bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Nanoformulations as a strategy to overcome the delivery limitations of cannabinoids
Authors: Reddy T. Srinivasa , Zomer Roby , Mantri Nitin
Published: February 2023

Medical cannabis has received significant interest in recent years due to its promising benefits in the management of pain, anxiety, depression and neurological and movement disorders. Specifically, the major phytocannabinoids derived from the cannabis plant such as (−) trans‐Δ9‐tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), have been shown to be responsible for the pharmacological and therapeutic properties. Recently, these phytocannabinoids have also attracted special attention in cancer treatment due to their well‐known palliative benefits in chemotherapy‐induced nausea, vomiting, pain and loss of appetite along with their anticancer activities. Despite the enormous pharmacological benefits, the low aqueous solubility, high instability (susceptibility to extensive first pass metabolism) and poor systemic bioavailability restrict their utilization at clinical perspective. Therefore, drug delivery strategies based on nanotechnology are emerging to improve pharmacokinetic profile and bioavailability of cannabinoids as well as enhance their targeted delivery. Here, we critically review the nano‐formulation systems engineered for overcoming the delivery limitations of native phytocannabinoids including polymeric and lipid‐based nanoparticles (lipid nano capsules (LNCs), nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs), nanoemulsions (NE) and self‐emulsifying drug delivery systems (SEDDS)), ethosomes and cyclodextrins as well as their therapeutic applications.
Overcoming Non‐Specific Interactions for Efficient Encapsulation of Doxorubicin in Ferritin Nanocages for Targeted Drug Delivery
Authors: Budiarta Made , Roy Sathi , Katenkamp Tobias , Feliu Neus , Beck Tobias
Published: February 2023

Due to its beneficial pharmacological properties, ferritin (Ftn) is considered as an interesting drug delivery vehicle to alleviate the cardiotoxicity of doxorubicin (DOX) in chemotherapy. However, the encapsulation of DOX in Ftn suffers from heavy precipitation and low protein recovery yield which limits its full potential. Here, a new DOX encapsulation strategy by cysteine‐maleimide conjugation is proposed. In order to demonstrate that this strategy is more efficient compared to the other approaches, DOX is encapsulated in Ftn variants carrying different surface charges. Furthermore, in contrast to the common belief, this data show that DOX molecules are also found to bind non‐specifically to the surface of Ftn. This can be circumvented by the use of Tris(2‐carboxyethyl)phosphine (TCEP) during encapsulation or by washing with acidic buffer. The biocompatibility studies of the resulting DOX Ftn variants in MCF‐7 and MHS cancer cells shows a complex relationship between the cytotoxicity, the DOX loading and the different surface charges of Ftn. Further investigation on the cell uptake mechanism provides reasonable explanations for the cytotoxicity results and reveals that surface charging of Ftn hinders its transferrin receptor 1 (TfR‐1) mediated cellular uptake in MCF‐7 cells.
Congo Red‐Derived Carbon Dots: Simultaneously as Fluorescence Probe for Protein Aggregates, Inhibitor for Protein Aggregation, and Scavenger of Free Radicals
Authors: Li Qin‐ying , Yu Xu , Li Xi , Bao Li‐na , Zhang Yu , Wang Shi‐lin , Jiang Ming , Huang Kun , Xu Li
Published: February 2023

The pathological aggregation of some proteins is claimed to be highly related to several human diseases, such as β‐amyloid 1–42 (Aβ42) to Alzheimer's disease (AD), islet amyloid polypeptide, and insulin to type 2 diabetes mellitus. Therefore, it is in desperate need to develop effective methods for detection of protein aggregates and inhibition of abnormal aggregation. Herein, to construct all‐in‐one probe with both diagnosis and treatment potentials for protein aggregation diseases, Congo red (CR), a classical staining reagent with red fluorescence signal output for protein aggregates, is deliberately adopted to react with three different reductive carbon sources and ammonium persulfate to generate three CR‐derived carbon dots (CDs). The obtained CDs exhibit the capabilities of turn‐on red fluorescence imaging of protein aggregates, and/or inhibition of protein aggregation as well as scavenging of free radicals. Among them, CA‐CDs, using citric acid as the reductive carbon source, demonstrate the superiority to the other two studied CDs in integrating all of these functions, and particularly exert excellent cytoprotection effect against toxic Aβ42 species, possessing tremendous potential in diagnosis and treatment of AD for future study. The present study paves a new way to develop all‐in‐one CDs for the protein disease research.
Ultra‐High Interfacial Thermal Conductance via Double hBN Encapsulation for Efficient Thermal Management of 2D Electronics
Authors: Ye Fan , Liu Qingchang , Xu Baoxing , Feng Philip X.‐L. , Zhang Xian
Published: February 2023

