bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Recent trends and developments in forensic DNA extraction
Authors: Chong Kevin Wai Yin , Thong Zhonghui , Syn Christopher Kiu‐Choong
Published: September 2020

The extraction of DNA is a fairly standard procedure routinely undertaken in biological academic and research settings. In a forensic DNA context, DNA extraction is the crucial first step toward the generation of DNA profiles used to support convictions or exonerations in the criminal justice system. However, it is often complicated by the additional challenge of yielding sufficient quantities of clean DNA that is free from environmental inhibitors, from a wide spectrum of sample types which may contain limited quantities of biological material. While improvements in methods and technology over the decades have sped up and simplified the process of DNA extraction, several issues remain to be fully addressed—such as the incomplete separation of spermic DNA from sperm‐epithelial cell mixtures, increasing demands for ever‐faster DNA results, or even on‐scene DNA processing, and processing of difficult samples such as skeletal remains or samples contaminated by Chemical, Biological, or Radiological (CBR) agents. These challenges are often compounded by high work volumes and limited quantities of starting material. As such, this review focuses on recent trends and developments in four areas of forensic DNA extraction: (a) analysis of sexual assault evidence which often represents a significant portion of a forensic DNA laboratory's casework, (b) use of portable rapid DNA instruments which has gained much traction among law enforcement in recent times, (c) DNA extraction from difficult and CBR‐contaminated samples which, albeit rare, would be essential in a DNA laboratory's toolbox in the event of an incident, and (d) bypassing DNA extraction altogether.

This article is categorized under:

Forensic Biology > Forensic DNA Technologies
Extended actions, dynamics of edge modes, and entanglement entropy
Authors: Geiller Marc , Jai-akson Puttarak
Published: September 2020

Abstract

In this work we propose a simple and systematic framework for including edge modes in gauge theories on manifolds with boundaries. We argue that this is necessary in order to achieve the factorizability of the path integral, the Hilbert space and the phase space, and that it explains how edge modes acquire a boundary dynamics and can contribute to observables such as the entanglement entropy. Our construction starts with a boundary action containing edge modes. In the case of Maxwell theory for example this is equivalent to coupling the gauge field to boundary sources in order to be able to factorize the theory between subregions. We then introduce a new variational principle which produces a systematic boundary contribution to the symplectic structure, and thereby provides a covariant realization of the extended phase space constructions which have appeared previously in the literature. When considering the path integral for the extended bulk + boundary action, integrating out the bulk degrees of freedom with chosen boundary conditions produces a residual boundary dynamics for the edge modes, in agreement with recent observations concerning the contribution of edge modes to the entanglement entropy. We put our proposal to the test with the familiar examples of Chern-Simons and BF theory, and show that it leads to consistent results. This therefore leads us to conjecture that this mechanism is generically true for any gauge theory, which can therefore all be expected to posses a boundary dynamics. We expect to be able to eventually apply this formalism to gravitational theories.
Natural axion model from flavour
Authors: Chuliá Salvador Centelles , Döring Christian , Rodejohann Werner , Saldaña-Salazar Ulises J.
Published: September 2020

Abstract

We explore a common symmetrical origin for two long standing problems in particle physics: the strong CP and the fermion mass hierarchy problems. The Peccei-Quinn mechanism solves the former one with an anomalous global U(1)PQ symmetry. Here we investigate how this U(1)PQ could at the same time explain the fermion mass hierarchy. We work in the context of a four-Higgs-doublet model which explains all quark and charged fermion masses with natural, i.e. order 1, Yukawa couplings. Moreover, the axion of the model constitutes a viable dark matter candidate and neutrino masses are incorporated via the standard type-I seesaw mechanism. A simple extension of the model allows for Dirac neutrinos.
Akzidentelle Fixierung eines Pulmonalarterienkatheters während einer Herztransplantation
Authors: Bleiler S. , Holzamer A.
Published: September 2020

Die akzidentelle Fixierung eines Pulmonalarterienkatheters durch eine Naht ist eine seltene Komplikation. Dieser Fall handelt von einem Patienten zur Herztransplantation, bei dem der Katheter mittels Naht an der oberen venösen Kanülierungsstelle der Herz-Lungen-Maschine fixiert wurde. Nach Diagnostik mittels Fluoroskopie erfolgten die Resternotomie und die Lösung der Naht, woraufhin sich der Katheter entfernen ließ. Der Patient trug keine Folgeschäden davon.
Die Gewährleistung von Krankheitshilfen bei asylsuchenden Menschen: Zweiklassenmedizin in Deutschland?
Authors: Hollederer Alfons
Published: September 2020

Hintergrund

Es gibt im Bereich des Asylbewerberleistungsgesetzes (AsylbLG) zwei Möglichkeiten der Leistungsgewährung mit praktischer Relevanz für die Gesundheitsversorgung (abhängig von der Voraufenthaltszeit): die Grundleistungen und die Leistungen in besonderen Fällen analog zum Sozialgesetzbuch (SGB) XII.

Methodik

Die Sekundärdatenanalyse untersucht das Leistungsgeschehen im Krankheitsfall bei den Leistungsempfängern nach dem AsylbLG beim Forschungsdatenzentrum der Statistischen Ämter des Bundes und der Länder. Dem untersuchten Personenkreis wurde noch keine Flüchtlingseigenschaft bzw. Asylberechtigung zuerkannt.

