bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Relapse after abrupt discontinuation of maintenance electroconvulsive therapy during the COVID‐19 pandemic
Authors: Lambrichts Simon , Vansteelandt Kristof , Crauwels Bo , Obbels Jasmien , Pilato Eva , Denduyver Jonas , Ernes Katrien , Maebe Pieter‐Paul , Migchels Charlotte , Roosen Lore , Buggenhout Satya , Bouckaert Filip , Schrijvers Didier , Sienaert Pascal
Published: June 2021

Objective

Maintenance electroconvulsive therapy (M‐ECT) is considered an effective relapse prevention strategy in severe mood and psychotic disorders. How long M‐ECT should be continued, and what the outcome is after its discontinuation has not been adequately studied. In our tertiary psychiatric hospital, M‐ECT treatments were suspended at the start of the COVID‐19 pandemic. We aimed to determine the 6‐month relapse rate and time to relapse after abrupt discontinuation of M‐ECT and to assess the impact of patient and treatment characteristics on the risk of relapse.

Methods

Eighty‐one patients whose M‐ECT was discontinued abruptly were followed up prospectively for 6 months, or until relapse (i.e., hospital admission, restart of ECT, change of pharmacotherapy, or suicide (attempt)). We used multivariable Cox proportional hazards models to assess the impact of patient and treatment characteristics on the risk of relapse.

Results

Thirty‐six patients (44.44%) relapsed within 6 months following abrupt discontinuation of M‐ECT. A greater number of previous acute ECT courses, a diagnosis of psychotic disorder (compared with major depressive disorder or bipolar disorder), and a shorter interval between M‐ECT treatments at the time of discontinuation were significantly associated with increased risk of relapse.

Conclusion

Almost half of the patients relapsed, similar to the relapse rate after a successful acute course of ECT. Patients with a shorter interval between M‐ECT treatments at the time of discontinuation seem to be at increased risk, as well as patients with a diagnosis of psychotic disorder, compared to patients with mood disorders.
Asthma phenotypes, associated comorbidities, and long‐term symptoms in COVID‐19
Authors: Eggert Lauren E. , He Ziyuan , Collins William , Lee Alexandra S. , Dhondalay Gopal , Jiang Shirley Y. , Fitzpatrick Jessica , Snow Theo T. , Pinsky Benjamin A. , Artandi Maja , Barman Linda , Puri Rajan , Wittman Richard , Ahuja Neera , Blomkalns Andra , O'Hara Ruth , Cao Shu , Desai Manisha , Sindher Sayantani B. , Nadeau Kari , Chinthrajah R. Sharon
Published: June 2021

Background

It is unclear whether asthma and its allergic phenotype are risk factors for hospitalization or severe disease from SARS‐CoV‐2.

Methods

All patients over 28 days old testing positive for SARS‐CoV‐2 between March 1 and September 30, 2020, were retrospectively identified and characterized through electronic analysis at Stanford. A sub‐cohort was followed prospectively to evaluate long‐term COVID‐19 symptoms.

Results

168,190 patients underwent SARS‐CoV‐2 testing, and 6,976 (4.15%) tested positive. In a multivariate analysis, asthma was not an independent risk factor for hospitalization (OR 1.12 [95% CI 0.86, 1.45], p = .40). Among SARS‐CoV‐2‐positive asthmatics, allergic asthma lowered the risk of hospitalization and had a protective effect compared with non‐allergic asthma (OR 0.52 [0.28, 0.91], p = .026); there was no association between baseline medication use as characterized by GINA and hospitalization risk. Patients with severe COVID‐19 disease had lower eosinophil levels during hospitalization compared with patients with mild or asymptomatic disease, independent of asthma status (p = .0014). In a patient sub‐cohort followed longitudinally, asthmatics and non‐asthmatics had similar time to resolution of COVID‐19 symptoms, particularly lower respiratory symptoms.

Conclusions

Asthma is not a risk factor for more severe COVID‐19 disease. Allergic asthmatics were half as likely to be hospitalized with COVID‐19 compared with non‐allergic asthmatics. Lower levels of eosinophil counts (allergic biomarkers) were associated with a more severe COVID‐19 disease trajectory. Recovery was similar among asthmatics and non‐asthmatics with over 50% of patients reporting ongoing lower respiratory symptoms 3 months post‐infection.
Environment‐dependent alterations of immune mediators in urban and rural South African children with atopic dermatitis
Authors: Lunjani Nonhlanhla , Tan Ge , Dreher Anita , Sokolowska Milena , Groeger David , Warwyzniak Marcin , Altunbulakli Can , Westermann Patrick , Basera Wisdom , Hobane Lelani , Botha Maresa , Gray Claudia , Mankahla Avumile , Gray Clive , Nadeau Kari C. , Hlela Carol , Levin Michael , O’Mahony Liam , Akdis Cezmi A.
Published: June 2021

Background

In order to improve targeted therapeutic approaches for children with atopic dermatitis (AD), novel insights into the molecular mechanisms and environmental exposures that differentially contribute to disease phenotypes are required. We wished to identify AD immunological endotypes in South African children from rural and urban environments.

Methods

We measured immunological, socio‐economic and environmental factors in healthy children (n = 74) and children with AD (n = 78), in rural and urban settings from the same ethno‐linguistic AmaXhosa background in South Africa.

