bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Spatial Uncertainty in Pore Pressure Models at the Brazilian Continental Margin
Authors: Pinto Felipe Tajá C. , Milani Krishna , Guedes Leandro , Varella Luiz Eduardo S. , Fetter Marcos , Santini Marcus , Lopes Thiago , Gorne Vitor , Farroco Viviane , Rodrigues Attila L. , Costa João Felipe C. L. , Bassani Marcel A. A.
Published: February 2023

Accurate pore pressure models in wells are essential for ensuring the lowest cost and operational safety during exploration/development projects. This modeling requires the integration of several sources of information such as well data, formation pressure tests, geophysical logs, mud weight, geological models, seismic data, geothermal and sedimentation rate modeling. An empirical relationship between overpressure and compressional wave velocity is commonly applied to model the pore pressure. This deterministic approach does not allow uncertainty quantification and ignores other variables related to pore pressure. This paper presents a case study with real data to evaluate and quantify spatial pore pressure uncertainty. The exhaustive secondary variable came from the combination of seismic velocity and geothermal models. The methodology uses Sequential Gaussian Cosimulation with Intrinsic Collocated Cokriging. The results demonstrate the usefulness and applicability of the workflow proposed.
The Sand Through My Fingers: Finding Aboriginal Cultural Voice, Identity and Agency on Country
Authors: Edwards-Groves Christine
Published: February 2023

Concerns about supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander learners to reach their potential endure in contemporary Australian education and society. Moreover, supporting these Aboriginal learners to have a sense of self-worth, self-awareness and personal identity that enables them to manage their emotional, mental, cultural, spiritual and physical wellbeing was identified as a key goal of the “Alice Springs (Mparntwe) Education Declaration”. This declaration sets out the national vision for education and the commitment of Australian Governments to improve educational outcomes for Aboriginal peoples across Australia (Commonwealth of Australia, 2019). This is a critical responsibility for the practices of Australian educators, policymakers and researchers alike. This chapter presents a uniqueon-Countryapproach to research with young Aboriginal people seeking to understand what a world worth living in means to them as individuals and for the communities they live in. The approach involved multimodal research methods that included poetry composition and photography, as media that revealed their Aboriginal youth voices, cultural sensitivities, identity and agency. For these young Aboriginal people, sitting on their own Country with sand from their Wiradjuri land sifting through their fingers, their words and images emerged as powerful resources for connecting to culture and to self as their Aboriginal identities flourished despite previously being demeaned by racism, ignorance, injustice and inequity. The poetry and photographs produced by these young Aboriginal males serve as a window into how cultural voice and vision expose ways identity and agency are socially-culturally-politically configured—both in their production and deployment. Their words and images demonstrate the kind of resilience needed for these Aboriginal youth to take their place in the world—one that they, too, see as worth living in.
Practices and Experiences in Educational Researcher Training: Reflections from Research Students Exploring the Theme, Living Well in a World Worth Living in During the Covid-19 Pandemic
Authors: Windsor Sally , Kitooke Amoni
Published: February 2023

Thischapter is a case study which describes and reflects on the first steps into research practice for a group of international Masters students who were soon to embark on writing educational research theses when the COVID-19 pandemic started in early 2020. Because of a sudden transition to online learning and cancellation of in-person fieldwork opportunities, this group of fledgling researchers conducted a small research project that sought answers to the question—What does it mean to live well in a world worth living in? The purpose of the project was to find out how this particular group of people, in a certain time and place, would respond to this question. Four themes emerged: political engagement; connection and basic needs; social stratification and access; living slow and in ‘flow’. This chapter outlines this project from the perspective of a research student and the teacher, and illuminates the various student groups’ understandings of what it means to live well in a world worth living in. Using the theories of ‘communities of practice’and ‘practice architectures’, the chapter reflects on the dynamics and processes through which the research student groups engaged with the subject; and what their experience might mean for educational researcher training.
B-anomalies in a twin Pati-Salam theory of flavour including the 2022 LHCb $$ {R}_{K^{\left(\ast \right)}} $$ analysis
Authors: Navarro Mario Fernández , King Stephen F.
Published: February 2023

Abstract

We perform a comprehensive phenomenological analysis of the twin Pati-Salam theory of flavour, focussing on the parameter space relevant for interpreting the B-anomalies via vector leptoquark U1 exchange. This model provides a very predictive framework in which the U1 couplings and the Yukawa couplings find a common origin via mixing of chiral quarks and leptons with vector-like fermions, providing a direct link between the B-anomalies and the fermion masses and mixing. We propose and study a simplified model with three vector-like fermion families, in the massless first family approximation, and show that the second and third family charged fermion masses and mixings and the B-anomalies can be simultaneously explained and related. The model has the proper flavour structure to be compatible with all low-energy observables, and leads to predictions in promising observables such as τ → 3μ, τ → μγ and $$ B\to {K}^{\left(\ast \right)}\nu \overline{\nu} $$
B
→

K

∗

ν

ν
¯

at Belle II and LHCb. The model also predicts a rich spectrum of TeV scale gauge bosons and vector-like fermions, all accessible to the LHC. In this updated version we have included an extended analysis considering the new 2022 LHCb data on $$ {R}_{K^{\left(\ast \right)}} $$

R

K

∗

, which has slightly shifted the preferred parameter space with respect to the 2021 case. The model can still explain the $$ {R}_{D^{\left(\ast \right)}} $$

