bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Novel compound heterozygous frameshift variants in WDR81 associated with congenital hydrocephalus 3 with brain anomalies: First Chinese prenatal case confirms WDR81 involvement
Authors: Su Jiasun , Lu Weiliang , Li Mengting , Zhang Qiang , Chen Fei , Yi Shang , Yang Qi , Yi Sheng , Zhou Xunzhao , Huang Limei , Shen Yiping , Luo Jingsi , Qin Zailong
Published: March 2021

Background

Congenital hydrocephalus‐3 with brain anomalies (HYC3, MIM 617967) is a rare form of congenital hydrocephalus characterized by severe hydrocephalus and cerebellar abnormalities, the onset of the disease occurs in utero even resulting in fetal death. A very limited spectrum of WDR81 pathogenic variants had been reported in three unrelated families with HYC3. This study aims at presenting novel compound heterozygous frameshift variants in WDR81 in a Chinese fetus.

Methods

Whole‐exome sequencing (WES) was performed for a fetus with multiple congenital anomalies including sever hydrocephalus, cleft lip and palate, hydrops fetalis, hepatomegaly, and cerebellar hypoplasia. Sanger sequencing was performed to confirm the origin of the variants subsequently. Variants classification was based on the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics/Association for Molecular Pathology (ACMG/AMP) guidelines.

Results

Two novel heterozygous variants c.146_147insG (p.Thr52fs) and c.673delC (p.Leu225fs) in WDR81 were identified. Sanger sequencing revealed that the c.146_147insG mutation was maternal origin and the c.673delC mutation was paternal origin. Both variants were pathogenic according to the ACMG/AMP guidelines.

Conclusion

The present study expands the mutation spectrum of WDR81 and help further define the genotype–phenotype correlations of HYC3. WDR81‐related HYC3 were highly clinical heterogeneity. We suggested that fetal hydrocephalus with extracerebral manifestations may be suggestive of WDR81 deficiency and WES is effective for achieving a conclusive diagnosis for disorder.
Motion‐insensitive diffusion imaging of the brain using optical tracking and dynamic sequence updates
Authors: Kaso Artan , Ernst Thomas
Published: March 2021

Purpose

Diffusion‐weighted imaging (DWI) is sensitive to head movements, which may cause signal losses because of motion‐induced gradient imbalances. Prospective motion correction using fast optical tracking can attenuate these artifacts. Approaches include quasicontinuous updates of gradients and radiofrequency (RF) pulses or dynamically applying a rebalancing gradient to restore the gradient balance, but these prior methods used bipolar diffusion gradients. The goal of this project was to develop and evaluate a motion‐insensitive implementation for the more common monopolar diffusion sequence.

Methods

A monopolar diffusion sequence was developed with motion updates before each RF pulse and each diffusion‐weighting gradient. The sequence was tested in a phantom and human brain at b = 1000 s/mm2 and rotational velocities up to 20°/s. Motion sensitivity, signal losses, and in vivo image profiles were compared between scans with and without intrasequence motion updates.

Results

With typical motion parameters, intrasequence motion updates with optimal parameters reduced the motion sensitivity of DWI (motion‐induced gradient moment imbalance) sevenfold. Optimal results were achieved by matching the echo time of the pulse sequence to an even multiple of the tracking system frame‐to‐frame period. Average signal losses and the frequency of signal dropouts in phantom and in vivo measurements were reduced when intrasequence updates were enabled, and quality measures of DTI analyses were improved.

Conclusion

A correction scheme for the monopolar DWI sequence can reduce the motion sensitivity of brain DWI up to sevenfold compared with an implementation without intrasequence updates.
Strategies to improve intratrain prospective motion correction for turbo spin‐echo sequences with constant flip angles
Authors: Gao Xiang , Hucker Patrick , Hennig Jürgen , Zaitsev Maxim
Published: March 2021

Purpose

To investigate the effects of prospective motion correction on turbo spin echo sequences and optimize motion correction approaches, mitigating signal dropout artifacts caused by the imperfections of motion tracking data.

Methods

Signal dropout artifacts caused by undesired phase deviations introduced by tracking errors are analyzed theoretically. To reduce the adverse effect of such deviations, two approaches are proposed: (1) freezing the correction for example, for even‐numbered or higher number of echoes and (2) shifting the correction event prior to the left crusher gradient preceding the refocusing pulse. A comprehensive analysis is presented, including both signal simulations and experimental verifications in phantoms and in vivo. Performance of the proposed approach is validated in two healthy volunteers imaged under two types of motion conditions simulating inadvertent fast motions associated with discomfort and continuous large motions.

Results

The results show that the proposed optimization is able to efficiently correct for the motion artifacts and at the same time avoid signal dropout artifacts. Specifically, performing correction every 4th echo prior to the left crusher gradient was shown to improve image quality.

