bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Influence of powder production process and properties on material properties of Ti6Al4V manufactured by L-PBF
Authors: Meier Benjamin , Warchomicka Fernando , Petrusa Jelena , Angerer Paul , Wosik Jaroslaw , Kaindl Reinhard , Petrovic Vojislav , Waldhauser Wolfgang , Sommitsch Christof
Published: October 2022

Besides process parameters, powder properties such as grain size, morphology, and chemical composition have the highest impact on the material properties of parts produced by powder-based additive manufacturing. These properties are strongly influenced by the production process of the powder and its feedstock. In the scope of this work, the influence of three different powder producers of Ti6Al4V, on density, chemical composition, and mechanical properties of build samples, is investigated. Furthermore, the effects of the varying atomization process on morphology, particle size distribution, chemical composition, and oxide layers are studied. Particle size distribution and flowability seem to have a minor influence on the production process while density depends highly on the surface topology, sphericity, and nature of the oxide layer, which affect energy intake. Tensile properties are highly influenced by chemical composition, mainly dissolved oxygen, and polluting satellites, while notched bar impact strength is additionally influenced by the oxide layer and suspected TiO2 precipitations caused by it.
A new constitutive model to describe evolving elastoplastic behaviours of hexagonal close-packed sheet metals
Authors: Mehrabi Hamed , Yang Chunhui
Published: October 2022

This study develops a new phenomenological constitutive model to capture the unique evolving cyclic elastoplastic behaviours of hexagonal close-packed (HCP) sheet metals. This new constitutive model is developed by adopting the concepts of multiple-yield surface approaches. Four phenomenological deformation modes, including Monotonic Compression (MC), Monotonic Tension (MT), Reverse Compression (RC), and Reverse Tension (RT), are considered to represent the hardening evolution of the materials, including the twining/untwining behaviours. Reference flow stress equations are introduced, and a Cazacu-Barlat 2004 (CB2004) type yield surface is employed to each deformation mode. In addition, the RT hardening parameters are defined as functions of plastic pre-strains to mitigate the interpolation error caused by parameter determination processes of existing models. For validation, the calculated stress–strain curves of AZ31B magnesium alloy are compared with experimental curves available from literature. Moreover, to show the accuracy of the proposed analytical model, the reproduced stress–strain curves are compared with those of an existing model—the modified homogeneous anisotropic hardening (HAH) model. The obtained results show that the new constitutive model can successfully reproduce experimental Tension–Compression-Tension (TCT) and Compression-Tension–Compression (CTC) stress–strain curves of HCP sheet metals with considerably less percentage errors.
Maternal Transfer and Long-Term Population Effects of PCBs in Baltic Grey Seals Using a New Toxicokinetic–Toxicodynamic Population Model
Authors: Mauritsson Karl , Desforges Jean-Pierre , Harding Karin C.
Published: October 2022

Empirical evidence has shown that historical exposure of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) to Baltic grey seals not only severely affected individual fitness, but also population growth rates and most likely caused the retarded recovery rate of the depleted population for decades. We constructed a new model which we term a toxicokinetic–toxicodynamic (TKTD) population model to quantify these effects. The toxicokinetic sub-model describes in detail the bioaccumulation, elimination and vertical transfer from mother to offspring of PCBs and is linked to a toxicodynamic model for estimation of PCB-related damage, hazard and stress impacts on fertility and survival rates. Both sub-models were linked to a Leslie matrix population model to calculate changes in population growth rate and age structure, given different rates of PCB exposure. Toxicodynamic model parameters related to reproductive organ lesions were calibrated using published historical data on observed pregnancy rates in Baltic grey seal females. Compared to empirical data, the TKTD population model described well the age-specific bioaccumulation pattern of PCBs in Baltic grey seals, and thus, the toxicokinetic parameters, deduced from the literature, are believed to be reliable. The model also captured well the general effects of PCBs on historical population growth rates. The model showed that reduced fertility due to increased PCB exposure causes decreased vertical transfer from mother to offspring and in turn increased biomagnification in non-breeding females. The developed TKTD model can be used to perform population viability analyses of Baltic grey seals with multiple stressors, also including by-catches and different hunting regimes. The model can also be extended to other marine mammals and other contaminants by adjustments of model parameters and thus provides a test bed in silico for new substances.
Enhanced antitumor immune responses via a new agent [131I]-labeled dual-target immunosuppressant
Authors: Jiang Chunjuan , Tian Qiwei , Xu Xiaoping , Li Panli , He Simin , Chen Jian , Yao Bolin , Zhang Jianping , Yang Ziyi , Song Shaoli
Published: October 2022

Radionuclides theranostic are ideal “partners” for bispecific antibodies to explore the immune response of patients and synergistic treatment. A bispecific single-domain antibody-Fc fusion protein, KN046, exhibits a good treatment effect by binding to programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA-4). An ionizing-radiation stimulus mediated by a low-dose of [131I] may be used for immunopotentiation. In this study, we established [131I]-labeled KN046 as a novel radioimmunotherapy agent to treat malignant melanoma and explored the mechanism.

