bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Influence of Open Access on the Academic Purification Effect of Retracted Publications: A Causal Inference Analysis
Authors: Zheng Er‐Te , Fu Hui‐Zhen
Published: October 2022

Recently, open access has gradually become an important publishing model in scientific research, while the academic purification effect of open access on flawed publications needs to be further explored. In this study, we use the methods of entropy balancing matching (EBM) and difference in difference (DID) in causal inference to examine the academic purification effect of different open access levels. The results show that in the retraction speed, limited open access papers had the slowest retraction speed, non‐open access had the second and full open access had the fastest, reflecting the best performance of full open access in the detection of problematic papers. As for post‐retraction citation changes, the citation of limited open access papers declined slightly slower than that of non‐open access papers after retraction, while the citation of full open access papers showed an increase rather than a decrease. The next step of the research is to discover what factors may cause the above results.
A Comparison of Source Distribution and Result Overlap in Web Search Engines
Authors: Yagci Nurce , Sünkler Sebastian , Häußler Helena , Lewandowski Dirk
Published: October 2022

When it comes to search engines, users generally prefer Google. Our study aims to find the differences between the results found in Google compared to other search engines. We compared the top 10 results from Google, Bing, DuckDuckGo, and Metager, using 3,537 queries generated from Google Trends from Germany and the US. Google displays more unique domains in the top results than its competitors. Wikipedia and news websites are the most popular sources overall. With some top sources dominating search results, the distribution of domains is also consistent across all search engines. The overlap between Google and Bing is always under 32%, while Metager has a higher overlap with Bing than DuckDuckGo, going up to 78%. This study shows that the use of another search engine, especially in addition to Google, provides a wider variety in sources and might lead the user to find new perspectives.
“I Try to Find a Balance”: Investigating Strategies for Self‐Regulating Covid News Consumption
Authors: Zappia Corina , Makri Stephann
Published: October 2022

Excessive news consumption during global crises (e.g., through regularly monitoring fast‐moving developments), can result in information fatigue and anxiety. Indeed, research has highlighted dangerous risks to mental wellbeing from “over‐consumption” of Covid‐related news. While prior research has examined how people find Covid‐related information and sometimes avoid it to prevent overwhelm, no existing studies have investigated how people leverage information seeking, encountering and avoidance (often in concert) to self‐regulate their Covid news consumption. We conducted a two‐week diary study and follow‐up interviews with 16 people. An inductive Thematic Analysis identified several strategies for self‐regulating Covid news consumption: short‐term avoidance of all Covid news, selective avoidance (e.g., of news on particular Covid topics), selective consumption of Covid news from particular sources, news perceived to be within one's control, or news likely to be of personal benefit and conscious consumption of Covid news by limiting time spent consuming it, relying on passively encountering (rather than actively seeking) it and consuming it less frequently by returning to pre‐pandemic news‐browsing routines. An understanding of Covid news self‐regulation strategies can help digital platforms that provide crisis‐related news better support people in regulating their information consumption more effectively which, in turn, can help safeguard their mental wellbeing.
It's Still Rock and Roll to Me: A Model of Online Browsing Behaviour
Authors: Zhang Huiwen , Buchanan George , Kelly Ryan , Twidale Michael , Chang Shanton , McKay Dana
Published: October 2022

Browsing has long been acknowledged as a critical information seeking strategy. Previous research on information browsing—browsing for books, videos or other items for which decisions have to be made based on an information surrogate—has focused on browsing in a physical context, and much of it predates technology found online today. We lack empirical data from the contemporary digital context to describe how people browse online. This study adopted scenario‐based interviews and observations to investigate people's online information browsing behaviour. Based on a qualitative analysis of the data, we proposed an online browsing journey model formed by four iterative activities: Choose the Browsing Collection, Select Candidates from the Browsing Collection, Inspect the Selected Candidates, Generate and Edit the Candidate list. This model offers novel insight into how people browse in the existing online context, which also forms the basis for further online browsing research.
Mixed H2/H∞ model reference control of linear parameter‐varying discrete‐time systems with real‐time application to aeropendulum system
Authors: Abdullah Ali , Borham Nirvana
Published: October 2022

The investigation of this paper revolves around the problem of designing mixed model reference control (MRC) systems of linear parameter‐varying discrete‐time systems. In this paper, two types of mixed MRC systems are considered. These two types are the mixed state‐feedback and the mixed dynamic output‐feedback MRC systems that are designed using a parameter‐dependent Lyapunov function. The experimental results of the aeropendulum system are used to evaluate and show the effectiveness of the proposed controllers. The results indicate the satisfactory performances of the closed‐loop systems.
Properties and Structure Evolution of CaO–Al2O3–La2O3 Slags with Various Alkali Metal Oxide Contents
Authors: Fan Lei , Qi Jie , Liu Chengjun , Jiang Maofa
Published: October 2022

