bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Learned spatiotemporal correlation priors for CEST image denoising using incorporated global‐spectral convolution neural network
Authors: Chen Huan , Chen Xinran , Lin Liangjie , Cai Shuhui , Cai Congbo , Chen Zhong , Xu Jiadi , Chen Lin
Published: June 2023

Purpose

To develop a deep learning‐based method, dubbed Denoising CEST Network (DECENT), to fully exploit the spatiotemporal correlation prior to CEST image denoising.

Methods

DECENT is composed of two parallel pathways with different convolution kernel sizes aiming to extract the global and spectral features embedded in CEST images. Each pathway consists of a modified U‐Net with residual Encoder‐Decoder network and 3D convolution. Fusion pathway with 1 × 1 × 1 convolution kernel is utilized to concatenate two parallel pathways, and the output of DECENT is noise‐reduced CEST images. The performance of DECENT was validated in numerical simulations, egg white phantom experiments, and ischemic mouse brain and human skeletal muscle experiments in comparison with existing state‐of‐the‐art denoising methods.

Results

Rician noise was added to CEST images to mimic a low SNR situation for numerical simulation, egg white phantom experiment, and mouse brain experiments, while human skeletal muscle experiments were of inherently low SNR. From the denoising results evaluated by peak SNR (PSNR) and structural similarity index (SSIM), the proposed deep learning‐based denoising method (DECENT) can achieve better performance compared to existing CEST denoising methods such as NLmCED, MLSVD, and BM4D, avoiding complicated parameter tuning or time‐consuming iterative processes.

Conclusions

DECENT can well exploit the prior spatiotemporal correlation knowledge of CEST images and restore the noise‐free images from their noisy observations, outperforming state‐of‐the‐art denoising methods.
Redundancy mechanisms to systems with statistically dependent component and redundancy lifetimes
Authors: You Yinping , Li Xiaohu , Wei Ying
Published: June 2023

This study deals with redundancy mechanisms of coherent systems with statistically dependent component and redundancy lifetimes. We derive the distortion function of coherent system with a redundancy mechanism at component level, and then we present the usual stochastic order and hazard rate order on redundant system lifetimes. The main results not only enrich the framework of research in this line but also supplement some corresponding results in recent references. Several examples are presented to illustrate the results as well.
Solar cell UV‐induced degradation or module discolouration: Between the devil and the deep yellow sea
Authors: Pinochet Nicolas , Couderc Romain , Therias Sandrine
Published: June 2023

For decades, photovoltaic (PV) module yellowing caused by UV exposure has been observed on solar arrays in operation. More than an aesthetic inconvenience, this phenomenon can severely impair module performance and promote other degradation mechanisms by undermining the photoprotection provided by encapsulation. To understand how this reaction may affect current encapsulation materials, silicon heterojunction (SHJ) monocell modules with either UV‐cut or UV‐transparent commercial encapsulants were aged under UV irradiation and examined by visual inspection, fluorescence imaging and flash tests. Despite the photoprotection they provide, only the encapsulants that were stabilised by UV absorbers underwent discolouration. On the one hand, UV absorber photodegradation is responsible for the formation of yellow chromophores that affect light transmission to the cell, which could cause net decrease in the photogenerated current high as 4% after 4200 h of accelerated UV ageing. On the other hand, UV‐induced degradation of SHJ solar cells only accounts for a lower photogenerated current loss (3%), in contrast with previous observations in the literature. According to the behaviour of the current encapsulation formulation, the stability of UV absorbing additives has to be improved to ensure the durability of the device over 30 years.
Size‐dependent failure behavior of commercially available lithium‐iron phosphate battery under mechanical abuse
Authors: Shukla Vishesh , Mishra Ashutosh , Sure Jagadeesh , Ghosh Subrata , Tewari R. P.
Published: June 2023

Under mechanical abuse, the failure of lithium‐ion batteries occurs in various stages, characterized by different force, temperature, and voltage responses, and require in situ measurements for analysis. First, four sizes of commercially available lithium‐iron phosphate batteries (LFPB), namely 18650, 22650, 26650, and 32650, were subjected to quasistatic lateral and longitudinal compression and nail penetration tests. The failure, characterized by the voltage drop and temperature rise at the onset of the first internal short‐circuit (ISC), was identified by an Aurdino‐based voltage sensor module and a temperature measurement module, respectively. The battery failure load and peak temperature at the onset of ISC were found to rely strongly on the battery size. The failure was delayed for small‐sized 18650 batteries during lateral compression, unlike in longitudinal compression and nail penetration tests. At the onset of ISC, the temperature rise above the ambient value was different for different LFPBs. It was found to be maximum (36.4°C) for LFPB 32650 under longitudinal compression and minimum (1.5°C) under lateral compression tests among the considered geometries. Further, LFPB 26650 exhibited a balanced thermal behavior during the test. Such thermal response can be sensed timely for effective thermal management of lithium‐ion batteries.
Detection of Herpes Simplex Viruses in the Oral Lesions of Patients with Pemphigus Vulgaris: Is it Diagnostic or Predictive of Disease Severity?
Authors: Kamyab Kambiz , Daneshpazhooh Maryam , Zaresharifi Nooshin , Ghanadan Alireza , Shahsiah Reza , Mahmoudi Hamid Reza , Zaresharifi Shirin
Published: June 2023

Background

Some studies emphasise the relationship between the herpes simplex virus (HSV) and pemphigus. Although the possible role of HSV in the pathogenesis of pemphigus and the severity of the disease is obscure, we aimed to evaluate the presence of herpes simplex viruses (HSV 1/2) in the oral lesions of patients with pemphigus vulgaris and also assess its association with disease severity and types of lesions.

