bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Corrosion electrochemistry of metallic iron in reduced ilmenite with ammonium chloride solution
Authors: Zheng Fuqiang , Guo Yufeng , Wang Shuai , Chen Feng , Yang Lingzhi
Published: June 2022

Separation of iron and titanium by reduction-corrosion method from ilmenite had the advantages of less pollution, simple process, and low cost compared with other methods. To identify the determinants for corrosion reaction of reduced ilmenite, the corrosion electrochemistry of metallic iron in ammonium chloride solution was carried out. The metallic iron was oxidized to form dense Fe2O3 and Fe3O4 in NH4Cl solution at pH of 3.60, resulting in the passivation of metallic iron electrode surface. However, the anode passivation film was destroyed by the chloride ions in the NH4Cl solution, which promoted the corrosion reactions of metallic iron. The corrosion of metallic iron in the 1.60 wt.% NH4Cl solution was controlled by the cathode reaction with a control degree of 95.86%. Decreasing the cathodic polarization could improve the corrosion rate of metallic iron. The decrease of pH value in electrolyte promoted the anode reaction of metallic iron in the NH4Cl solution and reduced the passivation of metallic iron. The Ca2+ and Mg2+ ions in electrolyte increased the difficulty of the metallic iron corrosion reaction. The Fe(OH)3 accumulated in electrolyte slowed down the corrosion reaction rate of metallic iron.
Ovarialkarzinom bei Hochbetagten
Authors: Krome Susanne
Published: June 2022

Eine Platin-Taxan-Doublette stellt bei fortgeschrittenen Ovarialkarzinomen den therapeutischen Standard dar. Bei fragilen Populationen kommen Protokolle mit reduzierter Dosierung, wöchentlicher Applikation oder Monotherapien in Betracht. In der randomisierten Phase-II-Studie bewährte sich jetzt eine Carboplatin-Monotherapie mit kürzeren Überlebenszeiten und höherer Toxizität nicht, weshalb der vorzeitige Studienabbruch erfolgte.
Meditations- und Achtsamkeitsinterventionen zur Förderung psychischer Ressourcen in der supportiven onkologischen Behandlung
Authors: Michaelsen Maren M. , Esch Tobias
Published: June 2022

Menschen, die von einer Krebserkrankung betroffen sind, leiden neben körperlichen Beschwerden häufig an psychischen Symptomen wie Angst, Depression und Stress. Psychoonkologische Interventionen zur Unterstützung des Selbstmanagements, Stärkung der Selbstwirksamkeit und Förderung weiterer psychischer Ressourcen sind auf Seiten der Betroffenen von immer größerer Bedeutung. Die derzeitige Evidenz unterstützt die Annahme, dass Meditations- und Achtsamkeitsinterventionen, als ein Element in der Mind-Body-Medizin, wirksam in der supportiven Onkologie eingesetzt werden können. Neben persönlich vermittelten Interventionen erscheinen auch Online-Interventionen (eHealth) in diesem Zusammenhang vielversprechend.
Gendermedizin
Authors: Krome Susanne
Published: June 2022

Der Begriff des Genderns geht über den Sprachgebrauch hinaus und meint die Berücksichtigung des Geschlechts auf allen soziokulturellen Feldern, auch in der Wissenschaft. In der Medizin stellt sich zunehmend heraus, dass sich Krankheiten von Frauen und Männern aus den verschiedensten Gründen unterscheiden. Der Überblick zum Bronchialkarzinom ist Teil der European Respiratory Review Series, in der es um Geschlechtereffekte in der Pneumologie geht.
Do Meteorological Variations and Climate Changes Affect Hyperemesis
Gravidarum?
Authors: Akgun Nilufer , Misirligil Selcuk , Yegin Gülin Feykan , Keskin H. Levent , Yavuz Ayse Filiz
Published: June 2022

Background To estimate a possible association between the effects of daily
meteorological variation and climatological changes (temperature, air pressure,
humidity, sunniness level) on pregnant women with hyperemesis gravidarum (HG)
according to symptoms grade and hospitalization state.

Methods A retrospective study was conducted with 118 patients diagnosed
and hospitalized with HG. HG patients were graded as mild, moderate, or severe
according to the Pregnancy Unique Quantification of Emesis (PUQE-24) scale. Data
regarding demographic characteristics, PUQE scale value, gestational week on
hospitalization, hospital admission and discharge dates, weather conditions,
daily meteorological values during hospitalization ( temperature, air pressure,
humidity, sunniness level), seasonal averages, and daily changes were recorded.
Weather records were obtained from the Ankara Meteorology General Directorate
(Ankara, Turkey). Differences between groups were compared according to HG
grade.

Results HG cases were classified as mild (33.1%), moderate
(44.9%), or severe (22.0%). The number of hospitalization days
significantly differed between these three groups (p<0.05). In contrast,
no statistically significant differences were identified between the HG grade
level groups in regard to humidity, pressure, temperature, and sunniness level
data (p>0.05). In addition, no statistically significant relationship
was identified between HG grades and seasonal conditions according to the
chi-square test (p>0.05).

