bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Survival rates with external beam radiation therapy in newly diagnosed elderly metastatic prostate cancer patients
Authors: Wenzel Mike , Collà Ruvolo Claudia , Würnschimmel Christoph , Nocera Luigi , Tian Zhe , Saad Fred , Briganti Alberto , Tilki Derya , Graefen Markus , Becker Andreas , Roos Frederik , Mandel Philipp , Chun Felix K. H. , Karakiewicz Pierre I.
Published: October 2021

Background

The survival benefit of primary external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) has never been formally tested in elderly men who were newly diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer (mPCa). We hypothesized that elderly patients may not benefit of EBRT to the extent as younger newly diagnosed mPCa patients, due to shorter life expectancy.

Methods

We relied on Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (2004–2016) to identify elderly newly diagnosed mPCa patients, aged >75 years. Kaplan–Meier, univariable and multivariable Cox regression models, as well as Competing Risks Regression models tested the effect of EBRT versus no EBRT on overall mortality (OM) and cancer‐specific mortality (CSM).

Results

Of 6556 patients, 1105 received EBRT (16.9%). M1b stage was predominant in both EBRT (n = 823; 74.5%) and no EBRT (n = 3908; 71.7%, p = 0.06) groups, followed by M1c (n = 211; 19.1% vs. n = 1042; 19.1%, p = 1) and M1a (n = 29; 2.6% vs. n = 268; 4.9%, p < 0.01). Median overall survival (OS) was 23 months for EBRT and 23 months for no EBRT (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.97, p = 0.6). Similarly, median cancer‐specific survival (CSS) was 29 months for EBRT versus 30 months for no EBRT (HR: 1.04, p = 0.4). After additional multivariable adjustment, EBRT was not associated with lower OM or lower CSM in the entire cohort, as well as after stratification for M1b and M1c substages.

Conclusions

In elderly men who were newly diagnosed with mPCa, EBRT does not affect OS or CSS. In consequence, our findings question the added value of local EBRT in elderly newly diagnosed mPCa patients.
AT‐rich interaction domain 5A regulates the transcription of interleukin‐6 gene in prostate cancer cells
Authors: Ikeuchi Wataru , Wakita Yuriko , Zhang Guoxiang , Li Chun , Itakura Keiichi , Yamakawa Takahiro
Published: October 2021

Background

Interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) is a pleiotropic cytokine that confers androgen‐independence and aggressiveness in prostate cancer (PCa); however, the molecular mechanisms regulating IL‐6 expression remain unclear. The expression of ARID5A, an AT‐rich interaction domain (ARID) DNA‐binding motif‐containing transcription factor is positively correlated with IL‐6 expression in human PCa. We, therefore, hypothesized that ARID5A could regulate IL‐6 expression in PCa.

Methods

The relationship between ARID5A and IL‐6 in PCa patients was analyzed using statistical analyses of multiple clinical microarray data sets. To investigate whether ARID5A regulates IL‐6 expression, CRISPR‐driven ARID5A knockout clones were established in DU145 and PC‐3 cells.

Results

Analysis of three microarray data sets showed a positive correlation between ARID5A and IL‐6 expression. The expression of IL‐6 in ARID5A knockout clones was significantly reduced compared with control clones in both PCa cell lines. Knockout of ARID5A did not result in any loss of IL‐6 mRNA stability. Instead, we observed a significant decrease in the occupancy of both active RNA Polymerase II and the active histone mark, H3K4me3 at the IL‐6 transcriptional start site in ARID5A knockout PCa cells, suggesting a role for transcriptional regulation.

Conclusions

Our study demonstrated that loss of ARID5A downregulates the expression of IL‐6 at the transcriptional level.
Combined effects of temperature and population density ofMyzus persicae(Hemiptera: Aphididae)on consumption byHarmonia conformis(Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)
Authors: Holloway Joanne C , Barton Madeleine , Wood Rachel , Parry Hazel R
Published: October 2021

BACKGROUND

The green peach aphidMyzus persicaeis a major pest of many crops around the world, causing direct damage and acting as a vector for several viruses. This species has developed resistance to several insecticides, resulting in a greater emphasis on nonchemical methods of control. The aphidophagous ladybird,Harmonia conformis, is one of several species to predate on this pest.H. conformisis native to Australia, but has been exported to New Zealand, the USA and Europe as a biological control agent for horticultural pests and has now become established in several regions. Despite these introductions, the ability ofH. conformisto predate onM. persicaehas not yet been quantified. To address this knowledge gap, we measured the potential success of this natural enemy and its functional response over a range of temperatures.

RESULTS

H. conformisdisplayed a Type II response over all temperatures assessed. The peak temperature for voracity was 32 °C, with a potential maximum daily predation rate of 204 aphids. Consumption of aphids byH. conformison canola plants within a glasshouse was less than predicted from the laboratory‐generated models. However, consumption increased significantly with increasing density ofM. persicae.

