bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Wearable Sensors for Physiological Condition and Activity Monitoring
Authors: Srikrishnarka Pillalamarri , Haapasalo Joonas , Hinestroza Juan P. , Sun Zhipei , Nonappa
Published: May 2024

Rapid technological advancements have transformed the healthcare sector from traditional diagnosis and treatment to personalized health management. Biofluids such as teardrops, sweat, interstitial fluids, and exhaled breath condensate offer a rich source of metabolites that can be linked to the physiological status of an individual. More importantly, these biofluids contain biomarkers similar to those in the blood. Therefore, developing sensors for the noninvasive determination of biofluid‐based metabolites can overcome traditionally invasive and laborious blood‐test‐based diagnostics. In this context, wearable devices offer real‐time and continuous physiological conditions and activity monitoring. The first‐generation wearables included wristwatches capable of tracking heart rate variations, breathing rate, body temperature, stress responses, and sleeping patterns. However, wearable sensors that can accurately measure the metabolites are needed to achieve real‐time analysis of biomarkers. In this review, recent progresses in wearable sensors utilized to monitor metabolites in teardrops, breath condensate, sweat, and interstitial fluids are thoroughly analyzed. More importantly, how metabolites can be selectively detected, quantified, and monitored in real‐time is discussed. Furthermore, the review includes a discussion on the utility of, multifunctional sensors that combine metabolite sensing, human activity monitoring, and on‐demand drug delivery system for theranostic applications.
Biostatistics deserts and scholarly productivity among US medical schools
Authors: Vasilopoulos Terrie , Tumin Dmitry
Published: May 2024

The teaching and practice of biostatistics are essential to medical education, but access to biostatistical expertise is limited at many medical schools. Medical schools in rural and historically underserved areas may be doubly disadvantaged in accessing biostatistics expertise by their lack of financial resources and a lack of local programmes training future generations of biostatisticians. Using public data on US medical schools and biostatistics PhD programmes, we identified medical schools operating in ‘biostatistics deserts’ (institutions without an affiliated or colocated PhD programme in biostatistics) and correlated each medical school's location in a biostatistics desert with scholarly productivity, operationalized as the annual number of scholarly publications. Among 126 MD‐granting medical schools in our analysis, 46% were located in a biostatistics desert and had a median of 590 publications/year, compared to 993 for medical schools with a colocated PhD programme and 1,369 with an affiliated programme. On multivariable analysis, the presence of a Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Research Design (BERD) programme, but not affiliation or colocation with a biostatistics PhD program, was associated with higher scholarly productivity. Structured biostatistics services, such as BERD programmes, may represent the best opportunity for medical schools to leverage the local biostatistics workforce to support scholarly publication.
Implementing CLIL Innovation in a Collaborative Teacher Education Ecosystem
Authors: Zhu Yan , Peng Bo , Shu Dingfang , Newton Jonathan
Published: May 2024

This paper reports on the implementation of a 6‐month collaborative teacher education project (CTEP) in China, designed to help teachers adopt CLIL in response to new primary school curriculum requirements. A multi‐site case study was conducted to track two focal teachers' changes in CLIL implementation and its sustainability. Adopting ecological theory, the study investigated how teachers' interactions with university‐based, district‐based, and school‐based teacher educators in the project contributed to their professional development. Our research focused on an innovative dimension of the project, namely, close collaboration among university researchers, teacher educators, and primary teachers who all contributed to the CTEP ecosystem. Data collection involved semi‐structured interviews at the pre‐stage, while‐stage, post‐stage, and delayed post‐stages of the project, classroom observation notes, lesson study minutes, field notes, informal exchanges, and project documents. Our data analysis revealed that although both teachers had a positive attitude towards CLIL, they exhibited different trajectories of changes in their pedagogical practices. The teachers' interactions with teacher educators within and across the four sub‐contexts in the CTEP ecosystem played a significant role in their professional development. Notably, the school‐based teacher educators contributed by establishing a collaborative teaching study group (TSG) that ensured sustainable professional development for the teachers. The findings of this study have important implications for educational policymaking and for designing and implementing collaborative teacher education programmes that offer an alternative to traditional top‐down modes of language teacher professional development.
The single picker routing problem with scattered storage: modeling and evaluation of routing and storage policies
Authors: Lüke Laura , Heßler Katrin , Irnich Stefan
Published: May 2024

Despite ongoing automation efforts, most warehouses are still manually operated using a person-to-parts collection strategy. This process of collecting items of customer orders from different storage locations accounts for the majority of the operating costs of the warehouse. Hence, optimizing picker routes is an important instrument to reduce labor costs. We examine the scattered-storage variant of the single picker routing problem in a one-block parallel-aisle warehouse. With scattered storage, an article can be stored at several storage locations within the warehouse, whereas with classic storage, each article has a unique storage location. We use our recently published network-flow model with covering constraints that is based on an extension of the state space of the dynamic-programming formulation by Ratliff and Rosenthal. With modifications in the state graph, this model serves for both exact and all established heuristic routing methods for picker routing. The latter include traversal, return, largest gap, midpoint, and composite. We show that these routing policies can also be implemented through adaptations in the state space. Extensive computational studies highlight a comparison of the different routing and storage policies (in particular class-based storage policies) in the scattered storage context. Analyses demonstrate which combinations of policies are advantageous for the given warehouse layout. For class-based storage policies, we emphasize how the scattering of articles of different classes should be performed: scattering of C-articles is advantageous with reductions of up to 25%. In contrast, when articles are uniformly distributed, A-articles should be scattered.
Accuracy and error analysis of optical liquid film thickness measurement with total internal reflection method (TIRM)
Authors: Grasso Matteo , Petrov Victor , Manera Annalisa
Published: May 2024

