bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An automated bi‐level optimization approach for IMRT
Authors: Carrasqueira P. , Alves M. J. , Dias J. M. , Rocha H. , Ventura T. , Ferreira B. C. , Lopes M. C.
Published: October 2021

Intensity‐modulated radiation therapy is used worldwide to treat cancer patients. The objective of this treatment is to deliver a prescribed radiation dose to the tumor while sparing, as much as possible, all the healthy tissues, especially organs at risk (OAR). This means that the planning of a radiotherapy treatment should take into consideration conflicting objectives: to be able to spare as much as possible the OAR guaranteeing, at the same time, that the desired radiation is delivered to the volumes to treat. While the volumes to treat can be adequately irradiated from almost any set of directions, the radiation directions that are chosen have a determinant impact on the OAR. This means that those directions that provide an improved OAR sparing should be selected. The choice of radiation directions (beam angles) can thus be interpreted as being fundamentally determined by the OAR, with the radiation intensities associated with each of these directions being determined by the needed radiation to be delivered to the volumes to treat. In this work, we interpret the radiotherapy treatment planning problem as a bi‐level optimization problem. At the upper level, OAR control the choice of the beam angles, which are selected aiming at OAR sparing. At the lower level, the optimal radiation intensities are decided by the volumes to treat, considering the beam angle ensemble obtained at the upper level. The proposed bi‐level approach was tested using 10 clinical head‐and‐neck cancer cases already treated at the Portuguese Institute of Oncology in Coimbra.
Ultrastrong tough zirconia ceramics by defects‐engineering
Authors: Zhu Tianbin , Xie Zhipeng
Published: October 2021

We report the preparation of a category of ultrastrong tough zirconia ceramics by engineering defects using an oscillatory pressure during pressure assisted sintering. The introduced oscillatory pressure enhances the dynamic grain rearrangement, plastic deformation, mass transportation, and pore removal, leading to the formation of pore‐free ceramics characterized by the rich coherent grain boundaries among individual mesocrystalline grains with intragranular quasi‐interfaces. As a proof of concept, the pressure required by oscillatory pressure sintering (OPS) for preparing fully dense 3Y‐TZP ceramics is significantly reduced, which is just ∼1/5 of that required by hot isostatic pressing. The OPS‐prepared 3Y‐TZP ceramics reached a record‐breaking high bending strength and fracture toughness, being up to 1.8 GPa and 16 MPa·m1/2, respectively. This success illustrates a universal principle of engineering defects for making breakthrough in exploring other ultrastrong tough ceramics.
Medication dose calculation errors and other numeracy mishaps in hospitals: Analysis of the nature and enablers of incident reports
Authors: Mulac Alma , Hagesaether Ellen , Granas Anne Gerd
Published: October 2021

Aims

To investigate medication dose calculation errors and other numeracy mishaps in hospitals and examine mechanisms and enablers which lead to such errors.

Design

A retrospective study using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis of the nature and enablers of reported incidents.

Methods

Medication dose calculation errors and other numeracy mishaps were identified from medication‐related incidents reported to the Norwegian Incident Reporting System in 2016 and 2017. The main outcome measures were medications and medication classes involved, severity of harm, outcome, and error enablers.

Results

In total, we identified 100 numeracy errors, of which most involved intravenous administration route (n = 70). Analgesics were the most commonly reported drug class and morphine was the most common individual medication. Overall, 78 incidents described patient harm. Frequent mechanisms were 10‐ or 100‐fold errors, mixing up units, and incorrect strength/rate entered into infusion pumps. The most frequent error enablers were: double check omitted or deviated (n = 40), lack of safety barriers to intercept prescribing errors (n = 25), and emergency/stress (n = 21).

Conclusion

Numeracy errors due to lack of or improper safeguards occurred during all medication management stages. Dose miscalculation after dilution of intravenous solutions, infusion pump programming, and double‐checking were identified as unsafe practices. We discuss measures to prevent future calculation and numeracy errors.

Impact

Our analysis of medication dose calculation errors and other numeracy mishaps demonstrates the need for improving safety steps and increase standardization for medication management procedures. We discuss organizational, technological, and educational measures to prevent harm from numeracy errors.
Improving care for dementia: Re‐imagining the advocacy playbook
Authors: Callahan Christopher M. , Stone Robyn I.
Published: October 2021

This editorial comments on the article by Hollister et al.
Changes in purchasing patterns in the beauty market due to Post–COVID‐19: Literature review
Authors: Ma Youngsil , Kwon Ki Han
Published: October 2021

Background

With online purchases' skyrocketing due to COVID‐19, there has been a big change in the beauty products consumers' purchase.

Aims

The purpose of this paper was to review the literature focusing on changes in purchasing patterns in the beauty market after COVID‐19 pandemic.

Methods

This review paper is a literature review, and the method is a narrative review.

Results

The past and present purchasing of beauty products were rapidly changed. The cosmetics and many beauty products were increased purchasing rate due to marketing of Wanghong broadcasting. Also, the non–face‐to‐face market environment has expanded after COVID‐19.

Conclusion

As COVID‐19 pandemic changes consumer values and lifestyle, its role and function are changing and its purchasing patterns are altered.
DTC genetic test for customized cosmetics in COVID‐19 pandemic: Focused on women in their 40s and 60s in Seoul, Republic of Korea
Authors: Lee Jinkyung , Kwon Ki Han
Published: October 2021

Background

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus disease 19 (COVID‐19) is attracting worldwide attention and has been declared an infectious disease by the World Health Organization (WHO), and accordingly, interest and meaning in health and well‐being are expanding in recent years.

