bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Long-term outcomes of active surveillance for clinically localized prostate cancer in a community-based setting: results from a prospective non-interventional study
Authors: Herden Jan , Schwarte Andreas , Werner Thorsten , Behrendt Uwe , Heidenreich Axel , Weissbach Lothar
Published: September 2020

Purpose

To report on long-term outcomes of patients treated with active surveillance (AS) for localized prostate cancer (PCa) in the daily routine setting.

Methods

HAROW (2008–2013) was a non-interventional, health service research study about the management of localized PCa in the community setting, with 86% of the study centers being office-based urologists. A follow-up examination of all patients who opted for AS as primary treatment was carried out. Overall, cancer-specific, and metastasis-free survival, as well as discontinuation rates, were determined.

Results

Of 329 patients, 62.9% had very-low- and 21.3% low-risk tumours. The median follow-up was 7.7 years (IQR 4.7–9.1). Twenty-eight patients (8.5%) died unrelated to PCa, of whom 19 were under AS or watchful waiting (WW). Additionally, seven patients (2.1%) developed metastasis. The estimated 10-year overall and metastasis-free survival was 86% (95% CI 81.7–90.3) and 97% (95% CI 94.6–99.3), respectively. One hundred eighty-seven patients (56.8%) discontinued AS changing to invasive treatment: 104 radical prostatectomies (RP), 55 radiotherapies (RT), and 28 hormonal treatments (HT). Another 50 patients switched to WW. Finally, 37.4% remained alive without invasive therapy (22.2% AS and 15.2% WW). Intervention-free survival differed between the risk groups: 47.8% in the very-low-, 33.8% in the low- and 34.6% in the intermediate-/high-risk-group (p = 0.008). On multivariable analysis, PSA-density ≥ 0.2 ng/ml2 was significantly predictive for receiving invasive treatment (HR 2.55; p = 0.001).

Conclusion

Even in routine care, AS can be considered a safe treatment option. Our results might encourage office-based urologists regarding the implementation of AS and to counteract possible concerns against this treatment option.
Kombination aus Dezentrierung und Verkippung der Linse im phaken und pseudophaken Auge – optische Simulation von Defokus, Astigmatismus und Coma
Authors: Langenbucher Achim , Omidi Pooria , Eppig Timo , Szentmáry Nóra , Menapace Rupert , Hoffmann Peter
Published: September 2020

Hintergrund und Zielsetzung

Der Einfluss von Dezentrierung und Verkippung von Kunstlinsen auf die Abbildungsqualität ist in den vergangenen Jahren ausgiebig in Simulationen wie auch klinischen Studien untersucht worden. Ziel dieser Arbeit ist es, den Einfluss der Dezentrierung und Verkippung auf die Induktion von Defokus, Astigmatismus und Coma im phaken und pseudophaken Auge zu untersuchen.

Methoden

Auf der Basis des Liou-Brennan-Modellauges wurde eine Simulation mit Zemax durchgeführt. Ausgehend von der im Augenmodell beschriebenen Position der Gradientenlinse, wurde nach der Bestimmung der Fokusebene die Linse von −1,0 bis 1,0 mm in Schritten von 0,2 mm horizontal dezentriert und von −10° bis 10° in Schritten von 2° um die vertikale Achse verkippt. Zu jeder der 121 Kombinationen wurde bei einer Pupille von 4 mm der Defokus, der reguläre Astigmatismus in 0/180° sowie die horizontale Coma aus der Wellenfront extrahiert. Analog zum phaken Auge wurde die Gradientenlinse durch ein aberrationskorrigierendes Kunstlinsenmodell ersetzt und die Simulation für das pseudophake Auge wiederholt.

Ergebnisse

Ist die Linse im phaken/pseudophaken Auge entsprechend den Vorgaben des Liou-Brennan-Modellauges positioniert, ergibt die Simulation einen Defokus von 0,026/−0,001 dpt, einen Astigmatismus von −0,045/−0,018 dpt sowie eine Coma von −0,015/0,047 µm. Maximale Werte treten bei einer Dezentrierung von 1,0 mm und einer Verkippung von 10° auf: 1,547/2,982 dpt für den Defokus, 0,971/1,871 dpt für den Astigmatismus sowie 0,441/1,209 µm für die Coma. Maximal negative Werte treten im phaken/pseudophaken Auge auf bei: −0,293/−1,224 dpt für den Defokus, −0,625/−0,663 dpt für den Astigmatismus sowie −0,491/−0,559 µm für die Coma.

Diskussion

In dieser Studie wurde erstmals der Effekt einer Kombination aus horizontaler Dezentrierung der Linse und Verkippung um die Vertikale auf den induzierten Defokus, Astigmatismus sowie die horizontale Coma in einem Simulationsmodell untersucht. Die Ergebnisse können bei der Ursachenforschung helfen, wenn bei dezentrierter oder verkippter Kunstlinse die Zielrefraktion nicht mit der erreichten Refraktion übereinstimmt oder der resultierende Astigmatismus durch den Hornhautastigmatismus alleine nicht erklärbar ist.
Ex-post implementation with social preferences
Authors: Zik Boaz
Published: September 2020

