bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The effects of spirulina intake on clinical and metabolic parameters in Alzheimer's disease: A randomized, double‐blind, controlled trial
Authors: Tamtaji Omid Reza , Heidari‐soureshjani Reza , Asemi Zatollah , Kouchaki Ebrahim
Published: March 2023

The current study aimed to determine the effects of spirulina intake on cognitive function and metabolic status among patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). This randomized, double‐blind, controlled clinical trial was done among 60 subjects with AD. Patients were randomly assigned to receive either 500 mg/day spirulina or a placebo (each n = 30) twice a day for 12 weeks. Mini‐mental state examination score (MMSE) was recorded in all patients before and after intervention. Blood samples were obtained at baseline and after 12 weeks’ intervention to determine metabolic markers. Compared with placebo, spirulina intake resulted in a significant improvement in MMSE score (spirulina group: +0.30 ± 0.99 vs. Placebo group: −0.38 ± 1.06, respectively, p = 0.01). In addition, spirulina intake decreased high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein (hs‐CRP) (spirulina group: −0.17 ± 0.29 vs. Placebo group: +0.05 ± 0.27 mg/L, p = 0.006), fasting glucose (spirulina group: −4.56 ± 7.93 vs. Placebo group: +0.80 ± 2.95 mg/dL, p = 0.002), insulin (spirulina group: −0.37 ± 0.62 vs. Placebo group: +0.12 ± 0.40 μIU/mL, p = 0.001) and insulin resistance (spirulina group: −0.08 ± 0.13 vs. Placebo group: 0.03 ± 0.08, p = 0.001), and increased insulin sensitivity (spirulina group: +0.003 ± 0.005 vs. Placebo group: −0.001 ± 0.003, p = 0.003) compared with the placebo. Overall, our study showed that spirulina intake for 12 weeks in patients with AD improved cognitive function, glucose homeostasis parameters, and hs‐CRP levels.
Biochar, manure and superabsorbent improve the physical quality of saline‐sodic soil under greenhouse conditions
Authors: Fouladidorhani Maliheh , Shayannejad Mohammad , Mosaddeghi Mohammad Reza , Shariatmadari Hossein , Arthur Emmanuel
Published: March 2023

The increasing salinization and sodification of soils in drylands and irrigated systems present a great challenge to agricultural production and threaten soil quality. There is an urgent need to investigate potential strategies to remediate soils that are threatened by these processes. To address this challenge, the current study investigated the effects of organic and inorganic amendments and leaching fraction (LF) on physical and hydraulic properties including the soil water characteristic curve (SWCC), Dexter's index of soil physical quality (SDexter), bulk density (BD), saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ks), and water repellency index (RI) in a saline‐sodic soil. A greenhouse experiment was carried out in a completely randomized design with two factors (amendment and LF). The amendments included superabsorbent (1%) (SA), zeolite modified with CaCl2(2%) (ZC), biochar (2%) (B), biochar + manure (2%) (BM), and a control (no amendment) (CT), and combined with two levels of LF (15% and 30%). Spring wheat (Triticum aestivum, ‘UG99’) was planted in the soil columns. After harvest, undisturbed samples were collected from each column for the determination of soil properties. The results demonstrated the effectiveness of the SA and organic amendments to enhanceKsand decrease BD. There was a significant (p < 0.01) positive effect of the amendments, particularly biochar and superabsorbent on the soil pore size distribution. The SA amendment significantly increased soil water retention, especially at high matric potentials (i.e., 0 to −80 hPa). The effect of organic amendments on the SWCC was in between those of the ZC and SA amendments. The SA and BM treatments were sub‐critically water repellent, while the ZC treatment increased soil water repellency. The SA, B, and BM15 treatments exhibited very good physical quality (SDexter > 0.05). The relative air and moisture capacities were optimal in the B‐amended soil at field capacity (matric potential –330 hPa). We conclude that B, BM, and SA are suitable amendments for reducing the adverse effects of salinity and sodicity via an improvement in soil physical quality.
When do close ties to service intermediaries lead to entrepreneurial improvisation?
Authors: Luo Xiaowei Rose , Mai Yiyuan , Ye Zhuxin
Published: March 2023

Research Summary

Prior research suggests that the founders of new ventures leverage their existing networks, such as close ties to service intermediaries, as a source of entrepreneurial improvisation. We draw attention to the trade‐off between the benefits (trust and access to information and resources) and the costs (dependence and a constrained growth opportunity), and identify two contingency conditions for using close ties to improvise: a shorter time horizon for failure and less turbulent market. Analysis based on an original survey of founding teams in China in the period 2015–2016 provides empirical support for our argument. Our study contributes to research on entrepreneurial improvisation by exposing the tension involved in working with close contacts and enriches the literature on the role of service intermediaries.

