bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Homogenization and Low Mach Number Limit of Compressible Navier-Stokes Equations in Critically Perforated Domains
Authors: Bella Peter , Oschmann Florian
Published: July 2022

In this note, we consider the homogenization of the compressible Navier-Stokes equations in a periodically perforated domain in$${{\,\mathrm{{\mathbb {R}}}\,}}^3$$R3. Assuming that the particle size scales like$$\varepsilon ^3$$ε3, where$$\varepsilon >0$$ε>0is their mutual distance, and that the Mach number decreases fast enough, we show that in the limit$$\varepsilon \rightarrow 0$$ε→0, the velocity and density converge to a solution of the incompressible Navier-Stokes equations with Brinkman term. We strongly follow the methods of Höfer, Kowalczyk and Schwarzacher [https://doi.org/10.1142/S0218202521500391], where they proved convergence to Darcy’s law for the particle size scaling like$$\varepsilon ^\alpha $$εαwith$$\alpha \in (1,3)$$α∈(1,3).
Minimalinvasiver Tibialis-anterior-Sehnentransfer in Shuttle-Technik zur Behandlung des Klumpfußrezidivs im Wachstumsalter
Authors: Ploeger Milena M. , Wimmer Matthias D. , Rommelspacher Charlotte , Bornemann Rahel , Placzek Richard
Published: July 2022

Operationsziel

Der Tibialis-anterior-Transfer in Shuttle-Technik mittels Tunnelator ist eine atraumatische Operationstechnik ohne Verletzung des Retinaculum extensorum. Im Vergleich zur aktuellen Literatur ermöglicht die Technik eine vereinfachte postoperative Nachbehandlung mit schmerzadaptierter Vollbelastung für 6 Wochen im Unterschenkelgehgips.

Indikationen

Passive korrigierbare Klumpfußrezidive bei muskulärer Dysbalance (überbalancierter Tonus des M. tibialis anterior).

Kontraindikationen

Strukturell bedingte Bewegungseinschränkungen des Fußes, muskuläre Insuffizienz des M. tibialis anterior, infektiöses oder tumoröses Geschehen im Operationsgebiet.

Operationstechnik

Lösen des M. tibialis anterior an der Basis des Os metatarsale I. Führen der Sehne nach proximal aus dem Retinaculum extensorum, anschließendes Shutteln der Sehne unterhalb des Retinaculum mithilfe des „Tunnelators“ und transossäre Fixierung am Os cuneiforme laterale.

Weiterbehandlung

Schmerzadaptierte Vollbelastung im Unterschenkelgehgips für 6 Wochen postoperativ.

Ergebnisse

Im Zuge einer retrospektiven Studie wurde zwischen 2013 und 2019 das oben genannte operative Verfahren bei 20 Patienten (insgesamt n = 26 Operationen) durchgeführt. Nach einem Follow-up von 12 Monaten zeigte sich in 88,5 % der nachuntersuchten Fälle eine vollständige Korrektur des Klumpfußrezidivs. Es kam zu keinen allgemeinen oder spezifischen Operationskomplikationen.
Notfälle aus Perspektive der Psychosozialen Akuthilfen – Die Arbeit von Kriseninterventionsteams
Authors: Hoppe Sebastian
Published: July 2022

Teams der Krisenintervention und Notfallseelsorge füllen seit wenigen Jahrzehnten eine Versorgungslücke in der nichtpolizeilichen Gefahrenabwehr. Die Psychosozialen Akuthilfen (PSAH) als Teilbereich der Psychosozialen Notfallversorgung (PSNV) konzentrieren sich auf Angehörige und Hinterbliebene, Vermissende, Augenzeug*innen und Überlebende von belastenden Ereignissen und bieten unmittelbar ereignisbezogene psychosoziale Unterstützung an.

Der Einsatz von Kriseninterventionsteams (KIT) findet inzwischen breite Akzeptanz und Anerkennung: Einsatzkräfte von KIT leisten auf Basis einer fundierten Ausbildung wichtige psychosoziale Unterstützung, die klaren Leitlinien folgt. Qualitätssicherung, gesetzliche Grundlagen und die Frage der Finanzierung von PSAH werden die zentralen Themen des aktuellen Jahrzehnts sein.

Der vorliegende Artikel gibt einen umfassenden Überblick über die Arbeit von KIT und beschreibt die Struktur, Handlungslogik und Ziele der PSAH. Fokus ist dabei die Darstellung der Einsatzabläufe und insbesondere der einzelnen Maßnahmen während der KIT-Betreuungen.
The Anticanonical Complex for Non-degenerate Toric Complete Intersections
Authors: Hausen Jürgen , Mauz Christian , Wrobel Milena
Published: July 2022

The anticanonical complex generalizes the Fano polytope from toric geometry and has been used to study Fano varieties with torus action so far. We provide an explicit description of the anticanonical complex for complete intersections in toric varieties defined by non-degenerate systems of Laurent polynomials. As an application, we classify the terminal Fano threefolds that are embedded into a fake weighted projective space via a general system of Laurent polynomials.
Homogenization of a Locally Periodic Oscillating Boundary
Authors: Aiyappan S. , Pettersson K.
Published: July 2022

This paper deals with the homogenization of a mixed boundary value problem for the Laplace operator in a domain with locally periodic oscillating boundary. The Neumann condition is prescribed on the oscillating part of the boundary, and the Dirichlet condition on a separate part. It is shown that the homogenization result holds in the sense of weak $$L^2$$