The current literature on mechanism design in models with social preferences discusses social-preference-robust mechanisms, i.e., mechanisms that are implementable in any environment with social preferences. The literature also discusses payoff-information-robust mechanisms, i.e., mechanisms that are implementable for any belief and higher-order beliefs of the agents about the payoff types of the other agents. In the present paper, I address the question of whether deterministic mechanisms that are robust in both of these dimensions exist. I consider environments where each agent holds private information about his personal payoff and about the existence and extent of his social preferences. In such environments, a mechanism is robust in both dimensions only if it is ex-post implementable, i.e., only if incentive compatibility holds for every realization of payoff signals and for every realization of social preferences. I show that ex-post implementation of deterministic mechanisms is impossible in such environments; i.e., deterministic mechanisms that are both social-preference-robust and payoff-information-robust do not exist.
Urotherapist activities in caring for patients with pelvic floor disorders: a prospective single-center observational study
Authors: Geissbuehler Verena , Forst Susanne , Werner Matthias , Schoenenberger Cora-Ann , Berner Ruth , Betschart Cornelia
Published: September 2020

Purpose

Patients with pelvic floor disorders are growing in number. The aim of this study is to outline the main activities of a urotherapist, an advanced nurse practitioner, in the care of patients with pelvic floor disorders and to evaluate patient satisfaction with the service urotherapists provide.

Methods

The prospective single-center observational study was carried out from July 2016 to June 2018. Parameters used to assess the urotherapist activities included the number of consultations, type of counselling, time frame of consultations and therapy and patient satisfaction. In a subgroup of 38 patients, satisfaction with the urotherapy sessions was evaluated by a questionnaire.

Results

Totally, 1709 patients were examined by urogynecologists. Five hundred and fourteen (30%) with chronic pelvic floor disorders were subsequently referred to a urotherapist. Of these patients, 60% were at least 65 years old. The most common pelvic floor disorders (221 patients; 43%) were an overactive bladder, recurrent urinary tract infections, chronic cystitis and pelvic pain syndrome; the second most common pelvic floor disorder was pelvic organ prolapsed (151 patients; 29%). Of the study subgroup comprising 38 patients, 32 (84%) returned the patient satisfaction questionnaire. All 32 patients specified their level of agreement with the urotherapist’s professional competence, empathy, temporal availability and quality of advice as “agree to strongly agree.”

Conclusions

Management by a urotherapist was highly appreciated. The role of the urotherapist as a care coordinator, their level of autonomy and barriers to the implementation in primary care requires further exploration.
Time-Resolved High-Resolution Angiography Combining Arterial Spin Labeling and Time-of-Flight Imaging
Authors: Lindner Thomas , Jansen Olav , Helle Michael
Published: September 2020

A strategy to combine two non-contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography techniques is presented. It is based on arterial spin-labeled magnetic resonance imaging to visualize the arterial system at different time points to obtain information about hemodynamic properties in conjunction with a high-resolution time-of-flight angiography acquisition. The temporal information obtained by arterial spin labeling (ASL) is combined with the highly spatial resolved time-of-flight image to obtain information about blood flow. Extracting the information of ASL and time-of-flight-imaging leads to images with high spatial resolution which also give information about the temporal course of blood through the intracerebral vasculature. Furthermore, owing to the properties of ASL, visible venous flow in the time-of-flight images can be suppressed. The behavior of vascular filling (i.e. signal changes in the ASL) is investigated and used for further interpretation of the data. Furthermore, the ASL data were down-sampled to find a minimally needed spatial resolution to combine both image types. Up to 1.6 mm isotropic resolution still showed satisfying results rated by two independent readers. In conclusion, a combination of these two different vascular imaging modalities allows to obtain highly spatial and time-resolved images.
Use of healthcare resources in a cohort of rheumatoid arthritis patients treated with biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs or tofacitinib
Authors: Machado-Alba Jorge Enrique , Machado-Duque Manuel E. , Gaviria-Mendoza Andres , Reyes Juan Manuel , Gamboa Natalia Castaño
Published: September 2020

Introduction/objectives

The objective of this study is to describe the treatment patterns and use of healthcare resources in a cohort of Colombian patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treated with biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) or tofacitinib.

Method

This is a descriptive study from a retrospective cohort of patients diagnosed with RA who were treated with bDMARDs or tofacitinib after failure of conventional DMARDs (cDMARDs) or first bDMARD. Patients who were receiving pharmacological treatment between 01 January 2014 and 30 June 2018 were included. The analysis is through the revision of claim database and electronical medical records. Demographic and clinical data were collected. The costs of healthcare resources were estimated from the billing expense of healthcare service provider.

Results

We evaluated 588 RA patients on treatment with bDMARDs (n= 505) or tofacitinib (n= 83), most of them were in combination with cDMARDs (85.4%). The 88.1% were females and mean age was 57.3 ± 12.5 years. The median evolution of RA since diagnosis was 9 years (IQR:4–17.2). The mean duration of use during follow-up of the bDMARDs or tofacitinib was similar, with a mean of 9.8 ± 1.9 months. It was identified that 394 (67.0%) discontinued therapy. The average annual direct cost of care per patient was USD 8997 ± 2172, where 97.2% was due to drug costs. The average annual cost of treatment per patient with bDMARDs was USD 8604 and tofacitinib was USD 6377.

