bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of collagen membranes and bone substitute differ in periodontal ligament cell microtissues and monolayers
Authors: Janjić Klara , Agis Hermann , Moritz Andreas , Rausch‐Fan Xiaohui , Andrukhov Oleh
Published: July 2021

Background

Barrier membranes and bone substitute are major tools of guided tissue regeneration (GTR) after periodontal disease. Integrity of the periodontal ligament plays a key role in periodontal health, but its functionality fails to be fully re‐established by GTR after disease or trauma. Microtissue models suggest an in vivo‐like model to develop novel GTR approaches due to its three‐dimensionality. This study aims to assess the effects of collagen membranes and bone substitute on cell viability, adhesion and gene expression of regenerative and inflammatory biomarkers by periodontal ligament cell (PDLC) microtissues.

Methods

Human PDLC microtissues and monolayers were cultured on collagen membranes or bone substitute. After 24 hours incubation, metabolic activity, focal adhesion, mRNA and protein production of collagen‐type‐I (COL1A1), periostin (POSTN), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), angiogenin (ANG), interleukin (IL)6 and IL8 were measured by resazurin‐based toxicity assay, focal adhesion staining, quantitative polymerase chain reaction and enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay, respectively.

Results

PDLC microtissues and monolayers were viable on collagen membranes and bone substitute, but microtissues were less metabolically active. Dominant staining of actin filaments was found in PDLC microtissues on collagen membranes. COL1A1, POSTN, VEGF, ANG and IL6 were modulated in PDLC microtissues on bone substitute, while there were no significant changes on collagen membranes. PDLC monolayers showed a different character of gene expression changes.

Conclusions

PDLC microtissues and monolayers react diversely to collagen membranes and bone substitute. Further descriptive and mechanistic tests will be required to clarify the potential of PDLC microtissues as in vivo‐like model for GTR.
Improvement in the appearance of cellulite and skin laxity resulting from a single treatment with acoustic subcision: Findings from a multicenter pivotal clinical trial
Authors: Tanzi Elizabeth L. , Capelli Christopher C. , Robertson David W. , LaTowsky Brenda , Jacob Carolyn , Ibrahim Omer , Kaminer Michael S.
Published: July 2021

Introduction and Objectives

Surface depressions and skin laxity together play a role in the appearance of cellulite. Cellulite depressions can be improved through disruption of the subcutaneous fibrous structures. Some currently utilized approaches accomplish this through invasive techniques requiring local anesthesia and potential down time. Skin laxity can exacerbate the appearance of cellulite, however current invasive approaches do little to improve skin laxity. The objective of this study was to evaluate a noninvasive approach to improving both cellulite depressions and skin laxity through the use of rapid acoustic pulses (acoustic subcision). Safety, efficacy, tolerability, and participant satisfaction results were measured.

Methods

Women (n = 56) with moderate to severe cellulite were treated in a single acoustic subcision treatment session without anesthesia. Posttreatment adverse events (AEs) and tolerability were recorded. At 12‐weeks cellulite outcomes were assessed using a 6‐point simplified Cellulite Severity Scale (CSS), Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale (GAIS), and a participant satisfaction questionnaire. Additionally, laxity improvement was measured using a 4‐point Laxity Score (LS) and GAIS.

Results

Improvement in cellulite appearance measured at 12‐weeks showed that participants (n = 56) had a mean CSS reduction of 1.01 (a 29.5% reduction from baseline). The posttreatment photograph was correctly identified by blinded independent reviewers from randomized pairs of pre/posttreatment photographs for 96.4% of participants. Cellulite was graded as improved, much improved or very much improved using the GAIS at 90.9% of treated locations. Finally, 92.9% of participants reported positive satisfaction responses. Scoring for improvement in skin laxity appearance at 12‐weeks showed a mean LS reduction of 0.57 (a 27.9% reduction from baseline). GAIS for laxity was graded as improved, much improved or very much improved in 67.3% of treated areas. No unexpected or serious AEs were noted at treatment or follow‐up. Overall average pain score during treatment was 2.4 (0–10 pain scale) and 0.3 immediately posttreatment.

Conclusion

A single noninvasive acoustic subcision session can safely provide meaningful improvement in the appearance of cellulite in terms of depressions, as well as skin laxity, with minimal treatment pain and no posttreatment down time. Further improvement in appearance is expected with multiple treatments over time. Additional trials to verify this are planned.
Engineering Polysaccharides for Tissue Repair and Regeneration
Authors: Wu Pingli , Xi Xin , Li Ruochen , Sun Guoming
Published: July 2021

The success of repair or regeneration depends greatly on the architecture of 3D scaffolds that finely mimic natural extracellular matrix to support cell growth and assembly. Polysaccharides have excellent biocompatibility with intrinsic biological cues and they have been extensively investigated as scaffolds for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine (TERM). The physical and biochemical structures of natural polysaccharides, however, can barely meet all the requirements of tissue‐engineered scaffolds. To take advantage of their inherent properties, many innovative approaches including chemical, physical, or joint modifications have been employed to improve their properties. Recent advancement in molecular and material building technology facilitates the fabrication of advanced 3D structures with desirable properties. This review focuses on the latest progress of polysaccharide‐based scaffolds for TERM, especially those that construct advanced architectures for tissue regeneration.
Global View and Trends in Electrospun Nanofiber Membranes for Particulate Matter Filtration: A Review
Authors: Valencia‐Osorio Laura Margarita , Álvarez‐Láinez Mónica Lucía
Published: July 2021