L
2

convergence of the solutions and their flows, under natural hypothesis on the regularity of the domain. The strong $$L^2$$

L
2

convergence of average preserving extensions of the solutions and their flows is also considered.
Exploring links between personality traits and their social and non-social environments in wild poison frogs
Authors: Peignier Mélissa , Araya-Ajoy Yimen G. , Bégué Lauriane , Chaloupka Sarah , Dellefont Katharina , Leeb Christoph , Walsh Patrick , Ringler Max , Ringler Eva
Published: July 2022

An animal’s behavioral phenotype comprises several traits, which are hierarchically structured in functional units. This is manifested in measured behaviors often being correlated, partly reflecting the need of a coordinated functional response. Unfortunately, we still have limited understanding whether consistent differences in animal behaviors are due to underlying physiological constraints or a result of plastic adaptation to their current environment. Therefore, characterizing the spatial distribution of behaviors can provide important insights into causes and consequences of behavioral variation. In the present study, we quantified behaviors in a wild, free-ranging population of the Neotropical frog Allobates femoralis. We investigated how these behaviors were linked to the frogs’ natural and social environment and quantified the extent to which these behaviors consistently differed among individuals (i.e., animal personality). We assessed levels of aggressiveness, exploration, and boldness by measuring several underlying behaviors expressed in a set of experimental assays, and found evidence for consistent among-individual differences along these axes. Contrary to our expectation, there was no relationship between individual behaviors and their natural environment, but we found a plastic response of males to changes in female density, which might reflect how individuals cope with their socio-ecological environment.

Significance statement

How are behavioral phenotypes distributed across space? Here, we studied an entire free-ranging population of poison frogs, and investigated if the personality traits aggressiveness, exploration, and boldness are linked to the frogs’ natural or social environment. We found that behavioral traits were non-randomly distributed across the population, suggesting that the spatial arrangement of behavioral traits reflects how individuals cope with their complex natural and social environment.
Retromesenteric Omental Flap for Complete Arterial Coverage During Pancreaticoduodenectomy: Surgical Technique
Authors: Marique Lancelot , Codjia Tatiana , Sauvanet Alain
Published: July 2022

Postoperative pancreatic fistula is a frequent complication of pancreaticoduodenectomy that can trigger arterial lesions resulting in post‐pancreatectomy hemorrhage (PPH) in up to 10–15% of cases. We describe an original omental flap technique including mobilization of the greater omentum through the retromesenteric window allowing coverage of all exposed peripancreatic arteries before reconstruction. This technique, used in 146 patients, did not carry any specific morbidities except for one case of partial flap necrosis treated conservatively and was associated with a significant reduction in grade B/C PPH.
A three-field phase-field model for mixed-mode fracture in rock based on experimental determination of the mode II fracture toughness
Authors: Hug L. , Potten M. , Stockinger G. , Thuro K. , Kollmannsberger S.
Published: July 2022

In this contribution, a novel framework for simulating mixed-mode failure in rock is presented. Based on a hybrid phase-field model for mixed-mode fracture, separate phase-field variables are introduced for tensile (mode I) and shear (mode II) fracture. The resulting three-field problem features separate length scale parameters for mode I and mode II cracks. In contrast to the classic two-field mixed-mode approaches, it can thus account for different tensile and shear strength of rock. The two phase-field equations are implicitly coupled through the degradation of the material in the elastic equation, and the three fields are solved using a staggered iteration scheme. For its validation, the three-field model is calibrated for two types of rock, Solnhofen Limestone and Pfraundorfer Dolostone. To this end, double-edge notched Brazilian disk (DNBD) tests are performed to determine the mode II fracture toughness. The numerical results demonstrate that the proposed phase-field model is able to reproduce the different crack patterns observed in the DNBD tests. A final example of a uniaxial compression test on a rare drill core demonstrates that the proposed model is able to capture complex, 3D mixed-mode crack patterns when calibrated with the correct mode I and mode II fracture toughness.
CAS FGOALS-f3-H Dataset for the High-Resolution Model Intercomparison Project (HighResMIP) Tier 2
Authors: An Bo , Yu Yongqiang , Bao Qing , He Bian , Li Jinxiao , Luan Yihua , Chen Kangjun , Zheng Weipeng
Published: July 2022