The characterization of thin liquid films is relevant to many engineering applications, ranging from oil and chemical industry to refrigeration systems, to cooling of light water nuclear reactors. The total internal reflection method (TIRM) is an optical method known for decades for being able to non-intrusively measure film thickness of a wide range of fluids flowing over a transparent wall, but systematic studies on the accuracy of the method are still missing. In this work, TIRM is presented and all the main potential error sources related to the application of such measurement are thoroughly characterized. The analysis includes the potential impact of variation of the refractive index on the measured thickness, the extension of the experimental calibration range to a broader set of measurable thicknesses and the effect of the inhomogeneity of the film free surface on the measured thickness. This latter aspect was never investigated in detail before because of the inherent complexity of the involved physical phenomena, but an in-house developed ray-tracing simulation allows new insights into the problem. Overall, the present paper redefines the utilization limitations and the accuracy of TIRM.
Environmental impact of the diet of young Portuguese and its relationship with adherence to the Mediterranean Diet
Authors: Álvarez-Álvarez Laura , Vitelli-Storelli Facundo , Rubín-García María , Martín-Sánchez Vicente , García Fernández Camino , Carvalho Catarina , Araújo Joana , Ramos Elisabete
Published: May 2024

Objective

To estimate, in a cohort of young Portuguese adults, the environmental impact (greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, land use, energy used, acidification and potential eutrophication) of diet according to adherence to the Mediterranean Diet (MD).

Methods

Data from 1554 participants of the Epidemiologic Health Investigation of Teenagers in Porto (EPITeen) were analysed. Food intake and MD adherence were determined using validated questionnaires. The environmental impact was evaluated with the EAT-Lancet Commission tables, and the link between MD adherence and environmental impact was calculated using adjusted multivariate linear regression models.

Results

Higher adherence (high vs. low) to the MD was associated with lower environmental impact in terms of land use (7.8 vs. 8.5 m2, p = 0.002), potential acidification (57.8 vs. 62.4 g SO2-eq, p = 0.001) and eutrophication (21.7 vs. 23.5 g PO4-eq, p < 0.001). Energy use decreased only in the calorie-adjusted model (9689.5 vs. 10,265.9 kJ, p < 0.001), and GHG emissions were reduced only in a complementary model where fish consumption was eliminated (3035.3 vs. 3281.2 g CO2-eq, p < 0.001). Meat products had the greatest environmental impact for all five environmental factors analysed: 35.7% in GHG emissions, 60.9% in energy use, 72.8% in land use, 70% in acidification and 61.8% in eutrophication.

Conclusions

Higher adherence to the MD is associated with lower environmental impact, particularly in terms of acidification, eutrophication, and land use. Reducing meat consumption can contribute to greater environmental sustainability.
CCAT1 lncRNA is chromatin-retained and post-transcriptionally spliced
Authors: Bohrer Chaya , Varon Eli , Peretz Eldar , Reinitz Gita , Kinor Noa , Halle David , Nissan Aviram , Shav-Tal Yaron
Published: May 2024

Super-enhancers are unique gene expression regulators widely involved in cancer development. Spread over large DNA segments, they tend to be found next to oncogenes. The super-enhancer c-MYC locus forms long-range chromatin looping with nearby genes, which brings the enhancer and the genes into proximity, to promote gene activation. The colon cancer-associated transcript 1 (CCAT1) gene, which is part of the MYC locus, transcribes a lncRNA that is overexpressed in colon cancer cells through activation by MYC. Comparing different types of cancer cell lines using RNA fluorescence in situ hybridization (RNA FISH), we detected very prominent CCAT1 expression in HeLa cells, observed as several large CCAT1 nuclear foci. We found that dozens of CCAT1 transcripts accumulate on the gene locus, in addition to active transcription occurring from the gene. The accumulating transcripts are released from the chromatin during cell division. Examination of CCAT1 lncRNA expression patterns on the single-RNA level showed that unspliced CCAT1 transcripts are released from the gene into the nucleoplasm. Most of these unspliced transcripts were observed in proximity to the active gene but were not associated with nuclear speckles in which unspliced RNAs usually accumulate. At larger distances from the gene, the CCAT1 transcripts appeared spliced, implying that most CCAT1 transcripts undergo post-transcriptional splicing in the zone of the active gene. Finally, we show that unspliced CCAT1 transcripts can be detected in the cytoplasm during splicing inhibition, which suggests that there are several CCAT1 variants, spliced and unspliced, that the cell can recognize as suitable for export.
Normal spinopelvic parameters and correlation analysis in 217 asymptomatic children
Authors: Qi Hao , Zhao ZengHui , Gao XianDa , Wang Chenchen , Zhang Zuzhuo , Su Dan , Zu Feiyu , Xue Rui , Hou Zhiyong , Chen Wei , Zhang Di
Published: May 2024

Background

Understanding spinal sagittal balance is crucial for assessing and treating spinal deformities in pediatric populations.

Objective

The aim of the present observational study is to examine the parameters of sagittal alignment of the regional spine and spinopelvic region in asymptomatic pediatric populations and the characteristics of these parameters with age and sex.

