bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
STEMI and COVID‐19: Unmasking failures and opportunities to enhance future care
Authors: Golamari Reshma R. , Gilchrist Ian C.
Published: February 2021

Key Points

Increased door‐to‐balloon times, higher initial and peak troponins were seen during the early surge of COVID‐19 pandemic.

Patient‐related concerns, administrative hospital protocols and provider uneasiness may have all played a role in patient's reluctance to access care for emergent conditions.

There is an urgent need for hospital systems to address the public messaging to encourage patients to seek evidence‐based care when needed even during a pandemic.
Risk stratifying patients with out‐of‐hospital cardiac arrest: The case for dynamic predictions models
Authors: van Diepen Sean , Henry Timothy D.
Published: February 2021

Key Points

Initial serum lactate and lactate clearance in resuscitated cardiac arrests have been consistently associated with survival.

The current study extends this association to a subset of cardiac arrest patients selected to undergo urgent cardiac catheterization.

We suggest that future risk stratification studies could focus on the development of dynamic risk prediction models that incorporate clinical variables throughout the cardiac arrest chain‐of‐care.
How strong is the warranty of a negative FFR? Comment on long‐term outcome after deferred revascularization due to negative fractional flow reserve in intermediate coronary lesions by Weerts et al.
Authors: Kern Morton J. , Seto Arnold H.
Published: February 2021

Key Points

Outcomes of deferred PCI based on negative FFR are generally good.

This study demonstrated deferred target lesion failure with FFR >0.80 in 7% and related it to coexistent risk factors, such as multivessel disease, diabetes, and SVG lesions.

A negative FFR is only one variable on the continuum of ischemic risk, but in general provides an excellent prognostic tool.
Early pericardial effusion as complication of umbilical venous catheter insertion in extreme preterm baby: A case report
Authors: Huseynova Roya Arif , A. Bin Mahmoud Latifa , AlHemiad Morabet , Almuhaini Muath , Huseynov Oqtay
Published: February 2021

Reminder essential clinical practice: Pericardial effusion is a rare fatal condition, however potentially reversible when grasped in time. It should always be thought out in neonate with a central line who develops unexplained cardiorespiratory failure.
Konzept einer autarken elektrischen und thermischen Energieversorgung auf Basis von Photovoltaik
Authors: Huber Günther , Machhammer Otto , Lepple Maren , Weidlich Claudia , Dustmann Cord‐Henrich , Hartenbach Akane
Published: February 2021

Eine Photovoltaik‐Anlage könnte ein Einfamilienhaus in Deutschland mit elektrischem Strom, warmem Wasser und Raumwärme versorgen, wenn die Energie lastganggerecht über das Jahr verteilt würde. Der Stand der Technik bietet dafür noch keine Lösung. Am konkreten Beispiel wird abgeschätzt, welche Parameter ein Stromspeichersystem dafür haben müsste. Es wird ein geeignetes elektrochemisches Reaktionssystem auf Basis anorganischer Salzgemische vorgeschlagen. Dem gleichen Stoffsystem liegt ein „Weltspeicher“ zugrunde, der im Rahmen eines Pilotinnovationswettbewerbs vom Deutschen Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung gefördert wird.
Energietransport über weite Strecken
Authors: Machhammer Otto , Siebels Carsten , Huber Günther
Published: February 2021

Sollte die im eigenen Land herstellbare regenerative Energie für die erfolgreiche Umsetzung der Energiewende nicht ausreichen, könnte der Bezug von regenerativ erzeugtem Strom aus meteorologisch besonders begünstigten Ländern eine Alternative sein. Im vorliegenden Beitrag werden fünf unterschiedliche Technologien zum Energietransport verglichen. Der Strom wird dabei einmal in einer Photovoltaik‐Anlage und einmal in einer Windkraftanlage erzeugt. Die Investitionen in die Übertragungstechnologien übersteigen dabei die Investitionen in die Stromgewinnungstechnologien teilweise um ein Vielfaches. Nach den vorliegenden Ergebnissen, ohne Berücksichtigung von Speichern, führt deshalb die Windkraftanlage, obwohl sie spezifisch teurer ist als die Photovoltaik‐Anlage, immer zu kostengünstigeren Stromgewinnungskosten nach dem Energietransport. Der Grund liegt in der höheren Zahl an Volllaststunden der Windkraftanlage.
Passage of a rising bubble through a liquid‐liquid interface: A flow map for different regimes
Authors: Farhadi Jafar , Sattari Amirmohammad , Hanafizadeh Pedram
Published: February 2021

The passage of a rising air bubble through a stratified horizontal interface between two Newtonian liquids is studied numerically. A ternary phase‐field model has been utilized for capturing the interface between three immiscible fluids. According to the previous studies, the density, viscosity, and surface tension of the two liquids, in addition to the bubble diameter, are the effective parameters of bubble interaction with the interface. By changing these variables, three main flow patterns are identified in numerical simulations. Penetration flow regime is observed when the bubble enters the upper liquid alone and does not raise the lower liquid. Entrainment flow regime occurs when the bubble lifts some of the heavier liquid to the lighter liquid but still rises alone. If the bubble holds a film of the denser liquid when it rises in the upper liquid, envelopment flow regime takes place. A flow regime map is represented to distinguish the aforementioned flow patterns using Weber and Morton numbers and determine regime transition criteria based on these two dimensionless parameters. For Weber numbers lower than 30, or Morton numbers higher than 1.7 × 10−2, the penetration regime is observed. On the contrary, when the Weber number is higher than 65 and the Morton number is lower than 7 × 10−5, the envelopment regime occurs. The entrainment pattern happens between these ranges and two additional limiting relations of 320Mo0.18 < We < 1500Mo0.23.
Development of a High‐Affinity Antibody‐Binding Peptide for Site‐Specific Modification
Authors: Muguruma Kyohei , Osawa Rento , Fukuda Akane , Ishikawa Naoto , Fujita Konomi , Taguchi Akihiro , Takayama Kentaro , Taniguchi Atsuhiko , Ito Yuji , Hayashi Yoshio
Published: February 2021

