bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Nivolumab for mismatch-repair-deficient or hypermutated gynecologic cancers: a phase 2 trial with biomarker analyses
Authors: Friedman Claire F. , Manning-Geist Beryl L. , Zhou Qin , Soumerai Tara , Holland Aliya , Da Cruz Paula Arnaud , Green Hunter , Ozsoy Melih Arda , Iasonos Alexia , Hollmann Travis , Leitao Mario M. , Mueller Jennifer J. , Makker Vicky , Tew William P. , O’Cearbhaill Roisin E. , Liu Ying L. , Rubinstein Maria M. , Troso-Sandoval Tiffany , Lichtman Stuart M. , Schram Alison , Kyi Chrisann , Grisham Rachel N. , Causa Andrieu Pamela , Wherry E. John , Aghajanian Carol , Weigelt Britta , Hensley Martee L. , Zamarin Dmitriy
Published: April 2024

Programmed death-1 (PD-1) inhibitors are approved for therapy of gynecologic cancers with DNA mismatch repair deficiency (dMMR), although predictors of response remain elusive. We conducted a single-arm phase 2 study of nivolumab in 35 patients with dMMR uterine or ovarian cancers. Co-primary endpoints included objective response rate (ORR) and progression-free survival at 24 weeks (PFS24). Secondary endpoints included overall survival (OS), disease control rate (DCR), duration of response (DOR) and safety. Exploratory endpoints included biomarkers and molecular correlates of response. The ORR was 58.8% (97.5% confidence interval (CI): 40.7–100%), and the PFS24 rate was 64.7% (97.5% one-sided CI: 46.5–100%), meeting the pre-specified endpoints. The DCR was 73.5% (95% CI: 55.6–87.1%). At the median follow-up of 42.1 months (range, 8.9–59.8 months), median OS was not reached. One-year OS rate was 79% (95% CI: 60.9–89.4%). Thirty-two patients (91%) had a treatment-related adverse event (TRAE), including arthralgia (n = 10, 29%), fatigue (n = 10, 29%), pain (n = 10, 29%) and pruritis (n = 10, 29%); most were grade 1 or grade 2. Ten patients (29%) reported a grade 3 or grade 4 TRAE; no grade 5 events occurred. Exploratory analyses show that the presence of dysfunctional (CD8+PD-1+) or terminally dysfunctional (CD8+PD-1+TOX+) T cells and their interaction with programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1)+ cells were independently associated with PFS24. PFS24 was associated with presence of MEGF8 or SETD1B somatic mutations. This trial met its co-primary endpoints (ORR and PFS24) early, and our findings highlight several genetic and tumor microenvironment parameters associated with response to PD-1 blockade in dMMR cancers, generating rationale for their validation in larger cohorts.

ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03241745.
Association between inflammation-based prognostic markers and mortality after hip replacement
Authors: Oh Ah Ran , Kwon Ji-Hye , Jin Gayoung , Kong So Myung , Lee Dong Jae , Park Jungchan
Published: April 2024

We aimed to evaluate the association between inflammation-based prognostic markers and mortality after hip replacement. From March 2010 to June 2020, we identified 5,369 consecutive adult patients undergoing hip replacement with C-reactive protein (CRP), albumin, and complete blood count measured within six months before surgery. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were generated to evaluate predictabilities and estimate thresholds of CRP-to-albumin ratio (CAR), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR). Patients were divided according to threshold, and mortality risk was compared. The primary outcome was one-year mortality, and overall mortality was also analyzed. One-year mortality was 2.9%. Receiver operating characteristics analysis revealed areas under the curve of 0.838, 0.832, 0.701, and 0.732 for CAR, NLR, PLR, and modified Glasgow Prognostic Score, respectively. The estimated thresholds were 2.10, 3.16, and 11.77 for CAR, NLR, and PLR, respectively. According to the estimated threshold, high CAR and NLR were associated with higher one-year mortality after adjustment (1.0% vs. 11.7%; HR = 2.16; 95% CI 1.32–3.52; p = 0.002 for CAR and 0.8% vs. 9.6%; HR = 2.05; 95% CI 1.24–3.39; p = 0.01 for NLR), but PLR did not show a significant mortality increase (1.4% vs. 7.4%; HR = 1.12; 95% CI 0.77–1.63; p = 0.57). Our study demonstrated associations of preoperative levels of CAR and NLR with postoperative mortality in patients undergoing hip replacement. Our findings may be helpful in predicting mortality in patients undergoing hip replacement.
Classification of laryngeal diseases including laryngeal cancer, benign mucosal disease, and vocal cord paralysis by artificial intelligence using voice analysis
Authors: Kim Hyun-Bum , Song Jaemin , Park Seho , Lee Yong Oh
Published: April 2024

Voice change is often the first sign of laryngeal cancer, leading to diagnosis through hospital laryngoscopy. Screening for laryngeal cancer solely based on voice could enhance early detection. However, identifying voice indicators specific to laryngeal cancer is challenging, especially when differentiating it from other laryngeal ailments. This study presents an artificial intelligence model designed to distinguish between healthy voices, laryngeal cancer voices, and those of the other laryngeal conditions. We gathered voice samples of individuals with laryngeal cancer, vocal cord paralysis, benign mucosal diseases, and healthy participants. Comprehensive testing was conducted to determine the best mel-frequency cepstral coefficient conversion and machine learning techniques, with results analyzed in-depth. In our tests, laryngeal diseases distinguishing from healthy voices achieved an accuracy of 0.85–0.97. However, when multiclass classification, accuracy ranged from 0.75 to 0.83. These findings highlight the challenges of artificial intelligence-driven voice-based diagnosis due to overlaps with benign conditions but also underscore its potential.
Four-dimensional conditional averaging tomography of rotating plasma ejection from cylindrical detached plasma
Authors: Tanaka Hirohiko , Kajita Shin , Natsume Hiroki , Ohno Noriyasu
Published: April 2024