Aims

This paper attempted to investigate the recognition and development potential of customized cosmetics focusing on inner beauty products through DTC (Direct to Customer) genetic testing in the era of COVID‐19 pandemic.

Patients/Methods

The number of women included in the survey of consumers living in Seoul metropolitan city ranged from 40 to 60, and 380 women in Republic of Korea. Statistical processing of the data collected by the data analysis method is analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) WIN25.0 statistical package program through the process of data coding and data cleansing.

Results

In this study, the DTC genetic test, single, and/or combination treatment for customized inner beauty products and customized cosmetics were compared and analyzed, respectively. Accordingly, in keeping with the rapidly changing market conditions, we sought to study customized inner beauty and customized cosmetics recognition and purchasing behavior through DTC genetic testing in the unexplored era after COVID‐19 pandemic. As a result, it was significantly more effective to use customized inner beauty and customized cosmetics after DTC genetic test (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

This study emphasizes that after the global COVID‐19 pandemic worldwide that occurred after January 2020, the definition of health persistence, wellness, and well‐dying associated with beauty and cosmetology is also evolving from the DTC genetic test. In our results, it was found for the first time that the intake of customized inner beauty preparations and the use of customized cosmetics would be more effective. In the above significant research results, it is believed that research on the combinational effect of customized inner beauty products and customized cosmetics is required in the global DTC genetic testing market.
Long‐term prediction intervals with many covariates
Authors: Karmakar Sayar , Chudý Marek , Biao Wu Wei
Published: October 2021

Accurate forecasting is one of the fundamental focuses in the literature of econometric time‐series. Often practitioners and policymakers want to predict outcomes of an entire time horizon in the future instead of just a singlek‐step ahead prediction. These series, apart from their own possible nonlinear dependence, are often also influenced by many external predictors. In this article, we construct prediction intervals of time‐aggregated forecasts in a high‐dimensional regression setting. Our approach is based on quantiles of residuals obtained by the popular LASSO routine. We allow for general heavy‐tailed, long‐memory, and nonlinear stationary error processes and stochastic predictors. Through a series of systematically arranged consistency results, we provide theoretical guarantees of our proposed quantile‐based method in all of these scenarios. After validating our approach using simulations, we also propose a novel bootstrap‐based method that can boost the coverage of the theoretical intervals. Finally analyzing the EPEX Spot data, we construct prediction intervals for hourly electricity prices over horizons spanning 17 weeks and contrast them to selected Bayesian and bootstrap interval forecasts.
Limited dispersal and local adaptation promote allopatric speciation in a biodiversity hotspot
Authors: Dool Serena E. , Picker Mike D. , Eberhard Monika J. B.
Published: October 2021

Recently diverged or diverging populations can offer unobstructed insights into early barriers to gene flow during the initial stages of speciation. The current study utilised a novel insect system (order Mantophasmatodea) to shed light on the early drivers of speciation. The members of this group have limited dispersal abilities, small allopatric distributions and strong habitat associations in the Cape Floristic Region biodiversity hotspot in South Africa. Sister taxa from the diverse family Austrophasmatidae were chosen as focal species (Karoophasma biedouwense, K. botterkloofense). Population genetics and Generalized Dissimilarity Modelling (GDM) were used to characterise spatial patterns of genetic variation and evaluate the contribution of environmental factors to population divergence and speciation. Extensive sampling confirmed the suspected allopatry of these taxa. However, hybrids were identified in a narrow region occurring between the species' distributions. Strong population structure was found over short geographic distances; particularly in K. biedouwense in which geographic distance accounted for 32% of genetic variation over a scale of 50 km (r = .56, p < .001). GDM explained 42%–78% of the deviance in observed genetic dissimilarities. Geographic distance was consistently indicated to be important for between species and within population differentiation, suggesting that limited dispersal ability may be an important neutral driver of divergence. Temperature, altitude, precipitation and vegetation were also indicated as important factors, suggesting the possible role of adaptation to local environmental conditions for species divergence. The discovery of the hybrid‐zone, and the multiple allopatric species pairs in Austrophasmatidae support the idea that this could be a promising group to further our understanding of speciation modes.
Mutually opposing activity of PIN7 splicing isoforms is required for auxin‐mediated tropic responses in Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Kashkan Ivan , Hrtyan Mónika , Retzer Katarzyna , Humpolíčková Jana , Jayasree Aswathy , Filepová Roberta , Vondráková Zuzana , Simon Sibu , Rombaut Debbie , Jacobs Thomas B. , Frilander Mikko J. , Hejátko Jan , Friml Jiří , Petrášek Jan , Růžička Kamil
Published: October 2021

Advanced transcriptome sequencing has revealed that the majority of eukaryotic genes undergo alternative splicing (AS). Nonetheless, little effort has been dedicated to investigating the functional relevance of particular splicing events, even those in the key developmental and hormonal regulators.

Combining approaches of genetics, biochemistry and advanced confocal microscopy, we describe the impact of alternative splicing on the PIN7 gene in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. PIN7 encodes a polarly localized transporter for the phytohormone auxin and produces two evolutionarily conserved transcripts, PIN7a and PIN7b.

