bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Autologe Serumaugentropfen bei therapieresistenten Epitheldefekten der Kornea
Authors: Weischnur Laura , Xanthopoulou Kassandra , Munteanu Cristian , Leonhard Marie , Daas Loay , Seitz Berthold
Published: June 2022

Hintergrund

Ziel der Studie war es, den Einfluss einer simultanen Amnionmembrantransplantation (AMT), des Hornhaut(HH)-Status (eigene HH vs. Transplantat [TPL]) und der Grunderkrankung auf die Erfolgs- und Rezidivraten des autologen Serums (AS) bei therapieresistenten Epitheldefekten zu evaluieren.

Patienten und Methoden

Von 2007 bis 2019 wurden 990 Therapien mit AS an 703 Augen von 645 Patienten retrospektiv untersucht. Erfasst wurden das Vorliegen einer Erosio oder Ulkus, die Anwendung einer AMT, der HH-Status und die Grunderkrankung. Zielgrößen waren die Epithelschlussrate innerhalb 4 Wochen und die Rezidivrate nach Epithelschluss. Die mediane Beobachtungszeit betrug 50 Monate.

Ergebnisse

Ein Epithelschluss zeigte sich bei 73,6 % und ein Rezidiv bei 27,4 %. Eine AMT wurde signifikant häufiger bei Ulzera (p < 0,001) und Rezidiven (p = 0,048) angewandt. Ohne AMT ergab sich eine signifikant höhere Epithelschlussrate (p < 0,001) und schnellere Heilungstendenz (p < 0,001). Es bestand kein Unterschied zwischen der eigenen HH und dem TPL in der Epithelschlussrate (p = 0,47). Auf dem TPL zeigte sich eine signifikant höhere Rezidivrate (p = 0,004) und ein schnelleres Rezidivauftreten (p = 0,03), v. a. ≤6 Monate nach Epithelschluss. Die Grunderkrankungen zeigten einen signifikanten Unterschied in der Epithelschluss- (p = 0,02) und Rezidivrate (p < 0,001) mit höchstem Erfolg bei HH-Dystrophien und geringstem bei kongenitaler Aniridie.

Schlussfolgerungen

Das AS stellt eine effektive Therapieoption bei therapieresistenten Epitheldefekten dar. Es zeigt auf dem TPL eine hohe Erfolgsrate bei zugleich höherer Rezidivneigung. Bei simultaner AMT ist wegen der erhöhten Komplexität des zugrunde liegenden Problems mit geringeren Erfolgsraten zu rechnen. Das AS ist bei verschiedenen Grunderkrankungen erfolgreich einsetzbar, mit Limitationen bei der kongenitalen Aniridie.
Semi-supervised and personalized federated activity recognition based on active learning and label propagation
Authors: Presotto Riccardo , Civitarese Gabriele , Bettini Claudio
Published: June 2022

One of the major open problems in sensor-based Human Activity Recognition (HAR) is the scarcity of labeled data. Among the many solutions to address this challenge, semi-supervised learning approaches represent a promising direction. However, their centralized architecture incurs in the scalability and privacy problems that arise when the process involves a large number of users. Federated learning (FL) is a promising paradigm to address these problems. However, the FL methods that have been proposed for HAR assume that the participating users can always obtain labels to train their local models (i.e., they assume a fully supervised setting). In this work, we propose FedAR: a novel hybrid method for HAR that combines semi-supervised and federated learning to take advantage of the strengths of both approaches. FedAR combines active learning and label propagation to semi-automatically annotate the local streams of unlabeled sensor data, and it relies on FL to build a global activity model in a scalable and privacy-aware fashion. FedAR also includes a transfer learning strategy to fine-tune the global model on each user. We evaluated our method on two public datasets, showing that FedAR reaches recognition rates and personalization capabilities similar to state-of-the-art FL supervised approaches. As a major advantage, FedAR only requires a very limited number of annotated data to populate a pre-trained model and a small number of active learning questions that quickly decrease while using the system, leading to an effective and scalable solution for the data scarcity problem of HAR.
Positioning performance of the Neustrelitz total electron content model driven by Galileo Az coefficients
Authors: Cahuasquí Juan Andrés , Hoque Mohammed Mainul , Jakowski Norbert
Published: June 2022

To aid single-frequency GNSS users, the Neustrelitz Total Electron Content Model (NTCM) has been proposed as an adequate solution to mitigate propagation errors besides the GPS Klobuchar and Galileo NeQuick models. Using the three effective ionization coefficients broadcast in the Galileo navigation message as driver parameters, the version NTCM-GlAzpar, in general, performs equal to or better than NeQuickG when compared to the total electron content domain. In this work, we performed a global statistical validation of the NTCM-GlAzpar model in the position domain by comparing its results with the results of the Klobuchar and NeQuickG models for the first time. For this purpose, we used the GNSS analysis tool gLAB and its customization capabilities in the Standard Point Positioning mode. The data used for model validation correspond to a one-month period of perturbed solar and geomagnetic activity (December 2014) and another one-month period of quiet conditions (December 2019). The data have a worldwide coverage with up to 73 IGS stations. The statistical analysis of the hourly average 3D position error shows that the root mean squared (RMS) values of the Klobuchar model are 6.71 and 2.75 m for the perturbed and quiet conditions, respectively, whereas the NeQuickG model has RMS values of 4.61 and 2.35 m. In comparison, the corresponding RMS values of 4.36 and 2.32 m of the NTCM-GlAzpar model confirm its better positioning performance for both periods. However, we identify also that the performance of NTCM-GlAzpar slightly worsens toward higher latitudes and at night local time. Simple software adaptations and a low computational cost make NTCM-GlAzpar an alternative practicable algorithm to improve the accuracy of GNSS single-frequency applications.
Bridging Theories for Ecosystem Stability Through Structural Sensitivity Analysis of Ecological Models in Equilibrium
Authors: Kuiper Jan J. , Kooi Bob W. , Peterson Garry D. , Mooij Wolf M.
Published: June 2022