CONCLUSION

H. conformiscan contribute markedly to aphid suppression and could be incorporated into integrated pest management systems which rely on natural enemies, particularly during spring when temperatures increase above 25 °C. Furthermore, it would also be an ideal candidate for augmentative releases. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.
A unified view of graph regularity via matrix decompositions
Authors: Bodwin Greg , Vempala Santosh
Published: October 2021

We give a unified proof of algorithmic weak and Szemerédi regularity lemmas for several well‐studied classes of sparse graphs, for which only weak regularity lemmas were previously known. These include core‐dense graphs, low threshold rank graphs, and (a version of)upper regular graphs. More precisely, we definecut pseudorandom graphs, we prove our regularity lemmas for these graphs, and then we show that cut pseudorandomness captures all of the above graph classes as special cases. The core of our approach is an abstracted matrix decomposition, which can be computed by a simple algorithm by Charikar. Using work of Oveis Gharan and Trevisan, it also implies new PTASes for MAX‐CUT, MAX‐BISECTION, MIN‐BISECTION for a significantly expanded class of input graphs. (It is NP Hard to get PTASes for these graphs in general.)
Impact of name change and gender marker correction on identity documents to structural factors and harassment among transgender and gender diverse people in Texas
Authors: Loza Oralia , Beltran Oscar , Perez Adri , Green Jamison
Published: October 2021

This study explores associations between name change and gender marker correction (NCGMC) on identity documents (IDs) with structural factors and harassment. Among 1301 transgender and gender diverse participants in the 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey in Texas, only 22% reported NCGMC on all or some of their IDs. Adjusted odds show that many participants who have NCGMC in all or some of their IDs reported having been fired at some point in their lives due to transgender identity or were denied services/benefits when self‐identified gender did not match documents. Having NCGMC was associated with lower odds of harassment in public settings, fewer housing‐related issues due to gender identity, being treated with more respect by doctors/health care providers, and feeling more comfortable asking police for help. Despite many positive outcomes, having NCGMC was associated with higher odds of health care providers asking intrusive questions and struggling with insurance coverage for gender‐affirming care.
Carboniferous horseshoe crab musculature suggests anatomical conservatism within Xiphosurida
Authors: Bicknell Russell D. C. , Tashman Jessica N. , Edgecombe Gregory D. , Paterson John R.
Published: October 2021

An exceptionally preserved specimen of the horseshoe crab Euproops danae (Xiphosurida, Belinurina) in a siderite concretion from the Carboniferous (Upper Pennsylvanian, Virgilian) Lawrence Formation, Kansas, shows anatomical details of the prosomal musculature. The extrinsic appendicular muscles are comparable to those of Limulus polyphemus (the modern American horseshoe crab), demonstrating anatomical conservatism within Xiphosurida that spans two morphologically disparate subgroups, Belinurina and Limulina. The three‐dimensional preservation of muscles highlights how siderite concretion fossils (including those of the Mazon Creek Konservat‐Lagerstätte) have better preservational fidelity than previously realized and the potential to reveal new anatomical information, especially with regard to the labile tissues of euarthropods.
Orotic acid production by Yarrowia lipolytica under conditions of limited pyrimidine
Authors: Swietalski Paul , Hetzel Frank , Klaiber Iris , Pross Eva , Seitl Ines , Fischer Lutz
Published: October 2021

Orotic acid (OA) is an intermediate of the pyrimidine biosynthesis with high industrial relevance due to its use as precursor for production of biochemical pyrimidines or its use as carrier molecule in drug formulations. It can be produced by fermentation of microorganisms with engineered pyrimidine metabolism. In this study, we surprisingly discovered the yeast Yarrowia lipolytica as a powerful producer of OA. The overproduction of OA in the Y. lipolytica strain PO1f was found to be caused by the deletion of the URA3 gene which prevents the irreversible decarboxylation of OA to uridine monophosphate. It was shown that the lack of orotidine‐5′‐phosphate decarboxylase was the reason for the accumulation of OA inside the cell since a rescue mutant of the URA3 deletion in Y. lipolytica PO1f completely prevented the OA secretion into the medium. In addition, pyrimidine limitation in the cell massively enhanced the OA accumulation followed by secretion due to intense overflow metabolism during bioreactor cultivations. Accordingly, supplementation of the medium with 200 mg/L uracil drastically decreased the OA overproduction by 91%. OA productivity was further enhanced in fed‐batch cultivation with glucose and ammonium sulfate feed to a maximal yield of 9.62 ± 0.21 g/L. Y. lipolytica is one of three OA overproducing yeasts described in the literature so far, and in this study, the highest productivity was shown. This work demonstrates the potential of Y. lipolytica as a possible production organism for OA and provides a basis for further metabolic pathway engineering to optimize OA productivity.
Creeping flow of couple stress fluid past a fluid sphere with a solid core
Authors: Krishnan Ramalakshmi , Shukla Pankaj
Published: October 2021

The steady axisymmetric uniform flow of an incompressible couple stress fluid past a fluid sphere with a solid core has been studied analytically. No‐slip boundary condition and vanishing couple stress condition are applied on the surface of the sphere. The problem is formulated using the V. K. Stokes equation describing the flow outside the fluid sphere as well as the flow inside the fluid sphere. The stream function solution for the axisymmetric motion and pressure distribution for both regions are solved explicitly. The stresses acting on the fluid sphere are estimated and the drag force experienced by a fluid sphere is determined. Numerical study is undertaken to study the effect of couple stress parameter and viscosity coefficients on the drag and the results are presented in graphical forms. The results reveal that drag force, pressure and velocity of the fluid decreases in the presence of couple stresses. Some special cases of flow past a fluid sphere have been validated with earlier well‐known cases.
Sexuelle Gesundheitsinformationen in sozialen Medien: Ein systematisches Scoping Review
Authors: Döring Nicola , Conde Melisa
Published: October 2021

Hintergrund

Informationen zur sexuellen und reproduktiven Gesundheit werden zunehmend auch über soziale Medien verbreitet und erreichen dort ein großes Publikum.

