bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Lack of superstable trajectories in linear viscoelasticity: a numerical approach
Authors: Antonietti Paola F. , Liverani Lorenzo , Pata Vittorino
Published: April 2023

Given a positive operator A on some Hilbert space, and a nonnegative decreasing summable function $$\mu $$
μ
, we consider the abstract equation with memory $$\begin{aligned} \ddot{u}(t)+ A u(t)- \int _0^t \mu (s)Au(t-s) ds=0 \end{aligned}$$

u
¨

(
t
)

+
A
u

(
t
)

-

∫
0
t

μ

(
s
)

A
u

(
t
-
s
)

d
s
=
0

modeling the dynamics of linearly viscoelastic solids. The purpose of this work is to provide numerical evidence of the fact that the energy $$\begin{aligned} {{\textsf{E}}}(t)=\Big (1-\int _0^t\mu (s)ds\Big )\Vert u(t)\Vert ^2_1+\Vert \dot{u}(t)\Vert ^2 +\int _0^t\mu (s)\Vert u(t)-u(t-s)\Vert ^2_1ds \end{aligned}$$

E

(
t
)

=

(

1
-

∫
0
t

μ

(
s
)

d
s

)

‖
u

(
t
)

‖

1
2

+
‖

u
˙

(
t
)

‖

2

+

∫
0
t

μ

(
s
)

‖
u

(
t
)

-
u

(
t
-
s
)

‖

1
2

d
s

of any nontrivial solution cannot decay faster than exponential, no matter how fast might be the decay of the memory kernel $$\mu $$
μ
. This will be accomplished by simulating the integro-differential equation for different choices of the memory kernel $$\mu $$
μ
and of the initial data.
Unsupervised learning to characterize patients with known coronary artery disease undergoing myocardial perfusion imaging
Authors: Williams Michelle C. , Bednarski Bryan P. , Pieszko Konrad , Miller Robert J. H. , Kwiecinski Jacek , Shanbhag Aakash , Liang Joanna X. , Huang Cathleen , Sharir Tali , Dorbala Sharmila , Di Carli Marcelo F. , Einstein Andrew J. , Sinusas Albert J. , Miller Edward J. , Bateman Timothy M. , Fish Mathews B. , Ruddy Terrence D. , Acampa Wanda , Hauser M. Timothy , Kaufmann Philipp A. , Dey Damini , Berman Daniel S. , Slomka Piotr J.
Published: April 2023

Purpose

Patients with known coronary artery disease (CAD) comprise a heterogenous population with varied clinical and imaging characteristics. Unsupervised machine learning can identify new risk phenotypes in an unbiased fashion. We use cluster analysis to risk-stratify patients with known CAD undergoing single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI).

Methods

From 37,298 patients in the REFINE SPECT registry, we identified 9221 patients with known coronary artery disease. Unsupervised machine learning was performed using clinical (23), acquisition (17), and image analysis (24) parameters from 4774 patients (internal cohort) and validated with 4447 patients (external cohort). Risk stratification for all-cause mortality was compared to stress total perfusion deficit (< 5%, 5–10%, ≥10%).

Results

Three clusters were identified, with patients in Cluster 3 having a higher body mass index, more diabetes mellitus and hypertension, and less likely to be male, have dyslipidemia, or undergo exercise stress imaging (p < 0.001 for all). In the external cohort, during median follow-up of 2.6 [0.14, 3.3] years, all-cause mortality occurred in 312 patients (7%). Cluster analysis provided better risk stratification for all-cause mortality (Cluster 3: hazard ratio (HR) 5.9, 95% confidence interval (CI) 4.0, 8.6, p < 0.001; Cluster 2: HR 3.3, 95% CI 2.5, 4.5, p < 0.001; Cluster 1, reference) compared to stress total perfusion deficit (≥10%: HR 1.9, 95% CI 1.5, 2.5 p < 0.001; < 5%: reference).

Conclusions

Our unsupervised cluster analysis in patients with known CAD undergoing SPECT MPI identified three distinct phenotypic clusters and predicted all-cause mortality better than ischemia alone.
Outcomes of Intramuscular Gluteal Augmentation With Implants Using Tumescent Local Anesthesia
Authors: Trignano Emilio , Tettamanzi Matilde , Liperi Corrado , Beatrici Edoardo , Serra Pietro Luciano , Trignano Claudia , Rubino Corrado
Published: April 2023

Background

Tumescent local anesthesia (TLA) describes the practice of injecting a very dilute solution of local anesthetic combined with epinephrine and sodium bicarbonate into the tissue until it becomes firm and tense to obtain local anesthesia and vasoconstriction. The use of TLA in augmentation intramuscular gluteoplasty has never been described for implants positioning. Advantages of the TLA technique include a reduction in blood loss through epinephrine-induced vasoconstriction and hydrostatic compression from the tumescent effect. We describe TLA technique for primary intramuscular gluteal augmentation, reporting our experience during the last 5 years.

Methods

From 2017 to 2021, 20 patients underwent bilateral primary gluteal augmentation under TLA and conscious sedation. The tumescent solution was prepared with 25 mL of 2% lidocaine, 8 mEq of sodium bicarbonate, and 1 mL of epinephrine (1 mg/1 mL) in 1000 mL of 0.9% saline solution. The solution was infiltrated with a cannula inside the gluteus maximus muscle intra-operatively.

