bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
3T MRI of wrist ligaments and TFCC using true plane oblique 3D T2 Dual Echo Steady State (DESS) – a study of diagnostic accuracy
Authors: Eladawi Sondos , Balamoody Sharon , Amerasekera Steve , Choudhary Surabhi
Published: November 2021

Objective:

This study was designed to assess the accuracy of unenhanced 3T MRI supplemented with dedicated true plane reformats of 3D T2 Dual Echo Steady State (DESS), in assessing tears of scapholunate, lunotriquetral ligaments and triangular fibrocartilage complex, using arthroscopy as gold-standard.

Methods:

In a retrospective cohort review, patients who underwent wrist arthroscopy and MRI over 2 years (n=46) were identified. Dedicated axial and coronal reformats were obtained from 3D T2 DESS sequence for assessing intrinsic ligaments and triangular fibrocartilage (TFCC). At arthroscopy, tears were classified using Geissler’s classification and compared to MRI findings.

Results:

The sensitivity of unenhanced 3T MRI in detecting scapholunate ligament tears was 87%, specificity was 90% and negative predictive value of 93%. The lunate triquetral ligament was assessed with a high specificity (97%) and negative predictive value (93%), sensitivity was 63%. TFCC tears were assessed with a sensitivity of 100%. The overall diagnostic accuracy of unenhanced 3T MRI of wrist in detecting ligament tears was 91%.

Conclusion:

3T wrist MRI with dedicated reformats from 3D T2 DESS has a high diagnostic accuracy in assessing acute intrinsic ligament and TFCC injuries. High strength 3T MRI with good technical quality isotropic 3D T2 DESS is critical for accurate wrist ligament assessment. Negative predictive values of 3T MRI of 95% can lead to reduced need for diagnostic arthroscopy of the wrist.

Advances in knowledge:

This study assesses the diagnostic performance of unenhanced 3T MRI with 3D T2 DESS in assessing traumatic wrist ligament tears. The accuracy of T2 DESS in wrist imaging has not been previously reported.
Toxicity and efficacy of stereotactic body radiotherapy for ultra-central lung tumours: a single institution real life experience
Authors: Guillaume Elodie , Tanguy Ronan , Ayadi Myriam , Claude Line , Sotton Sandrine , Moncharmont Coralie , Magné Nicolas , Martel-Lafay Isabelle
Published: November 2021

Objectives:

The use of stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) to treat ultra-central lung tumours remains more controversial than for peripheral and central tumours. Our objective was to assess toxicities, local control (LC) rate and survival data in patients with ultra-central lung tumours treated with SBRT.

Methods:

We conducted a retrospective and monocentric study about 74 patients with an ultra-central lung tumour, consecutively treated between 2012 and 2018. Ultra-central tumours were defined as tumours whose planning target volume overlapped one of the following organs at risk (OARs): the trachea, right and left main bronchi, intermediate bronchus, lobe bronchi, oesophagus, heart.

Results:

Median follow-up was 25 months. Two patients (2.7%) showed Grade 3 toxicity. No Grade 4 or 5 toxicity was observed. 11% of patients experienced primary local relapse. LC rate was 96.7% at 1 year and 87.6% at 2 years. Median progression free survival was 12 months. Median overall survival was 31 months.

Conclusion:

SBRT for ultra-central tumours remains safe and effective as long as protecting organs at risk is treatment-planning priority.

Advances in knowledge:

The present study is one of the rare to describe exclusively ultra-central tumours through real-life observational case reports. Globally, literature analysis reveals a large heterogeneity in ultra-central lung tumours definition, prescribed dose, number of fractions. In our study, patients treated with SBRT for ultra-central lung tumours experienced few Grade 3 toxicities (2.7%) and no Grade 4 or 5 toxicities, due to the highest compliance with dose constraints to OARs. LC remained efficient.
Contrast-enhanced ultrasound–based ultrasomics score: a potential biomarker for predicting early recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma after resection or ablation
Authors: Huang Hui , Ruan Si-min , Xian Meng-fei , Li Ming-de , Cheng Mei-qing , Li Wei , Huang Yang , Xie Xiao-yan , Lu Ming-de , Kuang Ming , Wang Wei , Hu Hang-tong , Chen Li-Da
Published: November 2021

Objectives:

This study aimed to construct a prediction model based on contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) ultrasomics features and investigate its efficacy in predicting early recurrence (ER) of primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after resection or ablation.

Methods:

This study retrospectively included 215 patients with primary HCC, who were divided into a developmental cohort (n = 139) and a test cohort (n = 76). Four representative images—grayscale ultrasound, arterial phase, portal venous phase and delayed phase—were extracted from each CEUS video. Ultrasomics features were extracted from tumoral and peritumoral area inside the region of interest. Logistic regression was used to establish models, including a tumoral model, a peritumoral model and a combined model with additional clinical risk factors. The performance of the three models in predicting recurrence within 2 years was verified.

Results:

The combined model performed best in predicting recurrence within 2 years, with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.845, while the tumoral model had an AUC of 0.810 and the peritumoral model one of 0.808. For prediction of recurrence-free survival, the 2-year cumulative recurrence rate was significant higher in the high-risk group (76.5%) than in the low-risk group (9.5%; p < 0.0001).

Conclusion:

These CEUS ultrasomics models, especially the combined model, had good efficacy in predicting early recurrence of HCC. The combined model has potential for individual survival assessment for HCC patients undergoing resection or ablation.

