bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Frequency‐Selective Suppression of Essential Tremor via Transcutaneous Spinal Cord Stimulation
Authors: Pascual‐Valdunciel Alejandro , Ibáñez Jaime , Rocchi Lorenzo , Song Joy , Rothwell John C. , Bhatia Kailash P. , Farina Dario , Latorre Anna
Published: August 2024

Background

Essential tremor (ET) is a common debilitating condition, yet current treatments often fail to provide satisfactory relief. Transcutaneous spinal cord electrical stimulation (tSCS) has emerged as a potential noninvasive neuromodulation technique capable of disrupting the oscillatory activity underlying tremors.

Objective

This study aimed to investigate the potential of tSCS to disrupt tremor in a frequency‐dependent manner in a cohort of patients with ET.

Methods

Eighteen patients with ET completed the study. The experiment consisted of 60‐s postural tremor recording, during tSCS at tremor frequency, at 1 Hz, at 21 Hz, no stimulation, and trapezius stimulation. Tremor frequency and amplitude were analyzed and compared across the conditions.

Results

We found tremor amplitude reduction at tremor frequency stimulation significant only during the second half of the stimulation. The same stimulation resulted in the highest number of responders. tSCS at 1 Hz showed a trend toward decreased tremor amplitude in the latter half of stimulation. tSCS at 21 Hz did not produce any significant alterations in tremor, whereas trapezius stimulation exacerbated it. Notably, during tremor frequency stimulation, a subgroup of responders exhibited consistent synchronization between tremor phase and delivered stimulation, indicating tremor entrainment.

Conclusions

Cervical tSCS holds promise for alleviating postural tremor in patients with ET when delivered at the subject's tremor frequency. The observed changes in tremor amplitude likely result from the modulation of spinal cord circuits by tSCS, which disrupts the oscillatory drive to muscles by affecting afferent pathways or spinal reflexes. However, the possibility of an interplay between spinal and supraspinal centers cannot be discounted. © 2024 The Author(s). Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.
Stability and optimal decay estimates for the 3D anisotropic Boussinesq equations
Authors: Yang Wan‐Rong , Peng Meng‐Zhen
Published: August 2024

This paper focuses on the three‐dimensional (3D) incompressible anisotropic Boussinesq system while the velocity of fluid only involves horizontal dissipation and the temperature has a damping term. By utilizing the structure of the system, the energy methods and the means of bootstrapping argument, we prove the global stability property in the Sobolev space
of perturbations near the hydrostatic equilibrium. Moreover, we take an effective approach to obtain the optimal decay rates for the global solution itself as well as its derivatives. In this paper, we aim to reveal the mechanism of how the temperature helps stabilize the fluid. Additionally, exploring the stability of perturbations near hydrostatic equilibrium may provide valuable insights into specific severe weather phenomena.
Unfolding coil localized errors from an imperfect slice profile using a structured autocalibration matrix: An application to reduce outflow effects in cine bSSFP imaging
Authors: Ali Fadil , Zhang Zhaohuan , Saucedo Andres , Joy Ajin , Ghodrati Vahid , Nguyen Kim‐Lien , Paul Finn J. , Bydder Mark
Published: August 2024

Purpose

Balanced steady‐state free precession (bSSFP) imaging is susceptible to outflow effects where excited spins leaving the slice as part of the blood stream are misprojected back onto the imaging plane. Previous work proposed using slice‐encoding steps to localize these outflow effects from corrupting the target slice, at the expense of prolonged scan time. This present study extends this idea by proposing a means of significantly reducing most of the outflowing signal from the imaged slice using a coil localization method that acquires a slice‐encoded calibration scan in addition to the 2D data, without being nearly as time‐demanding as our previous method. This coil localization method is titled UNfolding Coil Localized Errors from an imperfect slice profile using a Structured Autocalibration Matrix (UNCLE SAM).

Methods

Retrospective and prospective evaluations were carried out. Both featured a 2D acquisition and a separate slice‐encoded calibration of the center in‐plane
‐space lines across all desired slice‐encoding steps.

Results

Retrospective results featured a slice‐by‐slice comparison of the slice‐encoded images with UNCLE SAM. UNCLE SAM's subtraction from the slice‐encoded image was compared with a subtraction from the flow‐corrupted 2D image, to demonstrate UNCLE SAM's capability to unfold outflowing spins. UNCLE SAM's comparison with slice encoding showed that UNCLE SAM was able to unfold up to 74% of what slice encoding achieved. Prospective results showed significant reduction in outflow effects with only a marginal increase in scan time from the 2D acquisition.

Conclusions

We developed a method that effectively unfolds most outflowing spins from corrupting the target slice and does not require the explicit use of slice‐encoding gradients. This development offers a method to reduce most outflow effects from the target slice within a clinically feasible scan duration compared with the fully sampled slice‐encoding technique.
Application of adaptive virtual element method to thermodynamic topology optimization
Authors: Cihan Mertcan , Aichele Robin , Jantos Dustin Roman , Junker Philipp
Published: August 2024

