bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Modulating verbal working memory with fronto‐parietal transcranial electric stimulation at theta frequency: Does it work?
Authors: Biel Anna Lena , Sterner Elisabeth , Röll Lukas , Sauseng Paul
Published: December 2021

Oscillatory theta activity in a fronto‐parietal network has been associated with working memory (WM) processes and may be directly related to WM performance. In their seminal study, Polanía et al. (2012) (de‐)coupled a fronto‐parietal theta‐network by applying transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS), and showed that anti‐phase tACS led to slower and in‐phase tACS to faster response times in a verbal WM task compared to placebo stimulation. In the literature, this ‘synchronization‐desynchronization’ effect has only been partly replicated, and electric field modelling suggests that it might not be the fronto‐parietal network that is primarily stimulated during in‐phase tACS with a shared return electrode. This provides one possible reason for inconsistency in the literature. In this study, we aimed to reproduce the findings reported by Polanía et al. (2012). We also aimed to investigate whether in‐phase theta tACS with multiple close‐by return electrodes for focal stimulation of the frontal and the parietal cortex will have at least as much of a facilitatory effect as the in‐phase stimulation as indicated by Polania et al. (2012). In a single‐trial distributional analysis, we explored whether mean, variation and right‐skewness of the response time distribution are affected. Against our hypothesis, we found no ‘synchronization‐desynchronization’ effect by fronto‐parietal theta tACS on response times using the same delayed letter discrimination task and stimulation parameters in two experiments, both between‐subjects and within‐subjects. However, we could show that in a more demanding 3‐back task, fronto‐parietal in‐phase and in‐phase focal theta tACS substantially improved task performance compared to placebo stimulation.
Hippocampal AMPA‐ and NMDA‐induced cGMP signals are mainly generated by NO‐GC2 and are under tight control by PDEs 1 and 2
Authors: Giesen Jan , Mergia Evanthia , Koesling Doris , Russwurm Michael
Published: December 2021

In the central nervous system, the nitric oxide (NO)/cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) signalling cascade has an established role in fine‐tuning of synaptic transmission. In the present study, we asked which isoform of NO‐sensitive guanylyl cyclase, NO‐GC1 or NO‐GC2, is responsible for generation of N‐methyl‐d‐aspartate (NMDA)‐ and AMPA (α‐amino‐3‐hydroxy‐5‐methyl‐4‐isoxazole propionic acid)‐induced cGMP signals and which of the phosphodiesterases (PDEs) is responsible for degradation. To this end, we performed live cell fluorescence measurements of primary hippocampal neurons isolated from NO‐GC isoform‐deficient mice. Although both isoforms contributed to the NMDA‐ and AMPA‐induced cGMP signals, NO‐GC2 clearly played the predominant role. Whereas under PDE‐inhibiting conditions the cGMP levels elicited by both glutamatergic ligands were comparable, NMDA‐induced cGMP signals were clearly higher than the AMPA‐induced ones in the absence of PDE inhibitors. Thus, AMPA‐induced cGMP signals are more tightly controlled by PDE‐mediated degradation than NMDA‐induced signals. In addition, these findings are compatible with the existence of at least two different pools of cGMP in both of which PDE1 and PDE2—known to be highly expressed in the hippocampus—are mainly responsible for cGMP degradation. The finding that distinct pools of cGMP are equipped with different amounts of PDEs highlights the importance of PDEs for the shape of NO‐induced cGMP signals in the central nervous system.
Digital technological upgrading in manufacturing global value chains: The impact of additive manufacturing
Authors: Johns Jennifer
Published: December 2021

This article contributes to the burgeoning literature on digitalization and technological upgrading in global value chains (GVCs). It focuses on the adoption of additive manufacturing (AM)—a particular type of ‘Industry 4.0’ technology—by manufacturing GVCs and its impact on process and production upgrade. Drawing on extensive qualitative research in Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States, including 54 interviews and participant observation firms, it examines the AM industry and its adoption in manufacturing firms. The findings contribute to existing understandings of technological upgrading in GVCs by differentiating between different types of actors within GVCs, focusing on produce and process upgrading in lead firms and in original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and lower‐tier suppliers. It finds that OEM and lower‐tier firms are using AM to upgrade and capture value in different ways to lead firms, with implications for relationships between actors. The paper also highlights the sectoral variation in the adoption of AM and reflects on the contemporary and future role of this digital technology in manufacturing GVCs.
The incidence of and risk factors for hospitalized acute kidney injury among people living with HIV on antiretroviral treatment
Authors: Muiru Anthony N. , Madden Erin , Chilingirian Ani , Rubinsky Anna D. , Scherzer Rebecca , Moore Richard , Villalobos Celia P. Corona , Monroy Trujillo Jose Manuel , Parikh Chirag R. , Hsu Chi‐yuan , Shlipak Michael G. , Estrella Michelle M.
Published: December 2021

Objectives

The epidemiology of hospitalized acute kidney injury (AKI) among people living with HIV (PLWH) in the era of modern antiretroviral therapy (ART) for all PLWH is not well characterized. We evaluated the incidence of and risk factors for hospitalized AKI from 2005 to 2015 among PLWH on ART.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective analysis of PLWH from the Johns Hopkins HIV Clinical Cohort. We defined hospitalized AKI as a rise of ≥ 0.3 mg/dL in serum creatinine (SCr) within any 48‐h period or a 50% increase in SCr from baseline and assessed associations of risk factors with incident AKI using multivariate Cox regression models.

