bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The use of virtual reality in assessment and treatment of anxiety and related disorders
Authors: Meyerbröker Katharina , Morina Nexhmedin
Published: June 2021

In recent years the development of new virtual environments has been qualitatively high and fast at the same time, but the dissemination of virtual reality (VR) in clinical practice is still scarce. The aim of this review is to give an insight into the state of the art of the use of VR as an assessment tool and treatment intervention in anxiety and related disorders as posttraumatic stress disorder and obsessive–compulsive disorders.

Besides an overview into the efficacy of VR, a summary will be given on assumed working mechanisms in virtual reality exposure therapy and how this aligns with current theoretical models. Further, it will be discussed how VR is accepted by patients and research into the reluctance of therapist to use this technology during treatment with focus on the therapeutic alliance and how it may be influenced by the use of VR. Finally, we discuss clinical and future issues as, for example, dissemination into clinical practice and what VR has to offer therapists in future. This not only in adult population but as well in younger patients, as young adolescents VR has a great potential as it connects easily with its playful elements to this population and might be a low threshold step to offer treatment or preventive interventions.
A dual‐power‐path charge pump for solar‐energy harvesting
Authors: Mui Tin Wai , Yang Jianxin , Lin Yajun , Zhou Yong , Zheng Yanqi , Guo Jianping , Leung Ka Nang
Published: June 2021

A 5‐stage linear charge pump with dual power paths for solar‐energy harvesting, implemented in a standard CMOS 180‐nm technology, is proposed. The dual power paths are implemented by normal‐VTH and low‐VTH MOSFETs. The low‐VTH MOSFET path reduces the minimum input voltage to 132.5 mV under no‐load condition, and another path formed by both low‐VTH and normal‐VTH MOSFETs achieves output current up to 11 mA at 0.3 V supply. With proposed arrangement of normal‐VTH and low‐VTH MOSFETs, reversion loss due to the leakage current of low‐VTH MOSFETs in off‐state is minimized to achieve peak power‐conversion efficiency of 85%.
Tgf‐βsuperfamily and limb regeneration:Tgf‐βto start andBmpto end
Authors: Sader Fadi , Roy Stéphane
Published: June 2021

Axolotls represent a popular model to study how nature solved the problem of regenerating lost appendages in tetrapods. Our work over many years focused on trying to understand how these animals can achieve such a feat and not end up with a scarred up stump. TheTgf‐βsuperfamily represents an interesting family to target since they are involved in wound healing in adults and pattern formation during development. This family is large and comprisesTgf‐β,Bmps,activinsandGDFs. In this review, we present work from us and others onTgf‐β&Bmpsand highlight interesting observations between these two sub‐families.Tgf‐βis important for the preparation phase of regeneration andBmpsfor the redevelopment phase and they do not overlap with one another. We present novel data showing that theTgf‐βnon‐canonical pathway is also not active during redevelopment. Finally, we propose a molecular model to explain howTgf‐βandBmpsmaintain distinct windows of expression during regeneration in axolotls.
Isotopic niche variation in Tasmanian devils Sarcophilus harrisii with progression of devil facial tumor disease
Authors: Bell Olivia , Jones Menna E. , Cunningham Calum X. , Ruiz‐Aravena Manuel , Hamilton David G. , Comte Sebastien , Hamede Rodrigo K. , Bearhop Stuart , McDonald Robbie A.
Published: June 2021

Devil facial tumor disease (DFTD) is a transmissible cancer affecting Tasmanian devils Sarcophilus harrisii. The disease has caused severe population declines and is associated with demographic and behavioral changes, including earlier breeding, younger age structures, and reduced dispersal and social interactions. Devils are generally solitary, but social encounters are commonplace when feeding upon large carcasses. DFTD tumors can disfigure the jaw and mouth and so diseased individuals might alter their diets to enable ingestion of alternative foods, to avoid conspecific interactions, or to reduce competition. Using stable isotope analysis (δ13C and δ15N) of whiskers, we tested whether DFTD progression, measured as tumor volume, affected the isotope ratios and isotopic niches of 94 infected Tasmanian devils from six sites in Tasmania, comprising four eucalypt plantations, an area of smallholdings and a national park. Then, using tissue from 10 devils sampled before and after detection of tumors and 8 devils where no tumors were detected, we examined whether mean and standard deviation of δ13C and δ15N of the same individuals changed between healthy and diseased states. δ13C and δ15N values were generally not related to tumor volume in infected devils, though at one site, Freycinet National Park, δ15N values increased significantly as tumor volume increased. Infection with DFTD was not associated with significant changes in the mean or standard deviation of δ13C and δ15N values in individual devils sampled before and after detection of tumors. Our analysis suggests that devils tend to maintain their isotopic niche in the face of DFTD infection and progression, except where ecological conditions facilitate a shift in diets and feeding behaviors, demonstrating that ecological context, alongside disease severity, can modulate the behavioral responses of Tasmanian devils to DFTD.
Females and males respond differently to calls impaired by noise in a tree frog
Authors: Zhang Haodi , Zhu Bicheng , Zhou Ya , He Qiaoling , Sun Xiaoqian , Wang Jichao , Cui Jianguo
Published: June 2021