Methods

A retrospective study was conducted on collected data in the form of collecting paraffin blocks, slides, and relevant pathology reports and referring to patients' medical records. A questionnaire containing details on the degree of skin, scalp, and mucosal involvement (Pemphigus Disease Area Index (PDAI)) was fulfiled. The immunoassay result was also collected to check the anti-desmoglein 3 and 1 antibodies (using ELISA technique).

Results

In this study, 52 patients of pemphigus vulgaris with oral lesions (case) and 52 patients with oral lesions not related to the disease (control) were evaluated. HSV1 was detected in 13.5% of oral pemphigus lesions and 1.9% of the control group (p = 0.0598). There were no positive cases of HSV2 in either group. There was no significant association between the positivity of HSV1 and the site of lesions (p = 1.00) or disease severity (p = 0.28). However, we found a strong correlation between the PDAI disease severity score with the titre of the AntiDsg3 antibody (r = 0.487, p = 0.001) and AntiDsg1 antibody (r = 0.309, p = 0.026).

Conclusion

This study demonstrated a significant prevalence of HSV1 in oral pemphigus lesions, and acyclovir therapy may play a significant role in managing these patients. However, HSV's role in the pathogenesis of pemphigus vulgaris cannot be clearly determined.
RBM15 m6A modification‐mediated OTUB2 upregulation promotes cervical cancer progression via the AKT/mTOR signaling
Authors: Song Yan , Wu Qiongwei
Published: June 2023

Cervical cancer (CC) is a deadly gynecological tumor worldwide. Otubain 2 (OTUB2) has been recently identified as an oncogene in human malignancies. However, its expression and function remain unclear. This work aims to explore the role of OTUB2 in CC progression. Herein, The Cancer Genome Atlas data revealed that OTUB2 expression was significantly upregulated in cervical squamous cell carcinoma and endocervical adenocarcinoma (CESC) and gradually increased with CESC progression; moreover, OTUB2 expression predicted poor outcomes of CESC patients. Then, RT‐qPCR and Western blotting were applied to determine mRNA and protein expression in CC and normal cells. Our results confirmed that OTUB2 was highly expressed in CC cell lines. As indicated by CCK‐8, Transwell, and flow cytometry results, OTUB2 silencing attenuated proliferative and metastatic capacities of CC cells but promoted CC cell apoptosis. Then, RBM15, an N6‐methyladenosine (m6A) methyltransferase “writer,” was also demonstrated to be upregulated in CESC and CC cells. Mechanistically, m6A RNA immunoprecipitation (Me‐RIP) results showed that RBM15 inhibition reduced the m6A methylation level of OTUB2 in CC cells, leading to the decline of OTUB2 expression. In addition, OTUB2 inhibition deactivated the AKT/mTOR signaling in CC cells. Furthermore, SC‐79 (AKT/mTOR activator) partially abated the inhibitory effects of OTUB2 knockdown on the AKT/mTOR signaling pathway and the malignant phenotypes of CC cells. In summary, this work showed that RBM15‐mediated m6A modification led to OTUB2 upregulation, thereby promoting malignant behaviors of CC cells via the AKT/mTOR signaling pathway.
Astrocyte‐mediated mechanisms contribute to traumatic brain injury pathology
Authors: Muñoz‐Ballester Carmen , Robel Stefanie
Published: June 2023

Astrocytes respond to traumatic brain injury (TBI) with changes to their molecular make‐up and cell biology, which results in changes in astrocyte function. These changes can be adaptive, initiating repair processes in the brain, or detrimental, causing secondary damage including neuronal death or abnormal neuronal activity. The response of astrocytes to TBI is often—but not always—accompanied by the upregulation of intermediate filaments, including glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and vimentin. Because GFAP is often upregulated in the context of nervous system disturbance, reactive astrogliosis is sometimes treated as an “all‐or‐none” process. However, the extent of astrocytes' cellular, molecular, and physiological adjustments is not equal for each TBI type or even for each astrocyte within the same injured brain. Additionally, new research highlights that different neurological injuries and diseases result in entirely distinctive and sometimes divergent astrocyte changes. Thus, extrapolating findings on astrocyte biology from one pathological context to another is problematic. We summarize the current knowledge about astrocyte responses specific to TBI and point out open questions that the field should tackle to better understand how astrocytes shape TBI outcomes. We address the astrocyte response to focal versus diffuse TBI and heterogeneity of reactive astrocytes within the same brain, the role of intermediate filament upregulation, functional changes to astrocyte function including potassium and glutamate homeostasis, blood–brain barrier maintenance and repair, metabolism, and reactive oxygen species detoxification, sex differences, and factors influencing astrocyte proliferation after TBI.