Managerial Summary

We consider the trade‐off involved in relying on close ties to service intermediaries and identify conditions under which founders of new ventures are more likely to rely on such intermediaries to improvise. Although close ties can foster trust and facilitate access to a wide range of information and resources, they may also foster a dependency that could constrain future growth. A survey of founding teams in China from 2015 to 2016 reveals that founding teams leveraged such ties when given a shorter time horizon within which to succeed or fail, and when the market was less turbulent. Our findings can help entrepreneurs decide when to resort to close‐tied intermediaries as an aid to improvisation, that is, when the benefits of doing so outweigh the costs.
PEGylated Manganese–Zinc Ferrite Nanocrystals Combined with Intratumoral Implantation of Micromagnets Enabled Synergetic Prostate Cancer Therapy via Ferroptotic and Immunogenic Cell Death
Authors: Wang Hui , Guan Yu , Li Chun , Chen Jia , Yue Shaoyu , Qian Jieying , Dai Bangshun , Jiang Changqin , Wen Chenghao , Wen Longping , Liang Chaozhao , Zhang Yunjiao , Zhang Li
Published: March 2023

Therapeutic efficacy for prostate cancer is highly restricted by insufficient drug accumulation and the resistance to apoptosis and immunogenic cell death (ICD). Although enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect of magnetic nanomaterials could benefit from external magnetic field, it falls off rapidly with increased distance from magnet surface. Considering the deep location of prostate in pelvis, the improvement of EPR effect by external magnetic field is limited. In addition, apoptosis resistance and cGAS‐STING pathway inhibition‐related immunotherapy resistance are major obstacles to conventional therapy. Herein, the magnetic PEGylated manganese‐zinc ferrite nanocrystals (PMZFNs) are designed. Instead of providing external magnet, micromagnets into tumor tissues are intratumorally implanted to actively attract and retain intravenously‐injected PMZFNs. As a result, PMZFNs accumulate in prostate cancer with high efficacy, depending on the established internal magnetic field, which subsequently elicit potent ferroptosis and the activation of cGAS‐STING pathway. Ferroptosis not only directly suppresses prostate cancer but also triggers burst release of cancer‐associated antigens and consequently initiates ICD against prostate cancer, where activated cGAS‐STING pathway further amplifies the efficacy of ICD by generating interferon‐β. Collectively, the intratumorally implanted micromagnets confer a durable EPR effect of PMZFNs, which eventually achieve the synergetic tumoricidal efficacy with negligible systemic toxicity.
Spark Discharge Doping—Achieving Unprecedented Control over Aggregate Fraction and Backbone Ordering in Poly(3‐hexylthiophene) Solutions
Authors: Eller Fabian , Wenzel Felix A. , Hildner Richard , Havenith Remco W. A. , Herzig Eva M.
Published: March 2023

The properties of semiconducting polymers are strongly influenced by their aggregation behavior, that is, their aggregate fraction and backbone planarity. However, tuning these properties, particularly the backbone planarity, is challenging. This work introduces a novel solution treatment to precisely control the aggregation of semiconducting polymers, namely current‐induced doping (CID). It utilizes spark discharges between two electrodes immersed in a polymer solution to create strong electrical currents resulting in temporary doping of the polymer. Rapid doping‐induced aggregation occurs upon every treatment step for the semiconducting model‐polymer poly(3‐hexylthiophene). Therefore, the aggregate fraction in solution can be precisely tuned up to a maximum value determined by the solubility of the doped state. A qualitative model for the dependences of the achievable aggregate fraction on the CID treatment strength and various solution parameters is presented. Moreover, the CID treatment can yield an extraordinarily high quality of backbone order and planarization, expressed in UV–vis absorption spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry measurements. Depending on the selected parameters, an arbitrarily lower backbone order can be chosen using the CID treatment, allowing for maximum control of aggregation. This method may become an elegant pathway to finely tune aggregation and solid‐state morphology for thin‐films of semiconducting polymers.
Gatekeeping Effect of Ancillary Ligand on Electron Transfer in Click Chemistry‐Linked Tris‐Heteroleptic Ruthenium(II) Donor–Photosensitizer–Acceptor Triads
Authors: Bagemihl Benedikt , Pannwitz Andrea , Rau Sven
Published: March 2023

Stable charge‐separated states are key features for using light in various types of solar cells and a broad range of photocatalytic applications. So far, molecular systems often suffer from increased charge recombination after initial excitation. Herein, the scope of molecular model systems for intramolecular electron transfer and charge separation by applying copper‐catalyzed click chemistry to covalently functionalize tris‐heteroleptic ruthenium(II) complexes to yield donor–photosensitizer–acceptor triads with 1,4‐dihydro‐N‐benzyl‐nicotinamide (BNAH) as donor and N‐methyl‐4,4´‐bipyridinium (MQ+) as acceptor is studied. Two triads with electron‐withdrawing or electron‐donating ancillary 2,2´‐bipyridyl ligands are synthesized and their light‐induced intramolecular electron transfer and long‐lived charge‐separated states (τ = 0.8 ms and τ = 1.5 ms) are characterized using steady‐state and time‐resolved spectroscopy and electrochemistry. Additionally, it is found that the charge‐separated state resides on different parts of the molecule within these two triads, allowing for selective directionality of charge transfer within a molecule.
Effective Passivation of Perovskite Solar Cells Involving a Unique Secondary Ammonium Halide Modulator
Authors: Cui Hong , Ning Yunhao , Yang Yuxuan , He Dingqian , Chen Wentao , Huang Yuqiong , Zhao Peng , Feng Yaqing , Zhang Bao
Published: March 2023