Results

Circulating eosinophils, monocytes, TARC, MCP‐4, IL‐16 and allergen‐specific IgE levels were elevated, while IL‐17A and IL‐23 levels were reduced, in children with AD regardless of their location. Independent of AD, children living in a rural environment had the highest levels of TNFα, TNFβ, IL‐1α, IL‐6, IL‐8, IL‐21, MCP‐1, MIP‐1α, MIP‐1β, MDC, sICAM1, sVCAM1, VEGFA, VEGFD and Tie2, suggesting a generalized microinflammation or a pattern of trained immunity without any specific TH polarization. In contrast, IL‐15, IL‐22, Flt1, PIGF and βFGF were highest in urban children. Rural healthy children had the lowest levels of food allergen‐specific IgG4. Early life nutritional factors, medications, animal exposures, indoor environment, sunlight exposure, household size, household income and parental education levels were associated with differences in circulating cytokine levels.

Conclusions

This study highlights the immunological impact of environmental exposures and socio‐economic status in the manifestation of immune endotypes in children with AD living in urban and rural areas, which are important in selecting appropriately matched immunological therapies for treatment of AD.
Correlation between neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio and clinical manifestations and complications of retinitis pigmentosa
Authors: He Mengmei , Wu Tong , Zhang Luning , Ye Wei , Ma Jiyuan , Zhao Chao , Liu Jiahua , Zhou Jian
Published: June 2021

Purpose

The role of inflammation in retinitis pigmentosa (RP) has been receiving additional attention. However, the association between inflammation and the clinical manifestations and complications of RP is still unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio (NLR) of RP complicated with cataract and explore the correlations between the NLR and specific clinical features of RP.

Methods

This retrospective study included 79 RP patients complicated with cataract (125 eyes) and 63 age‐ and sex‐matched patients (63 eyes) with age‐related cataract (ARC). Patients’ ocular examination results were collected and complete blood count results were used to calculate NLRs. The correlations between the NLR of RP patients and the parameters of ocular examinations were analysed.

Results

The NLRs of RP patients with cataracts were significantly higher than those of ARC (1.93 ± 0.83 versus 1.65 ± 0.59, p = 0.029). The NLRs increased with the severity of posterior subcapsular cataract (PSC), zonular deficiency, poor preoperative best‐corrected visual acuity (LogMAR>1), and visual field defects. Analysis of receiver operating characteristic curves suggested that NLR > 1.36 could predict higher degrees (PSC area >3%, >P1) of PSC (p = 0.002, 95% CI, 0.672–0.934), and that NLR > 2.12 could predict zonular weakness (p = 0.002, 95% CI, 0.665–0.928) in RP.

Conclusion

The NLRs in RP patients with cataract are not only higher but also associated with several clinical manifestations of RP. The NLR can be a predictive biomarker of higher degrees of PSC (>P1) and zonular weakness in RP before cataract surgery. These results suggest that systemic inflammation may play a role in the pathogenesis of RP.
Corticosteroid use, myocardial injury and in‐hospital cardiovascular events in patients with community‐acquired pneumonia
Authors: Cangemi Roberto , Carnevale Roberto , Cammisotto Vittoria , Nocella Cristina , Bartimoccia Simona , Taliani Gloria , Falcone Marco , Calvieri Camilla , Pignatelli Pasquale , Violi Francesco ,   in collaboration with the SIXTUS study group
Published: June 2021

Background and Purpose

Corticosteroids are often prescribed to community‐acquired pneumonia (CAP) patients, but the relationship with major cardiovascular events (MACEs) is unclear.

Experimental Approach

541 CAP patients were recruited (334 males, mean age 71.9 ± 16.2 years). High‐sensitivity troponin T (hs‐cTnT) was measured at admission, during the hospital stay and at discharge. MACE occurrence was registered during a long‐term follow‐up.

Key Results

Overall, 318 patients (59%) showed hs‐cTnT elevation >99th percentile (>0.014 μg/L). Age, heart failure and the increasing quintiles of hs‐cTnT (hazard ratio [HR] 2.16, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.82‐2.58, P < .001) predicted MACEs. Among patients with hs‐cTnT >0.014 μg/L at admission, 102 patients (31%) were on corticosteroids and showed lower hs‐cTnT increase (P = .021), (NADPH) oxidase‐2 (Nox2) activation (P = .005) and incidence of MACEs than untreated ones (HR 0.64, 95% CI 0.41‐0.97, P = .038); no effect of corticosteroids on MACEs was observed in CAP patients with normal troponin. In vitro study showed that glucocorticoids have an antioxidant effect via downregulation of Nox2 activity.

Conclusion and Implications

The study provides evidence that corticosteroid use is associated with lower increase of hs‐cTnT and incidence of MACEs in CAP patients.
Relevance of primary lesion location, tumour heterogeneity and genetic mutation demonstrated through tumour growth inhibition and overall survival modelling in metastatic colorectal cancer
Authors: Vera‐Yunca Diego , Parra‐Guillen Zinnia P. , Girard Pascal , Trocóniz Iñaki F. , Terranova Nadia
Published: June 2021

Aims

The aims of this work were to build a semi‐mechanistic tumour growth inhibition (TGI) model for metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients receiving either cetuximab + chemotherapy or chemotherapy alone and to identify early predictors of overall survival (OS).

Methods

A total of 1716 patients from 4 mCRC clinical studies were included in the analysis. The TGI model was built with 8973 tumour size measurements where the probability of drop‐out was also included and modelled as a time‐to‐event variable using parametric survival models, as it was the case in the OS analysis. The effects of patient‐ and tumour‐related covariates on model parameters were explored.

