bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Radiation Diagnostics in Treatment of Displacement of a Joint Disk of a Temp-Jaw Joint and Myofascial Disorders
Authors: Ilyin A. , Fazylova T. , Dergilev A. , Sudarkina A. , Olesov E. , Olesova V.
Published: July 2021

Purpose: Determination of the volume and sequence of radiation studies in the treatment of patients with displacement of the articular disc of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ)and myofascial pain disorders.

Material and methods: The study included 48 patients with displacement of the articular disc of the TMJ and myofascial pain disorders. Clinical criteria for articular displacement were confirmed by MRI and CBCT. Studies of the function of the masticatory muscles were carried out at the Synapsis electromyograph. All patients underwent complex treatment, including relaxation of the masticatory muscles and relief of pain using injections of botulinum toxin in the actual masticatory, temporal and lateral pterygoid muscles (LPM), followed by repositioning split therapy. For the introduction of muscle relaxant in LPM, we have developed and applied external periarticular injection access to LPM. The method is based on reaching the zone of joint attachment of the upper and lower heads of the LPM with MRI navigation. Surveillance continued for up to 12 months with MRI monitoring of the position of the articular disc.

Results: The stages of treatment of SJS of the TMJ with control use of MRI and CT, as well as a method for the administration of botulinum toxin under MRI navigation, have been developed. The first stage included CT and MRI of the temporomandibular joint, the second stage – injections of botulinum toxin into the masticatory muscles using the developed periarticular access to the LPM with MRI navigation, as well as CBCT with a splint to control the new (established) position of the lower jaw; the third and fourth stages included continuation of the reduction splint therapy, correction of the splint, observation for 3-6 months with control CBCT after 6 months to assess the position of the mandible without splint. Achieved an increase in the posterior and upper temporomandibular joint distances and the correct position of the lower jaw.

Conclusion: Performing radiation studies on time at certain stages of treatment, differing in their content and volume, provided a complete diagnosis, planning treatment measures and monitoring the results.
Historical Aspects and Practice of the Use of Total Therapeutic Human Exposure
Authors: Frolov G. , Melkova K , Gimadova T , Klimenko E
Published: July 2021

The article discusses the historical experience of introducing into practice the clinic of the State Research Center Institute of Biophysics, Ministry of Health of the USSR, the method of irradiation of the whole patient's body on a device containing 137 Cs at a dose of 10–12 Gy before bone marrow transplantation. To ensure the safety of the total therapeutic irradiation method (TTI, total body irradiation – TBI in the world literature), as well as to maintain the specified irradiation parameters, a dose control system was used using thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLD) attached to the patient's body at each irradiation fraction to correct the total dose to the last fraction. In addition to the therapeutic procedure, the TTO model was used to study aspects of verification of emergency exposure and other issues of supporting cases of acute radiation disease. The practical part of the article illustrates the method of radiation dose control using TLD at 22 points when changing the TTI (TBI) technique to a linear accelerator for radiotherapy 6 MeV to perform the procedure with a more preferable dose rate and reduce the patient's exposure time for a fraction of radiation at a dose of 2 Gy for 40 to 20 minutes. The article presents the parameters of the irradiation according to the method and the data obtained on the basis of TLD during the irradiation of the patient according to the modified method. The correspondence of the radiation dose, as well as the irregularity of the irradiation to the specified parameters (less than 10 %), as well as the effectiveness of the use of lung protection with dose reduction from 12 to 8 Gy, is shown. The specified measurements using TLD should be carried out when changing the method at the first actual application, especially in the absence of preliminary phantom measurements. A clear understanding of the principles of radiation therapy in the case of TTI (TBI) is an invaluable experience of doctors, which is used in the treatment of rare cases of acute radiation sickness as a result of emergency (uncontrolled) exposure, both at radiation-hazardous enterprises and with known calculation errors in planning therapeutic radiation.
Sandplay Therapy Performed by Telepsychotherapy: Going Beyond the Limits of Face-to-Face Psychotherapy in the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Jung Byungho
Published: July 2021

As COVID-19 spreads internationally for an extended period of time, millions of people around the world are suffering from psychological symptoms such as anxiety, depression, PTSD, and loss, and the role of psychotherapy is growing more than ever. However, in the current situation where anxiety about infection is widespread, the form of face-to-face psychotherapy has become another factor that induces infection anxiety. The limitation of this existing psychotherapy leads us to think of alternatives that can reflect the rapidly changing clinical situation in different ways during the ongoing coronavirus period. Telepsychotherapy is a form of psychotherapy that has been practiced for distant clients for a long time and can be a safe alternative psychotherapy method for both clients and analysts in the pandemic era. Although some analytic psychotherapists have negative views on telepsychotherapy, the change in the psychological treatment environment caused by COVID-19 leads to a new perspective on telepsychotherapy. The subjects of anxiety, depression, and death that people are experiencing because of the coronavirus pandemic come to us as archetypal shadow. The symbols unfolded in sandplay therapy direct our gaze to the inner world of human beings during this pandemic period and make us look at the unintegrated archetypal figure in the deep conscious. This paper aims to examine the therapeutic meaning and value of sandplay therapy that is performed according to the method of telepsychotherapy by analyzing the case of changed clinical situation due to the pandemic.
The Effects of Group Sand play on the Psychological Health and Resilience of Street Children and Adolescents in Uganda
Authors: Olaniyi Alice Kolawole , Atuheire Shallon , Lally Lesley , Kane Ruán , Danilova Iryna , Walker Claudia , Earls Lynda , Holton Eimíle
Published: July 2021

