bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Complex regional pain syndrome what is the outcome? ‐ a systematic review of the course and impact of CRPS at 12 months from symptom onset and beyond
Authors: Johnson Selina , Cowell Fiona , Gillespie Sharon , Goebel Andreas
Published: April 2022

Background and Objective

To improve CRPS treatment, it is imperative to understand the nature, degree and relative importance of ongoing problems associated with CRPS. The objective of this systematic review was to summarize the published data concerning measures of function and impact including occupational parameters, of CRPS at 12 months from symptom onset and beyond.

Databases and Data Treatment

MEDLINE, EmBase and PsychINFO were searched (inception to May 2021). Study cohorts were eligible if they included; adult patients with the primary complaint of CRPS ≥12 months duration, outcomes that reported change in CRPS signs and symptoms, and physical and social function. Prospero registration: CRD42021241785.

Results

Twenty‐two included studies suggest that pain and motor dysfunction are the most dominant long‐term features of CRPS, persisting for 51%–89% of patients at ≥12 months. On average for all patients who had CRPS at baseline, grip strength was found to be reduced by 25%–66%, and range of motion reduced by 20%–25% at ≥12 months. Such losses were associated with physical and social disability. Thirty to forty percent of all patients did not return to work and a further 27%–35% of persons returned to work but required some form of workplace adaptation, although the quality of this data was poor. Quality assessment highlighted limitations in the literature, such as high attrition bias and variations in diagnostic criteria.

Conclusions

Results provide first‐time quantitative data including specific evidence about losses to motor function and long‐term compromises to work status. Results demonstrate that the ongoing impact of one episode of CRPS on limb function and work status is relatively high.

Significance

This review provides first‐time clarity in relation to outcomes of limb function and work status associated with an episode of CRPS, beyond 12 months from onset. Results demonstrate that the long‐term impact of an episode of CRPS on these outcomes is much larger than previously described, and thus also illustrates how the wider health economic impact of CRPS is not yet fully understood. We additionally highlight the need for future research that identifies long‐term predictors, and treatments that can foster good functional and occupational recovery.
On stability and relaxation techniques for partitioned fluid‐structure interaction simulations
Authors: Lorentzon Johan , Revstedt Johan
Published: April 2022

The stability of relaxation techniques has been studied for strongly coupled fluid‐structure interaction (FSI) with application to a cantilever immersed in channel flow. The fluid is governed by Navier–Stokes equations for incompressible flow condition using turbulence modeling, and the solid is governed by the equation of motion with compressible material modeling. The applied kinematic description is Lagrangian for the solid and Eulerian for the fluid. The coupling of the state solvers is achieved by the Arbitrary Lagrange–Euler procedure, which involves a mesh motion solver, and the FSI procedure is stabilized by relaxation. It is shown that the stability can be related to the frequency shift caused by FSI, and they follow the same rate for the shape factor of the structure with an offset. The results correlate well to theoretical results and show that all relaxations fail for sufficient high‐frequency shift for given mesh resolution. We also propose a continuation technique to stabilize the solution near the instability region, which improves efficiency and can be integrated easily for the black‐box FSI solution procedure.
Status epilepticus and early development: Neuronal injury, neurodegeneration, and their consequences
Authors: Thompson Kerry
Published: April 2022

Evidence showing that the immature brain is vulnerable to seizure‐induced damage has been accumulating for decades. Clinical data have always suggested that some early‐life seizures are associated with negative sequelae, but clinical observations are frequently obscured by multiple uncontrolled contributing factors and can rarely establish causality. Determining with certainty that seizures, per se, can cause neuronal death and can irreversibly disrupt critical developmental processes, required the development of suitable model systems. Several experimental seizure models clearly show that the immature brain can sustain neuronal injury as a result of uncontrolled seizure activity and that even in the absence of observable neuronal death, the developing brain is selectively vulnerable to interruptions of required growth programs. Severe early‐life seizures inhibit DNA, RNA, and protein synthesis, and they can reduce the accumulation of myelin and synaptic markers in the developing nervous system, leading to functional delays in development. Depending on the seizure pathway involved, and the developmental period under study, classic neurodegeneration, excitotoxicity, and apoptosis can result in permanent damage to critical neural networks in the temporal lobe and in many other brain regions. This conclusion is further supported by recent clinical studies showing that prolonged febrile status epilepticus can lead to hippocampal injury, which evolves into hippocampal atrophy and hippocampal sclerosis. A growing body of experimental data demonstrates that the metabolic compromise and cellular loss produced by seizures during critical phases of brain development negatively affect later hippocampal physiology including learning and memory functions in maturity.
TWAc-Check: A New Approach to Determine the Appropriate Use of Time-Weighted Average Concentration in Aquatic Risk Assessment
Authors: Wolf Yvonne , Gabsi Faten , Bruns Eric , Heine Simon , Solga Andreas , Witt Johannes , Preuss Thomas G.
Published: April 2022

