bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Predicting stock index movement using twin support vector machine as an integral part of enterprise system
Authors: Zou Borong , Wang Hong , Li Hui , Li Ling , Zhao Yuhan
Published: June 2022

In order to improve the predicting performance of stock index movement, this study proposes a new predicting model called Twin Support Vector Machines (TWSVM), which will be used to predict the trend of Shanghai Securities Composite Index (SSCI) and Standard and Poor's 500 Index (S&P500 Index), respectively. Thirteen indicators constructed by stock index historical data are selected as input features of the predicting model. The predicting target is the stock index daily movement, up or down. The decision tree (DT), Naive‐Bayes (NB), random forests (RF), probabilistic neural network (PNN) and support vector machine (SVM) are set as contrast experiments. The experiment results indicate that the TWSVM predicting model has a better predicting performance on both stock price and index daily movement.
Explore the entrepreneurial process of AI start‐ups from the perspective of opportunity
Authors: Wang Xi , Yang Huihui , Han Helin , Huang Yanling , Wu Xixi
Published: June 2022

Digital technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), big data, and the Internet of Things, are becoming increasingly mature. They have become the driving force behind a new wave of innovation and entrepreneurship activities worldwide. AI is the core of the contemporary digital technology industry. New high technologies bring greater opportunities for entrepreneurs to carry out entrepreneurial activities and bring unprecedented challenges to traditional entrepreneurial activities and theories. The existing literature on the impact of AI on entrepreneurial activities is still in the exploration stage. Based on this, this study aims to explore the entrepreneurial process of AI start‐ups, combining with existing literature, select AI unicorn start‐ups ByteDance for a case study, and apply the grounded theory method to analyse and summarise the entrepreneurial process of Internet start‐ups with AI. Thus, it can provide insights for many AI start‐ups and contribute to the existing entrepreneurial research.
A Critical Review on Medium‐Mn Steels: Mechanical Properties Governed by Microstructural Morphology
Authors: Han Jeongho
Published: June 2022

Medium‐Mn steels have received significant attention from the steel industry as strong candidate materials for next‐generation advanced high‐strength steels. These steels can be manufactured by various routes, such as hot rolling plus annealing or cold rolling plus annealing, resulting in two different microstructural morphologies: laminate morphology or globular morphology with two‐phase microstructures. The resulting change in the microstructural morphology leads to a significant difference in the mechanical responses. For example, steel with a globular structure exhibits improved strength, toughness, and hydrogen embrittlement resistance compared to steel with a laminate morphology. The present review systematically summarizes the relationship between microstructural morphology and various mechanical responses to derive the optimal microstructural design concept for improved mechanical properties.
Forced degradation studies on axitinib and characterization of its degradation products by liquid chromatography‐high resolution mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy along with its insilico toxicity assessment
Authors: Kushwah Bhoopendra Singh , Golla Vijaya Madhyanapu , Dhiman Vivek , Samanthula Gananadhamu
Published: June 2022

The prime focus of the present study includes forced degradation studies on axitinib and the characterization of novel degradation products formed. As per International Council for Harmonisation guidelines, axitinib was exposed to harsher conditions such as acidic, alkali, oxidative, photolytic, and thermal conditions. Axitinib was found unstable upon exposure to oxidative and photolytic conditions, generating a total of four degradation products. Out of four degradation products, three are novel and were not reported in the literature. The degradation products formed were well separated by high‐performance liquid chromatography and characterized by liquid chromatography‐high resolution mass spectrometric studies. Further, their structures were confirmed by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic studies. The possible degradation products were characterized as sulfoxide, sulfone, isomeric and dimer impurities. A detailed mechanistic explanation for the formation of degradation products along with its insilico toxicity prediction was laid out.
Effect of Fructooligosaccharides on Retrogradation of Instant Rice
Authors: Li Xuyang , He Yutang , Wang Jian , Liu He
Published: June 2022

Starch retrogradation is a major problem during the storage of instant rice, and inhibiting starch retrogradation is of great significance to improve the shelf‐life of instant rice. Texture profile analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, X‐ray diffraction, low‐field nuclear magnetic resonance, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and laser scanning confocal microscopy are used to study the retrogradation of instant rice pretreated with different levels of fructooligosaccharides. Following low‐level fructooligosaccharide treatment, the hardness of instant rice is significantly reduced, which effectively restricts the mobility of water molecules in instant rice and reduces the relative crystallinity and retrogradation enthalpy of starch in instant rice. Therefore, low‐level fructooligosaccharides have great potential to delay retrogradation of rice products and improve their storage quality.
Toward Long‐Life Aqueous Zinc Ion Batteries by Constructing Stable Zinc Anodes
Authors: Liu Ying , Liu Yi , Wu Xiang
Published: June 2022