The authors analysed the effects of group Sandplay therapy on adolescents' psychological health and resilience in a mixed-method research. They explored and categorized the themes these adolescents expressed during therapy. Fifteen children (n=15) were recruited for the study; (Boarding school children = 5; Day school children = 5; Street children = 5). The selection process was conducted in cooperation with an orphanage in Kabale, Uganda. The children who participated in the study underwent a forty-five-minute sand play therapy every week for nine weeks. The SDQ and RCADS were administered to the groups both pre- and post-intervention, with the data entered and analysed using SPSS. Group sandplay was found to significantly decrease the adolescents' internalizing problems such as anxiety and depression, while their resilience had also significantly improved. The narrative analysis, in turn, yielded seven themes: basic needs; community-love-celebration; giving help-leadership-empowerment; security-danger, recreation-self-development-self-nurturance, education, and seeking help-faith.
Web Usage Mining by Neural Hybrid Prediction with Markov Chain Components
Authors: Gellert Arpad
Published: July 2021

This paper presents and evaluates a two-level web usage prediction technique, consisting of a neural network in the first level and contextual component predictors in the second level. We used Markov chains of different orders as contextual predictors to anticipate the next web access based on specific web access history. The role of the neural network is to decide, based on previous behaviour, whose predictor’s output to use. The predicted web resources are then prefetched into the cache of the browser. In this way, we considerably increase the hit rate of the web browser, which shortens the load times. We have determined the optimal configuration of the proposed hybrid predictor on a real dataset and compared it with other existing web prefetching techniques in terms of prediction accuracy. The best configuration of the proposed neural hybrid method provides an average web access prediction accuracy of 86.95%.
Performance Analysis of Routing Protocols On IPv4 and IPv6 Addressing Networks
Authors: Jain Neha , Payal Ashish , Jain Aarti
Published: July 2021

With IPv4 addresses being exhausted, network engineers and researchers are encouraged to adopt IPv6. But before using the IPv6 network directly, engineers need to test their hardware and network performance under new conditions of IPv6 as it has an extended address, high complexity, overhead performance, and IPsec complications. As routing protocols play a crucial role in network performance, it leads to a network’s extended performance by finding the shortest path, good throughput, and lowest delay. As the specifications, viz. frame structure for IPv4 and IPv6 are entirely different, there are modified routing protocols specified for IPv6. Routing Information Protocol (RIP) and Routing Information Protocol Next Generation (RIPng) are distance vector routing protocols and use hop count as a cost. In this paper, we have used RIPng on the IPv6 addressing network and RIP on the IPv4 addressing network and then analyze and compare them on the basis of different performance parameters. For this comparison, three different applications – File Transfer Protocol (FTP), DB Query (DataBase), and electronic mail (e-mail) – are set on a network consisting of three different subnets, each having a diverse network topology. The performance parameters analyzed are global and object statistics, viz. ethernet delay, number of hops, applications response time, background traffic delay, traffic dropped, point-to-point links throughput, links utilization, and links queuing delay. The experimental results determine the strength of the routing protocols. Thus, the quantitative results give the option to choose the routing protocol according to the network scenarios. In terms of ethernet delay, traffic dropped, network convergence, and security, it is found that the RIPng_IPv6 network performs better than RIP_IPv4. RIPng_IPv6 has an ethernet delay of 2.9 milliseconds, traffic dropped of 0.29 packets/second, and network convergence of 17 seconds less than RIP_IPv4 values. However, the RIP_IPv4 network is scalable, uses less hop, and has 40 milliseconds of traffic delay, while RIPng_IPv6 has 0.40 seconds of traffic delay. RIP_IPv4 also has a better response time for all three applications, FTP as 100 milliseconds, DB as 40 milliseconds, and e-mail as 20 milliseconds which is much less than the values obtained for RIPng_IPv6 network. Therefore, according to the performance requirements, the network engineers/operators or researchers can use either the existing IPv4 network or a new IPv6 network to achieve the Quality of Service (QoS) target level.
Mahmoud Darwish: The Politics of Mourning and
Catastrophe
Authors: Abu Odeh Tayseer
Published: July 2021

