bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Management zone‐based estimation of positive and negative nitrous oxide flux in organic corn fields
Authors: Xia Yushu , Wander Michelle
Published: April 2022

Accurate estimation of field‐scale nitrous oxide (N2O) fluxes is hindered by their considerable variability and the fact that soils can be both sources and sinks for N2O. This is particularly challenging for organic systems that have complex rotations and inputs. This study used digital soil mapping and survey datasets to explore spatial controls of N2O “hot moments” induced by precipitation with strategic sampling designed to identify covariates that influence N2O emission patterns. Soil N2O fluxes after rain events were measured within three management zones (MZs, “High,” “Medium,” “Low”) delineated by crop productivity, soil fertility, and hydrological features in eight organic fields during the 2018 and 2019 corn (Zea mays L.) growing seasons. Hot moments typically occurring 1 d after rain events included both positive and negative N2O fluxes. The MZ‐based design identified regions with different patterns in positive and negative flux, with hotspots for both being co‐located with areas of poorer drainage and higher soil fertility. Covariates that best explained hot moments included corn growth stage, soil moisture, slope, texture, and soil organic matter. Negative fluxes were large enough to offset positive fluxes so that averaged net N2O fluxes were only significantly different between the “High” and “Low” MZs. Had negative fluxes been omitted, averaged N2O fluxes would have increased estimates by 37%. Processes that lead to N2O consumptions must be better quantified to improve the estimation of management‐associated net N2O flux. Use of strategic sampling can efficiently capture needed information, but spatial and temporal weighting is needed to scale up results.
Inkjet‐Patterned Microdroplets as Individual Microenvironments for Adherent Single Cell Culture
Authors: Xie Tianze , Zhang Qiang , Zhang Weifei , Feng Shuo , Lin Jin‐Ming
Published: April 2022

Adhesion of single cells is the foundation of manifold cellular behaviors and life processes. However, investigating the function of a specific cell is still challenging due to deficiency of adhesion or interference from surrounding cells. Herein, an open microfluidic system is reported for culturing adherent single cells, implemented by a micrometer‐scale droplet matrix on an inkjet‐printed polylysine template. The target cells are isolated from any cell from other droplets, and their adhesion strength is determined to be comparable to conventional petri dishes via an in‐situ investigation with a microfluidic extractor. On this proposed platform, isolated single cells are observed to display an entirely distinct spreading behavior featuring total absence of elongation, indicating drastic cell behavior change from their “singleness.” This system has high versatility and compatibility for various assaying methods, assuring a promising potential in detailed single cell behavior and cell heterogeneity studies.
Fabrication of Oxide‐Dispersion‐Strengthened Ferritic Alloys by Mechanical Alloying Using Pre‐Alloyed Powder
Authors: Zhang Peng , Xu Boyang , Zhao Jianquan , Yin Shengming , Yan Youwei , Zhao Mi
Published: April 2022

Mechanical alloying (MA) is widely used to produce oxide‐dispersion‐strengthened (ODS) steels, which are potential candidate structural materials for the next‐generation fusion reactors. Here in this study, two kinds of ODS ferritic alloys, labeled A and B, are prepared through MA, followed by spark plasma sintering (SPS) and annealing. To prepare Alloy A, Fe powder, YH2 powder, and TiO2 powder are mixed for MA. To prepare Alloy B, a pre‐alloyed Fe–Cr–W–Y powder is first obtained by gas‐atomization, after which TiO2 powder is added for MA. Compared with the traditional MA method, where the highly stabilized Y2O3 powder is usually selected, the use of TiO2 powder successfully reduces the milling time since it should be more easily decomposed and dissolved into the ferrite matrix. Some TiO2–Y2TiO5 duplex oxide particles of about 50 nm are found to generate through diffusion‐induced in situ reactions in Alloy A. In Alloy B, in contrast, a high number density of well‐distributed Y2O3 particles of about 20 nm and ultrafine Y2Ti2O7 particles within 10 nm are observed. These nanoparticles maintain good coherent interfaces with the matrix, suggesting the precipitation mechanism. Herein, a new route for the efficient fabrication of ODS alloys is provided.
Recent advances in non‐plasmonic surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy nanostructures for biomedical applications
Authors: Li Da , Aubertin Kelly , Onidas Delphine , Nizard Philippe , Félidj Nordin , Gazeau Florence , Mangeney Claire , Luo Yun
Published: April 2022

Surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) is an emerging powerful vibrational technique offering unprecedented opportunities in biomedical science for the sensitive detection of biomarkers and the imaging and tracking of biological samples. Conventional SERS detection is based on the use of plasmonic substrates (e.g., Au and Ag nanostructures), which exhibit very high enhancement factors (EF = 1010–1011) but suffers from serious limitations, including light‐induced local heating effect due to ohmic loss and expensive price. These drawbacks may limit detection accuracy and large‐scaled practical applications. In this review, we focus on alternative approaches based on plasmon‐free SERS detection on low‐cost nanostructures, such as carbons, oxides, chalcogenides, polymers, silicons, and so forth. The mechanism of non‐plasmonic SERS detection has been attributed to interfacial charge transfer between the substrate and the adsorbed molecules, with no photothermal side‐effects but usually less EF compared with plasmonic nanostructures. The strategies to improve Raman signal detection, through the tailoring of substrate composition, structure, and surface chemistry, is reviewed and discussed. The biomedical applications, for example, SERS cell characterization, biosensing, and bioimaging are also presented, highlighting the importance of substrate surface functionalization to achieve sensitive, accurate analysis, and excellent biocompatibility.