This article is categorized under:

Neurological Diseases > Molecular and Cellular Physiology
Light Stable Isotope (O, H, C) Signatures of BIF-Hosted Iron Ore Systems: Implications for Genetic Models and Exploration Targeting
Authors: Hagemann Steffen , Hensler Ana-Sophie , Figueiredo e Silva Rosaline Cristina , Tsikos Harilaos
Published: June 2023

Stable isotope data from hypogene (i.e., below the line of weathering) iron oxides and gangue minerals from BIF-hosted iron ore deposits in Australia, South Africa, and Brazil have significantly assisted in constraining different hydrothermal fluid sources and fluid flow models during the upgrade of BIF to iron ore. The δ18O values on iron oxides from BIF and different paragenetic stages of enrichment display a consistent decrease from unenriched BIF (4–9‰) to as low as −10‰ for high-grade iron ore. This large shift in oxygen isotope values is interpreted as evidence for enormous incursion of ‘ancient’ meteoric water into fault and fracture zones at the time of iron enrichment during the Archean and Paleoproterozoic time. The δ18Ofluid values of paragenetically early iron oxides of > 4‰ suggest the involvement of magmatic fluids in greenstone belt-hosted Carajás-type iron ore deposits, and basinal brines in basin-hosted Hamersley-type deposits. In contrast, the paragenetically late stage iron oxides in the metamorphosed, basin hosted iron ore deposits of the Quadrilátero Ferrífero display δ18Ofluid values > 6‰. This reflects the renewed deep crustal, hypogene (metamorphic or magmatic) fluid influx. Carbon and oxygen isotope data on carbonates in BIF and hydrothermally altered iron ore indicate that carbon in the latter is not derived from BIF units, but represents either magmatic carbon in the case of the Carajás-type deposits or carbon within the underlying basin stratigraphy as in the case of the Hamersley-type iron deposits. The systematic decrease of δ18O values in iron oxides from the early to late paragenetic stages and from the distal to proximal alteration zone, including the ore zone, may be used as a geochemical vector. In this case, oxygen isotope analyses on iron oxides provide a potential exploration tool, particularly for targeting the extension of iron ore bodies or entirely concealed high-grade iron ore deposits, in which hematite/magnetite are frequently the only mineral that can be readily analysed.
Radiometric Dating Applied to Ore Deposits: Theory and Methods
Authors: Chiaradia Massimo
Published: June 2023

Metallic ore deposits have contributed to the development of the human society since pre-historic times and nowadays are one of the pillars of unprecedented technological developments. In order to understand how metallic ore deposits form and thus construct genetic models that may serve as exploration guides, determining the age of an ore deposit is one of the most important pieces of information needed. More recently it has also become evident that determining the temporal duration of mineralizing events can offer valuable information on how certain deposits form and thus improve genetic models. Radiometric dating of ore minerals or of other minerals that are demonstrably associated in space and time with mineralization is the most accurate and precise tool to date an ore deposit. This Introductory Chapter summarizes basic concepts on why ore deposit dating is important and how this can be achieved through different methods. It illustrates basic differences among different methods and serves as an introduction to the more detailed descriptions of specific dating methods presented in the following Chapters.
The 187Re-187Os and 190Pt-186Os Radiogenic Isotope Systems: Techniques and Applications to Metallogenic Systems
Authors: Norman Marc D.
Published: June 2023

Rhenium, Os, and Pt are redox sensitive elements that are concentrated in highly reducing environments such as those associated with black shales but mobile under more oxidizing conditions such as those associated with arc volcanism. They are chalcophile in many terrestrial ore-forming environments, and their isotopic systematics provide unique opportunities to date the formation of sulfide ore deposits and understand their petrogenesis. Fractional crystallization of magmatic sulfide ores generates primary variations in Re/Os and Pt/Os that allow mineral and whole rock isochron ages to be determined and discrimination of crustal and mantle sources based on initial Os isotopic compositions. Molybdenite is especially well suited for geochronology due to its high Re/Os and resistance to resetting. Rhenium concentrations in molybdenite tend to reflect the composition or provenance of the ore-forming fluids, with higher concentrations associated with more primitive sources or more oxidized fluids and lower concentrations with more evolved and/or reduced conditions, although local and regional factors also have a significant influence. Many studies have used pyrite for dating but its typically low Re concentration, variable initial Os isotopic composition (reflecting fluid mxing), and susceptibility to re-equilibration makes its use as a geochronometer problematic in many cases. Other sulfide minerals such as bornite and arsenopyrite have shown promise for Re–Os isotope geochronology but additional studies are needed to evaluate their broader applicability for dating of ore deposits. The isobaric beta decay of parent isotope 187Re to 187Os has restricted investigation of this system by microbeam techniques such as ion microprobe or laser ablation mass spectrometry, especially for geochronology. This requires either chemically processing the sample to separate the elements or novel techniques such as collision-cells that preferentially ionize the Re and Os during the analysis. Thermal ionization mass spectrometry (TIMS) and inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICPMS) are the most widely applied techniques for Re-Pt-Os isotopic analyses. Specialized techniques for sample digestion to ensure redox equilibrium between Os in the sample and the isotopically enriched spikes used for isotope dilution measurements are typically required. This chapter briefly reviews development of the 187Re-187Os and 190Pt-186Os isotopic systems for earth science, physico-chemical controls on their behavior in ore-forming environments, and applications to metallogenic systems.
Application of the Lu–Hf Isotopic System to Ore Geology, Metallogenesis and Mineral Exploration
Authors: Waltenberg Kathryn
Published: June 2023