In this work, a low‐order virtual element method (VEM) with adaptive meshing is applied for thermodynamic topology optimization with linear elastic material for the two‐dimensional case. VEM has various significant advantages compared to other numerical discretization techniques, for example the finite element method (FEM). One advantage is the flexibility to use arbitrary shaped elements including the possibility to add nodes on the fly during simulation, which opens a new variety of application fields. The latter mentioned feature is used in this publication to propose an adaptive mesh‐refinement strategy during the thermodynamic optimization procedure and investigate its feasibility. The thermodynamic topology optimization (TTO) includes a efficient gradient‐enhanced approach to regularization of the otherwise ill‐posed density based topology optimization approach and was already applied to various material models in combination with finite elements. However, the special numerical treatment leading to efficiency of the regularization approach within the TTO has to be modified to be applicable to VEM, which is presented in the publication. We show the performance of this framework by investigating several numerical results on benchmark problems.
Sustainable bioplastics from seaweed polysaccharides: A comprehensive review
Authors: Nagarajan Dillirani , Senthilkumar Guruvignesh , Chen Chiu‐Wen , Karmegam N. , Praburaman L. , Kim Woong , Dong Cheng‐Di
Published: August 2024

The use of macroalgae for food has been extensive in Asia historically. However, there has been a renewed interest at present in macroalgae due to its recognition as a potential carbon capture agent and a blue carbon donor besides their utility in biofuel production. Bioplastics is an umbrella term for a wide variety of polymers that can be either biobased or biodegradable, or both. Macroalgal polysaccharides and their inherent film‐forming capacity are exploited in the bioplastics industry and macroalgal polysaccharide‐based biofilms are extensively used in food packaging due to their compatibility and ease of production. Commercial macroalgae‐based bioplastics production is ongoing, with research dedicated to the development of biodegradable/compostable biofilms suitable for the food packing and biomedicine sector. This review aims to provide an overview of the polysaccharides of macroalgae that can be used to form biofilms and bioplastics. Different methods for biofilm formation are discussed along with summarizing the effect of plasticizers, the method of film formation, and biodegradability. The major source of marine macroalgal polysaccharaides are agar, alginate, carrageenan, laminarin, fucoidan, and ulvan. Different groups of macroalgae are utilized for the production of polysaccharide derived bioplatics, namely, brown algae (Padina pavonica, Ascophyllum nodosum, Laminaria japonica, Rugulopteryx okamurae, Sargassum natans, Sargassum siliquosum, Jolyna laminarioides, Gracilaria salicornia), green algae (Ulva fasciata, Halimeda opuntia, Codium fragile, Ulva intestinalis, Ulva lactuca, Ulva rigida), and red algae (Eucheuma cottonii, Porphyra sp., Kappaphycus alvarezii, Gracilaria corticata). The outcome of the review reveals that there is a vast scope for macroalgal polysaccharide‐derived bioplastics for a sustainable environment.
Study on a novel flexible high dielectric poly (isoprene‐co‐acrylonitrile)/barium titanate composite with a reversible cross‐linked structure
Authors: Dai Xin , Liu Lijiang , Lin Fangjun , Wang Zhenxi , Peng Yong , Liu Youping , Luo Jixiang , Ma Ziyong
Published: August 2024

Reversible cross‐linked structures are widely used to turn thermoset plastics into recyclable and self‐healing vitrimer materials, but seldom applied in traditional flexible rubber/ceramic composites. In this paper, dioxaborolanes based flexible poly (isoprene (IP)‐co‐acrylonitrile (AN)) vitrimer is synthesized as the rubber matrix by copolymerizing with functional monomers at 5°C for 7 h, and mixed with 5 wt% modified barium titanates (BT) to prepare flexible high dielectric vitrimer composite. The materials are characterized by FTIR, TGA, SEM, DMA, etc. The results indicate that reversible crosslinking can occur above 76.4°C, and copolymerizing with the dioxaborolanes based monomers can turn poly (IP‐co‐AN) into the flexible vitrimer. The poly (IP‐co‐AN)/BT vitrimer composite not only shows a good thermal stability below 145.6°C, but also exhibits an excellent particle dispersivity and a certain self‐healing function at 80°C. The poly (IP‐co‐AN)/BT vitrimer composite has a storage modulus E' about 3.18 MPa at 25°C and Tg about −5.4°C, and shows a higher relative permittivity about 7.5 and lower dielectric loss about 0.156 at 1 k Hz. The results indicate that this paper provides a new method to achieve multifunction and high dielectricity for composites.

Highlight

Reversible cross‐linked structures are applied in rubber / ceramic composites

Cross‐linked flexible composites are reprocessable and self‐healing

Reversible bonds between particles and matrix improve compatibility

Synergism of BaTiO3 and cross‐linked structure enhances dielectric properties
Is poly(propylene carbonate) biodegradable? Synthesis of poly(propylene carbonate)‐containing star and block copolymers and comprehensive investigation on their biodegradation
Authors: Yang Hee‐Seong , Cho Woo Yeon , Seo Yeong Hyun , Chae Ju‐Hyung , Lee Pyung Cheon , Lee Bun Yeoul , Lee In‐Hwan
Published: August 2024

Storing CO2 and converting it into valuable substances are crucial for addressing climate change. While poly(propylene carbonate) (PPC), formed through the copolymerization of CO2 and propylene oxide, holds promise in commercial applications, practical limitations arise due to inherent property constraints. Additionally, the lack of systematic research on PPC biodegradation complicates its post‐use disposal. In this study, we synthesized various polymers, including PPC homopolymers, PPC/castor oil star copolymers, and PPC/poly(l‐lactic acid) multiblock copolymers (PPC‐mb‐PLLAs), not only to mitigate the brittle properties of PPC but also to systematically explore their biodegradability. Both natural soil and industrial composting conditions were employed to assess the biodegradation of the polymers. Furthermore, metagenomic analysis identified the microorganisms responsible for polymer degradation, offering valuable insights into the mechanism of the biodegradation process.
Space‐resolved gas temperature of a microwave plasma torch used for hydrogen production via methane pyrolysis
Authors: Kreuznacht Simon , Böke Marc , von Keudell Achim
Published: August 2024