Conclusion

An optimization approach is proposed to exploit the potential of external tracking for intra‐echo‐train motion artifact correction for turbo spin echo sequences.
Biocompatible nanoreactors of catalase and nanozymes for anticancer therapeutics
Authors: Munjal Tanya , Dutta Saikat
Published: March 2021

Significant progress has laid the groundwork in understanding the fundamental role of catalase enzyme and catalase‐like nanozymes, notably with the emergence of nano‐bioreactors which are promoting nanomaterials‐based antitumor therapeutic strategies. The radiotherapy techniques such as photodynamic, photothermal, photoacoustic and along with chemotherapy are extensively used for interrupting microenvironment by exerting to locally applied ionizing‐radiations. Nevertheless, tumor therapy not only deficient in therapeutic efficiency for various solid tumors but also alerts significant side effects. The convergence of nano‐bioreactor driven catalase delivery at the lysosome of tumor cells with photodynamic therapy (PDT) tool along with the engineered catalase‐like nanozymes enable outstanding efficacy of radiotherapy for in vivo target specific cell population. Herein, the state of the art of catalase delivering nano‐bioreactors that activate the catalase delivery in tumor microenvironment (TME) are reviewed. This was linked with the functional mimic catalase‐like engineered nanozymes for improving the challenges in the TME for a wide‐range of cell lines in vivo. Such nanoarchitecture‐based strategies of catalase and synthetic nanozymes include lysosomal upregulation of H2O2 in TME, image‐based probing, and mechanism of catalase action for reactive oxygen species generation which are likely to amplify efficiency of cancer therapy.
A randomized controlled trial of an innovative, user‐friendly, interactive smartphone app‐based lifestyle intervention for weight loss
Authors: Vaz Cherie Lisa , Carnes Nicholas , Pousti Bobak , Zhao Huaqing , Williams Kevin Jon
Published: March 2021

Objectives

Most electronically delivered lifestyle interventions are labor intensive, requiring logging onto websites and manually recording activity and diet. Cumbersome technology and lack of a human coach may have contributed to the limitations of prior interventions. In response, the current program of research created a comprehensive electronically delivered lifestyle intervention using a user‐friendly, interactive, smartphone app‐based model, and evaluated it in a randomized controlled trial.

Methods

Twenty‐eight adults, body mass index 25–42 kg/m2, with smartphones and sedentary jobs, were randomized to the intervention, along with conventional outpatient weight‐management visits every 3 months, or to a wait‐listed control group that received only weight‐management visits. The intervention included wearable activity trackers, smartscales, food photography logs, physician‐driven app‐based behavioral coaching, and peer support via the app. The prespecified primary outcome was a comparison of change in weight in kilograms, in the intervention versus control group at 6 months.

Results

At 6 months, the intervention group experienced a statistically significant weight change of −7.16 ± 1.78 kg (mean ± SE, 95% CI −11.05 to −3.26, p < 0.01), which differed from the weight change in controls by −4.16 ± 2.01 kg (95% CI −8.29 to −0.02, p < 0.05, prespecified primary outcome). Weight change in the control group was −3.00 ± 1.05 kg (95% CI −5.27 to −0.73, p < 0.05). Waist circumference and hemoglobin A1c significantly improved (intervention vs. control: p < 0.01, p < 0.05, respectively, prespecified secondary outcomes). Weight change in the intervention group correlated with numbers of food photographs participants shared (rho = −0.86, p < 0.01), numbers of their text messages (rho = −0.80, p < 0.01), number of times and days each participant stepped on the smartscale (rho = −0.73, p < 0.01; rho = −0.608, p < 0.05, respectively), and mean daily step counts (rho = −0.55, p < 0.05).

Conclusion

This app‐based electronically delivered lifestyle intervention produced statistically significant, clinically meaningful weight loss and improved metabolic health. Engagement with the intervention correlated strongly with weight loss. Given the limited sample size, larger and longer studies of this intervention are needed.
Excess sucrose intake during pregnancy programs fetal brain glucocorticoid receptor expression in female but not male C57Bl/6J mice
Authors: Kulhanek Debra , Rao Raghavendra B. , Paulsen Megan E.
Published: March 2021

Background

Sex‐specific mechanisms explaining the association between mothers with obesity and the development of obesity in children are poorly characterized. Permanent changes in fetal brain glucocorticoid receptor (GR) expression caused by exposure to overnutrition in utero may program aberrant energy homeostasis, thereby predisposing the offspring to obesity. This study explores sex differences in brain GR expression using an established mouse model of overnutrition during pregnancy.

Methods

Female C57Bl/6J mice were fed control (CON) or high‐fat–high‐sucrose (HFHS) diets. Dam cholesterol, insulin, and triglycerides were measured by colorimetric assays. Fetal corticosterone exposure was measured by placental Abca1, Hsd11β1, Hsd11β2, and brain Nr3c1 (GR); Pomc expression measured by RT‐qPCR.

Results

Female, but not male, HFHS fetuses had 46% decreased brain GR and twofold increased Pomc expression. There was decreased Abca1 and Hsd11β1 but not Hsd11β2 expression in HFHS placentas. Caloric and sucrose intake, but not fat intake, in dams inversely correlated with fetal GR expression in both sexes. Excess sucrose consumption by dams inversely correlated with female fetal GR and directly correlated with female fetal Pomc expression.

Conclusions

Excess sucrose consumption in pregnant dams caused lower GR and higher Pomc expression in the female fetal brain. Clinical investigation of excess sucrose intake during pregnancy and its subsequent effect on hypothalamic‐pituitary‐adrenal axis activity and appetite in offspring may lead to novel, sex‐specific obesity prevention strategies in the development of obesity in children.
Dealing with uncertain results from chromosomal microarray and exome sequencing in the prenatal setting: An international cross‐sectional study with healthcare professionals
Authors: Lewis Celine , Hammond Jennifer , Klapwijk Jasmijn E. , Harding Eleanor , Lou Stina , Vogel Ida , Szepe Emma J. , Hui Lisa , Ingvoldstad‐Malmgren Charlotta , Soller Maria J. , Ormond Kelly E. , Choolani Mahesh , Hill Melissa , Riedijk Sam
Published: March 2021

Objectives

To conduct qualitative interviews with healthcare providers working in different countries to understand their experiences of dealing with uncertain results from prenatal chromosome microarray analysis (CMA) and exome sequencing (ES).

