bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Multisensory encoding of names via name tags facilitates remembering
Authors: Murray Carolyn A. , Tarlow Maisy , Rissman Jesse , Shams Ladan
Published: October 2022

Associating names to faces can be challenging, in part because this task lacks an inherent semantic relationship between a face and name. The current study seeks to understand whether bolstering names with cross‐modal cues—specifically, name tags—may aid memory for face and name pairings. In a series of five experiments, we investigated whether the presentation of congruent vocalized and written names at encoding might benefit subsequent cued recall and recognition memory tasks. The results showed that participants, cued with a picture of a face, were more likely to recall the associated name when those names were encoded with a name tag (a congruent visual cue) compared to when no supporting cross‐modal cue was available. The findings were consistent with a benefit of multisensory encoding, above any effect from the availability of independent unisensory traces, extending previous findings of multisensory learning and memory benefits to a naturalistic associative memory task.
For the Election Season: Mediating Legislative Cliffs
Authors: Freund James C.
Published: October 2022

For many years, we've been watching with dismay the seeming inability of the Washington, D.C., powers‐that‐be to come together and enact legislation that would benefit most individuals and constituencies in the United States. Although there have been a few “successes” in recent months, it's hard to feel confident that we won't encounter a likely retreat to the prior glorification of impasse in the months and years ahead.
Investigation of a failed DNA assay leads to identification of an unexpected contaminant in a commonly used chromatography buffer
Authors: Kuhns Scott T. , Semin David J. , Soice Neil P. , Kappes Andy , Wong H. Edward , Hwang Tsang‐Lin , Soto Robert J. , Csordas Andrew T. , Wu Alexander , Martinez‐Cano Diandra , Babayan Melin , Pelayo Yesenia , Hammond Matthew R. , Nashed‐Samuel Yasser , Goudar Chetan T.
Published: October 2022

For mammalian cell‐derived recombinant biotherapeutics, controlling host cell DNA levels below a threshold is a regulatory requirement to ensure patient safety. DNA removal during drug substance manufacture is accomplished by a series of chromatography‐based purification steps and a qPCR‐based analytical method is most used to measure DNA content in the purified drug substance to enable material disposition. While the qPCR approach is mature and its application to DNA measurement is widespread in the industry, it is susceptible to trace levels of process‐related contaminants that are carried forward. In this study, we observed failures in spike recovery studies that are an integral component of the qPCR‐based DNA testing, suggesting the presence of an inhibitory compound in the sample matrix. We generated hypotheses around the origin of the inhibitory compound and generated multiple sample matrices and deployed a suite of analytical techniques including Raman and NMR spectroscopy to determine the origin and identity of the inhibitory compound. The caustic wash step and depth filter extractables were ruled out as root causes after extensive experimentation and DNA testing. Subsequently, 2‐(N‐morpholino)ethanesulfonic acid (MES), a buffer used in the chromatography unit operations, was identified as the source of the contaminant. A 500‐fold concentration followed by Raman and NMR spectroscopy analysis revealed the identity of the inhibitory compound as polyvinyl sulfone (PVS), an impurity that originates in the MES manufacturing process. We have implemented PVS concentration controls for incoming MES raw material, and our work highlights the need for rigor in raw material qualification and control.
Assessing early changes in plasma HER2 levels is useful for predicting therapeutic response in advanced breast cancer: A multicenter, prospective, noninterventional clinical study
Authors: Kang Yi‐Kun , Si Yi‐Ran , Ju Jie , Jia Zhu‐Qing , Hu Nan‐Lin , Dong Hao , Wang Xue , Yue Jian , Jiang Pei‐Di , Li Zhao‐Liang , Zhang Yun‐Yun , Wang Yan , Xu Bing‐He , Yuan Peng
Published: October 2022

Background

Early prediction of treatment response is crucial for the optimal treatment of advanced breast cancer. We aimed to explore whether monitoring early changes in plasma human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) levels using digital PCR (dPCR) could predict the treatment response in advanced breast cancer.

Methods

This was a multicenter, prospective, noninterventional clinical study of patients with advanced breast cancer. All enrolled patients underwent blood testing to measure the HER2 levels by digital PCR before treatment initiation and once every 3 weeks during the study. The primary endpoints werea the diagnostic value of dPCR for detecting HER2 status in the blood andb the relevance of potential changes in the plasma HER2 level at 3 weeks from baseline for predicting treatment response.

Results

Overall, 85 patients were enrolled between October 9, 2018, and January 23, 2020. dPCR had a specificity of 91.67% (95% CI: 80.61% to 97.43%) for detecting HER2 amplification, and the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was 0.84 (p < 0.01). A clinically relevant specificity threshold of approximately 90%, which was equivalent to a ≥15% decrease in the plasma HER2 ratio at 3 weeks from baseline, showed a positive predictive value of 97.37% (95% CI: 77.11% to 98.65%) in terms of predicting clinical benefit. Patients whose plasma HER2 ratio was reduced by ≥15% had a longer median progression‐free survival (PFS) than those whose ratio was reduced by <15% (9.20 months vs. 4.50 months, p < 0.01).