Conclusions

In the face of a first failure of cDMARD, bDMARDs are frequently added. A high frequency of patients do not persist treatment during the first year of follow-up. The pharmacological treatment is the most representative cause of healthcare costs.Key Points• Rheumatoid arthritis is a disease with a high burden of comorbidities, complications, and worse health-related quality of life and is associated with elevated healthcare costs.• The biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs or tofacitinib medications are indicated for those with significant progression of the disease and when there is a need for alternatives to achieve low levels of activity and remission.• Patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs or tofacitinib represent a significant economic burden to the health system, especially in the costs derived from pharmacological treatment.
Resources and benchmark corpora for hate speech detection: a systematic review
Authors: Poletto Fabio , Basile Valerio , Sanguinetti Manuela , Bosco Cristina , Patti Viviana
Published: September 2020

Hate Speech in social media is a complex phenomenon, whose detection has recently gained significant traction in the Natural Language Processing community, as attested by several recent review works. Annotated corpora and benchmarks are key resources, considering the vast number of supervised approaches that have been proposed. Lexica play an important role as well for the development of hate speech detection systems. In this review, we systematically analyze the resources made available by the community at large, including their development methodology, topical focus, language coverage, and other factors. The results of our analysis highlight a heterogeneous, growing landscape, marked by several issues and venues for improvement.
Unannounced Evacuation Experiment in a High-Rise Hotel Building with Evacuation Elevators: A Study of Evacuation Behaviour Using Eye-Tracking
Authors: Mossberg Axel , Nilsson Daniel , Andrée Kristin
Published: September 2020

Past studies suggest that people are often reluctant to use occupant evacuation elevators in case of fire. However, existing research is scarce and current knowledge is based on questionnaire studies and laboratory experiments. An unannounced evacuation experiment was therefore performed on the 16th floor of a 35-floor high-rise hotel building. Sixty-seven participants took part and eye-tracking glasses were used to collect data on exit choice and eye fixations. Three different scenarios were studied, including two different hotel room locations on the floor and a variation of guidance system for one of these locations, i.e., flashing green lights next to the evacuation sign at the elevators. Results suggest that people typically choose the elevator for evacuation, even if their hotel room was located closer to the evacuation stair. Flashing green lights next to an evacuation sign made people look more at this sign. However, in spite of looking more at the sign, the flashing light was not shown to significantly improve compliance with the sign. Also, the results suggest that a detector activated self-closing fire door without vision panels to the elevator lobby made it more difficult to find the evacuation elevators in an emergency.
“The Ones that Care Make all the Difference”: Perspectives on Student-Faculty Relationships
Authors: Guzzardo Mariana T. , Khosla Nidhi , Adams Annis Lee , Bussmann Jeffra D. , Engelman Alina , Ingraham Natalie , Gamba Ryan , Jones-Bey Ali , Moore Matthew D. , Toosi Negin R. , Taylor Sarah
Published: September 2020

Student-faculty (S-F) interactions that are conducive to students’ learning can help reduce the retention and graduation gaps in higher education, especially for college students from underrepresented and underprivileged backgrounds. The aim of the study was to explore students’ perceptions of their interactions with faculty, and the subjective impact of these interactions on students’ academic and personal life. We analyzed qualitative data from a larger study with the goal of providing best practice models to support students experiencing displacement and food insecurity. Through purposive sampling techniques, 53 students from a diverse public university were recruited. Recruitment strategies focused on students who were likely to be facing academic, personal, and/or financial challenges that may affect their academic performance. Students were interviewed three to four times over a four to six-month period, using semi-structured interview guides. Our multidisciplinary team analyzed data thematically in team-based coding sessions using an online software. We identified four themes for faculty practices: (1) Creating Pedagogical Space, (2) Being Inclusive and Aware, (3) Being Engaged and Engaging Students, (4) Doing More Than Teaching. Based on students’ perspectives, these practices lead to supportive and responsive S-F relationships that facilitate learning and success. The findings have implications related to how faculty can encourage caring S-F relationships and create conducive learning environments where students can thrive, especially during times of crisis.
Depression, anxiety, and loneliness among adolescents and young adults with IBD in the UK: the role of disease severity, age of onset, and embarrassment of the condition
Authors: Qualter Pamela , Rouncefield-Swales Alison , Bray Lucy , Blake Lucy , Allen Steven , Probert Chris , Crook Kay , Carter Bernie
Published: September 2020

Purpose

Adolescents and young adults (AYA) with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) report higher depressive symptoms and anxiety compared to healthy controls, with disease severity and abdominal pain being important factors. In the current study, building on what young people had told us in our previous work, we examined whether embarrassment of the condition, social self-efficacy, and friendship quality mediated the relationship between abdominal pain and disease severity, and mental health/well-being. We also included loneliness as a component of well-being.

Methods

Data on depression, anxiety, loneliness, friendship quality, social self-efficacy, and disease embarrassment were collected from 130 AYA with IBD ages 14–25 years; data on disease severity and abdominal pain were taken from their medical records. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was used to test the relationships between the variables.

Results

Using SEM, we established that higher IBD disease activity negatively impacted how AYA felt about their friendships and how embarrassed they were about their condition; embarrassment then influenced reports of mental health, including loneliness. Abdominal pain, disease onset, and social self-efficacy directly predicted internalising problems.

