bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ultrasound evaluation of anterior transvaginal mesh for pelvic organ prolapse: correlation to 5-year clinical outcomes
Authors: Poutakidis Georgios , Marsk Anna , Altman Daniel , Falconer Christian , Morcos Edward
Published: June 2021

Introduction and hypothesis

Vaginal prolapse mesh may effectively restore vaginal anatomy. The aim of this study was to investigate how the in vivo mesh position correlates to clinical outcomes.

Methods

Seventy-one women operated on using Uphold mesh for apical pelvic organ prolapse (POP-Q, C ≥ stage II) were examined 5 years after surgery by introital-perineal 2D ultrasound in a midsagittal plane at rest and Valsalva. The horizontal line and pubis symphysis were considered the reference for all measures. Ultrasound measures were statistically compared to clinical outcomes: POP-Q, Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory (PFDI-20) and subscales [Pelvic Organ Distress Inventory (PODI-6), and Urinary Distress Inventory (UDI-6)] and the VAS scale for pain.

Results

Original mesh length was preserved by 86% and correlated to improved pain as estimated by VAS scale (r 0.321). Valsalva was associated with a lowering of the superior and inferior mesh margins by 7.3 and 6.1 mm, respectively (p < 0.001) but a reduction of total mesh length by only 1 mm (30.2 ± 5.2 to 29.2 ± 4.7 mm, p < 0.001). Mobility of the anterior vaginal wall (bladder neck and midurethra) at Valsalva was parallel to downward movement of the mesh inferior margin (r 0.346 and 0.314) but inversely correlated to total UDI-6 (r − 0.254 and − 0.263). Mobility of the midurethra was inversely correlated to bladder emptying (PFDI-20 Question 19, r − 0.245).

Conclusions

Five years after surgery, preserved original length of the mesh with apical support was correlated to improved anatomical and patient-reported outcomes. Mesh support to the vaginal apex was associated with improved bladder emptying and total urinary distress outcomes but not stress urinary incontinence.
Correction to: Impairment of bile acid metabolism by perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) in human HepaRG hepatoma cells
Authors: Behr Anne‑Cathrin , Kwiatkowski Anna , Stahlman Marcus , Schmidt Felix Florian , Luckert Claudia , Braeuning Albert , Buhrke Thorsten
Published: June 2021

A correction to this paper has been published: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00204-021-03089-x
Pyrrolizidine alkaloid-induced transcriptomic changes in rat lungs in a 28-day subacute feeding study
Authors: Buchmueller Julia , Sprenger Heike , Ebmeyer Johanna , Rasinger Josef Daniel , Creutzenberg Otto , Schaudien Dirk , Hengstler Jan G. , Guenther Georgia , Braeuning Albert , Hessel-Pras Stefanie
Published: June 2021

Pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) are secondary plant metabolites synthesized by a wide range of plants as protection against herbivores. These toxins are found worldwide and pose a threat to human health. PAs induce acute effects like hepatic sinusoidal obstruction syndrome and pulmonary arterial hypertension. Moreover, chronic exposure to low doses can induce cancer and liver cirrhosis in laboratory animals. The mechanisms causing hepatotoxicity have been investigated previously. However, toxic effects in the lung are less well understood, and especially data on the correlation effects with individual chemical structures of different PAs are lacking. The present study focuses on the identification of gene expression changes in vivo in rat lungs after exposure to six structurally different PAs (echimidine, heliotrine, lasiocarpine, senecionine, senkirkine, and platyphylline). Rats were treated by gavage with daily doses of 3.3 mg PA/kg bodyweight for 28 days and transcriptional changes in the lung and kidney were investigated by whole-genome microarray analysis. The results were compared with recently published data on gene regulation in the liver. Using bioinformatics data mining, we identified inflammatory responses as a predominant feature in rat lungs. By comparison, in liver, early molecular consequences to PAs were characterized by alterations in cell-cycle regulation and DNA damage response. Our results provide, for the first time, information about early molecular effects in lung tissue after subacute exposure to PAs, and demonstrates tissue-specificity of PA-induced molecular effects.
Hybrid mastopexy: improving outcomes on implant-based augmentation mastopexy with fat
Authors: Cuccia Giuseppe , Gagliardo Carola Maria , Romeo Marco , Di Trapani Benedetto
Published: June 2021

Background

Autologous fat transplantation for breast augmentation represents an increasingly interesting technique in plastic surgery. Only a few standardized procedures are available. Hybrid augmentation mastopexy combines the benefits of autologous fat transplantation and implant-based breast augmentation mastopexy, reducing implant-related complications and prothesis size. Herein, we describe our surgical approach as a “hybrid aesthetic surgery.”

Methods

A retrospective analysis of all patients who underwent hybrid breast augmentation and lifting with simultaneous fat grafting was carried out. Clinical outcomes, ultrasound evaluation of upper pole fullness, aesthetic postoperative results, and complications were examined.

Results

Eighteen patients with a mean age of 33 years (range: 24–52 years) and mean BMI of 25.8 kg/m2 (range: 21.4–32.1 kg/m2) were included in this study. Mean injected fat volume per breast was 115 cc (range: 78–144 cc). Patients were followed up for a mean of 9.4 months (range: 6–24 months). No fat necrosis or major complications were encountered during the follow-up. Patient satisfaction was high in terms of breast shape, size, and coverage of the breast implant. No recurrence of ptosis was observed yet and no secondary revision surgery was performed.