Heat dissipation is a major limitation of high‐performance electronics. This is especially important in emerging nanoelectronic devices consisting of ultra‐thin layers, heterostructures, and interfaces, where enhancement in thermal transport is highly desired. Here, ultra‐high interfacial thermal conductance in encapsulated van der Waals (vdW) heterostructures with single‐layer transition metal dichalcogenides MX2 (MoS2, WSe2, WS2) sandwiched between two hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) layers is reported. Through Raman spectroscopic measurements of suspended and substrate‐supported hBN/MX2/hBN heterostructures with varying laser power and temperature, the out‐of‐plane interfacial thermal conductance in the vertical stack is calibrated. The measured interfacial thermal conductance between MX2 and hBN reaches 74 ± 25 MW m−2 K−1, which is at least ten times higher than the interfacial thermal conductance of MX2 in non‐encapsulation structures. Molecular dynamics (MD) calculations verify and explain the experimental results, suggesting a full encapsulation by hBN layers is accounting for the high interfacial conductance. This ultra‐high interfacial thermal conductance is attributed to the double heat transfer pathways and the clean and tight vdW interface between two crystalline 2D materials. The findings in this study reveal new thermal transport mechanisms in hBN/MX2/hBN structures and shed light on building novel hBN‐encapsulated nanoelectronic devices with enhanced thermal management.
Biofilm Potentiates Cancer‐Promoting Effects of Tumor‐Associated Macrophages in a 3D Multi‐Faceted Tumor Model
Authors: Deng Yanlin , Fu Yatian , Chua Song Lin , Khoo Bee Luan
Published: February 2023

Components of the tumor microenvironment (TME), such as tumor‐associated macrophages (TAMs), influence tumor progression. The specific polarization and phenotypic transition of TAMs in the tumor microenvironment lead to two‐pronged impacts that can promote or hinder cancer development and treatment. Here, a novel microfluidic multi‐faceted bladder tumor model (TAMPIEB) is developed incorporating TAMs and cancer cells to evaluate the impact of bacterial distribution on immunomodulation within the tumor microenvironment in vivo. It is demonstrated for the first time that biofilm‐induced inflammatory conditions within tumors promote the transition of macrophages from a pro‐inflammatory M1‐like to an anti‐inflammatory/pro‐tumor M2‐like state. Consequently, multiple roles and mechanisms by which biofilms promote cancer by inducing pro‐tumor phenotypic switch of TAMs are identified, including cancer hallmarks such as reducing susceptibility to apoptosis, enhancing cell viability, and promoting epithelial‐mesenchymal transition and metastasis. Furthermore, biofilms formed by extratumoral bacteria can shield tumors from immune attack by TAMs, which can be visualized through various imaging assays in situ. The study sheds light on the underlying mechanism of biofilm‐mediated inflammation on tumor progression and provides new insights into combined anti‐biofilm therapy and immunotherapy strategies in clinical trials.
Superior Energy Storage Properties and Optical Transparency in K0.5Na0.5NbO3‐Based Dielectric Ceramics via Multiple Synergistic Strategies
Authors: Chai Qizhen , Zhang Fudong , Zhou Qiyuan , Peng Zhanhui , Wu Di , Liang Pengfei , Wei Lingling , Chao Xiaolian , Yang Zupei
Published: February 2023

Eco‐friendly transparent dielectric ceramics with superior energy storage properties are highly desirable in various transparent energy‐storage electronic devices, ranging from advanced transparent pulse capacitors to electro‐optical multifunctional devices. However, the collaborative improvement of energy storage properties and optical transparency in KNN‐based ceramics still remains challenging. To address this issue, multiple synergistic strategies are proposed, such as refining the grain size, introducing polar nanoregions, and inducing a high‐symmetry phase structure. Accordingly, outstanding energy storage density (Wtotal ≈7.5 J cm−3, Wrec ≈5.3 J cm−3) and optical transmittance (≈76% at 1600 nm, ≈62% at 780 nm) are simultaneously realized in the 0.94(K0.5Na0.5)NbO3‐0.06Sr0.7La0.2ZrO3 ceramic, together with satisfactory charge‐discharge performances (discharge energy density: ≈2.7 J cm−3, power density: ≈243 MW cm−3, discharge rate: ≈76 ns), surpassing previously reported KNN‐based transparent ceramics. Piezoresponse force microscopy and transmission electron microscopy revealed that this excellent performance can be attributed to the nanoscale domain and submicron‐scale grain size. The significant improvement in the optical transparency and energy storage properties of the materials resulted in the widening of the application prospects of the materials.
The update of self‐identity: Importance of assessing autobiographical memory in major depressive disorder
Authors: Bulteau Samuel , Malo Roman , Holland Zoé , Laurin Andrew , Sauvaget Anne
Published: February 2023

Major depressive disorder is a leading global cause of disability. There is a growing interest for memory in mood disorders since it might constitute an original tool for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. MDD is associated with impaired autobiographical memory characterized by a tendency to overgeneral memory, rather than vivid episodic self‐defining memory, which is mandatory for problem‐solving and projection in the future. This memory bias is maintained by three mechanisms: ruminations, avoidance, and impaired executive control. If we adopt a broader and comprehensive perspective, we can hypothesize that all those alterations have the potential to impair self‐identity updating. We posit that this update requires a double referencing process: (1) to internalized self‐representation and (2) to an externalized framework dealing with the representation of the consequence of actions. Diagnostic and therapeutic implications are discussed in the light of this model and the importance of assessing autobiographical memory in MDD is highlighted.