Methods

We enrolled 217 participants, consisting of 112 males (51.6%) and 105 females (48.4%), aged between 4 and 15 years, with an average age of 12.19 years. Pelvic incidence, pelvic tilt, sacral slope, lumbar lordosis, thoracic kyphosis, T1 slope, C7 slope, cervical sagittal vertical axis, and C2–7 Cobb angle were measured. Three spine surgeons conducted radiographic measurements utilizing the PACS software. The measurement reliability was assessed through ICCs.

Results

Our results show significant age-related changes in pelvic tilt and cervical sagittal vertical axis, with notable gender differences in pelvic tilt, lumbar lordosis, and thoracic kyphosis. Girls have larger PT, boys have larger cSVA. PI, PT, and cSVA also differ among different age groups. Correlation analysis shows that a series of relationships that align with adult population patterns between pelvic incidence, pelvic tilt, sacral slope, lumbar lordosis, and thoracic kyphosis.

Conclusion

Significant variations in PT and cSVA across diverse age cohorts highlights notable disparities in the distribution of PT and cSVA values within the pediatric population. Gender-based differences in PT, LL, and TK and correlation in spinopelvic parameter could enhances our understanding of compensatory mechanisms.
On the number of lattice points in thin sectors
Authors: Waxman Ezra , Yesha Nadav
Published: May 2024

On the circle of radius R centred at the origin, consider a “thin” sector about the fixed line $$y = \alpha x$$

y
=
α
x

with edges given by the lines $$y = (\alpha \pm \epsilon ) x$$

y
=
(
α
±
ϵ
)
x

, where $$\epsilon = \epsilon _R \rightarrow 0$$

ϵ
=

ϵ
R

→
0

as $$ R \rightarrow \infty $$

R
→
∞

. We establish an asymptotic count for $$S_{\alpha }(\epsilon ,R)$$

S
α

(
ϵ
,
R
)

, the number of integer lattice points lying in such a sector. Our results depend both on the decay rate of $$\epsilon $$
ϵ
and on the rationality/irrationality type of $$\alpha $$
α
. In particular, we demonstrate that if $$\alpha $$
α
is Diophantine, then $$S_{\alpha }(\epsilon ,R)$$

S
α

(
ϵ
,
R
)

is asymptotic to the area of the sector, so long as $$\epsilon R^{t} \rightarrow \infty $$

ϵ

R
t

→
∞

for some $$ t<2 $$

t
<
2

.
A multifactorial model of intrinsic / environmental motivators, personal traits and their combined influences on math performance in elementary school
Authors: Christodoulou Antonios , Tsagkaridis Konstantinos , Malegiannaki Amaryllis-Chryssi
Published: May 2024

Numerous studies have explored the important role of achievement goals, as well as factors such as interest and self-efficacy, for academic performance of students of various ages. Such studies usually focus on the influence of one or two of these factors that are known to be associated with performance. At the same time, achievement goals themselves are influenced by environmental factors such as the influence of “significant others” (parents, teachers) or the overall socio-cultural context. In the present study, we expand the framework of achievement goal theory by building a holistic multifactorial path analysis model of direct and indirect influences, where achievement goals and personality traits such as self-efficacy and interest exert a combined influence on performance, but also receive influence from environmental factors.

To achieve this goal, we collected data from 762 5th and 6th grade students, who attended 22 public primary schools in Cyprus. Data was collected with reliable and valid self-report scales such as the Achievement Goal Questionnaire (AGQ-R) and the Patterns of Adaptive Learning Scales (PALS), as well as a battery for Mathematical performance created by the researchers.

Our results indicate a robust model that effectively captures the complex grid of associations between these factors of interest. Among other findings, self-efficacy and interest were found to mediate the relation between students’ mastery goals and performance. In sum, this research underscores the profound significance of mastery goals, self-efficacy and interest in Mathematical performance.
LTF as a Potential Prognostic and Immunological Biomarker in Glioblastoma
Authors: Qiu Kai , Ding Daling , Zhang Fengjiang , Yang Bo
Published: May 2024

The lactoferrin (LTF) gene behaves like a tumor suppressor gene in diverse tumors, such as renal cancer, nasopharyngeal carcinoma and gastric cancer. However, the prognostic value of LTF expression in patients with glioblastoma remains unclear. In this study, the expression levels of LTF in patients with GBM were investigated in TCGA, GEPIA, CGGA and GEO database, and a survival analysis of LTF based on TCGA and CGGA was performed. Furthermore, the present study demonstrated the LTF gene co-expression, PPI network, KEGG/GO enrichment and immune cell infiltration analysis on TCGA and TIMER2.0 database. We found that LTF expression was significantly upregulated in GBM samples compared with normal samples and other glioma samples, and Kaplan–Meier analysis demonstrated that the overexpression of LTF were significantly associated with worse overall survival (OS) and 5-year OS in GBM patients (P < 0.05). KEGG/GO enrichment analysis demonstrated that functions of LTF concentrated in immune and inflammatory response and peptidase regulation (P < 0.05). Immune cell infiltration analysis presented that high LTF expression exhibited dysregulated immune infiltration (i.e., CD4 + T cells, neutrophils, macrophages, myeloid dendritic cells and cancer associated fibroblast). LTF was upregulated in tumors and correlated with worse OS in GBM patients, and LTF might function as an oncogene via inducing dysregulated immune infiltration in GBM.
The nature of the Laplace resonance between the Galilean moons
Authors: Lari Giacomo , Saillenfest Melaine
Published: May 2024

