bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Severity and correlates of brain fog in people with traumatic brain injury
Authors: Bell Tyler , Crowe Michael , Novack Thomas , Davis Richard D. , Stavrinos Despina
Published: December 2022

Brain fog is one symptom that has been underexplored in traumatic brain injury (TBI). We explored the cognitive and affective correlates of brain fog in people with symptomatic mild TBI (n = 15), moderate‐to‐severe TBI (n = 15), and a healthy control group (n = 16). Measures across the studies assessed “brain fog” (Mental Clutter Scale), objective cognition (Useful Field of View® and Cogstate Brief Battery®), post‐concussive symptoms (Post‐Concussion Symptom Scale), and depressive symptoms (Profile of Moods Scale). Brain fog was higher in symptomatic mild TBI and moderate‐to‐severe TBI compared with healthy controls. Greater brain fog corresponded to greater depressive symptoms in symptomatic mild TBI. Greater brain fog corresponded to poorer episodic memory and working memory in moderate‐to‐severe TBI. Brain fog appears to reflect challenges in recovery, including depressive symptoms and worse cognitive function. Screening for brain fog might be worthwhile in people with brain injuries.
Robot‐assisted rehabilitation training improves knee function and daily activity ability in older adults following total knee arthroplasty
Authors: Cai Libai , Liu Yanjin , Wei Zexu , Liang Hao , Liu Yangyang , Cui Miaoran
Published: December 2022

To evaluate the effects of robot‐assisted rehabilitation training on knee function and the daily activity ability of older adults following total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Eighty‐eight patients who underwent TKA were randomly assigned to a robot‐assisted rehabilitation or traditional therapy group. The patients in the control group were treated with traditional manual rehabilitation therapy, while the patients in the experimental group were subjected to the robot‐assisted rehabilitation program. Range of motion of the knee joint, Hospital for Special Surgery Knee Rating Score, and the modified Barthel Index were assessed on the first or second day after TKA (preintervention) and the discharge day (postintervention). Additionally, the length of hospital stay and related hospitalization expenses of the two groups were collected on the discharge day. Improvements in the active range of motion (p < 0.001), passive range of motion (p = 0.001), Hospital for Special Surgery Knee Rating Score (p < 0.001), and modified Barthel Index score (p = 0.004) were significantly better in the robot‐assisted rehabilitation group than in the traditional therapy group. Interestingly, the length of hospital stay in the experimental group (9 days) was shorter than that in the control group (13 days), and the total cost of hospitalization was lower (p = 0.002). The robot‐assisted rehabilitation training program is an effective intervention that significantly improves the daily activity ability and knee function of older adults following TKA.
Clinical practice guidelines on interventional management of low back pain: A synthesis of recommendations
Authors: Olivier Timothy J. , Konda Chaitanya , Pham Tri , Baltich Nelson Becky , Patel Ankit , Sharma G. Sunny , Trivedi Kavita , Annaswamy Thiru M.
Published: December 2022

Objective

To summarize the recommendations on the interventional management of subacute and chronic nonradicular low back pain (LBP) from the 21 quality‐appraised clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) identified in a previously published paper: “Quality of Clinical Practice Guidelines on Interventional Management of Low Back Pain: A Systematic Review.” By disseminating this information, we aimed to facilitate the implementation of these recommendations into clinical practice.

Type

Systematic Review

Literature Survey

Electronic bibliographic databases, guideline databases, and gray literature were searched from January 2016 to January 2020 to identify CPGs that met study criteria.

Methodology

A total of 21 CPGs were quality appraised and interventional management recommendations were extracted and organized into several treatment categories including epidural steroid injections, radiofrequency procedures (RF), facet injections, sacroiliac injections, and prolotherapy. Within each treatment category, the recommendations were organized based on two factors: quality of CPG and strength of recommendation.

Synthesis

Overall, there was no consistency in recommendations for or against any interventional procedure, even when accounting for the quality of the CPG. In all of the CPGs reviewed, the most common strength of recommendation was weakly for. The second, third, and fourth most common strength of recommendations were inconclusive, weakly against, and strongly against, respectively, and the least common was strongly for. The treatment categories with the greatest number of recommendations were RF procedures (most common strength of recommendation was weakly for) and facet procedures. Among the high‐quality CPGs, the most common strength of recommendation was inconclusive.

Conclusions

Most of the interventional management recommendations for management of nonradicular LBP in the 21 CPGs appraised in this review were either weakly for, weakly against, or inconclusive, with several recommendations within each treatment category contradicting each other. Appraisal of Guidelines for Research & Evaluation Instrument quality appraisals of CPGs on interventional management of LBP were of unclear utility in guiding clinical implementation.
Genital Lichen Sclerosus and Melanoma; A Systematic Review
Authors: Sim Sharmaine J. Y. , Dear Katherine , Mastoraki Evanthia , James Mariel , Haider Aiman , Ellery Peter , Freeman Alex , Alnajjar Hussain M. , Muneer Asif , Watchorn Richard , Kravvas Georgios , Bunker Christopher B.
Published: December 2022

Background

Lichen sclerosus (LSc) is a chronic, inflammatory, destructive skin disease with a predilection for the genitalia (GLSc). An association with vulval (Vu) and penile (Pe) squamous carcinoma (SCC) is now well established but melanoma (MM) has only rarely been reported complicating GLSc.

Methods

We have performed a systematic literature review of GLSc in patients with genital melanoma (GMM). Only articles that mentioned both GMM and LSc affecting either the penis or vulva were included.

