bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Growth performance of Rainbow Trout in reservoir tributaries and implications for steelhead growth potential above Skagit River dams
Authors: Jensen B. L. , Johnson R. C. , Duda J. J. , Ostberg C. O. , Code T. J. , Mclean J. H. , Stenberg K. D. , Larsen K. A. , Hoy M. S. , Beauchamp D. A.
Published: October 2023

Objective

In the Pacific Northwest (USA), Pacific salmon Oncorhynchus spp. populations have been declining significantly for decades, prompting stakeholders to respond with a variety of conservation and restoration measures. One such measure being considered in the Skagit River basin (Washington, USA) is the introduction of steelhead Oncorhynchus mykiss (anadromous Rainbow Trout) above the impassable Gorge, Diablo, and Ross dams to bolster their populations. Because freshwater growth is key to survival at subsequent life stages, we evaluated current trends in size and growth of Rainbow Trout among key tributaries to Gorge, Diablo, and Ross reservoirs using empirical data collection and bioenergetics modeling.

Methods

For nine candidate streams, a bioenergetics model was used to assess how temperature and prey consumption affected growth performance of Rainbow Trout between annuli 1 and 2, and 2 and 3. Thermal scenarios were created to evaluate how fish growth responded to temperature variability while total annual consumption was constrained within empirical growth estimates. We then compared these results to back-calculated size thresholds established by size-at-age observed in wild steelhead adults that returned to the Skagit River below the dams.

Result

Of the streams proposed for introductions, there was one instance (McMillan Creek) in the nominal simulations where growth met or exceeded the size at annulus 2 or 3 of a returning adult steelhead (24.9 g at annulus 2 and 50.3 g at annulus 3). Modeled growth under different thermal scenarios showed that colder temperatures (0.1–10.7°C, Canyon Creek) produced higher growth than under the nominal or warm scenarios (2.0–15.3°C, Canyon Creek), as well as one additional tributary where size at annulus 2 or 3 (±2 SE) was comparable to the threshold established by adult steelhead below the dams (Big Beaver Creek, annulus 3).

Conclusion

These results suggest Rainbow Trout growth is most limited by prey availability in the examined upper Skagit tributaries.
Rotator cuff muscle fibrosis can be assessed using ultrashort echo time magnetization transfer MRI with fat suppression
Authors: Chang Eric Y. , Suprana Arya , Tang Qingbo , Cheng Xin , Fu Eddie , Orozco Elisabeth , Jerban Saeed , Shah Sameer B. , Du Jiang , Ma Yajun
Published: October 2023

Muscle degeneration following rotator cuff tendon tearing is characterized by fatty infiltration and fibrosis. While tools exist for the characterization of fat, the ability to noninvasively assess muscle fibrosis is limited. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the capability of quantitative ultrashort echo time T1 (UTE‐T1) and UTE magnetization transfer (UTE‐MT) mapping with and without fat suppression (FS) for the differentiation of injured and control rotator cuff muscles and for the detection of fibrosis. A rat model of chronic massive rotator cuff tearing (n = 12) was used with tenotomy of the right supraspinatus and infraspinatus tendons and silicone implants to prevent healing. Imaging was performed on a 3‐T scanner, and UTE‐T1 mapping with and without FS and UTE‐MT with and without FS for macromolecular fraction (MMF) mapping was performed. At 20 weeks postinjury, T1 and MMF were measured in the supraspinatus and infraspinatus muscles of the injured and contralateral, internal control sides. Histology was performed and connective tissue fraction (CTF) was measured, defined as the area of collagen‐rich extracellular matrix divided by the total muscle area. Paired t‐tests and correlation analyses were performed. Significant differences between injured and control sides were found for CTF in the supraspinatus (mean ± SD, 14.5% ± 3.9% vs. 11.3% ± 3.7%, p = 0.01) and infraspinatus (17.0% ± 5.4% vs. 12.5% ± 4.6%, p < 0.01) muscles, as well as for MMF using UTE‐MT FS in the supraspinatus (9.7% ± 0.3% vs. 9.5% ± 0.2%, p = 0.04) and infraspinatus (10.9% ± 0.8% vs. 10.1% ± 0.5%, p < 0.01) muscles. No significant differences between sides were evident for T1 without or with FS or for MMF using UTE‐MT. Only MMF using UTE‐MT FS was significantly correlated with CTF for both supraspinatus (r = 0.46, p = 0.03) and infraspinatus (r = 0.51, p = 0.01) muscles. Fibrosis occurs in rotator cuff muscle degeneration, and the UTE‐MT FS technique may be helpful to evaluate the fibrosis component, independent from the fatty infiltration process.
Modified settlement‐stability‐optimization method for numerical foundation design of tower cranes
Authors: Müllner Herbert W. , Koza Martin
Published: October 2023

The static design of foundations for tower cranes is mostly based on calculations of structural safety like tilting, sliding and groundbreaking. Settlement calculations for evaluating the inclination of the crane, which is restricted by the suppliers of tower cranes , are essential for safe and economic foundation solutions, too. Based on the experience of more than 280 tower crane positions throughout Austria and Germany the method of Müllner & Meister has been extended satisfying the normative and crane specifically requirements and represents an obligation of one of the biggest building contractors in Europe in the sense of today's resource‐saving management.
Front Cover Image
Authors: Wu Sheng‐Yen , Tang Huatao , Zhang Chen , Tang Fanxi , Lin Jihang , Wang Yuxin , Chen Lihong , Hou Youming
Published: October 2023

The cover image is based on the Research Article Potential of entomopathogenic nematode‐infected insect cadavers for the biocontrol of the red imported fire ant Solenopsis invicta by Sheng‐Yen Wu et al., https://doi.org/10.1002/ps.7637.

