bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Metaplastic breast carcinoma: an overview of the radio-pathologic features in retrospective cohort tertiary hospital
Authors: Alhaidary Amal Abdulwahab , Arabi Haitham , Elessawy Manar , Alkushi Abdulmohsen
Published: April 2022

Background

Metaplastic breast carcinoma (MBC) is a rare type of breast carcinoma. It accounts for 0.2–1% of all invasive breast carcinoma. The aim of this study is to investigate the radiological features of this tumor and correlate them with the pathological findings.

Results

Of the 22 patients with pathology-proven metaplastic cancers, 18 patients  (81.82%) presented with a palpable mass. The majority of the mammogram findings were masses with irregular shapes (n = 12, 63.16%) and indistinct margins (n = 11, 57.89%). Similarly, the majority of the ultrasound studies showed masses with irregular shapes (n = 16, 72.73%) and indistinct margins (n = 8, 36.36%). Most of the echopatterns were complex or with heterogeneous textures, each presented in eight cases (36.36%). More than half of the cases had a posterior acoustic enhancement (n = 12, 54.55%). Most of the cases tested negative for estrogen receptors, progesterone receptors and HER2 protein, and they were high-grade tumors with a high proliferative index (Ki-67%) of > 15%.

Conclusion

MBC is a rare and distinct aggressive breast cancer with no definite characteristic imaging compared to other breast cancer. It shows a mass with irregular shape and indistinct margins in both mammogram and ultrasound. Additionally, it reveals posterior acoustic enhancement and rarely contains microcalcifications. The correlation with the pathological findings is crucial for the diagnosis and subsequent appropriate treatment.
Pragmatic considerations and approaches for measuring staff time as an implementation cost in health systems and clinics: key issues and applied examples
Authors: Huebschmann Amy G. , Trinkley Katy E. , Gritz Mark , Glasgow Russell E.
Published: April 2022

Background

As the field of implementation science wrestles with the need for system decision-makers to anticipate the budget impact of implementing new programs, there has been a push to report implementation costs more transparently. For this purpose, the method of time-driven activity-based costing (TDABC) has been heralded as a pragmatic advance. However, a recent TDABC review found that conventional methods for estimating staff time remain resource-intensive and called for simpler alternatives. Our objective was to conceptually compare conventional and emerging TDABC approaches to measuring staff time.

Methods

Our environmental scan of TDABC methods identified several categories of approaches for staff time estimation; across these categories, staff time was converted to cost as a pro-rated fraction of salary/benefits. Conventional approaches used a process map to identify each step of program delivery and estimated the staff time used at each step in one of 3 ways: (a) uniform estimates of time needed for commonly occurring tasks (self-report), (b) retrospective “time diary” (self-report), or (c) periodic direct observation. In contrast, novel semi-automated electronic health record (EHR) approaches “nudge” staff to self-report time for specific process map step(s)—serving as a contemporaneous time diary. Also, novel EHR-based automated approaches include timestamps to track specific steps in a process map. We compared the utility of these TDABC approach categories according to the 5 R’s model that measures domains of interest to system decision-makers: relevance, rapidity, rigor, resources, and replicability, and include two illustrative case examples.

Results

The 3 conventional TDABC staff time estimation methods are highly relevant to settings but have limited rapidity, variable rigor, are rather resource-intensive, and have varying replicability. In contrast to conventional TDABC methods, the semi-automated and automated EHR-based approaches have high rapidity, similar rigor, similar replicability, and are less resource-intensive, but have varying relevance to settings.

Conclusions

This synthesis and evaluation of conventional and emerging methods for staff time estimation by TDABC provides the field of implementation science with options beyond the current approaches. The field remains pressed to innovatively and pragmatically measure costs of program delivery that rate favorably across all of the 5 R’s domains.
High-Dose Treosulfan and Melphalan as Consolidation Therapy Versus Standard Therapy for High-Risk (Metastatic) Ewing Sarcoma
Authors: Koch Raphael , Gelderblom Hans , Haveman Lianne , Brichard Benedicte , Jürgens Heribert , Cyprova Sona , van den Berg Henk , Hassenpflug Wolf , Raciborska Anna , Ek Torben , Baumhoer Daniel , Egerer Gerlinde , Eich Hans Theodor , Renard Marleen , Hauser Peter , Burdach Stefan , Bovee Judith , Bonar Fiona , Reichardt Peter , Kruseova Jarmila , Hardes Jendrik , Kühne Thomas , Kessler Torsten , Collaud Stephane , Bernkopf Marie , Butterfaß-Bahloul Trude , Dhooge Catharina , Bauer Sebastian , Kiss János , Paulussen Michael , Hong Angela , Ranft Andreas , Timmermann Beate , Rascon Jelena , Vieth Volker , Kanerva Jukka , Faldum Andreas , Metzler Markus , Hartmann Wolfgang , Hjorth Lars , Bhadri Vivek , Dirksen Uta
Published: April 2022

PURPOSE

Ewing 2008R3 was conducted in 12 countries and evaluated the effect of treosulfan and melphalan high-dose chemotherapy (TreoMel-HDT) followed by reinfusion of autologous hematopoietic stem cells on event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival in high-risk Ewing sarcoma (EWS).

METHODS

Phase III, open-label, prospective, multicenter, randomized controlled clinical trial. Eligible patients had disseminated EWS with metastases to bone and/or other sites, excluding patients with only pulmonary metastases. Patients received six cycles of vincristine, ifosfamide, doxorubicin, and etoposide induction and eight cycles of vincristine, actinomycin D, and cyclophosphamide consolidation therapy. Patients were randomly assigned to receive additional TreoMel-HDT or no further treatment (control). The random assignment was stratified by number of bone metastases (1, 2-5, and > 5). The one-sided adaptive-inverse-normal-4-stage-design was changed after the first interim analysis via Müller-Schäfer method.

