bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sterile inflammation drives multiple programmed cell death pathways in the gut
Authors: Ruera Carolina N , Miculán Emanuel , Pérez Federico , Ducca Gerónimo , Carasi Paula , Chirdo Fernando G
Published: September 2020

Intestinal epithelial cells have a rapid turnover, being rapidly renewed by newly differentiated enterocytes, balanced by massive and constant removal of damaged cells by programmed cell death (PCD). The main forms of PCD are apoptosis, pyroptosis, and necroptosis, with apoptosis being a noninflammatory process, whereas the others drive innate immune responses. Although apoptosis is thought to be the principal means of cell death in the healthy intestine, which mechanisms are responsible for PCD during inflammation are not fully understood. To address this question, we used an in vivo model of enteropathy in wild-type mice induced by a single intragastric administration of the p31-43 gliadin peptide, which is known to elicit transient MyD88, NLRP3, and caspase-1-dependent mucosal damage and inflammation in the small intestine. Here, we found increased numbers of TUNEL+ cells in the mucosa as early as 2 h after p31-43 administration. Western blot and immunofluorescence analysis showed the presence of caspase-3-mediated apoptosis in the epithelium and lamina propria. In addition, the presence of mature forms of caspase-1, IL-1β, and gasdermin D showed activation of pyroptosis and inhibition of caspase-1 led to decreased enterocyte death in p31-43-treated mice. There was also up-regulation of RIPK3 in crypt epithelium, suggesting that necroptosis was also occurring. Taken together, these results indicate that the inflammatory response induced by p31-43 can drive multiple PCD pathways in the small intestine.
Efficacy of tocilizumab in COVID‐19: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Aziz Muhammad , Haghbin Hossein , Abu Sitta Emad , Nawras Yusuf , Fatima Rawish , Sharma Sachit , Lee‐Smith Wade , Duggan Joan , Kammeyer Joel A. , Hanrahan Jennifer , Assaly Ragheb
Published: September 2020

The efficacy of tocilizumab (TOC), monoclonal antibody against interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) receptor, in patients with coronavirus disease‐2019 (COVID‐19) patients has led to conflicting results. We performed a systematic review and meta‐analysis to compare the efficacy of addition of TOC to standard of care (SOC) versus SOC in patients with COVID‐19. We performed a comprehensive literature search of PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, WHO COVID, LitCOVID, and Cochrane databases. Pooled outcomes (overall mortality, need for mechanical ventilation, intensive care unit admission, and secondary infections) were compared using DerSimonian‐Laird/Random‐effects approach. Risk difference (RD), confidence interval (CI), and p values were generated. A total of 23 studies with 6279 patients (1897 in TOC and 4382 in SOC group, respectively) were included. The overall mortality was lower in TOC group compared to SOC group (RD: −0.06; CI: −0.12 to −0.01; p = .03). Subgroup analysis including studies with only severe cases revealed lower mortality (RD: −0.12; CI: −0.18 to −0.06; p < .01) and need for mechanical ventilation (RD: −0.11; CI: −0.19 to −0.02; p = .01) in TOC group compared to SOC group. The addition of TOC to SOC has the potential to reduce mortality and need for mechanical ventilation in patients with severe COVID‐19. Randomized controlled trials are needed to validate this.
Clinical laboratory characteristics in patients with suspected COVID‐19: One single‐institution experience
Authors: Fei Fei , Smith John A. , Cao Liyun
Published: September 2020

Objectives

Since December 2019, the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) has become a worldwide pandemic. The aim of the study is to investigate the demographic, clinical, and laboratory characteristics in suspected COVID‐19 patients in our institution.

Methods

In this retrospective study, we investigated suspected COVID‐19 patients admitted to the University of Alabama at Birmingham with a request for an interleukin‐6 send‐out test, from March 28 to June 27, 2020. Patients' demographic, clinical, and laboratory characteristics were collected by chart review.

Results

Fifty patients suspected with COVID‐19 were included in our study, of whom 24 patients were positive with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus‐2 infection and 26 were negative. During the observation period, 30 patients were discharged, 17 died during hospitalization, and three remained in hospital. Compared to non‐COVID‐19 patients, COVID‐19 patients had older age, more comorbidities, and elevated levels of inflammation markers such as erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C‐reactive protein (CRP), serum ferritin, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). However, there was no significant difference in laboratory data between survivors and nonsurvivors in COVID‐19 patients in our study.

Conclusion

This study indicated that potential risk factors of older age, multiple comorbidities, and high levels of ESR, CRP, serum ferritin, and LDH could help the clinician to identify potential COVID‐19 patients. However, this data needs to be further validated in a larger population.
Micro‐Raman study of crichtonite group minerals enclosed into mantle garnet
Authors: Alifirova Taisia , Rezvukhin Dmitriy , Nikolenko Evgeny , Pokhilenko Lyudmila , Zelenovskiy Pavel , Sharygin Igor , Korsakov Andrey , Shur Vladimir
Published: September 2020