This article is categorized under:

Diagnostic Tools > Diagnostic Nanodevices

Diagnostic Tools > Biosensing

Diagnostic Tools > In Vivo Nanodiagnostics and Imaging
A deep ultraviolet transparent birefringent monofluorophosphate: Cd2.5(NH4)2(PO3F)3Cl ⋅ 2H2O
Authors: Yang Xin‐Rui , Liu Xin , Chen Ling , Wu Li‐Ming
Published: April 2022

Herein, we report a new monoclinic, Cd2.5(NH4)2(PO3F)3Cl ⋅ 2H2O (CNPFC, cadmium ammonium monofluorophosphate chloride dihydrate), featuring a [Cd3P2O12ClF2]∞ double‐layered structure. CNPFC is DUV transparent, exhibits a quite large laser induced damage threshold (1.33×KDP) and emits a purple fluorescence at 410 nm. On an as‐synthesized (100)‐single crystal plane, the Δnobv.(100)=nc–nb=0.012 is measured at 546 nm, which is consistent with the theoretical calculated 0.017. The birefringence of CNPFC is theoretically calculated to be Δncal.=nZ–nX=0.035. We further demonstrate that the diverse coordination environments and inter‐unit linkages of the Cd‐centered polyhedra as well as different hydrogen bonding interactions give rise to an interesting structural relationship among three related compounds.
Synthesis, characterization, and fluorescence of a highly stable two‐dimensional zinc coordination polymer
Authors: Wang Kuikui , Cheng Bo , Li Hengbo , Wu Mingyan
Published: April 2022

In this work, we have successfully introduced the nitrogen‐rich aromatic ligand 5,5′‐bipyrimidine (BYPM) as auxiliary ligands into the 3‐nitrophthalic acid (NPTA) system, and a Zn(II)‐based coordination polymer [Zn2(BYPM)(NPTA)2]n (1) has been synthesized under solvothermal condition. The 1 is characterized by elemental analysis, Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction, and X‐ray diffraction patterns (PXRD). The single‐crystal X‐ray analysis indicates that 1 propagates into a layer‐like framework along the ac plane through the coordination Zn2+ ions and further forms a three‐dimensional supramolecular framework through intermolecular C−H⋅⋅⋅O and C−H⋅⋅⋅N hydrogen bonds. Thermogravimetric analysis and powder X‐ray diffraction experiments indicate that 1 has high thermal and solvent stability. Meanwhile, the fluorescence of 1 has been explored.
Introduction: A Comparative Network Analysis of Knowledge Use in Nordic Education Policies
Authors: Sivesind Kirsten , Karseth Berit
Published: April 2022

This introductory chapter establishes the context, background, and importance of studying what counts as evidence and expertise in Nordic education policymaking. The chapter gives a short overview of the theories, methods, and research design for the joint study where 17 researchers from 6 countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, and the US) collaborated. Key questions are: How do policymakers in five Nordic countries draw on domestic, regional, and international knowledge? How do they legitimize national school reform policy by referencing various types of knowledge? How do they authorize evidence in their attempt to propose reform agendas and issue school reforms in their respective countries? The chapter provides an overview of the book and summarizes each of the following chapters.
How Much Is Policy Advice Changed and Lost in Political Translation?
Authors: Steiner-Khamsi Gita , Baek Chanwoong , Karseth Berit , Nordin Andreas
Published: April 2022

This chapter focuses on government-appointed advisory commissions in Norway and Sweden and investigates how and to what extent their respective governments use the evidence produced in these commissions for education policymaking. Drawing on the concepts of network governance and multi-centric policymaking, it compares reference patterns (a) between Green Papers (GPs) and White Papers (WPs) and (b) between Norwegian and Swedish GPs. The results show that the WPs produced by the ministries share strikingly few references with the GPs produced by their appointed commissions. An in-depth analysis of the references which “made” it to the political level demonstrates how knowledge gets lost, rebalanced, or reinterpreted in the policy process. This chapter situates the findings within discussions on the changing role of advisory commissions in today’s policymaking.
Evidence-Based Policy Making and Educational Reform in Nordic Europe: Key Contributions of the POLNET Study
Authors: Verger Antoni
Published: April 2022

Evidence-based policy making (EBPM) is currently portrayed as the most appropriate approach to public policy formulation. Through EBPM, the locus of decision making is expected to shift from political authorities to networks of experts. EBPM enthusiasts also assume that this policy approach favors more open and participatory policy processes in which deliberation on the basis of academic sources intensifies. Finally, EBPM embraces a rationalistic ontology to policy transfer according to which “policy learning” is the main mechanism behind the traveling and selection of “best practices” in different policy contexts. The POLNET study challenges these assumptions through comparative research conducted in the Nordic education policy space. This commentary chapter reflects on the most important contributions of the POLNET study, as well as on the implications of this study for future research.
Conclusion: Toward a Renewed Understanding of Evidence-Based Policy in Education
Authors: Karseth Berit , Sivesind Kirsten
Published: April 2022