Conclusion

In this sample of 14–25-year-old patients with IBD, specifics about the disease (severity and pain) predicted poorer mental health, suggesting discussion of mental health should be part of the clinical dialogue between patient and consultant. In addition, embarrassment about their condition increased depression, anxiety, and loneliness, mediating the relationship between disease severity and well-being. Thus, it is important to consider how perceived stigma affects those with chronic illness, and those issues should be explored in clinic.
4D deep learning for real-time volumetric optical coherence elastography
Authors: Neidhardt M. , Bengs M. , Latus S. , Schlüter M. , Saathoff T. , Schlaefer A.
Published: September 2020

Purpose

Elasticity of soft tissue provides valuable information to physicians during treatment and diagnosis of diseases. A number of approaches have been proposed to estimate tissue stiffness from the shear wave velocity. Optical coherence elastography offers a particularly high spatial and temporal resolution. However, current approaches typically acquire data at different positions sequentially, making it slow and less practical for clinical application.

Methods

We propose a new approach for elastography estimations using a fast imaging device to acquire small image volumes at rates of 831 Hz. The resulting sequence of phase image volumes is fed into a 4D convolutional neural network which handles both spatial and temporal data processing. We evaluate the approach on a set of image data acquired for gelatin phantoms of known elasticity.

Results

Using the neural network, the gelatin concentration of unseen samples was predicted with a mean error of 0.65 ± 0.81 percentage points from 90 subsequent volumes of phase data only. We achieve a data acquisition and data processing time of under 12 ms and 22 ms, respectively.

Conclusions

We demonstrate direct volumetric optical coherence elastography from phase image data. The approach does not rely on particular stimulation or sampling sequences and allows the estimation of elastic tissue properties of up to 40 Hz.
Evaluating Wrongness Constraints on Criminalisation
Authors: Pearce Adam R.
Published: September 2020

Some claim that criminalisation is morally permissible only when the conduct criminalised is morally wrong. This claim can be disambiguated into at least three principles which differ according to whether, and how, wrongness is dependent on details of the law: the strong constraint, the moderate constraint, and the weak constraint. In this paper I argue that the weak wrongness constraint is preferable to the strong and moderate constraints. That is, we should prefer the view that conduct criminalised must be morally wrong, but qualifying wrongness can depend on criminalising the conduct first. Further, I will show that my arguments in support of the weak wrongness constraint have wider implications. Favouring the weak wrongness constraint implies that condemning wrongs cannot be the only legitimate reason in favour of criminalisation. Those who think condemnation can justify criminalisation should be pluralists.
Ethylenediurea (EDU) effects on Japanese larch: an one growing season experiment with simulated regenerating communities and a four growing season application to individual saplings
Authors: Agathokleous Evgenios , Kitao Mitsutoshi , Wang Xiaona , Mao Qiaozhi , Harayama Hisanori , Manning William J. , Koike Takayoshi
Published: September 2020

Japanese larch (Larix kaempferi (Lamb.) Carr.) and its hybrid are economically important coniferous trees widely grown in the Northern Hemisphere. Ground-level ozone (O3) concentrations have increased since the pre-industrial era, and research projects showed that Japanese larch is susceptible to elevated O3 exposures. Therefore, methodologies are needed to (1) protect Japanese larch against O3 damage and (2) conduct biomonitoring of O3 in Japanese larch forests and, thus, monitor O3 risks to Japanese larch. For the first time, this study evaluates whether the synthetic chemical ethylenediurea (EDU) can protect Japanese larch against O3 damage, in two independent experiments. In the first experiment, seedling communities, simulating natural regeneration, were treated with EDU (0, 100, 200, and 400 mg L−1) and exposed to either ambient or elevated O3 in a growing season. In the second experiment, individually-grown saplings were treated with EDU (0, 200 and 400 mg L−1) and exposed to ambient O3 in two growing seasons and to elevated O3 in the succeeding two growing seasons. The two experiments revealed that EDU concentrations of 200–400 mg L−1 could protect Japanese larch seedling communities and individual saplings against O3-induced inhibition of growth and productivity. However, EDU concentrations ≤ 200 mg L−1 did offer only partial protection when seedling communities were coping with higher level of O3-induced stress, and only 400 mg EDU L−1 fully protected communities under higher stress. Therefore, we conclude that among the concentrations tested the concentration offering maximum protection to Japanese larch plants under high competition and O3-induced stress is that of 400 mg EDU L−1. The results of this study can provide a valuable resource of information for applied forestry in an O3-polluted world.
Follow-up Study of Microflora Changes in Crevicular Gingival Fluid in Obese Subjects After Bariatric Surgery
Authors: Balogh Bettina , Somodi Sándor , Tanyi Miklós , Miszti Cecília , Márton Ildikó , Kelentey Barna
Published: September 2020

The objective of our study was to investigate the effect of weight loss on the crevicular microflora following bariatric surgery. Crevicular fluid samples were taken from 57 subjects: 22 were in the normal control group; 18 in the obese control group; and 17 patients had had bariatric surgery, who underwent a repeat sampling 6 to 12 months after the operation. Crevicular fluid samples were analyzed by MALDI-TOF MS analysis. After surgery and weight loss, the mean germ count increased, albeit not significantly. Also, Candida albicans and non-albicans Candida species: C. dubliniensis, C. kefyr, and C. lusitaniae appeared after surgery (p < 0.05) in subjects where Neisseria was either absent throughout or eliminated after surgery. However, periodontitis did not develop during this time in our subjects.
The association of treatment with hydroxychloroquine and hospital mortality in COVID-19 patients
Authors: Ayerbe Luis , Risco-Risco Carlos , Ayis Salma
Published: September 2020