To restrain the serious flux–steel reaction, CaO–Al2O3–La2O3‐based mold flux is designed for continuous casting of La‐bearing FeCrAl alloy. The properties and structure of slags with various alkali metal oxide contents are investigated. Results show that with the increase in Na2O or Li2O contents from 0 to 10 wt%, the melting temperature of slags decreased, and the fluxing effect of Li2O is improved. The addition of Na2O within 10 wt% reduces the slag viscosity at the temperature range of 1663–1823 K. While further increasing Na2O content to 15 wt%, the viscous behavior of the slag depends on the balance between the strong charge compensation effect of Na+ and the breaking network effect of O2−. Increasing Li2O contents from 0 to 15 wt% greatly reduces the slag viscosity, which is attributed to the reduction of the fraction of high‐polymerized QAl
4 units from 23.55% to 9.70% and the increase of [AlO6] octahedrons from 0 to 9.02% caused by more O2−. The NBO/Al and NBO fraction is calculated, which is consistent with the viscosity variations. In the melts, the structural roles of Na+, Li+, Ca2+, and La3+ are elucidated. Moreover, the relationship between the variations of crystalline phases and slag structure is discussed.
Computationally Efficient Cellular Automata‐Based Full‐Field Models of Static Recrystallization: A Perspective Review
Authors: Madej Lukasz , Sitko Mateusz
Published: October 2022

The evolution of metallic material microstructures under thermomechanical treatment is a critical element that influences the in‐use properties of the final product. In the last four decades, many researchers around the world focused on reliable numerical recreation of phenomena that occur during metal processing. Particular attention is put on the phase transformation, texture evolution, and recrystallization predictions to simulate material behavior at the subsequent processing stages. In recent years, approaches taking into account explicit representation of morphological elements during simulation are becoming more frequently used even at the industrial scale. One of those methods addressed within the current article in application to static recrystallization (SRX) modeling is the cellular automata (CA) approach. A review of the CA‐based full‐field SRX models highlights the progress in capabilities of developed approaches in consideration of various mechanisms controlling microstructure evolution like heterogeneous energy distribution, probabilistic or physics‐based nucleation, grain growth driven by different driving forces, or grain boundary migration is presented within the article. The issue of the computational time associated with 3D CA modeling is particularly addressed. Possible approaches to reducing simulation times based on efficient use of modern computer architecture are finally evaluated as guidelines for further model development.
Afterword 2
Authors: Stadius Peter
Published: October 2022

In this afterword, Peter Stadius ties together the chapters in Nordic Media Histories of Propaganda and Persuasion and summarizes some of the book’s key themes. Among other things, Stadius emphasizes the importance of Nordic cooperation—as well as the difficulties of such cooperation. Furthermore, Stadius underlines that the concept of propaganda is related to the regional concept of folkbildning, which tends to be described as a cornerstone of Nordic democracy.
Mobilized for Propaganda: Danish Journalists in British Exile, 1940–1945
Authors: Seidenfaden Emil Eiby
Published: October 2022

This chapter sketches the activities of Danish journalists in British exile, 1940–1945 with a particular emphasis on their engagement with “propaganda”. Drawing on Danish private archives, and British official records, it analyses how these journalists were constantly obliged to negotiate contradictory legitimacies. Their professional identity as journalists became challenged by their obligation to serve British war propaganda and, conversely, to assist in the Danish exile community’s efforts to salvage Denmark’s international standing following the Danish “policy of negotiation” with Germany. It argues that due to a combination of the creativity of the journalists and the development of the war, they were able, during its last phase (1944–1945), to take on new roles as facilitators of a news and intelligence flow between London, Stockholm and Copenhagen.
Slow Media Under Cross Pressures: US Educational Diplomacy in the Nordic Countries During the Cold War
Authors: Kortti Jukka
Published: October 2022

This chapter examines the transatlantic educational exchange during the Cold War as the manifestation of American public diplomacy. It asks how American social sciences entered, through institutions and persons, the post-war Nordic countries. Secondly, the chapter investigates, as an example case, how one specific concept of American social sciences, namely “cross pressure”, was vernacularized in the everyday public sphere according to the Nordic newspapers. Mapping the studies conducted on educational diplomacy, particularly exchange programmes, this chapter shows how American scholarships were the central tool in mediating the ideas of American social sciences in the Nordic countries. Although they were the slow media of public diplomacy, American social sciences had a major impact on the processing of the Nordic welfare states during their fast-moving reformative years.
Pathophysiology of Female Reproduction and Clinical Management
Authors: Nappi Luigi , Sorrentino Felice , Greco Francesca , Vona Laura , Zullo Francesco Maria , Bettocchi Stefano
Published: October 2022

The female genital system is made up of dynamic organs that change during the woman’s life cycle. Ovarian cycle consists of the growth and development of the ovarian follicle, its bursting, and transformation into the corpus luteum with relative production of estrogens and progesterone.

The normal menstrual cycle is the result of the integration of the primary neuroendocrine complex (the hypothalamus–pituitary–ovarian axis) into a control system regulated by a series of peripheral mechanisms of feedback and nerve signals that result in the release of a single mature oocyte from a pool of hundreds of thousands of primordial oocytes. Alterations of these mechanisms can lead to pathological conditions and affect fertility of patients.
Laboratory and Instrumental Diagnostics
Authors: Bettocchi Stefano , Murgia Ferdinando , Greco Francesca , Morena Maria Grazia , Palieri Tea , Pisante Ambra , Fascilla Fabiana Divina , Nappi Luigi
Published: October 2022

Infertility is nowadays a growing social problem, affecting variable percentages of population worldwide. The aim of this chapter is to expose a narrative review on current evidences in literature in the field of female infertility, critically discussing several aspects, from laboratory analysis to imaging and surgery.