Aqueous zinc‐ion batteries (AZIBs) with high safety and low cost are considered to be one of the alternatives to Li‐ion batteries. In recent years, AZIBs have become a research hotspot, mainly focusing on the research of cathode, anode and electrolyte. Although many efforts have been made in cathode materials, their low specific capacity and poor cycle life remain unsolved. In fact, side reactions of zinc metal anodes, such as dendrite growth, zinc corrosion, and hydrogen evolution reactions (HER), are also the main factors restricting the electrochemical performance of AZIBs. In this review, we first discuss the fundamental of these adverse reactions. Then, the various solution strategies are summarized based on advanced materials and structural design. It includes surface modification and the internal structure optimization of Zn electrodes, the regulation of electrolytes and separators. Finally, we propose the future challenges and development prospects of zinc anode.
Elective percutaneous liver biopsy and use of aspirin
Authors: Reynard Maxence Emmanuel , Dufour Jean‐François
Published: June 2022

Objectives

Percutaneous liver biopsy is an essential diagnostic investigation in hepatology. Among complications, which are rare, bleeding is the most feared. Many patients scheduled for a liver biopsy are taking aspirin. Surprisingly no information is available in the literature on this frequent clinical situation. The American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) position paper on percutaneous liver biopsy does not specifically recommend stopping low dose aspirin prior to an elective percutaneous liver biopsy. The European Association for the Study of the Liver also remains unspecific without giving clear recommendation on stopping or not low dose aspirin before the procedure. The aim of this study is to document current practice concerning the management of patients scheduled for an elective percutaneous biopsy and taking low dose aspirin.

Design

An online questionnaire was designed to gather data on current practice on the perioperative management of percutaneous liver biopsy and use of aspirin.

Settings

The questionnaire was emailed to AASLD members in September 2018.

Participants

Four hundred sixty six responses were collected.

Results

Seventy eight percent postpone elective percutaneous liver biopsy if International Normalised Ratio is ≥1.5 or Quick ≤50%. Ninety five percent postpone biopsy if platelet count is ≤50,000 × 106/L. Seventy five percent stop low dose aspirin, on average, 6 days prior to the percutaneous liver biopsy. This choice of management does not seem to be related to previous complications since 86% report not having experienced any bleeding in patients taking low dose aspirin. Nevertheless, this practice has logistic consequences since 61% of the respondents postponed a liver biopsy due to intake of low dose aspirin.

Conclusions

Despite the lack of clear statement in guidelines and evidence supporting this practice, three quarters of physicians practicing in hepatology stop low dose aspirin before elective percutaneous liver biopsy.
SARS‐CoV‐2‐specific antibodies and neutralization capacity in breast milk following infection vs vaccination
Authors: Leung H. Y. H. , Leung B. W. , Gil M. M. , Rolle V. , Moungmaithong S. , Wang C. C. , Poon L. C.
Published: June 2022

Anti‐severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) antibodies have been found in breast milk following both natural SARS‐CoV‐2 infection and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) vaccination. This was a prospective study to evaluate the temporal changes in amount and neutralization capacity of anti‐SARS‐CoV‐2 antibodies in breast milk stimulated by natural infection and by vaccination. Serial breast milk samples were collected from postnatal women who were recruited through convenience sampling. We found a rapid increase in neutralizing SARS‐CoV‐2‐specific antibodies in breast milk from both study groups. Amongst the infection group, the median immunoglobulin A (IgA) level was 16.99 (range, 0–86.56) ng/mL and median binding capacity was 33.65% (range, 0–67.65%), while in the vaccination group these were 30.80 (range, 0–77.40) ng/mL and 23.80% (range, 0–42.80%), respectively. In both groups, both binding capacity and IgA levels decreased progressively over time after peaking. Neutralizing activity had become undetectable by about 150 days after the first dose of the vaccine, but a vaccine booster dose restored secretion of neutralizing IgA, albeit with different levels of response in different individuals. This highlights the importance of the vaccine booster dose in sustaining neutralizing antibody levels in breast milk, which may potentially provide protection for very young children, who cannot receive the COVID‐19 vaccine. © 2022 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Lipophagy pathways in yeast are controlled by their distinct modes of induction
Authors: Fairman Garrett , Ouimet Mireille
Published: June 2022

Lipid droplet (LD) autophagy (lipophagy) is a recently discovered selective form of autophagy and is a pathway for LD catabolism. This ubiquitous process has been an ongoing area of research within the budding yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Yeast lipophagy phenotypically resembles microautophagy, although it has a distinct set of genetic requirements depending on the mode of induction. This review highlights the similarities and differences between different forms of yeast lipophagy and offers perspectives on how our knowledge of lipophagy in yeast may guide our understanding of this process within mammalian cells to ultimately inform future applications of lipophagy.
Exploring Untapped Wheat Genetic Resources to Boost Food Security
Authors: King Julie , Grewal Surbhi , Fellers John P. , King Ian P.
Published: June 2022

Increasing the genetic diversity of wheat is key to its future production in terms of increasing yields, resistance to diseases and adaptability to fluctuations in global climate. The use of the progenitor species of wheat and also its wild relatives uniquely provides a route to vastly increase the genetic variation available to wheat breeders for the development of new, superior wheat varieties. The introduction of genetic variation from the wild relatives of wheat in the form of introduced chromosome segments or introgressions, has taken place for hundreds of years, albeit largely unintentionally in farmers’ fields. However, the use of the wild relatives became more systematic from the 1950s onwards. The work has previously been hampered due to a lack of technology for the identification and characterisation of the introgressions and consequently the strategic use of the wild relatives. The advances in molecular biology over recent years now make it possible to generate wheat/wild relative introgressions on a scale not previously possible. In fact, the greatest threat to this area of work is now the lack of scientists/breeders with the understanding of chromosomes and their manipulation.
Heat and Climate Change Mitigation
Authors: Hays Dirk B. , Barrios-Perez Ilse , Camarillo-Castillo Fatima
Published: June 2022