This study investigates the association between the treatment with hydroxychloroquine and mortality in patients admitted with COVID-19. Routinely recorded, clinical data, up to the 24th of April 2020, from the 2075 patients with COVID-19, admitted in 17 hospitals in Spain between the 1st of March and the 20th of April 2020 were used. The following variables were extracted for this study: age, gender, temperature, and saturation of oxygen on admission, treatment with hydroxychloroquine, azithromycin, heparin, steroids, tocilizumab, a combination of lopinavir with ritonavir, and oseltamivir, together with data on mortality. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to investigate the associations. At the time of collecting the data, 301 patients had died, 1449 had been discharged home from the hospitals, 240 were still admitted, and 85 had been transferred to hospitals not included in the study. Median follow-up time was 8 (IQR 5–12) days. Hydroxychloroquine had been used in 1857 patients. Hydroxychloroquine was associated with lower mortality when the model was adjusted for age and gender, with OR (95% CI): 0.44 (0.29–0.67). This association remained significant when saturation of oxygen < 90% and temperature > 37 °C were added to de model with OR 0.45 (0.30–0.68)p < 0.001, and also when all the other drugs, and time of admission, were included as covariates. The association between hydroxychloroquine and lower mortality observed in this study can be acknowledged by clinicians in hospitals and in the community. Randomized-controlled trials to assess the causal effects of hydroxychloroquine in different therapeutic regimes are required.
Macbeth in der Forensik
Authors: Triebenecker Franz , Orlob Stefan
Published: September 2020

Der psychiatrische Raum kennt viele unterschiedliche Zimmer und Korridore. Es gibt erhebliche Unterschiede zwischen den verschiedensten Kliniken und Institutionen. Eine offene Tagesklinik ist nicht vergleichbar mit dem geschlossenen Maßregelvollzug. Beide nutzen aber bisweilen Methoden, die das Theater bereitstellt. Dabei reicht die Spannbreite von einfachen, improvisierten Rollenspielen bis hin zu professionellen, technisch aufwendigen Inszenierungen vor einem kritisch interessierten Publikum. Zentrale Fragen sind dabei, wie wirkt Theaterspielen, kann es tatsächlich heilen, und wie verhält sich der künstlerische Anspruch zur Therapie? Diese will der nachfolgende Beitrag anhand mehrjähriger praktischer Erfahrungen in einer Maßregelvollzugsklinik aufgreifen.
A New Synuclein-Transgenic Mouse Model for Early Parkinson’s Reveals Molecular Features of Preclinical Disease
Authors: Hendrickx Diana M. , Garcia Pierre , Ashrafi Amer , Sciortino Alessia , Schmit Kristopher J. , Kollmus Heike , Nicot Nathalie , Kaoma Tony , Vallar Laurent , Buttini Manuel , Glaab Enrico
Published: September 2020

Understanding Parkinson’s disease (PD), in particular in its earliest phases, is important for diagnosis and treatment. However, human brain samples are collected post-mortem, reflecting mainly end-stage disease. Because brain samples of mouse models can be collected at any stage of the disease process, they are useful in investigating PD progression. Here, we compare ventral midbrain transcriptomics profiles fromα-synuclein transgenic mice with a progressive, early PD-like striatal neurodegeneration across different ages using pathway, gene set, and network analysis methods. Our study uncovers statistically significant altered genes across ages and between genotypes with known, suspected, or unknown function in PD pathogenesis and key pathways associated with disease progression. Among those are genotype-dependent alterations associated with synaptic plasticity and neurotransmission, as well as mitochondria-related genes and dysregulation of lipid metabolism. Age-dependent changes were among others observed in neuronal and synaptic activity, calcium homeostasis, and membrane receptor signaling pathways, many of which linked to G-protein coupled receptors. Most importantly, most changes occurred before neurodegeneration was detected in this model, which points to a sequence of gene expression events that may be relevant for disease initiation and progression. It is tempting to speculate that molecular changes similar to those changes observed in our model happen in midbrain dopaminergic neurons before they start to degenerate. In other words, we believe we have uncovered molecular changes that accompany the progression from preclinical to early PD.
Outcome of CentriMag™ extracorporeal mechanical circulatory support use in critical cardiogenic shock (INTERMACS 1) patients
Authors: Mehta Vipin , Venkateswaran Rajamiyer V.
Published: September 2020

Purpose

Prognosis of patients presenting with INTERMACS 1 critical cardiogenic shock is generally poor. The aim of our study was to investigate the results of CentriMag™ extracorporeal short-term mechanical circulatory support as a bridge to decision in patients presenting with critical cardiogenic shock in our unit.

Methods

We retrospectively analysed 63 consecutive patients from January 2005 to June 2017, who were treated with a CentriMag™ device at our institution as a bridge to decision. Patients requiring extracorporeal support for post-cardiotomy shock and for primary graft dysfunction after heart transplantation were excluded.