Aromatic ammonium salts have been regarded as the promising passivators in perovskite solar cell (PSC) fabrications. However, the complicated passivation procedure and inevitable formation of undesirable low‐dimensional (LD) perovskite layers limit further development. Furthermore, how the steric and electronic properties of different ammonium cations would influence the passivation is not well understood. Herein, two carefully engineered passivators based on the unique benzothiophene moiety involving the primary and secondary ammonium terminals, BTMA‐1 and BTMA‐2, respectively, are developed. It is shown that defects and, thus, nonradiative recombination reactions are effectively suppressed by simple posttreatments without the formation of LD perovskite. Interestingly, the champion efficiency of the BTMA‐2‐treated device increases to 23.10% from ≈20%, along with great stabilities and negligible hysteresis. An in‐depth understanding of the passivation effect influenced by steric and electronic properties is explored. The extra electron‐donating methyl on the ammonium nitrogen (BTMA‐2) increases the electron density on the N atom and the N–H+ ionic bond is, thus, boosted, which helps the positive terminal to anchor more tightly to the [PbI6]4− structure of the perovskite resulting in improved passivation effects. This novel and promising design strategy for ammonium passivators can promote PSCs to achieve further breakthroughs in both efficiency and stabilities.
CLAACS‐IOD: Certificate‐embedded lightweight authentication and access control scheme for Internet of Drones
Authors: Sadhukhan Dipanwita , Ray Sangram , Dasgupta Mou , Rodrigues Joel J. P. C.
Published: March 2023

In recent era, the unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) commonly known as drones has emerged as a one of the most significant and promising tools which has demonstrated its wide range of implementations variating from commercial domain to the field of defense due to its distinct capabilities such as inspection, surveillance, precision and so forth. Internet connected drones provides a propitious trend that boosts the flying safety, and service qualities of the UAVs where numerous low‐altitude drones winged in different flying regions for executing a precise task such as gathering the real‐time information from the unuttered environment to be interpretated by users. Nevertheless, the open‐access insecure communications in hostile environment, the issues like safety and confidentiality threats, various security concerns such as the leakage of flying courses, identities, position, and gathered data by the drones are upstretched. To address these security concerns, access control mechanism provides a potential service in terms of authentication and key agreement for securing the communication between the individual drones within their respective flying regions. This article introduces a robust, efficient, lightweight, and privacy preserving ECC integrated access control approach by employing digital certificate with considering the high dynamicity and mobility of the drones. The designing of this proposed approach, that is, CLAASC‐IoD is influenced by the aim of inter‐drone and drone‐to‐ground station communication in the IoD paradigm. The detailed analysis of security using probabilistic random oracle model as well as simulation using well‐accepted security verification tool AVISPA and comparative performance evaluation supports the claim of robustness, effectiveness, and proficiency.
Congenital urinary obstruction and renal failure: has fetal ultrasound improved the prognosis?
Authors: Woodhouse Christopher
Published: March 2023

Fetal ultrasound can identify babies who are at risk of developing renal failure. However, renal damage before birth is difficult to reverse and end‐stage renal failure may not be preventable.
Developing sustainable transnational collaboration in the post-armed conflict areas of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda and Uganda
Authors: Deogratias Musoke
Published: March 2023

The Virunga National Park (Parc National des Virunga) is situated in the Albertine Rift Valley in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the south-western part of Uganda near Lake George and Lake Edward, and the north-western part of Ruhengeri in Rwanda. It was created in 1925 and is one of the first protected areas in Africa, enlisted as a UNESCO World Heritage property in 1979. The park is host to one of the world’s most famous populations of mountain gorillas but it has been hit by rising instabilities, an influx of refugees, poaching, smuggling activities and violence caused by various rebel groups, such as the Mai-Mai militia and other smugglers, including the recent killing of 12 rangers and the abduction of 2 British tourists in 2018.
From the inscription to the extension of Koutammakou, the Land of the Batammariba, World Heritage Site: An example of successful transnational cooperation between Benin and Togo for the preservation of the site
Authors: Barry Alyssa , Akogni Paul , Ogou Franck , Alitonou Evelyne , Chen Xiangling , Tidjougouna Lucie , Moriset Sébastien
Published: March 2023

Koutammakou is a vast mountainous region shared by Benin and Togo. This living cultural landscape is an authentic reflection of the way of life of the Batammariba people who live there, a people who is constantly seeking harmony between Man and nature and for whom the Sikien, remarkable earthen tower houses, still represent an exceptional symbol of identity. In 2004, the Togolese part of the site was inscribed on the World Heritage List. Fifteen years later and thanks to the clear will of Benin and Togo, this ecosystem was inscribed on the Tentative List of Benin as a transboundary site in 2020. Thereafter, Benin firmly committed itself to the process of elaborating the site’s extension dossier, which was submitted to the World Heritage Centre in January 2021. This initiative is part of the dynamics of a proven transnational cooperation between the Beninese and Togolese States aiming at restoring the territorial integrity of Koutammakou. Moreover, the extension constitutes a major challenge towards improved management of the site for the benefit of the local communities that live there and keep it alive.
Transnational cooperation for effective management of World Heritage sites in Africa
Authors: Arinze Ogechukwu Madeleine
Published: March 2023

Transnational cooperation is taking place at a staggering rate across a broad group of countries commonly referred to as the ‘Third World’ or ‘the South’. To complicate matters more, this cooperation is also taking place in the context of massive technological change, which is remapping the world’s economic geography. According to Dicken (1998), globalization is the financial, economic, social and political response to technological change.
Management and conservation of the Mosi-oa-Tunya/Victoria Falls World Heritage property
Authors: Zulu John
Published: March 2023