RESULTS

Between 2009 and 2018, 109 patients were randomly assigned, and 55 received TreoMel-HDT. With a median follow-up of 3.3 years, there was no significant difference in EFS between TreoMel-HDT and control in the adaptive design (hazard ratio [HR] 0.85; 95% CI, 0.55 to 1.32, intention-to-treat). Three-year EFS was 20.9% (95% CI, 11.5 to 37.9) in TreoMel-HDT and 19.2% (95% CI, 10.8 to 34.4) in control patients. The results were similar in the per-protocol collective. Males treated with TreoMel-HDT had better EFS compared with controls: median 1.0 years (95% CI, 0.8 to 2.2) versus 0.6 years (95% CI, 0.5 to 0.9); P = .035; HR 0.52 (0.28 to 0.97). Patients age < 14 years benefited from TreoMel-HDT with a 3-years EFS of 39.3% (95% CI, 20.4 to 75.8%) versus 9% (95% CI, 2.4 to 34); P = .016; HR 0.40 (0.19 to 0.87). These effects were similar in the per-protocol collective. This observation is supported by comparable results from the nonrandomized trial EE99R3.

CONCLUSION

In patients with very high-risk EWS, additional TreoMel-HDT was of no benefit for the entire cohort of patients. TreoMel-HDT may be of benefit for children age < 14 years.
Effects of Sevoflurane-Propofol–Balanced Anesthesia on Flash Visual Evoked Potential Monitoring in Spine Surgery: A Randomized Noninferiority Trial
Authors: Ma Jiajia , Xiong Wei , Guo Dongze , Wang Anxin , Qiao Hui , Han Ruquan
Published: April 2022

BACKGROUND:

Intraoperative flash visual evoked potential (FVEP) can be used to monitor visual function during spine surgery. However, it is limited due to the previous perception of its sensitivity to inhalation anesthesia. We conducted this trial to test the noninferiority of sevoflurane-propofol–balanced anesthesia (BA) versus popular propofol-based total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) on the amplitude of FVEP during spine surgery.

METHODS:

A total of 60 patients undergoing spine surgery were randomized to receive either sevoflurane-propofol–balanced anesthesia (BA group) or propofol-based total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA group) for anesthesia maintenance. We titrated the propofol plasma concentration to keep the bispectral index (BIS) values between 40 and 50. The primary outcome was the P100-N145 amplitudes of FVEP at 120 minutes after induction of anesthesia. The noninferiority margin (δ) was defined as 10% of the P100-N145 amplitude at 120 minutes after induction in the TIVA group. If the confidence interval (CI) for mean differences of P100-N145 amplitude at 120 minutes after induction between BA and TIVA groups lied above the lower limit of −δ with P < .025, we defined BA group was noninferior to TIVA group.

RESULTS:

Fifty-nine patients were included in the final analysis. The amplitude of P100-N145 at 120 minutes after anesthesia induction in group BA was noninferior to group TIVA (3.8 [1.3] µV vs 3.2 [1.6] µV, −δ = −0.32, mean difference, 0.57, 95% CI, −0.18 to 1.33, P for noninferiority = .015).

CONCLUSIONS:

The effect of 0.5 minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) of sevoflurane-propofol–balanced anesthesia on the P100-N145 amplitude of FVEP was noninferior to that of propofol-based TIVA under comparable BIS range.
Novel Opioid Analgesics for the Development of Transdermal Opioid Patches That Possess Morphine-Like Pharmacological Profiles Rather Than Fentanyl: Possible Opioid Switching Alternatives Among Patch Formula
Authors: Komatsu Akane , Miyano Kanako , Nakayama Daisuke , Mizobuchi Yusuke , Uezono Eiko , Ohshima Kaori , Karasawa Yusuke , Kuroda Yui , Nonaka Miki , Yamaguchi Keisuke , Iseki Masako , Uezono Yasuhito , Hayashida Masakazu
Published: April 2022

BACKGROUND:

Transdermal fentanyl is widely used in the treatment of severe pain because of convenience, safety, and stable blood concentrations. Nevertheless, patients often develop tolerance to fentanyl, necessitating the use of other opioids; transdermal buprenorphine patch is widely used as an analgesic agent, though available formulation does not provide comparable analgesic effect as transdermal fentanyl patch. Opioids bind to the opioid receptor (OR) to activate both G protein–mediated and β-arrestin–mediated pathways. We synthesized morphine-related compounds with high transdermal absorbability (N1 and N2) and evaluated their OR activities pharmacologically in comparison with fentanyl and morphine.

METHODS:

In cells stably expressing μ-opioid receptor (MOR), δ-opioid receptor (DOR), and κ-opioid receptor (KOR), G protein–mediated pathways were assessed using the CellKey and an intracellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) assay, while β-arrestin–mediated pathways were analyzed with β-arrestin recruitment and receptor internalization assays. Furthermore, analgesic effects were evaluated using a tail-flick test in mice, and the analgesic effect on fentanyl-tolerant mice was evaluated.

RESULTS:

In the CellKey and cAMP assays, both N1 and N2 showed the highest affinity for MOR and acted as full agonists as well as partial agonists for DOR and KOR. In the β-arrestin and internalization assays, only fentanyl acted as a full agonist; N1 and N2 acted as partial agonists of MOR. In the mouse tail-flick test, N1 and N2 showed analgesic effects equivalent to those of fentanyl and morphine. In fentanyl-tolerant mice, fentanyl showed a diminished analgesic effect, whereas N1 and N2 as well as morphine retained their analgesic effects.