PIN7a and PIN7b, differing in a four amino acid stretch, exhibit almost identical expression patterns and subcellular localization. We reveal that they are closely associated and mutually influence each other's mobility within the plasma membrane. Phenotypic complementation tests indicate that the functional contribution of PIN7b per se is minor, but it markedly reduces the prominent PIN7a activity, which is required for correct seedling apical hook formation and auxin‐mediated tropic responses.

Our results establish alternative splicing of the PIN family as a conserved, functionally relevant mechanism, revealing an additional regulatory level of auxin‐mediated plant development.
Systematic review and meta‐analysis: Prevalence of diabetes among patients with tuberculosis in China
Authors: Du Qianmei , Wang Leiting , Long Qian , Zhao Yong , Abdullah Abu S.
Published: October 2021

Objective

Tuberculosis (TB) and diabetes mellitus (DM) are both significant public health problems in China. Results of previous studies on the prevalence of DM among TB patients in China are inconsistent. We conducted this systematic review and meta‐analysis to estimate the overall prevalence of DM among TB patients in China.

Methods

We systematically searched Excerpta Medica Database, PubMed, Global Health, Ovid MEDLINE(R), Chinese Biomedical Literature Service System, and China Online Journals −Health & Medicine and included all observational studies reporting prevalence of DM among TB patients in China. The Cochran's Q‐statistic and were used to test heterogeneity. Finally, a random‐effect model meta‐analysis was conducted to estimate the pooled prevalence of DM among TB patients in China using R studio.

Results

We screened 7043 articles and identified 43 eligible studies. The pooled prevalence was 7.8% (95% prediction interval 1.6–30.5,  = 99.2%). The highest prevalence was observed in Northeast China (21.9%) among four economic regions of China, followed by East Coast (8.3%), Western China (5.9%), with Central China having the lowest prevalence (5.1%). Higher prevalence was observed in urban (10.1%) than in rural (7.8%) areas, and in hospital‐based (9.0%) than in population‐based studies (6.9%).

Conclusions

This study suggests that the prevalence of DM among TB patients in China aligns with the overall DM prevalence among the public in China. Public health strategies to reduce the burden of TB‐DM comorbidity and inequity are needed.
Transformer-Based Patent Novelty Search by Training Claims to Their Own Description
Authors: Freunek Michael , Bodmer André
Published: October 2021

In this paper we present a method to concatenate patent claims to their own description. By applying this method, bidirectional encoder representations from transformers (BERT) train suitable descriptions for claims. Such a trained BERT could be able to identify novelty relevant descriptions for patents. In addition, we introduce a new scoring scheme: relevance score or novelty score to interprete the output of BERT. We test the method on patent applications by training BERT on the first claims of patents and corresponding descriptions. The output is processed according to the relevance score and the results compared with the cited X documents in the search reports. The test shows that BERT score some of the cited X documents as highly relevant.
Estimación de la incertidumbre en la calibración de esfigmomanómetros según OIML R16-1 desde una perspectiva de metrología legal
Authors: Ramírez-Barrera Andrés Felipe , Delgado-Trejos Edilson , Ramírez-Gómez Vanessa
Published: October 2021

Objetivo: Estimar la incertidumbre en la calibración de esfigmomanómetros bajo la OIML R16-1 desde una perspectiva de metrología legal.  Materiales y métodos: Se seleccionaron aleatoriamente cuatro (4) esfigmomanómetros de diferentes marcas con resolución de 2 mmHg para realizar la calibración, la cual consiste en realizar comparaciones directas entre el esfigmomanómetro y un manómetro patrón digital con resolución de 0,01 mmHg, generando presión por medio de una pinza neumática. La incertidumbre se estima usando la Guía para la Expresión de la Incertidumbre de Medida (GUM) y la recomendación internacional OIML R16-1, mediante dos series de mediciones, cada una con secuencia ascendente y descendente, para obtener en cada caso 4 mediciones con su error correspondiente. Resultados y discusión: Se obtiene la representación de la incertidumbre en sus expresiones tipo A, tipo B y expandida, por medio de un modelado físico y matemático no estocástico. De las series de mediciones obtenidas del esfigmomanómetro en los procesos de calibración, se analizan los aportes obtenidos de incertidumbre, donde se infiere que la incertidumbre predominante, en la mayoría de los casos, es por resolución del equipo, seguido del comportamiento del equipo en la prueba de repetibilidad e histéresis. Conclusiones: La estructura propuesta para la estimación de la incertidumbre sigue los lineamientos internacionales y puede usarse también en procesos de aprobación de modelo para un impacto final en la seguridad del paciente.
Filosofía y experiencia en Hegel: la Fenomenología del espíritu y la Enciclopedia de las ciencias filosóficas en diálogo
Authors: Forero Pineda Fernando
Published: October 2021