The Laplace resonance is a mean-motion resonance that involves the three inner Galilean moons of Jupiter. However, its true nature is in part unclear; in particular, different views can be found in the literature on whether the Laplace resonance is a pure three-body resonance or a mere superposition of two-body resonances. To settle this question, we conduct a thorough analysis of the many resonances involved, starting from the two-body 2:1 commensurabilities of the couples Io–Europa and Europa–Ganymede, and ending with the three-body 4:2:1 commensurability between the three moons. By artificially varying the parameters of the system and monitoring its fundamental frequencies, we cartography all resonances involved and their interactions. From the analysis of the individual 2:1 commensurabilities, we find that despite the oscillation of the resonant angles they are not genuine resonances, as the trajectory of the system in the phase space is not enclosed by separatrices. On the contrary, as suggested by previous works, we show that the only current true mean-motion resonance is the pure three-body resonance between all three satellites. Moreover, we find that the current values of the moons’ orbital elements make the Laplace resonance sufficiently separated from the individual two-body 2:1 resonances, preventing chaotic effects from appearing.
Unsupervised feature based algorithms for time series extrinsic regression
Authors: Guijo-Rubio David , Middlehurst Matthew , Arcencio Guilherme , Silva Diego Furtado , Bagnall Anthony
Published: May 2024

Time Series Extrinsic Regression (TSER) involves using a set of training time series to form a predictive model of a continuous response variable that is not directly related to the regressor series. The TSER archive for comparing algorithms was released in 2022 with 19 problems. We increase the size of this archive to 63 problems and reproduce the previous comparison of baseline algorithms. We then extend the comparison to include a wider range of standard regressors and the latest versions of TSER models used in the previous study. We show that none of the previously evaluated regressors can outperform a regression adaptation of a standard classifier, rotation forest. We introduce two new TSER algorithms developed from related work in time series classification. FreshPRINCE is a pipeline estimator consisting of a transform into a wide range of summary features followed by a rotation forest regressor. DrCIF is a tree ensemble that creates features from summary statistics over random intervals. Our study demonstrates that both algorithms, along with InceptionTime, exhibit significantly better performance compared to the other 18 regressors tested. More importantly, DrCIF is the only one that significantly outperforms a standard rotation forest regressor.
No lasting effects of a severe drought event on plant community composition in experimental grassland
Authors: Damgaard Christian , Strandberg Beate , Ehlers Bodil , Hansen Rikke Reisner , Strandberg Morten Tune
Published: May 2024

The effect of severe drought in the summer 2018 on the plant community composition and overall diversity was investigated in a replicated long-term grassland experiment where nitrogen availability was manipulated. The possible plant community response to the drought and the possible role of selected plant traits were investigated using model-based ordination techniques, which were tailored to the sampled pin-point cover data. Contrary to our prior expectation, that the severe drought had lasting effects on the plant community, we could not detect any significant effects of the severe drought on the plant community composition or Hill–Shannon diversity the following year and 3 years later. Furthermore, we did not detect any significant mediating effect of nitrogen on the possible effects of severe drought. The possible reasons for the observed high resistance of the grassland community to the severe drought event are discussed. Lasting effects of drought on plant communities cannot be predicted from observations during or immediately after the drought.
Heterogeneous nucleation of polyethylene crystals on binary hexagonal nanoplatelets
Authors: Volchko Nathan W. , Rutledge Gregory C.
Published: May 2024

Crystal nucleating agents offer an effective strategy for controlling the morphology, dimensional stability and rate of solidification of polymers during processing. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulation can shed light on nucleation behavior at the nanoscopic length and time scales over which nucleation occurs. In this work, crystal nucleation of a polyethylene oligomer, n-pentacontane, on three graphene-like substrates, hexagonal boron nitride (hBN), molybdenum disulfide (MoS2), and tungsten disulfide (WS2), was simulated, and the thermodynamic efficiencies of these substrates as nucleating agents were determined. Experimental measurements of heterogeneous nucleation of a high-density polyethylene on nanoparticles of these three graphene-like materials were performed using the method of dispersed microdroplets in an immiscible polystyrene matrix. Qualitative agreement between simulations and experiments was observed for trends in nucleation rate, J, and interfacial free energy difference, Δσ, with $$J_{\text{hBN}} > J_{\text{MoS}_{2}} > J_{\text{WS}_{2}}$$

J
hBN

>

J

MoS
2

>

J

WS
2

. The simulations are then used to gain additional insight into the mechanisms of nucleation. Epitaxy is confirmed in all systems, with small mismatches in lattice spacing being accommodated by strain in the oligomer crystal. However, epitaxy alone is insufficient to explain the observed trends. The strength of interaction between the nucleating agent and the polyethylene oligomer is found to be the strongest predictor of nucleating agent efficiency. The strength of interaction is in turn related to the density of interaction sites at the interface: hBN has the highest density, and thus the fastest nucleation rate.
Microstructure and mechanical properties of Ti-Nb alloys: comparing conventional powder metallurgy, mechanical alloying, and high power impulse magnetron sputtering processes for supporting materials screening
Authors: Marczewski M. , Wieczerzak K. , Maeder X. , Lapeyre L. , Hain C. , Jurczyk M. , Nelis T.
Published: May 2024

