgery resulted in paralysis and a protracted hospitalisation, while the second surgery resulted in a same-day discharge. Various anaesthetic techniques may be used; however, clear communication surrounding optimisation both for home medications (eg, continuing potassium wasting diuretics) and avoidance of triggering medications (primarily: depolarising neuromuscular blockers), along with thermoregulation and glucose management plans, is critical and best performed early by an anaesthetic precare clinic. Our cases highlight the physiological underpinnings in managing patients with HyperKPP.
Elbow luxation in a patient with congenital dislocation of the radial head
Authors: van Groningen Nicole J , Bontemps Saskia , Schmidt Ben G
Published: January 2023

Elbow dislocations are commonly seen and can occur after trauma or be congenital. The literature on congenital dislocations is scarce. No cases of an additional luxation of a pre-existing congenital radial head dislocation with a traumatic ulnohumeral dislocation have been described. This case involves a young man with no prior history who presented after trauma of the right elbow. He presented with pain, and his radial head was palpable behind the olecranon, and on imaging it appeared to be more proximal. After additional imaging, the dislocation of the radial head turned out to be congenital combined with an additional luxation of the ulna. This finding influenced our diagnostic approach and reposition method, which, instead of only traction–countertraction, also included pronation and supination.

This case highlights the clinical importance of identifying and recognising a patient with a congenital dislocation of the radial head and an additional luxation of the elbow.
Safety and effectiveness of intravitreal dexamethasone implant in patients with ocular toxocariasis
Authors: Sun Limei , Huang Li , Li Songshan , Lu Jinglin , Zheng Shuxin , Ding Xiaoyan
Published: January 2023

Aims

To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of intravitreal dexamethasone (DEX) implant in patients with active uveitis due to ocular toxocariasis (OT).

Methods

Seventy-eight patients with OT were recruited in this retrospective study, including 51 patients in DEX group treated with intravitreal DEX implant and 27 patients in control group without intervention. The reduction of vitreous haze scores (VHS), the best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) changes, intraocular pressure (IOP) and cataract progression and formation were recorded at baseline (V0), 1 (V1), 3 (V3) and 6 months (V6) after treatment in DEX group, and V0 and V6 in control group.

Results

There was no change in VHS and BCVA in control group between V0 and V6. Better VHS (p=0.001) and BCVA (p=0.022) was achieved in DEX group; the rate of VHS=0 was 0%, 67.4%, 42.9% and 44.9% at V0, V1, V3 and V6, respectively (p＜0.001), and the mean BCVA was improved from logMAR 1.5±0.9 to 1.2±0.9 at V1, 1.4±1.0 at V3 and 1.4±1.2 at V6. A favourable BCVA at V1 was associated with older age (p=0.038) and uninvolved macula (p=0.000) in DEX group. No significant difference in IOP elevation ≥10 mm Hg, cataract progression and formation between groups. More eyes needed retinal surgery in control group (p<0.001).

Conclusions

This was the first study to investigate use of intravitreal DEX implant in OT patients, which can efficiently reduce ocular inflammation and improve BCVA in macular uninvolved patients.
Labour market participation and retirement after stroke in Denmark: registry based cohort study
Authors: Skajaa Nils , Adelborg Kasper , Horváth-Puhó Erzsébet , Rothman Kenneth J , Henderson Victor W , Thygesen Lau Caspar , Sørensen Henrik Toft
Published: January 2023

Objective

To examine labour market participation and retirement among patients with stroke and matched people in the general population according to stroke subtype.

Design

Nationwide, population based, matched cohort study.

Setting

Danish Stroke Registry, covering all Danish hospitals, and other nationwide registries (2005-18).

Participants

Patients (aged 18-60 years and active in the labour market) with a first time diagnosis of ischaemic stroke (n=16 577), intracerebral haemorrhage (n=2025), or subarachnoid haemorrhage (n=4305), and individuals from the general population, matched on age, sex, and calendar year (n=134 428). The median Scandinavian stroke scale score was 55.

Main outcome measures

Unweighted prevalences of labour market participation, receipt of sick leave benefits, receipt of disability pension, voluntary early retirement, state pension, and death were computed for each week and up to five years after stroke diagnosis. A log-linear Poisson model was used to obtain exact prevalence estimates as well as propensity score weighted prevalence differences and prevalence ratios at six months, one year, two years, and five years after stroke diagnosis.