We report the first comprehensive micro‐Raman study of crichtonite group minerals (CGM) as inclusions in pyropic garnet grains from peridotite and pyroxenite mantle xenoliths of the Yakutian kimberlites as well as in garnet xenocrysts from the Aldan shield lamprophyres (Russia). The CGM form (i) morphologically oriented needles, lamellae, and short prisms and (ii) optically unoriented subhedral to euhedral grains, either single or intergrown with other minerals. We considered common mantle‐derived CGM species (like loveringite, lindsleyite, and their analogues), with Ca, Ba, or Sr dominating in the dodecahedral A site and Zr or Fe in the octahedral B site. The Raman bands at the region of 600–830 cm−1are indicative of CGM and their crystal‐chemical distinction, although the intensity and shape of the bands appear to be dependent on laser beam power and wavelength. The factor‐group analysis based on the loveringite crystal structure showed the octahedral and tetrahedral cation groups with 18fand 6cWyckoff positions, namely, dominantlyTiO6and to a lower extentCrO6,MgO4, andFeO4groups, to be the major contributors to the Raman spectral features. The ionic groups with dodecahedral (M0) and octahedral (M1) coordination are inactive for Raman scattering while active in infrared absorption. A number of observed Raman modes in the CGM spectra are several times lower than that predicted by the factor group analysis. The noticed broadening of modes in the CGM Raman spectra may result from a combining of bands at the narrow frequency shift regions. Solid solution behavior, luminescence, and partial metamictization of the CGM may exert additional influence on the Raman band shape. The Raman spectral features showed CGM to be accurately identified and distinguished from other Ti‐, Fe‐, Cr‐, and Zr‐containing oxides (e.g., ilmenite or those of spinel and magnetoplumbite groups) occurring as accessory mantle minerals.
Detection of a multi‐disease biomarker in saliva with graphene field effect transistors
Authors: Kumar Narendra , Gray Mason , Ortiz‐Marquez Juan C. , Weber Andrew , Desmond Cameron R. , Argun Avni , van Opijnen Tim , Burch Kenneth S.
Published: September 2020

Human carbonic anhydrase 1 (CA1) has been suggested as a biomarker for identification of several diseases including cancers, pancreatitis, diabetes and Sjogren's syndrome. However, the lack of a rapid, cheap, accurate and easy‐to‐use quantification technique has prevented widespread utilization of CA1 for practical clinical applications. To this end, we present a label‐free electronic biosensor for detection of CA1 utilizing highly sensitive graphene field effect transistors (G‐FETs) as a transducer and specific RNA aptamers as a probe. The binding of CA1 with aptamers resulted in a positive shift in Dirac voltage VD of the G‐FETs, the magnitude of which depended on target concentration. These aptameric G‐FET biosensors showed the binding affinity (KD) of ~2.3 ng/ml (70 pM), which is four orders lower than that reported using a gel shift assay. This lower value of KD enabled us to achieve a detection range (10 pg/ml –100 ng/ml) which is well in line with the clinically relevant range. These highly sensitive devices allowed us to further prove their clinical relevance by successfully detecting the presence of CA1 in human saliva samples. Utilization of this label‐free biosensor could facilitate the early‐stage identification of various diseases associated with changes in concentration of CAs.
All in the Levels—Programmed Death-Ligand 1 Expression as a Biomarker for Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Response in Patients with Gastrointestinal Cancer
Authors: Das Satya , Cimino Sarah , Davis Shemeka , Ciombor Kristen
Published: September 2020

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) benefit patients with rare subsets of gastrointestinal (GI) cancer. Significant interest exists to identify predictive biomarkers that may increase the applicability of ICI therapy for these patients. Programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) is one such candidate; however, this biomarker has well-chronicled limitations. Combined positive score (CPS) ≥1 is the minimum PD-L1 expression threshold necessary for patients with gastric or gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) cancer to qualify for treatment with pembrolizumab; however, studies suggest that patients with higher CPS scores may derive greater benefit. We present the cases of two patients, both with low tumor mutational burden, microsatellite stable, and CPS ≥70 GI tumors (cholangiocarcinoma and GEJ cancer), who have achieved excellent tumor control with pembrolizumab. We postulate that, by testing for CPS in all patients with GI cancer and identifying a CPS threshold predictive of ICI response, PD-L1 expression could identify the patiets with GI cancer, in tissue agnostic fashion, who could benefit from ICI therapy.
Application of choline chloride deep eutectic solvents and high‐speed counter‐current chromatography to the extraction and purification of flavonoids from the thorns of Gleditsia sinensis Lam
Authors: Yu Jinqian , Zhao Lei , Sun Xiaowei , Sun Chenglong , Wang Xiao
Published: September 2020

Introduction

Flavonoids are the most important and effective constituents in the thorns of Gleditsia sinensis Lam., which have been known to show antimicrobial, antiviral, anticancer, and anticoagulant activities. However, efficient extraction and separation methods for these flavonoids are not currently established.

Objective

To develop an efficient method for efficient extraction and rapid separation of flavonoids from the thorns of G. sinensis using choline chloride deep eutectic solvents (DESs) and high‐speed counter‐current chromatography (HSCCC).

Methodology

As for extraction, DES composed of choline chloride and 1,4‐butanediol at 1:4 mole ratio, at an extraction temperature of 55°C, 20% of water content, 1:30 mg/mL for solid–liquid ratio, and 45 min for extraction time were selected as the optimised extraction method for flavonoids from the thorns of G. sinensis. As for separation, dichloromethane–methanol–n‐butanol–water (4:3:0.5:2, v/v) was applied to develop a successful strategy for purification of the flavonoids by HSCCC.