Results

Chemotherapy and cetuximab effects were included in an additive form in the TGI model. Development of resistance was found to be faster for chemotherapy (drug effect halved at wk 8) compared to cetuximab (drug effect halved at wk 12). KRAS wild‐type status and presenting a right‐sided primary lesion were related to a 3.5‐fold increase in cetuximab drug effect and a 4.7× larger cetuximab resistance, respectively. The early appearance of a new lesion (HR = 4.14), a large tumour size at baseline (HR = 1.62) and tumour heterogeneity (HR = 1.36) were the main predictors of OS.

Conclusions

Semi‐mechanistic TGI and OS models have been developed in a large population of mCRC patients receiving chemotherapy in combination or not with cetuximab. Tumour‐related predictors, including a machine learning derived‐index of tumour heterogeneity, were linked to changes in drug effect, resistance to treatment or OS, contributing to the understanding of the variability in clinical response.
Multimodal play: A threshold concept for early childhood curriculum?
Authors: Grieshaber Susan , Nuttall Joce , Edwards Susan
Published: June 2021

A challenge for early childhood (EC) educators internationally is how to increase the integration of popular culture, media and digital technologies in EC settings to promote children's learning with digital media. But an ongoing puzzle is why the practices of some educators change, while others remain the same. Much research about teaching practice positions the locus of change in teacher beliefs, attitudes, values and knowledge. Re‐mediation by cultural tools (i.e., concepts and artefacts) offers an alternative explanation, but this still does not consistently result in hoped‐for shifts in practice. To gain further clarity, we investigated the idea of multimodal play as a ‘threshold concept’ for EC curriculum. Multimodal play integrates popular culture, media and digital technologies in ways that can promote children's learning. Considering multimodal play as a threshold concept may assist educators to adopt new practices in response to children's significant interest in and rapidly changing life worlds of popular culture, media and digital technologies.

Practitioner notes

What is already known about this topic

Play is the signature pedagogy of early childhood education (ECE).

Professional development (PD) by EC educators about digital technologies, media and popular culture produces little change to established practices.

Successful ways to integrate digital technologies, media and popular culture in EC curricula are needed.

What this paper adds

Draws on extant literature and empirical data to explain why multimodal play could be a threshold concept in ECE.

Offers an alternative explanation to re‐mediation about why practices are difficult to change.

Implications for practice and/or policy

Research and PD about digital technologies, media and popular culture should treat multimodal play (not digital technologies) as a threshold concept in addressing signature pedagogies.

Popular culture, media and digital technologies can add to rather than displace multimodality in children's play.
The impact of COVID‐19 on pregnancy and therapeutic drug development
Authors: Abbas‐Hanif Allyah , Rezai Homira , Ahmed Syed Faraz , Ahmed Asif
Published: June 2021

Emerging data show that pregnant women with COVID‐19 are at significantly higher risk of severe outcomes compared with non‐pregnant women of similar age. This review discusses the invaluable insight revealed from vaccine clinical trials in women who were vaccinated and inadvertently became pregnant during the trial period. It further explores a number of clinical avenues in their management and proposes a drug development strategy in line with clinical trials for vaccines and drug treatments for the drug development community. Little is known of the long‐term effects of COVID‐19 on the mother and the baby. Our hypothesis that COVID‐19 predisposes pregnant women to pre‐eclampsia or hypertensive disorders during pregnancy is supported by a clinical study, and this may also adversely impact a woman's cardiovascular disease risk later in life. It may also increase a woman's risk of pre‐eclampsia in subsequent pregnancy. This is an ever‐evolving landscape, and early knowledge for healthcare providers and drug innovators is offered to ensure benefits outweigh the risks. COVID‐19 mRNA vaccines appear to generate robust humoral immunity in pregnant and lactating women. This novel approach to vaccination also offers new ways to therapeutically tackle disorders of many unmet medical needs.

LINKED ARTICLES

This article is part of a themed issue on The second wave: are we any closer to efficacious pharmacotherapy for COVID 19? (BJP 75th Anniversary). To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v179.10/issuetoc
Impact of growth faults on mixed siliciclastic‐carbonate‐evaporite deposits during rift climax and reorganisation—Billefjorden Trough, Svalbard, Norway
Authors: Smyrak‐Sikora Aleksandra , Nicolaisen Jakob B. , Braathen Alvar , Johannessen Erik P. , Olaussen Snorre , Stemmerik Lars
Published: June 2021