R

D

∗

anomalies at 1σ in a narrow window, however we expect small deviations from the SM on the $$ {R}_{K^{\left(\ast \right)}} $$

R

K

∗

ratios, to be tested in the future via more precise measurements by the LHCb collaboration. We also predict RD = $$ {R}_{D^{\ast }} $$

R

D
∗

, with future measurements shifting the world averages to slightly smaller central values.
Quantum anomaly detection for collider physics
Authors: Alvi Sulaiman , Bauer Christian W. , Nachman Benjamin
Published: February 2023

Abstract

We explore the use of Quantum Machine Learning (QML) for anomaly detection at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). In particular, we explore a semi-supervised approach in the four-lepton final state where simulations are reliable enough for a direct background prediction. This is a representative task where classification needs to be performed using small training datasets — a regime that has been suggested for a quantum advantage. We find that Classical Machine Learning (CML) benchmarks outperform standard QML algorithms and are able to automatically identify the presence of anomalous events injected into otherwise background-only datasets.
A height bound for abelian schemes with real$$\times \mathbb {Q}^{2}$$ multiplication
Authors: Youell Zachary
Published: February 2023

In this paper, we prove a height bound for points on the base of a family of abelian varieties at which the fibre possesses additional endomorphisms. This complements a result of André in his book (G-Functions and Geometry Aspects of Mathematics, E13. Friedrich Vieweg and Sohn, Braunschweig, 1989) as well a result of Daw and Orr (Ann Scuol Norm Super Class Sci 39:1, 2021). The work in this paper will be used to prove a new case of the Zilber-Pink conjecture which will form part of the author’s PhD thesis.
Loss of pex5 sensitizes zebrafish to fasting due to deregulated mitochondria, mTOR, and autophagy
Authors: Bhandari Sushil , Kim Yong-Il , Nam In-Koo , Hong KwangHeum , Jo Yunju , Yoo Kyeong-Won , Liao Weifang , Lim Jae-Young , Kim Seong-Jin , Um Jae-Young , Kim Peter K. , Lee Ho Sub , Ryu Dongryeol , Kim Seok-Hyung , Kwak SeongAe , Park Raekil , Choe Seong-Kyu
Published: February 2023

Animal models have been utilized to understand the pathogenesis of Zellweger spectrum disorders (ZSDs); however, the link between clinical manifestations and molecular pathways has not yet been clearly established. We generated peroxin 5 homozygous mutant zebrafish (pex5−/−) to gain insight into the molecular pathogenesis of peroxisome dysfunction. pex5−/− display hallmarks of ZSD in humans and die within one month after birth. Fasting rapidly depletes lipids and glycogen in pex5−/− livers and expedites their mortality. Mechanistically, deregulated mitochondria and mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling act together to induce metabolic alterations that deplete hepatic nutrients and accumulate damaged mitochondria. Accordingly, chemical interventions blocking either the mitochondrial function or mTOR complex 1 (mTORC1) or a combination of both improve the metabolic imbalance shown in the fasted pex5−/− livers and extend the survival of animals. In addition, the suppression of oxidative stress by N-acetyl L-cysteine (NAC) treatment rescued the apoptotic cell death and early mortality observed in pex5−/−. Furthermore, an autophagy activator effectively ameliorated the early mortality of fasted pex5−/−. These results suggest that fasting may be detrimental to patients with peroxisome dysfunction, and that modulating the mitochondria, mTORC1, autophagy activities, or oxidative stress may provide a therapeutic option to alleviate the symptoms of peroxisomal diseases associated with metabolic dysfunction.
Mfsd2a attenuated hypoxic-ischemic brain damage via protection of the blood–brain barrier in mfat-1 transgenic mice
Authors: Li Xiaoxue , Zhang Yumeng , Chang Jianghao , Zhang Chenglin , Li Lin , Dai Yifan , Yang Haiyuan , Wang Ying
Published: February 2023

Previous studies have shown that mfat-1 transgenic mice have protective effects against some central nervous system (CNS) disorders, owing to the high docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) content enriched in their brains. However, whether this protective effect is connected to the blood–brain barrier (BBB) remains unclear. This study aims to investigate the mechanisms of the protective effect against hypoxic-ischemic brain damage (HIBD) of mfat-1 transgenic mice. mfat-1 mice not only demonstrated a significant amelioration of neurological dysfunction and neuronal damage but also partly maintained the physiological permeability of the BBB after HIBD. We initially showed this was associated with elevated major facilitator superfamily domain-containing 2a (Mfsd2a) expression on the BBB, resulting from more lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC)-DHA entering the brain. Wild-type (WT) mice showed a similar Mfsd2a expression trend after long-term feeding with an LPC-DHA-rich diet. Knockdown of Mfsd2a by siRNA intra-cerebroventricular (ICV) injection neutralized the protective effect against HIBD-induced BBB disruption in mfat-1 mice, further validating the protective function of Mfsd2a on BBB. HIBD-induced BBB high permeability was attenuated by Mfsd2a, primarily through a transcellular pathway to decrease caveolae-like vesicle-mediated transcytosis. Taken together, these findings not only reveal that mfat-1 transgenic mice have higher expression of Mfsd2a on the BBB, which partly sustains BBB permeability via vesicular transcytosis to alleviate the severity of HIBD, but also suggest that dietary intake of LPC-DHA may upregulate Mfsd2a expression as a novel therapeutic strategy for BBB dysfunction and survival in HIBD patients.
Analytical Properties for a Stochastic Rotating Shallow Water Model Under Location Uncertainty
Authors: Lang Oana , Crisan Dan , Mémin Étienne
Published: February 2023