CONCLUSIONS:

While N1 and N2 have higher transdermal absorbability than fentanyl, they also have analgesic effects comparable to those of morphine, suggesting that they may be attractive compounds for the development of novel opioid patches for transitioning from fentanyl patches.
Prevalence and Outcomes of Opioid Use Disorder in Pediatric Surgical Patients: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Alalade Emmanuel , Mpody Christian , Owusu-Bediako Ekua , Tobias Joseph , Nafiu Olubukola O.
Published: April 2022

BACKGROUND:

Chronic opioid use among adolescents is a leading preventable public health problem in the United States. Consequently, a sizable proportion of surgical patients in this age group may have a comorbid opioid use disorder (OUD). No previously published study has examined the prevalence of OUD and its impact on postoperative morbidity or mortality in the adolescent surgical population. Our objective was to investigate the prevalence of comorbid OUD and its association with surgical outcomes in a US adolescent surgical population. We hypothesized that OUD among adolescent surgical patients is on an upward trajectory and that the presence of OUD is associated with higher risk of postoperative morbidity or mortality.

METHODS:

Using the pediatric health information system, we performed a 1:1 propensity score-matched, retrospective cohort study of adolescents (10–18 years of age) undergoing inpatient surgery between 2004 and 2019. The primary outcome was inpatient mortality. The secondary outcomes were surgical complications and postoperative infection. We also evaluated indicators of resource utilization, including mechanical ventilation, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, and postoperative length of stay (LOS).

RESULTS:

Of 589,098 adolescents, 563 (0.1%) were diagnosed with comorbid OUD (563 were matched on OUD). The prevalence of OUD in adolescents undergoing surgery increased from 0.4 per 1000 cases in 2004 to 1.6 per 1000 cases in 2019, representing an average annual percent change (AAPC) of 9.7% (95% confidence interval [CI], 5.7–13.9; P value < .001). The overall postoperative mortality rate was 0.50% (n = 2941). On univariable analysis, mortality rate was significantly higher in adolescents with comorbid OUD than those without comorbid OUD (3.37% vs 0.50%; P < .001). Among propensity-matched pairs, comorbid OUD diagnosis was associated with an estimated 57% relative increase in the risk of surgical complications (adjusted relative risk [aRR], 1.57; 95% CI, 1.24–2.00; P < .001). The relative risk of postoperative infection was 2-fold higher in adolescents with comorbid OUD than in those without OUD (aRR, 2.02; 95% CI, 1.62–2.51; P < .001). Adolescents with comorbid OUD had an increased risk of ICU admission, mechanical ventilation, and extended postoperative LOS.

CONCLUSIONS:

OUD is becoming increasingly prevalent in adolescents presenting for surgery. Comorbid OUD is an important determinant of surgical complications, postoperative infection, and resource utilization, underscoring the need to consider OUD as a critical, independent risk factor for postsurgical morbidity.
Congress of Neurological Surgeons Systematic Review and Evidence-Based Guidelines on the Management of Progressive Glioblastoma in Adults: Update of the 2014 Guidelines
Authors: Germano Isabelle M. , Johnson Derek R. , Patrick Hayes H. , Goodman Abigail L. , Ziu Mateo , Ormond D. Ryan , Olson Jeffrey J.
Published: April 2022

BACKGROUND:

The Institute of Medicine best practice recommendation to review guidelines every 5 years is followed by the Congress of Neurological Surgeons Guidelines Committee. The aim of this work was to provide an updated literature review and evidence-based recommendations on the topic of diagnosis and treatment of patients with progressive glioblastoma (pGBM).

OBJECTIVE:

To review the literature published since the last guidelines on pGBM dated 2014, with literature search ending in June 2012.

METHODS:

PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane were searched for the period July 1, 2012, to March 31, 2019, using search terms and search strategies to identify pertinent abstracts. These were then screened using published exclusion/inclusion criteria to identify full-text review articles. Evidence tables were constructed using data derived from full-text reviews and recommendations made from the evidence derived.

RESULTS:

From the total 8786 abstracts identified by the search, 237 full-text articles met inclusion/exclusion criteria and were included in this update. Two new level II recommendations derived from this work. For the diagnosis of patients with GBM, the use of diffusion-weighted images is recommended to be included in the magnetic resonance images with and without contrast used for surveillance to detect pGBM. For the treatment of patients with pGBM, repeat cytoreductive surgery is recommended to improve overall survival. An additional 21 level III recommendations were provided.

CONCLUSION:

Recent published literature provides new recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of pGBM. The Central Nervous System Guidelines Committee will continue to pursue timely updates to further improve the care of patients with diagnosis.

https://www.cns.org/guidelines/browse-guidelines-detail/guidelines-management-of-progressive-glioblastoma
Resection of Ependymomas Infiltrating the Fourth Ventricular Floor: Anatomosurgical and Stimulation Mapping Techniques
Authors: Sharma Priya , Sefcikova Viktoria , Sanders Brett , Soumpasis Christos , Waraich Manni , Samandouras George
Published: April 2022

BACKGROUND:

Despite the importance of complete, gross total resection (GTR) of fourth ventricular ependymomas, significant morbidity and/or subtotal resections are reported, particularly when the ventricular floor is infiltrated. Step-by-step technique descriptions are lacking in the literature.

OBJECTIVE:

To describe monitoring and stimulation mapping techniques and surgical nuances in the challenging subgroup of infiltrating fourth ventricular ependymomas by a highly illustrated, step-by-step description. Superimposed outlines of cranial nerve nuclei on the surgical field demonstrate critical anatomy and facilitate understanding in a way not previously presented.

METHODS:

We reviewed the microanatomical and neurophysiological prerequisites of resecting a diffusively infiltrating fourth ventricular ependymoma.

RESULTS:

We achieved GTR with the use of reproducible stimulating mapping and accurate cranial nerve nuclei identification.