Ergebnisse

Zum Stichtag 31.12.2018 bezogen 423.201 Personen in Deutschland Leistungen nach dem AsylbLG. Davon war gut ein Drittel Frauen. Das Durchschnittsalter betrug 24 Jahre. Über die Hälfte stammte aus Asien. Über ein Drittel aller Leistungsempfänger befand sich in ambulanter (33,5 %) oder stationärer Behandlung (1,3 %). Zwischen den Bundesländern variierten die Leistungen zur Hilfe bei Krankheit sowie die gesundheitsbezogenen Pro-Kopf-Bruttoausgaben sehr stark. Die Gewährung von Leistungen bei Krankheit war in Aufnahmeeinrichtungen relativ gering. Mit Gesundheitskarte war die Inanspruchnahme stationärer Behandlung generell höher.

Die gesundheitsbezogene Regelversorgung mit Hilfen in besonderen Fällen (§2 AsylbLG analog SGB XII) erreichte einen größeren Anteil an leistungsberechtigten Menschen mit 42,7 % am Jahresende als die Minimalversorgung nach §3 AsylbLG mit 29,0 %. Sie verursachte trotzdem im Vergleich weniger Bruttoausgaben.

Schlussfolgerung

Es wird empfohlen, §2 AsylbLG schon bei einer Voraufenthaltszeit ab 3 Monaten anzuwenden, um frühzeitiger die Hilfen analog Kap. 5–9 SGB XII gewähren zu können. Eine flächendeckende Einführung der Gesundheitskarte würde den Zugang verbessern.
Early childhood internalizing problems, externalizing problems and their co-occurrence and (mal)adaptive functioning in emerging adulthood: a 16-year follow-up study
Authors: Arslan İldeniz B. , Lucassen Nicole , van Lier Pol A. C. , de Haan Amaranta D. , Prinzie Peter
Published: September 2020

Purpose

A vast amount of studies suggest that internalizing or externalizing problems are related to individual functioning, and often co-occur. Yet, a focus on their additive and interactive effects is scarce. Furthermore, most research has focused on a limited number of developmental domains and mostly on maladaptive functioning. Therefore, the current prospective study examined whether early childhood (ages 4–8) internalizing and externalizing problems and their interaction were related to a broad range of (mal)adaptive functioning outcomes in emerging adulthood (ages 20–24).

Methods

Data from the Flemish Study on Parenting, Personality and Development were used. At Time 1 (1999) mothers of 374 children (45% boys) and fathers of 357 children (46% boys) rated internalizing and externalizing problems through the Child Behavior Checklist. Outcomes in emerging adulthood were measured through self-reports 16 years later across the following domains: psychological functioning, social functioning, work, physical health, and self-concept.

Results

Early externalizing problems were related to maladaptive outcomes on the psychological and social domains. With regard to adaptive functioning, externalizing problems were associated with lower satisfaction regarding general health on the physical domain. Early internalizing problems were not associated with any emerging adulthood outcomes. The interaction of (father reported) internalizing and externalizing problems was related to aggressive behavior.

Conclusion

Early childhood externalizing problems were associated with maladaptive and adaptive functioning over a time span of 16 years. The results add to studies on the implementation of prevention and intervention programs in early childhood and to the value for developing personalized interventions.
Algebraicity of special L-values attached to Siegel–Jacobi modular forms
Authors: Bouganis Thanasis , Marzec Jolanta
Published: September 2020

In this work we obtain algebraicity results on specialL-values attached to Siegel–Jacobi modular forms. Our method relies on a generalization of the doubling method to the Jacobi group obtained in our previous work, and on introducing a notion of near holomorphy for Siegel–Jacobi modular forms. Some of our results involve also holomorphic projection, which we obtain by using Siegel–Jacobi Poincaré series of exponential type.
Comparative studies of urolithins and their phase II metabolites on macrophage and neutrophil functions
Authors: Bobowska Aneta , Granica Sebastian , Filipek Agnieszka , Melzig Matthias F. , Moeslinger Thomas , Zentek Jürgen , Kruk Aleksandra , Piwowarski Jakub P.
Published: September 2020

Purpose

Ellagitannins are high molecular weight polyphenols present in high quantities in various food products. They are metabolized by human and animal gut microbiota to postbiotic metabolites-urolithins, bioavailable molecules of a low molecular weight. Following absorption in the gut, urolithins rapidly undergo phase II metabolism. Thus, to fully evaluate the mechanisms of their biological activity, the in vitro studies should be conducted for their phase II conjugates, mainly glucuronides. The aim of the study was to comparatively determine the influence of urolithin A, iso-urolithin A, and urolithin B together with their respective glucuronides on processes associated with the inflammatory response.

Methods

The urolithins obtained by chemical synthesis or isolation from microbiota cultures were tested with their respective glucuronides isolated from human urine towards modulation of inflammatory response in THP-1-derived macrophages, RAW 264.7 macrophages, PBMCs-derived macrophages, and primary neutrophils.