Following the High-Resolution Model Intercomparison Project (HighResMIP) Tier 2 protocol under the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6), three numerical experiments are conducted with the Chinese Academy of Sciences Flexible Global Ocean-Atmosphere-Land System Model, version f3-H (CAS FGOALS-f3-H), and a 101-year (1950–2050) global high-resolution simulation dataset is presented in this study. The basic configuration of the FGOALS-f3-H model and numerical experiments design are briefly described, and then the historical simulation is validated. Forced by observed radiative agents from 1950 to 2014, the coupled model essentially reproduces the observed long-term trends of temperature, precipitation, and sea ice extent, as well as the large-scale pattern of temperature and precipitation. With an approximate 0.25° horizontal resolution in the atmosphere and 0.1° in the ocean, the coupled models also simulate energetic western boundary currents and the Antarctic Circulation Current (ACC), reasonable characteristics of extreme precipitation, and realistic frontal scale air-sea interaction. The dataset and supporting detailed information have been published in the Earth System Grid Federation (ESGF, https://esgf-node.llnl.gov/projects/cmip6/).
Emilia-Romagna Surgical Colorectal Cancer Audit (ESCA): a value-based healthcare retro-prospective study to measure and improve the quality of surgical care in colorectal cancer
Authors: Massa Ilaria , Ghignone Federico , Ugolini Giampaolo , Ercolani Giorgio , Montroni Isacco , Capelli Patrizio , Garulli Gianluca , Catena Fausto , Lucchi Andrea , Ansaloni Luca , Gentili Nicola , Danesi Valentina , Montella Maria Teresa , Altini Mattia ,   The ESCA Collaborative Group, Balzi William , Roncadori Andrea , Ferri Giacomo , Gallo Simona , Di Genova Giuseppa , Albertini Nicola , Zattoni Davide , Bolzon Stefano , Avanzolini Andrea , Cavaliere Davide , Di Pietrantonio Daniela , Solaini Leonardo , Chiarella Leonardo Luca , Taffurelli Giovanni , Mazzotti Federico , Frascaroli Giacomo , Pasini Francesco , Di Candido Francesca , Banchini Filippo , Romboli Andrea , Palmieri Gerardo , Conti Luigi , Luzietti Enrico , Portinari Mattia , Pirrera Basilio , Fantini Enrico , Francesco Monari , Palini Gianmarco , Stacchini Giacomo , Sguera Alessandra , Picariello Erika , Faccani Enrico , Gurioli Chiara , Vitali Giulia , Grassia Michele , Agostinelli Laura , Romeo Luigi , Senatore Gianluca
Published: July 2022

Purpose

Surgery is the main treatment for non-metastatic colorectal cancer. Despite huge improvements in perioperative care, colorectal surgery is still associated with a significant burden of postoperative complications and ultimately costs for healthcare organizations. Systematic clinical auditing activity has already proven to be effective in measuring and improving clinical outcomes, and for this reason, we decided to evaluate its impact in a large area of northern Italy.

Methods

The Emilia-Romagna Surgical Colorectal Audit (ESCA) is an observational, multicentric, retro-prospective study, carried out by 7 hospitals located in the Emilia-Romagna region. All consecutive patients undergoing surgery for colorectal cancer during a 54-month study period will be enrolled. Data regarding baseline conditions, preoperative diagnostic work-up, surgery and postoperative course will be collected in a dedicated case report form. Primary outcomes regard postoperative complications and mortality. Secondary outcomes include each center’s adherence to the auditing (enrolment rate) and evaluation of the systematic feedback activity on key performance indicators for the entire perioperative process.

Conclusion

This protocol describes the methodology of the Emilia-Romagna Surgical Colorectal Audit. The study will provide real-world clinical data essential for benchmarking and feedback activity, to positively impact outcomes and ultimately to improve the entire healthcare process of patients undergoing colorectal cancer surgery.

Clinical trial registration

The study ESCA is registered on the clinicaltrials.gov platform (Identifier: NCT03982641).
The accuracy of clinical neck staging for p16-positive and negative oropharyngeal cancer and its therapeutic implications
Authors: Hussain Timon , Thangavelu Kruthika , Kürten Cornelius , Galland Lisa , Höing Benedikt , Deuss Eric , Mattheis Stefan , Lang Stephan , Deuschl Cornelius , Forsting Michael , Dörner Nils
Published: July 2022

Purpose

Oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) may be treated with primary surgery or primary (chemo)radiation. While surgery with concurrent neck dissection provides definitive pathological staging of the neck, non-surgical treatment relies on clinical staging for treatment planning. To assess the accuracy of clinical neck staging, we compared clinical to surgical staging after primary surgery in patients with p16-negative and p16-positive OPSCC.

Methods

Retrospective analysis of clinical, pathological, and oncologic outcome data of patients with OPSCC treated with primary surgery and bilateral neck dissection. Clinical and pathological nodal status were compared for p16-negative and p16-positive patients. Patients with occult metastatic disease were analyzed in detail.

Results

95 patients were included.60.5% of p16-negative patients and 66.6% of p16-positive patients had pathologically confirmed metastatic neck disease. p16-positive patients had improved 24-month recurrence-free survival compared to p16-negative patients at 93.3% vs. 69.6%. Pathological N-status differed from clinical N-status in 36.8% of p16-negative patients vs. 31.6% of p16-positive patients. Occult metastatic disease was more common in p16-negative patients at 18.4% vs. 8.8% for p16-positive patients. Clinical detection sensitivity for extranodal extension was low overall; sensitivity was 27.3% and specificity was 91.6% for p16-negative patients vs. 61.5% and 80.0% for p16-positive patients, respectively.

Conclusion

Our data show a considerable degree of inaccuracy of clinical neck staging results in all OPSCC patients which needs to be taken into consideration during therapy planning. For p16-positive patients, these findings warrant attention in the context of therapy deintensification to avoid undertreatment.
Changes in the pattern of suicides and suicide attempt admissions in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Reif-Leonhard Christine , Lemke Dorothea , Holz Franziska , Ahrens Kira F. , Fehr Christoph , Steffens Markus , Grube Michael , Freitag Christine M. , Kölzer Sarah C. , Schlitt Sabine , Gebhardt Rebekka , Gädeke Theresa , Schmidt Helga , Gerlach Ferdinand M. , Wolff Kira , Stäblein Michael , Hauschild Nora , Beig Inga , Wagner Louisa , Müller Juliane , Verhoff Marcel A. , Schlang Christiane , Reif Andreas
Published: July 2022