Conclusions

Hybrid mastopexy augmentation is an effective and safe procedure that combines the benefits of autologous fat grafting and implant-based breast augmentation. The transfer of autologous soft tissue allows obtaining a natural breast shape, reducing the onset of rippling and prothesis size. The reduction of prothesis size prevents ptosis recurrence but provides the desired projection. This reliable option improves long-term breast shape with elevated patient’s satisfaction.

Level of evidence: Level IV, therapeutic study.
Postoperative Pain Relief after Pancreatic Resection: Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis of Analgesic Modalities
Authors: Akter Nasreen , Ratnayake Bathiya , Joh Daniel B. , Chan Sara‐Jane , Bonner Emily , Pandanaboyana Sanjay
Published: June 2021

Background

This systematic review explored the efficacy of different pain relief modalities used in the management of postoperative pain following pancreatoduodenectomy (PD) and distal pancreatectomy (DP) and impact on perioperative outcomes.

Methods

MEDLINE (OVID), Embase, Pubmed, Web of Science and CENTRAL databases were searched using PRISMA framework. Primary outcomes included pain on postoperative day 2 and 4 and respiratory morbidity. Secondary outcomes included operation time, bile leak, delayed gastric emptying, postoperative pancreatic fistula, length of stay, and opioid use.

Results

Five randomized controlled trials and seven retrospective cohort studies (1313 patients) were included in the systematic review. Studies compared epidural analgesia (EDA) (n = 845), patient controlled analgesia (PCA) (n = 425) and transabdominal wound catheters (TAWC) (n = 43). EDA versus PCA following PD was compared in eight studies (1004 patients) in the quantitative meta‐analysis. Pain scores on day 2 (p = 0.19) and 4 (p = 0.18) and respiratory morbidity (p = 0.42) were comparable between EDA and PCA. Operative times, bile leak, delayed gastric emptying, pancreatic fistula, opioid use, and length of stay also were comparable between EDA and PCA. Pain scores and perioperative outcomes were comparable between EDA and PCA following DP and EDA and TAWC following PD.

Conclusions

EDA, PCA and TAWC are the most frequently used analgesic modalities in pancreatic surgery. Pain relief and other perioperative outcomes are comparable between them. Further larger randomized controlled trials are warranted to explore the relative merits of each analgesic modality on postoperative outcomes with emphasis on postoperative complications.
Impact of intraepithelial capillary loops and atypical vessels in confocal laser endomicroscopy for the diagnosis of laryngeal and hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Sievert Matti , Eckstein Markus , Mantsopoulos Konstantinos , Mueller Sarina K. , Stelzle Florian , Aubreville Marc , Oetter Nicolai , Maier Andreas , Iro Heinrich , Goncalves Miguel
Published: June 2021

Purpose

Confocal laser endomicroscopy (CLE) allows surface imaging of the laryngeal and pharyngeal mucosa in vivo at a thousand-fold magnification. This study aims to compare irregular blood vessels and intraepithelial capillary loops in healthy mucosa and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) via CLE.

Materials and methods

We included ten patients with confirmed SCC and planned total laryngectomy in this study between March 2020 and February 2021. CLE images of these patients were collected and compared with the corresponding histology in hematoxylin and eosin staining. We analyzed the characteristic endomicroscopic patterns of blood vessels and intraepithelial capillary loops for the diagnosis of SCC.

Results

In a total of 54 sequences, we identified 243 blood vessels which were analyzed regarding structure, diameter, and Fluorescein leakage, confirming that irregular, corkscrew-like vessels (24.4% vs. 1.3%; P < .001), dilated intraepithelial capillary loops (90.8% vs. 28.7%; P < .001), and increased capillary leakage (40.7% vs. 2.5%; P < .001), are significantly more frequently detected in SCC compared to the healthy epithelium. We defined a vessel diameter of 30 μm in capillary loops as a cut-off value, obtaining a sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV and accuracy of 90.6%, 71.3%, 57.4%, 94.7%, and 77.1%, respectively, for the detection of malignancy based solely on capillary architecture.

Conclusion

Capillaries within malignant lesions are fundamentally different from those in healthy mucosa regions. The capillary architecture is a significant feature aiding the identification of malignant mucosa areas during in-vivo, real-time CLE examination.
Mycobacterium chimaera: a report of 2 new cases and literature review
Authors: Natanti Alice , Palpacelli Marco , Valsecchi Marco , Tagliabracci Adriano , Pesaresi Mauro
Published: June 2021

Mycobacterium chimaera is a non-tuberculous mycobacterium, member of the Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC), which has become a global public health concern due to infection following cardiac surgery performed with contaminated heater-cooler units. M. chimaera infection is characterized by a long latency, non-specific signs and symptoms and high mortality rates. Thus, the diagnosis is still challenging both for forensic pathologists and for clinicians. Clinical manifestations of M. chimaera infection include endocarditis, hepatitis, nephritis, encephalitis and chorioretinitis. A constant histopathologic finding is the presence of non-caseating granulomas, with multinucleated giant cells and histiocytes. Hereby, we present two cases of fatal disseminated M. chimaera infection following aortic valve surgery reporting clinical history and post-mortem findings. Further, we provide a brief overview of the literature with a special focus on histopathological characteristics of M. chimaera infection. The aim of this article is to provide a complete synopsis of histopathological characteristics useful for forensic pathologists.
Serological response to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in multiple sclerosis patients treated with fingolimod or ocrelizumab: an initial real-life experience
Authors: S. Guerrieri , S. Lazzarin , C. Zanetta , A. Nozzolillo , M. Filippi , L. Moiola
Published: June 2021

Background

Recent observations suggest a lack of humoral response after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients treated with fingolimod or ocrelizumab

Objectives

To assess serological response to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in MS patients receiving these disease-modifying treatments (DMTs) in a real-life setting.