This article examines the ways in which Mahmoud Darwish's contrapuntal notion of
memory, catastrophe, and mourning exhibit an aesthetic of freedom, intransigence
and resistance. Darwish's intellectual and aesthetic project is primarily
premised upon the pleasures and pitfalls of memory and catastrophe as a site of
spatial and cultural resistance. For Darwish, memory and catastrophe are not
only about the absence and presence of geography and home, but they are also
metaphorical in every way. In The Presence of Absence (2011),
Darwish argues that metaphors form a peculiar mode of geography and space.
Drawing on Edward Said's notion of late style and Judith Butler's argument on
the politics of mourning, this article sets out to examine the ways in which
Darwish's Memory for Forgetfulness and In the Presence
of Absence embody a radical form of aesthetic and intellectual
praxis, writing against the grain and the politics of mourning.
Curricular Philosophies Reflected in Individualized Education Program Goals for Students With Complex Support Needs
Authors: Kurth Jennifer A. , Lockman-Turner Elissa , Burke Kathryn , Ruppar Andrea L.
Published: July 2021

Individualized education program (IEP) goals are meant to be personalized to address the unique needs of students with disabilities, while also reflecting the student's grade-aligned general education curriculum. IEP goals describe what, how, and where students with disabilities are taught, and reflect the curriculum used to provide instruction. In this study, we analyzed how IEP goals align with the different curricular philosophies for students with severe disabilities. Using a sample of 88 IEPs for students with complex support needs (i.e., severe disabilities) in Grades K-12, we found most goals (57%) reflect curricular philosophies of the 1970s–1990s (i.e., developmental, functional, and social inclusion) eras, with only 26% of IEP goals representative of modern curricular philosophies (i.e., grade-aligned academic content). We also found secondary-aged students were less likely to have grade-aligned academic goals compared to elementary-aged students. We offer implications for ensuring individualization and goals reflecting skills needed for the 21st century.
Value-Based Payments: Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Quality Indicators Associated With Billing Expenditures
Authors: Friedman Carli , Rizzolo Mary C.
Published: July 2021

Although managed care is expanding into the intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) service system, there is little agreement about measurable and meaningful outcomes for people with IDD, including for use in value-based payments (VBP). In this study, we examined potential VBP metrics for people with IDD—relationships between quality and costs. We analyzed Basic Assurances data and long-term services and supports billing data from 68 human service organizations that supported 6,608 people with IDD. Our final hierarchical regression model predicted 66.40% of the variance of annual long-term services and supports (LTSS) billing per person. Our findings suggest quality assurance indicators can account for a significant portion of cost variance—quality metrics represent a potential for cost savings and efficient service delivery.
Stable hybrid plasmonic directional coupler based on an embedded silver nanostructure waveguide
Authors: Nayak Jeeban Kumar , Roy Chaudhuri Partha , Sahoo Pankaj K.
Published: July 2021

In this paper, a stable hybrid plasmonic optical directional coupler based on an embedded silver nanostructure that can offer a power transfer up to 95% is presented. This optimum power transfer is obtained at an outer edge-to-edge separation of 0.58 µm between the two waveguides. The obtained propagation loss is as low as 0.0863 dB/µm. The electric field distributions of the symmetric and antisymmetric modes of the coupler are compared, and the transmission characteristics are studied in detail using the finite element method. The performances of the directional coupler have been further characterized in terms of excess loss, coupling degree, and directionality. The shortest coupling length at which the maximum power coupling occurs is obtained as 2.488 µm. The proposed compact directional coupler features good field confinement and low propagation loss, which opens the door for many device applications in photonic-integrated circuits and optoelectronic industries.
Fast digital refocusing and depth of field extended Fourier ptychography microscopy
Authors: Zhang Shaohui , Zhou Guocheng , Zheng Chuanjian , Li Tong , Hu Yao , Hao Qun
Published: July 2021

Fourier ptychography microscopy (FPM) shares its roots with the synthetic aperture technique and phase retrieval method, and is a recently developed computational microscopic super-resolution technique. By turning on the light-emitting diode (LED) elements sequentially and acquiring the corresponding images that contain different spatial frequencies, FPM can achieve a wide field-of-view (FOV), high-spatial-resolution imaging and phase recovery simultaneously. Conventional FPM assumes that the sample is sufficiently thin and strictly in focus. Nevertheless, even for a relatively thin sample, the non-planar distribution characteristics and the non-ideal position/posture of the sample will cause all or part of FOV to be defocused. In this paper, we proposed a fast digital refocusing and depth-of-field (DOF) extended FPM strategy by taking the advantages of image lateral shift caused by sample defocusing and varied-angle illuminations. The lateral shift amount is proportional to the defocus distance and the tangent of the illumination angle. Instead of searching the optimal defocus distance with the optimization search strategy, which is time consuming, the defocus distance of each subregion of the sample can be precisely and quickly obtained by calculating the relative lateral shift amounts corresponding to different oblique illuminations. And then, digital refocusing strategy rooting in the angular spectrum (AS) method is integrated into FPM framework to achieve the high-resolution and phase information reconstruction for each part of the sample, which means the DOF of the FPM can be effectively extended. The feasibility of the proposed method in fast digital refocusing and DOF extending is verified in the actual experiments with the USAF chart and biological samples.
Deterministic latency networks: the enabler of edge data center synchronous operation [Invited]
Authors: Benzaoui Nihel , Sahoo Subhadeep , Bigo Sebastien
Published: July 2021