This article is categorized under:

Psychology > Memory

Psychology > Brain Function and Dysfunction

Neuroscience > Clinical
Multicriticality in Yang-Lee edge singularity
Authors: Lencsés Máté , Miscioscia Alessio , Mussardo Giuseppe , Takács Gábor
Published: February 2023

Abstract

In this paper we study the non-unitary deformations of the two-dimensional Tricritical Ising Model obtained by coupling its two spin ℤ2 odd operators to imaginary magnetic fields. Varying the strengths of these imaginary magnetic fields and adjusting correspondingly the coupling constants of the two spin ℤ2 even fields, we establish the presence of two universality classes of infrared fixed points on the critical surface. The first class corresponds to the familiar Yang-Lee edge singularity, while the second class to its tricritical version. We argue that these two universality classes are controlled by the conformal non-unitary minimal models $$ \mathcal{M} $$
M
(2, 5) and $$ \mathcal{M} $$
M
(2, 7) respectively, which is supported by considerations based on PT symmetry and the corresponding extension of Zamolodchikov’s c-theorem, and also verified numerically using the truncated conformal space approach. Our results are in agreement with a previous numerical study of the lattice version of the Tricritical Ising Model [1]. We also conjecture the classes of universality corresponding to higher non-unitary multicritical points obtained by perturbing the conformal unitary models with imaginary coupling magnetic fields.
QFT approach to dressed particle processes in preheating and non-perturbative mechanism in kinematically-forbidden regime
Authors: Taya Hidetoshi , Yamada Yusuke
Published: February 2023

Abstract

We provide a quantum-field theoretic formulation of dressed particle dynamics that systematically includes particle production and scattering/decay processes in the preheating era. Our approach is based on the so-called perturbation theory in the Furry picture, in which coherent background fields (i.e., inflaton and the expanding Universe) are treated non-perturbatively whereas interactions between dressed particles are taken into account perturbatively. As an application, we consider the instant preheating mechanism and compute the number of produced particles explicitly. We find a novel non-perturbative particle-production mechanism, which is kinematically forbidden within the conventional perturbative calculation and gives the dominant contribution in certain parameter regimes, e.g., light daughter particles.
Novel black holes in higher derivative gravity
Authors: Huang Yang , Liu Dao-Jun , Zhang Hongsheng
Published: February 2023

Abstract

We find a class of novel black holes in higher derivative theory. The novel black holes follow behavior of Schwarzschild ones at large mass limit, while dramatically differentiate from Schwarzschild ones for little holes because of the effects which may root in quantum gravity. The temperature of the hole takes maximum for a specific mass, which is related to the new sale introduced in the higher derivative theory, and goes to zero at little mass limit. This property leads to a significant observation that the novel black hole may be a candidate for dark matters evading constraint from γ-ray burst.
Discriminative feature learning through feature distance loss
Authors: Schlagenhauf Tobias , Lin Yiwen , Noack Benjamin
Published: February 2023

Ensembles of convolutional neural networks have shown remarkable results in learning discriminative semantic features for image classification tasks. However, the models in the ensemble often concentrate on similar regions in images. This work proposes a novel method that forces a set of base models to learn different features for a classification task. These models are combined in an ensemble to make a collective classification. The key finding is that by forcing the models to concentrate on different features, the classification accuracy is increased. To learn different feature concepts, a so-called feature distance loss is implemented on the feature maps. The experiments on benchmark convolutional neural networks (VGG16, ResNet, AlexNet), popular datasets (Cifar10, Cifar100, miniImageNet, NEU, BSD, TEX), and different training samples (3, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 per class) show the effectiveness of the proposed feature loss. The proposed method outperforms classical ensemble versions of the base models. The Class Activation Maps explicitly prove the ability to learn different feature concepts. The code is available at: https://github.com/2Obe/Feature-Distance-Loss.git.
Using ground coffee particle size and distribution to remodel beverage properties
Authors: Angeloni Giulia , Masella Piernicola , Spadi Agnese , Guerrini Lorenzo , Corti Ferdinando , Bellumori Maria , Calamai Luca , Innocenti Marzia , Parenti Alessandro
Published: February 2023

This study examined the influence of ground coffee granulometry and particle distribution on extraction parameters. They have been investigated the physicochemical properties, and the bioactive and volatile compound content in coffee obtained by a conventional filter method, the French Press, as a function of particle size and distribution. Some samples have been used for the extraction the directly the grinding machine, set at different grinding grade, and other samples have been seed before the usage in order to reproduce samples at different particle size class very homogeneous. The results showed that bioactive and volatile compounds are released differently in the beverages depending on the specific particle size. The results have been demonstrated that a homogeneous grind was more deficient in bioactive compounds and total dissolved solids than a classical, bimodal grind. Moreover, extraction from a very fine homogeneous grind was poorest with respect to these compounds, despite the greater surface in contact with the solvent. Conversely, bimodal grinds obtained conventional by the grinding machine, which were more heterogeneous from a granulometric point of view, were found to be richer in volatile organic and bioactive compounds. The study highlights that the grind plays a key role in producing well-extracted coffee and, therefore, in making the most of the potential inherent in the roasted bean.
Outcomes After Spigelian Hernia Repair: A Nationwide Database Study
Authors: Lode Lise , Jensen Kristian K. , Helgstrand Frederik , Henriksen Nadia A.
Published: February 2023

Background

Spigelian hernia is a rare hernia of the abdominal wall. Due to lack of evidence, there is no standard recommendation for surgical technique of Spigelian hernia repair. The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcomes after open and laparoscopic, elective and emergency repair of Spigelian hernias on a nationwide basis.

Methods

Nationwide data from the Danish Ventral Hernia Database and the National Patient Registry was assessed to analyze outcomes after Spigelian hernia repair. A total of 365 patients were operated for Spigelian hernia in Denmark from 2007 to 2018. Ninety‐day readmission, 90‐day reoperation and long‐term operation for recurrence were evaluated, as well as possible differences between open and laparoscopic, and elective and emergency repairs.

