bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
SENSE EPI reconstruction with 2D phase error correction and channel‐wise noise removal
Authors: Powell Elizabeth , Schneider Torben , Battiston Marco , Grussu Francesco , Toosy Ahmed , Clayden Jonathan D. , Wheeler‐Kingshott Claudia A. M. Gandini
Published: July 2022

Purpose

To develop a robust reconstruction pipeline for EPI data that enables 2D Nyquist phase error correction using sensitivity encoding without incurring major noise artifacts in low SNR data.

Methods

SENSE with 2D phase error correction (PEC‐SENSE) was combined with channel‐wise noise removal using Marcenko–Pastur principal component analysis (MPPCA) to simultaneously eliminate Nyquist ghost artifacts in EPI data and mitigate the noise amplification associated with phase correction using parallel imaging. The proposed pipeline (coined SPECTRE) was validated in phantom DW‐EPI data using the accuracy and precision of diffusion metrics; ground truth values were obtained from data acquired with a spin echo readout. Results from the SPECTRE pipeline were compared against PEC‐SENSE reconstructions with three alternate denoising strategies: (i) no denoising; (ii) denoising of magnitude data after image formation; (iii) denoising of complex data after image formation. SPECTRE was then tested using high ‐value (i.e., low SNR) diffusion data (up to  s/mm) in four healthy subjects.

Results

Noise amplification associated with phase error correction incurred a 23% bias in phantom mean diffusivity (MD) measurements. Phantom MD estimates using the SPECTRE pipeline were within 8% of the ground truth value. In healthy volunteers, the SPECTRE pipeline visibly corrected Nyquist ghost artifacts and reduced associated noise amplification in high ‐value data.

Conclusion

The proposed reconstruction pipeline is effective in correcting low SNR data, and improves the accuracy and precision of derived diffusion metrics.
Effect of miR‐34b/c rs4938723 T > C on pediatric glioma susceptibility
Authors: Jia Xingyu , Chen Wenchao , Chen Wei , Liao Yuxiang , Zhou Jingying , Yuan Li , Lin Huiran , Bian Jun
Published: July 2022

Gliomas, the most common type of primary intracranial tumor, arise from the brain's glial cells and constitute 30% of all brain and central nervous system tumors. MiR‐34b/c plays an important role in colorectal cancer and other cancers, but its role in glioma is unknown. In this study, we attempted to assess the effect of rs4938723 T > C in miR‐34b/c on the susceptibility of glioma Chinese children. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to evaluate the association between the selected polymorphism and glioma susceptibility. Our results showed that there is no significant association between this polymorphism and the risk of glioma in Chinese children. However, stratified analysis showed that the rs4938723 TC/CC genotype significantly reduced the risk of glioma in participants under 60 months of age (adjusted OR = 0.56, 95% CI = 0.35–0.88, p = .013). Overall, our study indicates that miR‐34b/c rs4938723 T > C polymorphism may have a weak influence on glioma susceptibility. Nevertheless, these findings need to be validated in well‐designed studies with larger sample sizes and different populations.
From a Shapiro–Keyser extratropical cyclone to the subtropical cyclone Raoni: An unusual winter synoptic situation over the South Atlantic Ocean
Authors: Reboita Michelle Simões , Gozzo Luiz Felippe , Crespo Natália Machado , Custodio Maria de Souza , Lucyrio Vinícius , de Jesus Eduardo Marcos , da Rocha Rosmeri Porfírio
Published: July 2022

The eastern coast of South America is a cyclogenetic region in terms of extratropical cyclones and, in lower number, of subtropical cyclones that are more frequent in austral summer and autumn. However, in June 2021, an unusual cyclone developed near the boundary of Uruguay and southern Brazil, initially having extratropical features and later undergoing a subtropical transition. At 1200 UTC 29 June, the Brazilian Navy named it as subtropical cyclone Raoni. This study aims to describe the synoptic evolution of the cyclone and address physical drivers for the subtropical transition based on the ECMWF‐ERA5 reanalysis and numerical experiments with the WRF model. The cyclone precursor of Raoni had its genesis at 1800 UTC 26 June 2021 forced by a trough at mid–upper levels that crossed the Andes Mountains and caused a rapid surface pressure drop. Less than 24 hr later, the cyclone presented a frontal T‐bone pattern and warm seclusion, following the Shapiro–Keyser development model. Strong surface heat fluxes, a deep moist troposphere, and the vertical alignment of the warm seclusion with an upper‐level cut‐off pattern provided the adequate environment for organising convection and, consequently, for subtropical transition at 0600 UTC 28 June. The fundamental role of the surface turbulent heat fluxes for the transition is confirmed through numerical experiments. This study is unprecedented in the sense that no subtropical cyclone originating from a warm seclusion has been documented over the South Atlantic before. These findings emphasise the need of monitoring cold‐season extratropical Shapiro–Keyser cyclones in the region since they can evolve to a subtropical or tropical cyclone and can cause damage to the maritime activities and coastal region due to the strong winds.
Influence of the interaction between different low‐ and mid‐level wind couplings and orography on the evolution of mesoscale convective systems in northwest China: A case study
Authors: Liang Zhaoming
Published: July 2022