Pyrolysis of methane is a promising, new, greenhouse gas‐free production method of hydrogen. Here, we present optical emission spectra of a microwave plasma torch operated in an argon–methane mixture. Detailed spatial resolution is achieved by means of Abel inversion. The emission spectra are dominated by dicarbon Swan bands and black body radiation from carbon nanoparticles. Both spectral features are utilized to estimate the gas temperature. In the center of the plasma, gas temperatures of up to 4300 K are reached with large gradients (500 Kmm‐1) in the radial direction. The thermal equilibrium chemistry and the kinetics of methane pyrolysis are analyzed to explain the observed coupling between the local gas temperature and the local emission.
Nanosecond pulse plasma activation of micron‐sized mist droplets
Authors: lan Cuntao , Yin Yuran , Liu Dawei , Lu Xin
Published: August 2024

Plasma‐activated mist (PAM) has seen increasingly widespread applications in areas such as surface disinfection and fog cultivation. The high‐resolution time diagnostics of ns pulse plasma interacting with micron‐sized droplets under high‐humidity conditions is challenging to achieve with existing experimental methods. This paper employs a global model to study the interaction between plasma and droplets, offering a detailed analysis of the plasma's transition from the gas phase to the liquid phase. It was discovered that in high‐humidity environments, hydrated ions become the predominant ion species. These acidic active substances in PAM droplets are the primary factors in the mist's ability to kill bacteria. The paper further examines how variations in droplet size and discharge voltage influence the PAM's activity.
Whole genome sequencing enhances molecular diagnosis of primary ciliary dyskinesia
Authors: Black Holly A. , de Proce Sophie Marion , Campos Jose L. , Meynert Alison , Halachev Mihail , Marsh Joseph A. , Hirst Robert A. , O'Callaghan Chris , Shoemark Amelia , Toddie‐Moore Daniel ,   Scottish Genomes Partnership, Santoyo‐Lopez Javier , Murray Jennie , Macleod Kenneth , Urquhart Don S. , Unger Stefan , Aitman Timothy J. , Mill Pleasantine
Published: August 2024

Background

Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is a genetic disorder affecting motile cilia. Most cases are inherited recessively, due to variants in >50 genes that result in abnormal or absent motile cilia. This leads to chronic upper and lower airway disease, subfertility, and laterality defects. Given overlapping clinical features and genetic heterogeneity, diagnosis can be difficult and often occurs late. Of those tested an estimated 30% of genetically screened PCD patients still lack a molecular diagnosis. A molecular diagnosis allows for appropriate clinical management including prediction of phenotypic features correlated to genotype. Here, we aimed to identify how readily a genetic diagnosis could be made using whole genome sequencing (WGS) to facilitate identification of pathogenic variants in known genes as well as novel PCD candidate genes.

Methods

WGS was used to screen for pathogenic variants in eight patients with PCD.

Results

7/8 cases had homozygous or biallelic variants in DNAH5, DNAAF4 or DNAH11 classified as pathogenic or likely pathogenic. Three identified variants were deletions, ranging from 3 to 13 kb, for which WGS identified precise breakpoints, permitting confirmation by Sanger sequencing. WGS yielded identification of a de novo variant in a novel PCD gene TUBB4B.

Conclusion

Here, WGS uplifted genetic diagnosis of PCD by identifying structural variants and novel modes of inheritance in new candidate genes. WGS could be an important component of the PCD diagnostic toolkit, increasing molecular diagnostic yield from current (70%) levels, and enhancing our understanding of fundamental biology of motile cilia and variants in the noncoding genome.
Data‐based distributed consensus optimal control for nonlinear multi‐agent systems under switching topology
Authors: Xu Ying , Li Kewen , Li Yongming
Published: August 2024

This article investigates the issue of data‐based distributed consensus optimal control for a class of affine nonlinear multi‐agent systems (MASs) under switching topology with external disturbances. With the help of the game theory, the distributed adaptive optimal consensus control issue can be formulated into a zero‐sum (ZM) game problem. In control design, a data‐based integral reinforcement learning (IRL) algorithm is used to solve the coupled Hamilton–Jacobi–Isaac (HJI) equation with unknown drift dynamics. Meanwhile, to relax the persistent excitation (PE) condition in the traditional optimal control design, the experience replay (ER) technique is introduced. Combining IRL algorithm and single critic neural network (NN), a distributed adaptive optimal consensus control approach is designed. The stability of the closed‐loop system is proved by combining the Lyapunov stability theory and the average dwell time method. Finally, a simulation example is given to illustrate the effectiveness of the developed optimal consensus control approach.
Indomethacin Derivatives as Potential Anticancer Agents ‐ Daybreak of New Epoch
Authors: Gogic Andjela , Vesovic Marina , Nedeljkovic Nikola , Nikolic Milos , Jurisevic Milena , Zdravkovic Nebojsa , Zivanovic Ana
Published: August 2024