Results

Twelve studies with a total of 20 patients were included. Our review shows that an association of GLSc with GMM has been more frequently reported in women and female children than men viz, 17 cases compared with three. It is notable that five of the cases (27.8%) concerned female children aged under twelve.

Discussion

These data suggest a rare association between GLSc and GMM. If proven, there arise intriguing questions about pathogenesis and consequences for counselling of patients and follow-up.
Competitive Registration Fields for The Development of Complex Block Copolymer Structures by A Layer‐by‐Layer Approach
Authors: Demazy Nils , Argudo Pablo G. , Fleury Guillaume
Published: December 2022

Block copolymer (BCP) self‐assembly in thin films is an elegant method to generate nanometric features with tunable geometrical configurations. By combining directed assembly and hybridization methods, advances in nano‐manufacturing have been attested over the past decades with flagship applications in lithography and optics. Nevertheless, the range of geometrical configurations is limited by the accessible morphologies inherent to the energy minimization process involved in BCP self‐assembly. Layering of nanostructured BCP thin films has been recently proposed in order to enrich the span of nanostructures derived from BCP self‐assembly with the formation of non‐native heterostructures such as double‐layered arrays of nanowires or dots‐on‐line and dots‐in‐hole hierarchical structures. In this work, the layer‐by‐layer method is further exploited for the generation of nano‐mesh arrays using nanostructured BCP thin films. In particular, a subtle combination of chemical and topographical fields is leveraged in order to demonstrate design rules for the controlled registration of a BCP layer on top of an underneath immobilized one by the precise tuning of the interfacial chemical field between the two BCP layers.
Insights into Electrolytic Pre‐Lithiation: A Thorough Analysis Using Silicon Thin Film Anodes
Authors: Haneke Lukas , Pfeiffer Felix , Bärmann Peer , Wrogemann Jens , Peschel Christoph , Neumann Jonas , Kux Fabian , Nowak Sascha , Winter Martin , Placke Tobias
Published: December 2022

Pre‐lithiation via electrolysis, herein defined as electrolytic pre‐lithiation, using cost‐efficient electrolytes based on lithium chloride (LiCl), is successfully demonstrated as a proof‐of‐concept for enabling lithium‐ion battery full‐cells with high silicon content negative electrodes. An electrolyte for pre‐lithiation based on γ‐butyrolactone and LiCl is optimized using boron‐containing additives (lithium bis(oxalato)borate, lithium difluoro(oxalate)borate) and CO2 with respect to the formation of a protective solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) on silicon thin films as model electrodes. Reversible lithiation in Si||Li metal cells is demonstrated with Coulombic efficiencies (CEff) of 95–96% for optimized electrolytes comparable to 1 m LiPF6/EC:EMC 3:7. Formation of an effective SEI is shown by cyclic voltammetry and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). electrolytic pre‐lithiation experiments show that notable amounts of the gaseous product Cl2 dissolve in the electrolyte leading to a self‐discharge Cl2/Cl− shuttle mechanism between the electrodes lowering pre‐lithiation efficiency and causing current collector corrosion. However, no significant degradation of the Si active material and the SEI due to contact with elemental chlorine is found by SEM, impedance, and XPS. In NCM111||Si full‐cells, the capacity retention in the 100th cycle can be significantly increased from 54% to 78% by electrolytic pre‐lithiation, compared to reference cells without pre‐lithiation of Si.
One‐Step Synthesis of Light Metal Nanoparticle from Metastable Complex
Authors: Zou Ren , Zhang Weijin , Dai Min , Lei Gangtie , Jiang Qike , Cao Hujun , Chen Ping
Published: December 2022

Metal nanoparticles have attracted considerable scientific and technological interest in recent years, most related explorations and reports are focused on transition and noble metals. However, the synthesis and application of light metal nanoparticles represented by Mg have not been fully exploited, limited by their ultrahigh reactivity in air and preparation in harsh conditions. In this work, a simple and effective one‐step organic solvent‐assisted ball‐milling process is developed to synthesize Mg and Li nanoparticles, which permits the formation of MgH2 in a hydrogen atmosphere in a one‐step reaction process at ambient temperature. Further studies suggest that acetone chemisorbs on defects/surfaces of Mg during ball milling leading to the formation of a metastable magnesium complex, which significantly alters the physical and chemical characteristics of Mg grains. The formation of metastable complexes provides an attractive strategy to produce light metal nanoparticles and inspires the authors to study the interaction of organic solvents with light metals.
Rare Earth Doping Engineering Tailoring Advanced Oxygen‐Vacancy Co3O4 with Tunable Structures for High‐Efficiency Energy Storage
Authors: He Yao , Zhou Weiqiang , Li Danqin , Liang Yanmei , Chao Shixing , Zhao Xueqian , Zhang Mingming , Xu Jingkun
Published: December 2022

