bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Functional Encryption
Authors: Gay Romain
Published: July 2023

Functional encryption gives users fine-grained access to the encrypted data and permits the computation of specific functions on the protected plaintexts. Namely, data is encrypted using a public key, while restricted keys that correspond to particular functions are generated. This prevents the computer from computing anything other than the function specified by the restricted decrypting key. Functional encryption can handle more sophisticated data sharing involving an untrusted cloud. Finally, functional encryption is to become an increasingly valuable tool in the context of growing concern for privacy and the ubiquitous use of data.
Hardware Security Module
Authors: Sommerhalder Maria
Published: July 2023

Hardware security modules are specialized devices that perform cryptographic operations. Their functions include key generation, key management, encryption, decryption, and hashing. The advent of cloud computing has increased the complexity of securing critical data. As a result, double-key encryption has become increasingly popular, which encrypts data using two keys. A copy is stored on an HSM, and a copy is stored in the cloud. Furthermore, as Hardware security modules can manage keys and enable users to manage keys, they provide significant security benefits to applications utilizing cryptography.
Trusted Execution Environment
Authors: Sommerhalder Maria
Published: July 2023

Trusted execution environments are secure areas of central processors or devices that execute code with higher security than the rest of the device. Security is provided by encrypted memory regions called enclaves. Because the environment is isolated from the rest of the device, it is not affected by infection or compromise of the device. Trusted execution environments have applications for different usages, such as mobile phones, cloud data processing, or cryptocurrencies. Furthermore, since Trusted execution environments are part of a standard chipset, this inexpensive technology can be leveraged across many devices, resulting in increased security, especially in the mobile sector and IoT products.
Confidential Computing
Authors: Felk Yacine
Published: July 2023

The goal of confidential computing is to encrypt data in the system’s main memory without sacrificing performance. It protects data in use by performing the computation in a hardware-based trusted execution environment or secure multi-party computation. There are two approaches to protect the data in memory: full system memory encryption and individual virtual machine memory encryption, isolated from the hypervisor. Confidential computing encompasses different use cases across many critical industries. Nevertheless, the maturity of technical solutions must still be deployed at scale.
Data in Transit Security
Authors: Meier Roland
Published: July 2023

Data in transit, or network traffic, can be eavesdropped on and potentially leak sensitive information. This information can be in the payload, headers, or metadata. To mitigate this, many communication protocols encrypt traffic on different layers exist. However, even if encrypted traffic leaks information through its metadata. The percentage of encrypted network traffic has risen continuously in the past years, and we expect this trend to continue in the following years. On the other hand, measures to protect metadata are limited, leaving network traffic vulnerable to traffic-analysis attacks.
Digital Rights Management
Authors: Ding Sophia
Published: July 2023

Essentially, digital rights management refers to “trusted exchange of digital information over the Internet in which the user is granted only those privileges granted by the document sender”. Digital rights management systems serve multiple functions, such as access control, usage control, billing, and the pursuit of legal infringements. These functions are achieved through various technologies, such as encryption, digital signatures, digital watermarks, secure authentication, rights expression languages, and product key. In recent years, digital rights management systems have been controversial due to privacy concerns, their potential negative impact on open-source software, and their incompatibility with fair use principles. And, in an increasingly interconnected world, digital rights management systems will become increasingly important, but they will lose their influence in specific industries, such as the traditional music industry.
Authentication
Authors: Müller Belinda
Published: July 2023

An authentication process is a process of verifying an entity’s identity based on one or multiple factors. A factor can be something the entity is, possesses, or knows. Depending on the number of credentials (or factors) required, the authentication process is referred to as single-factor authentication, two-factor authentication, or multifactor authentication. In choosing a particular authentication solution for organizations, it is crucial to balance security, usability, cost, and privacy considerations. The authentication solution for a particular service can be predetermined for the private individual, although stronger authentication can be enabled if desired. While these trends suggest a more secure and user-friendly authentication process, they may also introduce new privacy concerns that must be addressed.
Asymmetric Encryption
Authors: Stohrer Christian , Lugrin Thomas
Published: July 2023

An asymmetric encryption scheme uses two different keys, a private one and a public one. While the public key is used for encryption and may be known by others, the private key is used for decryption and must be kept secret. The widespread public critical systems are based on the integer factorization problem or the discrete logarithm problem over finite fields and elliptic curve. The minimal key length and the required size of the involved parameters should be chosen according to the current regulation or best practice advice. Current public cryptosystems are considered secure against classical computers, but most of those commonly used today will be broken by attacks from not yet existing powerful quantum computers.
Secure Payment
Authors: Ding Sophia
Published: July 2023

Secure payment is an essential element of digital commerce in a world where cash is becoming redundant, credit cards are becoming less and less critical, and mobile devices are becoming means of payment. Therefore, it must be considered through the lens of various payment methods: Credit cards have been around since the 1950s, but the introduction of chip technology and contactless payment raises new challenges for the security of payments. Commercial payment service providers, such as credit card issuers or infrastructure operators, typically implement secure payment. Additionally, there are open-source payment gateways that facilitate the transfer of payment information. The providers of these open-source solutions claim that their products facilitate integration with existing systems on the client side and provide better customization due to their modularity and adaptability.
Disk, File and Database Encryption
Authors: Gasser Linus , Aad Imad
Published: July 2023

