bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
When a school is more than just a school: Improving school‐based health in the wake of COVID‐19
Authors: Haeder Simon F. , Maxfield Emily , Ulmen Kara , Anderson Sara
Published: March 2022

The ongoing COVID‐19 pandemic has posed tremendous challenges for economies and individuals around the world. At the same time, it has also laid bare the blatant and growing inequities that many individuals, particularly children, are confronted with on a daily basis. With communities in lockdowns and schools going virtual in many parts of the United States, the important role that schools and school‐based services play in the lives of many children have gained new attention. Nonetheless, only 3% of American schools have school‐based health centers on campus, and they remain relegated to the fringes of both health care and education. One key limitation has been the lack of appropriately trained health‐care professionals. Over the past 2 years, we have interviewed dozens of individuals about their experiences in school‐based health centers. Based on this study, we explore what it means for a health‐care professional to work in school‐based health care and how it differs from more traditional health‐care settings. Our analysis particularly focuses on training and education, work environments, and their unique demands that come from being embedded within the educational setting. We conclude by addressing the important role that governmental policies could play in augmenting this crucial workforce.
Financial Reporting in Insurance and International Financial Reporting Standards
Authors: Tomic Katica
Published: March 2022

Financial reporting obligations for financial institutions, including insurance companies, have increased in recent years and insurers needs to stay up-to-date on the latest revisions of International Financial Reporting Standards and data reporting requirements and to comply with it. Many of these reporting obligations on listed and large non-listed insurers will benefit the insurance industry in the long term but it is challenging and costly task for insurance companies. The complexity of organizing high-quality data, transparent and structured reporting processes for different purposes (e.g., financial and regulatory reporting, CSR reporting, and many other types of reporting at local level) with internal and external stakeholders within a specified time frame, have become a strategic initiative, value-based investment, and opportunity for growth of insurance companies. To meet the various reporting requirements while overcoming reporting challenges, insurance companies need to ensure effective data governance and oversight in their reporting processes, which require considerable staff resources, and expertise in a wide variety of area, including appropriate IT architecture setup. In this chapter, we will analyze financial reporting obligations for insurance companies and evolution of the international accounting standards for the insurance industry. Moreover, we will discuss some practical issues facing insurers to comply with different regulatory, financial, and business reporting requirements to fulfill their reporting obligations.
Remuneration Policies of Insurance Undertakings in Europe: Principles for a Deeply Heterogeneous Reality
Authors: Díaz Llavona Covadonga
Published: March 2022

The provisions on remuneration policies and practices under the Solvency II framework have been recently supplemented by an Opinion published by the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority. The lack of any high-level standard in this respect in the Directive and the open character of most of the principles and orientations entailed in these instruments have led to a landscape of different national implementation rules, which also need to be connected to the different corporate governance provisions of each Member State.

This chapter aims to analyse the European provisions about remuneration in the insurance industry and connect them first to those provided for the banking sector, and then to the Member States regimes that arise from both the implementation of the EU policies and the international rules, with the purpose of pointing out the weaker aspects of the existing regulation and proposing some possible ways for improvement.
Introduction
Authors: Pfoser Sarah
Published: March 2022

One of the grand challenges the logistics industry is facing today is the question of how to limit the negative impact of freight transport. Despite political endeavors, the environmental performance of the transport system has not improved so far. Existing measures are not sufficient to motivate transport users to implement sustainable freight transport strategies. Without transport users’ willingness to realize sustainable freight transport, the strategies will fail. As a matter of fact, studies on transport users’ demand for sustainable freight transport strategies are scarce. It is therefore difficult to consider their needs and requirements towards sustainable freight transport. To address this gap and promote sustainable practices, this thesis studies the acceptance of sustainable freight transport. Based on the determinants of acceptance, policy measures are designed which attract transport users to implement sustainable freight transport and help decarbonize logistics.
Research Design
Authors: Pfoser Sarah
Published: March 2022

A mixture of qualitative and quantitative research methods are used in this thesis. By involving a number of logistics companies (i.e. the users of the transport system), a user-centric perspective is ensured. The idea is to gain a profound understanding of logistics companies’ needs and requirements by studying their sustainable freight transport acceptance. Knowing the determinants of acceptance makes it possible to design policy measures which attract logistics companies to implement sustainable freight transport methods and help decarbonize logistics. The theoretical background of this thesis is twofold: on the one hand, behavioral theories are used to describe logistics companies’ acceptance, and on the other hand, organizational theories provide theoretical support for the development of policy measures.
Conclusion
Authors: Pfoser Sarah
Published: March 2022

The following chapter presents the concluding discussion of the preceding results. First, a synthesis of the results will be given. Afterwards, the contributions to the domain of sustainable freight transport will be outlined. The chapter closes with a short outlook and some suggestions for further research.
Versorgungssituation von Parkinson-Patienten in Sachsen
Authors: Timpel Patrick , Tesch Falko , Müller Gabriele , Lang Caroline , Schmitt Jochen , Themann Peter , Hentschker-Ott Ute , Falkenburger Björn , Wolz Martin
Published: March 2022

Hintergrund

Als Bundesland mit dem höchsten Altersdurchschnitt in Deutschland und besonderen Strukturmerkmalen ländlich geprägter Gebiete sind die Folgen des demographischen Wandels bereits heute in Sachsen spürbar. Um die medizinische Versorgung von Parkinson-Patienten zu verbessern, bedarf es einer Status-quo-Analyse der aktuellen Versorgungspraxis.