Methods

Retrospective clinical data collection from MS patients followed at San Raffaele Hospital MS Centre (Milan, Italy). All patients treated with fingolimod or ocrelizumab who had received a complete anti-COVID-19 vaccination course, with no clinical history suggestive of previous SARS-CoV-2 infection and with an available post-vaccination serological assay obtained at least 14 days after vaccination completion were considered for the study.

Results

We collected data from 32 MS patients, 16 treated with fingolimod and 16 receiving ocrelizumab. Among the fingolimod group 10 patients (62.5%) had a positive serological response after vaccination and among ocrelizumab-treated patients a positive serological test was found in six cases (37.5%). No relation between serological response and clinical features (i.e., treatment duration, time between vaccination and last treatment dose, and white blood cells count) was identified.

Conclusions

Our initial real-life experience suggests a variable antibody production in MS patients receiving these DMTs. At present, there are no sufficient data to do not recommend anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccine in these patients.
Sex dimorphism in dioecious Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri) in response to water stress
Authors: Mesgaran Mohsen B. , Matzrafi Maor , Ohadi Sara
Published: June 2021

Main conclusion

Phenological isolation can potentially reduce seed output and may be exploited as a novel tool for ecological management of dioecious weeds.

Dioecious plants may benefit from a maximized outcrossing and optimal sex-specific resource allocation; however, this breeding system may also be exploited for weed management. Seed production in dioecious species is contingent upon the co-occurrence and co-flowering of the two genders and can be further disturbed by flowering asynchrony. We explored dimorphism in secondary sex characters in Amaranthus palmeri, and tested if reproductive synchrony can be affected by water stress. We have used seeds of A. palmeri from California, Kansas and Texas, and studied secondary sex characters under natural conditions and in response to water stress. Seeds of A. palmeri from California (CA) and Kansas (KS) were cordially provided by Dr. Anil Shrestha (California State University, Fresno, California) and Dr. Dallas E. Peterson (Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas), respectively. Seeds of a third population were collected from mature plants (about 30 plants) from a set-aside field in College Station, Texas. A. palmeri showed no sexual dimorphism with regard to the timing of emergence, plant height, and relative growth rate. While the initiation of flowering occurred earlier in males than females, females preceded males in timing of anthesis. Water stress delayed anthesis in males to a greater extent than females increasing the anthesis mismatch between the two sexes by seven days. Our data provide the first evidence of environment-controlled flowering asynchrony in A. palmeri. From a practical point of view, phenological isolation can potentially reduce seed output and may be exploited as a novel tool for ecological management of dioecious weeds.
Riesz transforms of a general Ornstein–Uhlenbeck semigroup
Authors: Casarino Valentina , Ciatti Paolo , Sjögren Peter
Published: June 2021

We consider Riesz transforms of any order associated to an Ornstein–Uhlenbeck operator with covariance given by a real, symmetric and positive definite matrix, and with drift given by a real matrix whose eigenvalues have negative real parts. In this general Gaussian context, we prove that a Riesz transform is of weak type (1, 1) with respect to the invariant measure if and only if its order is at most 2.
Conservation laws for even order systems of polyharmonic map type
Authors: de Longueville Frédéric Louis , Gastel Andreas
Published: June 2021

Following Rivière’s study of conservation laws for second order quasilinear systems with critical nonlinearity and Lamm/Rivière’s generalization to fourth order, we consider similar systems of order 2m. Typical examples are m-polyharmonic maps. Under natural conditions, we find a conservation law for weak solutions on 2m-dimensional domains. This implies continuity of weak solutions.
Isolated singularities for the n-Liouville equation
Authors: Esposito Pierpaolo
Published: June 2021

In dimension n isolated singularities—at a finite point or at infinity—for solutions of finite total mass to the n-Liouville equation are of logarithmic type. As a consequence, we simplify the classification argument in Esposito (Anal Non Linéaire 35(3):781–801, 2018) and establish a quantization result for entire solutions of the singular n-Liouville equation.
Several results on compact metrizable spaces in $$\mathbf {ZF}$$
Authors: Keremedis Kyriakos , Tachtsis Eleftherios , Wajch Eliza
Published: June 2021

In the absence of the axiom of choice, the set-theoretic status of many natural statements about metrizable compact spaces is investigated. Some of the statements are provable in $$\mathbf {ZF}$$
ZF
, some are shown to be independent of $$\mathbf {ZF}$$
ZF
. For independence results, distinct models of $$\mathbf {ZF}$$
ZF
and permutation models of $$\mathbf {ZFA}$$
ZFA
with transfer theorems of Pincus are applied. New symmetric models of $$\mathbf {ZF}$$
ZF
are constructed in each of which the power set of $$\mathbb {R}$$
R
is well-orderable, the Continuum Hypothesis is satisfied but a denumerable family of non-empty finite sets can fail to have a choice function, and a compact metrizable space need not be embeddable into the Tychonoff cube $$[0, 1]^{\mathbb {R}}$$