Disk, file, and database encryption are technologies that protect data confidentiality when stored. Full disk encryption encrypts all data on a disk except the part containing the code to unlock the rest of the disk, which is usually not encrypted. File-based encryption operates at the file level and can be done by the operating system or an application. Database encryption can be done using transparent database encryption, column-level encryption, or field-level encryption. Both full disk encryption and File-based encryption allow good protection against data leakage in the case of device theft or loss. However, due to their nature, they cannot protect against an attacker who gets her hands on a device turned on or any other intruders who can run programs on the computer.
Random Number Generator
Authors: Lugrin Thomas
Published: July 2023

Most modern encryption and authentication methods rely on generating random numbers for key generation, initial vectors, or nonces. A Random Number Generator is cryptographically secure if the sequences of numbers that it generates are unpredictable. They are typically grouped into two categories: Pseudo-Random Number Generators and True Random Number Generators. Small-size, low-cost true Random Number Generators have already been integrated into off-the-shelf devices such as smartphones, computers, and hardware security modules. In addition, applications involving particularly sensitive data can combine the output from two or more independent sources of randomness for improved security.
Wrinkle-Free Sewing with Robotics: The Future of Soft Material Manufacturing
Authors: Fontana E. , Farajtabar M. , Marchello G. , Lahoud M. , Abidi H. , Meddahi A. , Baizid K. , D’Imperio M. , Cannella F.
Published: July 2023

Sewing flexible materials such as textiles and clothing can be challenging due to their tendency to wrinkle easily and their non-linear mechanical behaviour. Conventional methods in industrial plants are performed by workers and can be labour-intensive and time-consuming. Therefore, the interest in robotic solutions has grown in the last decade. In this paper, we propose a flexible and reliable robotic solution that can autonomously remove wrinkles from fabric. This method was designed as a part of a robotic cell capable of sewing together two different textiles, used in the manufacturing of cyclist garments. The robotic system employs two compliant soft fingers to stretch the fabric and a vision system to identify the wrinkles to flatten. The design of the fingers is bio-inspired, mimicking the adaptability and dexterity of biological systems, hence improving the gripping performance while reducing the risk of damage to the fabric. The developed vision system performs instance segmentation to identify the wrinkles on the fabric, and then identifies the best places to apply the gripper to flatten the tissue. This two-step process is iterated until wrinkles on the surface do not affect the final sewn product. Such a methodology is highly flexible and has no hard requirements, as the vision system requires only an RGB camera, and the fingers are 3D-printed, an affordable and common manufacturing process. Consequently, the system proposed in this paper can be easily employed in a wide variety of industrial scenarios, improving the productivity and the welfare of the workers.
Miniature Soil Moisture Sensors for a Root-Inspired Burrowing Growing Robot
Authors: Del Dottore Emanuela , Mondini Alessio , Bray Davide , Mazzolai Barbara
Published: July 2023

This paper shows the implementation of miniature sensors for soil moisture measurement and their integration in a root-inspired burrowing growing robot. Three kinds of sensors are combined to estimate the water content in soil: a resistivity sensor composed of two brass electrodes, a commercial air humidity sensor interfaced with the soil by a filter membrane of PTFE with polyester scrim, and an RGB sensor used for visible reflectance spectroscopy. We show their integration and embeddability in a burrowing growing robot based on additive manufacturing with a 4 cm probe diameter. The multimodal sensing strategy has been characterized and tested in clay and sand medium at different water content. Results show that the resistive sensor works in all the tested ranges but is prone to failure due to electrode-soil contact issues. The air humidity sensor works accurately in a range of water content less than 5% (dry conditions), and the RGB sensor works in the 5–20% range. We propose a statistical approach for soil moisture estimation that combines all three technologies and demonstrate that we can accurately predict the water content in our experimental soils, clay and sand, with better performance in clay (Root Mean Square Error, RMSE = 0.38). The proposed miniaturized multimodal sensing strategy can enable long-term, in-situ soil moisture monitoring functionalities in self-deployable robots for precision agriculture and forestry applications.
Robotic Active Tactile Sensing Inspired by Serotonergic Modulation Using Active Inference
Authors: Novicky Filip , Offergeld Joshua , Janssen Simon , Lanillos Pablo
Published: July 2023

When faced with uncertainty in the world, biological agents actively sense the environment to acquire the most informative input to fulfil their tasks. Actions are performed to adjust bodily sensors to maximize the collected information, which is usually known as active sensing. For instance, rodents continuously adjust the speed and amplitude of whisking to better identify objects and body location in space, which ultimately regulates navigation. Whilst, the internal mechanism that drives active sensing in humans is still under research, recent evidence points towards neuromodulators, such as serotonin, that influence whether the habitual behaviour is preferred over sensor adjustments to trigger exploration. Here, we present an active tactile-sensing model for a robot inspired by the serotonergic function viewed from the uncertainty minimization perspective. To mechanistically explain this neuromodulatory function, we associated it with precision parameters regulating habitual behaviour and tactile encoding based on previous findings. We qualitatively evaluated the model using an experiment inspired by the gap-crossing paradigm but tailored to a humanoid with tactile sensing. Behavioural switch timing results show the strong dependencies between active sensing and precision regulation. Ultimately, this work discusses how the neural microcircuitry regulates active sensing, hence opening future research of such neuromodulatory processes translated to robotics active sensing and perception.
Die Gesellschafterstellung der Erbengemeinschaft
Authors: Kowalski Philipp
Published: July 2023