Ziel der Arbeit (Fragestellung)

Inwieweit unterscheidet sich die Inanspruchnahme der medizinischen Leistungserbringung von Parkinson-Patienten im Vergleich von städtisch und ländlich geprägten Gebieten sowie im Vergleich von Parkinson-Patienten mit und ohne Neurologenkontakt im Beobachtungszeitraum von 2011 bis 2019?

Material und Methoden

Die Kohortenstudie basiert auf umfangreichen Routinedaten der Krankenkasse AOK PLUS der Jahre 2010 bis 2019 für Sachsen. Untersucht wurde eine Kohorte von insgesamt 15.744 Parkinson-Patienten (n = 67.448 Patientenjahre) und eine gematchte Vergleichskohorte (n = 674.480 Patientenjahre; Kriterien: Geburtsjahr, Geschlecht, Versicherungsjahr, Wohnsitz Stadt/Land) ohne ICD-10-Kodierung einer Bewegungsstörung.

Ergebnisse

Insgesamt war eine kontinuierliche Zunahme der Anzahl der Erkrankten in der dynamischen Kohorte von 2011 (n = 6829) bis 2019 (n = 8254) zu beobachten. Stadt-Land-Unterschiede zeigten sich insbesondere in der geringeren (Mit‑)Behandlung durch niedergelassene Neurologen in ländlich geprägten Gebieten. Parkinson-Patienten hatten ein 3,5- bzw. 4‑fach erhöhtes Risiko zu versterben im Vergleich zu Versicherten der Vergleichskohorte. Veränderungen der medikamentösen Parkinson-Therapie (Zunahme COMT- und MAO-Inhibitoren) sowie der Heilmittelerbringung (Zunahme Ergotherapie und Logopädie) über die Beobachtungszeit zeigten sich primär bei Parkinson-Patienten mit Neurologenkontakt.

Diskussion

In der Studie konnten eine erhöhte Morbidität und Mortalität bei Parkinson-Patienten identifiziert werden, die sich als Ziel für innovative Versorgungskonzepte eignen. Die zunehmende Zahl an Patienten und die beschriebenen Unterschiede dokumentieren hierfür den Bedarf. Gleichzeitig zeigen die Veränderungen in der Verordnungspraxis, dass innovative Therapien von niedergelassenen Neurologen eingesetzt werden.
Alzheimer-Erkrankung – welche Substanzen befinden sich derzeit in Phase-III-Studien?
Authors: Hager Klaus
Published: March 2022

Hintergrund

Die kürzlich von der US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) zugelassene Substanz Aduhelm/Aducanumab schürt die Hoffnung, dass weitere Substanzen gegen die Alzheimer-Erkrankung vor der Zulassung stehen könnten.

Ziel der Arbeit

Ziel war es, den Stand der derzeitigen Phase-III-Studien zur medikamentösen, auf die Verbesserung der Kognition gerichteten Therapie bei Alzheimer-Erkrankung aufzuzeigen.

Material und Methoden

Die US-amerikanische Datenbank,www.clinicaltrials.gov, wurde 07.08.2021 nach aktuellen Studien zur Alzheimer-Erkrankung durchsucht und diejenigen Phase-III-Studien weiter ausgewertet, deren primärer Endpunkt eine Verbesserung der Kognition war. Das Wirkprinzip der Substanzen wurde nach der Common Alzheimerʼs Disease Research Ontology (CADRO) klassifiziert.

Ergebnisse

Von den gefundenen 53 Studien bezogen sich 32 Studien mit 25 Substanzen auf die Beeinflussung der Kognition, kenntlich an einem entsprechenden Test als einem der primären Endpunkte. Zwanzig der Studien sind derzeit aktiv und rekrutieren, 4 weitere rekrutieren noch nicht und 8 nehmen derzeit keine Patienten auf. Sieben Studien zielen auf Beta-Amyloid sowie Tau. Bei 20 Substanzen wird eine die Krankheit verändernde Wirkung postuliert. Jeweils 8 der Studien werden voraussichtlich 2022 und 2023 beendet sein.

Diskussion

Das Spektrum der Wirkmechanismen der Substanzen, die sich derzeit in Studien befinden, erscheint breit und hat überwiegend eine Veränderung des Krankheitsverlaufs zum Ziel. In den kommenden 2 Jahren besteht daher die Möglichkeit, dass weitere Medikamente gegen die Alzheimer-Erkrankung zugelassen werden könnten.
Big Five personality traits and sex
Authors: Jirjahn Uwe , Ottenbacher Martha
Published: March 2022