Results

Most participants (75%) were black, 34% were female, and the mean age was 43 years. The incidence of AKI fluctuated annually, peaking at 40 per 1000 person‐years (PY) [95% confidence interval (CI) 22–69 per 1000 PY] in 2007, and reached a nadir of 20 per 1000 PY (95% CI 11–34 per 1000 PY) in 2010. There was no significant temporal trend (−3.3% change per year; 95% CI −8.6 to 2.3%; P = 0.24). After multivariable adjustment, characteristics independently associated with AKI included black race [hazard ratio (HR) 2.44; 95% CI 1.42–4.20], hypertension (HR 1.62; 95% CI 1.09–2.38), dipstick proteinuria > 1 (HR 1.86; 95% CI 1.07–3.23), a history of AIDS (HR 1.82; 95% CI 1.29–2.56), CD4 count < 200 cells/µL (HR 1.46; 95% CI 1.02–2.07), and lower serum albumin (HR 1.73 per 1 g/dL decrease; 95% CI 1.02–2.07).

Conclusions

In this contemporary cohort of PLWH, the annual incidence of first AKI fluctuated during the study period. Attention to modifiable AKI risk factors and social determinants of health may further reduce AKI incidence among PLWH.
Antibiotic resistance patterns of urinary pathogens in outpatients and inpatients: A report from Eastern Libya
Authors: Ismail Faisal , Haq Soghra , Aiayad Manal , Abushiba Mahmoud , Zorgani Abdulaziz
Published: December 2021

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are one of the most common infections and remain a public health problem worldwide. Incidence of UTI‐causing pathogens and their antibiotic susceptibility are varied in different regions. To examine the frequency of UTIs among inpatients and outpatients at Tobruk Medical Centre, Eastern Libya to identify the UTIs most common causative agents, and to assess their resistance patterns to the commonly used antibiotics. A laboratory registry‐based retrospective survey included 25 388 urine samples obtained from symptomatic UTIs cases that attended the Tobruk Medical Centre in the period from January 2006 to December 2018. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing and bacterial identification were done as per the microbiology lab's standard operating procedure. The frequency of UTIs and their resistance patterns were examined in inpatients and outpatients. Out of 25 388 urine samples tested, 6838 (26.9%) showed growth of pathogens indicative of positive UTI. Of these, 3827 samples (56%) belonged to the outpatient department (70.4% female, 29.6% male) and 3011 samples (44%) were from the inpatient departments (52.4% female, 47.6% male). The most prevalent uropathogen isolated from urine cultures in this study was Escherichia coli (47.8%) followed by Klebsiella spp. The frequency of E. coli and other pathogens varied among inpatients and outpatients and by patients' gender. The overall resistance rate of antibiotics ranged from 21% to 88% and was higher in inpatients compared with outpatients (p = 0.001). From the study, a higher incidence of UTIs was observed in outpatient samples but resistance rates of uropathogens to antimicrobials were observed to be higher for the urinary specimens obtained from inpatients. Continuous surveillance of antimicrobial resistance patterns and prudent use of antibiotics is an important measure for combating emerging antimicrobial resistance.
Identifying traits that enable lizard adaptation to different habitats
Authors: Lanna Flavia M. , Colli Guarino R. , Burbrink Frank T. , Carstens Bryan C.
Published: December 2021

Aim

Species adapt differently to contrasting environments, such as open habitats with sparse vegetation and forested habitats with dense forest cover. We investigated colonization patterns in the open and forested environments in the diagonal of open formations and surrounding rain forests (i.e. Amazonia and Atlantic Forest) in Brazil, tested whether the diversification rates were affected by the environmental conditions and identified traits that enabled species to persist in those environments.

Location

South America, Brazil.

Taxon

Squamata, Lizards.

Methods

We used phylogenetic information and the current distribution of species in open and forested habitats to estimate ancestral ranges and identify range shifts relative to the current habitats. To evaluate whether these environments influenced species diversification, we tested 12 models using a Hidden Geographic State Speciation and Extinction analysis. Finally, we combined phylogenetic relatedness and species traits in a machine learning framework to identify the traits permitting adaptation in those contrasting environments.

Results

We identified 41 total transitions between open and forested habitats, of which 80% were from the forested habitats to the open habitats. Widely distributed species had higher speciation, turnover, extinction, and extinction fraction rates than species in forested or open habitats, but had also the lower net diversification rate. Mean body temperature, microhabitat, female snout–vent length and diet were identified as putative traits that enabled adaptation to different environments, and phylogenetic relatedness was an important predictor of species occurrence.

Main conclusions

Transitions from forested to open habitats are most common, highlighting the importance of habitat shift in current patterns of biodiversity. The combination of phylogenetic reconstruction of ancestral distributions and the machine learning framework enables us to integrate organismal trait data, environmental data and evolutionary history in a manner that could be applied on a global scale.
Impact of chronic and recurrent dermatophytosis on quality of life and psychologic morbidity—a cross‐sectional study
Authors: Das Anupam , Sil Abheek , Fatima Farhat , Podder Indrashis , Jafferany Mohammad
Published: December 2021

Background

Chronic and recurrent dermatophytosis is adversely effecting the psychosocial well‐being of patients.