En la versión del sistema de la Enciclopedia de las ciencias filosóficas, el propio Hegel establece un entronque entre la Fenomenología del espíritu y su filosofía posterior. Este artículo examina una vez más esta conexión. Si uno de los aspectos característicos de la Fenomenología consiste en que ella no se identifica plenamente con la reflexión filosófica sistemática ni representa un puro tratado sobre la experiencia humana, sino que se elabora a horcajadas entre estos dos extremos, lo que se hace evidente en la “Fenomenología” de la Enciclopedia es que allí la obra parece alejarse de la exposición del camino de la experiencia de la conciencia natural. Esto obedece a que la “Fenomenología” de la Enciclopedia ya no parece establecer una conexión tan clara entre filosofía y experiencia o, en otra formulación, no parece asumir que los planteamientos filosóficos ganen su verdad mediante su encarnación en la praxis humana. Al hilo de la pregunta por la relación entre la Fenomenología del espíritu y la Enciclopedia de las ciencias filosóficas, este artículo considera la idea de filosofía presente en ambas obras, así como la enigmática relación entre experiencia y filosofía.
La intencionalidad como impulso formador: notas para una lectura fenomenológica del origen conjunto del organismo y su mundo circundante
Authors: Moreno Mancipe Diego Fernando
Published: October 2021

Este artículo busca mostrar cómo una aproximación fenomenológica a la alteridad puede ser iluminada por un acercamiento al estudio del comportamiento de los animales. El vínculo entre etología y fenomenología, que solo es comprendido plenamente en su dimensión afectiva, se construye a través de una exploración en la que la intencionalidad (Intentionalität) fenomenológica aparece como impulso formador (Bildungstrieb) del organismo, su comportamiento y mundo circundante (Umwelt). Esto significa que la intencionalidad no constituye estructuras determinadas, sino procesos plásticos y dinámicos, capaces de vehicular tanto la génesis del organismo como la de su mundo. Entender la formación como un desarrollo epigenético permite advertir que la forma es un acontecimiento, el fruto de una potencia que va de lo general a lo particular, de las estructuras generales de la experiencia de una especie a la proliferación variopinta de perspectivas.
Silogística estadística usando términos
Authors: Castro-Manzano J.-Martín
Published: October 2021

En esta contribución proponemos una representación de un fragmento de la silogística estadística de Thompson usando la lógica de términos de Sommers. El resultado es una interpretación terminista de la silogística estadística.
Study of Concentration-depth Profiles of the Titanium and Nitrogen Ions by SRIM/TRIM Simulation
Authors: Pabón-Beltrán Andrea Carolina , Sanabria-Martínez Felipe , Vásquez-Quintero Custodio , Barba-Ortega José José , Valbuena-Niño Ely Dannier
Published: October 2021

In this research, the concentration-depth profiles reached by titanium and nitrogen particles, on the surface of AISI/SAE 1020 carbon steel substrates, by using of ion implantation technique, are studied. The ions are surface deposited by means of high voltage pulsed discharges and electric arc discharge under high vacuum conditions. The concentration and position distribution of the metallic and non-metallic species are obtained by simulation of the interaction of ions with the matter, stopping and ranges of ions in the matter, by the computer program transport of ions in matter. The implantation dose is calculated from the discharge data and the previously established study parameters in this work. From the simulation results, the depth profiles demonstrated that titanium and nitrogen ions may reach up to 300 Å and 600 Å and concentrations of 1.478 x 1016 ions⁄cm2 and 2.127 x 1016 ions⁄cm2, respectively. The formation of titanium microdroplets upon the surface of the substrates is identified from the micrographs obtained by the scanning electron microscopy technique; furthermore, the presence of titanium and nitrogen implanted on the surface of the substrate is verified through the elemental composition analysis by the energy dispersive spectroscopy, validating the effect of ion implantation on ferrous alloys.
Numerical Soliton Solutions of Fractional Modified (2 + 1)-Dimensional Konopelchenko–Dubrovsky Equations in Plasma Physics
Authors: Saha Ray S. , Sagar B
Published: October 2021

In this paper, the time-fractional modified (2 + 1)-dimensional Konopelchenko–Dubrovsky equations have been solved numerically using the Kansa method, in which the multiquadrics is used as radial basis function. To achieve this, a numerical scheme based on finite difference and Kansa method has been proposed. The stability and convergence of the proposed time-discretized scheme are theoretically proven. Also, the solitary wave solutions have been obtained by using Kudryashov technique. The computed results are compared with the exact solutions as well as with the soliton solutions obtained by Kudryashov technique to show the accuracy of the proposed method.
Towards Robust Methodology in Large-Scale Urban Reconstruction
Authors: García-Moreno Angel-Iván
Published: October 2021

The digitization of geographic environments, such as cities and archaeological sites, is of priority interest to the scientific community due to its potential applications. But there are still several issues to address. A comprehensive methodology is presented to reconstruct urban environments using a mobile land platform. All the implemented stages are described, the process to merge several point clouds to build a large-scale map is described, as well as the texture extraction and generation of surfaces, being able to render large urban areas using a low density of points but without losing the details of the structures within the urban scenes. The proposal is evaluated using several metrics, for example, coverage and root-mean-square-error (RMSE). The results are compared against three methodologies reported in the literature, obtaining better results in the 2D/3D data fusion process and the generation of surfaces. Presented method has a low RMSE (0.79) compared to the other methods and a runtime of approximately 40 s to process each data set (point cloud, panoramic image, and inertial data). In general, the proposed methodology shows a more homogeneous density distribution without losing the details, that is, it conserves the spatial distribution of the points, but with fewer data.
Glycogen synthase kinase 3 drives thymocyte egress by suppressing β-catenin activation of Akt
Authors: Liu Chenfeng , Ma Lei , Wang Yuxuan , Zhao Jiayi , Chen Pengda , Chen Xian , Wang Yingxin , Hu Yanyan , Liu Yun , Jia Xian , Yang Zhanghua , Yin Xingzhi , Wu Jianfeng , Wu Suqin , Zheng Haiping , Ma Xiaohong , Sun Xiufeng , He Ying , Lin Lianghua , Fu Yubing , Liao Kunyu , Zhou Xiaojuan , Jiang Shan , Fu Guofeng , Tang Jian , Han Wei , Chen Xiao Lei , Fan Wenzhu , Hong Yazhen , Han Jiahuai , Huang Xiangyang , Li Bo-An , Xiao Nengming , Xiao Changchun , Fu Guo , Liu Wen-Hsien
Published: October 2021