[
0
,
1
]

R

.
20 years on: the legacy of Daksha Emson for perinatal psychiatry
Authors: Casanova Dias Marisa , Sönmez Güngör Ekin , Dolman Clare , De Picker Livia , Jones Ian
Published: June 2021

The tragedy of Daksha’s death illustrates both the importance of perinatal mental health and the stigma associated with doctors seeking help. With this letter, we express our hope that the lasting legacy of her and others’ tragic stories lies in the continuing improvement and worldwide expansion of perinatal psychiatric services and training so that those in greatest need receive the best care possible wherever — and whoever — they are.
Cyclic tensile strain affects the response of human periodontal ligament stromal cells to tumor necrosis factor-α
Authors: Zhao Zhongqi , Behm Christian , Rausch Marco Aoqi , Tian Zhiwei , Rausch-Fan Xiaohui , Andrukhov Oleh
Published: June 2021

Objectives

Orthodontic treatment in adult patients predisposed to mild or severe periodontal disease is challenging for orthodontists. Orthodontic malpractice or hyper-occlusal forces may aggravate periodontitis-induced destruction of periodontal tissues, but the specific mechanism remains unknown. In the present study, the combined effect of mechanical stress and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α on the inflammatory response in human periodontal ligament stromal cells (hPDLSCs) was investigated.

Materials and methods

hPDLSCs from 5 healthy donors were treated with TNF-α and/or subjected to cyclic tensile strain (CTS) of 6% or 12% elongation with 0.1 Hz for 6- and 24 h. The gene expression of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8 and cell adhesion molecules VCAM and ICAM was analyzed by qPCR. The protein levels of IL-6 and IL-8 in conditioned media was measured by ELISA. The surface expression of VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 was quantified by immunostaining followed by flow cytometry analysis.

Results

TNF-α-induced IL-6 gene and protein expression was inhibited by CTS, whereas TNF-α-induced IL-8 expression was decreased at mRNA expression level but enhanced at the protein level in a magnitude-dependent manner. CTS downregulated the gene expression of VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 under TNF-α stimulation, but the downregulation of the surface expression analyzed by flow cytometry was observed chiefly for VCAM-1.

Conclusions

Our findings show that mechanical force differentially regulates TNF-α-induced expression of inflammatory mediators and adhesion molecules at the early stage of force application. The effect of cyclic tensile strain is complex and could be either anti-inflammatory or pro-inflammatory depending on the type of pro-inflammatory mediators and force magnitude.

Clinical relevance

Orthodontic forces regulate the inflammatory mediators of periodontitis. The underlying mechanism may have significant implications for future strategies of combined periodontal and orthodontic treatment.
Soft robotics: the route to true robotic organisms
Authors: Rossiter Jonathan
Published: June 2021

Soft Robotics has come to the fore in the last decade as a new way of conceptualising, designing and fabricating robots. Soft materials empower robots with locomotion, manipulation, and adaptability capabilities beyond those possible with conventional rigid robots. Soft robots can also be made from biological, biocompatible and biodegradable materials. This offers the tantalising possibility of bridging the gap between robots and organisms. Here, we discuss the properties of soft materials and soft systems that make them so attractive for future robots. In doing so, we consider how future robots can behave like, and have abilities akin to, biological organisms. These include huge numbers, finite lifetime, homeostasis and minimal—and even positive—environmental impact. This paves the way for future robots, not as machines, but as robotic organisms.
The Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB) and its sub-scales: validation and updated normative data in an Italian population sample
Authors: Aiello Edoardo Nicolò , Esposito Antonella , Gramegna Chiara , Gazzaniga Valentina , Zago Stefano , Difonzo Teresa , Appollonio Ildebrando Marco , Bolognini Nadia
Published: June 2021

Background

Deficits of executive functioning (EF) are frequently found in neurological disorders. The Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB) is one of the most widespread and psychometrically robust EF screeners in clinical settings. However, in Italy, FAB norms date back to 15 years ago; moreover, its validity against “EF-loaded” global cognitive screeners (e.g., the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, MoCA) has yet to be tested. This study thus aimed at (a) providing updated normative data for the Italian FAB and (b) assessing its convergent validity with the MoCA.

Methods

Four-hundred and seventy-five healthy Italian native speakers (306 females, 169 males; mean age: 61.08 ± 15.1; mean education: 11.67 ± 4.57) were administered by the MoCA and the FAB. FAB items were divided into three subscales: FAB-1 (linguistically mediated EF), FAB-2 (planning), and FAB-3 (inhibition). Regression-based norms were derived (equivalent scores) for all FAB measures.

Results

Age and education were predictive of all FAB measures, whereas no gender differences were detected. The FAB and its sub-scales were related to MoCA measures—the strongest associations being found with MoCA total and MoCA-EF scores. FAB sub-scales were both internally related and associated with FAB total scores.

