bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Digital Collaborative Environments: A Digital Engineering Perspective
Authors: Gerstner Brandi , Rodriguez Sami , La Jimmy , Montgomery Calvin , Obenland Jonathan , Peña Jorge
Published: July 2023

The systems engineering discipline focuses on managing and coordinating many domains, specialties, and lines of business. It enables the successful creation of new complex systems using rigorous principles and concepts, scientific thinking, technological tools, and management methods. Engineering collaboration occurs when individuals unite in an effort too large or complex for any of them to perform independently. A digital collaborative environment facilitates the sharing, revision, storage, and publication of ideas, documents, and products through digital means. Until recently, efforts to assemble teams to solve the problems of large, complex systems focused primarily on infrastructure: co‐locating teams, integrated modeling environments, efforts to connect tools, and model‐based systems engineering (MBSE). Today new technologies offer opportunities to bring systems engineering collaboration into a new era, one which is cloud‐based, interdisciplinary, secure, and efficient. This paper introduces a framework for understanding the modern digital collaborative environment as well as its current technical limitations.
Why System Models Need the RDS 81346 Reference Model: The key to digital continuity across silos and enterprises
Authors: Balslev Henrik , Barré Thomas
Published: July 2023

This paper introduces the ISO/IEC 81346 Standard series which defines a Reference Designation System (RDS). It is used to create a Reference model with unambiguous identifiers representing system breakdowns of systems and their elements in different views called aspects. The relations among the system elements, both inside each aspect as well as across aspects i.e., relations among systems of systems, then gets an unambiguous Reference designation, which is used for Reference purposes. The views are stored in a common Reference model, which holds systems and their elements and their relations for the purpose of being referred to unambiguously from any other representation of a system for example a model. The RDS Reference model thereby offers a discipline neutral model representing a system in its purest form as well as designations which allows for referencing to and from any system in it as well as the system relations within the model.

As selected use case, the Digital Design, Manufacturing & Services (DDMS) digitalization project at AIRBUS S.A.S. (Toulouse, France) has started to use RDS since 2017 and share their positive observations and conclusions to support the RDS 81346 Technique in this paper.
Controlling the Digital Engineering Ecosystem: An Elastic Model Governance Guide for the Digital Thread
Authors: Davidz Heidi L. , Orellana Douglas W.
Published: July 2023

As Digital Engineering employs a digital thread with a broad range of interconnected models, it can be difficult to govern linked models across disciplines, organizations, and contractual boundaries. After an introduction to the challenges of model governance, a survey of related literature is provided. An Elastic Model Governance Guide for the digital thread is then described. Key features include: (1) model‐based guidance with in‐model work instructions; (2) integration of the overall Model Governance System, Digital Engineering Environment, individual models, and composite models; (3) scoping of model purpose and resolution of technical debt; (4) automated validation for insight on compliance; (5) customization for flexibility and tailoring. Excerpts from the governance guide are provided and discussed, and next steps are given. Integrating model governance practices with additional mechanisms for flexibility, scalability, and automated validation provides robust control over the Digital Engineering ecosystem to enhance the value delivered to customers.
Agile Insight ‐ Gating Alternatives for Agile Projects
Authors: Rosser Larri Ann
Published: July 2023

Current technical oversight approaches (e.g., Stage‐Gate reviews) are not agile – their expectations are not aligned with agile development cadences, and they are not adequately responsive to continuous unpredictable change. These mismatches lead to the (incorrect) assertion that agile projects don't need technical oversight, and to more accurate concerns that current gate reviews do not effectively provide insight into gaps and risk on agile projects. Large complex agile efforts need a light weight, interactive approach to technical oversight that provides insight in the form of good predictive feedback to agile projects with minimal burden of labor on the project and the reviewers. Fixed expectations of how oversight is done, and non‐agile oversight approaches written into contracts and processes impede the evolution of gating for agile projects. This paper explores ways to provide insight and responsive forward looking actionable guidance for agile projects in the context of government and defense programs. It proposes a general oversight approach that produces minimal drag and disruption and keeps pace with agile product development.
A SysML Profile for MIL‐STD‐882E (System Safety)
Authors: Raymond Ross , Hecht Myron
Published: July 2023

This paper presents a profile that extends the Systems Modeling Language (SysML) to support the requirements of MIL‐STD‐882E and facilitate the System Safety process. MIL‐STD‐882E is the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) standard for System Safety Engineering (SSE). It mandates a series of analyses for hazard identification and tracking throughout system development, operation, sustainment, and disposal. These analyses are required to be documented in a series of reports set forth in the standard. For large systems, analyzing the system design and producing the mandated reports requires significant effort with a corresponding cost and resource impact on the overall program. Furthermore, while such analyses should be integrated with the development processes, they are often performed after design decisions are made and without the involvement of the primary development team. The System Safety Profile (SSP) presented here integrates the System Safety process with the design process by translating SSE concepts into structured elements within SysML, including representations of System Safety hazards, risks, mitigations, analysis activities, and the relations between them.
Circulating miR‐222‐3p is associated with ankylosing spondylitis development and predicts therapeutic efficacy of nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs
Authors: Jiang Guohong , Wang Fei , Qi Fuliang , Zhang Ling
Published: July 2023