Advances in knowledge:

CEUS ultrasomics had high sensitivity, specificity and PPV in diagnosing early recurrence of HCC, and high efficacy in predicting early recurrence of HCC (AUC > 0.8). The combined model performed better than the tumoral ultrasomics model and peritumoral ultrasomics model in predicting recurrence within 2 years. Recurrence was more likely to occur in the high-risk group than in the low-risk group, with 2-year cumulative recurrence rates, respectively, 76.5% and 9.5% (p < 0.0001).
Comparison of lymphatic contrast-enhanced ultrasound and intravenous contrast-enhanced ultrasound in the preoperative diagnosis of axillary sentinel lymph node metastasis in patients with breast cancer
Authors: Zhuang Lingling , Ming Xu , Liu Jun , Jia Chao , Jin Yubiao , Wang Jing , Shi Qiusheng , Wu Rong , Jin Lifang , Du Lianfang
Published: November 2021

Objectives:

This study aimed to compare diagnostic efficiency for axillary sentinel lymph node (SLN) metastasis between lymphatic contrast-enhanced ultrasound (LCEUS) and intravenous contrast-enhanced ultrasound (ICEUS) in patients with breast cancer. We also examined whether adding ICEUS to LCEUS could improve the diagnostic accuracy of LCEUS.

Methods:

Sixty-nine patients with breast cancer were recruited preoperatively. All patients underwent LCEUS followed by ICEUS, and the enhancement pattern of one SLN was analysed for each patient. The targeted SLN was marked with wire and excised during surgery. The imaging diagnosis was compared with the histopathological result. Diagnostic efficiency was compared among LCEUS, ICEUS, and the combination of LCEUS and ICEUS.

Results:

The sensitivity values for LCEUS, ICEUS, and the combination of LCEUS and ICEUS were 86.2%, 82.6% and 93.1%, respectively. Specificity values for the three methods were 95.0%, 92.5% and 87.5%, respectively. Accuracy values for the three methods were 91.3%, 88.4% and 89.9%, respectively. The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve for LCEUS was 0.906, and there was no significant difference among LCEUS, ICEUS, and the combination of LCEUS and ICEUS (p = 0.752).

Conclusions:

LCEUS may represent an accurate method for predicting SLN metastasis preoperatively. Our findings suggest that adding ICEUS to LCEUS for SLN evaluation in patients with breast cancer is unnecessary.

Advances in knowledge:

This is the first study in which both LCEUS and ICEUS were performed for the same lymph node and the first to compare the diagnostic efficiency of LCEUS, ICEUS, and the combination of LCEUS + ICEUS.
Neonatal digital chest radiography– should we be using additional copper filtration?
Authors: Tugwell-Allsup Jenna Ruth , Morris Rhys Wyn , Thomas Kate , Hibbs Richard , England Andrew
Published: November 2021

Objectives:

Copper filtration removes lower energy X-ray photons, which do not enhance image quality but would otherwise contribute to patient radiation dose. This study explores the use of additional copper filtration for neonatal mobile chest imaging.

Methods:

A controlled factorial-designed experiment was used to determine the effect of independent variables on image quality and radiation dose. These variables included: copper filtration (0 Cu, 0.1 Cu and 0.2 Cu), exposure factors, source-to-image distance and image receptor position (direct / tray). Image quality was evaluated using absolute visual grading analysis (VGA) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) and entrance surface dose (ESD) was derived using an ionising chamber within the central X-ray beam.

Results:

VGA, CNR and ESD significantly reduced (p < 0.01) when using added copper filtration. For 0.1 Cu, the percentage reduction was much greater for ESD (60%) than for VGA (14%) and CNR (20%), respectively. When compared to the optimal combinations of parameters for incubator imaging using no copper filtration, an increase in kV and mAs when using 0.1-mm Cu resulted in better image quality at the same radiation dose (direct) or, equal image quality at reduced dose (in-tray). The use of 0.1-mm Cu for neonatal chest imaging with a corresponding increase in kV and mAs is therefore recommended.

Conclusion:

Using additional copper filtration significantly reduces radiation dose (at increased mAs) without a detrimental effect on image quality.

Advances in knowledge:

This is the first study, using an anthropomorphic phantom, to explore the use of additional Cu for digital radiography neonatal chest imaging and therefore helps inform practice to standardise and optimise this imaging examination.
Hybridity as challenge in televised election campaign interviews
Authors: Κανταρά Αργυρώ
Published: November 2021