Ecologists are challenged by the need to bridge and synthesize different approaches and theories to obtain a coherent understanding of ecosystems in a changing world. Both food web theory and regime shift theory shine light on mechanisms that confer stability to ecosystems, but from different angles. Empirical food web models are developed to analyze how equilibria in real multi-trophic ecosystems are shaped by species interactions, and often include linear functional response terms for simple estimation of interaction strengths from observations. Models of regime shifts focus on qualitative changes of equilibrium points in a slowly changing environment, and typically include non-linear functional response terms. Currently, it is unclear how the stability of an empirical food web model, expressed as the rate of system recovery after a small perturbation, relates to the vulnerability of the ecosystem to collapse. Here, we conduct structural sensitivity analyses of classical consumer-resource models in equilibrium along an environmental gradient. Specifically, we change non-proportional interaction terms into proportional ones, while maintaining the equilibrium biomass densities and material flux rates, to analyze how alternative model formulations shape the stability properties of the equilibria. The results reveal no consistent relationship between the stability of the original models and the proportionalized versions, even though they describe the same biomass values and material flows. We use these findings to critically discuss whether stability analysis of observed equilibria by empirical food web models can provide insight into regime shift dynamics, and highlight the challenge of bridging alternative modelling approaches in ecology and beyond.
Evaluation of the in vitro acaricidal activity of ethanol extracts of seven Chinese medicinal herbs on Ornithonyssus sylviarum (Acari: Macronyssidae)
Authors: Jian Yichen , Li Shijie , Li Dongliang , Ning Changshen , Zhang Sumei , Jian Fuchun , Si Hongbin
Published: June 2022

Ornithonyssus sylviarum (Acari: Macronyssidae) is a common ectoparasite that feeds on the blood of poultry. Following infestation, this mite will cause symptoms such as weight loss, anemia, and decreased egg production. To explore green and safe drugs for the prevention and treatment of O. sylviarum, this study evaluated the effects of ethanol extracts of seven Chinese medicinal herbs—Leonurus artemisia (motherwort), Illicium verum (star anise), Cinnamomum cassia (cinnamon), Hibiscus syriacus, Artemisia argyi (Chinese mugwort), Taraxacum sp. (dandelion), and Syzygium aromaticum (clove)—on O. sylviarum at different life stages. The results showed that different methods of administration affected the acaricidal efficacy of these plant extracts on O. sylviarum. After 6 h of administration with the fumigation method, the acaricidal efficacy of S. aromaticum on adults, nymphs and larvae of O. sylviarum reached 100%. 30 min after administration with the infiltration method, S. aromaticum, H. syriacus and L. artemisia showed acaricidal effects on adults and nymphs of O. sylviarum reaching 100%. In another experiment evaluating the inhibition of egg hatching of O. sylviarum with alcohol extracts of these seven herbs, at 48 h after treatment, A. argyi and C. cassia showed inhibition rates of 19.4%. The results of this study indicate that S. aromaticum induced mortality at all stages of O. sylviarum, whereas A. argyi was found to be the most effective at inhibiting the mite’s egg hatching among the seven herbs. These herbs can therefore be used as potential substitutes for chemical pesticides to prevent and control O. sylviarum. These results provide practical knowledge for the control of O. sylviarum.
Severe tropical cyclones over southwest Pacific Islands: economic impacts and implications for disaster risk management
Authors: Deo Anil , Chand Savin S. , McIntosh R. Duncan , Prakash Bipen , Holbrook Neil J. , Magee Andrew , Haruhiru Alick , Malsale Philip
Published: June 2022

Tropical cyclones (TCs) are amongst the costliest natural hazards for southwest Pacific (SWP) Island nations. Extreme winds coupled with heavy rainfall and related coastal hazards, such as large waves and high seas, can have devastating consequences for life and property. Effects of anthropogenic climate change are likely to make TCs even more destructive in the SWP (as that observed particularly over Fiji) and elsewhere around the globe, yet TCs may occur less often. However, the underpinning science of quantifying future TC projections amid multiple uncertainties can be complex. The challenge for scientists is how to turn such technical knowledge framed around uncertainties into tangible products to inform decision-making in the disaster risk management (DRM) and disaster risk reduction (DRR) sector. Drawing on experiences from past TC events as analogies to what may happen in a warming climate can be useful. The role of science-based climate services tailored to the needs of the DRM and DRR sector is critical in this context. In the first part of this paper, we examine cases of historically severe TCs in the SWP and quantify their socio-economic impacts. The second part of this paper discusses a decision-support framework developed in collaboration with a number of agencies in the SWP, featuring science-based climate services that inform different stages of planning in national-level risk management strategies.
Discovery of eQTL Alleles Associated with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Case–Control Study
Authors: Hickman Allison R. , Selee Bradley , Pauly Rini , Husain Benafsh , Hang Yuqing , Feltus Frank Alex
Published: June 2022