Non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are extensively prescribed pharmaceutical agents worldwide. Due to their analgesic, antipyretic, and anti‐inflammatory properties, they are used in clinical practice for the treatment of numerous inflammatory diseases. The mechanism of action primarily involves the inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis mediated by cyclooxygenases (COX), key enzymes of the inflammatory cascade. Indomethacin, a non‐selective derivative of indole‐3‐acetic acid exhibits diverse mechanisms to exert its anti‐tumor effects, including angiogenesis suppression, induction of apoptosis, and reduction of tumorigenesis through immune modulation. Numerous studies suggest that derivatives of indomethacin may inhibit cell proliferation and reduce levels of anti‐apoptotic proteins through COX‐independent mechanisms. Given the diverse potential mechanisms through which indomethacin impacts cancer progression, this review provides an overview of structural analogs that possess antitumor activity and outlines future directions in developing new candidates that may have substantial efficacy in cancer therapy.
Rewiring the organizational network: Corporate offsites and network tie formation
Authors: Kneeland Madeline K. , Kleinbaum Adam M.
Published: August 2024

Research Summary

Social networks are integral to collaborative work, but research on network change has shed little light on the mechanisms firms use to stimulate collaborative network ties among their employees. In this study, we examine the effects of corporate offsites on the evolution of social networks within an organization. We find that offsites lead to rewiring of intraorganizational networks, but with a surprising asymmetry: they stimulate everyone to initiate more collaboration ties, but only those who attend the offsite receive more ties. These results are consistent with a conceptualization of offsites as direct interventions that focus on social interactions for those who attend, but also as indirect interventions that signal the value of collaboration to everyone, even those who do not attend.

Managerial Summary

Corporate offsites are events that convene people from across a firm to interact outside their regular work environment. Despite their popularity, this article offers the first data‐driven analysis of their effectiveness in promoting collaboration among employees. Offsites facilitate employees' awareness of who knows what, build trust, and foster interpersonal affect among employees. This study shows that offsites have a dual effect on the social network of an organization: they prompt everyone in the firm to initiate more collaborative ties following an offsite, but those who actually attend the offsite attract more of those collaborative tie requests. Therefore, offsites can be a useful tool to boost collaboration—with benefits accruing both to the individuals whose networks grow and to the firm in which they work.
Hydrophobic Multilayered PEG@PAN/MXene/PVDF@SiO2 Composite Film with Excellent Thermal Management and Electromagnetic Interference Shielding for Electronic Devices
Authors: Lin Jiahui , Huang Jintao , Guo Zhanhu , Xu Ben Bin , Cao Yan , Ren Juanna , Hou Hua , Xiao Yongshuang , Elashiry Mustafa , El‐Bahy Zeinhom M. , Min Yonggang
Published: August 2024

With the rapid development of electronic industry, it's pressing to develop multifunctional electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding materials to ensure the stable operation of electronic devices. Herein, multilayered flexible PEG@PAN/MXene (Ti3C2Tx)/PVDF@SiO2 (PMF) composite film has been constructed from the level of microstructure design via coaxial electrospinning, coating spraying, and uniaxial electrospinning strategies. Benefiting from the effective encapsulation for PEG and high conductivity of MXene coating, PEG@PAN/MXene composite film with MXene coating loading density of 0.70 mg cm−2 exhibits high thermal energy storage density of 120.77 J g−1 and great EMI shielding performance (EMI SE of 34.409 dB and SSE of 49.086 dB cm3 g−1) in X‐band (8–12 GHz). Therefore, this advanced composite film can not only help electronic devices prevent the influence of electromagnetic pollution in the X‐band but also play an important role in electronic device thermal management. Additionally, the deposition of nano PVDF@SiO2 fibers (289 ± 128 nm) endowed the PMF composite film with great hydrophobic properties (water contact angle of 126.5°) to ensure the stable working of hydrophilic MXene coating, thereby breaks the limitation of humid application environments. The finding paves a new way for the development of novel multifunctional EMI shielding composite films for electronic devices.
A blockchain‐based trusted vehicle service recommendation scheme in intelligent transport systems
Authors: Chen Jinglong , Lu He , Xu Wenxuan , Yang Yang , Amoon Mohammed , Kumari Saru
Published: August 2024

Intelligent transportation systems usually use distributed storage to improve the access efficiency of the system. However, this type of storage makes it difficult to share data in different databases and faces the problem of data silos. Meanwhile, the lack of security protection of vehicle nodes in the network suffers from the problem of low data trustworthiness. To address the above challenges, this paper proposes a road‐vehicle dynamic shareable blockchain (RV‐DSB) system architecture. The architecture effectively ensures the integrity of vehicle data by combining blockchain and digital signature algorithms. In addition, we utilize a subjective logic model to manage the trust value of vehicles and propose a trust value‐based road‐vehicle data sharing scheme to ensure the trustworthiness of the data. Finally, we demonstrate the effectiveness of the scheme through a case study.
Synthesis of Cuprous Organic Frameworks with Adjustable Pores as Membrane Materials for C3H6/C3H8 Separation
Authors: Cheng Zeliang , Wu Hui , Zhang Hao , Wang Ziyang , Wang Lina , Zou Xiaoqin , Zhu Guangshan
Published: August 2024