Αυτή η διατριβή ερευνά τον πολιτικό λόγο στα μέσα μαζικής επικοινωνίας επικεντρώνοντας στην πολλαπλότητα και τον μετασχηματισμό των θεσμικών ρόλων και σχέσεων στις πολιτικές συνεντεύξεις. Η διατριβή έχει ως σημείο εκκίνησης τον τρόπο με τον οποίο η υβριδικότητα στον λόγο των μέσων μαζικής επικοινωνίας αμφισβητεί τα «παραδοσιακά» πρότυπα και την ταυτότητα των συμμετεχόντων στις πολιτικές συνεντεύξεις. Υιοθετώντας μια μεθοδολογία ανάλυσης (ρέοντοσ) λόγου, εξετάζει πώς αυτά τα τροποποιημένα πρότυπα και ταυτότητες διαμορφώνουν τις πολιτικές συνεντεύξεις σε μικρο και μακρο επίπεδο. Σε μικροεπίπεδο, αυτή η διατριβή διερευνά επεισόδια αντιπαράθεσης σε ατομικές συνεντεύξεις κατά τη διάρκεια των ελληνικών προεκλογικών εκστρατείων του 2012, όσον αφορά το σύστημα διαδοχικής ανατροφοδότησης και τις σχέσεις εξουσίας μεταξύ των συμμετεχόντων. Με αυτόν τον τρόπο, επισημαίνει αλλαγές στις πολιτικές συνεντεύξεις (ένα υποείδος της οποίας είναι οι προεκλογικές συνέντευξεις). Συγκεκριμένα, η διατριβή διερευνά και συζητά πώς, μέσω των υβριδικών (ανταγωνιστικών) πρακτικών τους, Έλληνες πολιτικοί και δημοσιογράφοι μετατρέπουν την τηλεοπτική προεκλογική συνέντευξη σε ανταγωνιστική αρένα όπου νικητής είναι αυτός που δείχνει ότι παίζει το παιχνίδι των τηλεοπτικών συνεντεύξεων με δίκαιο τρόπο. Σε μακροεπίπεδο, αυτή η διατριβή συμβάλλει με εμπειρικά, μικροαναλυτικά στοιχεία σε ευρύτερες συζητήσεις που σχετίζονται με την πολιτική και την επικοινωνία των μέσων, συζητώντας τη σημασία των υβριδικών πρακτικών και των δύο συμμετεχόντων σχετικά με: 1) το πώς ο λαϊκισμός ως πολιτικό στυλ γίνεται έκδηλος και 2 ) πως η επιστημολογία της τηλεοπτικής δημοσιογραφίας σχετίζεται με τις πρακτικές παραγωγής γνώσης. Υποστηρίζεται ότι οι συνεργατικά παραγόμενες υβριδικές πρακτικές που προσδιορίζονται, προωθούν την ανταγωνιστική πολιτική ως κανόνα και νομιμοποιούν τις λαϊκιστικές επιδόσεις των κυρίαρχων πολιτικών.
Association of Healthcare Access With Intensive Care Unit Utilization and Mortality in Patients of Hispanic Ethnicity Hospitalized With COVID‐19
Authors: Velasco Ferdinand , Yang Donghan M , Zhang Minzhe , Nelson Tanna , Sheffield Thomas , Keller Tony , Wang Yiqing , Walker Clark , Katterapalli Chaitanya , Zimmerman Kelli , Masica Andrew , Lehmann Christoph U , Xie Yang , Hollingsworth John W
Published: November 2021

BACKGROUND

Racial and ethnic minority groups in the United States experience a disproportionate burden of COVID‐19 deaths.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate whether outcome differences between Hispanic and non‐Hispanic COVID‐19 hospitalized patients exist and, if so, to identify the main malleable contributing factors.

DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS

Retrospective, cross‐sectional, observational study of 6097 adult COVID‐19 patients hospitalized within a single large healthcare system from March to November 2020.

EXPOSURES

Self‐reported ethnicity and primary language.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

Clinical outcomes included intensive care unit (ICU) utilization and in‐hospital death. We used age‐adjusted odds ratios (OR) and multivariable analysis to evaluate the associations between ethnicity/language groups and outcomes.

RESULTS

32.1% of patients were Hispanic, 38.6% of whom reported a non‐English primary language. Hispanic patients were less likely to be insured, have a primary care provider, and have accessed the healthcare system prior to the COVID‐19 admission. After adjusting for age, Hispanic inpatients experienced higher ICU utilization (non‐English‐speaking: OR, 1.75; 95% CI, 1.47‐2.08; English‐speaking: OR, 1.13; 95% CI, 0.95‐1.33) and higher mortality (non‐English‐speaking: OR, 1.43; 95% CI, 1.10‐1.86; English‐speaking: OR, 1.53; 95% CI, 1.19‐1.98) compared to non‐Hispanic inpatients. There were no observed treatment disparities among ethnic groups. After adjusting for age, Hispanic inpatients had elevated disease severity at admission (non‐English‐speaking: OR, 2.27; 95% CI, 1.89‐2.72; English‐speaking: OR, 1.33; 95% CI, 1.10‐1.61). In multivariable analysis, the associations between ethnicity/language and clinical outcomes decreased after considering baseline disease severity (P < .001).

CONCLUSION

The associations between ethnicity and clinical outcomes can be explained by elevated disease severity at admission and limited access to healthcare for Hispanic patients, especially non‐English‐speaking Hispanics.
Treatment of Phalangeal Joint Stiffness Related to Proximal Phalangeal Bone Fractures: Therapeutic Effects on the Range of Motion and Finger Pain
Authors: Jun Dongkeun , Jeong Minkyoung , Shin Donghyeok , Choi Hyungon , Kim Jeenam , Lee Myungchul
Published: November 2021

