bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Risk of corticosteroid treatment and hospitalization after checkpoint inhibitor and radiation therapy in patients with cancer
Authors: Lee Kate E. , Bender David A. , Koutcher Lawrence D. , Hyde Brigham , Hur Chin , Faye Adam S. , Cheng Simon K.
Published: October 2021

Background

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are potent new cancer therapies but can cause serious immune‐related adverse events. ICIs have contributed significantly to improved survival and thereby provide more opportunity for the development of local disease symptomatology requiring palliative radiation. Radiation therapy (RT) has also recently shown benefit in the oligometastatic setting. Data on the interaction and safety of concurrent ICIs and RT are limited.

Methods

In this retrospective cohort study using a large medical claims database from 2010 to 2017, the need for corticosteroid therapy and the risk of hospitalization within 180 days of treatment with an ICI were determined for patients with a diagnosis of malignant melanoma or lung cancer. Patients were stratified by the use of RT within the 30 days before and after ICI therapy.

Results

In all, 2020 patients (218 with RT and 1802 without RT) met the inclusion criteria for prednisone analysis, whereas 3519 patients (361 with RT and 3158 without RT) met the inclusion criteria for all other analyses. In a univariable analysis, RT was not associated with the need for prednisone (relative risk [RR], 1.2; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.8‐1.9) or methylprednisolone (RR, 1.1; 95% CI, 0.7‐2.0). When the end point was hospitalization, RT was significantly associated with hospitalization after ICI therapy for certain cancer/drug combinations (RR for lung cancer/programmed death 1 receptor inhibitors, 1.4; 95% CI, 1.2‐1.6; P < .001; RR for melanoma/ipilimumab, 2.0; 95% CI, 1.0‐3.5; P = .03).

Conclusions

In patients treated with ICIs, receiving RT was not associated with a higher risk of requiring corticosteroid therapy in comparison with not receiving RT. However, RT was associated with a higher risk of hospitalization, although this finding may be a result of differences in the underlying patient illness severity or oncologic disease burden at the baseline.

Lay Summary

Data on the interaction of immunotherapy (immune checkpoint inhibitors) and radiation therapy and the safety of combining them are limited.

Using a large database, this study has found that patients treated concurrently with immune checkpoint inhibitors and radiation therapy are not at increased risk for requiring corticosteroid therapy (which is used as a proxy for immune‐related adverse events).

However, concurrent therapy is associated with a higher risk of hospitalization, although this finding may be due to differences in the underlying patient illness severity (sicker patients may require both immunotherapy and radiation therapy).
Assessing the disproportionality of depressive reactions to life stress
Authors: Pfeifer Benjamin J. , Strunk Daniel R.
Published: October 2021

Background

Prior to DSM‐5, depression had long been conceptualized as symptoms without cause or disproportionate to one's circumstances. A central challenge to considering whether a depressive reaction is disproportionate is the lack of measures assessing disproportionality. Drawing on a study of patients participating in cognitive behavioural therapy for depression, we evaluate two new measures of the disproportionality of one's depressive symptoms to their recent life circumstances.

Methods

To assess the disproportionality of depressive symptoms, we developed an interview‐based assessment and a brief self‐report measure. We employed both assessments in a sample of 126 patients who participated in cognitive behavioural therapy for depression.

Results

Initial evidence for the reliability and validity of both self‐report and interview‐based approaches appeared promising. Interview judges demonstrated strong inter‐rater reliability on life stress ratings, and both forms of disproportionality showed a pattern of correlations with variables reflecting greater clinical complexity, including self‐reported personality dysfunction and symptom severity. Comorbid generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) was the only previously proposed marker of complicated depression to significantly predict both disproportionality scores.

Limitations

The sample had limited ethnic diversity and tended to be highly educated. Participants all met criteria for major depressive disorder and sought treatment.

Conclusions

Two assessments of the disproportionality of depressive reactions demonstrated evidence of reliability and validity. Despite limited efforts at assessment to date, these results suggest these measures may be able to reliably distinguish the disproportionality of depressive reactions and allow clinicians to better assess contextual life stress depressive disorders.
The investigation of the optics of shock‐compressed strongly correlated plasma
Authors: Zaporozhets Yuri B. , Mintsev Victor B. , Gryaznov Victor K. , Rosmej Sebastian , Reinholz Heidi , Röpke Gerd
Published: October 2021

Rare gas plasmas at high temperatures and pressures, produced by explosive shock fronts, are explored using laser diagnostics. The analysis of the response of a dense plasma to an electromagnetic wave of moderate‐intensity proves successful for investigating properties and the validity of physical models describing the behaviour of dense and non‐ideal plasmas. We present new experimental data for the reflectivity of oblique incidence of polarized electromagnetic waves on the front of shock‐compressed xenon plasmas. The optical properties of strongly correlated plasma were studied in the near‐infrared and green spectral regions at a plasma mass density ρ = 0.83 g/cm3 and temperature T = 32900 K. The spatial parameters of the plasma transition shock‐front layer are determined by solving numerically the electromagnetic field equations.
Ted Kuwana as a Senior Colleague, Mentor and Scientific Leader
Authors: McCreery Richard L.
Published: October 2021