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Differences in heavy metal binding to cysteine‐containing coiled‐coil peptides
Authors: Luther Prianka , Boyle Aimee L.
Published: October 2023

One third of all structurally characterised proteins contain a metal; however, the interplay between metal‐binding and peptide/protein folding has yet to be fully elucidated. To better understand how metal binding affects peptide folding, a range of metals should be studied within a specific scaffold. To this end, we modified a histidine‐containing coiled‐coil peptide to create a cysteine‐containing scaffold, named CX3C, which was designed to bind heavy metal ions. In addition, we generated a peptide named CX2C, which contains a binding site more commonly found in natural proteins. Using a combination of analytical techniques including circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy, UV–Vis spectroscopy and size‐exclusion chromatography coupled to multi‐angle light scattering (SEC‐MALS), we examined the differences in the metal‐binding properties of the two peptides. Both peptides are largely unfolded in the apo state due to the disruption of the hydrophobic core by inclusion of the polar cysteine residues. However, this unfolding is overcome by the addition of Cd(II), Pb(II) and Hg(II), and helical assemblies are formed. Both peptides have differing affinities for these metal ions, a fact likely attributed to the differing sizes of the ions. We also show that the oligomerisation state of the peptide complexes and the coordination geometries of the metal ions differ between the two peptide scaffolds. These findings highlight that subtle changes in the primary structure of a peptide can have considerable implications for metal binding.
The Crystallization, Microstructure, and Dielectric Characteristics of MgO–Al2O3–SiO2–TiO2–CeO2 Materials for Microwave Applications
Authors: Liao Wanyou , Su Tongqi , Tan Haijun , Gong Weiping , Luo Xianfu , Ma Yilong
Published: October 2023

In this article, the impacts of varying CeO2 contents and heat‐treatment procedures on the crystallization, microstructure, and dielectric characteristics of MgO–Al2O3–SiO2–TiO2–CeO2 (MASTC) materials are investigated. In this research, it is indicated that perrierite, rutile, and α‐cordierite are the major crystalline phases in the materials. An increased CeO2 content promotes the formation of perrierite and inhibits the precipitation of α‐cordierite and rutile in the glass ceramics. An appropriate amount of CeO2 content contributes to a dense microstructure and improves the dielectric characteristics of the samples. However, an excessive amount of CeO2 deteriorates the densification and dielectric characteristics of the MASTC materials. Furthermore, heat‐treatment temperature and duration also have a significant impact on the crystallization, microstructure, and dielectric performance of the materials. The MASTC material with 20.2 wt% CeO2, heat‐treated at 1100 °C for a duration of 3 h, possesses superior characteristics with a density of 3.14 g cm−3, a permittivity of 11.1, and a Q × f factor of 17 357 (14 GHz).
‘Ask a hundred people, you get a hundred definitions’: A comparison of lay and expert understanding of stress and its associations with health
Authors: Wezyk Agata B. , Arden‐Close Emily , Turner‐Cobb Julie M.
Published: October 2023

The understanding an individual holds about stress can influence their appraisal of it and have implications for subsequent health, yet knowledge of such understanding is scarce. This study explored discrepancies between lay and expert understanding of stress and links made between stress and health. Twenty‐six lay members of the local community aged 18–62 years, and seven expert stress researchers, participated in individual semi‐structured interviews. Thematic analysis of the two datasets was conducted separately, then findings compared to identify similarities and differences between lay and scientific understanding. Whilst many similarities were identified, we found three important discrepancies: (i) Lay participants demonstrated a strong awareness of the indirect effects of stress on health via health behaviours; (ii) compared to experts, lay participants showed less awareness of a direct path between stress and physical health; (iii) lay participants showed less understanding of social determinants of stress and collective measures for stress management that went beyond individual responsibility. Discrepancies identified serve to highlight potential misunderstandings in lay conceptualisation of stress and its links with health. These findings have potential to facilitate the work of practitioners who serve as intermediaries to translate scientific knowledge into therapeutic benefit, through improved awareness and communication surrounding stress understanding.
Estimation of ductility of concrete columns under horizontal seismic load
Authors: Chang Wei , Hao Meijing , Zheng Wenzhong
Published: October 2023