Results

The mean age of the patients was 39, 15 years. The average amount of tumescent solution infiltrated was 240 mL per gluteus. Operating time was 1 h and 40 min, and recovery room time averaged 240 min. Major surgery-related complications were found in 15% of patients (2 hematomas and 1 seroma) and minor complications were described in a total of 8 patients (4 wound dehiscence and 1 dystrophic scar formation). No signs of adrenaline nor lidocaine toxicity were reported and conversion to general anesthesia was never required.

Conclusions

The tumescent local anesthesia technique represents a safe and efficacious technique for performing gluteal augmentation surgery with an intramuscular implant positioning. The advantages of this technique are safety, reasonable pain control during and after surgery and a low incidence of postoperative side effects due to general anesthesia avoidance.

Level of Evidence IV

This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266.
A Novel ypTLM Staging System Based on LODDS for Gastric Cancer After Neoadjuvant Therapy: Multicenter and Large‐Sample Retrospective Study
Authors: Que Si‐Jin , Zhong Qing , Chen Qi‐Yue , Truty Mark J. , Yan Su , Ma Yu‐Bin , Ding Fang‐Hui , Zheng Chao‐Hui , Li Ping , Wang Jia‐Bin , Lin Jian‐Xian , Lu Jun , Cao Long‐Long , Lin Mi , Tu Ru‐Hong , Lin Ju‐Li , Zheng Hua‐Long , Huang Chang‐Ming
Published: April 2023

Background

The accuracy of the eighth AJCC ypTNM staging system on the prognosis of gastric cancer (GC) patients after neoadjuvant therapy (NAT) is controversial. This study aimed to develop and validate a novel staging system using the log odds of positive lymph nodes scheme (LODDS).

Methods

A retrospective analysis of 606 GC patients who underwent radical gastrectomy after neoadjuvant therapy was conducted as the development cohort. (Fujian Medical University Affiliated Union Hospital (n = 183), Qinghai University Affiliated Hospital (n = 169), Mayo Clinic (n = 236), Lanzhou University First Hospital (n = 18)). The validation cohort came from the SEER database (n = 1701). A novel ypTLoddsS (ypTLM) staging system was established using the 3‐year overall survival. The predictive performance of two systems was compared.

Results

Two‐step multivariate Cox regression analysis in both cohorts showed that ypTLM was an independent predictor of overall survival of GC patients after neoadjuvant therapy (HR: 1.57, 95% CI: 1.30–1.88, p < 0.001). In the development cohort, ypTLM had better discrimination ability than ypTNM (C‐index: 0.663 vs 0.633, p < 0.001), better prediction homogeneity (LR: 97.7 vs. 70.9), and better prediction accuracy (BIC: 3067.01 vs 3093.82; NRI: 0.36). In the validation cohort, ypTLM had a better prognostic predictive ability (C‐index: 0.614 vs 0.588, p < 0.001; LR: 11,909.05 vs. 11,975.75; BIC: 13,263.71 vs 13,328.24; NRI: 0.22). The time‐dependent ROC curve shows that the predictive performance of ypTLM is better than ypTNM, and the analysis of the decision curve shows that ypTLM achieved better net benefits.

Conclusion

A LODDS‐based ypTLM staging system based on multicenter data was established and validated. The predictive performance was superior to the eighth AJCC ypTNM staging system.
Prognostic impact of fractional flow reserve measurements in patients with acute coronary syndromes: a subanalysis of the FLORIDA study
Authors: Gerhardt Teresa , Stähli Barbara E. , Rudolph Tanja K. , Lutz Matthias , Schatz Anne-Sophie , Zanders Lukas , Schubert Tino , Stueve Magnus , West Nick E. J. , Boone Els , Landmesser Ulf , Leistner David M.
Published: April 2023

Randomized trials suggest benefits for fractional flow reserve (FFR)-guided vs. angiography-guided treatment strategies in well-defined and selected patient cohorts with acute coronary syndromes (ACS). The long-term prognostic value of FFR measurement in unselected all-comer ACS patients, however, remains unknown. This subanalysis of the Fractional FLOw Reserve In cardiovascular DiseAses (FLORIDA) study sought to investigate the long-term effects of FFR in the management of lesions in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). FLORIDA was an observational all-comer cohort study performed in Germany, that was population-based and unselected. Patients enrolled into the anonymized InGef Research Database presenting with ACS and undergoing coronary angiography between January 2014 and December 2015 were included in the analysis. Patients were stratified into either the FFR-guided or the angiography-guided treatment arm, based on the treatment received. A matched cohort study design was used. The primary endpoint was all-cause mortality. The secondary endpoint was major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), a composite of death, non-fatal myocardial infarction (MI), and repeat revascularization. Follow-up time was 3 years. Rates of 3-year mortality were 10.2 and 14.0% in the FFR-guided and the angiography-guided treatment arms (p = 0.04), corresponding to a 27% relative risk reduction for FFR in ACS patients. Rates of MACE were similar in both arms (47.7 vs. 51.5%, p = 0.14), including similar rates of non-fatal MI (27.7 vs. 25.4%, p = 0.47) and revascularization (9.9 vs. 12.1%, p = 0.17). In this large, all-comer observational study of ACS patients, FFR-guided revascularization was associated with a lower mortality at 3 years. This finding encourages the routine use of FFR to guide lesion revascularization in patients presenting with ACS.
New Year's Eve in otorhinolaryngology: a 16-year retrospective evaluation
Authors: Werz Julia , Greve Jens , Hoffmann Thomas K. , Hahn Janina
Published: April 2023

Purpose

Pyrotechnics are a long-standing tradition at the turn of the year. There are little data available on New Year's Eve-associated ORL injuries. Due to restrictions during the Corona pandemic, the handling of fireworks and meetings on New Year's Eve 2020–2022 had been significantly changed. Our aim was to analyze first data about New Year's Eve-associated ORL injuries.