Metal–covalent organic frameworks (MCOFs) combining the advantages of open metal sites of metal–organic frameworks and covalent connections of COFs are potential platform for gas separation. Herein, three 2D cuprous‐based MCOFs (Cu‐COFs, named Cu‐TABA, Cu‐TFBA, and Cu‐TP) are designed and synthesized through Schiff base condensation using two trinuclear cuprous complexes and three organic building blocks with different sizes. These Cu‐COFs possess high crystallinity, good stability, and microporous structure with gradually decreasing pore size. The 1D columnar channels facilitate the rapid transport of gas molecules along the layer‐by‐layer stacking direction. The open cuprous ions serve as adsorption sites and interact strongly with propylene (C3H6) through π‐complexation. The mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) fabricated by Cu‐COFs and polymer (6FDA‐DAM) exhibit superior propylene/propane (C3H6/C3H8) separation performance; shown by C3H6 permeability as high as 85.5 Barrer and C3H6/C3H8 selectivity reaching 36.6, much higher than those of pure 6FDA‐DAM membrane. The performance beyond most reported MMMs demonstrates that Cu‐COFs are candidate membrane materials for C3H6/C3H8 separation.
Preliminary study on the efficacy of ryokeijutsukanto in the management of orthostatic dysregulation: A prospective observational study
Authors: Hirasawa Kazuhiro , Oikawa Tetsuro , Inagaki Taro , Ogawa Yasuo , Kondo Takahito , Tsukahara Kiyoaki
Published: August 2024

Aim

This prospective observational study aimed to investigate the effects of ryokeijutsukanto on dizziness in patients with orthostatic dysregulation (OD) and explore its potential to address diverse symptoms resulting from autonomic dysfunction. This study also aimed to identify the factors contributing to the effectiveness of ryokeijutsukanto in managing OD.

Methods

Patients diagnosed with OD were treated with ryokeijutsukanto between February 4, 2022 and April 1, 2024. Patients underwent various assessments and completed questionnaires, including the Vertigo Symptom Scale‐Short Form (VSS‐sf), Dizziness Handicap Inventory, Visual Analog Scale, and Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale before and after treatment. The differences in these scores were analyzed based on age, sex, qi counterflow, and fluid disturbance.

Results

A total of eight patients were enrolled in the study; five cases had orthostatic hypotension and three had Postural Tachycardia Syndrome. Qi counterflow was observed in three cases and fluid disturbance was in six cases. Patients less than 40 years of age showed significantly higher improvement in the VSS‐sf scores than older patients, suggesting age‐based differences in treatment outcomes.

Conclusion

This study did not find significant improvements in the various assessments used after ryokeijutsukanto treatment for OD. However, age‐based analysis indicated that the treatment may be more effective in younger patients. These results should be interpreted with caution, considering the limited sample size. Further research with larger cohorts is required to validate these findings. This study also acknowledges the need for larger multicenter studies to explore the potential benefits of ryokeijutsukanto in managing OD.
High‐output heart failure secondary to severe chronic anaemia in a dog
Authors: Goya Seijirow , Maruyama Haruhiko , Nakayama Tomohiro
Published: August 2024

An 11‐year‐old, 4.8‐kg, entire, male Papillon dog presented because of anaemia and polyuria‐polydipsia for 2 months before presentation and sudden dyspnoea. Haematological examination revealed severe non‐regenerative anaemia. Thoracic radiography revealed pulmonary oedema and cardiac enlargement. Echocardiography showed no obvious structural cardiac abnormalities; however, the left ventricular preload and cardiac output were high, and the systemic vascular resistance was low. The dog was diagnosed with high‐output heart failure secondary to non‐regenerative anaemia. Fresh whole blood transfusion following the treatment of congestive heart failure using diuretics and supplemental oxygen was performed. After 5 days, the high‐output heart failure had markedly improved and the clinical signs had resolved; therefore, bone marrow cytological examination was performed, and the patient was diagnosed as presumed pure red cell aplasia. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of naturally occurring high‐output heart failure secondary to severe chronic anaemia in dogs.
Implementation and Validation of a Generalized Actuator Disk Parameterization for Wind Turbine Simulations Within the FastEddy Model
Authors: Sanchez Gomez M. , Muñoz‐Esparza D. , Sauer J. A.
Published: August 2024

Fast and accurate large‐eddy simulation (LES) of the atmospheric boundary layer plays a crucial role in advancing wind energy research. Long‐duration wind farm studies at turbine‐resolving scales have become increasingly important to understand the intricate interactions between large wind farms and the atmospheric boundary layer. However, the prohibitive computational cost of these turbulence‐ and turbine‐resolving simulations has precluded such modeling to be exercised on a regular basis. To that end, we implement and validate the generalized actuator disk (GAD) model in the computationally efficient, graphics processing unit (GPU)–resident, LES model FastEddy. We perform single‐turbine simulations under three atmospheric stabilities (neutral, unstable, and stable) and compare them against observations from the Scaled Wind Farm Technology (SWiFT) facility and other LES codes from the recent Wakebench turbine wake model benchmark. Our idealized LES results agree well with observed wake velocity deficit and downstream recovery across stability regimes. Turbine response in terms of rotational speed, generated power, torque, and thrust coefficient are well predicted across stability regimes and are consistent with the LES results from the benchmark. The FastEddy simulations are found to be at least two orders of magnitude more efficient than the traditional CPU‐based LES models, opening the door for realistic LES simulations of full wind plants as a viable standard practice.
Computing NMHV gravity amplitudes at infinity
Authors: Belayneh Dawit , Cachazo Freddy , Leon Pablo
Published: August 2024