Aims

To assess the impact of chronic and recurrent dermatophytosis on quality of life and psychological well‐being of patients.

Methods

We performed a cross‐sectional study on patients of chronic and recurrent dermatophytosis aged >12 years. Clinical diagnosis was done, followed by appropriate investigations when required. The patients were made to fill up the questionnaires on Dermatology Life Quality Index, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and Perceived Stress Scale in English and local languages. The responses were coded with 4‐point Likert scale. Statistical analysis was done using MedCal®V.125.0.

Results

Data of 123 patients were analyzed. Mean DLQI score was 21.4 ± 5.6 and main domain affected was “symptoms and feelings.” CRD had an “extremely large effect” on QoL (DLQI score 21–30) in 55.3% patients. Mean HADS‐A(anxiety) score was 10.1 ± 3.6, and mean HADS‐D(depression) score of participants was 7.8 ± 3.2. Mean perceived stress scale (PSS) score was 18.8 ± 4.3. Involvement of >1 site was a risk factor for higher DLQI score suggestive of “extremely large impact” on QoL (OR 34.02,95% CI 5.7–203.2,p = 0.0001), higher/worsened HADS‐A score (OR 5.4, 95% CI 1.2–22.9, p = 0.02), and higher/worsened PSS score (OR 6.1, 95% CI 1.1–34.1, p = 0.04). Persistent disease >1 year (OR 11.5, 95% CI 1.9–67.8, p = 0.007) and male gender (OR 0.3, 95% CI 0.1–0.8, p = 0.01) were significant risk factors for anxiety while BSA involvement >10% was a significant risk factor for moderate to severe perceived stress(OR 13.9, 95% CI 1.5–130.7, p = 0.02).

Conclusion

Chronic and recurrent dermatophytosis requires a multidisciplinary approach involving psychiatrists, to reduce the psychological burden.
How nurses and midwives engage with patient experience data to inform person‐centred quality and safety improvements
Authors: Radbron Emma , Middleton Rebekkah , Wilson Valerie , McCance Tanya
Published: December 2021

Aims and Objectives

To explore how nurses and midwives engage with patient experience data collected via a mobile health app to inform person‐centred practice improvements.

Background

A large amount of data is collected in healthcare, yet there is limited evidence outlining how nursing and midwifery staff utilise patient experience data to inform person‐centred quality and safety improvements.

Methods

This study utilised action research, underpinned by Practice Development methodology and has been reported using the SQUIRE 2.0 checklist. Six clinical units (medical short stay, acute medical, surgical, oncology/haematology, day surgery and maternity) in a large health district in Australia engaged in three cycles of data collection using a mobile health app. The app captured patient experience data relating to the person‐centred KPIs developed and tested by McCance et al. (2012). Staff used the data to develop and evaluate person‐centred practice.

Results

A number of improvements in scores and practice occurred through engaging with the data in a cyclical way. All six clinical units saw an improvement in four or more of the KPIs in the patient survey results from cycle one to cycle three, with two clinical units improving in all eight. On average across the six units, there was also an increase in time nurses/midwives were visible to their patients, an increase in clinical documentation reflecting the patients’ needs and what was important to them, an increase in positive comments and a decrease in negative comments in patient stories.

Conclusion

This study shows that collecting and utilising data from the person‐centred KPIs in a collaborative and cyclical way lead to enhanced patient experience and the development and implementation of person‐centred quality and safety improvements.

Relevance to clinical practice

Capturing and utilising data that are meaningful to nursing/midwifery teams in a cyclical, action‐orientated approach result in person‐centred practice improvements that enhance the experience of those that are receiving and delivering patient care.
A comparative study of condyle position in temporomandibular disorder patients with chewing side preference using cone‐beam computed tomography
Authors: Ma Junli , Wang Jiazhu , Huang Dongzong , Wang Zhaowu , Hu Min , Liu Hongchen , Jiang Hua
Published: December 2021

Background

Chewing side preference (CSP) could cause structural and morphological changes of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and has been suggested as one aetiology of temporomandibular disorders (TMDs), but the condylar position in TMD patients with CSP is unknown.

Objective

To compare the condylar position in the TMD patients with and without CSP.

Methods

Ninety TMD patients with unilateral symptom (69 with CSP and 21 without CSP) and 20 asymptomatic participants received cone‐beam computed tomography. The condylar position was determined based on the measurements of sagittal joint spaces. Intergroup and intra‐group comparisons of the condylar position were performed.

Results

The condyles in asymptomatic participants located nearly randomly in anterior, centric and posterior positions. Patients without CSP had significantly more posterior condyles than asymptomatic participants (57.1% vs 30.0%, p < 0.05). In patients with CSP, 50.7% of the condyles on the preferred chewing side and 42.0% on the unpreferred side located posteriorly, reaching no significant level compared with the asymptomatic participants and patients without CSP (p > 0.05). The symptomatic joints and asymptomatic joints in patients with CSP and without CSP showed no significant differences in condylar position. While patients without CSP had significantly more posterior condyles in symptomatic joints than asymptomatic participants (p < 0.05), patients with CSP showed a trend towards more posterior condyles in symptomatic joints compared with the asymptomatic participants (53.6% vs 30.0%, p = 0.054).