Sexual well-being plays an important role in the quality of life. Against this background, we provide an economics-based approach to the relationship between the Big Five personality traits and various dimensions of sexuality. From a theoretical viewpoint, personality influences sexual well-being not only by how a person feels about sex, but also by how the person behaves in a sexual relationship. Personality shapes information sharing about sexual preferences, the way dissonant sexual preferences of the partners are handled, and the extent to which a person is committed to promises made to a partner. Using a large representative dataset from Germany, we find that personality traits play a role in a person’s own sexual satisfaction, in (the self-assessment of) fulfilling their partner’s sexual needs and desires, in sexual communication, in actual and desired frequency of sex, and in extradyadic affairs. Conscientiousness contributes to a mutually beneficial sex life and increases a person’s commitment to their partner. The opposite holds true for neuroticism. While extraversion and openness to experience help realize a mutually beneficial sex life, we find no evidence that they have a commitment value. On the contrary, extraversion is associated with lower commitment to the partner. Agreeableness contributes to higher commitment. However, agreeableness appears to make people more reluctant to express their sexual needs and desires.
EANM dosimetry committee recommendations for dosimetry of 177Lu-labelled somatostatin-receptor- and PSMA-targeting ligands
Authors: Sjögreen Gleisner Katarina , Chouin Nicolas , Gabina Pablo Minguez , Cicone Francesco , Gnesin Silvano , Stokke Caroline , Konijnenberg Mark , Cremonesi Marta , Verburg Frederik A. , Bernhardt Peter , Eberlein Uta , Gear Jonathan
Published: March 2022

The purpose of the EANM Dosimetry Committee is to provide recommendations and guidance to scientists and clinicians on patient-specific dosimetry. Radiopharmaceuticals labelled with lutetium-177 (177Lu) are increasingly used for therapeutic applications, in particular for the treatment of metastatic neuroendocrine tumours using ligands for somatostatin receptors and prostate adenocarcinoma with small-molecule PSMA-targeting ligands. This paper provides an overview of reported dosimetry data for these therapies and summarises current knowledge about radiation-induced side effects on normal tissues and dose-effect relationships for tumours. Dosimetry methods and data are summarised for kidneys, bone marrow, salivary glands, lacrimal glands, pituitary glands, tumours, and the skin in case of radiopharmaceutical extravasation. Where applicable, taking into account the present status of the field and recent evidence in the literature, guidance is provided. The purpose of these recommendations is to encourage the practice of patient-specific dosimetry in therapy with 177Lu-labelled compounds. The proposed methods should be within the scope of centres offering therapy with 177Lu-labelled ligands for somatostatin receptors or small-molecule PSMA.
Tumour cell-activated platelets modulate the immunological activity of CD4+, CD8+, and NK cells, which is efficiently antagonized by heparin
Authors: Gockel Lukas M. , Nekipelov Katrin , Ferro Vito , Bendas Gerd , Schlesinger Martin
Published: March 2022

Platelets, key players in haemostasis, are progressively investigated with respect to their role in immunity and inflammation. Although the platelet support to haematogenous cancer cell metastasis has been the subject of multiple studies, their impact on anti-cancer immunity remains unaddressed. Here, we investigated the immunomodulatory potential of platelets upon their activation by MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells in various in vitro approaches. We provide evidence that platelets as well as their tumour cell-induced releasates increased the ratio of regulatory T cells, shaping an immunosuppressive phenotype in isolated CD4+ cultures. The influence on CD8+ T cells was assessed by detecting the expression of activation markers CD25/CD69 and release of cytolytic and pro-inflammatory proteins. Notably, the platelet preparations differentially influenced CD8+ T cell activation, while platelets were found to inhibit the activation of CD8+ T cells, platelet releasates, in contrast, supported their activation. Furthermore, the NK cell cytolytic activity was attenuated by platelet releasates. Low molecular weight heparin (LMWH), the guideline-based anticoagulant for cancer-associated thrombotic events, is known to interfere with tumour cell-induced platelet activation. Thus, we aimed to investigate whether, unfractionated heparin, LMWH or novel synthetic heparin mimetics can also reverse the immunosuppressive platelet effects. The releasate-mediated alteration in immune cell activity was efficiently abrogated by heparin, while the synthetic heparin mimetics partly outperformed the commercial heparin derivatives. This is the first report on the effects of heparin on rebalancing immunosuppression in an oncological context emerging as a novel aspect in heparin anti-tumour activities.
Short-Chain Fatty Acids Modulate Healthy Gut Microbiota Composition and Functional Potential
Authors: Peterson Christine Tara , Perez Santiago Josue , Iablokov Stanislav N. , Chopra Deepak , Rodionov Dmitry A. , Peterson Scott N.
Published: March 2022

Many studies have focused on the metabolic capacity of human gut microbiota to produce short-chain fatty acids and subsequent effects on host physiology. Given scarce data on how SCFAs produced by gut bacteria participate in cross-feeding to influence community structure and function, we evaluated the potential of SCFAs to modulate human gut microbiota in vitro. We employed anaerobic fecal cultivation in chemically defined medium supplemented with one of nine SCFAs to determine effects on both gut microbial community structure via 16S rRNA sequencing and function via genome reconstruction analysis. Each SCFA displayed significant and unique modulatory potential with respect to the relative abundance of bacterial taxa. Analysis of SCFA-supplemented communities revealed that alterations of individual closely related phylotypes displayed coherent changes, although exceptions were also observed which suggest strain-dependent differences in SCFA-induced changes. We used genome reconstruction to evaluate the functional implications of SCFA-mediated restructuring of fecal communities. We note that some SCFA-supplemented cultures displayed a reduction in the predicted abundance of SCFA producers, which suggests a possible undefined negative feedback mechanism. We conclude that SCFAs are not simply end-products of metabolism but also serve to modulate the gut microbiota through cross-feeding that alters the fitness of specified taxa. These results are important in the identification of prebiotics that elevate specific SCFAs for therapeutic benefit and highlight SCFA consumers as a salient part of the overall metabolic flux pertaining to bacterial fermentative processes.
Laser-induced incandescence for non-soot nanoparticles: recent trends and current challenges
Authors: Sipkens Timothy A. , Menser Jan , Dreier Thomas , Schulz Christof , Smallwood Gregory J. , Daun Kyle J.
Published: March 2022