Conclusion Changes in the meteorological and climate values examined were
independent of symptom severity and hospitalization rate for our HG patients.
However, it is possible that climate changes occurring around the world may
affect the pregnancy period and should be further investigated.
Von der Werkstatt auf den allgemeinen Arbeitsmarkt – Jobcoaching in der WfbM
Authors: Schäfer Charlotte-Sophie
Published: June 2022

Die Eingliederung auf den ersten Arbeitsmarkt ist für viele Beschäftigte in Werkstätten für Menschen mit Behinderung (WfbM) ein großes Anliegen. Jobcoaches können sie bei diesem Integrationsprozess unterstützen. Ein spannendes Handlungsfeld – auch für Ergotherapeut*innen.
Mit euch sprechen kann ich nicht – Selektiver Mutismus
Authors: Osterhagen Jeannette
Published: June 2022

Bestimmt Schweigen den Alltag, weil Sprache nicht normativ gelebt werden kann, ist die Welt von Kindern und ihren Familien aus den Angeln gehoben. Betätigungen, soziale Interaktion und Teilhabe sind bestenfalls auf Umwegen möglich. Ergotherapie kann dabei helfen, betroffenen Kindern und Jugendlichen den Weg in ein selbstbestimmtes Leben zu ebnen.
Der Webstuhl – mein „Schaaatz“ – Gastkolumne
Authors: Kaldewei Nicole
Published: June 2022

Es herrscht das veraltete Bildungssystem und die daraus erwachsenen Konsequenzen. Vier Gefährt*innen machen sich auf, weil sie an etwas glauben. Sie wissen, dass es eine gute Sache in dieser Welt gibt und dass es sich lohnt, dafür zukämpfen: der Webstuhl im Keller einer Berufsfachschule für Ergotherapie.
Immuntherapie bei gleichzeitiger Autoimmunerkrankung
Authors: Krome Susanne
Published: June 2022

Patienten mit Autoimmunkrankheiten (AID) wurden von randomisierten Studien mit Checkpoint-Inhibitoren aus 3 Gründen weitgehend ausgeschlossen: der Befürchtung einer gesteigerten Toxizität, der verstärkten Immunantwort und einer zusätzlichen Organinflammation. Nach der retrospektiven Studie mit Real-World-Daten ist die Immuntherapie bei AID durchaus wirksam und vertretbar, allerdings mit Einschränkungen.
Adjuvante Behandlung des malignen Melanoms
Authors: Krome Susanne
Published: June 2022

Pyrexien sind als unerwünschte Ereignisse (UEs) unter einer zielgerichteten Therapie mit BRAF- und MEK-Inhibitoren bekannt, die bei schwerem Verlauf auch zu einem Therapieabbruch führen können. Die Ergebnisse der Studien COMBI-AD und COMBI-APlus weisen darauf hin, dass die Inzidenz und medizinischen Folgen durch ein geeignetes Pyrexie-Management erheblich reduziert werden können.
Checkpoint-Inhibitoren für das maligne Melanom
Authors: Krome Susanne
Published: June 2022

In den meisten klinischen Studien sind Senioren unterrepräsentiert. Dies gilt auch für die Immuntherapie mit Checkpoint-Inhibitoren (ICI), mit denen die Prognose von Patienten mit einem malignen Melanom deutlich verbessert werden konnte. Die populationsbasierte Kohortenstudie ergab nun, dass ICI auch bei älteren Melanom-Patienten vermehrt immunologische Prozesse auslösen. Die Autoren differenzierten autoimmunologische und andere immunvermittelte unerwünschte Ereignisse.
Immuntherapie des malignen Melanoms
Authors: Krome Susanne
Published: June 2022

Die Beurteilung der Therapieantwort basiert weitgehend auf Veränderungen der Tumorgröße. Die prädiktive Aussagekraft der RECIST-Kriterien für solide Tumoren sind aber bei Immuntherapien ungenau. Eine retrospektive Studie identifizierte für Patienten mit metastasiertem Melanom und Therapie mit Immuncheckpoint-Inhibitoren eine Alternative. Maschinelles Lernen und Radiomics, d. h. die automatische Extraktion einer großen Anzahl quantitativer Merkmale, deren Visualisierung und statistische Analyse sowie Korrelationsprüfung mit klinischen Endpunkten, ergaben eine computertomografische Signatur, welche das Überleben zuverlässig voraussagte.
Vasomotorische Symptome bei Mammakarzinomen
Authors: Krome Susanne
Published: June 2022

Vasomotorische Symptome (VMS) sind eine häufige Folge der systemischen Therapie von Mammakarzinomen. Eine kanadische Studie untersuchte die Frage der Relevanz und der optimalen Kontrolle aus Sicht der betroffenen Frauen. Während 68 % sich eine Intervention durch den behandelnden Arzt wünschten, erhielten nur 18 % diese Unterstützung.
Mentalisierungsbasierte Gruppenpsychotherapie (MBT-G) – eine
Kurzfassung
Authors: Schultz-Venrath Ulrich
Published: June 2022

Gruppentherapien sind ausgesprochen effektiv. Vermutlich ist Mentalisieren der
zentrale Wirkmechanismus für die eindrucksvollen Ergebnisse.
Mentalisierungsbasierte Gruppenpsychotherapien sind in Kliniken und
Tageskliniken für Patienten mit schwereren psychischen und
psychosomatischen Störungen die Therapie der Wahl. Im ambulanten Bereich
gibt es allerdings immer noch zu wenig Gruppentherapie-Angebote.
Frühe Mammakarzinome
Authors: Krome Susanne
Published: June 2022