Numerous experimental works for particulate matter (PM) filtration by electrospun nanofiber membranes (ESNFMs) are published in the last 10 years (2010–2021). Organizing and comparing the large amount of the available information to identify the best trends constitutes a big challenge. This review classifies all kinds of ESNFMs considering their physical, chemical, or electrical characteristics. All of them are obtained by modifying several parameters during a specific stage associated to the electrospinning process (ES). In this review, each of these stages is considered a "moment” as a particular instant in time. According to that, three modifications are made: Moment 1—before ES, which refers to changes in polymeric solution composition; moment 2—during ES, which refers to modifying parameters while ES is performed; and moment 3—after ES, which involves applying post‐treatments directly on the membrane. After classifying all kinds of filters by moments, a detailed comparison of ESNFMs with the highest quality factors for PM0.3 is presented, finding out the best trends and comparing their main filtration parameters as well, where the most promising ones correspond to charged and nanofiber/nets membranes, due to their high capture efficiencies (>95%) while maintaining low pressure drops (<100 Pa).
Facile Synthesis of Matrix‐Free Room‐Temperature Phosphorescent Nitrogen‐Doped Carbon Dots and Their Application as Security Inks
Authors: Liu Pei , Liu Chang , Chen Jiucun , Wang Bin
Published: July 2021

Room‐temperature phosphorescent (RTP) nitrogen‐doped carbon dots (N‐CDs) have attracted great interest but their efficiency is usually dependent on a solid matrix. Developing efficient matrix‐free RTP CDs is still a great challenge. Here, a simple strategy is reported to synthesize efficient matrix free RTP N‐CDs from citric acid (CA) and basic fuchsine (BF) via a single step hydrothermal process. The synthesized N‐CDs show strong fluorescence in aqueous solution and the solid state, and the RTP lifetime is long‐lived (51.9 ms at 298 K). The phosphorescence of the N‐CDs is attributed to the formation of an internal hydrogen bonded network by the organic polymers on the surface of the N‐CDs. This reduces the nonradiative transitions of the triplet excitons and mitigates oxygen quenching. The application of N‐CDs as security inks is demonstrated.
Multiphoton microscopy for monitoring the occurrence, metastasis and therapy of breast cancer
Authors: Liu Yulan , Yi Yu , Li Zhen , Li Lianhuang , Zhan Zhenlin , Chen Jianxin , Zheng Liqin
Published: July 2021

Worldwide, the most common malignancy in women is breast cancer. At present, the gold standard for breast cancer diagnosis, namely pathological analysis, cannot reach the subcellular level, and is unable to provide more physiological information. Multiphoton microscopy (MPM) has its unique advantages, such as label‐free detection, high resolution, low damage, deep imaging depth, low photobleaching and phototoxicity, and so on, which make up for the deficiences of traditional methods. This review mainly introduces the principle of MPM and its applications in breast diseases, especially in monitoring the occurrence, progression, metastasis, and therapy response of tumor. At the same time, the performance and progress of MPM combined with nanomaterials in breast cancer treatment are summarized. Finally, we propose the clinical challenges and future research directions of MPM.
A robust queueing network analyzer based on indices of dispersion
Authors: Whitt Ward , You Wei
Published: July 2021

We develop a robust queueing network analyzer algorithm to approximate the steady‐state performance of a single‐class open queueing network of single‐server queues with Markovian routing. The algorithm allows nonrenewal external arrival processes, general service‐time distributions and customer feedback. The algorithm is based on a decomposition approximation, where each flow is partially characterized by its rate and a continuous function that measures the stochastic variability over time. This function is a scaled version of the variance‐time curve, called the index of dispersion for counts (IDC). The required IDC functions for the external arrival processes can be calculated from the model primitives or estimated from data. Approximations for the IDC functions of the internal flows are calculated by solving a set of linear equations. The theoretical basis is provided by heavy‐traffic limits for the flows established in our previous papers. A robust queueing technique is used to generate approximations of the mean steady‐state performance at each queue from the IDC of the total arrival flow and the service specification at that queue. The algorithm's effectiveness is supported by extensive simulation studies.
Administration of rabies immunoglobulin: Improving evidence‐based guidance for wound infiltration
Authors: Bookstaver P. Brandon , Akpunonu Peter , Nguyen Huy‐Binh , Swan Joshua T. , Howington Gavin T.
Published: July 2021

Rabies virus causes a fatal infection of the brain and spinal cord, accounting for approximately 59,000 deaths globally each year. Rabies postexposure prophylaxis (PEP), including both rabies immunoglobulin (RIG) and vaccination, is administered to 55,000 patients annually in the United States. With a nearly 100% case fatality rate, the optimal administration of rabies PEP cannot be understated. Updated rabies PEP guidelines issued by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2018 recognized that local wound infiltration of RIG is the primary mechanism of protection, and the WHO now recommends only infiltration of wounds without distal intramuscular injection. We highlight potential points of failure involving wound infiltration of RIG, small‐volume doses, and large‐volume doses that may lead to suboptimal care and discuss implications of recent shifts toward evidence‐based guidelines using wound type and RIG volumes.
Heat‐resistant polyimides with lowCTEand water absorption through hydrogen bonding interactions
Authors: Chen Haiquan , Dai Fengna , Hu Mengjie , Chen Chunhai , Qian Guangtao , Yu Youhai
Published: July 2021