Laser-induced incandescence (LII) is a widely used combustion diagnostic for in situ measurements of soot primary particle sizes and volume fractions in flames, exhaust gases, and the atmosphere. Increasingly, however, it is applied to characterize engineered nanomaterials, driven by the increasing industrial relevance of these materials and the fundamental scientific insights that may be obtained from these measurements. This review describes the state of the art as well as open research challenges and new opportunities that arise from LII measurements on non-soot nanoparticles. An overview of the basic LII model, along with statistical techniques for inferring quantities-of-interest and associated uncertainties is provided, with a review of the application of LII to various classes of materials, including elemental particles, oxide and nitride materials, and non-soot carbonaceous materials, and core–shell particles. The paper concludes with a discussion of combined and complementary diagnostics, and an outlook of future research.
Oxygen consumption and acid secretion in isolated gas gland cells of the European eel Anguilla anguilla
Authors: Drechsel Victoria , Schneebauer Gabriel , Sandbichler Adolf M. , Fiechtner Birgit , Pelster Bernd
Published: March 2022

Swimbladder gas gland cells are known to produce lactic acid required for the acidification of swimbladder blood and decreasing the oxygen carrying capacity of swimbladder blood, i.e., the onset of the Root effect. Gas gland cells have also been shown to metabolize glucose via the pentose phosphate shunt, but the role of the pentose phosphate shunt for acid secretion has not yet been evaluated. Similarly, aerobic metabolism of gas gland cells has been largely neglected so far. In the present study, we therefore simultaneously assessed the role of glycolysis and of the pentose phosphate shunt for acid secretion and recorded oxygen consumption of isolated swimbladder gas gland cells of the European eel. Presence of glucose was essential for acid secretion, and at glucose concentrations of about 1.5 mmol l−1 acid secretion of gas gland cells reached a maximum, indicating that glucose concentrations in swimbladder blood should not be limiting acid production and secretion under physiological conditions. The data revealed that most of the acid was produced in the glycolytic pathway, but a significant fraction was also contributed by the pentose phosphate shunt. Addition of glucose to gas gland cells incubated in a glucose-free medium resulted in a reduction of oxygen uptake. Inhibition of mitochondrial respiration significantly reduced oxygen consumption, but a fraction of mitochondria-independent respiration remained in presence of rotenone and antimycin A. In the presence of glucose, application of either iodo-acetate inhibiting glycolysis or 6-AN inhibiting the pentose phosphate shunt did not significantly affect oxygen uptake, indicating an independent regulation of oxidative phosphorylation and of acid production. Inhibition of the muscarinic acetylcholine receptor caused a slight elevation in acid secretion, while forskolin caused a concentration-dependent reduction in acid secretion, indicating muscarinic and c-AMP-dependent control of acid secretion in gas gland cells.
Risk factors and outcomes associated with type of uterine rupture
Authors: Dimitrova D. , Kästner AL. , Kästner AN. , Paping A. , Henrich W. , Braun T.
Published: March 2022

Purpose

To identify risk factors associated with the occurrence of complete uterine rupture (CUR) in comparison to partial uterine rupture (PUR) to further investigate to what extent a standardized definition is needed and what clinical implications can be drawn.

Methods

Between 2005 and 2017 cases with CUR and PUR at Charité University Berlin, Germany were retrospectively identified. Demographic, obstetric and outcome variables were analyzed regarding the type of rupture. Binary multivariate regression analysis was conducted to identify risk factors associated with CUR. In addition, the intended route of delivery (trial of labor after cesarean delivery (TOLAC) and elective repeat cesarean delivery (ERCD)), divided according to the type of rupture, was compared.

Results

92 cases with uterine rupture were identified out of a total of 64.063 births (0.14%). Puerperal complications were more frequent in CUR (67.9 versus 41.1%, p = 0.021). Multiparity ≥ 3 was more frequent in CUR (31 versus 10.7%, p = 0.020). Factors increasing the risk for CUR were parity ≥ 3 (OR = 3.8, p = 0.025), previous vaginal birth (OR = 4.4, p = 0.011), TOLAC (OR = 6.5, p < 0.001) and the use of oxytocin (OR = 2.9, p = 0.036). After multivariate analysis, the only independent risk factor associated with CUR was TOLAC (OR = 7.4, p = 0.017).

