bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The enigma of mixed connective tissue disease—challenges in routine care
Authors: Wanzenried Adrian , Garaiman Alexandru , Jordan Suzana , Distler Oliver , Maurer Britta
Published: July 2022

Objectives

As a rare and heterogeneous disease, mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) represents a challenge. Herein, we aimed to unravel potential pitfalls including correct referral diagnosis, distinction from other connective tissue diseases (CTD) and treatment modalities.

Methods

We characterised the MCTD cohort at our tertiary referral centre. All patients were evaluated for fulfilment of classification criteria of various CTDs. SLEDAI-2 K and EUSTAR-AI were used in accordance with previous research to evaluate disease activity and treatment response.

Results

Out of 85 patients initially referred as MCTD, only one-third (33/85, 39%) fulfilled the diagnostic MCTD criteria and the other patients had undifferentiated CTD (16/85, 19%), non-MCTD overlap syndromes (11/85, 13%) and other rheumatic diseases. In our final cohort of 33 MCTD patients, 16 (48%) also met the diagnostic criteria of systemic sclerosis, 13 (39%) these of systemic lupus erythematosus, 6 (18%) these of rheumatoid arthritis and 3 (9%) these of primary myositis. Management of MCTD required immunomodulating combination therapy in most cases (15/28, 54%), whereas monotherapy was less frequent (10/28, 36%), and only a few (3/28, 11%) remained without immune modulators until the end of the follow-up period. Treatment led to a significant decline in disease activity.

Conclusions

Our study showed a high risk for misdiagnosis for patients with MCTD. As a multi-organ disease, MCTD required prolonged immunomodulating therapy to achieve remission. The establishment of an international registry with longitudinal data from observational multi-centre cohorts might represent a first step to address the many unmet needs of MCTD.

Key Points• This cohort study aimed to identify challenges in the highly complex management of MCTD.• Clinical presentation of MCTD significantly overlaps with that of other CTDs, leading to a high risk of misdiagnosis.• Manifestations of MCTD are highly variable and potentially life-threatening, requiring continued immunomodulating treatment in most cases.• A composite score based on SLEDAI-2 K and EUSTAR-AI measures could represent an easy applicable tool to monitor disease activity and treatment response.
The role of amyloid β in the pathological mechanism of GNE myopathy
Authors: Zhang Tongtong , Shang Ren , Miao Jing
Published: July 2022

GNE myopathy is a hereditary muscle disorder characterized by muscle atrophy and weakness initially involving the lower distal extremities. The treatment of GNE myopathy mainly focuses on a sialic acid deficiency caused by a mutation in the GNE gene, but it has not achieved the expected effect. The main pathological features of GNE myopathy are myofiber atrophy and rimmed vacuoles, including accumulation of amyloid β, which is mainly found in atrophic muscle fibers. Although the role of amyloid β and other misfolded proteins on the nervous system has been widely recognized, the cause and process of the formation of amyloid β in the pathological process of GNE myopathy are unclear. In addition, amyloid β has been reported to be linked to quality control mechanisms of proteins, such as molecular chaperones, the ubiquitin–proteasome system, and the autophagy-lysosome system. Herein, we summarize the possible reasons for amyloid β deposition and illustrate amyloid β-mediated events in the cells and their role in muscle atrophy in GNE myopathy. This review represents an overview of amyloid β and GNE myopathy that could help identify a potential mechanism and thereby a plausible therapeutic for the disease.
Semi-streaming algorithms for submodular matroid intersection
Authors: Garg Paritosh , Jordan Linus , Svensson Ola
Published: July 2022

While the basic greedy algorithm gives a semi-streaming algorithm with an approximation guarantee of 2 for the unweighted matching problem, it was only recently that Paz and Schwartzman obtained an analogous result for weighted instances. Their approach is based on the versatile local ratio technique and also applies to generalizations such as weighted hypergraph matchings. However, the framework for the analysis fails for the related problem of weighted matroid intersection and as a result the approximation guarantee for weighted instances did not match the factor 2 achieved by the greedy algorithm for unweighted instances.Our main result closes this gap by developing a semi-streaming algorithm with an approximation guarantee of $$2+\varepsilon $$

2
+
ε

for weighted matroid intersection, improving upon the previous best guarantee of $$4+\varepsilon $$

4
+
ε

. Our techniques also allow us to generalize recent results by Levin and Wajc on submodular maximization subject to matching constraints to that of matroid-intersection constraints. While our algorithm is an adaptation of the local ratio technique used in previous works, the analysis deviates significantly and relies on structural properties of matroid intersection, called kernels. Finally, we also conjecture that our algorithm gives a $$(k+\varepsilon )$$

(
k
+
ε
)

approximation for the intersection of k matroids but prove that new tools are needed in the analysis as the structural properties we use fail for $$k\ge 3$$

k
≥
3

.
State of affairs regarding targeted pharmacological therapy of cancers metastasized to the brain
Authors: Steiger Hans-Jakob , Vollmer Kathrin , Rogers Susanne , Schwyzer Lucia
Published: July 2022