Ziel der Arbeit

Vor diesem Hintergrund ist es Ziel des vorliegenden Beitrags, den internationalen Forschungsstand zu sexuellen Gesundheitsinformationen in sozialen Medien erstmals systematisch mit einem Scoping Review aufzuarbeiten. Es sollen 7 Forschungsfragen beantwortet werden, die sich auf den Umfang (F1), die Methoden (F2: Inhaltsanalyse, F3: Qualitätsanalyse) sowie die Ergebnisse (F4: Anbieter, F5: Zielgruppen, F6: Themen, F7: Qualität der Informationen) bisheriger Studien beziehen.

Material und Methoden

Die Untersuchung folgt dem PRISMA-Framework für Scoping Reviews sowie dem Open-Science-Ansatz: Sie ist präregistriert und alle Materialien (Codebuch mit Reliabilitätskoeffizienten) und Daten (Liste der identifizierten Studien, Codierung der Studien) stehen auf dem Server der Open Science Foundation zur Verfügung.

Ergebnisse

Es konnten insgesamt 69 Studien mit 72 Datensätzen identifiziert werden, wobei sich mehr als die Hälfte der Publikationen auf YouTube bezieht (F1). Qualitative und quantitative Methoden der Inhaltsanalyse kommen gleichermaßen zum Einsatz (F2), Qualitätsanalysen sind rar (F3). Bei den Anbietern dominieren Gesundheitslaien (F4). Die Zielgruppen sind meist unspezifiziert (F5). Die in den vorliegenden Studien untersuchten Gesundheitsinformationen in sozialen Medien behandeln ein breites Themenspektrum (F6). Sofern Qualitätseinschätzungen vorgenommen wurden, fielen diese eher negativ aus (F7).

Diskussion

Mehr Forschung ist notwendig, um sexuelle und reproduktive Gesundheitsinformationen in sozialen Medien besser zu verstehen und um ihre Qualität und konstruktive Nutzung zu fördern.
Validierung und Reliabilitätsprüfung des Nijmegen Cochlear Implant Questionnaire in deutscher Sprache
Authors: Plath Michaela , Sand Matthias , van de Weyer Philipp S. , Baierl Kilian , Praetorius Mark , Plinkert Peter K. , Baumann Ingo , Zaoui Karim
Published: October 2021

Hintergrund

Der Nijmegen Cochlear Implant Questionnaire (NCIQ) ist ein krankheitsspezifischer Fragebogen zur Erhebung der gesundheitsbezogenen Lebensqualität von Patienten vor und nach Cochleaimplantation.

Ziel der Arbeit

Validierung und Reliabilitätsprüfung der deutschen Übersetzung des NCIQ.

Material und Methoden

Es wurde eine prospektive Studie an 100 postlingual ertaubten oder hochgradig schwerhörigen Patienten durchgeführt, welche präoperativ sowie 3 und 6 Monate nach einer Cochleaimplantation mittels NCIQ, Abbreviated Profile of Hearing Aid Benefit (APHAB) und Hearing Participation Scale (HPS) untersucht wurden. Als Kontrolle fungierte ein postlingual ertaubtes oder hochgradig schwerhöriges, unbehandeltes Patientenkollektiv (n = 54). Cronbach‑α und Test-Retest-Reliabilität dienten der Reliabilitätsüberprüfung. Es wurde auf Inhalts‑, Übereinstimmungs- und auf diskriminative Validität getestet. Die Konstruktvaliditätsprüfung basiert auf kürzlich veröffentlichen Daten. Als Gütekriterien wurden die Sensitivität und eine ROC(„Receiver Operating Characteristic“)-Analyse, inklusive AUC(„Area Under the ROC Curve“)-Betrachtung, eingesetzt.

Ergebnisse

Das Test-Retesting ergab nach 3 und 6 Monaten postoperativ stabile NCIQ-Werte. Die Cronbach-α-Werte wiesen auf eine gute interne Konsistenz hin. Der NCIQ diskriminierte valide zwischen behandelten und unbehandelten Patientengruppen. Es ergaben sich statistisch signifikante, wenn auch schwache, Korrelationen zwischen dem NCIQ und dem APHAB (r = −0,22; p = 0,04) und dem HPS (r = 0,30; p = 0,01). Sensitivitäts- und ROC-Analysen zeigten eine gute Messqualität des deutschsprachigen NCIQ.