A novel diamine, 1H,1′H‐(2,2′‐bibenzimidazole)‐5,5′‐diamine (DPABZ), containing bisbenzimidazole unit was successfully synthesized, and used to prepare a series of copolyimides BPDA:(ODAm/DPABZn) by polycondensation with 4,4‐diaminodiphenyl ether (ODA) and 4,4‐biphthalic anhydride (BPDA). For comparison, a series of copolyimides BPDA:(ODAm/PABZn) based on another benzimidazole diamine 5‐amino‐2‐(4‐aminobenzene)‐benzimidazole (PABZ) was also prepared. As a result, with the increase of PABZ or DPABZ content, the heat resistance (TgandTd) and mechanical properties (σandE) of the resulting polyimide (PI) films increased, while the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) decreased. Overall, the DPABZ‐based PIs showed higherTgvalues and much lower CTE values than PABZ. As the content of PABZ increased, the water absorption of PABZ‐based PIs increased obviously, but no significant change in DPABZ‐based PIs. The intramolecular hydrogen bonding in DPABZ‐based PIs caused by the diamine DPABZ was believed to be the reason for the aforementioned differences. The BPDA: DPABZ film with low‐water adsorption of 2.1%, high‐Tgvalue of 436°C and low‐CTE value of 5.4 ppm/°C could be a promising new generation of flexible display substrates.
Design and characterization of a novel dimeric blood–brain barrier penetrating TNFα inhibitor
Authors: Manrique‐Suárez Viana , Macaya Luis , Contreras Maria Angélica , Parra Natalie , Maura Rafael , González Alaín , Toledo Jorge R. , Sánchez Oliberto
Published: July 2021

Tumor necrosis factor‐alpha (TNFα) inhibitors could prevent neurological disorders systemically, but their design generally relies on molecules unable to cross the blood–brain barrier (BBB). This research was aimed to design and characterize a novel TNFα inhibitor based on the angiopeptide‐2 as a BBB shuttle molecule fused to the extracellular domain of human TNFα receptor 2 and a mutated vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) dimerization domain. This new chimeric protein (MTV) would be able to trigger receptor‐mediated transcytosis across the BBB via low‐density lipoprotein receptor‐related protein‐1 (LRP‐1) and inhibit the cytotoxic effect of TNFα more efficiently because of its dimeric structure. Stably transformed CHO cells successfully expressed MTV, and its purification by Immobilized‐Metal Affinity Chromatography (IMAC) rendered high purity degree. Mutated VEGF domain included in MTV did not show cell proliferation or angiogenic activities measured by scratch and aortic ring assays, which corroborate that the function of this domain is restricted to dimerization. The pairs MTV‐TNFα (Kd 279 ± 40.9 nM) and MTV‐LRP1 (Kd 399 ± 50.5 nM) showed high affinity by microscale thermophoresis, and a significant increase in cell survival was observed after blocking TNFα with MTV in a cell cytotoxicity assay. Also, the antibody staining in CHOK1 and bEnd3 cells demonstrated the adhesion of MTV to the LRP1 receptor located in the cell membrane. These results provide compelling evidence for the proper functioning of the three main domains of MTV individually, which encourage us to continue the research with this new molecule as a potential candidate for the systemic treatment of neurological disorders.
Research on vulnerability analysis model of security accident system in petrochemical enterprises
Authors: Dong Mingxin , Meng Yifei , Song Xiaomiao , Qin Chuanrui , Bai Mingqi , Yin Fabo , Zhao Dongfeng
Published: July 2021

Petrochemical enterprises store and process a large number of flammable, explosive, toxic and harmful chemicals, and their security protection systems are vulnerable. Once damaged by man‐made malicious will cause serious losses and adverse effects. Previous studies on the vulnerability of petrochemical enterprises have insufficient consideration of systematicity and uniqueness, and lack consideration of the correlation and game of vulnerability elements. In this study, from the perspective of system, the elements of the security accident system vulnerability are analyzed, and the vulnerability analysis model of security accident system is put forward by studying the interaction between the elements. Threat and exposure constitute the external vulnerability of security accident system, sensitivity and adaptability constitute the internal vulnerability of security accident system; and the threat plays a counter role with sensitivity and adaptability through exposure, which promotes the evolution of vulnerability; Moreover, the different vulnerability elements of security accident system evolve step by step, with the evolution of security accidents. Finally, an illustrative case proves the feasibility of the vulnerability analysis model proposed in this study. The results of this research enrich the theoretical research on vulnerability, provide a reference for the prevention and control of security accidents in petrochemical enterprises.
On the normalized power prior
Authors: Carvalho Luiz Max , Ibrahim Joseph G.
Published: July 2021