Immunoglobulin G (IgG)‐binding peptides such as 15‐IgBP are convenient tools for the site‐specific modification of antibodies and the preparation of homogeneous antibody–drug conjugates. A peptide such as 15‐IgBP can be selectively crosslinked to the fragment crystallizable region of human IgG in an affinity‐dependent manner via the ϵ‐amino group of Lys8. Previously, we found that the peptide 15‐Lys8Leu has a high affinity (Kd=8.19 nM) due to the presence of the γ‐dimethyl group in Leu8. The primary amino group required for the crosslinking to the antibodies has, however, been lost. Here, we report the design and synthesis of a novel unnatural amino acid, 4‐(2‐aminoethylcarbamoyl)leucine (Aecl), which possesses both the γ‐dimethyl fragment and a primary amino group. A peptide containing Aecl8 (15‐Lys8Aecl) was synthesized and showed a binding affinity ten times higher (Kd=24.3 nM) than that of 15‐IgBP (Kd=267 nM). Fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)‐labeled 15‐Lys8Aecl with an N‐hydroxy succinimide ester at the side chain of Aecl8 (FITC‐15‐Lys8Aecl(OSu)) successfully labeled an antibody (trastuzumab, Herceptin®) with the fluorophore. This peptide scaffold has both strong binding affinity and crosslinking capability, and could be a useful tool for the selective chemical modification of antibodies with molecules of interest such as drugs.
A hybrid artificial bee colony algorithm for scheduling of digital microfluidic biochip operations
Authors: Rajesh Kolluri , Pyne Sumanta
Published: February 2021

Digital microfluidic biochips (DMFBs) are designed to efficiently carry out biochemical and biomedical analysis in a miniaturized way. DMFBs offer various advantages over traditional laboratory techniques and reduces cost, and increases automation and software programmability. Scheduling of microfluidic operations is the first and essential step in the fluidic‐level synthesis of DMFBs, while the other two are the module placement and droplet routing. Scheduling DMFB operations is a multiconstrained optimization problem, and the particular decision problem is NP‐complete. We propose a hybrid artificial bee colony (ABC) algorithm using generalized N‐point crossover (GNX) based scheduling of DMFB operations. Proposed ABC‐GNX perturbs through search space, evaluates various schedules possible, and returns the best schedule among the evaluated schedules. Simple list scheduling based heuristic algorithms can explore a single schedule based on the sequence generated by the priority function. Iterative improvement based search algorithms explore the search space and evaluate more schedules, but the proposed ABC‐GNX algorithm produces optimal solutions in shorter execution times. Simulation results show that the proposed ABC‐GNX produces a higher number of optimal completion times and faster execution times than existing algorithms.
Cantharidin‐Induced Skin Blister as an In Vivo Model of Inflammation
Authors: Dawson Janet , Vogelsanger Melanie
Published: February 2021

The cantharidin‐induced skin blister is a simple model for investigating cell migration and inflammatory mediator production at a site of inflammation. Application of cantharidin solution to the ear pinna results in formation of a blister with cell influx and induction of inflammatory mediators at the skin site, as well as local swelling of the ear pinna. The model can be used for investigating anti‐inflammatory compounds, such as dexamethasone, and for preclinical drug discovery research, especially in areas where neutrophilic inflammation plays a role in disease pathophysiology. The cantharidin blister model is one of very few translational models described in humans, and the mechanism of inflammation induction is comparable in mice and man. In human studies, the cantharidin blister assay has been used to assess the effects of potential new therapies in early‐stage clinical studies. © 2021 Novartis AG.

This article was corrected on 19 July 2022. See the end of the full text for details.

Basic Protocol 1: Application of cantharidin to induce ear inflammation

Basic Protocol 2: Assessment of ear edema

Basic Protocol 3: Assessment of inflammatory mediators in ear tissue

Basic Protocol 4: Histological assessment of ear tissue
Human Plasma In‐Cell Western Assays—An In vitro Predictor for In vivo Pharmacology in Oncology Drug Discovery
Authors: Zhang Yang W. , Gallagher Kirsten , Angelis Dimitrios , Rominger Dave , Scherle Peggy , Vaddi Kris
Published: February 2021

Evaluation of in vivo potencies plays an important role in drug discovery. Traditionally, the cellular activity and percent of plasma protein binding of a test agent are evaluated separately, with the plasma protein binding−adjusted cellular potency computation used to estimate in vivo potency. This process is costly, takes weeks to complete, and is increasingly unreliable for compounds that bind extensively to plasma proteins. Described in this article is a simple, high‐throughput human plasma in‐cell Western (ICW) assay that directly incorporates plasma protein binding into a cellular pharmacodynamic assay to provide a rapid and accurate estimate of in vivo potencies. The assay is versatile and can be readily employed for various targets that require short treatment periods for displaying maximal biological responses. © 2021 Wiley Periodicals LLC.