Methods

Semi‐structured interviews with 31 healthcare providers who report or return prenatal CMA and/or ES results (clinicians, genetic counsellors and clinical scientists) in six countries with differing healthcare systems; Australia (4), Denmark (5), Netherlands (6), Singapore (4), Sweden (6) and United Kingdom (6). The topic guide explored the main sources of uncertainty and their management.

Results

There was variation in reporting practices both between and across countries for variants of uncertain significance, however, there was broad agreement on reporting practices for incidental findings. There was also variation in who decides what results are reported (clinical scientists or clinicians). Technical limitations and lack of knowledge (to classify variants and of prenatal phenotypes) were significant challenges, as were turnaround times and lack of guidelines.

Conclusion

Health professionals around the globe are dealing with similar sources of uncertainty, but managing them in different ways, Continued dialogue with international colleagues on ways of managing uncertain results is important to compare and contrast the benefits and limitations of the different approaches.
New contributions from thermal and dielectric techniques to the understanding of the dynamic properties of medium to long chain poly (propylene glycols)
Authors: Diogo Hermínio P. , Moura Ramos Joaquim J.
Published: March 2021

The molecular mobility of poly (propylene glycols) with molecular weights between 2000 and 18,200 g mol−1 was studied in the amorphous solid state, in the region of the glass transition and in the rubbery state; the experimental techniques used were differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermally stimulated depolarization currents (TSDC). It was found that the glass transition temperature increases slightly with MW and tends to a limit value: TgDSC = −67°C, TgTSDC = −73°C.

The different types of molecular mobility were analyzed: below Tg the secondary relaxations, and above this temperature the normal mode, were characterized in detail using TSDC; in the glassy transformation region, around Tg, the main relaxation was analyzed by both DSC and TSDC. It was found the dynamic fragility, m, behaves as independent of the molecular weight in the studied range: mDSC = 74 and mTSDC = 92. The TSDC results also show that, without influencing the kinetics of the segmental relaxation, the increase in molecular weight slows down the chain relaxation.
Making waves in Breedbase: An integrated spectral data storage and analysis pipeline for plant breeding programs
Authors: Hershberger Jenna , Morales Nicolas , Simoes Christiano C. , Ellerbrock Bryan , Bauchet Guillaume , Mueller Lukas A. , Gore Michael A.
Published: March 2021

Visible and near‐infrared spectroscopy (Vis‐NIRS) is a promising tool for increasing phenotyping throughput in plant‐breeding programs, but existing analysis software packages are not optimized for a breeding context. Additionally, commercial software options are often outside of budget constraints for some breeding and research programs. To that end, we developed an open‐source R package, waves, for the streamlined analysis of spectral data with several cross‐validation schemes to assess prediction accuracy. waves is compatible with a wide range of spectrometer models and performs visualization, filtering, aggregation, cross‐validation set formation, model training, and prediction functions for the association of Vis‐NIR spectra with reference measurements. Furthermore, we have integrated this package into the Breedbase family of open‐source databases, expanding the analysis capabilities of this growing digital ecosystem to a number of crop species. Taken together, the standalone and Breedbase versions of waves enhance the accessibility of tools for the analysis of spectral data during the plant breeding process.
Utilizing spatial variability from hyperspectral imaging to assess variation in maize seedlings
Authors: Tirado Sara B. , Dennis Susan St. , Enders Tara A. , Springer Nathan M.
Published: March 2021

There is significant enthusiasm about the potential for hyperspectral imaging to document variation among plant species, genotypes, or growing conditions. However, in many cases the application of hyperspectral imaging is performed in highly controlled situations that focus on a flat portion of a leaf or side‐views of plants that would be difficult to obtain in field settings. We were interested in assessing the potential for applying hyperspectral imaging from a top‐down view to document variation in genotypes and abiotic stresses for maize (Zea mays L.) seedlings grown in controlled environments. A top‐down image of a maize seedling includes a view into the funnel‐like whorl at the center of the plant with several leaves radiating outward. There is substantial variability in the reflectance profile of different portions of this plant. To deal with the variability in reflectance profiles that arises from this morphology we implemented a method that divides the longest leaf into 10 segments of equal length from the center to the leaf tip. We show that there is large variability in the hyperspectral profiles across leaf segments, which are masked when performing whole‐plant averages as tend to be done when analyzing hyperspectral data. We found that using these segments provides improved ability to discriminate different genotypes (B73, Mo17, Ki11, MS71, PH207) and abiotic stress conditions (heat, cold, or salinity stress) for maize seedlings. This provides an approach that can be implemented to help classify genotype and environmental variation for maize seedlings from a top‐down view such as that which would be collected in field settings.
Side‐effects of carbetocin to prevent postpartum hemorrhage: A systematic review and meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Ai Wen , Zeng Yanfei , Ma Yubo , Liu Li , Fan Dazhi , Wu Song , Zhang Yinghui
Published: March 2021

Postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) increases the risk of maternal death worldwide. Heat‐stable carbetocin, a long‐acting oxytocin analog, is a newer uterotonic agent. Clinicians do not fully understand its side‐effects, particularly the unanticipated side‐effects. The aim of this study is to investigate the side‐effects of carbetocin to PPH. The Cochrane Library, Web of Science, PubMed, Elsevier ScienceDirect, Embase, and ClinicalTrials.gov were searched from the inception to September 2020. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that considered pregnant women who received carbetocin before delivery and provided at least one adverse event were included. Statistical analysis included random or fixed‐effect meta‐analyses using relative risk. Stratified analyses and sensitivity analyses were also performed. Begger's and Egger's test and funnel plots were used to assess the publication bias. Seventeen RCTs involving 32,702 women were included, and all these studies ranked as medium‐ to high‐quality. Twenty‐four side‐effects were reported. The use of carbetocin had a lower risk of vomiting in intravenously (0.53, 0.30 to 0.93) and cesarean birth (0.51, 0.32 to 0.81) women, and had a slightly higher risk of diarrhea (8.00, 1.02 to 62.79) compared with oxytocin intervention. No significant difference was found among other side‐effects. Evidence from our systematic review and meta‐analysis of 17 RCTs suggested that the risk of vomiting decreased with carbetocin use in the prevention of PPH after delivery.
Glyphosate ban in Mexico: potential impacts on agriculture and weed management
Authors: Alcántara‐de la Cruz Ricardo , Cruz‐Hipolito Hugo E , Domínguez‐Valenzuela José Alfredo , De Prado Rafael
Published: March 2021

Since glyphosate was classified as potentially carcinogenic by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, public debate regarding the environmental impact and health risks from its use has intensified. Almost all regulatory agencies throughout the world have concluded that the judicious use of glyphosate does not pose risks to the environment and human health. However, on the last day of 2020 the Mexican government decreed a ban of this herbicide beginning January, 2024. In current Mexican agriculture there are no safer chemical and/or other weed management technologies that allow for the economical substitution of glyphosate for weed control. Many Mexican weed scientists agree that glyphosate use should be reduced, but not banned outright. This decree could have more negative economic and social consequences as well as environmental and human health risks than benefits, which could compromise the countryʼs food and public security. Crop yields are projected by some to decline by up to 40% with this ban, increasing food prices, making food less accessible to low‐income consumers. In addition, a black market for the smuggling and illegal sale of glyphosate is possible. The possible environmental, economic and social impacts caused by the glyphosate ban in Mexico are discussed, emphasizing the impact on weed management. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.
A comprehensive review of the therapeutic potential of α‐arbutin
Authors: Saeedi Majid , Khezri Khadijeh , Seyed Zakaryaei Abbas , Mohammadamini Hassan
Published: March 2021

Cosmetic dermatology preparations such as bleaching agents are ingredients with skin‐related biological activities for increasing and improving skin beauty. The possibility of controlling skin hyperpigmentation disorders is one of the most important research goals in cosmetic preparations. Recently, cosmetics containing herbal and botanical ingredients have attracted many interests for consumers of cosmetic products because these preparations are found safer than other preparations with synthetic components. However, high‐quality trial studies in larger samples are needed to confirm safety and clinical efficacy of phytotherapeutic agents with high therapeutic index. Arbutin (p‐hydroxyphenyl‐β‐d‐glucopyranoside) is a bioactive hydrophilic polyphenol with two isomers including alpha‐arbutin (4‐hydroxyphenyl‐α‐glucopyranoside) and β‐arbutin (4‐hydroxyphenyl‐β‐glucopyranoside). It is used as a medicinal plant in phytopharmacy. Studies have shown that alpha‐arbutin is 10 times more effective than natural arbutin. A comparison of IC50 values showed that α‐arbutin (with concentration 2.0 mM) has a more potent inhibitory activity on human tyrosinase against natural arbutin (with higher concentration than 30 mM). A review of recent studies showed that arbutin could be beneficial in treatment of various diseases such as hyperpigmentation disorders, types of cancers, central nervous system disorders, osteoporosis, diabetes, etc. This study was designed to describe the therapeutic efficiencies of arbutin.
Soil health assessment after 40 years of conservation and conventional tillage management in Southeastern Coastal Plain soils
Authors: Ye Rongzhong , Parajuli Binaya , Szogi Ariel A. , Sigua Gilbert C. , Ducey Thomas F.
Published: March 2021

Conservation tillage (CST) and cover crops are important components of soil health management. In the present study, we applied two independent soil health assessment approaches to evaluate the impacts of 40‐yr CST and additional 4‐yr cover cropping on a range of soil health indicators and the overall soil health in typical southeastern Coastal Plain soils. Soils were collected at 0–15 cm and analyzed for physical, chemical, and biological indicators. The Soil Management Assessment Framework (SMAF) and Cornell's Comprehensive Assessment of Soil Health (CASH) were used to calculate soil health indices. When compared to conventional tillage, 40‐yr CST increased active carbon (C) from 301 to 420 mg kg–1 and organic nitrogen (N) mineralization potentials from 0.78 to 0.91 mg kg–1 d–1, but it reduced soil electrical conductivity from 133 to 101 μs cm–1. No difference in soil aggregate stability, total C, extractable phosphorous and potassium, microbial biomass C, respiration, and glucosidase activities were observed between the two tillage treatments. Cover cropping had no impacts on any measured variables, except that it increased soil total N. Regardless of tillage and cover cropping, both the SMAF and CASH scoring functions suggested no changes in overall soil health. Soil organic C (SOC) was the only indicator positively correlated with both the SMAF and CASH indices, indicating its importance in maintaining the health of the tested soils. Moreover, CASH index recommended improving soil structure and SOC as the management priority to maintain or improve the overall soil health. Increasing organic inputs along with CST is seemingly the optimal management option.
Recent Advances on Sodium‐Ion Batteries and Sodium Dual‐Ion Batteries: State‐of‐the‐Art Na+ Host Anode Materials
Authors: Gong Decai , Wei Chenyang , Liang Zhongwang , Tang Yongbing
Published: March 2021