The rotating shallow water model is a simplification of oceanic and atmospheric general circulation models that are used in many applications such as surge prediction, tsunami tracking and ocean modelling. In this paper we introduce a class of rotating shallow water models which are stochastically perturbed in order to incorporate model uncertainty into the underlying system. The stochasticity is chosen in a judicious way, by following the principles of location uncertainty, as introduced in Mémin (Geophys Astrophys Fluid Dyn 108(2):119–146, 2014). We prove that the resulting equation is part of a class of stochastic partial differential equations that have unique maximal strong solutions. The methodology is based on the construction of an approximating sequence of models taking value in an appropriately chosen finite-dimensional Littlewood-Paley space. Finally, we show that a distinguished element of this class of stochastic partial differential equations has a global weak solution.
Sex differences in body composition in people with prediabetes and type 2 diabetes as compared with people with normal glucose metabolism: the Maastricht Study
Authors: de Ritter Rianneke , Sep Simone J. S. , van Greevenbroek Marleen M. J. , Kusters Yvo H. A. M. , Vos Rimke C. , Bots Michiel L. , Kooi M. Eline , Dagnelie Pieter C. , Eussen Simone J. P. M. , Schram Miranda T. , Koster Annemarie , Brouwers Martijn C. G. , van der Sangen Niels M. R. , Peters Sanne A. E. , van der Kallen Carla J. H. , Stehouwer Coen D. A.
Published: February 2023

Aims/hypothesis

Obesity is a major risk factor for type 2 diabetes. However, body composition differs between women and men. In this study we investigate the association between diabetes status and body composition and whether this association is moderated by sex.

Methods

In a population-based cohort study (n=7639; age 40–75 years, 50% women, 25% type 2 diabetes), we estimated the sex-specific associations, and differences therein, of prediabetes (i.e. impaired fasting glucose and/or impaired glucose tolerance) and type 2 diabetes (reference: normal glucose metabolism [NGM]) with dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA)- and MRI-derived measures of body composition and with hip circumference. Sex differences were analysed using adjusted regression models with interaction terms of sex-by-diabetes status.

Results

Compared with their NGM counterparts, both women and men with prediabetes and type 2 diabetes had more fat and lean mass and a greater hip circumference. The differences in subcutaneous adipose tissue, hip circumference and total and peripheral lean mass between type 2 diabetes and NGM were greater in women than men (women minus men [W–M] mean difference [95% CI]: 15.0 cm2 [1.5, 28.5], 3.2 cm [2.2, 4.1], 690 g [8, 1372] and 443 g [142, 744], respectively). The difference in visceral adipose tissue between type 2 diabetes and NGM was greater in men than women (W–M mean difference [95% CI]: −14.8 cm2 [−26.4, −3.1]). There was no sex difference in the percentage of liver fat between type 2 diabetes and NGM. The differences in measures of body composition between prediabetes and NGM were generally in the same direction, but were not significantly different between women and men.

Conclusions/interpretation

This study indicates that there are sex differences in body composition associated with type 2 diabetes. The pathophysiological significance of these sex-associated differences requires further study.

Graphical abstract
Son preference and education Inequalities in India: the role of gender-biased fertility strategies and preferential treatment of boys
Authors: Congdon Fors Heather , Lindskog Annika
Published: February 2023

We investigate the impact of son preference in India on gender inequalities in education. We distinguish the impact of preferential treatment of boys from the impact of gender-biased fertility strategies (gender-specific fertility stopping rules and sex-selective abortions). Results show strong impacts of gender-biased fertility strategies on education inequalities between girls and boys. Preferential treatment of boys also matters but appears to have a more limited impact for most outcomes. Further, our results suggest that gender-biased fertility strategies create gender inequalities in education both because girls and boys end up in systematically different families and because of gender inequalities in pecuniary investment within families. Since gender inequalities in education in India are partially the result of gender-biased fertility strategies, they are not likely to disappear until the strong desire to have a son does so.
Cell-based therapies have disease-modifying effects on osteoarthritis in animal models. A systematic review by the ESSKA Orthobiologic Initiative. Part 2: bone marrow-derived cell-based injectable therapies
Authors: Boffa Angelo , Perucca Orfei Carlotta , Sourugeon Yosef , Laver Lior , Magalon Jérémy , Sánchez Mikel , Tischer Thomas , de Girolamo Laura , Filardo Giuseppe
Published: February 2023

Purpose

Aim of this systematic review was to determine if bone marrow-derived cell-based injectable therapies induce disease-modifying effects in joints affected by osteoarthritis (OA) in animal models.

Methods

A systematic review was performed on three electronic databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Embase) according to PRISMA guidelines. A synthesis of the results was performed investigating disease-modifying effects in preclinical animal studies comparing injectable bone marrow-derived products with OA controls or other products, different formulations or injection intervals, and the combination with other products. The risk of bias was assessed according to the SYRCLE’s tool.