Conclusions

Early changes in the plasma HER2 ratio may predict the treatment response in patients with advanced breast cancer and could facilitate optimal treatment selection.
The paired‐related homeobox protein 1 promotes cardiac fibrosis via the Twist1‐Prrx1‐tenascin‐C loop
Authors: Wang Fengyuan , Zhao Hongyi , Yin Lin , Zhang Wei , Tang Yanhong , Wang Xi , Huang Congxin
Published: October 2022

Cardiac fibrosis is a common pathology in the advanced stage of cardiovascular diseases, which leads to cardiac systolic and diastolic dysfunction. It is important to prevent cardiac fibrosis during myocardial injury. The transcription factor Prrx1 is involved in cancer‐associated fibrosis and other organ fibrosis. However, the role and mechanism of Prrx1 in cardiac fibrosis deserves further exploration. We identified that overexpressed Prrx1 promoted the proliferation and migration of cardiac fibroblasts, and transform cardiac fibroblasts to myofibroblasts in vitro. We demonstrated that the expression of Prrx1 is upregulated in TGF‐β1‐treated fibroblasts. And silencing Prrx1 could attenuate cardiac fibrosis induced by TGF‐β1 in vitro. In addition, a Twist1‐paired‐related homeobox 1 (Prrx1)‐tenascin‐C (TNC) positive feedback loop (PFL) combined with Twist1, Prrx1, and TNC activated fibroblasts, which was the mechanism the Prrx1 in cardiac fibrosis. In conclusion, our findings showed that the deficiency of Prrx1 attenuated cardiac fibrosis in vitro and reveal a novel Twist1‐Prrx1‐TNC PFL in the regulation of cardiac fibrosis.
Liquid–liquid equilibria of ternary mixtures of methanol + MEG + n‐C5, ethanol + MEG + n‐C5, and n‐butanol + MEG + n‐C5
Authors: Mascietti Vanessa A. , Farias Larissa Silva , Tavares Frederico W. , Ndiaye Papa M.
Published: October 2022

New liquid–liquid equilibrium data of ternary systems of mono ethylene glycol + n‐pentane + methanol, mono‐ethylene glycol (MEG) + n‐pentane + ethanol, and mono ethylene glycol + n‐pentane + n‐butanol from 283.15 to 293 K are presented in this work. Binodal curves were obtained by the cloud point titration method. Tie‐line compositions were obtained through density and sound velocity measurements of phases in equilibrium. Results show that the solubility increases with temperature in all systems and decreases as the alcohol chain increases. The relative solubility data indicate that the alcohols are more soluble in MEG than in n‐C5. The obtained experimental data were successfully correlated using the CPA and the PC‐SAFT equation with appropriate binary interaction parameters.
NLSP: A novel lattice‐based secure primitive for privacy‐preserving smart grid communications
Authors: Bao HaiYong , Xu Zheng , Hong HaiBo , Kong QingLei , Qian HaiFeng
Published: October 2022

As the new generation of power scheme, smart grid is proposed to overcome the shortcomings of traditional systems, such as low efficiency and reliability. In this article, a novel lattice‐based secure primitive for privacy‐preserving smart grid communications is proposed, which has the remarkable characteristics, such as scalable multi‐dimensional fine‐grained power data structure and differential privacy security. First, combining with the lattice‐based data encryption technology, while effectively resisting quantum attacks, the method of simultaneous processing of multi‐dimensional data is innovated. Second, through combining the additive homomorphism of the lattice‐based cryptosystem and the Chinese remainder theorem, the data aggregation mechanism that can directly perform homomorphic operations on compressed ciphertext is constructed. Thanks to the above innovative design ideas, the proposed scheme not only significantly improves the efficiency of data communication and processing, greatly reduces the computational cost of the intermediate entity, but also realizes the data confidentiality and information privacy. Finally, observing the decentralized topology of communication nodes in the typical cyber‐physical system of smart grid, the localized differential privacy technology is leveraged to optimize and balance the utility, security, and efficiency of differential privacy. Extensive performance evaluations are conducted to illustrate that the proposed scheme outperforms the state‐of‐the‐art similar schemes in terms of computation complexity and communication cost.
Network bandwidth variation‐adapted state transfer for geo‐replicated state machines and its application to dynamic replica replacement
Authors: Chiba Tairi , Ohmura Ren , Nakamura Junya
Published: October 2022

This paper proposes a new state transfer method for geographic state machine replication (SMR) that dynamically allocates the state to be transferred among replicas according to changes in communication bandwidths. SMR improves fault tolerance by replicating a service to multiple replicas. When a replica is newly added or recovered from a failure, the other replicas transfer the current state of the service to it. However, in geographic SMR, the communication bandwidths of replicas are different and constantly changing. Therefore, existing state transfer methods cannot fully utilize the available bandwidth, and their state transfer time increases. To overcome this problem, our method divides the state into multiple chunks and assigns them to replicas based on each replica's bandwidth so that the broader a replica's bandwidth is, the more chunks it transfers. The proposed method also updates the chunk assignment of each replica dynamically based on the currently estimated bandwidth. The performance evaluation on Amazon EC2 shows that the proposed method reduces the state transfer time by up to 47% compared to the existing one. In addition, we apply the proposed method to dynamic replacement of replicas, which can mitigate latency degradation caused by network trouble, and evaluate how fast the method can relocate a replica.
Models Used to Predict Chemical Bioaccumulation in Fish from in Vitro Biotransformation Rates Require Accurate Estimates of Blood–Water Partitioning and Chemical Volume of Distribution
Authors: Saunders Leslie J. , Nichols John W.
Published: October 2022