Co3O4 with high theoretical capacitance is a promising electrode material for high‐end energy applications, yet the unexcited bulk electrochemical activity, low conductivity, and poor kinetics of Co3O4 lead to unsatisfactory charge storage capacity. For boosting its energy storage capability, rare earth (RE)‐doped Co3O4 nanostructures with abundant oxygen vacancies are constructed by simple, economical, and universal chemical precipitation. By changing different types of RE (RE = La, Yb, Y, Ce, Er, Ho, Nd, Eu) as dopants, the RE‐doped Co3O4 nanostructures can be well transformed from large nanosheets to coiled tiny nanosheets and finally to ultrafine nanoparticles, meanwhile, their specific surface area, pore distribution, the ratio of Co2+/Co3+, oxygen vacancy content, crystalline phase, microstrain parameter, and the capacitance performance are regularly affected. Notably, Eu‐doped Co3O4 nanoparticles with good cycle stability show a maximum specific capacitance of 1021.3 F g−1 (90.78 mAh g‐1) at 2 A g‐1, higher than 388 F g‐1 (34.49 mAh g‐1) of pristine Co3O4 nanosheets. The assembling asymmetric supercapacitor delivers a high energy density of 48.23 Wh kg‐1 at high power density of 1.2 kW kg‐1. These findings denote the significance and great potential of RE‐doped Co3O4 in the development of high‐efficiency energy storage.
Cranial remains of Ramsayia magna from the Late Pleistocene of Australia and the evolution of gigantism in wombats (Marsupialia, Vombatidae)
Authors: Louys Julien , Duval Mathieu , Beck Robin M. D. , Pease Eleanor , Sobbe Ian , Sands Noel , Price Gilbert J.
Published: December 2022

Giant wombats (defined here as ≥70 kg) are found in the genera Phascolonus, Ramsayia and perhaps Sedophascolomys. Ramsayia is currently the most poorly known, having been described from mandibular and cranial fragments. Here, we report the most complete cranial remains attributable to the genus, identified as R. magna. The specimen provides new insights into the anatomy of the species and evolutionary adaptations to gigantism in Vombatidae. We record parietal sinuses in a vombatid for the first time, an adaptation to increased skull size relative to the braincase. The presence of a prominent premaxillary spine may indicate that the species possessed a large, fleshy nose. Both features are convergent on other large‐bodied, non‐vombatid extinct megaherbivores of Australia such as Diprotodon optatum. We use the cranial remains to examine the phylogenetic relationships of giant wombats to other vombatids. Phylogenetic analysis using maximum parsimony and Bayesian inference indicates that Phascolomys, Ramsayia and Sedophascolomys form a clade, suggesting a single origin of gigantism within Vombatidae. This origin may be related to the exploitation of poor‐quality foods, and preceded extreme specializations observed in the cranial anatomy of the giant wombats. U‐series and combined U‐series and electron spin resonance (ESR) dating methods were applied to one fossil tooth. Age calculations systematically correlate the fossil remains to Marine Isotope Stage 5, and an age of c. 80 000 years can be proposed for this specimen. With only a single well‐dated occurrence for this taxon, it is currently impossible to determine when and why R. magna became extinct.
Ulcerative colitis increases risk of hypertension in a UK biobank cohort study
Authors: He Jinshen , Zhang Shaozhao , Qiu Yun , Liu Fen , Liu Zishan , Tan Jinyu , Hu Fan , Wu Xiaomin , Wang Yu , Zhou Longyuan , Hu Shixian , Chen Minhu , Liao Xinxue , Zhuang Xiaodong , Mao Ren
Published: December 2022

Objective

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is not only a chronic inflammatory disorder of the gastrointestinal tract but also accompanied by systemic inflammation. The onset of hypertension is closely related to systemic inflammation. However, the relationship between IBD and hypertension has not been investigated. We aimed to investigate the potential association between IBD and the incidence of hypertension.

Method

We retrieved IBD onset and the incidence of hypertension from a public database UK Biobank. The association between the onset of IBD and subsequent incidence of hypertension was analyzed using a multivariate Cox regression analysis, and propensity score matching was performed for sensitivity analysis.

Result

Of a total of 281,064 participants included in the study, 2376 (0.8%) were diagnosed with IBD at baseline, and 20,129 (7.2%) in the whole cohort developed hypertension with a median follow‐up duration of 8.1 years (interquartile range [IQR] 7.3–8.8 years). Patients with IBD had a higher cumulative risk of hypertension compared with general population (10.9% in ulcerative colitis [UC], 7.7% in Crohn's disease [CD], and 9.3% in IBD unclassified [IBD‐U] vs. 7.1% in non‐IBD, p < 0.001). Multivariate Cox regression analysis identified that UC, rather than CD or IBD‐U, was independently associated with subsequent occurrence of hypertension (HR 1.30, 95% CI: 1.11–1.52, p = 0.001). In propensity matching analysis, UC also showed its robustness as a risk factor for the prediction of hypertension (HR 1.56, 95% CI: 1.21–2.03, p = 0.001).

Conclusion

In IBD patients, UC rather than CD is associated with a higher risk for the incidence of hypertension compared with general population. Close monitoring of hypertension might be required in clinical practice.
Association between sonographic sling location and success of surgery for stress urinary incontinence
Authors: Hubka P. , Masata J. , Martan A. , Dvorak J. , Lincova M. , Svabik K.
Published: December 2022

Objective

To determine the relationship between the clinical outcome of suburethral sling surgery for stress urinary incontinence and sling location on ultrasound examination.

Methods

This was a retrospective study of patients diagnosed with stress urinary incontinence who were treated with a suburethral sling by a single surgeon between January 2009 and October 2016. Four‐dimensional volumes acquired on transperineal ultrasound at least 3 months postoperatively were analyzed and the gap between the sling and symphysis pubis (sling–pubis gap (SPG)) on Valsalva maneuver was measured. Continence was assessed on a cough stress test at follow‐up.