Schlussfolgerung

Die deutsche Übersetzung des NCIQ misst zuverlässig und valide die Lebensqualität vor und nach Cochleaimplantation und kann zur klinischen Erfolgskontrolle nach Cochleaimplantationen verwendet werden.
Die Zertifizierung von Zentren für Beatmungsentwöhnung in der neurologisch-neurochirurgischen Frührehabilitation durch die Deutsche Gesellschaft für Neurorehabilitation
Authors: Groß Martin , Pohl Marcus , Platz Thomas , Schmidt-Wilcke Tobias
Published: October 2021

Die Zertifizierung von Zentren für Beatmungsentwöhnung in der neurologisch-neurochirurgischen Frührehabilitation durch die Deutsche Gesellschaft für Neurorehabilitation (DGNR) ist ab dem 01.10.2021 möglich. Die Zertifizierungskriterien beschreiben ein Anforderungsprofil, das für eine fachgerechte und qualitätsgesicherte Versorgung von Beatmungspatienten in der neurologisch-neurochirurgischen Frührehabilitation (NNFR) steht. Das Zertifikat berücksichtigt die strukturellen Unterschiede der in der NNFR tätigen Einrichtungen und kann sowohl durch Facheinrichtungen als auch durch Frührehabilitationsabteilungen an Akutkrankenhäusern erworben werden. Die Durchführung der Zertifizierung erfolgt analog zur Zertifizierung von Stroke-Units der Deutschen Schlaganfall-Gesellschaft in Zusammenarbeit mit dem TÜV Rheinland. Zunächst sendet die Einrichtung den Erhebungsbogen an den TÜV Rheinland. Anschließend erfolgt die Begehung durch einen vom TÜV Rheinland gestellten leitenden Auditor und einen Fachauditor der DGNR. Deren Bericht wird dem Zertifizierungsausschuss der DGNR vorgelegt zur Erteilung einer Empfehlung oder Ablehnung der Zertifizierung. Die Zertifizierung schafft objektive Kriterien, die die Rolle der Neurologie in der Beatmungsmedizin in Deutschland beschreiben. So erleichtert sie den Dialog mit anderen beatmungsmedizinischen Disziplinen und ebnet den Weg für die Diskussion mit Politikern, Kostenträgern und nicht zuletzt Betroffenenverbänden über Behandlungsinhalte und -kapazitäten.
Energy Minimisers with Prescribed Jacobian
Authors: Guerra André , Koch Lukas , Lindberg Sauli
Published: October 2021

We consider the class of planar maps with Jacobian prescribed to be a fixed radially symmetric functionfand which, moreover, fixes the boundary of a ball; we then study maps which minimise the 2p-Dirichlet energy in this class. We find a quantity$$\lambda [f]$$λ[f]which controls the symmetry, uniqueness and regularity of minimisers: if$$\lambda [f]\le 1$$λ[f]≤1then minimisers are symmetric and unique; if$$\lambda [f]$$λ[f]is large but finite then there may be uncountably many minimisers, none of which is symmetric, although all of them have optimal regularity; if$$\lambda [f]$$λ[f]is infinite then generically minimisers have lower regularity. In particular, this result gives a negative answer to a question of Hélein (Ann. Inst. H. Poincaré Anal. Non Linéaire 11(3):275–296, 1994). Some of our results also extend to the setting where the ball is replaced by$${\mathbb {R}}^2$$R2and boundary conditions are not prescribed.
Hybrid total-body pet scanners—current status and future perspectives
Authors: Nadig Vanessa , Herrmann Ken , Mottaghy Felix M. , Schulz Volkmar
Published: October 2021

Purpose Since the 1990s, PET has been successfully combined with MR or CT systems. In the past years, especially PET systems have seen a trend towards an enlarged axial field of view (FOV), up to a factor of ten. Methods Conducting a thorough literature research, we summarize the status quo of contemporary total-body (TB) PET/CT scanners and give an outlook on possible future developments. Results Currently, three human TB PET/CT systems have been developed: The PennPET Explorer, the uExplorer, and the Biograph Vision Quadra realize aFOVs between 1 and 2 m and show a tremendous increase in system sensitivity related to their longer gantries. Conclusion The increased system sensitivity paves the way for short-term, low-dose, and dynamic TB imaging as well as new examination methods in almost all areas of imaging.
Effect of remote ischaemic conditioning on infarct size and remodelling in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction patients: the CONDI-2/ERIC-PPCI CMR substudy
Authors: Francis Rohin , Chong Jun , Ramlall Manish , Bucciarelli-Ducci Chiara , Clayton Tim , Dodd Matthew , Engstrøm Thomas , Evans Richard , Ferreira Vanessa M. , Fontana Marianna , Greenwood John P. , Kharbanda Rajesh K. , Kim Won Yong , Kotecha Tushar , Lønborg Jacob T. , Mathur Anthony , Møller Ulla Kristine , Moon James , Perkins Alexander , Rakhit Roby D. , Yellon Derek M. , Bøtker Hans Erik , Bulluck Heerajnarain , Hausenloy Derek J.
Published: October 2021