Methods

A retrospective analysis of 16 turns of the year (2006–2022) at a University ORL department was performed. The 2 recent years were influenced by the changes and restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Results

Of 343 emergency presentations, 69 presented with New Year's Eve-associated reasons (20%). 72% were male, 15.9% were underage. 74% presented for fireworks-related injuries, 19% due to violent altercations. Noise trauma was present in 71%. The average number of New Year's Eve-associated emergency patients per year and the average total number of patients were reduced by more than half under COVID-19 pandemic conditions.

Conclusions

New Year's Eve-associated ORL injuries range from inner ear trauma to midface fractures. Long-term damage may include hearing loss and tinnitus. These results shall support the responsible use of fireworks even after the end of the special regulations of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Origin of the Paleoproterozoic basaltic dikes from the central and eastern Dharwar Craton and sills and volcanics from the adjoining Cuddapah Basin, southern India
Authors: Chatterjee Nilanjan
Published: April 2023

Reverse fractionation modeling considering energy-constrained assimilation-fractional crystallization is performed to estimate primary magma compositions, degree of crustal contamination, pressure–temperature of equilibrium with mantle, and potential temperatures for the origin of the Paleoproterozoic (~ 2.37–1.88 Ga) basaltic dikes in central and eastern Dharwar Craton and sills and volcanics in the adjoining Cuddapah Basin, southern India. Mineral thermobarometry indicates that the dikes crystallized at upper crustal conditions (~ 1–6 kbar/ ~ 1120–1210 °C). Hence, the reverse fractionation calculations are performed at low pressures by adding olivine + plagioclase + clinopyroxene, olivine + plagioclase and only olivine in equilibrium with melt, and simultaneously subtracting an upper crustal partial melt in small steps until the melt is multiply saturated with lherzolite at a high pressure. The results indicate that the basalts are 5–30% contaminated, and their enriched light rare earth element (REE) patterns can be attributed to upper crustal assimilation. The upper crust was pre-heated to 665–808 °C during dike emplacement. The primary magmas of all basalts were last equilibrated with spinel lherzolite at 10–16.5 kbar/1291–1366 °C, and they resemble pooled polybaric incremental melts generated along a ~ 1450 °C adiabat. The estimated mantle potential temperatures (1293–1515 °C) are similar to Paleoproterozoic ambient mantle temperatures. All basalts and their primary magmas show lower chondrite-normalized DyN/YbNratios than the plume-derived mid-Proterozoic Mackenzie dikes of Canadian Shield, and the primary magmas show flat REE patterns indicating spinel lherzolite melting. The low estimated potential temperatures, low DyN/YbNratios, and a spinel-bearing mantle source are at odds with an origin of the basalts from mantle plumes.
Transfer of elements from soil to earthworms and ground beetles in boreal forest
Authors: Majlesi Soroush , Roivainen Päivi , Kasurinen Anne , Tuovinen Tiina , Juutilainen Jukka
Published: April 2023

Data on the transfer of elements (such as heavy metals) and their radionuclides into organisms is needed for assessing environmental risks. The current data on many elements, species and environments is limited, but more information can be obtained both from field studies and experimental laboratory studies. However, it is essential to evaluate whether experimental studies adequately predict transfer in natural conditions. Moreover, because of the sparsity of species-specific empirical data, it is a common practice in current radioecological modelling to use data available for related species under the assumption that transfer into organisms is similar within broader taxonomic groups. Earthworms and ground beetles are examples of important invertebrates living near soil surface in terrestrial ecosystems. In this study, the transfer of 34 elements from soil to these organisms was studied in a field study conducted in boreal forest. The earthworm concentrations were compared to the values obtained in an experimental mesocosm study using soil from the field site and were found to be highly correlated. This indicates that the results of mesocosm studies can be used for predicting the transfer of elements from soil to fauna in natural conditions. Furthermore, concentrations in individual earthworm and beetle species were found to be similar to those observed in broader groups of related species, indicating that the generic approach used in current radioecological models may be useful for predicting uptake of elements into single species.
New therapies for spinal muscular atrophy: where we stand and what is next
Authors: Antonaci Laura , Pera Maria Carmela , Mercuri Eugenio
Published: April 2023

The natural history of spinal muscular atrophy has been radically changed by the advent of improved standards of care and the availability of disease-modifying therapies. The aim of this paper is to provide the current therapeutic scenario including new perspectives and to report the challenges related to new phenotypes a few years after the therapies have become available. The paper also includes a review of real-world data that provides information on safety and efficacy in individuals that were not included in clinical trials. Special attention is paid to future perspectives both in terms of new drugs that are currently investigated in clinical trials or providing details on current developments in the use of the available drugs, including combination therapies or new modalities of dose or administration.

  Conclusion: Clinical trials and real world data support the efficacy and safety profiles of the available drugs. At the moment there is not enough published evidence about the superiority of one product compared to the others.

What is Known:

• Safety and efficacy results of clinical trials have led in the last 6 years to the marketing of three drugs for spinal muscular atrophy, with different mechanisms of action.

What is New:

• Since the drug’s approval, real-world data allow us to have data on bigger and heterogeneous groups of patients in contrast with those included in clinical trials.