Results

Totally, five flavonoids, including padmatin (1, 3.7 mg), isovitexin (2, 2.5 mg), 3′,5,5′,7‐tetrahydroxyflavanonol (3, 11.2 mg), 7,4′‐dihydroxy‐5,3′‐dimethoxyflavanonol (4, 4.1 mg), and quercetin (5, 3.8 mg), were successfully obtained from 250 mg of the extracted flavonoids by HSCCC.

Conclusion

Results demonstrated that the combination of DES and HSCCC is a powerful technique for the extraction, and isolation of flavonoids from the thorns of G. sinensis compared with conventional organic solvent extraction and column chromatography, which have been proven to provide higher extraction efficiency for flavonoids and rapidly obtain the quality control markers of flavonoids from the investigated plant.
Psychiatric and general health effects of COVID‐19 pandemic on children with chronic lung disease and parents' coping styles
Authors: Ademhan Tural Dilber , Emiralioglu Nagehan , Tural Hesapcioglu Selma , Karahan Sevilay , Ozsezen Beste , Sunman Birce , Nayir Buyuksahin Halime , Yalcin Ebru , Dogru Deniz , Ozcelik Ugur , Kiper Nural
Published: September 2020

Background

We aim to assess the anxiety and depressive symptoms related to the COVID‐19 pandemic in children with chronic lung disease and their parents and also to evaluate parents' coping strategies.

Methods

Parents of children aged 4–18 years, with chronic lung disease (study group n = 113) and healthy control (n = 108) were enrolled in the study. General Health Questionnaire‐12, specific COVID‐19 related anxiety questions, The Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced inventory, coronavirus‐related psychiatric symptom scale in children–parental form were used to analyze the psychiatric effects of COVID‐19. Parents were also asked about how online education affected their family life and children. All data were compared between children/parents in the study and control groups. Risk factors related with anxiety scores of children were also analyzed.

Results

Talking about the pandemic, concern about coronavirus transmission, taking precaution to prevent coronavirus transmission, making pressure to protect from COVID‐19 were significantly higher in parents within the study group (p < .05). Parents in the study group used more problem‐focused coping than parents in the control group (p = .003). Anxiety symptoms score was higher in children of the study group (p = .007). Parents in the study group found online education more useful than parents in the control group.

Conclusion

Children with chronic lung diseases and their parents have more anxiety due to COVID‐19 pandemic and these parents use more mature coping strategies to manage the stress of the pandemic. Longitudinal and larger studies should be done in all aspects of online education in children with chronic lung diseases.
The clinical benefit of sequential therapy with androgen receptor axis‐targeted agents alone in patients with castration‐resistant prostate cancer: A propensity score‐matched comparison study
Authors: Naito Yushi , Kato Masashi , Kawanishi Hideji , Yuguchi Yuri , Yuba Takuma , Ishikawa Tomohiro , Hattori Kyosuke , Yamamoto Akiyuki , Sano Tomoyasu , Matsukawa Yoshihisa , Kimura Toru , Nishikimi Toshinori , Hattori Ryohei , Tsuzuki Toyonori , Gotoh Momokazu
Published: September 2020

Background

The optimal sequential therapy for castration‐resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) remains unknown. In recent years, some doubts have emerged regarding the clinical benefit of sequential therapy with androgen receptor axis‐targeted agents (ART) such as abiraterone (ABI) or enzalutamide (ENZ) for patients with CRPC. We compared the effect of ART‐to‐ART (AA) sequential therapy after castration resistance with that of docetaxel (DTX)‐combined sequential therapy (ART to DTX or DTX to ART) in patients with CRPC.

Methods

We retrospectively identified and analyzed the data of 315 patients with CRPC treated in our seven affiliated institutions between 2009 and 2019. All patients received either DTX or ART (ABI or ENZ) as the first‐ or second‐line therapy after castration resistance. We compared the overall survival (OS) and the second progression‐free survival (PFS2), calculated from the initiation of first‐line therapy after castration resistance, between the AA sequence group and the DTX‐combined sequence group. PFS2 was defined as the period from the start of first‐line treatment after castration resistance to progression on second‐line treatment. To minimize selection bias from possible confounders, we performed propensity score matching using one‐to‐one nearest neighbor matching without replacement.

Results

Overall, 106 and 209 patients were administered the AA sequential therapy and DTX‐combined sequential therapy, respectively. The clinicopathological variables of patients were well balanced after propensity score matching, and there were no significant differences between the two groups. In the propensity score‐matched cohort, OS was not significantly different between the two groups (median, 37.9 vs. 45.4 months; hazard ratio [HR], 1.10; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.68–1.79; p = .701), while PFS2 was significantly shorter in the AA group than in the DTX‐combined group (median, 12.9 vs. 21.6 months; HR, 1.70; 95% CI, 1.16–2.48; p = .007).