The consequences of the current COVID-19 pandemic for mental health remain unclear, especially regarding the effects on suicidal behaviors. To assess changes in the pattern of suicide attempt (SA) admissions and completed suicides (CS) in association with the COVID-19 pandemic. As part of a longitudinal study, SA admissions and CS are systematically documented and analyzed in all psychiatric hospitals in Frankfurt/Main (765.000 inhabitants). Number, sociodemographic factors, diagnoses and methods of SA and CS were compared between the periods of March–December 2019 and March–December 2020. The number of CS did not change, while the number of SA significantly decreased. Age, sex, occupational status, and psychiatric diagnoses did not change in SA, whereas the percentage of patients living alone while attempting suicide increased. The rate and number of intoxications as a SA method increased and more people attempted suicide in their own home, which was not observed in CS. Such a shift from public places to home is supported by the weekday of SA, as the rate of SA on weekends was significantly lower during the pandemic, likely because of lockdown measures. Only admissions to psychiatric hospitals were recorded, but not to other institutions. As it seems unlikely that the number of SA decreased while the number of CS remained unchanged, it is conceivable that the number of unreported SA cases increased during the pandemic. Our data suggest that a higher number of SA remained unnoticed during the pandemic because of their location and the use of methods associated with lower lethality.
Seventy years of tensegrities (and counting)
Authors: Micheletti Andrea , Podio-Guidugli Paolo
Published: July 2022

We try to make a long way short by proceedingper exemplafrom Kenneth Snelson’s sculptures and Richard Buckminster Fuller’s coinage of the termtensegrityto modern tensegrity metamaterials. We document the passage from initial interest in tensegrity frameworks for their visual impact to today’s interest, driven by their peculiar structural performances. In the past seventy years, the early art pieces and roofing structural complexes have been followed by formalization of the principles governing the form-finding property of ‘pure’ tensegrity structures and by engineering hybridization leading to a host of diverse practical applications, such as variable-geometry civil engineering structures, on-earth and in-orbit deployable structures and robots, and finally to recent and promising studies on tensegrity metamaterials and small-scale tensegrity structures.
Comparative study of three common bile duct closure techniques after choledocholithotomy: safety and efficacy
Authors: Omar Mohammed Ahmed , Redwan Alaa Ahmed , Alansary Marwa Nasrelden
Published: July 2022

Purpose

T-tube drainage, primary closure, and biliary stenting are the common bile duct closure methods. There is great debate on the optimal duct closure technique after common bile duct exploration. This study aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of the three commonest common bile duct closure methods after common bile duct exploration for common bile duct stone for future generalization.

Methods

In this analysis, 211 patients with common bile duct stone underwent common bile duct exploration from January 2016 to December 2020. The patients were divided according to common bile duct closure techniques into three groups, including the T-tube drainage group (63 patients), primary duct closure group (61 patients), and antegrade biliary stenting group (87 patients).

Results

The incidence of overall biliary complications and bile leak were statistically significantly lower in the biliary stenting group than in the other two groups. Also, hospital stays, drain carried time, return to normal activity, re-intervention, and re-admission rates were statistically significantly lower in the biliary stenting group than in the other two groups. There were no statistically significant differences regarding operative and choledochotomy time, retained and recurrent stone, stricture, biliary peritonitis, cholangitis, and the cost among the three groups.

Conclusions

We state that the biliary stenting procedure should be the preferred first option for common bile duct closure after common bile duct exploration when compared with T-tube drainage and primary duct closure.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov PRS (Approval No. NCT04264299).
Regulation of mitochondrial temperature in health and disease
Authors: El-Gammal Zaynab , Nasr Mohamed A. , Elmehrath Ahmed O. , Salah Radwa A. , Saad Shams M. , El-Badri Nagwa
Published: July 2022

Mitochondrial temperature is produced by various metabolic processes inside the mitochondria, particularly oxidative phosphorylation. It was recently reported that mitochondria could normally operate at high temperatures that can reach 50℃. The aim of this review is to identify mitochondrial temperature differences between normal cells and cancer cells. Herein, we discussed the different types of mitochondrial thermosensors and their advantages and disadvantages. We reviewed the studies assessing the mitochondrial temperature in cancer cells and normal cells. We shed the light on the factors involved in maintaining the mitochondrial temperature of normal cells compared to cancer cells.
Relaxin does not prevent development of hypoxia-induced pulmonary edema in rats
Authors: Kowalleck Ute , Ahmed Mohamed A. Abdalla , Koedel Julia , Schierle Katrin , Salameh Aida , Rassler Beate
Published: July 2022

Acute hypoxia impairs left ventricular (LV) inotropic function and induces development of pulmonary edema (PE). Enhanced and uneven hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction is an important pathogenic factor of hypoxic PE. We hypothesized that the potent vasodilator relaxin might reduce hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction and prevent PE formation. Furthermore, as relaxin has shown beneficial effects in acute heart failure, we expected that relaxin might also improve LV inotropic function in hypoxia. Forty-two rats were exposed over 24 h to normoxia or hypoxia (10% N2in O2). They were infused with either 0.9% NaCl solution (normoxic/hypoxic controls) or relaxin at two doses (15 and 75 μg kg−1 day−1). After 24 h, hemodynamic measurements and bronchoalveolar lavage were performed. Lung tissue was obtained for histological and immunohistochemical analyses. Hypoxic control rats presented significant depression of LV systolic pressure by 19% and of left and right ventricular contractility by about 40%. Relaxin did not prevent the hypoxic decrease in LV inotropic function, but re-increased right ventricular contractility. Moreover, hypoxia induced moderate interstitial PE and inflammation in the lung. Contrasting to our hypothesis, relaxin did not prevent hypoxia-induced pulmonary edema and inflammation. In hypoxic control rats, PE was similarly distributed in the apical and basal lung lobes. In relaxin-treated rats, PE index was 35–40% higher in the apical than in the basal lobe, which is probably due to gravity effects. We suggest that relaxin induced exaggerated vasodilation, and hence pulmonary overperfusion. In conclusion, the results show that relaxin does not prevent but rather may aggravate PE formation.
Mapping lesion, structural disconnection, and functional disconnection to symptoms in semantic aphasia
Authors: Souter Nicholas E. , Wang Xiuyi , Thompson Hannah , Krieger-Redwood Katya , Halai Ajay D. , Lambon Ralph Matthew A. , Thiebaut de Schotten Michel , Jefferies Elizabeth
Published: July 2022