Die Gesellschafterrechte sind mit der Mitgliedschaft verknüpft. Diese bestimmt die Stellung einer Person infolge der Zugehörigkeit zu einem Verband. Sie steckt in der Beteiligung selbst und ist über § 1922 BGB vererblich.
Die erbrechtliche Verwaltung des Gesellschaftsanteils
Authors: Kowalski Philipp
Published: July 2023

Die Vorschriften, die die Handlungsmöglichkeiten der Erbengemeinschaft regeln, sind knapp gefasst und differenzieren gemäß den §§ 2038 und 2040 BGB danach, ob es sich um eine Verwaltungsmaßnahme oder eine Verfügung handelt. Gemeinhin wird dieser Aufbau als missglückt bewertet, da er keine präzise Differenzierung nach Geschäftsführung und Vertretung vornimmt, wie es etwa die Vorschriften zur Gesellschaft bürgerlichen Rechts in den §§ 705 ff. BGB tun. Das Recht der Erbengemeinschaft folgt damit gerade nicht dem formell separierten Aufbau, sondern einer materiellen Unterscheidung.
Die Geltendmachung gegenüber der Gesellschaft
Authors: Kowalski Philipp
Published: July 2023

Die Mitgliedschaftsrechte sind die aus der Mitgliedschaft in der Körperschaft folgenden Befugnisse der Gesellschafter in Abgrenzung zu den Drittrechten wie etwa den Gläubigerrechten. Ihre Ausübung stellt begrifflich eine Maßnahme der formellen Einflussnahme auf die Gesellschaft dar. Wie macht die Erbengemeinschaft nun ein spezifisches Mitgliedschaftsrecht im Verhältnis zur Körperschaft geltend?
Vesicle-mediated transport of ALIX and ESCRT-III to the intercellular bridge during cytokinesis
Authors: Pust Sascha , Brech Andreas , Wegner Catherine Sem , Stenmark Harald , Haglund Kaisa
Published: July 2023

Cellular abscission is the final step of cytokinesis that leads to the physical separation of the two daughter cells. The scaffold protein ALIX and the ESCRT-I protein TSG101 contribute to recruiting ESCRT-III to the midbody, which orchestrates the final membrane scission of the intercellular bridge. Here, we addressed the transport mechanisms of ALIX and ESCRT-III subunit CHMP4B to the midbody. Structured illumination microscopy revealed gradual accumulation of ALIX at the midbody, resulting in the formation of spiral-like structures extending from the midbody to the abscission site, which strongly co-localized with CHMP4B. Live-cell microscopy uncovered that ALIX appeared together with CHMP4B in vesicular structures, whose motility was microtubule-dependent. Depletion of ALIX led to structural alterations of the midbody and delayed recruitment of CHMP4B, resulting in delayed abscission. Likewise, depletion of the kinesin-1 motor KIF5B reduced the motility of ALIX-positive vesicles and delayed midbody recruitment of ALIX, TSG101 and CHMP4B, accompanied by impeded abscission. We propose that ALIX, TSG101 and CHMP4B are associated with endosomal vesicles transported on microtubules by kinesin-1 to the cytokinetic bridge and midbody, thereby contributing to their function in abscission.
Evaluation of a 3D-printed hands-on radius fracture model during teaching courses
Authors: Neijhoft Jonas , Sterz Jasmina , Rüsseler Miriam , Britz Vanessa , Bepler Lena , Freund Verena , Horz Christian , Henrich Dirk , Marzi Ingo , Janko Maren
Published: July 2023

Objective

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a 3D-printed hands-on radius fracture model for teaching courses. The model was designed to enhance understanding and knowledge of radius fractures among medical students during their clinical training.

Methods

The 3D models of radius fractures were generated using CT scans and computer-aided design software. The models were then 3D printed using Fused-Filament-Fabrication (FFF) technology. A total of 170 undergraduate medical students participated in the study and were divided into three groups. Each group was assigned one of three learning aids: conventional X-ray, CT data, or a 3D-printed model. After learning about the fractures, students completed a questionnaire to assess their understanding of fracture mechanisms, ability to assign fractures to the AO classification, knowledge of surgical procedures, and perception of the teaching method as well as the influence of such courses on their interest in the specialty of trauma surgery. Additionally, students were tested on their ability to allocate postoperative X-ray images to the correct preoperative image or model and to classify them to the AO classification.

Results

The 3D models were well received by the students, who rated them as at least equal or better than traditional methods such as X-ray and CT scans. Students felt that the 3D models improved their understanding of fracture mechanisms and their ability to explain surgical procedures. The results of the allocation test showed that the combination of the 3D model and X-ray yielded the highest accuracy in classifying fractures according to the AO classification system, although the results were not statistically significant.

Conclusion

The 3D-printed hands-on radius fracture model proved to be an effective teaching tool for enhancing students' understanding of fracture anatomy. The combination of 3D models with the traditional imaging methods improved students' ability to classify fractures and allocate postoperative images correctly.
Fine dust after sanding untreated and thermally modified spruce, oak, and meranti wood
Authors: Sydor Maciej , Majka Jerzy , Hanincová Luďka , Kučerka Martin , Kminiak Richard , Kristak Lubos , Pędzik Marta , Očkajová Alena , Rogoziński Tomasz
Published: July 2023