Methods

After intravenous injection of [131I]-KN046, SPECT/CT imaging was applied to identify candidate targets for KN046 immunotherapy. [18F]-FDG and [68 Ga]-NOTA-GZP (granzyme B-specific PET imaging agent) micro-PET/CT imaging was used to assess the immune response in vivo after [131I]-KN046 treatment. The synergistic treatment effect of [131I]-KN046 was evaluated by exploring the [131I]-based radionuclide-induced release of tumor immunogenicity-related antigens as well as the histology and survival of tumor-bearing mice after treatment.

Results

The constructed [131I]-KN046 exhibited high affinity and specificity for PD-L1/CTLA-4 immune targets and had excellent in vivo intratumoral retention capability so as to achieve good antitumor efficacy. More importantly, the combination of low-dose [131I] and KN046-enhanced immunosensitivity increased the immunotherapy response rates significantly. Exposure of tumor cells to [131I]-KN046 led to upregulated expression of MHC-I and Fas surface molecules and significant increases in the degree of T-cell activation and counts of tumor-infiltrating immunocytes.

Conclusion

Use of low-dose [131I] combined with a dual-target immunosuppressant could be exploited to identify the subset of treatment responders but also exhibited great potential for enhancing antitumor immune responses.
Spatial and temporal scaling of sub-daily extreme rainfall for data sparse places
Authors: Wilby R. L. , Dawson C. W. , Yu D. , Herring Z. , Baruch A. , Ascott M. J. , Finney D. L. , Macdonald D. M. J. , Marsham J. H. , Matthews T. , Murphy C.
Published: October 2022

Global efforts to upgrade water, drainage, and sanitation services are hampered by hydrometeorological data-scarcity plus uncertainty about climate change. Intensity–duration–frequency (IDF) tables are used routinely to design water infrastructure so offer an entry point for adapting engineering standards. This paper begins with a novel procedure for guiding downscaling predictor variable selection for heavy rainfall simulation using media reports of pluvial flooding. We then present a three-step workflow to: (1) spatially downscale daily rainfall from grid-to-point resolutions; (2) temporally scale from daily series to sub-daily extreme rainfalls and; (3) test methods of temporal scaling of extreme rainfalls within Regional Climate Model (RCM) simulations under changed climate conditions. Critically, we compare the methods of moments and of parameters for temporal scaling annual maximum series of daily rainfall into sub-daily extreme rainfalls, whilst accounting for rainfall intermittency. The methods are applied to Kampala, Uganda and Kisumu, Kenya using the Statistical Downscaling Model (SDSM), two RCM simulations covering East Africa (CP4 and P25), and in hybrid form (RCM-SDSM). We demonstrate that Gumbel parameters (and IDF tables) can be reliably scaled to durations of 3 h within observations and RCMs. Our hybrid RCM-SDSM scaling reduces errors in IDF estimates for the present climate when compared with direct RCM output. Credible parameter scaling relationships are also found within RCM simulations under changed climate conditions. We then discuss the practical aspects of applying such workflows to other city-regions.
No influence of posterior tibial slope change on outcomes after cruciate-retaining total knee arthroplasty: a prospective cohort study
Authors: Miralles-Muñoz Francisco A. , Sebastia-Forcada Emilio , Perez-Aznar Adolfo , Ruiz-Lozano Matias , Gonzalez-Navarro Blanca , Lizaur-Utrilla Alejandro
Published: October 2022

Objective

To investigate whether the functional outcomes were affected by the change in posterior tibial slope (PTS) after using a predetermined PTS for primary cruciate-retaining total knee arthroplasty (CR-TKA).

Methods

Prospective cohort study of 152 patients who underwent primary CR-TKA with a standardized PTS of 5º regardless of the native PTS. Patients were classified postoperatively in two ways. Firstly, according to the PTS change from preoperative to postoperative (increased or decreased PTS group). Secondly, according to the PTS difference between preoperative and postoperative ≤ 4º (group A) and > 4º (group B). The functional outcomes were assessed with the Knee Society Scores (KSS), McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index questionnaire (WOMAC), and range of motion (ROM). Preoperative and postoperative PTS were measured on lateral knee radiographs.

Results

The minimum follow-up was 5 year. There were no significant differences at the final follow-up in functional outcomes between increased (88 patients) and decreased (64 patients) PTS groups. Likewise, there were no significant differences in functional outcomes between group A (79 patients) and group B (73 patients). In multivariate analysis, the PTS change was not significant predictor for improvement in functional outcome (OR 1.08; 95% CI 0.70–1.40; p = 0.061).

Conclusion

The PTS change between preoperative and postoperative has no influence on the functional outcomes using a CR-TKA. A standardized PTS regardless of the native is a reliable procedure for primary CR-TKA.
Pessary with perineal suture for treatment of pelvic organ prolapse: description and benefit of the technique
Authors: Pérez-Febles Marta , De-Miguel-Manso Sonia , García-García Elena , López-País María , Cuaresma-González María , Ibañez-Nieto Marta
Published: October 2022

Introduction and hypothesis

Vaginal pessaries are used as a conservative treatment for POP in women who do not want or are not candidates for surgery, or as a preliminary step to surgery. Our goals are: evaluate the evolution of patients with advanced POP and repeated expulsion of the pessary, who underwent perineal suture to try to maintain the device. Describe the epidemiological characteristics of patients treated with pessaries in our environment, with or without perineal closure.