High temperature stress is a primary constraint to maximal yield in wheat, as in nearly all cultivated crops. High temperature stress occurs in varied ecoregions where wheat is cultivated, as either a daily chronic metabolic stress or as an acute episodic high heat shock during critical periods of reproductive development. This chapter focuses on defining the key biochemical processes regulating a plant’s response to heat stress while highlighting and defining strategies to mitigate stress and stabilize maximal yield during high temperature conditions. It will weigh the advantages and disadvantages of heat stress adaptive trait breeding strategies versus simpler integrated phenotypic selection strategies. Novel remote sensing and marker-assisted selection strategies that can be employed to combine multiple heat stress tolerant adaptive traits will be discussed in terms of their efficacy. In addition, this chapter will explore how wheat can be re-envisioned, not only as a staple food, but also as a critical opportunity to reverse climate change through unique subsurface roots and rhizomes that greatly increase wheat’s carbon sequestration.
Drought
Authors: Richards Richard A.
Published: June 2022

Established breeding methods for wheat in dry environments continue to make gains. It will remain the cornerstone for wheat improvement. This Chapter discusses proven methods to make additional gains. It discusses a way to benchmark yield potential in dry environments and how this can be used to determine whether unexpected agronomic or genetic factors are limiting yields. It examines opportunities, advantages and disadvantages of trait-based selection methods for dry environments, and it presents a framework by which important traits can be selected. Both high throughput and marker-based methods of selection are examined for their success and feasibility of use in breeding. It also highlights the importance of agronomic approaches in combination with breeding to continue to improve yield potential in water limited environments. Finally, the elements of success of translation from research to the delivery of new varieties is examined.
High Throughput Field Phenotyping
Authors: Araus Jose Luis , Buchaillot Maria Luisa , Kefauver Shawn C.
Published: June 2022

The chapter aims to provide guidance on how phenotyping may contribute to the genetic advance of wheat in terms of yield potential and resilience to adverse conditions. Emphasis will be given to field high throughput phenotyping, including affordable solutions, together with the need for environmental and spatial characterization. Different remote sensing techniques and platforms are presented, while concerning lab techniques only a well proven trait, such as carbon isotope composition, is included. Finally, data integration and its implementation in practice is discussed. In that sense and considering the physiological determinants of wheat yield that are amenable for indirect selection, we highlight stomatal conductance and stay green as key observations. This choice of traits and phenotyping techniques is based on results from a large set of retrospective and other physiological studies that have proven the value of these traits together with the highlighted phenotypical approaches.
Application of CRISPR-Cas-Based Genome Editing for Precision Breeding in Wheat
Authors: Wang Wei , Akhunov Eduard
Published: June 2022

Wheat improvement relies on genetic diversity associated with variation in target traits. While traditionally the main sources of novel genetic diversity for breeding are wheat varieties or various wild relatives of wheat, advances in gene mapping and genome editing technologies provide an opportunity for engineering new variants of genes that could have beneficial effect on agronomic traits. Here, we provide the overview of the genome editing technologies and their application to creating targeted variation in genes that could enhance wheat productivity. We discuss the potential utility of the genome editing technologies and CRISPR-Cas-induced variation incorporated into the pre-breeding pipelines for wheat improvement.
Improving Wheat Production and Breeding Strategies Using Crop Models
Authors: Guarin Jose Rafael , Asseng Senthold
Published: June 2022

Crop simulation models are robust tools that enable users to better understand crop growth and development in various agronomic systems for improved decision making regarding agricultural productivity, environmental sustainability, and breeding. Crop models can simulate many agronomic treatments across a wide range of spatial and temporal scales, allowing for improved agricultural management practices, climate change impact assessment, and development of breeding strategies. This chapter examines current applications of wheat crop models and explores the benefits from model improvement and future trends, such as integration of G × E × M and genotype-to-phenotype interactions into modeling processes, to improve wheat (Triticum spp.) production and adaptation strategies for agronomists, breeders, farmers, and policymakers.
Wheat Rusts: Current Status, Prospects of Genetic Control and Integrated Approaches to Enhance Resistance Durability
Authors: Bhavani Sridhar , Singh Ravi P. , Hodson David P. , Huerta-Espino Julio , Randhawa Mandeep Singh
Published: June 2022