In pesticide risk assessment, regulatory acceptable concentrations for surface water bodies (RACsw,ch) are used that are derived from standard studies with continuous exposure of organisms to a test compound for days or months. These RACsw,ch are compared with the maximum tested concentration of more realistic exposure scenarios. However, the actual exposure duration could be notably shorter (e.g., hours) than the standard study, which intentionally leads to an overly conservative Tier 1 risk assessment. This discrepancy can be addressed in a risk assessment using the time-weighted average concentration (TWAc). In Europe, the applicability of TWAc for a particular risk assessment is evaluated using a complex decision scheme, which has been controversial; thus we propose an alternative approach: We used TWAc-check (which is based on the idea that the TWAc concept is just a model for aquatic risk assessment) to test whether the use of a TWAc is appropriate for such assessment. The TWAc-check method works by using predicted–measured diagrams to test how well the TWAc model predicts experimental data from peak exposure experiments. Overestimated effects are accepted because the conservatism of the TWAc model is prioritized over the goodness of fit. We illustrate the applicability of TWAc-check by applying it to various data sets for different species and substances. We demonstrate that the applicability is case dependent. Specifically, TWAc-check correctly identifies that the use of TWAc is not appropriate for early onset of effects or delayed effects. The proposed concept shows that the time window is a decisive factor as to whether or not the model is acceptable and that this concept can be used as a potential refinement option prior to the use of toxicokinetic-toxicodynamic models. Environ Toxicol Chem 2022;41:1778–1787. © 2022 Bayer AG. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.

Abstract

An alternative approach to assess whether the time-weighted average concentration (TWAc) can be applied in aquatic risk assessment of plant protection products. The TWAc-check approach is easy to apply and is able to detect inappropriate cases for the use of TWAc.
Principles of molecular testing for hereditary cancer
Authors: Mighton Chloe , Lerner‐Ellis Jordan P.
Published: April 2022

Molecular testing for hereditary cancers has rapidly advanced over the past two decades. Next‐generation sequencing has been widely adopted, which has made molecular testing increasingly accessible, and large gene panels are now routinely used in clinical care. Effectively using molecular testing as a tool for the management of patients with hereditary cancer involves understanding various basic principles. In this article, we provide an overview of general principles for molecular germline testing for hereditary cancer syndromes. We overview hereditary cancer etiology, clinical indications for molecular testing, test methodologies and limitations, interpretation and reporting of test results, the evolving nature of evidence on gene‐disease relationships and penetrance, and resources related to the clinical management of hereditary cancer syndromes.
Mental health status of dentists during COVID‐19 pandemic: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Salehiniya Hamid , Hatamian Sare , Abbaszadeh Hamid
Published: April 2022

Background

The effect of coronavirus disease‐2019 (COVID‐19) on the mental health status of dentists has been studied in various studies. The aim of this study was to review the mental health status of dentists during COVID‐19 pandemic.

Methods

English databases including PubMed, Web of Science and Scopus were systematically searched till July 2021. Studies that examined the mental health status of dentists during COVID‐19 pandemic were included. The heterogeneity of articles was assessed with the Cochran Test andI2statistics. The prevalence rates of anxiety, fear, sadness, concern, and anger were calculated using the random‐effect model.

Findings

Of 560 initial searched articles, 15 articles were eligible to include. The prevalence of anxiety, fear of carrying the infection, fear of getting infected, fear of getting quarantined, and fear of dying people by COVID‐19 were 64%, 92%, 85%, 61%, and 65%, respectively. The distribution frequency of light, moderate, and intense sadness was 22%, 25%, and 30%, respectively; light, moderate, and intense anger was 21%, 14%, and 23%, respectively; light, moderate, and intense concern was 30%, 30%, and 34%, respectively; light, moderate, and intense fear was 38%, 24%, and 15%, respectively.

Conclusion

Fear of COVID‐19 and anxiety was very high among dentists. A significant proportion of dentists had moderate to intense COVID‐19‐associated sadness, concern, and anger. Providing educational content along with providing the necessary personal protective equipment and extensive vaccinations will help maintain the mental health of dentists and provide better quality services.
Rayleigh–Bénard convection in a Boussinesq–Stokes ferromagnetic fluid under sinusoidal and non‐sinusoidal internal heat modulation
Authors: Meghana J. , Pranesh S.
Published: April 2022

Internal heat modulation has several applications in nuclear reactor design and safety, as well as meteorology. In this paper, the influence of internal heat modulation on Rayleigh–Bénard convection in a Boussinesq–Stokes ferromagnetic fluid is explored using linear and nonlinear analyses. The impact of the square, sine, triangular, and sawtooth wave type of internal heat modulation on the onset of convection and heat transport is considered. Using a Venezian method, linear stability analysis is performed to derive the correction Rayleigh number and the critical Rayleigh number for all four waveforms. A nonautonomous Lorenz model is derived and solved for the amplitude to obtain the Nusselt number, which quantifies the heat transport. The impact of the nondimensional parameter on the convective onset and heat transfer under heat source/sink modulation is analyzed. The study shows that all four types of internal heat modulation destabilize the system. It is also found that the presence of a heat source/sink modulation affects the impact of all four types of internal heat modulation on heat transport.
MHD Carreau nanoliquid flow over a nonlinear stretching surface
Authors: Basha Neelufer Z. , Vajravelu Kuppalapalle , Mebarek‐Oudina Fateh , Sarris Ioannis , Vaidya Kanumesh , Prasad Kerehalli V. , Rajashekhar Choudhari
Published: April 2022