Methods

Observational, descriptive and prospective study (October 2016-March 2021) that includes 352 women with advanced-stage POP treated with a pessary, of which 55, after repeated expulsion of the pessary, were treated with a pessary and perineal suture.

Results

After pessary insertion associated with perineal closure, 26 patients (47.2%) expelled the pessary and underwent surgery, and 29 (52.8%) kept the device, avoiding surgery. Regarding the women who required perineal suture: The mean age was higher than in the group of patients who did not need this intervention (75.3 vs. 68.3 years), 94.5% had POP ≥ grade III and 100% had a perineal width > 2.5 cm.

Conclusions

Treatment with pessary and perineal closure avoids surgery in women with advanced age and repeated expulsion. Although age should not be an independent factor that limits surgical treatment or the type of intervention, it would be useful to have scales to quantify the frailty of patients, being able to standardize perineal closure in elderly and/or frail women, and in those who do not want or have contraindications for surgery.
Radiation dose rate effects: what is new and what is needed?
Authors: Lowe Donna , Roy Laurence , Tabocchini Maria Antonella , Rühm Werner , Wakeford Richard , Woloschak Gayle E. , Laurier Dominique
Published: October 2022

Despite decades of research to understand the biological effects of ionising radiation, there is still much uncertainty over the role of dose rate. Motivated by a virtual workshop on the “Effects of spatial and temporal variation in dose delivery” organised in November 2020 by the Multidisciplinary Low Dose Initiative (MELODI), here, we review studies to date exploring dose rate effects, highlighting significant findings, recent advances and to provide perspective and recommendations for requirements and direction of future work. A comprehensive range of studies is considered, including molecular, cellular, animal, and human studies, with a focus on low linear-energy-transfer radiation exposure. Limits and advantages of each type of study are discussed, and a focus is made on future research needs.
The idiopathic intracranial hypertension prospective cohort study: evaluation of prognostic factors and outcomes
Authors: Thaller Mark , Homer Victoria , Hyder Yousef , Yiangou Andreas , Liczkowski Anthony , Fong Anthony W. , Virdee Jasvir , Piccus Rachel , Roque Marianne , Mollan Susan P. , Sinclair Alexandra J.
Published: October 2022

Background

There are limited longitudinal data evaluating outcomes in idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH). We aimed to evaluate the long-term outcomes in a real-world cohort of patients with IIH and sought to establish the prognostic factors.

Methods

A longitudinal prospective cohort study was conducted over 9 years (2012–2021). Data included demographics and disease status. All consenting patients with IIH were recruited. Visual outcomes included visual acuity, Humphrey visual field and optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging measurements. Headache frequency, severity, and impact were noted. We analysed the key variables impacting visual and headache outcomes.

Results

The cohort contained 490 patients with a confirmed IIH diagnosis. 98% were female with a mean body mass index (BMI) of 38 kg/m2. Those with the highest OCT retinal nerve fibre layer had the worst visual outcomes. We noted a delayed decline, in the visual field and OCT ganglion cell layer after 12 months. In the medically managed cohort (n = 426), we found that disease duration and change in BMI had the greatest influence on visual outcomes. There was a high burden of headache, with a daily headache at presentation and prior migraine history influencing long-term headache prognosis.

Conclusions

There is a delayed decline in visual outcomes in those with the most severe papilloedema. Disease duration and change in BMI were the key visual prognostic factors, therefore those with the more acute disease may require closer monitoring. Improving prognosis in IIH should focus on the potentially modifiable factor of weight management.
Distribution of tetraspanins in bovine ovarian tissue and fresh/vitrified oocytes
Authors: Jankovičová Jana , Sečová Petra , Horovská Ľubica , Olexiková Lucia , Dujíčková Linda , Makarevich Alexander V. , Michalková Katarína , Antalíková Jana
Published: October 2022

Tetraspanin proteins are mostly known as organizers of molecular complexes on cell membranes, widely expressed on the surface of most nucleated cells. Although tetraspanins participate in many physiological processes of mammals, including reproduction, their relevance to the processes of folliculogenesis and oogenesis has not yet been fully elucidated. We bring new information regarding the distribution of tetraspanins CD9, CD81, CD151, CD82, and CD63 at different stages of follicular development in cattle. The found distribution of tetraspanin CD9, CD63, and integrin alpha V in similar areas of ovarian tissue outlined their possible cooperation. We also describe yet-unknown distribution patterns of CD151, CD82, and CD63 on immature and mature bovine oocytes. The unique localization of tetraspanins CD63 and CD82 in the zona pellucida of bovine oocytes suggested their involvement in transzonal projections. Furthermore, we present an unchanged distribution pattern of the studied tetraspanins in vitrified mature bovine oocytes. The immunofluorescent analysis was supplemented by in silico data addressing tetraspanins expression in the ovarian cells and oocytes across several species. The obtained results suggest that in the study of the oocyte development and potentially the fertilization process of cattle, the role of tetraspanins and integrins should also be taken into account.
Cuprizone feeding induces swollen astrocyte endfeet
Authors: Fallier-Becker Petra , Bonzheim Irina , Pfeiffer Friederike
Published: October 2022