Airborne wood dust poses health and safety risks in the construction and furniture industry. The study verified whether the thermal modification affects the share of fine wood dust particles (< 10 μm) generated during spruce, oak, and meranti wood sanding. The experimental research involved nine material variants, including three wood species in three states: untreated, thermally modified at 160 °C, and thermally modified at 220 °C). To collect at least 200 g of each dust sample, a belt sander with P80 sandpaper and a belt speed of 10 m/s was used, along with a dust collector. The collected dust was then separated into fractions using a set of sieves with aperture sizes of 2000, 1000, 500, 250, and 125 μm. A laser particle sizer was employed to measure the sizes of dust particles in the under-sieve fraction (dust with particle sizes smaller than 125 μm). The under-sieve fraction was decomposed into three subfractions, with particle sizes: <2.5, 2.5-4.0, and 4.0–10 μm. Surprisingly the results indicate that sanding dust from thermally modified wood generates a lower average mass share of potentially harmful fine particle fractions than dust from untreated wood. Oak dust contained a higher mass share of fine particles compared to the spruce and meranti dust samples. Dust from thermally modified oak and meranti wood had a lower content of harmful particle fractions than dust from untreated wood. The average mass shares of these dust fractions for modified wood at 160 and 220 °C showed no statictically significant differences (p < 0.05). Conversely, spruce dust had a low content of fine fractions because spruce particles exhibit a more irregular elongated shape. The study considered the extreme temperatures of 160 and 220 °C used in the thermal modification of wood. Therefore, the above statements are assumed to be valid for all intermediate thermo-modification temperatures.
Analysis of manufacturing and material parameters in 3D-printed polylactic acid (PLA) parts filled with glass powder: mechanical, economic, and environmental assessment
Authors: Castanon-Jano Laura , Palomera-Obregon Paula , Blanco-Fernandez Elena , Indacoechea-Vega Irune
Published: July 2023

This study investigates the influence of the addition of glass powder, nozzle size, and infill density on the mechanical properties of 3D-printed polylactic acid (PLA) pieces. To do so, a factorial design of experiments was accomplished. The specimens were tested under tensile and bending conditions. Regression equations were extracted from the maximal strength, strain at maximal strength and modulus, and an analysis of the significance of the terms was carried out. All the factors influence the output variables, independently and in combination. As for the environmental impact, a cradle-to-gate life cycle analysis (LCA) of the printing material with different glass powder additions, including the manufacturing process and transportation of the raw materials, was performed. Additionally, a cost assessment of each alternative was calculated for each case. Since the concurrence of mechanical, environmental, and cost performance is needed to enter a new product in the industry, a multicriteria decision-making analysis was performed to select the best combination. The criteria considered were the material and printing costs and the environmental impact, all normalized with maximal strength. Two different alternatives were found to be the best solution depending on the strength selected. Both of them were printed using a 1.2-mm nozzle with 100% infill and different glass percentages.
AMPK-mediated autophagy is involved in the protective effect of canagliflozin in the vitamin D3 plus nicotine calcification model in rats
Authors: Hewedy Wafaa A. , Abdulmalek Shaymaa A. , Ghareeb Doaa A. , Habiba Esraa S.
Published: July 2023

Vascular calcification (VC) is a major risk factor for cardiovascular events. A mutual interplay between inflammation, oxidative stress, apoptosis, and autophagy is implicated in its development. Herein, we aimed to evaluate the potential protective effects of canagliflozin in a vitamin D3 plus nicotine (VDN) model of VC, and to explore potential mechanisms. VC was induced by VDN in adult male Wistar rats on day one. Then, rats were randomly assigned into three groups to receive canagliflozin (10 mg or 20 mg/kg/day) or its vehicle for 4 weeks. Age-matched normal rats served as a control group. After euthanization, aorta and kidneys were harvested for biochemical and histopathological evaluation of calcification. Aortic markers of oxidative stress, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, runt-related transcription factor (Runx2) and bone morphogenic protein-2 (BMP-2) levels were determined. Additionally, the protein expression of autophagic markers, LC3 and p62, and adenosine monophosphate activated protein kinase (AMPK) were also assessed in aortic homogenates. Canagliflozin dose-dependently improved renal function, enhanced the antioxidant capacity of aortic tissues and reduced calcium deposition in rat aortas and kidneys. Both doses of canagliflozin attenuated ALP and osteogenic markers while augmented the expression of autophagic markers and AMPK. Histopathological examination of aortas and kidneys by H&E and Von Kossa stain further support the beneficial effect of canagliflozin. Canagliflozin could alleviate VDN-induced vascular calcification, in a dose dependent manner, via its antioxidant effect and modulation of autophagy. Further studies are needed to verify whether this effect is a member or a class effect.
Quantum Unique Ergodicity for Cayley Graphs of Quasirandom Groups
Authors: Magee Michael , Thomas Joe , Zhao Yufei
Published: July 2023

A finite groupGis calledC-quasirandom (by Gowers) if all non-trivial irreducible complex representations ofGhave dimension at leastC. For any unit$$\ell ^{2}$$ℓ2function on a finite group we associate thequantum probability measureon the group given by the absolute value squared of the function. We show that if a group is highly quasirandom, in the above sense, then any Cayley graph of this group has an orthonormal eigenbasis of the adjacency operator such that the quantum probability measures of the eigenfunctions put close to the correct proportion of their mass on suitably selected subsets of the group that are not too small.
Bound States and Heat Kernels for Fractional-Type Schrödinger Operators with Singular Potentials
Authors: Jakubowski Tomasz , Kaleta Kamil , Szczypkowski Karol
Published: July 2023

We consider non-local Schrödinger operators $$H=-L-V$$

H
=
-
L
-
V

in $$L^2(\mathbb {R}^d)$$

L
2

(

R

d

)