Abstract

In this note we show how the solutions to the scattering equations in the NMHV sector fully decompose into subsectors in the z → ∞ limit of a Risager deformation. Each subsector is characterized by the punctures that coalesce in the limit. This naturally decomposes the E(n − 3, 1) solutions into sets characterized by partitions of n − 3 elements so that exactly one subset has more than one element. We present analytic expressions for the leading order of the solutions in an expansion around infinite z for any n. We also give a simple algorithm for numerically computing arbitrarily high orders in the same expansion. As a consequence, one has the ability to compute Yang-Mills and gravity amplitudes purely from this expansion around infinity. Moreover, we present a new analytic computation of the residue at infinity of the n = 12 NMHV tree-level gravity amplitude which agrees with the results of Conde and Rajabi. In fact, we present the analytic form of the leading order in 1/z of the Cachazo-Skinner-Mason/CHY formula for graviton amplitudes for each subsector and to all multiplicity. As a byproduct of the all-order algorithm, one has access to the numerical value of the residue at infinity for any n and hence to the corrected CSW (or MHV) expansion for NMHV gravity amplitudes.
Outcome of intraoperative brachytherapy as a salvage treatment for locally recurrent rectal cancer
Authors: Stoian Raluca , Neeff Hannes P. , Gainey Mark , Kollefrath Michael , Kirste Simon , Zamboglou Constantinos , Exner Jan Philipp Harald , Baltas Dimos , Fichtner Feigl Stefan , Grosu Anca-Ligia , Sprave Tanja
Published: August 2024

Background

Locally advanced recurrent rectal cancer (RRC) requires a multimodal approach. Intraoperative high-dose-rate brachytherapy (HDR-BT) may reduce the risk of local recurrence. However, the optimal therapeutic regimen remains unclear. The aim of this retrospective monocentric study was to evaluate the toxicity of HDR-BT after resection of RRC.

Methods

Between 2018 and 2022, 17 patients with RRC received resection and HDR-BT. HDR-BT was delivered alone or as an anticipated boost with a median dose of 13 Gy (range 10–13 Gy) using an 192iridium microSelectron HDR remote afterloader (Elekta AB, Stockholm, Sweden). All participants were followed for assessment of acute and late adverse events using the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 5.0 and the modified Late Effects in Normal Tissues criteria (subjective, objective, management, and analytic; LENT-SOMA) at 3‑ to 6‑month intervals.

Results

A total of 17 patients were treated by HDR-BT with median dose of 13 Gy (range 10–13 Gy). Most patients (47%) had an RRC tumor stage of cT3‑4 N0. At the time of RRC diagnosis, 7 patients (41.2%) had visceral metastases (hepatic, pulmonary, or peritoneal) in the sense of oligometastatic disease. The median interval between primary tumor resection and diagnosis of RRC was 17 months (range 1–65 months). In addition to HDR-BT, 2 patients received long-course chemoradiotherapy (CRT; up to 50.4 Gy in 1.8-Gy fractions) and 2 patients received short-course CRT up to 36 Gy in 2‑Gy fractions. For concomitant CRT, all patients received 5‑fluorouracil (5-FU) or capecitabine. Median follow-up was 13 months (range 1–54). The most common acute grade 1–2 toxicities were pain in 7 patients (41.2%), wound healing disorder in 3 patients (17.6%), and lymphedema in 2 patients (11.8%). Chronic toxicities were similar: grade 1–2 pain in 7 patients (41.2%), wound healing disorder in 3 patients (17.6%), and incontinence in 2 patients (11.8%). No patient experienced a grade ≥3 event.

Conclusion

Reirradiation using HDR-BT is well tolerated with low toxicity. An individualized multimodality approach using HDR-BT in the oligometastatic setting should be evaluated in prospective multi-institutional studies.
Einsamkeit als Gesundheitsrisiko: Eine narrative Übersichtsarbeit
Authors: Buecker Susanne , Neuber Anne
Published: August 2024

Einsamkeit wird zunehmend als bedeutendes Gesundheitsrisiko anerkannt. Diese Übersichtsarbeit fasst den aktuellen Stand der Forschung zusammen, indem sie die Auswirkungen von Einsamkeit auf die psychische und körperliche Gesundheit beleuchtet. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass Einsamkeit sowohl für die psychische als auch für die körperliche Gesundheit ein Risiko darstellt. Bisherige Übersichtsarbeiten zu den Auswirkungen auf die psychische Gesundheit zeigen, dass Einsamkeit insbesondere den Beginn einer Depression, einer sozialen Phobie und den Abbau kognitiver Funktionen vorhersagt. Außerdem kann Einsamkeit die Erholung von psychischen Störungen im Allgemeinen erschweren, was unter anderem auf den bidirektionalen Zusammenhang zwischen Einsamkeit und psychischer Gesundheit zurückgeführt werden kann. In Bezug auf körperliche Erkrankungen wurden bisher vor allem Herz-Kreislauf-Erkrankungen als Folge von Einsamkeit untersucht. Einsamkeit sagt das Auftreten von Herz-Kreislauf-Erkrankungen vorher und kann die Genesung von diesen erschweren. Übersichtsarbeiten zeigen zudem, dass Einsamkeit die Wahrscheinlichkeit für Suizidalität und Mortalität erhöht. Es wird jedoch auch auf den Mangel an Längsschnittstudien hingewiesen, der es erschwert, die kausale Wirkrichtung von Einsamkeit auf spätere Gesundheitseinschränkungen zu untersuchen. Die in dieser Übersichtsarbeit aufgezeigten gesundheitlichen Folgen von Einsamkeit, die teils irreversibel sind und Leiden sowie Beeinträchtigung verursachen können, unterstreichen die Bedeutung von Interventionen zur Reduzierung von Einsamkeit als präventive Maßnahme gegen sowohl psychische als auch körperliche Erkrankungen.
Geschlechtsspezifische Unterschiede in der Adipositaschirurgie: Epidemiologie, Therapie und Ergebnisse
Authors: Téoule Patrick , Pozek Ema , Hielscher Thomas , Reißfelder Christoph , Stier Christine , Otto Mirko , Schölch Sebastian
Published: August 2024