Sodium is abundant on Earth and has similar chemical properties to lithium, thus sodium‐ion batteries (SIBs) have been considered as one of the most promising alternative energy storage systems to lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs). Meanwhile, a new energy storage device called sodium dual‐ion batteries (SDIBs) is attracting much attention due to its high voltage platform, low production cost, and environmental benignity coming from the feature of directly using graphite as the cathode. However, due to the large mass and ionic radius of sodium atoms, SIBs and SDIBs exhibit low energy density and inferior cycling life than LIBs. Over the past few years, tremendous efforts, especially in the area of anode materials, have been made to improve the electrochemical performance of SIBs and SDIBs. Reviewing and summarizing the previous studies will be helpful for future exploration and optimization. Herein, the recent progress on anode materials for SIBs and SDIBs is summarized according to the reaction mechanism. The structural design, reaction mechanism, and electrochemical performance of the anode materials are briefly discussed. In addition, the fundamental challenges, potential solutions, and perspectives in this field are also proposed. It is hoped that this Review may advance the development of anode materials for sodium storage.
Design optimization of low‐damage self‐centering precast concrete frame connections to improve energy dissipation capacity
Authors: Li Yadong , Geng Fangfang , Ding Youliang , Wang Libin
Published: March 2021

The low‐damage self‐centering precast concrete (LDSCPC) frame connection was a kind of earthquake‐resilient joint. It was composed of precast beams and columns with embedded steel connectors, post‐tensioned tendons, and replaceable metallic yield dampers. The LDSCPC connections showed excellent self‐centering ability and low‐damage characteristics in cyclic load tests. However, the energy dissipation performance of the metallic yield damper with Z‐shaped energy dissipation strips in the test was not as good as the design expectation. Based on the finite element (FE) model validated by experiments, a series of parametric analyses were carried out to investigate the influence of various parameters on the connections' hysteretic response. The results showed that the existence of screw‐hole clearance and the lack of bolt preload made the damper cannot fully play its due performance. The damper's design parameters also had room for further optimization. Based on this, two optimization schemes of the metallic yield damper were proposed. The FE analysis results showed that the two optimization schemes significantly improved the joints' bearing capacity and energy dissipation capacity, which were the feasible and reliable upgrade schemes for LDSCPC connections.
A Series of new Urea‐MOFs Obtained via Post‐synthetic Modification of NH2‐MIL‐101(Cr): SO2, CO2 and H2O Sorption
Authors: Tannert Niels , Sun Yangyang , Hastürk Emrah , Nießing Sandra , Janiak Christoph
Published: March 2021

The amino group in the MOF NH2‐MIL‐101(Cr) was post‐synthetically converted into urea‐groups partially using either ethyl isocyanatoacetate, furfuryl isocyanate, p‐toluenesulfonyl isocyanate or 3‐(triethoxysilyl)propyl isocyanate in acetonitrile. The derived four novel urea‐MOFs exhibit the expected lower BET surface areas and pore volumes than MIL‐101(Cr) and NH2‐MIL‐101(Cr) MOFs but the partially p‐toluenesulfonyl‐urea‐modified MOF exhibits an outstanding SO2 adsorption capacity of 823 cm3 g−1 (corresponding to 36.7 mmol g−1 or 70 wt.% at T=0 °C and 0.9 bar), which is the second highest SO2 uptake of any known material today – surprisingly even better than for highly porous MIL‐101(Cr) with an uptake of 645 cm3 g−1 SO2 under the same conditions. The high uptake is linked to the favorable dipole interactions of SO2 with the sulfonyl group of the p‐toluenesulfonyl‐modified MOF.
Just Societal Transformation: Perspectives of Pastoralists in the Lower Omo Valley in Ethiopia
Authors: Troeger Sabine
Published: March 2021

Pastoralists’ livelihoods in Africa are highly endangered by adverse forces – the climate change being one among those. Against this background, climate change adaptation is conceptualized as strategic agency in the field of risk-laden livelihood environments, that is, agency in the face of risky options and non-calculable uncertainties.

The chapter conceptualizes pastoralists’ livelihoods exposed to a four-fold hierarchy of environmental risks and forces defining the actors’ arena of strategic decision making: From the global scale of ever extending impacts by the climate change imperative, to the national scale of government policies in terms of decentralization, challenging people to govern and define their communal efforts in terms of climate change adaptation, and down to the regional scale, which in the presented case is dominated by a large-scale investment, the Kuraz Sugar Development Project, which again confronts local actors with adverse forces toward villagization and eviction from pasture grounds. Right at the end of this hierarchy and in accordance with discourses on “climate services,” the end-users and local actors, the pastoralists, are confronted with and offered a product that they can input into their decision making: cattle feed from the residues of the irrigated sugar cane. The question remains whether substantive aspects of processes turning into true environmental and social justice in terms of recognition, procedures, and distribution will be paid attention to.
Long-lived sterile neutrinos at the LHC in effective field theory
Authors: de Vries Jordy , Dreiner Herbert K. , Günther Julian Y. , Wang Zeren Simon , Zhou Guanghui
Published: March 2021