Patients with semantic aphasia have impaired control of semantic retrieval, often accompanied by executive dysfunction following left hemisphere stroke. Many but not all of these patients have damage to the left inferior frontal gyrus, important for semantic and cognitive control. Yet semantic and cognitive control networks are highly distributed, including posterior as well as anterior components. Accordingly, semantic aphasia might not only reflect local damage but also white matter structural and functional disconnection. Here, we characterise the lesions and predicted patterns of structural and functional disconnection in individuals with semantic aphasia and relate these effects to semantic and executive impairment. Impaired semantic cognition was associated with infarction in distributed left-hemisphere regions, including in the left anterior inferior frontal and posterior temporal cortex. Lesions were associated with executive dysfunction within a set of adjacent but distinct left frontoparietal clusters. Performance on executive tasks was also associated with interhemispheric structural disconnection across the corpus callosum. In contrast, poor semantic cognition was associated with small left-lateralized structurally disconnected clusters, including in the left posterior temporal cortex. Little insight was gained from functional disconnection symptom mapping. These results demonstrate that while left-lateralized semantic and executive control regions are often damaged together in stroke aphasia, these deficits are associated with distinct patterns of structural disconnection, consistent with the bilateral nature of executive control and the left-lateralized yet distributed semantic control network.
Cannabinoid consumption among cancer patients receiving systemic anti-cancer treatment in the Netherlands
Authors: Oelen Yrina , Revenberg Sven , de Vos-Geelen Judith , van Geel Robin , Schoenmaekers Janna , van den Beuken-Everdingen Marieke , Valkenburg-van Iersel Liselot
Published: July 2022

Purpose

Despite the inconclusiveness regarding health effects of cannabinoids among cancer patients, studies from non-European countries suggest that the medical-intended consumption of such products by this patient group is significant. The current study analyses cannabinoid usage among oncology patients receiving systemic treatment in the Netherlands.

Methods

The current study included adult patients receiving intravenous systemic therapy at Maastricht Comprehensive Cancer Centre, for a solid malignancy. Participants were asked to complete an anonymous questionnaire including questions on demographic variables, clinical variables and cannabinoid consumption.

Results

A total of 153 patients with solid cancer were included in this study. Almost 25% reported usage of cannabinoids for medical purposes, with 15% of the patients currently using the substance. Additionally, 18% of non-users considered future medical usage. In 48% of the cases, consumption was reported by the oncologist. The proposed anti-cancer effect was reported by 46% of the users as motivation for consumption. Current users were mainly palliative patients and 54% of the users were undergoing immunotherapy. Intention of treatment and type of therapy were predictive factors for consumption. Cannabinoid-oil was the most frequently used way of consumption.

Conclusion

This study underlines the high number of cannabinoid users among oncology patients in the Netherlands in presumed absence of clinical guidance. It highlights the essence of a pro-active role of the clinician, assessing cannabinoid usage and educating the patients on the most recent evidence regarding its potential benefits and risks. Further studies on clinical decision making and efficacy of cannabinoids are recommended, to improve clinical guidance.
Two-scale off-and online approaches to geometrically exact elastoplastic rods
Authors: Herrnböck Ludwig , Kumar Ajeet , Steinmann Paul
Published: July 2022

This work compares two different computational approaches to geometrically exact elastoplastic rods. The first approach applies an elastoplastic constitutive model in terms of stress resultants, i.e. forces and moments. It requires knowledge of the rod’s elasticity and yield-criterion in terms of stress resultants. Furthermore a resultant-type hardening expression must be formulated. These are obtained by integrating elastoplastic stress and hardening measures from three-dimensional continuum mechanics over the rod’s deformed cross-section, which is performed in an offline stage. The second approach applies an $$FE ^2$$

F

E
2

approach as established in computational homogenization. Therein, the macro-scale describing the geometrically exact rod is coupled to the micro-scale, i.e., the cross-section of the rod. A novelty of the presented work is the determination of a hardening tensor for use in the stress resultant approach. The mechanical response of both approaches is first compared on the material point level, a single cross-section of a uniformly strained rod. Later, also the mechanical response and the deformation of finitely and non-uniformly strained rods are investigated.
Epistemic Łukasiewicz logic of partial knowledge
Authors: Nola Antonio Di , Grigolia Revaz , Vitale Gaetano
Published: July 2022

We offer a new logic, called Epistemic Łukasiewicz logic of partial knowledge that is represented as multimodal epistemic Łukasiewicz logic $$K\text{\L} _\text {P}(n)$$