CONCLUSION:

Enhanced microanatomical understanding, reproducible stimulation mapping, and meticulous resection techniques can result in GTR, even in diffusively infiltrating ependymomas.
Ελληνικός κοινοβουλευτικός λόγος
Authors: Τσαγκαράκη Ειρήνη
Published: April 2022

Η διατριβή εξετάζει την επιχειρηματολογική διάσταση του ελληνικού κοινοβουλευτικού λόγου βάσει της πραγματοδιαλεκτικής θεωρίας. Προτείνει θεωρητικές λύσεις σε επιμέρους ζητήματα που ανακύπτουν στο πλαίσιο της συγκεκριμένης θεωρίας, όπως είναι ο προσδιορισμός του τρόπου με τον οποίο επιλύεται επί της ουσίας η διαφωνία στους τύπους της διαβούλευσης και η αξιολόγηση των επικρίσεων για ασυνέπεια στις κοινοβουλευτικές συζητήσεις. Συνδυάζοντας την πραγματοδιαλεκτική θεωρία με στοιχεία της αριστοτελικής θεώρησης του ρητορικού λόγου, εντοπίζει τον διαλεκτικό χαρακτήρα των κοινοβουλευτικών αντιπαραθέσεων και τη θεσμική σύνδεση του με την αρχή της αντιπροσωπευτικότητας. Εξετάζει θεωρητικά τα χαρακτηριστικά του σύγχρονου ελληνικού κοινοβουλευτικού λόγου και ταξινομεί τους τύπους επικοινωνιακής δραστηριότητας που συνθέτουν το φάσμα του σε νομοθετικούς και ελεγκτικούς. Ορίζει τις κοινοβουλευτικές αναμετρήσεις Πρωθυπουργού και Αρχηγού της Αξιωματικής Αντιπολίτευσης (ΑΠΑΑΑ) ως διακριτό τύπο επικοινωνιακής δραστηριότητας, με ειδικό θεσμικό στόχο την ανάδειξη της ηγετικής καταλληλότητας των ομιλητών. Για τις αναμετρήσεις αυτές προσδιορίζει ως κατεξοχήν ρητορική ικανότητα των ομιλητών την επιχειρηματολογική ικανότητα διαμόρφωσης του κατάλληλου ηγετικού ήθους. Αναλύει τη στρατηγική και διαλεκτική φύση των διαλογικών αυτών αναμετρήσεων, ως σύμφυτη με την απαίτηση για ταυτόχρονη ικανοποίηση σύνθετων και εν μέρει αντικρουόμενων θεσμικών στόχων.
Συναίσθημα, λογοτεχνικό είδος και έμφυλες ταυτότητες στα Αργοναυτικά του Απολλώνιου Ρόδιου
Authors: Καραμήτσου Δήμητρα
Published: April 2022

Αντικείμενο μελέτης της παρούσας διατριβής είναι τα συναισθήματα των λογοτεχνικών χαρακτήρων των Αργοναυτικών του Απολλώνιου Ρόδιου, σε συνδυασμό με τις αρχές του λογοτεχνικού είδους που υπηρετεί ο Απολλώνιος και τις λογοτεχνικές συμβάσεις στις οποίες καλείται να ανταποκριθεί το κάθε φύλο. Η διατριβή χωρίζεται σε τρεις βασικές θεματικές ενότητες-κεφάλαια, οι οποίες τιτλοφορούνται: Συναίσθημα, Λογοτεχνικό είδος και Έμφυλες ταυτότητες. Στο πρώτο κεφάλαιο αναλύονται τα συναισθήματα των λογοτεχνικών χαρακτήρων των Αργοναυτικών, τα οποία είναι η οργή, ο φόβος, η θλίψη, ο έρωτας, η μανία, η φιλία, η αμηχανία, η αιδώς, η ασέβεια και η αναίδεια. Τα συναισθήματα αυτά προσεγγίζονται από αφηγηματική σκοπιά, εντός των ποιητικών τους συμφραζομένων και εξετάζεται ο ρόλος τους στην εξέλιξη της αφήγησης του Απολλωνίου. Στο δεύτερο κεφάλαιο, διερευνάται το ειδολογικό υπόβαθρο των λογοτεχνικών χαρακτήρων των Αργοναυτικών, το οποίο διαμορφώνεται από τη διατήρηση στοιχείων της προηγούμενης ποιητικής παράδοσης (έπος, λυρική ποίηση, τραγωδία, κωμωδία). Μετά την ανασυγκρότηση του ειδολογικού υποβάθρου του κάθε χαρακτήρα ξεχωριστά, ερευνάται ο τρόπος που τα συναισθήματα, όπως αυτά περιγράφτηκαν στο πρώτο κεφάλαιο, συντελούν στη διατήρηση, τον επαναπροσδιορισμό ή την αποδόμηση του εν λόγω ειδολογικού υποβάθρου. Στο τρίτο κεφάλαιο, τέλος, μελετάται το συναίσθημα σε συνδυασμό με τη λειτουργία των έμφυλων ταυτοτήτων. Ειδικότερα, προσεγγίζονται τα συναισθήματα από την οπτική του φύλου, με την έννοια ότι αξιολογείται ο βαθμός που η φύση των συναισθημάτων που εκδηλώνουν οι χαρακτήρες των Αργοναυτικών, καθώς και ο τρόπος εκδήλωσής τους, συμβαδίζουν ή παρεκκλίνουν από την έμφυλη ταυτότητά τους, τα χαρακτηριστικά της οποίας έχουν διαμορφωθεί από την προηγούμενη ποιητική παράδοση. Η διατριβή καταλήγει στο συμπέρασμα ότι τα συναισθήματα αναλαμβάνουν ανανεωτικό ρόλο στα Αργοναυτικά και αξιοποιούνται από τον Απολλώνιο ως ‘μέσα’ για την εδραίωση της νεωτερικής ποιητικής τεχνικής του.
Anatomical variations of forearm arteries: A literature review
Authors: Chrysoglou Charikleia-Lydia , Michalis Ioannis , Goula Maria , Troupis Theodoros
Published: April 2022