The Dufour and Soret impacts on magnetohydrodynamic Carreau nanoliquid past a nonlinearly stretching sheet are investigated. Variations in viscosity, heat conductivity, and convective boundary conditions are considered. Suitable similarity conversions are utilized to design the governing equations nondimensional. The Optimal Homotopy Analysis Method is employed to resolve the dimensionless equations. Graphs and tables are utilized to illustrate the impacts of the relevant factors over velocity, temperature, concentration, and streamlines. For the variations of different parameters, numerical values for Nusselt number, Sherwood number, and skin friction are provided in a table. The observed results are in good agreement with the previous literature findings. Furthermore, the current research shows that when the Dufour number increases, the temperature distributions get narrower. However, with increasing Soret number, the concentration distribution has the opposite effect. One of the important outcomes of the current study is that by increasing the Weissenberg number for shear‐thinning fluids, one can improve the velocity field.
Reimbursement outcomes of a pharmacist‐physician co‐visit model in a Federally Qualified Health Center
Authors: Gonzalvo Jasmine D. , Kenneally Allison M. , Pence Lauren , Walroth Todd , Schmelz Andrew N. , Nace Nicole , Chang Juan , Meredith Ashley H.
Published: April 2022

Background

Pharmacists have demonstrated a positive impact in providing patient care in ambulatory settings. Pharmacists have faced multiple barriers to reimbursement, especially in a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) setting. A commonly cited barrier is lack of recognition as providers under Medicare.

Objectives

The objective of this study was to describe the reimbursement potential, physician appointment capacity, and billing levels with the use of a pharmacist‐physician co‐visit model in an urban FQHC.

Methods

This was a retrospective, observational cohort study. Patient visits were included in the co‐visit model cohort if they were completed with the pharmacist and/or collaborating physician on the same clinic half‐day from May‐September 2019. Comparator group patient visits were included in the physician‐only cohort if they were with one of five physicians practicing at the FQHC on a day without the pharmacist. Patient visits were excluded if the visit was nonbillable.

Results

Realized reimbursement per half‐day in clinic [mean (SD)], was significantly less with the physician‐only visits compared to the co‐visit billing model [$558 (242) vs $850 (410), P = .001]. The addition of a pharmacist through the co‐visit billing model increased the median (IQR) billing per half‐day in clinic from $1613 (1173, 1788) to $2108 (1832,2620) (P < .001), and the median (IQR) number of patients seen per half‐day from 9 (7, 10) to 12 (10, 14) (P < .001). Unpaid patient bills ($39 599) were excluded from reimbursement analysis in both groups.

Conclusions

The pharmacist‐physician co‐visit model in an FQHC increased revenue to justify the addition of one full‐time equivalent position within our facility, increased the number of patients seen by the physician, allowed for higher‐complexity billing, and provided physicians with variety in responsibilities. The benefits of team‐based care extend beyond the financial implications of a co‐visit model. Without direct pharmacist‐billing mechanisms, this model justifies the expansion of pharmacist‐managed services.
Synthesis, crystal structure investigation and computational approach to discover potential hydrazide derivatives as a potent inhibitor of cyclooxygenase‐2 enzyme
Authors: El Bakri Youness , Mohamed Shaaban K. , Ahmad Sajjad , Albayati Mustafa R. , Elgarhy Sahar M. I. , Lai Chin‐Hung , Mague Joel T.
Published: April 2022

This study reports the synthesis of two new hydrazide derivatives, namely, (E)‐N′‐(4‐ bromobenzylidene)−2‐(4‐isobutylphenyl)propanehydrazide (4a) and (E)‐N′‐benzylidene‐2‐(4‐isobutylphenyl)propanehydrazide (4b), respectively. The compounds were synthesized by the reaction of benzaldehyde with Ibuprofen acid hydrazide. Their structures were confirmed by X‐ray crystallography. To try to do a more detailed investigation, computational studies including Hirshfeld surface analyses, energy frameworks, density functional theory (DFT) optimizations, frontier orbital analyses, molecular electrostatic potential analyses, and natural bond orbital analyses of the studied compounds are performed. Moreover, molecular docking and dynamics simulations of complexes of the compounds with the cyclooxygenase‐2 (COX‐2) enzyme were performed to determine the anti‐inflammatory potential of the compounds. These analyses predicted the compounds to show maximum chemical interactions and be dynamically stable during simulation time. Furthermore, estimation of binding free energies confirmed the high binding affinity of the compounds for the COX‐2 enzyme.
Algorithms and complexity for counting configurations in Steiner triple systems
Authors: Heinlein Daniel , Östergård Patric R. J.
Published: April 2022

Steiner triple systems form one of the most studied classes of combinatorial designs. Configurations, including subsystems, play a central role in the investigation of Steiner triple systems. With sporadic instances of small systems, ad hoc algorithms for counting or listing configurations are typically fast enough for practical needs, but with many systems or large systems, the relevance of computational complexity and algorithms of low complexity is highlighted. General theoretical results as well as specific practical algorithms for important configurations are presented.
A novel de novo missense mutation in EFTUD2 identified by whole‐exome sequencing in mandibulofacial dysostosis with microcephaly
Authors: Yang Mei , Liu Yanyan , Lin Ziyuan , Sun Huaqin , Hu Ting
Published: April 2022

Background

Mandibulofacial dysostosis with microcephaly (MFDM) is a rare multiple malformation syndrome characterized by malar and mandibular hypoplasia and congenital‐ or postnatal‐onset microcephaly induced by haploinsufficiency of (elongation factor Tu GTP‐binding domain‐containing 2) EFTUD2.