A mesoscale convective systems (MCSs) event occurring in northwest China is investigated to discuss the influences of interaction between different couplings of low‐ and mid‐level winds and orography on the evolution of MCSs, using high‐resolution reanalysis data. The formation of a low‐level anticyclonic circulation related to the plateau high caused the sequential occurrence of reverse and perpendicular low‐ and mid‐level winds couplings and the stagnation and expansion of a high‐humidity zone originating from the mountains. In the case of reverse coupling of low‐ and mid‐level winds, mid‐level winds were constantly lifted by low‐level winds ascending the mountains, resulting in strong updrafts and relevant inertia–gravity waves occurring continuously in the upstream direction of mid‐level winds. The unstable stratification generated by the high‐humidity zone prevented the inertia–gravity waves from propagating into the updrafts, leading to the maintenance and connection of the updrafts. Meanwhile, a strong downdraft occurred and was maintained on the leeward side of the updrafts due to the coupling of the inertia–gravity waves associated with the uplift of mid‐level winds with the inertia–gravity wave triggered by low‐level winds ascending the mountains. Consequently, MCSs developed as they propagated into the updrafts, and perished abruptly when they reached the leeward‐side downdraft. In the case of perpendicular coupling of low‐ and mid‐level winds, a broad and strong low‐level updraft band formed and stayed on the windward side of the mountain ridge due to terrain‐induced uplift. Significant mid‐level updraft and an associated inertia–gravity wave were triggered on the side of the low‐level updraft band blown by mid‐level winds. The unstable stratification generated by the high‐humidity zone hindered the propagation of the gravity wave into the low‐level updraft band, leading to the maintenance of strength and continuity of the low‐level updraft band. Consequently, MCSs were maintained during their entire propagation along the low‐level updraft band.
A novel saturation‐related event‐triggered scheme for systems with asymmetric input constraint
Authors: Li Hongchao , Zhang Nan , Zuo Zhiqiang , Deng Huimin
Published: July 2022

This paper investigates the problem of event‐triggered control for systems with asymmetric input constraint by establishing a novel saturation‐related triggering condition, which could reduce the number of events. By designing a subregion‐based control law, a sufficient condition is deduced to ensure the asymptotic stability of the underlying system with the proposed triggering rule. Moreover, an optimal algorithm is formulated to estimate the domain of attraction of the closed‐loop system. Finally, a numerical example is provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of the derived approaches.
Fixed‐time self‐structuring neural network cooperative tracking control of multi‐robot systems with actuator faults
Authors: Liu Haitao , Huang Xin , Tian Xuehong , Yuan Jianbin
Published: July 2022

In this study, a fixed‐time adaptive cooperative controller by a self‐structuring neural network is proposed, and actuator faults are considered for multi‐robot systems. First, a novel fixed‐time leader state observer is developed to estimate the state information of the leader and pass on to other followers without measuring the leader's velocity. Second, a fixed‐time cooperative controller is designed to achieve fast response and high precision. Third, a fixed‐time convergent self‐structuring neural network is designed to improve the approximation accuracy affected by system uncertainties and actuator faults. A new neuronal splitting strategy is designed to avoid excessive computational burden caused by too many neurons. Next, the Lyapunov stability theorem is employed to demonstrate that the whole error closed‐loop system can globally converge to a small region around zero in a fixed time. Finally, a simulation example on multi‐robot systems shows that the proposed fixed‐time adaptive cooperative controller is able to obtain satisfactory performances in the presence of uncertainties from external disturbances, actuator faults and other causes.
Robust Multiscale Electron/Ion Transport and Enhanced Structural Stability in SiOx Semi‐Solid Anolytes Enabled by Trifunctional Artificial Interfaces for High‐Performance Li‐Ion Slurry Flow Batteries
Authors: Pan Shanshan , Yang Lipeng , Su Peipei , Zhang Haitao , Zhang Suojiang
Published: July 2022

SiOx suspension is regarded as an attractive anolyte for high‐energy‐density Li‐ion slurry flow batteries. However, the poor electronic conductivity and non‐negligible volume variation of SiOx greatly hinder its practical applications. Herein, these issues are successfully addressed by rationally designing a trifunctional interface with mixed electron/ion and hard/soft modulated properties on SiOx surface via H‐bonding interactions. The interface comprises a lithiated polymer layer (LiPN) interfused with functionalized single‐walled carbon nanotubes. Carbon nanotubes work as electrical tentacles to enhance the multiscale electron conduction. The LiPN layer with transferable Li‐ions facilitates ion transport. In addition, the LiPN layer employs lithiated rigid polyacrylic acid as a framework to provide mechanical support and soft nafion as a buffer to accommodate volume change, which maintains the structural integrity of SiOx. Hence, SiOx@LiPN/S anolytes exhibit significantly improved rate and cycle performances. Specially, the interface enables the anolytes to load more active particles (30 wt%) or less conductive additives (0.4 wt%). The semi‐solid pouch cells based on high‐active‐content anolytes with stable cyclability are first demonstrated and the flow cell using low‐conductive‐content anolytes displays a high volumetric capacity of 207 Ah L−1. This strategy paves a novel approach for optimizing semi‐solid electrodes for high‐performance Li‐ion slurry flow batteries.
Wood‐Derived Monolithic Catalysts with the Ability of Activating Water Molecules for Oxygen Electrocatalysis
Authors: Zhang Pengxiang , Liu Yanyan , Wang Songlin , Zhou Limin , Liu Tao , Sun Kang , Cao Huaqiang , Jiang Jianchun , Wu Xianli , Li Baojun
Published: July 2022

Oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is the key reaction on cathode of rechargeable zinc–air batteries (ZABs). However, the lack of protons in alkaline conditions limits the rate of ORR. Herein, an activating water strategy is proposed to promote oxygen electrocatalytic activity by enhancing the proton production from water dissociation. FeP nanoparticles (NPs) are coupled on N‐doped wood‐derived catalytically active carbon (FeP‐NWCC) to associate bifunctional active sites. In alkaline, FeP‐NWCC possesses outstanding catalytic activities toward ORR (E1/2 = 0.86 V) and Oxygen evolution reaction (OER) (overpotential is 310 mV at 10 mA cm−2). The liquid ZABs assembled by FeP‐NWCC deliver superior peak power density (144 mW cm−2) and cycle stability (over 450 h). The quasi‐solid‐state ZABs based on FeP‐NWCC also display excellent performances. Theoretical calculation illustrates that the superb bifunctional performance of FeP‐NWCC results from the elevated dissociation efficiency of water via FeP NPs to assist the oxygen catalytic process. The strategy of activating water provides a new perspective for the design of ORR/OER bifunctional catalysts. This work is a model for the application of forest biomass.
Blockchain for requirements traceability: A qualitative approach
Authors: Demi Selina , Sánchez‐Gordón Mary , Kristiansen Monica
Published: July 2022

Blockchain technology has emerged as a “disruptive innovation” that has received significant attention in academic and organizational settings. However, most of the existing research is focused on technical issues of blockchain systems, overlooking the organizational perspective. This study adopted a grounded theory to unveil the blockchain implementation process in organizations from the lens of blockchain experts. The results revealed three main categories: key activities, success factors, and challenges related to blockchain implementation in organizations, the latter being identified as the core category, along with 17 other concepts. Findings suggested that the majority of blockchain projects stop at the pilot stage and outlined organizational resistance to change as the core challenge. According to the experts, the following factors contribute to the organizational resistance to change: innovation–production gap, conservative management, and centralized mentality. The study aims to contribute to the existing blockchain literature by providing a holistic and domain‐agnostic view of the blockchain implementation process in organizational settings. This can potentially encourage the development and implementation of blockchain solutions and guide practitioners who are interested in leveraging the inherent benefits of this technology. In addition, the results are used to improve a blockchain‐enabled requirements traceability framework proposed in our previous paper.
All or nothing? A second look at partial levator avulsion
Authors: Dietz H. P. , Shek K. L. , Low G. K.
Published: July 2022

Objective

To define associations between partial levator trauma and symptoms and signs of pelvic organ prolapse (POP).

Methods

This was a retrospective study of 3484 women attending a tertiary urogynecology unit for symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunction between January 2012 and February 2020. All women underwent a standardized interview, clinical pelvic organ prolapse quantification (POP‐Q) examination and tomographic ultrasound imaging of the pelvic floor. Women with full levator avulsion were excluded from analysis. Partial levator avulsion was quantified using the tomographic trauma score (TTS), in which slices 3–8 are scored bilaterally for abnormal insertions. Binomial multiple logistic regression was analyzed independently for the outcome variables prolapse symptoms, symptom bother and objective prolapse on clinical examination and imaging, with age and body mass index as covariates. Two continuous outcome variables, prolapse bother score and hiatal area on Valsalva, were analyzed using multiple linear regression.

Results

Of the 3484 women, ultrasound data were missing or incomplete in 164 due to lack of equipment, clerical error and/or inadequate image quality. Full levator avulsion was diagnosed in 807 women, leaving 2513 for analysis. TTS ranged from 0–10, with a median of 0. Partial trauma (TTS > 0) was observed in 667/2513 (26.5%) women. All subjective and objective measures of POP were associated significantly with TTS, most strongly for cystocele. Associations were broadly linear and similar for all slice locations but disappeared after accounting for hiatal area on Valsalva.

Conclusion

Partial avulsion is associated with POP and prolapse symptoms. This association was strongest for cystocele, both on POP‐Q and ultrasound imaging. The effect of partial avulsion on POP and prolapse symptoms is explained fully by its effect on hiatal area. © 2022 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Correction to: About This Book
Authors: García-Álvarez David , Camacho Olmedo María Teresa , Paegelow Martin , Mas Jean-François
Published: July 2022