The ductility of concrete columns, which determined the deformability of concrete columns, was an important parameter in evaluating the safety of framework structures under horizontal seismic loads. In this paper, 231‐group test data for evaluating the ductility of concrete columns under seismic loads were collected to establish a reliable database. The effects of investigated parameters including the compressive strength of concrete, the lateral confinement of stirrups, the ratio and yield strength of longitudinal reinforcements, axial compression ratio, shear span ratio, and the ratio between gross area and confined concrete area on the ductility of concrete columns were analyzed. The accuracy of theoretical models for evaluating the ductility of confined concrete relied on the prediction performance for the plastic hinge length of the concrete column. The existing models for the plastic hinge length of concrete columns underestimated the test results, which should be re‐evaluated. The prediction models were developed to evaluate the ductility of concrete columns based on the parametric analysis, which had high prediction performance. In addition, the design ductility limited value of concrete columns under horizontal seismic loads was obtained.
Other People’s Ideas: An Introduction to Using Social Theory in Higher Education
Authors: Low Remy Y. S. , Egan Suzanne
Published: October 2023

In this introductory chapter, we explore our transformative early encounters with social theories and discuss what social theory is, the different ways it can be used in the context of higher education, and its limitations. The chapter explains how the authors in this book put social theories to work to think through issues that are emerging as key social and political concerns in a higher education context. We provide a brief overview of each chapter and present the social theorists that each author engages with, including Indigenous Australian scholar Aileen Moreton-Robinson, Māori academic Linda Tuhiwai Smith, Belgian political theorist Chantal Mouffe, Slovenian philosopher Slavoj Žižek, British sociologist Nikolas Rose and Lebanese history of medicine scholar Joelle M Abi-Rached, and the Australian sociological theorist Raewyn Connell. Along the way, we offer some advice on how to (and how not to) think with theory.
Understanding Higher Education Enrolment Through Michel Foucault’s Biopolitics
Authors: Xu Ren-Hao
Published: October 2023

Higher education enrolment is and has historically been a demographic-political problem around the world over the last four decades. This can be reflected in many governments’ attempts to widen university access to make their national populations more skilled and productive. Most extant research on this matter investigates the effectiveness of such enrolment policies in addressing the problems outlined by governments. However, I noticed that the enrolment problems were not simply about achieving greater student participation; rather, the enrolment ‘problem’ is tied up with the formation of modern statehood and the subjectivities of national populations. In this chapter, I suggest drawing upon Michel Foucault’s work on biopolitics to understand how higher education enrolment has become an object linked to population characteristics and political legitimacy. I use the historical higher education enrolment concerns of Australia and OECD as case studies to explore how specific ideas conceive unique ‘problems’. More importantly, I point to how we can reimagine the landscape of higher education centred on the participation of students from different backgrounds through the perspective of biopolitics.
Wrestling with Monsters: Critique, Climate Change, and Comets
Authors: Norman Pat
Published: October 2023

We live, as the Chinese saying supposedly goes, in interesting times. Žižek (2012) argues that our times constitute a state of permanent crisis. This sense of crisis is felt across material domains through climate change or geopolitics, to policy settings that respond to ‘crises’ in our bureaucracies. How are we to respond to such a state? In this chapter, I discuss Žižek’s call not to act, but to think. Žižek’s project uses psychoanalytic ideology critique to pose questions about the way people understand the ‘problems of society’. He uses the metaphors of masks and fantasy to unpack the way particular ‘truths’ are symbolic representations that act to construct hegemonic ideologies that define the world. The intellectual work of the academy—that which ‘has no practical use’ (Žižek, 2012. Counterpoints, 422, 32–44)—involves the interrogation and critique of these masks: to explore how the ways we perceive a problem can themselves be part of the problem. Faced with these complex, mediated rationalities, Žižek argues that there is often a push to act quickly, often in ways that do not create solutions. The challenge is to find ways to re-articulate the problems of our world in ways that transform our understanding and therefore the terrain of possibility. This chapter engages with this challenge through the lens of climate change and the school strike movement.
Still Wrestling with Monsters: A Response to Pat Norman
Authors: Grice Christine
Published: October 2023

Žižek’s (2012) provocative revelation warns that we are ‘living in the time of monsters’, as western cultures enter ‘a new dark ages’ of permanent capitalist crisis. Žižek is referring to ideological masks that impact education and educational researchers: the greed of capitalism, twisted within its fraught political connection with democracy and citizenship, ultimately threatening the planet. If theory is provocation as Norman suggests, my response to Žižek’s provocation and Norman’s explores democracy, learning and pedagogy, and the civic purpose of education, beyond citizenship. Žižek offers philosophical insight for educational researchers to reflect upon the place of democracy, the dangers of performativity, and the purpose of education for Australian citizens. In examining democracy, citizenship, and equity, my response draws upon the philosophical and spiritual insights of Illich (1970) (Bono, Surrender: 40 songs, one story. Hutchinson Heinemann, London, 2022) and other contemporary philosophers to rethink what it means to be human. I propose that what is of utmost importance to education is receptivity and listening in the creation of new voice, new art, and new songs.
After Belonging: Aileen Moreton-Robinson’s ‘I Still Call Australia Home’
Authors: Laurie Timothy
Published: October 2023