Results

Urolithin A was confirmed to be the most active metabolite in terms of LPS-induced inflammatory response inhibition (TNF-α attenuation, IL-10 induction). The observed strong induction of ERK1/2 phosphorylation has been postulated as the mechanism of its action. None of the tested glucuronide conjugates was active in terms of pro-inflammatory TNF-α inhibition and anti-inflammatory IL-10 and TGF-β1 induction.

Conclusion

Comparative studies of the most abundant urolithins and their phase II conjugates conducted on human and murine immune cells unambiguously confirmed urolithin A to be the most active metabolite in terms of inhibition of the inflammatory response. Phase II metabolism was shown to result in the loss of urolithins’ pharmacological properties.
Comparison of a second-generation trabecular bypass (iStent inject) to ab interno trabeculectomy (Trabectome) by exact matching
Authors: Al Yousef Yousef , Strzalkowska Alicja , Hillenkamp Jost , Rosentreter André , Loewen Nils A.
Published: September 2020

Purpose

To achieve a highly balanced comparison of trabecular bypass stenting (IS2, iStent inject) with ab interno trabeculectomy (T, Trabectome) by exact matching.

Methods

Fifty-three IS2 eyes were matched to 3446 T eyes. Patients were matched using exact matching by baseline intraocular pressure (IOP), the number of glaucoma medications, and glaucoma type, and using nearest neighbor matching by age. Individuals without a close match were excluded. All surgeries were combined with phacoemulsification.

Results

A total of 78 eyes (39 in each group) could be matched as exact pairs with a baseline IOP of 18.3 ± 5.1 mmHg and glaucoma medications of 2.7 ± 1.2 in each. IOP in IS2 was reduced to 14.6 ± 4.2 mmHg at 3 months and in T to a minimum of 13.1 ± 3.2 mmHg at 1 month. In IS2, IOP began to rise again at 6 months, eventually exceeding baseline. At 24 months, IOP in IS2 was 18.8 ± 9.0 mmHg and in T 14.2 ± 3.5 mmHg. IS2 had a higher average IOP than T at all postoperative visits (p< 0.05 at 1, 12, 18 months). Glaucoma medications decreased to 2.0 ± 1.5 in IS2 and to 1.5 ± 1.4 in T.

Conclusion

T resulted in a larger and sustained IOP reduction compared with IS2 where a rebound occurred after 6 months to slightly above preoperative values.
A SYBR green I real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay for detection and quantification of Trichomonas gallinae
Authors: Rentería-Solís Zaida , Nguyen-Ho-Bao Tran , Taha Shahinaz , Daugschies Arwid
Published: September 2020

Trichomonas gallinae are parasitic flagellates of importance in wild and domestic birds. The parasite is worldwide distributed, and Columbine birds are its main host. Current research focuses mostly on epidemiological and phylogenetic studies. However, there is still a lack of knowledge regarding parasite-host interaction or therapy development. Real-time PCR is a useful tool for diagnostic and quantification of gene copies in a determined sample. By amplification of a 113-bp region of the 18S small subunit ribosomal RNA gene, a SYBR green-based real-time PCR assay was developed. A standard curve was prepared for quantification analysis. Assay efficiency, linearity, and dissociation analysis were successfully performed. Specificity, sensibility, and reproducibility analysis were tested. This assay could be a useful tool not only for diagnostic purposes but also for future in vivo and in vitro T. gallinae studies.
Prior perineural or neonatal treatment with capsaicin does not alter the development of spinal microgliosis induced by peripheral nerve injury
Authors: Szeredi Ivett Dorina , Jancsó Gábor , Oszlács Orsolya , Sántha Péter
Published: September 2020

Peripheral nerve injury is associated with spinal microgliosis which plays a pivotal role in the development of neuropathic pain behavior. Several agents of primary afferent origin causing the microglial reaction have been identified, but the type(s) of primary afferents that release these mediators are still unclear. In this study, specific labeling of C-fiber spinal afferents by lectin histochemistry and selective chemodenervation by capsaicin were applied to identify the type(s) of primary afferents involved in the microglial response. Comparative quantitative morphometric evaluation of the microglial reaction in central projection territories of intact and injured peripheral nerves in the superficial (laminae I and II) and deep (laminae III and IV) spinal dorsal horn revealed a significant, about three-fold increase in microglial density after transection of the sciatic or the saphenous nerve. Prior perineural treatment of these nerves with capsaicin, resulting in a selective defunctionalization of C-fiber afferent fibers failed to affect spinal microgliosis. Similarly, peripheral nerve injury-induced increase in microglial density was unaffected in rats treated neonatally with capsaicin known to result in a near-total loss of C-fiber dorsal root fibers. Perineural treatment with capsaicin per se did not evoke a significant increase in microglial density. These observations indicate that injury-induced spinal microgliosis may be attributed to phenotypic changes in injured myelinated primary afferent neurons, whereas the contribution of C-fiber primary sensory neurons to this neuroimmune response is negligible. Spinal myelinated primary afferents may play a hitherto unrecognized role in regulation of neuroimmune and perisynaptic microenvironments of the spinal dorsal horn.
Dynamic Planar Voronoi Diagrams for General Distance Functions and Their Algorithmic Applications
Authors: Kaplan Haim , Mulzer Wolfgang , Roditty Liam , Seiferth Paul , Sharir Micha
Published: September 2020