Conclusion

TOLAC is the only independent risk factor for CUR. After optimized antenatal counselling TOLAC and ERCD had comparable short-term maternal and fetal outcomes in a high resource setting. A high number of previous vaginal births does not eliminate the risk of uterine rupture. A clear distinction between CUR and PUR is essential to ensure comparability among studies.
Eoarchean subduction-like magmatism recorded in 3750 Ma mafic–ultramafic rocks of the Ukaliq supracrustal belt (Québec)
Authors: Grocolas Thomas , Bouilhol Pierre , Caro Guillaume , Mojzsis Stephen J.
Published: March 2022

Our understanding of the nature of crustal formation in the Eoarchean is limited by the scarcity and poor preservation of the oldest rocks and variable and imperfect preservation of protolith magmatic signatures. These limitations hamper our ability to place quantitative constraints on thermomechanical models for early crustal genesis and hence on the operative geodynamic regimes at that time. The recently discovered ca. 3.75 Ga Ukaliq supracrustal enclave (northern Québec) is mainly composed of variably deformed and compositionally diverse serpentinized ultramafic rocks and amphibolitized mafic schists whose metamorphic peak, inferred from phase equilibria modeling, was below 720 °C. Inferred protoliths to the Ukaliq ultramafic rocks include cumulative dunites, pyroxenites, and gabbros, whereas the mafic rocks were probably picrites, basalts, and basaltic andesites. The bulk-rock and mineral chemistry documents the partial preservation of cumulative pyroxenes and probably amphiboles and demonstrates the occurrence of a clinopyroxene-dominated, tholeiitic suite and an orthopyroxene-dominated, boninite-like suite. Together with the presence of negative μ142Nd anomalies in the boninitic basalts, two liquid lines of descent are inferred: (i) a damp tholeiitic sequence resulting from the fractionation of a basaltic liquid produced by mantle decompression; and (ii) a boninitic suite documenting the evolution of an initially primitive basaltic andesite liquid produced by flux melting. Petrographic observations, thermodynamic modeling, bulk-rock and mineral chemistry, and 142Nd isotopic compositions identify the Ukaliq supracrustal belt as the remnant of an Eoarchean arc crust produced by the recycling of Hadean crust in a similar way as modern-style subduction.
Plasma neurofilament light chain as a biomarker of Alzheimer’s disease in Subjective Cognitive Decline and Mild Cognitive Impairment
Authors: Giacomucci Giulia , Mazzeo Salvatore , Bagnoli Silvia , Ingannato Assunta , Leccese Deborah , Berti Valentina , Padiglioni Sonia , Galdo Giulia , Ferrari Camilla , Sorbi Sandro , Bessi Valentina , Nacmias Benedetta
Published: March 2022

Introduction

Neurofilament light chain (NfL) is becoming increasingly notable in neurological diseases including AD, and it has been suggested as a new peripherical biomarker of neurodegeneration. We aimed to compare plasma NfL levels among Subjective Cognitive Decline (SCD), Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), and AD patients and to evaluate relationships between NfL and CSF biomarkers and neuropsychological scores.

Materials and methods

We enrolled 110 patients (34 SCD, 53 MCI, and 23 AD), who underwent clinical and neuropsychological evaluation, APOE genotyping, and plasma NfL analysis. Ninety-one patients underwent at least one amyloid burden biomarker (CSF and/or amyloid PET); 86 patients also underwent CSF phosphorylated-tau (p-tau) and total-tau (t-tau) measurement. Patients were classified as A + if they presented at least one positive amyloid biomarker or A− if not.

Results

NfL levels were significantly increased in AD and MCI compared to SCD patients. These differences depend on A status, e.g., SCD A + had lower NfLs than MCI A + but comparable with MCI A−. Similarly, MCI A + had higher NfL levels than MCI A−, but comparable with AD. NfL levels correlated with p-tau in SCD, with all CSF biomarkers in MCI patients. No correlations were found in AD subgroup. In SCD, NfL levels were negatively correlated with memory test scores.

Conclusions

Plasma NfL levels might be a promising biomarker for neurodegeneration to discriminate cognitive decline due to AD from other conditions causing cognitive impairment in prodromal stages. Considering correlations with CSF p-tau and memory tests in SCD, NfL might be a useful peripheral biomarker also in preclinical phases of AD.
Open versus laparoscopic repair of inguinal hernia: an overview of systematic reviews of randomised controlled trials
Authors: Haladu Nafi’u , Alabi Adegoke , Brazzelli Miriam , Imamura Mari , Ahmed Irfan , Ramsay George , Scott Neil W.
Published: March 2022

Background

Inguinal hernia has a lifetime incidence of 27% in men and 3% in women. Surgery is the recommended treatment, but there is no consensus on the best method. Open repair is most popular, but there are concerns about the risk of chronic groin pain. Laparoscopic repair is increasingly accepted due to the lower risk of chronic pain, although its recurrence rate is still unclear. The aim of this overview is to compare the risk of recurrence and chronic groin pain in laparoscopic versus open repair for inguinal hernia.

Methods

We searched Ovid MEDLINE, EMBASE and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews for systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Only reviews of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) in adults published in English were included. Conference proceedings and editorials were excluded. The quality of the systematic reviews was assessed using the AMSTAR 2 checklist. Two outcomes were considered: hernia recurrence and chronic pain.

Results

Twenty-one systematic reviews and meta-analyses were included. Laparoscopic repair was associated with a lower risk of chronic groin pain compared with open repair. In the four systematic reviews assessing any laparoscopic versus any open repairs, laparoscopic repair was associated with a statistically significant (range: 26–46%) reduction in the odds or risk of chronic pain. Most reviews showed no difference in recurrence rates between laparoscopic and open repairs, regardless of the types of repair considered or the types of hernia that were studied, but most reviews had wide confidence intervals and we cannot rule out clinically important effects favouring either type of repair.