In the original version of this chapter, the URL link on page 11 in section “5.5 Data” was wrongly pointed to https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-90998-7_16 saying “DOI Not Found”. This has been corrected in the updated version.
A Family of K-12 Educators’ Innovative Responses to Overcome COVID-19 Challenges: Researchers’ Reflexivity Accounts
Authors: Durley Hui-Chen Kung , Ge Xun
Published: July 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought unprecedented challenges as well as opportunities in different aspects of life and various settings, including K-12 public schools. This chapter presents the first author’s reflexive accounts of her family’s innovative responses and transformative experience to overcome the challenges as an educator and researcher, as well as her scholarly discussions with the second author regarding critical incidents she had identified. As researchers, we report our reflexivity process based on theoretical grounding, examine critical events, analyze themes and trends that emerged during the pandemic, co-construct meanings, and develop our positions. As a result, three themes emerged from our reflections: Shared physical and virtual spaces: family, school, and work all in one; learning and growing together in the shared space; and innovation to combat disparities between urban and suburban school districts. Our research reflexivity provides insightful implications to inform educational practice and improve the current educational systems. It also generates some theories to enrich current literature while revealing some directions for future research.
Creating Sustainable Early Childhood Learning Environments for Emergency Situations: The Case of Sweden, Kenya and South Africa
Authors: Mahlomaholo Sechaba M. G. , Mahlomaholo Makeresemese R.
Published: July 2022

Early Childhood Education (ECE) is understood to take place between birth and the age of 9 including preschool as well as primary school years. It is also at this stage that the greatest damage can be inflicted on the vulnerable growing child. This chapter through literature and data from one country internationally, one on the African continent and South Africa explores challenges of teaching and learning, at early childhood environments during the pandemic. These serve as bases for mapping out how these nations continue to survive and lay foundation for the future productive citizenry in their respective contexts. Issues of race and social class are laid bare so as to come up with plausible strategies to create sustainable early childhood learning environments. These are understood to be contexts where economic development of all in an environmentally sustainable manner for the social inclusion of all are emphasized. The chapter over and above the research literature also examines strategies as well as theories of sustainable early childhood learning environments by way of making recommendations for South Africa in its search for solutions under such emergency situations.
Emerging Reform of Higher Education in Post Pandemic
Authors: Lee Insook , Auh Yoonil , Lee Eunbae
Published: July 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the reassessment of the potential transformation of digital education, thereby fueling the discussions on the need to rethink the future direction of higher education. Converting courses online was just one step toward a transformative paradigm. Further reexamination and drastic resetting of current education practice may be required, which can only be achieved with unprecedented levels of collaboration and open-minded innovations among stakeholders in education. Several practical recommendations were drawn from a case study based on the performing arts education (PAE) in the Korean higher education. They are, creating a platform for scalable innovations through the implementation of the right measure of technologies (learning technology innovation); advancing the effectiveness of technology integration in the non-traditional learning environment (pedagogical innovation); and promoting the cost efficiency of education (community knowledge construction innovations). This chapter explores and discusses the adaptation in educational / pedagogical technologies and suggests the building capacity for the future of PAE in the post-pandemic era.
Evolution of Clinical Education under COVID-19 Pandemic: Blended Clinical Education
Authors: Woo Alexander , Ngai Shirley
Published: July 2022

Clinical education is traditionally face-to-face and includes hands-on experience with patients. Under the pandemic, all clinical practice in various settings were suspended because of the safety concern of students, patients and clinical educators. Under the pandemic, the demand of the healthcare professionals for acute management and post-pandemic rehabilitation was increased. The suspension of clinical training delayed students’ graduation which was especially undesirable because of the insufficient manpower in society and the healthcare system. With limited knowledge on the transmission, management and post-COVID health impact, strict rules of infectious control have been executed. When considering the resumption of clinical education to students, the issue of everyone’s safety, students’ learning experience, fulfilling the intended learning outcomes, and most importantly, meeting the criteria of professional licensure registration must be balanced. Given the urgency, the clinical education team had reviewed the key intended learning outcomes of clinical education in the existing curriculum and revamped the content by including concepts of effective learning and blended strategies. A new model—“Blended Clinical Education”—a combination of face-to-face and online modes was established. To ensure successful launch of the new model, numerous briefings with students, clinical educators, faculty members and licensure registration board were organized for easing their stress. With all colleagues’ efforts, students finally graduated in time and joined the healthcare system providing urgent supply of manpower.
FCN-Transformer Feature Fusion for Polyp Segmentation
Authors: Sanderson Edward , Matuszewski Bogdan J.
Published: July 2022

Colonoscopy is widely recognised as the gold standard procedure for the early detection of colorectal cancer (CRC). Segmentation is valuable for two significant clinical applications, namely lesion detection and classification, providing means to improve accuracy and robustness. The manual segmentation of polyps in colonoscopy images is time-consuming. As a result, the use of deep learning (DL) for automation of polyp segmentation has become important. However, DL-based solutions can be vulnerable to overfitting and the resulting inability to generalise to images captured by different colonoscopes. Recent transformer-based architectures for semantic segmentation both achieve higher performance and generalise better than alternatives, however typically predict a segmentation map of $$\frac{h}{4}\times \frac{w}{4}$$ spatial dimensions for a $$h\times w$$ input image. To this end, we propose a new architecture for full-size segmentation which leverages the strengths of a transformer in extracting the most important features for segmentation in a primary branch, while compensating for its limitations in full-size prediction with a secondary fully convolutional branch. The resulting features from both branches are then fused for final prediction of a $$h\times w$$ segmentation map. We demonstrate our method’s state-of-the-art performance with respect to the mDice, mIoU, mPrecision, and mRecall metrics, on both the Kvasir-SEG and CVC-ClinicDB dataset benchmarks. Additionally, we train the model on each of these datasets and evaluate on the other to demonstrate its superior generalisation performance.

