bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Advances in Translational 3D Printing for Cartilage, Bone, and Osteochondral Tissue Engineering
Authors: Wang Shenqiang , Zhao Sheng , Yu Jicheng , Gu Zhen , Zhang Yuqi
Published: June 2022

The regeneration of 3D tissue constructs with clinically relevant sizes, structures, and hierarchical organizations for translational tissue engineering remains challenging. 3D printing, an additive manufacturing technique, has revolutionized the field of tissue engineering by fabricating biomimetic tissue constructs with precisely controlled composition, spatial distribution, and architecture that can replicate both biological and functional native tissues. Therefore, 3D printing is gaining increasing attention as a viable option to advance personalized therapy for various diseases by regenerating the desired tissues. This review outlines the recently developed 3D printing techniques for clinical translation and specifically summarizes the applications of these approaches for the regeneration of cartilage, bone, and osteochondral tissues. The current challenges and future perspectives of 3D printing technology are also discussed.
Recent Advances in Application of Graphitic Carbon Nitride‐Based Catalysts for Photocatalytic Nitrogen Fixation
Authors: Zhang Lei , Hou Shaoqi , Wang Tianyi , Liu Sixiao , Gao Xiaochun , Wang Chengyin , Wang Guoxiu
Published: June 2022

Ammonia, the second most‐produced chemical, is widely used in agricultural and industrial applications. However, traditional industrial ammonia production dominated by the Haber–Bosch process presents huge resource and environment issues due to the massive energy consumption and CO2 emission. The newly emerged nitrogen fixation technology, photocatalytic N2 reduction reaction (p‐NRR), uses clean solar energy with zero‐emission, holding great prospect to achieve sustainable ammonia synthesis. Although great efforts are made, the p‐NRR catalysts still suffer from poor N2 adsorption and activation, inferior light absorption, and fast recombination of photocarriers. Due to the tunable electronic structure of the metal‐free polymeric graphitic carbon nitride (g‐C3N4), the above‐mentioned issues can be significantly alleviated, making it the most promising p‐NRR photocatalyst. This review summarizes the recent development of g‐C3N4‐based catalysts for p‐NRR, including the working principle of p‐NRR catalysts, the challenges of developing p‐NRR catalysts, and corresponding solutions. Particularly, the roles of defect engineering and heterojunction construction on g‐C3N4 to the enhancement of photocatalytic performances are emphasized. In addition, computational studies are introduced to deepen the understanding of reaction pathways. At last, perspectives are provided on the development of p‐NRR catalysts.
Recent advances of carbon dots as new antimicrobial agents
Authors: Li Pengfei , Sun Lu , Xue Shanshan , Qu Dan , An Li , Wang Xiayan , Sun Zaicheng
Published: June 2022

Due to the COVID‐19 pandemic, many rapid antimicrobial agents have developed intensively. Carbon dots (CDs), a new type of carbon‐based nanomaterials, shows great potential against emerging infectious diseases and antimicrobial‐resistant infections due to their unique optical properties, excellent biocompatibility, and easy surface modification. With the definition of the CDs structure and properties, synthesis, and characteristic technology improvement, the research on the CDs as antimicrobial agents has made significant progress. However, the lack of high repeatable and exact preparation methods, and the regular antimicrobial activity make it far from practical application. In this review, we summarize the most recent progress and challenges of CDs antimicrobial. First, an overview of the characteristics and properties is given, and the advantage of CDs applied to antimicrobial is further discussed. Then, it focuses on research progress on antimicrobial mechanisms under different conditions, the critical factors affecting their antimicrobial activity, and the practical antimicrobial applications. Finally, the main challenges and future research perspectives of antimicrobial CDs are proposed.
The Many Chemists Who Could Have Proposed the Woodward‐Hoffmann Rules But Didn't: The Organic Chemists Who Discovered the Smoking Guns[]**
Authors: Seeman Jeffrey I.
Published: June 2022

It is a reasonable question to ask, why, as of 1965 when the five Woodward‐Hoffmann communications appeared, did no other organic chemist discover the orbital symmetry rules for pericyclic reactions? Two theoretical chemists – Luitzen Oosterhoff (in 1961) and Kenichi Fukui (in 1964) had discovered portions of the orbital symmetry rules before Woodward and Hoffmann. Why not organic chemists? Indeed, perhaps the greatest motivation to discover the mechanism of a mysterious reaction is to uncover key examples of that mysterious reaction in your very own laboratory. The stories of 20 chemists and R. B. Woodward are discussed in this paper which is Paper 6 in a 27‐paper series on the history of Woodward‐Hoffmann rules. Social, political, and scientific explanations will also be presented as partial explanations as to why none of these individuals – except Woodward with Hoffmann – solved the pericyclic no‐mechanism problem.
Comparison of SWEET gene family between maize and foxtail millet through genomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic analyses
Authors: Liu Zheng , Fan Hui , Ma Zhiying
Published: June 2022