Conclusion

Condylar position is not a strong indicator to differentiate CSP‐related TMDs from non‐CSP‐related TMDs. Posterior condyle could not be viewed as one indicator of TMD.
Approaching the Causes of Unintentional Injuries in the School Environment: A Panel Analysis of Survey Data From Germany
Authors: Stadtmüller Sven , Klocke Andreas , Giersiefen Andrea , Lipp Robert , Wacker Christina
Published: December 2021

BACKGROUND

Previous research on the correlates of unintentional school injuries is based on either process or cross‐sectional data. This study aims at approaching the causal effects of risk‐seeking behavior, mental health problems, physical activity, and exposure to bullying on unintentional injuries in the school environment by relying on longitudinal survey data.

METHODS

The data comes from a German panel survey, including more than 10,000 students. We estimate fixed‐effects regression models that only take into account the variation within participants and are therefore most suitable for establishing causal inferences.

RESULTS

We find an increase in risk‐seeking behavior on the individual level to yield an increase in students' likelihood to suffer injuries during physical education and on the schoolyard or in the school building. The same holds true for an increase in mental health problems. Finally, students who expand their degree of physical activity in club sports also show a higher risk of unintentional injuries.

CONCLUSIONS

Interventions aimed at reducing too risky behavior and mental health problems may help prevent unintentional injuries in the school environment. Since students who increase their activities in club sports are also more prone to school injuries, preventive efforts should include this group of adolescents as well.
Design thinking: Critical analysis and future evolution
Authors: Verganti Roberto , Dell’Era Claudio , Swan Kenneth Scott
Published: December 2021

The importance of design as a source of value creation has been studied for decades. In the late 90s, however, a specific approach in the practice of design achieved a rapid diffusion across organizations: Design Thinking. This is a formal method for creative problem solving characterized by user‐centeredness, ideation, and iterative prototyping. The rapid diffusion of Design Thinking in practice has not been coupled with similarly rapid and robust development of its theoretical underpinnings. Most contributions have been inward‐oriented toward a confined community of scholars; therefore, the scientific discourse on Design Thinking has unfolded in a vacuum—often independently from other innovation management theories. The consequence has been that Design Thinking is often confused (especially among those new to the field) with the entire practice of design. Subsequently, we still lack an understanding on whether, why, and when Design Thinking contributes to innovation. In this editorial, we discuss the journey to the Special Issue “Design Thinking and Innovation Management: Matches, Mismatches and Future Avenues” that intends to critically reflect and enrich the scientific debate around Design Thinking. First, we aim at clarifying the distinction between “design” and “Design Thinking.” The former is a practice, to be studied; the latter is a paradigm, that is, a set of specific principles, methods, and tools to practice design. Second, we offer a brief overview of the community that has been investigating Design Thinking, a synthesis of the ten papers included in the Special Issue (distributed across this and the next issue), and show how they contribute to close the theoretical and empirical gaps with innovation studies. Finally, we suggest that the paradigm of Design Thinking is significantly contingent: its diffusion and success have been favored by the emergence of specific contextual conditions (substantially by the ubiquitous diffusion of digital technologies in direct interaction with users). As the context is dramatically shifting again, we wonder whether Design Thinking will keep its relevance and ability to support organizations in addressing the new challenges ahead? We address this question with the support of a contingent framework to position several design paradigms and suggest that the context ahead, where problems have multiple stakeholders and are undefined, will require the emergence of new paradigms characterized by a systemic (rather than user‐centered) and reflective (rather than ideative) practice. We therefore propose a few research questions that will hopefully encourage and shape future scholarly efforts into the study of the design practice for innovation in organizations.
Usefulness of cardiac biomarker screening to detect dilated cardiomyopathy in Dobermanns
Authors: Dukes‐McEwan J. , Garven K. E. , Lopez Alvarez J. , Oliveira P. , Motskula P. F. , Willis R.
Published: December 2021

Objectives

To assess the diagnostic accuracy of two cardiac biomarker assays (N‐terminal pro‐BNP , Troponin I) in detecting dilated cardiomyopathy in Dobermanns.

Materials and Methods

Dobermanns undergoing cardiac biomarker testing were screened by echocardiography and Holter monitoring, then assigned to a group: normal, equivocal, arrhythmia form of dilated cardiomyopathy, echocardiographic form of dilated cardiomyopathy or both. Some were reassessed to identify final status. Initial cardiac biomarker results were compared to final status. Receiver operating characteristic curves were used to identify area under the curve and corresponding sensitivity (Se), specificity (Sp) for different cut‐offs (CO) for each cardiac biomarker.

Results

A total of 118 Dobermanns with cardiac biomarker data had echocardiography/Holter assessment. Repeat assessment was carried out in 47 Dobermanns after 394.5 ±151.0 days. Seventeen dogs changed group between initial and final status. The final status of 59 was normal, nine were equivocal and 50 had dilated cardiomyopathy (prevalence 42.4%). Of the dilated cardiomyopathy group, 25 had dilated cardiomyopathy‐both, 13 dilated cardiomyopathy‐echocardiography and 12 dilated cardiomyopathy‐Holter. Receiver operating characteristic area under the curve=0.807 for N‐terminal proBNP (Se 0.69 and Sp 0.81) and 0.873 for high‐sensitivity cardiac Troponin I (Se 0.77 and Sp 0.86). When both Se and Sp were optimised for all forms of dilated cardiomyopathy, N‐terminal proBNP cut‐off was 626 pmol/L (Se and Sp 0.79) and high‐sensitivity cardiac Troponin I cut‐off was 0.056 ng/mL (Se and Sp 0.84). Receiver operating characteristic area under the curve was higher for dilated cardiomyopathy‐echocardiography (NT‐proBNP 0.883; high‐sensitivity cardiac Troponin I 0.907) than dilated cardiomyopathy‐Holter.