Both human and nonhuman animals communicating acoustically face the problem of noise interference, especially anurans during mating activities. Previous studies concentrated on the effect of continuous noise on signal recognition, but it is still unknown whether different notes in advertisement calls impaired by noise affect female choice and male–male competition or not. In this study, we tested female preferences and male‐evoked vocal responses in serrate‐legged small tree frog (Kurixalus odontotarsus), by broadcasting the five‐note advertisement call and the advertisement call with the second, third, or fourth note replaced by noise, respectively. In phonotaxis experiments, females significantly discriminated against the advertisement call with the fourth note impaired by noise, although they did not discriminate against other two calls impaired by noise, which indicates that the negative effect of noise on female preference is related to the order of impaired notes in the advertisement call. In playback experiments, males increased the total number of notes in response to noise‐impaired calls compared with spontaneous calls. More interestingly, the vocal responses evoked by noise‐impaired calls were generally similar to those evoked by complete advertisement calls, suggesting that males may recognize the noise‐impaired calls as complete advertisement calls. Taken together, our study shows that different notes in advertisement calls replaced by noise have distinct effects on female choice and male–male competition.
Parental perception of FIRES outcomes, emotional states, and social media usage
Authors: Farias‐Moeller Raquel , Wood Alexandra , Sawdy Rachel , Koop Jennifer , Olson Krisjon , van Baalen Andreas
Published: June 2021

Objective

To investigate parental perception of FIRES outcomes, assess emotional states and related social media usage.

Methods

A survey‐based study of parents of children with FIRES participating in a FIRES‐specific Facebook group was performed. The survey collected information on medical aspects of their child's course in the acute, subacute, and chronic periods, emotional states, and social media usage. Child outcome was assessed utilizing the pediatric extended Glasgow outcome scale (GOS‐E). Parental emotional states were assessed utilizing the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS). Descriptive statistics were performed. Associations were described using the Spearman rank correlation. Open‐ended questions were included. Thematic analysis was performed.

Results

Twenty‐nine surveys were analyzed. All children were in the chronic phase at time of survey response, except for two who died. Mothers answered 22 surveys, and fathers answered seven. Median age at FIRES presentation was 5.6 years [IQR 4.2‐8.95], with a median number of 3 seizures per week [IQR 0‐10, range 0‐50], 4 daily anti‐seizure medicines [IQR 3‐5], and chronic GOS‐E of 6 [IQR 2‐8 range 2‐8]. Most parents reported none to mild levels of depression, anxiety, and stress. Higher seizure burden positively correlated with parental depression symptoms (r = .41 (95% CI 0.01, 0.70), P = .045). Most parents found social media helpful with coping and 96% desired FIRES research advertised. Twenty‐five parents shared their recommendations to fellow parents and the medical team in an open‐ended format. Themes included support, expertise, and medical advice.

Significance

Despite their children's significantly impaired functional outcome after FIRES and high rates of medically refractory epilepsy, the cohort demonstrated remarkable emotional resilience. They perceive social media as beneficial, are interested in social media‐advertised research, and share valuable advice. Social media may serve as an introductory platform to enhance the physician‐scientist‐parent/patient relationship.
Secure and efficient data storage and sharing scheme for blockchain‐based mobile‐edge computing
Authors: Zhang Lejun , Peng Minghui , Wang Weizheng , Jin Zilong , Su Yansen , Chen Huiling
Published: June 2021

With the rapid development of Internet of Things (IoT) technology, IoT devices have been widely used to collect physiological health data and provide diversified services to the terminal users. However, traditional data storage and sharing scheme cloud computing based in IoT face many challenges. For example, IoT devices are usually resource‐constrained (storage, computing power, battery capacity, etc.), data signed by IoT devices to ensure data integrity and authenticity will consume a lot of computing resources of IoT devices. At the same time, there is the challenge of high latency and unsafe data storage and sharing. To overcome these challenges, we propose a secure and efficient data storage and sharing scheme for blockchain‐based mobile‐edge computing. In our scheme, we construct the unique signature private key in a region into multiple key shares. IoT devices only need to submit the data and the random key shares allocated to the edge node. Edge node uses the recovered signature private key to realize data signature and homomorphic encryption. At the same time, the edge node will process timely data and return to the user. For data that need to be uploaded to the cloud for analysis, we use backup uploads to avoid data floods. Through experiments, it was found that our scheme can not only realize low‐latency message response for the terminal users, but also realize anonymous identity verification while ensuring data integrity and authenticity. The key shares of the signature private key are stored in different blocks of the blockchain to improve fault tolerance. The content extraction signature algorithm ensures that the key shares stored in different blocks are publicly verifiable. Safety analysis and performance analysis verify the feasibility and effectiveness of our scheme.
On the numerical accuracy in finite‐volume methods to accurately capture turbulence in compressible flows
Authors: Motheau Emmanuel , Wakefield John
Published: June 2021

The goal of the present article is to understand the impact of numerical schemes for the reconstruction of data at cell faces in finite‐volume methods, and to assess their interaction with the quadrature rule used to compute the average over the cell volume. Here, third‐, fifth‐ and seventh‐order WENO‐Z schemes are investigated. On a problem with a smooth solution, the theoretical order of convergence rate for each method is retrieved, and changing the order of the reconstruction at cell faces does not impact the results, whereas for a shock‐driven problem all the methods collapse to first‐order. Study of the decay of compressible homogeneous isotropic turbulence reveals that using a high‐order quadrature rule to compute the average over a finite‐volume cell does not improve the spectral accuracy and that all methods present a second‐order convergence rate. However the choice of the numerical method to reconstruct data at cell faces is found to be critical to correctly capture turbulent spectra. In the context of simulations with finite‐volume methods of practical flows encountered in engineering applications, it becomes apparent that an efficient strategy is to perform the average integration with a low‐order quadrature rule on a fine mesh resolution, whereas high‐order schemes should be used to reconstruct data at cell faces.
Long‐term effects of two 24‐hour moisturizing products on skin barrier structure and function: A biometric and molecular study
Authors: Samadi Aniseh , Nasrollahi Saman Ahmad , Rostami Mahmoud Nateghi , Rezagholi Zahra , Abolghasemi Farideh , Firooz Alireza
Published: June 2021