High bandwidth demands combined with low latency applications shifted data processing from the centralized cloud to the edge data center (DC). We propose to leverage the deterministic data delivery in optical deterministic dynamic networks (DDNs) to operate the edge DC in a synchronous manner. We jointly optimize compute and network resources allocation to deliver data just in time to be processed at the compute resources. Numerical results show that our DDN-based approach can (1) accelerate the application total execution time by up to 70% from baseline approaches; (2) reduce performance variance for competing applications, therefore satisfying the service level objective for all; and (3) increase the efficiency of the edge DC in a heterogeneous application environment.
Maximum possible contrast level for silent substitution: a theoretical model applied to melanopsin stimulation
Authors: Evéquoz Gilles , Truffer Frederic , Geiser Martial
Published: July 2021

For any given set of light sources stimulating the photoreceptors of the retina, the theoretical levels of illumination producing the smallest and the largest expression of one photoreceptor with fixed stimulation for the others are analytically computed. The cases of four, five, and more light sources are studied. We show that, for contrast optimization, only as many light sources as photoreceptors do matter and that, in the case of four light sources, the maximum contrast achievable for melanopsin lies at the intersection of the lines joining the sources in the CIE xy chromaticity diagram. This result is used to obtain the optimal position of four Gaussian primaries of equal bandwidth. In addition, we derive a procedure to construct level maps for melanopsin contrast overlying the diagram. In the second part of the paper, the interpersonal variability of the perceived stimulation is shown to be globally reduced if the bandwidth of the light sources is increased and, under some assumptions, if a light source is added.
Infrared diffraction radiation from twin circular dielectric rods covered with graphene: plasmon resonances and beam position sensing
Authors: Herasymova Dariia O. , Dukhopelnykov Sergii V. , Nosich Alexander I.
Published: July 2021

This work considers the near-infrared range diffraction radiation (DR) from a modulated beam of particles passing between two identical dielectric circular nanowires covered with graphene. The resistive boundary conditions are set on the zero-thickness graphene covers with the electron conductivity determined from the Kubo formalism. Assuming that the beam velocity is fixed, we use the separation of variables in local coordinates and the addition theorems for cylindrical functions and cast the DR problem to a Fredholm second-kind matrix equation. This allows us to compute both near- and far-field characteristics with controlled accuracy. The analysis reveals that a shift of the beam trajectory from the central-symmetric position enables the excitation of additional resonances on the modes, which remain “dark” otherwise. Ignition of these resonances can be considered as a tool for noninvasive beam position monitoring with microscale devices.
Signal-enhanced and bi-directional interferometric Rayleigh scattering velocimetry using an asymmetry cavity
Authors: Yan Bo , Chen Li , Li Meng , Chen Shuang , Zhu JiaJian , Sun Mingbo
Published: July 2021

Interferometric Rayleigh scattering technique is commonly employed to measure single-point velocity fluctuation and its standard deviation in a high-speed flow due to many benefits, such as high accuracy, easy data interpretation, and high sampling rate. However, this technique suffers from a severe problem often referred to as the weak Rayleigh scattering signal, especially in the supersonic and hypersonic flow with an extremely low gas molecule density. An asymmetry cavity structure that could cost-effectively improve the Rayleigh scattering (RS) signal of interest is designed and used in the interferemetric Rayleigh scattering technique. The ZEMAX simulations suggest that the parallel beam can be repeatedly reflected in the resonant cavity and can be focused in a measurement region with the order of 0.67 mm×1.31 mm. The number of propagating rays inside the cavity can reach about 50. The fidelity of this proposed cavity is then verified by the Rayleigh scattering imaging experiments. Results show that this cavity allows the laser beam to reflect several times in the resonant cavity, and the RS signal intensity in the major axis can be 10.4 times larger than that of the incident laser. The cavity is finally employed under realistic supersonic flow velocity measurements, where the results conclusively illustrate that the Rayleigh scattering signal of interest in a single direction can be improved by a factor of 4∼5. In addition, the bi-directional (both the axial and radial directions) velocity parameters can also be obtained simultaneously. The axial velocity and its standard deviation are similar to conventional single-line ones.
Self-compensation method for dual-beam roll angle measurement of linear stages
Authors: Fan Yuchao , Lou Zhifeng , Huang Yubin , Fan Kuang-Chao
Published: July 2021

In this paper, a self-compensation method for improving the accuracy of roll angle measurement of a linear stage caused by the non-parallelism of dual-beam due to time-dependent mechanical deformation of the support is proposed and integrated into a 5-DOF sensor to verify the feasibility. The non-parallelism between two laser beams is online real-time monitored by a pair of small autocollimator units. Through the ray-tracing analysis, the method to separate the roll angle of the moving stage and non-parallelism induced roll error is determined. A series of experiments under different supporting forces and ambient conditions have been carried out. The compensated P-V values of the roll angles are all within ±4 arc-sec, no matter how bad the originally measured value of the linear stage is. The average improvement of about 95% is significant. The effectiveness and robustness of the proposed measurement system in the changing environment are verified.
Laser filaments as pulsed antennas
Authors: Zheltikov Aleksei M.
Published: July 2021