Abstract

We study the prospects of a displaced-vertex search of sterile neutrinos at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) in the framework of the neutrino-extended Standard Model Effective Field Theory (νSMEFT). The production and decay of sterile neutrinos can proceed via the standard active-sterile neutrino mixing in the weak current, as well as through higher-dimensional operators arising from decoupled new physics. If sterile neutrinos are long-lived, their decay can lead to displaced vertices which can be reconstructed. We investigate the search sensitivities for the ATLAS/CMS detector, the future far-detector experiments: AL3X, ANUBIS, CODEX-b, FASER, MATHUSLA, and MoEDAL-MAPP, and at the proposed fixed-target experiment SHiP. We study scenarios where sterile neutrinos are predominantly produced via rare charm and bottom mesons decays through minimal mixing and/or dimension-six operators in theνSMEFT Lagrangian. We perform simulations to determine the potential reach of high-luminosity LHC experiments in probing the EFT operators, finding that these experiments are very competitive with other searches.
Sum rules in the standard model effective field theory from helicity amplitudes
Authors: Gu Jiayin , Wang Lian-Tao
Published: March 2021

Abstract

The dispersion relation of an elastic 4-point amplitude in the forward direction leads to a sum rule that connects the low energy amplitude to the high energy observables. We perform a classification of these sum rules based on massless helicity amplitudes. With this classification, we are able to systematically write down the sum rules for the dimension-6 operators of the Standard Model Effective Field Theory (SMEFT), some of which are absent in previous literatures. These sum rules offer distinct insights on the relations between the operator coefficients in the EFT and the properties of the full theory that generates them. Their applicability goes beyond tree level, and in some cases can be used as a practical method of computing the one loop contributions to low energy observables. They also provide an interesting perspective for understanding the custodial symmetries of the SM Higgs and fermion sectors.
Void formation in operator growth, entanglement, and unitarity
Authors: Liu Hong , Vardhan Shreya
Published: March 2021

Abstract

The structure of the Heisenberg evolution of operators plays a key role in explaining diverse processes in quantum many-body systems. In this paper, we discuss a new universal feature of operator evolution: an operator can develop a void during its evolution, where its nontrivial parts become separated by a region of identity operators. Such processes are present in both integrable and chaotic systems, and are required by unitarity. We show that void formation has important implications for unitarity of entanglement growth and generation of mutual information and multipartite entanglement. We study explicitly the probability distributions of void formation in a number of unitary circuit models, and conjecture that in a quantum chaotic system the distribution is given by the one we find in random unitary circuits, which we refer to as the random void distribution. We also show that random unitary circuits lead to the same pattern of entanglement growth for multiple intervals as in (1 + 1)-dimensional holographic CFTs after a global quench, which can be used to argue that the random void distribution leads to maximal entanglement growth.
Pager-gestütztes Wartezeitmanagement in einer universitären HNO-Ambulanz
Authors: Vielsmeier V. , Brosig A. , Hauser A. , Bohr C.
Published: March 2021

Hintergrund

Aufgrund der Pandemie mit dem neuartigen Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) sollte überall auf ausreichend Abstand zwischen Personen geachtet werden, insbesondere auch in Wartebereichen medizinischer Versorgungseinrichtungen. Bei oftmals eingeschränkten räumlichen Kapazitäten ist dies jedoch nicht immer problemlos realisierbar.

Ziel der Arbeit

Wir untersuchten die Möglichkeit, mittels eines Pagersystems den Patienten unserer HNO-Ambulanz eine Wartezeit außerhalb des eigentlichen Wartebereichs zu ermöglichen, um damit die Anzahl der Patienten im Wartebereich zu reduzieren, und die Einhaltung der Abstandsregeln zu gewährleisten.

Material und Methoden

In einer Zeitspanne von 12,5 Wochen (Beginn 04.06.2020, Ende 31.08.2020) erfolgte die Ausgabe von Pagern an die Patienten unserer HNO-Ambulanz. Teilnehmenden Patienten war es damit möglich, sich während der Wartezeit auf dem gesamten Klinikgelände frei zu bewegen. Der Pager wurde 10–15 min vor dem Termin aktiviert, und der Patient damit zurück in die HNO-Ambulanz gerufen. Mittels Fragebögen erfolgte eine Evaluation des Systems, um die Akzeptanz und Zufriedenheit der Patienten zu eruieren.

Ergebnisse

137 Fragebögen wurden analysiert, hierbei zeigte sich eine Zufriedenheit mit dem System – nicht nur, was die Einhaltung der Abstandsregeln betrifft, sondern auch bzgl. eines höheren Komforts während der Wartezeit.

Schlussfolgerung

Die Einführung eines Pagersystems für Patienten führt neben der Wahrung der Hygiene- und Abstandsregeln auch zu einer Erhöhung des Komforts während der (häufig nicht zu vermeidenden) Wartezeit für die Patienten in der universitären Ambulanz einer HNO-Klinik. Daher erscheint ein langfristiger Einsatz eines solchen Systems vielversprechend.
The Lieb–Thirring Inequality for Interacting Systems in Strong-Coupling Limit
Authors: Kögler Kevin , Nam Phan Thành
Published: March 2021

We consider an analogue of the Lieb–Thirring inequality for quantum systems with homogeneous repulsive interaction potentials, but without the antisymmetry assumption on the wave functions. We show that in the strong-coupling limit, the Lieb–Thirring constant converges to the optimal constant of the one-body Gagliardo–Nirenberg interpolation inequality without interaction.
Elevation of High‐sensitive Troponin T Predicts Mortality After Open Pancreaticoduodenectomy
Authors: Kler Aaron , Dave Madhav , Baltatzis Minas , Satyadas Thomas
Published: March 2021

Background

Open pancreaticoduodenectomy has a high complication and measurable mortality rate. Recent reports (based across multiple surgical disciplines) demonstrate that elevated postoperative high sensitivity troponin T (hsTnT) predicts adverse outcomes in non‐cardiac surgery. The aim of this study was to evaluate postoperative hsTnT as a prognostic marker of mortality, major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), post‐operative non‐cardiac complications and length of stay (including intensive care stay) in open pancreaticoduodenectomy.