Introduction

Recently, there are a few moisturizers showing hydrating effects up to 24 hours after single application. Aquaporin 3 might be associated with the degree of skin hydration. We aimed to assess the effects of two brands of 24‐hour moisturizers on the skin barrier function, as well as the AQP3 gene expression.

Method

Two moisturizers were applied once daily by 20 participants age 36.15 ± 9.55 years. Upper right and left forearms were randomly assigned to application of each product, whereas the right lower forearm served as control site for application of a cream base formulation. Biophysical assessments including trans epidermal water loss (TEWL), skin hydration, pH, surface lipids, and elasticity parameters were performed before intervention, 1, 4, and 24 hours after single application, following 2 weeks daily application and 1 week after termination of use. Also 5‐mm punch biopsies were performed from application sites of product B and cream base formulation in for five participants after 2 weeks of application.

Results

A single treatment with both products led to 24‐hour increase in skin moisture in comparison with the control site (P‐value <.01). Daily application of both products for 14 days also led to significant improvement in skin moisture (P‐value <.01), TEWL (P‐value <.01), and elasticity parameters. The increase in skin hydration was associated with upregulation of AQP3 gene expression in treated area for one of the formulations (P‐value = .04).

Conclusion

The tested 24‐hour moisturizers only need to be applied once daily to improve skin barrier function and hydration and up‐regulate AQP3 mRNA expression.
Lymph node metastases in breast cancer: Investigating associations with tumor characteristics, molecular subtypes and polygenic risk score using a continuous growth model
Authors: Isheden Gabriel , Grassmann Felix , Czene Kamila , Humphreys Keith
Published: June 2021

We investigate the association between rate of breast cancer lymph node spread and grade, estrogen receptor (ER) status, progesteron receptor status, decision tree derived PAM50 molecular subtype and a polygenic risk score (PRS), using data on 10 950 women included from two different data sources. Lymph node spread was analyzed using a novel continuous tumor progression model that adjusts for tumor volume in a biologically motivated way and that incorporates covariates of interest. Grades 2 and 3 tumors, respectively, were associated with 1.63 and 2.17 times faster rates of lymph node spread than Grade 1 tumors (P < 10−16). ER/PR negative breast cancer was associated with a 1.25/1.19 times faster spread than ER/PR positive breast cancer, respectively (P = .0011 and .0012). Among the molecular subtypes luminal A, luminal B, Her2‐enriched and basal‐like, Her2‐enriched breast cancer was associated with 1.53 times faster spread than luminal A cancer (P = .00072). PRS was not associated with the rate of lymph node spread. Continuous growth models are useful for quantifying associations between lymph node spread and tumor characteristics. These may be useful for building realistic progression models for microsimulation studies used to design individualized screening programs.
Induced subgraphs of product graphs and a generalization of Huang's theorem
Authors: Hong Zhen‐Mu , Lai Hong‐Jian , Liu Jianbing
Published: June 2021

Recently, Huang showed that every ‐vertex induced subgraph of the ‐dimensional hypercube has maximum degree at least . In this paper, we discuss the induced subgraphs of Cartesian product graphs and semistrong product graphs to generalize Huang's result. Let be a connected signed bipartite graph of order and be a connected signed graph of order . By defining two kinds of signed product of and , denoted by and , we show that if and have exactly two distinct adjacency eigenvalues and , respectively, then every ‐vertex induced subgraph of (resp., ) has maximum degree at least (resp., ). Moreover, we discuss the eigenvalues of and and obtain a sufficient and necessary condition such that the spectrum of and is symmetric with respect to 0, from which we obtain more general results on maximum degree of the induced subgraphs.
Primary mobile vertebral column sarcomas: Prognostic factors vary by histologic subtypes
Authors: Jawad Muhammad U. , Farhan Saif , Haffner Max R. , Le Hai Van , Thorpe Steven W. , Klineberg Eric O. , Randall R. Lor
Published: June 2021

Background

Primary sarcomas originating from the mobile spine portends a particularly sinister outcome. Rarity of the disease process has resulted in inconsistent data due to small sample size and heterogeneity in patient selection and analytics.

Methods

Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Result (SEER) database from 1975 to 2017 was queried to report incidence and survival data in 712 patients in the United States. Kaplan–Meier and Cox Regression were used to determine the prognostic factors affecting survival.

Results

Incidence of spinal sarcoma was 0.019 per 100,000 persons in 2017 and has not significantly changed since 2000 (p > 0.05). Disease‐specific 5‐year survival for the entire cohort was 57%. Osteosarcoma has the worst 5‐year survival (39%) and chondrosarcoma has the best 5‐year survival (69%). Independent predictors of survival for the entire cohort included age, grade, and stage. Stage was an independent predictor of survival for every histologic subtype. Additional predictors of survival for spinal osteosarcoma, Ewing sarcoma, and chondrosarcoma included age, size, and grade, respectively.