Results

Fifty-three studies were included (1819 animals) with an increasing publication trend over time. Expanded cells were used in 48 studies, point-of-care products in 3 studies, and both approaches were investigated in 2 studies. Among the 47 studies presenting results on the disease-modifying effects, 40 studies (85%) reported better results with bone marrow-derived products compared to OA controls, with positive findings evident in 14 out of 20 studies (70%) in macroscopic assessment, in 30 out of 41 studies (73%) in histological assessment, and in 10 out of 13 studies (77%) in immunohistochemical evaluations. Clinical evaluations showed positive results in 7 studies out of 9 (78%), positive imaging results in 11 studies out of 17 (65%), and positive biomarker results in 5 studies out of 10 (50%). While 36 out of 46 studies (78%) reported positive results at the cartilage level, only 3 out of 10 studies (30%) could detect positive changes at the synovial level. The risk of bias was low in 42% of items, unclear in 50%, and high in 8%.

Conclusion

This systematic review of preclinical studies demonstrated that intra-articular injections of bone marrow-derived products can induce disease-modifying effects in the treatment of OA, slowing down the progression of cartilage damage with benefits at macroscopic, histological, and immunohistochemical levels. Positive results have been also observed in terms of clinical and imaging findings, as well as in the modulation of inflammatory and cartilage biomarkers, while poor effects have been described on the synovial membrane. These findings are important to understand the potential of bone marrow-derived products and to guide further research to optimise their use in the clinical practice.

Level of evidence

II.
Hodge sheaves underlying flat projective families
Authors: Kovács Sándor J. , Taji Behrouz
Published: February 2023

We show that, for any fixed weight, there is a natural system of Hodge sheaves, whose Higgs field has no poles, arising from a flat projective family of varieties parametrized by a regular complex base scheme, extending the analogous classical result for smooth projective families due to Griffiths. As an application, based on positivity of direct image sheaves, we establish a criterion for base spaces of rational Gorenstein families to be of general type. A key component of our arguments is centered around the construction of derived categorical objects generalizing relative logarithmic forms for smooth maps and their functorial properties.
Rapid determination of malondialdehyde in serum samples using a porphyrin-functionalized magnetic graphene oxide electrochemical sensor
Authors: Ben Attig Jihène , Latrous Latifa , Galvan Ismael , Zougagh Mohammed , Ríos Ángel
Published: February 2023

An electrochemical sensor based on a screen-printed carbon electrode (SPCE) modified with porphyrin-functionalized magnetic graphene oxide (TCPP-MGO) was developed for the sensitive and selective determination of malondialdehyde (MDA), an important biomarker of oxidative damage, in serum samples. The coupling of TCPP with MGO allows the exploitation of the magnetic properties of the material for separation, preconcentration, and manipulation of analyte, which is selectively captured onto the TCPP-MGO surface. The electron-transfer capability in the SPCE was improved through derivatization of MDA with diaminonaphthalene (DAN) (MDA-DAN). TCPP-MGO-SPCEs have been employed to monitor the differential pulse voltammetry (DVP) levels of the whole material, which is related to the amount of the captured analyte. Under optimum conditions, the nanocomposite-based sensing system has proved to be suitable for the monitoring of MDA, presenting a wide linear range (0.01–100 µM) with a correlation coefficient of 0.9996. The practical limit of quantification (P-LOQ) of the analyte was 0.010 µM, and the relative standard deviation (RSD) was 6.87% for 30 µM MDA concentration. Finally, the developed electrochemical sensor has demonstrated to be adequate for bioanalytical applications, presenting an excellent analytical performance for the routine monitoring of MDA in serum samples.

Graphical abstract
One-dimensional and comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatographic approaches for the characterization of post-consumer recycled plastic materials
Authors: Hochegger Andrea , Pantò Sebastiano , Jones Nick , Leitner Erich
Published: February 2023

In September 2022, the European Commission published its new regulation on recycled plastic materials for food contact. It allows newly developed, non-authorized technologies and approaches, or so-called novel technologies, to be deployed in the field to generate the data needed for establishing regulatory and/or fit for purpose processes. The data shall be generated by using suitable methods, but the regulation does not give a more detailed description on those. In this study, commercially purchased buckets made of post-consumer recycled polypropylene were screened, using a number of different analytical approaches. Sample preparation methods, analysis techniques, and the data and information generated were compared. The results clearly demonstrate the need for a detailed characterization of such materials and the advantages and disadvantages of the analysis using conventional gas chromatography with flame ionization detection and mass spectrometery as well as two-dimensional comprehensive gas chromatography with time of flight mass spectrometry.

Graphical Abstract
Correlation Between Microbial Community and Hatching Failure in Loggerhead Sea Turtle Caretta caretta
Authors: Capri Fanny Claire , Prazzi Elena , Casamento Giulia , Gambino Delia , Cassata Giovanni , Alduina Rosa
Published: February 2023

Microbial communities provide essential information about host ecology and could be helpful as a tool to improve species conservation efforts. However, microbes can also infect and compromise the host development process and viability.Caretta carettais the most widespread marine turtle species in the Mediterranean basin and is the only species of sea turtle nesting along the Italian coasts. Little is known about the microbiota composition of the nest of sea turtles and its correlation with hatching failures. In this study, the microbial composition of two nests ofC. carettafeaturing different rates of hatching success from a nesting beach in Lampedusa (Italy) was analyzed and compared. The bacterial community was determined using culture-dependent methods and next-generation sequencing based on 16S rRNA gene metabarcoding analysis. Our results showed five dominant bacterial phyla (Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria, Verrucomicrobia, and Firmicutes) and indicated different bacterial families (PseudomonadaceaeandBrucellaceae) as likely causes of hatching failures. Besides, our findings demonstrated the nests’ active role in modulating the sand’s bacterial communities. This study suggests microbiological analysis could be a valuable tool in monitoring nests to take preventive actions and reduce hatching failures.
Sex differences in dementia with Lewy bodies: an imaging study of neurotransmission pathways
Authors: Boccalini Cecilia , Nicastro Nicolas , Peretti Debora Elisa , Caminiti Silvia Paola , Perani Daniela , Garibotto Valentina
Published: February 2023

Purpose

Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) is characterized by a wide clinical and biological heterogeneity, with sex differences reported in both clinical and pathologically confirmed DLB cohorts. No research evidence is available on sex differences regarding molecular neurotransmission. This study aimed to assess whether sex can influence neurotransmitter systems in patients with probable DLB (pDLB).