Foxtail millet [Setaria italica (L.) P. Beauv.] does not show high yield and biomass compared with maize (Zea mays L.) although it is a C4 crop with the potential for high productivity. Because SWEET genes, which are important for sugar transport in plants, play critical roles in biomass production and seed filling in crops, genome‐wide, transcriptomic, and proteomic comparison on SWEET gene family between these two species would provide some clues for unlocking this issue. In our study, 24 SWEET genes were identified in foxtail millet and maize. Sequence‐based bioinformatics combined with gene expression analyses identified several candidate functional orthologs in these two species. A comparative analysis on expression characteristics of SWEET genes and proteins between maize and foxtail millet indicate that not only some critical major SWEET proteins show significant upregulation in maize compared with their orthologs in foxtail millet, but also there are more quantities of maize SWEET genes showing high expressions than that of foxtail millet genes, suggesting that compared with foxtail millet, maize possesses higher capacity of sugar transport, the crucial determinant for crop yield and biomass. These results provide a basis on revealing why foxtail millet exhibits low yield and biomass although it is a C4 crop with the potential for high productivity.
Designing an evidence‐based free‐flap pathway in head and neck reconstruction
Authors: Mark Michelle , Eggerstedt Michael , Urban Matthew J. , Al‐Khudari Samer , Smith Ryan , Revenaugh Peter
Published: June 2022

Background

The use of autologous free‐tissue transfer is an increasingly utilized tool in the ladder of reconstructive options to preserve and restore function in patients with head and neck cancer. This article focuses on the evidence surrounding perioperative care that optimizes surgical outcomes and describes one tertiary center's approach to standardized free‐flap care.

Data Sources

This article examines English literature from PubMed and offers expert opinion on perioperative free‐flap care for head and neck oncology.

Conclusion

Free‐flap reconstruction for head and neck cancer is a process that, while individualized for each patient, is best supported by a comprehensive and standardized care pathway. Surgical optimization begins in the preoperative phase and a thoughtful approach to intraprofessional communication and evidence‐based practice is rewarded with improved outcomes.
Olfactory and gustatory dysfunctions of COVID‐19 patients in China: A multicenter study
Authors: Li Jianhui , Sun Yi , Qin Enqiang , Yuan Hu , Liu Mingbo , Yi Wenqi , Chen Zhu , Huang Chengcheng , Zhou Fengjie , Chen Ruiyao , Zhang Leibo , Yu Ning , Liu Qiong , Zhou Xuejun , He Jingjing , Li Boyu , Wang Fusheng , Yang Changliang , Yang Shiming
Published: June 2022

Introduction

With the spread of the epidemic worldwide, an increasing number of doctors abroad have observed the following atypical symptoms of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19): olfactory or taste disorders. Therefore, clarifying the incidence and clinical characteristics of olfactory and taste disorders in Chinese COVID‐19 patients is of great significance and urgency.

Materials and Methods

A retrospective study was conducted, which included 229 severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 confirmed patients, through face‐to‐face interviews and telephone follow‐up. Following the completion of questionnaires, the patients participating in the study, were categorized according to the degree of olfactory and taste disorders experienced, and the proportion of each clinical type of patient with olfactory and taste disorders and the time when symptoms appeared were recorded.

Results

Among the 229 patients, 31 (13.54%) had olfactory dysfunction, and 44 (19.21%) had gustatory dysfunction. For the patients with olfactory dysfunction, 6 (19.35%) developed severe disease and became critically ill. Olfactory dysfunction appeared before the other symptoms in 21.43% of cases. The proportion of females with olfactory and gustatory dysfunction was higher than that of males (P < 0.001).

Conclusions

The incidence of olfactory and gustatory dysfunction was much lower than that reported abroad; the prognosis of patients with olfactory dysfunction is relatively favorable; olfactory and gustatory dysfunction can be used as a sign for early screening; females are more prone to olfactory and gustatory dysfunction.
Yeast phospholipase D, Spo14, is not required for macroautophagy
Authors: Chen Yun , Wu Zulin , Dong Lin , You Xia , Ji Yanling , Liang Yongheng
Published: June 2022

Autophagy‐related gene (Atg) proteins are key players in autophagy. Some proteins that function in vesicle trafficking and lipid metabolism are also involved in autophagy. The SPO14 in yeast, which encodes phospholipase D (PLD), is involved in membrane trafficking and plays a vital role in sporulation during meiosis. Crosstalk has been identified between autophagy and sporulation. Although the PLD is required for macroautophagy in mammals, its role in yeast macroautophagy remains unclear. We observed that Spo14 is not required for macroautophagy in yeast and that it is dispensable for Atg8 lipidation, which plays an important role in phagophore extension. Our results also revealed that green fluorescent protein (GFP)‐Atg8 degradation is not completely blocked in atg1Δ/atg1Δ cells under sporulation condition. Therefore, Spo14 is not required for macroautophagy in yeast.
Inspect, Understand, Overcome: A Survey of Practical Methods for AI Safety
Authors: Houben Sebastian , Abrecht Stephanie , Akila Maram , Bär Andreas , Brockherde Felix , Feifel Patrick , Fingscheidt Tim , Gannamaneni Sujan Sai , Ghobadi Seyed Eghbal , Hammam Ahmed , Haselhoff Anselm , Hauser Felix , Heinzemann Christian , Hoffmann Marco , Kapoor Nikhil , Kappel Falk , Klingner Marvin , Kronenberger Jan , Küppers Fabian , Löhdefink Jonas , Mlynarski Michael , Mock Michael , Mualla Firas , Pavlitskaya Svetlana , Poretschkin Maximilian , Pohl Alexander , Ravi-Kumar Varun , Rosenzweig Julia , Rottmann Matthias , Rüping Stefan , Sämann Timo , Schneider Jan David , Schulz Elena , Schwalbe Gesina , Sicking Joachim , Srivastava Toshika , Varghese Serin , Weber Michael , Wirkert Sebastian , Wirtz Tim , Woehrle Matthias
Published: June 2022