60–95 % der Frauen mit einem frühen Mammakarzinom leiden während der Strahlentherapie unter schwerer Erschöpfung, die bei etwa jeder 4. Frau auch nach der Therapie anhält. Eine britische Arbeitsgruppe untersuchte die Eignung des ACTIVE-Programms zur Prävention einer Fatigue als unerwünschte Folge einer Strahlentherapie. Das ACTIVE-Programm besteht aus körperlicher Betätigung und 3 psychotherapeutischen Interventionen. Das Besondere war, dass nicht Frauen mit Fatigue, sondern mit einem hohen Risiko für Fatigue teilnahmen, um der Manifestation vorzubeugen.
Operables nicht kleinzelliges Bronchialkarzinom
Authors: Krome Susanne
Published: June 2022

In metastasierten Stadien bewährte sich die Kombination aus Chemotherapie und PD-1-Inhibition mit einem verlängerten progressionsfreien und Gesamtüberleben (OS). Das Update der Studie Check-Mate 816 belegt nun auch Vorteile für Patienten mit resezierbaren nicht kleinzelligen Bronchialkarzinomen. Besonders profitierten Erkrankte im Stadium IIIA.
Interventional Management of Painful Vertebral Body Metastases
Authors: Sajan Abin , Isaacson Ari , Bagla Sandeep
Published: June 2022

Management of osseous metastatic disease has advanced over the years with the advent of ablation and interventional technologies. Painful metastatic vertebral body lesions have been particularly studied in the recent years, as open surgery is usually reserved for emergent cord compression. Minimally invasive options in managing these lesions include percutaneous vertebral augmentation, percutaneous ablation, and embolization. This article will include an overview of these procedures including the most recent literature.
The emergence of polyglot entrainment responses to periodic inputs in vicinities of Hopf bifurcations in slow-fast systems
Authors: Khan Emel , Saghafi Soheil , Diekman Casey O. , Rotstein Horacio G.
Published: June 2022

Several distinct entrainment patterns can occur in the FitzHugh–Nagumo (FHN) model under external periodic forcing. Investigating the FHN model under different types of periodic forcing reveals the existence of multiple disconnected 1:1 entrainment segments for constant, low enough values of the input amplitude when the unforced system is in the vicinity of a Hopf bifurcation. This entrainment structure is termed polyglot to distinguish it from the single 1:1 entrainment region (monoglot) structure typically observed in Arnold tongue diagrams. The emergence of polyglot entrainment is then explained using phase-plane analysis and other dynamical system tools. Entrainment results are investigated for other slow-fast systems of neuronal, circadian, and glycolytic oscillations. Exploring these models, we found that polyglot entrainment structure (multiple 1:1 regions) is observed when the unforced system is in the vicinity of a Hopf bifurcation and the Hopf point is located near a knee of a cubic-like nullcline.
Development of an operando characterization stage for multi-modal synchrotron x-ray experiments
Authors: Walker Trumann , Nietzold Tara , Kumar Niranjana Mohan , Lai Barry , Stone Kevin , Stuckelberger Michael E. , Bertoni Mariana I.
Published: June 2022

It is widely accepted that micro- and nanoscale inhomogeneities govern the performance of many thin-film solar cell absorbers. These inhomogeneities yield material properties (e.g., composition, structure, and charge collection) that are challenging to correlate across length scales and measurement modalities. The challenge is compounded if a correlation is sought during device operation or in conditions that mimic aging under particular stressors (e.g., heat and electrical bias). Correlative approaches, particularly those based on synchrotron x-ray sources, are powerful since they can access several material properties in different modes (e.g., fluorescence, diffraction, and absorption) with minimal sample preparation. Small-scale laboratory x-ray instruments have begun to offer multi-modality but are typically limited by low x-ray photon flux, low spatial resolution, or specific sample sizes. To overcome these limitations, a characterization stage was developed to enable multi-scale, multi-modal operando measurements of industrially relevant photovoltaic devices. The stage offers compatibility across synchrotron x-ray facilities, enabling correlation between nanoscale x-ray fluorescence microscopy, microscale x-ray diffraction microscopy, and x-ray beam induced current microscopy, among others. The stage can accommodate device sizes up to 25 × 25 mm2, offering access to multiple regions of interest and increasing the statistical significance of correlated properties. The stage materials can sustain humid and non-oxidizing atmospheres, and temperature ranges encountered by photovoltaic devices in operational environments (e.g., from 25 to 100 °C). As a case study, we discuss the functionality of the stage by studying Se-alloyed CdTe photovoltaic devices aged in the stage between 25 and 100 °C.
Optically resonant all-dielectric diabolo nanodisks
Authors: Gafsi Saddam , Tarik Farhan Bin , Nelson Cody T. , Ryckman Judson D.
Published: June 2022