A classroom can be a place to belong. Students become settled, ideas become familiar, relations become belongings. Teachers attentive to belonging can support critical conversations without fear that students will accidentally stumble onto alienating terrain. But the desire to settle, to make familiar, and to belong is not without its own ambivalence. For example, should non-Indigenous Australian students feel they ‘belong’ when engaging with the legacies of settler colonialism? Is learning about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and communities a desirable way for non-Indigenous students to feel settled in Australia? Aileen Moreton-Robinson’s work interrogates two impulses towards belonging among non-Indigenous Australians. On the one hand, she considers the erasure of Indigenous belonging through the legal fallacy of terra nullius and its subsequent variations in myths of British belonging to Australia. On the other hand, the essay questions non-Indigenous appeals to Indigenous communities as potential partners in national projects of collective belonging. Moreton-Robinson shows that non-Indigenous Australians ‘possess’ their symbolic home in the nation-state at the expense of Indigenous belonging. In what ways can non-Indigenous students be invited to question practices of belonging? What new classroom might this produce, and would everyone need to belong?
In Belonging: A Response to Timothy Laurie
Authors: Moran Gulwanyang
Published: October 2023

In response to Timothy Laurie’s After Belonging: Aileen Moreton-Robinson’s ‘I Still Call Australia Home’ (2015), this chapter reinforces the importance of the role of belonging and unbelonging in societal and educational contexts in Australia and builds on understanding Moreton-Robinson’s work and reference to Indigenous sovereignty through a First Nations’ lens. It positions the idea that epistemology and ontology without a consideration of practice maintain a superficial approach to education. Through this chapter it is asserted that Indigenous sovereignty, rather than the Australian nation-state, as the ground of belonging establishes and maintains a genuine and sustainable belonging for all who call this continent home.
Long-term Follow-up After Aneurysm Treatment with the Flow Redirection Endoluminal Device (FRED) Flow Diverter
Authors: Hohenstatt Sophia , Ulfert Christian , Herweh Christian , Hilgenfeld Tim , Schmitt Niclas , Schönenberger Silvia , Chen Min , Bendszus Martin , Möhlenbruch Markus A. , Vollherbst Dominik F.
Published: October 2023

Introduction

This study focuses on long-term outcomes after aneurysm treatment with either the Flow Re-Direction Endoluminal Device (FRED) or the FRED Jr. to investigate the durability of treatment effect and long-term complications.

Methods

This study is based on a retrospective analysis of a prospectively maintained patient data base. Patients treated with either FRED or FRED Jr. between 2013 and 2017 at our institution, and thus a possibility for ≥ 5 years of follow-up, were included. Aneurysm occlusion rates, recurrence rates, modified Rankin scale score shifts to baseline, and delayed complications were assessed.

Results

In this study 68 patients with 84 aneurysms had long-term follow-up with a mean duration of 57.3 months and 44 patients harboring 52 aneurysms had a follow-up ≥ 5 years with a mean follow-up period of 69.2 months. Complete occlusion was reached in 77.4% at 2 years and increased to 84.9% when the latest available imaging result was considered. Younger age and the absence of branch involvement were predictors for aneurysm occlusion in linear regression analysis. After the 2‑year threshold, there were 3 reported symptomatic non-serious adverse events. Of these, one patient had a minor stroke, one a transitory ischemic attack and one had persistent mass effect symptoms due to a giant aneurysm, none of these resulted in subsequent neurological disability.

Conclusion

This long-term follow-up study demonstrates that the FRED and FRED Jr. are safe and effective for the treatment of cerebral aneurysms in the long term, with high rates of complete occlusion and low rates of delayed adverse events.
Temporal and spatial changes in the provision of mental health care during the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany: a claims-based cohort study on patients with severe mental disorders
Authors: Engels Alexander , Stein Janine , Riedel-Heller Steffi G. , König Hans-Helmut , Konnopka Claudia
Published: October 2023

Purpose

Major lockdowns were imposed in Germany from March until May 2020 and from December 2020 until May 2021. We studied the influence of these lockdowns, the strain on intensive care units and the strictness of COVID-19-related containment strategies on the utilization of mental health care among patients with severe mental disorders.

Methods

We used health insurance claims data to identify n = 736,972 patients with severe mental disorders shortly before the pandemic and n = 735,816 patients a year earlier. We applied entropy balancing to adjust for baseline differences by district. For a 12-month follow-up, we modeled monthly changes in utilization through meta-analytic models using both the COVID-19 stringency index and intensive care unit cases per 100,000 inhabitants as predictors. Our outcomes were changes in psychiatric hospital days and time treated by outpatient psychiatrists.

Results

Psychiatric hospital days declined by at least 7.7% in all calender month during the pandemic. Peak reduction rates were observed in April (− 27.9%), May (− 22.3%) 2020 and January 2021 (− 18.3%). Utilization changes were associated with the stringency index and the second lockdown. Time treated by psychiatrists was shorter in April (− 16.2%) and May (− 11.5%) 2020 and in January 2021 (− 10.5%), which was partially offset by higher utilization in June and September 2020. These utilization changes were associated with the stringency index and the strain on intensive care units during both lockdowns.