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic rheumatic disease, and some microRNAs (miRNAs) in AS have been identified. This study aimed to measure miR‐222‐3p expression in AS patients, investigate the association of miR‐222‐3p with AS disease activity, and explore the clinical value of miR‐222‐3p in diagnosing AS and predicting therapeutic efficacy of nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) on AS patients. This study included 96 patients with AS, 58 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and 90 healthy controls. miR‐222‐3p expression was detected by reverse‐transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The ability of miR‐222‐3p to discriminate between different groups was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic analysis. The predictive value of miR‐222‐3p on the efficacy of NSAID treatment for AS was assessed by logistic regression analysis. AS patients treated with oral NSAIDs diclofenac sodium were divided into response (n = 76) and no‐response (n = 20) groups after 16 weeks of treatment. miR‐222‐3p in AS patients was higher than that in healthy subjects and RA patients. miR‐222‐3p had high diagnostic value in distinguishing patients with AS from RA patients and healthy controls. miR‐222‐3p, increased in active AS patients, had the ability to screen active AS patients from inactive AS patients. miR‐222‐3p was decreased in the response group, and had high accuracy in predicting the therapeutic efficiency of NSAIDs. The findings indicate that increased miR‐222‐3p in AS patients may function as a diagnostic biomarker for AS, and predictive biomarker for the therapeutic efficacy of NSAIDs in patients with AS. In addition, miR‐222‐3p is associated with AS disease activity.
Interventions to increase vaccine uptake among people who live and work in prisons: A global multistage scoping review
Authors: Moazen Babak , Agbaria Nisreen , Ismail Nasrul , Mazzilli Sara , Klankwarth Ulla‐Britt , Amaya Arianna , Rosello Alicia , D'Arcy Jemima , Plugge Emma , Stöver Heino , Tavoschi Lara
Published: July 2023

The objective of this study is to examine interventions implemented to increase vaccine uptake among people who live and work in prisons around the world. Peer‐reviewed and gray literature databases were searched systematically to identify relevant information published from 2012 to 2022. Publications were evaluated by two researchers independently and underwent quality assessment through established tools. Of the 11,281 publications identified through peer‐reviewed (2607) and gray literature (8674) search, 17 met the inclusion criteria. In light of limited data, the identified interventions were categorized into two categories of educational and organizational interventions, and are discussed in the text. The lack of availability of vaccination services and interventions to increase vaccine uptake among people who live and work in prisons, worldwide, is a serious public health concern. These interventions reported in this review can be adapted and adopted to mitigate the burden of infectious diseases among people who live and work in prisons.
PTK2 promotes uveal melanoma metastasis by activating epithelial‐to‐mesenchymal transition
Authors: Luo Pu , Duan Jingjing , Chen Qiong , Shao Ling , Xiao Wen , Liu Xunqi , Zhang Gengwei , Tan Xiaohua , Fan Zhongyi
Published: July 2023

Uveal melanoma (UM) is the most common primary intraocular malignant tumor in adults. More than half of UM cases develop distant metastasis to the liver, lung, bone, and other organs, which frequently results in patient death. However, the mechanisms underlying UM metastasis remain largely unknown. Here, we report that protein tyrosine kinase 2 (PTK2), a nonreceptor protein tyrosine kinase also known as focal adhesion kinase (FAK), was overexpressed in most examined UM specimens. Furthermore, we identified PTK2 expression as a novel independent risk factor that predicts poor prognosis of UM patients. Mechanistic studies revealed that PTK2 promotes the EMT phenotype, leading to metastasis of UM cells. We showed that PTK2, located on chromosome 8q, is a functional gene of chromosome 8q gain to UM metastasis, which may represent the molecular mechanism for the aberrant expression and activation of PTK2 in UM. Our data reveal a novel role and mechanism of PTK2 in the metastatic process of UM, suggesting PTK2 may be a potential prognostic biomarker for UM metastasis and a promising therapeutic target for UM treatment.
Achieving comparability in glycemic control between antidiabetic treatment strategies in pregnancy when using real world data
Authors: Cesta Carolyn E. , Hernández‐Díaz Sonia , Huybrechts Krista F. , Bateman Brian T. , Vine Seanna , Seely Ellen W. , Patorno Elisabetta
Published: July 2023

Purpose

Healthcare utilization databases often lack information on glycemic control, a key confounder when studying the safety of antidiabetic treatments, since patients with worse control are channeled to second‐line agents, in particular insulin, versus first‐line agents such as metformin. We evaluated whether adjustment for measured characteristics attains balance in glycemic control when comparing antidiabetic treatment strategies in pregnant women with pregestational type 2 diabetes (T2DM).

Methods

In a US insurance claims database, we identified 3360 women with T2DM pregnant between 2004 and 2015, of whom a subset of 996 had data on hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels. We selected insulin only as the comparator group and used propensity score (PS)‐matching on comorbidities and proxies of diabetes severity, but not on HbA1c, to adjust for confounding. We used standardized differences (st.diff) to assess balance in claims‐based covariates and mean HbA1c (% ± SD) in the subset.