The Lu-Hf isotopic system, much like the Sm-Nd isotopic system, can be used to understand crustal evolution and growth. Crustal differentiation processes yield reservoirs with differing initial Lu/Hf values, and radioactive decay of176Lu results in diverging176Hf/177Hf between reservoirs over time. This chapter outlines the fundamentals of the Lu-Hf isotopic system, and provides several case studies outlining the utility of this system to mineral exploration and understanding formation processes of ore deposits. The current, rapid, evolution of this field of isotope science means that breadth of applications of the Lu-Hf system are increasing, especially in situations where high-precision, detailed analyses are required.
Introduction: Silences that Speak
Authors: Caneda-Cabrera M. Teresa , Carregal-Romero José
Published: June 2023

This chapter provides a critical overview and a theoretical introduction toNarratives of the Unspoken in Contemporary Irish Fiction: Silences that Speak. Drawing on a wide range of perspectives and considerations on silence through a broad diversity of themes and functions, this introductory essay reclaims an unprecedented attentiveness to the unspoken in today’s Irish fiction. The chapter argues that in Irish contemporary writing silence features as multivalent and multifaceted: it can function as a form of resistance, a strategy of defiance, empowerment and emancipation, but also a way of covering up stories which remain untold and invisible, thus distorting or directly concealing inconvenient truths from the public eye. Ultimately, as the book itself demonstrates, for contemporary Irish writers, the unspoken is not just a constraint but a productive site of enquiry, a silence that “speaks”.
Infinite Spaces: Kevin Barry’s Lives of Quiet Desperation
Authors: O’Grady Thomas
Published: June 2023

This chapter engages with the myriad ways in which silence operates in the fiction—three novels and three collections of short stories—of Kevin Barry. Inevitably, the focus falls mostly on the male protagonists of Barry’s narratives. Suffering variously from a general malaise of Irish maleness whose symptoms include loneliness, isolation, and low self-esteem, Barry’s characters, while often outwardly loquacious, remain emotionally tongue-tied when they most need to speak their hearts. Silence operates in Barry’s stories and novels not simply as a concept but in the same fashion it operates in the real lives of Irish males. Ranging in age from adolescence to midlife, his characters are afflicted by a silence that functions both as a core indicator of that broad-spectrum malaise and as a cause of even deeper suffering.
“A Self-Interested Silence”: Silences Identified and Broken in Peter Lennon’s Rocky Road to Dublin (1967)
Authors: Crosson Seán
Published: June 2023

This chapter examines Irish cinema in the first half of the twentieth century, in particular representations of the clergy, in light of the existence of Ireland’s “architecture of containment” (Smith, Éire-Ireland 36:111–130, 2001) and framed with regard to Antonio Gramsci’s conception of hegemony and “common sense” (Selections from the Prison Notebooks of Antonio Gramsci. Lawrence and Wishart, London, 1971). It considers Peter Lennon’s 1967 documentary Rocky Road to Dublin as a key text in identifying the “self-interested silence” that has prevailed with regard to clerical control in Ireland up to our contemporary moment, the structures that maintained that silence, and the film’s important role in providing one of the first forums for that silence to be broken.
Silence in Donal Ryan’s Fiction
Authors: de Salazar Asier Altuna-García
Published: June 2023

This chapter examines acclaimed Irish author Donal Ryan’s writing with a view to analysing the relevance of variations of the theme of silence and, more specifically, to exploring how silence conforms to the representations of communities and individuals in his work. Drawing on the theoretical tenets of silence in the work of Pierre Macherey, Pierre Bourdieu, George Steiner, William Franke and Michel Foucault, this chapter examines how Ryan’s writing represents individual and community minor/major traumas, tensions, hidden secrets, shame, crises, violence and prejudice. Ultimately, the chapter argues that in Ryan’s work inconvenient truths, contained by silence, point to the effects and consequences of power structures and institutional and societal frameworks in contemporary Ireland.
Grundlagen zu Unterrichtsstörungen
Authors: Marusic Claudia
Published: June 2023

Unterrichtsstörungen beschäftigen Lehrpersonen in ihrem Unterricht seit jeher (Textor, 2015). Die Verwendung von Begrifflichkeiten zur Bezeichnung störender Verhaltensweisen sowie die Verantwortungszuschreibungen für Unterrichtsstörungen unterliegen einer historischen Entwicklung (Martens, 2015). In Abschnitt 2.1 wird diese personenbezogene Perspektive auf Unterrichtsstörungen näher betrachtet. Aktuell erfolgt ein Perspektivwechsel hin zu einem interaktionistischen Verständnis von Unterrichtsstörungen, welches die Störungen am Ort des Geschehens, nämlich am Unterricht festmacht und weder allein die Lehrpersonen noch die Schüler:innen als allein verantwortliche Akteure bei der Entstehung von Unterrichtsstörungen fokussieren (Lohmann, 2007; Martens, 2015; Wettstein, Ramseier, Scherzinger, & Gasser, 2016). Aufgrund ihrer aktuellen Bedeutung wird die interaktionistische Perspektive auf Unterrichtsstörungen in Abschnitt 2.2 genauer beleuchtet. Das vor einem interaktionistischen Verständnis erarbeitete Theoriemodell der Produktion und Rezeption von Unterrichtsstörungen der SUGUS-Studie wird anschliessend vorgestellt. Mit dem Modell erfolgt die Darstellung der Genese von Unterrichtsstörungen aus einer interaktionistischen Perspektive (Abschnitt 2.3). Anschliessend wird der Forschungsstand zu häufig berichteten Unterrichtsstörungen (2.4.1) und zum Umgang mit Unterrichtsstörungen (2.4.2) aufgearbeitet. Weiter werden Erkenntnisse zu Folgen (2.4.3) und Ursachen von Unterrichtsstörungen (2.4.4) diskutiert. Das Kapitel schliesst mit einem Zwischenfazit (2.5).
Zusammenfassung und Diskussion der Ergebnisse
Authors: Marusic Claudia
Published: June 2023