The cuprizone model is a widely used model to study the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS). Due to the selective loss of mature oligodendrocytes and myelin, it is mainly being used to study demyelination and the mechanisms of remyelination, as well as the efficiency of compounds or therapeutics aiming at remyelination. Although early investigations using high dosages of cuprizone reported the occurrence of hydrocephalus, it has long been assumed that cuprizone feeding at lower dosages does not induce changes at the blood–brain barrier (BBB). Here, by analyzing BBB ultrastructure with high-resolution electron microscopy, we report changes at astrocytic endfeet surrounding vessels in the brain parenchyma. Particularly, edema formation around blood vessels and swollen astrocytic endfeet already occurred after feeding low dosages of cuprizone. These findings indicate changes in BBB function that will have an impact on the milieu of the central nervous system (CNS) in the cuprizone model and need to be considered when studying the mechanisms of de- and remyelination.
The effects of Borrelia infection on its wintering rodent host
Authors: Sipari Saana , Hytönen Jukka , Pietikäinen Annukka , Mappes Tapio , Kallio Eva R.
Published: October 2022

In seasonal environments, appropriate adaptations are crucial for organisms to maximize their fitness. For instance, in many species, the immune function has been noticed to decrease during winter, which is assumed to be an adaptation to the season’s limited food availability. Consequences of an infection on the health and survival of the host organism could thus be more severe in winter than in summer. Here, we experimentally investigated the effect of a zoonotic, endemic pathogen, Borrelia afzelii infection on the survival and body condition in its host, the bank vole (Myodes glareolus), during late autumn–early winter under semi-natural field conditions in 11 large outdoor enclosures. To test the interaction of Borrelia infection and energetic condition, four populations received supplementary nutrition, while remaining seven populations exploited only natural food sources. Supplementary food during winter increased the body mass independent of the infection status, however, Borrelia afzelii infection did not cause severe increase in the host mortality or affect the host body condition in the late autumn–early winter. While our study suggests that no severe effects are caused by B. afzelii infection on bank vole, further studies are warranted to identify any potentially smaller effects the pathogen may cause on the host fitness over the period of whole winter.
Clique-Based Separators for Geometric Intersection Graphs
Authors: de Berg Mark , Kisfaludi-Bak Sándor , Monemizadeh Morteza , Theocharous Leonidas
Published: October 2022

Let F be a set of n objects in the plane and let $$\mathcal {G}^{\times }(F)$$

G

×

(
F
)

be its intersection graph. A balanced clique-based separator of $$\mathcal {G}^{\times }(F)$$

G

×

(
F
)

is a set $$\mathcal {\mathcal {S}}$$
S
consisting of cliques whose removal partitions $$\mathcal {G}^{\times }(F)$$

G

×

(
F
)

into components of size at most $$\delta n$$

δ
n

, for some fixed constant $$\delta <1$$

δ
<
1

. The weight of a clique-based separator is defined as $$\sum _{C\in \mathcal {\mathcal {S}}}\log (|C|+1)$$

∑

C
∈
S

log

(
|
C
|
+
1
)

. Recently De Berg et al. (SIAM J. Comput. 49: 1291-1331. 2020) proved that if S consists of convex fat objects, then $$\mathcal {G}^{\times }(F)$$

G

×

(
F
)

admits a balanced clique-based separator of weight $$O(\sqrt{n})$$

O
(

n

)

. We extend this result in several directions, obtaining the following results. (i) Map graphs admit a balanced clique-based separator of weight $$O(\sqrt{n})$$

O
(

n

)

, which is tight in the worst case. (ii) Intersection graphs of pseudo-disks admit a balanced clique-based separator of weight $$O(n^{2/3}\log n)$$

O
(

n

2
/
3

log
n
)

. If the pseudo-disks are polygonal and of total complexity O(n) then the weight of the separator improves to $$O(\sqrt{n}\log n)$$

O
(

n

log
n
)

. (iii) Intersection graphs of geodesic disks inside a simple polygon admit a balanced clique-based separator of weight $$O(n^{2/3}\log n)$$

O
(

n

2
/
3

log
n
)

. (iv) Visibility-restricted unit-disk graphs in a polygonal domain with r reflex vertices admit a balanced clique-based separator of weight $$O(\sqrt{n}+r\log (n/r))$$

O
(

n

+
r
log

(
n
/
r
)

)

, which is tight in the worst case. These results immediately imply sub-exponential algorithms for Maximum Independent Set (and, hence, Vertex Cover), for Feedback Vertex Set, and for q-Coloring for constant q in these graph classes.
Potential of Rice-Flour Jelly Made from High-Amylose Rice as a Dysphagia Diet: Evaluation of Pharyngeal Residue by FEES
Authors: Tsubokawa Misao , Fujitani Junko , Ashida Kanae , Hayase Mika , Kobayashi Namiko , Horita Chika , Sakashita Masafumi , Tokunaga Takahiro , Hamano Tadanori , Kikuta Ken-ichiro , Fujieda Shigeharu
Published: October 2022

