bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Detección de anticuerpos IgG frente a SARS COV2 en el suero y la leche materna de mujeres vacunadas
Authors: Sadiq Sidra , Arslan Faheem
Published: December 2021

Objetivos

A medida que la COVID 19 sigue extendiéndose, la transmisión de anticuerpos maternos frente al SARS COV2 durante la lactancia es una importante fuente de inmunización en los lactantes. Este fenómeno requiere estudios en profundidad, con el fin de mejorar las opciones de vacunación de estos candidatos. El propósito del presente estudio es evaluar la presencia de anticuerpos IgG frente a la proteína Spike del SARS-CoV-2 en la leche materna y el suero de madres lactantes tras su vacunación, así como establecer una correlación entre los niveles de anticuerpos en la leche y el suero materno.

Métodos

En este estudio de cohortes realizado en el Rehman Medical Institute, en Peshawar (Pakistán), se incluyeron 180 mujeres en periodo de lactancia. Describimos la inmunogenicidad de 21 pacientes 21 días después de haber recibido la dosis de refuerzo de la vacuna. Se tomaron muestras de leche y suero materno para analizar la presencia de anticuerpos IgG frente a la proteína Spike del SARS-CoV-2 mediante inmunoensayo de electroquimioluminiscencia (ECLIA) (Elecsys Anti-SARS-CoV-2 S Roche, Suiza).

Resultados

Se detectó claramente la presencia de anticuerpos IgG frente a la proteína Spike del SARS-CoV-2 en la leche materna de todas las participantes, y en el suero del 85% de las mujeres de la muestra (>0,8 IU/mL). Nuestro estudio revela que las madres lactantes pueden desarrollar fuertes reacciones inmunológicas frente al SARS-CoV-2 tras la vacunación.

Conclusiones

Los niveles de anticuerpos frente al SARS-CoV-2 aumentaron significativamente en todas las participantes tras la vacunación. Así, los niveles de anticuerpos aumentaron una escala con respecto al periodo previo a la vacunación. Estos hallazgos muestran una correlación entre los niveles de anticuerpos frente a SARS COV2 en la leche y el suero materno. El monitoreo continuo de los títulos de anticuerpos demuestra que, tras la vacunación, se desarrolla una inmunidad humoral significativa frente a la infección por SARS-CoV-2.
Identification of Gracilariaceae (Rhodophyta) of central Portugal by histological and genetic methods
Authors: Freitas Marta V. , Simões Marco , Valdez Christian , Afonso Clélia , Trindade Beatriz G. , Correia Ana , Baptista Teresa , Mouga Teresa
Published: December 2021

This study aims to identify different populations of Gracilariaceae collected from the central coast of Portugal through light microscopy, anatomical observations and genetic tools, essential approaches to correctly assign species identity. Samples were obtained from Ria de Aveiro (AV), Figueira da Foz (FFBC, FFMD), and Lagoa de Óbidos (LOBR, LOEV, LOBS). Although histological observations offered a visual representation of the characteristic pseudoparenchymatous organization, they did not allow a clear distinction among the species. The amplification of a ∼700 bp fragment of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I gene, and its sequencing enabled us to assign the populations FFBC and LOBS to Gracilaria gracilis, and the populations AV, FFMD, LOBR, and LOEV to Agarophyton vermiculophyllum. This contribution will help phycologists to correctly identify the Portuguese populations of Gracilaria sensu lato at the species level, which will be crucial in ensuring that future studies and industrial exploration accurately target the correct species.
Estimation of accuracy loss by training a deep-learning-based cell organelle recognition software using full dataset and a reduced dataset containing only subviral particle distribution information
Authors: Busch Nils , Rausch Andreas , Schanze Thomas
Published: December 2021

In collaboration with the Institute of Virology, Philipps University, Marburg, a deep-learning-based method that recognizes and classifies cell organelles based on the distribution of subviral particles in fluorescence microscopy images of virus-infected cells has been further developed. In this work a method to recognize cell organelles by means of partial image information is extended. The focus is on investigating loss of accuracy by only providing information about subviral particles and not all cell organelles to an adopted Mask-R convolutional neural network. Our results show that the subviral particle distribution holds information about the cell morphology, thus making it possible to use it for cell organelle-labelling.
Laplace-Beltrami Refined Shape Regression Applied to Neck Reconstruction for Craniosynostosis Patients
Authors: Schaufelberger Matthias , Kühle Reinald , Weichel Frederic , Wachter Andreas , Hagen Niclas , Ringwald Friedemann , Eisenmann Urs , Freudlsperger Christian , Nahm Werner
Published: December 2021