Nachfolgend werden die Ergebnisse entlang der drei leitenden Forschungsfragen zusammengefasst. Die Diskussion der Ergebnisse erfolgt dabei jeweils im Anschluss an die Beantwortung der Fragestellungen. Ein abschliessendes Fazit zur Ergebnisdarstellung und zur Diskussion der Befunde wird in Abschnitt 8.4 formuliert. Danach folgen Ausführungen zu den Limitationen und zu Forschungsdesiderata, die im Verlauf der vorliegenden Arbeit deutlich geworden sind. Abschliessend werden Schlussfolgerungen für die Praxis und für die Aus- und Weiterbildung von Lehrpersonen (8.6) formuliert.
Microstructural and Metabolic Changes in Normal Aging Human Brain Studied with Combined Whole-Brain MR Spectroscopic Imaging and Quantitative MR Imaging
Authors: Mahmoudi N. , Dadak M. , Bronzlik P. , Maudsley A. A. , Sheriff S. , Lanfermann H. , Ding X.-Q.
Published: June 2023

Purpose

This study aimed to detect age-related brain metabolic and microstructural changes in healthy human brains by the use of whole-brain proton magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (1H‑MRSI) and quantitative MR imaging (qMRI).

Methods

In this study, 60 healthy participants with evenly distributed ages (between 21 and 69 years) and sex underwent MRI examinations at 3T including whole-brain1H‑MRSI. The concentrations of the metabolites N‑acetylaspartate (NAA), choline-containing compounds (Cho), total creatine and phosphocreatine (tCr), glutamine and glutamate (Glx), and myo-inositol (mI), as well as the brain relaxation times T2, T2’ and T1 were measured in 12 regions of interest (ROI) in each hemisphere. Correlations between measured parameters and age were estimated with linear regression analysis and Pearsonʼs correlation test.

Results

Significant age-related changes of brain regional metabolite concentrations and tissue relaxation times were found: NAA decreased in eight of twelve ROIs, Cho increased in three ROIs, tCr in four ROIs, and mI in three ROIs. Glx displayed a significant decrease in one ROI and an increase in another ROI. T1 increased in four ROIs and T2 in one ROI, while T2’ decreased in two ROIs. A negative correlation of tCr concentrations with T2’ relaxation time was found in one ROI as well as the positive correlations of age-related T1 relaxation time with concentrations of tCr, mI, Glx and Cho in another ROI.

Conclusion

Normal aging in human brain is associated with coexistent brain regional metabolic alterations and microstructural changes, which may be related to age-related decline in cognitive, affective and psychomotor domains of life in the older population.
A Unique Continuation Result for a 2D System of Nonlinear Equations for Surface Waves
Authors: Montes Alex M. , Córdoba Ricardo
Published: June 2023

In this paper, we establish a result of unique continuation for a special two-dimensional nonlinear system that models the evolution of long water waves with small amplitude in the presence of surface tension. More precisely, we will show that if $$(\eta ,\Phi ) = (\eta (x,y, t),\Phi (x,y, t))$$

(
η
,
Φ
)
=
(
η
(
x
,
y
,
t
)
,
Φ
(
x
,
y
,
t
)
)

is a solution of the nonlinear system, in a suitable function space, and $$(\eta ,\Phi )$$

(
η
,
Φ
)

vanishes on an open subset $$\Omega $$
Ω
of $$\mathbb {R}^2 \times [-T,T],$$

R

2

×

[
-
T
,
T
]

,

then $$(\eta ,\Phi )\equiv 0$$

(
η
,
Φ
)
≡
0

in the horizontal component of $$\Omega .$$

Ω
.

To state such property, we use a Carleman-type estimate for a differential operator $$\mathcal {L}$$
L
related to the system. We prove the Carleman estimate using a particular version of the well known Treves’ inequality.
Incident autoimmune diseases in association with SARS-CoV-2 infection: a matched cohort study
Authors: Tesch Falko , Ehm Franz , Vivirito Annika , Wende Danny , Batram Manuel , Loser Friedrich , Menzer Simone , Jacob Josephine , Roessler Martin , Seifert Martin , Kind Barbara , König Christina , Schulte Claudia , Buschmann Tilo , Hertle Dagmar , Ballesteros Pedro , Baßler Stefan , Bertele Barbara , Bitterer Thomas , Riederer Cordula , Sobik Franziska , Reitzle Lukas , Scheidt-Nave Christa , Schmitt Jochen
Published: June 2023

Objectives

To investigate whether the risk of developing an incident autoimmune disease is increased in patients with prior COVID-19 disease compared to those without COVID-19, a large cohort study was conducted.

Method

A cohort was selected from German routine health care data. Based on documented diagnoses, we identified individuals with polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-confirmed COVID-19 through December 31, 2020. Patients were matched 1:3 to control patients without COVID-19. Both groups were followed up until June 30, 2021. We used the four quarters preceding the index date until the end of follow-up to analyze the onset of autoimmune diseases during the post-acute period. Incidence rates (IR) per 1000 person-years were calculated for each outcome and patient group. Poisson models were deployed to estimate the incidence rate ratios (IRRs) of developing an autoimmune disease conditional on a preceding diagnosis of COVID-19.