Results

Most of the patients (80.5%, 294/365) were operated by laparoscopic approach and 19.5% (71/365) were operated by open approach. Elective surgery was performed in 83.6% (305/365) of the patients and 16.4% (60/365) underwent emergency repair. There were no significant differences in 90‐day readmission or reoperation rates between open or laparoscopic Spigelian hernia repairs, P = 0.778 and P = 0.531. Ninety‐day readmission and 90‐day reoperation rates were also comparable for elective versus emergency repair, P = 0.399 and P = 0.766. No difference was found in operation for recurrence rates between elective and emergency, nor open and laparoscopic Spigelian hernia repairs.

Conclusions

This study demonstrates that 16% of Spigelian hernia repairs are done in the emergency setting. Open and laparoscopic approach are comparable in terms of early readmission, reoperation, and recurrence rates.
Amsacrine-based induction therapy in AML patients with cardiac comorbidities: a retrospective single-center analysis
Authors: Kuron David , Pohlmann Alexander , Angenendt Linus , Kessler Torsten , Mesters Rolf , Berdel Wolfgang E. , Stelljes Matthias , Lenz Georg , Schliemann Christoph , Mikesch Jan-Henrik
Published: February 2023

Intensive chemotherapy is the backbone of induction treatment in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). However, AML patients with concomitant cardiac disease may not be eligible for anthracycline-based therapies. In a small cohort of patients, we have previously shown that anthracycline-free, amsacrine-based chemotherapy TAA (thioguanine, cytarabine, amsacrine) may be as effective as cytarabine/daunorubicin for induction therapy in these patients. In this systematic retrospective single-center analysis, we documented the outcome of 31 patients with significant cardiac comorbidities including coronary heart disease or cardiomyopathy receiving TAA as induction chemotherapy. Median (range) ejection fraction (EF) was 48% (30–67%) in this cohort. Patients with EF below 30% were considered unfit for intensive induction therapy. Event-free survival (EFS), overall survival (OS), and relapse-free survival (RFS) were 1.61, 5.46, and 13.6 months respectively. Poor outcome was primarily related to a high early mortality rate within the first 30 days of therapy, mainly caused by infectious complications. TAA cannot be recommended as a substitute of standard induction for AML patients with significant concomitant cardiac disease. In the era of novel agents, alternative strategies (e.g., hypomethylating agents plus venetoclax) should be considered when anthracycline-based regimens are not suitable.
What to consider for ECG in mice—with special emphasis on telemetry
Authors: Calvet Charlotte , Seebeck Petra
Published: February 2023

Genetically or surgically altered mice are commonly used as models of human cardiovascular diseases. Electrocardiography (ECG) is the gold standard to assess cardiac electrophysiology as well as to identify cardiac phenotypes and responses to pharmacological and surgical interventions. A variety of methods are used for mouse ECG acquisition under diverse conditions, making it difficult to compare different results. Non-invasive techniques allow only short-term data acquisition and are prone to stress or anesthesia related changes in cardiac activity. Telemetry offers continuous long-term acquisition of ECG data in conscious freely moving mice in their home cage environment. Additionally, it allows acquiring data 24/7 during different activities, can be combined with different challenges and most telemetry systems collect additional physiological parameters simultaneously. However, telemetry transmitters require surgical implantation, the equipment for data acquisition is relatively expensive and analysis of the vast number of ECG data is challenging and time-consuming. This review highlights the limits of non-invasive methods with respect to telemetry. In particular, primary screening using non-invasive methods can give a first hint; however, subtle cardiac phenotypes might be masked or compensated due to anesthesia and stress during these procedures. In addition, we detail the key differences between the mouse and human ECG. It is crucial to consider these differences when analyzing ECG data in order to properly translate the insights gained from murine models to human conditions.
Maximal aerobic and anaerobic power and time performance in 800 m double poling ergometer
Authors: Støren Øyvind , Sunde Arnstein , Helgerud Jan , Johansen Jan-Michael , Gjerløw Lars-Erik , Hjortland Henrik , Støa Eva Maria
Published: February 2023

The purpose of this study was to investigate to what extent aerobic power (MAP), maximal anaerobic power (MANP), anaerobic capacity measured as time to exhaustion at 130% MAP (TTE), and maximal accumulated oxygen deficit (MAOD) correlated with 800 m double poling time trial performance (800TT) in a ski ergometer. A second aim was to investigate the relationship between TTE and MAOD, and to what extent TTE and MAOD would relate to anaerobic power reserve (APR). Eighteen cross-country skiers were tested for peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak) and oxygen cost of double poling to assess MAP. Peak power measurements during a 100 m TT were performed to assess MANP. TTE and an 800TT with continuous VO2 measurements were performed to assess time performance and MAOD. All tests were performed on a ski ergometer. Both MAP and MANP correlated strongly (r = − 0.936 and − 0.922, respectively, p < 0.01) with 800TT. Neither TTE nor MAOD correlated with 800TT. TTE correlated moderately with MAOD, both in mL kg−1 and in %VO2peak (r = 0.559, p < 0.05 and 0.621, p < 0.01, respectively). Both TTE and MAOD seemed to be a product of APR. These results suggest focusing on MAP and MANP, but not anaerobic capacity to explain time performance in an event with approximately 3 min duration.
Klinische Studie PEPCA
Authors: Bacher Tobias , Ewers Andre
Published: February 2023

Hintergrund

Die patientenkontrollierte Analgesie (kurz: PCA) stellt ein etabliertes Mittel zur postoperativen Schmerztherapie dar. Eine der möglichen Applikationsformen ist dabei die PCRA (patientenkontrollierte Regionalanästhesie), die Verabreichung eines Lokalanästhetikums mittels Regionalkatheter. Voraussetzung ist dabei, dass die Patienten eine entsprechende Einweisung in deren Einsatz erhalten. Zahlreiche Quellen empfehlen, diese vor der Op. durchzuführen, da präoperative Schulungsmaßnahmen zum Schmerzmanagement die postoperativen Schmerzen und das Wohlbefinden signifikant verbessern können.