This contribution is part of a project concerning the creation of an artificial dataset comprising 3D head scans of craniosynostosis patients for a deep-learning-based classification. To conform to real data, both head and neck are required in the 3D scans. However, during patient recording, the neck is often covered by medical staff. Simply pasting an arbitrary neck leaves large gaps in the 3D mesh. We therefore use a publicly available statistical shape model (SSM) for neck reconstruction. However, most SSMs of the head are constructed using healthy subjects, so the full head reconstruction loses the craniosynostosis-specific head shape. We propose a method to recover the neck while keeping the pathological head shape intact. We propose a Laplace- Beltrami-based refinement step to deform the posterior mean shape of the full head model towards the pathological head. The artificial neck is created using the publicly available Liverpool-York-Model. We apply our method to construct artificial necks for head scans of 50 scaphocephaly patients. Our method reduces mean vertex correspondence error by approximately 1.3 mm compared to the ordinary posterior mean shape, preserves the pathological head shape, and creates a continuous transition between neck and head. The presented method showed good results for reconstructing a plausible neck to craniosynostosis patients. Easily generalized it might also be applicable to other pathological shapes.
Towards Quantitative ICG Angiography: Fluorescence Monte Carlo Multi Cylinder
Authors: Hoffmann Simon , Naber Ady , Nahm Werner
Published: December 2021

Intraoperative blood flow measurement is an effective way to assess the quality of bypass surgery. Flow quantification from indocyanine green (ICG) angiography promises to be an easy, contact-free method. It shows deviations compared to a reference. These are given as factor k, which depends on the vessel diameter d. The radiation transport within the vessel while recording the ICG passage might cause this. It is analyzed in silico to disclose its impact on k (d). A Fluorescence Monte Carlo Multi Cylinder (FMCMC) model was developed as a static model, assuming homogeneous concentration of ICG. In contrast to published approaches utilizing a Monte Carlo Multi Layer (MCML) model assuming the deepest penetration location within a photon packet’s path to be the fluorescence location, the events are modeled. Fluorescence event modeling, Multi Cylinder geometry and a homogeneous illumination as well as combinations of these were implemented in separate aspect models. Resulting k (d) were compared to k (d) from MCML. Deviations in k (d) derived from FMCMC and MCML in each aspect model were present. The Root Mean Square Error ranges from 6,8% to 36 %, k (d) also varied comparing the aspect models to each other. The model geometry, the modeled fluorescence location and illumination mode show a clear impact on simulated k (d). Therefore, our study shows that simplifications of previous studies are invalid. The developed FMCMC model considers the named aspects, allowing the analysis of radiation transport in ICG angiography. The FMCMC model assumes a homogeneous concentration of ICG which is not true in clinical cases. Obtaining the heterogeneous distribution of ICG is possible via fluid flow models. Coupling the fluid flow model and the developed radiation transport model as well as including a detailed camera optic is the task for future work.
Sensor-based measurement for advanced monitoring and early detection of PE wear in total knee arthroplasties
Authors: Schaufler Anna , Fritzsche Holger , Bertrand Jessica , Lohmann Christoph , Boese Axel , Friebe Michael
Published: December 2021

Polyethylene (PE) inlays of knee endoprostheses are exposed to constant mechanical stress causing particle abrasion and volumetric wear. With the current inlay surveillance strategy, significant change often can be only detected when the implant has already failed. To reduce medical complications arising from implant malposition or failure, early and accurate assessment of the implant condition is of great value. We present a novel concept to monitor PE inlays based on an implanted sensor. Requirements of sensor integration into endoprostheses were discussed and specified for an inlay monitoring concept. A planar eddy current sensor for measuring the gradual descent of the femoral component was proposed where inductive and capacitive sensor elements form a resonant circuit. The potential sensitivity of the proposed measuring method was tested in an experimental setup using an RFID tag as a sensor substitute. A measurement concept, including the sensor and an extracorporal readout coil, was described and the validity was verified using finite element method (FEM) simulation of a simplified knee model. The experiments showed that a significant resonant frequency shift occurs in the sensor with decreasing distance to the femoral component. FEM simulation demonstrated that the sensor could be powered and readout extracorporeally through inductive coupling with an external readout coil. The proposed concept is a promising solution for feasible and accurate reading of the implant status designed to meet medical requirements. It can enable autonomous and routine monitoring as well as early detection of critical inlay deformation with a home-use device.
Dry-fog disinfection as an alternative method for room decontamination
Authors: Buhl Sebastian , Stich Alexander , Bulitta Clemens
Published: December 2021

Due to the fact that a relatively large area can be disinfected in a short time, dry-fog disinfection could have a great potential to improve hygienic measures. However, there are few studies to date on the effectiveness and combinability of this technology with other devices. In this work, the disinfecting potential of the TBT dry fogging technology (TBT Desinfektion GmbH & Co. KG, Germany) and the corresponding disinfectant Defeat AR (Biofluid GmbH, Germany) was examined with regard to microbiological decontamination and potential damaging effects on different devices. The airburden measurement did show a reduction of approx. 66% of the microbiological room contamination. Similarly, decontamination of test surfaces was shown to be effective at all measuring points we selected in the experimental setup. Depending on the accessibility of the surfaces this effect was in the range of several log levels. Nevertheless, a first test run showed that some technical equipment was negatively affected by the process.
A remote and immersive setup for pandemic-safe surgical education
Authors: Rosenthal Jean-Claude , Schneider Armin , Wisotzky Eric L. , Meij Senna , Dobbelsteen John van den , Arens Philipp , Uecker Florian C.
Published: December 2021