Purpose: Proximal phalangeal bone fractures with displacement are treated using operative procedures. These fractures can cause stiffness of the interphalangeal or metacarpophalangeal joints, which can be relieved using various operative and nonoperative techniques. This study analyzed the range of motion (ROM) and pain after a combination therapy to treat finger stiffness following proximal phalangeal fractures.Methods: Fifty-two patients who underwent operative procedures for proximal phalangeal fractures and showed finger stiffness from March 2015 to January 2021 were included in this retrospective study. The patients in group 1 (n=24) performed elastic resistance exercises, while those in group 2 (n=28) underwent conventional exercise. ROM and pain score were measured at 5, 8, and 12 weeks postoperatively. Furthermore, a patient with a swan-neck deformity and intractable stiffness was treated using partial translocation of the extensor apparatus, and the postoperative outcome is presented.Results: Group 1 showed a larger ROM and less pain than group 2 at 12 weeks postoperatively (p<0.05). Patients in both groups exhibited notable improvements with regard to ROM and pain during the study period (p<0.05). In addition, the swan-neck deformity accompanying hyperextension of the proximal interphalangeal joint was significantly relieved.Conclusion: Proximal phalangeal bone fractures can lead to stiffness of the interphalangeal and metacarpophalangeal joints. Joint stiffness was relieved using an elastic resistance exercise protocol in the early postoperative period. Intractable stiffness showing a fixed joint angle can be treated with thorough tenolysis and corrective surgery.
Mass Customization and the “Parts-Procurement Planning Problem”
Authors: Fattahi Ali , Dasu Sriram , Ahmadi Reza
Published: November 2021

We study a new parts-procurement planning problem that is motivated by a global auto manufacturer (GAM) that practices mass customization. Because of the astronomically large number of producible configurations, forecasting their demand is impossible. Instead, firms forecast demand for options that constitute a vehicle. Requirements for many parts (up to 60%) are based on the combinations of options in a fully configured vehicle. The options’ forecast, however, does not map into a unique configuration-level forecast. As a result, the options’ forecast translates into ranges for many parts’ requirements. The combined ranges of a set of parts are not always equal to the sum of the component ranges; they may be less. Determining parts ranges is a large-scale NP-hard problem. Large ranges and inaccurate calculation of these ranges can result in excess inventories, shortages in inventories, and suboptimal flexibility levels. We model and analyze the problem of allocating parts to suppliers and accurately computing the ranges to minimize procurement costs arising because of ranges. The range costs are assumed to be convex increasing. We perform extensive numerical analysis using a large set of randomly generated instances as well as eight industrial instances received from GAM to establish the quality of our approximation framework. Our proposed approach significantly reduces the error in range estimates relative to current industry practice. In addition, the proposed approach for allocations of parts to suppliers reduces joint-parts ranges by an average of 29.87% relative to that of current practice.

This paper was accepted by Jeannette Song, operations management.
Analisis Kinerja 3 Saham Bank Syariah Di Masa Pandemi Covid-19
Authors: Didin Fathurrohman Rusydi , Wijaya Pradigda Satria , Nugroho Chandra
Published: November 2021

Pada tahun 2021, perbankan syariah sudah mulai berkembang pesat dan tidak kalah dengan perbankan konvensional. Perbedaan paling mendasar adalah di mana perbankan syariah menggunakan prinsip bagi hasil (profit and loss sharing) dan tidak menggunakan bunga sebagai alat untuk memperoleh pendapatan karena di dalam agama Islam riba itu diharamkan. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis kinerja 3 saham bank syariah di masa pandemi COVID-19 dari Januari 2020 hingga Maret 2021 dengan menggunakan indeks Sharpe. Secara garis besar, ketiga emiten saham (BRIS, BTPS, dan PNBS) memiliki kinerja yang cukup baik selama masa pandemi Covid-19 karena masih di atas indeks Sharpe IHSG. Kinerja terbaik adalah emiten yang memiliki nilai indeks Sharpe paling besar. Berdasarkan analisis yang dilakukan, emiten dengan kinerja paling tinggi adalah BRIS dengan nilai indeks Sharpe 0,05 dan emiten dengan kinerja paling rendah adalah BTPS dengan nilai indeks Sharpe -0.42.
Career talk: specialist nutrition nurses
Authors: Santos Sara , Smyth Edel , Barbaso Iris
Published: November 2021

In this interview, part of a series about the career pathways of experienced gastrointestinal specialists, Sara Santos speaks with Edel Smyth and Iris Barbaso
Management of bone loss in revision total knee arthroplasty: therapeutic options and results
Authors: Rodríguez-Merchán E. Carlos , Gómez-Cardero Primitivo , Encinas-Ullán Carlos A.
Published: November 2021

The treatment of small to moderate size defects in revision total knee arthroplasty (rTKA) has yielded good results with various techniques (cement and screws, small metal augments, impaction bone grafting and modular stems). However, the treatment of severe defects remains problematic. Severe defects have typically been treated with large allograft and metaphyseal sleeves. The use of structural allograft has decreased in recent years due to increased long-term failure rates and the introduction of highly porous metal augments (cones and sleeves). A systematic review of level IV evidence studies on the outcomes of rTKA metaphyseal sleeves found a 4% rate of septic revision, and a rate of septic loosening of the sleeves of 0.35%. Aseptic re-revision was required in 3% of the cases. The rate of aseptic loosening of the sleeves was 0.7%, and the rate of intraoperative fracture was 3.1%. The mean follow-up was 3.7 years. Another systematic review of tantalum cones and sleeves found a reoperation rate of 9.7% and a 0.8% rate of aseptic loosening per sleeve. For cones, the reoperation rate was 18.7%, and the rate of aseptic loosening per cone was 1.7%. The reported survival of metal sleeves was 99.1% at three years, 98.7% at five years and 97.8% at 10 years. The reported survival free of cone revision for aseptic loosening was 100%, and survival free of any cone revision was 98%. Survival free of any revision or reoperation was 90% and 83%, respectively.