The three rusts are the most damaging diseases of wheat worldwide and continue to pose a threat to global food security. In the recent decades, stem rust races belonging to the Ug99 (TTKSK) and Digalu (TKTTF) race group resurfaced as a major threat in Africa, the Middle East and Europe threatening global wheat production. In addition, the evolution and migration of new aggressive races of yellow rust adapted to warmer temperatures into Europe and Asia from Himalayan region are becoming a significant risk in several wheat production environments. Unique and complex virulence patterns, continuous evolution to overcome effective resistance genes in varieties, shifts in population dynamics, transboundary migration have resulted in localized/regional epidemics leading to food insecurity threats. This underscores the need to identify, characterize, and deploy effective rust resistant genes from diverse sources into pre-breeding lines and future wheat varieties. The use of genetic resistance and deployment of multiple race specific and pleiotropic adult plant resistance genes in wheat lines can enhance resistance durability. Recent advances in sequencing annotated wheat reference genome with a detailed analysis of gene content among sub-genomes will not only accelerate our understanding of the genetic basis of rust resistance bread wheat, at the same time wheat breeders can now use this information to identify genes conferring rust resistance. Progress in genetic mapping techniques, new cloning techniques and wheat transformation methods over the last two decades have not only resulted in characterizing new genes and loci but also facilitated rapid cloning and stacking multiple genes as gene cassettes which can be future solution for enhancing durable resistance.
Globally Important Non-rust Diseases of Wheat
Authors: He Xinyao , Gahtyari Navin C. , Roy Chandan , Dababat Abdelfattah A. , Brar Gurcharn Singh , Singh Pawan Kumar
Published: June 2022

While the three rusts are the most predominant wheat diseases in the global scale, various other diseases dominate in different geographical regions. In this chapter, some major non-rust diseases of wheat with global and/or regional economic importance are addressed, including three spike diseases (Fusarium head blight, wheat blast, and Karnal bunt), four leaf spotting diseases (tan spot, Septoria nodorum blotch, spot blotch, and Septoria tritici blotch), and several root diseases.
Introduction
Authors: Guney Gizem , Davies David , Lee Po-Han
Published: June 2022

This book is the product of an international and interdisciplinary conference that was held at the University of Sussex, UK, in 2018. The primary aim of the conference was to have a closer look at the reasons and impacts of numerous problematic legislation and policies that have been adopted across the world over the last decade and which had a destabilising effect on gender equality and justice. There have been some notable examples in this regard: Poland has reintroduced restriction on women’s right to abortion in 2020 (Calkin & Kaminska, 2020); the debate over the so-called foetal “heartbeat” bills in Taiwan (Liu, 2020) and the ephemeral unconstitutional anti-abortion state laws have been heated in the US and internationally since 2019 (Bakst, 2019; Evans & Narasimhan, 2020); Russia has partially decriminalised domestic violence in 2016, despite the outcry from activists and victims (Semukhina, 2020). As a pandemic swept Europe (Kuhar & Paternotte, 2017), the mobilisation of “anti-gender”, anti-feminist and misogynist discourse in the political and policy domains has its global resonance in, for instance, Brazil (Hunter & Power, 2019), India (Rothermel, 2020) and South Korea (Kim, 2021). In this light, it would not be an exaggeration to contend that the last decade marks a global crisis of gender equality.
The higher-dimensional origin of five-dimensional $$ \mathcal{N} $$ = 2 gauged supergravities
Authors: Josse Grégoire , Malek Emanuel , Petrini Michela , Waldram Daniel
Published: June 2022

Abstract

Using exceptional generalised geometry, we classify which five-dimensional $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= 2 gauged supergravities can arise as a consistent truncation of 10-/11-dimensional supergravity. Exceptional generalised geometry turns the classification into an algebraic problem of finding subgroups GS ⊂ USp(8) ⊂ E6(6) that preserve exactly two spinors. Moreover, the intrinsic torsion of the GS structure must contain only constant singlets under GS, and these, in turn, determine the gauging of the five-dimensional theory. The resulting five-dimensional theories are strongly constrained: their scalar manifolds are necessarily symmetric spaces and only a small number of matter multiplets can be kept, which we completely enumerate. We also determine the largest reductive and compact gaugings that can arise from consistent truncations.
Asymptotic critical behavior of holographic superconductor phase transition — the spectrum of excited states becomes continuous at T = 0
Authors: Nguyen Toan T. , Phat Tran Huu
Published: June 2022

Abstract

Within the framework of AdS/CFT duality, excited states of the conformal field living at the global AdS boundary of a four-dimensional spacetime Einstein gravity are investigated analytically in the probe limit where the field equations are linearized. At asymptotically large values, the threshold chemical potential for the appearance of excited condensate states are discrete, equal spacing, with the gap approaches zero logarithmically in the limit T → 0. Remarkably, numerical results show that, this behavior applies even for states as low as for the first or the second excited state of the condensate. This is especially significant on the liquid side of the black hole van der Waals-like phase transition (small or zero topological charge) where there seems to be no gap between the ground state and the first excited state at zero temperature. We postulate that, at the exact limit T = 0 where the gap is zero, the spectrum of threshold chemical potentials becomes continuous, all excited states of the condensate are activated above a finite chemical potential, suggesting a new quantum phase transition as a function of the chemical potential. Previous studies have largely missed this continuous spectrum of excited states in the T → 0 limit. This fact should be taken into account carefully in AdS/CFT duality studies.
Insulin-degrading enzyme ablation in mouse pancreatic alpha cells triggers cell proliferation, hyperplasia and glucagon secretion dysregulation
Authors: Merino Beatriz , Casanueva-Álvarez Elena , Quesada Iván , González-Casimiro Carlos M. , Fernández-Díaz Cristina M. , Postigo-Casado Tamara , Leissring Malcolm A. , Kaestner Klaus H. , Perdomo Germán , Cózar-Castellano Irene
Published: June 2022

Aims/hypothesis

Type 2 diabetes is characterised by hyperglucagonaemia and perturbed function of pancreatic glucagon-secreting alpha cells but the molecular mechanisms contributing to these phenotypes are poorly understood. Insulin-degrading enzyme (IDE) is present within all islet cells, mostly in alpha cells, in both mice and humans. Furthermore, IDE can degrade glucagon as well as insulin, suggesting that IDE may play an important role in alpha cell function in vivo.