This article was corrected on 19 July 2022. See the end of the full text for details.

Basic Protocol: Concentration‐dependent human plasma ICW assay to determine test compound IC50 against the target of interest
Single‐ended half‐select disturb‐free 11T static random access memory cell for reliable and low power applications
Authors: Abbasian Erfan , Gholipour Morteza
Published: February 2021

This paper presents an 11 transistor (SEHF11T) static random access memory (SRAM) cell with high read static noise margin (RSNM) and write static noise margin (WSNM). It eliminates the write half‐select disturb using cross‐point data‐aware write word lines, which can mitigate bit‐interleaving structure to reduce multiple‐bit upset and increase soft‐error immunity. We evaluated and analyzed the effect of process, voltage, and temperature (PVT) variations on various design metrics and compared it with other cells. The SEHF11T performs fast read operation due to its higher read current and slow write operation due to its single‐ended nature. It employs the read decoupling technique to enhance the RSNM. The stacked transistors in the left/right half‐cell increase the RSNM. In addition, the WSNM is improved by eliminating the feedback of cross‐coupled inverters pair during write operation by means of power‐cutoff write‐assist technique. The proposed cell shows 1.11X higher RSNM and 1.37X higher WSNM compared to fully differential 8T (FD8T) cell. The stacked transistors in the cell reduce leakage power dissipation. The SEHF11T consumes 0.47X lower leakage power compared to FD8T at VDD = 0.7 V. Furthermore, it exhibits high reliability against PVT variations in subthreshold region and shows 1.09X narrower spread in leakage power than that of FD8T at VDD = 0.3 V.
Probability density of irradiance for electromagnetic waves propagating under multiple scattering effects: Application to deep space communications
Authors: Mostafa Shishter Yousef
Published: February 2021

Electromagnetic waves propagating in random mediums are susceptible to attenuation and fading effects. Therefore, to asses systems performances, it is required to determine the field intensity distribution. Extensive researches were carried out under the assumption of weak fluctuations conditions, in which case the Born and Rytov solutions are valid, and it is fairly established that the resultant distributions agree well with experimental data. In particular, the Rician distribution was shown to fit measurements data from a spacecraft in the event of solar superior conjunction. However, the problem under strong fluctuations is more challenging. In this case, multiple scattering effects need to be included. Numerous atmospheric‐based distributions were introduced, but similar results for deep space communications are still scarce. In this paper, by considering double scattering processes, a novel intensity distribution model is introduced which agrees with the Rician distribution under weak fluctuations and which extends to strong fluctuations conditions. Moreover, the distribution is considered for the applications of deep space communications.
I2PL—What is it and what does it mean?
Authors: Bjerring Peter , Petersen Steffen B. , Mosegaard Mille L.
Published: February 2021

Intense pulsed light (IPL) is today a standard tool in most cosmetic and dermatological clinics providing a variety of optical treatment options. The range of available IPL systems keeps growing and today's physicians have a wide selection to choose from.

IPL can be separated into broadband IPL and narrowband IPL. Broadband IPL heats the ubiquitous tissue water in the skin leading to unspecific heating of the tissue and increasing risk of side effects. To reduce this, contact cooling is needed, which can negatively influence treatment efficiency. Narrowband IPL limits the spectra of emitted light, thus reducing the energy reaching the skin.

Square‐shaped pulses provide the best light output characteristics and square pulses are obtained with large electrical capacitor banks and advanced pulse shutter mechanisms.

Longer wavelengths reaching the skin surface lead to absorption in tissue water and doubles energy requirements as compared to systems filtering away wavelengths above 950 nm, known as narrowband I2PL. Having a long wave cut‐off filter at 950 nm halves the energy requirement and reduces the risk of side effects. It also eliminates the need for active cooling of the surplus energy and thus enhances treatment results and comfort.

Ideally, systems should be able to provide pulses with a duration shorter than 1 ms with sufficient energy to create purpura if needed.

Individual adjustment of pulse duration and fluency provides for more efficient treatments and allows treating a wider variety of patients. Systems allowing parameters to be adjusted based on “patient parameters” reduces the risk that improper settings are used.
Removal of gut symbiotic bacteria negatively affects life history traits of the shield bug, Graphosoma lineatum
Authors: Karamipour Naeime , Fathipour Yaghoub , Mehrabadi Mohammad
Published: February 2021

The shield bug, Graphosoma lineatum (Heteroptera, Pentatomidae), harbors extracellular Pantoea‐like symbiont in the enclosed crypts of the midgut. The symbiotic bacteria are essential for normal longevity and fecundity of this insect. In this study, life table analysis was used to assess the biological importance of the gut symbiont in G. lineatum. Considering vertical transmission of the bacterial symbiont through the egg surface contamination, we used surface sterilization of the eggs to remove the symbiont. The symbiont population was decreased in the newborn nymphs hatched from the surface‐sterilized eggs (the aposymbiotic insects), and this reduction imposed strongly negative effects on the insect host. We found significant differences in most life table parameters between the symbiotic insects and the aposymbiotics. The intrinsic rate of increase in the control insects (0.080 ± 0.003 day−1) was higher than the aposymbiotic insects (0.045 ± 0.007 day−1). Also, the net reproductive and gross reproductive rates were decreased in the aposymbiotic insects (i.e., 20.770 ± 8.992 and 65.649 ± 27.654 offspring/individual, respectively), compared with the symbiotic insects (i.e., 115.878 ± 21.624 and 165.692 ± 29.058 offspring/individual, respectively). These results clearly show biological importance of the symbiont in G. lineatum.
The Impact of COVID‐19 Pandemic on Prevalence of Diabetic Ketoacidosis at Diagnosis of Type 1 Diabetes: A Single‐Centre Study in Central Pennsylvania
Authors: Bogale Kaleb T. , Urban Valerie , Schaefer Eric , Bangalore Krishna Kanthi
Published: February 2021