Results

There were imbalances in claims‐based covariates before PS‐matching, with smaller differences when both treatment strategies included insulin. After PS‐matching, balance was achieved in most claims‐based covariates (st.diff <0.1). Mean HbA1c was similar before and after PS‐matching when both treatments included insulin (e.g., 7.1 ± 1.5 vs. 7.7 ± 1.8 and 7.1 ± 1.5 vs. 7.5 ± 1.7, respectively, for metformin + insulin vs. insulin only). Differences in mean HbA1c remained after PS‐matching when non‐insulin treatments were compared to treatments including insulin (e.g., 6.3 ± 1.1 vs. 7.6 ± 1.7 for metformin only vs. insulin only).

Conclusions

Balance in both claims‐based characteristics and glycemic control was attained after restricting the population to women with T2DM and comparing treatment strategies indicated for patients with similar diabetes severity. When comparing treatment strategies with versus without insulin, differences in glycemic control persisted after PS‐matching even when balance was attained for other measured characteristics.
Transient thrust behavior of low‐aspect‐ratio rocket propulsion systems**
Authors: Zanjani Aref , Tahsini Amir Mahdi
Published: July 2023

In this work, the transient thrust force of the solid propellant rocket motor is numerically computed to illustrate the shortcomings of the common thrust formula in transient periods of operation. The internal ballistics of the solid rocket motor is simulated using the quasi one‐dimensional governing equations in which the finite volume method and the Roe′s scheme are utilized in calculation procedure. This is demonstrated that in transient operation of the propulsion systems, the common thrust formula may ignore some parts of physical phenomena because it has been derived based on steady state assumption, but there are some moving waves in transient operation in the combustion chamber which induce the fluctuations on the thrust force. So, the thrust‐time history must be computed by pressure force integration over the whole solid boundaries of the motor at any instant. The results show that such transient thrust behavior is more intense in low aspect ratio propulsion systems like small space thrusters.
Z‐Scheme TiO2/g‐C3N4 Activation of Peroxymonosulfate to Remove Organic Pollutants: Properties and Mechanism
Authors: Zhang Yujie , Ren Xuechang , Yang Linhai , Wang Huijuan , Chen Juxiang , Li Jinhui , Wang Rong
Published: July 2023

TiO2/g‐C3N4 hybrids (TCNs) were constructed by an ammonium salt‐assisted hydrothermal‐high temperature calcination method and used to activate peroxymonosulfate (PMS) to degrade multiple simulated pollutants. The Z‐scheme heterojunction between TiO2 and g‐C3N4 can effectively promote the separation of electron‐hole pairs and improve the photocatalytic activation effect of TCN. The degradation efficiency of RhB in the TCN1/PMS system was 92.3 %, which was only 59.8 % and 63.2 % in g‐C3N4 /PMS the g‐C3 N4/PMS system and TiO2/PMS system, respectively, after 60 min of reaction under sunlight. The TCN1‐4 sample prepared by adding (NH4)2SO4 into the precursor of TCN1 has a higher specific surface area (116.44 m2/g), which provides a better photocatalytic activation effect on PMS: the degradation efficiency of RhB in the TCN1‐4/PMS system can reach 93.9 % after 30 min, which was similar to that of the TCN1/PMS system after 60 min (92.3 %), and the reaction efficiency was doubled. Radical quenching experiments showed that free radicals (⋅OH, SO4⋅−, ⋅O2−), nonradicals (1O2) and h+ existed in the TCN1‐4/PMS reaction system.
Preparation a Magnetic Molecular Imprinted Polymer for Specific Adsorption of Pharmaceutical Pollutants
Authors: Öter Çiğdem
Published: July 2023

Amoxicillin (AMX) is an antibiotic commonly used to treat bacterial and respiratory diseases in humans and animals. In this study, magnetically imprinted polymers (MMIPs) were successfully synthesized and characterized by the surface imprinting method to selectively separate AMX from an aqueous medium. The suitability of kinetic models and isothermal models for the adsorption of AMX from aqueous solutions using magnetic polymers was compared with an unprinted reference polymer (MNIP). The obtained data showed that the adsorption process is compatible with the pseudo‐second order kinetic model and Langmuir isotherm. In addition, adsorption selectivity experiments were performed and it was found that the MMIPs exhibited excellent selective adsorption capacity for AMX. The MMIPs possessed an adsorption capacity of 134 mg/g for AMX and the imprinting factor was 2.23. The MMIPs were also recyclable and retained 86 % of their adsorption capacity after 7 cycles. Based on these results, the study provides a sustainable option in terms of high added value, environmentally friendly, flexible, safe, energy efficient and cost effective in terms of effective removal of pollutants and recycling of adsorbents.
Coacervate Droplets for Synthetic Cells
Authors: Lin Zi , Beneyton Thomas , Baret Jean‐Christophe , Martin Nicolas
Published: July 2023