Detached plasma formation is a way to reduce the heat load on the wall in magnetic fusion devices. This study proposes a novel analysis technique consisting of the conditional averaging, sliding window, and tomography to reveal the spatiotemporal behavior of the rotating radial ejection event of detached plasma, which further contributes to local heat load reduction. The used equipment is a high-speed camera and an electrostatic probe located at the periphery of the linear plasma device NAGDIS-II. By applying this method, four-dimensional (4D) behavior of the emission structure along time (1D) and space perpendicular and parallel to the magnetic field (3D) was clarified; a rotating distorted structure appears as a precursor, which is then scraped and transported radially and axially. The proposed method is widely applicable to short-term rigid-body rotating structures, especially in linear plasmas.
Experimental evaluation of accuracy and efficiency of two control strategies for a novel foot commanded robotic laparoscope holders with surgeons
Authors: Yang Yan-Jun , Vadivelu Arvind Kumar N , Hepworth Jessica , Zeng Yongpeng , Pilgrim Charles H. C. , Kulic Dana , Abdi Elahe
Published: April 2024

The implementation of a laparoscope-holding robot in minimally invasive surgery enhances the efficiency and safety of the operation. However, the extra robot control task can increase the cognitive load on surgeons. A suitable interface may simplify the control task and reduce the surgeon load. Foot interfaces are commonly used for commanding laparoscope-holding robots, with two control strategies available: decoupled control permits only one Cartesian axis actuation, known as decoupled commands; hybrid control allows for both decoupled commands and multiple axes actuation, known as coupled commands. This paper aims to determine the optimal control strategy for foot interfaces by investigating two common assumptions in the literature: (1) Decoupled control is believed to result in better predictability of the final laparoscopic view orientation, and (2) Hybrid control has the efficiency advantage in laparoscope control. Our user study with 11 experienced and trainee surgeons shows that decoupled control has better predictability than hybrid control, while both approaches are equally efficient. In addition, using two surgery-like tasks in a simulator, users’ choice of decoupled and coupled commands is analysed based on their level of surgical experience and the nature of the movement. Results show that trainee surgeons tend to issue more commands than the more experienced participants. Single decoupled commands were frequently used in small view adjustments, while a mixture of coupled and decoupled commands was preferred in larger view adjustments. A guideline for foot interface control strategy selection is provided.
Spatiotemporal expression of thyroid hormone transporter MCT8 and THRA mRNA in human cerebral organoids recapitulating first trimester cortex development
Authors: Graffunder Adina Sophie , Bresser Audrey Amber Julie , Fernandez Vallone Valeria , Megges Matthias , Stachelscheid Harald , Kühnen Peter , Opitz Robert
Published: April 2024

Thyroid hormones (TH) play critical roles during nervous system development and patients carrying coding variants of MCT8 (monocarboxylate transporter 8) or THRA (thyroid hormone receptor alpha) present a spectrum of neurological phenotypes resulting from perturbed local TH action during early brain development. Recently, human cerebral organoids (hCOs) emerged as powerful in vitro tools for disease modelling recapitulating key aspects of early human cortex development. To begin exploring prospects of this model for thyroid research, we performed a detailed characterization of the spatiotemporal expression of MCT8 and THRA in developing hCOs. Immunostaining showed MCT8 membrane expression in neuronal progenitor cell types including early neuroepithelial cells, radial glia cells (RGCs), intermediate progenitors and outer RGCs. In addition, we detected robust MCT8 protein expression in deep layer and upper layer neurons. Spatiotemporal SLC16A2 mRNA expression, detected by fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH), was highly concordant with MCT8 protein expression across cortical cell layers. FISH detected THRA mRNA expression already in neuroepithelium before the onset of neurogenesis. THRA mRNA expression remained low in the ventricular zone, increased in the subventricular zone whereas strong THRA expression was observed in excitatory neurons. In combination with a robust up-regulation of known T3 response genes following T3 treatment, these observations show that hCOs provide a promising and experimentally tractable model to probe local TH action during human cortical neurogenesis and eventually to model the consequences of impaired TH function for early cortex development.
Frequency-dependent dynamics of steady-state visual evoked potentials under sustained flicker stimulation
Authors: Łabęcki Maciej , Nowicka Maria Małgorzata , Wróbel Andrzej , Suffczynski Piotr
Published: April 2024

Steady-state visual evoked potentials (SSVEP) are electroencephalographic signals elicited when the brain is exposed to a visual stimulus with a steady frequency. We analyzed the temporal dynamics of SSVEP during sustained flicker stimulation at 5, 10, 15, 20 and 40 Hz. We found that the amplitudes of the responses were not stable over time. For a 5 Hz stimulus, the responses progressively increased, while, for higher flicker frequencies, the amplitude increased during the first few seconds and often showed a continuous decline afterward. We hypothesize that these two distinct sets of frequency-dependent SSVEP signal properties reflect the contribution of parvocellular and magnocellular visual pathways generating sustained and transient responses, respectively. These results may have important applications for SSVEP signals used in research and brain-computer interface technology and may contribute to a better understanding of the frequency-dependent temporal mechanisms involved in the processing of prolonged periodic visual stimuli.
Co-ordinate-based positional embedding that captures resolution to enhance transformer’s performance in medical image analysis
Authors: Das Badhan Kumar , Zhao Gengyan , Islam Saahil , Re Thomas J. , Comaniciu Dorin , Gibson Eli , Maier Andreas
Published: April 2024