The
effect of limb remote ischaemic conditioning (RIC) on myocardial infarct (MI) size and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was investigated in a pre-planned cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) substudy of the CONDI-2/ERIC-PPCI trial. This single-blind multi-centre trial (7 sites in UK and Denmark) included 169 ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients who were already randomised to either control (n = 89) or limb RIC (n = 80) (4 × 5 min cycles of arm cuff inflations/deflations) prior to primary percutaneous coronary intervention. CMR was performed acutely and at 6 months. The primary endpoint was MI size on the 6 month CMR scan, expressed as median and interquartile range. In 110 patients with 6-month CMR data, limb RIC did not reduce MI size [RIC: 13.0 (5.1–17.1)% of LV mass; control: 11.1 (7.0–17.8)% of LV mass, P = 0.39], or LVEF, when compared to control. In 162 patients with acute CMR data, limb RIC had no effect on acute MI size, microvascular obstruction and LVEF when compared to control. In a subgroup of anterior STEMI patients, RIC was associated with lower incidence of microvascular obstruction and higher LVEF on the acute scan when compared with control, but this was not associated with an improvement in LVEF at 6 months. In summary, in this pre-planned CMR substudy of the CONDI-2/ERIC-PPCI trial, there was no evidence that limb RIC reduced MI size or improved LVEF at 6 months by CMR, findings which are consistent with the neutral effects of limb RIC on clinical outcomes reported in the main CONDI-2/ERIC-PPCI trial.
Cardiomyocyte Na+ and Ca2+ mishandling drives vicious cycle involving CaMKII, ROS, and ryanodine receptors
Authors: Hegyi Bence , Pölönen Risto-Pekka , Hellgren Kim T. , Ko Christopher Y. , Ginsburg Kenneth S. , Bossuyt Julie , Mercola Mark , Bers Donald M.
Published: October 2021

Cardiomyocyte Na+ and Ca2+ mishandling, upregulated Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent kinase II (CaMKII), and increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) are characteristics of various heart diseases, including heart failure (HF), long QT (LQT) syndrome, and catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT). These changes may form a vicious cycle of positive feedback to promote cardiac dysfunction and arrhythmias. In HF rabbit cardiomyocytes investigated in this study, the inhibition of CaMKII, late Na+ current (INaL), and leaky ryanodine receptors (RyRs) all attenuated the prolongation and increased short-term variability (STV) of action potential duration (APD), but in age-matched controls these inhibitors had no or minimal effects. In control cardiomyocytes, we enhanced RyR leak (by low [caffeine] plus isoproterenol mimicking CPVT) which markedly increased STV and delayed afterdepolarizations (DADs). These proarrhythmic changes were significantly attenuated by both CaMKII inhibition and mitochondrial ROS scavenging, with a slight synergy with INaL inhibition. Inducing LQT by elevating INaL (by Anemone toxin II, ATX-II) caused markedly prolonged APD, increased STV, and early afterdepolarizations (EADs). Those proarrhythmic ATX-II effects were largely attenuated by mitochondrial ROS scavenging, and partially reduced by inhibition of CaMKII and pathological leaky RyRs using dantrolene. In human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs) bearing LQT3 mutation SCN5A N406K, dantrolene significantly attenuated cell arrhythmias and APD prolongation. Targeting critical components of the Na+–Ca2+–CaMKII–ROS–INaL arrhythmogenic vicious cycle may exhibit important on-target and also trans-target effects (e.g., INaL and RyR inhibition can alter INaL-mediated LQT3 effects). Incorporating this vicious cycle into therapeutic strategies provides novel integrated insight for treating cardiac arrhythmias and diseases.
Inspection of Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymers: 3D identification and quantification of components by X-ray CT
Authors: Dilonardo E. , Nacucchi M. , De Pascalis F. , Zarrelli M. , Giannini C.
Published: October 2021

In this reported research activity, a quantitatively 3D characterization at microscale of a CFRP reference composite with controlled porosity was performed by micro X-ray CT (µXCT); the results were compared with the destructive acid digestion analyses, following the procedure reported in the standard test method (ASTM D 3171 15) used to determine the composites’ porosity in General Aviation (GA). The μXCT analyses revealed a pore content of 4.37%v and identified the components, respectively, in 66%w of carbon fibres and 34%w of matrix; all obtained results demonstrated a high correspondence to the theoretical values of porosity (5.0%v) and components (67%w of carbon fibre and 33%w of polymer matrix). Instead, a not complete correspondence of the measures obtained by acid digestion was reported: 4.36%v of porosity, but 57%w of carbon fibre and 43%w of matrix. Therefore, the conformity of the μXCT results to the theoretical values demonstrated the feasibility and distinctiveness of the proposed NDT method for a rapid and reliable inspection of CRFP components used in GA in substitution of the standard DT and time-consuming digestion procedure. The proposed NDT inspection technique permitted not only the individuation and visualization in the reconstruction of the 3D analysed material of different components (e.g. pores, carbon fibres and polymer matrix) but also the 3D evaluation of the material composition with the identification and quantification of each constituent element.

