bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sirolimus for Pediatric Cervicofacial Lymphatic Malformation: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis
Authors: Kamhieh Yasmine , Mitra Robin , Burnett Thomas , Jones Hugh , Roblin Graham , Hall Andrew
Published: October 2023

Objective

This study is a systematic review and meta‐analysis of the efficacy and safety of sirolimus in the management of pediatric cervicofacial lymphatic malformations (LMs).

Data Sources

EMBASE, Medline, Scopus, and Cochrane databases were searched, along with the reference list of all included articles.

Review Methods

The study protocol was registered with PROSPERO and a systematic literature search strategy was designed and conducted with the aid of a medical librarian. All studies including case reports were included, with pooled analysis of raw data. A meta‐analysis was conducted of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), clinical, and airway outcomes.

Results

Thirteen case series and five individual case reports were included. Meta‐analysis showed 78% (95% CI 57%–94%) of 62 patients had a reduction in LM volume, on MRI criteria, by 20% or more, and 32% (95% CI 11%–57%) had a reduction of 50% or more. Further meta‐analysis showed 97% (95% CI 88%–100%) of 78 patients reported some clinical improvement on sirolimus. Sirolimus may be of particular value in management of airway LMs; out of 27 tracheostomy‐dependent patients, meta‐analysis showed 33% (95% CI 1%–78%) were decannulated after starting sirolimus. Individual patient meta‐analysis on 24 individuals showed a statistically significant better response to sirolimus when initiated under the age of 2 years.

Conclusion

This review and meta‐analysis support the efficacy of sirolimus in pediatric LMs of the head, neck, and airway. A large multi‐center trial is needed to further explore its role and limitations. Laryngoscope, 134:2038–2047, 2024
Dynamic Crosslinking of Polyethylene by Hydrogen Bonding Grafted Motifs: A Molecular Dynamics Simulation Study
Authors: Hafezi Mohammad‐Javad , Sharif Farhad
Published: October 2023

The recyclability of polyethylene‐based is an important social and environmental issue. Dynamic crosslinking of polyethylene by multiple hydrogen bonding motifs provides an opportunity for complete recyclability. This approach is based on producing reversible covalent bonds in the crosslinking polyethylene networks to produce vitrimers. It is employed molecular dynamics simulation to study the effect of mole percent of randomly grafted 1‐(7‐oxo‐7,8‐dihydro‐1,8‐naphthyridin‐2‐yl) poly(ethylene‐co‐[2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate])s (ODIN‐PEHEMAs), on thermal stability of the vitrimers. The crosslinking nature and dynamics of these grafted polyethylene chains are analyzed focusing on free volume, specific volume, radial distribution function, and mean squared displacement. The addition of hydrogen bonding units increased the free volumes, but the mole percent of side chains is not enough to affect the dynamics of the main chains in vicinity of the glass transition temperature. The simulation results show that for 1.67‐mole percent of randomly grafted ODIN‐PEHEMAs, the mean squared displacement, MSD, dramatically increases in vicinity of 312.5 K, which is in good agreement with the experimental results due to the physical cross‐linking breakage at room temperature. With increasing the mole percent of ODIN (4.33, 8.33, and 10.67 mole percent), the breakage of physical cross‐links shifted to higher temperatures.
The cell volume‐regulatory glycine transporter GLYT1 is activated following metallopeptidase‐mediated detachment of the oocyte from the zona pellucida
Authors: Ortman Chyna S. , Baltz Jay M.
Published: October 2023

Independent cell volume regulation is first acquired by the oocyte in two steps that occur during meiotic maturation: (1) activation of the glycine transporter GLYT1 (Slc6a9) that mediates the intracellular accumulation of glycine to provide osmotic support in the mature egg and early preimplantation embryo, and (2) release of the oocyte from the strong attachment to its rigid extracellular matrix shell, the zona pellucida (ZP). It was recently shown that oocyte‐ZP detachment requires metallopeptidase activity that is proposed to cleave transmembrane ZP proteins connecting the oocyte to the ZP. It is unknown, however, how GLYT1 is activated. We hypothesized that oocyte‐ZP detachment precedes and may be required for GLYT1 activation. In identically treated pools of oocytes, oocyte‐ZP detachment occurred ~20 min before GLYT1 activation. In individual oocytes, GLYT1 activity was detected only in those that were mostly or fully detached. Blocking detachment using previously validated small molecule metallopeptidase inhibitors partly suppressed GLYT1 activation. However, removal of the ZP did not accelerate GLYT1 activation. This indicates that oocyte‐ZP detachment or cleavage of transmembrane ZP proteins may be required for GLYT1 to become fully activated, or alternatively that metallopeptidase activity independently affects both detachment and GLYT1 activation.
Estimation of non‐monotonic transition rates in a semi‐Markov process with covariates adjustments and application to caregivers' stress data
Authors: Ngan Esther , Chan Wenyaw , Leon‐Novelo Luis , Pavlik Valory
Published: October 2023