This final chapter gives an overview of the main purposes and research problems that guided the POLNET-study, and it summarizes key findings and addresses certain topics in more detail. Moreover, the chapter discusses the results in relation to the theoretical approaches presented in the two first chapters of the book as well as in the light of contemporary research about policy knowledge transfer. Finally, the chapter reflects on the insight we gained by conducting an integrated research design in terms of a common Nordic research project, and points to the importance of analyzing the dynamic between state government and network governance in order to capture the meaning of evidence and expertise in a Nordic context.
The Irregular Formation of State Policy Documents in the Icelandic Field of Education 2013–2017
Authors: Magnúsdóttir Berglind Rós , Jónasson Jón Torfi
Published: April 2022

Magnúsdóttir and Jónasson explore the formation of three documents: the first white paper (WP2014) issued by Icelandic state educational authorities and two background papers (WP2017 and GP2014) co-authored by the OECD and EAIE. These papers are explored through content and bibliographic network analysis and semi-structured interviews with Ministry officials. The main results show minimal use of academic references and unsystematic use of green and white papers when forming policy. A low interconnection is between these three documents in terms of content, bibliography, and ministerial procedure. The WP2014 base their data and values mainly on OECD references. The analysis reveals a scarcity of professional resources in the Ministry, a culture of short time-frames, and loosely defined protocols in the policy making that contribute to ministerial governance and externalization.
Evidence-Based Policymaking in Nordic Countries: Different Settings, Different Practices?
Authors: Baek Chanwoong , Tiplic Dijana , Santos Íris
Published: April 2022

This chapter examines the practice of evidence-based policymaking in five Nordic countries. By comparing the references that national policy actors have utilized in their policy documents to evidentiate policy ideas and recommendations, it draws attention to the contextual factors that shape each country’s practice of evidence-based policymaking. The results illustrate that all five Nordic countries actively use evidence to support and legitimate their policy proposals; however, their utilization varies by (1) institutionalized forms of policymaking system, (2) degree of self-referentiality, and (3) type of reform. This comparative study offers timely reflections on how the discourse of evidence-based policymaking is interpreted and adapted differently across countries.
Integrity Verification Through File Container Analysis
Authors: Piva Alessandro , Iuliani Massimo
Published: April 2022

In the previous chapters, multimedia forensics techniques based on the analysis of the data stream, i.e., the audio-visual signal, aimed at detecting artifacts and inconsistencies in the (statistics of the) content were presented. Recent research highlighted that useful forensic traces are also left in the file structure, thus offering the opportunity to understand a file’s life-cycle without looking at the content itself. This chapter is then devoted to the description of the main forensic methods for the analysis of image and video file formats.
Computational Imaging
Authors: McCloskey Scott
Published: April 2022

Since the advent of smartphones, photography is increasingly being done with small, portable, multi-function devices. Relative to the purpose-built cameras that dominated previous eras, smartphone cameras must overcome challenges related to their small form factor. Smartphone cameras have small apertures that produce a wide depth of field, small sensors with rolling shutters that lead to motion artifacts, and small form factors which lead to more camera shake during exposure. Along with these challenges, smartphone cameras have the advantage of tight integration with additional sensors and the availability of significant computational resources. For these reasons, the field of computational imaging has advanced significantly in recent years, with academic groups and researchers from smartphone manufacturers helping these devices become more capable replacements for purpose-built cameras.
Quality Assurance in Online, Open, and Distance Education
Authors: Jung Insung
Published: April 2022

Over the past few decades, online, open, and distance education (ODE) has enjoyed phenomenal growth across different regions, and with the spread of the COVID-19 virus, its use has adopted more quickly and widely at all levels of education in both developed and developing countries. There has also been a surge in trans-institutional online courses and programs. Despite this surge in widespread practice of ODE, an image problem that perceives ODE as a second-rate education, indicated by Daniel (Quality assurance and accreditation in distance education and e-learning: Models, policies, and research. Routledge, New York, 2011) a decade ago, still exists, meaning that there is a need for even stronger measures to ensure that ODE is as good as in-person education and that quality assurance (QA) systems are in place as it enters the mainstream of education.

Applying QA to ODE processes and outcomes is a relatively new phenomenon. Drawing upon previous literature on quality and QA in ODE, including institutional case studies, this chapter examines various definitions of quality and QA in ODE practice, difficulties, and challenges presented by QA in ODE and the role of stakeholders in QA in ODE. It then discusses how different ODE institutions judge and assure the quality of their courses, programs, and services and what values and assumptions underpin such QA approaches. It finally draws conclusions about what still needs to be considered and actioned.
The impact of video laryngoscopy on the first-pass success rate of prehospital endotracheal intubation in The Netherlands: a retrospective observational study
Authors: Maissan Iscander , van Lieshout Esther , de Jong Timo , van Vledder Mark , Houmes Robert Jan , Hartog Dennis den , Stolker Robert Jan
Published: April 2022

Purpose

The first-pass success rate for endotracheal intubation (ETI) depends on provider experience and exposure. We hypothesize that video laryngoscopy (VL) improves first-pass and overall ETI success rates in low and intermediate experienced airway providers and prevents from unrecognized oesophageal intubations in prehospital settings.