Conclusion

Hospitals did not maintain the level of utilization during the pandemic, while outpatient psychiatrists adapted more quickly, presumably due to digital and telemedical care.
Defects and residual stresses finite element prediction of FDM 3D printed wood/PLA biocomposite
Authors: Morvayová Alexandra , Contuzzi Nicola , Casalino Giuseppe
Published: October 2023

The exploited enthusiasm within the research community for harnessing PLA-based biocomposites in fused deposition modeling (FDM) is spurred by the surging demand for environmentally sustainable and economically viable materials across diverse applications. While substantial strides have been taken in unravelling the intricacies of the process-structure–property relationship, the intricate interdependencies within this context remain only partially elucidated. This current gap in knowledge presents formidable obstacles to achieving the pinnacle of quality and dimensional precision in FDM-fabricated specimens crafted from biocomposites. Despite the existence of numerous numerical models for simulating the FDM process, an unmistakable need exists for models that are custom-tailored to accommodate the distinct characteristics inherent to biocomposites. As a reaction to those pressing needs, this study presents a 3D coupled thermomechanical numerical model designed to predict dimensions, defect formation, residual stresses, and temperature in PLA/wood cubes produced by FDM, considering various process parameters and composite-like nature of wood-filled PLA filaments. The accuracy of the proposed numerical model was validated by comparing its results with experimental measurements of biocomposite cubes manufactured under the same process parameters. Encouragingly, the simulated dimensions showed a maximum relative error of 9.52% when compared to the experimental data, indicating a good agreement. The numerical model also successfully captured the defect formation in the manufactured cubes, demonstrating consistent correspondence with defects observed in the experimental specimens. Therefore, the presented model aims to substantially contribute to the progress in the field of additive manufacturing of PLA-based biocomposites.
Cytochrome P450 activity in rheumatoid arthritis patients during continuous IL-6 receptor antagonist therapy
Authors: Dunvald Ann-Cathrine Dalgård , Søltoft Kasper , Sheetal Ekta , Just Søren Andreas , Frederiksen Ida Emilie Brejning , Nielsen Flemming , Olsen Dorte Aalund , Madsen Jonna Skov , Hendricks Oliver , Stage Tore Bjerregaard
Published: October 2023

Background

Inflammation suppresses cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzyme activity, and single-dose interleukin 6 receptor antagonists (anti-IL-6R) reverse this effect. Here, we assess the impact of continuous anti-IL-6R therapy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Methods

In a clinical pharmacokinetic trial, the Basel cocktail was administered before and after 3 and 12 weeks of anti-IL-6R therapy to assess CYP enzyme activity (registered in the ClinicalTrials.gov database (identifier NCT04842981) on April 13th, 2021). In a retrospective study, the 4β-hydroxycholesterol/cholesterol ratio was measured as a biomarker for CYP3A4 activity before and after 3 and 6 months of anti-IL-6R therapy. The control group was patients initiating a tumor necrosis factor alfa (TNF-α) inhibitor.

Results

In the clinical pharmacokinetic trial (n = 3), midazolam metabolic ratio (CYP3A4) was inconclusive due to the limited sample size. Midazolam AUC and Cmax indicate a weak impact on CYP3A4 activity after 3 weeks of anti-IL-6R therapy compared to baseline (AUC geometric mean ratio (GMR): 0.80, 95% CI: 0.64–0.99 and Cmax GMR: 0.58, 95% CI: 0.37–0.91), which returns to baseline levels after 12 weeks of therapy (AUC GMR 1.02, 95% CI: 0.72–1.46 and Cmax GMR 1.03, 95% CI 0.72–1.47). No effect on the 4β-hydroxycholesterol/cholesterol ratio was observed in the retrospective study.

Conclusion

Based on sparse data from three patients, continuous anti-IL-6R therapy seems to cause an acute but transient increase in CYP3A4 activity in rheumatoid arthritis patients, which may be due to a normalization of the inflammation-suppressed CYP activity. Further studies are warranted to understand the mechanism behind this putative transient effect.

Trial registration Registered in the ClinicalTrials.gov database (identifier NCT04842981) on April 13th, 2021.
Management of Tarlov cysts: an uncommon but potentially serious spinal column disease—review of the literature and experience with over 1000 referrals
Authors: Murphy Kieran , Nasralla Mehran , Pron Gaylene , Almohaimede Khaled , Schievink Wouter
Published: October 2023

Tarlov cysts were thought to be anatomic variants of uncertain etiology and clinical significance when initially described over 80 years ago. They are often detected in routine lumbosacral imaging and generally not reported in a differential diagnosis. There is increasing evidence that at least some Tarlov cysts are symptomatic and can have a significant adverse impact on patients’ health and well-being. Women are disproportionately affected with this condition, often presenting with long-standing pain and neurological dysfunctions. Significant gender bias has been a concern in the management of these patients. Unfortunately, there is no consensus on patient selection or management approaches for symptomatic Tarlov cysts. This review article updates information on the prevalence, diagnosis, clinical significance, and treatments of these cysts. Based on these findings and experience with over 1000 patient referrals, a treatment decision algorithm for symptomatic Tarlov cysts was constructed to provide guidance for appropriate management of patients with these complex cysts.
Diagnostic accuracy of diffusion-weighted imaging in variant Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease
Authors: Mackenzie G. , Summers D. , Mackenzie J. , Knight R.
Published: October 2023

Purpose

This study sought to investigate the diagnostic sensitivity of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD), a prion disease with significant public health implications on account of its transmissibility. The importance of this research stemmed from the first neuropathologically confirmed vCJD case in a PRNP heterozygous individual in 2016, which displayed DWI features typical of sporadic CJD (sCJD). The case was classified as ‘probable’ sCJD in life, predominantly based on these imaging findings. While DWI has proven valuable in diagnosing sCJD, its utility in vCJD diagnosis remains unclear.