Objective

We conducted this study to investigate whether the COVID‐19 pandemic impacted the rate of DKA and previously identified risk factors in children presenting with T1D.

Methods

We performed an extension of a retrospective analysis of all paediatric patients (age ≤ 18) newly diagnosed with T1D within a tertiary care referral centre between 01/01/2017 and 09/14/2020. Demographics, insurance coverage and clinical documents 30 days before their T1D diagnosis were abstracted to assess for symptoms at diagnosis, laboratory values (blood glucose, HbA1c, venous pH and bicarbonate) and any healthcare encounters within 30 days of their diagnosis of T1D.

Results

412 patients with T1D [171 F:241 M; 370 pre‐COVID era:42 post‐COVID era] were included. The percentages of DKA diagnoses at admission were very similar between the pre‐COVID and post‐COVID groups (47% vs. 48%), as were the severity (13% vs. 14% mild DKA; 33% vs. 31% moderate or severe DKA).

Conclusion

There were no fluctuations in the rate of DKA among paediatric patients newly diagnosed with T1D throughout the coronavirus pandemic in central Pennsylvania.
Aortic pulsatility index predicts clinical outcomes in heart failure: a sub‐analysis of the ESCAPE trial
Authors: Belkin Mark N. , Alenghat Francis J. , Besser Stephanie A. , Nguyen Ann B. , Chung Ben B. , Smith Bryan A. , Kalantari Sara , Sarswat Nitasha , Blair John E.A. , Kim Gene H. , Pinney Sean P. , Grinstein Jonathan
Published: February 2021

Aims

Aortic pulsatility index (API), calculated as (systolic–diastolic blood pressure)/pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP), is a novel haemodynamic measurement representing both cardiac filling pressures and contractility. We hypothesized that API would better predict clinical outcomes than traditional haemodynamic metrics of cardiac function.

Methods and results

The Evaluation Study of Congestive Heart Failure and Pulmonary Artery Catheterization Effectiveness (ESCAPE) trial individual‐level data were used. Routine haemodynamic measurements, including Fick cardiac index (CI), and the advanced haemodynamic metrics of API, cardiac power output (CPO), and pulmonary artery pulsatility index (PAPI) were calculated after final haemodynamic‐monitored optimization. The primary outcome was a composite endpoint of death or need for orthotopic heart transplant (OHT) or left ventricular assist device (LVAD) at 6 months. A total of 433 participants were enrolled in the ESCAPE trial of which 145 had final haemodynamic data. Final API measurements predicted the primary outcome, OR 0.47 (95% CI 0.32–0.70, P < 0.001), while CI, CPO, and PAPI did not. Receiver operator characteristic analyses of final advanced haemodynamic measurements indicated API best predicted the primary outcome with a cutoff of 2.9 (sensitivity 76.2%, specificity 55.3%, correctly classified 61.4%, area‐under‐the‐curve 0.71), compared with CPO, CI, and PAPI. Kaplan–Meier analyses indicated API ≥ 2.9 was associated with greater freedom from the primary outcome (83.5%), compared with API < 2.9 (58.4%), P = 0.001. While PAPI was also significantly associated, CI and CPO were not.

Conclusions

The novel haemodynamic measurement API better predicted clinical outcomes in the ESCAPE trial when compared with traditional invasive haemodynamic metrics of cardiac function.
Synthesis, Characterization, and Evaluation of Antibacterial Activity of Ferrocenyl‐1,2,3‐Triazoles, Triazolium Salts, and Triazolylidene Complexes of Gold(i) and Silver(i)
Authors: Hoyer Carolin , Schwerk Peter , Suntrup Lisa , Beerhues Julia , Nössler Maite , Albold Uta , Dernedde Jens , Tedin Karsten , Sarkar Biprajit
Published: February 2021

1,2,3‐triazoles, the corresponding triazolium salts, and the resulting mesoionic carbenes (MICs) of the 1,2,3‐triazol‐5‐ylidene type are at the forefront of contemporary research. In this contribution, we present a comprehensive study involving eight triazoles, seventeen triazolium salts, two silver(i)‐ and four gold(i)‐MIC complexes. The substituents on the N1‐atom of the heterocycles are either ferrocenyl or phenyl and those on the C4‐atom bear various alkyl groups. All the compounds were thoroughly characterized by a combination of multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, ESI‐MS and in many cases through single crystal X‐ray diffraction studies. In the electrochemical analysis, all ferrocenyl‐containing compounds display a ferrocenyl‐based oxidation step. Additionally, in both the triazolium salts, and the respective metal complexes, a ligand centered reduction step is observed. All the complexes were tested for their antibacterial properties against the Gram‐negative bacterial strains Salmonella typhimurium (S. typhimurium) and Escherichia coli (E. coli). Many of the tested compounds display good antibacterial activity against the rather resistant Salmonella strain. To inhibit the growth of E. coli, higher concentrations of the compounds tested were required. A preliminary structure‐activity relationship of this set of compounds is also reported.
Cross‐comparison of screening tests for fire spalling of concrete
Authors: Mohaine Siyimane , Boström Lars , Lion Maxime , McNamee Robert , Robert Fabienne
Published: February 2021