In 1999 a visionary short article by The Wall Street Journal writers Robert Langreth and Michael Waldholz popularized the new term “personalized medicine,” that is to say, the targeting of drugs to each unique genetic profile. From today’s perspective, targeted approaches have clearly found the widest use in the antineoplastic domain. The current review was initiated to review the progress that has been made regarding the treatment of patients with advanced cancer and brain metastases. PubMed was searched for the terms brain metastasis, brain metastases, or metastatic brain in the Title/Abstract. Selection was limited to randomized controlled trial (RCT) and publication date January 2010 to February 2022. Following visual review, 51 papers on metastatic lung cancer, 12 on metastatic breast cancer, and 9 on malignant melanoma were retained and underwent full analysis. Information was extracted from the papers giving specific numbers for intracranial response rate and/or overall survival. Since most pharmacological trials on advanced cancers excluded patients with brain metastases and since hardly any information on adjuvant radiotherapy and radiosurgery is available from the pharmacological trials, precise assessment of the effect of targeted medication for the subgroups with brain metastases is difficult. Some quantitative information regarding the success of targeted pharmacological therapy is only available for patients with breast and lung cancer and melanoma. Overall, targeted approaches approximately doubled the lifespan in the subgroups of brain metastases from tumors with targetable surface receptors such as anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) fusion receptor in non-small cell lung cancer or human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)–positive breast cancer. For these types, overall survival in the situation of brain metastases is now more than a year. For receptor-negative lung cancer and melanoma, introduction of immune checkpoint blockers brought a substantial advance, although overall survival for melanoma metastasized to the brain appears to remain in the range of 6 to 9 months. The outlook for small cell lung cancer metastasized to the brain apparently remains poor. The introduction of targeted therapy roughly doubled survival times of advanced cancers including those metastasized to the brain, but so far, targeted therapy does not differ essentially from chemotherapy, therefore also facing tumors developing escape mechanisms. With the improved perspective of patients suffering from brain metastases, it becomes important to further optimize treatment of this specific patient group within the framework of randomized trials.
Phase II study of BKM120 in patients with advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (EPOC1303)
Authors: Kojima Takashi , Kato Ken , Hara Hiroki , Takahashi Shunji , Muro Kei , Nishina Tomohiro , Wakabayashi Masashi , Nomura Shogo , Sato Akihiro , Ohtsu Atsushi , Doi Toshihiko
Published: July 2022

Background

PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway is frequently overactive in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), making it an attractive treatment target. BKM120 is an oral pan-class I PI3K inhibitor with promising activity in several cancers. We prospectively investigated efficacy, safety, and biomarkers of BKM120 in advanced ESCC. We conducted a multicenter phase II study of BKM120 monotherapy in patients with pretreated advanced ESCC.

Methods

BKM120 (100 mg/day) was administered orally in a 28-day cycle. The primary end point was disease control rate (DCR). Tumor samples for all patients were collected for gene alteration analysis in a comprehensive genomic profiling assay.

Results

Of 42 patients enrolled, 20 had stable disease and two had confirmed partial response. One ineligible patient was excluded from the primary analysis, which met the primary end point (DCR 51.2%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 35.1–67.1). In the 42 patients, median progression-free survival and overall survival were 2.3 (95% CI 1.8–3.2) and 9.0 (95% CI 6.5–11.4) months, respectively. Common grade 3 or 4 adverse events were rash, anorexia, hyponatremia, and abnormal hepatic function; profiles of these events in this study were similar to those in previous studies of BKM120 monotherapy. No treatment-related deaths occurred. PI3K pathway activation was observed in patients with good clinical response.

Conclusions

BKM120 monotherapy showed promising efficacy and a manageable toxicity profile even in patients with pretreated advanced ESCC. This study showed the potential target PI3K for ESCC, and further confirmatory trial will be necessary to confirm it. Unique ID issued by UMIN: UMIN 000011217.
On the quality of emission reductions: observed effects of carbon pricing on investments, innovation, and operational shifts. A response to van den Bergh and Savin (2021)
Authors: Lilliestam Johan , Patt Anthony , Bersalli Germán
Published: July 2022

To meet the Paris Agreement targets, carbon emissions from the energy system must be eliminated by mid-century, implying vast investment and systemic change challenges ahead. In an article in WIREs Climate Change, we reviewed the empirical evidence for effects of carbon pricing systems on technological change towards full decarbonisation, finding weak or no effects. In response, van den Bergh and Savin (2021) criticised our review in an article in this journal, claiming that it is “unfair”, incomplete and flawed in various ways. Here, we respond to this critique by elaborating on the conceptual roots of our argumentation based on the importance of short-term emission reductions and longer-term technological change, and by expanding the review. This verifies our original findings: existing carbon pricing schemes have sometimes reduced emissions, mainly through switching to lower-carbon fossil fuels and efficiency increases, and have triggered weak innovation increases. There is no evidence that carbon pricing systems have triggered zero-carbon investments, and scarce but consistent evidence that they have not. Our findings highlight the importance of adapting and improving climate policy assessment metrics beyond short-term emissions by also assessing thequalityof emission reductions and the progress of underlying technological change.
Topographic effects on buoyancy driven flows along the slope
Authors: Berntsen Jarle , Darelius Elin , Avlesen Helge
Published: July 2022