Conclusions

The current study is an analysis of a population‐based registry reporting incidence survival data for patients with sarcoma of mobile vertebral column. Survival and prognostic factors vary by histologic subtypes. There is lack of improvement in survival over the last three decades.
Fast 3D MR elastography of the whole brain using spiral staircase: Data acquisition, image reconstruction, and joint deblurring
Authors: Peng Xi , Sui Yi , Trzasko Joshua D. , Glaser Kevin J. , Huston John , Ehman Richard L. , Pipe James G.
Published: June 2021

Purpose

To address the need for a method to acquire 3D data for MR elastography (MRE) of the whole brain with substantially improved spatial resolution, high SNR, and reduced acquisition time compared with conventional methods.

Methods

We combined a novel 3D spiral staircase data‐acquisition method with a spoiled gradient‐echo pulse sequence and MRE motion‐encoding gradients (MEGs). The spiral‐out acquisition permitted use of longer‐duration motion‐encoding gradients (ie, over two full oscillatory cycles) to enhance displacement SNR, while still maintaining a reasonably short TE for good phase‐SNR. Through‐plane parallel imaging with low noise penalties was implemented to accelerate acquisition along the slice direction. Shared anatomical information was exploited in the deblurring procedure to further boost SNR for stiffness inversion.

Results

In vivo and phantom experiments demonstrated the feasibility of the proposed method in producing brain MRE results comparable to the spin‐echo–based approaches, both qualitatively and quantitatively. High‐resolution (2‐mm isotropic) brain MRE data were acquired in 5 minutes using our method with good SNR. Joint deblurring with shared anatomical information produced SNR‐enhanced images, leading to upward stiffness estimation.

Conclusion

A novel 3D gradient‐echo–based approach has been designed and implemented, and shown to have promising potential for fast and high‐resolution in vivo MRE of the whole brain.
Grocery distribution plans in urban networks with street crossing penalties
Authors: Cerrone Carmine , Cerulli Raffaele , Sciomachen Anna
Published: June 2021

Following the emergency caused by the Covid‐19 pandemic, there is the need, among other measures, to modify urban mobility plans in order to reduce the use of collective public transport, reducing the crowding of people while also preventing traffic congestion through discouraging the use of private vehicles. From this perspective, retail companies operating within cities must also reorganize themselves, considering both the unpredictable requirements of environmental sustainability and the new mobility needs calling for the promotion of bicycles and electric scooters. In this context, we deal with the need to determine minimum cost routes in urban areas for delivering orders placed through e‐channels. More precisely, we face a variant of the green vehicle routing problem of heterogeneous fleets, in which the objective function includes environmental impact cost components that differ by vehicle type. Moreover, as a novel issue, attention must be paid to avoid crossing and passing close to bicycle lanes; therefore, penalties are associated with the transit of vehicles near bicycle lanes. To address this problem, we propose a mixed integer linear programming model and a matheuristic associated with it. The proposed approach is then used to analyze different scenarios derived from the transportation network of the city of Milan, Italy. Milan is one of the smartest cities in Europe from the mobility point of view but also one of the most affected by the Covid‐19 pandemic, and the municipality is making a big investment to promote the use of bicycles.
Direct measurement of key exciton properties: Energy, dynamics, and spatial distribution of the wave function
Authors: Dong Shuo , Puppin Michele , Pincelli Tommaso , Beaulieu Samuel , Christiansen Dominik , Hübener Hannes , Nicholson Christopher W. , Xian Rui Patrick , Dendzik Maciej , Deng Yunpei , Windsor Yoav William , Selig Malte , Malic Ermin , Rubio Angel , Knorr Andreas , Wolf Martin , Rettig Laurenz , Ernstorfer Ralph
Published: June 2021

Excitons, Coulomb‐bound electron–hole pairs, are the fundamental excitations governing the optoelectronic properties of semiconductors. Although optical signatures of excitons have been studied extensively, experimental access to the excitonic wave function itself has been elusive. Using multidimensional photoemission spectroscopy, we present a momentum‐, energy‐, and time‐resolved perspective on excitons in the layered semiconductor WSe2. By tuning the excitation wavelength, we determine the energy–momentum signature of bright exciton formation and its difference from conventional single‐particle excited states. The multidimensional data allow to retrieve fundamental exciton properties like the binding energy and the exciton–lattice coupling and to reconstruct the real‐space excitonic distribution function via Fourier transform. All quantities are in excellent agreement with microscopic calculations. Our approach provides a full characterization of the exciton properties and is applicable to bright and dark excitons in semiconducting materials, heterostructures, and devices.

Key points

The full life cycle of excitons is recorded with time‐ and angle‐resolved photoemission spectroscopy.

The real‐space distribution of the excitonic wave function is visualized.