Results

A total of 378 patients were included, with a mean follow‐up of 14.3 months. The success rate of sling surgery was 89.4%. The mean ± SD SPG on Valsalva maneuver was 12.0 ± 2.5 mm in women who were clinically continent at follow‐up and 14.1 ± 2.8 mm in those with failed surgery (P < 0.001).

Conclusion

A shorter SPG on transperineal ultrasound imaging after suburethral sling surgery is associated with cure of stress urinary incontinence. © 2022 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Assay interference leading to erroneous pregnancy‐associated plasma protein‐A results
Authors: Jones S. L. , Mills I. , Petchey M. , Williams C.
Published: December 2022

Linked article: There is a comment on this article by Matyszkiewicz et al. Click here to view the Correspondence.
Intestine‐on‐a‐chip for intestinal disease study and pharmacological research
Authors: Zhang Dongxue , Qiao Liang
Published: December 2022

Intestinal diseases seriously affect the quality of life. The assays for intestinal disease study based on two‐dimensional in vitro cell culture and animal models fail to model human physiology and pathophysiology accurately. As a bridge between in vitro cell culture and clinical pathological specimens, intestine‐on‐a‐chip lined with living cells under dynamic flow can recapitulate the human intestinal microenvironment with high precision. Here, we summarize important elements for reconstructing the intestinal microenvironment and the mostly used intestine‐on‐a‐chip models that simulate the basic intestinal microenvironment, and the intestinal microenvironment with pathogenic bacteria, probiotic bacteria, viruses, tumor cells, and parasites. We also introduce the commonly used analytical techniques, including immunofluorescence imaging, mass spectrometry, DNA/RNA‐based analysis, and electrochemistry, which can be integrated with intestine chips for intestinal microenvironment characterization. We further review the application of intestine‐on‐a‐chip for intestinal disease study and pharmacological research. Finally, we discuss the application prospects and challenges of intestine chips in biomedical and clinical research.
Effects of antimicrobial agents on the processing and performance properties of rubber material formulations with no cytotoxicity
Authors: El Nashar Doaa E. , Helaly Fahima M. , Khalaf Aman I. , Rozik Nehad N. , Kandil Heba , Koriem Adel A. , Ellaban Ayman M. , Abd El‐Moez Sherein I. , Soliman Abdelmohsen M.
Published: December 2022

The present work aims to develop antimicrobial rubber for safe industrial toys. For this purpose, natural rubber (NR) and synthetic rubber as styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) and ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) were examined. Rubber and their ingredients as well as antimicrobial agents (doxycycline and cephalexin) were mixed in a rubber mixer. The rheological properties of compounded rubber were studied, and the curing time was determined. Mechanical properties and cytotoxicity were evaluated at optimally cured rubber compounds. Scanning electron micrographs of vulcanizates showed good dispersion of ingredients throughout the investigated matrices. Rheology study for the investigated vulcanizates in presence of tested antimicrobial species exhibited no significant change in their flow behaviors. It is significant to remember that the desired physical characteristics of rubber products, including their chemical and mechanical characteristics (elongation at break and tensile strength) enhanced when doxycycline and cephalexin are present, depending on their nature and concentration. Similar results were obtained for both the SBR and EPDM rubber vulcanizates. The cytotoxicity of the prepared vulcanizates towards human normal retina cell line (RPI‐1) indicated good safety of these rubber products. Furthermore, developed rubber vulcanizates showed good antimicrobial efficacy towards the test bacteria and fungi strains.”
Modellierung narrativer Raumindikatoren
Authors: Schumacher Mareike K.
Published: December 2022

In diesem Kapitel wird ein theoriebasiertes, als fuzzy-set nachnutzbares Modell narrativer Raumdarstellung vorgestellt. Die Grundlagen des Modells und des darin eingefassten Kategoriensystems sind einerseits literaturwissenschaftliche und andererseits phänomenologische Betrachtungen des Raumes. Vier Parameter narrativer Raumdarstellung finden hier besondere Berücksichtigung: Das Begriffsverständnis von „Raum“ als narratologischer Kategorie, die Betrachtung von Raum als literarisches Motiv, Raum als Strukturphänomen von Texten und Raum als Konstruktion zwischen Text und Leser*in. Aus phänomenologischer Perspektive wird vor allem eine wissenschaftshistorische Begriffsentwicklung von „Raum“ nachgezeichnet. Vom frühen Verständnis eines objektiven Raumes über den relationalen Raumbegriff bis hin zum sozialen und kulturellen Raum werden die phänomenologischen Aspekte daraufhin untersucht, ob sie zur Operationalisierung literarischer Raumdarstellungen im Rahmen des fuzzy-set-Modells beitragen können.
Vermessung narrativer Raumdarstellung
Authors: Schumacher Mareike K.
Published: December 2022

Um Raumdarstellungen in narrativen Texten vermessen zu können, müssen (mindestens) zwei Größen definiert sein: Raumdarstellung und das Narrativ bzw. der Erzähltext, in dem sie vermessen werden soll. In diesem Kapitel werden die definitorischen Grundlagen für ein Verständnis von Erzähltexten gelegt, das auf die Untersuchung von Indikatoren der Raumdarstellung zugespitzt ist. Nachdem im ersten Teilkapitel eine Arbeitsdefinition von Erzählungen aufgestellt wurde, wird im zweiten Teilkapitel festgelegt, was unter Raumdarstellung in Narrativen verstanden wird.
Annotationsguidelines
Authors: Schumacher Mareike K.
Published: December 2022