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by challenges in social communication as well as repetitive or restrictive behaviors. Many genetic associations with ASD have been identified, but most associations occur in a fraction of the ASD population. Here, we searched for eQTL-associated DNA variants with significantly different allele distributions between ASD-affected and control. Thirty significant DNA variants associated with 174 tissue-specific eQTLs from ASD individuals in the SPARK project were identified. Several significant variants fell within brain-specific regulatory regions or had been associated with a significant change in gene expression in the brain. These eQTLs are a new class of biomarkers that could control the myriad of brain and non-brain phenotypic traits seen in ASD-affected individuals.
Provocation and localization of atrial ectopy in patients with atrial septal defects
Authors: O’Neill Louisa , Sim Iain , O’Hare Daniel , Whitaker John , Mukherjee Rahul K. , Niederer Steven , Wright Matthew , Ezzat Vivienne , Rosenthal Eric , Jones Matthew I. , Frigiola Alessandra , O’Neill Mark D. , Williams Steven E.
Published: June 2022

Background

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with atrial septal defects (ASDs), but the mechanism of arrhythmia in these patients is poorly understood. We hypothesised that right-sided atrial ectopy may predominate in this cohort. Here, we aimed to localise the origin of spontaneous and provoked atrial ectopy in ASD patients.

Methods

Following invasive calibration of P-wave axes, 24-h Holter monitoring was used to determine the chamber of origin of spontaneous atrial ectopy. Simultaneous electrogram recording from multiple intra-cardiac catheters was used to determine the chamber of origin of isoprenaline-provoked ectopy. Comparison was made to a group of non-congenital heart disease AF patients.

Results

Amongst ASD patients, a right-sided origin for spontaneous atrial ectopy was significantly more prevalent than a left-sided origin (24/30 patients with right-sided ectopy vs. 14/30 with left-sided ectopy, P = 0.015). Amongst AF patients, there was no difference in the prevalence of spontaneous right vs. left-sided ectopy. For isoprenaline-provoked ectopy, there was no significant difference in the proportions of patients with right-sided or left-sided ectopy in either group.

Conclusions

When spontaneous atrial ectopy occurs in ASD patients, it is significantly more prevalent from a right-sided than left-sided origin. Isoprenaline infusion did not reveal the predilection for right-sided ectopy during electrophysiology study.
Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase SHP2 Controls Interleukin-8 Expression in Breast Cancer Cells
Authors: Amante Romain J. , Auf der Maur Priska , Richina Veronica , Sethi Atul , Iesmantavicius Vytautas , Bonenfant Debora , Aceto Nicola , Bentires-Alj Mohamed
Published: June 2022

Treatment of metastasis remains a clinical challenge and the majority of breast cancer-related deaths are the result of drug-resistant metastases. The protein tyrosine phosphatase SHP2 encoded by the proto-oncogene PTPN11 promotes breast cancer progression. Inhibition of SHP2 has been shown to decrease metastases formation in various breast cancer models, but specific downstream effectors of SHP2 remain poorly characterized. Certain cytokines in the metastatic cascade facilitate local invasion and promote metastatic colonization. In this study, we investigated cytokines affected by SHP2 that could be relevant for its pro-tumorigenic properties. We used a cytokine array to investigate differentially released cytokines in the supernatant of SHP2 inhibitor-treated breast cancer cells. Expression of CXCL8 transcripts and protein abundance were assessed in human breast cancer cell lines in which we blocked SHP2 using shRNA constructs or an allosteric inhibitor. The impact of SHP2 inhibition on the phospho-tyrosine-proteome and signaling was determined using mass spectrometry. From previously published RNAseq data (Aceto et al. in Nat. Med. 18:529–37, 2012), we computed transcription factor activities using an integrated system for motif activity response analysis (ISMARA) (Balwierz et al. in Genome Res. 24:869–84, 2014). Finally, using siRNA against ETS1, we investigated whether ETS1 directly influences CXCL8 expression levels. We found that IL-8 is one of the most downregulated cytokines in cell supernatants upon SHP2 blockade, with a twofold decrease in CXCL8 transcripts and a fourfold decrease in IL-8 protein. These effects were also observed in preclinical tumor models. Analysis of the phospho-tyrosine-proteome revealed that several effectors of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway are downregulated upon SHP2 inhibition in vitro. MEK1/2 inhibition consistently reduced IL-8 levels in breast cancer cell supernatants. Computational analysis of RNAseq data from SHP2-depleted tumors revealed reduced activity of the transcription factor ETS1, a direct target of ERK and a transcription factor reported to regulate IL-8 expression. Our work reveals that SHP2 mediates breast cancer progression by enhancing the production and secretion of the pro-metastatic cytokine IL-8. We also provide mechanistic insights into the effects of SHP2 inhibition and its downstream repercussions. Overall, these results support a rationale for targeting SHP2 in breast cancer.
In vivo measurement of skin heat capacity: advantages of the scanning calorimetric sensor
Authors: Rodriguez de Rivera Pedro Jesús , Rodriguez de Rivera Miriam , Socorro Fabiola , Rodriguez de Rivera Manuel
Published: June 2022