Direct measurement of the exciton‐phonon interaction.
Modified three‐dimensional true proportional navigation and its inverse optimal form
Authors: Liao Fei , Zhang Sheng
Published: June 2021

A novel three‐dimensional modified true proportional navigation (MTPN) guidance and its inverse optimal form are proposed for the interception of the nonmaneuvering and maneuvering targets, and the nonlinear dynamic characteristics of pursuit situations and target maneuvers are taken into full account. The proposed approach is feasible without knowing any prior information or estimate of the target maneuvers, which are regarded as the unknown disturbance input. Therefore, the TPN‐type guidance is extended to intercept the maneuvering targets with bounded unknown accelerations. Moreover, the explicit physical significance is given for each component of the navigation gain expression of MTPN. The inverse optimal control approach and the input‐to‐state stability are introduced to the MTPN design. Using the MTPN, the homing missile can conduct the terminal homing guidance phase in any particular direction with respect to their nonmaneuvering or maneuvering targets through choosing an appropriate inertial reference coordinate system in practice. Using the proposed schemes, the line‐of‐sight (LOS) rate is globally exponentially stable for nonmaneuvering targets, and is input‐to‐state stability (ISS) for maneuvering targets with bounded unknown accelerations. Performed simulation results have confirmed the effectiveness of the proposed scheme.
Identification of related impurities in an oral pharmaceutical formulation of tebipenem pivoxil using ultra‐high‐performance liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization quadrupole time‐of‐flight tandem mass spectrometry
Authors: Xi Pengxuan , Cao Wanxue , Li Li , Shi Weimin , Li Fuxin , Xu Haitao , Xu Xiaojie , Ke Yu , Zhang Jianye
Published: June 2021

Rationale

Tebipenem pivoxil (TBPM‐PI) has been developed as the first oral carbapenem drug in the world to treat otolaryngological and respiratory infections in pediatric patients. Due to its structural properties and external factors, some related impurities, which may cause side effects in patients, might be formed during the synthesis and storage of TBPM‐PI. It was vital to rapidly separate and identify the related impurities to guarantee the safe use of TBPM‐PI.

Methods

A method using ultra‐high‐performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) coupled with quadrupole time‐of‐flight tandem mass spectrometry (QTOF‐MS/MS) was developed to separate and detect TBPM‐PI and related impurities in an oral pharmaceutical formulation. LC/MS and MS/MS spectra of these compounds in the formulation were acquired to confirm their elemental compositions and propose their structures based on LC/MS data and fragmentation pathways of available reference substances.

Results

LC/MS parameters and MS/MS fragmentation pathways of reference substances of TBPM‐PI and related impurities were summarized in detail. Based on this, a total of 23 related impurities were found and characterized in the oral pharmaceutical formulation. Eight of these were verified by comparison with reference substances and the structures of the other 15 were proposed for the first time. In addition, four of these compounds were produced by the reaction of excipients and pre‐existing related impurities.

Conclusions

A UHPLC/QTOF‐MS method was established and used for the separation and identification of 23 related impurities in a TBPM‐PI oral pharmaceutical formulation. Moreover, it was proved that new related impurities could be produced by the reaction of excipients in the pharmaceutical formulation and related impurities in the corresponding active pharmaceutical ingredient (API).
Rapid detection of sulfur mustard hydrolysis products based on microextraction by packed sorbent combined with nano‐electrospray ionization mass spectrometry
Authors: Li Baoqiang , Wei Jianan , Kong Jinglin , Yang Liu , Li Cuiping
Published: June 2021

Rationale

Sulfur mustard is a blister agent prohibited by the Chemical Weapons Convention, and the detection of its hydrolysis product, thiodiglycol (TDG), is an important indicator of blister agent contamination. Due to the poor volatility and low extraction efficiency of TDG, derivatization gas chromatography or liquid chromatography is required for conventional methods, and the detection process is cumbersome and time‐consuming.

Methods

A microextraction by packed sorbent (MEPS) device and a nano‐electrospray ionization (nano‐ESI) device were used. The central composite design (CCD) model of Response Surface Methodology was used to optimize the elution procedure; the variance analysis under equal repeated trials with multiple factors was used to quantitatively analyze the significance of the impact of related factors on the nano‐ESI efficiency. The MEPS‐nano‐ESI‐MS experimental conditions were optimized.

Results

A new detection method of sulfur mustard hydrolysis products in water based on MEPS‐nano‐ESI‐MS was established; the detection limit was 1 ng/mL and was linear between 5 ng/mL and 100 ng/mL (R2 = 0.9911) with a precision of ≤7.2%, and the recovery rate was 107.89% when the sample concentration was 40 ng/mL.

Conclusions

The experimental results showed that the proposed method could quickly detect the contaminated water samples without chromatographic separation and derivatization, thereby verifying the contamination of sulfur mustard on site.
Assessing the effects of lipid extraction and lipid correction on stable isotope values (δ13C and δ15N) of blubber and skin from southern hemisphere humpback whales
Authors: Groß Jasmin , Fry Brian , Burford Michele A. , Bengtson Nash Susan
Published: June 2021

Rationale

The coupled analysis of δ13C and δ15N stable isotope values of blubber and skin biopsy samples is widely used to study the diet of free‐ranging cetaceans. Differences in the lipid content of these tissues can affect isotopic variability because lipids are depleted in 13C, reducing the bulk tissue 13C/12C. This variability in carbon isotope values can be accounted for either by chemically extracting lipids from the tissue or by using mathematical lipid normalisation models.

Methods

This study examines (a) the effects of chemical lipid extraction on δ13C and δ15N values in blubber and skin of southern hemisphere humpback whales, (b) whether chemical lipid extraction is more favourable than mathematical lipid correction and (c) which of the two tissues is more appropriate for dietary studies. Strategic comparisons were made between chemical lipid extraction and mathematical lipid correction and between blubber and skin tissue δ13C and δ15N values, as well as C:N ratios. Six existing mathematical normalisation models were tested for their efficacy in estimating lipid‐free δ13C for skin.