Cite this article: EFORT Open Rev 2021;6:1073-1086. DOI: 10.1302/2058-5241.6.210007
The accuracy and reliability of preoperative digital 2D templating in prosthesis size prediction in uncemented versus cemented total hip arthroplasty: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Smith Joshua B.V. , Bishi Habeeb , Wang Chao , Asopa Vipin , Field Richard E. , Sochart David H.
Published: November 2021

The purpose of this study was to compare the accuracy and the inter- and intra-observer reliability of preoperative digital 2D templating in prosthesis size prediction for the planning of cemented or uncemented THA. This study was registered in the NIHR PROSPERO database (ID: CRD42020216649) and conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines. A search of electronic databases in March 2021 found 29 papers overall. The quality of evidence was assessed using the IHE Quality Appraisal of Case Series Studies Checklist and the CASP Randomised Controlled Trials Checklist. A meta-analysis was conducted, and the accuracy was presented as proportions and the inter- and intra-observer reliability were measured using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC). Accuracy within one prosthesis size (±1) for cemented stems was 0.89 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.83–0.95), cemented cups 0.78 (95% CI 0.67–0.89), uncemented stems 0.74 (95% CI 0.66–0.82) and uncemented cups 0.73 (95% CI 0.67–0.79) (test of group differences: p = 0.010). Inter-observer reliability (ICC) for uncemented cups was 0.88 (95% CI 0.85–0.91), uncemented stems 0.86 (95% CI 0.81–0.91), cemented stems 0.69 (95% CI 0.54–0.84) and cemented cups 0.68 (95% CI 0.55–0.81) (test of group differences: p = 0.004). Due to lack of data, intra-observer reliability (ICC) could only be calculated for uncemented prostheses, which for the stems was 0.90 (95% CI 0.88–0.92) and for the cups was 0.87 (95% CI 0.83–0.90) (test of group differences: p = 0.124). The accuracy of preoperative digital templating is greater for cemented prostheses, but the inter-observer reliability is greater for uncemented prostheses. The intra-observer reliability showed a high level of agreement for uncemented prostheses.

Cite this article: EFORT Open Rev 2021;6:1020-1039. DOI: 10.1302/2058-5241.6.210048
Effects of Biomimetic Press Roller Type, Material, Velocity, and Packing Force on Soil Compaction Characteristics
Authors: Zhang Qingzhu , Li Bing , Xu Yunjie , Zhang Jinbo , Li Mo , Tong Jin
Published: November 2021

Highlights

The performance of biomimetic rollers was better than that of a conventional roller.

The biomimetically ridged roller had better soil compaction performance.

The resistance order of rollers with different materials was: Fe360A steel > UHMWPE > enamel coating.

Packing force was the most significant factor.

Abstract. To reduce soil adhesion and rolling resistance during seeding and improve the uniformity of plant spacing, a biomimetically ridged press roller (BRPR) and a biomimetically polyhedral press roller (BPPR) were designed. Moreover, hydrophobic materials, i.e., ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) and enamel coating, were applied and compared with uncoated Fe360A steel. Field experiments were conducted to test the effects of the biomimetic press roller type, material, velocity, and packing force on soil compaction characteristics. A conventional press roller (CPR) was used as a reference. Traction resistance (TR), soil bulk density (SBD), soil moisture content (SMC), emergence rate (ER), and percent change of plant spacing (PCPS) were measured. The packing force was the most significant factor affecting each index. For all rollers, the TR, SBD, ER, and PCPS increased with increasing packing force, while the loss of SMC decreased. The TR and SBD decreased with increasing velocity. All rollers achieved proper SBD for corn seeds. The biomimetic press rollers had a significant effect on TR, PCPS, and SMC on the third day after sowing. The BRPR had lower PCPS and TR than the BPPR and higher SMC than the BPPR on the third day after sowing. Compared with the CPR, the PCPS for all biomimetic rollers decreased, and the ER and SMC increased. The BPPR with Fe360A steel had a slightly higher TR than the CPR, but the other biomimetic rollers had a lower TR than the CPR. The BRPR decreased the TR by 2.13% to 22.30%, while the BPPR decreased the TR by 0.35% to 18.59%. Moreover, both types of biomimetic press rollers had the highest TR values when using Fe360A steel, followed by UHMWPE, and the enamel coating had the lowest TR values. The BRPR decreased the PCPS by 19.46% to 48.34%, while the BPPR decreased the PCPS by 9.69% to 36.99%. The biomimetic rollers increased the ER by 2.17% to 11.36%. On the 18th day after sowing, the SMC was 4.21% to 7.75% higher for the biomimetic press rollers compared to the CPR when the packing force was 700 N. This study can provide a reference for the biomimetic design, material, and force selection of press rollers. Keywords: Biomimetics, Compaction characteristics, Enamel coating, Press roller, UHMWPE.
Phototoxicity induced in living HeLa cells by focused femtosecond laser pulses: a data-driven approach
Authors: Talone B. , Bazzarelli M. , Schirato A. , Dello Vicario F. , Viola D. , Jacchetti E. , Bregonzio M. , Raimondi M. T. , Cerullo G. , Polli D.
Published: November 2021