, $$d \geqslant 1$$

d
⩾
1

, where the kinetic terms L are pseudo-differential operators which are perturbations of the fractional Laplacian by bounded non-local operators and V is the fractional Hardy potential. We prove pointwise estimates of eigenfunctions corresponding to negative eigenvalues and upper finite-time horizon estimates for heat kernels. We also analyze the relation between the matching lower estimates of the heat kernel and the ground state near the origin. Our results cover the relativistic Schrödinger operator with Coulomb potential.
Langerhans cell histiocytosis with aneurysmal bone cyst-like changes: a case-based literature review
Authors: Mo Jonathan Tomonaga , Darrow Morgan Angus , Sharma Julia Devi
Published: July 2023

Background

Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a neoplastic transformation of myeloid precursors that commonly presents as an osteolytic lesion of the long or flat bones in children. Aneurysmal bone cysts (ABC) are benign neoplasms that frequently affect the metaphysis of long bones and the spine, often revealing a rapidly expansile lesion with fluid-fluid levels. LCH with secondary ABC-like changes is a rare condition that has only been reported five times, with two presentations in the cranium. The aim of this paper is to review the etiology, clinical and radiographic presentations, and treatment of this condition, as well as to present a novel case on the topic.

Case description

We describe a 5-year-old boy with a rapidly growing head mass and eye pain resulting in a diagnosis of LCH with secondary ABC-like changes. Radiography demonstrated an expansile, lytic lesion of the left parietal bone with fluid-fluid levels. A confirmatory diagnosis was made through histopathology, demonstrating an inflammatory, histiocytic infiltrate staining positive for CD1a, CD68, CD207 (Langerin), and S-100. The lesion was surgically excised, and the patient recovered without any complications.

Conclusion

We present a novel case of LCH with secondary ABC-like changes managed with surgical excision. While a radiographic workup with multiple imaging modalities is helpful for diagnosis, a thorough immunohistochemical analysis is essential as imaging characteristics are variable and nonspecific. Furthermore, surgical excision should be considered first-line treatment for lesions involving the skull in surgically accessible areas as it is curative, alleviates symptoms, and allows for histopathological diagnosis.
Age- and sex-based normal reference ranges of the cardiac time intervals: the Copenhagen City Heart Study
Authors: Alhakak Alia Saed , Olsen Flemming Javier , Skaarup Kristoffer Grundtvig , Lassen Mats Christian Højbjerg , Johansen Niklas Dyrby , Jørgensen Peter Godsk , Abildgaard Ulrik , Jensen Gorm Boje , Schnohr Peter , Søgaard Peter , Møgelvang Rasmus , Biering-Sørensen Tor
Published: July 2023

Background

Color tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) M-mode can be used to measure the cardiac time intervals including the isovolumic contraction time (IVCT), the left ventricular ejection time (LVET), the isovolumic relaxation time (IVRT), and the combination of all the cardiac time intervals in the myocardial performance index (MPI) defined as [(IVCT + IVRT)/LVET]. The aim of this study was to establish normal age- and sex-based reference ranges for the cardiac time intervals.

Methods and results

A total of 1969 participants free of cardiovascular diseases and risk factors from the general population with limited age range underwent an echocardiographic examination including TDI. The median age was 46 years (25th–75th percentile: 33–58 years), and 61.5% were females. In the entire study population, the IVCT was observed to be 40 ± 10 ms [95% prediction interval (PI) 20–59 ms], the LVET 292 ± 23 ms (95% PI 248–336 ms), the IVRT 96 ± 19 ms (95% PI 59–134 ms) and MPI 0.47 ± 0.09 (95% PI 0.29–0.65). All the cardiac time intervals differed significantly between females and males. With increasing age, the IVCT increased in females, but not in males. The LVET did not change with age in both sexes, while the IVRT increased in both sexes with increasing age. Furthermore, we developed regression equations relating the heart rate to the cardiac time intervals and age- and sex-based normal reference ranges corrected for heart rate.

Conclusion

In this study, we established normal age- and sex-based reference ranges for the cardiac time intervals. These normal reference ranges differed significantly with sex.

Graphical abstract
Großer Hype um ChatGPT in der Medizin
Authors: Haverkamp W. , Strodthoff N. , Tennenbaum J. , Israel C.
Published: July 2023

ChatGPT, ein auf einem großen künstlichen Sprachmodell basierender Chatbot, erregt derzeit viel Aufmerksamkeit. Moderne, auf komplexen neuronalen Netzwerken beruhende Architekturen (sog. Transformer) erlauben ChatGPT, nahezu beliebige Fragen zu beantworten, Zusammenfassungen anzufertigen, zu übersetzen und eigenständig Texte zu generieren. All dies in einem auf Texteingaben basierenden Dialog mit dem Nutzer. Die zugrundeliegenden Technologien mit dem Akronym NLP (Natural Language Processing) gehen in die 1960er-Jahre zurück. In fast allen Bereichen weckt ChatGPT derzeit viele Hoffnungen. Medizinische Examina besteht ChatGPT problemlos; auch über einen Einsatz in Patientenbetreuung, Diagnostik und Therapie und der medizinischen Wissenschaft wird diskutiert. Die fast grenzenlose Begeisterung, die manche Medizinier dieser neuen Technik entgegenbringen, verwundert. Das System weiß zwar enorm viel, aber nicht alles; auch nicht alles, was es ausgibt, stimmt auch. Jede Ausgabe muss auf ihre Richtigkeit hin vom Nutzer sorgfältig kontrolliert werden – oft nicht einfach, da Quellenangaben fehlen. Auch existieren datenschutzrechtliche und ethisch-moralische Probleme. Heutige Sprachmodelle sind nicht frei von Vorurteilen und systematischer Verzerrung. Diese Unzulänglichkeiten haben Stimmen laut werden lassen, die eine stärkere Regulierung des Einsatzes von ChatGPT fordern.