Methods

We report the case of a 16‐month‐old boy with MFDM symptoms, including malar and mandibular hypoplasia, microcephaly, micrognathia, midline cleft palate, microtia, auditory canal atresia, severe sensorineural hearing loss, and developmental delay. Whole‐exome sequencing (WES) analysis of the patient's family was performed to identify the genetic etiology responsible for this phenotype.

Results

We identified a novel de novo missense mutation (c.671G>T, p.Gly224Val) in the EFTUD2. According to the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) 2015 guidelines, the c.671G>T mutation was classified as likely pathogenic (PS2, PM1, PM2, and PP3). Based on our findings, prenatal diagnosis was performed on the second baby of the proband's parents to exclude the mutation and it was confirmed that the baby did not have the MFDM phenotype after 14 months of follow‐up. Furthermore, the zebrafish model confirmed that the EFTUD2 c.671G>T mutation caused a loss of gene function in EFTUD2, and the pathogenicity of the EFTUD2 c.671G>T mutation was classified as pathogenic (PS2, PS3, PM1, and PM2).

Conclusion

Our results indicate that WES is a useful tool for identifying potentially pathogenic mutations, particularly in rare disorders, and is advantageous for genetic counseling and subsequent prenatal diagnosis. Moreover, the importance of functional assays cannot be underestimated, which could further confirm the pathogenicity of the genetic variants.
Social anxiety and negative interpretations of positive social events: What role does intolerance of uncertainty play?
Authors: Nishikawa Yasunori , Fracalanza Katie , Rector Neil A. , Laposa Judith M.
Published: April 2022

Objective

Although previous studies have demonstrated the association between social anxiety symptom severity and the tendency to appraise positive social events negatively among individuals with social anxiety disorder, no study has examined mediators of this relationship. The current study sought to examine whether intolerance of uncertainty and its subfactors mediate the relationship between social interaction anxiety and the tendency to interpret positive social events negatively.

Method

One hundred and sixty‐five individuals with social anxiety disorder completed measures of social interaction anxiety symptom severity, intolerance of uncertainty, and negative interpretations of positive social events.

Results

Total intolerance of uncertainty and the inhibitory‐intolerance of uncertainty subscale scores significantly mediated the relationship between social interaction anxiety and negative interpretations of positive events. Exploratory post‐hoc analyses regarding the possible contributing role of depression demonstrated mixed results. The same mediation pattern was found in the full sample as well as those without a secondary comorbid mood disorder diagnosis. In contrast, serial mediation showed a mediating role of depressive symptom severity.

Conclusion

Inhibitory‐intolerance of uncertainty plays a role in the relationship between social interaction anxiety and negative interpretations of positive social events.
Amyloid beta induces Fmr1‐dependent translational suppression and hyposynchrony of neural activity via phosphorylation of eIF2α and eEF2
Authors: Lizarazo Simon , Yook Yeeun , Tsai Nien‐Pei
Published: April 2022

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia, with the accumulation of amyloid beta peptide (Aβ) being one of the main causes of the disease. Fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP), encoded by fragile X mental retardation 1 (Fmr1), is an RNA‐binding protein that represses translation of its bound mRNAs or exerts other indirect mechanisms that result in translational suppression. Because the accumulation of Aβ has been shown to cause translational suppression resulting from the elevated cellular stress response, in this study we asked whether and how Fmr1 is involved in Aβ‐induced translational regulation. Our data first showed that the application of synthetic Aβ peptide induces the expression of Fmr1 in cultured primary neurons. We followed by showing that Fmr1 is required for Aβ‐induced translational suppression, hyposynchrony of neuronal firing activity, and loss of excitatory synapses. Mechanistically, we revealed that Fmr1 functions to repress the expression of phosphatases including protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) and protein phosphatase 1 (PP1), leading to elevated phosphorylation of eukaryotic initiation factor 2‐α (eIF2α) and eukaryotic elongation factor 2 (eEF2), and subsequent translational suppression. Finally, our data suggest that such translational suppression is critical to Aβ‐induced hyposynchrony of firing activity, but not the loss of synapses. Altogether, our study uncovers a novel mechanism by which Aβ triggers translational suppression and we reveal the participation of Fmr1 in altered neural plasticity associated with Aβ pathology. Our study may also provide information for a better understanding of Aβ‐induced cellular stress responses in AD.
Upregulation of cluster of differentiation 36 mRNA expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells correlates with frailty severity in older adults
Authors: Lee Chung‐Sheng , Chang Chin‐Hao , Chen Chin‐Ying , Shih Chih‐Yuan , Peng Jen‐Kuei , Huang Hsien‐Liang , Chen Pei‐Yun , Huang Tse‐Le , Chen Ching‐Yu , Tsai Jaw‐Shiun
Published: April 2022

Background

Aging‐associated frailty has been connected to low‐grade chronic inflammation and also to progressive monocytic activation. CD36 (cluster of differentiation 36, platelet glycoprotein 4 or fatty acid translocase) has been shown to induce the expression of pro‐inflammatory cytokines and to activate macrophage connected inflammation. This study aims to examine whether the expression of CD36 is up‐regulated among frail older adults.