The power prior is a popular tool for constructing informative prior distributions based on historical data. The method consists of raising the likelihood to a discounting factor in order to control the amount of information borrowed from the historical data. However, one often wishes to assign this discounting factor a prior distribution and estimate it jointly with the parameters, which in turn necessitates the computation of a normalizing constant. In this article, we are concerned with how to approximately sample from joint posterior of the parameters and the discounting factor. We first show a few important properties of the normalizing constant and then use these results to motivate a bisection‐type algorithm for computing it on a fixed budget of evaluations. We give a large array of illustrations and discuss cases where the normalizing constant is known in closed‐form and where it is not. We show that the proposed method produces approximate posteriors that are very close to the exact distributions and also produces posteriors that cover the data‐generating parameters with higher probability in the intractable case. Our results suggest that the proposed method is an accurate and easy to implement technique to include this normalization, being applicable to a large class of models. They also reinforce the notion that proper inclusion of the normalizing constant is crucial to the drawing of correct inferences and appropriate quantification of uncertainty.
SDN‐chain: Privacy‐preserving protocol for software defined networks using blockchain
Authors: Shashidhara R , Ahuja Nisha , Lajuvanthi M , Akhila S , Das Ashok Kumar , Rodrigues Joel J. P. C.
Published: July 2021

Software‐defined networking (SDN) is a programmable architecture for networking domain in which the security is provided by devising the network policies with the help of the network administrator. This is very cumbersome for the administrator to handle different attacks at various planes in SDN architecture. Blockchain can be used to prevent various attacks in SDN by providing a decentralization authentication environment. In this article, a secure Blockchain‐based privacy‐preserving protocol is proposed to thwart various security vulnerabilities in the SDN architecture. The proposed approach uses Modified‐Delegated Proof of Stake as the consensus protocol to ensure safety and reliability in the network. Besides, a security protocol is designed using cryptographic primitives and analyzed using a detailed security analysis. Initially, the consensus protocols are implemented using solidity smart contracts and deployed to the public Blockchain using Ethereum. Consequently, the proposed approach is simulated on OMNet++ using INET framework. The experimental results show that the proposed SDN‐Chain is secure, efficient, less incentive to centralize, and practically implementable in resource‐limited wireless and mobile environments.
Axial compression of reinforced concrete columns strengthened by composite of prestressed plastic‐steel strip and angle steel: An experimental study
Authors: Si Jianhui , Wu Linze , Guo Wenjing
Published: July 2021

The rapid reinforcement of reinforced concrete members is one of the research hotspots in the field of structural reinforcement. In this paper, the packaging technology is applied to the field of reinforced concrete structure reinforcement, and new technology of composite reinforcement of prestressed plastic steel strips and angle steel is proposed. Furthermore, in this work, axial compression tests of three prestressed plastic steel strips‐angle steel composite reinforced concrete columns and one unreinforced reinforced concrete column were carried out and studied the prestressed plastic steel strips‐clad steel composite reinforcement and plastic steel strips. Furthermore, the effect of different reinforcement spacings on the failure characteristics, bearing capacity, and ductility of components were studied. The test results show that the failure characteristics of the reinforced concrete columns reinforced with prestressed plastic‐steel strips and angle steels were the same as those of unreinforced specimens. However, the initial cracking load of the reinforced specimens was found to be greater and as the spacing of plastic‐steel strips increased, the bearing capacity also increased. Moreover, their values were found to be 36.6%, 13.6%, and 8.2%, and the maximum increase in the limit displacement was 92.9%, 52.7%, and 22.6%, respectively. From the results, it was observed that the composite reinforcement technology could improve the ultimate bearing capacity and the ductility of components and has a good application value.
The Fixed Angle Scattering Problem with a First-Order Perturbation
Authors: Meroño Cristóbal J. , Potenciano-Machado Leyter , Salo Mikko
Published: July 2021

We study the inverse scattering problem of determining a magnetic field and electric potential from scattering measurements corresponding to finitely many plane waves. The main result shows that the coefficients are uniquely determined by 2n measurements up to a natural gauge. We also show that one can recover the full first-order term for a related equation having no gauge invariance, and that it is possible to reduce the number of measurements if the coefficients have certain symmetries. This work extends the fixed angle scattering results of Rakesh and Salo (SIAM J Math Anal 52(6):5467–5499, 2020) and (Inverse Probl 36(3):035005, 2020) to Hamiltonians with first-order perturbations, and it is based on wave equation methods and Carleman estimates.
Inanspruchnahme und Ausgaben in der zahnmedizinischen Versorgung
Authors: Walter Michael H. , Rädel Michael
Published: July 2021

Hintergrund

Inanspruchnahme und Ausgaben gehören zu den wichtigsten Kenngrößen von Versorgungssystemen. Sie erlauben auch Rückschlüsse auf die Ausrichtung der praktizierten Zahnmedizin.

Ziel der Arbeit

Ziel dieser Übersicht ist es, den Status quo der Inanspruchnahme zahnärztlicher Versorgung in Deutschland und der diesbezüglichen Ausgaben anhand vorhandener Routinedaten aus der vertragszahnärztlichen Versorgung zu beschreiben.

Material und Methoden

Die zugrunde liegenden Analysen wurden den jährlichen Zahnreporten der gesetzlichen Krankenkasse BARMER entnommen. Sie basieren auf deutschlandweiten Abrechnungsdaten von 2010 bis 2018.