Optically resonant all-dielectric nanostructures attractively exhibit reduced losses compared to their plasmonic counterparts; however, achieving strong field enhancements at the nanoscale, especially within solid-state media, has remained a significant challenge. In this work, we demonstrate how subwavelength modifications to a conventional silicon nanodisk enable strong sub-diffractive and polarization dependent field enhancements in devices supporting Mie resonances, including anapole-like modes. We examine the electromagnetic properties of both individual and arrayed “diabolo nanodisks,” which are found to exhibit |E|2/|E0|2 enhancements in the range ∼102–104, in the high index medium, depending on geometrical considerations. In addition to supporting a localized electric field “hot-spot” similar to those predicted in diabolo nanostructured photonic crystal cavities and waveguide designs, we identify an anti-diabolo effect leading to a broadband “cold-spot” for the orthogonal polarization. These findings offer the prospect of enhancing or manipulating light–matter interactions at the nanoscale within an all-dielectric (metal free) platform for potential applications ranging from non-linear optics to quantum light sources, nano-sensing, nanoparticle-manipulation, and active/tunable metasurfaces.
High-responsivity MoS2 hot-electron telecom-band photodetector integrated with microring resonator
Authors: Zhang Qiao , Ji Yingke , Hu Siqi , Li Zhiwen , Li Chen , Gu Linpeng , Tian Ruijuan , Zhang Jiachen , Fang Liang , Zhao Bijun , Zhao Jianlin , Gan Xuetao
Published: June 2022

We report a high-responsive hot-electron photodetector based on the integration of an Au–MoS2 junction with a silicon nitride microring resonator (MRR) for detecting telecom-band light. The coupling of the evanescent field of the silicon nitride MRR with the Au–MoS2 Schottky junction region enhances the hot-electron injection efficiency. The device exhibits a high responsivity of 154.6 mA W−1 at the wavelength of 1516 nm, and the moderately uniform responsivities are obtained over the wavelength range of 1500–1630 nm. This MRR-enhanced MoS2 hot-electron photodetector offers possibilities for integrated optoelectronic systems.
Solar activity facilitates daily forecasts of large earthquakes
Authors: Junqueira Saldanha Matheus Henrique , Hirata Yoshito
Published: June 2022

Despite the extensive literature related to earthquakes, an effective method to forecast and avoid occasional seismic hazards that cause substantial damage is lacking. The Sun has recently been identified as a potential precursor to earthquakes, although no causal relationship between its activity and the Earth’s seismicity has been established. This study was aimed at investigating whether such a relationship exists and whether it can be used to improve earthquake forecasting. The edit distances between earthquake point processes were combined with delay-coordinate distances for sunspot numbers. The comparison of these two indicated the existence of unidirectional causal coupling from solar activity to seismicity on Earth, and a radial basis function regressor showed accuracy improvements in the largest magnitude prediction of next days by 2.6%–17.9% in the odds ratio when sunspot distances were included.
Noise-mitigation strategies in physical feedforward neural networks
Authors: Semenova N. , Brunner D.
Published: June 2022

Physical neural networks are promising candidates for next generation artificial intelligence hardware. In such architectures, neurons and connections are physically realized and do not leverage digital concepts with their practically infinite signal-to-noise ratio to encode, transduce, and transform information. They, therefore, are prone to noise with a variety of statistical and architectural properties, and effective strategies leveraging network-inherent assets to mitigate noise in a hardware-efficient manner are important in the pursuit of next generation neural network hardware. Based on analytical derivations, we here introduce and analyze a variety of different noise-mitigation approaches. We analytically show that intra-layer connections in which the connection matrix’s squared mean exceeds the mean of its square fully suppress uncorrelated noise. We go beyond and develop two synergistic strategies for noise that is uncorrelated and correlated across populations of neurons. First, we introduce the concept of ghost neurons, where each group of neurons perturbed by correlated noise has a negative connection to a single neuron, yet without receiving any input information. Second, we show that pooling of neuron populations is an efficient approach to suppress uncorrelated noise. As such, we developed a general noise-mitigation strategy leveraging the statistical properties of the different noise terms most relevant in analog hardware. Finally, we demonstrate the effectiveness of this combined approach for a trained neural network classifying the modified National Institute of Standards and Technology handwritten digits, for which we achieve a fourfold improvement of the output signal-to-noise ratio. Our noise mitigation lifts the 92.07% classification accuracy of the noisy neural network to 97.49%, which is essentially identical to the 97.54% of the noise-free network.
Effective electronic forces and potentials from ab initio path integral Monte Carlo simulations
Authors: Dornheim Tobias , Tolias Panagiotis , Moldabekov Zhandos A. , Cangi Attila , Vorberger Jan
Published: June 2022

The rigorous description of correlated quantum many-body systems constitutes one of the most challenging tasks in contemporary physics and related disciplines. In this context, a particularly useful tool is the concept of effective pair potentials that take into account the effects of the complex many-body medium consistently. In this work, we present extensive, highly accurate ab initio path integral Monte Carlo (PIMC) results for the effective interaction and the effective force between two electrons in the presence of the uniform electron gas. This gives us a direct insight into finite-size effects, thereby, opening up the possibility for novel domain decompositions and methodological advances. In addition, we present unassailable numerical proof for an effective attraction between two electrons under moderate coupling conditions, without the mediation of an underlying ionic structure. Finally, we compare our exact PIMC results to effective potentials from linear-response theory, and we demonstrate their usefulness for the description of the dynamic structure factor. All PIMC results are made freely available online and can be used as a thorough benchmark for new developments and approximations.
Aluminum-ferromagnetic Josephson tunnel junctions for high quality magnetic switching devices
Authors: Vettoliere A. , Satariano R. , Ferraiuolo R. , Di Palma L. , Ahmad H. G. , Ausanio G. , Pepe G. P. , Tafuri F. , Montemurro D. , Granata C. , Parlato L. , Massarotti D.
Published: June 2022