We describe a new data structure for dynamic nearest neighbor queries in the plane with respect to a general family of distance functions. These include $$L_p$$

L
p

-norms and additively weighted Euclidean distances. Our data structure supports general (convex, pairwise disjoint) sites that have constant description complexity (e.g., points, line segments, disks, etc.). Our structure uses $$O(n \log ^3 n)$$

O
(
n

log
3

n
)

storage, and requires polylogarithmic update and query time, improving an earlier data structure of Agarwal, Efrat, and Sharir which required $$O(n^{\varepsilon })$$

O
(

n
ε

)

time for an update and $$O(\log n)$$

O
(
log
n
)

time for a query [SICOMP 1999]. Our data structure has numerous applications. In all of them, it gives faster algorithms, typically reducing an $$O(n^{\varepsilon })$$

O
(

n
ε

)

factor in the previous bounds to polylogarithmic. In addition, we give here two new applications: an efficient construction of a spanner in a disk intersection graph, and a data structure for efficient connectivity queries in a dynamic disk graph. To obtain this data structure, we combine and extend various techniques from the literature. Along the way, we obtain several side results that are of independent interest. Our data structure depends on the existence and an efficient construction of “vertical” shallow cuttings in arrangements of bivariate algebraic functions. We prove that an appropriate level in an arrangement of a random sample of a suitable size provides such a cutting. To compute it efficiently, we develop a randomized incremental construction algorithm for computing the lowest k levels in an arrangement of bivariate algebraic functions (we mostly consider here collections of functions whose lower envelope has linear complexity, as is the case in the dynamic nearest-neighbor context, under both types of norm). To analyze this algorithm, we also improve a longstanding bound on the combinatorial complexity of the vertical decomposition of these levels. Finally, to obtain our structure, we combine our vertical shallow cutting construction with Chan’s algorithm for efficiently maintaining the lower envelope of a dynamic set of planes in $${{\mathbb {R}}}^3$$

R

3

. Along the way, we also revisit Chan’s technique and present a variant that uses a single binary counter, with a simpler analysis and improved amortized deletion time (by a logarithmic factor; the insertion and query costs remain asymptotically the same).
Effects of a structured exercise program on physical performance and function, quality of life and work ability of physically active breast cancer survivors
Authors: Hasenöhrl Timothy , Palma Stefano , Huber Dominikus F. -X. , Zdravkovic Andrej , Crevenna Richard
Published: September 2020

Background

Purpose of this retrospective data analysis was to depict the effects of a structured off-season conditioning program with breast cancer survivors competing in dragon boat paddling.

Methods

In this study 10 breast cancer survivors (mean age 52.0 ± 5.4 years) who had finished the primary cancer treatment and who were paddlers of the Vienna Pink Dragon self-help group underwent a structured 10-week exercise program as part of their routine supportive treatment. Upper extremity strength, endurance capacity, shoulder flexibility, quality of life and work ability were assessed at baseline and after completion of the exercise program.

Results

Out of 10 patients 8 completed more than 80% of the exercise sessions. A multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) of the pooled exercise effects showed a very large effect size (Η2 = 0.982); however, the change from baseline to follow-up was non-significant (p = 0.363). In the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life of Cancer Patients Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30) the exercise program led to a significant improvement of body image (p = 0.02) and less arm symptoms in the affected arm (p = 0.04).

Conclusion

A structured and well-planned exercise intervention program can have a large effect on the physical performance of pretrained breast cancer survivors. Moreover, it can increase the body image and decrease the arm symptoms in this population.
Tooth loss and adiposity: possible role of carnitine transporter (OCTN1/2) polymorphisms in women but not in men
Authors: Meisel Peter , Pagels Stefanie , Grube Markus , Jedlitschky Gabriele , Völzke Henry , Kocher Thomas
Published: September 2020

Objective

SLC22A4/5 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have been reported to affect inflammatory diseases. We report the relationship of these polymorphisms with adiposity and tooth loss as elucidated in a 10-year follow-up study.

Methods

Participants of the Study of Health in Pomerania (SHIP, N = 4105) were genotyped for the polymorphisms c.1507C > T in SLC22A4 (rs1050152) and -207C > G in SLC22A5 (rs2631367) using allele-specific real-time PCR assays. A total of 1817 subjects, 934 female and 883 male aged 30–80 years, underwent follow-up 10 years later (SHIP-2) and were assessed for adiposity and tooth loss.

Results

The frequencies of the rarer SLC22A4 TT and SLC22A5 CC alleles were 16.7% and 20.3%, respectively. In women, tooth loss was associated with genotype TT vs. CC with incidence rate ratio IRR = 0.74 (95% C.I. 0.60–0.92) and CC vs. GG IRR = 0.79 (0.65–0.96) for SLC22A4 and SLC22A5 SNPs, respectively. In men, no such associations were observed. In the follow-up examination, the relationship between tooth loss and these SNPs was in parallel with measures of body shape such as BMI, body weight, waist circumference, or body fat accumulation. The association between muscle strength and body fat mass was modified by the genotypes studied.

Conclusions

SLC22A4 c.150C > T and SLC22A5 -207C > G polymorphisms are associated with tooth loss and markers of body shape in women but not in men.