Ted Kuwana was not only a scientific leader in electrochemistry and related fields, but he was also an excellent citizen and unselfish contributor to the careers of many other scientists, myself included.
Enhancing the catalytic current response of H2 oxidation gas diffusion bioelectrodes using an optimized viologen‐based redox polymer and [NiFe] hydrogenase
Authors: Lielpetere Anna , Becker Jana M. , Szczesny Julian , Conzuelo Felipe , Ruff Adrian , Birrell James , Lubitz Wolfgang , Schuhmann Wolfgang
Published: October 2021

Using viologen‐based redox polymers to wire a variety of different hydrogenases to electrodes and gas diffusion electrodes is the basis to mitigate high potential deactivation of the enzyme, deactivation by molecular O2, as well as for high‐current density H2 oxidation bioanodes. To overcome electron transfer limitations by electron hopping within the viologen‐modified polymer film, a new redox polymer was designed with the highest possible viologen content together with monomers bearing crosslinking units. In combination with an immobilization sequence consisting of oxidative grafting of amino functions, covalent attachment of polymer units to these functionalities, and crosslinking of the polymer layers, an unprecedently fast electron transfer became possible. This enabled a very high current density normalized by the amount of the [NiFe] hydrogenase embedded within a viologen polymer on gas diffusion electrodes.
Optimization of the quality‐to‐power ratio of scalable video code video transmission in millimeter‐wave massive multiple‐input multiple‐output systems
Authors: Zhang Ping , Zhao Long , Cheng Binyao , Gao Pengzun
Published: October 2021

Consider a millimeter‐wave (mmWave) massive multiple‐input multiple‐output (MIMO) system, where a base station (BS) relying on discrete lens antenna (DLA) array transmits scalable video code (SVC) video to multiple single‐antenna vehicles. Taking into account both the video quality for vehicles and the communication resource consumption of BS, we define a new metric given by the quality of received video to the power consumption ratio (QPR) in order to measure the system efficiency. The objective of this article is to maximize the minimum QPR among vehicles by designing the antenna selection and power allocation scheme, while ensuring the constraints of total transmit power and DLA array structure. Due to the piecewise form of the video quality function, it is intractable to solve the formulated problem, which is therefore decomposed into antenna selection and power allocation subproblems. A maximum equivalent channel gain (MECG) algorithm and an iteration algorithm are proposed for antenna selection subproblem with different complexities, respectively; while an optimal power allocation (OPA) algorithm is designed by analyzing three cases of transmit power constraints. Simulation results indicate that the proposed MECG algorithm has moderate performance with low‐complexity, while the OPA algorithm can help to achieve the optimal QPR in contrast to other algorithms.
The genus Thesium L. (Santalaceae) in India: Addition of Thesium jarmilae Hendrych to the flora of India
Authors: Ghosh Jayanta , Midday Mrinmoy , Maity Debabrata
Published: October 2021

The genus Thesium (Santalaceae) is enumerated in India with seven species accepted. Thesium jarmilae, a root hemiparasitic member of the family is recorded from India for the first time from Sikkim Himalaya. The species can readily be distinguished from other members of the genus in India by its suprabasal bracts and fruits with conspicuous longitudinal veins. Taxonomy of T. jarmilae is discussed along with ecological notes, host specificity and IUCN conservation status in India. A dichotomous key is also provided.
Role of the pharmacist in acute care interventions for opioid use disorder: A scoping review
Authors: Irwin Madison N. , Walkerly Autumn
Published: October 2021

Opioid use disorder (OUD) is associated with significant morbidity and mortality in the United States. In recent years, interest in initiatives to increase access to medication for OUD (MOUD) and overdose‐reversing medications (naloxone) in acute care has grown. While well positioned to intervene, the role of acute care pharmacists in these interventions is not known. The objective for this scoping review was to better understand what is presently known about the role of pharmacists in acute care OUD interventions. These were defined as initiatives implemented in either inpatient or emergency department (ED) settings aimed at treatment of OUD (eg, initiation or management of MOUD) or harm reduction in individuals with OUD (eg, education or targeted naloxone dispensing). PubMed/MEDLINE and Embase databases were searched for articles pertaining to the research question from inception to 19 May 2021. Pearling was performed after the identification of eligible articles. Articles had to explicitly describe the pharmacist's role in planning, implementing, or evaluating an OUD intervention in the inpatient or ED setting. Data charting was performed by both authors using a predefined template, and data synthesis was performed via discussion between authors. The initial title search yielded 101 references which were screened and resulted in four articles that met inclusion criteria. Three additional articles were identified in the pearling process, yielding a total of seven articles. Four described initiatives aimed at point‐of‐care dispensing of naloxone, and three described initiatives for provision or management of MOUD. Pharmacist roles primarily consisted of medication use process management, hospital staff and patient education, and dispensing activities. Literature describing the role of pharmacists in acute care OUD interventions is limited. Given the burden of OUD, there are many opportunities for further exploration of the roles acute care pharmacists can play in OUD harm reduction and treatment.
Insulin acts as an atypical KCNQ1/KCNE1‐current activator and reverses long QT in insulin‐resistant aged rats by accelerating the ventricular action potential repolarization through affecting the β3‐adrenergic receptor signaling pathway
Authors: Olgar Yusuf , Durak Aysegul , Bitirim Ceylan V. , Tuncay Erkan , Turan Belma
Published: October 2021