Fault‐controlled mixed siliciclastic‐carbonate‐evaporite depositional systems exhibit distinct sensitivity to tectonic and eustatic controls that are expressed in the sedimentary architecture. In the Upper Carboniferous Billefjorden Trough (Svalbard, Norway), up to 2,000 m of a warm and arid climate syn‐rift basin fill comprises such depositional systems, documented in this study with traditional field techniques supported by helicopter‐ and ground‐based LIDAR models. The basin evolved from siliciclastics‐dominated red beds and paralic units that filled a symmetrical basin, to a rift climax half‐graben with alluvial fans entering the basin along relay ramps of the master fault zone (Billefjorden fault zone). Faults located in the hanging wall dip‐slope prevented the progradation of coarser material to the eastern part of the basin. Later, structural reorganisation in the dipslope led to the cessation of easternmost faults with deformation focusing along one major lineament (Løvehovden fault zone) antithetic to the master fault zone. The basin subsidence became more symmetrical, with main central depocentre and shallower platforms near the basin flanks. Footwall anticlines from faults displacement gradients were sensitive to periodical exposure and recorded dissolution breccias and footwall synclines preserved evaporites coupled with shallow marine siliciclastic deposits. Concurrently, thick gypsum/anhydrite deposits in the basin centre reflect glacio‐eustatic lowstands, whereas evenly thick carbonate deposition characterises highstands. While most analysis of syn‐rift basin fill is based on siliciclastics deposits, we here demonstrate the complexity of tectonism versus eustatic sea level changes in a mixed carbonate‐evaporite syn‐rift deposits. Tectonic influence is ascribed to the deposition of alluvial fans that prograded from the master fault towards the basin centre. On the dipslope glacio‐eustatic signals outperformed tectonic influence on deposition. Sea level lowstands promoted deposition of red sabkha mudstones and gypsum/anhydrite, salinas evaporites or dissolution breccias, interbedded with highstand carbonate beds.
Effect of congruent scent diffusion on individual creative fluidity: Mental imagery instruction and iconicstimulusas possible moderators
Authors: Busca Laurent , Grobert Julien , Vellera Cyrielle
Published: June 2021

This research explores the joint role of a diffusion of a scent congruent with the proposed product and two types of stimulation (instruction to imagine mentally and iconicstimulus) in order to improve the resulting individual creativity (in terms of fluidity or quantity of ideas generated). Through two experiments performed on 126 and 442 respondents, respectively, our results highlight the following: (1) the direct and positive effect of a diffusion of a scent congruent with the proposed product on the number of ideas generated. We find no support of mental imagery formation simplicity as a mediator of this relation; (2) the use of a mental imagery instruction reinforces the impact of a congruent scent on the number of ideas generated, whereas a pictorialstimulusdoes not play a moderating role in the relationship. The two types ofstimulitherefore do not produce the same effects. The implications and managerial perspectives, limits and avenues for future research are further discussed.
Microbiome and mycobiome interaction in house dust mites and impact on airway cells
Authors: Kim Ju Yeong , Yi Myung‐hee , Lee Seogwon , Lee In‐Yong , Yong Dongeun , Yoon Sang Sun , Yong Tai‐Soon
Published: June 2021

Background

Major allergen sources Dermatophagoides farinae, Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and Tyrophagus putrescentiae have been reported to have distinct microbiomes. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of each mite on airway epithelial cells as a model of airway allergic disease.

Methods

Transcriptomic analysis (RNA‐seq) of an airway epithelial cell line (BEAS‐2B) was performed to compare gene expression patterns after treatment with extracts of three mite species (D. farinae, D. pteronyssinus and T. putrescentiae). In addition, mycobiome deep sequencing of mites was employed to identify fungal species that interact with the microbiomes of the mites.

Results

Immune responses to bacteria were enriched only in the D. farinae‐treated group as this species harboured larger numbers of bacteria than the other mites, and the high level of LPS in D. farinae caused proinflammatory cytokine production in airway epithelial cells. In addition, antibiotic metabolism pathways were enriched in D. pteronyssinus‐treated cells but not in D. farinae ‐treated cells. Subsequent experiments revealed that D. pteronyssinus had a high fungal load that inhibited bacterial survival in this mite species.

Conclusion

The large amount of bacteria in D. farinae causes airway epithelial cells to produce more allergy‐related cytokines than D. pteronyssinus, since fungi present in D. pteronyssinus suppress the abundance of mite‐associated bacteria.
Texture Defragmentation for Photo‐Reconstructed 3D Models
Authors: Maggiordomo Andrea , Cignoni Paolo , Tarini Marco
Published: June 2021

We propose a method to improve an existing parametrization (UV‐map layout) of a textured 3D model, targeted explicitly at alleviating typical defects afflicting models generated with automatic photo‐reconstruction tools from real‐world objects. This class of 3D data is becoming increasingly important thanks to the growing popularity of reliable, ready‐to‐use photogrammetry software packages. The resulting textured models are richly detailed, but their underlying parametrization typically falls short of many practical requirements, particularly exhibiting excessive fragmentation and consequent problems. Producing a completely new UV‐map, with standard parametrization techniques, and then resampling a new texture image, is often neither practical nor desirable for at least two reasons: first, these models have characteristics (such as inconsistencies, high resolution) that make them unfit for automatic or manual parametrization; second, the required resampling leads to unnecessary signal degradation because this process is unaware of the original texel densities. In contrast, our method improves the existing UV‐map instead of replacing it, balancing the reduction of the map fragmentation with signal degradation due to resampling, while also avoiding oversampling of the original signal. The proposed approach is fully automatic and extensively tested on a large benchmark of photo‐reconstructed models; quantitative evaluation evidences a drastic and consistent improvement of the mappings.
A Multiscale Microfacet Model Based on Inverse Bin Mapping
Authors: Atanasov Asen , Wilkie Alexander , Koylazov Vladimir , Křivánek Jaroslav
Published: June 2021