Results

In total, 641,704 patients with COVID-19 were included. Comparing the incidence rates in the COVID-19 (IR=15.05, 95% CI: 14.69–15.42) and matched control groups (IR=10.55, 95% CI: 10.25–10.86), we found a 42.63% higher likelihood of acquiring autoimmunity for patients who had suffered from COVID-19. This estimate was similar for common autoimmune diseases, such as Hashimoto thyroiditis, rheumatoid arthritis, or Sjögren syndrome. The highest IRR was observed for autoimmune diseases of the vasculitis group. Patients with a more severe course of COVID-19 were at a greater risk for incident autoimmune disease.

Conclusions

SARS-CoV-2 infection is associated with an increased risk of developing new-onset autoimmune diseases after the acute phase of infection.

Key Points• In the 3 to 15 months after acute infection, patients who had suffered from COVID-19 had a 43% (95% CI: 37–48%) higher likelihood of developing a first-onset autoimmune disease, meaning an absolute increase in incidence of 4.50 per 1000 person-years over the control group.• COVID-19 showed the strongest association with vascular autoimmune diseases.
Improving Collaboration Between Youth Peer Support Workers and Non-peer Colleagues in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services
Authors: de Beer Carolijn R. M. , van Domburgh Lieke , Vermeiren Robert R. J. M. , de Vreugd Martin , Nooteboom Laura A.
Published: June 2023

The involvement of youth peer workers (YPSWs) in child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) stimulates hope, destigmatization, and more culturally and developmentally appropriate support. Nevertheless, the collaboration between YPSWs and non-peer colleagues remains challenging, as it requires services to embed a new type of expert into practice. To stimulate the involvement of YPSWs in practice, this study reports on 27 semi-structured interviews with YPSWs and non-peer colleagues to provide insight into the barriers and facilitators in the collaboration process. The study took place in the Netherlands. A total of 10 interviews with YPSWs, and 17 interviews with non-peer colleagues in different healthcare occupations in CAMHS were conducted. Overall, the participants perceived relatively more barriers compared to facilitators in the collaboration process. Barriers to operate efficiently with YPSWs in multidisciplinary teams included: condescending attitudes and professional stigma towards YPSWs; concerns for YPSW boundaries; bureaucratic and clinical language usage by non-peer colleagues; conflicts due to different sets of expertise; and, lack of role clarity and guidelines for YPSWs. To improve the partnership between YPSWs and non-peer colleagues, participants described the importance of supervision and monitoring of YPSW activities. Moreover, participants also stressed the need for clear guidelines, and introduction and evaluation sessions to facilitate the collaboration process. While YPSWs seem to be an asset to CAMHS, there are a number of barriers to overcome. To overcome these barriers, organizational commitment, supervision (especially from peer colleagues), flexibility by non-peer colleagues, training non-peer staff to support YPSWs, and consistent evaluation of the implementation of YPSWs in services is recommended.
Preventative therapy for breast cancer: a clinical experience
Authors: Law Rebekah , Krupa Katherine , Rusby Jennifer
Published: June 2023

Background

Breast Cancer incidence in the UK is estimated to rise to 71,000 per year by 2035. Preventative strategies could significantly reduce this. Preventative therapy reduces women’s risk of oestrogen receptor positive breast cancer, but uptake remains low. Having established a preventative therapy clinic as part of a wider breast cancer prevention project, we explored qualitative data to inform future preventative efforts.

Method

Women aged 30 to 60 who had benign diagnoses at a symptomatic breast clinic or were under mammographic surveillance in the moderate risk family history clinic were invited to participate in the study. Those who expressed an interest and completed an initial questionnaire had their breast cancer risk calculated using the IBIS risk calculator. Those at increased risk were invited to a consultation about preventative therapy.

Results

182 women were identified as increased risk (≥ 17% lifetime or ≥ 3% 10-year risk NICE guidelines: Familial breast cancer: classification, care and managing breast cancer and related risks in people with a family history of breast cancer, 20131) of whom 91 women (50%) would not have been identified by family history criteria alone. 96% attended a risk/prevention consultation and all eligible women accepted screening mammography but only 14 (8%) women requested a preventative therapy prescription during the duration of the study. Reluctance to take medication and inconvenient time of life were common reasons for declining preventative therapy. Despite this, the majority were grateful for breast cancer risk and prevention information.

Conclusions

Women at increased risk of breast cancer accept additional screening but are reluctant to take preventative therapy. This suggests that stratified screening methods using risk calculations would have high uptake. Raising awareness of preventative therapy is important and the breast cancer community has yet to find the optimum timing and formula for discussing it and must accept women’s informed preferences above artificial targets.

Registration numbers

The PIONEER study was granted Health Research Authority (HRA) ethical approval by the Westminster Ethics Committee. IRAS project ID 265619, ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04574063. Recruitment began in September 2020 and was completed in October 2021.
Birth characteristics and risk of Ewing sarcoma
Authors: Wiemels Joseph L. , Wang Rong , Feng Qianxi , Yee Amy C. , Morimoto Libby M. , Metayer Catherine , Ma Xiaomei
Published: June 2023

Purpose

The incidence of Ewing sarcoma varies according to race and ethnicity, and genetic susceptibility is known to affect disease risk. Apart from these factors, the etiology of Ewing sarcoma is largely unknown.