Conclusions

Certain patients with CRPC can benefit from ART‐to‐ART sequential therapy in a daily clinical setting.
Ibrutinib does not have clinically relevant interactions with oral contraceptives or substrates of CYP3A and CYP2B6
Authors: de Jong Jan , Mitselos Anna , Jurczak Wojciech , Cordoba Raul , Panizo Carlos , Wrobel Tomasz , Dlugosz‐Danecka Monika , Jiao James , Sukbuntherng Juthamas , Ouellet Daniele , Hellemans Peter
Published: September 2020

Ibrutinib may inhibit intestinal CYP3A4 and induce CYP2B6 and/or CYP3A. Secondary to potential induction, ibrutinib may reduce the exposure and effectiveness of oral contraceptives (OCs). This phase I study evaluated the effect of ibrutinib on the pharmacokinetics of the CYP2B6 substrate bupropion, CYP3A substrate midazolam, and OCs ethinylestradiol (EE) and levonorgestrel (LN). Female patients (N = 22) with B‐cell malignancies received single doses of EE/LN (30/150 μg) and bupropion/midazolam (75/2 mg) during a pretreatment phase on days 1 and 3, respectively (before starting ibrutinib on day 8), and again after ibrutinib 560 mg/day for ≥ 2 weeks. Intestinal CYP3A inhibition was assessed on day 8 (single‐dose ibrutinib plus single‐dose midazolam). Systemic induction was assessed at steady‐state on days 22 (EE/LN plus ibrutinib) and 24 (bupropion/midazolam plus ibrutinib). The geometric mean ratios (GMRs; test/reference) for maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) and area under the plasma concentration‐time curve (AUC) were derived using linear mixed‐effects models (90% confidence interval within 80%‐125% indicated no interaction). On day 8, the GMR for midazolam exposure with ibrutinib coadministration was ≤ 20% lower than the reference, indicating lack of intestinal CYP3A4 inhibition. At ibrutinib steady‐state, the Cmaxand AUC of EE were 33% higher than the reference, which was not considered clinically relevant. No substantial changes were noted for LN, midazolam, or bupropion. No unexpected safety findings were observed. A single dose of ibrutinib did not inhibit intestinal CYP3A4, and repeated administration did not induce CYP3A4/2B6, as assessed using EE, LN, midazolam, and bupropion.
Inverse Gaussian process model with frailty term in reliability analysis
Authors: Morita Lia H. M. , Tomazella Vera L. , Balakrishnan Narayanaswamy , Ramos Pedro L. , Ferreira Paulo H. , Louzada Francisco
Published: September 2020

Traditional reliability analysis techniques focus on the occurrence of failures over time. Nevertheless, in certain cases where the occurrence of failures is tiny or almost null, the estimation of the quantities that describe the failure process is compromised. In this context, we introduce a reliability model for systems adopting the degradation process using frailty. The evolved degradation model has as experimental data, not the failure, but a quality feature attached to it. Degradation analysis can provide information about the lifetime distribution components without actually observing failures. In this paper, we propose an inverse Gaussian process model with frailty as a possible tool to investigate the effect of unobserved covariates. Moreover, a comparative study with the classical inverse Gaussian process based on simulated data was performed, revealing that the asymptotic properties of the maximum likelihood estimators are compromised when the presence of frailty is ignored. The application was based on two real data sets in the literature, showing that the inverse Gaussian process frailty models are propitious to use; however, gamma and inverse Gaussian distributions for frailty present similar results.
Vagueness and Care: On Affect and Literacy
Authors: Snaza Nathan
Published: September 2020

In this commentary, the author responds to three articles using affect studies to rethink literacy, in Reading Research Quarterly’s special issue on affect theory. Taking up how the three articles—by Boldt; Truman, Hackett, Pahl, Davies, and Escott; and Tanner, Leander, and Carter‐Stone—draw on divergent genealogies of affect theory, the author proposes that the ability of affect to capaciously capture such different approaches is one of its most important strengths. The author ends by considering the problem of borders as it appears across all three articles, ultimately arguing that the vagueness of concepts drawn from affect literacy is precisely what makes it an invaluable concept for thinking through how we may care for the literacies that sustain us.
Overexpression of alpha-1 antitrypsin in mesenchymal stromal cells improves their intrinsic biological properties and therapeutic effects in nonobese diabetic mice
Authors: Song Lili , Gou Wenyu , Wang Jingjing , Wei Hua , Lee Jennifer , Strange Charlie , Wang Hongjun
Published: September 2020

Islet/β cell dysfunction and death caused by autoimmune-mediated injuries are major features of type 1 diabetes (T1D). Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) have been used for the treatment of T1D in animal models and clinical trials. Based on the anti-inflammatory effects of alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT), we generated human AAT engineered MSCs (hAAT-MSCs) by infecting human bone marrow-derived MSCs with the pHAGE CMV-a1aT-UBC-GFP-W lentiviral vector. We compared the colony forming, differentiation, and migration capacity of empty virus-treated MSCs (hMSC) and hAAT-MSCs and tested their protective effects in the prevention of onset of T1D in nonobese diabetic (NOD) mice. hAAT-MSCs showed increased self-renewal, better migration and multilineage differentiation abilities compared to hMSCs. In addition, polymerase chain reaction array for 84 MSC-related genes showed that 23 genes were upregulated, and 3 genes were downregulated in hAAT-MSCs compared to hMSCs. Upregulated genes include those critical for the stemness (ie, Wnt family member 3A [WNT3A], kinase insert domain receptor [KDR]), migration (intercellular adhesion molecule 1 [ICAM-1], vascular cell adhesion protein 1 [VICAM-1], matrix metalloproteinase-2 [MMP2]), and survival (insulin-like growth factor 1 [IGF-1]) of MSCs. Pathway analysis showed that changed genes were related to growth factor activity, positive regulation of cell migration, and positive regulation of transcription. In vivo, a single intravenous infusion of hAAT-MSCs significantly limited inflammatory infiltration into islets and delayed diabetes onset in the NOD mice compared with those receiving vehicle or hMSCs. Taken together, overexpression of hAAT in MSCs improved intrinsic biological properties of MSCs needed for cellular therapy for the treatment of T1D.
Recent Advances Toward Highly Efficient Tandem Organic Solar Cells
Authors: Xu Xiaopeng , Li Ying , Peng Qiang
Published: September 2020