Methods

The demographic data, Fried Frailty Index, metabolic and inflammatory parameters of our observational study were obtained from the comprehensive geriatric assessment programme of a hospital‐based outpatient department. The mRNA isolated from the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) was used to determine the levels of CD36, tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF‐α), and CXC chemokine ligand‐10 (CXCL10) mRNAs with real‐time polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

Results

A total of 189 older adults (58% female) were included in the analysis, and the mean age was 77.19 ± 6.12 years. The numbers of participants who fitted in the groups of robust, pre‐frail, and frail were 46, 106, and 37, respectively. Our data showed that CD36 mRNA expression levels in PBMCs were the highest in the frail group (1.25 ± 0.53 in robust, 2.13 ± 1.02 in pre‐frail, and 2.78 ± 1.15 in frail group, P < 0.001). Further regression analyses revealed that CD36 mRNA levels were positively correlated with both the pre‐frail and frailty status in the univariate analysis (both P's < 0.001). What might suggest something worthy of further investigation is that, with potential confounders being adjusted for, CD36 remained as an independent factor that positively correlated with the pre‐frail and frailty status in the multivariable analysis (P < 0.001).

Conclusions

CD36 mRNA levels in PBMCs in robust older adults are significantly lower than in pre‐frail and in frail. Our findings suggest that CD36 mRNA levels in PBMCs may be considered a potential biomarker for frail severity.
Untouched isolation enables targeted functional analysis of tumour‐cell‐derived extracellular vesicles from tumour tissues
Authors: Yu Zi‐Li , Liu Xing‐Chi , Wu Min , Shi Shan , Fu Qiu‐Yun , Jia Jun , Chen Gang
Published: April 2022

To accurately identify the functions of tumour‐cell‐derived extracellular vesicles (T‐EVs), EVs directly isolated from tumour tissues are much preferred over those derived from in vitro cultured tumour cell lines. However, the functional analysis of T‐EVs has still been severely limited by the difficulty in selective isolation of T‐EVs from tissue‐derived heterogeneous EVs, which also contain non‐tumour cell‐derived EVs. We here establish an untouched isolation strategy that specifically collects natural T‐EVs from tumour tissues by removing non‐tumour‐cell‐derived EVs. Different from traditional immunomagnetic separation, our isolation materials are directly bound to undesired non‐tumour‐cell‐derived EVs, preserving the natural properties of T‐EVs. Using this strategy, we reveal the distinct performances of tissue‐derived T‐EVs in organotropism to lymph nodes, immunosuppression and angiogenesis. The present work, which takes an extraordinary step forward in the isolation of EV subpopulation from tumour tissues, would dramatically accelerate the investigation of EV heterogeneity.
Childhood trauma exposure and reward processing in healthy adults: A functional neuroimaging study
Authors: Hendrikse Chanellé Juanita , du Plessis Stéfan , Luckhoff Hilmar Klaus , Vink Matthijs , van den Heuvel Leigh Luella , Scheffler Freda , Phahladira Lebogang , Smit Retha , Asmal Laila , Seedat Soraya , Emsley Robin
Published: April 2022

The association between childhood trauma exposure and risk of developing psychopathology may in part be mediated by the effects of chronic stress on dopaminergic neurotransmission. However, little is known about the differential effects of distinct trauma types on reward processing, particularly in adults without concurrent medical or psychiatric disorders. We examined the association of childhood trauma exposure, including the differential effects of abuse and neglect, with reward processing in healthy adults (n = 114). Functional magnetic resonance imaging during a monetary incentive delay task was used to assess neural activity in the ventral striatum and orbitofrontal cortex in relation to reward anticipation and reward outcome, respectively. Exposure to childhood trauma, including abuse and neglect, was assessed using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire‐Short Form. We found a significant effect for abuse on ventral striatal activation during reward anticipation, adjusting for age, sex, scanner site, educational level, and household monthly income. There were no effects for abuse or neglect, independently or combined, on orbitofrontal cortex activation during reward outcome. Our findings suggest differential effects of childhood abuse on ventral striatum activation during reward anticipation in healthy adults.
Dynamical systems persistence parameter of sea surface temperature and its associations with regional averaged index over the tropical Pacific
Authors: Shi Ming , Huang Yu , Fu Zuntao
Published: April 2022

Due to an index defined from regionally averaged sea surface temperature anomalies (SSTAs) unable to adequately characterize SSTA events, the dynamical persistence parameter was employed to infer more information than what the averaged SSTA index (SI) can capture from a new respect. By taking the whole SSTA field over a specific region as a dynamical system, was calculated to infer more (such as SSTA gradient) than SI. Moreover, the values of can provide the persistence information, low for long‐lasting SSTA events with well‐defined spatial patterns and high for transient behaviours. Globally, and SI can be taken as approximately orthogonal, but locally there are distinct associations between them. Detailed studies found that there are three kinds of origins for this global independence: alternating strong negative and positive correlation during extreme events, independence under the neutral conditions and low correlation caused by the inability of SI to the marked SSTA gradient. All above findings improve the understanding on the physical indications of and indicate that the new metric is at least a good supplement to the SSTA indices based on the regional average.
Shape differences in the semitendinosus following tendon harvesting for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction
Authors: du Moulin William , Bourne Matthew , Diamond Laura E. , Konrath Jason , Vertullo Christopher , Lloyd David , Saxby David J.
Published: April 2022