Clinical Significance

Cardiac biomarker screening may be useful to select Dobermanns which would benefit from further assessment by echocardiography and Holter.
Does race matter? An examination of defendant race on legal decision making in the context of actuarial violence risk assessments
Authors: Davis Riley M. , Batastini Ashley B. , Sacco Donald , Dahlen Eric R. , Jones Ashley C. T.
Published: December 2021

Purpose

There is no doubt that racial biases contribute to the overrepresentation of people of colour in the justice system. Specialized violence risk tools are meant to increase the objectivity with which certain legal decisions are made. However, the degree to which racial biases influence risk‐related decisions remains unclear despite the use of these tools.

Methods

This study examined whether a hypothetical defendant's race would influence the risk‐related perceptions and decisions of 280 jury‐eligible participants in the United States when presented with expert opinions concerning the defendant's likelihood of future violence. Participants were randomly assigned to one of three conditions that varied the identified race of the defendant (i.e., Black, White, or not reported).

Results

Participants reported their perceptions about the defendant's likelihood of violence, desired social distance from the defendant, and the severity of punishment they would recommend. Contrary to hypotheses, there were no statistically significant effects of defendant race on risk decisions, suggesting that expert testimony may have mitigated the influence of race. However participants higher in explicit racial bias were more likely to perceive a Black defendant as higher risk; no association between racial attitudes and risk perception emerged in the other defendant conditions.

Conclusions

Limitations and future directions for research, including methods for increasing external validity, assessing impression management, and diversifying demographics, are discussed. In the current socio‐political climate, it is imperative that forensic psychological research continue to explore the ways in which racial biases may lead to inequitable psycho‐legal decisions.
The new therapeutic option for female stress and stress‐predominant mixed urinary incontinence: Periurethral hypertonic saline (10%) injection
Authors: Tahtali Ibrahim Nuvit , Yildiz Turan , Dincer Muhammed Murat
Published: December 2021

Objectives

We aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of periurethral hypertonic saline (10% NaCl) injection in the treatment of stress urinary incontinence (SUI) and stress‐predominant mixed urinary incontinence (S‐MUI) in women.

Methods

This was a prospective study conducted between January 2014 and April 2018 with 64 women (44 SUI and 21 S‐MUI). Patients with SUI and S‐MUI were evaluated using the Urinary Distress Inventory 6. Quality of life was evaluated with the Incontinence Quality of Life Scale and lower urinary tract symptoms of the women were evaluated with the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire Female Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms Modules. Incontinence status and treatment success were assessed via the Stamey incontinence grade and pad test.

Results

The subjective success rate was 58.5%, and the objective success rate was 81.5%. The rate of reinjection was 21.5%, and the mean duration of reinjection was 8.92 months (3‐19 months). Minor adverse effects were observed in 30.4% of the 79 injections. International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire Female Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms Modules and Incontinence Quality of Life Scale scores improved remarkably starting from the first month. Urinary Distress Inventory 6 scores in the S‐MUI group also improved.

Conclusions

The results indicate that hypertonic saline injection is an effective and safe method in the treatment of SUI and S‐MUI. Since hypertonic saline is a much cheaper and more accessible substance compared to bulking agents, it seems to be a viable alternative for urinary incontinence treatment in women.
Restoring Rotation Center in Total Hip Arthroplasty for Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip with the Assistance of Three Dimensional Printing Technology: A Pilot Study
Authors: Zhang Heng , Guan Jian‐zhong , Zhang Zheng , Chen Xiao‐tian , Ma Xiao‐dong , Zhao Jian‐ning , Zhou Jian‐sheng
Published: December 2021

Objective

To develop a new method to restore hip rotation center exactly and rapidly in total hip arthroplasty (THA) with the assistance of three dimensional (3D) printing technology and evaluate its clinical and radiological outcomes.

Methods

From March 2014 to July 2018, a total of 17 patients (five hips of four men and 16 hips of 13 women) with end‐stage osteoarthritis secondary to developmental dysplasia of the hip who underwent THA were analyzed and followed up retrospectively. The average age is 58.00 ± 8.12 years (range from 45 to 71 years). Simulated operations were performed on 3D printed hip models for preoperative planning. The morphology of Harris fossa and acetabular notches were recognized and restored to locate the acetabular center. The size of bone defect was measured by the bone wax method. The agreement on the size of acetabular cup and bone defect between simulated operations and actual operations were analyzed. Harris Hip Score (HHS) was used to evaluate the recovery of hip joint function. The vertical distance and horizontal distance of the rotation center on the pelvis plain radiograph were measured, which were used to assess the efficacy of restoring hip rotation center and acetabular cup migration.