The flow and descent of dense water masses formed in shallow regions of the ocean is an important leg in the global overturning circulation. The dense overflow waters tend to flow along the continental slopes as geostrophically balanced gravity plumes, but may be steered downslope by canyons and ridges cross-cutting the slopes. In that process, entrainment and mixing will be greatly enhanced. Ilicak et al. (Ocean Model 38:71–84, 2011) propose a parameterization to include the effects of corrugations in large scale models by increasing the vertical mixing locally. We re-visit the problem using the terrain-following Bergen Ocean Model and a DOME-inspired idealized topography. It is shown that the applied corrugations can move the core of the plume 800 m down the slope, while enhanced mixing raises the center of gravity by only 1–200 m. The overall effect of a corrugation is hence to lower the center of gravity, suggesting that the parameterization proposed by Ilicak et al. (Ocean Model 38:71–84) will act in the wrong vertical direction, if used on its own. A comparison of two bottom drag parameterizations, show that a parameterization consistent with a no-slip boundary condition is needed to correctly represent Ekman drainage, and that the Ekman drainage contribution to plume descent is comparable to that of the corrugation. Ridges are more effective in steering dense water downward than canyons, and we compare the dynamics between the two settings to explain the difference.
Sea level variability along the Japanese coast forced by the Kuroshio and its extension
Authors: Usui Norihisa , Ogawa Koji
Published: July 2022

Sea level variability along the Japanese coast and its relation to the Kuroshio-Kuroshio Extension (KE) are investigated using ocean reanalysis data. The first mode of an empirical-orthogonal-function for the coastal sea-level represents a simultaneous sea-level change along the whole Japanese coast, which is synchronized with sea levels in the KE region , the Japan Sea and the East China Sea. The second mode is characterized by an east–west dipole pattern at the south coast. The first mode is correlated with the Kuroshio variations around the Izu–Ogasawara Ridge (IOR) and tends to be in a positive phase when the Kuroshio takes a nearshore path around IOR. The Kuroshio’s position around IOR is closely related to the KE dynamic state. When the KE jet is in a stable (unstable) state, a nearshore (meandering) Kuroshio path is formed around IOR. A composite analysis suggests that the sea level along the Japanese coast becomes high due to propagation of coastal trapped waves when the Kuroshio takes a nearshore path around IOR. That is why the first mode is synchronized with the KE decadal variability. The second mode has a close relation with the Kuroshio Large Meander (LM). The eastern positive anomaly at the coast between the Izu and Kii Peninsulas is formed by warm Kuroshio water brought by a westward branch flow along the coast. The western negative anomaly is attributed to a southward shift in the Kuroshio south of the Kii Peninsula associated with the LM.
P2Y1R and P2Y2R: potential molecular triggers in muscle regeneration
Authors: Wang Min-Jia , Yang Bi-Ru , Jing Xin-Yu , Wang Yao-Zheng , Kang Lu , Ren Kai , Kang Liang
Published: July 2022

Muscle regeneration is indispensable for skeletal muscle health and daily life when injury, muscular disease, and aging occur. Among the muscle regeneration, muscle stem cells’ (MuSCs) activation, proliferation, and differentiation play a key role in muscle regeneration. Purines bind to its specific receptors during muscle development, which transmit environmental stimuli and play a crucial role of modulator of muscle regeneration. Evidences proved P2R expression during development and regeneration of skeletal muscle, both in human and mouse. In contrast to P2XR, which have been extensively investigated in skeletal muscles, the knowledge of P2YR in this tissue is less comprehensive. This review summarized muscle regeneration via P2Y1R and P2Y2R and speculated that P2Y1R and P2Y2R might be potential molecular triggers for MuSCs’ activation and proliferation via the p-ERK1/2 and PLC pathways, explored their cascade effects on skeletal muscle, and proposed P2Y1/2 receptors as potential pharmacological targets in muscle regeneration, to advance the purinergic signaling within muscle and provide promising strategies for alleviating muscular disease.
Emulierung von „target trials“ mit Real-world-Daten
Authors: Braitmaier Malte , Didelez Vanessa
Published: July 2022

Hintergrund

Die „real world data“ (RWD), z. B. Krankenkassendaten, bieten reichhaltige Informationen zu gesundheitsrelevanten Faktoren und können die Basis für Studien zur Arzneimittelsicherheit, Wirksamkeit medizinischer Interventionen u. v. m. darstellen. Ein besonderer Vorteil ist die je nach Datenquelle größere Verallgemeinerbarkeit, wenn z. B. Informationen zu bestimmten Subgruppen der Population vorliegen und ein Volunteer-Bias ausgeschlossen werden kann. Gerade in Fällen, in denen randomisierte kontrollierte Studien („randomized controlled trials“, RCT) nicht durchgeführt werden können, sind Beobachtungsstudien basierend auf RWD eine wichtige Informationsquelle. Die valide Analyse von RWD stellt allerdings einige Herausforderung dar, wobei insbesondere mögliche Verzerrungen, die durch ein sorgfältiges Studiendesign vermeidbar wären, Beachtung finden sollen. Hier setzt das Prinzip der Target-trial-Emulierung (TTE) an.

Ziel der Arbeit

In diesem Artikel soll aufgezeigt werden, wie die TTE den Herausforderungen bei der Analyse von RWD begegnet.

Material und Methoden

Die TTE wird allgemein verständlich vorgestellt. Prinzipien, Vorteile, Annahmen und spezifische statistische Aspekte werden anhand relevanter Literatur und praktischer Beispiele erläutert.

Ergebnisse

Damit die Analyse von RWD valide, kausal interpretierbare Ergebnisse liefern kann, müssen einige Bedingungen erfüllt sein. Neben einem ausreichenden Informationsgehalt der Daten sind auch eine klare Fragestellung und ein geeignetes Studiendesign, das u. a. Selektionseffekte vermeidet, von zentraler Bedeutung. Das Target-trial-Prinzip besteht darin, dass zunächst das Auswertungskonzept für einen RCT erarbeitet wird, welches in einem zweiten Schritt mit Beobachtungsdaten „emuliert“ wird. Somit liefert die TTE quasi eine Anleitung, um die Fragestellung zu definieren und ein geeignetes Studiendesign zu entwerfen. TTE kann mit unterschiedlichen statistischen Methoden kombiniert werden, wobei statistische Effizienz durch sequenzielle Trials und das sog. Klonen gewonnen werden kann.