Insufficient‐heart function is associated with myocardial insulin resistance in the elderly, particularly associated with long‐QT, in a dependency on dysfunctional KCNQ1/KCNE1‐channels. So, we aimed to examine the contribution of alterations in KCNQ1/KCNE1‐current (IKs) to the aging‐related remodeling of the heart as well as the role of insulin treatment on IKsin the aged rats. Prolonged late‐phase action potential (AP) repolarization of ventricular cardiomyocytes from insulin‐resistant 24‐month‐old rats was significantly reversed by in vitro treatment of insulin or PKG inhibitor (in vivo, as well) via recovery in depressed IKs. Although the protein level of either KCNQ1 or KCNE1 in cardiomyocytes was not affected with aging, PKG level was significantly increased in those cells. The inhibited IKsin β3‐ARs‐stimulated cells could be reversed with a PKG inhibitor, indicating the correlation between PKG‐activation and β3‐ARs activation. Furthermore, in vivo treatment of aged rats, characterized by β3‐ARs activation, with either insulin or a PKG inhibitor for 2 weeks provided significant recoveries in IKs, prolonged late phases of APs, prolonged QT‐intervals, and low heart rates without no effect on insulin resistance. In vivo insulin treatment provided also significant recovery in increased PKG and decreased PIP2 level, without the insulin effect on the KCNQ1 level in β3‐ARs overexpressed cells. The inhibition of IKsin aged‐rat cardiomyocytes seems to be associated with activated β3‐ARs dependent remodeling in the interaction between KCNQ1 and KCNE1. Significant recoveries in ventricular‐repolarization of insulin‐treated aged cardiomyocytes via recovery in IKsstrongly emphasize two important issues: (1) IKscan be a novel target in aging‐associated remodeling in the heart and insulin may be a cardioprotective agent in the maintenance of normal heart function during the aging process. (2) This study is one of the first to demonstrate insulin's benefits on long‐QT in insulin‐resistant aged rats by accelerating the ventricular AP repolarization through reversing the depressed IKsvia affecting the β3‐ARs signaling pathway and particularly affecting activated PKG.
Economic Inequality Shapes Judgments of Consumption
Authors: Hagerty Serena F. , Barasz Kate , Norton Michael I.
Published: October 2021

Economic inequality affects not only individuals’ judgments and behavior in their own lives, but also those individuals’ judgements and behavior toward others—both people and firms. First, the consumption decisions of others are often evaluated through a moral lens, such that lower‐income consumers are held to more negative, restrictive standards of what is acceptable to purchase. Second, firms that perpetuate inequality among their employees or their customers—through unequal pay or unequal services—are viewed negatively. We discuss the implications of economic inequality shaping people’s moral scrutiny of others.
Perceiving, Coping with, and Changing Economic Inequality in the Marketplace
Authors: Ordabayeva Nailya , Lisjak Monika
Published: October 2021

Consumer research is uniquely positioned and equipped to develop a deeper understanding of the role of economic inequality in consumers' lives. We propose a three‐step framework that delineates the role of the marketplace in shaping consumers' perception of and response to economic inequality. First, we propose that the marketplace shapes, and at times biases, perceptions of economic inequality, as a result of the consumption signals, social environment, and market structure that individuals observe and navigate. Second, the marketplace offers unique strategies that the “haves” and the “have‐nots” may rely on to cope with inequality. Third, the marketplace offers consumers, marketers, and policy‐makers tools to change or preserve inequality including purchase decisions, resource reallocation opportunities, and communication strategies. We outline how consumer researchers can contribute to unpacking each step of the process and identify fruitful research directions that would be interesting and important to pursue.
Human leukocyte antigen class I association with occult hepatitis B virus infection in the Shaanxi Han group: Analysis at the haplotype level
Authors: Wang Tianju , Qi Jun , Li Hengxin , Chen Liping , Liu Sheng , Shen Chunmei
Published: October 2021

Background

Human leucocyte antigen (HLA) class I genes and haplotypes correlate with hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Occult HBV infection (OBI), a special type of chronic HBV infection, is defined as HBV surface antigen negative patients with or those without serologic markers by the means of HBV DNA detection in human plasma or in liver tissue by a diagnostic test. So far, the associations of HLA I haplotypes with OBI have not been reported previously in China.

Methods

A case–control study between 107 OBI subjects and 280 healthy controls from blood donors in the Blood Center of the Shaanxi Province was conducted in the present association analysis. The HLA‐A, ‐B and ‐C loci of case–control subjects were detected and genotyped by polymerase chain reaction‐sequence based typing. The HLA‐A, ‐B and ‐C haplotypic frequencies were calculated by the maximum likelihood method.

Results

The HLA‐A*33:03‐C*07:01G (pc = 0.039, odds ratio [OR] = 8.996, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.825–44.338), B*44:03‐C*07:01G (pc = 0.0069, OR = 12.000, 95% CI = 2.507–57.436) and A*33:03‐B*44:03‐C*07:01G (pc = 0.04, OR = 7.094, 95% CI = 1.387–36.288) haplotypes showed a a significant positive association with OBI. Independent effects demonstrated that HLA‐B*44:03 and HLA‐C*07:01G gave the main contribution to risk, whereas HLA‐A*33:03 was associated only by linkage disequilibrium.