Results

Both δ13C and δ15N values of lipid‐extracted skin (δ13C: −25.57‰, δ15N: 6.83‰) were significantly higher than those of bulk skin (δ13C: −26.97‰, δ15N: 6.15‰). Five of the six tested lipid normalisation models had small error terms for predicting lipid‐free δ13C values. The average C:N ratio of lipid‐extracted skin was within the lipid‐free range reported in other studies, whereas the average C:N ratio of blubber was higher than previously reported.

Conclusions

These results highlight the need to account for lipids when analysing δ13C and δ15N values from the same sample. For optimised dietary assessments using parallel isotope analysis from a single sample, we recommend the use of unextracted skin tissue. δ15N values should be obtained from unextracted skin, whereas δ13C values may be adequately lipid corrected by a mathematical correction.
Emerging Energy Harvesting Materials and Devices for Self‐Powered Water Disinfection
Authors: Huo Zheng‐Yang , Lee Dong‐Min , Wang Si , Kim Young‐Jun , Kim Sang‐Woo
Published: June 2021

Contaminated drinking water is one of the main pathogen transmission pathways making waterborne illnesses such as diarrheal diseases and gastroenteritis a huge threat to public health, especially in the areas where sanitation facilities and gird power are inadequate such as rural and disaster hit areas. Self‐powered water disinfection systems are a promising solution in these cases. In this review paper, the authors provide an overview of the new and emerging methods of applying energy harvesting materials and devices as a source of power for water disinfection systems microbial disinfection in water by harnessing ambient forms of energy such as mechanical motion, light, and heat into electricity. The authors begin with a brief introduction of the different energy harvesting technologies commonly applied in water disinfection; triboelectric, piezoelectric, pyroelectric, and photovoltaic effects. Various microbial disinfection mechanisms and types of device construction are summarized. Then, a detailed discussion of the energy harvester‐driven water disinfection process is provided. Finally, challenges and perspectives regarding the future development of self‐powered water disinfection are described.
Retrospective assessment of the relationship between intraoperative nociception and postoperative analgesia requirements in dogs undergoing thoracic surgery
Authors: Corrêa Luis M. , Grados Felipe M.
Published: June 2021

Background

The analgesia management of thoracic surgery can be challenging and debate exists regarding the efficacy of pre‐emptive analgesia and its relationship with postoperative pain. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between intraoperative nociception and postoperative pain in dogs undergoing thoracic surgery. If proven, effective prevention of intraoperative nociception could imply prospective lower postoperative analgesia requirements.

Methods

The study was retrospective and observational. Clinical records from dogs undergoing thoracic surgery (2015–2019) were reviewed and cases were allocated to one of two groups: NOCI‐FREE – dogs with no evidence of intraoperative nociception; NOCI – dogs that required intraoperative rescue analgesia to address a nociceptive response. Pre‐anaesthetic medication, locoregional analgesia, intraoperative infusions and rescue analgesia were used. Additionally, postoperative pain scores and analgesia plans were registered and compared between groups.

Results

Our study failed to identify a difference in the postoperative pain scores and analgesia requirements between dogs having signs of intraoperative nociception and those without. Additionally, the use of postoperative analgesic preventive infusions and rescue analgesia was similar for both NOCI and NOCI‐FREE.

Being on an intraoperative infusion of opioids, dexmedetomidine or lidocaine was identified as a protective factor for nociception [OR = 11; (4.15–29.7)].

Conclusions

In the population studied, it appears that dogs showing signs of nociception intraoperatively do not necessarily show higher pain scores nor do they need additionally pain relief in the postoperative period.
Evaluation of treatment-associated eye toxicity after irradiation in childhood and adolescence—results from the Registry of the Evaluation of Side Effects after Radiotherapy in Childhood and Adolescence (RiSK)
Authors: Albrecht Fenja , Wolters Heidi , Ziert Yvonne , Timmermann Beate , Kortmann Rolf-Dieter , Matuschek Christiane , Rübe Christian , Martini Carmen , Christiansen Hans , Eich Hans Theodor , Willich Normann , Steinmann Diana
Published: June 2021

Purpose

The aim of the study is to evaluate treatment-related acute and late eye toxicity associated with radiation therapy in childhood and adolescence as correlated with RT (radiotherapy) doses.

Methods

From 2001 to 2016, a total of 1725 children and adolescents undergoing radiation therapy were prospectively documented in the Registry of the Evaluation of Side Effects after Radiotherapy in Childhood and Adolescence (RiSK). The RTOG/EORTC criteria were used to classify ocular acute and late effects. Uni- and multivariate analyses were carried out to evaluate the impact of patient age, pre-existing impairments, and radiation dose on ocular toxicity.

Results

Of all documented patients, 593 received dose to the eye and formed the basis of this analysis. In 435 patients, information on acute reaction was available and graded 1, 2, 3, and 4 in 49, 17, 0, and 2 patients, respectively. Information on late toxicity was available in 268 patients and graded 1, 2, 3, and 4 in 15, 11, 11, and 5 patients, respectively. The acute toxicity rate was significantly higher in children who received a maximum dose > 50 Gy to the eye (p < 0.001) and who had a pre-existing eye impairment (p < 0.001 in multivariate analysis). The development of late toxicity was significantly higher for patients experiencing acute toxicity and having received a radiation dose > 50 Gy.