Schlussfolgerung

Die TTE ist ein allgemeines und übergreifendes Prinzip, das zentralen Herausforderungen bei der Analyse von Beobachtungsdaten, also auch RWD, systematisch begegnet.
Sarcopenic osteoporosis, sarcopenic obesity, and sarcopenic osteoporotic obesity in the Camargo cohort (Cantabria, Spain)
Authors: Hernández-Martínez Paula , Olmos José M. , Llorca Javier , Hernández José L. , González-Macías Jesús
Published: July 2022

The associations of sarcopenia with osteoporosis or obesity have a very low prevalence. No trend towards an association between osteoporosis and sarcopenia is observed. Sarcopenia and obesity tend not to coincide, as if they were antagonistic disorders.

Purpose

To know (a) the prevalence in our region of sarcopenic osteoporosis (association of sarcopenia and osteoporosis (T-score < − 2.5)), sarcopenic obesity, and the association of osteoporosis, sarcopenia, and obesity; (b) the tendency of osteoporosis, sarcopenia, and obesity to associate with each other; and (c) the bone mineral density (BMD), the components of sarcopenia, and the prevalence of fragility fractures in these associations.

Methods

The study was performed in the Camargo cohort. Osteoporosis was diagnosed by DXA, sarcopenia by the EWGSOP-1 criteria, and obesity by body mass index (BMI) and fat percentage. Fractures were verified radiographically or by consulting the medical records.

Results

The prevalence of sarcopenic osteoporosis was 2.8% and the OR for this association 1.03 (p = 0.89). The prevalence of sarcopenic obesity by BMI was 1.4% and by fat percentage 5.9% (corresponding ORs: 0.18 (p < 0.0001) and 0.58 (p < 0.003) respectively). The prevalence of the association of osteoporosis, sarcopenia, and obesity was 0.0% when assessed by BMI and 0.8% when assessed by fat percentage. Patients with sarcopenic osteoporosis have less muscle mass and more fragility fractures than sarcopenic patients overall. In patients with sarcopenic obesity by fat percentage, muscle mass and strength, as well as physical performance, were similar to those of sarcopenic patients overall. Neither BMD nor fracture prevalence showed differences between patients with sarcopenic obesity and patients with sarcopenia or obesity in general.

Conclusion

Our study supports the idea that the prevalence of the mixed disorders studied is low. No significant association between osteoporosis and sarcopenia was found. Sarcopenia and obesity seem to tend to occur in different people, as if suffering from one of them hinders suffering from the other.
„Auf den Krieg vorbereiten, wenn du Frieden willst“ – eine Analyse des polizeilichen Gefahrennarrativs
Authors: Staller Mario S. , Koerner Swen
Published: July 2022

Es ist intuitiv und wissenschaftlich unstrittig, dass der Polizeiberuf ein inhärentes Gewaltrisiko birgt. Wissenschaftlich unhaltbar hingegen ist, dass das Gewaltrisiko von Polizist*innen in Deutschland allgegenwärtig und in den letzten Jahren dramatisch angestiegen sei. In dieser Sicht überlagert die landläufige Intuition verfügbare Evidenzen. Der folgende Beitrag setzt hier an. In ihm richten wir den Blick in das Innere der Polizei und identifizieren hier exakt jenes Narrativ, dass von einer schwelenden Gewaltgefahr kündet. Wie wir zeigen, hat die Erzählung System: Das polizeiliche Gefahrennarrativ zeigt sich in Metaphern wie dem Füllgrabe-„Gefahrenradar“, in Einzelfallschilderungen, verkürzten Darstellungen von Statistiken oder dem selektiven Umgang mit externen wissenschaftlichen Daten. Aggregiert zu einem in sich kohärenten Weltbild, präsentiert sich das Narrativ im Einsatztraining, in Fachbeiträgen und Lehrbüchern sowie in wichtigen Interessenvertretungen der deutschen Polizei und stabilisiert sich so in einem Prozess wechselseitiger Verweise. Dabei zeigt sich das polizeiliche Gefahrennarrativ bislang nicht nur kaum beeindruckt von gegenläufigen Befunden.
Examining the Use of HIV Self-Testing to Support PrEP Delivery: a Systematic Literature Review
Authors: Kiptinness Catherine , Kuo Alexandra P. , Reedy Adriana M. , Johnson Cheryl C. , Ngure Kenneth , Wagner Anjuli D. , Ortblad Katrina F.
Published: July 2022

Purpose of Review

HIV self-testing (HIVST) has the potential to expand access to and uptake of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) delivery. We conducted a systematic literature review to understand the evidence on HIVST use for PrEP delivery.

Recent Findings

After screening 1055 records, we included eight: three randomized trials and five values and preferences studies. None measured PrEP initiation. Most studies occurred in Sub-Saharan Africa (7/8) and included different populations. One trial found that HIVST use between quarterly clinic visits as part of an adherence package with biofeedback slightly increased adherence; the other two trials found that HIVST use between or in lieu of quarterly clinic visits had no significant or non-inferior effects on adherence. HIVST to support PrEP delivery was acceptable, feasible, and preferred.