K

Ł
P

(
n
)

with n knowledge operators $$\Box _i$$

□
i

$$(1 \le i \le n)$$

(
1
≤
i
≤
n
)

interpreted in a non-archimedean monadic MV-algebra. We choose knowledge operators, which can be estimated by some grading (different kinds of knowledge): absolute knowledge or partial knowledge. We consider a very special type of partial knowledge. Actually, we take infinitesimal elements (the radical) of perfect MV-algebras as a range of this estimation. The choice of infinitesimal elements seems suitable for actual situations like a measure of partial information.
Prognostic factors for renal function deterioration during palliative first-line chemotherapy for metastatic colorectal cancer: a retrospective study
Authors: Lim Ah Reum , Kim Jwa Hoon , Hyun Myung Han , Kim Yeul Hong , Lee Soohyeon
Published: July 2022

Purpose

First-line choice of therapy is critical as it affects treatment decisions in later lines in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). We assessed changes in renal function for 1 year among patients diagnosed with mCRC who received first-line chemotherapy. We aimed to analyze the prognostic factors and effect of each chemotherapy regimen on the renal function of the patients.

Methods

We retrospectively investigated patients with mCRC who were treated with a standard triplet regimen (FOLFOX/FOLFIRI with bevacizumab/cetuximab) in the first-line setting at Korea University Anam Hospital from 2015 to 2020. We checked renal function at 3-month intervals for 12 months. We calculated changes in eGFR (△eGFR, estimated glomerular filtration rate) and compared them with clinical factors such as age, sex, chronic disease, body mass index (BMI), disease status, baseline proteinuria, and first-line chemotherapy regimen.

Results

Among 472 patients with mCRC, the median eGFR at baseline was 90.9 mL/min/1.73 m2; it was significantly lower (80.1 mL/min/1.73 m2, p < 0.001) at 12 months after chemotherapy initiation. Particularly, the eGFR of patients treated with FOLFIRI + bevacizumab was 74.9 mL/min/1.73 m2. The 1-year incidence rate of acute kidney injury (AKI) was 9.1%, with the lowest occurrence in patients receiving FOLFOX/cetuximab (2.1%) and the highest in those receiving FOLFIRI + bevacizumab (19.2%). Renal dysfunction was more frequent with FOLFIRI + bevacizumab as compared to the other regimens. Additionally, old age, low BMI, and proteinuria at baseline were also associated with a decreased eGFR.

Conclusions

These findings can serve as important factors when selecting the first-line chemotherapy regimen for patients with mCRC.
Quality outcome of diabetes care during COVID-19 pandemic: a primary care cohort study
Authors: Di Gangi Stefania , Lüthi Benjamin , Diaz Hernandez Laura , Zeller Andreas , Zechmann Stefan , Fischer Roland
Published: July 2022

Aim

Management of diabetes care can be affected by COVID-19 pandemic control measures. This study aimed to determine the impact of the pandemic, during 17.03.2020–16.03.2021, on quality outcomes of diabetes care in general practice in Switzerland.

Methods

In this retrospective cohort study, diabetes mellitus patients (≥ 18 years) with at least one consultation at a general practitioner, during 17.03.2018–16.03.2019 (cohort 1) and 17.03.2019–16.03.2020 (cohort 2) were included and followed-up for two years. Quality indicators and outcomes of diabetes care, at patient and practitioner level, were compared before and during the pandemic. Logistic regression was performed to identify patient’s risk factors for dropout from follow-up.

Results

Data from 191 practices, 23,903 patients, cohort 1 and 25,092 patients, cohort 2, were analyzed. The fraction of patients lost to follow-up, attributable to the pandemic, was 28% (95% confidence interval: 25%, 30%). During the pandemic, compared to the previous year, regular measurement of weight, HbA1c, blood pressure and serum creatinine were less frequent and less patients per practitioner reached HbA1c and blood pressure target outcomes. Factors associated with continuity of care during the pandemic were: patient age 41–80 years, longer diabetes duration, diagnosis of hypertension or dyslipidemia, influenza vaccination during the last year. Risk factors for dropout were age > 80 and receiving only insulin as anti-diabetic medication.

Conclusion

A considerable quality reduction in diabetes mellitus care could be observed during the pandemic. Though the most vulnerable patients were not the most affected by the pandemic, key factors that might reduce dropout from follow-up were identified.
Classification of new morbillivirus and jeilongvirus sequences from bats sampled in Brazil and Malaysia
Authors: Wells Heather L. , Loh Elizabeth , Nava Alessandra , Solorio Mónica Romero , Lee Mei Ho , Lee Jimmy , Sukor Jum R. A. , Navarrete-Macias Isamara , Liang Eliza , Firth Cadhla , Epstein Jonathan H. , Rostal Melinda K. , Zambrana-Torrelio Carlos , Murray Kris , Daszak Peter , Goldstein Tracey , Mazet Jonna A. K. , Lee Benhur , Hughes Tom , Durigon Edison , Anthony Simon J.
Published: July 2022