In diesem Abschnitt werden Annotationsguidelines für die sechs Kategorien von Indikatoren narrativen Raumes und Raummetaphern vorgestellt. Jede Kategorie wird aus den vorherigen Betrachtungen hergeleitet, definiert und mit Beispielen illustriert. Das Kategoriensystem für Indikatoren narrativen Raumes ist dynamisch anpassbar und kann flexibel nachgenutzt werden.
Maschinelles Erlernen der narrativen Raumindikatoren
Authors: Schumacher Mareike K.
Published: December 2022

In diesem Kapitel werden Vorarbeiten, Trainingsprozess und Bewertung eines Machine-Lerning-Classifiers dokumentiert, der Indikatoren für narrative Räume erkennt und klassifiziert. Der Trainingsprozess umfasst insgesamt fünf Iterationen. Von der ersten Probeannotation über Ausweitungen des Trainingskorpus, Konsistenzerhöhung, Guideline-Erstellung und Berechnung eines Inter-Annotator-Agreements für die Kategorien narrativen Raumes wird der Prozess nachvollziehbar dargestellt. Trainings-, Test- und Bewertungsdaten werden ergänzend zur Prüfung und Nachnutzung bereitgestellt.
Gene expression profiling in NOD mice reveals that B cells are highly educated by the pancreatic environment during autoimmune diabetes
Authors: Boldison Joanne , Hopkinson Jessica R. , Davies Joanne , Pearson James A. , Leete Pia , Richardson Sarah , Morgan Noel G. , Wong F. Susan
Published: December 2022

Aims/hypothesis

B cells play an important role in driving the development of type 1 diabetes; however, it remains unclear how they contribute to local beta cell destruction during disease progression. Here, we use gene expression profiling of B cell subsets identified in inflamed pancreatic tissue to explore their primary functional role during the progression of autoimmune diabetes.

Methods

Transcriptional profiling was performed on FACS-sorted B cell subsets isolated from pancreatic islets and the pancreatic lymph nodes of NOD mice.

Results

B cells are highly modified by the inflamed pancreatic tissue and can be distinguished by their transcriptional profile from those in the lymph nodes. We identified both a discrete and a core shared gene expression profile in islet CD19+CD138– and CD19+CD138+ B cell subsets, the latter of which is known to have enriched autoreactivity during diabetes development. On localisation to pancreatic islets, compared with CD138– B cells, CD138+ B cells overexpress genes associated with adhesion molecules and growth factors. Their shared signature consists of gene expression changes related to the differentiation of antibody-secreting cells and gene regulatory networks associated with IFN signalling pathways, proinflammatory cytokines and Toll-like receptor (TLR) activation. Finally, abundant TLR7 expression was detected in islet B cells and was enhanced specifically in CD138+ B cells.

Conclusions/interpretation

Our study provides a detailed transcriptional analysis of islet B cells. Specific gene signatures and interaction networks have been identified that point towards a functional role for B cells in driving autoimmune diabetes.

Graphical abstract
Lattice packings through division algebras
Authors: Gargava Nihar Prakash
Published: December 2022

In this text, we will show the existence of lattice packings in a family of dimensions by employing division algebras. This construction is a generalization of Venkatesh’s lattice packing result Venkatesh (Int Math Res Notices 2013(7): 1628–1642, 2013). In our construction, we replace the appearance of the cyclotomic number field with a division algebra over the rational field. We employ a probabilistic argument to show the existence of lattices in certain dimensions with good packing densities. The approach improves the best known lower bounds on the lattice packing problem for certain dimensions.We work with a moduli space of lattices that are invariant under the action of a finite group, one that can be embedded inside a division algebra. To obtain our existence result, we prove a division algebra variant of the Siegel’s mean value theorem. In order to establish this, we describe a useful description of the Haar measure on our moduli space and a coarse fundamental domain to perform the integration.
Low population genetic structure is consistent with high habitat connectivity in a commercially important fish species (Lutjanus jocu)
Authors: Tovar Verba Julia , Stow Adam , Bein Bernhard , Pennino Maria Grazia , Lopes Priscila F. M. , Ferreira Beatrice P. , Mortier Meghana , Maia Queiroz Lima Sergio , Pereira Ricardo J.
Published: December 2022

The level of habitat availability influences genetic divergence among populations and the genetic diversity within populations. In the marine environment, near-shore species are among the most sensitive to habitat changes. Knowledge of how historical environmental change affected habitat availability and genetic variation can be applied to the development of proactive management strategies of exploited species. Here, we modeled the contemporary and historical distribution ofLutjanus jocuin Brazil. We describe patterns of genomic diversity to better understand how climatic cycles might correlate with the species demographic history and current genetic structure. We show that during the Last Glacial Maximum, there were ecological barriers that are absent today, possibly dividing the range of the species into three geographically separated areas of suitable habitat. Consistent with a historical reduction in habitat area, our analysis of demographic changes shows thatL. jocuexperienced a severe bottleneck followed by a population size expansion. We also found an absence of genetic structure and similar levels of genetic diversity throughout the sampled range of the species. Collectively, our results suggest that habitat availability changes have not obviously influenced contemporary levels of genetic divergence between populations. However, our demographic analyses suggest that the high sensitivity of this species to environmental change should be taken into consideration for management strategies. Furthermore, the general low levels of genetic structure and inference of high gene flow suggest thatL. joculikely constitutes a single stock in Brazilian waters and, therefore, requires coordinated legislation and management across its distribution.
Patient involvement in pharmacovigilance: determinants and evolution of reporting from 2011 to 2020 in France
Authors: Adopo D. , Daynes P. , Benkebil M. , Debs A. , Jonville-Berra AP. , Polard E. , Micallef J. , Maison P.
Published: December 2022

Introduction

Because patients and patient organizations want to strengthen their role in the care pathway and drug evaluation and in order to improve pharmacovigilance activities, European competent authorities implemented regulations to allow direct reporting of adverse drug reactions related to medicinal products by patients in 2012.