Code available: https://github.com/CVML-UCLan/FCBFormer.
Retinoschisin and novel Na/K-ATPase interaction partners Kv2.1 and Kv8.2 define a growing protein complex at the inner segments of mammalian photoreceptors
Authors: Schmid Verena , Wurzel Alexander , Wetzel Christian H. , Plössl Karolina , Bruckmann Astrid , Luckner Patricia , Weber Bernhard H. F. , Friedrich Ulrike
Published: July 2022

The RS1 gene on Xp 22.13 encodes retinoschisin which is known to directly interact with the retinal Na/K-ATPase at the photoreceptor inner segments. Pathologic mutations in RS1 cause X-linked juvenile retinoschisis (XLRS), a hereditary retinal dystrophy in young males. To further delineate the retinoschisin-Na/K-ATPase complex, co-immunoprecipitation was performed with porcine and murine retinal lysates targeting the ATP1A3 subunit. This identified the voltage-gated potassium (Kv) channel subunits Kv2.1 and Kv8.2 as direct interaction partners of the retinal Na/K-ATPase. Colocalization of the individual components of the complex was demonstrated at the membrane of photoreceptor inner segments. We further show that retinoschisin-deficiency, a frequent consequence of molecular pathology in XLRS, causes mislocalization of the macromolecular complex during postnatal retinal development with a simultaneous reduction of Kv2.1 and Kv8.2 protein expression, while the level of retinal Na/K-ATPase expression remains unaffected. Patch-clamp analysis revealed no effect of retinoschisin-deficiency on Kv channel mediated potassium ion currents in vitro. Together, our data suggest that Kv2.1 and Kv8.2 together with retinoschisin and the retinal Na/K-ATPase are integral parts of a macromolecular complex at the photoreceptor inner segments. Defective compartmentalization of this complex due to retinoschisin-deficiency may be a crucial step in initial XLRS pathogenesis.
Multi-locus genome-wide association studies reveal novel alleles for flowering time under vernalisation and extended photoperiod in a barley MAGIC population
Authors: Dang Viet Hoang , Hill Camilla Beate , Zhang Xiao-Qi , Angessa Tefera Tolera , McFawn Lee-Anne , Li Chengdao
Published: July 2022

Key message

Key genes controlling flowering and interactions of different photoperiod alleles with various environments were identified in a barley MAGIC population. A new candidate gene for vernalisation requirements was also detected.

Optimal flowering time has a major impact on grain yield in crop species, including the globally important temperate cereal crop barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). Understanding the genetics of flowering is a key avenue to enhancing yield potential. Although bi-parental populations were used intensively to map genes controlling flowering, their lack of genetic diversity requires additional work to obtain desired gene combinations in the selected lines, especially when the two parental cultivars did not carry the genes. Multi-parent mapping populations, which use a combination of four or eight parental cultivars, have higher genetic and phenotypic diversity and can provide novel genetic combinations that cannot be achieved using bi-parental populations. This study uses a Multi-parent advanced generation intercross (MAGIC) population from four commercial barley cultivars to identify genes controlling flowering time in different environmental conditions. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) were performed using 5,112 high-quality markers from Diversity Arrays Technology sequencing (DArT-seq), and Kompetitive allele-specific polymerase chain reaction (KASP) genetic markers were developed. Phenotypic data were collected from fifteen different field trials for three consecutive years. Planting was conducted at various sowing times, and plants were grown with/without additional vernalisation and extended photoperiod treatments. This study detected fourteen stable regions associated with flowering time across multiple environments. GWAS combined with pangenome data highlighted the role of CEN gene in flowering and enabled the prediction of different CEN alleles from parental lines. As the founder lines of the multi-parental population are elite germplasm, the favourable alleles identified in this study are directly relevant to breeding, increasing the efficiency of subsequent breeding strategies and offering better grain yield and adaptation to growing conditions.
Co-prescription of metoprolol and CYP2D6-inhibiting antidepressants before and after implementation of an optimized drug interaction database in Norway
Authors: Gedde-Dahl Ane , Spigset Olav , Molden Espen
Published: July 2022

Purpose

To compare the co-prescription of metoprolol and potent CYP2D6-inhibiting antidepressants before and during a 10-year period after implementation of an optimized drug interaction database into clinical decision support systems in Norway.

Methods

The study was a retrospective, cross-sequential nationwide analysis of drug-dispensing data retrieved from the Norwegian Prescription Database over a 1-year period before (2007) and two 1-year periods after (2012 and 2017) implementation of a drug interaction database providing recommendations on non-interacting alternative medications. Primary outcome was changes in co-prescription rates of metoprolol and the potent CYP2D6-inhibiting antidepressants fluoxetine, paroxetine, or bupropion relative to alternative antidepressants with no or limited CYP2D6 inhibitory potential. To control for potential secular trend bias, a comparison group consisting of atenolol/bisoprolol users was included.