Nonlinear optical microscopy is a powerful label-free imaging technology, providing biochemical and structural information in living cells and tissues. A possible drawback is photodamage induced by high-power ultrashort laser pulses. Here we present an experimental study on thousands of HeLa cells, to characterize the damage induced by focused femtosecond near-infrared laser pulses as a function of laser power, scanning speed and exposure time, in both wide-field and point-scanning illumination configurations. Our data-driven approach offers an interpretation of the underlying damage mechanisms and provides a predictive model that estimates its probability and extension and a safety limit for the working conditions in nonlinear optical microscopy. In particular, we demonstrate that cells can withstand high temperatures for a short amount of time, while they die if exposed for longer times to mild temperatures. It is thus better to illuminate the samples with high irradiances: thanks to the nonlinear imaging mechanism, much stronger signals will be generated, enabling fast imaging and thus avoiding sample photodamage.
Estimating the astronomical seeing above Dome A using Polar WRF based on the Tatarskii equation
Authors: Yang Qike , Wu Xiaoqing , Han Yajuan , Qing Chun , Wu Su , Su Changdong , Wu Pengfei , Luo Tao , Zhang Shitai
Published: November 2021

A seeing model based on the Tatarskii equation, which uses wind shear and temperature gradient as inputs, has been proposed for Dome A in our previous study. It has been shown that the seeing was correctly reproduced statistically. In this paper, in order to investigate the ability of the Polar version of the Weather Research and Forecasting (PWRF) model to forecast the seeing, we have tried three different PWRF-simulated wind shear and temperature gradient combinations of two levels for the near-ground. The three combinations all give good performance with the correlation coefficients being higher than 0.75, when compared with the seeing measured by the Kunlun Differential Image Motion Monitor at Dome A during the summer of 2019. Besides this, the gradient Richardson number (Ri), which was also simulated by the PWRF model, basically behaved as expected as the Ri is generally large when the measured seeing is small. These results suggest that the PWRF model can be used to forecast the astronomical seeing above Dome A.
Efficient 100-MW, 100-W, 50-fs-class Yb:YAG thin-disk laser oscillator
Authors: Fischer Julian , Drs Jakub , Modsching Norbert , Labaye François , Wittwer Valentin J. , Südmeyer Thomas
Published: November 2021

We demonstrate an efficient 102-MW peak power, 103-W average power, Kerr-lens mode-locked thin-disk laser (TDL) oscillator generating 52-fs pulses at 17.1-MHz repetition rate. The TDL is based on an Yb:YAG disk and operates in the strongly self-phase-modulation (SPM) broadened regime. In this regime, the spectral bandwidth of the oscillating pulse exceeds the available gain bandwidth by generating additional frequency components via SPM in the Kerr medium inside the laser cavity. At an optical-to-optical efficiency of 26%, our oscillator delivers a more than six times higher average power compared to any 50-fs-class laser oscillator. Compared to previous 100-W-class high-power laser oscillators, we reach this performance in a more than two times shorter pulse duration at a comparable optical-to-optical efficiency. Our TDL delivers the highest peak power of any ultrafast laser oscillator. The short pulse duration combined with high average power and peak power makes the presented TDL oscillator an attractive source for high field science and nonlinear optics.
Vortex phase-induced properties of a partially coherent radially polarized circular Airy beam
Authors: Li Tong , Sun Mingli , Song Jinqi , Zhang Naichen , Tong Xiangyu , Li Dongmei , Ma Xiaoxiao , Zhang Xian , Huang Kaikai , Lu Xuanhui
Published: November 2021

In this paper, partially coherent radially polarized vortex circular Airy beams (PCRPVCABs) are theoretically and experimentally studied for the first time. Comparing with partially coherent radially polarized circular Airy beam, the autofocusing ability of PCRPVCAB can be controlled or even enhanced by the topological charge of the vortex phase. Besides, we show a unique distribution of the degree of polarization, vortex-phase induced polarization transition, and the phenomenon of beam spot rotation after the PCRPVCAB passing through a polarizer. Our results make the PCRPVCAB a good candidate for optical micro-manipulation, free-space communications, formation of disordered optical lattices, etc.
Enhanced image reconstruction of Fourier ptychographic microscopy with double-height illumination
Authors: Wang Dayong , Han Yaqian , Zhao Jie , Rong Lu , Wang Yunxin , Lin Shufeng
Published: November 2021

Fourier ptychographic microscopy (FPM) is a recently developed computational microscopy approach that can produce both wide field-of-view and high-resolution intensity and phase image of the sample. Traditionally, a periodic LED array is used as the illumination source. The frequency spectrum is a grid structure that is sparse in the low-middle frequency region and dense in the high-frequency region. However, for most biological samples, the useful information is mostly concentrated in the low-middle frequency region. So the traditional sampling method may lead to distortion in the reconstructed images because of insufficient sampling. Therefore, we propose a convenient and feasible method to continuously improve the sampling conditions without increasing the LED units and changing the pitch, termed double-height illumination FPM. The LED array is moved from one plane to another to achieve the sample illuminations at two different heights and the low-resolution intensity images are totally utilized to reconstruct the high-resolution complex amplitude image. Both simulation results and experimental results illustrate that the proposed method not only improves the reconstruction accuracy and efficiency, but also has strong robustness under noisy conditions. Furthermore, the rule of choosing the two illumination heights is discussed, and the physical insight of the proposed method is analyzed from the view of the data redundancy. In addition, a wave vector correction method is employed to reduce the artifacts of the reconstructed image at the edge of the large full field of view.
Recording point spread functions by wavefront modulation for interferenceless coded aperture correlation holography
Authors: Yu Xuelian , Wang Kangwei , Xiao Junjun , Li Xiufang , Sun Yanqian , Chen Hao
Published: November 2021