Conclusion

Acute and late toxicity both correlate with high radiation dose to the eye (> 50 Gy) and acute toxicity additionally with pre-existing eye impairments.
Grenzbereiche der Thrombektomie
Authors: Psychogios Marios-Nikos , Brehm Alex , Sporns Peter , Bonati Leo H.
Published: June 2021

Die mechanische Thrombektomie (MT) hat sich als Standardverfahren für die Behandlung akuter ischämischer Schlaganfälle aufgrund eines Verschlusses einer großen, proximalen Hirnarterie der vorderen Zirkulation etabliert. Dennoch sind nach aktuellen Guidelines noch große Patientenkollektive von dieser hocheffektiven Behandlungsmethode ausgeschlossen. Diese Arbeit gibt daher einen Überblick über mögliche Erweiterungen der Behandlungsindikationen für die MT, wie z. B. Patienten im erweiterten Zeitfenster, mit distalen Verschlüssen, mit großem Infarktkern oder auch für sehr alte (> 90 Jahre) und junge (0–17 Jahre) Patienten. Zusätzlich besprechen wir neue Entwicklungen in der interventionellen Behandlung von Schlaganfällen, wie z. B. neue Triage-Konzepte oder die Fragestellung, ob die zusätzliche intravenöse Thrombolyse bei MT-Patienten notwendig ist. Abschließend geben wir für die besprochenen Behandlungsindikationen unsere Einschätzungen basierend auf der aktuellen Literatur und unserer klinischen Erfahrung.
Safety and Efficacy of Landiolol Hydrochloride in Children with Tachyarrhythmia of Various Etiologies
Authors: Ashida Atsuko , Ozaki Noriyasu , Kishi Kanta , Odanaka Yutaka , Nemoto Shintaro , Konishi Hayato , Ashida Akira
Published: June 2021

The safety and efficacy of landiolol have not been fully elucidated in pediatric patients. This study aimed to clarify the safety and efficacy of landiolol in a pediatric cohort. We retrospectively assessed the clinical features of 21 pediatric patients who were administered landiolol at our hospital. We also investigated the rates of sinus rhythm conversion and heart rate response. The median patient age was 7 months (interquartile range 1–13 months). The etiology of tachyarrhythmia was junctional ectopic tachycardia in 10 patients (47.6%), atrial tachycardia in 10 patients (47.6%), and ventricular tachycardia in 1 patient (4.8%). Of the 21 children, 18 (85.7%) had congenital heart defects, including 14 (77.8%) in whom a landiolol infusion was performed perioperatively. The landiolol infusion was effective in 18 pediatric patients (85.7%), as measured by the conversion to sinus rhythm or a reduced heart rate. Atrial tachycardia in the perioperative period was terminated in all patients. Of 7 patients with tachyarrhythmias unrelated to the perioperative period, landiolol was effective in 5. No adverse effects were reported in any patient. Landiolol infusion is effective and safe in pediatric patients with tachyarrhythmia of various etiologies, especially those with atrial tachyarrhythmia during the perioperative period.
Eosinophils in skin diseases
Authors: Radonjic-Hoesli Susanne , Brüggen Marie-Charlotte , Feldmeyer Laurence , Simon Hans-Uwe , Simon Dagmar
Published: June 2021

Eosinophil infiltration is a common finding in a broad spectrum of skin diseases, despite the fact that the skin is devoid of eosinophils under physiologic conditions. Although cutaneous eosinophilia is reactive, cytokine-mediated in most cases, diseases with an intrinsic mutation-mediated clonal expansion of eosinophils can also manifest on the skin. As eosinophils are involved in host defense, regulate immune responses, generate pruritus, induce remodeling and fibrosis, and can cause tissue damage, they have the capacity to actively contribute to the pathogenesis of diseases. Recent research provided deeper insights in the mechanisms, e.g., bacterial and viral clearance, blister formation, recruitment of cytotoxic T cells, and generation of pruritus, by which eosinophils might come into action. This review aims at providing an overview on the clinical presentations of eosinophil-associated dermatoses and the current understanding of their pathogenic role in these diseases. Further, we discuss the effects of therapies targeting eosinophils.
Factors of boreal summer latent heat flux variations over the tropical western North Pacific
Authors: Wang Yuqi , Wu Renguang
Published: June 2021

Surface latent heat flux (LHF) is an important component in the heat exchange between the ocean and atmosphere over the tropical western North Pacific (WNP). The present study investigates the factors of seasonal mean LHF variations in boreal summer over the tropical WNP. Seasonal mean LHF is separated into two parts that are associated with low-frequency (> 90-day) and high-frequency (≤ 90-day) atmospheric variability, respectively. It is shown that low-frequency LHF variations are attributed to low-frequency surface wind and sea-air humidity difference, whereas high-frequency LHF variations are associated with both low-frequency surface wind speed and high-frequency wind intensity. A series of conceptual cases are constructed using different combinations of low- and high-frequency winds to inspect the respective effects of low-frequency wind and high-frequency wind amplitude to seasonal mean LHF variations. It is illustrated that high-frequency wind fluctuations contribute to seasonal high-frequency LHF only when their intensity exceeds the low-frequency wind speed under which there is seasonal accumulation of high-frequency LHF. When high-frequency wind intensity is smaller than the low-frequency wind speed, seasonal mean high-frequency LHF is negligible. Total seasonal mean LHF anomalies depend on relative contributions of low- and high-frequency atmospheric variations and have weak interannual variance over the tropical WNP due to cancellation of low- and high-frequency LHF anomalies.
Colchicin: altes Medikament mit neuem Nutzen
Authors: Boyadzhieva Z. , Ruffer N. , Krusche M.
Published: June 2021