Accurately controllable shading detail is a crucial aspect of realistic appearance modelling. Two fundamental building blocks for this are microfacet BRDFs, which describe the statistical behaviour of infinitely small facets, and normal maps, which provide user‐controllable spatio‐directional surface features. We analyse the filtering of the combined effect of a microfacet BRDF and a normal map. By partitioning the half‐vector domain into bins we show that the filtering problem can be reduced to evaluation of an integral histogram (IH), a generalization of a summed‐area table (SAT). Integral histograms are known for their large memory requirements, which are usually proportional to the number of bins. To alleviate this, we introduce Inverse Bin Maps, a specialised form of IH with a memory footprint that is practically independent of the number of bins. Based on these, we present a memory‐efficient, production‐ready approach for filtering of high resolution normal maps with arbitrary Beckmann flake roughness. In the corner case of specular normal maps (zero, or very small roughness values) our method shows similar convergence rates to the current state of the art, and is also more memory efficient.
Levitating Rigid Objects with Hidden Rods and Wires
Authors: Kushner Sarah , Ulinski Risa , Singh Karan , Levin David I.W. , Jacobson Alec
Published: June 2021

We propose a novel algorithm to efficiently generate hidden structures to support arrangements of floating rigid objects. Our optimization finds a small set of rods and wires between objects and each other or a supporting surface (e.g., wall or ceiling) that hold all objects in force and torque equilibrium. Our objective function includes a sparsity inducing total volume term and a linear visibility term based on efficiently pre‐computed Monte‐Carlo integration, to encourage solutions that are as‐hidden‐as‐possible. The resulting optimization is convex and the global optimum can be efficiently recovered via a linear program. Our representation allows for a user‐controllable mixture of tension‐, compression‐, and shear‐resistant rods or tension‐only wires. We explore applications to theatre set design, museum exhibit curation, and other artistic endeavours.
Learning and Exploring Motor Skills with Spacetime Bounds
Authors: Ma Li‐Ke , Yang Zeshi , Tong Xin , Guo Baining , Yin KangKang
Published: June 2021

Equipping characters with diverse motor skills is the current bottleneck of physics‐based character animation. We propose a Deep Reinforcement Learning (DRL) framework that enables physics‐based characters to learn and explore motor skills from reference motions. The key insight is to use loose space‐time constraints, termed spacetime bounds, to limit the search space in an early termination fashion. As we only rely on the reference to specify loose spacetime bounds, our learning is more robust with respect to low quality references. Moreover, spacetime bounds are hard constraints that improve learning of challenging motion segments, which can be ignored by imitation‐only learning. We compare our method with state‐of‐the‐art tracking‐based DRL methods. We also show how to guide style exploration within the proposed framework.
Deep Detail Enhancement for Any Garment
Authors: Zhang Meng , Wang Tuanfeng , Ceylan Duygu , Mitra Niloy J.
Published: June 2021

Creating fine garment details requires significant efforts and huge computational resources. In contrast, a coarse shape may be easy to acquire in many scenarios (e.g., via low‐resolution physically‐based simulation, linear blend skinning driven by skeletal motion, portable scanners). In this paper, we show how to enhance, in a data‐driven manner, rich yet plausible details starting from a coarse garment geometry. Once the parameterization of the garment is given, we formulate the task as a style transfer problem over the space of associated normal maps. In order to facilitate generalization across garment types and character motions, we introduce a patch‐based formulation, that produces high‐resolution details by matching a Gram matrix based style loss, to hallucinate geometric details (i.e., wrinkle density and shape). We extensively evaluate our method on a variety of production scenarios and show that our method is simple, light‐weight, efficient, and generalizes across underlying garment types, sewing patterns, and body motion.

Project page: http://geometry.cs.ucl.ac.uk/projects/2021/DeepDetailEnhance/
Physically‐based Book Simulation with Freeform Developable Surfaces
Authors: Wolf Thomas , Cornillère Victor , Sorkine-Hornung Olga
Published: June 2021

Reading books or articles digitally has become accessible and widespread thanks to the large amount of affordable mobile devices and distribution platforms. However, little effort has been devoted to improving the digital book reading experience, despite studies showing disadvantages of digital text media consumption, such as diminished memory recall and enjoyment, compared to physical books. In addition, a vast amount of physical, printed books of interest exist, many of them rare and not easily physically accessible, such as out‐of‐print art books, first editions, or historical tomes secured in museums. Digital replicas of such books are typically either purely text based, or consist of photographed pages, where much of the essence of leafing through and experiencing the actual artifact is lost. In this work, we devise a method to recreate the experience of reading and interacting with a physical book in a digital 3D environment. Leveraging recent work on static modeling of freeform developable surfaces, which exhibit paper‐like properties, we design a method for dynamic physical simulation of such surfaces, accounting for gravity and handling collisions to simulate pages in a book. We propose a mix of 2D and 3D models, specifically tailored to represent books to achieve a computationally fast simulation, running in real time on mobile devices. Our system enables users to lift, bend and flip book pages by holding them at arbitrary locations and provides a holistic interactive experience of a virtual 3D book.
Hierarchical Raster Occlusion Culling
Authors: Lee Gi Beom , Jeong Moonsoo , Seok Yechan , Lee Sungkil
Published: June 2021

This paper presents a scalable online occlusion culling algorithm, which significantly improves the previous raster occlusion culling using object‐level bounding volume hierarchy. Given occluders found with temporal coherence, we find and rasterize coarse groups of potential occludees in the hierarchy. Within the rasterized bounds, per‐pixel ray casting tests fine‐grained visibilities of every individual occludees. We further propose acceleration techniques including the read‐back of counters for tightly‐packed multidrawing and occluder filtering. Our solution requires only constant draw calls for batch occlusion tests, while avoiding costly iteration for hierarchy traversal. Our experiments prove our solution outperforms the existing solutions in terms of scalability, culling efficiency, and occlusion‐query performance.
A Survey of Control Mechanisms for Creative Pattern Generation
Authors: Gieseke Lena , Asente Paul , Měch Radomír , Benes Bedrich , Fuchs Martin
Published: June 2021