Results

The mean sizes of bone defect in simulated operations and THA were 4.58 ± 2.47 cm2 and 4.55 ± 2.57 cm2 respectively. There was no significant difference statistically between the sizes of bone defect in simulated operations and the actual sizes of bone defect in THA (t = 0.03, P = 0.97). The sizes of the acetabular cup of simulated operations on 3D print models showed a high rate of coincidence with the actual sizes in the operations (ICC = 0.93). All 17 patients were available for clinical and radiological follow‐up. The average follow‐up time was 18.35 ± 6.86 months (range, 12–36 months. The average HHS of the patients was improved from (38.33 ± 6.07) preoperatively to the last follow‐up (88.61 ± 3.44) postoperatively. The mean vertical and horizontal distances of hip rotation center on the pelvic radiographs were restored to 15.12 ± 1.25 mm and 32.49 ± 2.83 mm respectively. No case presented dislocation or radiological signs of loosening until last follow‐up.

Conclusions

The application of 3D printing technology facilitates orthopedists to recognize the morphology of Harris fossa and acetabular notches, locate the acetabular center and restore the hip rotation center rapidly and accurately.
Effect of IL‐35 on apoptosis, adhesion, migration, and activation of eosinophils in allergic rhinitis
Authors: Zeng Qingxiang , Zeng Yinhui , Tang Yiquan , Liu Wenlong , Sun Changzhi
Published: December 2021

Background

Eosinophils play critical roles in the development of allergic rhinitis (AR) by releasing toxic substance. Interleukin‐35 (IL‐35), a newly identified anti‐inflammatory cytokine, had potent inhibitive role for eosinophil infiltration in allergic disease. However, the direct effect of IL‐35 on eosinophil was not clear.

Methods

Twenty AR children and sixteen controls were recruited. The correlation between IL‐35 protein expression and blood eosinophil counts and activation was analyzed. The effect of IL‐35 on eosinophil apoptosis and adhesion was analyzed by flow cytometry. Transwell system was used for the migration assay. The eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) from supernatant of eosinophils after IL‐35 stimulation was detected by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay kits.

Results

The IL‐35 protein levels were negatively correlated with eosinophil counts (p < .01) and ECP concentration (p < .01) in AR children. IL‐35 promotes apoptosis and inhibits adhesion, migration, and activation of eosinophils. Moreover, the mRNA expression of IL‐12 receptor β2 and glycoprotein 130 were significantly enhanced by eosinophils after IL‐35 stimulation. The apoptosis induced by IL‐35 was mediated by phosphoinositide 3‐kinase (PI3K) pathway. IL‐35 inhibits adhesion of eosinophils through extracellular regulated protein kinases (ERK) and PI3K pathways. The eosinophil chemotaxis and activation affected by IL‐35 were mediated by PI3K and p38 mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways.

Conclusion

Our results confirmed that IL‐35 played inhibitive roles in apoptosis, adhesion, migration, and activation of eosinophils in AR, implying that IL‐35 may be used as treatment target in future.
BGvar: A comprehensive resource for blood group immunogenetics
Authors: Rophina Mercy , Pandhare Kavita , Jadhao Sudhir , Nagaraj Shivashankar H. , Scaria Vinod
Published: December 2021

Background

Blood groups form the basis of effective and safe blood transfusion. There are about 43 well‐recognised human blood group systems presently known. Blood groups are molecularly determined by the presence of specific antigens on the red blood cells and are genetically determined and inherited following Mendelian principles. The lack of a comprehensive, relevant, manually compiled and genome‐ready dataset of red cell antigens limited the widespread application of genomic technologies to characterise and interpret the blood group complement of an individual from genomic datasets.

Materials and Methods

A range of public datasets was used to systematically annotate the variation compendium for its functionality and allele frequencies across global populations. Details on phenotype or relevant clinical importance were collated from reported literature evidence.

Results

We have compiled the Blood Group Associated Genomic Variant Resource (BGvar), a manually curated online resource comprising all known human blood group related allelic variants including a total of 1700 International Society of Blood Transfusion approved alleles and 1706 alleles predicted and curated from literature reports. This repository includes 1682 single nucleotide variations (SNVs), 310 Insertions, Deletions (InDels) and Duplications (Copy Number Variations) and about 1360 combination mutations corresponding to 43 human blood group systems and 2 transcription factors. This compendium also encompasses gene fusion and rearrangement events occurring in human blood group genes.

Conclusion

To the best of our knowledge, BGvar is a comprehensive and a user‐friendly resource with most relevant collation of blood group alleles in humans. BGvar is accessible online at URL: http://clingen.igib.res.in/bgvar/
Short‐term high‐dose intravenous iron reduced peri‐operative transfusion after staggered bilateral total knee arthroplasty: A retrospective cohort study
Authors: Park Hee‐Sun , Bin Seong‐Il , Kim Ha‐Jung , Kim Tae‐Yop , Kim Jiyoung , Kim Hyungtae , Ro Youngjin , Koh Won Uk
Published: December 2021

Background and Objectives

Staggered bilateral total knee arthroplasty, two procedures performed 4–7 days apart during a single hospitalization, has an increased risk of blood transfusion. This observational study aimed to evaluate whether immediate post‐operative single, high‐dose intravenous iron supplementation could reduce transfusion requirements and facilitate anaemia recovery in patients.

Materials and Methods

We retrospectively analysed 131 patients who underwent staggered bilateral total knee arthroplasty. The ferric carboxymaltose (FCM) group received 1000 mg of FCM after the first operation. The non‐FCM group did not receive intravenous iron. The transfusion rate and post‐operative complications were compared between the groups. The anaemia rate was evaluated pre‐operatively, during hospitalization, and 5 weeks after the second total knee arthroplasty.