Clinical relevance

Tooth loss may be related to obesity beyond inflammatory mechanisms, conceivably with a genetic background.
How common are depression and anxiety in adolescents with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and how should we screen for these mental health co-morbidities? A clinical cohort study
Authors: Loades Maria E. , Read Rebecca , Smith Lucie , Higson-Sweeney Nina T. , Laffan Amanda , Stallard Paul , Kessler David , Crawley Esther
Published: September 2020

Adolescents with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) appear to be more likely to experience anxiety and/or depression using Patient Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs). However, we do not know how accurate these are at detecting problems in this patient group given the primary symptom of fatigue. We aimed to accurately determine the prevalence of anxiety/depression using gold-standard diagnostic interviews and evaluate the accuracy of PROMs measuring mood disorders in this patient group. We conducted a cross-sectional epidemiological study in a specialist tertiary paediatric CFS/ME service, England. The participants were164 12–18-year olds with clinician confirmed CFS/ME and their parents. The measures were a semi-structured diagnostic interview, the Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia, K-SADS, and questionnaires (Revised Children’s Anxiety and Depression Scale, RCADS; Spence Children’s Anxiety Scale, SCAS; Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, HADS). Parents completed the RCADS-P. 35% met the criteria for at least one common mental health problem. 20% had major depressive disorder, and 27% an anxiety disorder, with social anxiety and generalised anxiety being the most common. There was high co-morbidity, with 61% of those who were depressed also having at least one anxiety disorder. The questionnaires were moderately accurate (AUC > 0.7) at detecting clinically significant anxiety/depression, although only the RCADS-anxiety reached the predefined 0.8 sensitivity, 0.7 specificity target. Mental health problems are particularly common amongst adolescents with CFS/ME. Most screening tools were not sufficiently accurate in detecting clinically significant anxiety and depression, so these should be used with care in combination with thorough psychological/psychiatric assessment.
Contextualizing local landscape initiatives in global change: a scenario study for the high forest zone, Ghana
Authors: Wolff Sarah , Meijer Johan , Schulp Catharina J. E. , Verburg Peter H.
Published: September 2020

Integrated landscape management (ILM) has received increased interest to reconcile multiple conflicting demands on a landscape scale. ILM aims at addressing major interconnected global challenges, such as poverty, food security, deforestation, and climate change. A principal element of ILM is the consideration of multiple scales, harmonizing local-level needs and ambitions with those that derive from outside the landscape. ILM initiatives are most often initiated by local actors focusing on local priorities, thereby insufficiently realizing that the landscape is embedded in a wider macroeconomic and societal context. We contextualize a landscape initiative located in the high forest zone of southern Ghana, focusing on global socioeconomic and political developments that are expected to have an influence on the region. We built two “sustainability” scenarios for the period between 2015 and 2030, reflecting the demands and ambitions of local stakeholders (bottom-up) and of global environmental policy (top-down) for the region. We find that global climate and cocoa production priorities could induce synergies between food production, biodiversity conservation, and climate change mitigation at the scale of the case study region but could come at the cost of mixed forest systems that play an important role in livelihoods on the landscape scale. Land change scenarios can play a critical role in assessing and visualizing such interactions and provide a platform for discussion and negotiation on how to integrate different objectives in the design of landscape initiatives.
Variable echo time imaging for detecting the short T2* components of the sciatic nerve: a validation study
Authors: Felisaz Paolo Florent , Belatti Eugenio , Deligianni Xeni , Bergsland Niels , Santini Francesco , Paoletti Matteo , Solazzo Francesca , Germani Giancarlo , Cortese Andrea , Vegezzi Elisa , Bieri Oliver , Bastianello Stefano , Pichiecchio Anna
Published: September 2020

Objective

The aim of this study was to develop and validate an MRI protocol based on a variable echo time (vTE) sensitive to the short T2* components of the sciatic nerve.

Materials and methods

15 healthy subjects (M/F: 9/6; age: 21–62) were scanned at 3T targeting the sciatic nerve at the thigh bilaterally, using a dual echo variable echo time (vTE) sequence (based on a spoiled gradient echo acquisition) with echo times of 0.98/5.37 ms. Apparent T2* (aT2*) values of the sciatic nerves were calculated with a mono-exponential fit and used for data comparison.

Results

There were no significant differences in aT2* related to side, sex, age, and BMI, even though small differences for side were reported. Good-to-excellent repeatability and reproducibility were found for geometry of ROIs (Dice indices: intra-rater 0.68–0.7; inter-rater 0.70–0.72) and the related aT2* measures (intra-inter reader ICC 0.95–0.97; 0.66–0.85) from two different operators. Side-related signal-to-noise-ratio non-significant differences were reported, while contrast-to-noise-ratio measures were excellent both for side and echo.