Vision transformers (ViTs) have revolutionized computer vision by employing self-attention instead of convolutional neural networks and demonstrated success due to their ability to capture global dependencies and remove spatial biases of locality. In medical imaging, where input data may differ in size and resolution, existing architectures require resampling or resizing during pre-processing, leading to potential spatial resolution loss and information degradation. This study proposes a co-ordinate-based embedding that encodes the geometry of medical images, capturing physical co-ordinate and resolution information without the need for resampling or resizing. The effectiveness of the proposed embedding is demonstrated through experiments with UNETR and SwinUNETR models for infarct segmentation on MRI dataset with AxTrace and AxADC contrasts. The dataset consists of 1142 training, 133 validation and 143 test subjects. Both models with the addition of co-ordinate based positional embedding achieved substantial improvements in mean Dice score by 6.5% and 7.6%. The proposed embedding showcased a statistically significant advantage p-value< 0.0001 over alternative approaches. In conclusion, the proposed co-ordinate-based pixel-wise positional embedding method offers a promising solution for Transformer-based models in medical image analysis. It effectively leverages physical co-ordinate information to enhance performance without compromising spatial resolution and provides a foundation for future advancements in positional embedding techniques for medical applications.
Spectroscopic insight into breast cancer: profiling small extracellular vesicles lipids via infrared spectroscopy for diagnostic precision
Authors: Mishra Abhay , Zehra Sadaqa , Bharti Prahalad Kumar , Mathur Sandeep R. , Ranjan Piyush , Batra Atul , Inampudi Krishna K. , Modi Gyan Prakash , Nikolajeff Fredrik , Kumar Saroj
Published: April 2024

Breast cancer, a leading cause of female mortality due to delayed detection owing to asymptomatic nature and limited early diagnostic tools, was investigated using a multi-modal approach. Plasma-derived small EVs from breast cancer patients (BrCa, n = 74) and healthy controls (HC, n = 30) were analyzed. Small EVs (n = 104), isolated through chemical precipitation, underwent characterization via transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA). Validation involved antibody-based tests (TSG101, CD9, CD81, CD63). Infrared spectra of small EVs were obtained, revealing significant differences in lipid acyl chains, particularly in the C–H stretching of CH3. The study focused on the lipid region (3050–2900 cm−1), identifying peaks (3015 cm−1, 2960 cm−1, 2929 cm−1) as distinctive lipid characteristics. Spectroscopic lipid-to-lipid ratios [(I3015/I2929), (I2960/I2929)] emerged as prominent breast cancer markers. Exploration of protein, nucleic acid, and carbohydrate ratios indicated variations in alpha helices, asymmetric C–H stretching vibrations, and C–O stretching at 1033 cm−1. Principal component analysis (PCA) successfully differentiated BrCa and HC small EVs, and heatmap analysis and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve evaluations underscored the discriminatory power of lipid ratios. Notably, (I2960/I2929) exhibited 100% sensitivity and specificity, highlighting its potential as a robust BrCa sEV marker for breast cancer detection.
Research on fault identification of high-voltage circuit breakers with characteristics of voiceprint information
Authors: Wang Sihao , Zhou Yongrong , Ma Zhaoxing
Published: April 2024

High voltage circuit breakers are one of the core equipment in power system operation, and the voiceprint signals generated during operation contain extremely rich information. This paper proposes a fault identification method for high voltage circuit breakers based on voiceprint information data. Firstly, based on the developed voiceprint information data acquisition device, the voiceprint information of a certain high voltage circuit breaker is obtained; Secondly, an improved S-transform is proposed in the article, which generates an amplitude matrix based on the S-transform of voiceprint information; Then, through the matrix Singular value decomposition method, the fault feature quantity of voiceprint information is extracted from the time–frequency angle, and the diagnosis system of the support vector machine model is established, and the system is trained to realize the fault identification of the high-voltage circuit breaker; Finally, through experimental simulation calculations, it was shown that the accuracy of the proposed fault identification method in different operating conditions reached 92.6%, verifying the good accuracy and robustness of the proposed method and equipment.
Anticancer potential of thiocolchicoside and lauric acid loaded chitosan nanogel against oral cancer cell lines: a comprehensive study
Authors: Mustafa Ameena , Indiran Meignana Arumugham , Ramalingam Karthikeyan , Perumal Elumalai , Shanmugham Rajeshkumar , Karobari Mohmed Isaqali
Published: April 2024

The present study explored the anticancer activity of a Chitosan-based nanogel incorporating thiocolchicoside and lauric acid (CTL) against oral cancer cell lines (KB-1). Cell viability, AO/EtBr dual staining and Cell cycle analysis were done to evaluate the impact of CTL nanogel on oral cancer cells. Real-time PCR was performed to analyze proapoptotic and antiapoptotic gene expression in CTL-treated KB-1 cells. Further, molecular docking analysis was conducted to explore the interaction of our key ingredient, thiocolchicoside and its binding affinities. The CTL nanogel demonstrated potent anticancer activity by inhibiting oral cancer cell proliferation and inducing cell cycle arrest in cancer cells. Gene expression analysis indicated alterations in Bax and Bcl-2 genes; CTL nanogel treatment increased Bax mRNA expression and inhibited the Bcl-2 mRNA expression, which showed potential mechanisms of the CTL nanogel's anticancer action. It was found that thiocolchicoside can stabilize the protein's function or restore it as a tumour suppressor. The CTL nanogel exhibited excellent cytotoxicity and potent anticancer effects, making it a potential candidate for non-toxic chemotherapy in cancer nanomedicine. Furthermore, the nanogel's ability to modulate proapoptotic gene expression highlights its potential for targeted cancer therapy. This research contributes to the growing interest in Chitosan-based nanogels and their potential applications in cancer treatment.
Activin A signaling stimulates neutrophil activation and macrophage migration in pancreatitis
Authors: Wiley Mark B. , Bauer Jessica , Alvarez Valentina , Mehrotra Kunaal , Cheng Wenxuan , Kolics Zoe , Giarrizzo Michael , Ingle Komala , Bialkowska Agnieszka B. , Jung Barbara
Published: April 2024