Existing challenges in surgical education (See one, do one, teach one) as well as the Covid-19 pandemic make it necessary to develop new ways for surgical training. This is also crucial for the dissemination of new technological developments. As today’s live transmissions of surgeries to remote locations always come with high information loss, e.g. stereoscopic depth perception, and limited communication channels. This work describes the implementation of a scalable remote solution for surgical training, called TeleSTAR (Telepresence for Surgical Assistance and Training using Augmented Reality), using immersive, interactive and augmented reality elements with a bi-lateral audio pipeline to foster direct communication. The system uses a full digital surgical microscope with a modular software-based AR interface, which consists of an interactive annotation mode to mark anatomical landmarks using an integrated touch panel as well as an intraoperative image-based stereo-spectral algorithm unit to measure anatomical details and highlight tissue characteristics.We broadcasted three cochlea implant surgeries in the context of otorhinolaryngology. The intervention scaled to five different remote locations in Germany and the Netherlands with lowlatency. In total, more than 150 persons could be reached and included an evaluation of a participant’s questionnaire indicating that annotated AR-based 3D live transmissions add an extra level of surgical transparency and improve the learning outcome.
Image processing to delineate the boundaries of peripheral arterial walls
Authors: Shekar Janani , Sukumaran Saritha , Bhave Ashish , Möller Knut
Published: December 2021

The analysis of the arterial wall properties is vital in the prediction of stroke events and arterial hypertension in humans. Numerous researchers have experimented with several approaches to model arterial vessels and to analyse their biomechanical behaviour for many years now. Our study is focussed on image processing of peripheral arterial cross sections to detect and isolate the distinct layers. These boundaries will enable the creation of FEM models for further analysis of arterial wall properties. In a clinical setting, it facilitates doctors to identify the optimum pressure that can be applied to the artery for the treatment of stenosis without damaging the morphology of the blood vessels. This paper aims at distinguishing the various layers of arterial walls from images by minimizing human intervention. Cross section images of arteries from various sources were collected[10][11]. The boundaries from the image were obtained using image processing techniques of MATLAB(R2021a). The approach identified was to convert the input RGB images to grayscale, thresholding and applying morphological operators to delineate the Intima, Media, and Adventitia. These regions of interests (ROI) were then superimposed to generate an image with differentiated boundaries and void of unnecessary noise and inhomogeneity. This approach gave us an insight of the differences in various methods of boundary detection and to infer the optimum approach for accurate demarcation of boundaries of the three layers of arterial walls. It paves a pathway for forward modelling and to perform detailed FEM analysis in in-vitro diagnostics. In a nutshell, it was observed that the edge detection procedure implemented could be used for healthy and stenotic arteries. Further studies must be conducted to test the efficiency across a wide range of images and hence generalise its usage. Upon satisfactory boundary detection, forward modelling could be performed using the identified geometric forms.
TAVI-Mimic for testing of heart valve leaflet materials in physiological loading situations
Authors: Finck Joschka , Oldenburg Jan , Kuske Thomas , Grabow Niels , Schmitz Klaus-Peter , Siewert Stefan , Oschatz Stefan , Stiehm Michael , Kaule Sebastian
Published: December 2021

The loading situation of the aortic valve is complex, complicating the identification of innovative approaches for heart valve leaflet materials, e.g. for transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). Materials engineering experiments allow for screening of materials but especially for durability testing, the consideration of physiological loads is vital/critical for the suitability-assessment of innovative leaflet materials. For this reason, a framework structure for the testing of leaflet materials in physiological loading (TAVI-Mimic) was developed. The exemplary use case for the TAVI-Mimic was a test for calcification propensity of pericardium during durability testing. The TAVI-Mimic was designed as a fourparted frame, based on previous work of our group. The leaflet material can be attached between inner and outer shells without sewing. In a second step, the TAVI-Mimic was optimized regarding radial load-deformation in comparison to a commercial TAVI by means of finite element analysis (FEA) and hydrodynamic characterization in a pulse duplicator system. Mechanical properties dependent on water uptake of different materials for 3D-printing of the TAVI-Mimic were investigated. After optimization, TAVI-Mimics were equipped with glutaraldehyde-fixated pericardial tissue and prototypes were calcified by using a heart valve durability tester and a metastable calcification-liquid, developed in earlier studies. The development of the TAVI-Mimic using FEA and experiments was successful, leading to a radial load dependent deformation of 0.6 mm which correlates with commercial TAVI. Two methacrylic photopolymers were identified for 3D-printing of the TAVI-Mimic and prototypes attached with pericardial tissue were manufactured. Pericardium TAVI-Mimics were calcified in vitro for one week and an average calciumphosphate precipitate of 0.34- 0.54 mg/cm² was measured. The optimization of the TAVR-Mimic led to an improved load-dependent behaviour compared to a commercial prosthesis while testing. The calcification method, combining the TAVI-Mimic, the metastable calcification solution and the durability tester enabled a successfully calcification of pericardial tissue, approaching the in vivo situation.
A two-stage finite element based method for the study of stiffness and failure load of osteoporotic spines
Authors: Martin Heiner , Schröder Guido , Schubert Julia , Ringel Anne , Paulsen Jorid , Pfensig Sylvia , Götz Andreas , Schober Hans-Christof , Grabow Niels
Published: December 2021