At the interface of thin film development and powder metallurgy technologies, this study aims to characterise the mechanical properties, lattice constants and phase formation of Ti-Nb alloys (8–30 at.%) produced by different manufacturing methods, including conventional powder metallurgy (PM), mechanical alloying (MA) and high power impulse magnetron sputtering (HiPIMS). A central aspect of this research was to investigate the different energy states achievable by each synthesis method. The findings revealed that as the Nb content increased, both the hardness and Young’s modulus of the PM samples decreased (from 4 to 1.5 and 125 to 85 GPa, respectively). For the MA alloys, the hardness and Young’s modulus varied between 3.2 and 3.9 and 100 to 116 GPa, respectively, with the lowest values recorded for 20% Nb (3.2 and 96 GPa). The Young’s modulus of the HiPIMS thin film samples did not follow a specific trend and varied between 110 and 138 GPa. However, an increase in hardness (from 3.6 to 4.8 GPa) coincided with an increase in the β2 phase contribution for films with the same chemical composition (23 at.% of Nb). This study highlights the potential of using HiPIMS gradient films for high throughput analysis for PM and MA techniques. This discovery is important as it provides a way to reduce the development time for complex alloy systems in biomaterials as well as other areas of materials engineering.

Graphical abstract
Phase development of lime-based plasters blended with waste calcined shale
Authors: Koňáková Dana , Pommer Vojtěch , Šádková Kateřina , Krejsová Jitka , Černý Robert , Maděra Jiří , Vejmelková Eva
Published: May 2024

Restoration of historical buildings requires an application of suitable and convenient materials which are compatible with historical legacy. On the other hand, the used materials have to show adequate durability and fulfil current tendencies of environmental-friendliness policy. Most historical buildings have their facades made of lime-based, or more precisely, blended-lime-based plasters. Metakaolin belongs to one of the most common representatives of pozzolanic admixtures used in this field. It is an artificial product, which arises by the calcination of kaolinitic clay or claystone at temperatures of about 550–900 °C. Like every other production process, a remarkable amount of waste rises also in the case of metakaolin. This study is aimed at the utilization of this waste, specifically the waste calcined shale (WCS). It is composed of not properly burned particles with varying compositions. Contrary to metakaolin, it contains a lower amount of amorphous phase and a higher amount of kaolinite and mullite. WCS was used in the production of lime-based plasters with a dosage of up to 50%. During the hardening, the carbonation process takes place in combination with the pozzolanic reactions. It gives rise to a higher amount of amorphous structures, about 15% in the case of pure lime contrary to up to 45% (in the highest dosage of WCS) and other crystal phases such as calcium-aluminate-carbonate hydrates. Obtained phase analyses are supported by the determination of SEM analysis and mechanical properties, which are also measured depending on time.
The impact of cancer patient pathway on timing of radiotherapy and survival: a cohort study in glioblastoma patients
Authors: Blakstad Hanne , Mendoza Mireles Eduardo Erasmo , Kierulf-Vieira Kirsten Strømme , Singireddy Divija , Mdala Ibrahimu , Heggebø Liv Cathrine , Magelssen Henriette , Sprauten Mette , Johannesen Tom Børge , Leske Henning , Niehusmann Pitt , Skogen Karoline , Helseth Eirik , Emblem Kyrre Eeg , Vik-Mo Einar O. , Brandal Petter
Published: May 2024

Purpose

Glioblastoma (GBM) is an aggressive brain tumor in which primary therapy is standardized and consists of surgery, radiotherapy (RT), and chemotherapy. However, the optimal time from surgery to start of RT is unknown. A high-grade glioma cancer patient pathway (CPP) was implemented in Norway in 2015 to avoid non-medical delays and regional disparity, and to optimize information flow to patients. This study investigated how CPP affected time to RT after surgery and overall survival.

Methods

This study included consecutive GBM patients diagnosed in South-Eastern Norway Regional Health Authority from 2006 to 2019 and treated with RT. The pre CPP implementation group constituted patients diagnosed 2006–2014, and the post CPP implementation group constituted patients diagnosed 2016–2019. We evaluated timing of RT and survival in relation to CPP implementation.

Results

A total of 1212 patients with GBM were included. CPP implementation was associated with significantly better outcomes (p < 0.001). Median overall survival was 12.9 months. The odds of receiving RT within four weeks after surgery were significantly higher post CPP implementation (p < 0.001). We found no difference in survival dependent on timing of RT below 4, 4–6 or more than 6 weeks (p = 0.349). Prognostic factors for better outcomes in adjusted analyses were female sex (p = 0.005), younger age (p < 0.001), solitary tumors (p = 0.008), gross total resection (p < 0.001), and higher RT dose (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

CPP implementation significantly reduced time to start of postoperative RT. Survival was significantly longer in the period after the CPP implementation, however, timing of postoperative RT relative to time of surgery did not impact survival.
Finite Sample Rates for Logistic Regression with Small Noise or Few Samples
Authors: Kuchelmeister Felix , van de Geer Sara
Published: May 2024

The logistic regression estimator is known to inflate the magnitude of its coefficients if the sample size n is small, the dimension p is (moderately) large or the signal-to-noise ratio $$1/\sigma $$