The design and construction of synthetic cells – human‐made microcompartments that mimic features of living cells – have experienced a real boom in the past decade. While many efforts have been geared toward assembling membrane‐bounded compartments, coacervate droplets produced by liquid–liquid phase separation have emerged as an alternative membrane‐free compartmentalization paradigm. Here, the dual role of coacervate droplets in synthetic cell research is discussed: encapsulated within membrane‐enclosed compartments, coacervates act as surrogates of membraneless organelles ubiquitously found in living cells; alternatively, they can be viewed as crowded cytosol‐like chassis for constructing integrated synthetic cells. After introducing key concepts of coacervation and illustrating the chemical diversity of coacervate systems, their physicochemical properties and resulting bioinspired functions are emphasized. Moving from suspensions of free floating coacervates, the two nascent roles of these droplets in synthetic cell research are highlighted: organelle‐like modules and cytosol‐like templates. Building the discussion on recent studies from the literature, the potential of coacervate droplets to assemble integrated synthetic cells capable of multiple life‐inspired functions is showcased. Future challenges that are still to be tackled in the field are finally discussed.
Optimal Design of Multilayer Optical Color Filters for Building‐Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV) Applications
Authors: Ortiz Lizcano Juan Camilo , Villa Simona , Zhou Yilong , Frantzi Georgia , Vattis Kyriakos , Calcabrini Andres , Yang Guangtao , Zeman Miro , Isabella Olindo
Published: July 2023

Herein, the application of a comprehensive modeling framework that can help optimize the design of multilayered optical filters for coloring photovoltaic (PV) modules is presented based on crystalline silicon solar cells. To overcome technical issues related to the implementation of color filters (CFs) on PV modules, like glare and color instability, colorimetry metrics, such as the hue, chroma, luminance color space, and the quantitative concept of difference between two colors are extensively deployed. It is showcased in this work that designing colored modules with high hue and chroma stability is possible by using a front‐side texturing with edged geometry, like V‐shaped grooves and inverted pyramids, while obtaining colors with relatively high luminance values, indicating good brightness. Furthermore, it is argued that adapting the rear surface of the front glass with a random textured layout where the CF is applied can improve color and luminance stability without significant loss of chroma while eliminating glare. Finally, the models can be used to optimize the number of layers for a given CF, reducing unnecessary optical losses. Compared to a standard PV module, performance simulation of optimized, bright‐colored PV modules predicts relative energy yield losses ranging from 7% to 25%.
Surface Modification with Metal Hexacyanoferrates for Expanding the Choice of H2‐Evolving Photocatalysts for Both Fe3+/Fe2+ Redox‐Mediated and Interparticle Z‐Scheme Water‐Splitting Systems
Authors: Matsuoka Hikaru , Inoue Tomoki , Suzuki Hajime , Tomita Osamu , Nozawa Shunsuke , Nakada Akinobu , Abe Ryu
Published: July 2023

The construction of Z‐scheme water splitting systems is an effective approach toward harvesting a wide portion of the solar light spectrum; however, the success has often depended on the property of photocatalyst surfaces. This drawback is typified by the limited choice of efficient H2 evolution photocatalysts (HEPs) (e.g., Rh‐doped SrTiO3) for Z‐scheme water splitting using Fe3+/Fe2+ redox couple. The majority of visible light‐responsive materials shows low activity for H2 production with Fe2+ electron donors despite having suitable band levels, probably due to the absence of an effective surface site for oxidizing Fe2+. The choice of HEPs for interparticle Z‐scheme systems has also been limited. Herein, an effective strategy for overcoming these limitations is reported: activation of originally inactive materials via surface modification with metal hexacyanoferrate nanoparticles. Photocatalytic H2 evolution over TaON in aqueous Fe2+ solution is drastically enhanced by comodification with indium hexacyanoferrate (InHCF) and Rh–Cr mixed oxide. InHCF promotes Fe2+ oxidation to Fe3+ utilizing the holes photogenerated in TaON via FeIII/FeII redox cycles, enabling Z‐scheme water splitting with the Fe3+/Fe2+ redox mediator coupled with an O2 evolution photocatalyst under visible light. It is also disclosed that InHCF nanoparticles function as effective solid electron mediators for achieving interparticle Z‐scheme water splitting.
RETRACTED: NIK‐mediated reactivation of SIX2 enhanced the CSC‐like traits of hepatocellular carcinoma cells through suppressing ubiquitin–proteasome system
Authors: Daren Liu , Dan Ye , Jinhong Wu , Chao Li
Published: July 2023

The critical roles of NF‐κB Inducing Kinase (NIK) in tumor progression have been elucidated in various tumors; however, its effects on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression are still confusing. Here, we found that NIK level was upregulated in HCC tissues compared to that of normal tissues, and positively correlated with the levels of cancer stem cell (CSC) markers. Then we established HCC cells with NIK‐stable knockdown and found that NIK knockdown suppressed the CSC—like traits of HCC cells through in vivo and in vitro experiments. Mechanistically, we revealed that SIX2 protein level, but not its mRNA level, was significantly reduced in HCC cells with NIK knockdown, which was rescued by MG132 treatment. Furthermore, NIK knockdown promoted the ubiquitination level of SIX2 and decreased its protein stability. Moreover, Six2 overexpression partially reversed the inhibition of NIK knockdown on the CSC‐like traits of HCC cells. This study identified a novel NIK/SIX2 axis conferring HCC stemness.
The role of a cryocompression device following total knee arthroplasty to assist in recovery: a randomised controlled trial
Authors: Marinova Mira , Sundaram Abayasankar , Holtham Katie , Ebert Jay R. , Wysocki David , Meyerkort Daniel , Radic Ross
Published: July 2023

Purpose

The study sought to investigate the effectiveness of a cryocompression Game Ready™ (GR) versus usual care protocol (UC) on early post‐operative recovery following total knee arthroplasty.