With the large ongoing number of aged people and Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients worldwide, unpaid caregivers have become the primary sources of their daily caregiving. Alzheimer's family caregivers often suffer from physical and mental morbidities owing to various reasons. The aims of this paper were to develop alternate methods to understand the transition properties, the dynamic change, and the long‐run behavior of AD caregivers' stress levels, by assuming their transition to the next level only depends on the duration of the current stress level. In this paper, we modeled the transition rates in the semi‐Markov Process with log‐logistic hazard functions. We assumed the transition rates were non‐monotonic over time and the scale of transition rates depended on covariates. We also extended the uniform accelerated expansion to calculate the long‐run probability distribution of stress levels while adjusting for multiple covariates. The proposed methods were evaluated through an empirical study. The application results showed that all the transition rates of caregivers' stress levels were right skewed. Care recipients' baseline age was significantly associated with the transitions. The long‐run probability of severe state was slightly higher, implying a prolonged recovery time for severe stress patients.
Simultaneous detection and analysis of 11 nootropic compounds in 54 samples via liquid chromatography‐electrospray ionization‐tandem mass spectrometry and quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry
Authors: Kim Nam Sook , Choi Hwan Seong , Shin Hyunil , Lee Ji Hyun , Kim Hyungil , Cho Sooyeul
Published: October 2023

Dietary supplements used for improving brain function and strengthening attention are increasingly popular. However, illegal dietary supplements containing unapproved drugs continue to be seized. Therefore, it is necessary to rapidly screen and identify adulterated compounds in dietary supplements for public safety. To develop the simultaneous analytical method, we selected 11 nootropic compounds and optimized the simultaneous liquid chromatography‐electrospray ionization‐tandem mass spectrometry and optimal conditions for liquid chromatography‐quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry were proposed to determine the fragmentation patterns of each compound. The specificity, linearity, limit of detection, limit of quantification, method detection limit, method quantitation limit, precision, accuracy, matrix effect, and stability of this method were evaluated according to international validation guidelines. The validated methods were applied to 54 samples containing dietary supplements and seized samples. On screening 11 nootropic compounds were detected in four solid samples (tablet and powder). By comparing the product ion ratios with the standards and quantification, vinpocetine (6.52–34.2 mg/g) was found in three samples, and omberacetam (995.6 mg/g) in one sample. To re‐confirm the detected compounds, the fragmentation patterns were compared with those of the standards using liquid chromatography‐quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry. The developed simultaneous analysis method can help maintain public health and safety.
Penile dermatoses: accurate diagnosis prevents serious sequelae
Authors: Dinneen Eoin , Bunker Christopher B , Dinneen Michael
Published: October 2023

Penile skin complaints are a common cause for outpatient and inpatient urological consultation. These conditions can cause considerable sexual and urinary dysfunction and attendant psychological distress. Clinical findings (discussed here in detail) provide the cornerstone of accurate diagnosis to guide treatment, to advise patients on prognosis, and to ensure that pre‐cancerous and cancerous lesions are not missed.
Unilateral ends‐out gene targeting increases mistargeting through supporting extensive single‐strand assimilation
Authors: Mitrikeski Petar Tomev
Published: October 2023

Ends‐out gene targeting enables the swapping of endogenous alleles with exogenous ones through homologous recombination which bears great implications both fundamental and applicable. To address the recombination mechanism(s) behind it, an experimental system was designed to distinguish between a possible (but rarely active) unilateral and the expected bilateral targeting in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae in which the proportions of the two alternative genetic outcomes are conceived to mirror the probabilities of the two scenarios. The quantitative analysis showed that the bilateral targeting was expectedly predominant. However, an analogous comparative analysis on a different experimental set suggested a prevalence of unilateral targeting unveiling an uncertainty whether the extensively resected targeting modules only mimic unilateral invasion. Based on this, a comprehensive qualitative analysis was conducted revealing a single basic ends‐out gene targeting mechanism composed of two intertwined pathways differing in the way how the homologous invasion is initiated and/or the production of the intermediates is conducted. This study suggests that bilateral targeting lowers mistargeting plausibly by limiting strand assimilation, unlike unilateral targeting which may initiate extensive strand assimilation producing intermediates capable of supporting multiple genetic outcomes which leads to mistargeting. Some of these outcomes can also be produced by mimicking unilateral invasion.
Genetical and $$\mathcal Y$$ Models for Math and Reading
Authors: Thomas Hoben
Published: October 2023

This chapter details first the genetical model and then the probability model Y for math and reading.
Model Estimation and Illustration of Test Score Distributions
Authors: Thomas Hoben
Published: October 2023

Parameter estimates under y are provided for several reading and math test V  and their estimated test score distributions from a variety of settings around the world, along with their graphic portrayals.
Zur Multimethodik der Ethnographie der Streichensembles
Authors: Vollmer Theresa
Published: October 2023

Die Ethnographie der Streichensembles verfolgt die Forschungsfrage: „Wie machen Klassisch ausgebildete Musiker:innen mit ihren Instrumenten und Noten in Streichensembles gemeinsam Musik und erleben sie dabei?“ (Kapitel III.E). Im vorliegenden Kapitel wird das Forschungsdesign und die Samplingstrategie der Studie dargelegt. Aus dem Forschungsstand und der erörterten Kritik wurden Hinweise für die methodologische Grundlegung des Untersuchungsdesigns erarbeitet (Kapitel III.D).
Exploring the differences in serum metabolite profiles after intake of red meat in women with rheumatoid arthritis and a matched control group
Authors: Lindqvist Helen M. , Gjertsson Inger , Hulander Erik , Bärebring Linnea , Winkvist Anna
Published: October 2023

Purpose

Studies have suggested that women with RA tend to avoid red meat more often than women without RA, based on their perception that it exacerbates their symptoms. Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate and compare the postprandial metabolic response following the consumption of a red meat meal in patients with RA and a matched control group.