Deployment of modern data-driven machine learning methods, most often realized by deep neural networks (DNNs), in safety-critical applications such as health care, industrial plant control, or autonomous driving is highly challenging due to numerous model-inherent shortcomings. These shortcomings are diverse and range from a lack of generalization over insufficient interpretability and implausible predictions to directed attacks by means of malicious inputs. Cyber-physical systems employing DNNs are therefore likely to suffer from so-called safety concerns, properties that preclude their deployment as no argument or experimental setup can help to assess the remaining risk. In recent years, an abundance of state-of-the-art techniques aiming to address these safety concerns has emerged. This chapter provides a structured and broad overview of them. We first identify categories of insufficiencies to then describe research activities aiming at their detection, quantification, or mitigation. Our work addresses machine learning experts and safety engineers alike: The former ones might profit from the broad range of machine learning topics covered and discussions on limitations of recent methods. The latter ones might gain insights into the specifics of modern machine learning methods. We hope that this contribution fuels discussions on desiderata for machine learning systems and strategies on how to help to advance existing approaches accordingly.
Improved DNN Robustness by Multi-task Training with an Auxiliary Self-Supervised Task
Authors: Klingner Marvin , Fingscheidt Tim
Published: June 2022

While deep neural networks for environment perception tasks in autonomous driving systems often achieve impressive performance on clean and well-prepared images, their robustness under real conditions, i.e., on images being perturbed with noise patterns or adversarial attacks, is often subject to a significantly decreased performance. In this chapter, we address this problem for the task of semantic segmentation by proposing multi-task training with the additional task of depth estimation with the goal to improve the DNN robustness. This method has a very wide potential applicability as the additional depth estimation task can be trained in a self-supervised fashion, relying only on unlabeled image sequences during training. The final trained segmentation DNN is, however, still applicable on a single-image basis during inference without additional computational overhead compared to the single-task model. Additionally, our evaluation introduces a measure which allows for a meaningful comparison between different noise and attack types. We show the effectiveness of our approach on the Cityscapes and KITTI datasets, where our method improves the DNN performance w.r.t. the single-task baseline in terms of robustness against multiple noise and adversarial attack types, which is supplemented by an improved absolute prediction performance of the resulting DNN.
Improving Transferability of Generated Universal Adversarial Perturbations for Image Classification and Segmentation
Authors: Hashemi Atiye Sadat , Bär Andreas , Mozaffari Saeed , Fingscheidt Tim
Published: June 2022

Although deep neural networks (DNNs) are high-performance methods for various complex tasks, e.g., environment perception in automated vehicles (AVs), they are vulnerable to adversarial perturbations. Recent works have proven the existence of universal adversarial perturbations (UAPs), which, when added to most images, destroy the output of the respective perception function. Existing attack methods often show a low success rate when attacking target models which are different from the one that the attack was optimized on. To address such weak transferability, we propose a novel learning criterion by combining a low-level feature loss, addressing the similarity of feature representations in the first layer of various model architectures, with a cross-entropy loss. Experimental results on ImageNet and Cityscapes datasets show that our method effectively generates universal adversarial perturbations achieving state-of-the-art fooling rates across different models, tasks, and datasets. Due to their effectiveness, we propose the use of such novel generated UAPs in robustness evaluation of DNN-based environment perception functions for AVs.
Chapter 3 Smittestopp Backend
Authors: Midoglu Cise , Ragan-Kelley Benjamin , Reinemo Sven-Arne , Jahren Jon , Halvorsen Pål
Published: June 2022

An efficient backend solution is of great importance for any large-scale system, and Smittestopp is no exception. The Smittestopp backend comprises various components for user and device registration, mobile app data ingestion, database and cloud operations, and web interface support. This chapter describes our journey from a vague idea to a deployed system. We provide an overview of the system internals and design iterations and discuss the challenges that we faced during the development process, along with the lessons learned. The Smittestopp backend handled around 1.5 million registered devices and provided various insights and analyses before being discontinued a few months after its launch.
Chapter 7 Data aggregation and anonymization for mathematical modeling and epidemiological studies
Authors: Bruaset Are Magnus , Lines Glenn Terje , Sundnes Joakim
Published: June 2022