Methods

A retrospective review of open pancreaticoduodenectomy patients was undertaken from 01/10/2017–31/03/2019. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were calculated to identify ideal cut‐off values for hsTnT. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to scrutinize the relationship between mean hsTnT and 30‐day, 90‐day mortality, MACE, post‐operative non‐cardiac complications and length of stay.

Results

One hundred and nine patients were identified. ROC curves demonstrated a strong correlation between elevated mean hsTnT and 30‐day, 90‐day mortality and MACE (AUC = 0.937, AUC = 0.852, AUC = 0.779, respectively). Multivariate analysis showed mean hsTnT > 21 ng/l was significantly associated with 90‐day mortality (OR 43.928, p = 0.004) and MACE (OR 8.177, p = 0.048).

Conclusions

HsTnT is predictive of mortality and MACE in the context of open pancreaticoduodenectomy. Association between hsTnT and prolonged critical care stay was less significant. Non‐cardiac complications and length of stay show no significant association with hsTnT.
Non-contrast MRI can accurately characterize adnexal masses: a retrospective study
Authors: Sahin Hilal , Panico Camilla , Ursprung Stephan , Simeon Vittorio , Chiodini Paolo , Frary Amy , Carmo Bruno , Smith Janette , Freeman Sue , Jimenez-Linan Mercedes , Bolton Helen , Haldar Krishnayan , Ang Joo Ern , Reinhold Caroline , Sala Evis , Addley Helen
Published: March 2021

Objective

To determine the accuracy of interpretation of a non-contrast MRI protocol in characterizing adnexal masses.

Methods and materials

Two hundred ninety-one patients (350 adnexal masses) who underwent gynecological MRI at our institution between the 1st of January 2008 and the 31st of December 2018 were reviewed. A random subset (102 patients with 121 masses) was chosen to evaluate the reproducibility and repeatability of readers’ assessments. Readers evaluated non-contrast MRI scans retrospectively, assigned a 5-point score for the risk of malignancy and gave a specific diagnosis. The reference standard for the diagnosis was histopathology or at least one-year imaging follow-up. Diagnostic accuracy of the non-contrast MRI score was calculated. Inter- and intra-reader agreement was analyzed with Cohen’s kappa statistics.

Results

There were 53/350 (15.1%) malignant lesions in the whole cohort and 20/121 (16.5%) malignant lesions in the random subset. Good agreement between readers was found for the non-contrast MRI score (к = 0.73, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.58–0.86) whilst the intra-reader agreement was excellent (к = 0.81, 95% CI 0.70–0.88). The non-contrast MRI score value of ≥ 4 was associated with malignancy with a sensitivity of 84.9%, a specificity of 95.9%, an accuracy of 94.2% and a positive likelihood ratio of 21 (area under the receiver operating curve 0.93, 95% CI 0.90–0.96).

Conclusion

Adnexal mass characterization on MRI without the administration of contrast medium has a high accuracy and excellent inter- and intra-reader agreement. Our results suggest that non-contrast studies may offer a reasonable diagnostic alternative when the administration of intravenous contrast medium is not possible.

Key Points

• A non-contrast pelvic MRI protocol may allow the characterization of adnexal masses with high accuracy.

• The non-contrast MRI score may be used in clinical practice for differentiating benign from malignant adnexal lesions when the lack of intravenous contrast medium precludes analysis with the O–RADS MRI score.
Schlüsselregion Becken
Authors: Ritzmann Dorin
Published: March 2021

Hintergrund

Beckenringdysfunktionen sind eine der häufigsten Ursachen für Arbeitsausfälle weltweit. Neben muskuloskeletalen können viszerale Beschwerden der Beckenorgane auftreten. Der Beitrag erläutert den aktuellen Wissensstand zur funktionellen Anatomie des Beckens, beschreibt einige typische Beschwerdebilder aus gynäkologischer/geburtshilflicher Sicht sowie eine manuelle Methode zur nachhaltigen Beschwerdelinderung.

Fragestellung

Welche viszeralen Beschwerdebilder werden durch eine Beckenringdysfunktion (mit)verursacht? Wie kann eine manuelle Methode aussehen, die nachhaltig zur Verminderung der Beschwerden und Verbesserung der Lebensqualität beiträgt?

Methode

Der heutige Wissensstand der funktionellen Anatomie des Beckens wird mit den entsprechenden Beschwerdebildern bei Beckenringdysfunktionen dargelegt. Der Fokus liegt neben muskuloskeletalen speziell auch auf viszeralen Problemen wie vorzeitige Kontraktionen, Geburtsproblemen, Dysmenorrhö, Obstipation, Harndrang, Dyspareunie und Fertilitätsprobleme.

Ergebnisse

Beschwerdelinderung, Zunahme der Lebensqualität und bessere Funktion der Beckenorgane nach manueller Therapie und Stabilisierung des Beckenrings zeigen sich in einzelnen Fallbeispielen und insgesamt bei der Klientel der Grundversorgerpraxis.