GSK3 controls thymocyte egress by regulating a Foxo1-Klf2-S1P
1
axis through dampening β-catenin–mediated Akt activation.
Efficient light-emitting diodes based on oriented perovskite nanoplatelets
Authors: Cui Jieyuan , Liu Yang , Deng Yunzhou , Lin Chen , Fang Zhishan , Xiang Chensheng , Bai Peng , Du Kai , Zuo Xiaobing , Wen Kaichuan , Gong Shaolong , He Haiping , Ye Zhizhen , Gao Yunan , Tian He , Zhao Baodan , Wang Jianpu , Jin Yizheng
Published: October 2021

Oriented nanoplatelets improve light extraction, enabling perovskite light-emitting diodes with high efficiency.
Customizable, conformal, and stretchable 3D electronics via predistorted pattern generation and thermoforming
Authors: Choi Jungrak , Han Chankyu , Cho Seokjoo , Kim Kyuyoung , Ahn Junseong , Del Orbe Dionisio , Cho Incheol , Zhao Zhi-Jun , Oh Yong Suk , Hong Hyunsoo , Kim Seong Su , Park Inkyu
Published: October 2021

Thermoforming is a versatile technique to fabricate stretchable and customizable 3DEs for a variety of wearable applications.
MagneTEskin—Reconstructing skin by magnetically induced assembly of autologous microtissue cores
Authors: Fuchs Christiane , Pham Linh , Wang Ying , Farinelli William A. , Anderson R. Rox , Tam Joshua
Published: October 2021

Replicating the structure and orientation of full-thickness skin by magnetically-induced assembling of micro tissue cores.
3D microelectrode cluster and stimulation paradigm yield powerful analgesia without noticeable adverse effects
Authors: Forni Matilde , Thorbergsson Palmi Thor , Thelin Jonas , Schouenborg Jens
Published: October 2021

Powerful pain relief without noticeable adverse effects is attainable with high-definition granular brain stimulation.
Biosymbiotic, personalized, and digitally manufactured wireless devices for indefinite collection of high-fidelity biosignals
Authors: Stuart Tucker , Kasper Kevin Albert , Iwerunmor Ifechukwude Christian , McGuire Dylan Thomas , Peralta Roberto , Hanna Jessica , Johnson Megan , Farley Max , LaMantia Thomas , Udorvich Paul , Gutruf Philipp
Published: October 2021

Presenting 3D printed, personalized biosymbiotic devices for continuous monitoring of high-fidelity biosignals.
Phenylalanine: Transplacental Concentrations in Rhesus Monkeys
Authors: Kerr George R. , Waisman Harry A.
Published: October 2021

Amino acids are actively transported across the mammalian placenta, with concentrations in fetal blood being higher than those in the maternal circulation. Elevated concentrations of phenylalanine were induced by dietary means in the blood of pregnant rhesus monkeys, and the active transport mechanism was evident at both normal and elevated concentrations. A normal placental process may thus magnify a maternal biochemical abnormality and produce a more profound disturbance in the fetus.
Cyclopentyl Ketones: Identification and Function in
Azteca
Ants
Authors: Wheeler James W. , Evans Stanley L. , Blum Murray S. , Torgerson Richard L.
Published: October 2021

The anal gland secretions of dolichoderine ants in the genus
Azteca
are fortified with cyclopentyl ketones. Since these compounds, 2-methylcyclopentanone,
cis
-1-acetyl-2-methylcyclopentane, and 2-acetyl-3-methylcyclopentene, release sustained alarm behavior in ant workers, they constitute a new chemical class of insect pheromones. The ketones probably also function as defensive compounds and thus are part of the ants' alarm-defense system.
Cholesterol 25-hydroxylase is a metabolic switch to constrain T cell–mediated inflammation in the skin
Authors: Takahashi H. , Nomura H. , Iriki H. , Kubo A. , Isami K. , Mikami Y. , Mukai M. , Sasaki T. , Yamagami J. , Kudoh J. , Ito H. , Kamata A. , Kurebayashi Y. , Yoshida H. , Yoshimura A. , Sun H. W. , Suematsu M. , O’Shea J. J. , Kanno Y. , Amagai M.
Published: October 2021

CD4
+
T cells limit pathogenic bystander T cell expansion by suppressing cholesterol biosynthesis via secreted 25-hydroxycholesterol.
Alterations in the Transcriptional Landscape Allow Differential Desiccation Tolerance in Clinical Cronobacter sakazakii
Authors: Cao Yu , Dever Katherine , Sivasankaran Sathesh Kumar , Nguyen Scott V. , Macori Guerrino , Naithani Ankita , Gopinath Gopal R. , Tall Ben , Lehner Angelika , Stephan Roger , Srikumar Shabarinath , Fanning Séamus
Published: October 2021