We review recent methods in 2D creative pattern generation and their control mechanisms, focusing on procedural methods. The review is motivated by an artist's perspective and investigates interactive pattern generation as a complex design problem. While the repetitive nature of patterns is well‐suited to algorithmic creation and automation, an artist needs more flexible control mechanisms for adaptable and inventive designs. We organize the state of the art around pattern design features, such as repetition, frames, curves, directionality, and single visual accents. Within those areas, we summarize and discuss the techniques' control mechanisms for enabling artist intent. The discussion includes questions of how input is given by the artist, what type of content the artist inputs, where the input affects the canvas spatially, and when input can be given in the timeline of the creation process. We categorize the available control mechanisms on an algorithmic level and categorize their input modes based on exemplars, parameterization, handling, filling, guiding, and placing interactions. To better understand the potential of the current techniques for creative design and to make such an investigation more manageable, we motivate our discussion with how navigation, transparency, variation, and stimulation enable creativity. We conclude our review by identifying possible new directions that can inspire innovation for artist‐centered creation processes and algorithms.
2D Points Curve Reconstruction Survey and Benchmark
Authors: Ohrhallinger S. , Peethambaran J. , Parakkat A. D. , Dey T. K. , Muthuganapathy R.
Published: June 2021

Curve reconstruction from unstructured points in a plane is a fundamental problem with many applications that has generated research interest for decades. Involved aspects like handling open, sharp, multiple and non‐manifold outlines, run‐time and provability as well as potential extension to 3D for surface reconstruction have led to many different algorithms. We survey the literature on 2D curve reconstruction and then present an open‐sourced benchmark for the experimental study. Our unprecedented evaluation of a selected set of planar curve reconstruction algorithms aims to give an overview of both quantitative analysis and qualitative aspects for helping users to select the right algorithm for specific problems in the field. Our benchmark framework is available online to permit reproducing the results and easy integration of new algorithms.
The immunotherapeutic role of indoleamine 2,3‐dioxygenase in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: A systematic review
Authors: Lin Daniel J. , Ng James C. K. , Huang Lei , Robinson Max , O’Hara James , Wilson Janet A. , Mellor Andrew L.
Published: June 2021

Background

Novel cancer immunotherapy seeks to harness the body's own immune system and tip the balance in favour of antitumour activity. The intracellular enzyme indoleamine 2,3‐dioxygenase (IDO) is a critical regulator of the tumour microenvironment (TME) via tryptophan metabolism. The potential immunotherapeutic role of IDO in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) requires further exploration. We aim to assess the evidence on IDO in HNSCC.

Methods

A systematic review of literature and clinical trials databases.

Results

We included 40 studies: seven involved cell lines: eight assessed tumour immunohistochemistry: ten measured IDO gene transcription: 15 reported on clinical trials. Increased cell line IDO expression was postulated to adversely affect tumour metabolism and apoptosis. Immunohistochemical IDO expression correlated with worse survival. Gene transcription studies associated IDO with positive PD‐L1 and human papillomavirus (HPV) status. Phase I/II clinical trials showed (a) overall response (34%‐55%) and disease control rates (62%‐70%) for IDO1 inhibitor in combination with a PD‐1 inhibitor, (b) similar safety profiles when both are used in combination therapy compared to each as monotherapies and (c) IDO gene expression as a predictive biomarker for response to PD‐L1 therapy.

Conclusions

IDO expression is increased in the TME of HNSCC, which correlates with poor prognosis. However, the exact mechanism of IDO‐driven immune modulation in the TME is an enigma. Future translational studies should map IDO activity during HNSCC treatment and elucidate its precise role in the TME, such research will underpin the development of clinical trials establishing the efficacy of IDO inhibitors in HNSCC.
Clinical features in pulmonary tuberculosis patients combined with diabetes mellitus in China: An observational study
Authors: Tong Xunliang , Wang Dingyi , Wang He , Liao Yixuan , Song Yimeng , Li Yuanchun , Zhang Yue , Fan Guohui , Zhong Xuefeng , Ju Yang , Li Yanming
Published: June 2021

Background

Consideration of the huge burden both of tuberculosis (TB) and diabetes mellitus (DM) in China as a major public health issue, research focused on the relationship between DM and TB was needed.

Methods

An observational study was conducted (2015‐2018) in regional representative TB and lung disease hospitals in China. All the adult patients newly diagnosed of pulmonary TB were consecutively recruited in this study.

Results

A total of 1417 patients newly diagnosed pulmonary TB was recruited in this research, 312 (22.02%) of them had the history of type 2 DM. Majority of patients were with fatigue, loss of weight and mild anaemia in TB‐DM group compared with TB‐NDM group (58.3% vs 47.5%, p = .001; 8.21 ± 6.2 vs 5.74 ± 4.0 kg, p < .001, 88.9% vs 77.6% p = .021). TB‐DM patients were with higher the proportion of TB severity score ≥3, compared with TB‐NDM patients, but the distributions of drug susceptibility testing (DST) analysis were not significantly different between the two groups of patients. Remarkably, the sign of central shadow of pulmonary lobe distribution and cavity in TB‐DM group presented significantly higher rate than it in TB‐NDM group. Multivariable logistic regression showed that high uric acid level was an independent risk factor for thick wall cavity in TB‐DM patients (OR 2.81, 95% CI 1.24‐6.40), haemoptysis (OR 2.43, 95% CI 1.10‐5.38) and chest pain (OR 5.22, 95% CI 1.38‐19.70) were significantly associated with thick wall cavity.