A two-step method for investigating the stiffnesses and failure loads of vertebral bodies is presented. It is based on the representation of the spine in a global finite element model of structural elements. A detailed model of two interconnected vertebrae and an intervertebral disc was implemented. Calculations on this model are shown which illustrate the dependencies of structural stiffnesses on vertebral body properties. These structural stiffnesses can then be used to represent the spine in the global model.
Investigations on physico-chemical properties of TSPCU nonwoven for application as prosthetic venous valve
Authors: Schubert Julia , Arbeiter Daniela , Götz Andreas , Lebahn Kerstin , Schmidt Wolfram , Grabow Niels , Illner Sabine
Published: December 2021

Electrospinning is used for producing nonwovens for medical polymer-based implants, such as prosthetic valves or covered scaffolds. In this study, nonwovens for prosthetic venous valves are investigated regarding their morphology and mechanics in physiological medium. Spinning molds were developed based on previous venous valve leaflet designs, 3D printed in different sizes and covered with electrospun nonwovens. Samples were stored in a physiological 0.9% saline at 37°C to investigate the influence of fiber rearrangement and swelling in medium for several weeks. Two different nonwovens of thermoplastic silicone-based polycarbonaturethane (TSPCU) were compared. Tensile test results show that storage in medium has a relevant influence on the mechanical properties. SEM images of TSPCU show substantially increased fiber diameters after 8 days stored in medium. After detaching the valve leaflet nonwovens from the molds, shrinkage of the material of approximately 12% was detected. A suitable valve size could be identified for joining with the stent structure into an interventional prosthetic venous valve. The results demonstrate the influence of storage conditions on the morphological and mechanical properties of electrospun TSPCU nonwovens. For development and dimensioning of venous valve leaflets, this change in mechanical behavior and possible shrinkage of the material has to be considered.
Systematic morphological characterization of sub-visible particles generated from cardiovascular devices using dynamic image analysis
Authors: Kurzhals Anja , Brandt-Wunderlich Christoph , Schmitz Klaus-Peter , Grabow Niels , Schmidt Wolfram
Published: December 2021

The assessment of particulate matter generated during a simulated use is requested by international standards for approval of cardiovascular devices. The particle suspension was generated during a simulated use test procedure of a commercially available coronary stent delivery system and analyzed by Dynamic image analysis (DIA) using FlowCAM 8000. Four parameters were analyzed: the diameter, the aspect ratio value, the circularity and the intensity. The results revealed that 53% of the particles were larger than 25 μm. The particle shapes were inhomogeneous with a wide ranging aspect ratio of 0.03 to 0.95. Around 83% had an intensity value of more than 140 grey scales and appeared translucent.
Contributions towards Data driven Deep Learning methods to predict Steady State Fluid Flow in mechanical Heart Valves
Authors: Oldenburg Jan , Renkewitz Julian , Stiehm Michael , Schmitz Klaus-Peter
Published: December 2021

It is commonly accepted that hemodynamic situation is related with cardiovascular diseases as well as clinical post-procedural outcome. In particular, aortic valve stenosis and insufficiency are associated with high shear flow and increased pressure loss. Furthermore, regurgitation, high shear stress and regions of stagnant blood flow are presumed to have an impact on clinical result. Therefore, flow field assessment to characterize the hemodynamic situation is necessary for device evaluation and further design optimization. In-vitro as well as in-silico fluid mechanics methods can be used to investigate the flow through prostheses. In-silico solutions are based on mathematical equitation’s which need to be solved numerically (Computational Fluid Dynamics - CFD). Fundamentally, the flow is physically described by Navier-Stokes. CFD often requires high computational cost resulting in long computation time. Techniques based on deep-learning are under research to overcome this problem. In this study, we applied a deep-learning strategy to estimate fluid flows during peak systolic steady-state blood flows through mechanical aortic valves with varying opening angles in randomly generated aortic root geometries. We used a data driven approach by running 3,500 two dimensional simulations (CFD). The simulation data serves as training data in a supervised deep learning framework based on convolutional neural networks analogous to the U-net architecture. We were able to successfully train the neural network using the supervised data driven approach. The results showing that it is feasible to use a neural network to estimate physiological flow fields in the vicinity of prosthetic heart valves (Validation error below 0.06), by only giving geometry data (Image) into the Network. The neural network generates flow field prediction in real time, which is more than 2500 times faster compared to CFD simulation. Accordingly, there is tremendous potential in the use of AIbased approaches predicting blood flows through heart valves on the basis of geometry data, especially in applications where fast fluid mechanic predictions are desired.
Particle Image Velocimetry for in vitro characterization of Paravalvular Leakage of TAVR-sealing concepts
Authors: Höing Samuel , Borowski Finja , Oldenburg Jan , Illner Sabine , Öner Alper , Stiehm Michael , Schmitz Klaus-Peter , Kaule Sebastian
Published: December 2021

Paravalvular leakage (PVL), defined as the leakage between the aortic annulus and a transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), is verifiably associated with short- and long-term clinical outcome, especially with increased mortality. Therefore, with the ambition to reduce or even prevent PVL of next generation TAVR, it is necessary to extend the hemodynamic understanding of PVL.