Schlussfolgerung

Das Becken ist eine Schlüsselregion für die manuelle Medizin. Verschiedenste Beschwerdebilder können durch eine manuelle Behandlung deutlich reduziert werden.
Oncologic long-term outcome of single-incision laparoscopic surgery (SILS) for colorectal cancer
Authors: Rink Andreas D. , Golubev Vitaly , Vestweber Boris , Paul Claudia , Lang Hauke , Vestweber Karl-Heinz
Published: March 2021

Purpose

Single-incision laparoscopic surgery (SILS) has been introduced as a less invasive alternative to multi-port laparoscopic surgery (MLS). MLS is widely accepted for the treatment of colorectal cancer, but there remains minimal evidence for the use of SILS. Thus, we compared both short- and long-term outcomes of SILS and open surgery (OS) in matched cohorts of colorectal cancer patients.

Methods

Some 910 patients had colorectal resections for cancer between 2006 and 2013, and 134 of them were operated on using SILS. Eighty of these SILS patients were compared to a cohort of patients who had open surgery that were matching in tumour stage and location, type of resection, sex, age and ASA Score. Disease-free survival at 5 years (5y-DFS) was the primary endpoint; morbidity and hospitalization were secondary parameters. The role of surgical training in SILS was also investigated.

Results

Clavien Dindo ≥ IIIb complications occurred in 13.8% in both groups. 5y-DSF were 82% after SILS and 70% after OS (p = 0.11). Local recurrence after rectal cancer tended to be lower after SILS (0/43 (SILS) vs. 4/35 (OS), p = 0.117). Length of stay was significantly shorter after SILS (10 vs. 14 days, p = 0.0004). The rate of operations performed by surgical residents was equivalent in both groups (44/80 (SILS) vs. 46/80 (OS), p = 0.75).

Conclusion

The data demonstrates that SILS results in similar long-term oncological outcomes when compared to open surgery as well as morbidity rates. The hospital stay in the SILS group was shorter. SILS can also be incorporated in surgical training programmes.
Teaching breast ultrasound skills including core-needle biopsies on a phantom enhances undergraduate student’s knowledge and learning satisfaction
Authors: Schmidt G. , Gerlinger C. , Endrikat J. , Gabriel L. , Müller C. , Baus S. , Volk T. , Findeklee Sebastian , Solomayer E. F. , Hamza A. , Ströder R.
Published: March 2021

Purpose

To investigate whether a training program on breast ultrasound skills including core-needle biopsies to undergraduate students can improve medical knowledge and learning satisfaction.

Methods

Medical students attending mandatory classes at the Medical School of the University of Saarland received a supplemental theoretical and hands-on training program on ultrasound (US) breast screening and on US-guided core-needle biopsy using an agar–agar phantom. Experienced breast specialists and ultrasound examiners served as trainers applying Peyton’s 4-step training approach. The students’ theoretical knowledge and hands-on skills were tested before and after the training program, using a multiple-choice questionnaire (MCQ), the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) and a student curriculum evaluation.

Results

The MCQ results showed a significant increase of the student’s theoretical knowledge (50.2–75.2%, p < 0.001). After the course, the OSCE showed a mean total of 17.3/20 points (86.5%), confirming the practical implementation of the new skills. The student curriculum evaluation in general was very positive. A total of 16/20 questions were rated between 1.2 and 1.7 (very good) and 3 questions were rated as 2.1 (good).

Conclusion

Undergraduate student’s medical education can be enhanced by teaching breast US skills.
Correction to: Tumor proportion in colon cancer: results from a semiautomatic image analysis approach
Authors: Martin Benedikt , Banner Bettina Monika , Schäfer Eva-Maria , Mayr Patrick , Anthuber Matthias , Schenkirsch Gerhard , Märkl Bruno
Published: March 2021

A Correction to this paper has been published: 10.1007/s00428-021-03079-5
Singlet oxygen, flavonols and photoinhibition in green and senescing silver birch leaves
Authors: Mattila Heta , Sotoudehnia Pooneh , Kuuslampi Telma , Stracke Ralf , Mishra Kumud B. , Tyystjärvi Esa
Published: March 2021

Key message

Decreased absorptance and increased singlet oxygen production may cause photoinhibition of both PSII and PSI in birch leaves during autumn senescence; however, photosynthetic electron transfer stays functional until late senescence.

During autumn senescence, deciduous trees degrade chlorophyll and may synthesize flavonols. We measured photosynthetic parameters, epidermal flavonols, singlet oxygen production in vivo and photoinhibition of the photosystems (PSII and PSI) from green and senescing silver birch (Betula pendula) leaves. Chlorophyll a fluorescence and P700 absorbance measurements showed that the amounts of both photosystems decreased throughout autumn senescence, but the remaining PSII units stayed functional until ~ 90% of leaf chlorophyll was degraded. An increase in the chlorophyll a to b ratio, a decrease in > 700 nm absorbance and a blue shift of the PSI fluorescence peak at 77 K suggest that light-harvesting complex I was first degraded during senescence, followed by light-harvesting complex II and finally the photosystems. Senescing leaves produced more singlet oxygen than green leaves, possibly because low light absorption by senescing leaves allows high flux of incident light per photosystem. Senescing leaves also induced less non-photochemical quenching, which may contribute to increased singlet oxygen production. Faster photoinhibition of both photosystems in senescing than in green leaves, under high light, was most probably caused by low absorption of light and rapid singlet oxygen production. However, senescing leaves maintained the capacity to recover from photoinhibition of PSII. Amounts of epidermal flavonols and singlet oxygen correlated neither in green nor in senescing leaves of silver birch. Moreover, Arabidopsis thaliana mutants, incapable of synthesizing flavonols, were not more susceptible to photoinhibition of PSII or PSI than wild type plants; screening of chlorophyll absorption by flavonols was, however, small in A. thaliana. These results suggest that flavonols do not protect against photoinhibition or singlet oxygen production in chloroplasts.