Concrete spalling is an important phenomenon to consider when evaluating the fire behavior of concrete, as this can sometimes have an impact on the structural capacity of the studied element. Spalling can be assessed experimentally using screening tests although it is influenced by the size, geometry, and boundary conditions of the tested element, among other factors. No standardized and systematic methods are yet available to assess concrete spalling sensitivity by testing. Plus, comparative results between screenings tests (small and medium scale) and full‐scale tests to evaluate their representativity remain scarce in the literature. In this study, five different spalling tests—with different geometries and boundary conditions—that are used as screening tests were investigated. A concrete mix known to be sensitive to spalling was used to evaluate the representativity of two types of screening tests (material screening tests and intermediate‐scale screening tests). The representativity of these test setups was evaluated by comparing the measured spalling depths to the spalling measured on a full‐scale slab test using the same concrete mix. This comparative study confirmed that the presence of load and/or restraint was essential for a good representativity for a screening test but should always be implemented in large enough specimens.
A longitudinal exploration of mental health resilience, cognitive impairment and loneliness
Authors: Windle Gill , Hoare Zoe , Woods Bob , Huisman Martijn , Burholt Vanessa
Published: February 2021

Objective

There is a growing interest in how people living with dementia may achieve good outcomes and be resilient despite their health challenges. Understanding what might be important for resilience in this population is largely untested theory.

Methods

The analysis draws a subsample with cognitive impairment (N = 579) from two waves of the Cognitive Function and Ageing Studies Wales study, a nationally representative study of community‐dwelling people aged 65+ in Wales. We constructed a measure of mental health resilience (MHR) defined as no depression, no anxiety and high well‐being. Drawing on a resilience framework, we tested univariate and cumulative effects models of the factors that enable MHR, and then examined whether MHR is important for reducing loneliness over time.

Results

Across both waves of data 22% (n = 121) met the criteria for MHR. The cumulative effects model found the odds of MHR were greater for male gender, higher self‐esteem, greater social resources and no subjective memory complaints. Controlling for these significant predictors, MHR significantly predicted lower total and sub‐scale scores for loneliness at wave 2. Sensitivity analysis shows these effects held at lower levels of cognitive function when the Mini‐Mental State Examination score was <25, but not at <23.

Conclusions

This paper addresses a gap in research regarding the conceptualisation and measurement of resilience when facing cognitive impairment. Understanding what aspects of a person's life might enable good mental health despite cognitive impairment—to be resilient—could inform effective strategies for friends and families, along with health, and social policy and practice.
Long‐term implementation of the Managing Agitation and Raising QUality of lifE intervention in care homes: A qualitative study
Authors: Laybourne Anne , Rapaport Penny , Livingston Gill
Published: February 2021

Objectives

The dementia care home workforce receives little specific training. There are successful interventions, improving care outcomes, but it is unclear whether or how to sustain these effects. The Managing Agitation and Raising Quality of Life (MARQUE) intervention aimed to train care home staff to reduce resident agitation and improve quality of life. It was designed for sustainability, with implementation plans agreed with managers. MARQUE improves quality of life. In this separate study, we aimed to examine implementation around 2 years later.

Methods and design

We explored practice change since the intervention and considered current implementation of home‐specific action plans, enablers or barriers, and perceived benefits or harms of implementation using semi‐structured interviews with staff working in the trial homes who received the MARQUE intervention.

Results

Six out of 10 intervention homes participated. We interviewed 25 staff, 20–30 months after the MARQUE study. In all homes, staff reported that at least one MARQUE component was sustained. Three themes emerged about sustained practice change: (i) communication, (ii) respect and understanding of roles, and (iii) ability to try new things. Notable changes included improved team working and feelings of competence, positive attitude to residents rather than blame for agitation and avoidance, and more pleasant activities. Leadership support was important.

Conclusions

It is possible to sustain some change over years in care homes. This study indicates factors which help or impede. These factors individually and together could lead to long‐term improved quality of life of residents in homes where it is implemented and sustained.
Anosognosia for memory in dementia with Lewy bodies compared with Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Calil Victor , Silveira de Souza Andrea , Sudo Felipe Kenji , Santiago‐Bravo Gustavo , Assunção Naima , Drummond Claudia , Rodrigues Fernanda , Soares Rejane , Oliveira Natalia , Teldeschi Alina , Bernardes Gabriel , Lima Gabriel , Lima Camila , Lima Marco Antonio , Mattos Paulo
Published: February 2021

Objectives

Anosognosia is the inability to recognize one's own symptoms. Although dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) is the second most common degenerative dementia, there is little evidence of memory deficit awareness in this condition. The objectives of this research were to compare anosognosia between individuals with DLB and dementia due to Alzheimer's disease (AD) and to evaluate whether medial temporal atrophy, a marker of AD pathology, could help to explain different rates of anosognosia in DLB and dementia due to AD.