• In addition to the new molecules, combinations of therapies are currently being evaluated.
Malaria in Austria
Authors: Horak Paul , Auer Herbert , Wiedermann Ursula , Walochnik Julia
Published: April 2023

Background

Although malaria is not endemic to Austria, each year infections are imported by travellers, migrants and refugees. This study aims to provide an overview of malaria cases diagnosed at an Austrian institute for tropical medicine between 2010 and 2020.

Methods

A retrospective, descriptive study was conducted based on the data of malaria cases confirmed at the Institute of Specific Prophylaxis and Tropical Medicine of the Medical University of Vienna. Laboratory diagnostics included microscopy, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and real-time quantitative PCR.

Results

Overall, 122 cases were identified. Annual case numbers were consistently higher from 2016 to 2020 than during the first half of the decade. Most malaria cases were diagnosed during summer and early autumn. This seasonal trend was not observed during the year 2020. With 55.1% (65/118) Plasmodium falciparum was the most common species, followed by Plasmodium vivax (19.5%, 23/118). The majority of patients were male (71.1%, 86/121) and the median age was 34.5 years (interquartile range, IQR 22.5–47.0 years). With a median age of 20.0 years (IQR 14.0–32.0 years), patients with P. vivax infections were younger than those infected with other Plasmodium species. Moreover, they were mostly male (82.6%, 19/23).

Conclusion

From 2010 to 2020, the number of malaria cases diagnosed at the center increased. Growing international mobility and changing travel behavior could at least partly be responsible for this trend and there are indications that particularly P. vivax infections were imported by migrants and refugees.
Blood neurofilament light chain in Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Buhmann Carsten , Magnus Tim , Choe Chi-un
Published: April 2023

Blood neurofilament light chain (NfL) is an easily accessible, highly sensitive and reliable biomarker for neuroaxonal damage. Currently, its role in Parkinson’s disease (PD) remains unclear. Here, we demonstrate that blood NfL can distinguish idiopathic PD from atypical parkinsonian syndromes (APS) with high sensitivity and specificity. In cross-sectional studies, some found significant correlations between blood NfL with motor and cognitive function, whereas others did not. In contrast, prospective studies reported very consistent associations between baseline blood NfL with motor progression and cognitive worsening. Amongst PD subtypes, especially postural instability and gait disorder (PIGD) subtype, symptoms and scores are reliably linked with blood NfL. Different non-motor PD comorbidities have also been associated with high blood NfL levels suggesting that the neuroaxonal damage of the autonomic nervous system as well as serotonergic, cholinergic and noradrenergic neurons is quantifiable. Numerous absolute NfL cutoff levels have been suggested in different cohort studies; however, validation across cohorts remains weak. However, age-adjusted percentiles and intra-individual blood NfL changes might represent more valid and consistent parameters compared with absolute NfL concentrations. In summary, blood NfL has the potential as biomarker in PD patients to be used in clinical practice for prediction of disease severity and especially progression.
What is it like to be a choanoflagellate? Sensation, processing and behavior in the closest unicellular relatives of animals
Authors: Ros-Rocher Núria , Brunet Thibaut
Published: April 2023

All animals evolved from a single lineage of unicellular precursors more than 600 million years ago. Thus, the biological and genetic foundations for animal sensation, cognition and behavior must necessarily have arisen by modifications of pre-existing features in their unicellular ancestors. Given that the single-celled ancestors of the animal kingdom are extinct, the only way to reconstruct how these features evolved is by comparing the biology and genomic content of extant animals to their closest living relatives. Here, we reconstruct the Umwelt (the subjective, perceptive world) inhabited by choanoflagellates, a group of unicellular (or facultatively multicellular) aquatic microeukaryotes that are the closest living relatives of animals. Although behavioral research on choanoflagellates remains patchy, existing evidence shows that they are capable of chemosensation, photosensation and mechanosensation. These processes often involve specialized sensorimotor cellular appendages (cilia, microvilli, and/or filopodia) that resemble those that underlie perception in most animal sensory cells. Furthermore, comparative genomics predicts an extensive “sensory molecular toolkit” in choanoflagellates, which both provides a potential basis for known behaviors and suggests the existence of a largely undescribed behavioral complexity that presents exciting avenues for future research. Finally, we discuss how facultative multicellularity in choanoflagellates might help us understand how evolution displaced the locus of decision-making from a single cell to a collective, and how a new space of behavioral complexity might have become accessible in the process.
The causal role of intestinal microbiome in development of pre-eclampsia
Authors: Xiong Zhihui , Wang Qingmin , Pei Shuping , Zhu Zheng
Published: April 2023

The correlation of pre-eclampsia (PE) and intestinal microbiome has been widely demonstrated in existing research, whereas their causal relationship has been rarely explored. The causal relationship between intestinal microbiome and PE risk was examined using large-scale genome-wide association studies (GWAS) summary statistics. To be specific, the causal microbial taxa for PE were identified using the two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) method. The results were verified to be robust through comprehensive sensitive analyses, and the independence of causal relationship was ensured through novel multivariable MR analyses. The possibility of reverse relationships was ruled out through reverse-direction MR analyses. Lastly, the biofunction was explored through enrichment analysis, and a series of validations of PE results in a second GWAS were performed to confirm the results. After correction, four microbial taxa, including Streptococcus genus for PE (FDR q = 0.085), Olsenella genus for PE (FDR q = 0.085), Enterobacteriales order for PE (FDR q = 0.0134), and Akkermansia genus for PE (FDR q = 0.015), had a causal relationship to diverse joint PE (FDR q < 0.15). Moreover, when three different methods were employed on basis of the nominal significance (P < 0.05), five suggestive microbial taxa took on significance. The effect of heterogeneity and horizontal pleiotropy was excluded through sensitive analysis, and the possibility of horizontal pleiotropy of BMI was ruled out through multivariable MR analysis. The protective mechanism of the identified taxa against PE was illustrated through GO enrichment analysis and KEGG pathways. A number of microbial taxa had a causal relationship to PE. The result of this study provides more insights into intestinal microbiome in the pathology of PE.
Exploring Self-reported Adherence Measures to Screen for Elevated HIV Viral Load in Adolescents: A South African Cohort Study
Authors: Zhou Siyanai , Toska Elona , Langwenya Nontokozo , Edun Olanrewaju , Cluver Lucie , Knight Lucia
Published: April 2023