Methods

We have generated and characterised a novel mouse model with alpha cell-specific deletion of Ide, the A-IDE-KO mouse line. Glucose metabolism and glucagon secretion in vivo was characterised; isolated islets were tested for glucagon and insulin secretion; alpha cell mass, alpha cell proliferation and α-synuclein levels were determined in pancreas sections by immunostaining.

Results

Targeted deletion of Ide exclusively in alpha cells triggers hyperglucagonaemia and alpha cell hyperplasia, resulting in elevated constitutive glucagon secretion. The hyperglucagonaemia is attributable in part to dysregulation of glucagon secretion, specifically an impaired ability of IDE-deficient alpha cells to suppress glucagon release in the presence of high glucose or insulin. IDE deficiency also leads to α-synuclein aggregation in alpha cells, which may contribute to impaired glucagon secretion via cytoskeletal dysfunction. We showed further that IDE deficiency triggers impairments in cilia formation, inducing alpha cell hyperplasia and possibly also contributing to dysregulated glucagon secretion and hyperglucagonaemia.

Conclusions/interpretation

We propose that loss of IDE function in alpha cells contributes to hyperglucagonaemia in type 2 diabetes.

Graphical abstract
Simultaneous quantification of eight hemoglobin adducts of genotoxic substances by isotope-dilution UHPLC-MS/MS
Authors: Gauch Fabian , Abraham Klaus , Monien Bernhard H.
Published: June 2022

Various genotoxic carcinogens ubiquitously present in the human environment or respective reactive metabolites form adducts in DNA and proteins, which can be used as biomarkers of internal exposure. For example, the mass spectrometric determination of Val adducts at the N-termini of hemoglobin (Hb) peptide chains after cleavage by an Edman degradation has a long tradition in occupational medicine. We developed a novel isotope-dilution UHPLC-MS/MS method for the simultaneous quantification of Val adducts of eight genotoxic substances in Hb after cleavage with fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate (FIRE procedure™). The following adducts were included [sources in square brackets]: N-(2,3-dihydroxypropyl)-Val [glycidol], N-(2-carbamoylethyl)-Val [acrylamide], N-(2-carbamoyl-2-hydroxyethyl)-Val [glycidamide], N-((furan-2-yl)methyl)-Val [furfuryl alcohol], N-(trans-isoestragole-3′-yl)-Val [estragole/anethole], N-(3-ketopentyl)-Val [1-penten-3-one], N-(3-ketooctanyl)-Val [1-octene-3-one], and N-benzyl-Val [benzyl chloride], each of which was quantified with a specific isotope-labeled standard. The limits of quantification were between 0.014 and 3.6 pmol/g Hb (using 35 mg Hb per analysis); other validation parameters were satisfactory according to guidelines of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The quantification in erythrocyte samples of human adults (proof of principle) showed that the median levels of Hb adducts of acrylamide, glycidamide, and glycidol were found to be significantly lower in six non-smokers (25.9, 12.2, and 4.7 pmol/g Hb, respectively) compared to those of six smokers (69.0, 44.2, and 8.6 pmol/g Hb, respectively). In summary, the method surpasses former techniques of Hb adduct quantification due to its simplicity, sensitivity, and accuracy. It can be extended continuously with other Hb adducts and will be used in epidemiological studies on internal exposure to carcinogens.

Graphical abstract
Correction to: Efficacy and safety of catheter ablation for Brugada syndrome: an updated systematic review
Authors: Kotake Yasuhito , Barua Sumita , Kazi Samia , Virk Sohaib , Bhaskaran Ashwin , Campbell Timothy , Bennett Richard G. , Kumar Saurabh
Published: June 2022

The original article has been corrected.
Visual perception and macular integrity in non-classical CLN2 disease
Authors: Atiskova Yevgeniya , Wildner Jan , Wibbeler Eva , Nickel Miriam , Spitzer Martin Stephan , Schwering Christoph , Schulz Angela , Dulz Simon
Published: June 2022

Purpose

Patients with CLN2 suffer from epileptic seizures, rapid psychomotor decline and vision loss in early childhood. The aim of the study was to provide longitudinal ophthalmic data of patients with confirmed genetic mutation and non-classical disease course, marked by later onset, protracted progression and prolonged life span.

Methods

Prospective, observational study to assess visual acuity, retinal features (Weil Cornell Ophthalmic Score), central retinal thickness (CRT) measured by optical coherence tomography and general disease progression (Hamburg CLN2 motor language score) in non-classical CLN2 patients.