Methods/Design

This is a cross‐sectional study that took place at the Memory Clinic of D’Or Institute for Research and Education (IDOR). Twenty individuals with DLB and 20 with dementia due to AD were included in this study. We assessed anosognosia for memory using an index derived from subjective memory complaints (using the Memory Complaint Questionnaire) and from the performance in memory neuropsychological testing (Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test). Thirty‐one participants also underwent brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging to evaluate hippocampal atrophy with a visual scale (MTA‐score [medial temporal atrophy score]).

Results

There was no significant difference between groups regarding age, years of education, sex or time of disease. Individuals with DLB had a higher index of anosognosia than dementia due to AD (2.92 and 1.87; p = 0.024), meaning worse awareness of memory deficits. MTA‐score was slightly higher in dementia due to AD than in DLB, albeit without statistical significance.

Conclusion

Our study was the first to demonstrate that anosognosia for memory is worse in DLB than in dementia due to AD. This finding supports the hypothesis that anosognosia in DLB is a heterogeneous phenomenon.
Ressi experimental catchment: Ecohydrological research in the Italian pre‐Alps
Authors: Zuecco Giulia , Marchina Chiara , Gelmini Ylenia , Amin Anam , van Meerveld H. J. (Ilja) , Penna Daniele , Borga Marco
Published: February 2021

Ressi is a small (2.4 ha) forested catchment located in the Italian pre‐Alps. The site became an experimental catchment to investigate the water fluxes in the soil–plant–atmosphere continuum and the impact of vegetation on runoff generation in 2012. The elevation of the catchment ranges from 598 to 721 m a.s.l. and the climate is humid temperate. The bedrock consists of rhyolites and dacites; the soil is a Cambisol. The catchment is covered by a dense forest, dominated by beech, chestnut, maple, and hazel trees. The field set up includes measurements of the rainfall in an open area, streamflow at the outlet, soil moisture at various depths and locations, and depth to water table in six piezometers at a 5‐ or 10‐min interval. Samples of precipitation, stream water, shallow groundwater and soil water are collected monthly for tracer analysis (stable isotopes (2H and 18O), electrical conductivity and major ions), and during selected rainfall–runoff events to determine the contribution of the various sources to runoff. Since 2017, soil and plant water samples have been collected to determine the sources of tree transpiration. Data collected in the period 2012–2016 are publicly available. Data collection is ongoing, and the data set is expected to be updated on an annual basis to include the most recent measurements.
BIFoR FACE: Water–soil–vegetation–atmosphere data from a temperate deciduous forest catchment, including under elevated CO2
Authors: MacKenzie A. Rob , Krause Stefan , Hart Kris M. , Thomas Richard M. , Blaen Phillip J. , Hamilton R. Liz , Curioni Giulio , Quick Susan E. , Kourmouli Angeliki , Hannah David M. , Comer‐Warner Sophie A. , Brekenfeld Nicolai , Ullah Sami , Press Malcolm C.
Published: February 2021

The ecosystem services provided by forests modulate runoff generation processes, nutrient cycling and water and energy exchange between soils, vegetation and atmosphere. Increasing atmospheric CO2 affects many linked aspects of forest and catchment function in ways we do not adequately understand. Global levels of atmospheric CO2 will be around 40% higher in 2050 than current levels, yet estimates of how water and solute fluxes in forested catchments will respond to increased CO2 are highly uncertain. The Free Air CO2 Enrichment (FACE) facility of the University of Birmingham's Institute of Forest Research (BIFoR) is the only FACE in mature deciduous forest. The site specializes in fundamental studies of the response of whole ecosystem patches of mature, deciduous, temperate woodland to elevated CO2 (eCO2). Here, we describe a dataset of hydrological parameters – seven weather parameters at each of three heights and four locations, shallow soil moisture and temperature, stream hydrology and CO2 enrichment – retrieved at high frequency from the BIFoR FACE catchment.
Long‐term in vitro expansion ensures increased yield of central memory T cells as perspective for manufacturing challenges
Authors: Herda Stefanie , Heimann Andreas , Obermayer Benedikt , Ciraolo Elisa , Althoff Stefanie , Ruß Josefine , Grunert Corinna , Busse Antonia , Bullinger Lars , Pezzutto Antonio , Blankenstein Thomas , Beule Dieter , Na Il‐Kang
Published: February 2021

Adoptive T cell therapy (ATT) has revolutionized the treatment of cancer patients. A sufficient number of functional T cells are indispensable for ATT efficacy; however, several ATT dropouts have been reported due to T cell expansion failure or lack of T cell persistence in vivo. With the aim of providing ATT also to those patients experiencing insufficient T cell manufacturing via standard protocol, we evaluated if minimally manipulative prolongation of in vitro expansion (long‐term [LT] >3 weeks with IL‐7 and IL‐15 cytokines) could result in enhanced T cell yield with preserved T cell functionality. The extended expansion resulted in a 39‐fold increase of murine CD8+ T central memory cells (Tcm). LT expanded CD8+ and CD4+ Tcm cells retained a gene expression profile related to Tcm and T memory stem cells (Tscm). In vivo transfer of LT expanded Tcm revealed persistence and antitumor capacity. We confirmed our in vitro findings on human T cells, on healthy donors and diffuse large B cell lymphoma patients, undergoing salvage therapy. Our study demonstrates the feasibility of an extended T cell expansion as a practicable alternative for patients with insufficient numbers of T cells after the standard manufacturing process thereby increasing ATT accessibility.
Sources of economic growth: Bankerteers or marketeers or both? An auto regressive distributed lag (ARDL) evidence from Ghana
Authors: Say Joy , Zhao Hongjiang , Wang Fang , Agbenyegah Francisca Sena
Published: February 2021