Coded aperture correlation holography (COACH) needs the point spread function (PSF) for image reconstruction. Utilizing a pinhole to generate a point light source is the most frequently adopted method for measuring PSF, which, however, has significant issues to resolve. One of the problems is that the resolution of the reconstructed result is limited by the cutoff frequency of the pinhole. The other is that the far-field PSF is undetectable because the amount of light illuminance decreases with the distance. In this work, we present a method for recording the PSF based on wavefront modulation. By modulating a plane wave with both the carrier spherical wave and the coded phase mask, we obtain a virtual point spread function (VPSF) that is used for image reconstruction. It is shown that the resolution of reconstructed results is not limited by the pinhole. We experimentally demonstrate high-resolution reconstruction by the VPSF.
The positive connection between dark triad traits and leadership levels in self- and other-ratings
Authors: Diller Sandra J. , Czibor Andrea , Szabó Zsolt Péter , Restás Péter , Jonas Eva , Frey Dieter
Published: November 2021

People with high dark triad tendencies are often found in leadership positions. Yet research is lacking on whether dark triad personality traits positively correlate with the height of leadership levels (no leadership position, low-level leaders, high-level leaders, head and founder of the company). To explore this relationship between the dark triad and these leadership levels, three studies (NGermany = 137; NHungary = 333; NBothCountries = 355) were conducted, to measure dark triad scores for each leadership level. The results reveal that people in higher leadership levels display both higher self-rated and subordinate-rated dark triad scores. Further research is needed to investigate whether this finding is replicable for more objective measures and longitudinal studies as well as cultural norms, which may discourage or support dark triad traits. As the organizations are an important factor in promoting ethic-oriented behavior in individuals, one practical implication could be increased focus on developing ethical behavior during the assessment and training of leadership positions.
Immunosuppression and COVID-19 infection in British Columbia: Protocol for a linkage study of population-based administrative and self-reported survey data
Authors: Avina-Galindo Ana Michelle , Fazal Zahra A. , Marozoff Shelby , Kwan Jessie , Lu Na , Hoens Alison M. , Kopec Jacek , Lacaille Diane , Xie Hui , Loree Jonathan M. , Avina-Zubieta J. Antonio ,   on behalf of the SCOUT team
Published: November 2021

Introduction

Cases of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continue to spread around the world even one year after the declaration of a global pandemic. Those with weakened immune systems, due to immunosuppressive medications or disease, may be at higher risk of COVID-19. This includes individuals with autoimmune diseases, cancer, transplants, and dialysis patients. Assessing the risk and outcomes of COVID-19 in this population has been challenging. While administrative databases provide data with minimal selection and recall bias, clinical and behavioral data is lacking. To address this, we are collecting self-reported survey data from a randomly selected subsample with and without COVID-19, which will be linked to administrative health data, to better quantify the risk of COVID-19 infection associated with immunosuppression.

Methods and analysis

Using administrative and laboratory data from British Columbia (BC), Canada, we established a population-based case-control study of all individuals who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. Each case was matched to 40 randomly selected individuals from two control groups: individuals who tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 (i.e., negative controls) and untested individuals from the general population (i.e., untested controls). We will contact 1000 individuals from each group to complete a survey co-designed with patient partners. A conditional logistic regression model will adjust for potential confounders and effect modifiers. We will examine the odds of COVID-19 infection according to immunosuppressive medication or disease type. To adjust for relevant confounders and effect modifiers not available in administrative data, the survey will include questions on behavioural variables that influence probability of being tested, acquiring COVID-19, and experiencing severe outcomes.

Ethics and dissemination

This study has received approval from the University of British Columbia Clinical Research Ethics Board [H20-01914]. Findings will be disseminated through scientific conferences, open access peer-reviewed journals, COVID-19 research repositories and dissemination channels used by our patient partners.
Developing functional markers for vitamin E biosynthesis in oil palm
Authors: Dou Yajing , Xia Wei , Mason Annaliese S. , Huang Dongyi , Sun Xiwei , Fan Haikuo , Xiao Yong
Published: November 2021

Vitamin E is essential for human health and plays positive roles in anti-oxidation. Previously, we detected large variation in vitamin E content among 161 oil palm accessions. In this study, twenty oil palm accessions with distinct variation in vitamin E contents (171.30 to 1 258.50 ppm) were selected for genetic variation analysis and developing functional markers associated with vitamin E contents. Thirty-seven homologous genes in oil palm belonging to vitamin E biosynthesis pathway were identified via BLASTP analysis, the lengths of which ranged from 426 to 25 717 bp (average 7 089 bp). Multiplex PCR sequencing for the 37 genes found 1 703 SNPs and 85 indels among the 20 oil palm accessions, with 226 SNPs locating in the coding regions. Clustering analysis for these polymorphic loci showed that the 20 oil palm accessions could be divided into five groups. Among these groups, group I included eight oil palm accessions whose vitamin E content (mean value: 893.50 ppm) was far higher than other groups (mean value 256.29 to 532.94 ppm). Correlation analysis between the markers and vitamin E traits showed that 134 SNP and 7 indel markers were significantly (p< 0.05) related with total vitamin E content. Among these functional markers, the indelEgTMT-1-24was highly correlated with variation in vitamin E content, especially tocotrienol content. Our study identified a number of candidate function associated markers and provided clues for further research into molecular breeding for high vitamin E content oil palm.
The red flags of ulnar neuropathy in leprosy
Authors: Jardim Márcia , Vital Robson T. , Illarramendi Ximena , Hacker Mariana , Junqueira Beatriz , Pitta Izabela J. R. , Pinheiro Roberta O. , Sarno Euzenir N.
Published: November 2021