Methods

This study prospectively randomised 72 total knee arthroplasties to a 2‐week (from day 0) intervention of GR treatment (n = 36, 63.9% females) or UC of ice with static compression (n = 36, 45.7% females). Knee flexion and extension range of motion (ROM), a visual analogue pain scale and limb circumference were documented at day 1, 2 and 14, as well as 6 weeks post‐surgery. Medication usage and length of hospital stay were documented. Patient‐reported outcome measures (PROMs) included the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score and a Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire. Statistical analysis using linear mixed modelling and analysis of variance table with Satterthwaite's method were used along with two‐tailed t‐tests.

Results

There were no significant group‐by‐time interactions regarding any of the outcomes. The GR group had 19% lost to follow‐up at 2 weeks, while the UC group had 8%. The GR group demonstrated significantly better knee extension ROM at day 1 (p = 0.048) and day 14 (p = 0.007) compared with the UC group. There were no group differences (n.s.) observed in pain, flexion ROM, limb circumference, opioid use or PROMs. Overall, higher pain levels resulted in increased opioid intake (p = 0.002), older patients used significantly less opioids (p < 0.001) and males reported significantly less pain than females (p = 0.048). No adverse effects were observed due to either protocol.

Conclusion

Despite patients gaining significantly more knee extension during the initial two‐week intervention period when using GR compared to UC, this effect was likely due to chance. No further significant differences were observed between the groups during or after cession of the intervention.

Level of evidence

Level 2.
A robotic‐assisted simulation of kinematic alignment in TKA leads to excessive valgus and internal rotation in valgus knees
Authors: Ollivier Britt , Vandenneucker Hilde , Vermue Hannes , Luyckx Thomas
Published: July 2023

Purpose

Strategies to further improve patient satisfaction after total knee arthroplasty include the introduction of new alignment philosophies and more precise instruments such as navigation and robotics. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of a combination of image‐based robotic assistance and the use of modern alignment strategies on the resulting joint line obliquity as well as femoral component rotation and to compare this between varus, neutral and valgus knees.

Methods

This retrospective study included 200 patients who received a robotic‐assisted total knee arthroplasty (MAKO®, Stryker) using functional alignment between 2018 and 2020. The patients were divided into a varus (103 patients), neutral (57 patients) and valgus (40 patients) group. The intraoperatively recorded bone cuts and resulting joint line obliquity were identified and compared to values obtained with a robotic computer simulation of kinematic alignment.

Results

The mean femoral coronal alignment of the varus, neutral and valgus group, respectively, equalled 0.5° (± 1.1°), 1.1° (± 0.8°) and 1.6° (± 0.7°) of valgus with functional alignment and 2.1° (± 2.1°), 4.1° (± 1.7°) and 6.2° (± 1.7°) of valgus with kinematic alignment. The mean femoral axial alignment of the valgus group resulted in 0.8° (± 2.0°) of internal rotation with functional alignment and 3.9° (± 2.8°) of internal rotation with kinematic alignment. Overall, 186 knees (93%) could be balanced while respecting certain safe zones by using functional alignment as opposed to 54 knees (27% and none in the valgus group) when applying kinematic alignment. Kinematic alignment led to a combination of femoral component valgus and internal rotation of more than 3° in 22 valgus knees (55%), 10 neutral knees (18%) and 3 varus knees (3%) compared to none in each group when applying functional alignment with safe zones.

Conclusions

Robotic‐assisted kinematic alignment leads to a combination of excessive valgus and internal rotation of the femoral component in valgus and to a lesser extent also in neutral knees when compared with functional alignment.

Level of evidence

IV.
Formulation and demonstrations of three-dimensional background-oriented schlieren using a mirror for near-wall density measurements
Authors: Akamine Masahito , Teramoto Susumu , Okamoto Koji
Published: July 2023

Three-dimensional background-oriented schlieren (3D-BOS) is an effective method for reconstructing 3D density fields from optically measured data, but it has limitations in measuring near-wall regions, where most of the light paths are blocked. This paper proposes a new extension, 3D-BOS using Mirror, which uses a wall as a mirror to provide sufficient light paths. In this paper, first, the conventional formulations are modified for the proposed method to handle the mirror reflections of the light paths. Subsequently, the proposed method is validated using artificially generated model data of an ideal axisymmetric distribution. The proposed method can reconstruct the distribution as accurately as the conventional method for all the number of cameras examined. Finally, the proposed method is experimentally demonstrated using a candle plume. The proposed method can capture cylindrical low-density regions near the wall surface.

Graphical abstract
General classification of rhinopaties: the need for standardization according to etiology and nasal cytology
Authors: Gelardi M. , Fiore V. , Giancaspro R. , Di Canio F. M. , Fiorentino C. , Patruno S. , Ruzza A. , Cassano M.
Published: July 2023

Background

Rhinitis is as an inflammation of the nasal mucosa, characterized by high prevalence, widespread morbidity, and a significant financial burden on health care systems. Nevertheless, it is often considered as no more than a mere annoyance. This point of view has progressively led to underestimate and trivialize the disease. Therefore, there are numerous, mostly overlapping classifications of rhinopaties, but clear and standardized guidelines for diagnosis and treatment are still lacking. In the context of Precision Medicine, the development of a classification system focused on the endotypes of rhinitis to be widely adopted appears of utmost importance, also by virtue of study of the nasal immunophlogosis that, thanks to nasal cytology (NC), has recently allowed to better define the different forms of rhinitis, giving a new nosological dignity to several rhinopaties.