The Mosi-oa-Tunya/Victoria Falls World Heritage property was granted World Heritage status on 15 December 1989 after the States Parties of Zambia and Zimbabwe submitted a joint nomination dossier to the UNESCO World Heritage Centre. The property was recognized for its ongoing geological processes, unique geomorphological formations and exceptional natural beauty, displayed through high water spray, daytime rainbows and distinctive lunar rainbows; these attributes convey the property’s Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) under criteria (vii) and (viii). The Mosi-oa-Tunya/Victoria Falls has the widest curtain of waterfalls in the world, measuring 1,706 m, while its deepest point is 108 m. The property is renowned as one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, and the only one of this status in Africa. It is a tourism icon for the two States Parties, and for Africa as a whole.
The challenges of transnational management of cultural and natural sites in Africa: The case of Cameroon
Authors: Biada Alice
Published: March 2023

The concept of ‘transnational management of cultural and natural sites’ can refer to the effective implementation of good practices and mechanisms at sites of cultural and/or natural significance, with a view to their sustainable management. Typically, these sites are located in contiguous areas of States that share the same borders and establish mutually agreed mechanisms for their management. The sustainable management of transboundary cultural, natural and mixed heritage sites in sub-Saharan African countries continues to pose enormous challenges, yet it could contribute to promoting peace in these countries, where the majority of the populations are victims of terrorism, social tensions and widespread poverty. Whether, for example, it is a question of the same protected area extending on both sides of a border as serial properties or a group of different sites, but linked by the same theme, the typology of transnational sites is diverse and requires the establishment of a transnational cooperation strategy that can provide mechanisms adapted to the African continent.
From the Environmentalism of the Poor and the Indigenous Toward Decolonial Environmental Justice
Authors: Roy Brototi , Hanaček Ksenija
Published: March 2023

Drawing from the need for distinct approaches in environmental justice (EJ) research, in this chapter, we choose decolonial EJ both theoretically and methodologically. Extractive projects are rooted in colonial logic. To illustrate the complexity behind this colonial logic, we trace multiple marginalities and oppression across different historical and social contexts in two different regions, the Arctic and India. The long-lasting colonial rush for the resources at the expense of the Global “South” (including the South in the North) shape environmental injustices along multiple mutually constituted axes of racial marginalization, poverty, gendered issue, and nature–culture relationship neglect. Thus, these intersectional ties must be problematized by engaging deeper with decolonial, Indigenous, and feminist scholarship as well as by using methodological and pedagogical aspects for decolonial research. This is because both decolonial thought and methods allow intersectional socio-environmental issues and contexts being addressed not only for the South but from the South as well. We discuss in this chapter, how ongoing research at the Barcelona school engages with these aspects, and that future research agenda needs to be more explicit and reflexive.
Building Biodiversity Knowledge: Mobilising Citizen Science
Authors: Huntley Brian John
Published: March 2023

South Africa enjoys a long history of biological exploration and documentation. However, until recently, much of this information remained inaccessible in herbaria, museums and libraries. During the 1970s and ‘80s, a strong tradition of cooperative research led to the rapid expansion of biodiversity knowledge through multidisciplinary biome and ecosystem projects, and through the preparation and publication of synthesis volumes and open access databases. Three projects – the Southern African Bird Atlas, the Red List of South African Plants, and the Custodians of Rare and Endangered Plants – are reviewed as models of cooperative citizen science initiatives, and the application of strategic opportunism in their implementation.
Logarithmic supertranslations and supertranslation-invariant Lorentz charges
Authors: Fuentealba Oscar , Henneaux Marc , Troessaert Cédric
Published: March 2023

Abstract

We extend the BMS(4) group by adding logarithmic supertranslations. This is done by relaxing the boundary conditions on the metric and its conjugate momentum at spatial infinity in order to allow logarithmic terms of carefully designed form in the asymptotic expansion, while still preserving finiteness of the action. Standard theorems of the Hamiltonian formalism are used to derive the (finite) generators of the logarithmic supertranslations. As the ordinary supertranslations, these depend on a function of the angles. Ordinary and logarithmic supertranslations are then shown to form an abelian subalgebra with non-vanishing central extension. Because of this central term, one can make nonlinear redefinitions of the generators of the algebra so that the pure supertranslations (ℓ > 1 in a spherical harmonic expansion) and the logarithmic supertranslations have vanishing brackets with all the Poincaré generators, and, in particular, transform in the trivial representation of the Lorentz group. The symmetry algebra is then the direct sum of the Poincaré algebra and the infinite-dimensional abelian algebra formed by the pure supertranslations and the logarithmic supertranslations (with central extension). The pure supertranslations are thus completely decoupled from the standard Poincaré algebra in the asymptotic symmetry algebra. This implies in particular that one can provide a definition of the angular momentum which is manifestly free from supertranslation ambiguities. An intermediate redefinition providing a partial decoupling of the pure and logarithmic supertranslations is also given.
Renormalization of supersymmetric Lifshitz sigma models
Authors: Yan Ziqi
Published: March 2023

Abstract

We study the renormalization of an$$ \mathcal{N} $$N= 1 supersymmetric Lifshitz sigma model in three dimensions. The sigma model exhibits worldvolume anisotropy in space and time around the high-energyz= 2 Lifshitz point, such that the worldvolume is endowed with a foliation structure along a preferred time direction. In curved backgrounds, the target-space geometry is equipped with two distinct metrics, and the interacting sigma model is power-counting renormalizable. At low energies, the theory naturally flows toward the relativistic sigma model where Lorentz symmetry emerges. In the superspace formalism, we develop a heat kernel method that is covariantized with respect to the bimetric target-space geometry, using which we evaluate the one-loop beta-functions of the Lifshitz sigma model. This study forms an essential step toward a thorough understanding of the quantum critical supermembrane as a candidate high-energy completion of the relativistic supermembrane.
The Effects of Statins on Respiratory Symptoms and Pulmonary Fibrosis in COVID-19 Patients with Diabetes Mellitus: A Longitudinal Multicenter Study
Authors: Sadeghdoust Mohammadamin , Aligolighasemabadi Farnaz , Dehesh Tania , Taefehshokr Nima , Sadeghdoust Adel , Kotfis Katarzyna , Hashemiattar Amirhossein , Ravandi Amir , Aligolighasemabadi Neda , Vakili Omid , Grabarek Beniamin , Staszkiewicz Rafał , Łos Marek J. , Mokarram Pooneh , Ghavami Saeid
Published: March 2023