Infertility in females is a complex workup assessed from a hormonal, structural, and partner-based approach.
Male Sex Hormones in Andrology Today
Authors: Bianchi Nicola , Prontera Olga , Dicuio Mauro , Concetti Sergio , Sforza Alessandra , Corona Giovanni
Published: October 2022

Several hormonal pathways are deeply involved in the regulation of male sexual function. Testosterone (T) is involved in the modulation of all steps of sexual response from the activation (sexual desire) to the resolution (orgasm and ejaculation). Androgen receptors are deeply expressed in several brain areas involved in the control of sexual response as well as in the male genitalia tract and corpora cavernosa. At these levels, T plays a crucial role in all pathways of penile erection, including nitric oxide (NO) production and degradation, adenosine signaling, calcium sensitization, and penile smooth muscle differentiation. In addition, T is also involved in the control of ejaculatory reflex modulating male genitalia tract contractility and semen bolus expulsion. The role of other sex steroids is more limited, although estrogens seem to partially regulate male sexual desire. Thyroid system is mainly involved in the control of the ejaculatory reflex, although a possible contribution in the modulation of sexual desire and penile erection has also been supposed. Available evidence suggests that prolactin (PRL) acts in the control of sexual desire either through indirect (inducing secondary hypogonadism) or direct mechanisms (modulating dopamine and serotonin central pathways). The role of other hormonal pathways in the regulation of male sexual response appears negligible.
Sexuality and Sexual Orientation in the Twenty-First Century
Authors: Simonelli Chiara , Galizia Roberta , Eleuteri Stefano
Published: October 2022

Sexual orientation has been the subject of study by scientists for over a century. If in the past the scientific interest revolved around the question of “nature or nurture,” the current theories of sexology, which are placed in a sociological, biological, psychological, and social perspective, recognize the multifactorial nature of sexual orientation. However, although there have been socio-cultural and scientific advances with respect to different forms of sexual identity, heteronormativity is widespread in the clinical setting, in research and in society as a whole. People belonging to the LGBQ community are still victims of stigma, violence, and discrimination. Studies that integrate biological, psychological, and socio-relational factors are needed to deepen the idea that not all people develop sexual orientation along an identical path. The integration of a sex-positive approach and a biopsychosocial one among health professionals remains an important goal to be achieved in order to reduce discrimination against sexual minorities, the emotional consequences, and monetary costs on health services that can derive from it.
Gender Dysphoria: Overview and Psychological Interventions
Authors: Lavorato Elisabetta , Rampino Antonio , Giorgelli Valentina
Published: October 2022

In the DSM V, the condition known as “Gender Identity Disorder” becomes “Gender Dysphoria” in order to avoid the stigma of being labeled as carriers of psychopathology. Gender Dysphoria (GD) refers to mental discomfort deriving by incongruence between the expressed gender and the assigned one. The term Transgender refers to identities or gender expressions that differ from social expectations typically based on the birth assigned sex. Not all people living “Gender Variance” express psychological or physic discomfort. The personal gender identity develops influenced by emotionally significant relationships and by socialeducational environment, based on predisposing biological characteristics. Most of clinical and psycho-social studies agree on multifactorial nature of this process, focusing on the combined action of biological, psychological, social and cultural factors. The first symptoms of gender dysphoria may appear from first years of life and then they may persist in puberty and adulthood. The causes of Gender Dysphoria are still unclear.

Both psychosocial and biological factors have been called into question to explain the onset. The Gender Dysphoria Treatment aims to reduce, or to remove, suffering of person with GD and it is based on teamwork of psychologists, psychiatrists, endocrinologists and surgeons. The cure is, firstly, psychological and is provided by mental health experts. Hormone therapy can be prescribed to all people with persistent and well documented Gender Dysphoria if there are no medical contraindications; lastly, sex reassignment surgery. The formation and definition of transgender and transsexual identity obviously represents a specific complexity, to which is added an environmental, cultural and consequently individual and conditioning stigmatization.
The Transgender: Endocrinological Assessment
Authors: Cocchetti Carlotta , Maggi Mario , Fisher Alessandra Daphne
Published: October 2022

Gender-affirming treatment for transgender people is characterized by a multidisciplinary approach in which the endocrinologist plays a crucial role. Endocrinologists should explore the desired body changes of each person in order to guarantee a real personalized clinical approach. Most current guidelines include hormonal treatment protocols only for binary transgender people, requesting full virilization or full femininization and de-virilization. However, requests for an individualized treatment in non-binary transgender people are increasing. In this chapter, we review hormonal treatment strategies for binary and non-binary transgender people, describing available compounds, expected body modifications, and safety profile. Although literature in this field has been increasing over the last years, future studies should address long-term outcomes of hormonal treatment and the effects of personalized treatment in non-binary transgender people.
Gender Affirming Surgery: Assigned Female at Birth
Authors: Selvaggi Gennaro
Published: October 2022

The acronym AFAB refers to those persons who have been ‘Assigned Female at Birth’. AFAB persons who, later in life, do not identify as female, are said to present a condition named ‘Gender Incongruence’ (GI). They might identify as men, or as non-binary. Persons presenting the condition of GI might experience a Gender Dysphoria (GD), which is defined as the discomfort due to the mismatch between their anatomical characteristics and the gender in which they are self-identifying. Thus, patients with GD are requesting surgical procedure (s) in order to align one’s body—mostly chest and genitals—to best match with one’s identity. The final aim is to reduce one’s dysphoria.