Methods

Participants were challenged with a meal with red meat and blood samples were collected before and at 0.5, 1, 2, 3 and 5 h after the meal. Serum metabolites were quantified by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) analysis. Orthogonal Projections to Latent Structures with Discriminant Analysis (OPLS-DA) was used to evaluate separation by metabolites due to diagnosis of RA or not and to identify changes in metabolites related to RA. Incremental area under the curve was calculated for univariate comparisons for 23 metabolites.

Results

The matched groups, including 22 women with RA and 22 women without RA, did not differ significantly in age, body mass index, diet quality or reported physical activity. OPLS-DA models had a limited quality indicating that there were no differences in metabolite patterns between the groups. However, phenylalanine was significantly higher in concentration in women with RA compared to controls in both fasting and postprandial samples.

Conclusion

To conclude, this well-controlled postprandial intervention study found a significantly higher concentration of phenylalanine in both fasting and postprandial samples of women with RA compared to matched women without RA. These findings warrant further investigation in larger studies.

Trial registration

The PIRA (Postprandial Inflammation in Rheumatoid Arthritis) trial is Registered at Clinicaltrials.gov (NCT04247009).
Transcutaneous carbon dioxide measurements in anesthetized apneic patients with BMI > 35 kg/m2
Authors: Eley Victoria A. , Guy Louis , Woods Christine , Llewellyn Stacey , Van Zundert Andre A. J.
Published: October 2023

Transcutaneous carbon dioxide measurement (TcCO2) offers the ability to continuously and non-invasively monitor carbon dioxide (CO2) tensions when end-tidal monitoring is not possible. The accuracy of TcCO2 has not been established in anesthetized apneic patients with obesity. In this secondary publication, we present a methods comparison analysis of TcCO2 with the gold standard arterial PCO2, in adult patients with body mass index (BMI) > 35kg/m2 who were randomized to receive high flow or low flow nasal oxygenation during post-induction apnea. Agreement between PaCO2 and TcCO2 at baseline, the start of apnea and the end of apnea were assessed using a non-parametric difference plot. Forty-two participants had a median (IQR) BMI of 52 (40–58.5) kg/m2. The mean (SD) PaCO2 was 33.9 (4.0) mmHg at baseline and 51.4 (7.5) mmHg at the end of apnea. The bias was the greatest at the end of apnea median (95% CI, 95% limits of agreement) 1.90 mmHg (−2.64 to 6.44, −7.10 to 22.90). Findings did not suggest significant systematic differences between the PaCO2 and TcCO2 measures. For a short period of apnea, TcCO2 showed inadequate agreement with PaCO2 in patients with BMI > 35 kg/m2. These techniques require comparison in a larger population, with more frequent sampling and over a longer timeframe, before TcCO2 can be confidently recommended in this setting.
Rates and predictors of service disengagement in adolescents with first episode psychosis: results from the 2-year follow-up of the Pr-EP program
Authors: Pelizza Lorenzo , Leuci Emanuela , Quattrone Emanuela , Azzali Silvia , Pupo Simona , Paulillo Giuseppina , Pellegrini Pietro , Menchetti Marco
Published: October 2023

Service disengagement is a major concern for “Early Intervention in Psychosis” (EIP). Indeed, understanding predictors of engagement is important for the effectiveness of mental health interventions, to improve outcome and quality of life, also in adolescents with first episode psychosis (FEP). No specific European investigation on this topic in adolescence has been reported in the literature to date. The aim of this study was to investigate service disengagement rate and predictors in an Italian sample of FEP adolescents treated within an EIP program during a 2-year follow-up period. All participants were adolescents help-seekers (aged 12–18 years) enrolled in the “Parma Early Psychosis” (Pr-EP) program. At baseline, they completed the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and the Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) scale. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were performed. 71 FEP adolescents were recruited in this research. During the 2 years of our follow-up, a 25.4% prevalence rate of service disengagement was found. Particularly robust predictors of disengagement were lower baseline acceptance of psychosocial interventions, substance abuse at entry, and lower baseline PANSS “Disorganization” factor score. Approximately, 1/4 of our FEP adolescents disengaged from the Pr-EP program during the first 2 years of treatment. A possible solution to decrease disengagement and to favor re-engagement of these young individuals might be to provide the option of low-intensity monitoring and support, also via remote technology.
Higher participation rates for specific health checkups are associated with a lower incidence of treated ESKD in Japan
Authors: Wakasugi Minako , Narita Ichiei
Published: October 2023

Background

A Japanese cohort study previously reported that not attending health checkups was associated with an increased risk of treated end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). The present study aimed to examine this association at the prefecture level.

Methods

We conducted an ecological study of all prefectures in Japan (n = 47) using five sources of nationwide open data. We explored associations of participation rates for Specific Health Checkups (SHC participation rates), the estimated prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD), and the ratio of nephrology specialists for each prefecture with prefecture-specific standardized incidence rates (SIRs) of treated ESKD using structural equation modeling.