Secondary radiation emission of laser-induced filaments is revisited from a perspective of transient antenna radiation. Solutions for transient-antenna radiation fields are shown to provide an accurate description of the spectral and polarization properties, radiation patterns, and the angular dispersion of terahertz and microwave radiation emitted by laser filaments. Time-domain pulsed-antenna analysis offers a physically clear explanation for the bandwidth of this radiation, relating the low-frequency cutoff in its spectrum to the filament length, thus explaining efficient microwave generation in laser filamentation experiments.
Optofluidic modulator based on thermoplasmonically controlled liquid–liquid interface
Authors: Chalikkara Farzeena , Varanakkottu Subramanyan Namboodiri
Published: July 2021

We report a thermoplasmonically actuated optical modulator based on a liquid–liquid interface decorated with self-assembled Au nanoparticles (Au NPs). The system comprises heptane (top layer) and water (bottom layer), and an Au NPs array at their interfaces. Focused excitation with the plasmonic wavelength (532 nm) generates a localized temperature rise at the interface (

Δ

T

=

3.2

±

0.7

∘

C

), resulting in a thermocapillary flow. We optimized the temperature gradient and the heptane layer thickness so that the resulting thermocapillary flow leads to the formation of a “self-healing hole” at the irradiating zone, which we exploited as an all-optical modulator. A signal beam (655 nm) positioned through the top layer, parallel to the interface, gives a maximum output when the layer is intact (no-hole situation, ON state) and a minimum output when the hole is present (OFF state). Nearly 100% optical modulation is achieved in a reversible manner, highlighting the potential of responsive and reconfigurable fluid–fluid interfaces for optical applications.
Design and characteristics of tunable in-plane optofluidic lens actuated by viscous force
Authors: Zhang Hongxia , Zhang Ziling , Song Xiaomin , Zhao Ruoxin , Zhang Ziying , Jia Dagong , Liu Tiegen
Published: July 2021

In this Letter, we report a tunable in-plane optofluidic lens based on a new regulation method. The viscous force (VF) adjusts a 68# white mineral oil–air interface and focal length (

f

). Two glass plates bonded by ultraviolet adhesive strips form a lens chamber. Liquid enters the chamber by capillary action and forms a convex interface due to VF. As the liquid filling amount increases, VF is enhanced, and the interface deforms. Because of the uneven VF, interface is aspheric, which can reduce the lens aberration. Bendings on both sides of the interface caused by edge effect lead to an even polynomial profile of the entire interface, and they can be used for aberration correction of an in-plane spherical reflector. Experiments demonstrate the continuous tuning of

f

from 17.7 to 45.1 mm. The positive longitudinal spherical aberration (LSA) is effectively suppressed below 0.078 when

f
<

35.5

m
m

. Interface with a large negative LSA is used for spherical reflector aberration correction. Simulation results proved that the light spot improvement rate is

>

90

%

, and the maximum reached 99%.
Measurement-device-independent quantum key distribution for nonstandalone networks
Authors: Fan-Yuan Guan-Jie , Lu Feng-Yu , Wang Shuang , Yin Zhen-Qiang , He De-Yong , Zhou Zheng , Teng Jun , Chen Wei , Guo Guang-Can , Han Zheng-Fu
Published: July 2021

Untrusted node networks initially implemented by measurement-device-independent quantum key distribution (MDI-QKD) protocol are a crucial step on the roadmap of the quantum Internet. Considering extensive QKD implementations of trusted node networks, a workable upgrading tactic of existing networks toward MDI networks needs to be explicit. Here, referring to the nonstandalone (NSA) network of 5G, we propose an NSA-MDI scheme as an evolutionary selection for existing phase-encoding BB84 networks. Our solution can upgrade the BB84 networks and terminals that employ various phase-encoding schemes to immediately support MDI without hardware changes. This cost-effective upgrade effectively promotes the deployment of MDI networks as a step of untrusted node networks while taking full advantage of existing networks. In addition, the diversified demands on security and bandwidth are satisfied, and network survivability is improved.
Higher-order topological phases in tunable C3 symmetric photonic crystals
Authors: Wang Hai-Xiao , Liang Li , Jiang Bin , Hu Junhui , Lu Xiancong , Jiang Jian-Hua
Published: July 2021

We demonstrate that multiple higher-order topological transitions can be triggered via the continuous change of the geometry in kagome photonic crystals composed of three dielectric rods. By tuning a single geometry parameter, the photonic corner and edge states emerge or disappear with higher-order topological transitions. Two distinct higher-order topological insulator phases and a normal insulator phase are revealed. Their topological indices are obtained from symmetry representations. A photonic analog of the fractional corner charge is introduced to distinguish the two higher-order topological insulator phases. Our predictions can be readily realized and verified in configurable dielectric photonic crystals.
#getintouch! Eine vergleichende Analyse der digitalen Points of Contact in Zürcher Gemeinden
Authors: Fischer Damaris , Mertes Alexander , Hänni Selina
Published: July 2021