Potenzieller Nutzen und kommerzielle Aspekte dürften dazu führen, dass sich große Sprachmodelle wie ChatGPT zunehmend verbreiten werden. In unserem beruflichen Alltag werden sie immer mehr Platz einnehmen – auch in der Rhythmologie. Zukünftig wird es vor allem darauf ankommen, die Modelle fehlerfreier und transparenter zu gestalten sowie die Regeln für ihre Nutzung klar zu definieren. Eine verantwortungsvolle Nutzung erfordert systematische Schulungen zur Verbesserung der digitalen Kompetenz der Nutzer, einschließlich der Ärzte, die solche Programme einsetzen.
A comprehensive genomic study of 390 H3F3A-mutant pediatric and adult diffuse high-grade gliomas, CNS WHO grade 4
Authors: Williams Erik A. , Brastianos Priscilla K. , Wakimoto Hiroaki , Zolal Amir , Filbin Mariella G. , Cahill Daniel P. , Santagata Sandro , Juratli Tareq A.
Published: July 2023

Malignant brain tumors, known as H3K27-altered diffuse midline glioma (DMG) and H3G34-mutant diffuse hemispheric glioma (DHG), can affect individuals of all ages and are classified as CNS WHO grade 4. We comprehensively characterized 390 H3F3A-mutant diffuse gliomas (201 females, 189 males) arising in pediatric patients (under 20 years old) and adults (20 years and older) evaluated by the CGP program at Foundation Medicine between 2013 and 2020. We assessed information from pathology reports, histopathology review, and clinical data. The cohort included 304 H3K27M-mutant DMG (156 females, 148 males) and 86 H3G34-mutant DHG (45 females, 41 males). Median patient age was 20 years (1–74 years). The frequency of H3K27M-mutant DMG was similar in both pediatric and adult patients in our cohort—48.6% of the patients were over 20 years old, 31.5% over 30, and 18% over 40 at initial diagnosis. FGFR1 hotspot point mutations (N546K and K656E) were exclusively identified in H3K27M-mutant DMG tumors (64/304, 21%; p = 0.0001); these tend to occur in older patients (median age: 32.5 years) and mainly arose in the diencephalon. H3K27M-mutant DMG had higher rates of mutations in NF1 (31.0 vs 8.1%; p = 0.0001) and PIK3CA/PIK3R1 (27.9% vs 15.1%; p = 0.016) compared to H3G34-mutant DHG. However, H3G34-mutant DHG had higher rates of targetable alterations in cell-cycle pathway genes (CDK4 and CDK6 amplification; CDKN2A/B deletion) (27.0 vs 9.0%). Potentially targetable PDGFRA alterations were identified in ~ 20% of both H3G34-mutant DHG and H3K27M-mutant DMG. Overall, in the present study H3K27M-mutant DMG occurred at similar rates in both adult and patient patients. Through our analysis, we were able to identify molecular features characteristic of DMG and DHG. By identifying the recurrent co-mutations including actionable FGFR1 point mutations found in nearly one-third of H3K27M-mutant DMG in young adults, our findings can inform clinical translational studies, patient diagnosis, and clinical trial design.
Factors controlling reaction pathways during fluid–rock interactions
Authors: Filiberto Lorena H. , Putnis Christine V. , Julia Maude
Published: July 2023

Potential fluid pathways for fluid–rock interactions and the factors controlling these pathways have been investigated experimentally by simulating hydrothermal conditions, using sample cubes of Carrara Marble (calcite) and an anorthosite (plagioclase) rock in different solutions (pure water, sodium chloride, artificial seawater, sodium phosphate and sodium silicate) at 200 °C. Analytical techniques including SEM, Raman Spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, and Electron Microprobe Analysis were used to characterize fluid-induced reactions. Results show aqueous fluids can penetrate grain boundaries within rocks and, dependent on fluid and solid compositions, coupled replacement reactions can occur. The available fluid volume for the reaction in a grain boundary versus the bulk fluid can influence replacement reaction pathways. When 0.1 M Na2HPO4 was used with Carrara Marble, or a Na-silicate solution was used with anorthosite, the replacement of calcite by hydroxylapatite or labradorite by albite, respectively, occurred along the grain boundaries of both rock types. In the experiments using seawater, the replacement of calcite by Mg-carbonates occurred predominantly from the sides of the cube samples and the grain boundaries were minimally affected within the timescale of the experiments (1–3 months). With 1 M Na2HPO4, hydroxylapatite precipitated both along the marble grain boundaries and the sample sides. Models based on experimental observations and PhreeqC simulations highlight the importance of grain boundaries and interconnected porosity in fluid-induced reactions. Such factors play an important role in the kinetics and relative solubilities of rock systems by changing the conditions at the interfacial fluid–mineral boundary layer that will determine initial dissolution or precipitation and whether the supersaturation of a product phase is reached.
Preoperative planning and intraoperative real-time navigation with indocyanine green fluorescence in robotic liver surgery
Authors: Rompianesi Gianluca , Pegoraro Francesca , Ramaci Lorenzo , Ceresa Carlo DL , Montalti Roberto , Troisi Roberto I
Published: July 2023

Purpose

We aimed at exploring indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence wide spectrum of applications in hepatobiliary surgery as can result particularly useful in robotic liver resections (RLR) in order to overcome some technical limitations, increasing safety, and efficacy.