Results

Prefecture-specific SHC participation rates ranged from 44.2% to 65.9%, and were negatively correlated with prefecture-specific SIRs and prevalence of CKD, and positively correlated with the ratio of nephrology specialists. SHC participation rates had significant negative effects on prefecture-specific SIRs (standardized estimate (β) = − 0.38, p = 0.01) and prefecture-specific prevalence of CKD (β = − 0.32, p = 0.02). Through SHC participation rates, the ratio of nephrology specialists had a significant indirect negative effect on prefecture-specific SIRs (β= − 0.14, p = 0.02). The model fitted the data well and explained 14% of the variance in SIRs.

Conclusions

Our findings support the importance of increasing SHC participation rates at the population level and may encourage people to undergo health checkups.
Automated programming, symbolic computation, machine learning: my personal view
Authors: Buchberger Bruno
Published: October 2023

In this note, I present my personal view on the interaction of the three areas Automated Programming, Symbolic Computation, and Machine Learning. Programming is the activity of finding a (hopefully) correct program (algorithm) for a given problem. Programming is central to automation in all areas and is considered one of the most creative human activities. However, already very early in the history of programming, people started to “jump to the meta-level” of programming, i.e., started to develop procedures that automate, or semi-automate, (various aspects or parts of) the process of programming. This area has various names like “Automated Programming”, “Automated Algorithm Synthesis”, etc. Developing compilers can be considered an early example of a problem in automated programming. Automated reasoners for proving the correctness of programs with respect to a specification is an advanced example of a topic in automated programming. ChatGPT producing (amazingly good) programs from problem specifications in natural language is a recent example of automated programming. Programming tends to become the most important activity as the level of technological sophistication increases. Therefore, automating programming is maybe the most exciting and relevant technological endeavor today. It also will have enormous impact on the global job market in the software industry. Roughly, I see two main approaches to automated programming:

symbolic computation

and machine learning.

In this note, I explain how the two approaches work and that they are fundamentally different because they address two completely different ways of how problems are specified. Together, the two approaches constitute (part of) what some people like to call “artificial intelligence”. In my analysis, both approaches are just part of (algorithmic) mathematics. The approaches, like all non-trivial mathematical methods, need quite some intelligence on the side of the human inventors of the methods. However, applying the methods is just “machine execution” of algorithms. It is misleading to call the application “machine intelligence” or “artificial intelligence”. The analysis of the two approaches to automated programming also suggests that the two approaches, in the future, should be combined to achieve even higher levels of sophistication. At the end of this note, I propose some research questions for this new direction.
Runoff, sediment, organic carbon, and nutrient loads from a Canadian prairie micro-watershed under climate variability and land management practices
Authors: Liu Yongbo , Van Nieuwenhuizen Nigel , Elliott Jane , Shrestha Rajesh R. , Yerubandi Ram
Published: October 2023

This study conducted a spatio-temporal analysis of runoff, total suspended sediment, suspended particulate carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus loadings within the 2.06 km2 Steppler subwatershed in southern Manitoba of Canada based on 11 years of field monitoring data collected at nine stations. Results showed that the nutrient losses were very small because of the implementation of multiple BMPs in the study area. However, a high spatio-temporal variation of runoff and water quality parameters was found for the nine fields within the subwatershed. The average runoff coefficient was 0.19 at the subwatershed outlet with sediment, suspended particulate carbon, total nitrogen, and total phosphorus losses of 73.8, 6.10, 4.54, and 0.76 kg/ha respectively. Spring snowmelt runoff was about 74.5% of the annual runoff at the subwatershed outlet, while for sediment, suspended particulate carbon, total nitrogen, and total phosphorus, the proportions were 61.1%, 63.6%, 74.9%, and 81.2% respectively during the monitoring period, which suggests that BMPs designed for reducing nutrient loadings from snowmelt runoff would be more effective than BMPs designed for reducing pollutant loading from rainfall storms in the study area. Research findings from this study will benefit the enhancement of current BMPs and the development of new BMPs in the region to minimize soil and nutrient losses from agricultural fields and improve water quality in receiving water bodies.
Intraoperative or postoperative stereotactic radiotherapy for brain metastases: time to systemic treatment onset and other patient-relevant outcomes
Authors: Dejonckheere Cas S. , Layer Julian P. , Hamed Motaz , Layer Katharina , Glasmacher Andrea , Friker Lea L. , Potthoff Anna-Laura , Zeyen Thomas , Scafa Davide , Koch David , Garbe Stephan , Holz Jasmin A. , Kugel Fabian , Grimmer Molina , Schmeel Frederic Carsten , Gielen Gerrit H. , Forstbauer Helmut , Vatter Hartmut , Herrlinger Ulrich , Giordano Frank A. , Schneider Matthias , Schmeel Leonard Christopher , Sarria Gustavo R.
Published: October 2023

Purpose

Intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) has become a viable treatment option for resectable brain metastases (BMs). As data on local control and radiation necrosis rates are maturing, we focus on meaningful secondary endpoints such as time to next treatment (TTNT), duration of postoperative corticosteroid treatment, and in-hospital time.