Discussion

The FAB proved to have convergent validity with both global cognitive and EF measures in healthy individuals. The present study provides updated normative data for the FAB and its sub-scales in an Italian population sample, and thus supports an adaptive usage of this EF screener.
Japanese Society for Cancer of the Colon and Rectum (JSCCR) guidelines 2020 for the Clinical Practice of Hereditary Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Tomita Naohiro , Ishida Hideyuki , Tanakaya Kohji , Yamaguchi Tatsuro , Kumamoto Kensuke , Tanaka Toshiaki , Hinoi Takao , Miyakura Yasuyuki , Hasegawa Hirotoshi , Takayama Tetsuji , Ishikawa Hideki , Nakajima Takeshi , Chino Akiko , Shimodaira Hideki , Hirasawa Akira , Nakayama Yoshiko , Sekine Shigeki , Tamura Kazuo , Akagi Kiwamu , Kawasaki Yuko , Kobayashi Hirotoshi , Arai Masami , Itabashi Michio , Hashiguchi Yojiro , Sugihara Kenichi ,   Japanese Society for Cancer of the Colon, Rectum, Tomita Naohiro , Ishida Hideyuki , Tanakaya Koji , Yamaguchi Tatsuro , Kumamoto Kensuke , Tanaka Toshiaki , Hinoi Takao , Miyakura Yasuyuki , Hasegawa Hirotoshi , Ishikawa Hideki , Nakajima Takeshi , Chino Akiko , Sekine Shigeki , Tamura Kazuo , Akagi Kiwamu , Kobayashi Hirotoshi , Arai Masami , Itabashi Michio , Hashiguchi Yojiro , Sugihara Kenichi
Published: June 2021

Hereditary colorectal cancer (HCRC) accounts for < 5% of all colorectal cancer cases. Some of the unique characteristics commonly encountered in HCRC cases include early age of onset, synchronous/metachronous cancer occurrence, and multiple cancers in other organs. These characteristics necessitate different management approaches, including diagnosis, treatment or surveillance, from sporadic colorectal cancer management. There are two representative HCRC, named familial adenomatous polyposis and Lynch syndrome. Other than these two HCRC syndromes, related disorders have also been reported. Several guidelines for hereditary disorders have already been published worldwide. In Japan, the first guideline for HCRC was prepared by the Japanese Society for Cancer of the Colon and Rectum (JSCCR), published in 2012 and revised in 2016. This revised version of the guideline was immediately translated into English and published in 2017. Since then, several new findings and novel disease concepts related to HCRC have been discovered. The currently diagnosed HCRC rate in daily clinical practice is relatively low; however, this is predicted to increase in the era of cancer genomic medicine, with the advancement of cancer multi-gene panel testing or whole genome testing, among others. Under these circumstances, the JSCCR guidelines 2020 for HCRC were prepared by consensus among members of the JSCCR HCRC Guideline Committee, based on a careful review of the evidence retrieved from literature searches, and considering the medical health insurance system and actual clinical practice settings in Japan. Herein, we present the English version of the JSCCR guidelines 2020 for HCRC.
qSOFA score poorly predicts critical progression in COVID-19 patients
Authors: Heldt Sven , Neuböck Matthias , Kainzbauer Nora , Shao Guangyu , Tschoellitsch Thomas , Duenser Martin , Kaiser Bernhard , Winkler Markus , Paar Christian , Meier Jens , Lamprecht Bernd , Salzer Helmut J. F.
Published: June 2021

Background

In December 2019, the new virus infection coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) emerged. Simple clinical risk scores may improve the management of COVID-19 patients. Therefore, the aim of this pilot study was to evaluate the quick Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (qSOFA) score, which is well established for other diseases, as an early risk assessment tool predicting a severe course of COVID-19.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed data from adult COVID-19 patients hospitalized between March and July 2020. A critical disease progress was defined as admission to intensive care unit (ICU) or death.

Results

Of 64 COVID-19 patients, 33% (21/64) had a critical disease progression from which 13 patients had to be transferred to ICU. The COVID-19-associated mortality rate was 20%, increasing to 39% after ICU admission. All patients without a critical progress had a qSOFA score ≤ 1 at admission. Patients with a critical progress had in only 14% (3/21) and in 20% (3/15) of cases a qSOFA score ≥ 2 at admission (p = 0.023) or when measured directly before critical progression, respectively, while 95% (20/21) of patients with critical progress had an impairment oxygen saturation (SO2) at admission time requiring oxygen supplementation.

Conclusion

A low qSOFA score cannot be used to assume short-term stable or noncritical disease status in COVID-19.
Auslander–Reiten Triangles and Grothendieck Groups of Triangulated Categories
Authors: Haugland Johanne
Published: June 2021

We prove that if the Auslander–Reiten triangles generate the relations for the Grothendieck group of a Hom-finite Krull–Schmidt triangulated category with a (co)generator, then the category has only finitely many isomorphism classes of indecomposable objects up to translation. This gives a triangulated converse to a theorem of Butler and Auslander–Reiten on the relations for Grothendieck groups. Our approach has applications in the context of Frobenius categories.
Prostate cancer patients’ self-reported participation in research: an examination of racial/ethnic disparities
Authors: Palmer Nynikka R. , Borno Hala T. , Gregorich Steven E. , Livaudais-Toman Jennifer , Kaplan Celia P.
Published: June 2021

Purpose

We examined prostate cancer patients’ participation in research and associated factors by race/ethnicity in a multiethnic sample.

Methods

Men with a new diagnosis of prostate cancer were identified through the California Cancer Registry. Patients completed a cross-sectional telephone interview in English, Spanish, Cantonese or Mandarin. Multivariable logistic regression models, stratified by race/ethnicity, estimated the associations of patient demographic and health characteristics with participation in (1) any research, (2) behavioral research, and (3) biological/clinical research.