Aim

We aimed to summarize the current knowledge regarding rhinitis and to propose a systematic classification of rhinitis, based on both etiology and cytological findings
Suspension-associated dislocation of the jaw in hanging
Authors: Glengarry Joanna , Beaugeois Megane , Bugeja Lyndal , Huggins Richard , O’Donnell Chris
Published: July 2023

Hanging is a common type of death, and the role of the medical investigation of such deaths by a forensic pathologist not only requires the determination of the cause of death but providing information to assist in the determination of the manner of death. The forensic pathologist should be well versed in the spectrum of injuries known to be associated with neck compression, to document injuries known to be associated with hanging, but also to identify those that are inconsistent with self-inflicted hanging or that may suggest the involvement of a third party in the death. Comprehensive identification and correct interpretation of external and internal injury are crucial for the appropriate degree of police and coroner/medical examiner investigation. We present two cases of deaths believed to be caused by self-inflicted hanging that were observed to have unexpected unilateral dislocation of the temporomandibular joint identified on routine post-mortem computed tomography, without any evidence of involvement of a third party. This injury was unexplained and had not been previously observed at our Forensic Institute nor was it identified after a review of the published biomedical research literature. Issues regarding the cause of this abnormality, possible mechanisms, and the medicolegal significance of this finding will be discussed.
Measuring cognitive impairment and monitoring cognitive decline in Huntington’s disease: a comparison of assessment instruments
Authors: Horta-Barba Andrea , Martinez-Horta Saul , Pérez-Pérez Jesús , Puig-Davi Arnau , de Lucia Natascia , de Michele Giuseppe , Salvatore Elena , Kehrer Stefanie , Priller Josef , Migliore Simone , Squitieri Ferdinando , Castaldo Anna , Mariotti Caterina , Mañanes Veronica , Lopez-Sendon Jose Luis , Rodriguez Noelia , Martinez-Descals Asunción , Júlio Filipa , Januário Cristina , Delussi Marianna , de Tommaso Marina , Noguera Sandra , Ruiz-Idiago Jesús , Sitek Emilia J. , Wallner Renata , Nuzzi Angela , Pagonabarraga Javier , Kulisevsky Jaime ,   the Cognitive Phenotype Working Group of the European Huntington’s Disease Network
Published: July 2023

Background

Progressive cognitive decline is an inevitable feature of Huntington’s disease (HD) but specific criteria and instruments are still insufficiently developed to reliably classify patients into categories of cognitive severity and to monitor the progression of cognitive impairment.

Methods

We collected data from a cohort of 180 positive gene-carriers: 33 with premanifest HD and 147 with manifest HD. Using a specifically developed gold-standard for cognitive status we classified participants into those with normal cognition, those with mild cognitive impairment, and those with dementia. We administered the Parkinson’s Disease-Cognitive Rating Scale (PD-CRS), the MMSE and the UHDRS cogscore at baseline, and at 6-month and 12-month follow-up visits. Cutoff scores discriminating between the three cognitive categories were calculated for each instrument. For each cognitive group and instrument we addressed cognitive progression, sensitivity to change, and the minimally clinical important difference corresponding to conversion from one category to another.

Results

The PD-CRS cutoff scores for MCI and dementia showed excellent sensitivity and specificity ratios that were not achieved with the other instruments. Throughout follow-up, in all cognitive groups, PD-CRS captured the rate of conversion from one cognitive category to another and also the different patterns in terms of cognitive trajectories.

Conclusion

The PD-CRS is a valid and reliable instrument to capture MCI and dementia syndromes in HD. It captures the different trajectories of cognitive progression as a function of cognitive status and shows sensitivity to change in MCI and dementia.
Programmed death-ligand 1 and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) – low TIL density may predict poorer long-term prognosis in T1 laryngeal cancer
Authors: Pakkanen Pihla , Ilmarinen Taru , Halme Elina , Irjala Heikki , Koivunen Petri , Pukkila Matti , Ventelä Sami , Almangush Alhadi , Birkman Eva-Maria , Lindgren Outi , Pohjolainen Virva , Sjöblom Nelli , Haglund Caj , Hagström Jaana , Aaltonen Leena-Maija
Published: July 2023