Ergebnisse

Die Inanspruchnahme zahnärztlicher Leistungen liegt in Deutschland mit jährlichen Raten um 70 % überdurchschnittlich hoch. Für Füllungen lag die Inanspruchnahmerate 2018 in den Altersgruppen zwischen 30 und 79 Jahren durchgehend um 30 %, für Neueingliederungen von Zahnersatz und Zahnkronen in den Altersgruppen von 55 bis 84 Jahren bei mindestens 10 %. Im Bereich der Prävention war ein kontinuierlicher Anstieg für Früherkennungsuntersuchungen bei Kindern zu verzeichnen (31,9 % in 2010, 35,2 % in 2018). Bei individualprophylaktischen Maßnahmen bei 6‑ bis 17-Jährigen war kein klarer Trend erkennbar (64,0 % in 2010, 65,4 % in 2018). Die Ausgaben der gesetzlichen Krankenkasse stiegen moderat.

Diskussion

Durch die hohe Inanspruchnahme sind gute Voraussetzungen für eine präventionsorientierte Zahnmedizin gegeben. Wenn auch eine positive Tendenz zu einer leicht steigenden Inanspruchnahme präventiver Leistungen erkennbar ist, bildet sich im Versorgungsgeschehen nach wie vor eine mehrheitlich auf invasive Intervention orientierte Zahnmedizin ab. Als sinnvolle Instrumente zur Umsetzung eines substanziellen Paradigmenwechsels können unter anderem eine weitere Förderung der Gesundheitskompetenz der Bevölkerung und präventionsfördernde Anreize angesehen werden.
Polygenic risk scores predict diabetes complications and their response to intensive blood pressure and glucose control
Authors: Tremblay Johanne , Haloui Mounsif , Attaoua Redha , Tahir Ramzan , Hishmih Camil , Harvey François , Marois-Blanchet François-Christophe , Long Carole , Simon Paul , Santucci Lara , Hizel Candan , Chalmers John , Marre Michel , Harrap Stephen , Cífková Renata , Krajčoviechová Alena , Matthews David R. , Williams Bryan , Poulter Neil , Zoungas Sophia , Colagiuri Stephen , Mancia Giuseppe , Grobbee Diederick E. , Rodgers Anthony , Liu Liusheng , Agbessi Mawussé , Bruat Vanessa , Favé Marie-Julie , Harwood Michelle P. , Awadalla Philip , Woodward Mark , Hussin Julie G. , Hamet Pavel
Published: July 2021

Aims/hypothesis

Type 2 diabetes increases the risk of cardiovascular and renal complications, but early risk prediction could lead to timely intervention and better outcomes. Genetic information can be used to enable early detection of risk.

Methods

We developed a multi-polygenic risk score (multiPRS) that combines ten weighted PRSs (10 wPRS) composed of 598 SNPs associated with main risk factors and outcomes of type 2 diabetes, derived from summary statistics data of genome-wide association studies. The 10 wPRS, first principal component of ethnicity, sex, age at onset and diabetes duration were included into one logistic regression model to predict micro- and macrovascular outcomes in 4098 participants in the ADVANCE study and 17,604 individuals with type 2 diabetes in the UK Biobank study.

Results

The model showed a similar predictive performance for cardiovascular and renal complications in different cohorts. It identified the top 30% of ADVANCE participants with a mean of 3.1-fold increased risk of major micro- and macrovascular events (p = 6.3 × 10−21 and p = 9.6 × 10−31, respectively) and a 4.4-fold (p = 6.8 × 10−33) higher risk of cardiovascular death. While in ADVANCE overall, combined intensive blood pressure and glucose control decreased cardiovascular death by 24%, the model identified a high-risk group in whom it decreased the mortality rate by 47%, and a low-risk group in whom it had no discernible effect. High-risk individuals had the greatest absolute risk reduction with a number needed to treat of 12 to prevent one cardiovascular death over 5 years.

Conclusions/interpretation

This novel multiPRS model stratified individuals with type 2 diabetes according to risk of complications and helped to target earlier those who would receive greater benefit from intensive therapy.

Graphical abstract
High signal intensity on diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance images is a useful finding for detecting early-stage pancreatic cancer
Authors: Kurita Akira , Mori Yoshiharu , Someya Yuko , Kubo Shigeto , Azuma Shunjiro , Iwano Kosuke , Ikeda Satoshi , Okumura Ryosuke , Yazumi Shujiro
Published: July 2021

Purpose

Early detection of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) may improve the prognosis. We evaluated novel imaging findings that may contribute to early detection.

Methods

This single-center, retrospective study enrolled 37 patients with a localized main pancreatic duct (MPD) stricture and no obvious pancreatic mass. All patients underwent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and brush sampling with cytology and serial pancreatic juice aspiration cytologic examination via endoscopic naso-pancreatic drainage. Patients with cytology-confirmed malignancy underwent surgical resection. The remaining patients were followed by contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography.

Results

Twenty patients had confirmed malignancy (cancer group) and 17 did not (non-cancer group). Age, MPD stricture location, and PDAC risk factors were similar, but the sex predominance and symptom rate differed between the two groups. In the cancer group, 17 patients were diagnosed by cytology and three by clinical symptoms. CECT, MRI, and endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) revealed no solid tumors in either group. CECT revealed no significant differences between groups. Diffusion-weighted MRI revealed significant differences in the signal intensity between groups. EUS detected indistinct and small hypoechoic areas in 70% and 41.2% of patients in the cancer and non-cancer groups, respectively. In the cancer group, 11 were diagnosed with cancer at the first indication, and nine were diagnosed at follow-up; the prognosis did not differ between these two subgroups.ss

Conclusions

High signal intensity in diffusion-weighted MRI may be useful for detecting early-stage PDAC and may be an indication for surgical resection even without pathologic confirmation.