HIVST use for PrEP continuation largely resulted in similar outcomes to standard-of-care delivery and was perceived acceptable and feasible. Further research is needed to optimize HIVST use within PrEP programming.
Association between new onset type 1 diabetes and real-world antibiotics and neonicotinoids’ exposure-related gut microbiota perturbation
Authors: Xu Zhen-Ran , Yuan Xiao-Xiao , Chen Rui-Min , Wei Hai-Yan , Chen Lin-Qi , Du Hong-Wei , Li Gui-Mei , Yang Yu , Chen Xiao-Juan , Fang Xin , Luo Fei-Hong
Published: July 2022

Background

The real-world exposure levels of non-therapeutic antibiotics and neonicotinoids in type 1 diabetes (T1D) children and their associations as environmental triggers through gut microbiota shifts remained unknown. We thus investigated the antibiotics and neonicotinoids’ exposure levels and their associations with gut microbiota in pediatric T1D.

Methods

Fifty-one newly onset T1D children along with 67 age-matched healthy controls were recruited. Urine concentrations of 28 antibiotics and 12 neonicotinoids were measured by mass spectrometry. Children were grouped according to the kinds of antibiotics’ and neonicotinoids’ exposures, respectively. The 16S rRNA of fecal gut microbiota was sequenced, and the correlation with urine antibiotics and neonicotinoids’ concentrations was analyzed.

Results

The overall detection rates of antibiotics were 72.5% and 61.2% among T1D and healthy children, whereas the neonicotinoids detection rates were 70.6% and 52.2% (P = 0.044). Children exposed to one kind of antibiotic or two or more kinds of neonicotinoids had higher risk of T1D, with the odd ratios of 2.579 and 3.911. Furthermore, co-exposure to antibiotics and neonicotinoids was associated with T1D, with the odd ratio of 4.924. Antibiotics or neonicotinoids exposure did not affect overall richness and diversity of gut microbiota. However, children who were exposed to neither antibiotics nor neonicotinoids had higher abundance of Lachnospiraceae than children who were exposed to antibiotics and neonicotinoids alone or together.

Conclusion

High antibiotics and neonicotinoids exposures were found in T1D children, and they were associated with changes in gut microbiota featured with lower abundance of butyrate-producing genera, which might increase the risk of T1D.
Re-entry predictions of space debris for collision avoidance with air traffic
Authors: Bernelli-Zazzera Franco , Colombo Camilla , Sidhoum Yanis
Published: July 2022

The need for a safe and efficient integration of space vehicle operations into air traffic system to minimize the risk of impacts of spacecraft and aircraft and to sustain a steady air traffic is evident. This work provides a strategy toward more efficient management of uncontrolled re-entries by combining uncertainty propagation analysis with the FAA’s ConOps in the framework of the FAA’s Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen). The paper considers the scenario where a spacecraft re-entry is completely uncontrolled. During such re-entry, predictions are very difficult and are affected by various sources of uncertainty. Then the resulting position distribution throughout airspace boundaries is analysed and the impact on air traffic is estimated by defining protected airspace areas. The impact of the size of the protected area on the air traffic control is analysed and strategies for re-routing of air traffic are proposed. To verify the proposed results, the re-entry of the core stage of the CZ-5B R/B launcher is simulated.
Insulin antibody as a biomarker to monitor the development of type 2 diabetes in county hospitals in China
Authors: Yao Dan , Zhu Ziqing , Chen Zhiyan , Qiu Jianda , Feng Caiyun , Zhu Xianzhi , Zhou Qianyun , Chu Jianping
Published: July 2022

Background

The significance of insulin antibody (IA) detection in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) has received scant attention from county hospitals in China. We aimed to introduce exogenous IA positive rate and its relative factors in T2DM treated with insulin in Xiangshan County of Ningbo City, analyzing the immunogenicity of different kinds of insulin.

Methods

Patients who were residents from the Danxi community and six towns (Dongchen, Xizhou, Maoyang, Sizhoutou, Juexi, and Qiangtou) in Xiangshan County and diagnosed with T2DM and treated with insulins at Xiangshan Hospital of TCM Medical and Health Group between August 2019 and June 2020 were identified. Those who met the eligibility criteria were included and assigned to the IA-positive or IA-negative group. The immunogenicity of different insulins was compared between the two groups.

Results

Among 992 patients, 781 were eligible for IA detection, and 40.2% of them were IA positive. Blood IA was closely associated with fasting and 2-h glucose, insulin, and C peptide levels and higher insulin dosage. Patients receiving basal insulin treatment showed significantly lower blood IA than those treated with mixed human insulin, premixed human insulins, rapid-acting analogs, or a combination of basal and rapid-acting analogs.
Association between antihypertensive medication and the risk of urinary tract infection (UTI) of outpatients: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Gremke Niklas , Kostev Karel , Kalder Matthias
Published: July 2022

Purpose

The aim of this retrospective study was to investigate the impact of a broad spectrum of antihypertensive (AH) medications on urinary tract infections (UTI) of outpatients diagnosed in general practices in Germany.

Methods

This study included a total of 367,960 patients aged ≥ 18 years newly a diagnosed with UTI in 1274 general practices in Germany between January 2010 and December 2019. The analysis was conducted for five groups representing five AH therapy classes (diuretics (DIU); beta blockers (BB); calcium channel blockers (CCB); ACE inhibitors (ACEi); angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARB)), each containing 73,592 patients. A Cox regression model was used to analyze the association between each antihypertensive drug class and UTI incidence as compared to all other antihypertensive drug classes (as a group).