Methods

Patients prospectively recruited within an IORT study registry between November 2020 and June 2023 were compared with consecutive patients receiving adjuvant stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT) of the resection cavity within the same time frame. TTNT was defined as the number of days between BM resection and start of the next extracranial oncological therapy (systemic treatment, surgery, or radiotherapy) for each of the groups.

Results

Of 95 BM patients screened, IORT was feasible in 84 cases (88%) and ultimately performed in 64 (67%). The control collective consisted of 53 SRT patients. There were no relevant differences in clinical baseline features. Mean TTNT (range) was 36 (9 − 94) days for IORT patients versus 52 (11 − 126) days for SRT patients (p = 0.01). Mean duration of postoperative corticosteroid treatment was similar (8 days; p = 0.83), as was mean postoperative in-hospital time (11 versus 12 days; p = 0.97). Mean total in-hospital time for BM treatment (in- and out-patient days) was 11 days for IORT versus 19 days for SRT patients (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

IORT for BMs results in faster completion of interdisciplinary treatment when compared to adjuvant SRT, without increasing corticosteroid intake or prolonging in-hospital times. A randomised phase III trial will determine the clinical effects of shorter TTNT.
How to mind the body
Authors: Rath Michael
Published: October 2023

Dieser Artikel der Zeitschrift für Psychodrama und Soziometrie beschreibt Phänomene auf der körperlich-leiblichen Ebene. Anhand der intrauterinen Entwicklung werden die Rollenkonfigurationen auf der uteral-somatopsychischen Rollenebene zusammengefasst, um sie für Interventionen in der psychodramatischen Arbeit mit Erwachsenen gezielt einsetzen zu können. Eine Erweiterung des Körperverständnisses wird durch leibphänomenologische Erkenntnisse vollzogen. Durch eine Mikro-Differenzierung des Handlungsbegriffes können in leiblichen Mikroszenen Sinndimensionen des deep body erkannt werden. Die Implikationen führen zu einer Erweiterung der Rollenebenen. Ein zyklisches Modell der Rollenebenen wird vorgestellt. In zwei Fallvignetten wird das siebenstufige Interventionsverfahren demonstriert.
Quantifying the Respiratory Pattern of Rhizosphere Microbial Communities in Healthy and Diseased Tomato Plants Using Carbon Substrates
Authors: Adedayo Afeez Adesina , Fadiji Ayomide Emmanuel , Babalola Olubukola Oluranti
Published: October 2023

The sustainable production of tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum) is important, and this can be achieved by determining the rate of respiration of microbes in the tomato plants' rhizosphere soil. This study aimed at the potential of microbes to utilize carbon substrates embedded in the rhizosphere soil thereby contributing to the healthy nature of the tomato plants. The potential soil physiochemical features and utilization of carbon substrate by soil microorganisms as a result of their respiration to reveal their functions in the ecosystem were evaluated. The soil samples were amassed from the healthy tomato plant rhizosphere, diseased tomatoes, and bulk soil in this study. The physiochemical features and carbon substrate utilization in the bulk soil samples, and rhizosphere samples of powdery diseased, and healthy tomato plants were assessed. The MicroRespTM procedure was used to determine the community-level physiological profiles (CLPP) employing fifteen (15) carbon (C) substrates selected based on their importance to microbial communities embedded in the soil samples. Our results revealed that various physiochemical properties, moisture content, water retention, and C substrates including sugar, amino acid, and carboxylic acid were greater in HR and the substrates were not significantly different (p < 0.05). The study reveals higher soil respiration in HR as a result of the microbial communities inhabiting HR utilizing more of the C-substrates. This investigation contributes to the tomato plant's healthy state as the microbial communities utilized carbon substrate compared to DR after employing the CLPP assays.
Was Gastroenterologen über Antirefluxchirurgie wissen sollten
Authors: Schneider Marcel André , Pohl Daniel , Vetter Diana , Gutschow Christian Alexander
Published: October 2023

Die gastroösophageale Refluxkrankheit (GERD) ist mit einer Prävalenz von bis zu 25 % in Ländern mit hohem Lebensstandard eine Volkskrankheit. Die Therapie mit Protonenpumpeninhibitoren (PPI) ist die Behandlung der ersten Wahl, führt aber nur bei etwa 60 % der Patienten zu vollständiger Beschwerdefreiheit, zudem besteht bei manchen Patienten die Sorge um unerwünschte Nebenwirkungen bei langfristiger PPI-Einnahme. Die Antirefluxchirurgie ist vor allem bei PPI-refraktären Patienten und Unverträglichkeiten eine wichtige Behandlungsoption, setzt aber klare Kriterien bei der Auswahl dieser Patienten und ausreichende chirurgische Erfahrung voraus. Das breite Spektrum der heute angewandten Antirefluxoperationen führt bei Patienten und Zuweisern häufig zu Verunsicherung. Ziel dieser Übersichtsarbeit ist es, das Spektrum der chirurgischen Therapien darzustellen und anhand der aktuellen Literatur die Orientierung bei der Indikationsstellung und Verfahrenswahl zu erleichtern.
Innovative and secure decentralized approach to process real estate transactions by utilizing private blockchain
Authors: Langaliya Vishalkumar , Gohil Jaypalsinh A.
Published: October 2023

Purpose

This research introduces a decentralized method for handling real estate transactions through the utilization of private blockchain technology. The authors pinpoint the primary challenges within the prevailing transaction procedures in India and advocate for the integration of blockchain technology as a solution. Ultimately, the study concludes that the proposed system has the potential to optimize transaction processes within Indian government offices, fostering heightened efficiency, transparency, and a reduction in corrupt practices.