Clinical trial registration

The study was a registered at the University Hospital Medical Information Network (UMIN000039623).

Graphic abstract
Retrospective comparison of conservative treatment and surgery for widely displaced olecranon fractures in low-demanding geriatric patients
Authors: Kaiser Peter , Stock Kerstin , Benedikt Stefan , Kastenberger Tobias , Schmidle Gernot , Arora Rohit
Published: July 2021

Introduction

The aim of this study was to evaluate the difference of the clinical outcome of elderly patients who were treated surgically or conservatively for a displaced olecranon fracture (Mayo type IIA or IIB).

Patients and methods

Patients above the age of 70 years who were treated surgically (n = 11) for a displaced Mayo type IIA and IIB olecranon fracture between July 2015 and February 2019 were retrospectively compared with patients who were treated conservatively (n = 6). The range of motion, elbow strength, grip strength, VAS, DASH, OES, MEPI and Broberg and Morrey scores were evaluated.

Results

The conservative group showed a non-union with a persistent fracture gap of 17 mm (SD 12 mm) at the articular rim and 31 mm (15 mm) at the dorsal rim while there was no case of non-union in the surgical group. The arch of motion was 120° in the conservative group and 136° in the surgical group. There was no obvious difference in elbow extension strength in comparison to the healthy contralateral side (p = 0.20; 88% group I/87% group II). There was no difference in the OES (p = 0.30; 42 (SD 7) vs. 45 (SD 5)) and MEPI score (p = 0.46; (SD 8) vs. 96 (SD 19)). The conservative group presented a slightly worse DASH [p = 0.10; 26 (SD 25) vs 7 (SD 14)] and a significantly worse Broberg and Morrey score (p = 0.02; 84(SD 9) vs. 95 (SD 7)). The conservative group presented one complication (ulnar nerve palsy), while the surgical group presented two cases (prolonged lymphedema; blocked forearm rotation due to screw length with consecutive revision surgery).

Conclusion

Widely displaced olecranon fractures can successfully be treated conservatively in low-demanding geriatric patients with a satisfactory outcome. Patient selection is essential as patients that are more active might benefit from surgical treatment. Yet, treatment risks and benefits need to be balanced carefully in regard to the patient`s demands and requests.
Increase in testosterone levels is related to a lower risk of conversion of prediabetes to manifest diabetes in prediabetic males
Authors: Leutner Michael , Matzhold Caspar , Bellach Luise , Wohlschläger-Krenn Evelyne , Winker Robert , Nistler Sonja , Endler Georg , Thurner Stefan , Klimek Peter , Kautzky-Willer Alexandra
Published: July 2021

Background

Testosterone plays an important role in the regulation of glucose metabolism. While earlier studies have shown that it has a protective effect in males, unfavorable effects of testosterone on glucose metabolism have been reported in females; however, whether there is a sex-specific relationship between testosterone and glucose metabolism in patients with prediabetes has not been investigated in detail hitherto.

Methods

This cross-sectional analysis investigated 423 males and 287 females with diagnosed prediabetes. Detailed assessment of their metabolic profiles was performed, including a 2‑h oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), HbA1c levels, calculation of insulin resistance with homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), assessment of lipid metabolism, anthropometric parameters and the fatty liver index (FLI). By using Spearman’s correlation test, we investigated the sex-specific relationship between testosterone and metabolism in the prediabetic individuals.

Results

In the present study, prediabetic females (mean age 58.6 years, confidence interval [CI: 57.6 y; 59.5 y]) were characterized by lower fasting plasma glucose levels (104.2 mg/dl [CI: 103.0 mg/dl; 105.4 mg/dl] vs. 106.9 mg/dl [CI: 106.0 mg/dl; 107.8 mg/dl]) and a lower FLI (49.5 [CI: 45.7; 53.2] vs. 58.8 [CI: 55.8; 61.8]), but presented with a higher risk of developing manifest type 2 diabetes in the next 10 years (FINDRISK score: 17.6 [CI: 17.1; 18.1] vs. 16.1 [CI: 15.7; 16.5]) when compared to prediabetic males (mean age: 58.04 years [CI: 57.0 y; 59.1 y]). Testosterone was negatively related to insulin resistance (HOMA-IR: Spearman’s ρ: −0.33, p < 0.01), 2‑h stimulated glucose levels during the OGTT (ρ = −0.18, p < 0.01), HbA1c levels (ρ = −0.13, p < 0.05), FLI and BMI in prediabetic males; however, no relationship between testosterone and metabolic parameters could be found in prediabetic females.