The aim of this prospective cohort study was to explore the effect of statins on long-term respiratory symptoms and pulmonary fibrosis in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). Patients were recruited from three tertiary hospitals, categorized into Statin or Non-statin groups, and assessed on days 0, 28, and 90 after symptoms onset to record the duration of symptoms. Pulmonary fibrosis was scored at baseline and follow-up time points by high-resolution computed tomography scans. Each group comprised 176 patients after propensity score matching. Data analysis revealed that the odds of having cough and dyspnea were significantly higher in the Non-statin group compared to the Statin group during the follow-up period. Overall, there was no significant difference in the change in pulmonary fibrosis score between groups. However, Non-statin patients with > 5 years of DM were more likely to exhibit a significantly higher fibrosis score during the follow-up period as compared to their peers in the Statin group. Our results suggest that the use of statins is associated with a lower risk of developing chronic cough and dyspnea in diabetic patients with COVID-19, and may reduce pulmonary fibrosis associated with COVID-19 in patients with long-term (> 5 years) DM.

Graphical Abstract
Ernährungspraxis auf Intensivstationen: nutritionDay 2007–2021
Authors: Hiesmayr Michael , Fischer Arabella , Veraar Cecilia , Mora Bruno , Tarantino Silvia , Weimann Arved , Volkert Dorothee
Published: March 2023

Die klinische Praxis der Ernährungstherapie auf Intensivstationen, eine anerkannte Unterstützung von Patient*innen, die nicht selbst ausreichend essen können, basiert auf teils divergierenden Leitlinien und randomisierten Studien, die unterschiedliche Vorgangsweisen zum Standard erhoben. Zweck der aktuellen Analyse von Daten des nutritionDay-Projekts ist es, die derzeit weltweite klinische Praxis mit jener in Europa sowie in der Region Deutschland, Österreich und Schweiz (DACH) zu vergleichen. Zwischen den Jahren 2007 und 2021 wurden Daten von 18.918 Patient*innen, die in 1595 Intensivstationen aufgenommen waren, in einer Querschnittsuntersuchung online erfasst. Die Untersuchung verfolgt das Ziel, alle an einem Tag anwesenden Patient*innen zu erfassen. Die mediane Aufenthaltsdauer bei der Erfassung war Tag 4. Patient*innen unterschieden sich gering zwischen den Regionen mit einem medianen Alter von 64 Jahren und einem Frauenanteil von 40 %. Die Patient*innen waren zur Hälfte beatmet, in 29 % sediert und erhielten in 10 % eine Nierenersatztherapie. Nach 60 Tagen war die Hälfte nach Hause entlassen und ein Viertel der Patient*innen verstorben. Die Ernährungstherapie wird doppelt so häufig in Form enteraler Ernährung (48 %) im Vergleich zur parenteralen Ernährung (24 %) verabreicht. Etwa 39 % der Patient*innen können essen und 10 % erhalten keine Ernährung. Parenterale Ernährung wird in Europa deutlich häufiger als in den anderen Weltregionen angewandt. Die Menge der Ernährung ist in allen Regionen sehr ähnlich mit etwa 1500 kcal und 60 g Protein pro Tag. Eine klare Beziehung mit dem Körpergewicht ist nicht erkennbar. Die Streuung um diese medianen Werte ist sehr groß mit jeweils mehr als der Hälfte der Patient*innen, die um mehr als 25 % nach oben oder unten abweichen. Das nutritionDay-Projekt erlaubt jeder Intensivstation, ihre Praxis numerisch und grafisch mit den durchschnittlichen Werten der weltweiten Daten im Sinne des Benchmarkings jährlich zu vergleichen. Ziel ist es, die Heterogenität der Praxis zu vermindern.
Die Einstellung der deutschen Bevölkerung zu psychischen Störungen
Authors: Schomerus Georg , Spahlholz Jenny , Speerforck Sven
Published: March 2023

Eine psychische Erkrankung bedeutet für viele Betroffene auch eine Auseinandersetzung mit den Reaktionen des Umfelds. Diese werden geprägt durch kulturell vorherrschende Vorstellungen von Ursache, Behandlung, Verlauf und biografischer Bedeutung der Krankheit. Der vorliegende Artikel gibt einen Überblick über die Entwicklung der Einstellungen der deutschen Bevölkerung zu psychischen Erkrankungen zwischen 1990 und 2020 mit Schwerpunkt auf Depression und Schizophrenie.