Conclusion

Meta-analyses suggest that laparoscopic repairs have a lower incidence of chronic groin pain than open repair, but there is no evidence of differences in recurrence rates between laparoscopic and open repairs.
Physio- und sporttherapeutische Interventionen zur Behandlung eines Karpaltunnelsyndroms
Authors: Gräf Julia Katharina , Lüdtke Kerstin , Wollesen Bettina
Published: March 2022

Hintergrund

Die Behandlung des Karpaltunnelsyndroms (KTS) besteht in der Regel in einer operativen Dekompression des Nervs oder Schienung und einer zusätzlichen medikamentösen Therapie. Physio- und Sporttherapie können eine nichtinvasive und gleichzeitig nebenwirkungsarme Alternative darstellen.

Ziel

Die vorliegende Übersichtsarbeit fasst aktuelle Studien zur Wirksamkeit von physio- und sporttherapeutischen Interventionen für die Therapie des KTS systematisch zusammen und fokussiert auf die Reduktion der Symptome sowie als sekundäres Outcome auf die Verbesserung der Funktionalität der Hand.

Material und Methoden

Das systematische Review integriert randomisierte, kontrollierte Studien mit physio- oder sporttherapeutischen Interventionen, die in den elektronischen Datenbanken PubMed, CINAHL und Web of Science bis Februar 2021 publiziert wurden. Den Richtlinien von Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) und der Cochrane Collaboration folgend wurden eine systematische Suche der Literatur, eine Datenextraktion und eine Bewertung des „risk of bias“ anhand des Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool von zwei unabhängigen Reviewern durchgeführt.

Ergebnisse

Von 461 identifizierten Studien konnten n = 26 in die qualitative Analyse einbezogen werden. Das Biasrisiko über die einzelnen Studien ist als moderat bis gering einzustufen. Verzerrungspotenzial ergibt sich teilweise durch eine unzureichende Verblindung der Patient:innen und des Studienpersonals sowie durch eine selektive Berichterstattung der Studienergebnisse und der Durchführung. Die manuelle Therapie erwies sich im Vergleich zu einem operativen Eingriff als schneller und langfristig gleichermaßen zielführend in Bezug auf Schmerzreduktion und Funktionsverbesserung. Auch Mobilisationstechniken, Massagetechniken und das Kinesiotaping sowie Yoga als therapeutische Interventionen zeigten positive Effekte.

Schlussfolgerung

In der Therapie eines leichten bis mittelschweren KTS zeichnen sich physio- und sporttherapeutische Interventionen vor allem durch Erfolge bereits nach 2‑wöchiger Behandlung aus, zudem durch vergleichbare Erfolge wie nach operativem Eingriff und 3‑monatiger postoperativer Behandlung. Zudem sind Patient:innen keinen Operationsrisiken ausgesetzt. Das Review ist im International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) mit der Nr. 42017073839 registriert.
Human resource labor dispatch model using an improved genetic algorithm
Authors: Feng Qi , Su Xingren , Li Qiang
Published: March 2022

The management and development of human resources (HR) have become one of the core contents of enterprise management. Enterprises pay more attention to the importance of information technology which results in the development of many labor dispatch enterprises. The rapid development and limited market share of labor dispatch enterprises lead to more fierce competition among the enterprises. With the rapid development of machine learning techniques, more enterprises begin to pay attention to managing the completion of various decision-making activities in operation with the help of computer information systems to save human costs. The labor dispatch model is a valuable addition to China's core contractual employment paradigms. Based on the improved genetic algorithm, this paper studies the human resource labor dispatch model which is used to optimize the number of people required by the dispatch project and optimize its labor cost. The HR recruitment model is used to calculate the number of people to be recruited for the dispatch project to meet the needs of the project and optimize its project dispatch scheme. The experimental results show that the benefit of dispatching through the artificial selection method (1127) is less than the result calculated by the HR dispatching plan model (1162), which proves the effectiveness of this model. The experimental results of the study depict the usefulness of the research.
Inequalities between torsional rigidity and principal eigenvalue of the p-Laplacian
Authors: Briani Luca , Buttazzo Giuseppe , Prinari Francesca
Published: March 2022

We consider the torsional rigidity and the principal eigenvalue related to the p-Laplace operator. The goal is to find upper and lower bounds to products of suitable powers of the quantities above in various classes of domains. The limit cases $$p=1$$

p
=
1

and $$p=\infty $$

p
=
∞

are also analyzed, which amount to consider the Cheeger constant of a domain and functionals involving the distance function from the boundary.
Gut-disc axis: A cause of intervertebral disc degeneration and low back pain?
Authors: Li Wentian , Lai Kaitao , Chopra Neha , Zheng Zhaomin , Das Abhirup , Diwan Ashish D.
Published: March 2022

Purpose

Low back pain (LBP), a widely prevalent and costly disease around the world, is mainly caused by intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration (IDD). Although numerous factors may trigger this degenerative process, microbiome dysbiosis has recently been implicated as one of the likely causes. However, the exact relationship between the microbiome and IDD is not well understood. This review summarizes the potential mechanisms and discusses microbiome dysbiosis’s possible influence on IDD and LBP.

Methods

Prospective literature review.