Methods

We included 123 pDLB patients (male/female: 77/46) and 78 control subjects (male/female: 34/44) for comparison, who underwent 123I-FP-CIT SPECT imaging. We assessed sex differences in the dopaminergic activity of the nigrostriatal and mesolimbic systems using regional-based and voxel-wise analyses of 123I-FP-CIT binding. We tested whether sex-specific binding alterations would also pertain to the serotoninergic and noradrenergic systems by applying spatial correlation analyses. We applied molecular connectivity analyses to assess potential sex differences in the dopaminergic pathways.

Results

We found comparable 123I-FP-CIT binding decreases in the striatum for pDLB males and females compared to controls. However, pDLB females showed lower binding in the extrastriatal projections of the nigrostriatal and mesolimbic dopaminergic systems compared to pDLB males. According to the spatial correlation analysis, sex-specific molecular alterations were also associated with serotonergic and noradrenergic systems. Nigrostriatal and mesolimbic systems’ connectivity was impaired in both groups, with males showing local alterations and females presenting long-distance disconnections between subcortical and cortical regions.

Conclusions

Sex-specific differences in 123I-FP-CIT binding were found in our cohort, namely, a trend for lower 123I-FP-CIT binding in females, significant in the presence of a pDLB diagnosis. pDLB females showed also different patterns of connectivity compared to males, mostly involving extrastriatal regions. The results suggest the presence of a sex-related regional vulnerability to alpha-synuclein pathology, possibly complicated also by the higher prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease co-pathology in females, as previously reported in pDLB populations.
[89Zr]-immuno-PET prediction of response to rituximab treatment in patients with therapy refractory interstitial pneumonitis: a phase 2 trial
Authors: Adams H. , van de Garde E. M. W. , Vugts D. J. , Grutters J. C. , Oyen Wim. J.G. , Keijsers R. G.
Published: February 2023

Introduction

Immune-mediated interstitial pneumonitis may be treated with anti-CD20 therapy after failure of conventional therapies. However, clinical response is variable. It was hypothesized that autoreactive CD20-positive cells may play an important role in this variability. This prospective study aims to elucidate if imaging of CD20-positive cells in the lungs allows prediction of the response to anti-CD20 treatment.

Methods

Twenty-one patients with immune-mediated interstitial lung disease (ILD) with deteriorated pulmonary function received a dose of 1000 mg rituximab on day 1 and day 14 spiked with a tracer dose of radiolabeled [89Zr]-rituximab. PET/CT was performed on days 3 and 6. Standardized uptake values (SUV) were calculated as a measure for pulmonary CD20 expression. Based on pulmonary function tests (PFT), forced vital capacity (FVC), and diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO), prior to and 6 months after treatment, patients were classified as responder (stable disease or improvement) or non-responder.

Results

Fifteen patients (71%) were classified as responder. Pulmonary [89Zr]-rituximab PET SUVmean was significantly correlated with the change in FVC and DLCO (K = 0.49 and 0.56, respectively) when using target-to-background ratios, but not when using SUVmean alone. [89Zr]-rituximab SUVmean was significantly higher in responders than in non-responders (0.35 SD 0.09 vs. 0.23 SD 0.06; P = 0.02).

Conclusion

Rituximab treatment was effective in the majority of patients. As a higher pulmonary uptake of [89Zr]-rituximab correlated with improvement of PFT and treatment outcome, [89Zr]-rituximab PET imaging may serve as a potential predictive biomarker for anti-CD20 therapy.

Trial registration

Clinicaltrials.gov identifier NCT02251964
Outcomes of Self-Expanding Covered Stents for the Treatment of External ILIAC Artery Obstructive Disease
Authors: Squizzato Francesco , Mosquera-Rey Vicente , Zanabili Al-Sibbai Amer , Camblor Santervas Lino Antonio , Pasqui Edoardo , Palasciano Giancarlo , de Donato Gianmarco , Alonso Pérez Manuel , Antonello Michele , Piazza Michele
Published: February 2023

Purpose

To describe the early results and mid-term patency rates of external iliac artery (EIA) stenting using self-expanding covered stents.

Methods

We conducted a multicenter retrospective study (2015–2021), including patients receiving primary endovascular treatment of external iliac artery occlusive disease with self-expanding covered stents. All patients were treated with the Viabahn (W.L Gore & Associates, Inc., Flagstaff, AZ–USA) stent. Patency and limb salvage rates were estimated with Kaplan–Meier curves.