1
/
σ

is large (probabilities of observing a label are close to 0 or 1). With this in mind, we study the logistic regression estimator with $$p\ll n/\log n$$

p
≪
n
/
log
n

, assuming Gaussian covariates and labels generated by the Gaussian link function, with a mild optimization constraint on the estimator’s length to ensure existence. We provide finite sample guarantees for its direction, which serves as a classifier, and its Euclidean norm, which is an estimator for the signal-to-noise ratio. We distinguish between two regimes. In the low-noise/small-sample regime ($$\sigma \lesssim (p\log n)/n$$

σ
≲
(
p
log
n
)
/
n

), we show that the estimator’s direction (and consequentially the classification error) achieve the rate $$(p\log n)/n$$

(
p
log
n
)
/
n

- up to the log term as if the problem was noiseless. In this case, the norm of the estimator is at least of order $$n/(p\log n)$$

n
/
(
p
log
n
)

. If instead $$(p\log n)/n\lesssim \sigma \lesssim 1$$

(
p
log
n
)
/
n
≲
σ
≲
1

, the estimator’s direction achieves the rate $$\sqrt{\sigma p\log n/n}$$

σ
p
log
n
/
n

, whereas its norm converges to the true norm at the rate $$\sqrt{p\log n/(n\sigma ^3)}$$

p
log
n
/
(
n

σ
3

)

. As a corollary, the data are not linearly separable with high probability in this regime. In either regime, logistic regression provides a competitive classifier.
Synthesis and Characterization of WNiFeCo, WNiFeMo, and WNiFeCoMo Compositional Complex Alloys Manufactured by Powder Metallurgy Technique
Authors: Abolkassem Shimaa A. , El-Hadad Shimaa , Mohamed Lamiaa Z.
Published: May 2024

The WNiFeCo, WNiFeMo, and WNiFeCoMo compositional complex alloys (CCAs) were prepared by powder metallurgy technique. The thermodynamic investigations of the CCAs proved that WNiFeCo, and WNiFeMo, are medium entropy alloys (MEAs), whereas WNiFeCoMo is a high entropy alloy (HEA). The density of the prepared specimens was estimated. The sintered CCAs were characterized by investigating their microstructures and elemental distribution using SEM and EDX analysis. The crystal structure of the different phases was identified utilizing X-ray diffraction (XRD). From XRD results, W, Fe7W6, and FeNi were observed in all CCAs, whereas Co7W6, MoNi4, and Co7Mo6 phases were found in WNiFeCoMo HEA. WNiFeCo MEA contained a Co7W6 phase, while the MoNi4 phase was observed in WNiFeCo MEA. The A7B6 phases are formed in the CCAs which have good characteristics. The hardness, Young’s modulus, and corrosion behavior were evaluated. Among the investigated CCAs, WNiFeMo MEA showed the highest relative density percentage (95%), Young’s modulus (190 GPa), hardness (451 HV), and lowest corrosion rate in 3.5% NaCl (0.22 mm/y). The surface morphology of the WNiFeCo, WNiFeMo, and WNiFeCoMo alloys displayed uniform corrosion, galvanic corrosion, and localized corrosion.
Isometric Exercise Training and Arterial Hypertension: An Updated Review
Authors: Edwards Jamie J. , Coleman Damian A. , Ritti-Dias Raphael M. , Farah Breno Q. , Stensel David J. , Lucas Sam J. E. , Millar Philip J. , Gordon Ben D. H. , Cornelissen Véronique , Smart Neil A. , Carlson Debra J. , McGowan Cheri , Swaine Ian , Pescatello Linda S. , Howden Reuben , Bruce-Low Stewart , Farmer Christopher K. T. , Leeson Paul , Sharma Rajan , O’Driscoll Jamie M.
Published: May 2024

Hypertension is recognised as a leading attributable risk factor for cardiovascular disease and premature mortality. Global initiatives towards the prevention and treatment of arterial hypertension are centred around non-pharmacological lifestyle modification. Exercise recommendations differ between professional and scientific organisations, but are generally unanimous on the primary role of traditional aerobic and dynamic resistance exercise. In recent years, isometric exercise training (IET) has emerged as an effective novel exercise intervention with consistent evidence of reductions in blood pressure (BP) superior to that reported from traditional guideline-recommended exercise modes. Despite a wealth of emerging new data and endorsement by select governing bodies, IET remains underutilised and is not widely prescribed in clinical practice. This expert-informed review critically examines the role of IET as a potential adjuvant tool in the future clinical management of BP. We explore the efficacy, prescription protocols, evidence quality and certainty, acute cardiovascular stimulus, and physiological mechanisms underpinning its anti-hypertensive effects. We end the review with take-home suggestions regarding the direction of future IET research.
Total osteocalcin levels are independently associated with worse testicular function and a higher degree of hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis activation in Klinefelter syndrome
Authors: Carlomagno F. , Hasenmajer V. , Spaziani M. , Tenuta M. , Sesti F. , Tarantino C. , Pozza C. , Isidori A. M. , Gianfrilli D.
Published: May 2024

Purpose

The role of osteocalcin (OCN) in pubertal development, male hypogonadism, and the effect of testosterone (Te) replacement therapy (TRT) remains unclear. We aimed to investigate the total OCN (tOCN) concentrations in male patients with Klinefelter syndrome (KS), a model of adult hypergonadotropic hypogonadism.