Organic solar cells (OSCs) have attracted considerable attentions and have witnessed rapid progress from the aspects of material design, device engineering, and device physics. Tandem OSCs stacking more than one single‐junction device in series or parallel connection are developed to diminish the thermalization and/or transmission losses for improving the device performances. The optical managements by developing new photoactive materials, using high‐conductive semitransparent interconnecting layers and smart device architectures are the key factors toward high‐performance tandem OSCs. Herein, the recent advances in tandem OSCs are summarized from the aspects of photosensitive materials, interconnecting layers, and specific device structures. Finally, challenges and perspectives in the future development of tandem OSCs are also presented.
Reliability of External Characteristics to Age Barrow's Goldeneye
Authors: Lewis Tyler L. , Esler Daniel , Hogan Danica H. , Boyd W. Sean , Bowman Timothy D. , Thompson Jonathan
Published: September 2020

Accurate assignment of age class is critical for understanding most demographic processes. For waterfowl, most techniques for determining age class require birds in hand, reducing utility for quickly and efficiently sampling a large portion of the population. As an alternative, we sought to establish an observation‐based methodology, achievable in the field with standard optics, for determining age class of Barrow's goldeneyes (Bucephala islandica). We photographed heads, wings, and bellies of 232 Barrow's goldeneyes captured during late winter (February–April) of 2007–2015 along the north Pacific Coast. From these photographs, we focused on 5 external characteristics for both males and females, with binary states that putatively corresponded to 2 age classes—first‐year birds (<1 yr) and adults (>1 yr). For males, all 5 external traits (belly color, head color, eye color, facial crescent, median secondary coverts color) had binary states that were reliably distinguishable by observers. Moreover, all 5 external traits were highly predictive of age class (≥96% concordance between external vs. bursal‐derived ages), and novice observers, after receiving training, were able to accurately age 96% of first‐year and 99% of adult males. In contrast, patterns were weaker for females; putative external characteristics of female age class (belly color, bill radiance, bill blackness, eye color, median secondary coverts color) had 77–91% concordance with bursal‐derived age, compared with 96–100% for males, and observers misidentified age classes of 15% of females, compared with only 2% of males. Overall, age classes of male Barrow's goldeneyes were accurately and reliably distinguishable during winter based on several external characteristics, whereas those of females were not. Our technique may be used to estimate age composition of male Barrow's goldeneyes during winter, providing a useful metric for monitoring annual changes in adult‐to‐juvenile ratios and other important demographic parameters. © 2020 The Wildlife Society.
X‐ray fluorescence spectroscopy and Monte Carlo simulation for quantitative characterization of Bolivian pre‐Hispanic golden artefacts
Authors: Melquiades Fabio L. , Santos Sandro V. , Lopes Fabio , Villanueva Juan , Ticona Jorge L. , Appoloni Carlos R.
Published: September 2020

The quantification of archaeological artefacts with X‐ray Fluorescence is quite complex because it demands some calibration procedure. It is also rather more challenging when the customization of the portable equipment for in situ measurements is required. The objective of this study was to introduce a quantitative method by performing a calibration curve for a ternary gold alloy (Au, Ag and Cu). Fast Monte Carlo simulation combined with in situ portable XRF (pXRF) measurements in order to circumvent the calibration requirement using standard reference materials was used. Measurements with a laboratory‐made equipment were taken from a set of 16 pre‐hispanic gold alloy artefacts of a collection from the Museo Nacional de Etnografia y Folklore, La Paz, Bolivia. The spectra simulation was conducted with the XMI‐MSIM software.The results demonstrated that the combined use of pXRF measurements and spectra simulation via Monte Carlo is a feasible method for gold alloy quantification. In the examined samples, the Cu content was below 5% and for Au it ranged from 13 to 100%. Moreover, some peculiarities of the artefacts archaeological context were discussed.
Liouville theory and matrix models: a Wheeler DeWitt perspective
Authors: Betzios P. , Papadoulaki O.
Published: September 2020

Abstract

We analyse the connections between the Wheeler DeWitt approach for two dimensional quantum gravity and holography, focusing mainly in the case of Liouville theory coupled to c = 1 matter. Our motivation is to understand whether some form of averaging is essential for the boundary theory, if we wish to describe the bulk quantum gravity path integral of this two dimensional example. The analysis hence, is in a spirit similar to the recent studies of Jackiw-Teitelboim (JT)-gravity. Macroscopic loop operators define the asymptotic region on which the holographic boundary dual resides. Matrix quantum mechanics (MQM) and the associated double scaled fermionic field theory on the contrary, is providing an explicit “unitary in superspace” description of the complete dynamics of such two dimensional universes with matter, including the effects of topology change. If we try to associate a Hilbert space to a single boundary dual, it seems that it cannot contain all the information present in the non-perturbative bulk quantum gravity path integral and MQM.
EUROCRINE®: Nebennierenoperationen 2015 bis 2019 – überraschende erste Ergebnisse
Authors: Staubitz J. I. , Clerici T. , Riss P. , Watzka F. , Bergenfelz A. , Bareck E. , Fendrich V. , Goldmann A. , Grafen F. , Heintz A. , Kaderli R. M. , Karakas E. , Kern B. , Matter M. , Mogl M. , Nebiker C. A. , Niederle B. , Obermeier J. , Ringger A. , Schmid R. , Triponez F. , Trupka A. , Wicke C. , Musholt T. J.
Published: September 2020