Results

The incidence of UTI diagnosis was slightly higher in patients treated with DIU (8.6%), followed by ACEi (8.1%), ARB (7.9%), and CCB (6.5%). Antibiotic therapy for UTI was given in 5.6% of DIU and 4.3% of CCB patients. The incidence of UTI and antibiotic therapy was much higher in women than in men across all therapy classes. No significant increase or decrease in UTI incidence or antibiotic therapy was observed in any of the AH therapy classes investigated.

Conclusion

The present study did not identify a significant increase or decrease of UTI incidence or antibiotic therapy in patients treated with ACEi, ACB, CCB, beta blockers or diuretics. Across all AH classes studied, the incidence of UTI and antibiotic therapy was higher in women than in men, although not significantly.
Clinical Consensus on Diagnosis and Treatment of Patients with Chronic Exertional Compartment Syndrome of the Leg: A Delphi Analysis
Authors: Vogels Sanne , Ritchie E. D. , van der Burg B. L. S. Borger , Scheltinga M. R. M. , Zimmermann W. O. , Hoencamp R.
Published: July 2022

Aim

Defining universally accepted guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of chronic exertional compartment syndrome (CECS) is hampered by the absence of high-quality scientific research. The aim of this Delphi study was to establish consensus on practical issues guiding diagnosis and treatment of CECS of the leg in civilian and military patient populations.

Methods

An international expert group was queried using the Delphi technique with a traditional three-round electronic consultation. Results of previous rounds were anonymously disclosed in the questionnaire of rounds 2 and 3, if relevant. Consensus was defined as > 70% positive or negative agreement for a question or statement.

Results

The panel consisted of 27 civilian and military healthcare providers. Consensus was reached on five essential key characteristics of lower leg CECS. The panel achieved partial agreement regarding standardization of the diagnostic protocol, including muscle tissue pressure measurements. Consensus was reached on conservative and surgical treatment regimens. However, the experts did not attain consensus on their approach of postoperative rehabilitation and preferred treatment approach of recurrent or residual disease. A summary of best clinical practice for the diagnosis and management of CECS was formulated by experts working in civilian and military healthcare facilities.

Conclusion

The Delphi panel reached consensus on key criteria for signs and symptoms of CECS and several aspects for conservative and surgical treatment. The panel did not agree on the role of ICP values in the diagnostic process, postoperative rehabilitation guidelines protocol, or the preferred treatment approach for recurrent or residual disease. These aspects serve as a first attempt to initiate simple guidelines for clinical practice.
Solving arithmetic word problems by synergizing syntax-semantics extractor for explicit relations and neural network miner for implicit relations
Authors: Yu Xinguo , Lyu Xiaopan , Peng Rao , Shen Jun
Published: July 2022

This paper presents a relation-centric algorithm for solving arithmetic word problems (AWPs) by synergizing a syntax-semantics extractor for extracting explicit relations, and a neural network miner for mining implicit relations. This is the first algorithm that has a specific component to acquire implicit knowledge items for solving AWPs. This paper proposes a three-phase scheme to decompose the challenging task of designing an algorithm for solving AWPs into three smaller tasks. The first phase proposes a state-action paradigm; the second phase instantiates the paradigm into a relation-centric approach; and the third phase implements a relation-centric algorithm for solving AWPs. There are two main steps in the proposed algorithm: problem understanding and symbolic solver. By adopting the relation-centric approach, problem understanding becomes a task of relation acquisition. For conducting the task of relation acquisition, a relaxed syntax-semantics method first extracts a group of explicit relation candidates. In parallel, a neural network miner acquires implicit relation candidates. The miner computes the vectors encoded by BERT to determine which implicit relations should be added. Thus, problem understanding can acquire both explicit relations and implicit relations, which addresses the challenge of building a problem understanding method that can acquire all the knowledge items to find the solution. In the subsequent step of symbolic solver, a fusion procedure forms a distilled set of relations from all the candidates by discarding unnecessary relations. Experimentation on nine benchmark datasets validates the superiority of the proposed algorithm that outperforms the state-of-the-art algorithms.
The fuzzy Weighted Influence Nonlinear Gauge System method extended with D numbers and MICMAC
Authors: Wang Muwen , Tian Yuan , Zhang Kecheng
Published: July 2022

The Weighted Influence Nonlinear Measurement System (WINGS) method originates from DEMATEL, which has the advantage of analyzing the interweaved determinants and the causal relationships within them. The innovation is mainly reflected in considering both the strength of the influencing factors themselves and the relationship of their mutual influence. To address the problems of ambiguity in assessing information and uncertainty in the judgment of expert group, this paper proposes fuzzy WINGS improved by D numbers (fuzzy D-WINGS). Combining D numbers with Triangular fuzzy numbers can overcome the limitation of mutually exclusive and collectively extensive set. The WINGS method is used to reveal the interdependent causal relationships by recognizing the orientation and strength of the factors. Utilizing the MICMAC method to draw matrix analysis diagrams can further reveal the relationship among them. Finally, a practical case study is conducted to prove the practicability of this fuzzy D-WINGS–MICMAC method.
The role of creep deformation in pit lake slope stability
Authors: Dyson Ashley P. , Moghadam Mahdi Sedighi , Zad Amirali , Tolooiyan Ali
Published: July 2022