Conclusions

This present study is the first to demonstrate that HLA I haplotypes are associated with OBI in the Shaanxi Han population. The present results suggest that HLA‐B*44:03‐C*07:01G might be a potential risk factor for OBI.

Comparisons of the frequencies of HLA I haplotypes at high resolution were made between OBI from northern Chinese Han and controls. Frequencies of HLA‐A‐B, A‐C, B‐C, A‐B‐C between the OBI group (gray column) and the control group (blank column) were compared. Haplotypes with p < 0.05 in either group were shown. p values for multiple comparisons (pc) were corrected by Bonferroni correction (*pc < 0.05).
Design, synthesis, biological evaluation, and molecular docking studies of some novel N,N‐dimethylaminopropoxy‐substituted aurones
Authors: Kumar Gourav , Saroha Bhavna , Kumar Ramesh , Kumari Meena , Dalal Sunita , Kumar Suresh
Published: October 2021

In continuation of our ongoing research on the discovery of novel and potentially bioactive aurones, we have designed and synthesized some novel N,N‐dimethylaminopropoxy‐substituted pyrazole‐based aurones 10(a‐l). These pyrazole‐benzofuranone hybrid compounds were characterized by using their IR, 1H‐NMR, 13C‐NMR, and mass spectrometry data. Compound 10c was used as a model to further explicate the structure of tilted compounds by means of 1H‐1H COSY, 1H‐13C HMQC, 1H‐13C HMBC, 1H‐1H TOCSY, 1H‐1H NOSEY, DEPT‐45°, DEPT‐90°, and DEPT‐135° NMR spectra. The comparative molecular docking study of N,N‐dimethylaminopropoxy‐substituted pyrazole‐based aurones and standard drugs (Ampicillin and Chloramphenicol) against Bacillus subtilis (PDB: 6tzp) active site was performed to determine the binding interactions, binding energy, and orientation of the molecules at the active site of the target protein. Out of these synthesized compounds, five best analogs (10b, 10f, 10h, 10k, and 10l) of docking results were also evaluated for their in vitro antibacterial potential against Bacillus subtilis to validate the docking results.
Polymer Photonic Crystal Waveguides Generated by Femtosecond Laser
Authors: Roth Gian‐Luca , Kefer Stefan , Hessler Steffen , Esen Cemal , Hellmann Ralf
Published: October 2021

Femtosecond laser‐based fabrication of integrated photonic crystal waveguides inside of a transparent polymer is reported. In general, the fabrication of waveguides based on femtosecond laser‐induced positive refractive index modifications is feasible. However, in transparent polymers their performance is limited since only minor refractive index changes can be achieved with this technique. These restrictions can be circumvented by generating hexagonal “photonic lattice like” waveguides, which consist of negative refractive index modifications in the cladding, enabling light confinement in the unirradiated core. A comprehensive study on the fabrication of this new class of polymer waveguide is performed as well as a characterization of its numerical aperture, mode field diameter, and attenuation. In addition, integration of Bragg gratings based on positive and negative refractive index modulations within the waveguide's core is studied. Moreover, we highlight that polymer photonic crystal waveguides are compatible with common femtosecond laser‐based internal structuring processes, enabling the creation of monolithic optofluidic devices, which is demonstrated by the fabrication of a Fabry–Pérot interferometer.
Gradient based iterative methods for solving symmetric tensor equations
Authors: Li Tao , Wang Qing‐Wen , Zhang Xin‐Fang
Published: October 2021

The steepest descent and conjugate gradient methods are classical gradient based iterative methods for solving symmetric positive definite linear system . In this article, we are concerned with the numerical solution of the tensor equation by those well‐known iterations in which is an mth order n‐dimensional symmetric tensor. Then we prove that the developed iterative methods converge locally linearly under some appropriate conditions. Finally, some numerical experiments are provided to illustrate the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed methods.
On a marching level‐set method for extended discontinuous Galerkin methods for incompressible two‐phase flows: Application to two‐dimensional settings
Authors: Smuda Martin , Kummer Florian
Published: October 2021

In this work a solver for two‐dimensional, instationary two‐phase flows on the basis of the extended discontinuous Galerkin (extended DG/XDG) method is presented. The XDG method adapts the approximation space conformal to the position of the interface. This allows a subcell accurate representation of the incompressible Navier‐Stokes equations in their sharp interface formulation. The interface is described as the zero set of a signed‐distance level‐set function and discretized by a standard DG method. For the interface, resp. level‐set, evolution an extension velocity field is used and a two‐staged algorithm is presented for its construction on a narrow‐band. On the cut‐cells a monolithic elliptic extension velocity method is adapted and a fast‐marching procedure on the neighboring cells. The spatial discretization is based on a symmetric interior penalty method and for the temporal discretization a moving interface approach is adapted. A cell agglomeration technique is utilized for handling small cut‐cells and topology changes during the interface motion. The method is validated against a wide range of typical two‐phase surface tension driven flow phenomena in a 2D setting including capillary waves, an oscillating droplet and the rising bubble benchmark.
Bootstrapping octagons in reduced kinematics from A2 cluster algebras
Authors: He Song , Li Zhenjie , Tang Yichao , Yang Qinglin
Published: October 2021