Results

The co-prescription rate of metoprolol with potent CYP2D6 inhibitors declined following implementation of the optimized database, by 21% (P < 0.001) after 5 years and by 40% (P < 0.001) after 10 years. Compared with atenolol/bisoprolol users, patients treated with metoprolol had significantly reduced likelihood of being prescribed a CYP2D6-inhibiting antidepressant in the two post-implementation periods (OR 0.61 (95% CI 0.54–0.69) and OR 0.45 (95% CI 0.40–0.51), respectively, versus OR 0.84 (95% CI 0.74–0.94) prior to implementation). Small and mostly insignificant differences in average daily metoprolol dosage were found between patients treated with the various antidepressants.

Conclusion

The present study suggests that implementation of a drug interaction database providing recommendations on non-interacting drug alternatives contributes to reduced co-prescribing of drug combinations associated with potentially serious adverse effects.
Plasma biomarkers inclusive of α-synuclein/amyloid-beta40 ratio strongly correlate with Mini-Mental State Examination score in Parkinson’s disease and predict cognitive impairment
Authors: Chan Daniel Kam Yin , Chen Jack , Chen Ren Fen , Parikh Jayesh , Xu Ying Hua , Silburn Peter A. , Mellick George D.
Published: July 2022

Plasma biomarkers for Parkinson’s disease (PD) diagnosis that carry predictive value for cognitive impairment are valuable. We explored the relationship of Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score with plasma biomarkers in PD patients and compared results to vascular dementia (VaD) and normal controls. The predictive accuracy of an individual biomarker on cognitive impairment was evaluated using area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC), and multivariate logistic regression was applied to evaluate predictive accuracy of biomarkers on cognitive impairment; 178 subjects (41 PD, 31 VaD and 106 normal controls) were included. In multiple linear regression analysis of PD patients, α-synuclein, anti-α-synuclein, α-synuclein/Aβ40 and anti-α-synuclein/Aβ40 were highly predictive of MMSE score in both full model and parsimonious model (R2 = 0.838 and 0.835, respectively) compared to non-significant results in VaD group (R2 = 0.149) and in normal controls (R2 = 0.056). Α-synuclein and anti-α-synuclein/Aβ40 were positively associated with MMSE score, and anti-α-synuclein, α-synuclein/Aβ40 were negatively associated with the MMSE score among PD patients (all Ps < 0.005). In the AUROC analysis, anti-α-synuclein (AUROC = 0.788) and anti-α-synuclein/Aβ40 (AUROC = 0.749) were significant individual predictors of cognitive impairment. In multivariate logistic regression, full model of combined biomarkers showed high accuracy in predicting cognitive impairment (AUROC = 0.890; 95%CI 0.796–0.984) for PD versus controls, as was parsimonious model (AUROC = 0.866; 95%CI 0.764–0.968). In conclusion, simple combination of biomarkers inclusive of α-synuclein/Aβ40 strongly correlates with MMSE score in PD patients versus controls and is highly predictive of cognitive impairment.
Energiekostenoptimierung unter Berücksichtigung des Energiemarktes
Authors: Herrmann Lutz
Published: July 2022

Eine ausführliche Energiemarktanalyse veranschaulicht die Zusammenhänge der einzelnen Commodities (Rohöl, Kohle, Erdgas) bezüglich Preisentwicklung und somit den Einfluss auf den Strompreis (elektrische Energie) bei der Beschaffung. Der Autor kommt zu dem Schluss, dass eine auf das Unternehmen abgestimmte Beschaffungsstrategie eine wesentliche Voraussetzung für den Unternehmenserfolg ist.
Clinical and radiographic evaluation of low-speed platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) for the treatment of intra-osseous defects of stage-III periodontitis patients: a randomized controlled clinical trial
Authors: Abdulrahman Yasser Ali , Hosny Manal Mohamed , Elfana Ahmed , Fawzy El-Sayed Karim Mohamed
Published: July 2022

Aim

The current randomized controlled trial assessed for the first time the effect of a low-speed platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) with open flap debridement (OFD) versus OFD alone in the treatment of periodontal intra-osseous defects of stage-III periodontitis patients.

Methods

Twenty-two periodontitis patients with ≥ 6 mm probing depth (PD) and ≥ 3 mm intra-osseous defects were randomized into test (PRF + OFD;n = 11) and control (OFD;n = 11) groups. Clinical attachment level (CAL)–gain (primary outcome), PD-reduction, gingival recession depth (GRD), full-mouth bleeding scores (FMBS), full-mouth plaque scores (FMPS), radiographic linear defect depth (RLDD), and radiographic bone fill (secondary-outcomes) were examined over 9 months post-surgically.