This study presents an in vitro flow measurement method to localize PVL during hydrodynamic characterization of TAVR and furthermore presents different design features, socalled outer skirt, to reduce PVL. Particle image velocimetry (PIV) measurements were performed for flow field assessment during hydrodynamic characterization of TAVR. Additionally, two different sealing concepts were developed to reduce PVL. The skirts were manufactured from polymeric-nonwoven and sued to pericardium-based TAVR-prototype. The prepared TAVR-prototypes were then deployed in a pathophysiological model of the aortic root with a calcification nodule of 2 mm according to ISO 5840:2021. To assess PVL, the flow field and the regurgitation volume was measured.

The PIV measurements showed a clearly visible leakage jet between the TAVR-prototypes without skirt and the pathophysiological aortic annulus model. Jet velocities of up to 0.5 m/s were measured depending on presence or configuration of a PVL-preventing skirt. When implanted in the physiological annulus model without calcification nodule, PVL was hardly recognizable. The regurgitation volume of a TAVR-prototype without skirt at 5 l/min was 36.26±1.89 ml (n = 10). The developed and manufactured polymeric-nonwoven skirts reduced PVL from 37.67±1.17 ml to 18.36±1.8 ml (n = 10, TAVR-skirt-design1) and from 46.97±1.07 ml to 17.85±1.29 ml (n = 10, TAVR-skirt-design2) at 5 l/min. The localization of PVL during hydrodynamic characterization by means of PIV was successful. The sealing concepts developed in this work were very effective and led to a PVL-reduction of the tested TAVR prototypes of about 50% to 70%.
Protein Adsorbate Biohybrids and Sequential Hystallosteric Protein Adsorption
Authors: Jennissen Herbert P.
Published: December 2021

Protein adsorption on solid surfaces is characterized by multivalence, binding-unit overlap, sequential adsorption, surface allosterics, lateral interactions and pronounced adsorption-desorption hysteresis, giving rise to the sequential, hystallosteric, adsorption model ("SHA model"). Adsorption isotherms of fibrinogen on a titanium miniplates and of the growth factors rhBMP-2 and rhVEGF165 on PDLLA nanofiber fleeces are presented. Controversial Langmuir type isotherms of fibrinogen and rhVEGF165 can be understood on the basis of singular long-lived metastable states central to the SHA-model.
Numerical design studies of meander structures for self-expanding absorbable stents
Authors: Frank Hagen , Dierke Ariane , Brandt-Wunderlich Christoph , Bohne Eric , Kuske Thomas , Stiehm Michael , Schmitz Klaus-Peter , Siewert Stefan
Published: December 2021

Absorbable stents made of poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) exhibit inferior mechanical properties compared with metal based devices. Therefore, design optimization by means of finite element analysis (FEA) plays an important role in development of high performance absorbable stents. In the present study, three different meander structures made of PLLA material were compared in terms of their radial resistive force (RRF) using FEA. Material tests were performed to obtain input parameters of PLLA for the simulation. FEA was carried out to simulate the RRF and the length change of the meander structures as a function of the diameter. In addition, the numerical results were compared to the experimental outcome using corresponding meander based stents performing radial testing with a segmented head mechanism. Comparable high stresses occurred in the Ubends of the examined stent designs. In designs with a large radius of curvature less stress was observed while crimping. One meander structure developed comparatively higher structural resistance against radially acting forces, due to its curved strut design. In general, FEA revealed consistent results compared to the experimental investigations.
Selective electrical stimulation with current-field modulation
Authors: Kárason Halldór , Pilkington Óskar , Helgason Thordur
Published: December 2021

Selective electrical stimulation using a multielectrode array is a promising technique that can potentially bring electrical stimulation treatment modalities a step forward. A microcontroller-controlled electrical stimulator system delivering a single pulse was designed, suitable for current-field modulation. The goal is to make electrical stimulation with surface electrodes more specific. A graphical user interface (GUI) was developed to control stimulation parameters and current-field within a multi-electrode array wirelessly. The stimulator generates arbitrary biphasic waveforms with a 5-bit resolution and high temporal precision (<10 μs) and was demonstrated to stimulate posterior lumbar root fibers in transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation (tSCS) treatment selectively. Current-field modulation throughout a sixteen-electrode array was achieved. The system has the goal to improve control of stimulation conditions in electrophysiological studies and time-dependent and site-specific stimulation patterns for neuromodulation applications. A novel feature is the current-field modulation ability of the stimulator for surface electrode arrays.
Image-based Blood Flow Analysis of Popliteal Artery Aneurysms – an Interdisciplinary Pilot Study
Authors: Saalfeld Sylvia , Mirzaie Masoud , Fatehpur Sheila , Korte Jana , Berg Philipp
Published: December 2021

Although popliteal artery aneurysms (PAAs) are the most frequent aneurysms in the lower peripheral arteries, research has not covered the potential of blood flow analysis of these pathologies yet. We therefore present a pilot study for the image-based hemodynamic evaluation of patient-specific PAAs. To ensure a large vascular domain with similar boundary conditions, we combine a vascular tree from a healthy proband with six patient-specific vessel models and corresponding segmentations of thrombi. The patients exhibit different severities of the disease ranging from partly blocked to totally blocked lower arteries. Our pilot study demonstrates that the precise assessment of individual thrombus formation and associated local hemodynamics is feasible. In consequence, image-based blood flow analysis might reveal important insight in PAA interaction with thrombus growth and remaining blood supply of the lower limbs
Protesters at the news gates: An experimental study of journalists’ news judgment of protest events
Authors: Cristancho Camilo , Wouters Ruud
Published: December 2021