Hintergrund

Seit 2015 erfolgt in Europa mithilfe des EUROCRINE®-Registers eine systematische Dokumentation endokrin-chirurgischer Operationen. Ziel dieser ersten Auswertung war eine Darstellung der Versorgungsrealität für Nebenniereneingriffe in einem homogenen Versorgungsumfeld, entsprechend des deutschsprachigen Raums – bzw. des Präsenzgebiets der Chirurgischen Arbeitsgemeinschaft Endokrinologie (CAEK) der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Allgemein- und Viszeralchirurgie (DGAV) – einschließlich einer Analyse der Adhärenz zu geltenden Therapieempfehlungen.

Methodik

Es erfolgte eine deskriptive Analyse der präoperativen Diagnostik, der angewandten Operationstechniken sowie der zugrunde liegenden histologischen Entitäten der zwischen den Jahren 2015 und 2019 über EUROCRINE® in Deutschland, Österreich und der Schweiz dokumentierten Nebennierenoperationen.

Ergebnisse

In den insgesamt 21 teilnehmenden Kliniken des deutschsprachigen EUROCRINE®-Gebiets wurden 658 Operationen an Nebennieren durchgeführt. In 90 % erfolgten unilaterale, in 3 % bilaterale Adrenalektomien und in 7 % andere Resektionsverfahren. Die in 41 % der Operationen dokumentierte histologische Hauptdiagnose war das adrenokortikale Adenom. In 15 % lagen maligne Befunde zugrunde (einschließlich 6 % Nebennierenrindenkarzinome (ACC) und 8 % Nebennierenmetastasen). 23 % der Operationen erfolgten bei Phäochromozytomen. Diese wurden zu 82 % minimal-invasiv operiert, Nebennierenrindenkarzinome lediglich zu 28 % und Nebennierenmetastasen zu 66 %.

Schlussfolgerung

Überraschenderweise wurden nach Nebennierenadenomen und Phäochromozytomen an dritthäufigster Stelle Nebennierenmetastasen unterschiedlicher Primärtumoren reseziert. 28 % der ACC waren für minimal-invasive Techniken vorgesehen, wobei 20 % dieser Fälle eine Konversion zur offenen Operation erforderten. Die aktuelle Analyse deckte Diskrepanzen zwischen Versorgungsrealität und Leitlinienempfehlungen auf, aus denen sich zahlreiche Fragestellungen ergeben, welche nun in ein überarbeitetes EUROCRINE®-Modul zur Dokumentation von Nebennierenoperationen einfließen werden.
„Hallesche OP-Wochen“: Wie ein Lehrformat das Interesse von Medizinstudierenden an der Chirurgie weckt
Authors: Haucke Elisa , Clever Katharina , Watzke Stefan , Schubert Johanna , Stoevesandt Dietrich , Ludwig Christiane , Plößl Sebastian , Plontke Stefan K.
Published: September 2020

Hintergrund

Eine studierendenorientierte Ausbildung ist in der praktischen Chirurgie schwierig und nur unzureichend umsetzbar. Neue Lehrkonzepte sind notwendig, um Studierenden die Chirurgie näherzubringen und sie für das Fach zu begeistern.

Methodik

In einer zweiwöchigen fakultativen Veranstaltung konnten Studierende der Humanmedizin insgesamt acht chirurgische Eingriffe aus verschiedenen Fachrichtungen live im Hörsaal mitverfolgen. Zeitgleich erfolgte im Hörsaal eine Moderation durch eine/n erfahrene/n Chirurgen/in. Anhand von Fragebögen (prä/post) wurde begleitend zu jeder Operation untersucht, inwieweit sich die Lehrveranstaltung eignet, das Verständnis und das Interesse für die chirurgische Tätigkeit zu verbessern.

Ergebnisse

Insgesamt lagen 709 vollständige Tagesevaluationen (prä und post) von 381 Studierenden vor. Der selbstberichtete Lerneffekt wurde von den Studierenden als gut bis sehr gut bewertet. In vielen dargestellten Fachgebieten zeigten sich durch die Teilnahme an den Liveoperationen signifikant positive Einstellungsänderungen in Bezug auf das jeweils operierende Fach allgemein, in Bezug auf eine geplante Famulatur und für die Wahl als späteres Fachgebiet.

Schlussfolgerung

Die hohen Teilnehmendenzahlen und die Evaluationsergebnisse lassen auf eine hohe Akzeptanz der Lehrveranstaltung schließen. Das Lehrformat ist geeignet, das Verständnis für chirurgische Abläufe zu verbessern sowie die Einstellung von Medizinstudierenden gegenüber chirurgischen Fachgebieten positiv zu beeinflussen.
Evaluation of the interrater and intermethod agreement of the German multiparametric ultrasound criteria for the grading of internal carotid artery stenosis
Authors: Richter Cindy , Weinreich Anna , Mucha Simone , Saur Dorothee , Pelz Johann Otto
Published: September 2020

Purpose

The interdisciplinary German guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of internal carotid artery stenosis (ICAS) recommend a multiparametric approach for the sonographic grading of extracranial ICAS. The aim of this study is to evaluate the interrater and intermethod agreement of this elaborated sonographic approach with different angiographic modalities.