Measurement of the heat capacity of human tissues is mainly performed by differential scanning calorimetry. In vivo measurement of this property is an underexplored field. There are few instruments capable of measuring skin heat capacity in vivo. In this work, we present a sensor developed to determine the heat capacity of a 4 cm2 skin area. The sensor consists of a thermopile equipped with a programmable thermostat. The principle of operation consists of a linear variation of the temperature of the sensor thermostat, while the device is applied to the skin. To relate the heat capacity of the skin with the signals provided by the sensor, a two-body RC model is considered. The heat capacity of skin varies between 4.1 and 6.6 JK−1 for a 2 × 2 cm2 area. This magnitude is different in each zone and depends on several factors. The most determining factor is the water content of the tissue. This sensor can be a versatile and useful tool in the field of physiology.
Safety-constrained reinforcement learning with a distributional safety critic
Authors: Yang Qisong , Simão Thiago D. , Tindemans Simon H. , Spaan Matthijs T. J.
Published: June 2022

Safety is critical to broadening the real-world use of reinforcement learning. Modeling the safety aspects using a safety-cost signal separate from the reward and bounding the expected safety-cost is becoming standard practice, since it avoids the problem of finding a good balance between safety and performance. However, it can be risky to set constraints only on the expectation neglecting the tail of the distribution, which might have prohibitively large values. In this paper, we propose a method called Worst-Case Soft Actor Critic for safe RL that approximates the distribution of accumulated safety-costs to achieve risk control. More specifically, a certain level of conditional Value-at-Risk from the distribution is regarded as a safety constraint, which guides the change of adaptive safety weights to achieve a trade-off between reward and safety. As a result, we can compute policies whose worst-case performance satisfies the constraints. We investigate two ways to estimate the safety-cost distribution, namely a Gaussian approximation and a quantile regression algorithm. On the one hand, the Gaussian approximation is simple and easy to implement, but may underestimate the safety cost, on the other hand, the quantile regression leads to a more conservative behavior. The empirical analysis shows that the quantile regression method achieves excellent results in complex safety-constrained environments, showing good risk control.
First Nations’ interactions with underground storage organs in southwestern Australia, a Mediterranean climate Global Biodiversity Hotspot
Authors: Lullfitz Alison , Knapp Lynette , Cummings Shandell , Hopper Stephen D.
Published: June 2022

Aims and background

Underground storage organs (USOs) have long featured prominently in human diets. They are reliable year-round resources, especially valuable in seasonal climates. We review a significant but scattered literature and oral recounts of USOs utilised by Noongar people of the Southwest Australian Floristic Region (SWAFR). USOs are important to First Nations cultures in other geophyte-rich regions with Mediterranean climate, with specialist knowledge employed, and productive parts of the landscape targeted for harvest, with likely ecological interactions and consequences.

Methods

We have gathered Noongar knowledge of USOs in the SWAFR to better understand the ecological role of Noongar-USO relationships that have existed for millennia.

Results

We estimate that 418 USO taxa across 25 families have Noongar names and/or uses. Additionally, three USO taxa in the SWAFR weed flora are consumed by Noongar people. We found parallels in employment of specific knowledge and targeted ecological disturbance with First Nations’ practice in other geophyte-rich floristic regions. We found that only in 20% of cases could we identify the original source of recorded USO knowledge to an acknowledged Noongar person.

Conclusion

This review identified that traditional Noongar access to USOs is taxonomically and geographically extensive, employing specific knowledge and technology to target and maintain resource rich locations. However, we also found a general practice of ‘extractive’ documentation of Noongar plant knowledge. We identify negative implications of such practice forNoongar people and SWAFR conservation outcomes and assert ways to avoid this going forward, reviving Noongar agency to care for traditional Country.
On the rational resolution of (deep) disagreements
Authors: Popa Eugen Octav
Published: June 2022

Disagreements come in all shapes and sizes, but epistemologists and argumentation theorists have singled out a special category referred to as deep disagreements. These deep disagreements are thought to pose philosophical and practical difficulties pertaining to their rational resolution. In this paper, I start with a critique of the widespread claim that deep disagreements are qualitatively different from normal disagreements because they arise from a difference in ‘fundamental principles’ or ‘hinge commitments.’ I then defend the following two claims: (1) All disagreements are deep to the extent that they are actual disagreements. This first claim implies, I will argue, that disagreements typically regarded as normal (‘shallow’) can be explained away as misunderstandings or communicative mishaps. (2) The resolution of a disagreement can be rational either through a joint experience of mutually recognized facts or through an exchange of arguments that leads to a reformulation of the disagreement that, in this new form, lends itself to a resolution through a joint experience of mutually recognized facts. I conclude with a reflection on the consequences of these two theses for the idea of deep disagreement and that of rational resolution.
Fabrication of cerium titanate cellulose fiber nanocomposite materials for the removal of methyl orange and methylene blue from polluted water by photocatalytic degradation
Authors: Kotp Yousra H.
Published: June 2022