An important secondary purpose of the Smittestopp development was to provide aggregated data sets describing mobility and social interactions in Norway’s population. The data were to be used to monitor the effect of government regulations and recommendations, provide input to advanced computational models to predict the pandemic’s spread, and provide input to fundamental epidemiology research. In this chapter we describe the challenges and technical solutions of Smittestopp’s data aggregation, as well as preliminary results from the time period when the app was active.We first give a detailed overview of the requirements, specifying the types of data to be collected and the level of spatial and temporal aggregation. We then proceed to describe the concepts for anonymization via :-anonymity and Y-differential privacy (Y-DP ), and the technical solutions for collecting and aggregating data from the database. In particular, we present details of how GPS- and Bluetooth events were mapped to geographical regions and points of interest, and the solutions employed for efficient data retrieval and processing. The preliminary results demonstrate how the recorded GPS- and Bluetooth events match with expected temporal and spatial variations in mobility and social interactions, and indicate the usefulness of the aggregated data as a tool for pandemic monitoring and research. One of the main criticisms of Smittestopp concerns the centralized storage of individuals’ movements, even if such data were used and presented only at an aggregated and anonymized level. In this chapter, we also outline a completely different approach, where the GPS data do not leave the user’s phone but are, instead, pre-processed to a much higher level of privacy before being dispatched to a server-side data aggregation algorithm. This approach, which would make the app significantly less intrusive, is made possible by recent advances in determining close contacts from Bluetooth data, either by a revised Smittestopp algorithm or by means of the Google/Apple Exposure Notification framework.
Some Non-Compactness Results for Locally Homogeneous Contact Metric Manifolds
Authors: Lotta Antonio , Martín-Molina Verónica
Published: June 2022

We exhibit some sufficient conditions ensuring the non-compactness of a locally homogeneous, regular, contact metric manifold, under suitable assumptions on the Jacobi operator of the Reeb vector field.
Erste Daten aus einer digitalen Gesundheits-App für Erektionsstörungen
Authors: Wiemer L. , Bartelheimer T. , Raschke R. , Miller K.
Published: June 2022

Ziel

Im Rahmen einer systematischen Datenanalyse wurde der Einfluss einer evidenzbasierten digitalen Therapie auf die Erektionsfähigkeit, Patientenaktivierung und Lebensqualität untersucht.

Methoden

Ein 12-Wochen-Programm durchliefen 44 Patienten mit erektiler Dysfunktion (ED) in einer App, bestehend aus Beckenboden-, physiotherapeutischen- und kardiovaskulärem Training. Ergänzt wurde dies durch Anleitungen zur Stressbewältigung, Achtsamkeitsmeditationen und sexualtherapeutischen Inhalten. Zusätzlich erhielten die Patienten Informationen über Ihre Erkrankung und deren Ursachen sowie Tipps zu Ernährung und Risikofaktoren.

Der Altersmedian lag bei 46 (19–75) Jahren. Die Patienten wurden vor Beginn und nach Abschluss mittels IIEF-5-, PAM-13- und QoL-Med-Fragebogen befragt. Bei 27 Patienten konnten die Fragebögen zu beiden Zeitpunkten ausgewertet werden.

Ergebnisse

Nach Absolvierung des Programms ergab sich eine sich eine durchschnittliche Verbesserung von 4,5 Punkten beim IIEF‑5 (p < 0,0001). Bei 96 % der Patienten hat sich die Qualität der Erektionen verbessert. 93 % der Patienten zeigten eine Verbesserung der Lebensqualität. Auch bei der Patientenaktivierung zeigte sich eine signifikante Zunahme des durchschnittlichen Gesamtscores.

Schlussfolgerung

Wir konnten zeigen, dass eine multimodale digitale Anwendung zum Selbstmanagement signifikante Verbesserungen der erektionsbezogenen Lebensqualität, der Patientenaktivierung und des Erektionscores bewirkt. Wir sehen, dass Ergebnisse analoger Studien in einer digitalen Gesundheitsanwendung reproduziert werden konnten. Digitale Lösungen erleichtern die Umsetzung der Leitlinienempfehlungen und helfen, Patienten besser in Ihre Behandlung einzubeziehen.
The potential effects of HECTD4 variants on fasting glucose and triglyceride levels in relation to prevalence of type 2 diabetes based on alcohol intake
Authors: Lee Yoo Jeong , Lee Hansongyi , Jang Han Byul , Yoo Min-Gyu , Im Sumin , Koo Soo Kyung , Lee Hye-Ja
Published: June 2022

Excessive alcohol intake is an important cause of major public health problem in East Asian countries. Growing evidence suggests that genetic factors are associated with alcohol consumption and the risk for alcohol-associated disease, and these factors contribute to the risk of developing chronic diseases, including diabetes. This study aims to investigate the association of type 2 diabetes with genetic polymorphisms within HECTD4 based on alcohol exposure. We performed a genome-wide association study involving the cohorts of the KoGES-HEXA study (n = 50,028) and Ansan and Ansung study (n = 7,980), both of which are prospective cohort studies in Korea. The top three single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the HECTD4 gene, specifically rs77768175, rs2074356 and rs11066280, were found to be significantly associated with alcohol consumption. We found that individuals carrying the variant allele in these SNPs had lower fasting blood glucose, triglyceride, and GGT levels than those with the wild-type allele. Multiple logistic regression showed that statistically significant associations of HECTD4 gene polymorphisms with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes were found in drinkers. Namely, these SNPs were associated with decreased odds of diabetes in the presence of alcohol consumption. As a result of examining the effect of alcohol on the expression of the HECTD4 gene, ethanol increased the expression of HECTD4 in cells, but the level was decreased by NAC treatment. Similar results were obtained from liver samples of mice treated with alcohol. Moreover, a loss of HECTD4 resulted in reduced levels of CYP2E1 and lipogenic gene expression in ethanol-treated cells, while the level of ALDH2 expression increased, indicating a reduction in ethanol-induced hepatotoxicity.
Is Regular Weight-Bearing Physical Activity Throughout the Lifecourse Associated with Better Bone Health in Late Adulthood?
Authors: Zhang Jean , Parsons Camille , Fuggle Nicholas , Ward Kate A. , Cooper Cyrus , Dennison Elaine
Published: June 2022