Dysphagia diets are recommended to prevent choking and aspiration in people with dysphagia; however, rice-porridge and mashed rice-porridge, which are used as staple foods for people with dysphagia in Japan, are time-consuming to prepare. The National Agriculture and Food Research Organization has found jelly-like food products made from high-amylose rice-flour (rice-flour jelly) to be easy to prepare with a texture suitable for dysphagia diets. To investigate the potential of rice-flour jelly for the dysphagia diet, we evaluated the amount of pharyngeal residue after swallowing rice-flour jelly using fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing and compared it with those of rice-porridge, mashed rice-porridge, and fruit jelly. We enrolled 70 participants (43 males and 27 females, aged 32–96 years, median 74.5 years) and evaluated their pharyngeal residue using the Yale Pharyngeal Residue Severity Rating Scale which includes five levels from I (none) to V (severe). Statistical analysis showed that level I was more common in fruit jelly for vallecula residue and pyriform sinus residue, and level III (mild) was more common in rice-porridge for vallecula residue (p < 0.05). No differences of pharyngeal residue were found in rice-flour jelly or mashed rice-porridge. No significant difference was observed in the number of participants with laryngeal penetration or aspiration. Therefore, rice-flour jelly is a suitable alternative to rice-porridge as a staple food for people with dysphagia in terms of food texture.
Patients’ experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic and the change to telephone consultations in cancer care
Authors: Bødtcher Hanne , Lindblad Katrine Vammen , Sørensen Dina Melanie , Rosted Elizabeth , Kjeldsted Eva , Christensen Helle Gert , Svendsen Mads Nordahl , Thomsen Linda Aagaard , Dalton Susanne Oksbjerg
Published: October 2022

Purpose

During the COVID-19 pandemic, teleconsultations have increasingly been used to reduce physical contact and thus risk of infection. This study investigated how patients with cancer experienced the COVID-19 pandemic and how they perceived the change from in-person consultations to telephone consultations in an oncology outpatient clinic. The aim was to provide insights that could optimize the future use of teleconsultations in cancer care.

Methods

This qualitative study included 15 patients with colorectal, breast, gynecological, lung, or prostate cancer treated at the outpatient clinic at the Department of Clinical Oncology and Palliative Care, Zealand University Hospital, Denmark in June or July 2020. Data were collected through semi-structured individual interviews and analyzed by thematic analysis.

Results

Patients with cancer experienced social, psychological, and organizational consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic related to their cancer care. Not all patients were comfortable with telephone consultations. Six themes were identified: (1) double burden as a consequence of simultaneous cancer and the COVID-19 pandemic, (2) parameters for patient satisfaction with telephone consultations, (3) the importance of relatives attending consultations, (4) loss of information and nuances during telephone consultations, (5) the impact of physicians’ language and communicative skills during telephone consultations, and (6) patients’ suggestions for future telephone consultations.

Conclusion

Beyond the COVID-19 pandemic, it is important that hospitals offering teleconsultations involve patients’ preferences, consider for which patients and consultations the solution is suitable, which technology to use, how to prepare patients and relatives, and how to provide physicians with the necessary communicative skills.
Few-shot learning for modeling cyber physical systems in non-stationary environments
Authors: Ntalampiras Stavros , Potamitis Ilyas
Published: October 2022

This paper proposes a modeling scheme for cyber physical systems operating in non-stationary, small data environments. Unlike the traditional modeling logic, we introduce the few-shot learning paradigm, the operation of which is based on quantifying both similarities and dissimilarities. As such, we designed a suitable change detection mechanism able to reveal previously unknown operational states, which are incorporated in the dictionary online. We elaborate on spectrograms extracted from high-resolution ultrasound depth sensor timeseries, while the backbone of the proposed method is a Siamese Neural Network. The experimental scenario considers data representing liquid containers for fuel/water when the following five operational states are present: normal, accident, breakdown, sabotage, and cyber-attack. Thorough experiments were carried out assessing every aspect of the present framework and demonstrating its efficacy even when very few samples per class are available. In addition, we propose a probabilistic data selection scheme facilitating one-shot learning. Last but not least, responding to the wide requirement for interpretable AI, we explain the obtained predictions by examining the layer-wise activation maps.
Late Carboniferous Schlingen in the Gotthard nappe (Central Alps) and their relation to the Variscan evolution
Authors: Bühler M. , Zurbriggen R. , Berger A. , Herwegh M. , Rubatto D.
Published: October 2022