Results

All patients received intracerebroventricular enzyme replacement therapy with cerliponase alfa. Mean age at last follow-up was 12.4 years; mean follow-up time 2.6 years. All cases demonstrated a stable Hamburg motor language CLN2 Score and Weill Cornell LINCL Ophthalmic Severity Score. Visual function remained stable in 4/6 patients, 2/6 patients showed a decrease, 4/6 cases had a stable CRT and 2/6 showed a reduction of CRT. One patient showed a massive macular thinning and low vision. A correlation with a specific mutation or age could not be verified.

Discussion

The presented longitudinal study characterizes the variable ocular involvement in non-classical CLN2 disease and contributes to the natural history description. The functional and morphologic data outline the necessity of regular ophthalmic examination.

Summary statement

Ocular phenotyping and description of retinal degeneration in non-classical CLN2 disease.
Intravitreal aflibercept for diabetic macular edema in real-world clinical practice in Japan: 24-month outcomes
Authors: Sugimoto Masahiko , Handa Chiharu , Hirano Kazufumi , Sunaya Toshiyuki , Kondo Mineo
Published: June 2022

Purpose

To report the safety and effectiveness of intravitreal aflibercept (IVT-AFL) for diabetic macular edema (DME) in the real-world clinical practice setting in Japan.

Methods

In this prospective, multicenter, observational, post-marketing surveillance, patients with DME newly receiving IVT-AFL were enrolled. During a 24-month follow-up, the primary outcome was the occurrence of safety events. Other pre-specified endpoints were effectiveness indicators, such as best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central retinal thickness, and injection frequency.

Results

In total, 646 patients administered at least one IVT-AFL injection were included in the safety analysis. During the follow-up period, adverse events occurred in 42 patients (6.50%), whereas adverse drug reactions occurred in 12 (1.86%). In the 12 patients who had adverse drug reactions, seven events occurred in seven patients within the first month of the most recent injection. In addition, 622 patients were included in the effectiveness analysis set. The number of injections over 24 months was 3.6 ± 3.0 (mean ± standard deviation [SD]). BCVA (logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution) was 0.437 ± 0.362 (mean ± SD) (n = 622) at baseline and 0.321 ± 0.348 (n = 177) after 24 months of treatment with IVT-AFL. Central retinal thickness was 440.8 ± 134.2 μm (mean ± SD) (n = 444) at baseline and 355.5 ± 126.4 μm (n = 140) at 24 months.

Conclusion

Routine administration of IVT-AFL for DME was not associated with new safety concerns, and BCVA outcomes were maintained over 24 months in the real-world setting. Nonetheless, patients in this real-world setting received fewer injections than those in clinical trials, suggesting that a margin for improvement exists in clinical practice.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02425501.
The influence of summer closure on serious postoperative complications in bariatric surgery
Authors: Fall Johanna , Sundbom Magnus , Stenberg Erik
Published: June 2022

Introduction

Bariatric surgery is an effective method of treating obesity, with gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy being the most common techniques used worldwide. Despite the technical challenges in these methods, little is known about the effects of summer closure on the incidence of serious postoperative complications in surgeries performed shortly after summer vacation. This has therefore been studied in our large cohort.

Materials and methods

A retrospective cohort study based on data from the Scandinavian Obesity Surgery Registry was conducted. Patients who underwent a primary gastric bypass or sleeve gastrectomy operation between 2010 and 2019 were included. The rate of serious complications within 30 days after surgery for patients who underwent surgery the first month after summer closure was compared to those who underwent surgery during the rest of the year using the χ2 test and adjusted logistic regression.

Results

The study included 42,404 patients, 36,094 of whom underwent gastric bypass and 6310 of whom received sleeve gastrectomy. Summer closure was associated with an increased risk for serious postoperative complications in gastric bypass surgery (adjusted odds ratio (adj-OR) = 1.17; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.01–1.36). No statistically significant association was seen for sleeve gastrectomy (adj-OR = 1.17; 95% CI: 0.72–1.91), nor in overall complication rate.

Conclusions

Summer closure increases the risk of serious postoperative complications in gastric bypass surgery. No statistically significant association was found for sleeve gastrectomy surgery.
Mixed lymphocytic and collagenous inflammation of the entire gastrointestinal tract under therapy with serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors
Authors: Varelas Ana I. , Fürst Stefan , Langner Cord
Published: June 2022

Drug-induced injury to the gastrointestinal tract has gained growing significance in recent years, and the list of causative medications keeps expanding. Herein, we present the case of a 45-year-old female with major depressive disorder treated with two serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (venlafaxine and duloxetine). She developed nausea and weight loss. Endoscopic evaluation of the upper and lower gastrointestinal tract rendered grossly normal mucosa in all segments. Histological examination, however, revealed lymphocytic esophagitis, collagenous gastritis, celiac disease-like intraepithelial lymphocytosis of the duodenum, and incomplete collagenous colitis. Gastrointestinal side effects of psychoactive drugs are largely underrecognized. This is the first report of a mixed lymphocytic and collagenous pattern of injury affecting esophagus, stomach, duodenum, and colon triggered by combined treatment with venlafaxine and duloxetine. In patients with unclear symptoms, obtaining biopsies from mucosa that is normal upon endoscopic inspection may render decisive clues for clinical management.
Multi-physical modeling and numerical simulation of the thermo-hygro-mechanical treatment of wood
Authors: Fleischhauer Robert , Kaliske Michael
Published: June 2022