Results

Alterations in microbiome composition and host responses to the microbiota causing pathological bone development and involution, led to the concept of gut-bone marrow axis and gut-bone axis. Moreover, the concept of the gut-disc axis was also proposed to explain the microbiome’s role in IDD and LBP. According to the existing evidence, the microbiome could be an important factor for inducing and aggravating IDD through changing or regulating the outside and inside microenvironment of the IVD. Three potential mechanisms by which the gut microbiota can induce IVD and cause LBP are: (1) translocation of the bacteria across the gut epithelial barrier and into the IVD, (2) regulation of the mucosal and systemic immune system, and (3) regulation of nutrient absorption and metabolites formation at the gut epithelium and its diffusion into the IVD. Furthermore, to investigate whether IVD is initiated by pathogenic bacteria and establish the correlation between the presence of certain microbial groups with the disease in question, microbiome diversity analysis based on16S rRNA data can be used to characterise stool/blood microbiota from IVD patients.

Conclusion

Future studies on microbiome, fungi and viruses in IDD is necessary to revolutionize our thinking about their possible role in the development of IVD diseases. Furthermore, we believe that inflammation inhibition and interruption of amplification of cascade reaction in IVD by targeting the gut and IVD microbiome is worthwhile for the treatment of IDD and LBP.

Level of Evidence I

Diagnostic: individual cross-sectional studies with the consistently applied reference standard and blinding.
Tryptophan modulation in individuals with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: a systematic review
Authors: Dinu Larisa Maria , Phattharakulnij Nachaphol , Dommett Eleanor Jane
Published: March 2022

The serotonergic system is implicated in ADHD, but the impact of serotonin’s precursor molecule, tryptophan, on ADHD symptomology remains unclear. Systematic searches of randomised controlled trials with an experimental tryptophan intervention in children and adults with ADHD identified 14 studies measuring core and related symptoms of the condition. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool. The 14 studies all used acute tryptophan depletion procedures, and most did not investigate core ADHD symptoms (inattention, impulsivity, hyperactivity) as primary outcome measures. Only two studies examined attention and revealed mixed effects of tryptophan. Similar effects were found for impulsivity in a small number of studies. No studies investigated hyperactivity. Most studies focused on reactive aggression, but samples were heterogenous and small, rendering potential meta-analyses inconclusive or misleading. However, the narrative analysis indicates tryptophan interventions may impact reactive aggression. More research is needed on the effect of tryptophan modulation on core ADHD symptoms, especially in adults, using more diverse samples to determine potential as an intervention. From current data, tryptophan modulation appears to alter aggressive behaviour in ADHD; however, the available studies were insufficient for the planned meta-analysis.
Effects of local climate and habitat heterogeneity on breeding-bird assemblages of semi-natural grasslands
Authors: Brüggeshemke Jonas , Drung Marco , Löffler Franz , Fartmann Thomas
Published: March 2022

The intensification of agricultural land-use, abandonment and afforestation have caused severe loss and degradation of nutrient-poor, semi-natural grasslands across Europe. Calcareous grasslands have an outstanding value for nature conservation due to their highly diverse flora and fauna, including birds. However, knowledge of environmental factors driving the composition of bird communities in calcareous grasslands is still scarce. The aim of our study was to compare the breeding-bird assemblages of calcareous grasslands and the second most common semi-natural grassland type in the study area (Diemel Valley, Central Germany), mesic grasslands, along an elevation (climate) gradient. For each grassland type, we randomly selected 27 square-shaped plots with a size of 5 ha each and a cover of the focal grassland type of at least 50% within the plot. Our study revealed that both the number and density of threatened species of breeding birds were higher in plots of calcareous grasslands than in those of mesic grasslands. Based on multivariable generalised linear mixed-effects models, the most important predictors of overall species richness and density of breeding birds in plots of calcareous grasslands were the area of juniper-rich calcareous grassland and Shannon habitat diversity. By contrast, the number and density of threatened species were in both grassland types mainly driven by breeding-season temperature. Heterogeneous, juniper-rich calcareous grasslands seem to be a key habitat for bird assemblages with high species richness and density. These grasslands usually consisted of small-scale habitat mosaics providing suitable nesting sites and foraging grounds in close proximity. By contrast, mesic grasslands had rather homogeneous swards and shrubs or trees were normally restricted to the edges of the grassland patches. Based on our study, increasing habitat heterogeneity at the landscape scale and within grasslands is the key to enhancing species richness and density of breeding birds.
Correction to: Making transparency transparent: a systematic literature review to define and fame supply chain transparency in the context of sustainability
Authors: Schäfer Naemi
Published: March 2022

In the originally published version of this article there were minor mistakes in the forth sentence of the Abstract. The sentence should read like this:
Relationship of indoor solid fuel use for cooking with blood pressure and hypertension among the elderly in China
Authors: Yu Qiutong , Zuo Genyong
Published: March 2022