Die digitale Transformation der Verwaltung in der Schweiz schreitet voran. Ein zentraler Aspekt der digitalen Verwaltung ist der Zugang zu Dienstleistungen über das Internet. Im Zentrum stehen dabei oftmals die Behördenwebseiten, da verschiedene Anspruchsgruppen darüber Informationen und Dienstleistungen beziehen. Demzufolge lösen die Webseiten in einer digitalen Verwaltung den Schalter als primären Point of Contact ab. Während die Privatwirtschaft den Mehrwert digitaler Points of Contact bereits erkannt hat, ist der Umsetzungsstand in der Verwaltung heute nicht bekannt. Dieser Beitrag erhebt das Angebot digitaler Kontaktmöglichkeiten in allen Zürcher Gemeinden. Es zeigt sich, dass klassische digitale Points of Contact wie eine E‑Mail-Adresse oder ein Online-Schalter von der Mehrheit der Gemeinden angeboten wird, während innovativere Formate wie ein Stadtmelder oder ein Chatbot seltener anzutreffen sind. Die Grösse der Gemeinde scheint zudem einen positiven Einfluss auf die Vielfalt des Angebotes von digitalen Points of Contact zu haben. Der Beitrag stellt eine erstmalige Übersicht zum Stand digitaler Kontaktmöglichkeiten in den Zürcher Gemeinden dar.
α-Synuclein fibrils subvert lysosome structure and function for the propagation of protein misfolding between cells through tunneling nanotubes
Authors: Dilsizoglu Senol Aysegul , Samarani Maura , Syan Sylvie , Guardia Carlos M. , Nonaka Takashi , Liv Nalan , Latour-Lambert Patricia , Hasegawa Masato , Klumperman Judith , Bonifacino Juan S. , Zurzolo Chiara
Published: July 2021

The accumulation of α-synuclein (α-syn) aggregates in specific brain regions is a hallmark of synucleinopathies including Parkinson disease (PD). α-Syn aggregates propagate in a “prion-like” manner and can be transferred inside lysosomes to recipient cells through tunneling nanotubes (TNTs). However, how lysosomes participate in the spreading of α-syn aggregates is unclear. Here, by using super-resolution (SR) and electron microscopy (EM), we find that α-syn fibrils affect the morphology of lysosomes and impair their function in neuronal cells. In addition, we demonstrate that α-syn fibrils induce peripheral redistribution of lysosomes, likely mediated by transcription factor EB (TFEB), increasing the efficiency of α-syn fibrils’ transfer to neighboring cells. We also show that lysosomal membrane permeabilization (LMP) allows the seeding of soluble α-syn in cells that have taken up α-syn fibrils from the culture medium, and, more importantly, in healthy cells in coculture, following lysosome-mediated transfer of the fibrils. Moreover, we demonstrate that seeding occurs mainly at lysosomes in both donor and acceptor cells, after uptake of α-syn fibrils from the medium and following their transfer, respectively. Finally, by using a heterotypic coculture system, we determine the origin and nature of the lysosomes transferred between cells, and we show that donor cells bearing α-syn fibrils transfer damaged lysosomes to acceptor cells, while also receiving healthy lysosomes from them. These findings thus contribute to the elucidation of the mechanism by which α-syn fibrils spread through TNTs, while also revealing the crucial role of lysosomes, working as a Trojan horse for both seeding and propagation of disease pathology.
Single-cell analysis reveals the pan-cancer invasiveness-associated transition of adipose-derived stromal cells into COL11A1-expressing cancer-associated fibroblasts
Authors: Zhu Kaiyi , Cai Lingyi , Cui Chenqian , de los Toyos Juan R. , Anastassiou Dimitris
Published: July 2021

During the last ten years, many research results have been referring to a particular type of cancer-associated fibroblasts associated with poor prognosis, invasiveness, metastasis and resistance to therapy in multiple cancer types, characterized by a gene expression signature with prominent presence of genes COL11A1, THBS2 and INHBA. Identifying the underlying biological mechanisms responsible for their creation may facilitate the discovery of targets for potential pan-cancer therapeutics. Using a novel computational approach for single-cell gene expression data analysis identifying the dominant cell populations in a sequence of samples from patients at various stages, we conclude that these fibroblasts are produced by a pan-cancer cellular transition originating from a particular type of adipose-derived stromal cells naturally present in the stromal vascular fraction of normal adipose tissue, having a characteristic gene expression signature. Focusing on a rich pancreatic cancer dataset, we provide a detailed description of the continuous modification of the gene expression profiles of cells as they transition from APOD-expressing adipose-derived stromal cells to COL11A1-expressing cancer-associated fibroblasts, identifying the key genes that participate in this transition. These results also provide an explanation to the well-known fact that the adipose microenvironment contributes to cancer progression.
Modelling the influence of naturally acquired immunity from subclinical infection on outbreak dynamics and persistence of rabies in domestic dogs
Authors: Gold Susannah , Donnelly Christl A. , Woodroffe Rosie , Nouvellet Pierre
Published: July 2021