Methods

DWI and Fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) images from probable and definite vCJD cases referred to the National CJD Research and Surveillance Unit (NCJDRSU) were independently analysed by an expert neuroradiologist. Scans were reviewed within a mixed cohort of CJD cases including definite sCJD and non-CJD controls.

Results

FLAIR sequences demonstrated greater sensitivity in identifying the pulvinar sign in vCJD compared to DWI (73% vs 41%, p-value <0.001). Basal ganglia hyperintensities were more prevalent in DWI (84%) than FLAIR (64%), and cortical hyperintensities were exclusive to DWI (24%). The pulvinar sign showed a specificity of 98% for vCJD and was rare in sCJD.

Conclusion

DWI showed reduced sensitivity compared to FLAIR imaging in detecting the pulvinar sign in vCJD. Conversely, DWI can more distinctively identify basal ganglia and cortical hyperintensities, thus leading to imaging patterns more characteristic of sCJD. Therefore, DWI should be cautiously interpreted in vCJD diagnosis, with axial FLAIR potentially providing a more precise evaluation of the pulvinar sign.
PD-1 and PD-L1 inhibitors in cold colorectal cancer: challenges and strategies
Authors: Lin Ke Xin , Istl Alexandra C. , Quan Douglas , Skaro Anton , Tang Ephraim , Zheng Xiufen
Published: October 2023

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second most common cause of cancer mortality, with mismatch repair proficient (pMMR) and/or microsatellite stable (MSS) CRC making up more than 80% of metastatic CRC. Programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) and programmed death 1 (PD-1) immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are approved as monotherapy in many cancers including a subset of advanced or metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC) with deficiency in mismatch repair (dMMR) and/or high microsatellite instability (MSI-H). However, proficient mismatch repair and microsatellite stable (pMMR/MSS) cold CRCs have not shown clinical response to ICIs alone. To potentiate the anti-tumor response of PD-L1/PD-1 inhibitors in patients with MSS cold cancer, combination strategies currently being investigated include dual ICI, and PD-L1/PD-1 inhibitors in combination with chemotherapy, radiotherapy, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) /VEGF receptor (VEGFR) inhibitors, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MEK) inhibitors, and signal transducer and activation of transcription 3 (STAT3) inhibitors. This paper will review the mechanisms of PD-1/PD-L1 ICI resistance in pMMR/MSS CRC and potential combination strategies to overcome this resistance, summarize the published clinical experience with different combination therapies, and make recommendations for future avenues of research.
Neonatal hearing screening - does failure in TEOAE screening matter when the AABR test is passed?
Authors: Gellrich Donata , Gröger Moritz , Echternach Matthias , Eder Katharina , Huber Patrick
Published: October 2023

Purpose

Newborns who fail the transient evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAE) but pass the automatic auditory brainstem response (AABR) in universal newborn hearing screening (UNHS), frequently have no further diagnostic test or follow-up. The present study aimed to investigate whether hearing loss might be missed by ignoring neonatal TEOAE failure in the presence of normal AABR.

Methods

A retrospective analysis was conducted in newborns presenting between 2017 and 2021 to a tertiary referral centre due to failure in the initial UNHS. The main focus was on infants who failed TEOAE tests, but passed AABR screening. The clinical characteristics and audiometric outcomes were analysed and compared with those of other neonates.

Results

Among 1,095 referred newborns, 253 (23%) failed TEOAE despite passing AABR screening. Of the 253 affected infants, 154 returned for follow-up. At 1-year follow-up, 46 (28%) achieved normal audiometric results. 32 (21%) infants had permanent hearing loss (HL) confirmed by diagnostic ABR, 58 (38%) infants had HL solely due to middle ear effusion (MEE), and for 18 (12%) infants HL was suspected without further differentiation. The majority of permanent HL was mild (78% mild vs. 13% moderate vs. 9% profound). The rate of spontaneous MEE clearance was rather low (29%) leading to early surgical intervention in 36 children. The profile of the risk factors for hearing impairment was similar to that of newborns with failure in both, TEOAE and AABR; however, there was a stronger association between the presence of risk factors and the incidence of HL (relative risk 1.55 vs. 1.06; odds ratio 3.61 vs. 1.80).

Conclusion

In newborns, the discordance between a “refer” in TEOAE and a “pass” in AABR screening is associated with a substantial prevalence of hearing impairment at follow-up, especially in the presence of risk factors.
Current management of primary mitochondrial disorders in EU countries: the European Reference Networks survey
Authors: Mancuso Michelangelo , Lopriore Piervito , Lamperti Costanza , Klopstock Thomas , Rahman Shamima , Licchetta Laura , Kornblum Cornelia , Wortmann Saskia B. , Dollfus Hélène , Papadopoulou Maria T. , Arzimanoglou Alexis , Scarpa Maurizio , Graessner Holm , Evangelista Teresinha
Published: October 2023

Background and purpose

Primary mitochondrial diseases (PMDs) are rare diseases for which diagnosis is challenging, and management and training programs are not well defined in Europe. To capture and assess care needs, five different European Reference Networks have conducted an exploratory survey.