Abstract

Multi-loop scattering amplitudes/null polygonal Wilson loops in $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= 4 super-Yang-Mills are known to simplify significantly in reduced kinematics, where external legs/edges lie in an 1 + 1 dimensional subspace of Minkowski spacetime (or boundary of the AdS3 subspace). Since the edges of a 2n-gon with even and odd labels go along two different null directions, the kinematics is reduced to two copies of G(2, n)/T ∼ An−3. In the simplest octagon case, we conjecture that all loop amplitudes and Feynman integrals are given in terms of two overlapping A2 functions (a special case of two-dimensional harmonic polylogarithms): in addition to the letters v, 1 + v, w, 1 + w of A1 × A1, there are two letters v − w, 1 − vw mixing the two sectors but they never appear together in the same term; these are the reduced version of four-mass-box algebraic letters. Evidence supporting our conjecture includes all known octagon amplitudes as well as new computations of multi-loop integrals in reduced kinematics. By leveraging this alphabet and conditions on first and last entries, we initiate a bootstrap program in reduced kinematics: within the remarkably simple space of overlapping A2 functions, we easily obtain octagon amplitudes up to two-loop NMHV and three-loop MHV. We also briefly comment on the generalization to 2n-gons in terms of A2 functions and beyond.
Notes on the post-bounce background dynamics in bouncing cosmologies
Authors: An Ok Song , Kang Jin U , Kim Thae Hyok , Mun Ui Ri
Published: October 2021

Abstract

We investigate the post-bounce background dynamics in a certain class of single bounce scenarios studied in the literature, in which the cosmic bounce is driven by a scalar field with negative exponential potential such as the ekpyrotic potential. We show that those models can actually lead to cyclic evolutions with repeated bounces. These cyclic evolutions, however, do not account for the currently observed late-time accelerated expansion and hence are not cosmologically viable. In this respect we consider a new kind of cyclic model proposed recently and derive some cosmological constraints on this model.
Exact symmetries and threshold states in two-dimensional models for QCD
Authors: Dempsey Ross , Klebanov Igor R. , Pufu Silviu S.
Published: October 2021

Abstract

Two-dimensional SU(N) gauge theory coupled to a Majorana fermion in the adjoint representation is a nice toy model for higher-dimensional gauge dynamics. It possesses a multitude of “gluinoball” bound states whose spectrum has been studied using numerical diagonalizations of the light-cone Hamiltonian. We extend this model by coupling it to Nf flavors of fundamental Dirac fermions (quarks). The extended model also contains meson-like bound states, both bosonic and fermionic, which in the large-N limit decouple from the gluinoballs. We study the large-N meson spectrum using the Discretized Light-Cone Quantization (DLCQ). When all the fermions are massless, we exhibit an exact $$ \mathfrak{osp} $$
osp
(1|4) symmetry algebra that leads to an infinite number of degeneracies in the DLCQ approach. More generally, we show that many single-trace states in the theory are threshold bound states that are degenerate with multi-trace states. These exact degeneracies can be explained using the Kac-Moody algebra of the SU(N) current. We also present strong numerical evidence that additional threshold states appear in the continuum limit. Finally, we make the quarks massive while keeping the adjoint fermion massless. In this case too, we observe some exact degeneracies that show that the spectrum of mesons becomes continuous above a certain threshold. This demonstrates quantitatively that the fundamental string tension vanishes in the massless adjoint QCD2 without explicit four-fermion operators.
Warum ist die HPV-Impfung von Jungen sinnvoll?
Authors: Joura Elmar A. , Joura Marie Isolde
Published: October 2021

Ursprünglich als Impfung gegen Gebärmutterhalskrebs geplant, haben HPV(humane Papillomviren)-Impfungen unsere Erwartungen weit übertroffen. Sie haben das Potenzial, bei Frauen und Männern mindestens 6 Karzinomtypen, deren Vorstufen sowie Genitalwarzen zu verhindern und sogar zu eliminieren. Nach 14 Jahren Anwendung wissen wir, dass HPV-Impfprogramme hocheffektiv sind, frühe Impfung und eine gute Durchimpfungsrate sind wesentlich. Geschlechtsneutrale Impfungen verdoppeln potenziell die Durchimpfungsrate. Das ist vor allem in Ländern mit einer Durchimpfungsrate von < 70 % zur Erlangung eines Herdenschutzes von Bedeutung. Oropharyngeale Karzinome nehmen immer mehr zu, betreffen vor allem Männer und werden durch HPV 16 verursacht. Ebenso werden das Anal- und das Peniskarzinom durch HPV hervorgerufen und sind daher vermeidbar. Ein geschlechtsneutrales HPV-Impfprogramm schützt alle – auch homosexuelle – Männer direkt.
Elevated blood pressure, antihypertensive medications and bone health in the population: revisiting old hypotheses and exploring future research directions
Authors: Canoy D. , Harvey N. C. , Prieto-Alhambra D. , Cooper C. , Meyer H. E. , Åsvold B. O. , Nazarzadeh M. , Rahimi K.
Published: October 2021