Results

Low-speed PRF + OFD and OFD demonstrated significant intra-group CAL-gain and PD- and RLDD-reduction at 3, 6, and 9 months (p < 0.01). Low-speed PRF + OFD exhibited a significant CAL-gain of 3.36 ± 1.12 mm at 6 months (2.36 ± 0.81 mm for the control group;p < 0.05), and a significantly greater PD-reduction of 3.36 ± 1.12 mm at 3 months, of 3.64 ± 1.12 mm at 6 months and of 3.73 ± 1.19 mm at 9 months (2.00 ± 0.89 mm, 2.09 ± 1.04 mm, and 2.18 ± 1.17 mm in the control group respectively;p < 0.05). No significant differences were notable regarding GRD, FMPS, FMBS, RLDD, or bone fill between both groups (p > 0.05).

Conclusions

Within the current clinical trial’s limitations, the use of low-speed PRF in conjunction with OFD improved CAL and PD post-surgically, and could provide a cost-effective modality to augment surgical periodontal therapy of intra-osseous defects of stage-III periodontitis patients.

Clinical relevance

Low-speed PRF could provide a cost-effective modality to improve clinical attachment gain and periodontal probing depth reduction with open flap debridement approaches.
Parent, child, and situational factors associated with parenting stress: a systematic review
Authors: Fang Yuan , Luo Jie , Boele Marloes , Windhorst Dafna , van Grieken Amy , Raat Hein
Published: July 2022

Parenting stress has been related to adverse health outcomes in parents, children, and their families. This systematic review aimed to provide an overview of parental, child, and situational factors related to parenting stress in mothers and fathers. We searched Embase, Medline Epub (Ovid), PsychInfo (Ovid), Web of Science, and Google scholar for studies published between January 1980 and May 2021 evaluating the association between at least one factor and parenting stress. Studies were included only if they reported the association in a general population sample of mothers and fathers with children aged 0–12 years. The parent–child relationship model by Abidin guided the data synthesis. Quality of the evidence was assessed using the Standard Quality Assessment Criteria for Evaluating Primary Research Papers from a variety of fields. In total, 29 studies were included with excellent quality (55%), good (31%), and adequate (14%) methodological quality. There was evidence of an association between maternal depression, child overall problems, child externalizing and internalizing problems, social support, maternal educational level and maternal parenting stress. Evidence was inconsistent for an association between maternal anxiety, family income and maternal parenting stress. There was no evidence of an association for maternal age, child sex and maternal parenting stress. Several modifiable factors (i.e., parental depression and social support) were identified that might guide the development of preventive interventions. Future research should employ longitudinal study designs evaluating protective and risk factors and the pathways that lead to parenting stress, among both fathers and mothers.
The added value of advance demand information for the planning of a repair kit
Authors: Rippe Christoph , Kiesmüller Gudrun P.
Published: July 2022

In this paper the repair kit problem is studied, where technicians have to visit several customers to repair broken appliances (such as copiers or heating systems) and they can only take a limited set of parts with them (called the repair kit). In this problem, it has to be decided which spare parts to include in the repair kit. We consider a version of this problem in which partial advance demand information is available. That means we divide the set of parts into two subsets, where the condition of parts in one subset is monitored by sensors. In case an appliance fails and a repair job is requested by a customer the service provider is able to access this sensor data before a technician visits the customer. For this setting, we derive an expression for the job fill rate, which is used as a constraint in the optimization model, where holding and replenishment costs are minimized. We use a greedy heuristic to determine near-optimal repair kits. In a numerical study, we find that integrating advance demand information yields substantial cost savings. In order to find out for which parts having advance demand information is most valuable, we examine the effect of parts’ demand probabilities and their prices. We find that monitoring parts that are expensive and likely to fail leads to the largest cost savings. In particular, the price of the monitored parts and the achievable cost savings are strongly correlated.
Semi-discrete optimal transport: hardness, regularization and numerical solution
Authors: Taşkesen Bahar , Shafieezadeh-Abadeh Soroosh , Kuhn Daniel
Published: July 2022

Semi-discrete optimal transport problems, which evaluate the Wasserstein distance between a discrete and a generic (possibly non-discrete) probability measure, are believed to be computationally hard. Even though such problems are ubiquitous in statistics, machine learning and computer vision, however, this perception has not yet received a theoretical justification. To fill this gap, we prove that computing the Wasserstein distance between a discrete probability measure supported on two points and the Lebesgue measure on the standard hypercube is already$$\#$$#P-hard. This insight prompts us to seekapproximatesolutions for semi-discrete optimal transport problems. We thus perturb the underlying transportation cost with an additive disturbance governed by an ambiguous probability distribution, and we introduce a distributionally robustdualoptimal transport problem whose objective function is smoothed with the most adverse disturbance distributions from within a given ambiguity set. We further show that smoothing the dual objective function is equivalent to regularizing the primal objective function, and we identify several ambiguity sets that give rise to several known and new regularization schemes. As a byproduct, we discover an intimate relation between semi-discrete optimal transport problems and discrete choice models traditionally studied in psychology and economics. To solve the regularized optimal transport problems efficiently, we use a stochastic gradient descent algorithm with imprecise stochastic gradient oracles. A new convergence analysis reveals that this algorithm improves the best known convergence guarantee for semi-discrete optimal transport problems with entropic regularizers.
Iodine Images in Dual-energy CT: Detection of Hepatic Steatosis by Quantitative Iodine Concentration Values
Authors: Beck Stefanie , Jahn Laurenz , Deniffel Dominik , Riederer Isabelle , Sauter Andreas , Makowski Marcus R. , Pfeiffer Daniela
Published: July 2022