Methods

In this study 3632 patients were included. In all cases, an ambulance nurse, HEMS nurse, or HEMS physician performed prehospital ETI using direct Laryngoscopy (DL) or VL.

Results

First-pass ETI success rates for ambulance nurses with DL were 45.5% (391/859) and with VL 64.8% (125/193). For HEMS nurses first-pass success rates were 57.6% (34/59) and 77.2% (125/162) respectively. For HEMS physicians these successes were 85.9% (790/920) and 86.9% (1251/1439). The overall success rate for ambulance nurses with DL was 58.4% (502/859) and 77.2% (149/193) with VL. HEMS nurses successes were 72.9% (43/59) and 87.0% (141/162), respectively. HEMS physician successes were 98.7% (908/920) and 99.0% (1425/1439), respectively. The incidence of unrecognized intubations in the oesophagus before HEMS arrival in traumatic circulatory arrest (TCA) was 30.6% with DL and 37.5% with VL. In medical cardiac arrest cases the incidence was 20% with DL and 0% with VL.

Conclusion

First-pass and overall ETI success rates for ambulance and HEMS nurses are better with VL. The used device does not affect success rates of HEMS physicians. VL resulted in less unrecognized oesophageal intubations in medical cardiac arrests. In TCA cases VL resulted in more oesophageal intubations when performed by ambulance nurses before HEMS arrival.
Finding solutions with distinct variables to systems of linear equations over $$\mathbb {F}_p$$
Authors: Sauermann Lisa
Published: April 2022

Let us fix a prime p and a homogeneous system of m linear equations $$a_{j,1}x_1+\dots +a_{j,k}x_k=0$$

a

j
,
1

x
1

+
⋯
+

a

j
,
k

x
k

=
0

for $$j=1,\dots ,m$$

j
=
1
,
⋯
,
m

with coefficients $$a_{j,i}\in \mathbb {F}_p$$

a

j
,
i

∈

F
p

. Suppose that $$k\ge 3m$$

k
≥
3
m

, that $$a_{j,1}+\dots +a_{j,k}=0$$

a

j
,
1

+
⋯
+

a

j
,
k

=
0

for $$j=1,\dots ,m$$

j
=
1
,
⋯
,
m

and that every $$m\times m$$

m
×
m

minor of the $$m\times k$$

m
×
k

matrix $$(a_{j,i})_{j,i}$$

(

a

j
,
i

)

j
,
i

is non-singular. Then we prove that for any (large) n, any subset $$A\subseteq \mathbb {F}_p^n$$

A
⊆

F
p
n

of size $$|A|> C\cdot \Gamma ^n$$

|
A
|
>
C

·

Γ
n

contains a solution $$(x_1,\dots ,x_k)\in A^k$$

(

x
1

,
⋯
,

x
k

)

∈

A
k

to the given system of equations such that the vectors $$x_1,\dots ,x_k\in A$$

x
1

,
⋯
,

x
k

∈
A

are all distinct. Here, C and $$\Gamma $$
Γ
are constants only depending on p, m and k such that $$\Gamma <p$$

Γ
<
p

. The crucial point here is the condition for the vectors $$x_1,\dots ,x_k$$

x
1

,
⋯
,

x
k

in the solution $$(x_1,\dots ,x_k)\in A^k$$

(

x
1

,
⋯
,

x
k

)

∈

A
k

to be distinct. If we relax this condition and only demand that $$x_1,\dots ,x_k$$

x
1

,
⋯
,

x
k

are not all equal, then the statement would follow easily from Tao’s slice rank polynomial method. However, handling the distinctness condition is much harder, and requires a new approach. While all previous combinatorial applications of the slice rank polynomial method have relied on the slice rank of diagonal tensors, we use a slice rank argument for a non-diagonal tensor in combination with combinatorial and probabilistic arguments.
Facilitating standardized COVID-19 suspicion prediction based on computed tomography radiomics in a multi-demographic setting
Authors: Nagaraj Yeshaswini , de Jonge Gonda , Andreychenko Anna , Presti Gabriele , Fink Matthias A. , Pavlov Nikolay , Quattrocchi Carlo C. , Morozov Sergey , Veldhuis Raymond , Oudkerk Matthijs , van Ooijen Peter M. A.
Published: April 2022

Objective

To develop an automatic COVID-19 Reporting and Data System (CO-RADS)–based classification in a multi-demographic setting.

Methods

This multi-institutional review boards–approved retrospective study included 2720 chest CT scans (mean age, 58 years [range 18–100 years]) from Italian and Russian patients. Three board-certified radiologists from three countries assessed randomly selected subcohorts from each population and provided CO-RADS–based annotations. CT radiomic features were extracted from the selected subcohorts after preprocessing steps like lung lobe segmentation and automatic noise reduction. We compared three machine learning models, logistic regression (LR), multilayer perceptron (MLP), and random forest (RF) for the automated CO-RADS classification. Model evaluation was carried out in two scenarios, first, training on a mixed multi-demographic subcohort and testing on an independent hold-out dataset. In the second scenario, training was done on a single demography and externally validated on the other demography.