Introduction: The formation of the arterial system of the upper limb takes place in several stages during embryonic development. Several arterial variations in the branching pattern are observed and studied. It is suggested that arterial variants of the arm and forearm arise through the persistence, enlargement and differentiation of parts of the initial arterial network which would normally remain as capillaries or even regress. The present review aims at the anatomical approach of the arm and forearm with special reference to the variations of the arteries in these anatomical areas.
Methods: We conducted a search of reviews using the PubMed Database and the Book of Radiology by Wacker F. et al (2017) referring to the anatomical variants of the forearm and their frequency in the general population.
Results: Regular hematosis of the forearm (with the presence of the radial, the ulnar and the interosseous artery) was studied in 81 out of 100 bodies at the Laboratory of the Descriptive Anatomy of the Medical School, University of Athens. All the forearm’s arteries ramify from the brachial artery at 68%. All the forearm’s arteries ramify from the superficial brachial artery at 7%. Forearm’s superficial arteries are present in 10%. Presence of the median artery (embryo remnant) is found at a rate of 9%.
Conclusions: The anatomical variants of the arteries of the arm and forearm are related to the clinical practice. The deeper knowledge of the above anatomical variants of the arteries is especially important for surgeons, when they perform invasive procedures, such as the elevation of radial forearm flap or dermal flap. It is also of great importance for radiologists and orthopaedic and plastic surgeons for the proper design of surgical procedures involving the arteries of the upper limb. Finally, the peripheral branch pattern of the brachial artery is important for vascular surgeons.
Established non-indigenous species increased by 40% in 11 years in the Mediterranean Sea
Authors: ZENETOS ARGYRO , ALBANO PAOLO G. , LÓPEZ GARCIA EDUARDO , STERN NIR , TSIAMIS KONSTANTINOS , GALANIDI MARIKA
Published: April 2022

Using a 2010 review of non-indigenous species (NIS) reported in the Mediterranean Sea as a baseline, this study undertakes a paramount revision of the non-indigenous species list in the region up to December 2021, re-evaluating the established, casual and failed introduction events of over 1366 taxa. In the light of new data and expert judgement, 14 species have been removed from the “established list” of the Mediterranean Sea inventory. The total number of validated NIS is close to 1000—751 established taxa and 242 casual taxa—while 23 species are considered as failed introduction. The rest are tagged as cryptogenic (58 taxa), questionable (70 taxa) or excluded (223 taxa). Mollusca have the highest diversity among established and casual NIS (230 taxa), followed by Pisces and Crustacea with 173 and 170 NIS respectively. The changes in establishment status reveal an accelerated rate of establishment (13%) between January 2020 and December 2021 (>6% yearly), compared to an establishment rate of 27% in the period 2011–2021 (<3% yearly). This increased establishment success is more pronounced in Crustacea (47%) and Pisces (43%) than in Polychaeta (27%) and phytobenthos (30%). In the period 2011–2021, 42% of the newly reported species were established (149 out of 352). On a shorter timescale, out of 79 new species reported in the period 2020–2021, 17 NIS (21.5%) have already established, a figure well above the 10% prediction of invasion theory on establishment success for Mediterranean marine NIS.
Technological entrepreneurship
Authors: Gluhih Pavel
Published: April 2022

The textbook is intended for studying and developing practical skills necessary for the implementation of the main stages of creating a technological business project (the steps of a technological entrepreneur). By completing consecutive practical tasks, students will be able to create and (or) continue to develop their project from scratch in a small group for the full cycle of project activities.
The methodology of performing 15 basic practical tasks and exercises aimed at the development of specific student technological business projects and the formation of appropriate competencies of a technology entrepreneur among students is described in detail.
Meets the requirements of the federal state educational standards of higher education of the latest generation.
For undergraduate students studying in various educational areas with an innovative, technological and entrepreneurial bias.
Business planning using the Project Expert program (full course)
Authors: Aliev Vagif , Chistov Dmitriy
Published: April 2022

The tutorial uses practical examples to describe the technology of developing and analyzing acceptable investment projects, as well as developing business plans for these projects using the popular Project Expert 7 program.
It is intended for students studying in the areas of "Finance and credit", "Accounting, analysis and audit", "Taxes and taxation", "Crisis management", "Mathematical methods in economics", teachers and graduate students of economic universities, heads of enterprises, organizations and firms involved in the preparation of expertise and implementation of business-plans or preparation of scientifically based recommendations on the acceptability of a ready-made investment project and business plan, including for advanced training courses in the direction of "Development and analysis of investment projects using modern information technologies".
Speech therapy technologies for diagnosing speech disorders in preschoolers
Authors: Shashkina Gul'nara , Agaeva Viktoriya , Krasnoperova Elena , Terent'eva Tat'yana , Uvarova Tat'yana
Published: April 2022

The textbook discusses modern ideas about speech therapy technologies for speech examination of preschoolers with phonetic and phonemic underdevelopment (FFN), general speech underdevelopment (ONR) and stuttering: traditional and modern approaches to the diagnosis of speech disorders of preschoolers are presented, the specifics of the examination of speech activity of children with various speech disorders, analysis of documentation on the organization of speech therapy examination, questions are disclosed express diagnostics of speech activity of preschoolers,
examples of speech diagnostics are analyzed, and the activities of specialists of the psychological and pedagogical council (ACC) of a preschool educational organization are described in detail.
Meets the requirements of the federal state educational standards of higher education of the latest generation.
For students of higher educational institutions, teachers, speech therapists, teachers of preschool educational organizations.
Surgical interventions in the complex treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis. Preoperative planning with 3D modeling
Authors: Borodulina Elena , Kolsanov Aleksandr , Rogozhkin Petr
Published: April 2022