The competition between superconducting and ferromagnetic orderings in Josephson devices has promoted fundamental and applicative studies of high impact for superconducting digital technology, cryogenic memories, and spintronics, where the possibility of switching between different magnetic states is a crucial advantage. Here, we report on fabrication and characterization of very high quality tunnel ferromagnetic Josephson junctions (JJs) with aluminum electrodes, demonstrating hysteretic behavior of the magnetic field pattern preserving typical transport properties of Al junctions, underdamped behavior, and very low quasiparticle dissipation. The proposed technology paves the way for the possible implementation of Al tunnel-ferromagnetic JJs in superconducting quantum circuits, toward alternative approaches based on digital control of the Josephson device.
Feynman checkers: towards algorithmic quantum theory
Authors: Skopenkov Mihail Borisovich , Ustinov Alexey Vladimirovich
Published: June 2022

We survey and develop the most elementary model of electron motion introduced by Feynman. In this game, a checker moves on a checkerboard by simple rules, and we count the turns. Feynman checkers are also known as a one-dimensional quantum walk or an Ising model at imaginary temperature. We solve mathematically a Feynman problem from 1965, which was to prove that the discrete model (for large time, small average velocity, and small lattice step) is consistent with the continuum one. We study asymptotic properties of the model (for small lattice step and large time) improving the results due to Narlikar from 1972 and to Sunada and Tate from 2012.
For the first time we observe and prove concentration of measure in the small-lattice-step limit. We perform the second quantization of the model.
We also present a survey of known results on Feynman checkers.
Bibliography: 53 titles.
R. Thompson’s group

and the amenability problem
Authors: Guba V. S.
Published: June 2022

This paper focuses on Richard Thompson’s group

, which was discovered in the 1960s. Many papers have been devoted to this group. We are interested primarily in the famous problem of amenability of this group, which was posed by Geoghegan in 1979. Numerous attempts have been made to solve this problem in one way or the other, but it remains open.

In this survey we describe the most important known properties of this group related to the word problem and representations of elements of the group by piecewise linear functions as well as by diagrams and other geometric objects. We describe the classical results of Brin and Squier concerning free subgroups and laws. We include a description of more modern important results relating to the properties of the Cayley graphs (the Belk–Brown construction) as well as Bartholdi’s theorem about the properties of equations in group rings. We consider separately the criteria for (non-)amenability of groups that are useful in the work on the main problem. At the end we describe a number of our own results about the structure of the Cayley graphs and a new algorithm for solving the word problem.

Bibliography: 69 titles.
Elements of hyperbolic theory on an infinite-dimensional torus
Authors: Glyzin Sergey Dmitrievich , Kolesov Andrei Yurevich
Published: June 2022

On the infinite-dimensional torus $\mathbb{T}^{\infty}=E/2\pi\mathbb{Z}^{\infty}$, where $E$ is an infinite-dimensional Banach torus and $\mathbb{Z}^{\infty}$ is an abstract integer lattice, a special class of diffeomorphisms $\operatorname{Diff}(\mathbb{T}^{\infty})$ is considered. It consists of the maps $G\colon\mathbb{T}^{\infty}\to\mathbb{T}^{\infty}$ whose differentials $DG$ and $D(G^{-1})$ are uniformly bounded and uniformly continuous on $\mathbb{T}^{\infty}$. For diffeomorphisms in $\operatorname{Diff}(\mathbb{T}^{\infty})$ elements of hyperbolic theory are presented systematically, starting with definitions and some auxiliary facts and ending by more advanced results. The latter include a criterion for hyperbolicity, a theorem on the $C^1$-roughness of hyperbolicity for diffeomorphisms in $\operatorname{Diff}(\mathbb{T}^{\infty})$, the Hadamard-Perron theorem, as well as a fundamental result of hyperbolic theory, the fact that each Anosov diffeomorphism $G\in\operatorname{Diff}(\mathbb{T}^{\infty})$ has a stable and an unstable invariant foliation.
Bibliography: 34 titles.
How does multi‐set high‐load resistance exercise impact neuromuscular function in normoxia and hypoxia?
Authors: Benjanuvatra N. , Bradbury D. , Landers G. , Goods P. S. R. , Girard O.
Published: June 2022

This study examined whether hypoxia during multi‐set, high‐load resistance exercise alters neuromuscular responses. Using a single‐blinded (participants), randomised crossover design, eight resistance‐trained males completed five sets of five repetitions of bench press at 80% of one repetition maximum in moderate normobaric hypoxia (inspiratory oxygen fraction = 0.145) and normoxia. Maximal isometric bench press trials were performed following the warm‐up, after 10 min of altitude priming and 5 min post‐session (outside, inside and outside the chamber, respectively). Force during pre‐/post‐session maximal voluntary isometric contractions and bar velocity during exercise sets were measured along with surface electromyographic (EMG) activity of the pectoralis major, anterior deltoid and lateral and medial triceps muscles. Two‐way repeated measures ANOVA (condition×time) were used. A significant time effect (p = 0.048) was found for mean bar velocity, independent of condition (p = 0.423). During sets of the bench press exercise, surface EMG amplitude of all studied muscles remained unchanged (p > 0.187). During maximal isometric trials, there were no main effects of condition (p > 0.666) or time (p > 0.119), nor were there any significant condition×time interactions for peak or mean forces and surface EMG amplitudes (p > 0.297). Lower end‐exercise blood oxygen saturation (90.9 ± 1.8 vs. 98.6 ± 0.6%; p < 0.001) and higher blood lactate concentration (5.8 ± 1.4 vs. 4.4 ± 1.6 mmol/L; p = 0.007) values occurred in hypoxia. Acute delivery of systemic normobaric hypoxia during multi‐set, high‐load resistance exercise increased metabolic stress. However, only subtle neuromuscular function adjustments occurred with and without hypoxic exposure either during maximal isometric bench press trials before versus after the session or during actual exercise sets.
Self-powered wearable sensors design considerations
Authors: Han Weiqiao , Anaya David Vera , Wu Taiyang , Wu Fan , Yuce Mehmet Rasit
Published: June 2022