Results

The overall inter-observer agreement for the CO-RADS scoring between the radiologists was substantial (k = 0.80). Irrespective of the type of validation test scenario, suspected COVID-19 CT scans were identified with an accuracy of 84%. SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) interpretation showed that the “wavelet_(LH)_GLCM_Imc1” feature had a positive impact on COVID prediction both with and without noise reduction. The application of noise reduction improved the overall performance between the classifiers for all types.

Conclusion

Using an automated model based on the COVID-19 Reporting and Data System (CO-RADS), we achieved clinically acceptable performance in a multi-demographic setting. This approach can serve as a standardized tool for automated COVID-19 assessment.

Keypoints

• Automatic CO-RADS scoring of large-scale multi-demographic chest CTs with mean AUC of 0.93 ± 0.04.

• Validation procedure resembles TRIPOD 2b and 3 categories, enhancing the quality of experimental design to test the cross-dataset domain shift between institutions aiding clinical integration.

• Identification of COVID-19 pneumonia in the presence of community-acquired pneumonia and other comorbidities with an AUC of 0.92.
Cartilaginous bending spring tympanoplasty: a temporal bone study and first clinical results
Authors: Rupp Robin , Schelhorn Tony , Kniesburges Stefan , Balk Matthias , Allner Moritz , Mantsopoulos Konstantinos , Iro Heinrich , Hornung Joachim , Gostian Antoniu-Oreste
Published: April 2022

Objective

Anchoring grafts for tympanic membrane (TM) reconstruction in anterior and subtotal TM defects is essential to prevent medialisation and can be facilitated by cartilaginous bending spring tympanoplasty (CBST). The purpose of this study was to analyse the impact of spring cartilages on middle ear transfer functions and patient hearing levels.

Methods

In six fresh-frozen human temporal bones a cartilage graft (measuring 6 × 2 mm with a thickness of 0.1–0.2 mm) was formed into a ‘U’-shaped bending spring, to be placed between the medial tympanic wall and the tympanic underlay grafts. The stapes velocity for excitation by exponential sweeps from 400 to 10,000 Hz was measured with a laser Doppler vibrometer. The resulting middle ear transfer functions were compared with the reconstructed middle ear. For clinical evaluation, 23 ears in 21 patients with chronic otitis media and an intact ossicular chain were operated using CBST. At each follow-up visit, the patients underwent pure-tone audiometry and the Freiburg monosyllabic speech test at a presentation level of 65 dB SPL for the word recognition score (WRS).

Results

The measured stapes velocities at one-third octave midband frequencies averaged 3.56 × 10–2 ± 9.46 × 10–3 (mm/s/Pa) compared to 3.06 × 10–2 ± 6.86 × 10–3 (mm/s/Pa) with the bending and underlay cartilage in place (p = 0.319; r = 0.32). The bending spring tympanoplasty reduced the transfer function by 1.41 ± 0.98 dB on average. In the clinical part of the study, the graft success rate was 96% (22 out of 23 patients) after a mean follow-up of 5.8 ± 2.4 months (min. 3.5 months, max. 12.0 months). The air–bone gap improved significantly by 6.2 dB (± 6.6 dB; p < 0.001; r = 0.69), as well as the WRS from 61.8 ± 33.3% preoperatively to 80.0 ± 20.9% postoperatively (p = 0.031; r = 0.35).

Conclusion

Experimental data as well as initial clinical results suggest that CBST is an effective method for reconstructing anterior or subtotal defects of the tympanic membrane with satisfactory audiologic results and graft success rates comparable to previously described methods. It can, therefore, be added to the arsenal of tympanoplasty techniques for anterior and subtotal TM perforations.
Movement markers of schizophrenia: a detailed analysis of patients’ gait patterns
Authors: Martin Lily , Stein Kevin , Kubera Katharina , Troje Nikolaus F. , Fuchs Thomas
Published: April 2022

Motor abnormalities occur in the majority of persons with schizophrenia but are generally neglected in clinical care. Psychiatric diagnostics fail to include quantifiable motor variables and few assessment tools examine full-body movement. We assessed full-body movement during gait of 20 patients and 20 controls with motion capture technology, symptom load (PANSS, BPRS) and Neurological Soft Signs (NSS). In a data-driven analysis, participants’ motion patterns were quantified and compared between groups. Resulting movement markers (MM) were correlated with the clinical assessment. We identified 16 quantifiable MM of schizophrenia. While walking, patients and controls display significant differences in movement patterns related to posture, velocity, regularity of gait as well as sway, flexibility and integration of body parts. Specifically, the adjustment of body sides, limbs and movement direction were affected. The MM remain significant when controlling for medication load. They are systematically related to NSS. Results add assessment tools, analysis methods as well as theory-independent MM to the growing body of research on motor abnormalities in schizophrenia.
Assessing initial MRI reports for suspected CJD patients
Authors: Jesuthasan Aaron , Sequeira Danielle , Hyare Harpreet , Odd Hans , Rudge Peter , Mok Tze How , Nihat Akin , Collinge John , Mead Simon
Published: April 2022

Background

MRI is invaluable for the pre-mortem diagnosis of sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (sCJD), demonstrating characteristic diffusion abnormalities. Previous work showed these changes were often not reported (low sensitivity), leading to eventual diagnosis at a more advanced state. Here, we reviewed the situation a decade later, on the presumption of improved access and awareness over time.