Fragestellung

Ziel dieser Studie war die Untersuchung des Effekts leitliniengestützter präoperativer Schulungen zu PCRA auf postoperative Schmerzen bei orthopädischen Eingriffen verglichen mit unstrukturierten postoperativen Einweisungen.

Material und Methoden

Es wurde eine kontrollierte Interventionsstudie mit zwei randomisierten Gruppen durchgeführt. Insgesamt wurden 73 Patienten mit PCRA-Kathetern bei orthopädischen Eingriffen eingeschlossen. Die 37 Teilnehmer der Interventionsgruppe (IG) bekamen unmittelbar vor ihrem Eingriff eine leitfadengestützte, strukturierte Einschulung zum PCRA-Gebrauch sowie ein entsprechendes Handout. Die 36 Probanden der Kontrollgruppe (KG) erhielten eine unstrukturierte postoperative Einweisung im Aufwachraum. Schmerzen wurden anhand der numerischen Rangskala (NRS) 2 (t1), 6 (t2) und 24 h (t3) nach dem Eingriff erhoben.

Ergebnisse

Zwar wies die IG zu t1 und t3 geringere durchschnittliche Schmerzen auf, jedoch konnten keine statistisch signifikanten Unterschiede zwischen den beiden Gruppen nachgewiesen werden.

Diskussion

Anhand der Outcomes sind weiterführende Erhebungen mit adaptierten Stichprobengrößen und Erhebungszeitpunkten zu empfehlen.
Akanthamöbenkeratitiden in Jugendlichen mit Orthokeratologielinsen
Authors: Aschauer Julia , Klimek Michal , Donner Ruth , Lammer Jan , Roberts Philipp , Schmidinger Gerald
Published: February 2023

Hintergrund

Durch die rasant steigende Prävalenz der Myopie kommen zunehmend progressionshemmende Verfahren zum Einsatz. Auch die Orthokeratologie, basierend auf dem Ansatz des peripheren Defokus, erlebt eine Renaissance. Die gefährlichste Nebenwirkung der Orthokeratologie ist die mikrobielle Keratitis, unter ihnen eine Infektion mit Akanthamöben, welche oft spät diagnostiziert wird und potenziell visusbedrohende Verläufe nehmen kann.

Material und Methode

Diese Fallserie beschreibt die Diagnosefindung und den Behandlungsverlauf der Akanthamöbenkeratitis bei jugendlichen Patient*innen mit Orthokeratologielinsen, welche an der Spezialambulanz für Hornhauterkrankungen der Universitätsklinik für Augenheilkunde und Optometrie an der Medizinischen Universität Wien im Zeitraum eines Jahres betreut wurden.

Resultate

Vier Fälle von orthokeratologieassoziierten Akanthamöbenkeratitiden wurden mittels kornealer Konfokalmikroskopie und mikrobiologischer Verfahren zwischen August 2021 und August 2022 diagnostiziert. Die intensive Stufentherapie umfasste ein hochdosiertes, topisches Biguanid in Kombination mit einem Diamidinderivat, welches in der ersten Therapiephase mit antibakteriellen und antifungalen Augentropfen kombiniert wurde. Der Therapieverlauf und -erfolg wurde mittels der kornealen Konfokalmikroskopie beurteilt, und entsprechend angepasst.

Schlussfolgerung

Die Akanthamöbenkeratitis ist ein ernst zu nehmendes Erkrankungsbild im Zusammenhang mit Orthokeratologielinsen. Im Hinblick auf das Alter der Zielgruppe dieser myopieprogressionshemmenden Therapie sollte, neben sorgfältiger Patientenselektion, auf eine detaillierte Schulung der Kontaktlinsenträger in der Handhabung der Linsen sowie auf ein erhöhtes Bewusstsein für Zeichen einer frühen Infektion besonderes Augenmerk gelegt werden. Da alternative Möglichkeiten zur Myopieprophylaxe bestehen, müssen PatentInnen auf das Risiko der jeweiligen Methode hingewiesen werden.
Sleep duration in preschool age and later behavioral and cognitive outcomes: an individual participant data meta-analysis in five European cohorts
Authors: Guerlich Kathrin , Avraam Demetris , Cadman Tim , Calas Lucinda , Charles Marie-Aline , Elhakeem Ahmed , Fernández-Barrés Silvia , Guxens Mònica , Heude Barbara , Ibarluzea Jesús , Inskip Hazel , Julvez Jordi , Lawlor Deborah A. , Murcia Mario , Salika Theodosia , Sunyer Jordi , Tafflet Muriel , Koletzko Berthold , Grote Veit , Plancoulaine Sabine
Published: February 2023