Results

The FCM group comprised 78 patients (59.5%). The rate (21.8% vs. 47.2%, p = 0.004) and amount of transfusion (0 [0–2] vs. 0 [0–0], p = 0.001) was significantly lower in the FCM group than in the non‐FCM group. Although both groups' pre‐operative haemoglobin concentrations were not significantly different, the FCM group demonstrated higher haemoglobin values 5 weeks post surgery (12.25 ± 0.83 mg/dl vs. 11.48 ± 1.36 mg/dl, p < 0.001). More non‐FCM patients developed moderate to severe anaemia at 5 weeks post surgery (p < 0.001). The mortality and complication rates were not significantly different.

Conclusions

Immediate post‐operative, high‐dose, intravenous iron treatment may contribute to reduced transfusion rates, facilitate haemoglobin recovery after staggered bilateral total knee arthroplasty, and minimize the development of moderate to severe anaemia.
Identification of the circ_PRKDC/miR‐20a‐3p/RASA1 axis in regulating HaCaT keratinocyte migration
Authors: Jiang Li‐na , Ji Xiaohui , Liu Wei , Qi Chuanchuan , Zhai Xiaomei
Published: December 2021

Migration of keratinocytes plays a crucial role in the re‐epithelialization phase during wound healing. Circular RNA (circRNA) protein kinase, DNA‐activated, catalytic subunit (circ_PRKDC, hsa_circ_0084443) has been identified as a regulator of keratinocyte migration. However, the molecular basis governing it remains unclear. The levels of circ_PRKDC, microRNA (miR)‐20a‐3p, and RAS p21 protein activator 1 (RASA1) were assessed by quantitative real‐time PCR (qRT‐PCR) or western blot. Subcellular localization, Actinomycin D, and Ribonuclease (RNase) R assays were performed to characterise circ_PRKDC. Cell migration was gauged by transwell and wound‐healing assays. A direct relationship between miR‐20a‐3p and circ_PRKDC or RASA1 was verified by dual‐luciferase reporter and RNA pull‐down assays. Circ_PRKDC expression was reduced in wound skin during wound healing. Circ_PRKDC modulated migration of HaCaT keratinocytes. Mechanistically, circ_PRKDC directly targeted miR‐20a‐3p. The regulation of circ_PRKDC on HaCaT keratinocyte migration was mediated by miR‐20a‐3p. RASA1 was identified as a direct and functional target of miR‐20a‐3p, and miR‐20a‐3p‐mediated inhibition of RASA1 impacted HaCaT keratinocyte migration. Circ_PRKDC acted as a post‐transcriptional modulator of RASA1 expression through miR‐20a‐3p. Moreover, circ_PRKDC modulated migration of HaCaT keratinocytes by RASA1. Our findings demonstrated a novel molecular basis, the miR‐20a‐3p/RASA1 axis, for the regulation of circ_PRKDC on HaCaT keratinocyte migration.
A Model-Based FDD Approach for an EHA Using Updated Interactive Multiple Model SVSF
Authors: Saeedzadeh Ahsan , Habibi Saeid , Alavi Marjan
Published: December 2021

Ubiquitous applications, especially in harsh environments and with strict safety requirements, make Fault Detection and Diagnosis (FDD) in hydraulic actuators an imperative concern for the industry. Model-based FDD uses estimation strategies, including observers and filters as estimation tools. In these methods, observability is a limiting factor in information extraction and parameter estimation for most applications such as in fluid power systems. To address the observability problem, adaptive strategies like Interactive Multiple Model (IMM) estimation have proven to be effective. In this paper a computationally efficient form of IMM referred to as the Updated IMM (UIMM) is used and applied to an Electro-Hydrostatic Actuator (EHA) for FDD. The UIMM is suited to fault conditions that are irreversible, meaning that if a fault happens it will persist in the system. In essence the UIMM follows through a progression of models that in line with the progression of the fault condition in lieu of having all models being considered at the same time (as is the case for IMM). Hence, UIMM significantly reduces the number of models running in parallel and at the same time. This has two major advantages which are higher computational efficiency and avoiding combinatorial explosion. The state and parameters estimation strategies that is used in conjunction with UIMM is the Variable Boundary Layer Smooth Variable Structure Filter (VBL-SVSF). The VBL SVSF is a robust optimal estimation strategy that is more stable than the Kalman Filter in relation to system and modeling uncertainties. The UIMM method is validated by simulation of fault conditions on an EHA.
Blade Control for Surface Profile Tracking by Heavy-Duty Bulldozers
Authors: Mononen Teemu , Mattila Jouni , Kolu Antti
Published: December 2021