Acute Pancreatitis (AP) is associated with high mortality and current treatment options are limited to supportive care. We found that blockade of activin A (activin) in mice improves outcomes in two murine models of AP. To test the hypothesis that activin is produced early in response to pancreatitis and is maintained throughout disease progression to stimulate immune cells, we first performed digital spatial profiling (DSP) of human chronic pancreatitis (CP) patient tissue. Then, transwell migration assays using RAW264.7 mouse macrophages and qPCR analysis of “neutrophil-like” HL-60 cells were used for functional correlation. Immunofluorescence and western blots on cerulein-induced pancreatitis samples from pancreatic acinar cell-specific Kras knock-in (Ptf1aCreER™; LSL-KrasG12D) and functional WT Ptf1aCreER™ mouse lines mimicking AP and CP to allow for in vivo confirmation. Our data suggest activin promotes neutrophil and macrophage activation both in situ and in vitro, while pancreatic activin production is increased as early as 1 h in response to pancreatitis and is maintained throughout CP in vivo. Taken together, activin is produced early in response to pancreatitis and is maintained throughout disease progression to promote neutrophil and macrophage activation.
Improvement of roughness in ultrasonic assisted magnetorheological finishing of small titanium alloy nuts by orthogonal test method
Authors: Bi Cheng , Ji Axiang , Wang Hongyun , Wang Haibo , Zhu Junhua , Zhou Fenfen
Published: April 2024

Titanium alloy with high corrosion resistance, high strength-to-density ratio, and excellent biocompatibility has a wide range of applications in the field of biomedical implants. Polishing experiments of titanium alloy with a small size and complex shapes were investigated using an ultrasonic assisted magnetorheological finishing (UMRF) device excited by a three-pole magnetic field generator. The models of the normal force and the shear force were first proposed based on the Preston equation to analyze the mechanism of material removal in the UMRF process. Subsequently, the single-factor experiments using titanium alloy nuts (M3) and the MR polishing fluid with silicon carbide abrasives were carried out. Furthermore, to improve the surface roughness and the change rate of surface roughness of nuts, orthogonal tests with a standard L9(34) orthogonal array were designed and performed based on the optimized process parameters obtained from the single-factor experiment. The results indicated the effect on surface roughness and change rate of surface roughness as applied current > roller speed > ultrasonic amplitude > spindle speed and applied current > roller speed > spindle speed > ultrasonic amplitude, respectively. Moreover, the surface roughness was improved from an initial 1.247 μm to a final 0.104 μm after the polishing for 80 min under these optimal process parameters.
Stroke and myocardial infarction induce neutrophil extracellular trap release disrupting lymphoid organ structure and immunoglobulin secretion
Authors: Tuz Ali A. , Ghosh Susmita , Karsch Laura , Ttoouli Dimitris , Sata Sai P. , Ulusoy Özgür , Kraus Andreas , Hoerenbaum Nils , Wolf Jan-Niklas , Lohmann Sabrina , Zwirnlein Franziska , Kaygusuz Viola , Lakovic Vivian , Tummes Hannah-Lea , Beer Alexander , Gallert Markus , Thiebes Stephanie , Qefalia Altea , Cibir Zülal , Antler Medina , Korste Sebastian , Haj Yehia Elias , Michel Lars , Rassaf Tienush , Kaltwasser Britta , Abdelrahman Hossam , Mohamud Yusuf Ayan , Wang Chen , Yin Dongpei , Haeusler Lars , Lueong Smiths , Richter Mathis , Engel Daniel R. , Stenzel Martin , Soehnlein Oliver , Frank Benedikt , Solo-Nomenjanahary Mialitiana , Ho-Tin-Noé Benoît , Siveke Jens T. , Totzeck Matthias , Hoffmann Daniel , Grüneboom Anika , Hagemann Nina , Hasenberg Anja , Desilles Jean-Philippe , Mazighi Mikael , Sickmann Albert , Chen Jianxu , Hermann Dirk M. , Gunzer Matthias , Singh Vikramjeet
Published: April 2024

Post-injury dysfunction of humoral immunity accounts for infections and poor outcomes in cardiovascular diseases. Among immunoglobulins (Ig), IgA, the most abundant mucosal antibody, is produced by plasma B cells in intestinal Peyer’s patches (PP) and lamina propria. Here we show that patients with stroke and myocardial ischemia (MI) had strongly reduced IgA blood levels. This was phenocopied in experimental mouse models where decreased plasma and fecal IgA were accompanied by rapid loss of IgA-producing plasma cells in PP and lamina propria. Reduced plasma IgG was detectable in patients and experimental mice 3–10 d after injury. Stroke/MI triggered the release of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). Depletion of neutrophils, NET degradation or blockade of NET release inhibited the loss of IgA+ cells and circulating IgA in experimental stroke and MI and in patients with stroke. Our results unveil how tissue-injury-triggered systemic NET release disrupts physiological Ig secretion and how this can be inhibited in patients.
High throughput spectrally resolved super-resolution fluorescence microscopy with improved photon usage
Authors: Batey James Ethan , Kim Geun Wan , Yang Meek , Heffer Darby Claire , Pott Elric Dion , Giang Hannah , Dong Bin
Published: April 2024