Methods for extrapolating measured in vitro intrinsic clearance to a whole-body biotransformation rate constant (kB) have been developed to support modeled bioaccumulation assessments for fish. The inclusion of extrapolated kB values into existing bioaccumulation models improves the prediction of chemical bioconcentration factors (BCFs), but there remains a tendency for these methods to overestimate BCFs relative to measured values. Therefore, a need exists to evaluate the extrapolation procedure to assess potential sources of error in predicted kB values. We examined how three different approaches (empirically based, composition based, and polyparameter linear free energy relationships [ppLFERs]) used to predict chemical partitioning in vitro (liver S9 system; KS9W), in blood (KBW), and in whole fish tissues (KFW) impact the prediction of a chemical's hepatic clearance binding term (fU) and apparent volume of distribution (VD), both of which factor into the calculation of kB and the BCF. Each approach yielded different KS9W, KBW, and KFW values, but resulted in fU values that were of similar magnitude and remained relatively constant at log octanol–water partition ratios (KOW) greater than 4. This is because KBW and KS9W values predicted by any given approach exhibit a similar dependence on log KOW (i.e., regression slope), which results in a cancelation of “errors” when fU is calculated. In contrast, differences in KBW values predicted by the three approaches translate to differences in VD, and by extension kB and the BCF, which become most apparent at log KOW greater than 6. There is a need to collect KBW and VD data for hydrophobic chemicals in fish that can be used to evaluate and improve existing partitioning prediction approaches in extrapolation models for fish. Environ Toxicol Chem 2023;42:33–45. © 2022 SETAC

Abstract

Errors in the specification of volume of distribution (VD), rather than the hepatic clearance binding term (fU), may contribute to inaccuracies in bioconcentration factors (BCFs) predicted from in vitro–in vivo extrapolation (IVIVE) methods. CLINT, intrinsic clearance rate; CLH, hepatic clearance rate; kB, biotransformation rate constant.
Mobility in the context of exposure-based assessment of chemicals for drinking water resource protection
Authors: Pawlowski Sascha , Aicher Lothar , Berends Albert , Curtis-Jackson Pippa , Häner Andreas , Hollender Juliane , Jene Bernhard , Jenner Karen , Redman Aaron , Sanders Gordon , Vallotton Nathalie , Wang Neil , Wheeler James R.
Published: October 2022

In order to protect European Union (EU) drinking water resources from chemical contamination, criteria for identifying persistent, mobile, and toxic (PMT) chemicals and very persistent and very mobile (vPvM) chemicals under the EU REACH Regulation were proposed by the German Environment Agency (Umweltbundesamt—UBA). Additionally, new hazard classes for PMT and vPvM substances in the revised EU classification, labeling, and packaging (CLP Regulation) are intended. Therefore, a reliable approach in the identification of potential drinking water resource contaminants is needed. The scientific basis of the property-based PMT/vPvM criteria, focusing on mobility, which dictates the migration of chemical drinking water sources, was evaluated, and a critical analysis of the deviation of sorption metrics from simple behavior was carried out. Based on our evaluation, a Koc may be used for nonionic substances on a screening level only, requiring a higher tier assessment. It is considered inappropriate for hydrophilic and ionizable chemicals, particularly for soils with low organic carbon contents. The nonextractable residue formation is complex and not well understood but remains significant in limiting the mobility of chemicals through soils and sediments. In order to inform the EU commission's work on the introduction of new hazard classes for PMT and vPvM substances into the European legislation, the derivation of a tiered approach is proposed, which utilizes the weight of evidence available, with adoption of appropriate higher tier models commensurate with the nature of the substance and the data available. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2023;19:775–791. © 2022 The Authors. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC).
[3+2] cycloaddition synthesis of new (nicotinonitrile‐chromene)‐based bis(pyrazole) hybrids as potential acetylcholinesterase inhibitors
Authors: Mekky Ahmed E. M. , Sanad Sherif M. H.
Published: October 2022

A [3+2] cycloaddition protocol was used to prepare two series of (nicotinonitrile‐chromene)‐based bis(pyrazoles) in 82%–91% yields. The protocol involved the reaction of nitrilimines, which were generated in situ by the action of triethylamine on hydrazonoyl chlorides, with the respective (nicotinonitrile‐chromene)‐based bis(enaminone). At the concentrations tested, bis(pyrazole) linked to 1‐(4‐methoxyphenyl) and 3‐acetyl units had the best acetylcholinesterase and DPPH‐free radical inhibitory activity.
Optimal Theory and educational realities for African Americans: Suggestions for humanistic counselors working K‐16
Authors: Middleton Tanya J. , Arjune Bhudayal , Peebles Ezekiel , Hughes DeQuindre , Dollarhide Colette T
Published: October 2022

Racial inequalities embedded in systemic policies have received increased attention, renewing calls for transforming education systems to ensure life success for all students. This article illuminates humanistic counseling responses using Optimal Theory to address racist educational barriers that limit African American students’ success.
Comparing the severity of chronic rhinosinusitis symptoms before versus during the COVID‐19 pandemic
Authors: Lin Jasmine S. , Tan Bruce , Yeh Chen , Kern Robert , Conley David , Welch Kevin , Peters Anju , Smith Stephanie
Published: October 2022

Background

COVID‐19 measures such as masking, social distancing, and staying indoors may mitigate chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) symptoms. We evaluate whether these measures correlated with improved symptoms in patients with CRS.