Following hamstring autograft anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR), muscle length, cross‐sectional area, and volume are reduced. However, these discrete measures of morphology do not account for complex three‐dimensional muscle shape. The primary aim of this study was to determine between‐limb semitendinosus (ST) shape and regional morphology differences in young adults following tendon harvest for ACLR and to compare these differences with those in healthy controls. In this cross‐sectional study, magnetic resonance imaging was performed on 18 individuals with unilateral ACLR and 18 healthy controls. Bilaterally, ST muscles were segmented, and shape differences assessed between limbs and compared between groups using Jaccard index (0–1) and Hausdorff distance (mm). Length (cm), peak cross‐sectional area (cm2), and volume (cm3) were measured for the entire muscle and proximal, middle, and distal regions, and compared between limbs and groups. Compared to healthy controls, the ACLR group had significantly (p < 0.001, Cohen's d = −2.33) lower bilateral ST shape similarity and shape deviation was significantly (p < 0.001, d = 2.12) greater. Shape deviation was greatest within the distal region of the ACLR (Hausdorff: 23.1 ± 8.68 mm). Compared to both the uninjured contralateral limb and healthy controls, deficits in peak cross‐sectional area and volume in ACLR group were largest in proximal (p < 0.001, d = −2.52 to −1.28) and middle (p < 0.001, d = −1.81 to −1.04) regions of the ST. Overall, shape analysis provides unique insight into regional adaptations in ST morphology post‐ACLR. Findings highlight morphological features in distal ST not identified by traditional discrete morphology measures. Clinical significance: Following ACLR, risk of a secondary knee or primary hamstring injury has been reported to be between 2‐to‐5 times greater compared to those without ACLR. Change in semitendinosus (ST) shape following ACLR may affect force transmission and distribution within the hamstrings and might contribute to persistent deficits in knee flexor and internal rotator strength.
Observation of domain‐selective defect effects from a CVD‐grown graphene monolayer sandwiched at individual nanoparticle‐on‐mirror plasmonic junctions
Authors: Park Won‐Hwa
Published: April 2022

The author examines the different defect effects of chemical vapor deposition graphene monolayer (CVD‐GM) relying on domain position at an individual nanoparticle‐on‐mirror (NPoM) plasmonic junction. The NPoM, composed of Au nanoparticle (NP)/CVD‐GM/Au thin film (TF), could previously show the mode‐selective Raman enhancement, in which the center domain exhibited the highest Raman enhancement of both radial breathing like mode (RBLM) and D mode considering the local z‐directional electromagnetic (EM) field enhancement effect in the NPoM. Meanwhile, the outer domain of the NPoM also displays the near‐two symmetrical deep pits via atomic force microscope (AFM) with the accompanying lower I[D]/I[D*], higher FWHM[RBLM], I[RBLM], and relatively red‐shifted (tensile strained) Max [RBLM] from surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) information than the central case. With these observations, the physical loading of Au NP on CVD‐GM/Au TF may induce the threading effect on the most outer position of CVD‐GM at the NPoM, leading to sp2 defect‐rich domains. In contrast, the central domains, where the sp3 defects are rich, exhibit the opposite SERS spectral phenomena, indicating that the near‐flat surface shape of Au NP bottom has a higher probability to exert a strong charge transfer along the z‐direction, resulting in higher I[RBLM] and I[D]/I[D*] than the most outer domain. As such, the author anticipates various chemical sensing using subtle changes in CVD‐GM morphology at both the most outer and center positions in the NPoM with the comparison of each SERS spectral signature.
How to communicate typical–local foods to improve food tourism attractiveness
Authors: Savelli Elisabetta , Gregory‐Smith Diana , Murmura Federica , Pencarelli Tonino
Published: April 2022

This research focuses on the communication of typical–local foods and their consumption as a main motivation for travel experiences and driver of food tourism attractiveness. Past studies have provided an inconsistent understanding of this phenomenon and its underlying psychological processes. Others have called for research on more integrated and effective marketing communications about typical–local foods to increase destination attractiveness, help consumer decision‐making processes and reduce information asymmetry in the food tourism market. Through the application of an integrated framework under the umbrella of signaling theory, we focus on various signals (e.g., “food security,” “trusting relationships,” “emotional value”) associated with three key features of typical–local foods: sustainability, geographical indications and healthiness. We use a combination of neuroscience techniques, including the implicit priming test, eye‐tracking and electroencephalography, to investigate which signals are best at communicating typical–local foods' distinctiveness. We find that consumers/tourists perceive healthiness as typical–local foods' most engaging and attractive product feature, followed by geographical indications then sustainability. Specific signals impact people's visual attention and cognitive engagement differently, with social and emotional attributes being most appealing. Therefore, food tourism managers should focus on these attributes in their communication campaigns to increase food tourism attractiveness and enhance travel experience.
Recent Advances in Design Strategies of Tough Hydrogels
Authors: Zhang Xiaojia , Xiang Jinxi , Hong Yanlong , Shen Lan
Published: April 2022