We considered how weight-bearing physical activity (WBPA) through the lifecourse related to bone health in late adulthood in the Hertfordshire Cohort Study (HCS), a cohort of community dwelling adults born 1931–9, to identify sex-specific differences and periods critical for optimal bone health. Available questionnaire data from 258 participants (128 men and 130 women) included current reported lifestyle factors (including physical activity) and WBPA, coded as participation in WBPA aged < 18 years; aged 18–29 years; aged 30–49 years and aged ≥ 50 years. Responses were recorded as none/once a month/once a week/> once a week. Hip bone mineral density (BMD) was measured using a Lunar Prodigy DXA scanner. The mean age was 75.4 (SD 2.5) years in men and 75.7 (SD 2.6) years in women. Men reported significantly higher levels of past WBPA aged < 18 years (p = 0.006) and aged 18–29 years than women (p < 0.001). We observed greater BMD at total hip in women who reported regular WBPA at ages 18–29 years (p = 0.02) and 30–49 years (p = 0.02) compared with those who reported no WBPA (p = 0.019), after adjustment for confounders including current activity levels. In this cohort of older adults, recalled regular WBPA around the time of peak bone mass acquisition was less common in women than men, but associated with higher hip BMD in women in late adulthood.
Therapeutically dosed low molecular weight heparins in renal impairment: a nationwide survey
Authors: Jaspers Tessa Corrine Catherina , Keyany A. , Maat B. , Meijer K. , van den Bemt P. M. L. A. , Khorsand N.
Published: June 2022

Purpose

International guidelines vary in their recommendations whether or not to reduce the therapeutic dose of low molecular weight heparins (LMWHs) in renal impairment. The use of anti-Xa monitoring as a basis of dose adjustments is also a matter of debate. As this may lead to variations in treatment policies, we aimed to study the treatment policies of therapeutically dosed LMWHs in renal impairment in Dutch hospitals.

Methods

An 11-item survey was distributed between June 2020 and March 2021 to hospital pharmacists, representing Dutch hospital organisations. Primary outcomes were the dosing regimens of therapeutically dosed LMWHs in renally impaired patients. Secondary outcomes were the proportion of hospitals that used anti-Xa monitoring and the anti-Xa target range used.

Results

There was a response from 56 of 69 (81%) Dutch hospital organisations where in each case a hospital pharmacist completed the survey. In these hospitals, 77 LMWH regimens were in use. In 76 of 77 (99%) regimens, a regular dose reduction was used at the start of treatment. Fifty-five of these hospitals used a dose reduction if estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) < 50 ml/min and 17 used a dose reduction if eGFR < 30 ml/min. Anti-Xa levels were not routinely monitored in 40% of regimens, while 22% monitored anti-Xa if eGFR < 50 ml/min, 27% if eGFR < 30 ml/min and 10% in other eGFR cutoff values. Target ranges of 1.0–2.0 IU/ml (once daily) and 0.5/0.6–1.0 IU/ml (twice daily) were used in 69% of regimens that included monitoring of anti-Xa.

Conclusion

Treatment policies show substantial diversity in therapeutically dosed LMWHs in renally impaired patients. The most commonly used treatment regimen was a regular dose reduction if eGFR is < 50 ml/min, without anti-Xa monitoring.
Obvious manipulations in cake-cutting
Authors: Ortega Josué , Segal-Halevi Erel
Published: June 2022

In the classical cake-cutting problem, strategy-proofness is a very costly requirement in terms of fairness: for $$n=2$$

n
=
2

it implies a dictatorial allocation, whereas for $$n\ge 3$$

n
≥
3

it implies that one agent receives no cake. We show that a weaker version of this property recently suggested by Troyan and Morril (J Econ Theory 185:104970, 2019) is compatible with the fairness property of proportionality, which guarantees that each agent receives 1/n of the cake. Both properties are satisfied by the leftmost-leaves mechanism, an adaptation of the Dubins–Spanier moving knife procedure. Most other classical proportional mechanisms in the literature are obviously manipulable, including the original moving knife mechanism and some other variants of it.
Revisiting the physical mechanisms of East Asian summer monsoon precipitation changes during the mid-Holocene: a data–model comparison
Authors: Sun Yong , Wu Haibin , Ramstein Gilles , Liu Bo , Zhao Yan , Li Laurent , Yuan Xiayu , Zhang Wenchao , Li Lijuan , Zou Liwei , Zhou Tianjun
Published: June 2022