Results

Patients’ median age was 44 years (IQR 31–52, range 15.4–62.0) and 42 (67%) were male. Primary diagnosis at presentation was ischaemic cardiomyopathy (n = 24; 38.1%), viral myocarditis (n = 19; 30.2%), idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (n = 8; 12.7%), and others (n = 12; 19%). The median duration of support was 25 (IQR 9.5–56) days. A total of 7 (11%) patients were supported with peripheral veno-arterial (VA) extra corporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), 6 (9%) with central VA ECMO, 8 (13%) with left ventricular assist device (LVAD), 17 (27%) with biventricular assist device (BiVAD), and 25 (40%) with ECMO and then converted to BiVAD. Overall, 22 (34.9%) patients died while on CentriMag™ mechanical circulatory support. Complications included bleeding requiring reoperation/intervention in 24 (38%), renal failure requiring dialysis in 29 (46%), bacterial infections in 23 (37%), fungal infections in 15 (24%), critical limb ischaemia in 6 (10%), and stroke in 8 (13%). The overall survival to successful explant from CentriMag™ was 65.1% (n = 41) and survival to hospital discharge was 58.7% (n = 37). Of these, 10 (16%) had cardiac recovery and were successfully explanted, 20 (32%) were bridged to heart transplantation, 11 (17%) were bridged to long-term left ventricular assist device, 3 (4.7%) were later on transplanted, and 1 (1.6%) recovered to decommissioning. The 1-, 5-, and 10-year survival rates were 55%, 46%, and 23% respectively.

Conclusion

Our results demonstrate an excellent outcome with the use of the CentriMag™ device in this seriously ill population. Despite requiring multiple procedures, over 58% of patients were discharged from hospital with 5-year survival of 46%.
A case report on the long-term survival of a patient with HER2-positive metastatic gastric adenocarcinoma and a short review of the current literature
Authors: Puhr Hannah Christina , Ilhan-Mutlu Aysegül
Published: September 2020

The prognosis of patients with metastatic gastroesophageal cancer remains poor despite numerous promising clinical trials, and the clinical benefit of systemic therapies is under critical review. This case report of a patient with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive metastatic gastric adenocarcinoma is an impulse for the importance of individual decision making and molecular guided treatment options.
Postsynaptic Targeting and Mobility of Membrane Surface-Localized hASIC1a
Authors: Song Xing-Lei , Liu Di-Shi , Qiang Min , Li Qian , Liu Ming-Gang , Li Wei-Guang , Qi Xin , Xu Nan-Jie , Yang Guang , Zhu Michael Xi , Xu Tian-Le
Published: September 2020

Acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs), the main H+ receptors in the central nervous system, sense extracellular pH fluctuations and mediate cation influx. ASIC1a, the major subunit responsible for acid-activated current, is widely expressed in brain neurons, where it plays pivotal roles in diverse functions including synaptic transmission and plasticity. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms for these functions remain mysterious. Using extracellular epitope tagging and a novel antibody recognizing the hASIC1a ectodomain, we examined the membrane targeting and dynamic trafficking of hASIC1a in cultured cortical neurons. Surface hASIC1a was distributed throughout somata and dendrites, clustered in spine heads, and co-localized with postsynaptic markers. By extracellular pHluorin tagging and fluorescence recovery after photobleaching, we detected movement of hASIC1a in synaptic spine heads. Single-particle tracking along with use of the anti-hASIC1a ectodomain antibody revealed long-distance migration and local movement of surface hASIC1a puncta on dendrites. Importantly, enhancing synaptic activity with brain-derived neurotrophic factor accelerated the trafficking and lateral mobility of hASIC1a. With this newly-developed toolbox, our data demonstrate the synaptic location and high dynamics of functionally-relevant hASIC1a on the surface of excitatory synapses, supporting its involvement in synaptic functions.
Robotic System for Physical Training of Older Adults
Authors: Avioz-Sarig Omri , Olatunji Samuel , Sarne-Fleischmann Vardit , Edan Yael
Published: September 2020

Physical exercise has many physical, psychological and social health benefits leading to improved life quality. This paper presents a robotic system developed as a personal coach for older adults aiming to motivate older adults to participate in physical activities. The robot instructs the participants, demonstrates the exercises and provides real-time corrective and positive feedback according to the participant’s performance as monitored by an RGB-D camera. Two robotic systems based on two different humanoid robots (Nao, toy-like and Poppy, mechanical-like) were developed and implemented using the Python programming language. Experimental studies with 32 older adults were conducted, to determine the preferable mode and timing of the feedback provided to the user to accommodate user preferences, motivate the users and improve their interaction with the system. Additionally, user preferences with regards to the two different humanoid robots used were explored. The results revealed that the system motivated the older adults to engage more in physical exercises. The type and timing of feedback influenced this engagement. Most of these older adults also perceived the system as very useful, easy to use, had a positive attitude towards the system and noted their intention to use it. Most users preferred the more mechanical looking robot (Poppy) over the toy-like robot (Nao).
Adaptionshandlungen von Multiplikatorinnen und Multiplikatoren zur frühen mathematischen Bildung – Beschreibung und Bewertung aus fachbezogener Perspektive
Authors: Bruns Julia , Schopferer Theresa , Gasteiger Hedwig
Published: September 2020