Pre‐Mesozoic basements of the Alpine belt commonly contain kilometre‐scale folds with steeply inclined axial planes and fold axes, which are named “Schlingen” folds. The structural evolution of Schlingen folds and their geodynamic significance for the Variscan evolution are unclear. To close this gap, this study investigates a well-preserved Schlingen structure in the Gotthard nappe (Central Swiss Alps). This Schlingen fold evolved by a combination of shearing and folding under amphibolite-facies conditions. Detailed digital field mapping, coupled with petrographical and structural investigations, reveal local synkinematic migmatisation in the fold hinges parallel to axial planes. Zircon crystals from leucosomes in the fold hinges have magmatic cores that yield an age of 449 ± 3 Ma, and rims with a range of dates from ~ 270 to 330 Ma (main cluster at 315 ± 4 Ma). We ascribe this late Carboniferous age to peak metamorphic conditions of the late Variscan Schlingen phase. Moreover, we describe for the first time post-Schlingen, but pre-Alpine transpressional deformation. The investigated Schlingen fold is discussed with respect to comparable structures of the wider Alpine realm, located in the most southern part of the Variscan belt. We propose that Schlingen formation concurred with the crustal-scale transpressional tectonics. This scenario separates, at least in a structural sense, the Southern Variscides from more northern parts (also Gondwana derived), where Schlingen folds are absent.
Surgery for degenerative cervical myelopathy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis: a nationwide registry-based study with patient-reported outcomes
Authors: Holmberg Siril T. , Gulati Agnete M. , Johansen Tonje Okkenhaug , Salvesen Øyvind O. , Lønne Vetle Vangen , Solberg Tore K. , Tronvik Erling A. , Nygaard Øystein P. , Gulati Sasha
Published: October 2022

Purpose

To compare patient-reported outcomes (PROMs) following surgery for degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) among patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or ankylosing spondylitis (AS) versus those without rheumatic diseases.

Methods

Data were obtained from the Norwegian Registry for Spine Surgery. The primary outcome was change in the Neck Disability Index (NDI) at 1 year. Secondary endpoints included the European Myelopathy Score (EMS), quality of life (EuroQoL-5D [EQ-5D]), numeric rating scales (NRS) for headache, neck pain, and arm pain, and complications.

Results

Among 905 participants operated between 2012 and 2018, 35 had RA or AS. There were significant improvements in all PROMs at 1 year and no statistically significant difference between the cohorts in mean change in NDI (− 0.64, 95% CI − 8.1 to 6.8, P = .372), EQ-5D (0.10, 95% CI − 0.04 to 0.24, P = .168), NRS neck pain (− 0.8, 95% CI − 2.0 to 0.4, P = .210), NRS arm pain (− 0.6, 95% CI − 1.9 to 0.7, P = .351), and NRS headache (− 0.5, 95% CI − 1.7 to 0.8, P = .460).

Discussion and conclusion

Our study adds to the limited available evidence that surgical treatment cannot only arrest further progression of myelopathy but also improve functional status, neurological outcomes, and quality of life in patients with rheumatic disease.
Face memory and facial expression recognition are both affected by wearing disposable surgical face masks
Authors: Ventura M. , Palmisano A. , Innamorato F. , Tedesco G. , Manippa V. , Caffò A. O. , Rivolta Davide
Published: October 2022

Faces are fundamental stimuli for social interactions since they provide significant information about people’s identity and emotional states. With the outburst of the COVID-19 pandemic, global use of preventive measures, such as disposable surgical face masks (DSFMs), has been imposed. The massive use of DSFMs covering a large part of the face could interfere with identity and emotion recognition. Thus, the main aim of the current study was (i) to assess how DSFMs affect identity recognition (Experiment 1), (ii) how DSFMs affect emotion recognition (Experiment 2), and (iii) whether individual empathy levels correlate with emotion recognition with DSFMs. The potential relation between identity and emotion recognition with and without DSFMs was also investigated. Two tasks were administered to 101 healthy participants: (i) the Old-new face memory task aimed to assess whether the learning context (i.e., DSFMs on/off) affects recognition performance, whereas (ii) the Facial affect task explored DSFMs’ effect on emotion recognition. Results from the former showed that the stimuli’s features in the learning stage affect recognition performances; that is, faces wearing DSFMs were better recognized if wearing DSFMs at first exposure and vice versa. Results from the Facial affect task showed that DSFMs lead to reduced disgust, happiness, and sadness recognition. No significant correlation emerged between identity and emotion recognition. The Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI) was administered to assess affective and cognitive empathy; however, IRI scores did not correlate with either face memory recognition or facial affect recognition. Overall, our results demonstrate (a) a “context effect” for face memory with and without DSFMs; (b) a disruptive effect of DSFMs depending on the expressed emotion; and (c) no correlation between empathy and emotion recognition with DSFMs.
Aloe polysaccharide promotes osteogenesis potential of adipose-derived stromal cells via BMP-2/Smads and prevents ovariectomized-induced osteoporosis
Authors: Yao Xue-wei , Liu He-dong , Ren Mao-xian , Li Tian-lin , Jiang Wen-kai , Zhou Zhi , Liu Zhi-yi , Yang Min
Published: October 2022

Background

Aloe polysaccharide (AP) is a type of an active macromolecule of Aloe vera, which contributes to its function. However, whether AP possesses anti-osteoporosis properties is unknown.

Methods

Adipose-derived stromal cells were treated with different concentrations of AP. Early and late osteogenesis were, respectively, evaluated by ALP and Alizarin Red S staining. The effect of AP on the processes of adipogenesis inhibition in ADSCs was analyzed by oil red O staining. Western blot was used to assess the expression of osteogenic and adipogenic related factors. Then, Noggin was administered to further confirm the mechanism by which AP promotes the osteogenesis of ADSCs. Finally, 40 female SD rats were classified into a bilateral laparotomy group (Sham group) and three bilateral ovariectomy groups: OVX group, OVX + AP group, and OVX + AP + Noggin group. The bilateral rat femurs were collected to perform micro-CT scanning, HE, Masson trichrome, and Oil red O staining.