The mid-Holocene (MH; 6 ka) is one of the benchmark periods for the Paleoclimate Modeling Intercomparison Project (PMIP) and provides a unique opportunity to study monsoon dynamics and orbital forcing (i.e., mostly precession) that differ significantly from the present day. We conducted a data–model comparison along with a dynamic analysis to investigate monsoonal (i.e., East Asian summer monsoon; EASM) precipitation changes over East Asia during the MH. We used the three phases of the PMIP simulations for the MH, and quantitatively compare model results with pollen-based climate records. The data–model comparison shows an overall increase in the summer monsoon precipitation, except a local decrease during the MH. Decomposition of the moisture budget into thermodynamic and dynamic components allows us to assess their relative role in controlling EASM precipitation during the MH, and to investigate the precipitation changes obtained from pollen records in terms of physical processes. We show that the dynamic effect, rather than the thermodynamic effect, is the dominant control in increased EASM precipitation during the MH in both the proxy records and models. The dynamic increase in precipitation results mainly from the enhancement of horizontal monsoonal moisture transport that is caused by intensified stationary eddy horizontal circulation over East Asia. In addition, a cloud-related cooling effect reduced the thermodynamic contribution to the increase in EASM precipitation during the MH.
Management of pericardial tamponade in the electrophysiology laboratory: results from a national survey
Authors: Metzner Andreas , Reubold Stephan D. , Schönhofer Sophie , Reißmann Bruno , Ouyang Feifan , Rottner Laura , Schleberger Ruben , Dinshaw Leon , Moser Julia , Moser Fabian , Lemoine Marc , Münkler Paula , Kany Shinwan , Steven Daniel , Sommer Philipp , Kirchhof Paulus , Rillig Andreas
Published: June 2022

Background

Despite continued efforts to improve the safety of catheter ablation, pericardial tamponade remains one of its more frequent, potentially life-threatening complications. Management of cardiac tamponade is not standardized and uncertainties regarding acute treatment remain.

Methods

This survey sought to evaluate the management of cardiac tamponade in German EP centers via a standardized postal questionnaire. All 341 identified German EP centers were invited to return a questionnaire on their standards for the management of cardiac tamponade.

Results

A total of 189 German EP centers completed the questionnaire. Several precautions are followed to avoid pericardial tamponade: A minority of centers preclude very old patients (19%) or those with a high body mass index (30%) from ablation. Non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants are briefly paused in most centers (88%) before procedures, while vitamin K antagonists are continued. Pericardial tamponade is usually treated using reversal of heparin by applying protamine (86%) and pericardiocentesis under both, fluoroscopic and echocardiographic guidance (62%). A pigtail catheter is mostly inserted (97%) and autotransfusion of aspirated blood is performed in 47% of centers. The decision for surgical repair depends on different clinical and infrastructural aspects. The timing of reinitiation of anticoagulation widely differs between the centers. Approximately 1/3 of centers prescribe nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents, colchicine or steroids after pericardiocentesis.

Conclusion

The present survey shows that the management of cardiac tamponade is still inhomogeneous in German ablation centers. However, multiple findings of this survey can be generalized and might guide especially less experienced operators and centers in their treatment and decision strategies.
Effects of transdermal versus oral hormone replacement therapy in postmenopause: a systematic review
Authors: Goldštajn Marina Šprem , Mikuš Mislav , Ferrari Filippo Alberto , Bosco Mariachiara , Uccella Stefano , Noventa Marco , Török Peter , Terzic Sanja , Laganà Antonio Simone , Garzon Simone
Published: June 2022

Purpose

To summarize available evidence comparing the transdermal and the oral administration routes of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in postmenopausal women.

Methods

We performed a systematic review of the literature on multiple databases between January 1990 and December 2021. We included randomized controlled trials and observational studies comparing the transdermal and oral administration routes of estrogens for HRT in postmenopausal women regarding at least one of the outcomes of interest: cardiovascular risk, venous thromboembolism (VTE), lipid metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism, bone mineral density (BMD), and risk of pre-malignant and malignant endometrial lesions, or breast cancer.

Results

The systematic literature search identified a total of 1369 manuscripts, of which 51 were included. Most studies were observational and of good quality, whereas the majority of randomized controlled trials presented a high or medium risk of bias. Oral and transdermal administration routes are similar regarding BMD, glucose metabolism, and lipid profile improvements, as well as do not appear different regarding breast cancer, endometrial disease, and cardiovascular risk. Identified literature provides clear evidence only for the VTE risk, which is higher with the oral administration route.

Conclusions

Available evidence comparing the transdermal and oral administration routes for HRT is limited and of low quality, recommending further investigations. VTE risk can be considered the clearest and strongest clinical difference between the two administration routes, supporting the transdermal HRT as safer than the oral administration route.
Plant richness, land use and temperature differently shape invertebrate leaf-chewing herbivory on plant functional groups
Authors: Fricke Ute , Redlich Sarah , Zhang Jie , Tobisch Cynthia , Rojas-Botero Sandra , Benjamin Caryl S. , Englmeier Jana , Ganuza Cristina , Riebl Rebekka , Uhler Johannes , Uphus Lars , Ewald Jörg , Kollmann Johannes , Steffan-Dewenter Ingolf
Published: June 2022