The World Professional Association for Transgender Health currently publishes a series of guidelines, which are named as Standards of Care, for patients presenting GI.

In this chapter, we provide an overview on surgical planning and technics, and possible outcomes for Chest-Contouring-Mastectomy (CMM) and genital surgery (metoidioplasty and phalloplasty). Nearly all trans men, and many non-binary AFAB individuals might seek for CCM; the surgery mostly consists in (partial) removal of the breast glandular tissue and, often, reduction of the Nipple-Areola-Complex. Some AFAB individuals with GI are also interested in penis reconstruction: metoidioplasty consists in the surgical enlargement of an hypertrophic clitoris, while phalloplasty consists in the construction of a penis with either larger, local, or distant flaps (including free flaps). Limitations and complications of the different surgical approaches are also presented.
Female Sexual Dysfunctions: A Clinical Perspective on HSDD, FAD, PGAD, and FOD
Authors: Graziottin Alessandra , Maseroli Elisa , Vignozzi Linda
Published: October 2022

The multidimensionality and interpersonal dimension of human sexuality make the study of female sexual dysfunction (FSD) a challenge. The aspiration to pursue a patient-centered, holistic approach collides with the need to establish commonly accepted diagnostic criteria for different disturbances in sexual functioning, involving one or multiple phases of the sexual response cycle and pain associated with sexual activity. According to recently proposed classifications, which are continuously evolving, the most relevant FSDs include hypoactive sexual desire disorder, female arousal disorder, persistent genital arousal disorder, and female orgasm disorder. The present chapter aims to provide a clinical perspective on these disorders by reviewing the most recent evidence on the pathophysiology, definitions, prevalence, leading etiologies, diagnostic tools, and key therapeutic approaches. Sexual pain-related conditions will be reviewed in another chapter.

It is evident that a gender bias still exists, with prominent biological etiologies of FSDs being neglected and understudied at the expense of psychodynamic and relational determinants. Moreover, classifications should serve to advocate the advancement of our knowledge of female sexual functioning. This process goes through the practical translation of the updated nosology in a language that is intelligible to primary healthcare providers all over the world, and ultimately, to women.
Future Skills as New Currency for the World of Tomorrow
Authors: Ehlers Ulf-Daniel
Published: October 2022

In a rapidly changing world, the discussion on Future Skills is one of the most topical in educational research. The discussion on Future Skills has been going on for a long time (starting with studies on graduate attributes), is often intangible due to conceptual ambiguity about what skills actually are, and often only refers to digital Future Skills in a reduced way. The research presented here is based on a sound empirical approach, the multi-method, and multi-part NextSkills studies. The intention of the project is to explore the demand for specific Future Skills in more detail and then, in a second step, to substantiate them in terms of educational theory. These Future Skills are classified by the “Future Skills Triple Helix-Model of Capacity to Act in Emergent Practical Contexts.” More specifically, these are skills such as ambiguity competence, ethical competence, self-competence, and others.
Improving methods and predictions at high-energy e+e− colliders within collinear factorisation
Authors: Bertone V. , Cacciari M. , Frixione S. , Stagnitto G. , Zaro M. , Zhao X.
Published: October 2022

Abstract

We illustrate how electron Parton Distribution Functions (PDFs) with next-to-leading collinear logarithmic accuracy must be employed in the context of perturbative predictions for high-energy e+e−-collision processes. In particular, we discuss how the renormalisation group equation evolution of such PDFs is affected by the presence of multiple fermion families and their respective mass thresholds, and by the dependences on the choices of the factorisation and renormalisation schemes. We study the impact of the uncertainties associated with the PDFs on physical cross sections, in order to arrive at realistic precision estimates for observables computed with collinear-factorisation formulae. We do so by presenting results for the production of a heavy neutral object as well as for $$ t\overline{t} $$
t

t
¯

and W+W− pairs, including next-to-leading-order effects of electroweak origin.
E-Learning per Webinar in der Orthopädie und Unfallchirurgie
Authors: Erne Felix , Back David A. , Gehlen Tobias , Baumgartner Heiko , Zimmermann Alexander ,   AG Digitalisierung der DGOU, Seemann Ricarda J.
Published: October 2022

Hintergrund

Im Verlauf der COVID-19-Pandemie haben offizielle Schutzmaßnahmen traditionelle Präsenzfortbildungen zum Erliegen gebracht. Für das Fach Orthopädie und Unfallchirurgie (O&U) gibt es bisher bezüglich der Angebots- und Nachfragesituation von E‑Learning per Webinar im Kontext der COVID-19-Pandemie keine belastbaren Zahlen.

Fragestellung

Das Ziel der vorliegenden Arbeit ist die quantitative Beschreibung von Angebot und Nachfrage deutschsprachiger Online-Fortbildungen mit Webinar-Charakter aus der Orthopädie und Unfallchirurgie (O&U) im zeitlichen Zusammenhang mit der COVID-19-Pandemie.

Material und Methoden

Über gängige Suchmaschinen wurden deutschsprachige, nichtkommerzielle, editierte und wissenschaftlich fundierte Fortbildungen in Form von Webinaren im Bereich O&U von Anbietern mit Sitz in Deutschland identifiziert und interviewt.