Methods

This retrospective study compared SNOT‐22 survey data from the Northwestern CRS Registry at the time of enrollment and at years 1–5 of follow‐up. The final sample consisted of 1826 SNOT‐22 surveys for 598 patients. April 10, 2020 to December 31, 2021 was considered "during the pandemic" and prior to March 11, 2020 was considered "pre‐pandemic." Wilcoxon test was used to compare SNOT22 at enrollment pre‐pandemic versus during pandemic. Separate linear mixed models were performed to estimate SNOT22 at 1 to 5 years after enrollment pre‐pandemic versus during pandemic.

Results

Subjects enrolled during the pandemic had worse SNOT22 scores than those enrolled pre‐pandemic (53 vs. 42, p = .0024). Total SNOT‐22 scores were improved during the pandemic than before the pandemic at 1 year follow‐up (18.17 vs. 12.22, p = .001). This effect persists when evaluating the nasal (7.33 vs. 5.13, p = .003), sleep (2.63 vs. 1.39, p = .008), function (1.40 vs. 0.72, p = .015), and emotion (0.77 vs. 0.17, p < .001) domains individually. There was no statistically significant difference in total SNOT‐22 score at Years 2–5 of follow‐up.

Conclusions

Patients with CRS experience a greater reduction in symptom severity in their first year of treatment during the pandemic than before the pandemic, plausibly from measures such as masking and staying indoors.

Level of Evidence

4
Supramolecular Phthalimide Networks Via Tandem Diels–Alder Reaction–Aromatization Using Biomass‐Derived Furanic Dienes
Authors: Kim Byounghyun , Lee Juhyen , Bae Han Yong , Son Seung Uk , Song Changsik
Published: October 2022

The design and synthesis of phthalimide derivatives are important goals for applications in fields such as pharmaceutical science and optoelectronics. In the present study, a facile and convenient synthetic pathway (no heat or acid/catalyst needed) is devised to produce phthalimides from a biomass‐derived furan by directly introducing an N‐carbamate group at the C‐2 position of the furan ring via thermal Curtius rearrangement. The electron‐donating N‐carbamate group increases the energy level of the highest occupied molecular orbital of the furan diene, resulting in a significant increase of the rate of the Diels–Alder reaction with maleimide compared to the conventional furfuryl furan. Interestingly, the Diels–Alder adduct smoothly undergoes aromatization (dehydration) to generate the phthalimide motif. It is shown that the biomass‐derived phthalimides can produce supramolecular gels and act as sensors of basic anions like F− and CN−. The novel synthetic pathway to phthalimide derivatives from a biomass‐derived furan can potentially be used to develop novel phthalimide motifs for a variety of applications.
Accurate and efficient measurement of channelized Hotelling observer‐based low‐contrast detectability on the ACR CT accreditation phantom
Authors: Fan Mingdong , Thayib Theodore , McCollough Cynthia , Yu Lifeng
Published: October 2022

Background

Current CT quality control (QC) for low‐contrast detectability relies on visual inspection and measurement of contrast‐to‐noise ratio (CNR). However, CNR numbers become unreliable when it comes to nonlinear methods, such as iterative reconstruction (IR) and deep‐learning‐based techniques. Image quality metrics using channelized Hotelling observer (CHO) have been validated to be well correlated with human observer performance on phantom‐based and patient‐based tasks, but it has not been widely used in routine CT QC mainly because the CHO calculation typically requires a large number of repeated scans in order to provide accurate and precise estimate of index of detectability (d′).

Purpose

The main goal of this work is to optimize channel filters and other CHO parameters and accurately estimate the low‐contrast detectability with minimum number of repeated scans for the widely used American College of Radiology (ACR) CT accreditation phantom so that it can become practically feasible for routine CT QC tests.

Methods

To provide a converged d′ value, an ACR phantom was repeatedly scanned 100 times at three dose levels (24, 12, and 6 mGy). Images were reconstructed with two kernels (FBP Br44 and IR Br44‐3). d′ as a function of number of repeated scans was determined for different number of background regions of interest (ROIs), different number of low‐contrast objects, different number of slices per each object, and different channel filter options. A reference d′ was established using the optimized CHO setting, and the bias of d′ was quantified using the d′ calculated from all 100 repeated scans. The variation of d′ at each condition was estimated using a resampling method combining random subsampling among 100 repeated scans and bootstrapping of the ensembles of signal and background ROIs.

Results

Optimized parameters in CHO calculation were determined: two background ROIs per object, four objects per low‐contrast object size, nine non‐overlapping slices per object, and a 4‐channel Gabor filter. The bias and uncertainty were estimated at different numbers of repeated scans using these parameters. When only one single scan was used in the CHO calculation, the bias of d′ was below 6.2% and the uncertainty 15.6‐19.6% for the 6, 5, and 4 mm objects, while with three repeated scans the bias was below 2.0% and uncertainty 8.7‐10.9% for the three object sizes.