The contribution at hand introduces computational modeling and realistic simulation concepts for a comprehensive description of the manufacturing and application of densified wood and wooden structures made from molded densified wood. Wood, as a natural material, is characterized by e.g. a very good mechanical load-bearing capacity related to its density. Nevertheless, the ratio between its mechanical properties and its density can be optimized by densification technology for an expanded use of wood in structural engineering. The wood densification process is not only a mechanical process with large and irreversible deformations, it is also denoted by temperature- and moisture-dependent treatments of the wooden specimens. Thus, the introduced approaches to predict the material and structural characteristics of compressed and molded wood consist of an inelastic and multi-physical constitutive modeling of wood at finite deformations as well as the computation of effective structural properties of wood after the thermo-hygro-mechanical densification process. A successful implementation of the modeling concepts into the finite element method (FEM) is presented, which is verified by numerical investigations. A validation of the numerical results is carried out by use of experimental data at beech wood (Fagus Sylvatica, L.), taken from literature.
Unified landslide hazard assessment using hurdle models: a case study in the Island of Dominica
Authors: Bryce Erin , Lombardo Luigi , van Westen Cees , Tanyas Hakan , Castro-Camilo Daniela
Published: June 2022

Climatically-induced natural hazards are a threat to communities. They can cause life losses and heavy damage to infrastructure, and due to climate change, they have become increasingly frequent. This is especially the case in tropical regions, where major hurricanes have consistently appeared in recent history. Such events induce damage due to the high wind speed they carry, and the high intensity/duration of rainfall they discharge can further induce a chain of hydro-morphological hazards in the form of widespread debris slides/flows. The way the scientific community has developed preparatory steps to mitigate the potential damage of these hydro-morphological threats includes assessing where they are likely to manifest across a given landscape. This concept is referred to as susceptibility, and it is commonly achieved by implementing binary classifiers to estimate probabilities of landslide occurrences. However, predicting where landslides can occur may not be sufficient information, for it fails to convey how large landslides may be. This work proposes using a flexible Bernoulli-log-Gaussian hurdle model to simultaneously model landslide occurrence and size per areal unit. Covariate and spatial information are introduced using a generalised additive modelling framework. To cope with the high spatial resolution of the data, our model uses a Markovian representation of the Matérn covariance function based on the stochastic partial differential equation approach. Assuming Gaussian priors, our model can be integrated into the class of latent Gaussian models, for which inference is conveniently performed based on the integrated nested Laplace approximation method. We use our modelling approach in Dominica, where hurricane Maria (September 2017) induced thousands of shallow flow-like landslides passing over the island. Our results show that we can not only estimate where landslides may occur and how large they may be, but we can also combine this information in a unified landslide hazard model, which is the first of its kind.
The effect of aerobic exercise on tumour blood delivery: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Seet-Lee Catherine , Yee Jasmine , Morahan Heidi , Ross Lois S. , Edwards Kate M.
Published: June 2022

Purpose

Tumour blood vessels are structurally and functionally abnormal, resulting in areas of hypoxia and heterogeneous blood supply. Aerobic exercise may modulate tumour blood flow and normalise the tumour microenvironment to improve chemotherapy delivery. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effect of the aerobic exercise mode on tumour hypoxia, vascularisation and blood flow.

Methods

Four online databases were searched. Preclinical and clinical randomised controlled trials examining the effects of aerobic exercise training on hypoxia, vascularisation or blood flow in solid tumours were included. The risk of bias was assessed and a meta-analysis performed.

Results

Seventeen preclinical studies and one clinical study met criteria. Eleven studies assessed hypoxia, 15 studies assessed vascularisation and seven evaluated blood flow. There was large variability in measurement methods, tumour types and exercise program designs. The overall risk of bias was unclear in clinical and preclinical studies, owing to poor reporting. There was no significant effect of aerobic exercise on hypoxia (SMD = −0.17; 95% CI = −0.62, 0.28; I2 = 60%), vascularisation (SMD = 0.07; 95% CI = −0.40, 0.55; I2 = 71%) or blood flow (SMD = 0.01; 95% CI = −0.59, 0.61; I2 = 63%).