Cronobacter sakazakii
has led to outbreaks in the past, particularly associated with foods that are low in moisture content. This species has adapted to survive in low water conditions and can survive in such environments for long periods.
Aspergillus Lateral Flow Assay with Digital Reader for the Diagnosis of COVID-19-Associated Pulmonary Aspergillosis (CAPA): a Multicenter Study
Authors: Autier Brice , Prattes Juergen , White P. Lewis , Valerio Maricela , Machado Marina , Price Jessica , Egger Matthias , Gangneux Jean-Pierre , Hoenigl Martin
Published: October 2021

This multicenter study evaluated the IMMY
Aspergillus
Galactomannan Lateral Flow Assay (LFA) with automated reader for diagnosis of pulmonary aspergillosis in patients with COVID-19-associated acute respiratory failure (ARF) requiring intensive care unit (ICU) admission between 03/2020 and 04/2021. A total of 196 respiratory samples and 148 serum samples (
n
 = 344) from 238 patients were retrospectively included, with a maximum of one of each sample type per patient.
M1 Macrophage Polarization Prevails in Epstein-Barr Virus-Infected Children in an Immunoregulatory Environment
Authors: Moyano A. , Ferressini Gerpe N. M. , De Matteo E. , Preciado M. V. , Chabay P.
Published: October 2021

Most studies on Epstein Barr virus (EBV) primary infection have been performed in adolescents and young adult populations with Infectious Mononucleosis (IM) in developed countries. Furthermore, studies related to macrophage polarization were assessed in EBV-associated lymphomas, but little is known about macrophage polarization in the context of primary infection at the site of viral entry and replication, the tonsils.
Long Noncoding RNA MIR2187HG Suppresses TBK1-Mediated Antiviral Signaling by Deriving miR-2187-3p in Teleost Fish
Authors: Chang Renjie , Zheng Weiwei , Sun Yuena , Geng Shang , Xu Tianjun
Published: October 2021

SCRV infection upregulates MIR2187HG levels, which in turn suppresses SCRV-triggered type I interferon production, thus promoting viral replication in miiuy croaker. Notably, MIR2187HG regulates the release of miR-2187-3p, and TBK1 is a target of miR-2187-3p.
Triple therapy with adalimumab, ustekinumab and methotrexate for induction of remission in moderate to severe ileocolonic Crohn’s disease with upper gastrointestinal involvement in a biologic-experienced individual
Authors: Yu Na , Sarwal Dhruv , Ash Ryan , Aslinia Florence M
Published: October 2021

Induction of remission in biologic-experienced individuals with moderate to severe Crohn’s disease (CD) can be a challenge. We hereby present a case of CD with secondary non-response to infliximab. Adding methotrexate and switching to ustekinumab plus methotrexate did not stop the inflammatory process. Therefore, combination therapy with two classes of biologics consisting of ustekinumab and adalimumab plus methotrexate was initiated. He achieved clinical remission in 4 weeks and remained on triple therapy for 6 months which was subsequently tailored to adalimumab/methotrexate combination therapy due to insurance restriction on ustekinumab. He remained in remission for the duration of follow-up, 14 months after initiation of triple therapy and 8 months after switching to methotrexate/adalimumab biologic monotherapy. Triple therapy with anti-TNF, IL-12/23 inhibitor and methotrexate could potentially be an option for induction of remission in biologic-experienced individuals with good initial clinical response to anti-TNF agents.
Atypical presentations of non-familial anterior megalophthalmos: a rare disease
Authors: Rao Aparna , Dcruz Rakhi P
Published: October 2021

Anterior megalophthalmos usually presents early in life with megalocornea, deep anterior chamber, raised intraocular pressure, glaucomatous optic nerve damage and iridodonesis/stromal thinning with positive family history. We report atypical features and presentations in two patients (four eyes) with non-familial megalophthalmos. While the first patient, a male, presented at 51 years of age with megalocornea, cataract, phacodonesis, normal pupillary dilatation/normal iris and advanced glaucoma, the second patient presented with iridodonesis with stromal thinning, aphakia and advanced glaucoma. The family history was negative in both patients. The vitreous index was unusually high, >70% in all four eyes, owing to aphakia in the second patient and possible late presentation/variant phenotype in the first patient. Thus, atypical features such as greater vitreous length, absent iris involvement and late-onset adult presentation are common in non-familial anterior megalophthalmos. Clinical surprises due to varied phenotypes should be kept in mind in such cases.
Laparoscopic management of type VI choledochal cyst with common bile duct stone: report of a case and review of literature
Authors: Revathi G , Singh Brijesh Kumar , Rathore Yashwant Singh , Chumber Sunil
Published: October 2021

A young adult male presented with biliary colic and intermittent jaundice for 1 year. Abdomen findings were unremarkable. Routine investigations revealed a raised total bilirubin. On abdominal ultrasonography, common bile duct (CBD) dilatation with multiple stones was noted. On further imaging with magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography, type I choledochal cyst (CDC) was suspected. A laparoscopic approach was planned. Intraoperatively, dilatation of cystic duct was noted which constitute type VI CDC. Partial malrotation of the gut and accessory right hepatic artery were also noted as incidental finding. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy with CBD exploration and removal of stones, biliary stent placement, cystic duct cyst excision and primary repair of CBD was done. Postoperatively, the patient improved symptomatically with a fall in bilirubin to normal range. We are describing the laparoscopic management of a rare case of type IV CDC which was diagnosed intraoperatively.
A rare case of rectal bleeding andFusobacterium mortiferumsepsis due to solitary fibrous tumour originating from the mesentery
Authors: Perinkulam Sathyanarayanan Swaminathan , Hamid Khizar , Hoerschgen Kayla , Oliver Tony
Published: October 2021