Short sleep duration has been linked to adverse behavioral and cognitive outcomes in schoolchildren, but few studies examined this relation in preschoolers. We aimed to investigate the association between parent-reported sleep duration at 3.5 years and behavioral and cognitive outcomes at 5 years in European children. We used harmonized data from five cohorts of the European Union Child Cohort Network: ALSPAC, SWS (UK); EDEN, ELFE (France); INMA (Spain). Associations were estimated through DataSHIELD using adjusted generalized linear regression models fitted separately for each cohort and pooled with random-effects meta-analysis. Behavior was measured with the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Language and non-verbal intelligence were assessed by the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence or the McCarthy Scales of Children’s Abilities. Behavioral and cognitive analyses included 11,920 and 2981 children, respectively (34.0%/13.4% of the original sample). In meta-analysis, longer mean sleep duration per day at 3.5 years was associated with lower mean internalizing and externalizing behavior percentile scores at 5 years (adjusted mean difference: − 1.27, 95% CI [− 2.22, − 0.32] / − 2.39, 95% CI [− 3.04, − 1.75]). Sleep duration and language or non-verbal intelligence showed trends of inverse associations, however, with imprecise estimates (adjusted mean difference: − 0.28, 95% CI [− 0.83, 0.27] / − 0.42, 95% CI [− 0.99, 0.15]). This individual participant data meta-analysis suggests that longer sleep duration in preschool age may be important for children’s later behavior and highlight the need for larger samples for robust analyses of cognitive outcomes. Findings could be influenced by confounding or reverse causality and require replication.
Why there is no need to use a big-M in linear bilevel optimization: a computational study of two ready-to-use approaches
Authors: Kleinert Thomas , Schmidt Martin
Published: February 2023

Linear bilevel optimization problems have gained increasing attention both in theory as well as in practical applications of Operations Research (OR) during the last years and decades. The latter is mainly due to the ability of this class of problems to model hierarchical decision processes. However, this ability makes bilevel problems also very hard to solve. Since no general-purpose solvers are available, a “best-practice” has developed in the applied OR community, in which not all people want to develop tailored algorithms but “just use” bilevel optimization as a modeling tool for practice. This best-practice is the big-M reformulation of the Karush–Kuhn–Tucker (KKT) conditions of the lower-level problem—an approach that has been shown to be highly problematic by Pineda and Morales (2019). Choosing invalid values for M yields solutions that may be arbitrarily bad. Checking the validity of the big-Ms is however shown to be as hard as solving the original bilevel problem in Kleinert et al. (2019). Nevertheless, due to its appealing simplicity, especially w.r.t. the required implementation effort, this ready-to-use approach still is the most popular method. Until now, there has been a lack of approaches that are competitive both in terms of implementation effort and computational cost. In this note we demonstrate that there is indeed another competitive ready-to-use approach: If the SOS-1 technique is applied to the KKT complementarity conditions, adding the simple additional root-node inequality developed by Kleinert et al. (2020) leads to a competitive performance—without having all the possible theoretical disadvantages of the big-M approach.
Determination of subpicogram levels of airborne polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons for personal exposure monitoring assessment
Authors: van Drooge Barend L. , Prats Raimon M. , Jaén Clara , Grimalt Joan O.
Published: February 2023

A method based on the use of GC coupled to Q-exactive Orbitrap mass spectrometry (GC-Orbitrap-MS) has been developed for the analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) at sub-picogram levels. Outdoor ambient air particulate matter (PM2.5) and standard reference materials (SRM2260a) were analyzed in full scan mode showing low instrumental uncertainties (1–22%) and high linearity over a wide concentration range (0.5 pg and 500 pg/μL). Good reproducibility was obtained compared to the use of conventional single quadrupole GC–MS of PM samples. The quantification limit of the GC-Orbitrap-MS method for full scan analysis of PAHs in outdoor ambient air PM samples was 0.5 pg/μL. This low limit allowed the analysis of PAHs in samples collected with low volumes (< 0.5 m3), such as punch samples from whole filters or filter strips from personal exposure monitoring equipment. PAHs were successfully analyzed in filter strips from real-time Aethalometer AE51 equivalent black carbon (eBC) analyzers used in urban and rural sites, and in personal exposure monitors of firefighters during prescribed burns. The correlations between PAHs and eBC in these analyses were very strong (r2 ≥ 0.93). However, the equations obtained reflected the dominance of different emission sources, such as traffic in urban areas, wood burning for domestic heating, or wildfires. The method reported here affords the analyses of PAHs in high precision studies of atmospheric PM samples, e.g., high frequency sampling of low volumes, affording personal exposure monitoring assessments.
Spiritual Caregiving and Assessments for America’s Religious ‘Nones’: A Chaplaincy Perspective
Authors: Potts Garrett , Hewitt Sage , Moore Monica , Mui Alaina , Lubrano Barbara
Published: February 2023

One in four American patients now identify as religiously unaffiliated. This study utilizes thematic analysis to deliver qualitative results from in-depth interviews conducted with five chaplains at a premier cancer research institution in Florida to envision what care for their spiritual dimension should look like in practice. It demonstrates why the chaplains interviewed suggested that spiritual caregiving still contributes to their holistic wellbeing, and it suggests how spiritual care and assessments may be provided to so-called religious ‘nones’—or those who identify as spiritual but not religious, not religiously affiliated, secular humanist, atheist, agnostic, and so on. We conclude with a novel spirituality assessment for use while serving this patient population.
The Place of Religiosity and Spirituality in Frankl’s Logotherapy: Distinguishing Salvific and Hygienic Objectives
Authors: García-Alandete Joaquín
Published: February 2023