Higher temperatures can increase metabolic rates and carbon demands of invertebrate herbivores, which may shift leaf-chewing herbivory among plant functional groups differing in C:N (carbon:nitrogen) ratios. Biotic factors influencing herbivore species richness may modulate these temperature effects. Yet, systematic studies comparing leaf-chewing herbivory among plant functional groups in different habitats and landscapes along temperature gradients are lacking. This study was conducted on 80 plots covering large gradients of temperature, plant richness and land use in Bavaria, Germany. We investigated proportional leaf area loss by chewing invertebrates (‘herbivory’) in three plant functional groups on open herbaceous vegetation. As potential drivers, we considered local mean temperature (range 8.4–18.8 °C), multi-annual mean temperature (range 6.5–10.0 °C), local plant richness (species and family level, ranges 10–51 species, 5–25 families), adjacent habitat type (forest, grassland, arable field, settlement), proportion of grassland and landscape diversity (0.2–3 km scale). We observed differential responses of leaf-chewing herbivory among plant functional groups in response to plant richness (family level only) and habitat type, but not to grassland proportion, landscape diversity and temperature—except for multi-annual mean temperature influencing herbivory on grassland plots. Three-way interactions of plant functional group, temperature and predictors of plant richness or land use did not substantially impact herbivory. We conclude that abiotic and biotic factors can assert different effects on leaf-chewing herbivory among plant functional groups. At present, effects of plant richness and habitat type outweigh effects of temperature and landscape-scale land use on herbivory among legumes, forbs and grasses.
Communication when it is needed most—the past, present and future of volcano geoheritage
Authors: Stix John , Heiken Grant
Published: June 2022

Our understanding of volcanoes and volcanic systems has been communicated through legends maintained by indigenous communities and books and journal articles for the scientific community and for the public. Today we have additional means to communicate knowledge and information, such as social media, films, videos and websites. To build on these mechanisms, we propose a comprehensive system of information collection and dissemination which will impact and benefit scientists, officials and politicians, students and the public at large. This system comprises (1) an information web for broad understanding of volcano systems and volcanology, and (2) a second web for individual volcanoes. This integrated geoheritage approach provides a template for information dissemination and exchange in the twenty-first century.
First volumetric records of airborne Cladosporium and Alternaria spores in the atmosphere of Al Khor (northern Qatar): a preliminary survey
Authors: Gharbi Dorra , Mobayed Hassan M. , Ali Ramzy Mohammed , Tuffaha Amjad , Dason Blessing Reena , Ibrahim Tayseer , Adeli Mehdi , Sattar Hisham A. , Trigo Maria del Mar , Al-Nesf Maryam Ali
Published: June 2022

Daily monitoring of airborne fungal spores was carried out for the first time in Al Khor city, Qatar, using a Hirst type 7-day recording volumetric spore trap, from May 2017 to May 2019. During the sampling period, the annual and monthly fluctuations, as well as intradiurnal variations of airborne fungal spore concentrations, were evaluated. Cladosporium, followed by Alternaria, were the spore types most abundant in the atmosphere of the city, with a strong interannual variability in the atmospheric concentrations being observed. The Annual Spore Integrals (ASIns) were 3334 and 1172 spore * day/m3 (2017–2018), and 6796 and 1538 spore * day/m3 (2018–2019) for Cladosporium and Alternaria, respectively. Total daily spore concentrations showed significantly positive correlations with mean, minimum, and maximum temperatures but significantly negative correlations with relative humidity. However, due to the scarce rainfalls’ days, we did not find a statistically significant correlations between Cladosporium and Alternaria spore concentrations and this parameter. Despite this, the spore peaks were strongly related to precipitations that occurred during the previous month. In general, no significant correlations were found with wind speed but, regarding wind direction, the higher percentage of spores were collected when wind blows from the 4th quadrant (NW). According to the intradiurnal pattern, Cladosporium fungal spores displayed their maximum daily concentration during 8:00–10:00 h in the morning, with a second peak in the afternoon, while for Alternaria, the maximum peaks were observed between 08:00 and 14:00 h. Because no consistent previous aerobiological studies exist from Qatar, the aim of this study is to define the seasonality and intradiurnal behaviour of these two airborne fungal spore and the role that, in such arid scene, the meteorological parameters play on the spore concentrations.
Pre-spawning fat and trace metals in Diplodus sargus (Pisces, Sparidae) and possible relationship with the abnormally tough syndrome (ATS)
Authors: Casadevall M. , Merciai R. , Lloret J. , Rodríguez-Prieto C.
Published: June 2022

This research aimed to explore the variability in the distribution of muscle, perivisceral, and retroperitoneal fat in Diplodus sargus during the pre-spawning period (the period of maximum accumulation of fat reserves) and its possible relationship with the abnormally tough specimen syndrome (ATS) affecting this species. Since pollutants accumulate in adipose tissue, trace metal load in the fattest specimens were also analyzed. Muscle fat content and abdominal fat were highly correlated, and larger individuals had more abundant abdominal fat. However, given its great variability (26% of the specimens had no abdominal fat at all), abdominal fat is likely a transitional fat to be quickly transferred to other tissues. The liver appeared to have a minor role as a fat deposit in D. sargus since HSI varied relatively little. None of the fishes without lipidic reserves were ATS individuals; by contrast, the only ATS individual found, a 28 cm male, showed a muscle fat content above the observed average and one of the highest amounts of perivisceral and retroperitoneal fat. Therefore, we conclude that flesh hardness is not directly related to the low lipid reserves. However, this ATS individual showed a very high liver copper concentration, suggesting a potential link between fat content, copper concentration, and ATS syndrome that should be explored in the future.
Translating COVID-19: From Contagion to Containment
Authors: Arnaldi Marta , Engebretsen Eivind , Forsdick Charles
Published: June 2022