Discussion

Our study introduces a novel MR sequence sensitive to the short T2* components of the sciatic nerve and may be used for the study of peripheral nerve disorders.
Modelling of ecological status of Polish lakes using deep learning techniques
Authors: Gebler Daniel , Kolada Agnieszka , Pasztaleniec Agnieszka , Szoszkiewicz Krzysztof
Published: September 2020

Since 2000, after the Water Framework Directive came into force, aquatic ecosystems’ bioassessment has acquired immense practical importance for water management. Currently, due to extensive scientific research and monitoring, we have gathered comprehensive hydrobiological databases. The amount of available data increases with each subsequent year of monitoring, and the efficient analysis of these data requires the use of proper mathematical tools. Our study challenges the comparison of the modelling potential between four indices for the ecological status assessment of lakes based on three groups of aquatic organisms, i.e. phytoplankton, phytobenthos and macrophytes. One of the deep learning techniques, artificial neural networks, has been used to predict values of four biological indices based on the limited set of the physicochemical parameters of water. All analyses were conducted separately for lakes with various stratification regimes as they function differently. The best modelling quality in terms of high values of coefficients of determination and low values of the normalised root mean square error was obtained for chlorophyll a followed by phytoplankton multimetric. A lower degree of fit was obtained in the networks for macrophyte index, and the poorest model quality was obtained for phytobenthos index. For all indices, modelling quality for non-stratified lakes was higher than this for stratified lakes, giving a higher percentage of variance explained by the networks and lower values of errors. Sensitivity analysis showed that among physicochemical parameters, water transparency (Secchi disk reading) exhibits the strongest relationship with the ecological status of lakes derived by phytoplankton and macrophytes. At the same time, all input variables indicated a negligible impact on phytobenthos index. In this way, different explanations of the relationship between biological and trophic variables were revealed.
The current landscape of imaging recommendations in cardiovascular clinical guidelines: toward an imaging-guided precision medicine
Authors: Esposito Antonio , Gallone Guglielmo , Palmisano Anna , Marchitelli Livia , Catapano Federica , Francone Marco
Published: September 2020

The purpose of this article is to provide an overview on the role of CT scan and MRI according to selected guidelines by the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) and the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA). ESC and ACC/AHA guidelines were systematically reviewed for recommendations to CT and MRI use in specific cardiovascular (CV) clinical categories. All recommendations were collected in a dataset, including the class of recommendation, the level of evidence (LOE), the specific imaging technique, the clinical purpose of the recommendation and the recommending Society. Among the 43 included guidelines (ESC: n = 18, ACC/AHA: n = 25), 26 (60.4%) contained recommendations for CT scan or MRI (146 recommendations: 62 for CT and 84 for MRI). Class of recommendation IIa (32.9%) was the most represented, followed by I (28.1%), IIb (24%) and III (11.9%). MRI recommendations more frequently being of higher class (I: 36.9%, IIa: 29.8%, IIb: 21.4%, III: 11.9%) as compared to CT (I: 16.1%, IIa: 37.1%, IIb: 27.4%, III: 19.4%). Most of recommendation (55.5%) were based on expert opinion (LOE C). The use of cardiac CT and cardiac MR in the risk assessment, diagnosis, therapeutic and procedural planning is in continuous development, driven by an increasing need to evolve toward an imaging-guided precision medicine, combined with cost-effectiveness and healthcare sustainability. These developments must be accompanied by an increased availability of high-performance scanners in healthcare facilities and should emphasize the need of increasing the number of radiologists fully trained in cardiac imaging.
Safety and tolerability of repeated sessions of deep transcranial magnetic stimulation in obesity
Authors: Ferrulli Anna , Massarini Stefano , Macrì Concetta , Luzi Livio
Published: September 2020

Purpose

Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) has been demonstrated to be effective in body weight control in individuals with obesity. Most clinical trials on rTMS provided a reassuring safety profile. In the present work, we present an extensive analysis on both severe and mild Adverse Events (AEs) in obese individuals treated with rTMS.

Methods

We examined the intensity, duration, correlation with the treatment, up to 1 year after the end of rTMS treatment.

Results

Descriptive analysis included a total of 63 subjects undergoing a 5-week deep rTMS experimental treatment for obesity (age 48.3 ± 10.4 years; BMI 36.3 ± 4.4 kg/m2): 31 patients were treated with high-frequency rTMS (HF), 13 with low-frequency rTMS (LF), and 19 were sham treated (Sham). Thirty-two subjects (50.8%) reported a total of 52 AEs, including mainly moderate (51.9%) events. The most frequently reported side effects were headaches of moderate intensity (40.4%) and local pain/discomfort (19.2%) and resulted significantly more frequent in HF group compared to other groups (p < 0.05). No significant differences among groups were found for the other reported AEs: drowsiness, insomnia, paresthesia, vasovagal reactions, hypertensive crisis. No AEs potentially related to the rTMS arised up to 1 year from the end of the treatment.

Conclusions

This is the first comprehensive safety analysis in obese patients treated with rTMS. The analysis did not reveal any unexpected safety concerns. Only headaches and local pain/discomfort have been significantly more frequent in the HF group, confirming the good tolerability of rTMS even in the obese population potentially more susceptible to side effects of brain stimulation.
Urinary incontinence and quality of life: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Pizzol Damiano , Demurtas Jacopo , Celotto Stefano , Maggi Stefania , Smith Lee , Angiolelli Gabriele , Trott Mike , Yang Lin , Veronese Nicola
Published: September 2020

Background

Urinary incontinence (UI) and low quality of life (QoL) are two common conditions. Some recent literature proposed that these two entities can be associated. However, no attempt was made to collate this literature. Therefore, the aim of this study was to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of existing data to estimate the strength of the association between UI and QoL.