The timely identification of ART non-adherence among adolescents living with HIV presents a significant challenge, particularly in resource-limited settings where virologic monitoring is suboptimal. Using South African adolescent cohort data (N = 933, mean age 13.6 ± 2.89 years, 55.1% female, follow-up = 2014–2018), we examined the association between elevated viral load (VL ≥ 1000 copies/mL) and seven self-reported adherence measures on missed doses, and clinic appointments –with varying recall timeframes. The best performing measures, which were significantly associated with elevated viral load in covariate-adjusted models are: any missed dose –past 3 days (sensitivity = 91.6% [95%CI: 90.3–92.8], positive predictive value (PPV) = 78.8% [95%CI: 77.2–80.4]), –past week (sensitivity = 87% [95%CI: 85.4–88.6], PPV = 78.2% [95%CI: 76.5–79.9]), –past month (sensitivity = 79.5% [95%CI: 77.5–81.4], PPV = 78.2% [95%CI: 76.4–79.9]), any past-month days missed (sensitivity = 86.7% [95%CI: 85.1–88.3], PPV = 77.9% [95%CI:76.2–79.6]), and any missed clinic appointment (sensitivity = 88.3% [95%CI: 86.8–89.8], PPV = 78.4% [95%CI: 76.8–79.9]). Combining the three best performing measures missed dose –past 3 days, –past week, and any past-year missed clinic appointment increased sensitivity to 96.4% while maintaining a PPV of about 78%. The discriminatory power of simple and easy-to-administer self-reported adherence measures in detecting elevated viral load warrants consideration in resource-limited settings and may contribute to the aims of the new Global Alliance to End AIDS in children and adolescents by 2030.
Rational expectations as a tool for predicting failure of weighted k-out-of-n reliability systems
Authors: Andersen Jorgen-Vitting , Cerqueti Roy , Riccioni Jessica
Published: April 2023

This paper develops a model for predicting the failure time of a wide class of weightedk-out-of-nreliability systems. To this aim, we adopt a rational expectation-type approach by artificially creating an information set based on the observation of a collection of systems of the same class–the catalog. Specifically, we state the connection between a synthetic statistical measure of the survived components’ weights and the failure time of the systems. In detail, we follow the evolution of the systems in the catalog from the starting point to their failure–obtained after the failure of some of their components. Then, we store the couples given by the measure of the survived components and the failure time. Finally, we employ such couples for having a prediction of the failure times of a set of new systems–the in-vivo systems–conditioned on the specific values of the considered statistical measure. We test different statistical measures for predicting the failure time of the in-vivo systems. As a result, we give insights on the statistical measure which is more effective in contributing to providing a reliable estimation of the systems’ failure time. A discussion on the initial distribution of the weights is also carried out.
Men’s Facial Hair Preferences Reflect Facial Hair Impression Management Functions Across Contexts and Men Know It
Authors: Jach Łukasz , Moroń Marcin , Jonason Peter K.
Published: April 2023

Men with distinct facial hair are perceived as more aggressive, dominant, older, and more formidable, mostly by other men. However, despite considerable interest in the social perception of beardedness, only a few studies have explored men’s preferences toward facial hair. We investigated men’s preferences toward facial hair and whether their judgments of facial hair appropriateness in social situations depended on their actual beardedness and the type of social interaction (N = 509; age: M = 29.35, SD = 7.24). Men preferred having more facial hair, particularly when they have a heavy stubble or a full beard. Men preferred more facial hair for themselves compared to other men, suggesting that men’s preferences for facial hair could be based on the frequency-dependent value of a display, namely more value assigned to rarer attributes. Men’s judgments of the appropriateness of facial hair were sensitive to social situations for displaying facial hair as well. More facial hair was considered more appropriate for informal situations, especially with another man. Social norms associated with formal interaction could, therefore, limit the impression management functions of beards in intrasexual competition.
On the connected components of the moduli space of equivariant minimal surfaces in $$\pmb {\mathbb{C}\mathbb{H}}^2$$.
Authors: McIntosh Ian
Published: April 2023

An equivariant minimal surface in $$\mathbb{C}\mathbb{H}^n$$

C

H

n

is a minimal map of the Poincaré disc into $$\mathbb{C}\mathbb{H}^n$$

C

H

n

which intertwines two actions of the fundamental group of a closed surface $$\Sigma $$
Σ
: a Fuchsian representation on the disc and an irreducible action by isometries on $$\mathbb{C}\mathbb{H}^n$$