Methods/design/methodology

The current transaction process and the centralized technology are investigated using a physical observation approach at the government office. Following that, numerous parties are questioned to identify the main pain areas in the process. The outcomes of the interviews are used to create a blockchain solution that addresses the identified pain points. Following the design, interviewees are requested to validate the suggested model.

Findings

Some of the primary pain areas found in the real estate transaction procedure include that it is impossible to avoid single-point failure due to the present centralized transaction process, the possibility of corruption at any point, and the lack of data available at each node. Using blockchain techniques, the suggested decentralized application enhances the way transactions are processed and ensures the quality of data availability, transparency, and the elimination of single points of failure.

Practical implications and simulation process

A private blockchain application is created to improve the real estate transaction procedure at the Indian government office. One complex front end is created to receive information about the seller, the buyer’s property, and the payment, and a suitable database is employed to hold the sensitive data. Data is moved to the private blockchain for final execution when the smart business logic has been applied to the necessary information. One artificial utility is created that places a heavy load on the proposed system and measures the load trashing to validate it. It generates an enormous amount of sample data to verify the suggested system.

Originality/value

According to recent research, blockchain technology has the potential to get better efficiency, transparency, security, data accessibility, and thus trust in the transaction process. As a result, the suggested application is beneficial to the future of the Indian real estate transaction process.
Right esophageal lung with associated pulmonary vascular anomaly: A rare case report
Authors: Hailu Samuel Sisay , Hailu Zerihun Gelashe , Abrar Fadil Nuredin , Admasu Nardos Mulu , Aklilu Woubedel Kiflu , Gebru Fisseha Temesgen , Hailemariam Tesfahunegn
Published: October 2023

Abstract

Introduction and Importance

Congenital bronchopulmonary foregut malformation (CBPFM) is a rare anomaly in which either a lung, a lung lobe or a segment has a patent congenital communication to the upper gastrointestinal tract. In esophageal lung, an anomalous main bronchus arises from the esophagus rather than the trachea.

Case presentation

A male neonate was admitted with respiratory distress immediately following birth. Radiographic evaluation included chest radiograph, chest Ultrasound, chest CT and an upper gastrointestinal (GI) contrast study. A completely opaque right hemithorax was initially visualized and identified as esophageal lung with associated anomalous partial systemic arterial supply and venous drainage. A right posterolateral thoracotomy with pneumonectomy of the hypoplastic lung was performed. However, the patient died of respiratory failure on the first postoperative day.

Clinical discussion

Esophageal lung is an extremely rare form of CBPFM in which a main stem bronchus, usually the right one, is abnormally connected to the esophagus. The diagnosis is suggested by chest x-ray and confirmed by upper GI contrast study, which is also available in resource-poor settings. A CT scan with 3D volume rendered images can make a diagnosis, although difficulties remain. Pneumonectomy is the preferred treatment for most patients.

Conclusion

Esophageal lung is a rare congenital abnormality with few reported cases. Radiologists and pediatricians should have a high index of suspicion for this anomaly in cases of neonatal respiratory distress and a persistently opacified lung with focal air bronchogram(s) and pursue a timely confirmatory contrast study.

Highlights
Use of nares swab to de-escalate vancomycin for patients with suspected methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: Gentges Joshua , El-Kouri Nadeem , Rahman Tashrique , Mushtaq Nasir , Hudson Ed , Scheck David
Published: October 2023

Introduction:

According to the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 30%–50% of antibiotic use in hospitals is unnecessary or inappropriate. The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic further complicates antibiotic use leading to greater initiation of empiric antibiotics. The result is antibiotic overuse and increased duration of unnecessary therapy. Vancomycin is a drug of last resort, primarily relegated to the treatment of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). De-escalating vancomycin can mean waiting on MRSA culture results, which may take up to 96 h. Nares screening for MRSA is shown to possess high negative predictive value for ruling out suspected MRSA pneumonia, intra-abdominal infections, and bacteremia.

Methods:

This before-and-after study examines the impact of vancomycin therapy de-escalation due to absence of MRSA colonization detected via PCR assay of nares swabs. An intervention with providers using SMART goals was designed to increase nasal swabbing for MRSA and ultimately decrease vancomycin use at a large, tertiary-care urban hospital.

Results:

There was a significant increase in use of vancomycin nares swabs (28/150 vs 48/100, p = 0.040) in the immediate pre/postintervention period, and significant decreases in vancomycin usage days/1,000 patient days of 2.34% per month (p = 0.039) over a two year period after the intervention.

Conclusion:

An intervention using PCR nares swabs to detect MRSA led to significant, lasting decreases in vancomycin usage at this hospital. Similar interventions should be planned at hospitals experiencing overuse of this antibiotic.
Applications of electrothermal bipolar vessel sealing devices in transoral head and neck surgery
Authors: Chandrasiri Scott , Sahota Raguwinder Bindy Singh , Krishnan Suren , Foreman Andrew , Bassiouni Ahmed , Jervis-Bardy Jake , Hodge J C
Published: October 2023

Objective

Electrothermal bipolar vessel sealing devices are electrosurgical devices that seal tissues and blood vessels up to 7 mm in diameter. This paper discusses our experience using electrothermal bipolar vessel sealing devices in transoral head and neck surgery.