Mit Blick auf die letzten 30 Jahre zeigt sich, dass die Einstellungen zu psychischen Erkrankungen nicht statisch sind, sondern vielmehr einer Dynamik unterliegen, die sich in Abhängigkeit vom Krankheitsbild erheblich unterscheiden kann. Zusammenfassend ruft eine Depression weitaus weniger negative Gefühle hervor, als es bei der Schizophrenie der Fall ist. Dieser Unterschied hat sich in den letzten 30 Jahren vergrößert: Menschen mit Depressionen treffen heute auf mehr Verständnis als vor 30 Jahren, während die Stigmatisierung von Menschen mit Schizophrenie zugenommen hat. Neben einer zunehmenden Offenheit im Umgang mit psychischen Belastungen haben sich auch Normalitätsvorstellungen und Konzepte von psychischer Krankheit verändert. Depressive Zustandsbilder werden heute stärker mit dem eigenen Erleben in Verbindung gebracht als noch vor 10 Jahren. Eine Schizophrenie erscheint den Menschen dagegen heute eher fremdartiger. Während die Empfehlung sowohl von Psychotherapie als auch von Medikamenten für die Behandlung psychischer Krankheiten zunimmt und sowohl Psychotherapeuten als auch Psychiater häufiger als Anlaufstelle empfohlen werden, nimmt die Empfehlung spiritueller Helfer (Pfarrer, Priester) seit den 1990er-Jahren ab. Wir diskutieren mögliche Ursachen und Konsequenzen dieser divergenten Entwicklungen.
Damping property of a NiTi auxetic structure fabricated through selective laser melting
Authors: Nespoli Adelaide , Grande Antonio Mattia , Passaretti Francesca , Rigamonti Daniela , Sala Giuseppe , Bettini Paolo
Published: March 2023

The present work aims at studying the damping response of a NiTi auxetic structure fabricated through additive manufacturing. Furthermore, an electropolishing route has been accounted for improving the roughness on the external surface of the printed samples. The damping capacity of the manufactured auxetic NiTi components is evaluated through the amount of energy dissipated per cycle and through the loss factor index. Results show that the damping capacity of the auxetic NiTi cell takes advantage of electropolishing and it is superior to that of traditional materials. Particularly, a maximum dissipated energy of 55 mJ was registered in the austenite state after 10 min of electropolishing; additionally, the loss factor shows a maximum of 0.0523 in the R-phase.
The role of attention control in visual mismatch negativity (vMMN) studies
Authors: Petro Bela , Gaál Zsófia Anna , Kojouharova Petia , Czigler István
Published: March 2023

The detection of unattended visual changes is investigated by the visual mismatch negativity (vMMN) component of event-related potentials (ERPs). The vMMN is measured as the difference between the ERPs to infrequent (deviant) and frequent (standard) stimuli irrelevant to the ongoing task. In the present study, we used human faces expressing different emotions as deviants and standards. In such studies, participants perform various tasks, so their attention is diverted from the vMMN-related stimuli. If such tasks vary in their attentional demand, they might influence the outcome of vMMN studies. In this study, we compared four kinds of frequently used tasks: (1) a tracking task that demanded continuous performance, (2) a detection task where the target stimuli appeared at any time, (3) a detection task where target stimuli appeared only in the inter-stimulus intervals, and (4) a task where target stimuli were members of the stimulus sequence. This fourth task elicited robust vMMN, while in the other three tasks, deviant stimuli elicited moderate posterior negativity (vMMN). We concluded that the ongoing task had a marked influence on vMMN; thus, it is important to consider this effect in vMMN studies.
Cross-Calibration of iDXA and pQCT Scanners at Rural and Urban Research Sites in The Gambia, West Africa
Authors: Ó Breasail Mícheál , Janha Ramatoulie , Zengin Ayse , Pearse Camille , Jarjou Landing , Prentice Ann , Ward Kate A.
Published: March 2023

Between-scanner differences in measures of bone and body composition can obscure or exaggerate physiological differences in multi-site studies or the magnitude of changes in longitudinal studies. We conducted a cross-calibration study at two bone imaging centres in The Gambia, West Africa where DXA (dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry) and pQCT (peripheral Quantitative-Computed Tomography) are routinely used. Repeat scans were obtained from 64 Gambian adults (58% Male) aged Mean(SD) 30.9 (13.5) years with Mean(SD) body mass index (BMI) 21.7 (4.0) kg/m2, using DXA (GE Lunar iDXA, whole body [WB], total hip [TH], lumbar spine [LS]) and pQCT (Stratec XCT2000L/XCT2000, tibia 4%, 50% sites). Between-scanner differences were tested using paired t tests (p < 0.05). Between-scanner correlation was explored with linear regression, and cross-calibration equations derived. Bland–Altman analysis investigated machine trend/bias. When differences were detected (p < 0.05), cross-calibration equations were applied to urban values, with t tests and Bland Altman analysis repeated. Between-scanner differences exceeded the predefined level of statistical significance (p < 0.05) for WB aBMD and BA; all pQCT measures vBMD, BMC, cortical cross-sectional area (CSA) and stress–strain index (SSI). Between-scanner correlation was high (R2:0.92–0.99), except pQCT Mu.Den (R2 = 0.51). Bland Altman plots indicated bias increased with increasing BMD. Cross-calibration equations attenuated all between-scanner differences and systematic bias. Cross-calibration, particularly of pQCT scanners, is an important consideration in multi-site studies particularly where between population comparisons are intended. Our experiences and findings may be generalisable to other resource-limited settings where the logistics of sourcing parts and in-country repair may result in lengthy scanner downtime.
LILRB2-containing small extracellular vesicles from glioblastoma promote tumor progression by promoting the formation and expansion of myeloid-derived suppressor cells
Authors: Wu Peitao , Guo Yuhang , Xiao Li , Yuan Jiaqi , Tang Chao , Dong Jun , Qian Zhiyuan
Published: March 2023

Background

Leukocyte immunoglobulin-like receptor subfamily B2 (LILRB2) was reported to be an inhibitory molecule with suppressive functions. sEVs mediate communication between cancer cells and other cells. However, the existence of LILRB2 on sEVs in circulation and the function of sEVs-LILRB2 are still unknown. This study aims to investigate the role of LILRB2 in GBM and determine how LILRB2 in sEVs regulates tumor immunity.