In this study, cellulose fibers (Cf), extracted from sunflower seed husk, and different molar ratios of cerium titanate (Ce-Ti) NPs were prepared from sunflower seed husk extract by a green biosynthesis approach. Cf and Ce-Ti NPs were reacted via cross-linking reaction to synthesize a novel nanocomposite photocatalyst of Ce-Ti/Cf. Using Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM-EDX) spectroscopy, all manufactured materials were characterized. The results obtained from FTIR and EDX analyses indicated that Cf and its nanocomposites (0.1 Ce-Ti/Cf, 0.3 Ce-Ti/Cf, and 0.5 Ce-Ti/Cf) were successfully prepared by harnessing biomass extract from sunflower seed husk. Furthermore, XRD revealed that the degree of crystallinity of the nanocomposites was enhanced by increasing the molar ratios of the Ce-Ti NPs. The photocatalytic activity of as-fabricated 0.1 Ce-Ti/Cf, 0.3 Ce-Ti/Cf, and 0.5 Ce-Ti/Cf nanocomposite samples was investigated on methylene blue (MB) and methyl orange (MO) dyes as model organic compounds found in wastewaters. The effects of dose, contact time, and pH on the photocatalytic activity of the synthesized nanocomposites, the photodegradation kinetic parameters of MB, and MO degradation with/without the addition of H2O2 were also studied. The results revealed that high photodegradation efficiency could be obtained as the ratio of TiO2 in the Ce-Ti nanocomposite formula increases. Moreover, after sunlight irradiation, the adsorption capacity and the dye decomposition ratio significantly increase during the early contact time and reach equilibrium at about 240 and 120 min for 0.5 Ce-Ti/Cf nanocomposite photocatalyst in the absence and presence of hydrogen peroxide, respectively. In light of the obtained results and the practical wastewater treatment study conducted, the prepared photocatalyst from Ce-Ti/Cf nanocomposites could be a promising material for treating dye wastewater especially collected from Egypt.
Comparing Bariatric Surgery Patients Who Desire, Have Undergone, or Have No Desire for Body Contouring Surgery: a 5-Year Prospective Study of Body Image and Mental Health
Authors: Buer Liliana , Kvalem Ingela Lundin , Bårdstu Silje , Mala Tom
Published: June 2022

Purpose

After bariatric surgery, body contouring surgery (BCS) is thought to improve body image, weight loss, and mental health. Many patients desire but do not undergo BCS after bariatric surgery. This patient subset has rarely been studied. The present study compares bariatric surgery patients that, at 5 years after surgery, desires, have undergone or have no desire for BCS regarding pre- and post-surgery body image and mental health, including within-group changes over time.

Materials and Methods

Data were collected from participants (N = 216) pre-bariatric surgery and at 1- and 5-year post-surgery. Health care providers measured body mass index (BMI). All other data were collected via self-report (questionnaires).

Results

At 5-year post-surgery, 30.6% had undergone BCS, 17.1% did not desire it, and 52.3% desired BCS. Patients who subsequently desired BCS scored lower on body satisfaction pre-surgery than the other groups. They also reported less resilience pre-surgery and more depressive symptoms at all times compared to participants with BCS. For five-year post-surgery, patients who desired BCS had lower body satisfaction levels than patients with BCS and were more bothered with excess skin relative to the two other groups. Body satisfaction improved in all three groups from baseline to five years and in most patients with BCS. Mental health improved only in patients with BCS.

Conclusion

This study emphasizes the relevance of identifying participants who desire but have not undergone BCS. The study suggests that BCS is associated with improved body image and mental health.

Graphical abstract
The Need for Objective Physical Activity Measurements in Routine Bariatric Care
Authors: Kuipers Ellen , Timmerman Josien , van Det Marc , Vollenbroek-Hutten Miriam
Published: June 2022

Purpose

This study aims to (1) quantify physical behavior through self-reports and sensor-based measures, (2) examine the correlation between self-reported and sensor-based physical activity (PA) and (3) assess whether bariatric patients adhere to PA guidelines.

Methods

A Fitbit accelerometer was used to collect minute-to-minute step count and heart rate data for 14 consecutive days. Total physical activity levels (PAL), moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA) and sedentary behavior (SB) were used to quantify physical behavior. Self-reported PA was assessed with the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). To analyze the association between sensor-based and self-reported PA, Spearman’s correlation was used. A minimum of 150 MVPA minutes per week was considered as compliance with the PA guidelines.

Results

Fitbit data of 37 pre- and 18 post-surgery patients was analyzed. Participants averaged 7403 ± 3243 steps/day and spent most of their time sedentary (832 min, IQR: 749 – 879), especially in prolonged periods of ≥ 30 min (525, IQR: 419 – 641). Median MVPA time was 5.6 min/day (IQR: 1.7 – 10.6). Correlations between self-reported and sensor-based MVPA and SB were respectively 0.072 and 0.455. Only 17.1% was objectively adherent to MVPA guidelines ≥ 150 min/week, while 94.3% met the guidelines in case of self-reports.

Conclusion

PA quantification confirmed that bariatric patients are highly sedentary and rarely engage in MVPA, despite a relatively high daily step count. Moreover, bariatric patients are not able to assess MVPA and moderately their SB by self-reports. Our results indicate the need for sensor-based PA monitoring in routine bariatric care.

Graphical abstract
Generalized gamma distribution for biomedical signals denoising
Authors: Adam A. M. , Farouk R. M. , El-Desouky B. S.
Published: June 2022

A wide range of signs are acquired from the human body called biomedical signs or biosignals, and they can be at the cell level, organ level, or sub-atomic level. Electroencephalogram is the electrical activity from the cerebrum, the electrocardiogram is the electrical activity from the heart, electrical action from the muscle sound signals referred to as electromyogram, the electroretinogram from the eye, and so on. Studying these signals can be so helpful for doctors, and it can help them examine and predict and cure many diseases.