Indoor air pollution caused by solid fuel use for cooking affects 2.5 billion people worldwide and may elevate blood pressure (BP) and increase the burden of hypertension. Although the elderly are the most at risk of an elevated BP and hypertension, few studies have evaluated the effect of indoor solid fuel use for cooking on BP in persons over the age of 65. Therefore, in this study, we randomly selected 8067 elderly people over 65 years of age from the 2018 Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey to determine the impact of indoor solid fuel use on BP/hypertension. The results showed that, compared with those who cooked with clean fuel, those who cooked with solid fuel had a 1.87 mmHg higher systolic blood pressure, a 0.09 mmHg higher diastolic blood pressure, a 0.97 mmHg higher pulse pressure, and a 1.22 mmHg higher mean arterial pressure. However, we did not find any association between indoor solid fuel use and hypertension. We further observed that northern China residents, women, people aged over 90 years, hypertensive and heart patients, and those with natural ventilation in the kitchen that used indoor solid fuel experienced a greater BP impact. Replacing solid fuel with clean fuel may be an important way to lower BP. Regarding this, priority access to clean fuel should be given to the susceptible population, including the elderly aged ≥ 75 years, northern China residents, women, and hypertensive and heart patients.
Paramagnetic contrast medium in high-level athletes with lower limb muscle injuries: can it make the return to sport safer reducing the recurrence rate?
Authors: Calvi Marco , Curti Marco , Mazzoni Stefano , Genesio Lucio , Tavana Rodolfo , Callegari Leonardo , Genovese Eugenio Annibale
Published: March 2022

Purpose

The aim is to investigate whether contrast medium can improve accuracy in the assessment of healing muscle injury in high-level professional athletes.

Materials and methods

Our series is a retrospective study including the records of 22 players (mean age 28 ± 5 SD) with lower limbs muscle injuries type 3a (Mueller-Wohlfarth). All athletes received two MRIs: the day after the injury and before resuming heavy effort activities. Contrast medium uptake was measured in the second MRI by comparing the mean enhancement at the lesion site (ME) with that of the healthy contralateral muscle (HM). The result is a percentage referred to as muscular contrast index (MC index). The difference between the mean MC index value between athletes with and without re-injury was assessed with both the Mann–Whitney and the Kruskal–Wallis test.

Results

Twenty-nine muscle injuries matched the inclusion criteria. The mean MC index values, adjusted for the variable of time elapsed between the last contrast examination and return to the field, were significantly different in the two study groups (p < .001).

Conclusion

The contrast medium in the follow-up of muscle injuries may be useful in determining the degree of scar stability in a healing injury. Injuries with a high MC index were found to be ‘unstable’, with a higher rate of recurrence than those with a low MC index. Resumption of competitive activity after achieving not only clinical resolution but also a satisfactory MC index value may increase the safety of return to the field and reduce the recurrence rate.
Machine Olfaction to Evaluate the Stability of the Odor Profile of Pancakes Enriched with Docosahexaenoic Acid and Anthocyanins
Authors: Bazar George , Hingyi Hajnalka , Csavajda Éva , Palkó Csaba , Yakubu Haruna Gado , Pineda-Vadillo Carlos , Dupont Didier , Capozzi Francesco , Bordoni Alessandra , Tóth Tamás
Published: March 2022

Increasing consumer awareness on good health has drawn the attention to health promoting natural dietary substances. However, since the organoleptic profile of foods highly influences the consumers’ preference, and it is often decisive in the purchase, it is important to objectively describe and evaluate the effect of the applied bioactive ingredients on aroma. In this study, pancakes enriched with docosahexaenoic acid and anthocyanins were tested with electronic sensor array technology against control products. Samples were analyzed with an Alpha MOS FOX4000 electronic nose (EN) after 20 to 297 days of frozen storage at −20 °C. Multivariate analysis of the acquired EN data showed a strong relation between the number of days that samples were stored and the odor describing sensor signals of enriched samples (R2 = 0.59), but the observed relation was broken in the case of control (not enriched) samples (R2 = 0.08). When a supervised classification of enriched and control samples was done, the ratio of correctly identified samples in cross-validation was 95.1% at short-term storage (< 140 days), while the hit rate dropped to 80.4% at prolonged storage (> 140 days). This signified the existing but less intensive odor differences. The electronic nose technology was proven to be applicable in the characterization of one type of bioactive-enriched foods, while it was also useful in the monitoring of odor alterations during storage.
A Narrative Review of the Current State of Extended Reality Technology and How it can be Utilised in Sport
Authors: Le Noury Peter , Polman Remco , Maloney Michael , Gorman Adam
Published: March 2022

Extended reality is an umbrella term used to describe three computer-generated technologies including virtual reality, augmented reality and mixed reality. Extended reality is an emerging technology that has been utilised in many high-performance domains including psychology, medicine and the military, with the aim of enhancing perceptual-cognitive skills and motor skills. However, the use of extended reality in sport, particularly at the elite level, has only recently started to receive attention. While the growth of extended reality technology continues to accelerate at a rapid rate, empirical evidence aimed at understanding how these devices can best be applied in high-performance sport has not followed suit. Therefore, the purpose of this review is to provide clarity for high-performance sport organisations, researchers, sport scientists, coaches and athletes about the current state of extended reality technology and how it has been utilised in sport. In doing so, we first define and give examples of the types of extended reality technology including virtual reality, augmented reality and mixed reality that are available at the present time. Second, we detail how skill acquisition principles underpinned by the theoretical framework of ecological dynamics can be used to help inform the design and assessment of extended reality training tools. Third, we describe how extended reality has been utilised in sport, including how extended reality tools have been assessed for their level of representativeness, and the effectiveness of extended reality training interventions for improving perceptual-cognitive skills and motor skills. Finally, we discuss the future utilisation of extended reality in sport, including the key learnings that can be drawn from other domains, future research directions, practical applications and areas for consideration related to the use of extended reality for training skills in sport.