As part of a broad One Health surveillance effort to detect novel viruses in wildlife and people, we report several paramyxovirus sequences sampled primarily from bats during 2013 and 2014 in Brazil and Malaysia, including seven from which we recovered full-length genomes. Of these, six represent the first full-length paramyxovirid genomes sequenced from the Americas, including two that are the first full-length bat morbillivirus genome sequences published to date. Our findings add to the vast number of viral sequences in public repositories, which have been increasing considerably in recent years due to the rising accessibility of metagenomics. Taxonomic classification of these sequences in the absence of phenotypic data has been a significant challenge, particularly in the subfamily Orthoparamyxovirinae, where the rate of discovery of novel sequences has been substantial. Using pairwise amino acid sequence classification (PAASC), we propose that five of these sequences belong to members of the genus Jeilongvirus and two belong to members of the genus Morbillivirus. We also highlight inconsistencies in the classification of Tupaia virus and Mòjiāng virus using the same demarcation criteria and suggest reclassification of these viruses into new genera. Importantly, this study underscores the critical importance of sequence length in PAASC analysis as well as the importance of biological characteristics such as genome organization in the taxonomic classification of viral sequences.
The role of dynamic magnetic resonance imaging in exclusion of inguinal hernia in patients suffering from indefinitive groin pain
Authors: Rosbach N. , Wenger-Alakmeh K. , Lahrsow M. , Mahmoudi S. , Bernatz S. , Vogl T. J. , Schreckenbach T. , Pession U. , Gruber-Rouh T.
Published: July 2022

Rationale and objectives

The objective of this study was to analyze the role of dynamic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients who suffered from groin pain and whose physical examination and ultrasound returned inconclusive/indefinite results, as well as in patients receiving an ongoing assessment for a previous herniotomy.

Material and methods

For this study, 25 patients 14 women and 11 men were selected with a mean age of 41.6 years, including clinical complaints, such as groin pain and or a previous herniotomies. These patients underwent dynamic MRI. Reports were created by a radiology resident and a radiology consultant. Clinical and ultrasound documentation were compared to with imaging results from the MRI.

Results

The results of the dynamic MRI were negative for 23 patients (92%) and positive for two patients (8%). One patient suffered from an indirect hernia and one from a femoral hernia. A repeated hernia was an excluding for the preoperated patients with pain and ongoing assessment.

Conclusions

Dynamic MRI shows substantially higher diagnostic performance in exclusion of inguinal hernia, when compared to a physical examination and ultrasound. The examination can also be used in assessments to analyze the operation’s results.
Design and analysis of the Extended Hybrid High-Order method for the Poisson problem
Authors: Yemm Liam
Published: July 2022

We propose an Extended Hybrid High-Order scheme for the Poisson problem with solution possessing weak singularities. Some general assumptions are stated on the nature of this singularity and the remaining part of the solution. The method is formulated by enriching the local polynomial spaces with appropriate singular functions. Via a detailed error analysis, the method is shown to converge optimally in both discrete and continuous energy norms. Some tests are conducted in two dimensions for singularities arising from irregular geometries in the domain. The numerical simulations illustrate the established error estimates, and show the method to be a significant improvement over a standard Hybrid High-Order method.
Neural network input feature selection using structured l2 − norm penalization
Authors: Egwu Nathaniel , Mrziglod Thomas , Schuppert Andreas
Published: July 2022

Artificial neural networks are referred to as universalapproximatorsdue to their inherent ability to reconstruct complex linear and nonlinear output maps conceived as input-output relationships from data sets. This can be done by reducing large networks via regularization in order to establish compact models containing fewer parameters aimed at describing vital dependencies in data sets. In situations where the data sets contain non-informative input features, devising a continuous, optimal input feature selection technique can lead to improved prediction or classification. We propose a continuous input selection technique through a dimensional reduction mechanism using a ‘structured’l2− norm regularization. The implementation is done by identifying the most informative feature subsets from a given data set via an adaptive training mechanism. The adaptation involves introducing a novel, modified gradient approach during training to deal with thenon-differentiabilityassociated with the gradient of the structured norm penalty. When the method is applied to process data sets, results indicate that the most informative inputs of artificial neural networks can be selected using a structuredl2− norm penalization.
Hypoxic condition induced H3K27me3 modification of the LncRNA Tmem235 promoter thus supporting apoptosis of BMSCs
Authors: Zhang Fei , Luo Hong , Peng Wuxun , Wang Lei , Wang Tao , Xie Zhihong , Zhang Jian , Dong Wentao , Zheng Xiaohan , Liu Gang , Zhu Xuesong , Kang Qinglin , Tian Xiaobin
Published: July 2022

Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) have strong regenerative potential and show good application prospects for treating clinical diseases. However, in the process of BMSC transplantation for treating ischemic and hypoxic diseases, BMSCs have high rates of apoptosis in the hypoxic microenvironment of transplantation, which significantly affects the transplantation efficacy. Our previous studies have confirmed the key role of long non-coding RNA Tmem235 (LncRNA Tmem235) in the process of hypoxia-induced BMSC apoptosis and its downstream regulatory mechanism, but the upstream mechanism by which hypoxia regulates LncRNA Tmem235 expression to induce BMSC apoptosis is still unclear. Under hypoxic conditions, we found that the level of LncRNA Tmem235 promoter histone H3 lysine 27 trimethylation modification (H3K27me3) was significantly increased by CHIP-qPCR. Moreover, H3K27me3 cooperated with LncRNA Tmem235 promoter DNA methylation to inhibit the expression of LncRNA Tmem235 and promote apoptosis of BMSCs. To study the mechanism of hypoxia-induced modification of LncRNA Tmem235 promoter H3K27me3 in the hypoxia model of BMSCs, we detected the expression of H3K27 methylase and histone demethylase and found that only histone methylase enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) expression was significantly upregulated. Knockdown of EZH2 significantly decreased the level of H3K27me3 modification in the LncRNA Tmem235 promoter. The EZH2 promoter region contains a hypoxia-responsive element (HRE) that interacts with hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha (HIF-1α), which is overexpressed under hypoxic conditions, thereby promoting its overexpression. In summary, hypoxia promotes the modification of the LncRNA Tmem235 promoter H3K27me3 through the HIF-1α/EZH2 signaling axis, inhibits the expression of LncRNA Tmem235, and leads to hypoxic apoptosis of BMSCs. Our findings improve the regulatory mechanism of LncRNA Tmem235 during hypoxic apoptosis of BMSCs and provide a more complete theoretical pathway for targeting LncRNA to inhibit hypoxic apoptosis of BMSCs.
The ‘Court of Public Opinion:’ Public Perceptions of Business Involvement in Human Rights Violations
Authors: Amengual Matthew , Mota Rita , Rustler Alexander
Published: July 2022