Methods

Patients with extracranial ICAS were examined twice with colour-coded duplex sonography (CDS) by two experienced vascular neurologists. Each of the ten criteria and the resulting stenotic value were assessed. Grading of ICAS based on the multiparametric ultrasound criteria was compared with different angiography modalities (magnetic resonance angiography (MRA), computed tomography angiography (CTA), digital subtraction angiography (DSA)).

Results

Seventy-four consecutive patients with 91 extracranial ICAS were recruited from our stroke unit and neurovascular outpatient clinic. Interrater agreement for each single ultrasound criterion ranged from moderate to excellent (for the peak systolic velocity). Concerning the absolute stenotic value of ICAS, an excellent agreement between both ultrasound examiners with an ICC of 0.91 (range 0.87–0.94; p < 0.001) was found. In 96% of ICAS, the difference between the stenotic values was ≤ 10%. Intermethod agreements between CDS and DSA, CTA, and MRA were also good for both sonographers.

Conclusion

Strictly adhering to the multiparametric “DEGUM ultrasound criteria”, we found an excellent interrater agreement and a good intermethod agreement compared with angiography for the sonographic grading of extracranial ICAS. Thus, multiparametric CDS is in particular suitable for the follow up of extracranial ICAS even when examinations are done by different sonographers.
Search strategies in rural and urban environment during natal dispersal of the red squirrel
Authors: Hämäläinen Suvi , Fey Karen , Selonen Vesa
Published: September 2020

Decisions made during natal dispersal highly influence the future fitness of the animal. The selection of future home range affects, for example, food supply and mating success. In order to select between potential sites, dispersing individuals may use different search strategies, and for example, aim to compare quality of different sites by revisiting them. Alternatively, dispersers visit new sites without comparison until a suitable site is located. By using radio telemetry, we studied search strategies during natal dispersal in both urban and rural environments. We examined what kind of sites juvenile red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris) choose as their home range from all visited sites and whether they display revisit behavior during natal dispersal. We found that most of the dispersing individuals perform revisits while searching for the settlement site. In the rural study area, there were also individuals (mostly long-distance dispersers) that did not perform revisits and settled in the last visited area. The landscape characteristics did not explain the amount of revisits individuals made, but the amount of revisits declined with site’s distance to natal nest and dispersal distance of individuals. The effect of landscape characteristics on settlement decision was small, but surprisingly, juvenile red squirrels in the rural area settled in sites with more built area compared with sites only visited. However, the decision-making of red squirrels during natal dispersal seems to be driven mainly by other factors (potentially food availability and conspecific density) than landscape characteristics. We conclude that revisiting behavior is linked to dispersal strategy of red squirrels and can differ between the sexes and habitats of the species.

Significance statement

Animals often choose their habitat from among multiple alternative habitats and potential settlement sites, and the decisions made during dispersal highly influence the future fitness of the animal. We examined what kind of areas juvenile red squirrels choose as their home range in both urban and rural environments and whether they display revisit behavior when selecting their home range from many alternatives. We found that search strategies during natal dispersal can vary between individuals and habitats. Surprisingly, juvenile red squirrels in the rural area settled in sites with more built area compared with the sites only visited. However, for red squirrel, decisions made by juveniles during the search of a home range are mainly influenced by other factors than landscape composition.
Stress reduction strategies in breast cancer: review of pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic based strategies
Authors: Gosain Rohit , Gage-Bouchard Elizabeth , Ambrosone Christine , Repasky Elizabeth , Gandhi Shipra
Published: September 2020

Breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in women. It is associated with multiple symptoms in both patients and caregivers, such as stress, anxiety, depression, sleep disturbance, and fatigue. Stress appears to promote cancer progression via activation of the sympathetic nervous system releasing epinephrine and norepinephrine as well as activation of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis releasing cortisol. These stress hormones have been shown to promote the proliferation of cancer cells. This review focuses on stress-reducing strategies which may decrease cancer progression by abrogating these pathways, with a main focus on the β-adrenergic signaling pathway. Patients utilize both non-pharmacologic and pharmacologic strategies to reduce stress. Non-pharmacologic stress-reduction strategies include complementary and alternative medicine techniques, such as meditation, yoga, acupuncture, exercise, use of natural products, support groups and psychology counseling, herbal compounds, and multivitamins. Pharmacologic strategies include abrogating the β2-adrenergic receptor signaling pathway to antagonize epinephrine and norepinephrine action on tumor and immune cells. β-Blocker drugs may play a role in weakening the pro-migratory and pro-metastatic effects induced by stress hormones in cancer and strengthening the anti-tumor immune response. Preclinical models have shown that non-selective β1/2-blocker use is associated with a decrease in tumor growth and metastases and clinical studies have suggested their positive impact on decreasing breast cancer recurrence and mortality. Thus, non-pharmacological approaches, along with pharmacological therapies part of clinical trials are available to cancer patients to reduce stress, and have promise to break the cycle of cancer and stress.
Fully automated body composition analysis in routine CT imaging using 3D semantic segmentation convolutional neural networks
Authors: Koitka Sven , Kroll Lennard , Malamutmann Eugen , Oezcelik Arzu , Nensa Felix
Published: September 2020

Objectives

Body tissue composition is a long-known biomarker with high diagnostic and prognostic value not only in cardiovascular, oncological, and orthopedic diseases but also in rehabilitation medicine or drug dosage. In this study, the aim was to develop a fully automated, reproducible, and quantitative 3D volumetry of body tissue composition from standard CT examinations of the abdomen in order to be able to offer such valuable biomarkers as part of routine clinical imaging.