Methods

We describe our experience of 76 RLR performed between March 2020 and December 2022 exploring all the possible applications of pre- and intraoperative ICG administration.

Results

Hepatocellular carcinoma and colorectal liver metastases were the most common indications for RLR (34.2% and 26.7% of patients, respectively), and 51.3% of cases were complex resections with high IWATE difficulty scores. ICG was administered preoperatively in 61 patients (80.3%), intraoperatively in 42 patients (55.3%) and in both contexts in 25 patients (32.9%), with no observed adverse events. The most frequent ICG goal was to achieve tumor enhancement (59 patients, 77.6%), with a success rate of 94.9% and the detection of 3 additional malignant lesions. ICG facilitated evaluation of the resection margin for residual tumor and perfusion adequacy in 33.9% and 32.9% of cases, respectively, mandating a resection enlargement in 7.9% of patients. ICG fluorescence allowed the identification of the transection plane through negative staining in the 25% of cases. Vascular and biliary structures were visualized in 21.1% and 9.2% of patients, with a success rate of 81.3% and 85.7%, respectively.

Conclusion

RLR can benefit from the routine integration of ICG fluoresce evaluation according to each individual patient and condition-specific goals and issues, allowing liver functional assessment, anatomical and vascular evaluation, tumor detection, and resection margins assessment.
Clinical and self-reported markers of reproductive function in female survivors of childhood Hodgkin lymphoma
Authors: Drechsel K. C. E. , Broer S. L. , Stoutjesdijk F. S. , Twisk J. W. R. , van den Berg M. H. , Lambalk C. B. , van Leeuwen F. E. , Overbeek A. , van den Heuvel-Eibrink M. M. , van Dorp W. , de Vries A. C. H. , Loonen J. J. , van der Pal H. J. , Kremer L. C. , Tissing W. J. , Versluys B. , Kaspers G. J. L. , van Dulmen-den Broeder E. , Veening M. A. ,   the LATER-VEVO study group
Published: July 2023

Purpose

To evaluate the impact of treatment for Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) on clinical reproductive markers and pregnancy outcomes.

Methods

This study was embedded within the DCOG LATER-VEVO study; a Dutch, multicenter, retrospective cohort study between 2004 and 2014. Serum anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), inhibin B, antral follicle count (AFC), and self-reported (first) pregnancy outcomes were evaluated in female childhood HL survivors and controls.

Results

84 HL survivors and 798 controls were included, aged 29.6 and 32.7 years old at time of assessment. Median age at HL diagnosis was 13.4 years. Cyclophosphamide equivalent dose (CED-score) exceeded 6000 mg/m2 in 56 women and 14 survivors received pelvic irradiation.

All clinical markers were significantly deteriorated in survivors (odds-ratio for low AMH (< p10) 10.1 [95% CI 4.9; 20.6]; low AFC (< p10) 4.6 [95% CI 2.1; 9.9]; elevated FSH (> 10 IU/l) 15.3 [95% CI 5.7; 41.1], low Inhibin B (< 20 ng/l) 3.6 [ 95% CI 1.7; 7.7], p < 0.001). Pregnancy outcomes were comparable between survivors and controls (± 80% live birth, ± 20% miscarriage). However, survivors were significantly younger at first pregnancy (27.0 years vs 29.0 years, P = 0.04). Adjusted odds-ratio for time to pregnancy > 12 months was 2.5 [95% CI 1.1; 5.6] in survivors, p = 0.031. Adverse outcomes were specifically present after treatment with procarbazine and higher CED-score.

Conclusion

HL survivors appear to have an impaired ovarian reserve. However, chance to achieve pregnancy seems reassuring at a young age. Additional follow-up studies are needed to assess fertile life span and reproductive potential of HL survivors, in particular for current HL treatments that are hypothesized to be less gonadotoxic.
Almost universally optimal distributed Laplacian solvers via low-congestion shortcuts
Authors: Anagnostides Ioannis , Lenzen Christoph , Haeupler Bernhard , Zuzic Goran , Gouleakis Themis
Published: July 2023

In this paper, we refine the (almost) existentially optimal distributed Laplacian solver of Forster, Goranci, Liu, Peng, Sun, and Ye (FOCS ‘21) into an (almost) universally optimal distributed Laplacian solver. Specifically, when the topology is known (i.e., the Supported-CONGEST model), we show that any Laplacian system on an n-node graph with shortcut quality$$\textrm{SQ}(G)$$

SQ
(
G
)

can be solved after $$n^{o(1)} \text {SQ}(G) \log (1/\epsilon )$$

n

o
(
1
)

SQ

(
G
)

log

(
1
/
ϵ
)

rounds, where $$\epsilon >0$$

ϵ
>
0

is the required accuracy. This almost matches our lower bound that guarantees that any correct algorithm on G requires $$\widetilde{\Omega }(\textrm{SQ}(G))$$

Ω
~

(
SQ

(
G
)

)

rounds, even for a crude solution with $$\epsilon \le 1/2$$

ϵ
≤
1
/
2

. Several important implications hold in the unknown-topology (i.e., standard CONGEST) case: for excluded-minor graphs we get an almost universally optimal algorithm that terminates in $$D \cdot n^{o(1)} \log (1/\epsilon )$$