C

H

n

. The moduli space of these can been studied by relating it to the nilpotent cone in each moduli space of PU(n, 1)-Higgs bundles over the conformal surface corresponding to the map. By providing a necessary condition for points on this nilpotent cone to be smooth this article shows that away from the points corresponding to branched minimal immersions or ±-holomorphic immersions the moduli space is smooth. The argument is easily adapted to show that for $$\mathbb{R}\mathbb{H}^n$$

R

H

n

the full space of (unbranched) immersions is smooth. For $$\mathbb{C}\mathbb{H}^2$$

C

H

2

we show that the connected components of the moduli space of minimal immersions are indexed by the Toledo invariant and the Euler number of the normal bundle of the immersion. This is achieved by studying the limit points of the $$\mathbb {C}^\times $$

C

×

-action on the nilpotent cone. It is shown that the limit points as $$t\rightarrow 0$$

t
→
0

lead only to branched minimal immersions or ±-holomorphic immersions. In particular, the Euler number of the normal bundle can only jump by passing through branched minimal maps.
Overcoming Blanking: Verbal and Visual Features of Prompting in Theatre Rehearsals
Authors: Krug Maximilian
Published: April 2023

In theatre rehearsals, actors can occasionally be seen getting stuck in the play text, which is called blanking. To overcome such textual difficulties and continue with the given text, a prompter can verbalize the line in question, thus contributing to an actor’s word search by prompting. The paper focuses on interactional practices by which prompters and actors interactionally resolve blanking situations. This study’s data comprises a case collection of 67 prompting situations, which are taken from a 200-h video corpus of a rehearsal process at a professional theatre. These cases demonstrate how theatre professionals organize prompting situations and how they negotiate/sanction prompting actions such as when there was no blanking but a dramatic pause or when the dramatic performance is interrupted due to a missing prompt. In addition to the audiovisual recordings, eye tracking data of the person prompting is also used to describe the coordination of the visual resources in the context of multimodal interaction analysis. The analysis suggests that prompting and blanking persons interactively resolve blankings with the help of verbal and visual markers.
The Effectiveness of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy in Helping People on Sick Leave to Return to Work: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Authors: Xu Huaying , Cai Jinxuan , Sawhney Rakshat , Jiang Stephen , Buys Nicholas , Sun Jing
Published: April 2023

Purpose

Previous research has systematically studied the effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)-based interventions in managing both mental and physical symptoms of chronic disease including depression, stress-related mental disorders (SMD), and chronic pain that are common causes of sick leave. However, a systematic review focusing on the effectiveness of CBT in facilitating RTW is lacking. This study compiles research on utilizing CBT-based interventions for helping employees on sick leave return to work.

Methods

Randomized controlled trials (RCT) published between 1 January 1990 and 27 June 2022 were searched in MEDLINE, EMBASE, The Cochrane Library, Scopus, PsycINFO, Web of Science, and PubMed. The primary outcome variables included a return to work (RTW) measure and sickness absences. The secondary outcomes include psychological conditions (mental illness, stress, anxiety, and depression) and physical condition (working ability, fatigue, and physical function).

Results

Thirty-four RCTs were included in the analysis. Fifteen RCTs with 1727 participants reported on sick leave. Results showed that participants who completed CBT intervention had reduced sick leave in days (mean reduction − 3.654; 95%CI − 5.253, − 2.046; p < 0.001) compared to the control group. Sixteen papers with 2298 participants reported that the intervention group RTW 1.5 days earlier (95%CI 1.019, 1.722; p < 0.05). CBT-based interventions were effective in managing fatigue, mental illness, and depression, and improving physical function while it showed no effects in managing stress, anxiety and working ability.

Conclusions

The findings indicate that CBT-based interventions are effective in reducing the length of sick leave and facilitating the RTW of employees in the intervention group.
Hamiltonian reductions in matrix Painlevé systems
Authors: Bershtein Mikhail , Grigorev Andrei , Shchechkin Anton
Published: April 2023

For certain finite groups $$G$$
G
of Bäcklund transformations, we show that a dynamics of $$G$$
G
-invariant configurations of $$n|G|$$

n
|
G
|

Calogero–Painlevé particles is equivalent to a certain $$n$$
n
-particle Calogero–Painlevé system. We also show that the reduction of a dynamics on $$G$$
G
-invariant subset of $$n|G|\times n|G|$$

n
|
G
|
×
n
|
G
|

matrix Painlevé system is equivalent to a certain $$n\times n $$

n
×
n

matrix Painlevé system. The groups $$G$$
G
correspond to folding transformations of Painlevé equations. The proofs are based on Hamiltonian reductions.
The behavior of the Gauss-Radau upper bound of the error norm in CG
Authors: Meurant Gérard , Tichý Petr
Published: April 2023

Consider the problem of solving systems of linear algebraic equations $$\varvec{A}\varvec{x}=\varvec{b}$$

A

x

=

b

with a real symmetric positive definite matrix $$\varvec{A}$$

A

using the conjugate gradient (CG) method. To stop the algorithm at the appropriate moment, it is important to monitor the quality of the approximate solution. One of the most relevant quantities for measuring the quality of the approximate solution is the $$\varvec{A}$$

A

-norm of the error. This quantity cannot be easily computed; however, it can be estimated. In this paper we discuss and analyze the behavior of the Gauss-Radau upper bound on the $$\varvec{A}$$

A

-norm of the error, based on viewing CG as a procedure for approximating a certain Riemann-Stieltjes integral. This upper bound depends on a prescribed underestimate $$\varvec{\mu }$$