Methods

LILRB2 expression in normal brain and GBM tissues was detected by immunohistochemistry, and the effect of LILRB2 on prognosis was evaluated in an orthotopic brain tumor model. Next, a subcutaneous tumor model was constructed to evaluate the function of pirb in vivo. The immune cells in the tumor sites and spleen were detected by immunofluorescence staining and flow cytometry. Then, the presence of pirb in sEVs was confirmed by WB. The percentage of immune cells after incubation with sEVs from GL261 (GL261-sEVs) or sEVs from GL261-pirb+ (GL261-sEVs-pirb) was detected by flow cytometry. Then, the effect of pirb on sEVs was evaluated by a tumor-killing assay and proliferation assay. Finally, subcutaneous tumor models were constructed to evaluate the function of pirb on sEVs.

Results

LILRB2 was overexpressed in human GBM tissue and was closely related to an immunosuppressive TME in GBM. Then, a protumor ability of LILRB2 was observed in subcutaneous tumor models, which was related to lower CD8 + T cells and higher MDSCs (myeloid-derived suppressor cells) in the tumor and spleen compared to those of the control group. Next, we found that pirb on sEVs (sEVs-pirb) inhibits the function of CD8 + T cells by promoting the formation and expansion of MDSCs. Furthermore, the protumor function of sEVs-pirb was demonstrated in subcutaneous tumor models.

Conclusion

We discovered that LILRB2/pirb can be transmitted between GBM cells via sEVs and that pirb on sEVs induces the formation and expansion of MDSCs. The induced MDSCs facilitate the formation of an immunosuppressive TME.

Graphical Abstract
Daratumumab plus bortezomib, cyclophosphamide, and dexamethasone in Asian patients with newly diagnosed AL amyloidosis: subgroup analysis of ANDROMEDA
Authors: Suzuki Kenshi , Wechalekar Ashutosh D. , Kim Kihyun , Shimazaki Chihiro , Kim Jin Seok , Ikezoe Takayuki , Min Chang-Ki , Zhou Fude , Cai Zhen , Chen Xiaonong , Iida Shinsuke , Katoh Nagaaki , Fujisaki Tomoaki , Shin Ho-Jin , Tran NamPhuong , Qin Xiang , Vasey Sandra Y. , Tromp Brenda , Weiss Brendan M. , Comenzo Raymond L. , Kastritis Efstathios , Lu Jin
Published: March 2023

Subcutaneous daratumumab plus bortezomib/cyclophosphamide/dexamethasone (VCd; D-VCd) improved outcomes versus VCd for patients with newly diagnosed immunoglobulin light-chain (AL) amyloidosis in the phase 3 ANDROMEDA study. We report a subgroup analysis of Asian patients (Japan; Korea; China) from ANDROMEDA. Among 388 randomized patients, 60 were Asian (D-VCd, n = 29; VCd, n = 31). At a median follow-up of 11.4 months, the overall hematologic complete response rate was higher for D-VCd versus VCd (58.6% vs. 9.7%; odds ratio, 13.2; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.3–53.7; P < 0.0001). Six-month cardiac and renal response rates were higher with D-VCd versus VCd (cardiac, 46.7% vs. 4.8%; P = 0.0036; renal, 57.1% vs. 37.5%; P = 0.4684). Major organ deterioration progression-free survival (MOD-PFS) and major organ deterioration event-free survival (MOD-EFS) were improved with D-VCd versus VCd (MOD-PFS: hazard ratio [HR], 0.21; 95% CI, 0.06–0.75; P = 0.0079; MOD-EFS: HR, 0.16; 95% CI, 0.05–0.54; P = 0.0007). Twelve deaths occurred (D-VCd, n = 3; VCd, n = 9). Twenty-two patients had baseline serologies indicating prior hepatitis B virus (HBV) exposure; no patient experienced HBV reactivation. Although grade 3/4 cytopenia rates were higher than in the global safety population, the safety profile of D-VCd in Asian patients was generally consistent with the global study population, regardless of body weight. These results support D-VCd use in Asian patients with newly diagnosed AL amyloidosis. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03201965.
Broadband circular dichroism in chiral plasmonic woodpiles
Authors: Abdennadher Bilel , Iseli René , Steiner Ullrich , Saba Matthias
Published: March 2023

The circular dichroism (CD) of a material is the difference in optical absorption under left- and right-circularly polarized illumination. It is crucial for a number of applications, from molecular sensing to the design of circularly polarized thermal light sources. The CD in natural materials is typically weak, leading to the exploitation of artificial chiral materials. Layered chiral woodpile structures are well known to boost chiro-optical effects when realized as a photonic crystal or an optical metamaterial. We here demonstrate that light scattering at a chiral plasmonic woodpile, which is structured on the order of the wavelength of the light, can be well understood by considering the fundamental evanescent Floquet states within the structure. In particular, we report a broadband circular polarization bandgap in the complex band structure of various plasmonic woodpiles that spans the optical transparency window of the atmosphere between 3 and 4 $$\upmu$$
μ
m and leads to an average CD of up to 90% within this spectral range. Our findings could pave the way for an ultra-broadband circularly polarized thermal source.
Ultrasound-guided SoracteLite™ transperineal laser ablation (TPLA) of the prostate for the treatment of symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH): a prospective single-center experience
Authors: Laganà Antonino , Di Lascio Giovanni , Di Blasi Aldo , Licari Leslie Claire , Tufano Antonio , Flammia Rocco Simone , De Carolis Andrea
Published: March 2023

Purpose

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of ultrasound-guided transperineal laser ablation (TPLA) in patients with symptomatic BPH.