Public pressure is essential for providing multinational enterprises (MNEs) with motivation to follow the standards of human rights conduct set in soft-law instruments, such as the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. But how does the public judge MNE involvement in human rights violations? We empirically answer this question drawing on an original survey of American adults. We asked respondents to judge over 12,000 randomly generated scenarios in which MNEs may be considered to have been involved in human rights violations. Our findings reveal substantial gaps between public judgments and the standards set in soft law and the normative literature. We identify the attributes of episodes of human rights violations involving MNEs that influence public judgments, including the relationship between the MNE and the perpetrator, the practice of due diligence, and the type of abuse. These results provide insights as to when we might expect public pressure to drive MNE compliance with soft-law instruments, and they direct attention to specific standards that will likely require stronger, ‘hard’ law approaches or broader efforts to shift the public’s view.
Fusarium langsethiae and mycotoxin contamination in oat grain differed with growth stage at inoculation
Authors: Aamot Heidi Udnes , Mousavi Hesam , Razzaghian Jafar , Brodal Guro , Sulyok Michael , Krska Rudolf , Edwards Simon G. , Hofgaard Ingerd S.
Published: July 2022

High levels of mycotoxins are occasionally observed in Norwegian oat grain lots. Mycotoxins of primary concern in Norwegian oats are deoxynivalenol (DON) produced by Fusarium graminearum and HT2- and T2-toxins (HT2 + T2) produced by Fusarium langsethiae. Improved understanding of the epidemiology of Fusarium spp. is important for the development of measures to control mycotoxins. We studied the susceptibility to F. langsethiae after inoculation at early (booting, heading, flowering) or late (flowering, milk, dough) growth stages in three oat varieties in greenhouse experiments. The varieties had previously shown different levels of resistance to F. graminearum: Odal, Vinger (both moderately resistant), and Belinda (susceptible). The level of F. langsethiae DNA and HT2 + T2 were measured in harvested grain. In addition, we observed differences in aggressiveness (measured as the level of F. langsethiae DNA in grain) between F. langsethiae isolates after inoculation of oats at flowering. Substantial levels of F. langsethiae DNA (mean ≥ 138 pg per μg plant DNA) and HT2 + T2 (≥348 μg/kg) were detected in grain harvested from oats that were spray-inoculated at heading or later stages, but not at booting (mean ≤ 10 pg/μg and ≤ 25 μg/kg, respectively), suggesting that oats are susceptible to F. langsethiae from heading and onwards. Vinger was the most resistant variety to F. langsethiae/HT2 + T2, whereas Odal and Belinda were relatively susceptible. We observed that late inoculations yielded high levels of other trichothecene A metabolites (mean sum of metabolites of 35–1048 μg/kg) in addition to HT2 + T2, in harvested grain, an indication that infections close to harvest may pose a further risk to food and feed safety.
Exploring the impacts of different fasting and refeeding regimes on Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus L.): growth performance, histopathological study, and expression levels of some muscle growth-related genes
Authors: Elbialy Zizy I. , Gamal Shrouk , Al-Hawary Ibrahim I. , Shukry Mustafa , Salah Abdallah S. , Aboshosha Ali A. , Assar Doaa H.
Published: July 2022

The current study investigated how different fasting and refeeding regimes would impact Nile tilapia growth performance, histopathological examination, and gene expression of myostatin, myogenin,GH,IGF-1, andNPYa. Nile tilapia fish (n = 120) were randomly allocated into four groups, including the control group fed on a basal diet for 6 weeks (F6), group A starved for 1 week and then refed for 5 weeks (S1F5), group B starved for 2 weeks and then refed for 4 weeks (S2F4), while group C starved for 4 weeks and then refed for 2 weeks (S4F2). Fasting provoked a decrease in body weight coincided with more extended starvation periods. Also, it induced muscle and liver histological alterations; the severity was correlated with the length of fasting periods. Gene expression levels ofGH,MSTN,MYOG, andNPYawere significantly increased, whileIGF1was markedly depressed in fasted fish compared to the control group. Interestingly, refeeding after well-planned short fasting period (S1F5) modulated the histopathological alterations. To some extent, these changes were restored after refeeding. RestoredIGF-Iand opposing fasting expression profiles of the genes mentioned above thus recovered weights almost like the control group and achieved satisfactory growth compensation. Conversely, refeeding following more extended fasting periods failed to restore body weight. In conclusion, refeeding after fasting can induce a compensatory response. Still, the restoration capacity is dependent on the length of fasting and refeeding periods through exhibiting differential morphological structure and expressions pattern for muscle and growth-related genes.

Graphical abstract