Objectives

To describe evolution and analyze determinants of patient reporting activity in France in order to assess patient involvement in pharmacovigilance.

Method

Using the French national pharmacovigilance database, univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to compare the characteristics of adverse drug reaction (ADR) reports from patients and healthcare professionals (HCP) between 2011 and 2020. The relationship between regional patient ADR report activity and regional care provision and socio-professional characteristics was analyzed using the principal component analysis.

Results

A significant and higher increase in ADR reports over time from patients (r = 0.89, p < 0.001) compared to HCP (r = 0.27, p = 0.002) has been observed. Patient ADR report activities compared to HCP concerned more women (80% vs. 55%, p < 0.001), younger age classes (p < 0.001), reporting through web portal (83% vs. 17%, p < 0.001), and less serious events (26% vs. 63%, p < 0.001). In the principal component analysis, regional patient reporting activity was related to socio-professional categories, age classes, and densities of hospital beds and physicians.

Conclusion

Our results confirm an increasing involvement of patients in ADR report activities. The determinants of patient reporting activities are not only related to drug and medical factors but also to social factors. Digital tools may also play a role in health democracy in pharmacovigilance.
[18F]Fluoride PET provides distinct information on disease activity in ankylosing spondylitis as compared to MRI and conventional radiography
Authors: de Jongh Jerney , Verweij Nicki J. F. , Yaqub Maqsood , van Denderen Christiaan J. , van der Horst-Bruinsma Irene E. , Bot Joost C. J. , Boden Bouke J. H. , Hemke Robert , Smithuis Frank F. , Lems Willem F. , Lammertsma Adriaan A. , Voskuyl Alexandre E. , Boers Maarten , Zwezerijnen Gerben J. C. , van der Laken Conny J.
Published: December 2022

Purpose

To relate [18F]fluoride uptake on PET with abnormalities on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and conventional radiography (CR) in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients.

Methods

Ten clinically active AS patients (female 6/10, age 38 ± 11 years) were included, and both spine and SI-joints were examined. PET scans were dichotomously scored for enhanced [18F]fluoride uptake, MRI scans were scored for fatty lesions, erosions, ankylosis, and bone marrow edema (BME), and CR was scored for erosions, syndesmophytes, and ankylosis. The overlap of lesions across all modalities was evaluated through univariate and multivariate analyses using a generalized mixed model.

Results

In the spine, 69 lesions with enhanced [18F]fluoride uptake, 257 MRI lesions, and 88 CR lesions were observed. PET lesions were mostly located in costovertebral and facet joints, outside the field of view (FOV) of the MRI and CR. However, PET lesions inside the FOV of MRI and CR partially showed no abnormality on MRI and CR. In lesions with abnormalities on multiple modalities, both univariate and multivariate analysis showed that PET activity had the strongest association with BME on MRI and ankylosis on CR. In the SI joints, 15 lesions (75%) with PET uptake were found, with 87% showing abnormalities on MRI and CR.

Conclusion

[18F]fluoride PET lesions are often found outside the scope of MRI and CR, and even in the same location show only partial overlap with abnormalities on MRI (especially BME) and CR (especially ankylosis). This suggests that [18F]fluoride PET partially visualizes aspects of AS separate from MRI and CR, providing novel information.

Clinical trial registration

NL43223.029.13 registered at 02-05-2013. https://www.toetsingonline.nl/to/ccmo_search.nsf/fABRpop?readform&unids=C1257BA2002CC066C1257B4E0049A65A
Analysis of brain and spinal MRI measures in a common domain to investigate directional neurodegeneration in motor neuron disease
Authors: Toh C. , Keslake A. , Payne T. , Onwuegbuzie A. , Harding J. , Baster K. , Hoggard N. , Shaw P. J. , Wilkinson I. D. , Jenkins T. M.
Published: December 2022

Background

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain and cervical spinal cord is often performed in diagnostic evaluation of suspected motor neuron disease/amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (MND/ALS). Analysis of MRI-derived tissue damage metrics in a common domain facilitates group-level inferences on pathophysiology. This approach was applied to address competing hypotheses of directionality of neurodegeneration, whether anterograde, cranio-caudal dying-forward from precentral gyrus or retrograde, dying-back.

Methods

In this cross-sectional study, MRI was performed on 75 MND patients and 13 healthy controls. Precentral gyral thickness was estimated from volumetric T1-weighted images using FreeSurfer, corticospinal tract fractional anisotropy (FA) from diffusion tensor imaging using FSL, and cross-sectional cervical cord area between C1-C8 levels using Spinal Cord Toolbox. To analyse these multimodal data within a common domain, individual parameter estimates representing tissue damage at each corticospinal tract level were first converted to z-scores, referenced to healthy control norms. Mixed-effects linear regression models were then fitted to these z-scores, with gradients hypothesised to represent directionality of neurodegeneration.

Results

At group-level, z-scores did not differ significantly between precentral gyral and intracranial corticospinal tract tissue damage estimates (regression coefficient − 0.24, [95% CI − 0.62, 0.14], p = 0.222), but step-changes were evident between intracranial corticospinal tract and C1 (1.14, [95% CI 0.74, 1.53], p < 0.001), and between C5 and C6 cord levels (0.98, [95% CI 0.58, 1.38], p < 0.001).