We evaluated the prognostic role of programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) in T1 glottic laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC). T1 glottic LSCC patients (n = 174) treated at five Finnish university hospitals between 2003 and 2013 were included. Tissue microarray (TMA) blocks were used for PD-L1 immunohistochemistry. TILs were scored from intratumoral and stromal regions in whole tissue sections. Of 174 patients, 92 (53%) had negative, 66 (38%) intermediate, and 16 (9%) high PD-L1 levels. Of 80 patients whose TILs were analyzed, 50 (63%) had low and 30 (38%) high stromal TIL density. Patients with a local recurrence or a new primary tumor of the larynx had lower TIL density than had other patients (p = 0.047). High PD-L1 expression with low stromal TIL density was associated with inferior 5-year disease-specific survival (85% vs. 100%, p = 0.02). In conclusion, in patients treated for T1 glottic LSCC, low stromal TIL density was associated with local recurrences and new primary tumors of the larynx. High PD-L1 expression with low stromal TIL density may be associated with worse survival in T1 glottic LSCC.
A randomized controlled trial of a home-based computerized executive function intervention for children with cerebral palsy
Authors: García-Galant María , Blasco Montse , Laporta-Hoyos Olga , Berenguer-González Alba , Moral-Salicrú Paula , Ballester-Plané Júlia , Caldú Xavier , Miralbell Júlia , Alonso Xènia , Medina-Cantillo Julita , Povedano-Bulló Elsa , Leiva David , Boyd Roslyn N. , Pueyo Roser
Published: July 2023

Children with cerebral palsy (CP) often show executive function (EF) impairments that are key to quality of life. The aim of this study was to assess whether a home-based computerized intervention program improves executive functions (EFs) compared to usual care. Sixty participants (30 females) with CP (8–12 years old) were paired by age, sex, motor ability, and intelligence quotient score and then randomized to intervention and waitlist control groups. The intervention group received a 12-week home-based computerized EF intervention (5 days/week, 30 min/day, total dose 30 h). Core and higher-order EFs were assessed before, immediately after, and 9 months after completing the intervention. The intervention group performed better than the waitlist control group in the three core EFs (immediately and 9 months after the intervention): inhibitory control (F = 7.58, p = 0.13 and F = 7.85, p = 0.12), working memory (F = 8.34, p = 0.14 and F = 7.55, p = 0.13), and cognitive flexibility (F = 4.87, p = 0.09 and F = 4.19, p = 0.08). No differences were found between the groups in higher-order EFs or EF manifestations in daily life.

Conclusions: A home-based computerized EF intervention improved core EFs in children with CP, but further research is needed to identify strategies that allow the transfer of these improvements to everyday life.

Trial registration: NCT04025749 retrospectively registered on 19 July 2019.

What is Known:• One in two children with cerebral palsy has an intellectual impairment. Visual perception and executive functions are the most reported specific cognitive deficits.• The majority of interventions for cerebral palsy focus on motor impairments, but only a few randomized controlled trials have explored the effect of interventions on executive functions.

What is New:• A home-based computerized cognitive intervention can improve the core executive functions of children with cerebral palsy.• Short- and long-term effects on core executive functions have been found.
Recent evolution of flowering time across multiple European plant species correlates with changes in aridity
Authors: Rauschkolb Robert , Durka Walter , Godefroid Sandrine , Dixon Lara , Bossdorf Oliver , Ensslin Andreas , Scheepens J. F.
Published: July 2023

Ongoing global warming and increasing drought frequencies impact plant populations and potentially drive rapid evolutionary adaptations. Historical comparisons, where plants grown from seeds collected in the past are compared to plants grown from freshly collected seeds from populations of the same sites, are a powerful method to investigate recent evolutionary changes across many taxa. We used 21–38 years old seeds of 13 European plant species, stored in seed banks and originating from Mediterranean and temperate regions, together with recently collected seeds from the same sites for a greenhouse experiment to investigate shifts in flowering phenology as a potential result of adaptive evolution to changes in drought intensities over the last decades. We further used single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers to quantify relatedness and levels of genetic variation. We found that, across species, current populations grew faster and advanced their flowering. These shifts were correlated with changes in aridity at the population origins, suggesting that increased drought induced evolution of earlier flowering, whereas decreased drought lead to weak or inverse shifts in flowering phenology. In five out of the 13 species, however, the SNP markers detected strong differences in genetic variation and relatedness between the past and current populations collected, indicating that other evolutionary processes may have contributed to changes in phenotypes. Our results suggest that changes in aridity may have influenced the evolutionary trajectories of many plant species in different regions of Europe, and that flowering phenology may be one of the key traits that is rapidly evolving.
Defensive tolerance to parasitism is correlated with sexual selection in swallows
Authors: Soler Juan José , Møller Anders Pape
Published: July 2023

Parasite-mediated sexual selection has been the topic of extensive research and enthusiastic debate for more than three decades. Here, we suggest that secondary sexual characters may not only signal parasite resistance but also defensive tolerance. We exemplify this possibility by analysing information on two sexually selected traits, annual reproductive success, and ectoparasitism in a barn swallow Hirundo rustica population followed for more than 30 years. For each individual, we estimated the slope of the association between reproductive success and parasitism as an index of tolerance and subsequently explored the association with the expression of the sexually selected traits. In accordance with expectations of parasites playing a role in sexual selection, tail length was negatively related to load of chewing lice and nest size was positively related to tolerance to chewing lice. We discuss the importance of considering defensive tolerance for understanding the role of parasite-mediated sexual selection.
Relevance of charge interactions for contaminant transport in heterogeneous formations: a stochastic analysis
Authors: Muniruzzaman Muhammad , Rolle Massimo
Published: July 2023