Hydrogels are a fascinating class of materials popular in numerous fields, including tissue engineering, drug delivery, soft robotics, and sensors, thanks to their 3D network porous structure containing a significant amount of water. However, traditional hydrogels exhibit poor mechanical strength, limiting their practical applications. Thus, many researchers have focused on the development of mechanically enhanced hydrogels. This review describes the design considerations for constructing tough hydrogels and some of the latest strategies in recent years. These tough hydrogels have an up‐and‐coming prospect and bring great hope to the fields of biomedicine and others. Nonetheless, it is still no small challenge to realize hydrogel materials that are tough, multifunctional, intelligent, and with zero defects.
The creative class in China: Heterogeneity and its regional determinants
Authors: Yu Wentao , Tan Xiaolan
Published: April 2022

Based on the dimensions of job security and ownership, the creative class is distinguished between the self‐employed and the paid‐employed in this paper. Based on panel data from 2000 to 2017 in China, we find the creative class of paid‐employed is more attracted by a quality of place with better ecological environment and more art and culture facilities, while the self‐employed creative class seems to live and work in an area with more financial benefit and high‐tech industries. This study contributes a theoretical model to explain why and how the type of the creative class is unevenly spatially distributed across China.
Continuous Dopaminergic Stimulation Improves Cortical Maladaptive Changes in Advanced Parkinson's Disease
Authors: Kolmančič Kaja , Zupančič Nina K. , Trošt Maja , Flisar Dušan , Kramberger Milica G. , Pirtošek Zvezdan , Kojović Maja
Published: April 2022

Background

With the progression of Parkinson's disease (PD), pulsatile treatment with oral levodopa causes maladaptive changes within basal ganglia‐thalamo‐cortical circuits, which are clinically expressed as motor fluctuations and dyskinesias. At the level of the motor cortex, these changes may be detected using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), as abnormal corticospinal and intracortical excitability and absent response to plasticity protocols.

Objective

We investigated the effect of continuous dopaminergic stimulation on cortical maladaptive changes related to oral levodopa treatment.

Methods

Twenty patients with advanced PD were tested using TMS within 1 week before and again 6 months after the introduction of levodopa‐carbidopa intestinal gel. We measured resting and active motor thresholds, input/output curve, short interval intracortical inhibition curve, cortical silent period, and response to intermittent theta burst stimulation. Patients were clinically assessed with Part III and Part IV of the Movement Disorders Society Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale.

Results

Six months after the introduction of levodopa‐carbidopa intestinal gel, motor fluctuations scores (P = 0.001) and dyskinesias scores (P < 0.001) were reduced. Resting and active motor threshold (P = 0.012 and P = 0.015) and x‐intercept of input/output curve (P = 0.005) were also decreased, while short‐interval intracortical inhibition and response to intermittent theta bust stimulation were improved (P = 0.026 and P = 0.031, respectively). Changes in these parameters correlated with clinical improvement.

Conclusions

In patients with advanced PD, switching from intermittent to continuous levodopa delivery increased corticospinal excitability and improved deficient intracortical inhibition and abnormal motor cortex plasticity, along with amelioration of motor fluctuations and dyskinesias. Continuous dopaminergic stimulation ameliorates maladaptive changes inflicted by chronic pulsatile dopaminergic stimulation. © 2022 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
Rapid, automated, and reliable antimicrobial susceptibility test from positive blood culture by CAST‐R
Authors: Zhu Pengfei , Ren Lihui , Zhu Ying , Dai Jing , Liu Huijie , Mao Yuli , Li Yuandong , He Yuehui , Zheng Xiaoshan , Chen Rongze , Fu Xiaoting , Zhang Lili , Sun Lijun , Zhu Yuanqi , Ji Yuetong , Ma Bo , Xu Yingchun , Xu Jian , Yang Qiwen
Published: April 2022

Antimicrobial susceptibility tests (ASTs) are pivotal in combating multidrug resistant pathogens, yet they can be time‐consuming, labor‐intensive, and unstable. Using the AST of tigecycline for sepsis as the main model, here we establish an automated system of Clinical Antimicrobials Susceptibility Test Ramanometry (CAST‐R), based on D2O‐probed Raman microspectroscopy. Featuring a liquid robot for sample pretreatment and a machine learning‐based control scheme for data acquisition and quality control, the 3‐h, automated CAST‐R process accelerates AST by >10‐fold, processes 96 paralleled antibiotic‐exposure reactions, and produces high‐quality Raman spectra. The Expedited Minimal Inhibitory Concentration via Metabolic Activity is proposed as a quantitative and broadly applicable parameter for metabolism‐based AST, which shows 99% essential agreement and 93% categorical agreement with the broth microdilution method (BMD) when tested on 100 Acinetobacter baumannii isolates. Further tests on 26 clinically positive blood samples for eight antimicrobials, including tigecycline, meropenem, ceftazidime, ampicillin/sulbactam, oxacillin, clindamycin, vancomycin, and levofloxacin reveal 93% categorical agreement with BMD‐based results. The automation, speed, reliability, and general applicability of CAST‐R suggest its potential utility for guiding the clinical administration of antimicrobials.
A well‐posed parameter identification for nonlocal diffusion problems
Authors: Zhang Shangyuan , Nie Yufeng
Published: April 2022