Ergebnisse

Alle 4 eingeschlossenen Anbieter (AO Online Campus, BVOU Study Club, OU TO GO, WebDGU) nahmen an den strukturierten Interviews teil und stimmten einer Offenlegung der Teilnehmerzahlen zu. Das Angebot von Webinaren stieg im zeitlichen Zusammenhang mit der COVID-19-Pandemie an. Ebenfalls erhöhten sich bei allen 4 Anbietern die Teilnehmerzahlen.

Diskussion

Während OU TO GO und der BVOU Study Club bereits vor der Pandemie auf E‑Learning-Formate spezialisiert waren, wurde das Kursangebot der AO durch den neu etablierten AO online Campus erweitert und WebDGU ganz neu konzipiert. Eine Limitation der Studie ist die exklusive Ausrichtung auf Webinare und nichtkommerzielle Anbieter. Die Ergebnisse lassen auf positive Entwicklungen in O&U im Bereich E‑Learning hoffen.

Graphic abstract
Prevalence and risk factors of postpartum depression among women living in the United Arab Emirates
Authors: Hanach Nivine , Radwan Hadia , Fakhry Randa , Dennis Cindy-Lee , issa Wegdan Bani , Faris MoezAlIslam E. , Obaid Reyad Shaker , Al Marzooqi Suad , Tabet Charbel , De Vries Nanne
Published: October 2022

Purpose

Postpartum depression received almost no attention in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The aim was to examine the prevalence of depressive symptomatology and the associated risk factors among women in the UAE.

Methods

A prospective cohort study recruited women from postpartum wards in hospitals across four emirates in the UAE. Women completed questionnaires immediately after childbirth and at 3 and 6 months postpartum. Depressive symptomatology was measured using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS > 12). Risk factors were identified using the generalized estimating equation. A stratified analysis of the postpartum period was performed.

Results

Among the 457 women recruited, 35% exhibited depressive symptomatology within the first 6 months postpartum. Younger women (< 25 years), part-time employment, the receipt of financial support from the family, and difficulty in managing monthly income were associated with a higher risk of postpartum depression. Husband’s employment, husband’s support, and living in own house were associated with a lower risk of postpartum depression. Maternity leave of more than 3 months increased the risk of depression during the first 3 months postpartum. From 3 to 6 months postpartum, Muslim women had a higher risk of depression whereas women who breastfed other children and in the past 7 days, and perceived their infant as healthy had a lower risk of depression.

Conclusions

The prevalence of maternal depressive symptomatology is considerable in the UAE. Risk factors change over the 6-month postpartum period suggesting the need for an innovative multidisciplinary approach to the management of postpartum depression, including follow-up screening.
Wintersportverletzungen am Kniegelenk
Authors: Rauch Alexander
Published: October 2022

Wintersport stellt aufgrund der großen Beliebtheit eine relevante Entität für Knieverletzungen dar. Beim alpinen Skisport und beim Snowboarden ist das Kniegelenk die von Verletzungen hauptbetroffene Körperregion, beim Eishockey ist es die am dritthäufigsten betroffene Körperregion. Diverse Unfallmechanismen führen zu unterschiedlichen Verletzungsarten und -schweren. Neben Innenbandverletzungen sind Verletzungen des vorderen Kreuzbands von besonderer Bedeutung. Im Profisport sind teils schwere Kombinationsverletzungen gehäuft. Die Therapie wird am Beispiel der Ruptur des vorderen Kreuzbands exemplarisch dargelegt. Goldstandard ist die Ersatzbandplastik. Die „Return-to-sport“-Rate liegt mit 80 % für Skifahren und Snowboarden auf vergleichbarem Niveau mit Sommersportarten wie Football, Basketball oder Baseball. Für Eishockey ist sie mit 96 % noch besser. Prävention kann durch gezielte Trainingsprogramme aber auch durch Optimierung des Materials und dessen Einstellung erzielt werden.
New solid-state membrane and coated wire potentiometric sensors for the determination of Zn(II) ions based on nanoparticles
Authors: Elmosallamy Mohamed A. F. , Hashem Hassan A. , Abdalmoez Fatma F.
Published: October 2022

The first, novel solid-state membrane sensor for Zn(II) determination is developed based on ZnS nanoparticles. ZnS nanoparticles are synthesized by chemical co-precipitation and investigated via X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and impedance study. X-ray diffraction shows that the prepared ZnS nanoparticles have an average domain size of 5.72 nm, which is very close to the particle size obtained from TEM observations (6.30 nm). The ZnS nanoparticles are pressed into disks and examined as electroactive solid-state membrane. Solid-state membrane and coated wire sensors are fabricated. They display linear responses over concentration ranges of 1.0 × 10−5to 1.0 × 10−1mol L−1Zn2+ions with cationic slopes of 28.9±0.2 and 25.9±0.2 mV decade−1for the solid-state membrane and coated wire sensors, respectively. The lower limits of detection are 2.86 × 10−6and 4.60 × 10−6mol L−1Zn2+ions for the solid-state membrane and coated wire sensors, respectively. The response time for the two sensors is instantaneous (1 s), and the useful lifetimes for the solid-state membrane and coated wire sensors are long (10 and 6 months, respectively). The solid-state membrane sensor is utilized for the quantification of Zn(II) ions in brass alloys and pharmaceutical preparations.
Exploring stop signal reaction time over two sessions of the anticipatory response inhibition task
Authors: Hall Alison , Jenkinson Ned , MacDonald Hayley J.
Published: October 2022