Graphical abstract

E. Dilonardo*, M. Nacucchi, F. De Pascalis, M. Zarrelli, and C. Giannini

Inspection of Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymers: 3D identification and quantification of components by X-ray CT
Periodic breathing in patients with stable obstructive sleep apnea on long-term continuous positive airway pressure treatment: a retrospective study using CPAP remote monitoring data
Authors: Saito Kimimasa , Takamatsu Yoko
Published: October 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to investigate the rate of periodic breathing (PB) and factors associated with the emergence or persistence of PB in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) by continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) remote monitoring data.

Methods

This was a retrospective cohort study on 775 patients who had used the same model CPAP machine for at least 1 year as of September 1, 2020. The data were analyzed online using the dedicated analysis system. Using exporter software, average apnea/hypopnea index (AHI), average central apnea index (CAI), and average the rate of PB time (PB%) were cited.

Results

Among 618 patients analyzed (age 61.7 ± 12.2 years, male 89%, BMI 27.2 ± 4.9), the average duration of CPAP use was 7.5 ± 4.0 years. The median PB% in stable patients was low at 0.32%, and only 149 patients (24%) had a PB% above 1%. Multiple regression analysis of factors for the development of PB showed that the most important factor was atrial fibrillation (Af) with a coefficient of 0.693 (95% CI; 0.536 to 0.851), followed by QRS duration with a coefficient of 0.445 (95% CI; 0.304 to 0.586), followed by history of heart failure, male sex, comorbid hypertension, obesity, and age. The average PB% for paroxysmal Af was significantly lower than that for persistent and permanent Af.

Conclusions

The median PB% in stable patients on CPAP treatment was low at 0.32%, with only 24% of patients having PB% ≥ 1%. Persistent Af and an increase in QRS duration were found to be important predictors of increased PB%.

Clinical trial registration

UMIN000042555 2021/01/01.
The Passionate Beliefs. A Defense of the Cognitive-Evaluative Theory of Emotions
Authors: Sacco Giulio
Published: October 2021

The philosophy of emotions has long been dominated by the view called «cognitivism». According to it, emotions are characterized (and definable) not by mere physical impulses but by a cognitive evaluation of their object. However, despite their success, cognitive theories have to deal with various objections and are divided on how to answer to them. In this essay I want to defend the form of cognitivism claimed by Martha Nussbaum from the most common criticisms. After a brief summary of her account, I confront some of the objections that have been raised against it. In Section 2 I deal with the classic problem of emotions in infants and animals, which lack linguistic abilities. Later, I confront the potential problem represented by cases in which one’s emotion and reasoned judgment seem to differ: in paragraph 3 I consider irrational phobias and fears, to show how they can be accounted for in terms of judgments and thoughts, and not only of perceptions; in paragraph 4 I deal with the objection that «judgementalist» theories (that is, those that describe emotions in terms of judgments and beliefs) violate the «principle of charity», for they ascribe an excessive irrationality to people. I argue that experimental evidence suggest that it is not implausible to assume that people have contradictory beliefs under conditions of uncertainty, and that perceptual theories of emotion (which compare emotional conflicts to optical illusions) fail to account for some fundamental aspects of these phenomena. Finally, in paragraph 5, I deal with the objection according to which a cognitive-evaluative theory cannot explain the sense of passivity that we commonly experience in emotions.
Genetic association between CDKN2B-AS1 polymorphisms and the susceptibility of primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG): a meta-analysis from 21,775 subjects
Authors: Liu Shanshan , Chen Siwen , Niu Tongtong
Published: October 2021

Background

Primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) is affected by both genetics and environmental factors. CDKN2B-AS1 polymorphisms have been reported to be involved in the pathogenesis of POAG. However, the results of the genetic associations between the CDKN2B-AS1 polymorphisms and POAG risk were inconclusive.

Aims

This study aimed to evaluate the correlation of CDKN2B-AS1 polymorphisms and POAG susceptibility using a meta-analysis.

Methods

Meta-analysis was performed by searching PubMed, Web of science, the Cochrane database of system reviews, CNKI, and Embase databases. The relationship of CDKN2B-AS1 rs4977756, rs10120688, rs2157719, and rs7049105 polymorphisms and POAG risk was evaluated by the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

Results

Eleven studies with 8290 cases and 13,485 controls were included in the present meta-analysis. The alleles of rs4977756 and rs10120688 significantly increased the risk of POAG (rs4977756: OR = 1.20, 95%CI = 1.03–1.39, p = 0.02; rs10120688: OR = 1.36, 95%CI = 1.29–1.44, p < 0.00001). As for ethnicity, rs4977756 polymorphism significantly increased POAG risk in Caucasians (OR = 1.33, 95%CI = 1.12–1.57, p = 0.0009), but not in Asians. In addition, the rs2157719 allele was significantly associated with POAG risk in Asians (OR = 0.66, 95%CI = 0.55–0.80, p < 0.0001), but not in Caucasians (p > 0.05).