This paper concerns the problem of identifying the diffusion parameter in the nonlocal diffusion model. The parameter identification problem is formulated as an optimal control problem, and the objective of the control is a cost functional formulated by the energy functional. By using the nonlocal vector calculus, in a manner analogous to the local partial differential equations counterpart, we proved that the cost functional is a strictly convex functional with a unique global minimizer. Moreover, the existence and uniqueness of parameter identification are further demonstrated. Finally, one‐dimensional numerical experiments are given to illustrate our theoretical results and show that continuous and discontinuous parameters can be estimated.
On a multi‐point p$$ p $$‐Laplacian fractional differential equation with generalized fractional derivatives
Authors: Rezapour Shahram , Abbas Mohamed I. , Etemad Sina , Minh Dien Nguyen
Published: April 2022

In the current paper, we intend to check the existence aspects of solutions for a category of the multi‐point boundary value problem (BVP) involving a
‐Laplacian differential operator within the generalized fractional derivatives depending on another function. Based on two fixed point results attributed to Schaefer and Banach, the desired results are verified. Further, the continuity of solutions in terms of inputs (fractional orders, associated parameters, and appropriate function) is extensively discussed. A simulative example is prepared to demonstrate the applications of the obtained results.
Hybrid data fidelity term approach for quantitative susceptibility mapping
Authors: Lambert Mathias , Tejos Cristian , Langkammer Christian , Milovic Carlos
Published: April 2022

Purpose

Susceptibility maps are usually derived from local magnetic field estimations by minimizing a functional composed of a data consistency term and a regularization term. The data‐consistency term measures the difference between the desired solution and the measured data using typically the L2‐norm. It has been proposed to replace this L2‐norm with the L1‐norm, due to its robustness to outliers and reduction of streaking artifacts arising from highly noisy or strongly perturbed regions. However, in regions with high SNR, the L1‐norm yields a suboptimal denoising performance. In this work, we present a hybrid data fidelity approach that uses the L1‐norm and subsequently the L2‐norm to exploit the strengths of both norms.

Methods

We developed a hybrid data fidelity term approach for QSM (HD‐QSM) based on linear susceptibility inversion methods, with total variation regularization. Each functional is solved with ADMM. The HD‐QSM approach is a two‐stage method that first finds a fast solution of the L1‐norm functional and then uses this solution to initialize the L2‐norm functional. In both norms we included spatially variable weights that improve the quality of the reconstructions.

Results

The HD‐QSM approach produced good quantitative reconstructions in terms of structural definition, noise reduction, and avoiding streaking artifacts comparable with nonlinear methods, but with higher computational efficiency. Reconstructions performed with this method achieved first place at the lowest RMS error category in stage 1 of the 2019 QSM Reconstruction Challenge.

Conclusions

The proposed method allows robust and accurate QSM reconstructions, obtaining superior performance to state‐of‐the‐art methods.
Frequency importance analysis for chemical exchange saturation transfer magnetic resonance imaging using permuted random forest
Authors: Chen Yibing , Dang Xujian , Zhao Benqi , Chen Zhensen , Zhao Yingcheng , Zhao Fengjun , Zheng Zhuozhao , He Xiaowei , Peng Jinye , Song Xiaolei
Published: April 2022

Chemical exchange saturation transfer magnetic resonance imaging (CEST MRI) is a promising molecular imaging tool that allows sensitive detection of endogenous metabolic changes. However, because the CEST spectrum does not display a clear peak like MR spectroscopy, its signal interpretation is challenging, especially under 3‐T field strength or with a large saturation B1. Herein, as an alternative to conventional Z‐spectral fitting approaches, a permuted random forest (PRF) method is developed to determine featured saturation frequencies for lesion identification, so‐called CEST frequency importance analysis. Briefly, voxels in the CEST dataset were labeled as lesion and control according to multicontrast MR images. Then, by considering each voxel's saturation signal series as a sample, a permutation importance algorithm was employed to rank the contribution of saturation frequency offsets in the differentiation of lesion and normal tissue. Simulations demonstrated that PRF could correctly determine the frequency offsets (3.5 or −3.5 ppm) for classifying two groups of Z‐spectra, under a range of B0, B1 conditions and sample sizes. For ischemic rat brains, PRF only displayed high feature importance around amide frequency at 2 h postischemia, reflecting that the pH changes occurred at an early stage. By contrast, the data acquired at 24 h postischemia exhibited high feature importance at multiple frequencies (amide, water, and lipids), which suggested the complex tissue changes that occur during the later stages. Finally, PRF was assessed using 3‐T CEST data from four brain tumor patients. By defining the tumor region on amide proton transfer‐weighted images, PRF analysis identified different CEST frequency importance for two types of tumors (glioblastoma and metastatic tumor) (p < 0.05, with each image slice as a subject). In conclusion, the PRF method was able to rank and interpret the contribution of all acquired saturation offsets to lesion identification; this may facilitate CEST analysis in clinical applications, and open up new doors for comprehensive CEST analysis tools other than model‐based approaches.