The monograph is devoted to an important medical and social problem - improving the effectiveness of treatment of tuberculosis patients with surgical interventions. Evaluation of the effectiveness of surgical treatment in the long-term period made it possible to establish the main controllable risk factors for reactivation of the tuberculosis process in the postoperative period. The influence of the timing of surgical treatment on the long-term results of surgical treatment and the formation of drug resistance of Mycobacterium tuberculosis has been proved.
An innovative approach of preoperative planning with the help of 3D computer modeling through the Autopilot program for planning surgical interventions on the lungs is presented. A personalized approach is proposed when choosing surgical treatment and improving the tactics of preoperative preparation.
It is intended for doctors — thoracic surgeons, phthisiologists.
Semi-Markov models of prevention of unreliable single-channel service system with losses
Authors: Peschanskiy Aleksey
Published: April 2022

The monograph examines various maintenance strategies of a single-channel system with losses and unreliable recoverable service device under the assumption of a general type of random variables describing random processes occurring in the system. The apparatus for constructing models of the functioning of the system are semi-Markov processes with a measurable phase space of states and phase enlargement algorithms. Stationary probabilistic and economic indicators of the system are explicitly determined and the tasks of optimal frequency of maintenance of the device are solved.
For researchers, engineers and specialists in the field of metamathematic theory of reliability, system analysis. It can be useful for graduate students and students of relevant specialties of technical universities and universities.
Laser ultrasonic improvement and its application in defect detection based on the composite coating method
Authors: Hu Xiujuan , Ma Yuyang , Wan Qing , Ying Kai-Ning , Dai Lu-Nan , Hu Zhenlin , Chen Feng , Guan Feiyu , Ni Chenyin , Guo LianBo
Published: April 2022

Herein, we studied the increasing tendency of photoacoustic (PA) conversion efficiency of the Au/polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) composite. The thickness of the Au layer was optimized by modeling the PA process based on the Drude–Lorentz model and finite element analysis method, and corresponding results were verified. The results showed that the optimal Au thickness of the Au/PDMS composite was 35 nm. Finally, the Au/PDMS composites were coated onto the surface of aluminum alloys, which improved the thermoelastic laser ultrasonic (LU) signals to near 100 times. Besides, the defect mapping was performed by thermoelastic LU signals with Au/PDMS coating and ablation LU signals without coating; the Pearson correlation coefficient was higher than 0.95. The application in the defect detection in metal could provide guides for nondestructive detection on metals by laser ultrasound.
Full-duplex hybrid optical link with 40  Gbit/s 16-QAM signal for wired or wireless selective access based on polarization division multiplexing
Authors: Zhang Ruijiao
Published: April 2022

A full-duplex hybrid optical link with 40 Gbit/s 16-ary quadrature amplitude modulation (16-QAM) signal based on polarization division multiplexing (PDM) is proposed, which can provide wired or wireless selective access for the user terminals. The 16-QAM downlink signal for wired and wireless accesses is only modulated onto one of the polarization states of the light wave. Then the generated data-bearing optical tone orthogonally combines with the other polarization state to constitute the downlink optical signal. At the hybrid optical network unit (HONU), an ordinary laser with the fixed wavelength is not only used to provide the optical local oscillator (OLO) for downlink wireless access but also the optical carrier for its uplink, while the OLO and uplink optical carrier for wired access are extracted from the downlink optical signal. Moreover, since the downlink optical signal is a baseband one with two orthogonal polarization states, the spectrum efficiency of our proposed scheme is high. The obtained constellations and eye diagrams of the demodulated 16-QAM downlink and uplink signals for wired and wireless accesses show that our proposed full-duplex hybrid optical link can still maintain a good transmission performance after being transmitted over 20 km standard single mode fiber (SSMF).
1200xbroadband modal converter using a subwavelength self-focusing structure
Authors: Zhou Ji , Wang Yi , Zhan Ming-Sheng
Published: April 2022

Efficient modal interconversion between optical manipulation of cold atoms in free space and transmitted light within an integrated waveguide remains a challenge in the area of integrated atomic photonics. Here, a1200xmodal converter with a footprint on the order of millimeters is proposed based on aSi3N4subwavelength self-focusing structure. The2.8µm×1.7µmsubwavelength structure enables efficient single modal conversion. The transmission efficiency is 84% at a wavelength of 830 nm with a working bandwidth of 240 nm. The device can work in dual polarization states.
Temperature elevation detection in migrating cells
Authors: Nakamura Takayuki , Sakamoto Joe , Okabe Kohki , Taniguchi Atsushi , Yamada Takahiro G. , Nonaka Shigenori , Kamei Yasuhiro , Funahashi Akira , Tominaga Makoto , Hiroi Noriko F.
Published: April 2022

Active and dynamic migration and deformation of cells are universal research targets in cell biology. The leader cells that develop at the wound edge are required to actively reorganize their structure for migration and deformation. Such active reorganization of cellular morphology possibly affects the temperature inside the cells via biochemical reactions. On the other hand, it is also possible that changes of intracellular temperature may first trigger and induce active migration and cellular deformation. Recent development of temperature sensors for cells enables the display of temperature difference between two adjacent cell populations such as the leader and follower cells around a wound. We used two different temperature measurement methods to check the temperature of leader and follower cells in a wound healing assay system and found that leader cells were 10° ∼ 101°C warmer than follower cells. We also confirmed that, when the cells were artificially warmed with an infrared laser, they started moving, and when the laser was stopped, the cells also stopped moving. These results suggest that the warmth of the leader cells is not simply a result of their active movement, but also can play the role of a trigger for cell migration and deformation. Our results shed light on the possibility that various observed cases of intracellular temperature increase may trigger associated biological phenomena.
Analysis of inhomogeneous meta-surfaces under oblique incidents
Authors: Ghasemi Mizuji Ensiyeh , Abbasi Arand Bijan , Forooraghi Keyvan
Published: April 2022