Conclusion

The increase of testosterone levels in males was related to a more favorable glucose metabolism, including lower HbA1c, lower stimulated glucose levels and higher insulin sensitivity; however, in prediabetic females, testosterone was not related to glucose metabolism.
Separation and not residency permit restores function in resignation syndrome: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Sallin Karl , Evers Kathinka , Jarbin Håkan , Joelsson Lars , Petrovic Predrag
Published: July 2021

Despite poor treatment results, a family-oriented approach and the securing of residency have been deemed essential to recovery from resignation syndrome (RS). In a retrospective cohort study, we evaluated an alternative method involving environmental therapy, with patients separated from their parents, while actively abstaining from involving the asylum process in treatment. We examined medical records, social services acts, and residential care home acts from 13 individuals treated at Solsidan residential care home between 2005 and 2020. Severity and outcome were assessed with Clinical Global Impression, Severity and Improvement subscales. Thirteen participants were included and out of these nine (69%) recovered, i.e. they very much or much improved. Out of the eight that were separated, all recovered, also, one non-separated recovered. The difference in outcome between subjects separated and not was significant (p = 0.007). Moreover, out of the five which received a residency permit during treatment, one recovered whereas four did not. The difference in outcome between subjects granted residency and not was significant (p = 0.007). The data revealed three (23%) cases of simulation where parents were suspected to have instigated symptoms. Our evaluation suggests that separation from parents and abstaining from invoking residency permit could be essential components when treating RS. Relying on a family-oriented approach, and residency could even be detrimental to recovery. The examined intervention was successful also in cases of probable malingering by proxy.
Evidence of an Eleventh-Century AD Cola Nitida Trade into the Middle Niger Region
Authors: Gestrich Nikolas , Champion Louis , Keïta Daouda , Coulibaly Nafogo , Fuller Dorian Q.
Published: July 2021

Kola nut (Colacf.nitida) and Safou fruit (Dacryodes edulis) remains have been discovered in eleventh- to fourteenth-century archaeological contexts at Togu Missiri near Ségou in Mali. These remains are evidence of early trade in perishable foodstuffs from the West African forest zone into the Middle Niger region. On the basis of these finds, this paper argues that long-distance trade links were well established by the end of the first millennium AD. It thereby supports the hypothesis that dates the inception of trade between the West African forest zone and the savanna regions to the first millennium AD. The circumstances of the find are discussed, as are the implications for our understanding of the wider exchange network based on the Niger River system in the late first and early second millennium CE.
Can Offline Testing of Deep Neural Networks Replace Their Online Testing?
Authors: Haq Fitash Ul , Shin Donghwan , Nejati Shiva , Briand Lionel
Published: July 2021

We distinguish two general modes of testing for Deep Neural Networks (DNNs): Offline testing where DNNs are tested as individual units based on test datasets obtained without involving the DNNs under test, and online testing where DNNs are embedded into a specific application environment and tested in a closed-loop mode in interaction with the application environment. Typically, DNNs are subjected to both types of testing during their development life cycle where offline testing is applied immediately after DNN training and online testing follows after offline testing and once a DNN is deployed within a specific application environment. In this paper, we study the relationship between offline and online testing. Our goal is to determine how offline testing and online testing differ or complement one another and if offline testing results can be used to help reduce the cost of online testing? Though these questions are generally relevant to all autonomous systems, we study them in the context of automated driving systems where, as study subjects, we use DNNs automating end-to-end controls of steering functions of self-driving vehicles. Our results show that offline testing is less effective than online testing as many safety violations identified by online testing could not be identified by offline testing, while large prediction errors generated by offline testing always led to severe safety violations detectable by online testing. Further, we cannot exploit offline testing results to reduce the cost of online testing in practice since we are not able to identify specific situations where offline testing could be as accurate as online testing in identifying safety requirement violations.
Ionic and Thermal Transport in Na-Ion-Conducting Ceramic Electrolytes
Authors: Rohde Magnus , Mohsin Ijaz U. I. , Ziebert Carlos , Seifert Hans Jürgen
Published: July 2021

We have studied the ionic and thermal transport properties along with the thermodynamic key properties of a Na-ion-conducting phosphate ceramic. The system Na1+xAlxTi2−x(PO4)3 (NATP) with x = 0.3 was taken as a NASICON-structured model system which is a candidate material for solid electrolytes in post-Li energy storage. The commercially available powder (NEI Coorp., USA) was consolidated using cold isostatic pressing before sintering. In order to compare NATP with the “classical” NASICON system, Na1+xZr2(SiO4)x(PO4)3−x (NaZSiP) was synthesized with compositions of x = 1.7 and x = 2, respectively, and characterized with regard to their ionic and thermal transport behavior. While ionic conductivity of the NaZSiP compositions was about more than two orders of magnitude higher than in NATP, the thermal conductivity of the NASICON compound showed an opposite behavior. The room temperature value was about a factor two higher in NATP compared to NaZSiP. While the thermal conductivity decreases with increasing temperature in NATP, it increases with increasing temperature in NaZSiP. However, the overall change of this thermal transport parameter over the measured temperature range from room temperature up to 800 °C appeared to be relatively small.
3-dimensional F-manifolds
Authors: Basalaev Alexey , Hertling Claus
Published: July 2021

F-manifolds are complex manifolds with a multiplication with unit on the holomorphic tangent bundle with a certain integrability condition. Here, the local classification of 3-dimensional F-manifolds with or without Euler fields is pursued.
An efficient algorithm for solving piecewise-smooth dynamical systems
Authors: Guglielmi Nicola , Hairer Ernst
Published: July 2021

This article considers the numerical treatment of piecewise-smooth dynamical systems. Classical solutions as well as sliding modes up to codimension-2 are treated. An algorithm is presented that, in the case of non-uniqueness, selects a solution that is the formal limit solution of a regularized problem. The numerical solution of a regularized differential equation, which creates stiffness and often also high oscillations, is avoided.
Concern about addiction is associated with lower quality of life in patients with osteoarthritis: an exploratory, real-world data analysis
Authors: Garrison Louis P. , Schepman Patricia , Bushmakin Andrew G. , Robinson Rebecca L. , Tive Leslie , Hall Jerry , Dzingina Mendwas , Jackson James , Berry Mia , Cappelleri Joseph C. , Silverman Stuart
Published: July 2021

Purpose

To evaluate the relationship between self-reported concerns about becoming addicted to a medication and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with osteoarthritis (OA).