However, these signals are often affected by various types of noise. It is important to denoise the signals to get accurate information from them. The denoising process is solved by proposing an entirely novel family of flexible score functions for blind source separation, based on a family of generalized Gamma densities. To blindly extract the independent source signals, we resort to the popular fast independent component analysis (FastICA) approach; to adaptively estimate the parameters of such score functions, we use an efficient method based on maximum likelihood. The results obtained using generalized Gamma densities in our technique are better than those obtained by other distribution functions.
Metabolic Syndrome and Vascular-Associated Cognitive Impairment: a Focus on Preclinical Investigations
Authors: Jenkins Trisha A.
Published: June 2022

Purpose of Review

Metabolic syndrome is associated with an increased risk of vascular cognitive impairment or, in the more extreme, vascular dementia. Animal models are used to investigate the relationship between pathology and behaviour. This review summarizes the latest understanding of the role of the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex in vascular cognitive impairment, the influence of inflammation in this association while also commenting on some of the latest interventions proposed.

Recent Findings

Models of vascular cognitive impairment and vascular dementia, whether they develop from an infarct or non-infarct base, demonstrate increased neuroinflammation, reduced neuronal function and deficits in prefrontal and hippocampal-associated cognitive domains. Promising new research shows agents and environmental interventions that inhibit central oxidative stress and inflammation can reverse both pathology and cognitive dysfunction.

While preclinical studies suggest that reversal of deficits in vascular cognitive impairment models is possible, replication in patients still needs to be demonstrated.
Cholecystokinin Activation of Cholecystokinin 1 Receptors: a Purkinje Cell Neuroprotective Pathway
Authors: Orr Harry T.
Published: June 2022

This is a summary of the virtual presentation given at the 2021 meeting of the Society for Research on the Cerebellum and Ataxias, https://www.meetings.be/SRCA2021/, where the therapeutic potential of the CCK-CCK1R pathway for treating diseases involving Purkinje cell degeneration was presented. Spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1) is one of a group of almost 50 genetic diseases characterized by the degeneration of cerebellar Purkinje cells. The SCA1 Pcp2-ATXN1[30Q]D776 mouse model displays ataxia, i.e. Purkinje cell dysfunction, but lacks progressive Purkinje cell degeneration. RNA-seq revealed increased expression of cholecystokinin (CCK) in cerebella of Pcp2-ATXN1[30Q]D776 mice. Importantly, the absence of Cck1 receptor (CCK1R) in Pcp2-ATXN1[30Q]D776 mice conferred a progressive degenerative disease with Purkinje cell loss. Administration of a CCK1R agonist to Pcp2-AXTN1[82Q] mice reduced Purkinje cell pathology and associated deficits in motor performance. In addition, administration of the CCK1R agonist improved motor performance of Pcp2-ATXN2[127Q] SCA2 mice. Furthermore, CCK1R activation corrected mTORC1 signaling and improved the expression of calbindin in the cerebella of AXTN1[82Q] and ATXN2[127Q] mice. These results support the Cck-Cck1R pathway is a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of diseases involving Purkinje neuron degeneration.
Internal Instability and Fluidisation of Subgrade Soil under Cyclic Loading
Authors: Indraratna Buddhima , Singh Mandeep , Nguyen Thanh Trung , Rujikiatkamjorn Cholachat , Malisetty Rakesh Sai , Arivalagan Joseph , Nair Lakshmi
Published: June 2022

Rapid globalisation and the rise in population have substantially increased the demand for rail infrastructure which have been critical in transporting passengers and freight across landmasses for over a century. The surge in demand often leads to the construction of railway lines along with unfavourable soil conditions which result in different forms of substructure challenges such as uneven track deformations, ballast degradation, and subgrade mud pumping. A widespread site investigation along the eastern coast of New South Wales, Australia, indicated the prevalence of mud holes or bog holes along the tracks. The field studies suggest that low-to-medium plasticity soils are highly susceptible to mud pump when subjected to heavy axle loads under impeding drainage conditions. Subsequent laboratory investigations conducted on the remoulded soil samples collected from the sites indicated the sharp rise in cyclic axial strains and excess pore pressures along with the internal redistribution of moisture content as the governing mechanism for mud pumping. Numerical simulations performed using discrete element method coupled with computational fluid dynamics show that at a high hydraulic gradient, there is a substantial loss of soil contact network which leads to the upward migration of soil particles. The role of plastic fines and the inclusion of geosynthetic layer between the ballast and subgrade are also discussed in this paper. It was observed that the addition of 10% of cohesive fines increased the resistance of subgrade soils to mud pumping. On the other hand, geosynthetic inclusions not only assist in dissipating high cyclic excess pore pressures but also inhibit the upward migration of fine particles.
Resisting IP Overexpansion: The Case of Trade Secret Protection of Non-Personal Data
Authors: Fia Tommaso
Published: June 2022