Conclusions

The CDKN2B-AS1 rs4977756 might increase the POAG risk in Caucasian population, and rs2157719 might decrease the POAG risk in Asian population, while rs10120688 might increase the risk of POAG.
Drug-coated Balloons for Small Coronary Disease—A Literature Review
Authors: Arslani Ketina , Jeger Raban
Published: October 2021

Purpose of Review

In the interventional treatment of coronary artery disease, new-generation drug-eluting stents (DES) currently are the standard treatment. In addition, drug-coated balloons (DCB) are a well-established option for the treatment of in-stent restenosis in both bare-metal stents (BMS) and DES, where DCBs deliver an antiproliferative drug without the necessity of re-implanting a stent. Since the field of use for DCB has increasingly been extended to other indications such as de novo lesions in small vessel disease (SVD), a review of literature may be useful.

Recent Findings

Recent randomized trial data show good efficacy and safety for DCB in de novo lesions, especially in small coronary arteries, and confirm long-term clinical efficacy and safety up to three years.

DCB are an attractive and safe option in the treatment of de novo lesions in SVD.
AToM: Active topology monitoring for the bitcoin peer-to-peer network
Authors: Franzoni Federico , Salleras Xavier , Daza Vanesa
Published: October 2021

Over the past decade, the Bitcoin P2P network protocol has become a reference model for all modern cryptocurrencies. While nodes in this network are known, the connections among them are kept hidden, as it is commonly believed that this helps protect from deanonymization and low-level attacks. However, adversaries can bypass this limitation by inferring connections through side channels. At the same time, the lack of topology information hinders the analysis of the network, which is essential to improve efficiency and security. In this paper, we thoroughly review network-level attacks and empirically show that topology obfuscation is not an effective countermeasure. We then argue that the benefits of an open topology potentially outweigh its risks, and propose a protocol to reliably infer and monitor connections among reachable nodes of the Bitcoin network. We formally analyze our protocol and experimentally evaluate its accuracy in both trusted and untrusted settings. Results show our system has a low impact on the network, and has precision and recall are over 90% with up to 20% of malicious nodes in the network.
Can acute resistance exercise facilitate episodic memory encoding?
Authors: Amico Gianluca , Braun Tina , Schaefer Sabine
Published: October 2021

Research has shown benefits of physical exercise on memory performance when carried out before or after a memory task. The effects of concurrent physical exercise and particularly resistance exercise are still inconclusive. The current study investigates the influence of resistance exercise with two intensities (fast and slow squats) on performance in a wordlist learning task using a within-subject design. Sport students (N = 58, Mage = 23 years; 26 women) were trained in a mnemonic technique to encode word lists (method of loci). In each session they were asked to encode two lists, each consisting of 20 words. During encoding, participants either performed one squat per word (fast-squat-condition), one squat every second word (slow-squat-condition), or stayed seated (control-condition). Participants performed three sessions for each condition, in counterbalanced order. Heart rates differed significantly according to exercise intensity. Memory performances in the sitting condition were better, compared to the exercise conditions. Performance in sitting and the fast squat conditions improved similarly over time, while performance in the slow squat condition increased faster, and reached the level of the fast squat condition at the end of the study phase. We conclude that light to moderate resistance exercise while working on an episodic memory task may rather represent a dual-task situation (= two tasks that compete for attentional resources). Especially doing a squat every second word may represent an inhibition task that people have to get used to. Future studies should include biochemical markers of arousal and neuronal plasticity in addition to heart rate.
Nuclear Weapons
Authors: Casey-Maslen Stuart
Published: October 2021

A new nuclear arms race is underway between Russia and the United States, one that focuses on the technology of delivery of nuclear warheads. This book describes how and why this race is happening, who still possesses nuclear weapons, and what constraints apply to those weapons under international law. A global nuclear ban treaty entered into force in January 2021, but the nuclear powers kept distant. The last remaining treaty restraining the arsenals of the two nuclear superpowers will expire in less than five years' time and the risk is that other States will turn to nuclear arms for their defence, further fracturing the non-proliferation regime installed after the Cuban missile crisis.
A lifestyle pattern during adolescence is associated with cardiovascular risk markers in young adults: results from the DONALD cohort study
Authors: Schnermann Maike Elena , Schulz Christina-Alexandra , Herder Christian , Alexy Ute , Nöthlings Ute
Published: October 2021

Lifestyle score approaches combining individual lifestyle factors, e.g. favourable diet, physical activity or normal body weight, showed inverse associations with cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. However, research mainly focussed on adult behaviour and is scarce for vulnerable time windows for adult health like adolescence. We investigated associations between an adolescent lifestyle score and CVD risk markers in young adulthood. Overall, we analysed 270 participants of the open DONALD cohort study with 1–6 complete measurements of five lifestyle factors (healthy diet, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, sedentary behaviour, sleep duration and BMI standard deviation score) during adolescence (females: 8⋅5–15⋅5 years and males: 9⋅5–16⋅5 years). Multivariable linear regression models were used to investigate the prospective association between the adolescent lifestyle score (0–5 points) and CVD risk markers in young adulthood (18–30 years). On average, participants obtained a mean adolescent lifestyle score of 2⋅9 (0–5) points. Inverse associations between the adolescent lifestyle score and waist circumference, waist-to-height ratio and percentage of body fat were observed (4⋅1, 4⋅1 and 9⋅2 % decrease per 1 point increase in adolescent lifestyle score, respectively,P< 0⋅05). For the remaining CVD risk markers (glucose, blood lipids, blood pressure and a proinflammatory score), no associations were observed. A healthy adolescent lifestyle is particularly associated with CVD risk-related favourable anthropometric markers in adulthood. A more comprehensive understanding of lifestyle patterns in the life course might enable earlier, targeted preventive measures to assist vulnerable groups in prevention of chronic diseases.
The ecology of diatoms inhabiting cryoconite holes in Antisana Glacier, Ecuador
Authors: Chamorro Susana , Moyón Jennifer , Araya Franks , Salazar José , Navarro Juan-Carlos , Bécares Eloy , Blanco Saúl
Published: October 2021