Conclusions

The clinical features of TB‐DM patients are associated with cavities in CT scan, rather than DST results. It can help us recognition confounding variables, also may influence the treatment strategy and outcomes in TB‐DM patients.
Drivers of adoption and spread of wildlife management initiatives in Mexico
Authors: Romero‐de‐Diego Cristina , Dean Angela , Jagadish Arundhati , Witt Bradd , Mascia Michael B. , Mills Morena
Published: June 2021

Conservation initiatives rarely achieve the scale required to respond to ongoing biodiversity loss. Understanding what drives the adoption of conservation initiatives provides key insights into how initiatives expand to a scale necessary for effective conservation outcomes. In this article, we identified characteristics of conservation initiatives, adopters, and context that influenced the adoption of extensive Wildlife Management Units (UMAs) in Mexico. We interviewed 22 experts to gather their perceptions about the factors driving the adoption and spread of UMAs, and their interactions. We used Diffusion of Innovation Theory and qualitative data analysis to develop a theory of change based on the experts' perceptions that illustrates what led landholders to adopt UMAs. We found that: (a) the adoption of UMAs depended on the landholders' ability to learn about, register, and implement them; (b) alignment with the landholders' objectives and private tenure facilitated adoption, reflecting the likelihood and ease of participation, respectively; and (c) observability of benefits and the availability of technical advice were key to adoption, influencing the speed of adoption by facilitating learning. Our empirically derived theory of change describing the adoption of UMAs revealed focused and clear hypotheses that can be further tested quantitatively.
The predictive value of intraprocedural mitral gradient for outcomes after MitraClip and its peri‐interventional dynamics
Authors: Öztürk Can , Sprenger Kim , Tabata Noriaki , Sugiura Atsushi , Weber Marcel , Nickenig Georg , Schueler Robert
Published: June 2021

Background

The current data on the impact of the increased mitral gradient (MG) on outcomes are ambiguous, and intraprocedural assessment of MG can be challenging. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate (a) peri‐interventional dynamics of MG, (b) the impact of intraprocedural MG on clinical outcomes, and (c) predictors for unfavorable MG values after MitraClip.

Methods

We prospectively included patients who underwent MitraClip. All patients underwent echocardiography at baseline, intraprocedurally, at discharge, and after 6 months. 12‐month survival was documented.

Results

One hundred and seventy five patients (age 81.2 ± 8.2 years, 61.2% male) with severe mitral regurgitation (MR) were included. We divided our cohort into two groups according to intraprocedural MG with a threshold of 4.5 mm Hg, determined by a multivariate analysis of predictors for 12‐month mortality (<4.5 mm Hg: Group 1, ≥4.5 mm Hg: Group 2).

Intraprocedural MG ≥4.5 mm Hg was found to be the strongest independent predictor for 12‐month mortality (HR: 2.33, P = .03, OR: 1.70, P = .05), and >3.9 mm Hg was associated with adverse functional outcomes (OR: 1.96, P = .04).

The baseline leaflet‐to‐annulus index >1.1 was found to be the strongest independent predictor (OR: 9.74, P = .001) for unfavorable intraprocedural MG, followed by the number of implanted clips (P = .01), MG at baseline (P = .02), and central clip implantation (P = .05).

Conclusion

An intraprocedural MG <3.9 mm Hg appears to be the best strategy for 1‐year survival and favorable functional outcomes after edge‐to‐edge MV repair with MitraClip independently from MR etiology. Peri‐interventional echocardiographic and procedural parameters are useful for the adequate assessment of intraprocedural MG.
Circ‐ACAP2 facilitates the progression of colorectal cancer through mediating miR‐143‐3p/FZD4 axis
Authors: Zhang Guifeng , Liu Zhenhua , Zhong Jiangming , Lin Li
Published: June 2021

Background

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) play crucial roles in multiple cancers, including colorectal cancer (CRC). Here, we explored the role of circRNA ArfGAP with coiled‐coil, ankyrin repeat and PH domains 2 (circ‐ACAP2) in the progression and radioresistance of CRC.

Methods

Quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and Western blot assay were used to detect RNA and protein expression, respectively. The proliferation, apoptosis, migration, invasion and radioresistance of CRC cells were determined by 3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2,5‐diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, flow cytometry, transwell migration assay, transwell invasion assay and colony formation assay. The target interaction between microRNA‐143‐3p (miR‐143‐3p) and circ‐ACAP2 or frizzled class receptor 4 (FZD4) was verified by dual‐luciferase reporter assay. Murine xenograft model was established to explore the role of circ‐ACAP2 in vivo.

Results

The expression of circ‐ACAP2 was prominently enhanced in CRC tissues and cell lines. Circ‐ACAP2 facilitated the proliferation, migration, invasion and radioresistance whereas inhibited the apoptosis of CRC cells. MiR‐143‐3p was a direct target of circ‐ACAP2 in CRC cells. Circ‐ACAP2 promoted the progression and radioresistance of CRC partly by sponging miR‐143‐3p. MiR‐143‐3p interacted with the 3' untranslated region (3'UTR) of FZD4 in CRC cells, and FZD4 overexpression partly reversed miR‐143‐3p‐mediated effects in CRC cells. Wnt/β‐catenin signalling was modulated by circ‐ACAP2/miR‐143‐3p/FZD4 axis in CRC cells.