Results

Most patients (62% of those with ischaemic stroke, 69% of those with intracerebral haemorrhage, and 52% of those with subarachnoid haemorrhage) went on sick leave within three weeks of diagnosis. Prevalence of labour market participation among patients with ischaemic stroke compared with matched individuals from the general population was 56.6% versus 96.6% at six months, and 63.9% versus 91.6% at two years. Prevalence of sick leave was 39.8% versus 2.6% at six months, and 15.8% versus 3.8% at two years. Prevalence of receipt of a disability pension was 0.9% versus 0.2% at six months, and 12.2% versus 0.6% at two years. Adjusting for socioeconomic and comorbidity differences between patients and matched individuals from the general population using propensity score weighting methods had little impact on contrasts. Patients with intracerebral haemorrhage had higher prevalences of sick leave and receipt of a disability pension and thus a lower prevalence of labour market participation, while prevalences for patients with subarachnoid haemorrhage were similar in magnitude to those for patients with ischaemic stroke.

Conclusions

In a highly resourced country, about two thirds of working age adults with ischaemic stroke of primarily mild severity participated in the labour market two years after diagnosis. Sick leave and receipt of a disability pension were the most common reasons for non-participation. Patients with intracerebral haemorrhage were less likely to return to the labour market than patients with ischaemic stroke and subarachnoid haemorrhage.
Cardiovascular and renal outcomes among patients with type 2 diabetes using SGLT2 inhibitors added to metformin: a population-based cohort study from the UK
Authors: Gonzalez Perez Antonio , Vizcaya David , Sáez Maria E , Lind Marcus , Garcia Rodriguez Luis A
Published: January 2023

Introduction

Large numbers of patients with type 2 diabetes receive treatment with a sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitor (SGLT2i). We investigated whether the cardiorenal preventative effects found in clinical trials are also seen in clinical practice where patient characteristics and adherence to treatment differ.

Research design and methods

Using UK primary care electronic health records, we followed two cohorts of patients with type 2 diabetes prescribed metformin: SGLT2is (N=12 978) and a matched comparator of patients not using an SGLT2i at the start of follow-up (N=44 286). Independent follow-ups were performed to identify the study outcomes: cardiovascular (CV) composite (comprising non-fatal myocardial infarction (MI)/ischemic stroke (IS) requiring hospitalization and CV death), severe renal disease, and all-cause mortality. Cox regression was used to estimate adjusted HRs.

Results

Mean follow-up was 2.3 years (SGLT2i cohort) and 2.1 years (comparison cohort). Mean age was 59.6 years (SD ±10.2, SGLT2i cohort) and 60.4 years (SD ±10.0, comparison cohort). SGLT2i new users were associated with a reduced risk of the CV composite (HR 0.75, 95% CI: 0.61 to 0.93), severe renal disease (HR 0.55, 95% CI: 0.46 to 0.67), and all-cause mortality (HR 0.56, 95% CI: 0.49 to 0.63), with risk reductions similar irrespective of baseline chronic kidney disease. Reduced risks were seen for IS (HR 0.51, 95% CI: 0.36 to 0.74) but not MI (HR 0.98, 95% CI: 0.74 to 1.28). Results were consistent in sensitivity analyses.

Conclusions

In this population-based study, SGLT2is were associated with significant CV, renal and survival benefits among individuals with type 2 diabetes on metformin; the CV benefit was driven by a reduced risk of ischemic stroke.
Drivers of healthcare costs in patients with ischaemic stroke: a hospital-based retrospective cohort study
Authors: Mensing Liselore A , Kappelle L Jaap , Koffijberg Hendrik , Ruigrok Ynte M
Published: January 2023

Objectives

To evaluate how costs of healthcare can be reduced, there is an increasing need to gain insight into the main drivers of such costs. We evaluated drivers of costs of predefined subgroups of patients who had a stroke by linking cost registration with clinical data.

Methods

We retrospectively selected 555 consecutive patients with ischaemic stroke participating between June 2011 and December 2016 in the Dutch Parelsnoer Initiative. Patient characteristics and costs of healthcare activities during hospital admission and the first 3 months after discharge were linked. Patients were divided in subgroups based on age, severity of stroke, stroke subtype, discharge destination and functional outcome. Unit cost per healthcare activity was based on 2018 rates for mutual service in euros. Mean total costs per subgroup were calculated. Multivariate analysis was performed to identify factors associated with costs.

Results

Number of admitted days was the main driver of total hospital costs (range 82%–93%) in all predefined subgroups of patients. Second driver was radiological diagnostic investigations (range 2%–9%). Highest costs were observed in patients with a younger age at the time of admission, a higher modified Rankin Scale at the time of discharge and a nursing home as discharge destination. The distribution of costs over the different healthcare activities was associated with stroke subtype; for example, in patients with a cardiac embolism most costs were spent on cardiology-related healthcare activities.

Conclusion

The number of admitted days was the most important driver of costs in all subgroups of patients with ischaemic stroke. This implicates that to reduce healthcare costs for patients who had a stroke, focus should be on reducing length of hospital stay.