A SR-SMLM was developed for hyperspectral imaging with sub-10 nm localization and sub-5 nm spectral precisions. It enables high throughput and improved photon usage for hyperspectral imaging at the nanoscopic level.
Constructing hollow core–shell Z-scheme heterojunction CdS@CoTiO3 nanorods for enhancing the photocatalytic degradation of 2,4-DCP and TC
Authors: Zheng Jianhua , Gao Yiming , Wang Bingbing , Guan Zhenping , Yin Guangming , Zheng Heshan , Li Yong , Cao Xiangyu , Zheng Shunji
Published: April 2024

Constructing Z-scheme heterojunctions incorporating an exquisite hollow structure is an effective performance regulation strategy for the realization of high quantum efficiency and a strong redox ability over photocatalysts.
Revisiting the driving force inducing phase separation in PEG–phosphate aqueous biphasic systems
Authors: Bonnassieux Sophie , Pandya Raj , Skiba Dhyllan Adan , Degoulange Damien , Petit Dorothée , Seem Peter , Cowburn Russel P. , Gallant Betar M. , Grimaud Alexis
Published: April 2024

We reinvestigated the PEG/K2HPO4/H2O systems using a combination of liquid-phase nuclear magnetic resonance and high-resolution Raman spectroscopies, coupled with injection microcalorimetry.
Ethanol-assisted mechanochemical asymmetric cross-dehydrogenative coupling reaction with recoverable chiral amine/NaCl for accessing chiral α-alkyl α-glycine derivatives
Authors: Yu Jingbo , Chen Hong , Zhang Ziwen , Fang Yuxin , Ying Tao , Su Weike
Published: April 2024

Ethanol-assisted grinding effectively facilitated aerobic asymmetric cross-dehydrogenative coupling of glycine esters/amides with ketones/aldehydes, deploying reusable chiral amine/NaCl for rapid synthesis of chiral α-alkyl α-glycine derivatives.
Effect of functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes on the mechanical, swelling and viscoelastic properties of gum ghatti-cl-poly(NIPAm) hydrogels
Authors: Dave Pragnesh N. , Macwan Pradip M.
Published: April 2024

In this work, gum ghatti-cl-poly(NIPAm)/-o-MWCNT (GGNIPACNT) hydrogels were prepared via free radical polymerization technique.
A Preliminary Analysis of the Clinical Effectiveness of Audiologist-Delivered Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Delivered via Video Calls for Rehabilitation of Misophonia, Hyperacusis, and Tinnitus
Authors: Aazh Hashir , Najjari Anahita , Moore Brian C. J.
Published: April 2024

Purpose:

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a key intervention for management of misophonia, hyperacusis, and tinnitus. The aim of this study was to perform a preliminary analysis comparing the scores for self-report questionnaires before and after audiologist-delivered CBT via video calls for adults with misophonia, hyperacusis, or tinnitus or a combination of these.

Method:

This was a retrospective cross-sectional study. The data for 37 consecutive patients who received CBT for misophonia, hyperacusis, or tinnitus from a private institute in the United Kingdom were analyzed. Self-report questionnaires taken as part of routine care were as follows: 4C Questionnaires for tinnitus, hyperacusis, and misophonia (4C-T, 4C-H, and 4C-M, respectively), Tinnitus Impact Questionnaire (TIQ), Hyperacusis Impact Questionnaire (HIQ), Misophonia Impact Questionnaire (MIQ), Sound Sensitivity Symptoms Questionnaire (SSSQ), and Screening for Anxiety and Depression in Tinnitus (SAD-T). Responses were also obtained to other questionnaires related to tinnitus, hyperacusis, insomnia, and anxiety and mood disorders. A linear mixed-model method was used to assess the changes in response to the questionnaires pretreatment and posttreatment.

Results:

Pretreatment–posttreatment comparisons showed that scores for the 4C-T, 4C-H, 4C-M, TIQ, HIQ, MIQ, SSSQ, and SAD-T improved, with effect sizes of 1.4, 1.2, 1.3, 2.6, 0.9, 0.7, 0.9, and 1.4, respectively (allp< .05).

Conclusions:

This preliminary analysis suggests that CBT via video calls may be effective in reducing the impact of misophonia, hyperacusis, and tinnitus. However, this study did not have a control group, so its results need to be interpreted with caution.
Adaptive control of A class of nonlinear systems with guaranteed parameter estimation: A concurrent learning based approach
Authors: Obuz Serhat , Zergeroglu Erkan , Tatlicioglu Enver
Published: April 2024

Recent advances in concurrent learning based adaptive controllers have relaxed the persistency of excitation condition required to achieve exponential tracking and parameter estimation error convergence. This was made possible via the use of additional concurrent learning stacks in the parameter estimation algorithm. However, the proposed concurrent learning components, that is, the history stacks, needed to be filled with “selected” values dependent on the actual system states. Therefore, the previously proposed concurrent learning adaptive controllers required the system to be stable initially for a finite time so that the corresponding history stacks can be filled (finite excitation condition). In this work, motivated to remove the finite excitation condition, a novel desired system state based concurrent learning adaptive controller is proposed. In order to remove the system state dependencies in the controller and estimation algorithms, a filtered version of the dynamics and a novel prediction error formulation have been designed. The overall exponential stability, parameter error convergence and boundedness of the system states during closed loop operations are ensured via Lyapunov based arguments. The main advantages of the proposed method are its dependence on the desired system states and the overall stability results that paved the way in removing the need for finite excitation condition. Numerical studies performed on a two link robotic device are also presented to illustrate the feasibility of the proposed method.
Derivation of transformer winding equivalent circuit by employing the transfer function obtained from frequency response analysis data
Authors: Zhang Zhi
Published: April 2024