Results

The results indicated that AP could increase ALP expression and calcium deposition. Through molecular mechanisms, AP promotes the protein expression of COL1A1, OPN, and ALP in ADSCs, but downregulates the expression of PPARγ. Also, AP directs ADSCs’ fate by stimulating the BMP2/Smads signaling pathway. In vivo, the rat AP-treated had more trabecular bone than the OVX rat, indicating partial protection from cancellous bone loss after treatment with AP.

Conclusion

Our results show that AP may promote osteogenesis of ADSCs through BMP-2/Smads signaling pathway and inhibits lipogenic differentiation. Thus, AP might be a promising alternative medicine to treat postmenopausal osteoporosis.
Mapping risks associated with soil copper contamination using availability and bio-availability proxies at the European scale
Authors: Sereni Laura , Guenet Bertrand , Lamy Isabelle
Published: October 2022

Soil contamination by trace elements like copper (Cu) can affect soil functioning. Environmental policies with guidelines and soil survey measurements still refer to the total content of Cu in soils. However, Cu content in soil solution or free Cu content have been shown to be better proxies of risks of Cu mobility or (bio-)availability for soil organisms. Several empirical equations have been defined at the local scale to predict the amount of Cu in soil solution based on both total soil Cu content and main soil parameters involved in the soil/solution partitioning. Nevertheless, despite the relevance for risk assessment, these equations are not applied at a large spatial scale due to difficulties to perform changes from local to regional. To progress in this challenge, we collected several empirical equations from literature and selected those allowing estimation of the amount of Cu in solution, used as a proxy of available Cu, from the knowledge of both total soil Cu content and soil parameters. We did the same for the estimation of free Cu in solution, used as a proxy of bio-available Cu. These equations were used to provide European maps of (bio-)available Cu based on the one of total soil Cu over Europe. Results allowed comparing the maps of available and bio-available Cu at the European scale. This was done with respective median values of each form of Cu to identify specific areas of risks linked to these two proxies. Higher discrepancies were highlighted between the map of bio-available Cu and the map of soil total Cu compared to the Cu available map. Such results can be used to assess environmental-related issues for land use planning.
Using the water footprint concept for water use efficiency labelling of consumer products: the Greek experience
Authors: Nydrioti Ioanna , Grigoropoulou Helen
Published: October 2022

Freshwater is crucial for food supply, as irrigation water and as production or incorporated water in industrial production of consumer goods (e.g. food, cosmetics). Manufacturing industries follow different protocols and receive different certifications for water management and efficiency in their plants, which are also labelled on the packaging. Nowadays, consumers appear to be increasingly concerned about environmental challenges, therefore many sustainability labels have been developed (carbon, water, ecological footprint) to facilitate consumers to make more sustainable choices concerning their purchases. Consumers’ behaviour towards carbon footprint labels has been thoroughly examined in international literature; however, WF labelling studies are very limited. The key to water efficiency labelling in consumer products could be the water footprint (WF), as it measures the total volume of freshwater used to produce a product, over the full supply chain, including virtual water, “hidden” in the products, services and processes. The implementation of WF labelling of consumer products in Greece was investigated, using a questionnaire with demographical data and statements on water sustainability. The results indicate that younger consumers are not quite aware of environmental challenges related to water. According to the findings, WF could be an effective marketing driver towards water sustainability since consumers prefer a quantified label concerning water consumption, regardless of their educational level, and they are willing to pay an extra price for water sustainable products even if they have an unstable job. Manufacturers could then promote their sustainable profile and performance effectively by adopting a WF relevant labelling.
Understanding heterogeneity of responses to, and optimizing clinical efficacy of, exercise training in older adults: NIH NIA Workshop summary
Authors: Erickson Melissa L. , Allen Jacob M. , Beavers Daniel P. , Collins Linda M. , Davidson Karina W. , Erickson Kirk I. , Esser Karyn A. , Hesselink Matthijs K. C. , Moreau Kerrie L. , Laber Eric B. , Peterson Charlotte A. , Peterson Courtney M. , Reusch Jane E. , Thyfault John P. , Youngstedt Shawn D. , Zierath Juleen R. , Goodpaster Bret H. , LeBrasseur Nathan K. , Buford Thomas W. , Sparks Lauren M.
Published: October 2022