Methods

Electrothermal bipolar vessel sealing devices were used in five patients with lesions of varying size and type within the pharyngo-larynx. These were treated transorally by the otolaryngology department at the Royal Adelaide Hospital. Either the Medtronic LigaSure or BiZact devices were used for transoral resection, debulking or division of these lesions.

Results

Electrothermal bipolar vessel sealing devices were considered helpful in four out of the five cases. Success was dependent on suitable transoral access. A single unsuccessful case reflected the LigaSure jaw's inability to engage a large tumour effectively.

Conclusion

Electrothermal bipolar vessel sealing devices can be safely deployed transorally to treat lesions of the upper aero-digestive tract in selected patients. Further studies investigating additional indications would broaden applications of this approach.
Annihilation-gamma-based diagnostic techniques for magnetically confined electron–positron pair plasma
Authors: von der Linden J. , Nißl S. , Deller A. , Horn-Stanja J. , Danielson J.R. , Stoneking M.R. , Card A. , Sunn Pedersen T. , Stenson E.V.
Published: October 2023

Efforts are underway to magnetically confine electron–positron pair plasmas to study their unique behaviour, which is characterized by significant changes in plasma time and length scales, supported waves and unstable modes. However, use of conventional plasma diagnostics presents challenges with these low-density and annihilating matter–antimatter plasmas. To address this problem, we propose to develop techniques based on the distinct emission provided by annihilation. This emission exhibits two spatial correlations: the distance attenuation of isotropic sources and the back-to-back propagation of momentum-preserving 2

$\gamma$

annihilation. We present the results of our analysis of the

$\gamma$

emission rate and the spatial profile of the annihilation in a magnetized pair plasma from direct pair collisions, from the formation and decay of positronium as well as from transport processes. In order to demonstrate the effectiveness of annihilation-based techniques, we tested them on annular

$\gamma$

emission profiles produced by a

$\beta ^+$

radioisotope on a rotating turntable. Direct and positronium-mediated annihilation result in overlapping volumetric

$\gamma$

sources, and the 2

$\gamma$

emission from these volumetric sources can be tomographically reconstructed from coincident counts in multiple detectors. Transport processes result in localized annihilation where field lines intersect walls, limiters or internal magnets. These localized sources can be identified by the fractional

$\gamma$

counts on spatially distributed detectors.
Armenian (Yerevan Eastern Armenian and Beirut Western Armenian)
Authors: Seyfarth Scott , Dolatian Hossep , Guekguezian Peter , Kelly Niamh , Toparlak Tabita
Published: October 2023

Armenian (or , /hɑjeˈɾen/, ISO 639-1 hy) comprises an independent branch of the Indo-European language family.1 Its earliest attested ancestor is Classical Armenian in the fifth century CE (see Godel 1975; Thomson 1989; DeLisi 2015; Macak 2016). Modern Armenian is classified into two dialect families: Eastern Armenian (ISO 639-3 hye) and Western Armenian (ISO 639-3 hyw). Eastern Armenian is spoken in modern-day Armenia, and large speaker communities also exist in Georgia, Russia and Iran (shown in Figure 1). Western Armenian was historically spoken in the Ottoman Empire, but now includes varieties spoken throughout the Armenian diaspora in the Middle East, Europe, and the Americas (Donabédian 2018). There are substantial Western Armenian speaker communities in Turkey (Istanbul), Lebanon (Beirut), Syria (Aleppo, Damascus), California (Fresno, Los Angeles County), France (Marseilles), Australia (Sydney) and Argentina (Buenos Aires). There are also recent diaspora communities of Eastern Armenian speakers in California (Karapetian 2014), as well as communities of Western Armenian speakers in Armenia who escaped the Armenian genocide during World War I, who repatriated after World War II, or who fled the ongoing Syrian civil war. UNESCO lists Western Armenian as an endangered language in Turkey, and there are significant language promotion efforts in many diaspora communities that are intended to combat declining use by speaker generations born in the Americas and Europe (Al-Bataineh 2015; Chahinian & Bakalian 2016).
Exploring financial abuse involving people with dementia: an empirical legal study of nation-wide court rulings over a decade in Taiwan
Authors: Ku Li-Jung Elizabeth , Huang Sieh-Chuen , Liao Yi-Han , Kang Hsin-Yu , Chung Chao-An
Published: October 2023

Previous literature attempted to gain insight into financial abuse involving people with dementia by analysing court cases, but these studies were limited in sample size or scope. This study collected 214 court rulings directly related to the financial decisions of people with dementia to identify characteristics of the financial abuse victim, perpetrators and the types of assets. The models of bystander intervention and routine activity theory were used as conceptual models to guide analysis regarding the role of bank staff as well as the court's decision in cases of financial abuse. The majority of financial abuse perpetrators were family members (73.8%), as opposed to outsiders (19.2%). Transfer of real estate was the most common legal issue, and land was the most common financial asset involved. Difficult intra-family relationships seem to pose a great risk of financial abuse involving people with dementia since adult children were found to be the most likely perpetrators (52.7%) but also plaintiffs accusing financial abuse (57.6%). In accordance with the bystander intervention model, bank staff were more likely to be suspicious of financial abuse when an outsider was regarded as the perpetrator. In accordance with the routine activity theory model, the court was more likely to acknowledge the case as an invalid financial decision when an outsider was regarded as the perpetrator in financial abuse cases. Since people with dementia suffer from greater losses due to their family members, future policies should establish guidelines for front-line bank staff to identify warning signs to reduce the risk of financial abuse involving people with dementia, not only to prevent fraud by outsiders but also exploitation by family members.
A type-directed, dictionary-passing translation of method overloading and structural subtyping in Featherweight Generic Go
Authors: SULZMANN MARTIN , WEHR STEFAN
Published: October 2023