Conclusion

With optimized parameter settings in CHO, efficient and accurate measurement of low‐contrast detectability on the commonly used ACR phantom becomes feasible, which could potentially lead to adoption of CHO‐based low‐contrast evaluation in routine QC tests.
The influence of magnetic and Aharanov–Bohm fields on energy spectra of diatomic molecules in the framework of the Dirac equation with the generalized interaction potential
Authors: Khokha E. M. , Abu‐Shady M. , Abdel‐Karim T. A.
Published: October 2022

In this study, we present the relativistic and non‐relativistic solutions of the Dirac equation with the spin symmetry for the generalized Cornell potential (GCP) using the wave function ansatz method in the existence of external magnetic and Aharanov–Bohm (AB) flux fields. The relativistic energy eigenvalues and the corresponding eigenfunctions are found for varied vibrational and magnetic quantum numbers. By adapting the GCP parameters, we derive the relativistic and non‐relativistic energy eigenvalues with and without external fields for a set of potential models including the Killingbeck, harmonic oscillator, pseudoharmonic, anharmonic, Cornell, Coulomb, Kratzer, and modified Kratzer potentials. Additionally, the non‐relativistic energy spectra of the Kratzer and modified Kratzer potentials are reported with and without external magnetic and AB flux fields for several diatomic molecules (DMs). We discovered that in the existence of external magnetic and AB flux fields, the non‐relativistic energy spectrum increases and degeneracy disappears. Furthermore, the AB flux field has a stronger impact on the energy spectrum than the magnetic field. To substantiate our findings, we calculate the energy levels of the Kratzer and modified Kratzer potentials for diverse DMs and find that they are perfectly consistent with previous studies.
Incidence of stillbirth: effect of deprivation
Authors: Arechvo A. , Nikolaidi D. A. , Gil M. M. , Rolle V. , Syngelaki A. , Akolekar R. , Nicolaides K. H.
Published: October 2022

Objectives

To examine the relationship between the English index of multiple deprivation (IMD) and the incidence of stillbirth and assess whether IMD contributes to the prediction of stillbirth provided by the combination of maternal demographic characteristics and elements of medical history.

Methods

This was a prospective, observational study of 159 125 women with a singleton pregnancy who attended their first routine hospital visit at 11 + 0 to 13 + 6 weeks' gestation in two maternity hospitals in the UK. The inclusion criterion was delivery at ≥ 24 weeks' gestation of a fetus without major abnormality. Participants completed a questionnaire on demographic characteristics and obstetric and medical history. IMD was used as a measure of socioeconomic status, which takes into account income, employment, education, skills and training, health and disability, crime, barriers to housing and services, and living environment. Each neighborhood is ranked according to its level of deprivation relative to that of other areas into one of five equal groups, with Quintile 1 containing the 20% most deprived areas and Quintile 5 containing the 20% least deprived areas. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine whether IMD provided a significant independent contribution to stillbirth after adjustment for known maternal risk factors.

Results

The overall incidence of stillbirth was 0.35% (551/159 125), and this was significantly higher in the most deprived compared with the least deprived group (Quintile 1 vs Quintile 5). The odds ratio (OR) in Quintile 1 was 1.57 (95% CI, 1.16–2.14) for any stillbirth, 1.64 (95% CI, 1.20–2.28) for antenatal stillbirth and 1.89 (95% CI, 1.23–2.98) for placental dysfunction‐related stillbirth. In Quintile 1 (vs Quintile 5), there was a higher incidence of factors that contribute to stillbirth, including black race, increased body mass index, smoking, chronic hypertension and previous stillbirth. The OR of black (vs white) race was 2.58 (95% CI, 2.14–3.10) for any stillbirth, 2.62 (95% CI, 2.16–3.17) for antenatal stillbirth and 3.34 (95% CI, 2.59–4.28) for placental dysfunction‐related stillbirth. Multivariate analysis showed that IMD did not have a significant contribution to the prediction of stillbirth provided by maternal race and other maternal risk factors. In contrast, in black (vs white) women, the risk of any and antenatal stillbirth was 2.4‐fold higher and the risk of placental dysfunction‐related stillbirth was 2.9‐fold higher after adjustment for other maternal risk factors.

Conclusions

The incidence of stillbirth, particularly placental dysfunction‐related stillbirth, is higher in women living in the most deprived areas in South East England. However, in screening for stillbirth, inclusion of IMD does not improve the prediction provided by race, other maternal characteristics and elements of medical history. © 2022 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Late‐gestation prediction of outcome in tricuspid valve dysplasia and Ebstein's anomaly using fetal tricuspid regurgitation waveform analysis
Authors: Ikegawa T. , Kim K.‐S. , Kawataki M. , Ichikawa Y. , Ono S. , Yanagi S. , Ueda H.
Published: October 2022

Objective

To investigate the criteria, based on fetal TR waveforms in late gestation, to predict biventricular circulation (BV) after birth in cases of tricuspid valve dysplasia (TVD) or Ebstein's anomaly diagnosed during the fetal period.

Methods

We included 35 consecutive cases diagnosed with TVD or Ebstein's anomaly during the fetal period between January 2008 and December 2021 at Kanagawa Children's Medical Center, Kanagawa, Japan. The maximum velocity and change in pressure over time of tricuspid regurgitation (TR) jet (dP/dt), estimated using TR waveforms obtained during the late‐gestation period (gestational age ≥ 28 weeks), were collected from patient records. dP/dt was calculated by dividing the change in estimated right ventricular pressure obtained using Bernoulli's principle by the time taken for the TR maximum velocity to change from one‐third to two‐thirds of its peak value. The outcome was divided into four categories: BV, single ventricular circulation, neonatal death and fetal death. Patients with BV were included in the BV group, while patients with single ventricular circulation, neonatal death or fetal death were included in the non‐BV (NBV) group.