D
·

n

o
(
1
)

log

(
1
/
ϵ
)

rounds, where D is the hop-diameter of the network; as well as $$n^{o(1)} \log (1/\epsilon )$$

n

o
(
1
)

log

(
1
/
ϵ
)

-round algorithms for the case of $$\textrm{SQ}(G) \le n^{o(1)}$$

SQ

(
G
)

≤

n

o
(
1
)

, which holds for most networks of interest. Moreover, following a recent line of work in distributed algorithms, we consider a hybrid communication model which enhances CONGEST with limited global power in the form of the node-capacitated clique model. In this model, we show the existence of a Laplacian solver with round complexity $$n^{o(1)} \log (1/\epsilon )$$

n

o
(
1
)

log

(
1
/
ϵ
)

. The unifying thread of these results, and our main technical contribution, is the development of near-optimal algorithms for a novel $$\rho $$
ρ
-congested generalization of the standard part-wise aggregation problem, which could be of independent interest.
Comparison of clean catch and bag urine using LC–MS/MS proteomics in infants
Authors: Klaus Richard , Barth Teresa K. , Imhof Axel , Thalmeier Franziska , Lange-Sperandio Bärbel
Published: July 2023

Background

Urinary proteomics identifies the totality of urinary proteins and can therefore help in getting an early and precise diagnosis of various pathological processes in the kidneys. In infants, non-invasive urine collection is most commonly accomplished with a urine bag or clean catch. The influence of those two collection methods on urinary proteomics was assessed in this study.

Methods

Thirty-two urine samples were collected in infants using urine bag and clean catch within 24 h. Nine boys and seven girls with a mean age of 4.3 ± 2.9 months were included (5 × post-pyelonephritis, 10 × non-kidney disease, 1 × chronic kidney disease (CKD)). Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) was performed in data-independent acquisition (DIA) mode. Protein identification and quantification were achieved using Spectronaut.

Results

A total of 1454 urinary proteins were detected. Albumin and α-1-microglobulin were detected the most. The 18 top-abundant proteins accounted for 50% of total abundance. The number of proteins was slightly, but insignificantly higher in clean catch (957 ± 245) than in bag urine (876 ± 255). The median intensity was 1.2 × higher in the clean catch. Overall, differential detection of proteins was 29% between the collection methods; however, it diminished to 3% in the 96 top-abundant proteins. Pearson’s correlation coefficient was 0.81 ± 0.11, demonstrating a high intraindividual correlation. A principal component analysis and a heat map showed clustering according to diagnoses and patients rather than to the collection method.

Conclusion

Urinary proteomics shows a high correlation with minor variation in low-abundant proteins between the two urine collection methods. The biological characteristics overrule this variation.
Structural and compositional acclimation of forests to extended drought: results of the KROOF throughfall exclusion experiment in Norway spruce and European beech
Authors: Pretzsch Hans , Ahmed Shamim , Rötzer Thomas , Schmied Gerhard , Hilmers Torben
Published: July 2023

Drought effects on tree growth and mortality are widely studied, but scant knowledge exists on its impact on stand density, size variation, or mixing proportions. Grasping drought's influence on structural and compositional diversity is crucial for stand dynamics, ecosystem services, and silvicultural adaptation. We relied on KROOF, a 5-year throughfall exclusion experiment in a mature Norway spruce (Picea abies) and European beech (Fagus sylvatica) stand, to analyze its impact on structural and compositional attributes, including Stand Density Index (SDI), Growth Dominance Coefficient (GDC), and species mixing proportion. Our study demonstrates that drought-induced growth reduction and tree loss decreased SDI by 27%, mixing proportion by 41% at Norway spruce’s expense, and homogenized stand structure. Furthermore, we reveal that stand density, mixing proportion, and structural diversity were more affected in Norway spruce, stabilizing growth at the stand level. Extended drought significantly altered growth partitioning in favor of smaller trees, with a 70% reduction in growth-size relationship slope and a 157% decrease in GDC. Species-level analysis indicated a stronger partitioning shift towards smaller trees, particularly in Norway spruce. We discuss that longer drought periods may trigger acclimation at tree and stand levels, potentially underestimated when based solely on individual drought years. Sustained stress could induce acclimation across various levels, from the stand to the species cohort, tree, and organ. Maintaining structural and compositional diversity may mitigate future drought stress effects on growth, mortality, and stand structure, as exemplified by the extended experimental drought. We suggest silvicultural approaches better attuned to natural processes amid climate change.
Leitfaden für das Management von Folgen viraler Erkrankung mit SARS-CoV-2 aus Sicht der Ergotherapie
Authors: Costa Ursula M.
Published: July 2023

Folgen viraler Erkrankung mit SARS-CoV-2 wirken sich auf die biopsychosoziale Gesundheit und damit auf den Alltag Betroffener, deren Handlungs- und Partizipationsmöglichkeiten in sämtlichen Lebensbereichen aus. Ergotherapeut*innen verfügen in sämtlichen Versorgungsphasen über zahlreiche Möglichkeiten in der Auswahl und Gestaltung des Settings, der Interventionsmittel, -maßnahmen und -methoden, um Betroffenen im Hinblick auf größtmögliche Lebensqualität und in einer aktiven Neu-Gestaltung ihres Lebens zu unterstützen. Dieses Dokument bietet diesbezüglich einen Einblick und enthält Empfehlungen für die ergotherapeutische Praxis im Rahmen der bis zum Zeitpunkt der Verfassung verfügbaren Evidenzquellen.