Blood pressure and bone metabolism appear to share commonalities in their physiologic regulation. Specific antihypertensive drug classes may also influence bone mineral density. However, current evidence from existing observational studies and randomised trials is insufficient to establish causal associations for blood pressure and use of blood pressure–lowering drugs with bone health outcomes, particularly with the risks of osteoporosis and fractures. The availability and access to relevant large-scale biomedical data sources as well as developments in study designs and analytical approaches provide opportunities to examine the nature of the association between blood pressure and bone health more reliably and in greater detail than has ever been possible. It is unlikely that a single source of data or study design can provide a definitive answer. However, with appropriate considerations of the strengths and limitations of the different data sources and analytical techniques, we should be able to advance our understanding of the role of raised blood pressure and its drug treatment on the risks of low bone mineral density and fractures. As elevated blood pressure is highly prevalent and blood pressure–lowering drugs are widely prescribed, even small effects of these exposures on bone health outcomes could be important at a population level.
Tau-Functions and Monodromy Symplectomorphisms
Authors: Bertola M. , Korotkin D.
Published: October 2021

We derive a new Hamiltonian formulation of Schlesinger equations in terms of the dynamical r-matrix structure. The corresponding symplectic form is shown to be the pullback, under the monodromy map, of a natural symplectic form on the extended monodromy manifold. We show that Fock–Goncharov coordinates are log-canonical for the symplectic form. Using these coordinates we define the symplectic potential on the monodromy manifold and interpret the Jimbo–Miwa–Ueno tau-function as the generating function of the monodromy map. This, in particular, solves a recent conjecture by A. Its, O. Lisovyy and A. Prokhorov.
Efficient breeding of industrial brewing yeast strains using CRISPR/Cas9-aided mating-type switching
Authors: Krogerus Kristoffer , Fletcher Eugene , Rettberg Nils , Gibson Brian , Preiss Richard
Published: October 2021

Yeast breeding is a powerful tool for developing and improving brewing yeast in a number of industry-relevant respects. However, breeding of industrial brewing yeast can be challenging, as strains are typically sterile and have large complex genomes. To facilitate breeding, we used the CRISPR/Cas9 system to generate double-stranded breaks in the MAT locus, generating transformants with a single specified mating type. The single mating type remained stable even after loss of the Cas9 plasmid, despite the strains being homothallic, and these strains could be readily mated with other brewing yeast transformants of opposite mating type. As a proof of concept, we applied this technology to generate yeast hybrids with an aim to increase β-lyase activity for fermentation of beer with enhanced hop flavour. First, a genetic and phenotypic pre-screening of 38 strains was carried out in order to identify potential parent strains with high β-lyase activity. Mating-competent transformants of eight parent strains were generated, and these were used to generate over 60 hybrids that were screened for β-lyase activity. Selected phenolic off-flavour positive (POF +) hybrids were further sporulated to generate meiotic segregants with high β-lyase activity, efficient wort fermentation, and lack of POF, all traits that are desirable in strains for the fermentation of modern hop-forward beers. Our study demonstrates the power of combining the CRISPR/Cas9 system with classic yeast breeding to facilitate development and diversification of brewing yeast.

Key points

• CRISPR/Cas9-based mating-type switching was applied to industrial yeast strains.

• Transformed strains could be readily mated to form intraspecific hybrids.

• Hybrids exhibited heterosis for a number of brewing-relevant traits.
The intestinal flora of patients with GHPA affects the growth and the expression of PD-L1 of tumor
Authors: Nie Ding , Fang Qiuyue , Cheng Jianhua , Li Bin , Li Mingxuan , Wang Hongyun , Li Chuzhong , Gui Songbai , Zhang Yazhuo , Zhao Peng
Published: October 2021

Context

Pituitary adenoma (PA) is a common intracranial tumor. The evidence indicates that the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) is associated with PA and that the intestinal flora influences other tumors' growth through interacting with the TIME. However, how the intestinal microbial flora contributes to the development of PA through the immune response is unknown.

Objective and methods

Here we used high-throughput Illumina MiSeq sequencing targeting the V3−V4 region of the 16S ribosomal RNA gene to investigate the intestinal flora of patients with growth hormone-secreting pituitary adenoma (GHPA), nonfunctional pituitary adenoma (NFPA), and healthy controls. We determined their effects on tumor growth and the TIME. Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) was performed after adoptive transfer via peripheral blood mononuclear cells to tumor-bearing nude mice, which allowed the study of the immune response.

Result

We discovered differences in the structures and quantities of intestinal flora between patients with GHPA, patients with NFPA, and healthy controls. After FMT, the intestinal flora of GHPA patients promoted the growth of tumors in mouse models. The number of programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1)-positive cells increased in tumor tissues as well as the extent of infiltration of CD8+ cells. Increased numbers of CD3+CD8+ cells and increased levels of sPD-L1 were detected in peripheral blood.

Conclusion

These findings indicated that the intestinal flora of patients with GHPA promoted tumor growth and that the immune system may mediate this change.
Characterizing the surface texture of a dense suspension undergoing dynamic jamming
Authors: Rømcke Olav , Peters Ivo R. , Hearst R. Jason
Published: October 2021

Measurements of the surface velocity and surface texture of a freely propagating shear jamming front in a dense suspension are compared. The velocity fields are captured with particle image velocimetry (PIV), while the surface texture is captured in a separated experiment by observing a direct reflection on the suspension surface with high-speed cameras. A method for quantifying the surface features and their orientation is presented based on the fast Fourier transform of localized windows. The region that exhibits strong surface features corresponds to the the solid-like jammed region identified via the PIV measurements. Moreover, the surface features within the jammed region are predominantly oriented in the same direction as the eigenvectors of the strain tensor. Thus, from images of the free surface, our analysis is able to show that the surface texture contains information on the principle strain directions and the propagation of the jamming front.