Various behavioural tasks measure response inhibition encompassing the ability to cancel unwanted actions, evaluated via stop signal reaction time (SSRT). It is unclear whether SSRT is an unchangeable inherent measure of inhibitory network integrity or whether it can improve with repetition. The current study explored if and how SSRT changed over two sessions for the Anticipatory Response Inhibition Task (ARIT), and how this compared with the Stop Signal Task (SST). Forty-four participants repeated the ARIT and SST over two sessions. SSRT and its constituent measures (Go trial reaction time, stop signal delay) were calculated. SSRT reflecting non-selective response inhibition was consistent between sessions in the ARIT and SST (both p > 0.293). Reaction time and stop signal delay also remained stable across sessions in the ARIT (all p > 0.063), whereas in the SST, reaction time (p = 0.013) and stop signal delay (p = 0.009) increased. SSRT reflecting behaviourally selective stopping on the ARIT improved (p < 0.001) over two sessions, which was underpinned by changes to reaction time (p < 0.001) and stop signal delay (p < 0.001). Overall, the maximal efficiency of non-selective inhibition remained stable across two sessions in the ARIT. Results of the SST confirmed that non-selective inhibition can, however, be affected by more than inhibitory network integrity. Behaviourally selective stopping on the ARIT changed across sessions, suggesting the sequential neural process captured by the SSRT occurred more quickly in session two. These findings have implications for future studies that necessitate behavioural measures over multiple sessions.
Duality in Branched Transport and Urban Planning
Authors: Lohmann Julius , Schmitzer Bernhard , Wirth Benedikt
Published: October 2022

In recent work (Lohmann et al. in J Math Pures Appl, 2022,https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matpur.2022.05.021, Theorem 1.3.4) we have shown the equivalence of the widely used nonconvex (generalized) branched transport problem with a shape optimization problem of a street or railroad network, known as (generalized) urban planning problem. The argument was solely based on an explicit construction and characterization of competitors. In the current article we instead analyse the dual perspective associated with both problems. In more detail, the shape optimization problem involves the Wasserstein distance between two measures with respect to a metric depending on the street network. We show a Kantorovich–Rubinstein formula for Wasserstein distances on such street networks under mild assumptions. Further, we provide a Beckmann formulation for such Wasserstein distances under assumptions which generalize our previous result in [16]. As an application we then give an alternative, duality-based proof of the equivalence of both problems under a growth condition on the transportation cost, which reveals that urban planning and branched transport can both be viewed as two bilinearly coupled convex optimization problems.
Making the Cut: Parathyroidectomy Before or After Kidney Transplantation?
Authors: Wang Rongzhi , Saad Faaiz , McLeod M. Chandler , Kew Clifton , Agarwal Gaurav , Wille Keith , Locke Jayme E. , Chen Herbert , Ong Song
Published: October 2022

Background

Hyperparathyroidism is common in patients with end‐stage kidney disease and may persist after kidney transplantation (KT). Parathyroidectomy (PTx) is curative, but whether PTx should be performed before or after KT remains controversial. There is concern that PTx can adversely affect renal allograft function if performed post‐KT and result in persistent hypocalcemia. This study evaluated outcomes and postoperative complications of PTx before and after KT at our institution.

Methods

We performed a retrospective review of patients at our center (1/2012–2/2019) who had PTx either pre‐KT or post‐KT. Data on patient demographics, surgical outcomes, and postoperative complications of PTx were collected.

Results

Ninety‐eight patients were included in this study, with 23 patients undergoing PTx before KT and 75 after KT. The length of follow‐up after KT was 67.7 ± 25.5 months. In post‐KT PTx patients, 30‐day allograft function was unchanged after PTx. Calcium oxalate and phosphate crystals were less common on allograft biopsies in pre‐KT PTx patients (10.0% vs. 34.8%, p = 0.038). Patients in the pre‐KT group required more calcium supplementation after PTx than the post‐KT group (p < 0.001). At one‐year post‐PTx, 17 (19.1%) patients required > 1000 mg elemental calcium per day and 7 (7.9%) patients required > 2000 mg/day. There was no difference in surgical success or postoperative complications between the two groups.

Conclusions

Parathyroidectomy before or after kidney transplantation does not adversely affect allograft function. The incidence of persistent hypocalcemia was low. Parathyroidectomy is safe and effective either before or after kidney transplantation.
Malawi Trauma Score is Predictive of Mortality at a District Hospital: A Validation Study
Authors: Yohann Avital , Chise Yonasi , Manjolo Chiphatso , Purcell Laura N. , Gallaher Jared , Charles Anthony
Published: October 2022

Background

Trauma scoring systems can identify patients who should be transferred to referral hospitals, but their utility in LMICs is often limited. The Malawi Trauma Score (MTS) reliably predicts mortality at referral hospitals but has not been studied at district hospitals. We sought to validate the MTS at a Malawi district hospital and evaluate whether MTS is predictive of transfer to a referral hospital.