Exercise is a cornerstone of preventive medicine and a promising strategy to intervene on the biology of aging. Variation in the response to exercise is a widely accepted concept that dates back to the 1980s with classic genetic studies identifying sequence variations as modifiers of the VO2max response to training. Since that time, the literature of exercise response variance has been populated with retrospective analyses of existing datasets that are limited by a lack of statistical power from technical error of the measurements and small sample sizes, as well as diffuse outcomes, very few of which have included older adults. Prospective studies that are appropriately designed to interrogate exercise response variation in key outcomes identified a priori and inclusive of individuals over the age of 70 are long overdue. Understanding the underlying intrinsic (e.g., genetics and epigenetics) and extrinsic (e.g., medication use, diet, chronic disease) factors that determine robust versus poor responses to various exercise factors will be used to improve exercise prescription to target the pillars of aging and optimize the clinical efficacy of exercise training in older adults. This review summarizes the proceedings of the NIA-sponsored workshop entitled, “Understanding Heterogeneity of Responses to, and Optimizing Clinical Efficacy of, Exercise Training in Older Adults” and highlights the importance and current state of exercise response variation research, particularly in older adults, prevailing challenges, and future directions.
What are the Trends and Explanations of Perceived Social Mobility in Poland?
Authors: Gugushvili Alexi , Zelinska Olga
Published: October 2022

There is an increasing interest in the subjective aspect of socioeconomic position and its implications for wellbeing across social science disciplines. One of the emerging dimensions of this scholarship is research on perceived social mobility, its determinants, and consequences. To date, most existing evidence in this area is based on cross-sectional data and corresponding methods, which are biased by the unobserved heterogeneity of individuals. The latter calls into question existing findings on the nature of perceived social mobility. To provide more robust estimates of trends over time and explanations of perceived social mobility, we explore two complementary datasets covering the period between the late 1990s and the late 2010s in Poland. Due to the major economic, political and social changes, exploring subjective perceptions of intergenerational mobility might be particularly important in post-communist settings. The analysis allows us to conclude that, over the last two decades, significant changes in perceived social mobility have taken place in Poland. In terms of the individual-level predictors of this trend, cross-sectional and random-effects analyses over-estimate the importance of certain characteristics, such as age, education, or size of locality, yet, based on the results from more robust fixed-effects estimates, we conclude that factors such as subjective social position, household income, and objective social mobility are important explanations as to why some people believe they are doing better or worse than their parents.
Landmark tracking in 4D ultrasound using generalized representation learning
Authors: Wulff Daniel , Hagenah Jannis , Ernst Floris
Published: October 2022

Purpose

In this study, we present and validate a novel concept for target tracking in 4D ultrasound. The key idea is to replace image patch similarity metrics by distances in a latent representation. For this, 3D ultrasound patches are mapped into a representation space using sliced-Wasserstein autoencoders.

Methods

A novel target tracking method for 4D ultrasound is presented that performs tracking in a representation space instead of in images space. Sliced-Wasserstein autoencoders are trained in an unsupervised manner which are used to map 3D ultrasound patches into a representation space. The tracking procedure is based on a greedy algorithm approach and measuring distances between representation vectors to relocate the target . The proposed algorithm is validated on an in vivo data set of liver images. Furthermore, three different concepts for training the autoencoder are presented to provide cross-patient generalizability, aiming at minimal training time on data of the individual patient.

Results

Eight annotated 4D ultrasound sequences are used to test the tracking method. Tracking could be performed in all sequences using all autoencoder training approaches. A mean tracking error of 3.23 mm could be achieved using generalized fine-tuned autoencoders. It is shown that using generalized autoencoders and fine-tuning them achieves better tracking results than training subject individual autoencoders.

Conclusion

It could be shown that distances between encoded image patches in a representation space can serve as a meaningful measure of the image patch similarity, even under realistic deformations of the anatomical structure. Based on that, we could validate the proposed tracking algorithm in an in vivo setting. Furthermore, our results indicate that using generalized autoencoders, fine-tuning on only a small number of patches from the individual patient provides promising results.
RETRACTED ARTICLE: Dapagliflozin Guards Against Cadmium-Induced Cardiotoxicity via Modulation of IL6/STAT3 and TLR2/TNFα Signaling Pathways
Authors: Refaie Marwa M. M. , Rifaai Rehab Ahmed , Fawzy Michael Atef , Shehata Sayed
Published: October 2022

Cadmium (Cd) is a common environmental pollutant that leads to severe cardiotoxic hazards. Several studies were carried out to protect the myocardium against Cd-induced cardiotoxicity. Up till now, no researches evaluated the protective effect of dapagliflozin (DAP) against Cd induced cardiotoxicity. Thus, we aimed to explore the role of DAP in such model with deep studying of the involved mechanisms. 40 male Wistar albino rats were included in current study. Cd (5 mg/kg/day) was administered orally for 7 days to induce cardiotoxicity with or without co-administration of DAP in three different doses (2.5, 5, 10 mg/kg/day) orally for 7 days. Our data revealed that Cd could induce cardiotoxicity with significant increase in serum cardiac enzymes, heart weight, tissue malondialdehyde (MDA), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα), nuclear factor kappa B (NFκB), toll like receptor2 (TLR2), interleukin 6 (IL6) and caspase3 immunoexpression with abnormal histopathological changes. In addition, Cd significantly decreased the level of heme oxygenase1 (HO1), nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT3), reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and total antioxidant capacity (TAC). Co-administration of DAP could ameliorate Cd cardiotoxicity with significant improvement of the biochemical and histopathological changes. We found that DAP had protective properties against Cd induced cardiotoxicity and this may be due to its anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic properties and modulation of IL6/STAT3 and TLR2/TNFα-signaling pathways.