Die Implementation früher mathematischer Bildung in Kindertagesstätten kann durch fachdidaktische Fortbildungen für frühpädagogische Fachkräfte unterstützt werden. Um Fachkräfte in der Breite zu erreichen, erscheint ein scaling up Ansatz geeignet, bei dem aufbauend auf das FortbildungskonzeptEmMa – Erzieherinnen und Erzieher machen MathematikMultiplikatorinnen und Multiplikatoren qualifiziert werden. Dabei ergibt sich die Herausforderung, dass Fortbildende im Elementarbereich kaum mathematisches und mathematikdidaktisches Wissen mitbringen. Der Kontext dieser Studie ist der scaling up Prozess der FortbildungEmMaunter diesen Umständen. Das Erkenntnisinteresse liegt in der Beschreibung und Bewertung der Adaptionshandlungen der Multiplikatorinnen und Multiplikatoren. Für die Bewertung der Adaptionen werden zwei Kriterien herangezogen: (1) das Kriterium der Präzision, das die Vollständigkeit und Klarheit der Inhalte umfasst und (2) das Kriterium der fachlichen Korrektheit, das durch das Ausbleiben fachbezogener Fehler beschrieben wird. Analysiert werden dabei die theoretischen, fachbezogenen Phasen der von Multiplikatorinnen und Multiplikatoren durchgeführten Fortbildung zur frühen mathematischen Bildung, da davon ausgegangen wird, dass insbesondere diese theoretischen Inhalte für diese Gruppe von Multiplikatorinnen und Multiplikatoren eine Herausforderung darstellen. Zur Untersuchung wurde eine videogestützte, qualitative Feldstudie mitN = 8 Fällen durchgeführt. Mit Hilfe der qualitativen Inhaltsanalyse wurden die Adaptionshandlungen der Multiplikatorinnen und Multiplikatoren charakterisiert und hinsichtlich ihrer Präzision und der fachlichen Fehler in diesen Adaptionen analysiert. Dabei zeigte sich, dass der eigenständige Umgang mit den mathematischen und mathematikdidaktischen Inhalten des FortbildungskonzeptsEmMatrotz intensiver Unterstützung anspruchsvoll und bei vielen Multiplikatorinnen und Multiplikatoren mit fachbezogenen Fehlern verbunden ist. Implikationen dieser Ergebnisse für die weitere Forschung werden diskutiert.
Symbiotic interactions between chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) genotypes and Mesorhizobium strains
Authors: Gunnabo A. H. , van Heerwaarden J. , Geurts R. , Wolde-meskel E. , Degefu T. , Giller K. E.
Published: September 2020

Legume genotype (GL) x rhizobium genotype (GR) interaction in chickpea was studied using a genetically diverse set of accessions and rhizobium strains in modified Leonard Jars. A subset of effective GL x GR combinations was subsequently evaluated in a pot experiment to identify combinations of chickpea genotypes and rhizobium strains with stable and superior symbiotic performance. A linear mixed model was employed to analyse the occurrence of GL x GR interaction and an additive main effects and multiplicative interaction (AMMI) model was used to study patterns in the performance of genotype-strain combinations. We found statistically significant interaction in jars in terms of symbiotic effectiveness that was entirely due to the inclusion of one of the genotypes, ICC6263. No interaction was found in a subsequent pot experiment. The presence of two genetic groups (Kabuli and Desi genepools) did not affect interaction with Mesorhizobium strains. With the exception of a negative interaction with genotype ICC6263 in the jar experiment, the type strain Mesorhizobium ciceri LMG 14989 outperformed or equalled other strains on all chickpea genotypes in both jar and pot experiments. Similar to earlier reports in common bean, our results suggest that efforts to find more effective strains may be more rewarding than aiming for identification of superior combinations of strains and genotypes.
Endothelial Glycocalyx-Mediated Intercellular Interactions: Mechanisms and Implications for Atherosclerosis and Cancer Metastasis
Authors: Mensah Solomon A. , Nersesyan Alina A. , Ebong Eno E.
Published: September 2020

Purpose

The endothelial glycocalyx (GCX) plays a critical role in the health of the vascular system. Degradation of the GCX has been implicated in the onset of diseases like atherosclerosis and cancer because it disrupts endothelial cell (EC) function that is meant to protect from atherosclerosis and cancer. Examples of such EC function include interendothelial cell communication via gap junctions and receptor-mediated interactions between endothelial and tumor cells. This review focuses on GCX-dependent regulation of these intercellular interactions in healthy and diseased states. The ultimate goal is to build new knowledge that can be applied to developing GCX regeneration strategies that can control intercellular interaction in order to combat the progression of diseases such as atherosclerosis and cancer.

Methods

In vitroandin vivostudies were conducted to determine the baseline expression of GCX in physiologically relevant conditions. Chemical and mechanical GCX degradation approaches were employed to degrade the GCX. The impact of intact versus degraded GCX on intercellular interactions was assessed using cytochemistry, histochemistry, a Lucifer yellow dye transfer assay, and confocal, intravital, and scanning electron microscopy techniques.

Results

Relevant to atherosclerosis, we found that GCX stability determines the expression and functionality of Cx43 in gap junction-mediated EC-to-EC communication. Relevant to cancer metastasis, we found that destabilizing the GCX through either disturbed flow-induced or enzyme induced GCX degradation results in increased E-selectin receptor-mediated EC-tumor cell interactions.