Large-scale open-pit mining activities have profound impacts on the surrounding landscape and environment. At the cessation of open-pit mining, the rehabilitation of large void spaces can be achieved by pit-lake filling, where the water body provides a confining pressure on surrounding mine surfaces, reducing both the likelihood of slope failure and the need for ongoing slope maintenance. Although pit-lakes present a range of long-term benefits, the geotechnical performance of mines containing soft soils that are susceptible to creep under increasing loads due to pit-lake filling is seldom considered. From a geotechnical standpoint, creep induced failure is commonly associated with slow, downslope movements, prior to critical slope failure events. In this research, time-dependent slope stability analyses based on creep-sensitive materials are presented for an open-cut mine undergoing pit-lake filling. Numerical simulation provides a mechanism for the assessment of materials exhibiting soft soil creep constitutive behaviour under various loading conditions due to pit-lake filling. The response of mine surfaces is investigated for various filling regimes, highlighting location-dependent deformation rates, pore pressures and slope Factors of Safety for a large Australian open-pit brown coal mine. Results are presented for two separate creep-sensitive materials, identifying the ability to achieve final, stable landforms for a range of long-term pit-lake conditions.

Article Highlights

Time-dependent creep deformation behaviour is investigated for a large Victorian open-pit brown coal mine undergoing pit-lake rehabilitation.

The soft soil creep model is implemented for a large open-pit rehabilitation model, to assess long-lasting creep movements of a specific mine slope.

Mine void filling rates are simulated for a range of rehabilitation scenarios over a 5 to 40 year period, identifying the excess pore water pressure distributions in addition to vertical and horizontal deformations rates.

The long-term behaviour of 8 cross-section profiles is presented, identifying the effect of pit-lake filling for silt and clay interseam materials.
Wissenschaftliche Weiterbildung Älterer in Zeiten der COVID-19-Pandemie – Sichtweisen von Teilnehmenden an „Studieren ab 50“ der Universität Magdeburg
Authors: Felix Annika , Berndt Sarah , Dabitz Jasmin , Schubert Paul
Published: July 2022

Der Beitrag untersucht die Wahrnehmung der COVID-19-Pandemie durch aktuelle und ehemalige Teilnehmende an wissenschaftlicher Weiterbildung Älterer am Beispiel des Programms „Studieren ab 50“ der Universität Magdeburg und fragt danach, inwieweit die COVID-19-Pandemie zu Benachteiligungen in der Bildungsteilhabe in diesem Bereich führt. Er nimmt damit zwei bislang nur wenig betrachtete Perspektiven auf die Auswirkungen der COVID-19-Pandemie im Bereich der Weiterbildung ein: a) die Sicht der Teilnehmenden und b) den Bereich der wissenschaftlichen Weiterbildung Älterer. Grundlage der Analysen bildet eine Befragung von derzeitigen und ehemaligen Teilnehmenden des Weiterbildungsangebots im Sommersemester 2021 (N 302, Rücklauf 33,3 %). Mittels (multinomial) logistischer Regressionsanalysen wird untersucht, womit die Weiterbildungsteilnahme in Zeiten der COVID-19-Pandemie in Zusammenhang steht. Es zeigt sich, dass hier vor allem teilnahmebezogene Faktoren, wie die Bewertung der bisherigen Teilnahmeerfahrungen und pandemiebezogene Aspekte, wie die Angst vor einer Ansteckung, eine Rolle spielen. Der Beitrag diskutiert die Ergebnisse vor dem Hintergrund der künftigen Ausgestaltung von wissenschaftlichen Weiterbildungsangeboten für Ältere.
The relational dynamics of anger and shame: scripts for emotional interactions in Germany and Japan
Authors: Boiger Michael , Riediger Michaela , Uchida Yukiko , Mesquita Batja
Published: July 2022

This study explored German and Japanese scripts for anger and shame interactions between romantic partners. We started from the idea that emotion scripts structure people’s knowledge about emotional interactions and should vary systematically between cultures in line with the cultural significance of the emotion that the script organizes. Specifically, we expected that emotions that are consistent with culturally dominant relationship ideals (anger in Germany, shame in Japan) compared to those that are inconsistent (anger in Japan, shame in Germany) are experienced more commonly and that scripts for culturally consistent compared to inconsistent emotions should represent more knowledge about interpersonal contingencies. German and Japanese participants (N = 344) indicated for eight anger (or shame) situations how frequently they encounter similar situations, how intensely they would respond with anger/shame, how their partners would react, and how angry/ashamed they would feel after the interaction. In line with our expectations, we found that people encounter shame situations with their partners frequently to the extent that they lead to culturally consistent emotions; this was partially also the case for anger situations. Moreover, we found that, overall, participants took imagined partner responses more into account when imagining interactions around culturally consistent compared to inconsistent emotions, supporting the idea that these scripts represent more interpersonal influence.
Beyond Shapes: Core Reduction Strategies in the Magdalenian of Cova Gran de Santa Linya (NE Iberia)
Authors: Sánchez-Martínez Javier , Roda Gilabert Xavier , Vega Bolívar Susana , Martínez-Moreno Jorge , Benito-Calvo Alfonso , Mora Torcal Rafael
Published: July 2022

Core reduction provides insight into the technical actions involved in knapping sequences, one of the central elements in technological analysis. By examining reduction phases, cognitive and operational aspects of the management of lithic resources can be explored, and the technical behaviours of human groups reconstructed.

This paper presents a technological and morphometric analysis of cores from the Magdalenian sequence of the Cova Gran de Santa Linya (SE Pyrenees), which ranges from 23 to 16 k cal BP. The knapping strategies suggest two types of lithic exploitation: one on nodules using semi-circumferential methods and the other on thick flakes using burin-core methods. Five knapping modalities were identified through the study of reduction sequences and the analysis of technical attributes, which highlights the technical diversity of lithic production systems.