Media attention is a key political resource for protesters. This implies that journalists are a crucial audience to which protesters seek to appeal. We study to what extent features of protest, of journalists, and of news organizations affect journalists’ news judgment. We exposed 78 Spanish journalists to vignettes of asylum seeker protests. Four features were systematically manipulated: protesters’ worthiness, unity, numbers, and commitment (WUNC). The experiments scrutinize the extent to which journalists consider a protest newsworthy (presence) and the likelihood that a protest is featured on a newspaper’s front page (prominence). Our results show that in terms of media presence, high turnout is key. Highly unified protesters, in contrast, are considered less newsworthy. Regarding prominence, strongly committed demonstrators more easily make it to the frontpage. Individual characteristics of journalists have no direct effect on news judgment. Journalists’ editorial status and ideological (outlet) placement only moderate the effect of some of the protest features, although in terms of front-page placement a more potent adversary versus ally effect is distinguished.
On partial isometries with circular numerical range
Authors: Wegert Elias , Spitkovsky Ilya
Published: December 2021

In their LAMA 2016 paper Gau, Wang and Wu conjectured that a partial isometry A acting on ℂ
n
cannot have a circular numerical range with a non-zero center, and proved this conjecture for n ≤ 4. We prove it for operators with rank A = n − 1 and any n.

The proof is based on the unitary similarity of A to a compressed shift operator SB
generated by a finite Blaschke product B. We then use the description of the numerical range of SB
as intersection of Poncelet polygons, a special representation of Blaschke products related to boundary interpolation, and an explicit formula for the barycenter of the vertices of Poncelet polygons involving elliptic functions.
Learning to diagnose X-rays: a neuroscientific study of practice-related activation changes in the prefrontal cortex
Authors: Rotgans Jerome I.
Published: December 2021

Objectives

Medical expertise manifests itself by the ability of a physician to rapidly diagnose patients. How this expertise develops from a neural-activation perspective is not well understood. The objective of the present study was to investigate practice-related activation changes in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) as medical students learn to diagnose chest X-rays.

Methods

The experimental paradigm consisted of a learning and a test phase. During the learning phase, 26 medical students were trained to diagnose four out of eight chest X-rays. These four cases were presented repeatedly and corrective feedback was provided. During the test phase, all eight cases were presented together with near- and far-transfer cases to examine whether participants’ diagnostic learning went beyond simple rote recognition of the trained X-rays. During both phases, participants’ PFC was scanned using functional near-infrared spectroscopy. Response time and diagnostic accuracy were recorded as behavioural indicators. One-way repeated measures ANOVA were conducted to analyse the data.

Results

Results revealed that participants’ diagnostic accuracy significantly increased during the learning phase (F=6.72, p<0.01), whereas their response time significantly decreased (F=16.69, p<0.001). Learning to diagnose chest X-rays was associated with a significant decrease in PFC activity (F=33.21, p<0.001) in the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, the orbitofrontal area, the frontopolar area and the frontal eye field. Further, the results of the test phase indicated that participants’ diagnostic accuracy was significantly higher for the four trained cases, second highest for the near-transfer, third highest for the far-transfer cases and lowest for the untrained cases (F=167.20, p<0.001) and response time was lowest for the trained cases, second lowest for the near-transfer, third lowest for the far-transfer cases and highest for the untrained cases (F=9.72, p<0.001). In addition, PFC activity was lowest for the trained and near-transfer cases, followed by the far-transfer cases and highest for the untrained cases (F=282.38, p<0.001).

Conclusions

The results suggest that learning to diagnose X-rays is associated with a significant decrease in PFC activity. In terms of dual-process theory, these findings support the notion that students initially rely more on slow analytical system-2 reasoning. As expertise develops, system-2 reasoning transitions into faster and automatic system-1 reasoning.
Immigration and anti-immigrant voting in the 2017 German parliamentary election
Authors: Kellermann Kim Leonie , Winter Simon
Published: December 2021

We empirically examine the relationship between immigration and votes for the Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) in the 2017 German parliamentary election. We conduct a cross-sectional analysis, exploiting election results and socio-demographic as well as geographic features of the 401 German administrative districts. We find that immigration has a negative effect on AfD voting. A 1 percentage point increase in the share of foreigners is associated with a decrease in the AfD vote share of up to 0.37 percentage points. The result is robust to several estimation variations, such as addressing the potentially endogenous distribution of foreigners with an instrumental variable analysis.
Cryo secondary ion mass spectrometry for wood component visualization: a mini review
Authors: Aoki Dan , Matsushita Yasuyuki , Fukushima Kazuhiko
Published: December 2021