Methods

The survey covering multiple topics relating to PMDs was sent to all ERNs healthcare providers (HCPs) in Europe.

Results

We have collected answers from 220 members based in 24/27 European member states and seven non-European member states. Even though most of the responders are aware of neurogenetic diseases, difficulties arise in the ability to deliver comprehensive genetic testing. While single gene analysis is widely available in Europe, whole exome and genome sequencing are not easily accessible, with considerable variation between countries and average waiting time for results frequently above 6 months. Only 12.7% of responders were happy with the ICD-10 codes for classifying patients with PMDs discharged from the hospital, and more than 70% of them consider that PMDs deserve specific ICD codes to improve clinical management, including tailored healthcare, and for reimbursement reasons. Finally, 90% of responders declared that there is a need for further education and training in these diseases.

Conclusions

This survey provides information on the current difficulties in the care of PMDs in Europe. We believe that the results of this survey are important to help rare disease stakeholders in European countries identify key care and research priorities.
Practice reduces the costs of producing head fakes in basketball
Authors: Böer Nils Tobias , Weigelt Matthias , Schütz Christoph , Güldenpenning Iris
Published: October 2023

Previous research indicates that performing passes with a head fake in basketball leads to increased response initiation times and errors as compared to performing a pass without a head fake. These so-called fake production costs only occurred when not given the time to mentally prepare the deceptive movement. In the current study, we investigated if extensive practice could reduce the cognitive costs of producing a pass with head fake. Twenty-four basketball novices participated in an experiment on five consecutive days. A visual cue prompted participants to play a pass with or without a head fake either to the left or right side. The cued action had to be executed after an interstimulus interval (ISI) of either 0 ms, 400 ms, 800 ms or 1200 ms, allowing for different movement preparation times. Results indicated higher response initiation times (ITs) and error rates (ERs) for passes with head fakes for the short preparation intervals (ISI 0 ms and 400 ms) on the first day but no difference for the longer preparation intervals (ISI 800 ms and 1200 ms). After only one day of practice, participants showed reduced fake production costs (for ISI 0 ms) and were even able to eliminate these cognitive costs when given time to mentally prepare the movement (for ISI 400 ms). Accordingly, physical practice can reduce the cognitive costs associated with head-fake generation. This finding is discussed against the background of the strengthening of stimulus response associations.
Adult neurogenesis and “immature” neurons in mammals: an evolutionary trade-off in plasticity?
Authors: Bonfanti Luca , La Rosa Chiara , Ghibaudi Marco , Sherwood Chet C.
Published: October 2023

Neuronal plasticity can vary remarkably in its form and degree across animal species. Adult neurogenesis, namely the capacity to produce new neurons from neural stem cells through adulthood, appears widespread in non-mammalian vertebrates, whereas it is reduced in mammals. A growing body of comparative studies also report variation in the occurrence and activity of neural stem cell niches between mammals, with a general trend of reduction from small-brained to large-brained species. Conversely, recent studies have shown that large-brained mammals host large amounts of neurons expressing typical markers of neurogenesis in the absence of cell division. In layer II of the cerebral cortex, populations of prenatally generated, non-dividing neurons continue to express molecules indicative of immaturity throughout life (cortical immature neurons; cINs). After remaining in a dormant state for a very long time, these cINs retain the potential of differentiating into mature neurons that integrate within the preexisting neural circuits. They are restricted to the paleocortex in small-brained rodents, while extending into the widely expanded neocortex of highly gyrencephalic, large-brained species. The current hypothesis is that these populations of non-newly generated “immature” neurons might represent a reservoir of developmentally plastic cells for mammalian species that are characterized by reduced stem cell-driven adult neurogenesis. This indicates that there may be a trade-off between various forms of plasticity that coexist during brain evolution. This balance may be necessary to maintain a “reservoir of plasticity” in brain regions that have distinct roles in species-specific socioecological adaptations, such as the neocortex and olfactory structures.
Energy-based features and bi-LSTM neural network for EEG-based music and voice classification
Authors: Ariza Isaac , Barbancho Ana M. , Tardón Lorenzo J. , Barbancho Isabel
Published: October 2023

The human brain receives stimuli in multiple ways; among them, audio constitutes an important source of relevant stimuli for the brain regarding communication, amusement, warning, etc. In this context, the aim of this manuscript is to advance in the classification of brain responses to music of diverse genres and to sounds of different nature: speech and music. For this purpose, two different experiments have been designed to acquire EEG signals from subjects listening to songs of different musical genres and sentences in various languages. With this, a novel scheme is proposed to characterize brain signals for their classification; this scheme is based on the construction of a feature matrix built on relations between energy measured at the different EEG channels and the usage of a bi-LSTM neural network. With the data obtained, evaluations regarding EEG-based classification between speech and music, different musical genres, and whether the subject likes the song listened to or not are carried out. The experiments unveil satisfactory performance to the proposed scheme. The results obtained for binary audio type classification attain 98.66% of success. In multi-class classification between 4 musical genres, the accuracy attained is 61.59%, and results for binary classification of musical taste rise to 96.96%.
Oscillation criterion for linear equations with coefficients containing powers of natural logarithm
Authors: Hasil Petr , Pospíšil Michal , Šišoláková Jiřina , Veselý Michal
Published: October 2023