The data collected are supported by statistical analysis and reveal significant differences at the diachronic level and among the lithic assemblages. This study aims to suggest a reference model with which to characterise Magdalenian cores in technological terms. This model can broaden our understanding of the diversity of technical behaviours that appear from the beginning of LGM-b to the end of MIS 2 in the north-eastern Iberian Peninsula.
A practical strategy for fabrication of transparent, robust and environmentally friendly superhydrophobic surfaces for toys and games
Authors: Kimura Arafumi , Nagashima Kentaro
Published: July 2022

This work presents a practical strategy for fabrication of transparent, robust and environmentally friendly superhydrophobic surfaces for toys and games by a one-step spray coating method. A type of commercial stringed silica nanoparticles (NPs) is chemically modified by a mixture of two fluorine-free silanes, tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) and dodecyltrimethoxysilane (DDTMS) via a sol–gel process with the aid of ammonia as a basic catalyst and a small amount of water in ethanol, resulting in the formation of an amphiphilic solution, suitable for coating a variety of substrate materials such as glass, ceramics, wood, metal, plastics and paper and so on. Polyarylic acid (PAA) is used as a binder to improve the mechanical robustness of the superhydrophobic coating. Effects of silica NPs concentration, mixing order, TEOS/DDTMS ratio, PAA amount and catalyst on the transparency, uniformity, mechanical robustness and superhydrophobicity of the resultant coatings deposited on the glass slides are investigated. The mechanisms for the superhydrophobicity and water-resistance as well as the effects of catalyst and mixing order are discussed. Furthermore, an example of the superhydrophobic surfaces as toys is presented. This work will pave the way for expanding wide applications of the superhydrophobic surfaces towards toys and games.

Article Highlights

A one-step spray coating method is developed to fabricate transparent, robust and environmentally friendly superhydrophobic surfaces on various substrates

Polyacrylic acid (PAA) plays an important role in improv-ing the uniformity and mechanical robustness of the superhydrophobic coating.

An example of practical application is presented for the superhydrophobic surfaces as toys and game
Assessment of potentially toxic elements in water and sediments in the drainage network of Lake Mariout, Egypt
Authors: Hassaan Mohamed A. , El-Rayis Osman , Hemada Engy , El Nemr Ahmed
Published: July 2022

The present work investigated the distribution and assessment of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in the water and surface sediments of both Qalaa and Umum Drains. The water samples were taken from eighteen sampling sites covering the downstream part of the two drains before reaching Lake Mariout Main Basin (LMMB) and Lake Mariout Fishery Basin (LMFB) during the summer period. The samples collected were analyzed for Cu, Cd, Zn, Co, Ni, Mn, Fe and Al. Pollution loading index (PLI), enrichment factor (EF), contamination factor (CF), Geo accumulation index (Igeo) and sediment quality guidelines (SQGs) were calculated as a criterion of possible contamination. Qalaa Drain is characterized by a low pH value of 6.93 compared to the other waters in the studied areas. The lowest Cl was always recorded in the water of Qalaa Drain with an average of 0.65 g Cl/L. The water of Umum Drain, LMMB and LMFB are continually aerated with O2 concentration, compared to the Qalaa drain, which constantly carries H2S. The outcomes revealed that the concentrations of the dissolved metals are at suitable levels according to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). Fe and Al are the two abundant metals in the sediment of the four studied areas. The order of abundance of the metals in the sediments of the present study areas was Fe > Al > Zn > Mn > Cu > Ni > Co > Cd. For the sediments, only cadmium and zinc concentrations in all sites during the study period exceeded the average shale rock concentration. According to the examined indices, the level of contamination in Qalaa Drain ranges from considerable to extremely high. Additionally, the four examined regions have higher Cu and Zn contents than SQGs.
Cowpea Living Mulch Effect on Soil Quality and Grain Yield in Smallholder Maize-Based Cropping System of Northern Ghana
Authors: Abdul Rahman Nurudeen , Larbi Asamoah , Berdjour Albert , Kizito Fred , Hoeschle-Zeledon Irmgard
Published: July 2022

Low soil fertility is a major constraint for maize production in West Africa, the use of legumes as living mulch improves soil fertility and yield of main crops. However, there is limited literature on the appropriate time to plant living mulch in maize-based cropping system in West Africa. A 2-year (2017–2018) study was conducted to determine the effect of cowpea living mulch (CPLM) on soil quality and grain yield in maize-based cropping system of northern Ghana. A factorial treatment combination of three maize maturity types (extra-early, early and medium) and four CPLM methods (control, CPLM with maize planted on the same day, CPLM planted 1 week after maize and CPLM planted 2 weeks after maize) was laid out in a randomized complete block design with four replications in Northern and Upper East regions of Ghana. Principal component and correlation matrix analyses were used to select minimum data set for soil quality index (SQI) calculation. The SQI for CPLM improved by 50–100% relative to that of the control in both seasons and regions. The CPLM significantly increased maize grain by 34–37% during both seasons in Northern Region and 84% during 2017 in the Upper East Region compared with that of the control. The effect of time of planting CPLM on grain yield showed negative correlation with amount of rainfall received during vegetative growth of CPLM. The results suggest that smallholder maize-based farmers in northern Ghana and similar agro-ecologies in West Africa can plant CPLM 1–2 weeks after planting maize to improve soil quality and increase maize grain yield.