Results

Overall, 19 and 16 patients were included in the BV and NBV groups, respectively. The median TR maximum velocity was 3.3 (range, 2.4–3.6) m/s in the BV group and 1.9 (range, 1.0–3.3) m/s in the NBV group. There were no cases of postnatal BV in fetuses with TR maximum velocity < 2.4 m/s; cases with TR maximum velocity of 2.4–3.3 m/s were observed in both BV and NBV groups. Receiver‐operating‐characteristics‐curve analysis was performed on the 11 patients in the BV group and five patients in the NBV group with a TR maximum velocity of 2.4–3.3 m/s. dP/dt ≥ 350 mmHg/s and TR maximum velocity ≥ 2.9 m/s were identified as criteria for predicting the outcome in such cases. The performance of dP/dt ≥ 350 mmHg/s in predicting BV after birth in fetuses with TVD or Ebstein's anomaly was higher compared to that of TR maximum velocity ≥ 2.9 m/s (sensitivity, 90.9% vs 72.3% and specificity, 80.0% vs 80.0%, respectively).

Conclusions

In fetuses with TVD or Ebstein's anomaly, the postnatal outcome may be BV or NBV when the TR maximum velocity is 2.4–3.3 m/s. In such cases, by combining the TR maximum velocity with dP/dt ≥ 350 mmHg/s, BV after birth may be predicted with greater accuracy. © 2022 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Three‐dimensional printed microfluidic mixer/extractor for cell lysis and lipidomic profiling by matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry
Authors: Yang Zhengdong , Li Bochao , Stuart Daniel D. , Cheng Quan
Published: October 2022

Lipidomic profiling has been linked to the detection of cancers as dysregulation of lipid metabolism is closely associated with many disease states. Current work on chip‐based profiling has been limited and is largely hindered by issues associated with the chip's sophisticated fabrication processes. We report here the design and fabrication of a highly efficient microfluidic mixer/extractor by using three‐dimensional (3D) printing technology for on‐chip cell lysis/enrichment for lipidomic profiling with matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI‐MS). The platform consists of a micropillar mixer for flow‐through lysis and an on‐chip reservoir to separate phases where the lipid‐enriched layer was collected for subsequent MS analysis. The mass transfer between the two phases was simulated by a computational fluid dynamics study, and the efficiency in cell lysis in different extraction solvent systems was characterized by fluorescence microscopy. Results showed increased performance in extraction with the micropillar mixer as compared with the standard Bligh‐Dyer method. For lipid profiling of C. reinhardtii cells by MALDI‐MS, over 65 lipid species from the monogalactosyldiacylglycerol, digalactosyldiacylglycerol, diacylglyceryltrimethylhomo‐Ser, and triacylglycerol lipid families have been identified. The effect of organic solvents on extraction and lipid profiles was also investigated, and the results indicated that the extractant formula has a diverse impact on the collection of certain types of lipid species, presenting useful guidance for the system to be applied to targeted enrichment of lipids with specific cells. The microfluidic chips by the 3D printing technique reported here offer new platforms potentially for clinical lipidomics and can provide a novel avenue in disease diagnosis.
Who is the climate‐induced trapped figure?
Authors: Ayeb‐Karlsson Sonja , Baldwin Andrew W. , Kniveton Dominic
Published: October 2022

Many will remember the 1990s alarmist narratives of how a human tide of up to a billion climate refugees would flood “our” borders by 2050. By 2011, a new character joined the discourse: the trapped figure. No longer would climatically vulnerable people be forced to move, they could also end up immobile. This review examines the narratives that surround the trapped figure. The article highlights the trapped figure's (i) characterisation, (ii) geography, and (iii) storytellers. The material includes the 2011 Foresight Report, 64 English peer‐reviewed journal articles, and seven UNFCCC policy reports. The textual analysis furthers our understanding of the values that shape the meaning of the trapped figure within the wider discursive economy. Out of the 64 articles, 48 located the trapped figure in Asia, while 34 placed the figure in Africa. Meanwhile, the majority of articles—62 in total—were written by scholars based at European research institutes. The study shows that the trapped figure, much as the mythical climate refugee and migrant, is constructed as both a victim in need of rescuing and as an ambiguous security threat. It is ethically problematic that planned relocation was often put forward as an effective tool to “move” the figure out of harm's way. The review also found a range of binary opposites in the discourse on trapped populations, including those of order–disorder, freedom–unfreedom, and victim–savior. This suggests that however well‐intentioned the liberal discourse on trapped populations appear, it remains embedded in power relations which demands for critical scrutiny.