Wearable sensors have been implemented widely to provide comfortable and continuous long-term monitoring in many applications. Minimal requirements on maintenance is a main characteristic of wearable sensors, but unfortunately, many of them are still powered by battery with limited capacity which need to be charged or replaced regularly. Energy harvesting technologies are applied to provide a reliable solution to this issue. This paper presents several design considerations for self-powered wearable sensors. Suitable energy sources are discussed, such as ambient energy sources (solar, radio frequency, and ultrasonic energy), human body energy (mechanical, piezoelectric, triboelectric, electromagnetic, electrostatic, and thermal energy). Moreover, power management integrated circuits, energy storage options, and the material selection and conditioning circuit of triboelectric nanogenerator are discussed. Five case studies utilizing different energy harvesting techniques are discussed and evaluated in terms of their system implementation and performance to provide some deeper understandings of wearable sensors.
On the constant 𝐷(𝑞) defined by Homma
Authors: Beelen Peter , Montanucci Maria , Vicino Lara
Published: June 2022

Let

X

\mathcal {X}

be a projective, irreducible, nonsingular algebraic curve over the finite field

F

q

\mathbb {F}_q

with

q
q

elements and let

|

X

(

F

q

)

|

|\mathcal {X}(\mathbb {F}_q)|

and

g
(

X

)

g(\mathcal X)

be its number of rational points and genus respectively. The Ihara constant

A
(
q
)

A(q)

has been intensively studied during the last decades, and it is defined as the limit superior of

|

X

(

F

q

)

|

/

g
(

X

)

|\mathcal {X}(\mathbb {F}_q)|/g(\mathcal X)

as the genus of

X

\mathcal X

goes to infinity. In 2012 Homma defined an analogue

D
(
q
)

D(q)

of

A
(
q
)

A(q)

, where the nonsingularity of

X

\mathcal X

is dropped and

g
(

X

)

g(\mathcal X)

is replaced with the degree of

X

\mathcal X

. We will call

D
(
q
)

D(q)

Homma’s constant. In this paper, upper and lower bounds for the value of

D
(
q
)

D(q)

are found.
Development and validation of a nomogram to predict indolent course in patients with ulcerative colitis: a single-center retrospective study
Authors: Li Na , Zhan Shukai , Liu Caiguang , Li Tong , Tu Tong , Chen Baili , He Yao , Chen Minhu , Zeng Zhirong , Zhuang Xiaojun
Published: June 2022

Background

The natural disease course for patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) is heterogeneous and few data are available on the indolent course of UC and its related factors. We aimed to develop and validate a nomogram to predict indolent course in patients with UC.

Methods

Data of patients diagnosed with UC in the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University (Guangzhou, China) between April 2007 and February 2021 were retrospectively analysed. Indolent course was defined as a disease course without need for strict interventions (steroids, immunomodulators, biological agents, hospitalization, or surgery therapy) during the follow-up period. The whole cohort was randomly divided into training set and validation set. The nomogram was constructed in the training set based on the results of univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses. The performance of the nomogram was assessed by the concordance index (C-index), area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve (AUC), and calibration plots. In addition, we internally validated the nomogram via the bootstrap method and the validation set.

Results

Of 969 treatment-naive patients with UC, 771 (79.6%) had an indolent course after diagnosis. Of these, 313 patients were included in the development and validation of the nomogram. The nomogram incorporating age, disease activity, C-reactive protein, and platelet count showed good calibration and discrimination. The C-index was 0.759 (0.741 in bootstrap validation) and the AUC at 2, 4, and 6 years was 0.767, 0.782, and 0.775, respectively. The nomogram performed well when applied to the validation set.

Conclusion

A majority of patients with UC had an indolent course after diagnosis. The nomogram developed in this study might be useful in therapeutic decision-making and follow-up management for patients with UC.
O-005 Reducing inter-observer and intra-observer variability of embryo quality assessment using deep learning
Authors: Saïs E , Mayeur A , Binois O , Hesters L , Puy V , Fossard C , Filali M , Vandame J , Poulain M , Frydman N
Published: June 2022

Study question

Does deep learning for embryo quality assessment reduce inter-observer variability?

Summary answer

An AUC of 87.65% was obtained for predicting blastocyst quality with a deep-learning algorithm trained by five embryologists who had good agreement between themselves

What is known already

Time-Lapse (TL) allows continuous observation of embryo development in a controlled and stable environment. Recently the use of deep learning, in particular convolutional neural networks have been introduced to enhance blastocyst image classification using the growing TL image and video data.