Materials and methods

From January 2020 to January 2022, 63 prospectively enrolled patients underwent TPLA with a 1064-nm continuous-wave diode laser (EchoLaser, Elesta SpA). Primary endpoints were the change in IPSS, QoL, Qmax, PVR and prostate volume at 3 and 12 months.

Results

At 3 months, IPSS improved from 20.8 ± 7.4 to 11.0 ± 6.6 (p < 0.001), QoL from 4.7 ± 1.4 to 1.5 ± 1.2 (p < 0.001) and Qmax from 8.6 ± 3.5 mL/s to 13.2 ± 5.7 mL/s (p = 0.083). PVR decreased from 124.8 ± 115.4 mL to 43.6 ± 53.6 mL (p < 0.001), and prostate volume decreased from 63.6 ± 29.7 mL to 45.6 ± 21.8 mL (p = 0.003). At 12 months, IPSS improved from 20.8 ± 7.4 to 8.4 ± 5.9 (p < 0.001), QoL from 4.7 ± 1.4 to 1.2 ± 0.8 (p < 0.001), and Qmax from 8.6 ± 3.5 mL/s to 16.2 ± 4.3 mL/s (p = 0.014). PVR decreased from 124.8 ± 115.4 mL to 40.6 ± 53.6 mL (p = 0.003), and prostate volume decreased from 63.6 ± 29.7 mL to 42.8 ± 14.2 mL (p = 0.071). Transient complications consisted of two patients with prostatic abscess (Clavien-Dindo grade IIIa) and one patient with orchitis (Clavien-Dindo grade II).

Conclusions

TPLA for symptomatic BPH provides clinical benefits at 3 and 12 months, and the treatment is well tolerated.
Future changes of circulation types and their effects on surface air temperature and precipitation in the SMHI large ensemble
Authors: Hansen Felicitas , Belušić Danijel , Wyser Klaus , Koenigk Torben
Published: March 2023

Being strongly influenced by internal climate variability, the atmospheric circulation response to greenhouse gas forcing in the future climate is uncertain. This study addresses atmospheric circulation through representative circulation types (CTs) and investigates the CTs’ changes with respect to frequency and effect on surface temperature and precipitation over a pan-Scandinavian domain. The analysis is based on the Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute Large Ensemble performed with EC-Earth3: 50-member ensembles from one historical and six scenario simulations for the twenty-first century are used to assess internal variability and significance of changes. Although the results show no strong future changes in the CTs’ sea level pressure patterns, CT frequency changes suggest a future extension of summer conditions towards spring and autumn and point towards a clearer distinction between summer and winter. The present-climate CT effect on surface temperature is found to generally weaken which is consistent with a general decrease in temperature variability. Largest-scale and strongest temperature effect changes are projected between March and May for CT3, a cyclone towards the east of the domain associated with a domain-wide cooling effect that will likely be decreased towards the end of the twenty-first century. Similarly but of opposite sign, the CT effect on precipitation is strengthening as a result of the increased precipitation variability. Here, largest-scale and strongest effect enhancement is found for CT6, thus increasing its wetting effect over southern Scandinavia and drying effect west of the Scandes. Changes are generally largest towards the end of the twenty-first century and tend to increase with the forcing strength, thus maximizing for SSP585.
Light and scanning electron microscope observations of the digenean intestinal parasite Acanthostomum spiniceps Looss 1896 (Cryptogonimidae) from the catfish Bagrus bajad and B. docmak
Authors: Allam Hend E. , Mashaly Mohamed I. , EL-Naggar Mohamed M.
Published: March 2023

Fishes of the River Nile are a promising source of animal protein. The catfishes Bagrus bajad Fabricius 1775 and Bagrus docmak Fabricius 1775 are economically important with well-marketable size and use in fish farming. Digenean parasites cause severe damage to the gut tissue of their fish hosts. There are still some questions regarding the taxonomical features of the genus Acanthostomum Looss 1899. The present study has revealed new morphological features that confirmed the identity of the collected worms as Acanthostomum spiniceps Looss 1896 and aided in elucidating the possible functions of different internal organs and surface features. A long-stemmed excretory bladder was detected but there was no evidence of gonotyl. The circumoral spines (28–30) were detected in the early juvenile stage and adult. The ventral sucker has no tegumental folds in juveniles or crescent-shaped tegumental folds in adults but possesses two overlapping lips. In both juveniles and adults, the oral sucker with the associated circumoral spines assumed retracted, and protracted positions reflecting its highest movement activity. Elongation of the anterior region and partial emergence of the oral cavity in living juveniles and adults were described. The possible functions of the forebody glands and the posterior body openings near the anal pores were discussed. Large, non-ciliated, dome-shaped, and small ciliated, button-like papillae were concentrated on the body surface, particularly the oral and ventral suckers. The tegument possesses densely arranged single-pointed and scale-like spines that gradually decrease in size and number as they proceed posteriorly.