Results

We included 855 prostate cancer patients: African American (19%), Asian American (15%), Latino (24%), and White (42%). In the overall model of participation in any research, African American men (Odds Ratio (OR) = 2.54, 95% CI 1.63–3.94), and those with two or more comorbidities (OR = 2.20, 95% CI 1.27–3.80) were more likely to report participation. Men 65 years old and older (OR = 0.65, 95% CI 0.47–0.91), those who were married or living with a partner (OR = 0.67, 95% CI 0.45–0.98), and those who completed the interview in Spanish (OR = 0.36, 95% CI 0.15–0.85) were less likely to report participating in any research. Stratified analyses identified racial/ethnic-specific sociodemographic characteristics associated with lower research participation, including Spanish or Chinese language, older age, and lower education.

Conclusion

African American prostate cancer patients reported higher research participation than all other groups. However, recruitment efforts are still needed to overcome barriers to participation for Spanish and Chinese speakers, and barriers among older adults and those with lower education levels.
Flip a coin or vote? An experiment on the implementation and efficiency of social choice mechanisms
Authors: Hoffmann Timo , Renes Sander
Published: June 2021

Corporate boards, experts panels, parliaments, cabinets, and even nations all take important decisions as a group. Selecting an efficient decision rule to aggregate individual opinions is paramount to the decision quality of these groups. In our experiment we measure revealed preferences over and efficiency of several important decision rules. Our results show that: (1) the efficiency of the theoretically optimal rule is not as robust as simple majority voting, and efficiency rankings in the lab can differ from theory; (2) participation constraints often hinder implementation of more efficient mechanisms; (3) these constraints are relaxed if the less efficient mechanism is risky; (4) participation preferences appear to be driven by realized rather than theoretic payoffs of the decision rules. These findings highlight the difficulty of relying on theory alone to predict what mechanism is better and acceptable to the participants in practice.
Structural, optical, and electrical characterization of spray-deposited Mg0.02Zn0.98Se thin film for buffer layer application
Authors: Krishna V. S. Ganesha , Mahesha M. G.
Published: June 2021

In this work, spray-deposited Mg0.02Zn0.98Se thin films were characterized to determine their structural, optical, and electrical properties. The optical band gap of Mg-doped ZnSe thin film was observed to be around 3.05 eV, with high optical transmittance of about 50–70% in the visible region. The crystallite size of Mg-doped ZnSe thin film was about 8 nm, as observed from the X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern. Elemental composition of Mg-doped ZnSe thin film was confirmed from X-ray energy-dispersive analysis (EDAS). Raman study showed the development of minor strain in ZnSe system due to the incorporation of Mg. The resistivity of the Mg-doped ZnSe film was about 3.82 ohm-m with a carrier concentration of 8.2 × 1011 cm− 3. Mg0.02Zn0.98Se thin films exhibited promising opto-electronic properties such as high transparency and conductivity that are essential for a solar buffer layer that could replace relatively toxic CdS layer.
Bystander Intervention Efficacy to Reduce Teen Dating Violence Among High School Youth Who Did and Did Not Witness Parental Partner Violence: A Path Analysis of A Cluster RCT
Authors: Mennicke Annelise , Bush Heather M. , Brancato Candace J. , Coker Ann L.
Published: June 2021

Youth who witness parental intimate partner violence (IPV) are at increased risk of teen dating violence (DV). This analysis of secondary data investigated whether a bystander intervention program, Green Dot, was effective at reducing physical and psychological DV victimization and perpetration among youth who had and had not previously witnessed parental IPV. The parent RCT assigned 13 schools to control and 13 schools to the Green Dot intervention. Responses from 71,797 individual surveys that were completed by high school students were analyzed across three phases of a 5-year cluster randomized control trial. Multigroup path analyses revealed that students in intervention schools who witnessed parental IPV had a reduction in psychological (p < .001) and physical DV (p < .01) perpetration and psychological DV victimization (p < .01) in Phase 2 of the intervention, while those who did not witness parental IPV had a significant reduction in psychological DV victimization (p < .01). Individuals in the intervention received more training (p < .001), which was associated with lower levels of violence acceptance (p < .001). Violence acceptance was positively associated with DV victimization and perpetration (p < .001), especially for individuals who previously witnessed parental IPV. Green Dot is an effective program at reducing DV victimization and perpetration among the high-risk group of youth who previously witnessed parental IPV, largely operating through violence acceptance norms. This underscores the bystander intervention approach as both a targeted and universal prevention program.
Efficacy of physical therapy interventions on quality of life and upper quadrant pain severity in women with post-mastectomy pain syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Kannan Priya , Lam Hiu Ying , Ma Tsz Kiu , Lo Chiu Ngai , Mui Ting Yan , Tang Wing Yan
Published: June 2021

Purpose

To determine the efficacy of physical therapy interventions on quality of life (QoL) and pain severity in post-mastectomy pain syndrome (PMPS).

Methods

Multiple databases were searched from database inception to October 2020. Searches were limited to human studies published in either English or Chinese in peer-reviewed journals with full text available for randomized controlled trials conducted on females. Trials comparing the effectiveness of physical therapy interventions against control conditions on QoL and pain were included.