Precisely interpreting frequency response analysis (FRA) curves is crucial when investigating mechanical malfunctions in power transformer windings (TWs). However, many conventional explanations of FRA features cannot be validated by an equivalent circuit (EC) that represents winding structures using resistance, inductance, and capacitance components in a ladder network. Incorrect interpretation can lead to misdiagnosis and confusion in asset management. Previous ECs are often proposed by analysing winding structures without rigorous verification compared to the corresponding FRA data. The specific EC is acquired using the transfer function (TF) derived from the measured FRA data. This allows for the establishment of the relationship between TW FRA curves, TF equations, and EC topologies. The precise interpretation of FRA curves can be achieved by closely observing the FRA curves created from TFs and ECs. The remarkable similarity between the measured and modelled FRA curves verifies the authenticity of the derived ECs. This significant achievement clarifies many misunderstandings regarding FRA and represents a substantial advancement in FRA technology.
The Effect of Yoga on Intraocular Pressure Using the “iCare HOME2” Tonometer
Authors: Shajiei Tania Darja , Wachtl Josephine , Schuknecht Angelika , Bachmann Lucas , Kniestedt Christoph
Published: April 2024

Background Various yoga positions may have an unfavorable impact on intraocular pressure (IOP) and may therefore be seen as a potential risk factor for the progression of glaucoma. The new “iCare HOME2” is a handheld self-tonometer for IOP measurements outside clinical settings. This is the first study to evaluate the immediate effect of common yoga postures on the IOP of healthy and glaucomatous eyes using the “iCare HOME2” self-tonometer and to compare the time of IOP recovery in both groups.

Methods This is a single-center, prospective, observational study including 25 healthy and 25 glaucoma patients performing the following yoga positions: “legs up” (Viparita Karani), “bend over” (Uttanasana), “plough pose” (Halasana), and the “down face dog” (Adho Mukha Svanasana) for 90 s each, with a 2-min break in between. IOP was measured with the “iCare HOME2” before, during, and after each position.

Results IOP significantly increased in all eyes in all positions (p < 0.05), showing no statistically significant difference between healthy or glaucomatous eyes (p > 0.05). The mean rise in IOP in healthy subjects was 1.6 mmHg (SD 1.42; p = 0.037), 14.4 mmHg (SD 4.48; p < 0.001), 7.5 mmHg (SD 4.21; p < 0.001), and 16.5 mmHg (SD 3.71; p < 0.001), whereas in glaucoma patients, IOP rose by 2.8 mmHg (SD 2.8; p = 0.017), 11.6 mmHg (SD 3.86; p < 0.001), 6.0 mmHg (SD 2.24; p < 0.001), and 15.1 mmHg (SD 4.44; p < 0.001) during the above listed yoga positions, repsectively. The highest increase in IOP was seen in the down face position, reaching mean IOP values above 31 mmHg in both study groups. IOP elevation was observed immediately after assuming the yoga position, with no significant change during the following 90 s of holding each pose (p > 0.05). All IOP values returned to baseline level in all individuals, with no significant difference
between healthy and glaucoma participants.

Conclusion Our data show that common yoga positions can lead to an acute IOP elevation of up to 31 mmHg in healthy as well as glaucoma eyes, with higher IOP values during head-down positions. Given that IOP peaks are a major risk factor for glaucomatous optic neuropathy, we generally advise glaucoma patients to carefully choose their yoga exercises. If and to what extent practicing yoga leads to glaucoma progression, however, remains unclear and warrants further research.
Gesund bis zur Rente
Authors: Welk Ina
Published: April 2024

Gesund und leistungsfähig zu bleiben, ist bei der anspruchsvollen Tätigkeit im OP insbesondere für ältere Mitarbeitende schwierig. Was kann der Einzelne, aber auch das Unternehmen tun, um die Gesundheit zu fördern und die Arbeitskraft möglichst bis zur Rente zu erhalten?
Five-Year Risk and Safety Profile of Autologous Serum Eye Drop Therapy
Authors: Sanak Frantisek , Iselin Katja , Job Oliver , Kaufmann Claude , Hedinger Ying-Yu Melody , Thiel Michael
Published: April 2024

Purpose To evaluate the risk and safety profile of autologous serum eye drop therapy in clinical routine over a period of 5 years.

Methods This retrospective study involved all patients treated with autologous serum between July 2014 and December 2019 at a tertiary ophthalmic referral center. The electronic patient record system was searched for all patients with autologous serum eye drop therapy at any time point. These records were subsequently searched for keywords such as infectious keratitis, corneal ulcer, conjunctivitis, or endophthalmitis at any recorded contact. The probability of an association between the therapy with autologous serum eye drops and infectious complications was investigated independently by three corneal specialists and rated as likely, potential, or unlikely.

Results In total, 752 patients were treated with autologous serum eye drops between July 2014 and December 2019. There were 5 384 batches with a total of 107 680 bottles of serum eye drops that had been produced and dispensed for these patients during this period. The records of 291 patient showed a combination of autologous serum therapy and at least one keyword for infectious diseases. In 288 patients, individual case analyses revealed an unlikely association between the therapy and infection, as their infectious episodes occurred either before the start of the therapy, more than 1 month after the therapy ceased, or in the contralateral untreated eye in the case of unilateral therapy. Three cases of infectious keratitis were classified as potentially associated with autologous serum therapy. However, all three patients suffered from chronic anterior eye diseases with a high risk of spontaneous infectious complications independent of therapy with autologous eye
drops. None of the infectious events was rated as being likely due to the serum eye drops.