This article analyses how intellectual property rights (IPRs) affect access to non-personal data (NPD). In so doing, it homes in on a quasi-IPR, trade secrecy, and shows how applying it to NPD can lead to the overexpansion of IP protection. The risks of overprotection relate to the perpetuity of trade secret protection and the predominant interventions to correct market failure that scholars advance in order to restrict IPRs and quasi-IPRs. The paper then goes one step further to survey regulatory and interpretive solutions that could help to mitigate the risks of overprotection and make room for creating data access rules. Specifically, it explores two principles deriving from “physical” property theory that can be rejigged for the purpose: thenumerus claususof IPRs and the social function of intellectual property. Conceptualised in a novel fashion, these could steer legislatures and courts towards a restrictive understanding of IP forms and contain the propertisation of new intangibles, such as NPD aggregations.
Intelligent depression detection with asynchronous federated optimization
Authors: Li Jinli , Jiang Ming , Qin Yunbai , Zhang Ran , Ling Sai Ho
Published: June 2022

The growth of population and the various intensive life pressures everyday deepen the competitions among people. Tens of millions of people each year suffer from depression and only a fraction receives adequate treatment. The development of social networks such as Facebook, Twitter, Weibo, and QQ provides more convenient communication and provides a new emotional vent window. People communicate with their friends, sharing their opinions, and shooting videos to reflect their feelings. It provides an opportunity to detect depression in social networks. Although depression detection using social networks has reflected the established connectivity across users, fewer researchers consider the data security and privacy-preserving schemes. Therefore, we advocate the federated learning technique as an efficient and scalable method, where it enables the handling of a massive number of edge devices in parallel. In this study, we conduct the depression analysis on the basis of an online microblog called Weibo. A novel algorithm termed as CNN Asynchronous Federated optimization (CAFed) is proposed based on federated learning to improve the communication cost and convergence rate. It is shown that our proposed method can effectively protect users' privacy under the premise of ensuring the accuracy of prediction. The proposed method converges faster than the Federated Averaging (FedAvg) for non-convex problems. Federated learning techniques can identify quality solutions of mental health problems among Weibo users.
A hybrid quantum image edge detector for the NISQ era
Authors: Geng Alexander , Moghiseh Ali , Redenbach Claudia , Schladitz Katja
Published: June 2022

Edges are image locations where the gray value intensity changes suddenly. They are among the most important features to understand and segment an image. Edge detection is a standard task in digital image processing, solved, for example, using filtering techniques. However, the amount of data to be processed grows rapidly and pushes even supercomputers to their limits. Quantum computing promises exponentially lower memory usage in terms of the number of qubits compared to the number of classical bits. In this paper, we propose a hybrid method for quantum edge detection based on the idea of a quantum artificial neuron. Our method can be practically implemented on quantum computers, especially on those of the current noisy intermediate-scale quantum era. We compare six variants of the method to reduce the number of circuits and thus the time required for the quantum edge detection. Taking advantage of the scalability of our method, we can practically detect edges in images considerably larger than reached before.
Trophic competition in a guild of insectivorous semi-aquatic vertebrates in a Pyrenean headwater stream: diet specialisation in the endangered Galemys pyrenaicus
Authors: López-de Sancha Alejandro , Roig Romero , Aymerich Pere , Vila-Gispert Anna , Guasch Helena
Published: June 2022

Conservation of vulnerable species in headwater streams requires good knowledge of their resource use and how they interact with competitors. In this study, we characterised the macroinvertebrate community of a Pyrenean headwater stream and assessed how it was used as a food resource—above all, in terms of prey electivity and diet overlap—by three semi-aquatic insectivorous vertebrates (Galemys pyrenaicus,Neomys fodiensandCinclus cinclus). With this information, we examined the diet specialisation of the vulnerable Pyrenean desman (G. pyrenaicus) in the stream and analysed its implications for its conservation. There was a clear dietary overlap between these three predators, which resulted in interspecific trophic competition.G. pyrenaicustended to avoid terrestrial prey and focused on abundant and energetically profitable rheophile species, for which it is well adapted. This diet specialisation makes it vulnerable to any decrease in food availability resulting from anthropogenic stressors such as damming, which can reduce habitat quality and prey availability. More research is needed to fully understand prey electivity inG. pyrenaicusand so be able to suggest effective conservation measures for this species.
An assessment of suitable landfill site selection for municipal solid waste management by GIS-based MCDA technique in Siliguri municipal corporation planning area, West Bengal, India
Authors: Roy Debasish , Das Satyajit , Paul Surajit , Paul Surjapada
Published: June 2022

Identification of suitable landfill sites for urban wastes with ease and economic benefits in the metropolitan area is a complex task. Most of the developing countries consider wastelands outside of the urban areas are the ideal places to dispose of urban wastes. Landfill site selection is an essential planning procedure that helps to avoid environmental concerns such as water contamination, public health degradation caused by unsanitary landfills. So, employing a geographic information system (GIS) and multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA), this study was carried out to find an appropriate planning waste dump site. Nine thematic layers were evaluated as key criteria, including elevation, slope, geology, lineament, land value, distance from river, roads, residence, and Land use and land cover (LULC) weights assigned using Analytical Hierarchical Process (AHP) method analysis. The relative relevance of each parameter was calculated using Saaty’s 1 to 9 priority scale. The consistency ratio was used to check the weighting of each parameter, allowing the efficiency of the chosen parameters to be justified. The overlay analysis of all parameters with aid of GIS provides suitable sites that were marked and refined after the comprehensive field visits were performed. According to the findings, in the study area, 35.61% area is very low suitable for landfilling, 32.64% area is low suitable, 19.37% area is moderate suitable, 8.90% area is highly suitable and certainly, 3.48% area is very high suitable by Natural breaks classification. The very high suitable site belongs to Dhadagoch, Gadheaganj, and its surroundings in the study area. Nevertheless, the present study can help urban planners and concerned authorities to better succeed in urban waste management in the Siliguri municipal corporation planning area.
Sexual Function and Mood Disorders Among Menopausal Women: A Systematic Scoping Review
Authors: Rahmani Azam , Afsharnia Elahe , Fedotova Julia , Shahbazi Shirin , Fallahi Arezoo , Allahqoli Leila , Ghanei-Gheshlagh Reza , Abboud Sarah , Alkatout Ibrahim
Published: June 2022