Results

Eighteen trials were included in the review. The pooled analysis of the four exercise trials revealed a significant effect of the intervention on general [standardized mean difference [SMD]: 0.87 (95%CI: 0.36, 1.37); p = 0.001], physical [SMD: 0.34 (95%CI: 0.01, 0.66); p = 0.044], and mental health components [SMD: 0.27 (95%CI: 0.03, 0.51); p = 0.027] of QoL compared with the control condition. Meta-analyses of six exercise trials, two myofascial release trials, and two acupuncture trials revealed a significant improvement in pain severity in the treatment group than in the control group. However, meta-analyses of two studies revealed a non-significant effect of compression therapy compared to control on pain severity.

Conclusion

Our meta-analyses found that exercise is beneficial for improving the QoL and pain severity of women with PMPS. Future studies are needed to determine the optimal parameters for exercise interventions designed to improve QoL and pain severity in women with PMPS. The effect of acupuncture, myofascial release, and compression therapy remains inconclusive, and future research is required to validate the effect of these interventions on PMPS.
Resonant Instability of Kink Oscillations in Magnetic Flux Tubes with Siphon Flow
Authors: Ruderman Michael S. , Petrukhin Nikolai S.
Published: June 2021

We study kink oscillations of a straight magnetic tube in the presence of siphon flows. The tube consists of a core and a transitional or boundary layer. The flow velocity is parallel to the tube axis, has constant magnitude, and confined in the tube core. The plasma density is constant in the tube core and it monotonically decreases in the transitional layer to its value in the surrounding plasma. We use the expression for the decrement/increment previously obtained by Ruderman and Petrukhin (Astron. Astrophys.631, A31, 2019) to study the damping and resonant instability of kink oscillations. We show that, depending on the magnitude of siphon-velocity, resonant absorption can cause either the damping of kink oscillations or their enhancement. There are two threshold velocities: When the flow velocity is below the first threshold velocity, kink oscillations damp. When the flow velocity is above the second threshold velocity, the kink oscillation amplitudes grow. Finally, when the flow velocity is between the two threshold velocities, the oscillation amplitudes do not change. We apply the theoretical result to kink oscillations of prominence threads. We show that, for particular values of thread parameters, resonant instability can excite these kink oscillations.
Causally powerful processes
Authors: Dupré John
Published: June 2021

Processes produce changes: rivers erode their banks and thunderstorms cause floods. If I am right that organisms are a kind of process, then the causally efficacious behaviours of organisms are also examples of processes producing change. In this paper I shall try to articulate a view of how we should think of causation within a broadly processual ontology of the living world. Specifically, I shall argue that causation, at least in a central class of cases, is the interaction of processes, that such causation is the exercise of a capacity inherent in that process and, negatively, that causation should not be understood as the instantiation of universal laws. The approach I describe has substantial similarities with the process causality articulated by Wesley Salmon and Phil Dowe for physical causation, making it plausible that the basic approach can be applied equally to the non-living world. It is an approach that builds at crucial points on the criticisms of determinism and universal causality famously articulated by Elizabeth Anscombe.
Association between psychological resilience and cognitive function in older adults: effect modification by inflammatory status
Authors: Jung Sun Jae , Lee Ga Bin , Nishimi Kristen , Chibnik Lori , Koenen Karestan C. , Kim Hyeon Chang
Published: June 2021

To examine the association between psychological resilience and cognitive function and investigate the role of acute inflammation as an effect modifier. Total 7535 people from the Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disease Etiology Research Center (CMERC), aged ≥ 50 years and residing in areas near Seoul, South Korea, were included in this cross-sectional analysis. Stressful life events in the past 6 months were gauged by the Life Experience Survey, and current depression symptoms were analyzed with the Beck Depression Inventory-II. Participants were categorized into the following four groups according to their past experience and depression status: reference, resilient, reactive depression, and vulnerable depression. Cognitive function was evaluated using the mini-mental state examination (MMSE). The level of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) was measured from blood samples. A generalized linear model was used. Upon adjusting for socio-demographic factors, comorbidity, and lifestyle factors, the final model was stratified with the highest quartile of the hsCRP level by sex. Compared to the reference group, the resilient group showed higher MMSE, which was also significant in women (adj-β = 0.280, p-value < 0.001). Vulnerable depression group showed a significantly lower MMSE (adj-β =  − -0.997, p-value 0.002), especially in men. This pattern seemed to be limited to the low hsCRP subgroup. We provided evidence from the largest Korean population used to evaluate the association between psychological resilience and cognition, which was more prominent in low inflammatory status. Psychological resilience was associated with a lower likelihood of cognitive deficit in women. This pattern was modulated by inflammatory status.
Laminated graphene oxide membrane for recovery of mercury-containing wastewater by pervaporation
Authors: Wang Ziheng , Qin Yingzhe , Xu Xiangping , Sun Jiawei , Shen Jiancheng , Ning Xiaogang , Li Na
Published: June 2021

Mercury (Hg) is a toxic heavy metal contaminant and has very harmful effects for human health. In this work, Hg-containing wastewater with Hg concentration of 6.36 ppb and 9.4 ppb were recovered with polyethylenimine (PEI) cross-linked graphene oxide (GO) layered membrane (c-GO-PEI) by pervaporation. The influence of ionic type, the concentration of Hg and the feed temperature were investigated. The c-GO-PEI exhibited not only high rejection for salts (> 99.97%), Hg (77.5–100%) and non-purgeable organic carbon (NPOC) (67.3–90.8%) but also high flux (30.30 kg·m−2·h−1) to treat with the wastewater. In addition, the flux could be largely recovered after simple washing, indicating the excellent antifouling property of the membrane.
Identification of water use behavior and calculation of water footprint: a case study
Authors: Okutan Pelin , Akkoyunlu Atilla
Published: June 2021