Methods

Therefore, an in-house dataset of 40 CTs for training and 10 CTs for testing were fully annotated on every fifth axial slice with five different semantic body regions: abdominal cavity, bones, muscle, subcutaneous tissue, and thoracic cavity. Multi-resolution U-Net 3D neural networks were employed for segmenting these body regions, followed by subclassifying adipose tissue and muscle using known Hounsfield unit limits.

Results

The Sørensen Dice scores averaged over all semantic regions was 0.9553 and the intra-class correlation coefficients for subclassified tissues were above 0.99.

Conclusions

Our results show that fully automated body composition analysis on routine CT imaging can provide stable biomarkers across the whole abdomen and not just on L3 slices, which is historically the reference location for analyzing body composition in the clinical routine.

Key Points

• Our study enables fully automated body composition analysis on routine abdomen CT scans.

• The best segmentation models for semantic body region segmentation achieved an averaged Sørensen Dice score of 0.9553.

• Subclassified tissue volumes achieved intra-class correlation coefficients over 0.99.
Applications of artificial intelligence (AI) in diagnostic radiology: a technography study
Authors: Rezazade Mehrizi Mohammad Hosein , van Ooijen Peter , Homan Milou
Published: September 2020

Objectives

Why is there a major gap between the promises of AI and its applications in the domain of diagnostic radiology? To answer this question, we systematically review and critically analyze the AI applications in the radiology domain.

Methods

We systematically analyzed these applications based on their focal modality and anatomic region as well as their stage of development, technical infrastructure, and approval.

Results

We identified 269 AI applications in the diagnostic radiology domain, offered by 99 companies. We show that AI applications are primarily narrow in terms of tasks, modality, and anatomic region. A majority of the available AI functionalities focus on supporting the “perception” and “reasoning” in the radiology workflow.

Conclusions

Thereby, we contribute by (1) offering a systematic framework for analyzing and mapping the technological developments in the diagnostic radiology domain, (2) providing empirical evidence regarding the landscape of AI applications, and (3) offering insights into the current state of AI applications. Accordingly, we discuss the potential impacts of AI applications on the radiology work and we highlight future possibilities for developing these applications.

Key Points

• Many AI applications are introduced to the radiology domain and their number and diversity grow very fast.

• Most of the AI applications are narrow in terms of modality, body part, and pathology.

• A lot of applications focus on supporting “perception” and “reasoning” tasks.
Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, dizziness, and health-related quality of life among older adults in a population-based setting
Authors: Lindell Ellen , Kollén Lena , Johansson Mia , Karlsson Therese , Rydén Lina , Falk Erhag Hanna , Wetterberg Hanna , Zettergren Anna , Skoog Ingmar , Finizia Caterina
Published: September 2020

Purpose

Dizziness may affect quality of life in a negative way and contribute to falls. The aim of this study was to investigate and compare 75 years old with dizziness caused by benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) to those with general dizziness/impaired balance (non-BPPV related) and to those reporting no dizziness, regarding health-related quality of life (HRQL), falls, tiredness, and walking speed in a population-based setting.

Method

A cross-sectional population-based sample, including 671 75 years old (398 women, 273 men), was investigated for BPPV, dizziness symptoms, falls, and walking speed. HRQL was assessed using the 36-item Short Form-36 Health Survey (SF-36).

Result

A total of 67 persons (10%) had symptoms of BPPV with 11 (1.6%) having nystagmus when tested for BPPV. Having BPPV as well as general dizziness/impaired balance was associated with reduced HRQL, more tiredness, enhanced number of falls, and lower walking speed. Furthermore, the risk of having BPPV increased fourfold if symptoms of dizziness when turning in bed was reported.

Conclusion

Having problems with dizziness is common among senior citizens where BPPV can be an unrecognized cause of dizziness that may impact HRQL and overall well-being. As BPPV is common among older adults, and is potentially curable through reposition maneuvers, it is important to liberally test for, and treat the condition. Information about dizziness when turning in bed can help to pinpoint persons with enhanced risk for BPPV also on a population-based level.
Unidirectional voltage converter for battery electric vehicle ultrafast charger
Authors: Szymanski Jerzy Ryszard , Zurek-Mortka Marta , Acharjee Dulal
Published: September 2020

This paper proposes the use of a frequency converter used in the AC motor drives to build a fast charging battery converter for electric vehicles (EV). The possibility of using semiconductor integrated modules with two-level inverters and diode rectifiers for the construction of high power voltage DC/DC converters has been demonstrated. The DC voltage of the EV battery during charging is obtained by rectifying the three-phase voltage of the PWM inverter. A 600 V DC microgrid was used to power the inverter. Simulation tests of the DC/DC converter model were carried out. The results of simulation tests were verified experimentally on a laboratory stand.