A number of mathematical models have been developed for canine rabies to explore dynamics and inform control strategies. A common assumption of these models is that naturally acquired immunity plays no role in rabies dynamics. However, empirical studies have detected rabies-specific antibodies in healthy, unvaccinated domestic dogs, potentially due to immunizing, non-lethal exposure. We developed a stochastic model for canine rabies, parameterised for Laikipia County, Kenya, to explore the implications of different scenarios for naturally acquired immunity to rabies in domestic dogs. Simulating these scenarios using a non-spatial model indicated that low levels of immunity can act to limit rabies incidence and prevent depletion of the domestic dog population, increasing the probability of disease persistence. However, incorporating spatial structure and human response to high rabies incidence allowed the virus to persist in the absence of immunity. While low levels of immunity therefore had limited influence under a more realistic approximation of rabies dynamics, high rates of exposure leading to immunizing non-lethal exposure were required to produce population-level seroprevalences comparable with those reported in empirical studies. False positives and/or spatial variation may contribute to high empirical seroprevalences. However, if high seroprevalences are related to high exposure rates, these findings support the need for high vaccination coverage to effectively control this disease.
Staging liver fibrosis after severe yellow fever with ultrasound elastography in Brazil: A six-month follow-up study
Authors: Neves Yuri Costa Sarno , Castro-Lima Victor Augusto Camarinha de , Solla Davi Jorge Fontoura , Ogata Vivian Simone de Medeiros , Pereira Fernando Linhares , Araujo Jordana Machado , Nastri Ana Catharina Seixas , Ho Yeh-Li , Chammas Maria Cristina
Published: July 2021

Background

Yellow fever (YF) is a hemorrhagic disease caused by an arbovirus endemic in South America, with recent outbreaks in the last years. Severe cases exhibit fulminant hepatitis, but there are no studies regarding its late-term effects on liver parenchyma. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine the frequency and grade of liver fibrosis in patients who recovered from severe YF and to point out potential predictors of this outcome.

Methodology/Principal findings

We followed-up 18 patients who survived severe YF during a recent outbreak (January-April 2018) in Brazil using ultrasound (US) with shear-wave elastography (SWE) at 6 months after symptoms onset. No patient had previous history of liver disease.

Median liver stiffness (LS) was 5.3 (4.6–6.4) kPa. 2 (11.1%) patients were classified as Metavir F2, 1 (8.3%) as F3 and 1 (8.3%) as F4; these two last patients had features of cardiogenic liver congestion on Doppler analysis. Age and cardiac failure were associated with increased LS (p = 0.036 and p = 0.024, respectively). SAPS-3 at ICU admission showed a tendency of association with significant fibrosis (≥ F2; p = 0.053). 7 patients used sofosbuvir in a research protocol, of which none showed liver fibrosis (p = 0.119).

Conclusions/Significance

We found a low frequency of liver fibrosis in severe YF survivors. US with SWE may have a role in the follow up of patients of age and / or with comorbidities after hospital discharge in severe YF, a rare but reemergent disease.
Heterogeneity matters: Contact structure and individual variation shape epidemic dynamics
Authors: Großmann Gerrit , Backenköhler Michael , Wolf Verena
Published: July 2021

In the recent COVID-19 pandemic, mathematical modeling constitutes an important tool to evaluate the prospective effectiveness of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) and to guide policy-making. Most research is, however, centered around characterizing the epidemic based on point estimates like the average infectiousness or the average number of contacts. In this work, we use stochastic simulations to investigate the consequences of a population’s heterogeneity regarding connectivity and individual viral load levels. Therefore, we translate a COVID-19 ODE model to a stochastic multi-agent system. We use contact networks to model complex interaction structures and a probabilistic infection rate to model individual viral load variation. We observe a large dependency of the dispersion and dynamical evolution on the population’s heterogeneity that is not adequately captured by point estimates, for instance, used in ODE models. In particular, models that assume the same clinical and transmission parameters may lead to different conclusions, depending on different types of heterogeneity in the population. For instance, the existence of hubs in the contact network leads to an initial increase of dispersion and the effective reproduction number, but to a lower herd immunity threshold (HIT) compared to homogeneous populations or a population where the heterogeneity stems solely from individual infectivity variations.
A breakthrough series collaborative to increase patient participation with hemodialysis tasks: A stepped wedge cluster randomised controlled trial
Authors: Fotheringham James , Barnes Tania , Dunn Louese , Lee Sonia , Ariss Steven , Young Tracey , Walters Stephen J. , Laboi Paul , Henwood Andy , Gair Rachel , Wilkie Martin
Published: July 2021

Background

Compared to in-centre, home hemodialysis is associated with superior outcomes. The impact on patient experience and clinical outcomes of consistently providing the choice and training to undertake hemodialysis-related treatment tasks in the in-centre setting is unknown.

Methods

A stepped-wedge cluster randomised trial in 12 UK renal centres recruited prevalent in-centre hemodialysis patients with sites randomised into early and late participation in a 12-month breakthrough series collaborative that included data collection, learning events, Plan-Study-Do-Act cycles, and teleconferences repeated every 6 weeks, underpinned by a faculty, co-production, materials and a nursing course. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients undertaking five or more hemodialysis-related tasks or home hemodialysis. Secondary outcomes included independent hemodialysis, quality of life, symptoms, patient activation and hospitalisation. ISRCTN Registration Number 93999549.