Conclusion

Circ‐ACAP2 contributed to the development and radioresistance of CRC partly through targeting miR‐143‐3p/FZD4 axis, which provided novel potential diagnostic and therapeutic targets for CRC.
Impact of COVID‐19 lockdown on routine oncology versus emergency care at a high volume cancer centre
Authors: Minichsdorfer Christoph , Jeryczynski Georg , Krall Christoph , Achhorner Alina Magdalena , Caraan Ariane , Pasalic Sabina , Reininger Katharina , Wagner Christina , Bartsch Rupert , Preusser Matthias , Laggner Anton , Raderer Markus , Fuereder Thorsten
Published: June 2021

Background

We investigated the influence of population‐wide COVID‐19 lockdown measures implemented on 16, March 2020 on routine and emergency care of cancer outpatients at a tertiary care cancer centre in Vienna, Austria.

Methods

We compared the number/visits of cancer outpatients receiving oncological therapies at the oncologic day clinic (DC) and admissions at the emergency department (ED) of our institution in time periods before (pre‐lockdown period: 1 January – 15 March 2020) and after (post‐lockdown period: 16 March– 31 May 2020) lockdown implementation with the respective reference periods of 2018 and 2019. Additionally, we analysed Emergency Severity Index (ESI) score of unplanned cancer patient presentations to the ED in the same post‐lockdown time periods. Patient outcome was described as 3‐month mortality rate (3‐MM).

Results

In total, 16 703 visits at the DC and 2664 patient visits for the respective time periods were recorded at the ED. No decrease in patient visits was observed at the DC after lockdown implementation (P = .351), whereas a substantial decrease in patient visits at the ED was seen (P < .001). This translates into a 26%‐31% reduction of cancer‐related patient visits per half month after the lockdown at the ED (P < .001 vs. 2018 + 2019). There was no difference in the distribution of ESI scores at ED presentation (P = .805), admission rates or 3‐MM in association with lockdown implementation (P = .086).

Conclusion

We demonstrate the feasibility of maintaining antineoplastic therapy administration during the COVID‐19 pandemic. However, our data underline the need for adapted management strategies for emergency presentations of cancer patients.
Improving prediction of sudden unexpected death in epilepsy: From SUDEP‐7 to SUDEP‐3
Authors: Tarighati Rasekhi Roozbeh , Devlin Kathryn N. , Mass Joely A. , Donmez Mustafa , Asma Burcu , Sperling Michael R. , Nei Maromi
Published: June 2021

Objective

Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) is a significant cause of mortality in epilepsy. The aim of this study is to evaluate the validity of the SUDEP‐7 inventory and its components as tools for predicting SUDEP risk, and to develop and validate an improved inventory.

Methods

The study included 28 patients who underwent video–electroencephalography (EEG) monitoring and later died of SUDEP, and 56 age‐ and sex‐matched control patients with epilepsy. The SUDEP‐7 score, its individual components, and an alternative inventory were examined as predictors of SUDEP.

Results

SUDEP‐7 scores were significantly higher among SUDEP patients compared with controls, both at time of admission (p = 0.024) and most recent follow‐up (p = 0.016). SUDEP‐7 scores declined only among controls, who demonstrated reduced seizure frequency. Seizure freedom after epilepsy surgery was also associated with survival. Several components of the SUDEP‐7 inventory were independently associated with higher risk of SUDEP, including more than three generalized tonic‐clonic (GTC) seizures (p = 0.002), one or more GTC seizures (p = 0.001), or one or more seizures of any type within the last year (p = 0.013), and intellectual disability (p = 0.031). In stepwise regression models, SUDEP‐7 scores did not enhance the prediction of SUDEP over either GTC seizure frequency or seizure frequency alone. A novel SUDEP‐3 inventory comprising GTC seizure frequency, seizure frequency, and intellectual disability (p < 0.001) outperformed the SUDEP‐7 inventory (p = 0.010) in predicting SUDEP.

Significance

Our findings demonstrate the limitations of the SUDEP‐7 inventory. We propose a new three‐item SUDEP‐3 inventory, which predicts SUDEP better than the SUDEP‐7.
Hidradenitis suppurativa in South‐East Asia and East Asia
Authors: Chandran Nisha Suyien , Lee Ji Hae , Kurokawa Ichiro
Published: June 2021

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) in South‐East Asia and East Asia shows distinct clinical, environmental, physiological and likely genetic differences compared with the West. A male predominance is present, which may be due to differences in smoking habits. Involvement of the buttocks is common in East Asian patients, while the axillae are most commonly affected in South‐East Asian patients. Metabolic comorbidities are prevalent in South‐East Asian and East Asian HS patients. A family history of HS is less common than noted in Western populations. Asian ethnic subgroups deserve further study.
Director diversity and inclusion: At the table but in the game?
Authors: Chidambaran Nemmara K. , Liu Yun , Prabhala Nagpurnanand
Published: June 2021

The issue of the presence of diverse directors on boards has attracted considerable attention among policymakers, practitioners, and academics. There is relatively less attention to the inclusion of diverse directors, or their onward trajectory after appointment. We study two outcomes related to inclusion—the retention of directors and their promotion to board leadership positions. Although gender is a key focus of many diversity discussions, we find significant inclusion results on skill diversity and nongender diversity dimensions. Retention and promotion are “less” likely for age‐ and ethnicity‐diverse directors but both outcomes are more likely for skill‐diverse directors.