Results

Ninety-three patients (mean age, 69 ± 9 years; 81% males) were treated for disabling claudication in 44%, rest pain in 28%, and tissue loss in 28%. TASC C/D lesions were present in 72% and iliac complete occlusion in 30%. Mean lesion length was 6.9 ± 2.4 cm; 30% had moderate/severe EIA calcifications; and the mean iliac tortuosity index was 1.17 ± 0.13. Technical success was 100%. There was one perioperative death (1.4%) and procedural complication rate was 6.5%. At 42 months (mean, 25 months), primary patency was 89.8% (95%CI 83–98); the presence of EIA tortuosity (tortuosity index > 1.25, 87.7 ± 11% vs 89.9 ± 8%; P = .6) or severe calcifications (87.6 ± 9% vs 96.0 ± 8%; P = .400) had no significant impact. After univariate analysis, the use of a stent with diameter < 8 mm (HR 8.5, 95%CI 3.24–14.22; P < .001) was negatively associated with primary patency.

Conclusions

The use of self-expanding covered stents provided excellent early and mid-term results in the treatment of obstructive disease of the EIA, also in cases of high EIA tortuosity and high grade of calcifications. The use of a < 8 mm-diameter stent was associated with a reduced primary patency.
Micellization thermodynamics as a function of the temperature of a cationic zwitterionic dodecyl phosphocholine and anionic sodium dodecyl sulfate mixed micelles with fluorometry
Authors: Abo Gabal Raghda , Osama Sabreen , Hanafy Nemany , Oraby Ahmed
Published: February 2023

As fluorescence parameters such as lifetime, quantum yield, anisotropy and polarisation quantum are extremely sensitive to fluorophores’ microenvironmental changes, changes in the properties of the fluorescence probe have been widely used to study hydrophobic interactions in protein and membrane biology. The current study determines the critical micelle concentration (CMC) of mixed micelles of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and cationic surfactant N-dodecyl phosphocholine (DPC) based on fluorescence intensity measurements. biomolecular structure analysis and dynamics revealed through the measure of changes in the nanosecond time range. As the temperature rises, the onset of micellization tends to occur at higher concentrations. It was measured versus micelle concentration over a temperature range of (288–338) K. The obtained results were used to estimate the micellization thermodynamic parameters. Surfactant CMC drops to a minimum (T = 308 K) and then rises with temperature forming a parabolic curve as a function of temperature, according to experimental data. The CMCs are first correlated by a polynomial equation to determine the enthalpy of micellization. Both $$\Delta {H}_{\mathrm{mic}}$$

Δ

H
mic

and $$\Delta {S}_{\mathrm{mic}}$$

Δ

S
mic

appear to decrease monotonically as temperature rises. ΔGmic is negative, indicating that the micellization process is exothermic and favorable. The compensation temperature (Tc) ranged from (313–318) K by linear regression over the whole temperature range and for DPC, SDS, and mixed micelles together.
Association between graded subchorionic hematoma and adverse pregnancy outcomes in singleton pregnancies: a prospective observational cohort study
Authors: Liang Weizhang , Yan Xi , Shi Yifu , Chen Bingjun , An Luwan , Huang Bei , He Fang
Published: February 2023

Objective

To investigate whether different grades of subchorionic hematoma (SCH) are involved in the timing of birth and the development of adverse pregnancy outcomes in singleton pregnant women.

Methods

A total of 171 women with singleton pregnancies, 72 of whom had SCH before 20 weeks and between 12 and 20 weeks of gestational age (GA), were included in this study conducted between January 2018 and December 2021. These patients were divided into three subgroups based on the size of the subchorionic hematoma on ultrasound imaging. Baseline demographic data, obstetric outcomes, and risk factors for subchorionic hematoma were compared for the two groups.

Results

A higher number of pregnancies from the SCH group resulted in miscarriage (30.56% versus 2.02%, p < 0.0001), early preterm birth (8.33% versus 1.01%, p = 0.0035), premature rupture of membranes (15.28% versus 4.04%, p = 0.0103), fetal growth restriction (9.72% versus 0%, p = 0.0015), and delivery 13.18 days earlier (274.34 ± 11.25 versus 261.16 ± 29.80, p = 0.0013) than those from the control group. Compared with SCH detected before 12 weeks of GA, the rate of miscarriage increased, and the live birth rate decreased significantly in patients with SCH caught between 12 and 20 weeks of GA. With the increase in hematoma size, the likelihood of miscarriage increased significantly. Further analysis found that delivery occurred earlier in the medium/large SCH group (271.49 ± 23.61 versus 253.28 ± 40.68/261.77 ± 22.11, p = 0.0004/0.0073) but not in the small SCH group (274.34 ± 11.25 versus 267.85 ± 21.01, p = 0.2681) compared to the control group. Our results also showed that the anterior placenta (52.04% versus 33.33%, p = 0.0005, OR = 0.3137, 95% CI [0.1585, 0.601]) is a protective factor for subchorionic hematoma.