This article adds to the literature on the investigation of water use behavior of people under their daily routines. A self-administrated survey of water users was conducted for both graduate and undergraduate students at Boğaziçi University, Turkey in 2019. This study quantifies and maps the water footprint (WF) of Boğaziçi University (BU). It reports preferences of students and personnel in terms of indoor water use, outdoor water use, and virtual water use such as transportation, shopping, and dietary preferences. Water footprints are estimated per person for both engineering students and all students of BU. WF of an average BU student is above the average WF of Turkey as well as the average global WF. The attributes that influence the water use behavior of people were broadly categorized into two groups, which were dietary preferences and shopping preferences. Moreover, the eating pattern of a person regarding whether a person consumes meat was the largest contributor to the WF of BU. The results of this study can help to develop a basic understanding of WF and how it is affected by people's choices. This study is also unique by calculating water footprint in terms of direct and virtual water footprint by considering people’s daily choices in Turkey.
Three-Dimensional Analysis of the In Vivo Motion of Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator Leads
Authors: Szili-Torok Tamas , Rump Jens , Luther Torsten , Yap Sing-Chien
Published: June 2021

Better understanding of the lead curvature, movement and their spatial distribution may be beneficial in developing lead testing methods, guiding implantations and improving life expectancy of implanted leads.

Objective

The aim of this two-phase study was to develop and test a novel biplane cine-fluoroscopy-based method to evaluate input parameters for bending stress in leads based on their in vivo 3D motion using precisely determined spatial distributions of lead curvatures. Potential tensile, compressive or torque forces were not subjects of this study.

Methods

A method to measure lead curvature and curvature evolution was initially tested in a phantom study. In the second phase using this model 51 patients with implanted ICD leads were included. A biplane cine-fluoroscopy recording of the intracardiac region of the lead was performed. The lead centerline and its motion were reconstructed in 3D and used to define lead curvature and curvature changes. The maximum absolute curvature Cmax during a cardiac cycle, the maximum curvature amplitude Camp and the maximum curvature Cmax@amp at the location of Camp were calculated. These parameters can be used to characterize fatigue stress in a lead under cyclical bending.

Results

The medians of Camp and Cmax@amp were 0.18 cm−1 and 0.42 cm−1, respectively. The median location of Cmax was in the atrium whereas the median location of Camp occurred close to where the transit through the tricuspid valve can be assumed. Increased curvatures were found for higher slack grades.

Conclusion

Our results suggest that reconstruction of 3D ICD lead motion is feasible using biplane cine-fluoroscopy. Lead curvatures can be computed with high accuracy and the results can be implemented to improve lead design and testing.
Spectral properties of the logarithmic Laplacian
Authors: Laptev Ari , Weth Tobias
Published: June 2021

We obtain spectral inequalities and asymptotic formulae for the discrete spectrum of the operator $$\frac{1}{2}\, \log (-\Delta )$$

1
2

log

(
-
Δ
)

in an open set $$\Omega \in \mathbb R^d$$

Ω
∈

R
d

, $$d\ge 2$$

d
≥
2

, of finite measure with Dirichlet boundary conditions. We also derive some results regarding lower bounds for the eigenvalue $$\lambda _1(\Omega )$$

λ
1

(
Ω
)

and compare them with previously known inequalities.
Challenges and perspectives for beekeeping in Ethiopia. A review
Authors: Gratzer Kristina , Wakjira Kibebew , Fiedler Sascha , Brodschneider Robert
Published: June 2021

The honey bee is an important fruit and vegetable pollinator and a producer of honey and other hive products. Beekeeping is a sustainable and high-potential activity for local communities and especially for the rural poor to gain additional income through non-timber forest products, does not require much land or high starting costs, maintains biodiversity and increases crop yields. Ethiopia is one of the top ten honey and beeswax producers in the world, but plays only a minor role in the international honey trade. Unlike large-scale beekeepers using modern techniques found in most leading honey-producing countries, the majority of Ethiopian beekeepers are small-scale producers practicing traditional beekeeping. In this article, we summarize the knowledge on Ethiopian beekeeping, honey bees, honey bee pests, marketing strategies, cultural aspects and major challenges of beekeeping. Furthermore, we used FAOSTAT data to calculate a pollination gap in order to draw the attention of stakeholders and decision-makers to bees and their importance in pollination and sustainable rural development. In regard to forage, we compiled 590 bee forage plants and their flowering times as a supplement to the article. This review outlines the following major points: (1) Ethiopia is a top honey and beeswax producer mainly for the domestic market; (2) Equipment for traditional beekeeping is easily accessible but brings disadvantages (gender gap, limitations in hive management and lower honey yield), while transitional and modern systems require certain beekeeping skills and higher starting costs; (3) Colony numbers increased by 72% from 1993 to 2018 and crop areas needing pollination by 150%; (4) Honey yield per hive and number of beehives managed per area of bee-pollinated crops increased by 20% and 28%, respectively; (5) Pesticide use has been increasing and there is a lack in pesticide use education. Recommendations to realize Ethiopia’s tremendous apicultural potential are discussed.