Methods

This real-world study used patient-level cross-sectional survey data collected from the US Adelphi Disease Specific Programme (DSP). The DSP for OA selected 153 physicians who collected de-identified data on their next nine adult patients with OA. Each patient completed a disease-relevant survey, which included the Likert-scale question, “I am concerned about becoming addicted to my medicine,” (CAA) with responses ranging from “completely disagree” [1] to “completely agree” [5]. HRQoL was measured by the EQ-5D-5L index value and the EQ Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). A set of ordinary least squares regressions using HRQoL measures as outcomes and CAA as a continuous predictor were estimated. Standardized effect size (ES) was used to gauge the magnitude of effects.

Results

A total of 866 patients with OA completed the survey (female, 61.2%; White, 77.7%; mean age, 64.2 years). Of the 775 patients who completed the CAA question, almost one-third responded that they “agree” (18%) or “completely agree” (11%), while 27% responded “completely disagree” and 20% “disagree.” Regression analyses found that patients who have concerns about medication addiction have significantly different EQ-5D-5L index values and EQ VAS scores compared with patients who do not have this concern (p < 0.0001).

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that concern about medication addiction in patients with OA may have an impact on patient HRQoL, with more concerned patients reporting poorer HRQoL outcomes.
Sequence data from isolated lichen-associated melanized fungi enhance delimitation of two new lineages within Chaetothyriomycetidae
Authors: Muggia Lucia , Quan Yu , Gueidan Cécile , Al-Hatmi Abdullah M. S. , Grube Martin , de Hoog Sybren
Published: July 2021

Lichen thalli provide a long-lived and stable habitat for colonization by a wide range of microorganisms. Increased interest in these lichen-associated microbial communities has revealed an impressive diversity of fungi, including several novel lineages which still await formal taxonomic recognition. Among these, members of the Eurotiomycetes and Dothideomycetes usually occur asymptomatically in the lichen thalli, even if they share ancestry with fungi that may be parasitic on their host. Mycelia of the isolates are characterized by melanized cell walls and the fungi display exclusively asexual propagation. Their taxonomic placement requires, therefore, the use of DNA sequence data. Here, we consider recently published sequence data from lichen-associated fungi and characterize and formally describe two new, individually monophyletic lineages at family, genus, and species levels. The Pleostigmataceae fam. nov. and Melanina gen. nov. both comprise rock-inhabiting fungi that associate with epilithic, crust-forming lichens in subalpine habitats. The phylogenetic placement and the monophyly of Pleostigmataceae lack statistical support, but the family was resolved as sister to the order Verrucariales. This family comprises the species Pleostigma alpinum sp. nov., P. frigidum sp. nov., P. jungermannicola, and P. lichenophilum sp. nov. The placement of the genus Melanina is supported as a lineage within the Chaetothyriales. To date, this genus comprises the single species M. gunde-cimermaniae sp. nov. and forms a sister group to a large lineage including Herpotrichiellaceae, Chaetothyriaceae, Cyphellophoraceae, and Trichomeriaceae. The new phylogenetic analysis of the subclass Chaetothyiomycetidae provides new insight into genus and family level delimitation and classification of this ecologically diverse group of fungi.
Shifting chemical defence or novel weapons? A review of defence traits in Agarophyton vermiculophyllum and other invasive seaweeds
Authors: Wang Gaoge , Ren Yifei , Wang Shasha , Hou Minglei , Weinberger Florian
Published: July 2021

Seaweed bioinvasions increasingly affect coastal environments around the world, which increases the need for predictive models and mitigation strategies. The biotic interactions between seaweed invaders and invaded communities are often considered a key determinant of invasion success and failure and we here revise the current evidence that the capacity of seaweed invaders to deter enemies in newly reached environments correlates with their invasion success. Particularly efficient chemical defences have been described for several of the more problematic seaweed invaders during the last decades. However, confirmed cases in which seaweed invaders confronted un-adapted enemies in newly gained environments with deterrents that were absent from these environments prior to the invasion (so-called “novel weapons”) are scarce, although an increasing number of invasive and non-invasive seaweeds are screened for defence compounds. More evidence exists that seaweeds may adapt defence intensities to changing pressure by biological enemies in newly invaded habitats. However, most of this evidence of shifting defence was gathered with only one particular model seaweed, the Asia-endemic red alga Agarophyton vermiculophyllum, which is particularly accessible for direct comparisons of native and non-native populations in common garden experiments. A. vermiculophyllum interacts with consumers, epibionts and bacterial pathogens and in most of these interactions, non-native populations have rather gained than lost defensive capacity relative to native conspecifics. The increases in the few examined cases were due to an increased production of broad-spectrum deterrents and the relative scarcity of specialized deterrents perhaps reflects the circumstance that seaweed consumers and epibionts are overwhelmingly generalists.