The electrostatic properties of clay (or other charged) mineral surfaces play a significant role in the fate, transport, persistence, and remediation of subsurface contaminant plumes. This study presents a stochastic assessment of the impact and relevance of microscale electrostatic effects on macroscopic, field-scale contaminant transport in heterogeneous groundwater systems involving spatially distributed clay zones. We present Monte Carlo simulations in two-dimensional heterogeneous fields, comprising heterogeneous distributions of physical (i.e., hydraulic conductivity, porosity, tortuosity) and electrostatic (i.e., surface charge) properties, and compare scenarios with different combination and extent of physical and electrostatic processes. The simulations were performed with the multi-continua based reactive transport code, MMIT-Clay, and considering an explicit treatment of the diffuse layer processes. The results reveal that the microscopic electrostatic mechanisms within clay’s diffuse layer can significantly accelerate or retard a particular contaminant depending on its charge, leading to considerably different solute breakthroughs and mass loading/release behaviors in low permeability inclusions. Furthermore, we show that such variations in the macroscale transport behavior, solely driven by charge interactions, are statistically significant over the ensembles of Monte Carlo realizations. The simulations also demonstrate that the omission of electrostatic processes, which is still a common practice in subsurface hydrology, can lead to substantial over- or underestimation of contaminant migration.
Comparing the factor structures and reliabilities of the EPDS and the PHQ-9 for screening antepartum and postpartum depression: a multigroup confirmatory factor analysis
Authors: Stefana Alberto , Langfus Joshua A. , Palumbo Gabriella , Cena Loredana , Trainini Alice , Gigantesco Antonella , Mirabella Fiorino
Published: July 2023

To evaluate and compare the factor structure and reliability of EPDS and PHQ in antepartum and postpartum samples. Parallel analysis and exploratory factor analysis were conducted to determine the structure of both scales in the entire sample as well as in the antepartum and postpartum groups. McDonald’s omega statistics examined the utility of treating items as a single scale versus multiple factors. Multigroup confirmatory factor analysis (MCFA) was utilized to test the measurement invariance between the antepartum and postpartum groups. Two-factor models fit best for the EPDS in both the antepartum and postpartum groups; however, the most reliable score variance was attributable to a general factor for each scale. MCFA provided evidence of weak invariance across groups regarding factor loadings and partial invariance regarding item thresholds. PHQ-9 showed a two-factor model in the antepartum group; however, the same model did not fit well in the postpartum group. EPDS should be preferred to PHQ-9 for measuring depressive symptoms in peripartum populations. Both scales should be used as a single-factor scale. Caution is required when comparing the antepartum and postpartum scores.
Drug-CoV: a drug-origin knowledge graph discovering drug repurposing targeting COVID-19
Authors: Li Sirui , Wong Kok Wai , Zhu Dengya , Fung Chun Che
Published: July 2023

Drug repurposing is a technique for probing new usages of existing medicines, but its traditional methods, such as computational approaches, can be time-consuming and laborious. Recently, knowledge graphs (KGs) have emerged as a powerful approach for graph-based representation in drug repurposing, encoding entities and relations to predict new connections and facilitate drug discovery. As COVID-19 has become a major public health concern, it is critical to establish an appropriate COVID-19 KG for drug repurposing to combat the spread of the virus. However, most publicly available COVID-19 KGs lack support for multi-relations and comprehensive entity types. Moreover, none of them originates from COVID-19-related drugs, making it challenging to identify effective treatments. To tackle these issues, we developed Drug-CoV, a drug-origin and multi-relational COVID-19 KG. We evaluated the quality of Drug-CoV by performing link prediction and comparing the results to another publicly available COVID-19 KG. Our results showed that Drug-CoV outperformed the comparing KG in predicting new links between entities. Overall, Drug-CoV represents a valuable resource for COVID-19 drug repurposing efforts and demonstrates the potential of KGs for facilitating drug discovery.
Generating missing patient anatomy from partially acquired cone-beam computed tomography images using deep learning: a proof of concept
Authors: Shields Benjamin , Ramachandran Prabhakar
Published: July 2023

The patient setup technique currently in practice in most radiotherapy departments utilises on-couch cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) imaging. Patients are positioned on the treatment couch using visual markers, followed by fine adjustments to the treatment couch position depending on the shift observed between the computed tomography (CT) image acquired for treatment planning and the CBCT image acquired immediately before commencing treatment. The field of view of CBCT images is limited to the size of the kV imager which leads to the acquisition of partial CBCT scans for lateralised tumors. The cone-beam geometry results in high amounts of streaking artifacts and in conjunction with limited anatomical information reduces the registration accuracy between planning CT and the CBCT image. This study proposes a methodology that can improve radiotherapy patient setup CBCT images by removing streaking artifacts and generating the missing patient anatomy with patient-specific precision. This research was split into two separate studies. In Study A, synthetic CBCT (sCBCT) data was created and used to train two machine learning models, one for removing streaking artifacts and the other for generating the missing patient anatomy. In Study B, planning CT and on-couch CBCT data from several patients was used to train a base model, from which a transfer of learning was performed using imagery from a single patient, producing a patient-specific model. The models developed for Study A performed well at removing streaking artifacts and generating the missing anatomy. The outputs yielded in Study B show that the model understands the individual patient and can generate the missing anatomy from partial CBCT datasets. The outputs generated demonstrate that there is utility in the proposed methodology which could improve the patient setup and ultimately lead to improving overall treatment quality.