Hepatic steatosis is a common condition and an early manifestation of a systemic metabolic syndrome. As of today, there is no broadly accepted method for the diagnosis of hepatic steatosis in contrast-enhanced CT images. This retrospective study evaluates the potential of quantitative iodine values in portal venous phase iodine images in dual-energy CT (DECT) by measuring iodine concentrations in regions of interest (ROI) and analyzing the absolute iodine concentration of the liver parenchyma as well as three different blood-normalized iodine concentrations in a study cohort of 251 patients. An independent two sample t-test (p < 0.05) was used to compare the iodine concentrations of healthy and fatty liver. Diagnostic performance was assessed by ROC (receiver operating characteristic) curve analysis. The results showed significant differences between the average iodine concentration of healthy and fatty liver parenchyma for the absolute and for the blood-normalized iodine concentrations. The study concludes that the iodine uptake of the liver parenchyma is impaired by hepatic steatosis, and that the measurement of iodine concentration can provide a suitable method for the detection of hepatic steatosis in quantitative iodine images. Suitable thresholds of quantitative iodine concentration values for the diagnosis of hepatic steatosis are provided.
Role of neopterin as an inflammatory biomarker in congestive heart failure with insights on effect of drug therapies on its level
Authors: Dogheim Gaidaa M. , Amralla Mohamed T. , Werida Rehab H.
Published: July 2022

Inflammation has a major role in the pathogenesis of heart failure (HF). It triggers a cascade that leads to the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines which in turn cause cardiac hypertrophy, fibrosis, apoptosis, negative inotorpy and leukocyte recruitment which worsen the condition. Neopterin is an inflammatory biomarker which is released as a response to macrophage activation. Levels of neopterin are elevated in conditions which has an immunological component such as autoimmune disease, viral and bacterial infections and malignancy. Neopterin levels were found to be elevated in patients with HF. This is due to the fact that inflammation takes place during the development of the condition. Studies demonstrated that neopterin can be used as a biomarker for diagnosing HF, determining severity of the disease and monitoring its progression. Neopterin levels were higher in patients with New York Heart Association classification (NYHA) III–IV more than class I–II. Moreover, neopterin levels correlated well with morbidity and mortality. It has been suggested that neopterin be monitored levels to determine effectiveness of HF treatment options.

Graphical abstract
Biased survival expectations and behaviours: Does domain specific information matter?
Authors: Costa-Font Joan , Vilaplana-Prieto Cristina
Published: July 2022

We study the formation of biased expectations across domains and examine whether they have a unique influence on health and financial behaviors. Combining individual-level longitudinal, retrospective, and end of life data from several European countries for more than a decade, we estimate the time-varying individual level bias in ‘survival expectations' (BSE) and compare it to a similar type of bias in the formation of ‘meteorological expectations' (BME). We exploit the variation across individual's family history (parental age at death) to evaluate the causal effect of BSE on health and financial behaviors, and we compare it to the effect of BME. This allows to investigate whether the BSE effect is due to private information, or another mechanism.We find that BSE increases the likelihood of engaging in less risky health and financial behaviors. We estimate that a one standard deviation increase in BSE reduces the average individual probability of smoking by 48% (and increase the probability of holding retirement accounts by 69%). In contrast, BME has little effect on healthy behaviors, and is only associated with a change in some financial behaviors.
Clinical and imaging features of melanotic neuro-ectodermal tumor of infancy of the maxillary bone: report of four cases and review of the literature
Authors: Guo Yujiao , Liu Ying , Wang Xingang , Li Gang , Yu Guoxia
Published: July 2022

Melanotic neuro-ectodermal tumor of infancy (MNTI) is an extremely rare tumor. The purpose of this study was to describe the imaging features of maxillary bone MNTIs and introduce the key points for clinical diagnosis of MNTI. We retrospectively reviewed four patients with histology-proven MNTIs arising from the maxillary bone. All patients underwent ultrasonic inspections, CT and/or MR scanning. Combined with previously literature, the imaging features were comprehensively evaluated and analyzed. All MNTIs showed a firm, non-ulcerated rapidly-growing soft-tissue swelling with pigmented (blue-colored or black-colored or gray-colored) mucosa. The onset ages were younger than 6 month-old. CT images showed osteolytic or expansive bone destruction of the involved maxillae, fragmentary cortical bone, “free-floating” tooth germs, with or without spiculated/sunburst periosteal reaction. The tumor appeared lightly hyper-intense on T2-weighted sequences, while isointense or lightly hypo-intense or lightly hyper-intense signal on T1-weighted sequences. Enhanced images all displayed heterogeneous enhancement. No metastasis features of lymph nodes or abdominal organs were demonstrated by cervical and abdominal ultrasonic inspections. As a conclusion, accurate recognition of the imaging features of MNTI combined with history and clinical manifestations (early infancy, painless, firm, pigmented mucosa, non-ulcerating lesion) can provide clues for diagnosis of this rare entity.