Discussion

Analysis of brain and cervical spinal MRI data in a common domain enabled investigation of pathophysiological hypotheses in vivo. A cranio-caudal step-change in MND patients was observed, and requires further investigation in larger cohorts.
Unterstützung der Opioidrotation mithilfe von Online-Apps
Authors: Wandrey Jan D. , Behnel Niklas , Tafelski Sascha
Published: December 2022

Hintergrund

Aufgrund von Arzneimittelnebenwirkungen, Medikamenteninteraktionen oder wegen inadäquater Wirkung bei der Behandlung mit Opioiden kann eine Opioidrotation indiziert sein. Zur Bestimmung der oralen Morphinäquivalenz ist mit der Leitlinie „Langzeitanwendung von Opioiden bei chronischen nicht-tumorbedingten Schmerzen (LONTS)“ ein Praxiswerkzeug veröffentlicht. Dem gegenüber stehen mehrere Apps, die bislang nicht bewertet wurden.

Material und Methoden

Mittels Google Play Store®, iOS App Store® und der Suchmaschine Google® wurden Apps zur Opioidkonversion gesucht. Deutsch- und englischsprachige Apps mit Kalkulatorfunktion wurden eingeschlossen. Mit den Apps wurden 16 Testfälle aus der klinischen Praxis kalkuliert und die Abweichung von der Empfehlung der LONTS-Leitlinie berechnet.

Ergebnisse

Insgesamt wurden 17 Apps identifiziert. Elf benannten die Herkunft des Algorithmus, 3 davon benannten Literaturquellen. Keine App wies ein Qualitätssiegel auf, zudem ließen sich mit keiner App sämtliche Fälle lösen. Es wurden Abweichungen der resultierenden oralen Morphinäquivalente um +179 % von der leitliniengerechten Umrechnung identifiziert. Vier Apps warnten vor Überdosierungen.

Schlussfolgerung

Obwohl die Apps die Umrechnung zwischen Opioiden vereinfachen, besteht eine hohe Varianz der Umrechnungsfaktoren und teils eine große Abweichung von evidenzbasierten Tabellen. Insgesamt besteht ein hohes Risiko von Opioidfehldosierungen.
Fabrication process for FEP piezoelectrets based on photolithographically structured thermoforming templates
Authors: Flachs D. , Emmerich F. , Thielemann C.
Published: December 2022

Piezoelectrets fabricated from fluoroethylenepropylene (FEP)-foils have shown drastic increase of their piezoelectric properties during the last decade. This led to the development of FEP-based energy harvesters, which are about to evolve into a technology with a power-generation-capacity of milliwatt per square-centimeter at their resonance frequency. Recent studies focus on piezoelectrets with solely negative charges, as they have a better charge stability and a better suitability for implementation in rising technologies, like the internet of things (IOT) or portable electronics. With these developments heading towards applications of piezoelectrets in the near future, there is an urgent need to also address the fabrication process in terms of scalability, reproducibility and miniaturization. In this study, we firstly present a comprehensive review of the literature for a deep insight into the research that has been done in the field of FEP-based piezoelectrets. For the first time, we propose the employment of microsystem-technology and present a process for the fabrication of thermoformed FEP piezoelectrets based on thermoforming SU-8 templates. Following this process, unipolar piezoelectrets were fabricated with air void dimensions in the range of 300–1000 $$\upmu \text {m}$$

μ
m

in width and approx. 90 $$\upmu \text {m}$$

μ
m

in height. For samples with a void size of 1000 $$\upmu \text {m}$$

μ
m

, a $$d_{33}$$

d
33

-coefficient up to 26,508 pC/N has been achieved, depending on the applied seismic mass. Finally, the properties as energy harvester were characterized. At the best, an electrical power output of 0.51 mW was achieved for an acceleration of 1 $$\times$$
×
g with a seismic mass of 101 g. Such piezoelectrets with highly defined dimensions show good energy output in relation to volume, with high potential for widespread applications.
Professionals’ adaptive expertise and adaptive performance in educational and workplace settings: an overview of reviews
Authors: Pelgrim Els , Hissink Elske , Bus Lotte , van der Schaaf Marieke , Nieuwenhuis Loek , van Tartwijk Jan , Kuijer-Siebelink Wietske
Published: December 2022

Professionals will increasingly be confronted with new insights and changes. This raises questions as to what kind of expertise professionals need, and how development of this expertise can be influenced within the contexts of both education and work. The terms adaptive expertise and adaptive performance are well-known concepts in the domains of education and Human Resource Development respectively. The literature, however, lacks a conceptual overview. Our research seeks to provide an overview on how adaptive expertise and adaptive performance are conceptualized. In addition we looked for what individual, task and organizational characteristics relate to adaptive expertise. We mined information drawn from existing reviews in an overview of reviews. Nine reviews met the inclusion criteria. Adaptive performance is best referred to as the visible expression of an adaptive expert and this is triggered by ‘change’. The scope of this ‘change’ lies somewhere between change that is ‘new for the learner’ and change that is ‘new for everyone in the whole world’. The extent to and way in which a learner or professional is able to deal with this change depends on the maturity of the learner or professional. We found numerous individual, task and environmental characteristics related to adaptive expertise and adaptive performance. The nature and relation of these characteristics, and their specificity in relation to adaptive expertise and adaptive performance are visualized in a figure, but also provide several suggestions for future research.
Distinctiveness of Reactive and Proactive Aggression from a Variable- and Person-based Approach in Juvenile Offenders and Community Youth
Authors: Maneiro Lorena , Argudo Aarón , Gómez-Fraguela Xosé Antón
Published: December 2022