The diagnosis of pure neural leprosy is more challenging because patients share characteristics with other common pathologies, such as ulnar compression, which should be taken into consideration for differential diagnosis. In this study, we identify ulnar nerve conduction characteristics to aid in the differential diagnosis of ulnar neuropathy (UN) in leprosy and that of non-leprosy etiology. In addition, we include putative markers to better understand the inflammatory process that may occur in the nerve. Data were extracted from a database of people affected by leprosy (leprosy group) diagnosed with UN at leprosy diagnosis. A non-leprosy group of patients diagnosed with mechanical neuropathy (compressive, traumatic) was also included. Both groups were submitted to clinical, neurological, neurophysiological and immunological studies. Nerve enlargement and sensory impairment were significantly higher in leprosy patients than in patients with compressive UN. Bilateral impairment was significantly higher in the leprosy group than in the non-leprosy group. Leprosy reactions were associated to focal demyelinating lesions at the elbow and to temporal dispersion (TD). Clinical signs such as sensory impairment, nerve enlargement and bilateral ulnar nerve injury associated with eletrodiagnostic criteria such as demyelinating finds, specifically temporal dispersion, could be tools to help us decided on the best conduct in patients with elbow ulnar neuropathy and specifically decide if we should perform a nerve biopsy for diagnosis of pure neural leprosy.
Healthcare providers’ perceived support from their organization is associated with lower burnout and anxiety amid the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Reitz Katherine M. , Terhorst Lauren , Smith Clair N. , Campwala Insiyah K. , Owoc Maryanna S. , Downs-Canner Stephanie M. , Diego Emilia J. , Switzer Galen E. , Rosengart Matthew R. , Myers Sara P.
Published: November 2021

Background

Professional burnout represents a significant threat to the American healthcare system. Organizational and individual factors may increase healthcare providers’ susceptibility or resistance to burnout. We hypothesized that during the COVID-19 pandemic, 1) higher levels of perceived organizational support (POS) are associated with lower risk for burnout and anxiety, and 2) anxiety mediates the association between POS and burnout.

Methods

In this longitudinal prospective study, we surveyed healthcare providers employed full-time at a large, multihospital healthcare system monthly over 6 months (April to November 2020). Participants were randomized using a 1:1 allocation stratified by provider type, gender, and academic hospital status to receive one of two versions of the survey instrument formulated with different ordering of the measures to minimize response bias due to context effects. The exposure of interest was POS measured using the validated 8-item Survey of POS (SPOS) scale. Primary outcomes of interest were anxiety and risk for burnout as measured by the validated 10-item Burnout scale from the Professional Quality (Pro-QOL) instrument and 4-item Emotional Distress-Anxiety short form of the Patient Reported Outcome Measurement Information System (PROMIS) scale, respectively. Linear mixed models evaluated the associations between POS and both burnout and anxiety. A mediation analysis evaluated whether anxiety mediated the POS-burnout association.

Results

Of the 538 participants recruited, 402 (75%) were included in the primary analysis. 55% of participants were physicians, 73% 25–44 years of age, 73% female, 83% White, and 44% had ≥1 dependent. Higher POS was significantly associated with a lower risk for burnout (-0.23; 95% CI -0.26, -0.21; p<0.001) and lower degree of anxiety (-0.07; 95% CI -0.09, -0.06; p = 0.010). Anxiety mediated the associated between POS and burnout (direct effect -0.17; 95% CI -0.21, -0.13; p<0.001; total effect -0.23; 95% CI -0.28, -0.19; p<0.001).

Conclusion

During a health crisis, increasing the organizational support perceived by healthcare employees may reduce the risk for burnout through a reduction in anxiety. Improving the relationship between healthcare organizations and the individuals they employ may reduce detrimental effects of psychological distress among healthcare providers and ultimately improve patient care.
Axon initial segment geometry in relation to motoneuron excitability
Authors: Rotterman Travis M. , Carrasco Darío I. , Housley Stephen N. , Nardelli Paul , Powers Randall K. , Cope Timothy C.
Published: November 2021

The axon initial segment (AIS) responsible for action potential initiation is a dynamic structure that varies and changes together with neuronal excitability. Like other neuron types, alpha motoneurons in the mammalian spinal cord express heterogeneity and plasticity in AIS geometry, including length (AISl) and distance from soma (AISd). The present study aimed to establish the relationship of AIS geometry with a measure of intrinsic excitability, rheobase current, that varies by 20-fold or more among normal motoneurons. We began by determining whether AIS length or distance differed for motoneurons in motor pools that exhibit different activity profiles. Motoneurons sampled from the medial gastrocnemius (MG) motor pool exhibited values for average AISdthat were significantly greater than that for motoneurons from the soleus (SOL) motor pool, which is more readily recruited in low-level activities. Next, we tested whether AISdcovaried with intrinsic excitability of individual motoneurons. In anesthetized rats, we measured rheobase current intracellularly from MG motoneuronsin vivobefore labeling them for immunohistochemical study of AIS structure. For 16 motoneurons sampled from the MG motor pool, this combinatory approach revealed that AISd, but not AISl, was significantly related to rheobase, as AIS tended to be located further from the soma on motoneurons that were less excitable. Although a causal relation with excitability seems unlikely, AISdfalls among a constellation of properties related to the recruitability of motor units and their parent motoneurons.