Various phenomena in living physiological systems are conducted on the hydrated conditions, and in many cases, they do not work in a dry state. Imaging mass spectrometry is one of the direct detection methods scanning the sample surface with some focused and pulsed energy and analysing the sputtered components. However, under the high vacuum conditions required for usual imaging mass spectrometry, the sample surface is rapidly dried. It is difficult for the target cell to survive, and the original situation are lost soon. Here, the combination of a freeze-fixation and a cryo sample stage is a promising method to do mass spectrometry while maintaining the original situation. By rapidly freezing the cells, the momentary situation as a living cell is fixed. The situation in a living cell can be captured as still images by cryo imaging mass spectrometry. This mini-review introduces the outline of imaging mass spectrometry especially for low molecular weight components and recent results for frozen-hydrated samples by cryo secondary ion mass spectrometry.
Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats, a glimpse – impacts in molecular biology, trends and highlights
Authors: Selvaraj Dhivya , Dawar Rajni , Sivakumar Pradeep Kumar , Devi Anita
Published: December 2021

Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR) is a novel molecular tool. In recent days, it has been highlighted a lot, as the Nobel prize was awarded for this sector in 2020, and also for its recent use in Covid-19 related diagnostics. Otherwise, it is an eminent gene-editing technique applied in diverse medical zones of therapeutics in genetic diseases, hematological diseases, infectious diseases, etc., research related to molecular biology, cancer, hereditary diseases, immune and inflammatory diseases, etc., diagnostics related to infectious diseases like viral hemorrhagic fevers, Covid-19, etc. In this review, its discovery, working mechanisms, challenges while handling the technique, recent advancements, applications, alternatives have been discussed. It is a cheaper, faster technique revolutionizing the medicinal field right now. However, their off-target effects and difficulties in delivery into the desired cells make CRISPR, not easily utilizable. We conclude that further robust research in this field may promise many interesting, useful results.
Characterization of a fluorescent 1,8-naphthalimide-functionalized PAMAM dendrimer and its Cu(ii) complexes as cytotoxic drugs: EPR and biological studies in myeloid tumor cells
Authors: Canonico Barbara , Cangiotti Michela , Montanari Mariele , Papa Stefano , Fusi Vieri , Giorgi Luca , Ciacci Caterina , Ottaviani Maria Francesca , Staneva Desislava , Grabchev Ivo
Published: December 2021

The activity and interacting ability of a polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimer modified with 4-N-methylpiperazine-1,8-naphthalimide units (termed D) and complexed by Cu(ii) ions, towards healthy and cancer cells were studied. Comparative electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) studies of the Cu(ii)-D complex are presented: coordination mode, chemical structure, flexibility and stability of these complexes, in the absence and presence of myeloid cancer cells and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). The interactions of Cu(ii) ions in the biological media at different equilibrium times were studied, highlighting different stability and interacting conditions with the cells. Furthermore, flow cytometry and confocal analysis, trace the peculiar properties of the dendrimers in PBMC and U937 cells. Indeed, a new probe (Fly) was used as a potential fluorescent tool for biological imaging of Cu(ii). The study highlights that dendrimer and, mainly, the Cu(ii) metallodendrimer are cytotoxic agents for the cells, specifically for U937 tumor cells, inducing mitochondrial dysfunction, ROS increase and lysosome involvement. The metallodendrimer shows antitumor selectivity, fewer affecting healthy PBMC, inducing a massive apoptotic cell death on U937 cells, in line with the high stability of this complex, as verified by EPR studies. The results underline the potentiality of this metallodendrimer to be used as anticancer drug.
The Baltic *-ā́-illative
Authors: Ostrowski Norbert
Published: December 2021

The Lithuanian-Latvian illative was formed from the IE accusativus directivus and the local postposition *-ā́. Traces of the postponed *-ā́ have been preserved in yrà ‘is, are; OLith. there is, there are’ < *ī-r-ā́, and Lith. čià ‘here’ < *tj-ā́. Typologically, the Baltic illative can be compared to Greek derivatives with -δε, e.g. οἴκα-δε ‘homewards; at home’. As for the origin of the postponed *-ā́, two hypotheses can be formulated: 1. *-ā́ comes from the IE allative postposition *-eh₂ (see Hajnal 1992); 2. *-ā́ boils down to the instr. sg. of the anaphoric pronoun *h₁o-h₁. The primary illative plural ended in -s-ā́, e.g. OLith. (debesisa) ‘into heaven’. The postposition -na, which can be found e.g. in the ill. pl. miškúosna ‘into forests’, is an innovation resulting from reanalysis of the acc. sg. *-n + *-ā́ → *-nā́. The neutralisation of the privative opposition inessive : illative originally comprised an area much larger than today’s and included the West Aukštaitian dialect. The starting point of this neutralisation was plural forms. This primary state of affairs has remained until the present day in East Aukštaitian in the north from the line Raguva-Ukmergė-Molėtai-Salakas, where inessive sg. and illative sg. are distinguished, but inessive pl. and illative pl. are not, due to apocope of the final vowel, i.e. píevos ‘on meadows’ (= iness. pl. píevose) alongside píevos ‘onto meadows’ (= ill. pl. píevosna) (Zinkevičius 1966: 201). In the privative opposition inessive : illative, the illative form derived from the IE accusative of direction is the marked member of the opposition.
Murmur, heat and bonds – on some words of magic and healing
Authors: Kölligan Daniel
Published: December 2021