Background

Changes in sex hormones during menopause may have detrimental effects on a woman’s sexual function and cause mood disorders. The treatment of both conditions is a challenge in gynecology.

Aim

To review the published literature on sexual function and mood disorders among peri- and postmenopausal women.

Methods

The review is based on the methodological framework of scoping reviews. We searched electronic databases including Medline (PubMed), Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science (WoS). Publications that reported data about the relationship between sexual function and mood disorders among menopausal women were included in the review. The search was not subject to any limitation in terms of time or method.

Outcomes

The main outcome measures used for the review were sexual dysfunction and mood disorders.

Results

We found 106 total records. After a full-text screening we included 19 studies from 1986 to 2020 based on various methodologies; the majority of the studies16 were cross-sectional. Investigations that addressed the symptoms of mood disorders and some domains of sexual function showed a close relationship between sexual dysfunction and mood disorders among menopausal women.

Clinical implications

In clinical practice, it would be appropriate to screen women for at least one mood disorder or sexual dysfunction. If a woman suffers from either, it will be necessary to assess for a further disorder as well.

Strengths & Limitations

The review was based on a detailed search of the published literature concerning mood disorders and sexual dysfunction among menopausal women compared to women of reproductive age. Despite the clinical importance of the subject, the number of studies eligible for inclusion in the review are rather small. Further investigation of the topic is clearly warranted.

Conclusions

While the association between sexual dysfunction and mood disorders appears to be bidirectional, future studies will have to investigate the specific mechanisms by which sexual dysfunction could lead to mood disorders (or vice versa). Future studies should specifically address sexual dysfunctions and attitudes of partners, BMI, family support, sleep, and multiparity.
Sonic Hedgehog Signaling in Primary Culture of Human Corpora Cavernosal Tissue from Prostatectomy, Diabetic, and Peyronie’s Patients
Authors: Martin Sarah , Deng Jiangping , Searl Timothy , Ohlander Samuel , Harrington Daniel A. , Stupp Samuel I. , Dynda Danuta , McVary Kevin T. , Podlasek Carol A.
Published: June 2022

Background

Cavernous nerve (CN) injury causes penile remodeling, including smooth muscle apoptosis and increased collagen, which results in erectile dysfunction (ED), and prevention of this remodeling is critical for novel ED therapy development.

Aim

We developed 2 peptide amphiphile (PA) hydrogel delivery vehicles for Sonic hedgehog (SHH) protein to the penis and CN, which effectively suppress penile distrophic remodeling (apoptosis and fibrosis), in vivo in a rat CN injury model, and the aim of this study is to determine if SHH PA can be used to regenerate human corpora cavernosal smooth muscle deriving from multiple ED origins.

Methods

Corpora cavernosal tissue was obtained from prostatectomy, diabetic, hypertension, cardiovascular disease and Peyronie’s (control) patients (n = 21). Primary cultures (n = 21) were established, and corpora cavernosal cells were treated with SHH protein, MSA (control), 5E1 SHH inhibitor, and PBS (control). Growth was quantified by counting the number of cells at 3–4 days. Statistics were performed by ANOVA with Scheffe’s post hoc test. Concentration of SHH protein for maximal growth was optimized, and a more active SHH protein examined.

Outcomes

Cultures were characterized by immunohistochemical analysis with ACTA2, CD31, nNOS and P4HB, and smooth muscle was quantified in comparison to DAPI.

Results

Cultures established were >97% smooth muscle. SHH protein increased growth of smooth muscle cells from prostatectomy, diabetic, and Peyronie’s patients in a similar manner (49%–51%), and SHH inhibition decreased growth (20%–33%). There was no difference in growth using 25 ug and 10 ug SHH protein, suggesting a threshold concentration of SHH protein above which smooth muscle growth is enhanced. A more active lipid modified SHH peptide further enhanced growth (15%), indicating a more robust growth response. SHH increased growth in smooth muscle cells from hypertension (37%) and cardiovascular disease (32%) patients. SHH protein increased growth under normal and high glucose conditions, suggesting that high glucose conditions that may be present in under controlled diabetic patients would not detract from SHH regenerative capacity.

Clinical Implications

SHH PA would be beneficial to enhance smooth muscle regeneration in patients with ED of multiple etiologies.

Strengths and Limitations

Understanding how human corpora cavernosal tissue responds to SHH treatment is critical for clinical translation of SHH PA to ED patients.

Conclusion

Corpora cavernosal smooth muscle from all ED patients responded to SHH treatment with increased growth.