Conclusion

Our study shows that women with SCH are at a higher risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes and are independently associated with miscarriage, early preterm birth, premature rupture of membranes, and fetal growth restriction. A subchorionic hematoma, especially detected between 12 and 20 weeks of GA, is very likely to cause miscarriage or preterm birth in women with a medium or large subchorionic hematoma.
Prevalence and Severity Distribution of Type 2 Inflammation-Related Comorbidities Among Patients with Asthma, Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Nasal Polyps, and Atopic Dermatitis
Authors: Khan Asif H. , Gouia Imène , Kamat Siddhesh , Johnson Robert , Small Mark , Siddall James
Published: February 2023

This observational study assessed the prevalence of co-existing type 2 inflammatory conditions [T2Cs; asthma, atopic dermatitis (AD), allergic rhinitis, and chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP)] in patients with moderate-to-severe (M/S) type 2 asthma, M/S CRSwNP, or M/S AD, in the real-world setting. Data from 761 physicians in the US and EUR5 were sourced from Adelphi Disease-Specific Programmes covering patients with M/S asthma (n = 899), M/S CRSwNP (n = 683), and M/S AD (n = 1497). At least one T2C was identified in 66%, 69%, and 46% of M/S asthma, M/S CRSwNP, and M/S AD cohorts, respectively, and 24%, 36% and 16% had at least two T2Cs; trends were similar in the US and EUR5. In patients with M/S asthma or M/S CRSwNP, T2Cs commonly presented as mild or moderate. The comorbidity burden suggests that an integrated treatment approach is warranted to address underlying type 2 inflammation in patients with M/S type 2 diseases.
Sr–Pb isotope differences in pre- and post-burial human bone, teeth, and hair keratin: implications for isotope forensics
Authors: Kootker Lisette M. , Ammer Saskia T. M. , Wescott Daniel J. , Davies Gareth R. , Mickleburgh Hayley L.
Published: February 2023

The isotopic signatures of human tissues can provide valuable information on geographic origin for medicolegal investigations involving unidentified persons. It is important to understand the impact of diagenetic processes on isotopic signatures, as alterations could result in incorrect estimation of geographic origin. This study examines alterations in isotope signatures of different tissues of five human body donors studied throughout decomposition at the Forensic Anthropology Research Facility (FARF), San Marcos, TX. Two body donors were buried, two were placed in open pits, and one was first allowed to naturally mummify and then buried. Remains were recovered after a period of 7–34 months. The preplacement and post-recovery Sr–Pb isotope data of scalp hair, bone (iliac and tibia), and tooth enamel and dentine were compared. The hair samples record significant shifts in Sr-Pb isotope compositions, with hair keratin Pb isotope composition shifting towards the Pb signature of local soil samples. Hair keratin Sr isotope compositions were altered by the burial environment and possibly also by the lab sample cleaning method. The spongy iliac bone samples show inconsistencies in the recoverability of the preplacement Sr–Pb isotope signatures. The post-placement signatures of the buried donors show slight elevation over preplacement signatures. The post-placement signatures of donors placed in open pits are significantly elevated. The tibia and dental samples record the most consistent isotopic data with the least alteration. These more densely mineralised elements show good recoverability of the preplacement isotope signatures in burials and open pits and are thus deemed better targets for forensic investigative purposes.
Maternal smoking in pregnancy and blood pressure during childhood and adolescence: a meta-analysis
Authors: Mourino Nerea , Varela-Lema Leonor , Ahluwalia Jasjit S. , Rey-Brandariz Julia , Candal-Pedreira Cristina , Ruano-Ravina Alberto , Vila-Farinas Andrea , Torres Andrés , Pérez-Rios Mónica
Published: February 2023

Arterial hypertension during childhood or adolescence is rising, and smoking during pregnancy may constitute a modifiable risk factor. This study aims to evaluate the effect of maternal smoking during pregnancy on diastolic (DBP) and systolic blood pressure (SBP) in childhood and adolescence. A bibliographic search was conducted in PubMed, Embase, and CENTRAL databases in March 2022. Meta-analysis was performed with the difference in mean-adjusted SBP/DBP of children and adolescents aged 3–17 years, according to maternal smoking/non-smoking in pregnancy. A random effects model was applied; a leave-one-out analysis and meta-analysis by subgroups were performed. A modified Newcastle–Ottawa scale was used to assess the quality of the studies. Evidence levels were rated using the GRADE system. Fifteen studies were included in the meta-analysis; all of them evaluated the mean-adjusted SBP difference in children or adolescents (N = 73,448), and 6 also that of DBP (N = 31,459). Results showed that maternal smoking during pregnancy significantly increased SBP (β = 0.31 mmHg 95% CI 0.14–0.49). A greater increase in mean-adjusted SBP was observed in those studies that completed the recruitment before 1990, were conducted in non-European countries, used standard mercury or manual sphygmomanometry, adjusted for birth weight, and were in the lowest quality subgroup. No significant association was found for DBP. The GRADE level of evidence was low for SBP and very low for DBP.

Conclusion: Smoking in pregnancy might increase SBP in childhood and adolescence. Due to the low level of evidence, solid inferences cannot be drawn about the clinical relevance of these findings.

What is Known:• AHT is the leading cause of premature death among adults worldwide.• Deleterious effects derived from SHS exposure on children's health have been documented since early 1970. To date, there are contradictory results about the effects of prenatal SHS exposure on children’s BP.