A semi-analytical method for analyzing inhomogeneous meta-surfaces under oblique incidence based on the polarizabilities of constituent particles and interaction constants is presented. The inhomogeneity is proposed in which a meta-surface is considered as a periodic array of repetitive super-cells. Our proposed method provides effective polarizabilities and therefore it gives a comprehensive view of meta-surface behavior. To validate our proposed method, several examples are illustrated, which include different cases of isotropic and bi-anisotropic arrays. In the first example, an array of different sizes of Gold spherical Nano-particles is considered. In the second example, a combined array of Gold (Plasmonic) and Si (dielectric) particles is analyzed and the third example includes an array of different sizes of mutually coupled Gold Nano-disks. The effective polarizabilities of all these arrays are computed under the illumination of oblique incident waves with different incident angles. The accuracy of this method is verified by comparing the computed reflection and transmission coefficients to the results produced by the HFSS software.
Convolutional neural network-based retrieval of Raman signals from CARS spectra
Authors: Junjuri Rajendhar , Saghi Ali , Lensu Lasse , Vartiainen Erik M.
Published: April 2022

We report the studies on the automatic extraction of the Raman signal from coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) spectra by using a convolutional neural network (CNN) model. The model architecture is adapted from literature and retrained with synthetic and semi-synthetic data. The synthesized CARS spectra better approximate the experimental CARS spectra. The retrained model accurately predicts spectral lines throughout the spectral range, even with minute intensities, which demonstrates the potential of the model. Further, the extracted Raman line-shapes are in good agreement with the original ones, with an RMS error of less than 7% on average and have shown correlation coefficients of more than 0.9. Finally, this approach has a strong potential in accurately estimating Raman signals from complex CARS data for various applications.
LC-MS/MS metabolomics-facilitated identification of the active compounds responsible for anti-allergic activity of the ethanol extract of Xenostegia tridentata
Authors: Suntivich Rinrada , Songjang Worawat , Jiraviriyakul Arunya , Ruchirawat Somsak , Chatwichien Jaruwan
Published: April 2022

In vivo and in vitro anti-allergic activities of ethanol extract of Xenostegia tridentata (L.) D.F. Austin & Staples were investigated using passive cutaneous anaphylaxis reaction assay and RBL-2H3 cell degranulation assay, respectively. The crude ethanol extract exhibited promising activities when compared with the known anti-allergic agents, namely dexamethasone and ketotifen fumarate. The ethyl acetate subfraction showed the highest anti-allergic activity among various sub-partitions and showed better activity than the crude extract, consistent with the high abundance of total phenolic and flavonoid contents in this subfraction. LC-MS/MS metabolomics analysis and bioassay-guided isolation were then used to identify chemical constituents responsible for the anti-allergic activity. The results showed that major components of the ethyl acetate subfraction consist of 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid, quercetin-3-O-rhamnoside, kaempferol-3-O-rhamnoside and luteolin-7-O-glucoside. The inhibitory activity of the isolated compounds against mast cell degranulation was validated, ensuring their important roles in the anti-allergic activity of the plant. Notably, besides showing the anti-allergic activity of X. tridentata, this work highlights the role of metabolomic analysis in identifying and selectively isolating active metabolites from plants.
An open source three-mirror laser scanning holographic two-photon lithography system
Authors: Pisanello Marco , Zheng Di , Balena Antonio , Pisano Filippo , De Vittorio Massimo , Pisanello Ferruccio
Published: April 2022

Two-photon polymerization is a widely adopted technique for direct fabrication of 3D and 2D structures with sub-diffraction-limit features. Here we present an open-hardware, open-software custom design for a holographic multibeam two-photon polymerization system based on a phase-only spatial light modulator and a three-mirror scanhead. The use of three reflective surfaces, two of which scanning the phase-modulated image along the same axis, allows to overcome the loss of virtual conjugation within the large galvanometric mirrors pair needed to accommodate the holographic projection. This extends the writing field of view among which the hologram can be employed for multi-beam two-photon polymerization by a factor of ~2 on one axis (i.e. from ~200μm to ~400μm), with a voxel size of ~250nm × ~1050nm (lateral × axial size), and writing speed of three simultaneous beams of 2000 voxels/s, making our system a powerful and reliable tool for advanced micro and nano-fabrications on large area.
Relational POI recommendation model combined with geographic information
Authors: Li Ke , Wei Haitao , He Xiaohui , Tian Zhihui
Published: April 2022

Point of interest (POI) recommendation is a popular personalized location-based service. This paper proposes a Geographic Personal Matrix Factorization (GPMF) model that makes effective use of geographic information from the perspective of the relationship between POIs and users. This model considers the role of geographic information from multiple perspectives based on the locational relationship among users, the distributional relationship between users and POIs, and the proximity and clustering relationship among POIs. The GPMF mines the influence of geographic information on different objects and carries out unique modeling through cosine similarity, non-linear function, and k nearest neighbor (KNN). This study explored the influence of geographic information on POI recommendation through extensive experiments with data from Foursquare. The result shows that GPMF performs better than the commonly used POI recommendation algorithm in terms of both precision and recall. Geographic information through proximity relations effectively improves the recommendation algorithm.
A comparison of qSOFA, SIRS and NEWS in predicting the accuracy of mortality in patients with suspected sepsis: A meta-analysis
Authors: Wang Can , Xu Rufu , Zeng Yuerong , Zhao Yu , Hu Xuelian
Published: April 2022

Objective

To identify and compare prognostic accuracy of quick Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (qSOFA) score, Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (SIRS) criteria, and National Early Warning Score (NEWS) to predict mortality in patients with suspected sepsis.