Study design, size, duration

A total of 409 embryos (5 images per embryo for a total of 2 045 images) were included in this retrospective study between 2016 and 2020.

Participants/materials, setting, methods

A machine-learning algorithm (Retinanet) was trained to recognize 2 045 blastocyst images from 409 embryos on 2560x1928 images and output 500x500 images with the blastocyst centered on the image. Five embryologists classified the blastocysts using Gardner’s grading system. Each image was associated with one final grade using a majority voting system. The dataset was split into a training and validation set (1 640 images plus data augmentation) and a testing set (405 images).

Main results and the role of chance

Fair agreement was found between the 5 embryologists when grading the embryo using Gardner’s grading system, with a maximum weighted kappa score of 39.60% reached.

As for the intra-observer variability, we show that for the same embryologist grading the same embryo after a 3 month “wash out” period, in 12% of the cases the embryologist changes the grade and the fate of the embryo, meaning that an embryo that was transferred/frozen during the first annotation period was discarded during the second one, or an embryo that was discarded during the first annotation period was transferred/frozen during the second one.

An Area Under the Curve (AUC) of 87.65% was obtained when testing the quality of 81 embryos (405 images) after training our algorithm on 54 038 images.

For external validation we tested the algorithm with annotations of the test set from embryologists coming from another fertility center. An AUC of 82.72% was obtained.

Limitations, reasons for caution

The scarce number of images available in our training set compared with data sets from other more consequent clinics, and the fact that the algorithm was trained by embryologists does not suppress variability entirely. The GoogLeNet algorithm was not fined tune and was used as is.

Wider implications of the findings

AI is showing precious value the field of embryology, from enhancing blastocyst quality prediction to removing inter-observer subjectivity. A possible evolution to our framework would be to predict the Gardner’s grading system for each morphological parameter.

Trial registration number

not applicable
O-053 ART treatment and pregnancy during covid 19 pandemia: what we learned
Authors: Veiga A
Published: June 2022

In 2020, SARS-CoV-2 and the COVID-19 pandemic had a huge impact on the access to and provision of ART treatments. Gradually, knowledge about the virus and its transmission has become available and has allowed ART activities to resume with certain restrictions. Still, questions on the impact of the virus on fertility and ART treatments remain.

Regarding the possible consequences of COVID-19 in men, ACE2 and TMPRSS2, the receptors required for the viral penetration into cells, are highly expressed in the testis and the presence of SARS-CoV-2 has been demonstrated in the testicular tissue and the ejaculate in a small percentage of males with active and severe COVID-19 infection. Impairment of the sperm quality has been described during the acute and recovery phase of infection.

In the female scenario, low levels of ACE2 have been reported in ovarian tissue and co-expression of ACE2 and TMPRSS2 has been demonstrated in oocytes, zygotes and blastocysts that are thus potentially susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection upon exposure to the virus. The endometrium has been shown to be at a low risk of infection. Although infrequent, vertical transmission of SARS-CoV-2 has been reported in cases of severe maternal infection.

The effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection have been analysed in ART patients. Certain studies suggest that ovarian function might be altered and that IVF results could be poorer in patients that have recovered from COVID-19 while others show no evidence of compromised follicular function. The possible effects of vaccination in male and in female patients have also been explored. Neither the ovarian response nor the sperm quality is affected by the administration of COVID-19 vaccines, which are highly recommended in couples planning a pregnancy, either spontaneous or through ART.

During the different waves of the COVID-19 pandemic, the ESHRE COVID-19 Working Group has produced recommendations and publications to guide patients and professionals in their journey through ART during these difficult times.
O-095 The persistent Y hypothesis
Authors: Waters P D , Ruiz-Herrera A
Published: June 2022

The Y chromosome has been touted as a wimpy relic of the X, with its survival dependent on a few critical functions in spermatogenesis and sex determination, the loss of which would signal its demise. Why then has it survived since its origin (∼165 MYA) in all but a handful of therian mammal species? This is in stark contrast to the high turnover of sex chromosomes observed in other vertebrate linages, so the mammal Y turns out to be an exception of persistence, rather than the rule. Here we propose a novel explanation for such perseverance. The Y chromosome bears so-called ‘executioner genes’ that are critical for successful meiotic progression. Their expression is required to initiate meiotic sex chromosome inactivation, but then must be subject to this very silencing they induce to ensure germ cell survival. Whenexecutioners are translocated to an autosome they escape meiotic silencing and, being pachytene-lethal, cease meiosis. Therefore, these meiotic executioners act as their own judge, jury and executioner, posing strong evolutionary constraint for the Y chromosome to persist in eutherian mammals.
O-097 Building the perfect cleanroom IVF lab and maintaining it
Authors: Janssens R , Neelke D M , Johan G
Published: June 2022

Designing and installing a new ART laboratory is not something one does every day and the challenges one faces are many. Putting together a planning team with all concerned parties and stakeholders already in the very early phase of the project is crucial. The aim of the planning team is to critically consider all wishes and requirements, to weigh all the pros and cons and make realistic choices. The final scenario should comply with regulations and/or legislation. This implicated that IVF laboratory facilities should be constructed according to cleanroom regulations to control air-borne contaminants.