The relationship between psychology and religion has been widely debated in the field of psychology from its foundation as an empirical science to the present day. One author who was interested in the relationship between psychology and religion, the place of the latter in human nature, and its role in psychotherapy was the Viennese neurologist, psychiatrist, and philosopher Viktor Emil Frankl (1905–1997), the founder of logotherapy. This paper presents Frankl’s main ideas about religion, the religious nature of the human being, and the relationship between religiosity, psychotherapy, and logotherapy, as well as a review of the main criticisms he has received in this regard. Frankl always defended the differences and limits between religion and psychotherapy, between the priestly cure of souls and the medical cure of souls, and between the salvific objective of religion and the hygienic objective of psychotherapy. In our opinion, critical authors have failed to appreciate Frankl’s efforts to expose this distinction.
Protoplanetary Disk Science with the Orbiting Astronomical Satellite Investigating Stellar Systems (OASIS) Observatory
Authors: Schwarz Kamber R. , Najita Joan , Bergner Jennifer , Carr John , Tielens Alexander , Bergin Edwin A. , Wilner David , Leisawitz David , Walker Christopher K.
Published: February 2023

The Orbiting Astronomical Satellite for Investigating Stellar Systems (OASIS) is a NASA Astrophysics MIDEX-class mission concept, with the stated goal of Following water from galaxies, through protostellar systems, to Earth’s oceans. This paper details the protoplanetary disk science achievable with OASIS. OASIS’s suite of heterodyne receivers allow for simultaneous, high spectral resolution observations of water emission lines spanning a large range of physical conditions within protoplanetary disks. These observations will allow us to map the spatial distribution of water vapor in disks across evolutionary stages and assess the importance of water, particularly the location of the midplane water snowline, to planet formation. OASIS will also detect the H2 isotopologue HD in 100+ disks, allowing for the most accurate determination of total protoplanetary disk gas mass to date. When combined with the contemporaneous water observations, the HD detection will also allow us to trace the evolution of water vapor across evolutionary stages. These observations will enable OASIS to characterize the time development of the water distribution and the role water plays in the process of planetary system formation.
The Nobel prize in physiology and medicine – 2022
Authors: Hagymási Krisztina
Published: February 2023

The Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institutet awarded the 2022 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine to a Swedish geneticist, Svante Pääbo, for his discoveries concerning the genomes of extinct hominins and human evolution, for the sequencing of the genome of the Neanderthal, the discovery of a previously unknown hominin, Denisova, and the establishment of a new scientific discipline, paleogenomics.
Kemeny ranking aggregation meets the GPU
Authors: Rico Noelia , Alonso Pedro , Díaz Irene
Published: February 2023

Ranking aggregation, studied in the field of social choice theory, focuses on the combination of information with the aim of determining a winning ranking among some alternatives when the preferences of the voters are expressed by ordering the possible alternatives from most to least preferred. One of the most famous ranking aggregation methods can be traced back to 1959, when Kemeny introduces a measure of distance between a ranking and the opinion of the voters gathered in a profile of rankings. Using this, he proposed to elect as winning ranking of the election the one that minimizes the distance to the profile. This is factorial on the number of alternatives, posing a handicap in the runtime of the algorithms developed to find the winning ranking, which prevents its use in real problems where the number of alternatives is large. In this work we introduce the first algorithm for the Kemeny problem designed to be executed in a Graphical Processing Unit. The threads identifiers are codified to be associated with rankings by means of the factorial number system, a radix numeral system that is then used to uniquely pair a ranking with the thread using Lehmer’s code. Results guarantee constant execution time up to 14 alternatives.
Functionspaces, simplicity and curve fitting
Authors: Bonk Thomas
Published: February 2023

The number of adjustable parameters in a model or hypothesis is often taken as the formal expression of its simplicity. I take issue with this `definition´ and argue that comparative simplicity has a quasi-empirical measure, reflecting experts’ judgements who track past use of a model-type in or across domains. Since models are represented by restricted sets of functions in a suitable space, formally speaking, a general `measure of simplicity´ may be defined implicitly for the elements of a function space. This paper sketches such a framework starting from intuitive constraints. It is shown how experts’ judgements feed into this framework and how the usual definition can be recovered. A theorem by H. Akaike in the theory of model-choice has recently been used to shine new light on the relationship between the demand for simplicity and empirical success, or even `truth´. The approach favored here permits an alternative answer based on a reliabilist account of justification: if judgements of simplicity track past successful use of a model-type comparative simplicity is evidential and inductive.
Care and anger motives in social dilemmas
Authors: Ring Patrick , Schütt Christoph A. , Snower Dennis J.
Published: February 2023

This paper provides evidence for the following novel insights: (1) People’s economic decisions depend on their psychological motives, which are shaped predictably by the social context. (2) In particular, the social context influences people’s other-regarding preferences, their beliefs and their perceptions. (3) The influence of the social context on psychological motives can be measured experimentally by priming two antagonistic motives—care and anger—in one player towards another by means of an observance or a violation of a fairness norm. Using a mediation approach, we find that the care motive leads to higher levels of cooperation which are driven by more optimistic beliefs, a different perception of the game as well as by a shift towards more pro-social preferences.
When is the Porous, Laminar Flow Problem with Slip Condition Well Posed? And Where Does the Solution Lie?
Authors: Hao Ming L. , Tisdell Christopher C.
Published: February 2023