Conclusions Serum eye drops are often used in patients with severe or chronic anterior eye diseases with an intrinsic risk of infectious diseases. Despite these preexisting risk factors, autologous serum eye drops can be considered safe, even in patients with a compromised ocular surface.
Implantate aus der Herzchirurgie
Authors: Jankwitz Elisa Jankwitz
Published: April 2024

Im dritten Teil unserer Serie stellen wir Implantate aus der Herzchirurgie vor: Aus welchen Materialien bestehen sie, bei welchen Indikationen kommen sie zum Einsatz und welche Besonderheiten gibt es?
Sollten wir alle zur En Bloc Resektion von Blasentumoren wechseln?
Authors: Herrmann Jonas , Hartung Friedrich Otto , Kriegmair Maximilian C. , Becker Benedikt , Lusuardi Lukas , Herrmann Thomas R. W. , Netsch Christopher
Published: April 2024

Bei der En-Bloc-Resektion von Blasentumoren (ERBT) erfolgt die Abtragung von Tumoren nicht fragmentiert, sondern sie werden in einer Schicht präpariert und, wenn möglich, in toto extrahiert. Diese Methode repräsentiert einen Paradigmenwechsel in der Behandlung nicht muskelinvasiver Blasentumore und bietet gegenüber der konventionellen transurethralen Resektion der Blase (TUR-B) diverse Vorteile. Insbesondere erlauben die so gewonnen histologischen Präparate eine genauere Aufarbeitung, was eine präzisere Stadieneinteilung ermöglicht. Zudem wird häufiger Detrusormuskulatur im Präparat nachgewiesen, was auf eine komplettere Tumorentfernung hindeutet. In den letzten Jahren festigt sich eine stabile Datenbasis, die die Vorteile dieser Technik bekräftigt. So wurde kürzlich in einer multizentrischen, prospektiv-randomisierten Studie erstmals ein signifikanter Vorteil hinsichtlich der Rezidivrate nach 12 Monaten im Vergleich zur TUR-B nachgewiesen. Versierte Endourologen sollten sich mit dieser Technik befassen, da sie sich mittelfristig zum Standard entwickeln könnte. Die Technik ist zu gut und zu elegant, um ignoriert zu werden.
Imaging Assessment of Peripapillary Vessel Diameters in Postmortem Eyes
Authors: Schütz Simona , Bajka Anahita , Muth Daniel Rudolf , Wiest Maximilian Robert Justus , Meneau Isabelle , Blaser Frank , Toro Mario Damiano , Rejdak Magdalena , Barthelmes Daniel , Zweifel Sandrine
Published: April 2024

Purpose Proof of concept of ex vivo retinal vessel diameter measurements in human postmortem eyes.

Methods En face near-infrared (IR) images and optical coherence tomography (OCT) of the optic nerve head (ONH) were captured ex vivo with a Heidelberg Engineering Spectralis (Spectralis, version 7.0.4, Image Capture Module, version 1.2.4, Heidelberg Heidelberg, Germany) device, using a custom-made eye chamber holding and positioning the eyes during the image process. Thirty-two formaldehyde-fixated eyes of 16 patients were imaged. In the IR images, two independent graders measured retinal vessel diameters at the intersection of a drawn circle centered on the ONH with diameters of 2.0 mm and 3.4 mm, respectively. The anatomically corresponding measurements between both graders were statistically analyzed using a Wilcoxon signed-rank test.

Results A total of 246 matched measurements of both graders were analyzed across all 32 imaged eyes. Statistically significant differences between the graders were found for arterioles at 2 mm from the ONH. The other measurements did not show statistically significant intergrader differences. The mean values for arteriole diameters were 72.2 µm at 2.0 mm and 61.5 µm at 3.4 mm for grader 1, and 66.4 µm at 2.0 mm and 63.2 µm at 3.4 mm for grader 2. The mean diameter for venules were 75.5 µm at 2.0 mm and 79.3 µm at 3.4 mm for grader 1, and 67.4 µm at 2 mm and 79.1 µm at 3.4 mm for grader 2.

Conclusion To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to present IR image-based retinal vessel diameters in ex vivo postmortem eyes. Retinal IR/OCT imaging is possible, and measurements are reproducible in formaldehyde-fixated human eyes. Fixation artefacts result in lower image quality, and this can impose challenges in correctly detecting, classifying, and measuring retinal vessels.
Die wettbewerbliche Funktionalität von Selektivverträgen Enttäuschte
Erwartungen, begründete Hoffnungen, realistische Szenarien
Authors: Rebscher Herbert
Published: April 2024

Die Hoffnung hinter dem Konzept einer Solidarischen Wettbewerbsordnung ist die
Chance durch selektiven Vertragswettbewerb ein institutionelles Suchverfahren
nach der jeweils besseren Patientenversorgung zu etablieren. Hoffnungen,
Erwartungen und Irrtümer begleiten diesen Weg bis heute. Die zukünftigen
Herausforderungen und Chancen bieten eine neue Grundlage für den
ordnungspolitischen Diskurs über Ziele, Konzepte und konkrete Handlungsoptionen.
Selektives Kontrahieren ist das wettbewerbliche Instrument, das die angestrebte
Effizienz in einem normativ auf Solidarität und Umverteilung gegründeten System
schaffen hilft.
Exploring the Limits of Artificial Intelligence for Referencing Scientific Articles
Authors: Graf Emily M. , McKinney Jordan A. , Dye Alexander B. , Lin Lifeng , Sanchez-Ramos Luis
Published: April 2024

Objective To evaluate the reliability of three artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots (ChatGPT, Google Bard, and Chatsonic) in generating accurate references from existing obstetric literature.