This article is categorized under:

Social Status of Climate Change Knowledge > Sociology/Anthropology of Climate Knowledge

Climate and Development > Sustainability and Human Well‐Being

Perceptions, Behavior, and Communication of Climate Change > Perceptions of Climate Change

Climate, Nature, and Ethics > Ethics and Climate Change
Gesundheitspolitik
Authors: Fattinger Bernhard , Dialer Doris
Published: October 2022

Pandemiebedingt ist die seit Jahrzehnten steigende Bedeutung globaler Gesundheitsfragen nun unübersehbar geworden. Die Gesundheitsaußenpolitik und Gesundheitsdiplomatie sind eng mit der allgemeinen Außen- und Sicherheitspolitik, zahlreichen anderen Politikfeldern, dem internationalen Profil eines Landes, nationalen und regionalen wirtschaftlichen und (geo-) politischen Interessen verbunden und berühren Fragen der Health Governance auf globaler und europäischer Ebene. (Globale) Gesundheitspolitik könnte daher – auch in Österreich – als wichtiger Bestandteil der Außenpolitik verstanden und entsprechend neu konzipiert werden.
Die Außenpolitik gegenüber den Staaten Mittelosteuropas
Authors: Wineroither David M.
Published: October 2022

Die Region Mittelosteuropa beschreibt ein natürliches österreichisches Interessenfeld. Eine im Zuge der Demokratisierung dieser (Nachbar-)Staaten angestrebte Führungsrolle erwies sich rasch als unrealistisch: die zentralen Akteur*innen heimischer Außenpolitik mussten erfahren und verstehen, dass in Fragen handfester Interessenpolitik keine gemeinsamen historischen Bezüge in Rechnung zu stellen sind! In Folge bediente man sich konventioneller Mittel zur Absicherung bedeutsamer Wirtschaftsinteressen und zur wenigstens symbolischen Untermauerung einer Scharnierfunktion zwischen „Ost“ und „West“.
Die Außenpolitik gegenüber den Staaten Afrikas
Authors: Gebrewold Belachew
Published: October 2022

Die österreichische Afrikapolitik fokussiert auf die Schwerpunktländer Äthiopien, Burkina Faso, Mosambik und Uganda, in denen Österreich intensiv in den entwicklungspolitischen Bereichen für menschliche Entwicklung arbeitet. Zudem spielt die Zusammenarbeit mit afrikanischen Staaten in Bildungsbereichen wie interuniversitären Netzwerken, Forschungsprojekten oder Stipendien eine wichtige Rolle. Obwohl die sicherheitspolitische Zusammenarbeit keine zentrale Rolle in der österreichischen Afrikapolitik einnimmt, ist sie im Zusammenhang mit Migrationspolitik dennoch nicht zu vernachlässigen.
Österreich im Europarat
Authors: Weiler Sarah
Published: October 2022

In diesem Beitrag werden die Beziehungen zwischen Österreich und dem Europarat in fünf chronologisch aufeinanderfolgenden Phasen dargestellt und Schwerpunkte in der österreichischen Außenpolitik identifiziert, wobei es sich aufgrund mangelnder geschichts- oder politikwissenschaftlicher Literatur zum Thema lediglich um einen ersten Abriss handelt. Anschließend werden Wege und Möglichkeiten aufgezeigt, um diese Beziehungen (außen-)politikwissenschaftlich zu untersuchen und damit den Erkenntnisstand zu einem bisher wenig beachteten Thema in der Analyse österreichischer Außenpolitik zu erweitern.
Die politischen Parteien
Authors: Ennser-Jedenastik Laurenz
Published: October 2022

In der Außenpolitik gilt oft die Norm der Überparteilichkeit: Parteipolitik habe an der Staatsgrenze zu enden. Demgegenüber steht die Erwartung, dass Parteien im Wettbewerb ihre programmatischen Unterschiede betonen. In diesem Spannungsfeld untersucht dieser Beitrag die österreichische Außenpolitik seit 1945. Zwar herrscht tatsächlich mehr Konsens als in anderen Bereichen, doch treten auch deutliche ideologische Unterschiede zutage. Im Zeitverlauf steigt bei den Parteien vor allem das Interesse an Europapolitik, während verteidigungspolitische Fragen an Bedeutung verlieren.
Development of acetabular retroversion in LCPD hips—an observational radiographic study from early stage to healing
Authors: Leibold Christiane Sylvia , Whitlock Patrick , Schmaranzer Florian , Ziebarth Kai , Tannast Moritz , Steppacher Simon Damian
Published: October 2022

Background

Acetabular retroversion is observed frequently in healed Legg–Calvé–Perthes disease (LCPD). Currently, it is unknown at which stage and with what prevalence retroversion occurs because in non-ossified hips, retroversion cannot be measured with standard radiographic parameters.

Methods

In a retrospective, observational study; we examined pelvic radiographs in children with LCPD the time point of occurrence of acetabular retroversion and calculated predictive factors for retroversion. Between 2004 and 2017, we included 55 children with a mean age of 5.7 ± 2.4 years at diagnosis. The mean radiographic follow-up was 7.0 ± 4.4 years. We used two new radiographic parameters which allow assessment of acetabular version in non-ossified hips: the pelvic width index and the ilioischial angle. They are based on the fact that the pelvic morphology differs depending on the acetabular version. These parameters were compared among the four Waldenström stages and to the contralateral side. Logistic regression analysis was performed to determine predictive factors for acetabular retroversion.

Results

Both parameters differed significantly among the stages of Waldenström (p < 0.003 und 0.038, respectively). A more retroverted acetabulum was found in stage II and III (prevalence ranging from 54 to 56%) compared to stage I and IV (prevalence ranging from 23 to 39%). In hips of the contralateral side without LCPD, the prevalence of acetabular retroversion was 0% in all stages for both parameters. Predictive factors for retroversion were younger age at stage II and IV, collapse of the lateral pillar in stage II or a non-dysplastic hip.