The goal of this study was to examine the distinctiveness of reactive aggression (RA) and proactive aggression (PA) from a variable- and person-based approach, their psychosocial correlates and behavioral outcomes, and analyze their replicability across two samples of adolescents. The forensic sample was composed of 231 juvenile offenders and the community sample included 321 youth. At a variable-based level, the results of the factor analysis supported the original two-factor model of aggression, and RA and PA showed differential associations with a set of psychosocial correlates and behavioral outcomes. At a person-based level, three subgroups were identified, namely low aggression, moderate RA, and mixed aggression. The mixed aggression group showed the most severe profile in both samples. These results support the distinctiveness of RA and PA at a variable-based level but lead to consider PA as a severity marker rather than a distinct subgroup at a person-based level.
Association of isoproterenol infusion during catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation with outcomes: insights from the UC San Diego AF Ablation Registry
Authors: Aldaas Omar M. , Darden Douglas , Mylavarapu Praneet S. , Han Frederick T. , Hoffmayer Kurt S. , Krummen David , Ho Gordon , Raissi Farshad , Feld Gregory K. , Hsu Jonathan C.
Published: December 2022

Background

High-dose isoproterenol infusion is a useful provocative maneuver to elicit triggers of atrial fibrillation (AF) during ablation. We evaluated whether the use of isoproterenol infusion to elicit triggers of AF after ablation is associated with differential outcomes.

Methods

We performed a retrospective study of all patients who underwent de novo radiofrequency catheter ablation of AF enrolled in the University of California, San Diego AF Ablation Registry. The primary outcome was freedom from atrial arrhythmias on or off antiarrhythmic drugs (AAD).

Results

Of 314 patients undergoing AF ablation, 235 (74.8%) received isoproterenol while 79 (25.2%) did not. Among those who received isoproterenol, 11 (4.7%) had additional triggers identified. There were no statistically significant differences in procedure time (p = 0.432), antiarrhythmic drug use (p = 0.289), procedural complications (p = 0.279), recurrences of atrial arrhythmias on or off AAD [adjusted hazard ratio (AHR) 0.92 (95% CI 0.58–1.46); p = 0.714], all-cause hospitalizations [AHR 1.00 (95% CI 0.60–1.67); p = 0.986], or all-cause mortality [AHR 0.14 (95% CI 0.01–3.52); p = 0.229] between groups.

Conclusions

In this registry analysis, use of isoproterenol is safe but was not associated with a reduction in recurrence of atrial arrhythmias.
A Function Approximation Approach for Parametric Optimization
Authors: De Marchi Alberto , Dreves Axel , Gerdts Matthias , Gottschalk Simon , Rogovs Sergejs
Published: December 2022

We present a novel approach for approximating the primal and dual parameter-dependent solution functions of parametric optimization problems. We start with an equation reformulation of the first-order necessary optimality conditions. Then, we replace the primal and dual solutions with some approximating functions and find for some test parameters optimal coefficients as solution of a single nonlinear least-squares problem. Under mild assumptions it can be shown that stationary points are global minima and that the function approximations interpolate the solution functions at all test parameters. Further, we have a cheap function evaluation criterion to estimate the approximation error. Finally, we present some preliminary numerical results showing the viability of our approach.
Vascular anomalies in patients with growth hormone-secreting pituitary adenomas: illustrative case report and systematic review of the literature
Authors: Spille Dorothee Cäcilia , Vorona Elena , Catalino Michael P. , Reuter Gilles , Beckers Albert , Holling Markus , Fava Arianna , Stummer Walter , Laws Edward R. , Suero-Molina Eric
Published: December 2022

Purpose

Endonasal resection is the first-line treatment for patients harboring growth hormone (GH)-secreting pituitary adenomas. The complexity of the parasellar neurovascular structures makes pre-operative diagnostic imaging essential to understanding the anatomy of this region. We aimed to describe vascular anomalies in acromegalic patients and emphasize their relevance for surgery and preoperative planning.

Methods

A systematic review following the PRISMA statement was performed in July 2021.

Results

Thirty-three studies were evaluated. Elevated GH and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) levels are linked to the occurrence of cardiovascular risk factors. This is attributed to endothelial dysfunction, mainly caused by changes in flow-mediated dilatation (FMD), which is probably the main cause of vascular anomalies in acromegaly. The occurrence of protrusions of the internal carotid artery (ICA) (35–53%), a narrow intercarotid distance, and an asymmetrical course was described. In 13–18% of acromegalic patients, the presence of an intracerebral aneurysm could be reported (incidence in the general population:0.8–1.3%). The selected studies were however performed with a small patient sample (range:1–257).

We present a case report of a 57y/o male patient with anomalies of the ICA (“kissing carotid arteries”) harboring a GH-secreting adenoma, which was resected via an endoscopic endonasal approach.

Conclusions

There is an association between acromegaly and endothelial dysfunction, which increases cardiovascular risk factors and vascular anomalies. Preoperative vascular imaging, e.g., CT angiography, should be implemented as a standard to identify patients at risk and estimate surgical morbidity. However, no evidence-based recommendations exist so far, so future studies are necessary.