Methods

We compared the birth characteristics of a population-based series of 556 Ewing sarcoma cases born in California in 1978–2015 and diagnosed in 1988–2015 with those of 27,800 controls selected from statewide birth records and frequency-matched to cases on the year of birth, using multivariable logistic regression models. We also assessed whether Ewing sarcoma clustered within families.

Results

Compared to non-Hispanic White subjects, Black (odds ratio [OR] = 0.07, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.03–0.18), Asian (OR = 0.57, 95% CI 0.41–0.80), and Hispanic (OR = 0.73, 95% CI 0.62–0.88) individuals had a significantly lower risk of Ewing sarcoma. Race and ethnicity differences were more profound for metastatic Ewing sarcoma. Birthweight was also identified as a significant risk factor (OR = 1.09, 95% CI 1.00–1.18 for each 500 g increase in birthweight). A separate family-based cancer clustering analysis did not suggest any strong role for familial predisposition alleles.

Conclusions

This population-based study with minimal selection bias provides support for a role of accelerated fetal growth in the etiology of Ewing sarcoma in addition to more precise estimates of racial and ethnic variations in disease risk. This comparatively large analysis of birth characteristics and Ewing sarcoma in a multiethnic population should stimulate further investigations into genetic and environmental causes.
Effect of algebraic language and problem text wording on problem model accuracy when solving age word problems
Authors: Soneira Carlos , González-Calero José Antonio , Arnau David
Published: June 2023

The use of the algebraic method for solving word problems is a challenging topic for secondary school students. Students’ difficulties are usually associated with extracting the problem’s network of relationships between quantities and with formalizing these relationships into algebraic language in a problem model. Both sources can coexist and interact; thus, it is usually not possible to determine which source of difficulty is more relevant. In addition, there are specific errors, such as the error by multiple referents for the unknown, which are directly linked to the wording of the problem text, and in which the same two sources of error coexist. In this work, we present the results of an experiment conducted with 255 secondary school students assessing the effect of two common difficulties on the accuracy of problem models and on the rate of multiple referents for the unknown. The first difficulty is the use of algebraic language in the construction of the problem model; the second is the use of the same expression to designate different quantities within the problem text. We used a 2 × 2 between-between design, with one factor related to the symbolic language (algebraic or arithmetic) in which the problem model is constructed, and the other factor related to the actual language features of the text problem. Our results indicate that overall, the main source of difficulty for students is the use of algebraic language to formalize a problem model, representing a large effect size.
Bioaccumulation of rare earth elements and trace elements in different tissues of the golden grey mullet (Chelon auratus) in the southern Caspian Sea
Authors: Bakhshalizadeh Shima , Liyafoyi Adeleh Rostamzadeh , Mora-Medina Rafael , Ayala-Soldado Nahúm
Published: June 2023

Rare earth elements are essential for modern life, although they are also classified as emerging pollutants. Currently, fish studies on these elements are very limited in general, but, with regard to the Caspian Sea, there is no reference to them at all. For this reason, our objective was to determine the concentrations of these elements in the golden grey mullet (Chelon auratus) and to contrast its bioaccumulation patterns with those of arsenic, cadmium, mercury and lead. For that purpose, 20 fish were caught in the southern part of the Caspian Sea. Heavy rare earth element concentrations were higher than light ones and the terbium levels were very high, probably due to anthropogenic contamination. The intestine tissue gave the highest concentrations, which could be indicative of a very low gastrointestinal absorption. For both rare earth and trace elements, muscle was the tissue that accumulated the least, despite which, cadmium and lead levels in muscle were of concern.
The effect of avocado sunblotch disease (ASBD) on tree morphology, fruit maturity, yield and quality of ‘Hass’ avocado in South Africa
Authors: Zwane Zanele R. , Gubba Augustine , Jooste Anna E. C.
Published: June 2023

Avocado sunblotch viroid (ASBVd) is found in many avocado-growing regions of the world, where it affects fruit yield and quality. The trees develop two types of infections: symptomatic and symptomless infections. Symptoms are most obvious as yellow streaks on leaves, fruit and green stems of symptomatic trees and symptomless carrier trees do not display any such symptoms. Symptomless carrier trees are considered the primary source of disease transmission in orchards. Hence, this study investigated the impact of ASBVd-infected symptomless carrier trees on tree morphology, fruit maturity, yield and quality of ‘Hass’ avocado from 2019 until 2021. Differences were observed in the orchard between infected and healthy trees; trees with medium and high viroid concentrations excessively produced flowers, lost leaves during flowering and ultimately bore few to no fruit at the end of the season. The dry matter content results showed that ASBVd did not affect the rate of maturity of the fruit, as fruit from infected and healthy trees matured at the same time. Yield counts indicated that medium and highly infected trees produced between 83 and 96% lower yields compared to healthy trees. Postharvest studies showed that medium and highly infected fruit significantly lost firmness and coloured up more rapidly than healthy fruit. Infected, non-stored fruit also developed external rots and shrivels, however, these disorders were reduced in fruit stored at 5 °C for 28 days. Therefore, flower overbearing with the shedding of leaves and lower yields can be used as indicators of ASBVd infection in ‘Hass’ orchards but confirmation with molecular testing is required. These observations can be incorporated into an ASBD management strategy in ‘Hass’ orchards.
Defining the Angolan Highlands Water Tower, a 40 plus-year precipitation budget of the headwater catchments of the Okavango Delta
Authors: Lourenco Mauro , Woodborne Stephan
Published: June 2023