Methods

We performed a retrospective study using trauma registry data from Salima District Hospital (SDH) from 2017 to 2021. We excluded patients brought in dead, discharged from the Casualty Department, or missing data needed to calculate MTS. We used logistic regression modeling to study the relationship between MTS and mortality at SDH and between MTS and transfer to a referral hospital. We used receiver operating characteristic analysis to validate the MTS as a predictor of mortality.

Results

We included 2196 patients (84.3% discharged, 12.7% transferred, 3.0% died). These groups had similar ages, sex, and admission vitals. Mean (SD) MTS was 7.9(3.0) among discharged patients, 8.4(3.9) among transferred patients, and 14.2(8.0) among patients who died (p < 0.001). Higher MTS was associated with increased odds of mortality at SDH (OR 1.21, 95% CI 1.14–1.29, p < 0.001) but was not related to transfer. ROC area for mortality was 0.73 (95% CI 0.65–0.80).

Conclusions

MTS is predictive of district hospital mortality but not inter‐facility transfer. We suggest that MTS be used to identify patients with severe trauma who are most likely to benefit from transfer to a referral hospital.
Digitally supported shared decision-making and treat-to-target in rheumatology: a qualitative study embedded in a multicenter randomized controlled trial
Authors: Muehlensiepen Felix , May Susann , Hadaschik Katharina , Vuillerme Nicolas , Heinze Martin , Grahammer Manuel , Labinsky Hannah , Boeltz Sebastian , Detert Jacqueline , Petersen Jana , Krönke Gerhard , Schett Georg , Knitza Johannes
Published: October 2022

Patient-reported outcomes (PRO) represent a cornerstone in the management of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, PRO are currently recorded mainly on paper and only during on-site appointments. Electronic PRO (ePRO) enable continuous remote monitoring and could improve shared decision-making (SDM) and implementation of a treat-to-target (T2T) approach. This study aims to investigate patient and physician experiences, perceived drawbacks and benefits of using an ePRO web-app (ABATON RA) to digitally support SDM and T2T. A qualitative study embedded in a multicenter randomized controlled trial (RCT) consisting of interviews with RA patients and physicians that were subsequently analyzed using deductive-inductive qualitative content analysis. Between August 2021 and May 2022, interviews with ten RA patients and five physicians were completed. Three key themes emerged in the analysis: (i) App user experiences; (ii) perceived drawbacks of app-supported rheumatology care; and (iii) perceived benefits of app-supported rheumatology care. Continuous ePRO collection and a high level of standardization strained some RA patients. Certain ePRO seemed outdated and were hard to understand. Patients and physicians appreciated having an improved overview of disease activity, capturing disease flares and continuous remote monitoring. Paper- and time-saving were associated with using ePRO. Physicians feared to become too focused on ePRO data, stressed the lack of ePRO monitoring reimbursement and app interoperability. For RA patients and physicians, benefits seemed to outweigh observed drawbacks of the digitally supported SDM using ePRO. The software was easy to use and could lead to a better understanding of the individual disease course, resource allocation and treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.
Clinical correlates of R1 relaxometry and magnetic susceptibility changes in multiple sclerosis: a multi-parameter quantitative MRI study of brain iron and myelin
Authors: Pontillo Giuseppe , Petracca Maria , Monti Serena , Quarantelli Mario , Lanzillo Roberta , Costabile Teresa , Carotenuto Antonio , Tortora Fabio , Elefante Andrea , Morra Vincenzo Brescia , Brunetti Arturo , Palma Giuseppe , Cocozza Sirio
Published: October 2022

Objectives

The clinical impact of brain microstructural abnormalities in multiple sclerosis (MS) remains elusive. We aimed to characterize the topography of longitudinal relaxation rate (R1) and quantitative susceptibility (χ) changes, as indices of iron and myelin, together with brain atrophy, and to clarify their contribution to cognitive and motor disability in MS.

Methods

In this cross-sectional study, voxel-based morphometry, and voxel-based quantification analyses of R1 and χ maps were conducted in gray matter (GM) and white matter (WM) of 117 MS patients and 53 healthy controls. Voxel-wise between-group differences were assessed with nonparametric permutation tests, while correlations between MRI metrics and clinical variables (global disability, cognitive and motor performance) were assessed both globally and voxel-wise within clusters emerging from the between-group comparisons.

Results

MS patients showed widespread R1 decrease associated with more limited modifications of χ, with atrophy mainly involving deep GM, posterior and infratentorial regions (p < 0.02). While R1 and χ showed a parallel reduction in several WM tracts (p < 0.001), reduced GM R1 values (p < 0.001) were associated with decreased thalamic χ (p < 0.001) and small clusters of increased χ in the caudate nucleus and prefrontal cortex (p < 0.02). In addition to the atrophy, χ values in the cingulum and corona radiata correlated with global disability and motor performance, while focal demyelination correlated with cognitive performance (p < 0.04).

Conclusions

We confirmed the presence of widespread R1 changes, involving both GM and WM, and atrophy in MS, with less extensive modifications of tissue χ. While atrophy and χ changes are related to global and motor disability, R1 changes are meaningful correlates of cognition.

Key Points

• Compared to healthy controls, multiple sclerosis patients showed R1 and χ changes suggestive of iron increase within the basal ganglia and reduced iron and myelin content within (subnuclei of) the thalamus.