The bulldozer is a heavy-duty earthmoving machine used in ground surface profiling and soil manipulation. Tracking the desired surface gradients with the hydraulically actuated manipulator while compensating for the mobile base motion is important in high-performance surface grading and traction control. In this paper, we present an approach for surface elevation tracking control for earthmoving work done by bulldozers using inertial measurement units (IMUs) and roof mounted global navigation satellite system (GNSS) antennas. We use mapping between the desired surface profile and hydraulic actuator velocities using the elevation surface and its gradient, the mobile manipulator Jacobian, and mobile base pose estimation by the extended Kalman filter (EKF) framework. With the proposed method, a relatively simple low-level actuator space control scheme can produce sufficient accuracy in varying elevation requirements besides leveling work. In an experimental setup, flat and uneven surface profiles were followed with average errors below 2 cm computed using kinematics. An external GNSS survey gave a coarse verification of the actual surface profile, showing average errors below 4 cm. This paper demonstrates a blade controller on a heavy-duty tracked vehicle with high manipulator inertia, hydraulic dynamics, and body vibrations. The experimental results validate the efficacy of the proposed method, also revealing the needs for further development.
Analysis of Cavitation Characteristics of High Temperature Fuel Piston Pump in the Process of Suction and Discharge
Authors: Wang Tianzhao , Jiao Hongyi , Ma Xingjia , Ouyang Xiaoping , Zhang Heran
Published: December 2021

The fuel piston pump is the core power component of the aircraft engine fuel control system. The key technology of improving the reliability of the pump is the suppressing of the cavitation at the interface between the valve plate and the cylinder block. This article aims to solve the problem of cavitation caused by high temperature in the process of suction and discharge. The theoretical model of cavitation related to the interface is established. The influence of different working conditions and valve plate structures are considered, and the performance such as gas volume fraction and pulsation are analyzed separately. A new valve plate with combined damping groove is proposed. A hydraulic system test rig to verify the performance of the pump is built. In summary, the results of simulation and test show that the new combined damping groove effectively suppress the cavitation at the interface under high temperature. The non-cavitation time of the fuel piston pump is extended from 20h to 450h, which significantly improves its reliability.
Pressure Loss and Multi-Objective Optimization of Three-Way Spatial Flow Channel Based on Additive Manufacturing
Authors: Yao Jing , Duan Yiman , Song Yingzhe , Zhang Hao , Li Mandi , Zhang Jianqi
Published: December 2021

Three-way spatial fluid channel (TSFC) is commonly used in spatial fluid channels of the high hydraulic integrated system. However, the mathematic model of TSFC pressure loss is not clear, and what TSFC structural parameters in a certain space can get the minimum pressure loss and weight is also vague. Therefore, TSFC pressure loss mathematic model and multi-objective optimization about pressure loss, axis path length, and mass are studied in this paper. First, the mathematic model of TSFC pressure loss is established based on the response surface methodology and pressure loss models of fluid dynamics. Then, the optimized mathematic model for the TSFC structural parameters is built by the multi-objective optimization design method to achieve low pressure loss, short axis path length, and lightweight. According to the simulation, the results of optimized structure model show that the mass has been reduced 5.68%, and the pressure loss has been reduced 70.75% compared with the original model. Besides, the optimized TSFC structure model is manufactured by additive manufacturing, and the experiment is carried out to measure TSFC pressure loss. It shows that the error of pressure loss between the mathematic model and the experiment is only 1.6%, which verifies the accuracy of mathematic model of the pressure loss. This research lays a foundation for the design and optimization of the spatial flow channel in highly integrated hydraulic systems.
Real-Time Flow Optimization of Hydraulic Manipulator with One Degree of Redundancy Considering Joint Limit Constraint
Authors: Li Linan , Cheng Min , Ding Ruqi , Zhang Junhui , Xu Bing
Published: December 2021

Due to the complexity in unstructured environments (e.g., rescue response and forestry logging), more hydraulic manipulators are equipped with one redundant joint to improve their motion flexibility. In addition to considering joint limit constraint and maneuverability optimization like electrically driven manipulators, hydraulic manipulators can optimize flow consumption consider flow optimization aiming at energy saving and flow anti-saturation for redundancy resolution, since multiple joints are supplied by one pump. Therefore, this paper proposes a redundancy resolution method combining the gradient projection method with a weighted Jacobian matrix (GPM-WJM) for real-time flow optimization of the hydraulic manipulator with one degree of redundancy considering joint limit constraint. Its solution consists of two parts: a special solution (the weighted least-norm solution) and a general solution (the projection of the optimization index in the null space of the weighted task Jacobian matrix). Simulations are carried out to verify its effectiveness. The simulation result shows that GPM-WJM can meet the constraints of joint limit without affecting the tool center point (TCP) trajectory and utilize the remaining redundancy to optimize the flow consumption and manipulability in real-time, which can reduce average system flow by 10.45%. Compared with the gradient projection method (GPM) for flow optimization, GPM-WJM can reduce the maximum acceleration when avoiding the joint limits by 80% at the cost of slightly weakening the flow optimization effect, which is beneficial to improve the accuracy of the manipulator in practice.
Real-Time Simulation of Fluid Power Systems
Authors: Liermann Matthias , Feller Christian , Lindinger Florian
Published: December 2021

System-simulations involving fluid-power structures often result in numerically stiff model equations which may require prohibitively small simulation time steps when being tackled with a fixed-step solver. This poses a challenge in situations where real-time performance is required. This paper presents a practical rule-of-thumb to estimate the maximum permissible step-size for a given fluid power system and explains the influence of the relevant physical quantities on the step size requirement in simple terms. A categorization of methods suitable to relax the step-size requirement is proposed. Many research papers have been produced about methods and examples of how to improve real-time performance of fluid power systems, or stiff systems in general. The proposed categorization can be seen as a map for the simulation engineer to understand the basic point-of-attacks for the real-time simulation problem.