Solitary fibrous tumours (SFTs) are rare mesenchymal tumours that are mostly seen in the pleura. Lately, they have also been described in other locations. Recent discovery of the NAB2-STAT6 fusion gene which is specific for SFTs has led to an accurate diagnosis of SFTs. The occurrence of SFTs in the mesentery is very rarely reported in the literature. We report a case of a 63-year-old female who presented with abdominal pain, rectal bleeding andFusobacteriumbacteraemia, who was ultimately found to have a mesenteric SFT.
Rapidly progressive heart failure after dual-chamber pacemaker implantation
Authors: Seydoux Claire , Suter Philipp , Graf Denis , Vivekanantham Hari
Published: October 2021

Pacing-induced cardiomyopathy (PICM) consists of heart failure (HF) associated with a drop in the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in the setting of high-burden right ventricular pacing, with presentation that may range from subclinical to severe. Time to manifestation can go from weeks to years after device implantation. Treatment typically consists in an upgrade to a cardiac resynchronisation therapy (CRT) or His bundle pacing (HisP). Several risk factors for PICM have been described and should be considered before pacemaker (PM) implantation, as thorough patient selection for de novo CRT or HisP, may preclude its manifestation. We present the case of an 82-year-old patient presenting with acute congestive HF and new severely reduced LVEF, 30 days following dual chamber PM implantation for high-grade atrioventricular block. Treatment with HF medication and upgrade to a CRT permitted rapid resolution of the symptoms and normalisation of the LVEF at 1-month follow-up.
Infliximab-induced interstitial lung disease
Authors: Karampitsakos Theodoros , Papaioannou Ourania , Sampsonas Fotios , Tzouvelekis Argyrios
Published: October 2021

A 70-year-old man was referred to our respiratory department with non-productive cough over the past 6 months. High-resolution CT revealed reticular pattern with basal and peripheral predominance, centrilobular nodules and mild ground glass opacities. Serology tests were normal and bronchoalveolar lavage revealed lymphocytosis. Pulmonary function tests showed functional impairment and reduced diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide. Meticulous evaluation of patient’s medical history unveiled longitudinal administration of infliximab due to diagnosis of psoriasis. The working diagnosis of drug-induced interstitial lung disease was proposed following multidisciplinary discussion. Considerable radiological and functional improvement was determined 6 months following infliximab discontinuation without implementation of corticosteroids. To this end, the patient has reported remission of cough and functional improvement.
Varying association of laboratory values with reference ranges and outcomes in critically ill patients: an analysis of data from five databases in four countries across Asia, Europe and North America
Authors: Xu Haoran , Agha-Mir-Salim Louis , O’Brien Zachary , Huang Dora C , Li Peiyao , Gómez Josep , Liu Xiaoli , Liu Tongbo , Yeung Wesley , Thoral Patrick , Elbers Paul , Zhang Zhengbo , Saera María Bodí , Celi Leo Anthony
Published: October 2021

Background

Despite wide usage across all areas of medicine, it is uncertain how useful standard reference ranges of laboratory values are for critically ill patients.

Objectives

The aim of this study is to assess the distributions of standard laboratory measurements in more than 330 selected intensive care units (ICUs) across the USA, Amsterdam, Beijing and Tarragona; compare differences and similarities across different geographical locations and evaluate how they may be associated with differences in length of stay (LOS) and mortality in the ICU.

Methods

A multi-centre, retrospective, cross-sectional study of data from five databases for adult patients first admitted to an ICU between 2001 and 2019 was conducted. The included databases contained patient-level data regarding demographics, interventions, clinical outcomes and laboratory results. Kernel density estimation functions were applied to the distributions of laboratory tests, and the overlapping coefficient and Cohen standardised mean difference were used to quantify differences in these distributions.

Results

The 259 382 patients studied across five databases in four countries showed a high degree of heterogeneity with regard to demographics, case mix, interventions and outcomes. A high level of divergence in the studied laboratory results (creatinine, haemoglobin, lactate, sodium) from the locally used reference ranges was observed, even when stratified by outcome.

Conclusion

Standardised reference ranges have limited relevance to ICU patients across a range of geographies. The development of context-specific reference ranges, especially as it relates to clinical outcomes like LOS and mortality, may be more useful to clinicians.
Migraine and tension-type headache among undergraduate medical, dental and pharmaceutical students of University of Aleppo: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Alkarrash Mohamad Shadi , Shashaa Mohammad Nour , Kitaz Mohammad Nour , Rhayim Roaa , Alhasan Mahmoud Mohamad , Alassadi Maya , Aldakhil Ahmad , Alkhamis Mohamad , Ajam Mohanad , Douba Mohamad , Banjah Bashar , Ismail Ahmad , Zazo Aya , Zazo Rama , Abdulwahab Majd , Alkhamis Ali , Arab Abdullah , Alameen Mohammad Homam , Farfouti Mohamed Taher
Published: October 2021

Introduction

Headache disorders are among the most common 10 causes of disability worldwide according to the global burden of disease survey 2010. Headache is also wildly common among universities students when compared with other populations. The purpose of this study is to assess headache prevalence among Aleppo University medical, dental and pharmaceutical undergraduate students.