Conclusion

There is heterogeneity in methodology, resulting in evidence that is inconsistent and inconclusive for the effects of aerobic exercise on hypoxia, vascularisation and blood flow. Most evidence of aerobic exercise effects on tumour blood flow is in animal models, with very limited evidence in humans.
Mobilität auf dem Klimaprüfstand: Bahnverkehr
Authors: Eisenkopf Alexander
Published: June 2022

Im Zuge der politisch und gesellschaftlich propagierten „Verkehrs- und Klimawende“ wird der Stärkung des Schienenverkehrs in Deutschland eine zunehmend wichtigere Rolle beigemessen. Mit der Coronakrise ist die Klimadebatte zwar zwischenzeitlich etwas aus den Schlagzeilen verschwunden; es ist jedoch davon auszugehen, dass sie spätestens nach dem Ende der Pandemie mit zunehmender Intensität fortgeführt werden und auch in der Verkehrspolitik zu entsprechenden Weichenstellungen führen wird.
Die große Zeit des Autos kommt erst
Authors: Dudenhöffer Ferdinand
Published: June 2022

Der Bestand an Pkw steigt stetig an. Die Nachfrage nach individueller Mobilität ist somit hoch und nimmt weiter zu. Die Herausforderung ist, das Auto klimaneutral zu gestalten. Vollelektrische Autos spielen hier eine zentrale Rolle. Dabei darf der Strombedarf nicht unterschätzt und muss für die Zukunft sichergestellt werden. Daneben wird das autonom fahrende Fahrzeug an Bedeutung gewinnen. China ist hier bereits Vorreiter. Deutschland kann von China lernen, sodass auch künftig das Auto das wichtigste Verkehrsmittel sein wird.
Cooperative Carbon Alliances: Defining an Agenda for Global Industrial Decarbonisation
Authors: Shawkat Aylin , Sartor Oliver
Published: June 2022

There have been several recent proposals for cooperative climate alliances, from the OECD, the IMF, the World Trade Organization (WTO), the German Government, and others. The “Climate Club” concept comprises many different possible regimes and intents. They range from so-called transformational clubs (which incentivise membership and penalise non-members), to looser joint agreements on ambition level for climate action, such as the UN’s Net-Zero Coalition. Given this option, there is not yet any agreement on how to design such a “club”, or its aims, rules, or scope of membership.
Impact of extreme rainfall events on landslide activity in Portugal under climate change scenarios
Authors: Araújo Joana R. , Ramos Alexandre M. , Soares Pedro M. M. , Melo Raquel , Oliveira Sérgio C. , Trigo Ricardo M.
Published: June 2022

Rainfall is considered the most important physical process for landslide triggering in Portugal. It is expected that changes in the precipitation regimes in the region, as a direct consequence of climate change, will have influence in the occurrence of extreme rainfall events that will be more frequently, throughout the century. The aim of this study relied on the assessment of the projected future changes in the extreme precipitation over Portugal mainland and quantifying the correlation between extreme rainfall events and landslide events through Rainfall Triggering Thresholds (RTTs). This methodology was applied for two specific locations within two Portuguese areas of great geomorphological interest. To analyze the past frequency of landslide events, we resorted to the DISASTER database. To evaluate the possible projected changes in the extreme precipitation, we used the Iberia02 dataset and the EURO-CORDEX models’ runs at a 0.11° spatial resolution. It was analyzed the models’ performance to simulate extreme values in the precipitation series. The simulated precipitation relied on RCM-GCM models’ runs, from EURO-CORDEX, and a multimodel ensemble mean. The extreme precipitation assessment relied on the values associated to the highest percentiles, and to the values associated to the RTTs’ percentiles. To evaluate the possible future changes of the precipitation series, both at the most representative percentiles and RTTs’ percentiles, a comparison was made between the simulated values from EURO-CORDEX historical runs (1971–2000) and the simulated values from EURO-CORDEX future runs (2071–2100), considering two concentration scenarios: RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5. In the models’ performance, the multimodel ensemble mean appeared to be within the best representing models. As for the projected changes in the extreme precipitation for the end of the century, when following the RCP 4.5 scenario, most models projected an increase in the extreme values, whereas, when following the RCP 8.5 scenario, most models projected a decrease in the extreme values.
VR in Nursing Facilities - A randomized controlled multicenter pilot study analyzing the changes in the state of mind of seniors in nursing facilities through the viewing of 360° videos
Authors: Gruber Sina-Sophia , Weigel Andreas , Tischendorf Tim , Schaal Tom , Hellbach Sven
Published: June 2022

Context

VR as an application to enhance well-being is sparsely researched in the elderly population. The aim of the pilot study was to analyze the effect of 360° videos of different categories on the state of mind of seniors in nursing facilities. Furthermore, for the implementation in everyday life, the usability of the system and the experience for seniors should be evaluated.

Methods

The VR experience was used as a supplement to existing care services in three facilities on eight subjects. Mood state was assessed using the Questionnaire for the Assessment of Happiness before and after the intervention. Demographic data and technology acceptance were collected beforehand. After the intervention, subjects were interviewed about confounding factors and side effects, and nursing home staff were interviewed about the usability of the system and the organizational concept of implementation.

Results

There was a positive effect on state of mind. Gender and spatial mobility turned out to be influencing factors. Categories containing people, animals and action achieved the highest increases in the state of mind. Interest in using technical devices correlated negatively with the change in mood state. None of the subjects found the VR goggles distracting or reported motion sickness. Very good usability was indicated by the employees.

Conclusion

A very high willingness to use this technology was found among nursing staff and residents. The tendencies of the positive effect of 360° videos on the state of mind, as well as differentiation based on the mentioned characteristics gender and spatial mobility, should be verified by a larger sample to empirically validate the use of this technology to increase the quality of life.