The study seeks to find out whether financial structure matters in economic development. Using quarterly data from 1998 to 2018 from Ghana and with auto regressive distributed lag (ARDL)‐bound testing technique in the study found that financial structure is irrelevant for long‐term economic growth in Ghana. The finding of concurs with the complementarity view between the banks and the exchange and rejects that both subsectors are substitutes since financial services indicators were significance in influencing economic growth. In this vein the study concludes on the importance of financial services rather than structure. Based on these observations, the study recommends that policymakers should grow the synergy between the banks and the markets.
Is foreign direct investment globalization‐induced or a myth? A tale of Africa
Authors: Aluko Olufemi Adewale , Chen George S. , Opoku Eric Evans Osei
Published: February 2021

Foreign direct investment (FDI) provides many African countries an important source of capital inflow. Despite notable improvements in these capital‐scarce countries' economic, political and social conditions, foreign investors have not considered them viable host locations. Since FDI brings enormous spillovers to its host, some countries have recently institutionalized globalization as the catalyst for reversing the trend. Against this backdrop, we examine the FDI‐globalization nexus across 47 African countries for the 1996–2016 period. Using the augmented mean group estimator, the results suggest that FDI in Africa is indeed globalization‐induced. Moreover, we find this positive nexus to be driven by the economic dimension of globalization. Overall, we demonstrate the potential of globalization in stimulating an FDI boom in Africa.
Inside Cover
Authors: Chen Minghui , Wang Jianping , Tan Weijie , Feng Yuanyuan , Zheng Gang
Published: February 2021

We present a novel all‐fiber probe with 710‐μm outside diameter for combined optical coherence tomography and pH detection. We obtained a lateral resolution of ~10.6 μm, a working distance of ~506 μm, and a pH measurement accuracy of 0.01 pH unit for the probe. The performance of the all‐fiber probe was verified through an ex‐vivo experiment using the porcine brain specimen.

Further details can be found in the article by Minghui Chen, Jianping Wang, Weijie Tan, Yuanyuan Feng, and Gang Zheng (e202000239).

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Association between predoctoral evidence‐based practice training and later use of peer‐reviewed journals: National dental PBRN
Authors: Burgette Jacqueline M. , Isett Kimberley R. , Rosenblum Simone , Doshi Ameet , Melkers Julia ,   the National Dental PBRN Collaborative Group
Published: February 2021

Objective

We examined whether evidence‐based practice (EBP) during dental school was associated with the increased use of peer‐reviewed literature during subsequent clinical practice for National Dental Practice‐Based Research Network (PBRN) dentists. We also sought to understand whether this association was moderated by being a dental specialist.

Methods

We analyzed cross‐sectional data from 1228 dentists participating in the PBRN. We used logistic regression to examine the association between self‐reported EBP training during dental school and the use of peer‐reviewed journals in clinical practice, controlling for the number of years since dental school graduation and dental practice type. We stratified the data by dental specialists and examined effect modification using the Breslow–Day test for homogeneity of the odds ratio.

Results

The prevalence of peer‐reviewed journal use by PBRN dentists in clinical practice was 87% (n = 1070) with no statistical evidence of effect modification by dental specialists on the EBP peer‐reviewed journal use relationship (p > 0.05). After controlling for years since dental school graduation and dental practice type, dentists who self‐reported EBP training during dental school had greater odds of using peer‐reviewed journals in clinical practice than dentists who did not self‐report EBP training during dental school (OR, 1.47; 95%CI = 1.01, 2.15).

Conclusion

The use of peer‐reviewed published literature by PBRN dentists who had EBP predoctoral training is one important step in the EBP process by which practicing dentists can implement evidence‐based findings, interventions, and policies into routine health care and public health settings. These findings add to the body of support for EBP curricula in dental education.
Clinical and Imaging Profile of Patients with Palatal Tremor
Authors: Surisetti Bharath Kumar , Prasad Shweta , Holla Vikram V. , Neeraja Koti , Kamble Nitish , Netravathi Manjunath , Yadav Ravi , Pal Pramod Kumar
Published: February 2021

Background

Palatal tremor (PT) is an uncommon movement disorder that may be classified into symptomatic (SPT) or essential (EPT). The etiology of SPT is varied, with involvement of the Guillain‐Mollaret triangle (GMT) and inferior olivary hypertrophy. EPT is associated with ear clicks and normal imaging and may have a functional basis.

Objectives

This study aims to explore the clinical and radiological features of a large cohort of patients with PT.

Methods

This is a retrospective chart review of patients with PT who were evaluated by the movement disorders subspeciality of the neurology department. Demographic, clinical, and imaging details of patients with PT were documented.