μ

to the smallest eigenvalue of $$\varvec{A}$$

A

. We concentrate on explaining a phenomenon observed during computations showing that, in later CG iterations, the upper bound loses its accuracy, and is almost independent of $$\varvec{\mu }$$

μ

. We construct a model problem that is used to demonstrate and study the behavior of the upper bound in dependence of $$\varvec{\mu }$$

μ

, and developed formulas that are helpful in understanding this behavior. We show that the above-mentioned phenomenon is closely related to the convergence of the smallest Ritz value to the smallest eigenvalue of $$\varvec{A}$$

A

. It occurs when the smallest Ritz value is a better approximation to the smallest eigenvalue than the prescribed underestimate $$\varvec{\mu }$$

μ

. We also suggest an adaptive strategy for improving the accuracy of the upper bounds in the previous iterations.
Development of predictive model for the fixed-bed column reactor
Authors: Singh Jyoti , Kumaresan Santhosh Kumar , Swaroop Sarvanshi , Mishra Vishal
Published: April 2023

The present study aims at development of a mathematical model for the fixed-bed column adsorption that relates the reactor parameters with the breakthrough curve. Effects of operating parameters like bed height, flow rate, initial adsorbate concentration on the adsorption were investigated by using various breakthrough curves. The arbitrary constants of the developed model were found to be dependent on the operating parameters of the breakthrough kinetics. The proposed model showed incredible results (Breakthrough Curve R2 > 0.98) for the referenced data. The flexibility of this model can be seen from the fact that the coefficients of parameters in the Arbitrary Constants Relation for the adsorbate–adsorbent pair are required to be determined only once and can be used repeatedly considering no change in any external factors affecting the working of the adsorbent. As the general adsorption curve follows a typical sigmoid curve, once the Arbitrary Constants Relations are known, the reactor can be optimized by selecting the accurate values of the reactor parameter leading to a slower Ct/Co growth with respect to time. The information about the saturation limit of adsorbent can be used to predict attainment of the saturation limit. The proposed model will reduce the significant number of complicated experiments required to optimize the reactor. The model can also determine the time after which effluent concentration becomes 63.21% of the influent adsorbate concentration without any experimentation by using the Arbitrary Constants Relation, which is of great industrial importance.
Nanocomposite of copper oxide nanoparticles and multi-walled carbon nanotubes as a solid contact of a copper-sensitive ion-selective electrode: intermediate layer or membrane component–comparative studies
Authors: Wardak Cecylia , Pietrzak Karolina , Morawska Klaudia
Published: April 2023

In this paper, ion-selective electrodes sensitive to copper(II) ions are presented, in which new composite, synthesized from copper(II) oxide nanoparticles (CuONPs) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), was used as a solid contact. For comparison, electrodes obtained using separate components of the nanocomposite, i.e., CuONPs and MWCNTs, as well as unmodified electrodes, were also studied. The tested nanomaterials have been applied in two ways: as an intermediate layer placed between the ion-sensitive membrane and the internal electrode, and as an additional component of the ion-selective membrane mixture. To investigate the influence of the electrode’s structure modification, the selected analytical parameters obtained by potentiometric measurements (slope, linearity range, detection limit, potential stability, and reversibility) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements (membrane resistance and charge transfer resistance as well as double layer capacitance) were determined and compared. It was found that the use of all nanomaterials improves the properties of the electrodes, with the effect being the strongest for electrodes modified with the CuO-MWCNTs nanocomposite. The nanocomposite-based electrodes, both those with an intermediate layer and those with a nanocomposite-modified membrane, showed a Nernstian slope of the characteristic, a wider working range and a lower detection limit compared to unmodified electrodes. Moreover, application of all nanomaterials, especially nanocomposite resulted in improvement of both, stability and reversibility of the sensor potential. Modification of the electrodes did not make them sensitive to changing external measurement conditions (lighting, presence of gasses, redox potential). The electrode with the best parameters (based on nanocomposite) was successfully used to determine the Cu2+ ions content in tap water and mineral water, obtaining satisfactory results.
Detection of pre-existing neutralizing antibodies against Ad26 in HIV-1-infected individuals not responding to the Ad26.COV2.S vaccine
Authors: Schmidt Katja G. , Harrer Ellen G. , Schönau Verena , Simon David , Kleyer Arnd , Steininger Philipp , Korn Klaus , Schett Georg , Knobloch Carina S. , Nganou-Makamdop Krystelle , Harrer Thomas
Published: April 2023

Purpose

The Ad26.COV2.S vaccine is a replication-incompetent human adenovirus type 26 vector encoding the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. In a phase 1-2a trial, a single dose of Ad26.COV2.S induced SARS-CoV-2 spike-specific antibodies in ≥ 96% of healthy adults. To investigate vaccine immunogenicity in HIV-1-infection, we measured SARS-CoV-2 spike-specific antibodies in Ad26.COV2.S vaccinated HIV-1-infected patients and analyzed the presence of pre-existing Ad26 neutralizing antibodies.

Methods

We included all Ad26.COV2.S vaccinated HIV-1-infected patients of Erlangen HIV cohort fulfilling all inclusion criteria. The study cohort consisted of 15 HIV-1-infected patients and three HIV-1-uninfected subjects who received the Ad26.COV2.S vaccine between April and November 2021. Pre-vaccination sera were collected between October 2014 and June 2021, post-vaccination sera between June and December 2021. Neutralizing antibodies towards Ad26 were determined by a FACS-based inhibition assay measuring the expression of SARS-CoV-2 spike and adenoviral proteins in HEK293T cells after in-vitro transduction with Ad26.COV2.S or the control ChAdOx1-S.