In dieser Studie werden geschlechtsspezifische Unterschiede bei Adipositas und deren Behandlung mittels metabolisch/bariatrischer Chirurgie (MBS) untersucht. Die Datenbasis umfasst 2393 Patient*innen (1725 Frauen, 668 Männer) aus einem High-volume-Zentrum für bariatrische Chirurgie. Es wurden demographische, perioperative und Nachuntersuchungsdaten retrospektiv analysiert. Männer wiesen einen signifikant höheren Body-Mass-Index (BMI) und häufiger adipositasassoziierte Erkrankungen auf. Frauen stellten trotz der höheren Prävalenz der Adipositas bei Männern 80 % der operierten Patient*innen. Männer hatten im Mittel längere Operationszeiten bei gleichen Komplikationsraten. Postoperativ zeigte sich bei beiden Geschlechtern ein signifikanter Rückgang des Übergewichts, der bei Frauen etwas stärker ausgeprägt war. Die Studie unterstreicht insbesondere die Notwendigkeit, Männer besser zur Adipositasbehandlung zu motivieren, um gesundheitliche Folgen in dieser Bevölkerungsgruppe zu reduzieren.
Obstacle negotiation in female desert locust oviposition digging
Authors: Klechevski Chen , Kats Lazar , Ayali Amir
Published: August 2024

The female locust lays its eggs deep within soft substrate to protect them from predators and provide optimal conditions for successful development and hatching. During oviposition digging, the female’s abdomen is pooled and extends into the ground, guided by a dedicated excavation mechanism at its tip, comprising two pairs of specialized digging valves. Little is known about how these active valves negotiate the various obstacles encountered on their path. In this study, female locusts oviposited their eggs in specialized sand-filled tubes with pre-inserted 3D-printed plastic obstacles. The subterranean route taken by the abdomen and digging valves upon encountering the obstacles was investigated, characterized, and compared to that in control tubes without obstacles. Data were obtained by way of visual inspection, by utilizing cone beam computed tomography scans in high-definition mode, and by making paraffin casts of the oviposition burrows (after egg hatching). We demonstrate, for the first time, the subterranean navigation ability of the female locust’s excavation mechanism and its ability to circumvent obstacles during oviposition. Finally, we discuss the role of active sensory-motor mechanisms versus the passive embodied function of the valves, central control, and decision-making.
Diabetes technology in people with diabetes and advanced chronic kidney disease
Authors: Galindo Rodolfo J. , Soliman Diana , Cherñavvsky Daniel , Rhee Connie M.
Published: August 2024

Diabetes is the leading cause and a common comorbidity of advanced chronic kidney disease. Glycaemic management in this population is challenging and characterised by frequent excursions of hypoglycaemia and hyperglycaemia. Current glucose monitoring tools, such as HbA1c, fructosamine and glycated albumin, have biases in this population and provide information only on mean glucose exposure. Revolutionary developments in glucose sensing and insulin delivery technology have occurred in the last decade. Newer factory-calibrated continuous glucose monitors provide real-time glucose data, with predictive alarms, allowing improved assessment of glucose excursions and preventive measures, particularly during and between dialysis sessions. Furthermore, integration of continuous glucose monitors and their predictive alerts with automated insulin delivery systems enables insulin administration to be decreased or stopped proactively, leading to improved glycaemic management and diminishing glycaemic fluctuations. While awaiting regulatory approval, emerging studies, expert real-world experience and clinical guidelines support the use of diabetes technology devices in people with diabetes and advanced chronic kidney disease.

Graphical Abstract
Do we need a re-TUR after en bloc resection of T1 stage bladder cancer?
Authors: Levy Stephan , Péricart Sarah , Bajeot Anne Sophie , Fakhfakh Sami , Lesourd Marine , Soulié Michel , Pignot Géraldine , Roumiguié Mathieu
Published: August 2024

Background

A second look trans-urethral resection of the bladder (re-TUR) is recommended after the diagnosis of T1 high grade (T1HG) bladder cancer. Few studies have evaluated the results of re-TUR after a first en bloc resection (EBR) and none of them have specifically reported the pathological results on the field of previous T1 disease.

Objective

To report the rate of upstaging and the rate of residual disease (RD) on the field of T1HG lesions resected with EBR.

Materials and methods

Between 01/2014 and 06/2022, patients from 2 centers who had a re-TUR after an EBR for T1HG urothelial carcinoma were retrospectively included. Primary endpoint was the rate of RD including the rate of upstaging to T2 disease on the scar of the primary resection. Secondary endpoints were the rate of any residual disease outside the field.