Graphic Abstract
The use of deep learning on endoscopic images to assess the response of rectal cancer after chemoradiation
Authors: Haak Hester E. , Gao Xinpei , Maas Monique , Waktola Selam , Benson Sean , Beets-Tan Regina G. H. , Beets Geerard L. , van Leerdam Monique , Melenhorst Jarno
Published: October 2021

Background

Accurate response evaluation is necessary to select complete responders (CRs) for a watch-and-wait approach. Deep learning may aid in this process, but so far has never been evaluated for this purpose. The aim was to evaluate the accuracy to assess response with deep learning methods based on endoscopic images in rectal cancer patients after neoadjuvant therapy.

Methods

Rectal cancer patients diagnosed between January 2012 and December 2015 and treated with neoadjuvant (chemo)radiotherapy were retrospectively selected from a single institute. All patients underwent flexible endoscopy for response evaluation. Diagnostic performance (accuracy, area under the receiver operator characteristics curve (AUC), positive- and negative predictive values, sensitivities and specificities) of different open accessible deep learning networks was calculated. Reference standard was histology after surgery, or long-term outcome (>2 years of follow-up) in a watch-and-wait policy.

Results

226 patients were included for the study (117(52%) were non-CRs; 109(48%) were CRs). The accuracy, AUC, positive- and negative predictive values, sensitivity and specificity of the different models varied from 0.67–0.75%, 0.76–0.83%, 67–74%, 70–78%, 68–79% to 66–75%, respectively. Overall, EfficientNet-B2 was the most successful model with the highest diagnostic performance.

Conclusions

This pilot study shows that deep learning has a modest accuracy (AUCs 0.76-0.83). This is not accurate enough for clinical decision making, and lower than what is generally reported by experienced endoscopists. Deep learning models can however be further improved and may become useful to assist endoscopists in evaluating the response. More well-designed prospective studies are required.
Predicting the Uniaxial Compressive Strength of a Limestone Exposed to High Temperatures by Point Load and Leeb Rebound Hardness Testing
Authors: Garrido María Elvira , Petnga Ferry B. , Martínez-Ibáñez Víctor , Serón José B. , Hidalgo-Signes Carlos , Tomás Roberto
Published: October 2021

The effect of exposure to high temperature on rock strength is a topic of interest in many engineering fields. In general, rock strength is known to decrease as temperature increases. The most common test used to evaluate the rock strength is the uniaxial compressive strength test (UCS). It can only be carried out in laboratory and presents some limitations in terms of the number, type and preparation of the samples. Such constrains are more evident in case of rocks from historical monuments affected by a fire, where the availability of samples is limited. There are alternatives for an indirect determination of UCS, such as the point load test (PLT), or non-destructive tests such as the Schmidt’s hammer, that can also be performed in situ. The aims of this research are: (i) measuring the effect of high temperatures and cooling methods on the strength and hardness of a limestone named Pedra de Borriol widely used in several historic buildings on the E of Spain, and (ii) studying the possibility of indirectly obtaining UCS by means of PLT and Leeb hardness tests (LHT), using Equotip type D. Limestone samples were heated to 105 (standard conditions), 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800 and 900 ºC and cooled slowly (in air) and quickly (immersed in water). After that, UCS, PLT and LHT tests were performed to evaluate the changes as temperature increases. Results show decreases over 90% in UCS, of between 50 and 70% in PLT index and smaller than 60% in LHT index. Insignificant differences between cooling methods were observed, although slowly cooled samples provide slightly higher values than quickly cooled ones. The results indicate that LHT can be used to indirectly estimate UCS, providing an acceptable prediction. Research on correlating strength parameters in rocks after thermally treated is still scarce. This research novelty provides correlations to predict UCS in historic buildings if affected by a fire, from PLT and non-destructive methods such as LHT whose determination is quicker and easier.
Detection of impending perfusion deficits by intraoperative computed tomography (iCT) in aneurysm surgery of the anterior circulation
Authors: Thorsteinsdottir Jun , Sandner Torleif , Biczok Annamaria , Forbrig Robert , Siller Sebastian , Bernasconi Patricia , Szelényi Andrea , Liebig Thomas , Tonn Jörg-Christian , Schichor Christian
Published: October 2021

Background

The aim of our study was to evaluate the additional benefit of intraoperative computed tomography (iCT), intraoperative computed tomography angiography (iCTA), and intraoperative computed tomography perfusion (iCTP) in the intraoperative detection of impending ischemia to established methods (indocyanine green videoangiography (ICGVA), microDoppler, intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM)) for initiating timely therapeutic measures.

Methods

Patients with primary aneurysms of the anterior circulation between October 2016 and December 2019 were included. Data of iCT modalities compared to other techniques (ICGVA, microDoppler, IONM) was recorded with emphasis on resulting operative conclusions leading to inspection of clip position, repositioning, or immediate initiation of conservative treatment strategies. Additional variables analyzed included patient demographics, aneurysm-specific characteristics, and clinical outcome.