Methods

An electronic search of major databases up to 18th April 2020 was carried out. Meta-analysis of cross-sectional and case–control studies comparing mean values in QoL between patients with UI and controls was performed, reporting random-effects standardized mean differences (SMDs) ± 95% confidence intervals (CIs) as the effect size. Heterogeneity was assessed with theI2.

Results

Out of 8279 articles initially screened, 23 were finally included for a total of 24,983 participants, mainly women. The mean age was ≥ 50 years in 12/23 studies. UI was significantly associated with poor QoL as assessed by the short-form 36 (SF-36) total score (n = 6 studies; UI: 473 vs. 2971 controls; SMD = − 0.89; 95% CI − 1.3 to − 0.42;I2 = 93.5) and by the sub-scales of SF-36 and 5/8 of the domains included in the SF-36. Similar results were found using other QoL tools. The risk of bias of the studies included was generally high.

Conclusions

UI is associated with a poor QoL, with a strong level of certainty. This work, however, mainly based on cross-sectional and case–control studies, highlights the necessity of future longitudinal studies for better understanding the importance of UI on QoL.
Worldviews: overarching concept, discrete body of knowledge or paradigmatic tool?
Authors: Flanagan Ruth
Published: September 2020

The term ‘worldviews’ is employed across disciplinary boundaries, yet with no agreed definition it may actually obscure rather than clarify meaning. The use of the term has grown in frequency, particularly in Religious Education (RE) in England, since the Commission on RE’s final report (2018), which recommended changing the name of RE to ‘Religion and worldviews’. Response to the report has been mixed. Some fear that an introduction of worldviews may lead to a dilution of RE and overburden an already overstretched teaching profession; others welcome a meaningful study of non-religious worldviews which they view as more pertinent in the current growth of ‘nones’ (Nones’ term used for those who adhere to ‘no faith’, see Woodhead (J Br Acad 4:245–261, 2016)) in England. Teaching worldviews raises questions of selection: are all worldviews equally appropriate for pupils to study and consistent with the aims of education? For example, is it appropriate for a 6 year old to study Hedonism or National Socialism? This paper problematizes the binary nature of the debate and interrogates the usage of the term 'worldviews'. Focusing on ‘institutional worldviews’ is questionable as the role of master narratives, embedded in these, lose currency. The ‘disintegration of master narratives’, (Riessman in Narrative Methods for the Human Sciences. SAGE Publications, Thousand Oaks, 2008, p. 17), has led to a rise in individuals creating their personal embodied worldviews, albeit subconsciously. Rather than consider worldviews as a discrete body of knowledge that imposes on an already overburdened curriculum, I propose that employing worldviews as an overarching concept, providing a type of paradigmatic analysis for RE, may lead to a greater and more profound understanding of religion(s).
A multi-agent model to study epidemic spreading and vaccination strategies in an urban-like environment
Authors: Nadini Matthieu , Zino Lorenzo , Rizzo Alessandro , Porfiri Maurizio
Published: September 2020

Worldwide urbanization calls for a deeper understanding of epidemic spreading within urban environments. Here, we tackle this problem through an agent-based model, in which agents move in a two-dimensional physical space and interact according to proximity criteria. The planar space comprises several locations, which represent bounded regions of the urban space. Based on empirical evidence, we consider locations of different density and place them in a core-periphery structure, with higher density in the central areas and lower density in the peripheral ones. Each agent is assigned to a base location, which represents where their home is. Through analytical tools and numerical techniques, we study the formation mechanism of the network of contacts, which is characterized by the emergence of heterogeneous interaction patterns. We put forward an extensive simulation campaign to analyze the onset and evolution of contagious diseases spreading in the urban environment. Interestingly, we find that, in the presence of a core-periphery structure, the diffusion of the disease is not affected by the time agents spend inside their base location before leaving it, but it is influenced by their motion outside their base location: a strong tendency to return to the base location favors the spreading of the disease. A simplified one-dimensional version of the model is examined to gain analytical insight into the spreading process and support our numerical findings. Finally, we investigate the effectiveness of vaccination campaigns, supporting the intuition that vaccination in central and dense areas should be prioritized.
Psychological trait inferences from women’s clothing: human and machine prediction
Authors: Rosenbusch Hannes , Aghaei Maya , Evans Anthony M. , Zeelenberg Marcel
Published: September 2020

People use clothing to make personality inferences about others, and these inferences steer social behaviors. The current work makes four contributions to the measurement and prediction of clothing-based person perception: first, we integrate published research and open-ended responses to identify common psychological inferences made from clothes (Study 1). We find that people use clothes to make inferences about happiness, sexual interest, intelligence, trustworthiness, and confidence. Second, we examine consensus (i.e., interrater agreement) for clothing-based inferences (Study 2). We observe that characteristics of the inferring observer contribute more to the drawn inferences than the observed clothes, which entails low to medium levels of interrater agreement. Third, the current work examines whether a computer vision model can use image properties (i.e., pixels alone) to replicate human inferences (Study 3). While our best model outperforms a single human rater, its absolute performance falls short of reliability conventions in psychological research. Finally, we introduce a large database of clothing images with psychological labels and demonstrate its use for exploration and replication of psychological research. The database consists of 5000 images of (western) women’s clothing items with psychological inferences annotated by 25 participants per clothing item.
Fitness als Trend des Jugendsports – eine Wissenskultur
Authors: Bindel Tim , Theis Christian
Published: September 2020