Angola is a source of many major rivers in southern Africa and is referred to as the “water tower” of the region. The lack of a defined area delineating the Angolan Highlands water tower (AHWT) limits the conservation of this important freshwater source. This study hydrologically defines the boundary of the AHWT as areas > 1274 m above mean sea level within the Central Bié Plateau of Angola. Using the Climate Hazards Group InfraRed Precipitation with Station (CHIRPS) data, this study provides a 41-year precipitation budget of the AHWT and surrounding basins. Between 1981 and 2021, the average annual precipitation over the AHWT was 1112 mm and the gross annual average precipitation volume was approximately 423 km3 over an area of 380,382 km2. The AHWT is the southern source of the Congo Basin, the western source of the Zambezi Basin, and the sole water source of the endorheic Okavango Basin and Okavango Delta, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. On average, approximately 133 km3 (92.36%) of the gross annual precipitation volume for the headwater Cuito and Cubango catchments of the Okavango River is lost before reaching the Okavango Delta. Estimates of the annual flooding of the Okavango Delta during a 35-year period (1985–2019) were correlated to precipitation in the headwater catchments. Correlation coefficients are stronger for the entire rainfall season (0.76) and early rainfall season (0.62) for the combined Cuito–Cubango catchment in comparison to late rainfall season (0.50), which suggests that the antecedent conditions (first and second flood pulse) during the early rainfall season allows for greater Okavango Delta flood inundation. The correlation coefficients between the Cubango (0.72) and Cuito (0.78) Rivers and annual flood inundation are not significantly different (P > 0.05); however, these rivers have fundamental hydrological differences that influence the functioning of the Okavango Delta. The Cubango River, described as a flushing system, has much steeper gradient, more compact and shallow soils and flows faster with significant rapids, whereas the peatland rich, absorbent, seepage-driven baseflow of the Cuito River sustains the Okavango Delta during the dry season. The dynamics of seasonal precipitation, hydrology and climate change in the AHWT have important repercussions on water budgets, food security and biodiversity throughout southern Africa, requiring continued collaboration between countries to ensure that future development is sustainable.
A comprehensive study on the influence of the scan pattern in two porosity levels and surface roughness on the fatigue behavior of laser powder bed fusion manufactured specimens made of steel H13
Authors: Zhang J. , Schumacher J. , Clausen B.
Published: June 2023

As a developing and immature technique, additive manufacturing (AM) shows some limitations: depending on material and process parameters so far, it usually results in parts with residual porosity, high residual stresses and a surface with a certain level of roughness. Due to its weaknesses and high production costs, AM is more preferably used when the fabricated parts have a high geometry complexity, the material used is very expensive, or the parts can offer additional performance. In order to allocate AM further in industry, a better understanding of the not well-investigated fatigue behavior is necessary. This work focuses on the influences of some general process parameters including laser power, scan speed, scan pattern and postmachining on the resulting fatigue properties of H13 tool steel specimens generated through powder bed fusion (PBF) technique. Results reveal that scan patterns influence fatigue properties by affecting the largest porous defect size and microstructure thus matrix strength. The degree of porosity or roughness resulting from the energy input and postmachining has a significant inferior impact on the fatigue strength. Neither porosity nor tensile properties show a single direct mathematic correlation with the fatigue properties.
Permafrost-thaw lake development in Central Yakutia: sedimentary ancient DNA and element analyses from a Holocene sediment record
Authors: Baisheva Izabella , Pestryakova Luidmila , Levina Sardana , Glückler Ramesh , Biskaborn Boris K. , Vyse Stuart A. , Heim Birgit , Herzschuh Ulrike , Stoof-Leichsenring Kathleen R.
Published: June 2023

In Central Yakutia (Siberia) livelihoods of local communities depend on alaas (thermokarst depression) landscapes and the lakes within. Development and dynamics of these alaas lakes are closely connected to climate change, permafrost thawing, catchment conditions, and land use. To reconstruct lake development throughout the Holocene we analyze sedimentary ancient DNA (sedaDNA) and biogeochemistry from a sediment core from Lake Satagay, spanning the last c. 10,800 calibrated years before present (cal yrs BP). SedaDNA of diatoms and macrophytes and microfossil diatom analysis reveal lake formation earlier than 10,700 cal yrs BP. The sedaDNA approach detected 42 amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) of diatom taxa, one ASV of Eustigmatophyceae (Nannochloropsis), and 12 ASVs of macrophytes. We relate diatom and macrophyte community changes to climate-driven shifts in water level and mineral and organic input, which result in variable water conductivity, in-lake productivity, and sediment deposition. We detect a higher lake level and water conductivity in the Early Holocene (c. 10,700–7000 cal yrs BP) compared to other periods, supported by the dominance of Stephanodiscus sp. and Stuckenia pectinata. Further climate warming towards the Mid-Holocene (7000–4700 cal yrs BP) led to a shallowing of Lake Satagay, an increase of the submerged macrophyte Ceratophyllum, and a decline of planktonic diatoms. In the Late Holocene (c. 4700 cal yrs BP–present) stable shallow water conditions are confirmed by small fragilarioid and staurosiroid diatoms dominating the lake. Lake Satagay has not yet reached the final stage of alaas development, but satellite imagery shows an intensification of anthropogenic land use, which in combination with future warming will likely result in a rapid desiccation of the lake.