Study Design Between mid-March and late April 2023, ChatGPT, Google Bard, and Chatsonic were prompted to provide references for specific obstetrical randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published in 2020. RCTs were considered for inclusion if they were mentioned in a previous article that primarily evaluated RCTs published by the top medical and obstetrics and gynecology journals with the highest impact factors in 2020 as well as RCTs published in a new journal focused on publishing obstetric RCTs. The selection of the three AI models was based on their popularity, performance in natural language processing, and public availability. Data collection involved prompting the AI chatbots to provide references according to a standardized protocol. The primary evaluation metric was the accuracy of each AI model in correctly citing references, including authors, publication title, journal name, and digital object identifier (DOI). Statistical analysis was performed using a permutation test to compare the performance of the AI models.

Results Among the 44 RCTs analyzed, Google Bard demonstrated the highest accuracy, correctly citing 13.6% of the requested RCTs, whereas ChatGPT and Chatsonic exhibited lower accuracy rates of 2.4 and 0%, respectively. Google Bard often substantially outperformed Chatsonic and ChatGPT in correctly citing the studied reference components. The majority of references from all AI models studied were noted to provide DOIs for unrelated studies or DOIs that do not exist.

Conclusion To ensure the reliability of scientific information being disseminated, authors must exercise caution when utilizing AI for scientific writing and literature search. However, despite their limitations, collaborative partnerships between AI systems and researchers have the potential to drive synergistic advancements, leading to improved patient care and outcomes.

Key Points
Floquet non-equilibrium Green’s function and Floquet quantum master equation for electronic transport: The role of electron–electron interactions and spin current with circular light
Authors: Mosallanejad Vahid , Wang Yu , Dou Wenjie
Published: April 2024

The non-equilibrium Green’s function (NEGF) and quantum master equation (QME) are two main classes of approaches for electronic transport. We discuss various Floquet variances of these formalisms for transport properties of a quantum dot driven via interaction with an external periodic field. We first derived two versions of the Floquet NEGF. We also explore an ansatz of the Floquet NEGF formalism for the interacting systems. In addition, we derived two versions of Floquet QME in the weak interaction regime. With each method, we elaborate on the evaluation of the expectation values of the number and current operators. We examined these methods for transport through a two-level system that is subject to periodic driving. The numerical results of all four methods show good agreement for non-interacting systems in the weak regime. Furthermore, we have observed that circular light can introduce spin current. We expect these Floquet quantum transport methods to be useful in studying molecular junctions exposed to light.
Generalized Helmholtz model describes capacitance profiles of ionic liquids and concentrated aqueous electrolytes
Authors: Park Suehyun , McDaniel Jesse G.
Published: April 2024

In this work, we propose and validate a generalization of the Helmholtz model that can account for both “bell-shaped” and “camel-shaped” differential capacitance profiles of concentrated electrolytes, the latter being characteristic of ionic liquids. The generalization is based on introducing voltage dependence of both the dielectric constant “ϵr(V)” and thickness “L(V)” of the inner Helmholtz layer, as validated by molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. We utilize MD simulations to study the capacitance profiles of three different electrochemical interfaces: (1) graphite/[BMIm+][BF4−] ionic liquid interface; (2) Au(100)/[BMIm+][BF4−] ionic liquid interface; (3) Au(100)/1M [Na+][Cl−] aqueous interface. We compute the voltage dependence of ϵr(V) and L(V) and demonstrate that the generalized Helmholtz model qualitatively describes both camel-shaped and bell-shaped differential capacitance profiles of ionic liquids and concentrated aqueous electrolytes (in lieu of specific ion adsorption). In particular, the camel-shaped capacitance profile that is characteristic of ionic liquid electrolytes arises simply from combination of the voltage-dependent trends of ϵr(V) and L(V). Furthermore, explicit analysis of the inner layer charge density for both concentrated aqueous and ionic liquid double layers reveal similarities, with these charge distributions typically exhibiting a dipolar region closest to the electrode followed by a monopolar peak at larger distances. It is appealing that a generalized Helmholtz model can provide a unified description of the inner layer structure and capacitance profile for seemingly disparate aqueous and ionic liquid electrolytes.
Grain boundary segregation models for high-entropy alloys: Theoretical formulation and application to elucidate high-entropy grain boundaries
Authors: Luo Jian
Published: April 2024

Grain boundary (GB) segregation models are derived for multi-principal element alloys (MPEAs) and high-entropy alloys (HEAs). Differing from classical models where one component is taken as a solvent and others are considered solutes, these models are referenced to the bulk composition to enable improved treatments of MPEAs and HEAs with no principal components. An ideal solution model is first formulated and solved to obtain analytical expressions that predict GB segregation and GB energy in MPEAs and HEAs. A regular solution model is further derived. The GB composition calculated using the simple analytical expression derived in this study and data from the Materials Project agrees well with a prior atomistic simulation for NbMoTaW. The simplicity of the derived analytical expressions makes them useful for not only conveniently predicting GB segregation trends in HEAs but also analyzing nascent interfacial phenomena in compositionally complex GBs. As an application example, the models are used to further derive a set of equations to elucidate an emergent concept of high-entropy grain boundaries.