Applying an averaging technique for the adapted Prüfer angle, we obtain an oscillation criterion for linear second order differential equations whose coefficients consist of products of powers of natural logarithm and general (bounded or unbounded) continuous functions. The presented criterion is illustrated by new corollaries and examples. The novelty is caused by the used averaging technique over unbounded intervals.
Cross species review of the physiological role of d-serine in translationally relevant behaviors
Authors: Arizanovska Dena , Emodogo Jada A. , Lally Anna P. , Palavicino-Maggio Caroline B. , Liebl Daniel J. , Folorunso Oluwarotimi O.
Published: October 2023

Bridging the gap between preclinical models of neurological and psychiatric disorders with their human manifestations is necessary to understand their underlying mechanisms, identify biomarkers, and develop novel therapeutics. Cognitive and social impairments underlie multiple neuropsychiatric and neurological disorders and are often comorbid with sleep disturbances, which can exacerbate poor outcomes. Importantly, many symptoms are conserved between vertebrates and invertebrates, although they may have subtle differences. Therefore, it is essential to determine the molecular mechanisms underlying these behaviors across different species and their translatability to humans. Genome-wide association studies have indicated an association between glutamatergic gene variants and both the risk and frequency of psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and autism spectrum disorder. For example, changes in glutamatergic neurotransmission, such as glutamate receptor subtype N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) hypofunction, have been shown to contribute to the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. Furthermore, in neurological disorders, such as traumatic brain injury and Alzheimer’s disease, hyperactivation of NMDARs leads to synaptic damage. In addition to glutamate binding, NMDARs require the binding of a co-agonist d-serine or glycine to the GluN1 subunit to open. d-serine, which is racemized from l-serine by the neuronal enzyme serine racemase (SRR), and both SRR and d-serine are enriched in cortico-limbic brain regions. d-serine is critical for complex behaviors, such as cognition and social behavior, where dysregulation of its synthesis and release has been implicated in many pathological conditions. In this review, we explore the role of d-serine in behaviors that are translationally relevant to multiple psychiatric and neurological disorders in different models across species.
Hydrogels and their composites based on sulfo-containing acrylates: preparation, properties, and proton conductivity
Authors: Rymsha Kh. V.  , Yevchuk I. Yu.  , Zhyhailo M. M.  , Demchyna O. I.  , Maksymych V. M.  , Ivashchyshyn F. O.
Published: October 2023

This work presents a method for the synthesis of multifunctional hydrogels based on polymer framework obtained by UV-initiated polymerization of the acrylic monomers (acrylamide, acrylonitrile, and sulfo-group-containing monomer (3-sulfopropyl acrylate potassium salt, 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid, and sodium styrene sulfonate)) in the presence of N,N′-methylenebisacrylamide as a cross-linking agent. Composite polymer/silica nanogels have been created in situ using a TEOS-based sol–gel system and the above-mentioned polymeric matrices. The synthesized material characteristics such as composition, morphology, and thermal stability were explored with FTIR, SEM, and DCS. In addition, the effect of temperature, inorganic component content, sulfo-group-containing monomer to proton conductivity and water uptake have been explored. The obtained hydrogels possess proton conductivity up to 19 mSm/cm with potential implying for application in electrochemical devices and superabsorbent material. This method is user-friendly and cost-efficient, and proceeds in an aqueous environment under atmospheric conditions without the use of heavy metal catalysts.
A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Longitudinal Studies on Posttraumatic Stress Disorders in Refugees and Asylum Seekers
Authors: Handiso Demelash , Belsti Yitayeh , Boyle Jacqueline A. , Paul Eldho , Shawyer Frances , Enticott Joanne C.
Published: October 2023

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is among the common mental disorders in refugees and asylum seekers; however, it is unclear if population prevalence declines or persists after resettlement. Therefore, this study aimed to identify longitudinal studies reporting PTSD among refugees and asylum seekers in upper-middle and high-income countries and to conduct a meta-analysis to map the trajectory of PTSD prevalence over time in order to inform policymakers. Seven electronic databases were searched for relevant prospective longitudinal studies. The Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) scale was used to assess the quality of studies, and we excluded studies with a high risk of bias leaving 21 studies: 13 with moderate and 8 with a low risk of bias. The total follow-up period ranged from 1 to 7 years. Random effects meta-analysis pooling all studies suggested a baseline prevalence of 17.65% in the immediate period after resettlement (up to 1 year after arrival) and a trend for decreasing prevalence to 11.64% over time. However, studies with over 6 years of follow-up indicated a higher longitudinal prevalence of 13–17%, and in the low-risk-of-bias study subgroup, the prevalence did not decrease (ranging between 27.54 and 30.10%), which raises the possibility that PTSD prevalence may not substantially decrease in the first 6 years after resettlement. The finding that studies with a low risk of bias reported a larger prevalence of PTSD persisting over time highlights the importance of conducting high-quality longitudinal studies to inform policy. Appropriate long-term interventions are needed to decrease the impact of traumatic events on the mental health of refugees and asylum seekers.