Methods

We reviewed initial MRI scans of 102 consecutive suspected sCJD patients recruited to the National Prion Monitoring Cohort study between 2015 and 2019, assessing for characteristic signal changes in the striatum, thalamus and cortical ribbon. We compared our findings to formal reports from referring centres. Requesting indications were studied to assess if they were suggestive of CJD. Patients were examined and their MRC Prion Disease Rating Scale scores recorded.

Results

We identified characteristic MRI abnormalities in 101 cases (99% sensitivity), whilst referring centres reported changes in 70 cases (69% sensitivity), which was a significant improvement in reporting sensitivity from 2012. Reporting sensitivity was associated with signal change in the cerebral cortex, and with the number of regions involved, but not significantly affected by clinical information on request forms, or referring centres being regional neuroscience/non-neuroscience centres. Similar to a previous study, patients with missed abnormalities on initial reporting possessed lower MRC Scale scores when referred to the NPC than those correctly identified.

Conclusions

Whilst local MRI reporting of sCJD has improved with time, characteristic abnormalities remain significantly under detected on initial scans. Sensitivity is better when the cerebral cortex and multiple regions are involved. We re-emphasize the utility of MRI and encourage further efforts to improve awareness and sensitivity in the assessment of patients with rapidly progressive dementia.
28S rRNA sequences for Linguatula spp.
Authors: Shamsi Shokoofeh , Zhu Xiaocheng , Halajian Ali , Barton Diane P.
Published: April 2022

Identification of specimens belonging to the genus Linguatula (Pentastomida) is relatively easy due to their unique morphology. However, differentiation between species of Linguatula can be challenging for several reasons, including considerable differences between different developmental stages of the parasite within and between species. Currently, 18S rRNA and Cox1 sequences are the only available comparable sequences in GenBank, but recent research has discussed the utility of 28S rRNA for pentastomid phylogenetics. This study presents 28S rRNA gene sequences for two members of the genus Linguatula. Sequences of 28S rRNA were successfully obtained from well-identified samples of L.serrata (collected in Australia) and L.nuttalli (collected in South Africa), with voucher specimens. Phylogenetic analysis of the 28S rRNA region showed 6% difference between L.serrata and L.nuttalli, with low levels of intraspecific variation. In comparison, 18S rRNA and Cox1 sequences from the same specimens showed 0.23% and 13% interspecific differences, respectively. The results of this study show that 28S rRNA has greater genetic diversity to allow for improved differentiation between species of Linguatula than 18S rRNA but is on par with Cox1. Records that do not provide adequate morphological or molecular data to justify independent specific diagnoses must be regarded cautiously, and the need for continued research on species of Linguatula, using a combined morphological and molecular analysis, across a number of different hosts, development stages, geographical regions and molecular markers is highlighted.
On the prediction of landslide occurrences and sizes via Hierarchical Neural Networks
Authors: Aguilera Quinton , Lombardo Luigi , Tanyas Hakan , Lipani Aldo
Published: April 2022

For more than three decades, the part of the geoscientific community studying landslides through data-driven models has focused on estimating where landslides may occur across a given landscape. This concept is widely known as landslide susceptibility. And, it has seen a vast improvement from old bivariate statistical techniques to modern deep learning routines. Despite all these advancements, no spatially-explicit data-driven model is currently capable of also predicting how large landslides may be once they trigger in a specific study area. In this work, we exploit a model architecture that has already found a number of applications in landslide susceptibility. Specifically, we opt for the use of Neural Networks. But, instead of focusing exclusively on where landslides may occur, we extend this paradigm to also spatially predict classes of landslide sizes. As a result, we keep the traditional binary classification paradigm but we make use of it to complement the susceptibility estimates with a crucial information for landslide hazard assessment. We will refer to this model as Hierarchical Neural Network (HNN) throughout the manuscript. To test this analytical protocol, we use the Nepalese area where the Gorkha earthquake induced tens of thousands of landslides on the 25th of April 2015. The results we obtain are quite promising. The component of our HNN that estimates the susceptibility outperforms a binomial Generalized Linear Model (GLM) baseline we used as benchmark. We did this for a GLM represents the most common classifier in the landslide literature. Most importantly, our HNN also suitably performed across the entire procedure. As a result, the landslide-area-class prediction returned not just a single susceptibility map, as per tradition. But, it also produced several informative maps on the expected landslide size classes. Our vision is for administrations to consult these suite of model outputs and maps to better assess the risk to local communities and infrastructure. And, to promote the diffusion of our HNN, we are sharing the data and codes in a githubsec repository in the hope that we would stimulate others to replicate similar analyses.
Effects of pulsed electromagnetic field therapy on outcomes associated with osteoarthritis
Authors: Markovic Lovro , Wagner Barbara , Crevenna Richard
Published: April 2022

Background

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic degenerative disease of multiple joints with a rising prevalence. Pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy may provide a cost-effective, noninvasive, and safe therapeutic modality with growing popularity and use in physical medicine and rehabilitation. The purpose of this study was to synthesize the current knowledge on the use of PEMF in OA.

Methods

A systematic review of systematic reviews was performed. The PubMed, Embase, PEDro and Web of Science databases were searched based on a predetermined protocol.