What is New:• Smoking in pregnancy may increase SBP during childhood and adolescence.• Maternal smoking during pregnancy could have greater influence on their offspring's SBP than on DBP.
Evaluation of emotional dynamics in social media conversations: an approach based on structures of opposition and set-theoretic measures
Authors: Gaeta Angelo
Published: February 2023

The paper presents the results related to the definition and adoption of structures of opposition, built with set-theoretic measures, to evaluate emotional dynamics that arise during conversations on social media. Specifically, a graded hexagon of opposition is used to compare the emotional profiles of individuals involved in a dyadic conversation. Set-theoretic measures, based on fuzzy logic, are used to construct the hexagon whose analysis allows us to understand the tendency of the conversation toward empathy or lack of empathy. The results can be useful in the context of the current trend of social media sensing and, in particular, to support social media providers in receiving early warnings related to the analysis of emotional dynamics that could lead to or degenerate into information disorder. The results have been evaluated with conversations extracted from the Empathetic Dialogue dataset.
Multi-classification for EEG motor imagery signals using data evaluation-based auto-selected regularized FBCSP and convolutional neural network
Authors: An Yang , Lam Hak Keung , Ling Sai Ho
Published: February 2023

In recent years, there has been a renewal of interest in brain–computer interface (BCI). One of the BCI tasks is to classify the EEG motor imagery (MI). A great deal of effort has been made on MI classification. What seems to be lacking, however, is multiple MI classification. This paper develops a single-channel-based convolutional neural network to tackle multi-classification motor imagery tasks. For multi-classification, a single-channel learning strategy can extract effective information from each independent channel, making the information between adjacent channels not affect each other. A data evaluation method and a mutual information-based regularization parameters auto-selection algorithm are also proposed to generate effective spatial filters. The proposed method can be used to tackle the problem of an inaccurate mixed covariance matrix caused by fixed regularization parameters and invalid training data. To illustrate the merits of the proposed methods, we used the tenfold cross-validation accuracy and kappa as the evaluation measures to test two data sets. BCI4-2a and BCI3a data sets have four mental classes. For the BCI4-2a data set, the average accuracy is 79.01%, and the kappa is 0.7202 using data evaluation-based auto-selected filter bank regularized common spatial pattern voting (D-ACSP-V) and single-channel series convolutional neural network (SCS-CNN). Compared to traditional FBRCSP, the proposed method improved accuracy by 7.14% for the BCI4-2a data set. By using the BCI3a data set, the proposed method improved accuracy by 9.54% compared with traditional FBRCSP, the average accuracy of the proposed method is 83.70%, and the kappa is 0.7827.
The effect of various options for decompression of degenerated lumbar spine motion segments on the range of motion: a biomechanical in vitro study
Authors: Lener Sara , Schmölz Werner , Abramovic Anto , Kluger Patrick , Thomé Claudius , Hartmann Sebastian
Published: February 2023

Background

Lumbar spinal stenosis is a common disease in the aging population. Decompression surgery represents the treatment standard, however, a risk of segmental destabilization depending on the approach and extent of decompression is discussed. So far, biomechanical studies on techniques were mainly conducted on non-degenerated specimens. This biomechanical in vitro study aimed to investigate the increase in segmental range of motion (ROM) depending on the extent of decompression in degenerated segments.

Methods

Ten fresh frozen lumbar specimens were embedded in polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) and loaded in a spine tester with pure moments of ± 7.5 Nm. The specimens were tested in their intact state for lateral bending (LB), flexion/extension (FE) and axial rotation (AR). Subsequently, four different decompression techniques were performed: unilateral interlaminar decompression (DC1), unilateral with "over the top" decompression (DC2), bilateral interlaminar decompression (DC3) and laminectomy (DC4). The ROM of the index segment was reported as percent (%) of the native state.

Results

Specimens were measured in their intact state prior to decompression. The mean ROM was defined as 100% (FE:6.3 ± 2.3°; LB:5.4 ± 2.8°; AR:3.0 ± 1.6°). Interventions showed a continuous ROM increase: FE (DC1: + 4% ± 4.3; DC2: + 4% ± 4.5; DC3: + 8% ± 8.3;DC4: + 20% ± 15.9), LB(DC1: + 4% ± 6.0; DC2: + 5% ± 7.3; DC3: + 8% ± 8.3; DC4: + 11% ± 9.9), AR (DC1: + 7% ± 6.0; DC2: + 9% ± 7.9; DC3: + 15% ± 11.5; DC4: + 19% ± 10.5). Significant increases in ROM for all motion directions (p < 0.05) were only obtained after complete laminectomy (DC4).

Conclusion

Unilateral and/or bilateral decompressive surgery resulted in a statistically insignificant ROM increase, whereas complete laminectomy showed statistically significant ROM increase. If this ROM increase also has an impact on the clinical outcome and how to identify segments at risk for secondary lumbar instability should be evaluated in further studies.
Neurological soft signs are increased in major depressive disorder irrespective of treatment
Authors: Schülke Rasmus , Liepach Kyra , Brömstrup Anna Lena , Folsche Thorsten , Deest Maximilian , Bleich Stefan , Neyazi Alexandra , Frieling Helge , Maier Hannah B.
Published: February 2023

The significance of neurological soft signs (NSS) in major depressive disorder (MDD) remains unclear and the stability of NSS in relation to antidepressant treatment has never been investigated. We hypothesized that NSS are relatively stable trait markers of MDD. We thus predicted that patients show more NSS than healthy controls, irrespective of illness duration and antidepressant treatment. To test this hypothesis, NSS were assessed in chronically depressed, medicated MDD patients before (n = 23) and after (n = 18) a series of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). In addition, NSS were assessed once in acutely depressed, unmedicated MDD patients (n = 16) and healthy controls (n = 20). We found that both chronically depressed, medicated MDD patients and acutely depressed, unmedicated MDD patients showed more NSS than healthy controls. The degree of NSS in both patient groups did not differ. Importantly, we found no change in NSS after on average eleven sessions of ECT. Thus, the manifestation of NSS in MDD seems to be independent of illness duration and pharmacological and electroconvulsive antidepressant treatment. From a clinical perspective, our findings corroborate the neurological safety of ECT.