Conclusion

Our findings lay a foundation for future endothelial GCX-targeted therapy, to control intercellular interactions and limit the progression of atherosclerosis and cancer.
Refractive Index Sensor Based on Metal-Clad Planar Polymer Waveguide Operating at 850 nm
Authors: Ji Lanting , Wei Wei , Li Gang , Yang Shuqing , Fu Yujie , Su Juan , Wu Chi
Published: September 2020

A metal-clad planar polymer waveguide refractive index sensor based on epoxy (EPO) polymer materials by using light intensity interrogation at 850 nm is designed. The polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) material is deployed as the low refractive index (RI) buffer layer in order to better couple the optical guided mode and the surface plasmon polaritons (SPP) mode for working in water environment. The effects of the gold film thickness, PMMA buffer layer thickness, waveguide layer thickness, waveguide width, and gold length on the sensor sensing characteristics have been comprehensively studied. Simulation results demonstrate that the normalized transmission increases quasi-linearly with the increment of RI of the analyte from 1.33 to 1.46. The sensitivity is 491.5 dB/RIU, corresponding to a high RI resolution of 2.6×10−9 RIU. The designed SPP-based optical waveguide sensor is low-cost, wide-range, and high-precision, and has a broad application prospect in biochemical sensing with merits of miniaturization, flexibility, and multiplexing.
“Organismic” positions in early German-speaking ecology and its (almost) forgotten dissidents
Authors: Jax Kurt
Published: September 2020

In early German ecology, the key concept used to refer to a synecological unit wasBiozönose(biocoenosis). Taken together with the concept of theBiotop(biotope), it was also understood as an integrated higher-order unit of life, sometimes called a “Holozön” (holocoen). These units were often perceived as having properties similar to those of individual organisms, and they informed the mainstream of German ecology until at least the late 1960s. Here I ask how “organismic” these concepts really were and what conceptual problems they entailed. To do so, I focus on some almost forgotten dissident positions, especially those of (German-born) Friedrich Simon Bodenheimer and Fritz Peus, which I contrast with the mainstream German ecology of the time. In a radical paper published in 1954 that postulated the “dissolution of the concepts of biocoenosis and biotope”, Peus in particular elicited a forceful response from many prominent German ecologists. An analysis of the ensuing debate, including especially a colloquium held in 1959 that was partly inspired by Peus’ paper, is helpful for sifting the various arguments proffered with respect to a quasi-organismic perception of the biocoenosis in German speaking ecology. Although German mainstream ecologists rejected the notion of the biocoenosis as a superorganism, ontological holism was quite common among them. Additionally, the mainstream concept of the biocoenosis was plagued by several methodological problems and much conceptual confusion, to which the “dissidents” rightly pointed. Some of these problems are still pertinent today, e.g. in connection with more modern concepts such as “ecosystem”.
Analysis of biogeochemical processes in plastic-covered soil during establishment period in strawberry cultivation
Authors: Meyer M. , Diehl D. , Schaumann G. E. , Muñoz K.
Published: September 2020

Plastic mulching (PM) has become a widely applied agricultural practice to optimize plant growth. However, it is still under debate how PM influences biogeochemical soil processes and thus important factors of soil quality, such as soil organic matter (SOM) composition, aggregate stability and microbial biomass. Our objective was to identify the impact of PM on biogeochemical soil processes. Therefore, we compared a plastic-covered strawberry cultivation system (PC) with an uncovered system (NC) in three soil layers (0–10, 10–30 and 30–60 cm) at three dates during a 4-month period of strawberry establishment from their transplanting in summer to the beginning of winter. The PC shifted the microclimate of the soil towards higher temperatures but lower moistures in the 0–35 cm soil layer compared to uncovered soil. Predominantly in the surface layer, the PC reduces leaching processes, which can improve nutrient (fertilizer) use efficiency. PC increased SOM and shifted SOM to a more stable SOM. The higher SOM under PC despite larger microbial biomass and elevated temperatures, indicate that belowground biomass inputs compensate the potential SOM losses by an enhanced SOM decomposition under PC. We demonstrated that PC influenced soil processes already within the 4-month period of strawberry establishment, partially down to the 30–60 soil layer. Further, long-term studies are required to estimate the influence of multi-annual PM application on biogeochemical soil processes and on soil quality.
The paradox of prevention in the Women, Peace and Security agenda
Authors: Shepherd Laura J.
Published: September 2020

Prevention is a central pillar of the ‘Women, Peace and Security’ agenda, a policy architecture governing gender and conflict that is anchored in a suite of United Nations Security Council resolutions adopted under the title of ‘Women and Peace and Security’. In this article, I argue that prevention is currently constituted within the WPS agenda in multiple ways, all of which are organised in accordance with different logics: a logic of peace; a logic of militarism; and a logic of security. This presents prevention as a paradox, because in operation it collapses back into a logic of security, even as it is constructed and positioned as security's temporal and conceptual other. I provide a close reading of the WPS resolutions and show how the articulations of prevention across the agenda, and in certain resolutions, operate according to logics of security and militarism. The significance of such an argument is twofold: it lies both in the possibility of reconstruction of prevention in the WPS agenda according to different logics, and in the potential of undoing security – as the manifestation of prevention in practice – in queer, feminist, decolonial, and posthuman ways of knowing and encountering the world.
The Return to Education in the Mid-Twentieth Century: Evidence from Twins
Authors: Feigenbaum James J. , Tan Hui Ren
Published: September 2020

What was the return to education in the United States at mid-century? In 1940, the correlation between years of schooling and earnings was relatively low. In this article, we estimate the causal return to schooling in 1940, constructing a large linked sample of twin brothers to account for differences in unobserved ability and family background. We find that each additional year of schooling increased labor earnings by approximately 4 percent, about half the return found for more recent cohorts in twins studies. These returns were evident both within and across occupations and were higher for sons from lower socio-economic status families.