Featherweight Generic Go (FGG) is a minimal core calculus modeling the essential features of the programming language Go. It includes support for overloaded methods, interface types, structural subtyping, and generics. The most straightforward semantic description of the dynamic behavior of FGG programs is to resolve method calls based on runtime type information of the receiver. This article shows a different approach by defining a type-directed translation from

${\textrm{FGG}^{-}}$

to an untyped lambda-calculus.

${\textrm{FGG}^{-}}$

includes all features of FGG but type assertions. The translation of an

${\textrm{FGG}^{-}}$

program provides evidence for the availability of methods as additional dictionary parameters, similar to the dictionary-passing approach known from Haskell type classes. Then, method calls can be resolved by a simple lookup of the method definition in the dictionary. Every program in the image of the translation has the same dynamic semantics as its source

${\textrm{FGG}^{-}}$

program. The proof of this result is based on a syntactic, step-indexed logical relation. The step index ensures a well-founded definition of the relation in the presence of recursive interface types and recursive methods. Although being non-deterministic, the translation is coherent.
From cakravartin to bodhisattva: Buddhist models for globalization
Authors: Cohen Signe
Published: October 2023

This article examines globalization in an Asian context through the lens of two Buddhist concepts: the cakravartin and the bodhisattva. A cakravartin is a ruler who fuses spiritual and political power in his global reign. This article argues that the cakravartin represents one model of Buddhist globalization where the spread of the religion coincides with the growing military dominion of a BuddhGist king. A bodhisattva, on the other hand, is an enlightened being who has chosen to be reborn out of compassion with the entire suffering world. A bodhisattva watches over a ‘Buddha field’, or spiritual realm. Each Buddha field has its own laws, culture, language, or even separate forms of time and space. The bodhisattva provides a new model for understanding cultural diversity in the absence of a unified political power: the Buddhist world is a transnational network where new identities are negotiated.
Total Pain in der Palliativen Geriatrie
Authors: Heimerl Katharina
Published: October 2023

Interdisziplinäre Dimensionen des Total Pain in der Palliativen Geriatrie

Im Zentrum von Total Pain stehen die spirituellen, existenziellen und sozialen Herausforderungen, vor denen Menschen am Lebensende oder mit schweren, fortschreitenden Erkrankungen stehen. Dies berührt auch diejenigen, die sie begleiten und betreuen. Als Konzept steht Total Pain inhaltlich im Zentrum von Palliative Care. Das Fachbuch geht nun einen weiteren Schritt und verknüpft das Konzept mit der Palliativen Geriatrie.
Die Auseinandersetzung mit Total Pain ist immer interdisziplinär und interprofessionell zu denken und erfordert besondere (Er)kenntnisse. Die Herausgeberinnen, Autorinnen und Autoren sind Fachexpertinnen und -experten im Bereich der Palliativen Geriatrie, ihre Beiträge skizzieren länderübergreifend die Perspektiven der unterschiedlichen Berufsgruppen und beschreiben die Besonderheiten der jeweiligen Versorgungssettings:
Teil 1: Total Pain von hochbetagten Menschen – Einführung
Teil 2: Einsamkeit und Trauer
Teil 3: Biografischer und spiritueller Schmerz im hohen Alter
Teil 4: Körperliches Leid
Teil 5: Man kann doch etwas tun – vom gelingenden Umgang mit Total Pain.
Darüber hinaus stehen die hochbetagten Menschen in zahlreichen Geschichten und Erzählungen im Zentrum des Bandes.
Crystal dissolution by particle detachment
Authors: Zhu Guomin , Legg Benjamin A. , Sassi Michel , Liang Xinran , Zong Meirong , Rosso Kevin M. , De Yoreo James J.
Published: October 2023

Crystal dissolution, which is a fundamental process in both natural and technological settings, has been predominately viewed as a process of ion-by-ion detachment into a surrounding solvent. Here we report a mechanism of dissolution by particle detachment (DPD) that dominates in mesocrystals formed via crystallization by particle attachment (CPA). Using liquid phase electron microscopy to directly observe dissolution of hematite crystals — both compact rhombohedra and mesocrystals of coaligned nanoparticles — we find that the mesocrystals evolve into branched structures, which disintegrate as individual sub-particles detach. The resulting dissolution rates far exceed those for equivalent masses of compact single crystals. Applying a numerical generalization of the Gibbs-Thomson effect, we show that the physical drivers of DPD are curvature and strain inherently tied to the original CPA process. Based on the generality of the model, we anticipate that DPD is widespread for both natural minerals and synthetic crystals formed via CPA.