Conclusions

This is the first study evaluating acetabular version in children with LCPD from early stage to healing. In the developing hip, LCPD may result in acetabular retroversion and is most prevalent in the fragmentation (stage II) and early healing stage (stage III). Partial correction of acetabular retroversion can occur after healing. This has a potential clinical impact on the timing and type of surgical correction, especially in pelvic osteotomies for correction of acetabular version.

Level of evidence

Level III, retrospective observational study.
The robustness of the generalized Gini index
Authors: Settepanella S. , Terni A. , Franciosi M. , Li L.
Published: October 2022

In this paper, we introduce a map $$\varPhi $$
Φ
, which we call zonoid map, from the space of all non-negative, finite Borel measures on $${\mathbb {R}}^n$$

R

n

with finite first moment to the space of zonoids of $${\mathbb {R}}^n$$

R

n

. This map, connecting Borel measure theory with zonoids theory, allows to slightly generalize the Gini volume introduced, in the context of Industrial Economics, by Dosi (J Ind Econ 4:875–907, 2016). This volume, based on the geometric notion of zonoid, is introduced as a measure of heterogeneity among firms in an industry and it turned out to be a quite interesting index as it is a multidimensional generalization of the well-known and broadly used Gini index. By exploiting the mathematical context offered by our definition, we prove the continuity of the map $$\varPhi $$
Φ
which, in turn, allows to prove the validity of a SLLN-type theorem for our generalized Gini index and, hence, for the Gini volume. Both results, the continuity of $$\varPhi $$
Φ
and the SLLN theorem, are particularly useful when dealing with a huge amount of multidimensional data.
The use of the Video Platform FlipGrid for Practicing Science Oral Communication
Authors: Kleftodimos Alexandros , Triantafillidou Amalia
Published: October 2022

Oral communication and presentation skills are considered key competencies for many academic fields and professions, including science-related ones. Therefore, it is vital that students are given sufficient class time in the curriculum for practicing public speaking. It is well documented in the literature that video technology can be of valuable aid in enhancing oral skills, and FlipGrid is a relatively new video discussion platform that has become popular for this purpose. The aim of this study is two-fold. First, the literature regarding FlipGrid is explored to understand how educators around the globe use the platform. Second, a case study is presented where FlipGrid is used and evaluated as a tool for practicing and assessing oral science communication. A mixed-method approach was used to evaluate FlipGrid with the participation of 112 students. Findings indicate that although the use FlipGrid in science fields is limited, it can be a useful platform for practicing oral science communication.
Algebra, Geometry and Topology of ERK Kinetics
Authors: Marsh Lewis , Dufresne Emilie , Byrne Helen M. , Harrington Heather A.
Published: October 2022

The MEK/ERK signalling pathway is involved in cell division, cell specialisation, survival and cell death (Shaul and Seger in Biochim Biophys Acta (BBA)-Mol Cell Res 1773(8):1213–1226, 2007). Here we study a polynomial dynamical system describing the dynamics of MEK/ERK proposed by Yeung et al. (Curr Biol 2019,https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2019.12.052) with their experimental setup, data and known biological information. The experimental dataset is a time-course of ERK measurements in different phosphorylation states following activation of either wild-type MEK or MEK mutations associated with cancer or developmental defects. We demonstrate how methods from computational algebraic geometry, differential algebra, Bayesian statistics and computational algebraic topology can inform the model reduction, identification and parameter inference of MEK variants, respectively. Throughout, we show how this algebraic viewpoint offers a rigorous and systematic analysis of such models.
Experiential Avoidance in Advanced Cancer: a Mixed-Methods Systematic Review
Authors: Davis Sarah , Serfaty Marc , Low Joe , Armstrong Megan , Kupeli Nuriye , Lanceley Anne
Published: October 2022

Background

People with advanced cancer experience psychological distress due to physical symptoms, functional decline, and a limited prognosis. Difficult thoughts, feelings, and emotions may exacerbate distress and lead to avoidance of these experiences which is sometimes referred to as experiential avoidance (EA). Advanced cancer patients may be more likely to engage in EA especially when no obvious solutions to their problems exist. This study aims to examine the terms used to describe EA, the processes that might indicate EA, associations between EA and psychological distress, and to understand why individuals might engage in EA.

Methods

A mixed-methods review. Literature search of Medline, Embase, Psych INFO, and CINAHL 1980–October 2019. Inclusion: adults ≥ 18 years; advanced cancer not amenable to cure. Exclusion: no measures of EA or psychological distress. Risk of bias and study quality assessed. Evidence of statistical techniques collected. Themes coded, grouped, and developed based on meaning.

Results

Nineteen studies identified, 13 quantitative studies and 6 qualitative. The quantitative of which 6 compared early-stage cancers with advanced cancers and examined subscales of EA alongside mood, quality of life, and psychological distress. EA covers a range or terms of which ‘avoidant coping’ is the commonest. EA is manifest as cognitive, behavioural, and emotional avoidance. A thematic synthesis suggests the function of EA is to protect people from distress, and from confronting or expressing difficult emotions by avoiding communication about cancer, controlling negative information, and maintaining normality and hope and optimism.

Conclusions

EA may be beneficial in the short term to alleviate distress, but in the longer term, it can impair function and limit engagement in life. Greater clinical awareness of the complexity of EA behaviours is needed. Clinicians and researchers should define EA precisely and be aware of the function it may serve in the short and longer term. Future research studies may consider using specific measures of EA as a primary outcome, to assess the impact of psychological interventions such as ACT.