Methods

This meta-analysis followed accordance with the recommendations of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. We searched PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library databases from establishment of the database to November 29, 2021. The pooled sensitivity and specificity with 95% CIs were calculated using a bivariate random-effects model (BRM). Hierarchical summary receiver operating characteristic (HSROC) curves were generated to assess the overall prognostic accuracy.

Results

Data of 62338 patients from 26 studies were included in this meta-analysis. qSOFA had the highest specificity and the lowest sensitivity with a specificity of 0.82 (95% CI: 0.76–0.86) and a sensitivity of 0.46 (95% CI: 0.39–0.53). SIRS had the highest sensitivity and the lowest specificity with a sensitivity of 0.82 (95% CI: 0.78–0.85) and a specificity 0.24 (95% CI: 0.19–0.29). NEWS had both an intermediate sensitivity and specificity with a sensitivity of 0.73 (95% CI: 0.63–0.81) and a specificity 0.52 (95% CI: 0.39–0.65). qSOFA showed higher overall prognostic accuracy than SIRS and NEWS by comparing HSROC curves.

Conclusions

Among qSOFA, SIRS and NEWS, qSOFA showed higher overall prognostic accuracy than SIRS and NEWS. However, no scoring system has both high sensitivity and specificity for predicting the accuracy of mortality in patients with suspected sepsis.
Relationship between histological mixed-type early gastric cancer and lymph node metastasis: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Yang Shufan , Gu Xin , Tao Rui , Huo Jiahui , Hu Zhen , Sun Fei , Ni Jinbin , Wang Xiaoyun
Published: April 2022

The clinicopathological features of early gastric cancer (EGC) with mixed-type histology (differentiated and undifferentiated) are incompletely understood, and the capacity of endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) to treat mixed-type cancer remains controversial. This systematic review analyzed the rate of lymph node metastasis (LNM) in mixed-type EGC. We gathered articles published up to February 21, 2021, that analyzed the relationship between LNM and mixed-type EGC from Embase, PubMed, and Web of Science. The primary outcome was the LNM rate associated with different histological types of EGC, and the secondary outcomes were the odds ratios (ORs) for LNM risk factors among EGC patients. From the 24 studies included in this meta-analysis, the overall rate of LNM in predominantly differentiated mixed-type (MD) EGC was 12%, whereas the LNM rate in predominantly undifferentiated mixed-type (MU) EGC was 22%. We further divided these studies into 2 groups according to the depth of invasion. In mixed-type mucosal EGC, the pooled LNM rate was 15%; in submucosal EGC, the rate was 33% for MU, which was higher than the rates for pure types (pure differentiated type, 13%; pure undifferentiated type, 21%; p<0.05). The LNM rate of MD was 20%, it was higher than those of the pure differentiated type and nearly the same as pure undifferentiated type. Other pooled statistics showed that submucosal invasion, pure undifferentiated EGC, and mixed-type EGC were independent risk factors for LNM. This meta-analysis showed that MD submucosal EGC has a high rate of LNM and is highly correlated with LNM; thus, the management of MD EGC as purely differentiated EGC according to the indications for ESD is inappropriate, and the mixed type should be added as a parameter in these indications.
Diagnostic efficacy of the magnetic resonance T1w/T2w ratio for the middle cerebellar peduncle in multiple system atrophy and spinocerebellar ataxia: A preliminary study
Authors: Wang Jiaqi , Sugiyama Atsuhiko , Yokota Hajime , Hirano Shigeki , Cooper Graham , Mukai Hiroki , Ohira Kenji , Koide Kyosuke , Ito Shoichi , Finke Carsten , Brandt Alexander U. , Paul Friedemann , Kuwabara Satoshi
Published: April 2022

Background

The standardized T1-weighted/T2-weighted (sT1w/T2w) ratio for the middle cerebellar peduncle (MCP) has been reported to be sensitive for detecting degenerative changes in the cerebellar subtype of multiple system atrophy (MSA-C), even in the early stages. We aimed to investigate the diagnostic value of the MCP sT1w/T2w ratio for differentiating between MSA-C and spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA).

Methods

We included 32 MSA-C, 8 SCA type 3 (SCA3), 16 SCA type 6 (SCA6) patients, and 17 controls, and the MCP sT1w/T2w ratio was analyzed using a region-of-interest approach. The diagnostic performance of the MCP sT1w/T2w ratio in discriminating among MSA-C, SCA3, and SCA6 was assessed and compared with diagnosis based on visual interpretation of MCP hyperintensities and the “hot cross bun” (HCB) sign.

Results

MCP sT1w/T2w ratio values were markedly lower in patients with MSA-C than in those with SCA3, those with SCA6, and controls (p < 0.001). The MCP sT1w/T2w ratio showed high diagnostic accuracy for distinguishing MSA-C from SCA3 (area under curve = 0.934), SCA6 (area under curve = 0.965), and controls (area under curve = 0.980). The diagnostic accuracy of the MCP sT1w/T2w ratio for differentiating MSA-C from SCA3 or SCA6 (90.0% for MSA-C vs. SCA3, and 91.7% for MSA-C vs. SCA6) was comparable to or superior than that of visual interpretation of MCP hyperintensities (80.0–87.5% in MSA-C vs. SCA3 and 87.6–97.9% in MSA-C vs. SCA6) or the HCB sign (72.5–80.0% in MSA-C vs. SCA3 and 77.1–93.8% in MSA-C vs. SCA6).

Conclusions

The MCP sT1w/T2w ratio might be a sensitive imaging-based marker for detecting MSA-C-related changes and differentiating MSA-C from SCA3 or SCA6.