The construction costs of laboratory space per square meter is about the same as the cost of an operating room. That's why it's so important to discuss space needs and layout well in advance in the planning team. To avoid future bottlenecks during operation, is might be wise to construct multifunctional facilities i.e. an room dedicated to embryo replacements can be designed without much extra cost in such a way that it is also suitable for performing egg retrieval if necessary.

Once the cleanroom is build and the HVAC is working, compliance with the designated classification has to be demonstrated in the formal process of qualification (or validation). Provide enough space for cryostorage. This storage room should be a dedicated, locked room ideally not too far from the laboratory cleanroom and should be easily accessed for liquid nitrogen supply. As an alternative, a centralized liquid nitrogen distribution via a vacuum isolated pressured line (VIP) can be considered.

One of the most important choices in terms of space requirements and layout is the type and number of workstations, equipment and incubators. Once the number and exact types are known, their exact position should be drawn on the plans in order to determine the necessary outlet points for medical gasses, electricity plugs and network connections.
O-098 Changing the IVF lab in qualitative way: tips on how to handle infrastructural changes in the cleanroom IVF lab
Authors: Van den Bergh M J G
Published: June 2022

The infrastructure of an IVF laboratory must include all the fundamental facilities and systems that ensure its continuous functionality according to standards stipulated in a quality management with the focus on continuous improvement. The values for the key performance indicators proposed by ESHRE are the ideal benchmarks for ensuring high quality. The geo-localisation of the laboratory or its implantation in an existing facility corresponds to the first level at which a qualitative improvement can possibly be made.

When choosing a location, the quality of the outside air plays a primary role. Any possible source of air pollution, especially from volatile organic compounds, must be estimated beforehand and will determine the choice of the type of air filtration system. This choice can vary from large filter complexes on the roof to mobile indoor cartridge units. Useful information has been published in the Cairo consensus.

The next level on which improvements can be made is the choice of building materials for the premises. The use of organic paints, polished concrete floors, floor, and ceiling tiles free from or containing low levels of VOCs must be preferred. Before the laboratory is put into operation, a period of degassing is usually recommended by raising the room temperature and vigorous ventilation.

Despite numerous publications, too little attention is still paid to the light used in the laboratory. Red light is the least and blue the most harmful to embryo culture. Working with red light is difficult in practice but placing yellow filters in the microscopes and using “sleep mode” light offers a simple and cheap solution.

Even if the current tendency is to let the embryo culture proceed undisturbed under video control, the Petri dishes must still be removed from the incubators for certain procedures. The cooling down during these operations is very fast but can be strongly reduced using heated plates with grooves that allow an exchange of heat on the basis of conduction.

The infrastructure systems include all devices that must ensure the correct operation of the laboratory. Uninterrupted power supply is always present in hospitals, but small units must have it, even if power cuts are rare and usually short in our western countries.

The infrastructure systems include all devices that must ensure the correct operation of the laboratory. Uninterrupted power supply is always present in hospitals, but small units must have it, even if power cuts are rare and usually short in our western countries.

When selecting equipment, particular attention must be paid to the prompt availability of technical support. The staff must be well trained in the correct use of all devices. Maintenance and calibration must be planned on a regular basis.

For laboratories with a long standing experience, it is always possible to introduce qualitative improvements based on the analysis of the risk management and fulfil the basis steps of a quality management: Plan-Do-Check-Act
O-111 The International Fertility Education Initiative
Authors: De Mouzon J , Harper J , Hammarberg K
Published: June 2022

Awareness Raising. The International Fertility Education Initiative

Jacques de Mouzon, Joyce Harper, Karin Hammarberg, and the IFEI group

Clearly, from the international reports on Assisted reproductive technology, more and more patients go to be treated by ART everywhere in the World, even in the richest countries where access is not limited by economic constraints. At the same time, there is a large tendency of maternal age increase at conception and birth, whereas it is well known that there is a fertility decline both with women’s and men’s age. It clearly appears that one driver concerns the lack of awareness of people of reproductive age on the factors affecting the chance of conceiving and of getting a healthy baby.

Thus, to improve fertility awareness in the public, a group of 45 specialists in infertility from about twenty countries met in 2020 and decided to launch an initiative, together with patients’ associations, the International Fertility Education initiative (IFEI). The group includes experts of various scientific fields: clinicians, nurses / midwifes, scientists, psychologists, ethicists, public health, patients. The chair is Pr. Joyce Harper, who was at the initiative of this initiative

The IFEI objectives and creation were published in Human Reproduction open in 2021. Objectives include research and actions to improve fertility awareness. The mission can be summarized as follows: To increase fertility awareness using the life course approach, in order to improve reproductive health and facilitate decision-making in family planning among adolescents, people of reproductive age, primary healthcare, education professionals, and policymakers through development, evaluation and dissemination of inclusive educational resources. Four strategic goals have been identified

5 working groups have been designed to cover the mission and strategic goals:

IFEI has regular meetings where each group progresses are discussed. The groups advancements will be presented at the ESHRE annual meeting in Milano, during the special session entitled “Awareness Raising”. In 2021, IFEI has established links with ESHRE, under the umbrella of the special interest group Global and Socio-cultural Aspects of Infertility. In 2022, links are being established also with IFFS and FIGO, to develop a consistent action.

In conclusion, IFEI is rapidly progressing towards its objectives and several countries has already developed specific national action plans that are consistent with the general aim on fertility awareness

Trial registration number