Results

Six out of 15 HIV-1-infected patients failed to develop SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies and four patients developed weak antibody responses after vaccination with Ad26.COV2.S. Pre-vaccination sera of four of the six vaccine non-responders showed neutralizing activity towards Ad26.COV2.S but not toward the ChAdOx1-S vaccine at 1:50 dilution. After Ad26.COV2.S vaccination, 17 of the 18 subjects developed strong Ad26-neutralizing activity and only one of the 18 subjects showed neutralizing activity towards the ChAdOx1-S vaccine.

Conclusion

Ad26.COV2.S vaccination showed a high failure rate in HIV-1-infected patients. Pre-existing immunity against Ad26 could be an important contributor to poor vaccine efficacy in a subgroup of patients.
Evidenzbasierte Schulentwicklung als mehrdimensionale Spannungsbearbeitung. Ein übergeordneter Erklärungsansatz für anhaltende Wirksamkeitsprobleme
Authors: Kallenbach Lea
Published: April 2023

Ausgehend von erheblichen Wirksamkeitsproblemen und ausbleibenden Optionen einer nachhaltigen Wirksamkeitssteigerung präsentiert dieser Beitrag eine dreifache Perspektiverweiterung auf evidenzbasierte Schulentwicklung: In theoretischer Hinsicht (1) wird evidenzbasierte Schulentwicklung auf der Grundlage von Hartmut Rosas Weltbeziehungssoziologie als Beziehungsgeschehen zwischen Einzelschulen und Bildungspolitik und -administration begriffen. Methodologisch (2) wird ein neuer Zugang zu Weltbeziehungen auf der Basis der Dokumentarischen Methode entwickelt. Auf dieser Grundlage kann eine Perspektiverweiterung in empirischer Hinsicht (3) durch eine eigene rekonstruktive Studie realisiert werden. Eine Theoretisierung der empirischen Rekonstruktionen verdeutlicht, dass evidenzbasierte Schulentwicklungspraxis eine mehrdimensionale und damit komplexe Spannungsbearbeitung für Akteur*innen der Einzelschulen darstellt. Hieraus ergibt sich ein gänzlich neuer, den bislang vorliegenden Befunden übergeordneter Erklärungsansatz für die anhaltenden Wirksamkeitsprobleme evidenzbasierter Steuerung.
Green Consumerism and Firms’ Environmental Behaviour Under Monopolistic Competition: A Two-Sector Model
Authors: Giallonardo Luisa , Mulino Marcella
Published: April 2023

We investigate the pro-environmental behavior of green firms in a context where consumers value the goods’ eco-quality features. We present a two-sector monopolistic competition model with green and brown goods displaying both horizontal and vertical differentiation. Using analytical and quantitative techniques, we derive the optimal eco-quality level selected by green firms and the industry structure both in the short- and long-run equilibrium. We then study the effectiveness of three policy tools (green incentives, the imposition of a minimum quality standard, and green awareness campaigns) with respect to the policymaker’s objective of increasing the overall level of greenness, which we measure through a specific indicator. We find that each policy alone is apt to stimulate an increase in the greenness intensity compared to the unregulated equilibrium. Yet, their side effects in terms of market structure and the possibility that the intensity of application of a single tool may hit budgetary, political, or social limits call for a combination of two or more policies to overcome the above limits and get a higher overall level of greenness than that resulting from just one of them.
Searches for continuous-wave gravitational radiation
Authors: Riles Keith
Published: April 2023

Now that detection of gravitational-wave signals from the coalescence of extra-galactic compact binary star mergers has become nearly routine, it is intriguing to consider other potential gravitational-wave signatures. Here we examine the prospects for discovery of continuous gravitational waves from fast-spinning neutron stars in our own galaxy and from more exotic sources. Potential continuous-wave sources are reviewed, search methodologies and results presented and prospects for imminent discovery discussed.
Infections and antimicrobial prescribing in patients hospitalized with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) during the first pandemic wave
Authors: Chan Lynn , Gupta Simran , Sacco Alicia J. , Kasule Sabirah N. , Chaffin Hally , Feller Fionna F. , Mi Lanyu , Lim Elisabeth S. , Seville Maria Teresa
Published: April 2023

Objective:

To evaluate the rate of coinfections and secondary infections seen in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 and antimicrobial prescribing patterns.

Methods:

This single-center, retrospective study included all patients aged ≥18 years admitted with COVID-19 for at least 24 hours to a 280-bed, academic, tertiary-care hospital between March 1, 2020, and August 31, 2020. Coinfections, secondary infections, and antimicrobials prescribed for these patients were collected.

Results:

In total, 331 patients with a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 were evaluated. No additional cases were identified in 281 (84.9%) patients, whereas 50 (15.1%) had at least 1 infection. In total, of 50 patients (15.1%) who were diagnosed with coinfection or secondary infection had bacteremia, pneumonia, and/or urinary tract infections. Patients who had positive cultures, who were admitted to the ICU, who required supplemental oxygen, or who were transferred from another hospital for higher level of care were more likely to have infections. The most commonly used antimicrobials were azithromycin (75.2%) and ceftriaxone (64.9%). Antimicrobials were prescribed appropriately for 55% of patients.

Conclusions:

Coinfection and secondary infections are common in patients who are critically ill with COVID-19 at hospital admission. Clinicians should consider starting antimicrobial therapy in critically ill patients while limiting antimicrobial use in patients who are not critically ill.