Results

Overall, 69 studies were identified. After removing the duplicates and then screening title, abstract and full text, 10 studies were included in the final analysis. All studies focused on knee OA, and four studies also reported on cervical, two on hand, and one on ankle OA. In terms of the level of evidence and bias, most studies were of low or medium quality. Most concurrence was observed for pain reduction, with other endpoints such as stiffness or physical function showing a greater variability in outcomes.

Conclusion

The PEMF therapy appears to be effective in the short term to relieve pain and improve function in patients with OA. The existing studies used very heterogeneous treatment schemes, mostly with low sample sizes and suboptimal study designs, from which no sufficient proof of efficacy can be derived. A catalogue of measures to improve the quality of future studies has been drawn up.
Patient perspectives on symptoms, health-related quality of life, and treatment experience associated with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma
Authors: Nathwani Nitya , Bell Jill , Cherepanov Dasha , Sowell France Ginchereau , Shah Rachel , McCarrier Kelly , Hari Parameswaran
Published: April 2022

Purpose

This study aimed to better understand the patient perspective and treatment experience of relapsed and/or refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM).

Methods

This qualitative study enrolled adult RRMM patients from 6 US clinics who had ≥ 3 months of life expectancy, ≤ 6 prior lines of therapy, and ≥ 1 treatment regimen with a proteasome inhibitor and immunomodulator, or a CD38 monoclonal antibody or an alkylating agent, and a steroid. In-person semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted to capture concepts that were relevant and important to patients. Topics included RRMM symptoms and impacts and the mode of administration, frequency, duration, convenience, side effects, and overall experience with RRMM treatment.

Results

A total of 22 patients completed interviews. At enrollment, 59.1% of participants were using regimens containing dexamethasone, 36.4% daratumumab, 27.3% carfilzomib, and 18.2% lenalidomide. More participants had experience using intravenous or injectable therapy alone (40.9%) than oral therapy alone (18.2%). Back pain and fatigue were the most frequently reported symptoms (40.9% each); 27.3% reported no symptoms. Most participants reported physical function limitations (86.4%), emotional impacts (77.3%), MM-related activity limitations (72.7%), and sleep disturbances (63.6%). Most participants perceived treatment effectiveness based on physician-explained clinical signs (68.2%) and symptom relief (40.9%). Participants experienced gastrointestinal adverse events (59.1%), fatigue (59.1%), sleep disturbances (31.8%), and allergic reactions (31.8%) with treatment. Key elements of treatment burden included the duration of a typical treatment day (68.2%), treatment interfering with daily activities (54.5%), and infusion duration (50.0%).

Conclusions

These results provide treatment experience–related data to further understand RRMM treatment burden and better inform treatment decision-making.
Golfers have greater preoperative and equal postoperative function when undergoing total knee arthroplasty compared to non-golfers
Authors: Robinson P. G. , Kay R. S. , MacDonald D. , Murray A. D. , Clement N. D.
Published: April 2022

Background

Approximately 10% to 20% of patients with joint arthroplasties are golfers. The aim of this study was to assess if being a golfer is associated with functional outcomes, satisfaction or improvement in quality of life (QoL) compared to non-golfers following total knee arthroplasty.

Methods

All patients undergoing primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA) over a one-year period at a single institution were included with one-year postoperative outcomes. Patients were retrospectively followed up to assess if they had been golfers at the time of their surgery. Multivariate linear regression analysis was performed to assess the independent association of preoperative golfing status on postoperative function and health-related outcomes.

Results

The study cohort consisted of a total of 514 patients undergoing TKA. This included 223 (43.3%) male patients and 291 (56.7%) female patients, with an overall mean age of 70 (SD 9.5) years. The preoperative Oxford Knee Score (OKS) was significantly higher in golfers when adjusting for confounders (Diff 3.4 [95% CI 1 to 5.8],p = 0.006). There was no difference in postoperative outcomes between golfers and non-golfers. There was however a trend towards a higher Forgotten Joint Score (FJS) in the golfers (difference 9.3, 95% CI − 0.2 to 18.8,p = 0.056). Of the 48 patients who reported being golfers at the time of their surgery, 43 (89.6%) returned to golf and 88.4% of those were satisfied with their involvement in golf following surgery.

Conclusions

Golfers had better preoperative and equal postoperative knee specific function compared to non-golfers. The majority of golfers returned to golf by one year and were satisfied with their involvement in the game.

Level of evidence

III.
Amplification-free detection of SARS-CoV-2 using gold nanotriangles functionalized with oligonucleotides
Authors: del Caño Rafael , García-Mendiola Tania , García-Nieto Daniel , Álvaro Raquel , Luna Mónica , Iniesta Hernán Alarcón , Coloma Rocío , Diaz Ciro Rodríguez , Milán-Rois Paula , Castellanos Milagros , Abreu Melanie , Cantón Rafael , Galán Juan Carlos , Pineda Teresa , Pariente Félix , Miranda Rodolfo , Somoza Álvaro , Lorenzo Encarnación
Published: April 2022

Gold nanotriangles (AuNTs) functionalized with dithiolated oligonucleotides have been employed to develop an amplification-free electrochemical biosensor for SARS-CoV-2 in patient samples. Gold nanotriangles, prepared through a seed-mediated growth method and exhaustively characterized by different techniques, serve as an improved electrochemical platform and for DNA probe immobilization. Azure A is used as an electrochemical indicator of the hybridization event. The biosensor detects either single stranded DNA or RNA sequences of SARS-CoV-2 of different lengths, with a low detection limit of 22.2 fM. In addition, it allows to detect point mutations in SARS-CoV-2 genome with the aim to detect more infective SARS-CoV-2 variants such as Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, and Omicron. Results obtained with the biosensor in nasopharyngeal swab samples from COVID-19 patients show the possibility to clearly discriminate between non-infected and infected patient samples as well as patient samples with different viral load. Furthermore, the results correlate well with those obtained by the gold standard technique RT-qPCR, with the advantage of avoiding the amplification process and the need of sophisticated equipment.