This article tests the hypothesis that all pandemics are inherently translational. We argue that translation and translation theory can be fruitfully used to understand and manage epidemics, as they help us explore concepts of infectivity and immunity in terms of cultural and biological resistance. After examining the linkage between translation and coronavirus disease from three different yet interlinked perspectives—cultural, medical, and biocultural—we make a case for a translational medical humanities framework for tackling the multifactorial crisis brought about by the SARS-CoV-2 infection. This innovative entanglement of perspectives has the merit of carving out a new space for translation research at the intersection of the sciences and the humanities, providing sustainable ways to conceptualize the production of science at times of crisis, and challenging conventional views of translation as a primarily linguistic and cultural phenomenon that traditionally does not engage with science.
The Association between Subjective Well-being and Regime Type across 78 countries: the moderating role of Political Trust
Authors: Prati Gabriele
Published: June 2022

This study investigates the association between regime type, political trust, and subjective well-being (SWB) in 78 countries. Differently from previous works, democracy was conceptualized in terms of a multidimensional model (i.e., regime type), rather than a bipolar continuum ranging from authoritarian regimes to full democracies. The first question was raised as to whether regime characteristics would be nonlinearly related to SWB. A second question was examined as to whether political trust could moderate the relationship between regime type and well-being, such that under conditions of high or low trust in the government the differences in well-being across the type of regimes would be reduced. Data from the European Values Study as well as from the World Value Survey were used. Moreover, regime types were defined according to the Varieties of Democracy as well as the Economist Intelligence Unit. Multilevel analyses revealed that life satisfaction scores were lower for electoral autocracy compared to closed autocracy and liberal democracy. Moreover, happiness scores were significantly higher for full democracies compared to authoritarian regimes and flawed democracies. Finally, political trust moderated the association between regime type and SWB. Specifically, at higher or lower levels of political trust, the relationship between regime type and well-being tended to decrease. Overall, the findings support the conclusion that the relationship between democracy and subjective well‐being is nonlinear, and that the role of political trust is as important as the role of democracy.
Effect of dose splitting of a low-volume bowel preparation macrogol-based solution on CT colonography tagging quality
Authors: Mistretta Francesco , Damiani Nicolò , Campanella Delia , Mazzetti Simone , Gulino Alessia , Cappello Giovanni , Regge Daniele
Published: June 2022

Purpose

To compare examination quality and acceptability of three different low-volume bowel preparation regimens differing in scheduling of the oral administration of a Macrogol-based solution, in patients undergoing computed tomographic colonography (CTC). The secondary aim was to compare CTC quality according to anatomical and patient variables (dolichocolon, colonic diverticulosis, functional and secondary constipation).

Methods

One-hundred-eighty patients were randomized into one of three regimens where PEG was administered, respectively: in a single dose the day prior to (A), or in a fractionated dose 2 (B) and 3 days (C) before the examination. Two experienced radiologists evaluated fecal tagging (FT) density and homogeneity both qualitatively and quantitatively by assessing mean segment density (MSD) and relative standard deviation (RSD). Tolerance to the regimens and patient variables were also recorded.

Results

Compared to B and C, regimen A showed a lower percentage of segments with inadequate FT and a significantly higher median FT density and/or homogeneity scores as well as significantly higher MSD values in some colonic segments. No statistically significant differences were found in tolerance of the preparations. A higher number of inadequate segments were observed in patients with dolichocolon (p < 0.01) and secondary constipation (p < 0.01). Interobserver agreement was high for the assessment of both FT density (k = 0.887) and homogeneity (k = 0.852).

Conclusion

The best examination quality was obtained when PEG was administered the day before CTC in a single session. The presence of dolichocolon and secondary constipation represent a risk factor for the presence of inadequately tagged colonic segments.
Welche Aufgaben hat eine Community Health Nurse?
Authors: Iversen Linda , Wolf-Ostermann Karin , Petersen-Ewert Corinna
Published: June 2022

Hintergrund

International stellt Community Health Nursing (CHN) ein etabliertes Konzept dar. Auch in Deutschland wird gegenwärtig die Implementierung in die Primärversorgung diskutiert. Eine systematische Darstellung, welche Aufgaben und Interventionen CHN in der Versorgungspraxis durchführen, fehlt bislang.

Methodik

Im Rahmen eines Scoping Reviews wurde eine Literaturrecherche in internationalen Datenbanken durchgeführt, um einen Überblick der Literatur zu Interventionen und Tätigkeitsfelder von CHN zu erhalten.

Ergebnisse

Insgesamt konnten 24 Studien in die Analyse eingeschlossen werden. Verschiedene Aufgabenschwerpunkte konnten identifiziert und kategorisiert werden: Gesundheitsförderung/Prävention, Evidenzbasierung, Individualversorgung, übergeordnete Tätigkeiten.

Schlussfolgerung

Die Ergebnisse sprechen dafür, dass durch CHN-Interventionen die Versorgung chronisch Erkrankter verbessert werden kann. Die Übertragbarkeit der Ergebnisse auf das deutsche Gesundheitssystem ist derzeit aufgrund der berufsrechtlichen Lage und der Unklarheit bezogen auf die Finanzierung nur eingeschränkt möglich.