Colchicin, das Gift der Herbstzeitlosen, hat verschiedene antiinflammatorische Effekte. Aus diesem Grund kommt es zur Behandlung von rheumatologischen Erkrankungen aus dem autoinflammatorischen Formenkreis, wie z. B. der Arthritis urica oder dem familiären Mittelmeerfieber (FMF), zum Einsatz. Darüber hinaus gibt es erste Daten, die einen positiven Nutzen von Colchicin bei kardiovaskulären Erkrankungen nahelegen. Des Weiteren werden aktuell verschiedene antiinflammatorische Therapieansätze in der COVID-19-Behandlung in Studien erprobt. Hier gibt es ebenfalls erste Publikationen, die einen potenziellen Nutzen von Colchicin in bestimmten Krankheitsphasen der Virusinfektion nahe legen. Dieser Beitrag will einen Überblick über die Wirkweise, den Nutzen und Nebenwirkungen sowie die verschiedenen Einsatzmöglichkeiten von Colchicin in der Rheumatologie geben. Weiterhin soll ein kurzer Ausblick in neue Einsatzgebiete dieses Medikamentes gegeben werden.
On the Stability Problem of Equilibrium Discrete Planar Curves
Authors: Jikumaru Yoshiki
Published: June 2021

We study planar polygonal curves with the variational methods. We show a unified interpretation of discrete curvatures and the Steiner-type formula by extracting the notion of the discrete curvature vector from the first variation of the length functional. Moreover, we determine the equilibrium curves for the length functional under the area-constraint condition and study their stability.
Initial mechanical conditions within an optimized bone scaffold do not ensure bone regeneration – an in silico analysis
Authors: Perier-Metz Camille , Duda Georg N. , Checa Sara
Published: June 2021

Large bone defects remain a clinical challenge because they do not heal spontaneously. 3-D printed scaffolds are a promising treatment option for such critical defects. Recent scaffold design strategies have made use of computer modelling techniques to optimize scaffold design. In particular, scaffold geometries have been optimized to avoid mechanical failure and recently also to provide a distinct mechanical stimulation to cells within the scaffold pores. This way, mechanical strain levels are optimized to favour the bone tissue formation. However, bone regeneration is a highly dynamic process where the mechanical conditions immediately after surgery might not ensure optimal regeneration throughout healing. Here, we investigated in silico whether scaffolds presenting optimal mechanical conditions for bone regeneration immediately after surgery also present an optimal design for the full regeneration process. A computer framework, combining an automatic parametric scaffold design generation with a mechano-biological bone regeneration model, was developed to predict the level of regenerated bone volume for a large range of scaffold designs and to compare it with the scaffold pore volume fraction under favourable mechanical stimuli immediately after surgery. We found that many scaffold designs could be considered as highly beneficial for bone healing immediately after surgery; however, most of them did not show optimal bone formation in later regenerative phases. This study allowed to gain a more thorough understanding of the effect of scaffold geometry changes on bone regeneration and how to maximize regenerated bone volume in the long term.
The HGR motif is the antiangiogenic determinant of vasoinhibin: implications for a therapeutic orally active oligopeptide
Authors: Robles Juan Pablo , Zamora Magdalena , Siqueiros-Marquez Lourdes , Adan-Castro Elva , Ramirez-Hernandez Gabriela , Nuñez Francisco Freinet , Lopez-Casillas Fernando , Millar Robert P. , Bertsch Thomas , Martínez de la Escalera Gonzalo , Triebel Jakob , Clapp Carmen
Published: June 2021

The hormone prolactin acquires antiangiogenic and antivasopermeability properties after undergoing proteolytic cleavage to vasoinhibin, an endogenous prolactin fragment of 123 or more amino acids that inhibits the action of multiple proangiogenic factors. Preclinical and clinical evidence supports the therapeutic potential of vasoinhibin against angiogenesis-related diseases including diabetic retinopathy, peripartum cardiomyopathy, rheumatoid arthritis, and cancer. However, the use of vasoinhibin in the clinic has been limited by difficulties in its production. Here, we removed this barrier to using vasoinhibin as a therapeutic agent by showing that a short linear motif of just three residues (His46-Gly47-Arg48) (HGR) is the functional determinant of vasoinhibin. The HGR motif is conserved throughout evolution, its mutation led to vasoinhibin loss of function, and oligopeptides containing this sequence inhibited angiogenesis and vasopermeability with the same potency as whole vasoinhibin. Furthermore, the oral administration of an optimized cyclic retro-inverse vasoinhibin heptapeptide containing HGR inhibited melanoma tumor growth and vascularization in mice and exhibited equal or higher antiangiogenic potency than other antiangiogenic molecules currently used as anti-cancer drugs in the clinic. Finally, by unveiling the mechanism that obscures the HGR motif in prolactin, we anticipate the development of vasoinhibin-specific antibodies to solve the on-going challenge of measuring endogenous vasoinhibin levels for diagnostic and interventional purposes, the design of vasoinhibin antagonists for managing insufficient angiogenesis, and the identification of putative therapeutic proteins containing HGR.