Graphical abstract
ABO blood groups and the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection
Authors: Bullerdiek Jörn , Reisinger Emil , Rommel Birgit , Dotzauer Andreas
Published: April 2022

There is no doubt that genetic factors of the host play a role in susceptibility to infectious diseases. An association between ABO blood groups and SARS-CoV-2 infection as well as the severity of COVID-19 has been suggested relatively early during the pandemic and gained enormously high public interest. It was postulated that blood group A predisposes to a higher risk of infection as well as to a much higher risk of severe respiratory disease and that people with blood group O are less frequently and less severely affected by the disease. However, as to the severity of COVID-19, a thorough summary of the existing literature does not support these assumptions in general. Accordingly, at this time, there is no reason to suppose that knowledge of a patient’s ABO phenotype should directly influence therapeutical decisions in any way. On the other hand, there are many data available supporting an association between the ABO blood groups and the risk of contracting SARS-CoV-2. To explain this association, several interactions between the virus and the host cell membrane have been proposed which will be discussed here.
Coexistent cerebral small vessel disease and multiple infarctions predict recurrent stroke
Authors: Tian Yu , Pan Yuesong , Yan Hongyi , Meng Xia , Zhao XingQuan , Liu Liping , Wang Yongjun , Wang Yilong
Published: April 2022

Background and purpose

To investigate the association of different status of cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) and infarction number with recurrence after acute minor stroke and transient ischaemic attack (TIA).

Methods

This study was a post hoc analysis of the Clopidogrel in High-risk Patients with Acute Nondisabling Cerebrovascular Events (CHANCE) trial, and includes 886 patients with acute minor stroke and TIA. The status of CSVD and infarction number was recorded for each individual. Infarction number were classified as multiple acute infarctions (MAIs≥2), single acute infarction (SAI =1), and non-acute infarction (NAI =0). The CSVD burden were grouped into non-CSVD (0 score) and CSVD (1–4 score). The primary outcome was a recurrent stroke at the 1-year follow-up. The secondary outcomes were recurrent ischaemic stroke, composite vascular event (CVE), and TIA. We analyzed the relationships between different status of CSVD burden and infarction pattern with the risk of outcomes using multivariable Cox regression models.

Results

Among all 886 patients included in present analysis, recurrent stroke was occurred in 93 (10.5%) patients during 1-year follow-up. After adjusted for all potential covariates, compared with patients with non-CSVD and NAI, patients with CSVD and MAIs were associated with approximately 9.5-fold increased risk of recurrent stroke at 1 year (HR 9.560, 95% CI 1.273–71.787, p=0.028). Similar results observed in ischaemic stroke and CVE.

Conclusion

The status of CSVD and infarction number predicted recurrent stroke in patients with acute minor stroke and TIA, especially for those with coexistent CSVD and MAIs.
microRNAs shape social immunity: a potential target for biological control of the termite Reticulitermes chinensis
Authors: Liu Long , Yan Feng-Ming , Zhao Chen-Chen , Su Li-Juan , Huang Qiu-Ying , Tang Qing-Bo
Published: April 2022

Eusocial insects can employ various behavioural and physiological disease defences to avoid, resist and tolerate pathogen infections in their closely related and packed colonies, termed social immunity. Recent studies have shown that several molecules serve insect social immunity, including chemical odours, insect venoms, immune-related proteins, etc. However, whether and how microRNAs (miRNAs), whose precursors are processed by Dicer-1, drive social immunity in insect colonies is still unknown. Here, we used a ‘host–pathogen’ system (host: Reticulitermes chinensis; pathogen: Metarhizium anisopliae) to explore the impact of miRNAs on social immunity in termite colonies. We found that RNAi-mediated silencing of Dicer-1 led to decreased miRNA concentration, significantly inhibited carbohydrate and energy metabolism and affected other life processes, such as the immune response and oxidation–reduction reactions, in whole body of the termite. In behavioural defence, silencing Dicer-1 significantly diminished defensive social behaviours such as locomotion, grooming, cannibalism and burial in termite groups when encountering fungal contamination. In physiological defence, Dicer-1 silencing and miR-71-5 stimulation resulted in significantly decreased antifungal activities of termites. Furthermore, both Dicer-1-silenced and miR-71-5 stimulant-treated termite groups exhibited a high level of mortality during fungal contamination. Our findings demonstrated the important role of miRNAs in shaping social immunity in termite colonies, providing insights necessary to understand the potential mechanisms underlying behavioural and physiological disease defences in insects and hence laying the groundwork for miRNA-based pest control.