Results

586 hemodialysis patients were recruited. The proportion performing 5 or more tasks or home hemodialysis increased from 45.6% to 52.3% (205 to 244/449, difference 6.2%, 95% CI 1.4 to 11%), however after analysis by step the adjusted odds ratio for the intervention was 1.63 (95% CI 0.94 to 2.81, P = 0.08). 28.3% of patients doing less than 5 tasks at baseline performed 5 or more at the end of the study (69/244, 95% CI 22.2–34.3%, adjusted odds ratio 3.71, 95% CI 1.66–8.31). Independent or home hemodialysis increased from 7.5% to 11.6% (32 to 49/423, difference 4.0%, 95% CI 1.0–7.0), but the remaining secondary endpoints were unaffected.

Conclusions

Our intervention did not increase dialysis related tasks being performed by a prevalent population of centre based patients, but there was an increase in home hemodialysis as well as an increase in tasks among patients who were doing fewer than 5 at baseline. Further studies are required that examine interventions to engage people who dialyse at centres in their own care.
Conservative treatment of microinvasive squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix stage IA1: Defining conization height to an optimal oncological outcome
Authors: Hartman Caio A. , Bragança Joana F. , Gurgel Maria Salete C. , Zeferino Luiz C. , Andrade Liliana A. L. A. , Teixeira Julio C.
Published: July 2021

Objective

This paper searches an ideal cone height for stage definition and safe treatment of cervical microinvasive squamous carcinoma stage IA1 (MIC IA1), avoiding excessive cervix resection, favoring a future pregnancy.

Methods

A retrospective study was performed involving 562 women with MIC IA1, from 1985 to 2013, evaluating cone margin involvement, depth of stromal invasion, lymph vascular invasion, conization height, and residual uterine disease (RD). High-grade squamous lesions or worse detection was considered recurrence. Univariate and multivariate regression analyses were performed, including age, conization technique (CKC, cold-knife, or ETZ, excision of transformation zone), and pathological results. Conization height to provide negative margins and the risk of residual disease were analyzed.

Results

Conization was indicated by biopsy CIN2/3 in 293 cases. Definitive treatments were hysterectomy (69.8%), CKC (20.5%), and ETZ (9.7%). Recurrence rate was 5.5%, more frequent in older women (p = 0.030), and less frequent in the hysterectomy group (p = 0.023). Age ≥40 years, ETZ and conization height are independent risk factors for margin involvement. For ages <40 years, 10 mm cone height was associated with 68.6% Negative Predictive Value (NPV) for positive margins, while for 15 mm and 25 mm, the NPV was 75.8% and 96.2%, respectively. With negative margins, the NPV for RD varied from 85.7–92.3% for up to 24 mm cone height and 100% from 25 mm.

Conclusion

Conization 10 mm height for women <40 years provided adequate staging for almost 70%, with 10% of RD and few recurrences. A personalized cone height and staging associated with conservative treatment are recommended.
Intraoperative quality assessment of tissue perfusion with indocyanine green (ICG) in a porcine model of mesenteric ischemia
Authors: Duprée Anna , Rieß Henrik , von Kroge Philipp H. , Izbicki Jakob R. , Debus Eike S. , Mann Oliver , Pinnschmidt Hans O. , Russ Detlef , Detter Christian , Wipper Sabine H.
Published: July 2021

Background

Mesenteric ischemia is a severe and potentially lethal event. Assessment of intestine perfusion is eminently depending on the skills, and the experience of the surgeon. Thus, the therapy is biased by the right evaluation. Aim of this study is to determine the applicability, and the usefulness of fluorescent-imaging (FI) with indocyanine green (ICG) in a porcine model of mesenteric ischemia. Second end-point is the verification of a visual and quantitative assessment tool of the intestinal perfusion.

Methods

In 18 pigs (54,2 ±2,9kg) an occlusion of a side-branch of the mesenteric artery was performed for 3 (group I, n = 7), 6 (group II, n = 7), and 10 hours (group III, n = 4). After reperfusion a 60 minutes observation period was carried out. 3 regions of interest were defined: ischemic bowel (D1), transitional zone (D2), and non-ischemic bowel (D3). ICG-FI was performed during baseline (T0), occlusion (T1), reperfusion (T2) and after an observation period of 60 minutes (T4).

Results

All experiments could be finished successfully. ICG-FI was assessed using assessment of background-subtracted peak fluorescence intensity (BSFI), slope of fluorescence intensity (SFI), and a baseline adjusted ratio of both parameters. ICG-FI confirmed loss of perfusion in D1, decreased perfusion in D2, and increased perfusion in D3. After reperfusion ICG-FI increased in group 2 due to a severe tissue damage resulting in a capillary leakage. In group I ICG-FI was equal to baseline values indicating the totally reversible loss of perfusion.

Conclusion

Using ICG-FI to estimate intestine perfusion after different durations of ischemia is viable using a porcine model of mesenteric ischemia. Even small differences in perfusion can be reliably determined by ICG-FI. Thus, ICG-FI is an encouraging method to evaluate intestine perfusion intraoperatively.