• Thalamic volume and χ changes significantly predicted clinical disability, as well as pulvinar R1 and χ changes, independently from atrophy.

• Atrophy-independent R1 and χ changes, suggestive of thalamic iron and myelin depletion, may represent a sensitive marker of subclinical inflammation.
Long-term evaluation of outcomes and costs of urolithiasis re-interventions after ureteroscopy, extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy and percutaneous nephrolithotomy based on German health insurance claims data
Authors: Konnopka Claudia , Becker Benedikt , Netsch Christopher , Herrmann Thomas R. W. , Gross Andreas J. , Lusuardi Lukas , Knoll Thomas , König Hans-Helmut
Published: October 2022

Purpose

Comparisons of ureteroscopy (URS), extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (SWL) and percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) for urolithiasis considering long-term follow-up are rare. We aimed to analyze re-intervention rates, costs and sick leave days of URS, SWL and PCNL patients within 7 years.

Methods

This retrospective cohort study was based on German health insurance claims data. We included 54,609 urolithiasis patients incidentally treated in 2008–2010. We investigated time to re-intervention, number of sick leave days and healthcare costs. We applied negative binomial, extended Cox regression and gamma models.

Results

54% were incidentally treated with URS, 40% with SWL and 6% with PCNL. 15% of URS, 26% of SWL and 23% of PCNL patients were re-treated within 7 years. Time to re-intervention was significantly lower for PCNL (955 days) and SWL (937 days) than URS (1078 days) patients. Costs for incident treatment were significantly higher for PCNL (2760€) and lower for SWL (1342€) than URS (1334€) patients. Yet, total costs including re-interventions were significantly higher for PCNL (5783€) and SWL (3240€) than URS (2979€) patients. Total number of sick leave days was increased for PCNL (13.0 days) and SWL (10.1 days) compared to URS (6.8 days) patients.

Conclusion

This study describes outcomes after use of different intervention options for urolithiasis. URS patients showed longest time free of re-interventions and lowest number of sick leave days. Although SWL patients initially had lower costs, URS patients had lower costs in the long run. PCNL patients showed high costs and sick leave days.
The percentage and clinical correlates of alexithymia in stable patients with schizophrenia
Authors: Yi Yun , Huang Yuanyuan , Jiang Rui , Chen Qiang , Yang Mingzhe , Li Hehua , Feng Yangdong , Feng Shixuan , Zhou Sumiao , Zhang Lixin , Ning Yuping , Li Zezhi , Wu Fengchun
Published: October 2022

Alexithymia is a common, but less-recognized affective deficit in patients with schizophrenia. To date, no definitive conclusions have been drawn about the relationship between alexithymia and the clinical symptoms or their clinical correlates, particularly in stable patients with schizophrenia. The purpose of this study was to investigate the link between alexithymia and psychopathological symptoms, as well as any associated correlates, in stable patients with schizophrenia. A total of 435 Chinese patients with schizophrenia were recruited. The Positive and Negative Symptoms Scale (PANSS) was used to evaluate each patient’s psychopathological symptoms. The Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) was used to measure alexithymia. The percentage of alexithymia was 35.2% in stable patients with schizophrenia. Compared to non-alexithymia patients, patients with alexithymia had higher PANSS total scores, negative subscores, depressive subscores, and cognitive subscores (all p < 0.05). Multivariate regression analysis revealed that the following variables were positively associated with TAS-20 total scores: PANSS negative subscores (β = 0.274, t = 3.198, p = 0.001) and PANSS depressive subscores (β = 0.366, t = 2.500, p = 0.013). Education years (β = – 0.453, t = – 2.824, p = 0.005) was negatively associated with TAS-20 total scores. Our results suggest that the percentage of alexithymia was relatively higher in stable patients with schizophrenia. Education levels, negative symptoms, and depressive symptoms were independently associated with alexithymia in this specific population.
A new approach to the determination of tubular membrane capacitance: passive membrane electrical properties under reduced electrical conductivity of the extracellular solution
Authors: Šimurda Jiří , Šimurdová Milena , Švecová Olga , Bébarová Markéta
Published: October 2022

The transverse-axial tubular system (tubular system) of cardiomyocytes plays a key role in excitation–contraction coupling. To determine the area of the tubular membrane in relation to the area of the surface membrane, indirect measurements through the determination of membrane capacitances are currently used in addition to microscopic methods. Unlike existing electrophysiological methods based on an irreversible procedure (osmotic shock), the proposed new approach uses a reversible short-term intermittent increase in the electrical resistance of the extracellular medium. The resulting increase in the lumen resistance of the tubular system makes it possible to determine separate capacitances of the tubular and surface membranes. Based on the analysis of the time course of the capacitive current, computational relations were derived to quantify the elements of the electrical equivalent circuit of the measured cardiomyocyte including both capacitances. The exposition to isotonic low-conductivity sucrose solution is reversible which is the main advantage of the proposed approach allowing repetitive measurements on the same cell under control and sucrose solutions. Experiments on rat ventricular cardiomyocytes (n = 20) resulted in the surface and tubular capacitance values implying the fraction of tubular capacitance/area of 0.327 ± 0.018. We conclude that the newly proposed method provides results comparable to the data obtained by the currently used detubulation method and, in addition, by being reversible, allows repeated evaluation of surface and tubular membrane parameters on the same cell.