Results

Of 194 consecutive patients, 93 patients with 100 aneurysms received iCT imaging. While IONM and ICGVA were normal, an altered vessel patency in iCTA was detected in 5 (5.4%) and a mismatch in iCTP in 7 patients (7.5%). Repositioning was considered appropriate in 2 patients (2.2%), where immediate improvement in iCTP could be documented. In a further 5 cases (5.4%), intensified conservative therapy was immediately initiated treating the reduced CBP as clip repositioning was not considered causal. In terms of clinical outcome at last FU, mRS0 was achieved in 85 (91.4%) and mRS1-2 in 7 (7.5%) and remained mRS4 in one patient with SAH (1.1%).

Conclusions

Especially iCTP can reveal signs of impending ischemia in selected cases and enable the surgeon to promptly initiate therapeutic measures such as clip repositioning or intraoperative onset of maximum conservative treatment, while established tools might fail to detect those intraoperative pathologic changes.
Underestimated scale of songbird offshore migration across the south-eastern North Sea during autumn
Authors: Brust Vera , Hüppop Ommo
Published: October 2021

Flights over open water can be challenging for migrating songbirds. Despite numerous observations of songbirds migrating over remote islands, virtually nothing is known about the proportion of songbirds risking to fly offshore rather than to follow the coastline. By means of large-scale automated radio-telemetry, we individually tracked songbirds during their autumn migration through the German Bight area in the south-eastern North Sea. Our tracking network facilitated the recording of movement patterns over the bay and, for the first time, the estimation of the proportions of individuals embarking on offshore flights from their coastal stopover sites. Our data are consistent with previous observations of decreasing migration densities from nearshore to offshore, i.e. from east to west in autumn. Still, we revealed a considerable proportion of 25% of birds flying offshore. The tendency to fly offshore decreased from west to south migrants, which is in line with optimal bird migration theory. Among south-west migrating species, which also comprise the vast majority of songbird species migrating through the German Bight area, thrushes showed the highest proportions of offshore flights. Considering the recent and ongoing increase of artificial offshore structures, our results suggest that some species or species groups might especially face an increased risk of being negatively affected.
McKay Quivers and Lusztig Algebras of Some Finite Groups
Authors: Buchweitz Ragnar-Olaf , Faber Eleonore , Ingalls Colin , Lewis Matthew
Published: October 2021

We are interested in the McKay quiver Γ(G) and skew group ringsA∗G, whereGis a finite subgroup of GL(V), whereVis a finite dimensional vector space over a fieldK, andAis aK−G-algebra. These skew group rings appear in Auslander’s version of the McKay correspondence. In the first part of this paper we consider complex reflection groups$\mathsf {G} \subseteq \text {GL}(V)$G⊆GL(V)and find a combinatorial method, making use of Young diagrams, to construct the McKay quivers for the groupsG(r,p,n). We first look at the caseG(1,1,n), which is isomorphic to the symmetric groupSn, followed byG(r,1,n) forr> 1. Then, using Clifford theory, we can determine the McKay quiver for anyG(r,p,n) and thus for all finite irreducible complex reflection groups up to finitely many exceptions. In the second part of the paper we consider a more conceptual approach to McKay quivers of arbitrary finite groups: we define the Lusztig algebra$\widetilde {A}(\mathsf {G})$A~(G)of a finite group$\mathsf {G} \subseteq \text {GL}(V)$G⊆GL(V), which is Morita equivalent to the skew group ringA∗G. This description gives us an embedding of the basic algebra Morita equivalent toA∗Ginto a matrix algebra overA.
Idiopathic pericardial effusion in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
Authors: Puwanant Sarinya , Kittipibul Veraprapas , Songsirisuk Nattakorn , Santisukwongchote Sakun , Sitticharoenchai Patita , Chattranukulchai Pairoj , Satitthummanid Sudarat , Boonyaratvej Smonporn
Published: October 2021

The aims of this study were to examine the prevalence of moderate to large (moderate–large) idiopathic pericardial effusion (i-PEF) in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and to identify clinical and echocardiographic hemodynamic profiles associated with pericardial effusion. A total of 292 adult patients with HCM were studied. Fifteen patients with a history of factors associated with pericardial effusion including myocardial infarction, heart surgery or cardiac procedure within the last 12 months, autoimmune disease, hydralazine use, chronic kidney disease stage 3–4, tuberculosis, and malignancy were excluded. Of 277 eligible patients with HCM, 11 patients (4%) with moderate-large i-PEF were identified. Clinical tamponade was present in 1 patient. Compared to patients with HCM who had no or small pericardial effusion, patients with moderate-large i-PEF were younger and more likely to have right ventricular (RV) hypertrophy and reverse septal curvature. These patients also exhibited a greater maximal septal thickness, mean and systolic pulmonary pressure, and right atrial pressure (p < 0.05 for all). Pericardial fluid analysis and histopathological exams were performed in 7 and 3 patients, respectively. All examinations revealed transudative and nonspecific etiology of pericardial effusion. Idiopathic pericardial effusion and cardiac tamponade in patients with HCM was uncommon. The pathophysiology involved in pericardial effusion remains undetermined. Patients with moderate-large i-PEF frequently exhibited a phenotype of pulmonary hypertension and RV pressure overload.