Methods

This retrospective longitudinal study investigated 254 male patients with KS (47,XXY) between 2007 and 2021 at an academic referral center, categorized as (1) prepubertal, (2) pubertal, and (3) adults. All prepubertal patients were Te-naïve. Adult patients were subcategorized as (1) eugonadal, (2) hypogonadal, and (3) receiving TRT. We also analyzed 18 adult patients with available tOCN levels before and 3 months after TRT commencement.

Results

The tOCN levels varied throughout the lifespan according to pubertal status, were highest in eugonadal and significantly lower in TRT subjects, correlated with both LH (p = 0.017) and FSH levels (p = 0.004) in adults, and significantly declined after 3 months of TRT (p = 0.006) in the adult KS cohort. HPG-axis hormones levels demonstrated no correlation in prepubertal boys. Adjustment for age and body mass index confirmed previous results and revealed significant inverse correlations with total Te (p = 0.004), calculated free Te (p = 0.016), the Te/LH (p = 0.010), and calculated free Te/LH ratios (p = 0.031).

Conclusion

In KS, a model of male hypergonadotropic hypogonadism, tOCN levels were not associated with gonadal function during normal prepuberty and pubertal development but were associated with worse testicular function and a higher degree of HPG stimulation in adults. TRT acutely reduced tOCN levels in adults.
Influence of wax addition on feedstock processing behavior in additive manufacturing of metals by material extrusion
Authors: Forstner Thomas , Cholewa Simon , Drummer Dietmar
Published: May 2024

The additive manufacturing of metals by material extrusion in a multi-step process (MEX-MSt/M) represents a special process variant of the commonly used material extrusion (MEX) and is based on the processing of highly filled polymer filaments. This technology uses the geometrical freedom and fast processing given by MEX to create individual metal parts after a debinding and sintering process in a cost and time-efficient way. The filaments for MEX-MSt/M are made by incorporating metal powders, such as aluminum, stainless steel, or bronze into a polymer matrix. Due to the challenges that are assigned to the processing of highly filled polymers, like the increased viscosity of the material or clogging of the nozzle, the binder materials have to meet several requirements. Therefore, waxes are often used to enable a better extrusion behavior for MEX; however, the addition of wax also affects other crucial processing properties of the filaments. In this work, the interactions of different types and amounts of waxes on thermal, mechanical, and rheological properties were investigated to create a better understanding of the alternating effects of wax addition into highly filled filaments for processing via MEX. The study demonstrated that an increase in wax contents resulted in both a significant decrease in ductility and an overall improvement in melt flowability. The choice of waxes also affected the particle–matrix interactions, partly leading to an improved wetting of the filler particles.
Continuing benefits of the Montreal Protocol and protection of the stratospheric ozone layer for human health and the environment
Authors: Madronich S. , Bernhard G. H. , Neale P. J. , Heikkilä A. , Andersen M. P. Sulbæk , Andrady A. L. , Aucamp P. J. , Bais A. F. , Banaszak A. T. , Barnes P. J. , Bornman J. F. , Bruckman L. S. , Busquets R. , Chiodo G. , Häder D.-P. , Hanson M. L. , Hylander S. , Jansen M. A. K. , Lingham G. , Lucas R. M. , Calderon R. Mackenzie , Olsen C. , Ossola R. , Pandey K. K. , Petropavlovskikh I. , Revell L. E. , Rhodes L. E. , Robinson S. A. , Robson T. M. , Rose K. C. , Schikowski T. , Solomon K. R. , Sulzberger B. , Wallington T. J. , Wang Q.-W. , Wängberg S.-Å. , White C. C. , Wilson S. R. , Zhu L. , Neale R. E.
Published: May 2024

The protection of Earth’s stratospheric ozone (O3) is an ongoing process under the auspices of the universally ratified Montreal Protocol and its Amendments and adjustments. A critical part of this process is the assessment of the environmental issues related to changes in O3. The United Nations Environment Programme’s Environmental Effects Assessment Panel provides annual scientific evaluations of some of the key issues arising in the recent collective knowledge base. This current update includes a comprehensive assessment of the incidence rates of skin cancer, cataract and other skin and eye diseases observed worldwide; the effects of UV radiation on tropospheric oxidants, and air and water quality; trends in breakdown products of fluorinated chemicals and recent information of their toxicity; and recent technological innovations of building materials for greater resistance to UV radiation. These issues span a wide range of topics, including both harmful and beneficial effects of exposure to UV radiation, and complex interactions with climate change. While the Montreal Protocol has succeeded in preventing large reductions in stratospheric O3, future changes may occur due to a number of natural and anthropogenic factors. Thus, frequent assessments of potential environmental impacts are essential to ensure that policies remain based on the best available scientific knowledge.

Graphical abstract
Dissecting the neuroanatomy of creativity and curiosity: The subdivisions within networks matter
Authors: Chiou Rocco , Branzi Francesca M. , Krieger-Redwood Katya , Jefferies Elizabeth
Published: May 2024

Ivancovsky et al. argue that the neurocognitive mechanisms of creativity and curiosity both rely on the interplay among brain networks. Research to date demonstrates that such inter-network dynamics are further complicated by functional fractionation within networks. Investigating how networks subdivide and reconfigure in service of a task offers insights about the precise anatomy that underpins creative and curious behaviour.
Traumainformierte Psychiatrie
Authors: Zuaboni Gianfranco , Rixe Jacqueline , Schulz Michael
Published: May 2024

Was ist zu diesem Thema bereits bekannt?