Methods

A questionnaire-based cross-sectional study was conducted among medical, dental and pharmaceutical students at Aleppo University, Syria. We determined the type of headache according to the International Classification of Headache Disorder-III. The total number of participants was 2068. A χ2test was used to evaluate the association between the categorical outcomes. P<0.05 was considered significant.

Results

Out of 2068 participants, 1604 (77.6%) were medical students, 205 (9.9%) were dental students and 259 (12.5%) were pharmaceutical students. The effect on daily activities was higher in chronic tension headache (96.7%) and migraine without aura (94.6%) than migraine with aura (91.3) and episodic tension headache (85.1%). Out of 1191 who had a headache, only 188 (15.9%) had a medical consultation.

Conclusions

There was no a statistically significant difference in prevalence of tension headache and migraine according to faculties. There was a statistically significant difference in patients with migraine according to academic year, living with family and smoking. The effect on daily activities was higher in chronic tension-type headache and migraine without aura. There is a significant lack of medical consultation among students and most of them took over the counter analgesics depending on personal choice.
Screening for SARS-CoV-2 infection in asymptomatic individuals using the Panbio COVID-19 antigen rapid test (Abbott) compared with RT-PCR: a prospective cohort study
Authors: Winkel Beatrice , Schram Emma , Gremmels Hendrik , Debast Sylvia , Schuurman Rob , Wensing Annemarie , Bonten Marc , Goedhart Edwin , Hofstra Marije
Published: October 2021

Background

Antigen-based point-of-care tests for identification of SARS-CoV-2 may markedly enhance effectiveness of population-based controlling strategies. Previous studies have demonstrated >70% sensitivity and high specificity compared with reverse transcriptase real-time PCR (RT-PCR) in symptomatic individuals, but test performance for asymptomatic individuals is unknown.

Methods

Test performance of the Panbio COVID-19 Ag Rapid Test (Abbott) was compared with RT-PCR in a longitudinal cohort study of asymptomatic football players and staff members of professional football clubs. Based on timing of symptoms and prior and subsequent test results, positive RT-PCR tests were categorised as presymptomatic, early or late infection, or persistent RNA shedding.

Findings

2425 tests were performed in 824 individuals, of which 52 (6.3%) were SARS-CoV-2 positive based on RT-PCR. There were 2406 paired sets from asymptomatic subjects for analysis. Sixteen Panbio tests were inconclusive, for which sensitivity analyses were performed (considering results as either positive or negative or being excluded). Sensitivity of Panbio for screening of asymptomatic individuals ranged from 80.0% (61.4–92.3) to 86.67% (69.2–96.2) and specificity from 99.53% (95% CI 99.2 to 99.8) to 100% (95% CI 99.8 to 100). Sensitivity of Panbio to detect subjects with presymptomatic/early infection (n=42) ranged from 81.82% (95% CI 67.3 to 91.8) to 90.91% (95% CI 78.3 to 97.5) with specificity always above 99%.

Interpretation

The Panbio COVID-19 Ag rapid test identifies 81%–90% of presymptomatic and early asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infections with high specificity. This test may therefore be adopted in testing strategies such as targeted screening of specific populations where prevalence is low.
Efficacy of metamizole versus ibuprofen and a short educational intervention versus standard care in acute and subacute low back pain: a study protocol of a randomised, multicentre, factorial trial (EMISI trial)
Authors: Wertli Maria M , Flury Julian S , Streit Sven , Limacher Andreas , Schuler Vanessa , Ferrante Asha-Naima , Rimensberger Caroline , Haschke Manuel
Published: October 2021

Introduction

Low back pain (LBP) is among the top three most common diseases worldwide, resulting in a life with pain-related disability. To date, no study has assessed the efficacy of metamizole (dipyrone), a non-opioid analgesic and antipyretic prodrug compared with the conventional non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug ibuprofen, in patients with an acute LBP episode. Further, it is unclear, whether a short educational intervention is superior to usual care alone.

Objectives

The objective of this study is to assess first, whether metamizole is non-inferior to ibuprofen in a new episode of acute or subacute LBP. Second, we aim to assess whether a short educational intervention including evidence-based patient information on the nature of LBP is superior to usual care alone.

Methods and analysis

An investigator-initiated multicentre, randomised, double blind trial using a factorial design will be performed. A total of 120 participants with a new episode of LBP will be recruited from GP practices, outpatient clinics and from emergency departments, and randomised into four different treatment groups: ibuprofen alone, ibuprofen and short intervention, metamizole alone, metamizole and short intervention. The primary endpoint for the medical treatment will be change in pain assessed on an 11-point Numeric Rating Scale after 14 days. The primary outcome for the short intervention will be change in the Core Outcome Measures Index assessed after 42 days.

Ethics, dissemination and funding

This study has been approved by the responsible Ethics Board (Ethikkommission Bern/2018-01986) and the Swiss Agency for Therapeutic Products (Swissmedic/2019DR4002). Results will be published in open access policy peer-reviewed journals. The study is funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation (grant number 32 003B-179346).

Trial registration number

NCT04111315