The paper argues that a) Germanic *tauf/ƀra- (Germ. Zauber, etc.) is related to a root PIE *deu̯p- ‘beat; make a hollow sound, resound’ found in Greek δοῦπος ‘thud’, etc., b) Greek φάρμακον goes back to the root PIE *gʷʰer- ‘heat’ (Gk. θερμός, etc.) implying healing by fomentation, and c) Armenian hiwand ‘sick’, borrowed from Iranian, to PIE *sh₂ei̯- ‘bind’ relying on the notion of disease as a supernatural bond.
Future conditionals in Lycian
Authors: Marcos Macedo José
Published: December 2021

Lycian funerary inscriptions, being overall legal statements regarding the correct management of the tomb after the death of its owner, comprise many future conditional clauses consisting of two types, paratactic and hypotactic. In the latter a preposed relative clause precedes a resumptive main clause, while in the former two adjoining main clauses are interpreted as protasis and apodosis without any obligatory subordinator. In the last case, the general rule is that some constituent pertaining to the preceding prohibition clause against unauthorized burial undergoes left dislocation, the contrastive topic pointing to the conditional character of the sentence. The lack of an overt subordinator in the paratactic type - the odd modal particle e͂‘if’ is at best optional - points to an archaism in Lycian, as opposed to Hittite and Luwian. This paper aims at providing a critical description of the future conditionals in the corpus, accounting for how they are formed and used.
Causal versions of maximum entropy and principle of insufficient reason
Authors: Janzing Dominik
Published: December 2021

The principle of insufficient reason (PIR) assigns equal probabilities to each alternative of a random experiment whenever there is no reason to prefer one over the other. The maximum entropy principle (MaxEnt) generalizes PIR to the case where statistical information like expectations are given. It is known that both principles result in paradoxical probability updates for joint distributions of cause and effect. This is because constraints on the conditionalP(effect∣cause)P\left({\rm{effect}}| {\rm{cause}})result in changes ofP(cause)P\left({\rm{cause}})that assign higher probability to those values of the cause that offer more options for the effect, suggesting “intentional behavior.” Earlier work therefore suggested sequentially maximizing (conditional) entropy according to the causal order, but without further justification apart from plausibility on toy examples. We justify causal modifications of PIR and MaxEnt by separating constraints into restrictions for the cause and restrictions for the mechanism that generates the effect from the cause. We further sketch why causal PIR also entails “Information Geometric Causal Inference.” We briefly discuss problems of generalizing the causal version of MaxEnt to arbitrary causal DAGs.
IoT network security using autoencoder deep neural network and channel access algorithm
Authors: Ali Saif Mohammed , Elameer Amer S. , Jaber Mustafa Musa
Published: December 2021

Internet-of-Things (IoT) creates a significant impact in spectrum sensing, information retrieval, medical analysis, traffic management, etc. These applications require continuous information to perform a specific task. At the time, various intermediate attacks such as jamming, priority violation attacks, and spectrum poisoning attacks affect communication because of the open nature of wireless communication. These attacks create security and privacy issues while making data communication. Therefore, a new method autoencoder deep neural network (AENN) is developed by considering exploratory, evasion, causative, and priority violation attack. The created method classifies the transmission outcomes used to predict the transmission state, whether it is jam data transmission or sensing data. After that, the sensing data is applied for network training that predicts the intermediate attacks. In addition to this, the channel access algorithm is used to validate the channel for every access that minimizes unauthorized access. After validating the channel according to the neural network, data have been transmitted over the network. The defined process is implemented, and the system minimizes different attacks on various levels of energy consumption. The effectiveness of the system is implemented using TensorFlow, and the system ensures the 99.02% of detection rate when compared with other techniques.
How COVID-19 pandemic is changing the practice of prenatal screening and diagnosis?
Authors: Golbasi Hakan , Omeroglu Ibrahim , Bayraktar Burak , Golbasi Ceren , Adıyaman Duygu , Ekin Atalay
Published: December 2021

Objectives

To evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on prenatal screening and diagnostic tests.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective study with pregnant women attending to the perinatology department of a tertiary referral center. The pre-COVID-19 period between 11 March 2019 and 10 March 2020 and COVID-19 period between 11 March 2020 and 10 March 2021 were evaluated. Both periods were compared in terms of outpatient visits, ultrasound examinations, prenatal screening and diagnostic tests. The correlation of deaths related to COVID-19 pandemic on these parameters was also assessed.

Results

A total of 38,918 patients were examined and 28,452 ultrasound examinations, 26,672 prenatal screening tests and 1,471 prenatal diagnostic tests were performed over two years. During COVID-19 pandemic, number of outpatient visits decreased by 25.2%, ultrasound examinations decreased by 44.2%, prenatal screening tests decreased by 36.2% and prenatal diagnostic tests decreased by 30.7%. Statistically significant correlation was not observed between deaths related to COVID-19 and outpatient visits (p=0.210), ultrasound examinations (p=0.265), prenatal screening (p=0.781) and diagnostic tests (p=0.158). Among indications of prenatal diagnostic tests, maternal anxiety was significantly higher in COVID-19 period (p=0.023). There was significant decrease in the detection of fetuses with trisomy 21 (p=0.047) and a significant increase in the detection of fetuses with Turner syndrome (p=0.017) during COVID-19 period.

Conclusions

The COVID-19 pandemic has severely impacted antenatal care. Prenatal fetal screening and diagnosis was adversely affected by the pandemic in terms of detecting genetic and structural anomalies.