Fitnesssport und fitnesssportives Verhalten sind bei vielen Jugendlichen als fester Teil der Freizeit- und Alltagsgestaltung etabliert. Abseits von trainingswissenschaftlichen Untersuchungen betrachtet dieser Beitrag das jugendliche Leben im Kontext Fitness aus sportpädagogischem Blickwinkel. Es wird diskutiert, welche Motive das produktorientierte Fitnesssporttreiben begründen und wie diese mit aktuellen Besonderheiten des adoleszenten Lebens in Verbindung stehen. Durch den dargelegten autoethnografischen Zugang wird aufgezeigt, inwieweit das UntersuchungsgebietJugend, FitnessundLifestyleerwachsene Forschende vor besondere Herausforderungen stellt. Ausgehend von diesen Erkenntnissen werden zentrale Charakteristika des Fitnesssports erarbeitet, bevor die Vorstellung des Forschungsdesigns rund um jugendliche Wissenskulturen und Handlungslegitimationen einen Ausblick in anstehende sportpädagogische Untersuchungen im Kontext Fitness gewährt.
Optimal design scheme based on the segmental transmission line methodology for high-frequency interconnection in 3D micro/nano integration
Authors: Li Chenye , Li Zhensong , Miao Min
Published: September 2020

With the continuous growth of signal frequency and package density, discontinuity of the high-frequency interconnection in 3D micro/nano integration becomes unavoidable, which results in serious signal integrity problems. Traditional interconnection design schemes, such as termination and shielding/isolation, cannot meet the requirements under the unified constraints of specific cost, space occupancy, and performance. In this study, a transmission line design optimization scheme based on the segmental transmission line (STL) methodology is proposed. The genetic algorithm is used to select the optimal segment structure parameters of the transmission line to construct an STL with satisfying transmission performance or meet the specific signal amplitude adjustment requirements. This scheme can be adapted to various signal transmission scenarios to significantly improve the signal loss caused by reflection or other negative electromagnetic factors and meet the requirements for the modeling of discontinuous transmission lines. The simulation results show that this scheme is effective in the design scenario of performance improvement or equivalent modeling of discontinuous transmission lines and has significant advantages in circuit area reduction.
The challenge of privacy and consent enforcement in large-scale enterprise application programmes
Authors: Maxey Dustin
Published: September 2020

Obtaining and managing consent when handling customers' personal data is fraught with difficulties. Organisations understand that they must carefully police this across their entire app development programme, and if they get it wrong the penalties in terms of regulatory sanctions and erosion of customer trust can be enormous.

Obtaining and managing consent when handling customers' personal data is fraught with difficulties. Organisations understand that they must carefully police this across their entire app development programme.

However, if you have confidence in your data policy enforcement, it opens the door to explore a new, more personal relationship with customers and their data. You can deliver an enhanced customer experience because the interaction with the customer – whether via an app or a human customer service representative – is working with a consistent and appropriate data package, explains Dustin Maxey of Ping Identity.
Securing your remote workforce against new phishing attacks
Authors: Sarginson Nic
Published: September 2020

As the spread of Covid-19 forced organisations across the globe to introduce preventive measures, the number of people working remotely has grown dramatically. Despite the challenging circumstances, technology has enabled the continuation of some businesses that would otherwise have ground to a halt. Yet the translation of office-based work to home-based had to happen at speed – for some, literally overnight. Under such conditions, implementing new security measures not already in place is proving a challenge.

The number of people working remotely has grown dramatically, and technology has enabled the continuation of some businesses that would otherwise have ground to a halt.

However, the speed at which this has happened may mean that security has been left behind. As employees adapt to unfamiliar work environments away from the office, their primary focus is not necessarily robust methods of authentication. Multi-factor authentication (MFA) solutions have an important role to play here, offering authentication protocols that work well for employees while providing the right level of protection for networks, systems and data, says Nic Sarginson of Yubico.
The top three factors driving zero trust adoption
Authors: Embrey Bryan
Published: September 2020

Zero trust is gaining ground. And fast. According to the 2019 ‘State of Enterprise Secure Access’ survey, 72% of respondents said they would be moving ahead with zero trust projects in the next 18 months. 1 But why?

Adopting zero trust involves augmenting security at the user and device, implementing policy controls to govern every transaction and protecting all traffic.

There are three primary reasons that enterprises are considering taking a zero trust approach to their security – improved data protection, trust through entity verification and continuous authentication and authorisation. These are values that every cyber security professional would want to pursue, and Bryan Embrey of Pulse Secure shows how to do that.
Why is phishing still successful?
Authors: Bhardwaj Akashdeep , Sapra Varun , Kumar Aman , Kumar Naman , Arthi S
Published: September 2020

In recent times, there has been a dramatic shift from bulk spam emails to targeted email phishing campaigns. Such attacks have started to cause huge brand, financial and operational damage to organisations globally. Phishing attacks involve simple, straightforward, masquerading methodology. 1 The aim is to lure and trick an unsuspecting victim in order to elicit as much information as possible, using SMS, email, WhatsApp and other messaging services, or phone calls that have been spoofed to appear is if they are from known, reliable friends or colleagues. 2