Results

Seventy-five patients were included. No muscle invasive bladder cancer lesions were found after re-TUR. Among the 16 patients who had a RD, 4 were on the resection scar. All of these lesions were papillary and high grade. RD outside the field of the first EBR was observed in 12 patients.

Conclusion

After EBR of T1HG disease, none of our patients had an upstaging to MIBC. However, the rate of RD either on and outside the field of the EBR remains quite significant. We suggested that predictive factors of residual papillary disease (number of tumors at the initial TUR and concomitant CIS) might be suitable to select patient who will benefit of the re-TUR.
Performance on curriculum-based mathematics assessments in developmental dyscalculia: the effect of content domain and question format
Authors: Roulstone Alison , Morsanyi Kinga , Bahnmueller Julia
Published: August 2024

Developmental Dyscalculia (DD) is characterised by persistent difficulties in learning mathematical skills, which usually becomes apparent in the early years of schooling. Traditionally, DD is known to affect children’s arithmetic processing, whilst other domains of mathematics receive much less research attention. Nevertheless, contemporary diagnostic guidelines suggest that DD is linked to widespread and diverse difficulties, both within and outside of the domain of numbers. This study examined the performance (i.e., accuracy and number of questions attempted) of children on a curriculum-based mathematics assessment, considering the effect of content domains, question format (i.e., multiple-choice questions vs. constructed response questions) and test half. Participants were forty children aged 8 to 11 years old with DD (n = 20) and a carefully matched control group of typically developing children (n = 20) from primary schools in Northern Ireland. Results revealed that the DD group achieved significantly lower scores than the control group across all areas of the curriculum, and the magnitude of group differences was similar across all content domains. These findings indicate that performance in content domains other than in arithmetic may be equally informative in supporting the identification of children with DD. In addition, we found that using multiple-choice questions may support learners with DD in achieving the best outcome, and, thus, could be useful for assessing mathematics skills in dyscalculic children in classroom contexts. Nevertheless, constructed response questions may show the greatest sensitivity to identifying learners at risk, and could be the most useful in diagnostic settings.
The spectrum of co-existing disease in children with established kidney failure using registry and linked electronic health record data
Authors: Plumb Lucy , Steenkamp Retha , Hamilton Alexander J. , Maxwell Heather , Inward Carol D. , Marks Stephen D. , Nitsch Dorothea
Published: August 2024

Background

Children with established kidney failure may have additional medical conditions influencing kidney care and outcomes. This cross-sectional study aimed to examine the prevalence of co-existing diseases captured in the electronic hospital record compared to UK Renal Registry (UKRR) data and differences in coding.

Methods

The study population comprised children aged < 18 years receiving kidney replacement therapy (KRT) in England and Wales on 31/12/2016. Comorbidity data at KRT start was examined in the hospital record and compared to UKRR data. Agreement was assessed by the kappa statistic. Associations between patient and clinical factors and likelihood of coding were examined using multivariable logistic regression.

Results

A total of 869 children (62.5% male) had data linkage for inclusion. UKRR records generally reported a higher prevalence of co-existing disease than electronic health records; congenital, non-kidney disease was most commonly reported across both datasets. The highest sensitivity in the hospital record was seen for congenital heart disease (odds ratio (OR) 0.65, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.51, 0.78) and malignancy (OR 0.63, 95% CI 0.41, 0.85). At best, moderate agreement (kappa ≥ 0.41) was seen between the datasets. Factors associated with higher odds of coding in hospital records included age, while kidney disease and a higher number of comorbidities were associated with lower odds of coding.

Conclusions

Health records generally under-reported co-existing disease compared to registry data with fair-moderate agreement between datasets. Electronic health records offer a non-selective overview of co-existing disease facilitating audit and research, but registry processes are still required to capture paediatric-specific variables pertinent to kidney disease.

Graphical Abstract
Comparison of predictive models in postoperative nausea and vomiting in patients undergoing breast cancer surgery
Authors: Maraş Gülseren , Kalaycı Halil , Ceyhan Özlem
Published: August 2024

Background

Post-operative nausea and vomiting remain an unresolved concern in Türkiye and some parts of the world, impacting the quality of the patient's recovery process and diminishing overall satisfaction.

Objective

This study was conducted as a descriptive investigation to compare the incidence of nausea and vomiting following breast cancer surgery with the nausea and vomiting risk scores proposed by Apfel and Koivuranta.

Methods

This study was conducted with 100 patients admitted to the General Surgery service of a university hospital between 31 August 2019 and 31 May 2021 for breast cancer surgery. The patient information form developed by the researchers, Apfel Nausea and Vomiting Risk Score, and Koivuranta Nausea and Vomiting Risk Score were used as data collection tools.

Results

It was identified that 61% of the patients experienced nausea and vomiting within the initial 24 h following surgery. A significant correlation was found between age, post-operative opioid use, motion sickness or history of PONV, and nausea and vomiting (p < 0,05). The sensitivity of the Apfel score obtained was 80%, the specificity was 46%, and the AUC value was 0.686. The sensitivity of the Koivuranta score was 80%, the specificity was 35%, and the AUC value was 0.675 (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

It has been observed that patients experience high rates of nausea and vomiting after breast cancer surgery and that the Apfel and Koivuranta Risk Scores are equally applicable in predicting post-operative nausea and vomiting.