The aim of this article is to advance the current state of knowledge for steady, isothermal, incompressible, laminar flow within a channel featuring a non-zero tangential (or slip) velocity at the permeable walls. There has been significant interest in understanding the solutions to these problems. However, a firm mathematical understanding of the solutions to the slip problem and their properties is yet to be fully developed. For example, we still do not know: if the slip problem is well-posed; where the precise solution lies; if and how approximations converge to the solution; and what the estimates on approximation errors are. Herein we formulate a new mathematical foundation that includes existence; uniqueness; location; approximation; convergence and error estimates. Our strategy involves developing insight via new and interesting connections between the boundary value problem arising from modelling the laminar flow with slip velocity, and the theory of fixed points of operators.
Variability Among Breast Cancer Risk Classification Models When Applied at the Level of the Individual Woman
Authors: Paige Jeremy S. , Lee Christoph I. , Wang Pin-Chieh , Hsu William , Brentnall Adam R. , Hoyt Anne C. , Naeim Arash , Elmore Joann G.
Published: February 2023

Background

Breast cancer risk models guide screening and chemoprevention decisions, but the extent and effect of variability among models, particularly at the individual level, is uncertain.

Objective

To quantify the accuracy and disagreement between commonly used risk models in categorizing individual women as average vs. high risk for developing invasive breast cancer.

Design

Comparison of three risk prediction models: Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Tool (BCRAT), Breast Cancer Surveillance Consortium (BCSC) model, and International Breast Intervention Study (IBIS) model.

Subjects

Women 40 to 74 years of age presenting for screening mammography at a multisite health system between 2011 and 2015, with 5-year follow-up for cancer outcome.

Main Measures

Comparison of model discrimination and calibration at the population level and inter-model agreement for 5-year breast cancer risk at the individual level using two cutoffs (≥ 1.67% and ≥ 3.0%).

Key Results

A total of 31,115 women were included. When using the ≥ 1.67% threshold, more than 21% of women were classified as high risk for developing breast cancer in the next 5 years by one model, but average risk by another model. When using the ≥ 3.0% threshold, more than 5% of women had disagreements in risk severity between models. Almost half of the women (46.6%) were classified as high risk by at least one of the three models (e.g., if all three models were applied) for the threshold of ≥ 1.67%, and 11.1% were classified as high risk for ≥ 3.0%. All three models had similar accuracy at the population level.

Conclusions

Breast cancer risk estimates for individual women vary substantially, depending on which risk assessment model is used. The choice of cutoff used to define high risk can lead to adverse effects for screening, preventive care, and quality of life for misidentified individuals. Clinicians need to be aware of the high false-positive and false-negative rates and variation between models when talking with patients.
Zukunft der Psychodramatherapieforschung
Authors: Glanzer Otto , Krauskopf Karsten , Orkibi Hod , Schnabel Konrad , Stadler Christian
Published: February 2023

Dieser Artikel der Zeitschrift für Psychodrama und Soziometrie enthält ein Interview von vier Experten zum derzeitigen Stand und zu möglichen zukünftigen Entwicklungen der Psychodramatherapieforschung. Die Interviewten blicken aus unterschiedlichen Perspektiven der Gestalttherapie, der Dramatherapie und der analytischen beziehungsweise tiefenpsychologischen Psychotherapie auf Herausforderungen und originär psychodramatische Ansätze der Psychodramatherapieforschung. Besondere Berücksichtigung finden Aspekte der Outcome- und Prozess-Forschung, der Gruppentherapie, der Bedeutung von Kreativität und Spontaneität und der mentalisationsbasierten Psychotherapie als ein methodenübergreifendes Konzept. Außerdem werden Wege aufgezeigt, um die Forschung verstärkt in Ausbildung und praktische therapeutische Tätigkeit zu integrieren. Die Interviews verdeutlichen, dass eine verbesserte Kooperation der Forschenden und praktisch Tätigen dazu beitragen kann, die besonderen Potenziale der Psychodramatherapie herauszuarbeiten. Dadurch kann es gelingen, den Stellenwert des Psychodramas als eigenständiges psychotherapeutisches Verfahren insgesamt auszubauen und zu behaupten.
Fall of viral and bacterial pneumonia hospitalizations following COVID-19 pandemic mitigation strategies: a central Italian Region retrospective study
Authors: Clemente Irma , Santini Silvano Junior , Vittorini Pierpaolo , Pallotta Enrico , Sinatti Gaia , Fontana Antonella , Mammarella Leondino , Rancitelli Ermenegildo , Balsano Clara
Published: February 2023

Community-Acquired Pneumonia (CAP) represents one of the first causes of hospitalization and death in the elderly all over the world and weighs heavily on public health system. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 (CoronaVirus Disease-19) pandemic, everybody’s behavior was forced to change, as the result of a global lockdown strategy and the obligation of using personal protection equipment (PPE). We aimed to evaluate how the mitigation strategies adopted to fight SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Coronavirus Syndrome 2) infection have influenced hospitalizations due to CAP in two different Local Health Boards (LHBs) of central Italy. We considered two main periods of observation: before and after the national start of lockdown, in two Abruzzo’s LHBs. We analyzed 19,558 hospital discharge records of bacterial and viral CAP. Excluding SARS-CoV2 infection, a significant decrease in CAP hospitalizations was observed. Through the analysis of Diagnosis Related Group (DRG) values, we highlighted a significant saving of founds for the Regional Health Service. The enactment of social distancing measures to contain COVID-19 spread, brought down admissions for bacterial and viral pneumonia. Our study emphasizes that costs for hospitalizations due to CAP could be drastically reduced by mask wearing and social distancing.