Traumata sind bei Menschen, die psychiatrische Hilfe in Anspruch nehmen, weitverbreitet.

Wie wird die neue Perspektive eingebracht?

Die traumainformierte Betreuung und Begleitung (Trauma-Informed Care) ist ein aufkommender Ansatz, der als Basis für eine personenzentrierte und zeitgemäße Praxis der psychiatrischen Akutpflege dient. Die Herausforderung besteht darin, die zugrundeliegenden Werte in die alltägliche Pflegepraxis umzusetzen.

Was sind die Auswirkungen für die Praxis?

In diesem Beitrag wird der Ansatz beschrieben und die Implementierung in die tägliche Praxis der psychiatrischen Akutstationen aufgezeigt.
Seipin deficiency-induced lipid dysregulation leads to hypomyelination-associated cognitive deficits via compromising oligodendrocyte precursor cell differentiation
Authors: Cui Wenli , Yang Jing , Tu Chuanyun , Zhang Ziting , Zhao Huifang , Qiao Yan , Li Yanqiu , Yang Wulin , Lim Kah-Leong , Ma Quanhong , Zhang Chengwu , Lu Li
Published: May 2024

Seipin is one key mediator of lipid metabolism that is highly expressed in adipose tissues as well as in the brain. Lack of Seipin gene, Bscl2, leads to not only severe lipid metabolic disorders but also cognitive impairments and motor disabilities. Myelin, composed mainly of lipids, facilitates nerve transmission and is important for motor coordination and learning. Whether Seipin deficiency-leaded defects in learning and motor coordination is underlined by lipid dysregulation and its consequent myelin abnormalities remains to be elucidated. In the present study, we verified the expression of Seipin in oligodendrocytes (OLs) and their precursors, oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs), and demonstrated that Seipin deficiency compromised OPC differentiation, which led to decreased OL numbers, myelin protein, myelinated fiber proportion and thickness of myelin. Deficiency of Seipin resulted in impaired spatial cognition and motor coordination in mice. Mechanistically, Seipin deficiency suppressed sphingolipid metabolism-related genes in OPCs and caused morphological abnormalities in lipid droplets (LDs), which markedly impeded OPC differentiation. Importantly, rosiglitazone, one agonist of PPAR-gamma, substantially restored phenotypes resulting from Seipin deficiency, such as aberrant LDs, reduced sphingolipids, obstructed OPC differentiation, and neurobehavioral defects. Collectively, the present study elucidated how Seipin deficiency-induced lipid dysregulation leads to neurobehavioral deficits via impairing myelination, which may pave the way for developing novel intervention strategy for treating metabolism-involved neurological disorders.
Deep learning of left atrial structure and function provides link to atrial fibrillation risk
Authors: Pirruccello James P. , Di Achille Paolo , Choi Seung Hoan , Rämö Joel T. , Khurshid Shaan , Nekoui Mahan , Jurgens Sean J. , Nauffal Victor , Kany Shinwan ,   FinnGen, Ng Kenney , Friedman Samuel F. , Batra Puneet , Lunetta Kathryn L. , Palotie Aarno , Philippakis Anthony A. , Ho Jennifer E. , Lubitz Steven A. , Ellinor Patrick T.
Published: May 2024

Increased left atrial volume and decreased left atrial function have long been associated with atrial fibrillation. The availability of large-scale cardiac magnetic resonance imaging data paired with genetic data provides a unique opportunity to assess the genetic contributions to left atrial structure and function, and understand their relationship with risk for atrial fibrillation. Here, we use deep learning and surface reconstruction models to measure left atrial minimum volume, maximum volume, stroke volume, and emptying fraction in 40,558 UK Biobank participants. In a genome-wide association study of 35,049 participants without pre-existing cardiovascular disease, we identify 20 common genetic loci associated with left atrial structure and function. We find that polygenic contributions to increased left atrial volume are associated with atrial fibrillation and its downstream consequences, including stroke. Through Mendelian randomization, we find evidence supporting a causal role for left atrial enlargement and dysfunction on atrial fibrillation risk.
Copper isotopes track the Neoproterozoic oxidation of cratonic mantle roots
Authors: Chen Chunfei , Foley Stephen F. , Shcheka Svyatoslav S. , Liu Yongsheng
Published: May 2024

The oxygen fugacity (fO2) of the lower cratonic lithosphere influences diamond formation, melting mechanisms, and lithospheric evolution, but its redox evolution over time is unclear. We apply Cu isotopes (δ65Cu) of ~ 1.4 Ga lamproites and < 0.59 Ga silica-undersaturated alkaline rocks from the lithosphere-asthenosphere boundary (LAB) of the North Atlantic Craton to characterize fO2 and volatile speciation in their sources. The lamproites’ low δ65Cu (−0.19 to −0.12‰) show that the LAB was metal-saturated with CH4 + H2O as the dominant volatiles during the Mesoproterozoic. The mantle-like δ65Cu of the < 0.59 Ga alkaline rocks (0.03 to 0.15‰) indicate that the LAB was more oxidized, stabilizing CO2 + H2O and destabilizing metals. The Neoproterozoic oxidation resulted in an increase of at least 2.5 log units in fO2 at the LAB. Combined with previously reported high fO2 in peridotites from the Slave, Kaapvaal, and Siberia cratonic roots, this oxidation might occur in cratonic roots globally.