Results

A total of 22 patients with PT comprising 17 with SPT and 5 with EPT were included in this study. No patient was aware of the PT. Ear clicks were reported in 2 patients with SPT and in 3 patients with EPT. The most common etiology for SPT was vascular, followed by degenerative conditions. Patients with SPT had associated features such as tremor (70.6%), ataxia (64.7%), dystonia (52.9%), myoclonus (17.6%), and eye movement abnormalities (75%). Lesions involving the GMT were found in 82% of patients with SPT. Apart from PT, patients with EPT had no other motor symptoms, and imaging was normal. Of the patients with EPT, 2 had additional functional movement disorders.

Conclusion

PT has significant etiological heterogeneity and can be easily missed because of the lack of awareness by patients. Involvement of the inferior olivary nucleus may not be necessarily observed. A functional etiology should be considered in cases of EPT.
Compact omnidirectional dual‐band dipole antenna with reduced ground plane effect
Authors: Zhang Kai , Yan Sen
Published: February 2021

In this letter, a compact omnidirectional dual‐band antenna is designed for wireless local area network applications. The proposed antenna is printed on the two sides of an FR4 substrate that the total dimension is 12 × 46 × 0.5 mm3. A dipole antenna is used to cover the lower operating band (2.45 GHz), while a capacitances‐loaded patch generates a higher resonance (5.5 GHz). This antenna has a good impedance matching in the operation band, and the gain is 2.28 and 4.42 dBi in the lower and upper bands, respectively. To address the problem that the performance will drastically decline when the antenna is located on a ground, a quarter wavelength spiral line is employed to decrease the negative effect of the ground. Two proposed dipole antennas, placed on a horizontal ground as a MIMO antenna system, are analyzed with different configurations. The results reveal that the proposed method can effectively reduce the ground plane effect and improve the diversity performance, which has huge potential applications in MIMO system.
DIR‐DBTnet: Deep iterative reconstruction network for three‐dimensional digital breast tomosynthesis imaging
Authors: Su Ting , Deng Xiaolei , Yang Jiecheng , Wang Zhenwei , Fang Shibo , Zheng Hairong , Liang Dong , Ge Yongshuai
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The goal of this study is to develop a three‐dimensional (3D) iterative reconstruction framework based on the deep learning (DL) technique to improve the digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) imaging performance.

Methods

In this work, the DIR‐DBTnet is developed for DBT image reconstruction by mapping the conventional iterative reconstruction (IR) algorithm to the deep neural network. By design, the DIR‐DBTnet learns and optimizes the regularizer and the iteration parameters automatically during the network training with a large amount of simulated DBT data. Numerical, experimental, and clinical data are used to evaluate its performance. Quantitative metrics such as the artifact spread function (ASF), breast density, and the signal difference to noise ratio (SDNR) are measured to assess the image quality.

Results

Results show that the proposed DIR‐DBTnet is able to reduce the in‐plane shadow artifacts and the out‐of‐plane signal leaking artifacts compared to the filtered backprojection (FBP) and the total variation (TV)‐based IR methods. Quantitatively, the full width half maximum (FWHM) of the measured ASF from the clinical data is 27.1% and 23.0% smaller than those obtained with the FBP and TV methods, while the SDNR is increased by 194.5% and 21.8%, respectively. In addition, the breast density obtained from the DIR‐DBTnet network is more accurate and consistent with the ground truth.

Conclusions

In conclusion, a deep iterative reconstruction network, DIR‐DBTnet, has been proposed for 3D DBT image reconstruction. Both qualitative and quantitative analyses of the numerical, experimental, and clinical results demonstrate that the DIR‐DBTnet has superior DBT imaging performance than the conventional algorithms.
Radiation dose calculation in 3D heterogeneous media using artificial neural networks
Authors: Keal James , Santos Alexandre , Penfold Scott , Douglass Michael
Published: February 2021

Purpose

External beam radiotherapy (EBRT) treatment planning requires a fast and accurate method of calculating the dose delivered by a clinical treatment plan. However, existing methods of calculating dose distributions have limitations. Monte Carlo (MC) methods are accurate but can take too long to be clinically viable. Deterministic approaches are quicker but can be inaccurate under certain conditions, particularly near heterogeneities and air interfaces. Neural networks trained on MC‐derived data have the potential to reproduce dose distributions that agree closely with the MC method while being significantly quicker to deploy.

Methods

In this work we present a framework for training machine learning models capable of directly calculating the dose delivered to a point in three‐dimensional (3D) heterogeneous media given only spatially local information. The framework consists of three parts. First, we describe a novel method of randomly generating 3D heterogeneous geometries using simplex noise. Dose distributions for training were obtained by importing these geometries into a MC simulation. The second and third parts of the framework are precalculated data channels, aligned with the patient computed tomography (CT) image, to be used as input to the model. These data channels are a computationally efficient way of encoding the parameters of an incident radiation beam while also allowing the model to learn from data that would otherwise be outside of its receptive field.

Results

We demonstrate the viability of the framework by a training small, fully connected neural network model to reproduce dose distributions from megavoltage photon beams. The trained network displayed excellent agreement with MC dose distributions in randomly generated geometries with an average gamma index (3%/3 mm) pass rate of 94.7% and an average error of 1.45% of peak dose. Finally, the network was used to calculate the dose in a patient CT image, on which the network was not trained, producing similarly impressive results.

Conclusions

A novel method of generating training data for learned radiation dosimetry models has been introduced, along with preprocessing steps that allow even simple models to reproduce accurate dose distributions for EBRT. More importantly, we have demonstrated that a model trained using the proposed framework can generalize from the training data to predicting the therapeutic dose in realistic media.