In the ablation zone of glacier habitats, cryoconite holes are known to harbor diverse microbial communities, including unique diatom floras distinct from those of surrounding aquatic and terrestrial systems. Besides descriptive studies, little is known about the diversity of cryoconite diatoms and their response to environmental stressors, particularly in low-latitude glaciers. This paper documents an extremely diversified diatom community in Antisana Glacier (Ecuador), reporting 278 taxa found in 54 surface holes, although with low individual abundances. Contrary to our expectations, assemblage structure did not respond to water physical or chemical characteristics, nor to cryoconite hole morphology, but to elevation. We demonstrate that elevation is a driver of diatom assemblages. Both alpha diversity (measured as Fisher's index) and species richness (corrected for unequal sample sizes) correlated negatively with elevation, suggesting a replacement toward simplified, poorer communities along this gradient. The taxonomic composition also changed significantly, as revealed by multivariate statistics. In summary, cryoconite holes are sites of high taxonomic diversity composed of taxa that are allochthonous in origin.
THE UPPER PALAEOLITHIC OF CHURCHFIELDS, FISHERTON: 160 YEARS IN THE MAKING
Authors: Harding Phil , Barton R N E
Published: October 2021

Researchers of museum collections owe a great debt of gratitude to those responsible for curating the collections; however, staff may frequently remain innocently unaware of significant contents within the accessions. Such is a group of flint artefacts in Salisbury Museum, Wiltshire, which were found in 1860 on the outskirts of the city. The collection was rediscovered during unrelated archaeological research and comprises a series of blades, which include refitting components, demonstrating that the artefacts came from undisturbed prehistoric contexts. The blade blanks had been removed from opposed platform cores, using careful core preparation and soft hammer percussion. These characteristics can be most closely paralleled by Upper Palaeolithic Federmesser industries in Europe, which date from the end of the Last Glaciation. The existence of the Upper Palaeolithic was unrecognised at the time the artefacts were found, since when two other contemporary sites have been identified in the River Avon valley as well as others across the country. The newly recognised addition extends the distribution of Upper Palaeolithic activity further up the River Avon valley to Salisbury, where five rivers congregate, providing a convenient point for further dispersal. The finding also mirrors patterns of occupation on well-drained terrace bluffs overlooking the floodplain. Research results have yielded significant data, 160 years after the collection’s discovery, expanding current knowledge of the Upper Palaeolithic in the River Avon valley and demonstrating the continued value and potential of collections in our museums.
The Maz Metasedimentary Series (Western Sierras Pampeanas, Argentina). A relict basin of the Columbia supercontinent?
Authors: Ramacciotti C. D. , Casquet C. , Baldo E. G. , Pankhurst R. J. , Verdecchia S. O. , Fanning C. M. , Murra J. A.
Published: October 2021

The Maz Metasedimentary Series is part of the Maz Complex that crops out in the sierras of Maz and Espinal (Western Sierras Pampeanas) and in the Sierra de Umango (Andean Frontal Cordillera), northwestern Argentina. The Maz Complex is found within a thrust stack of Silurian age, which later underwent open folding. The Maz Metasedimentary Series mainly consists of medium-grade garnet–staurolite–kyanite–sillimanite schists and quartzites, with minor amounts of marble and calc-silicate rocks. Transposed metadacite dykes have been recognized along with amphibolites, metagabbros, metadiorites and orthogneisses. Schist, quartzite and metadacite samples were analysed for SHRIMP U–Pb zircon dating. The Maz Metasedimentary Series is polymetamorphic and records probably three metamorphic events during the Grenvillian orogeny, at c. 1235, 1155 and 1035 Ma, and a younger metamorphism at c. 440–420 Ma resulting from reactivation during the Famatinian orogeny. The sedimentary protoliths were deposited between 1.86 and 1.33–1.26 Ga (the age of the Andean-type Grenvillian magmatism recorded in the Maz Complex), and probably before 1.75 Ga. The main source areas correspond to Palaeoproterozoic and, to a lesser magnitude, Meso-Neoarchaean rocks. The probable depositional age and the detrital zircon age pattern suggest that the Maz Metasedimentary Series was laid down in a basin of the Columbia supercontinent, mainly accreted between 2.1 and 1.8 Ga. The sedimentary sources were diverse, and we hypothesize that deposition took place before Columbia broke up. The Rio Apa block, and the Río de la Plata, Amazonia and proto-Kalahari cratons, which have nearby locations in the palaeogeographic reconstructions, were probably the main blocks that supplied sediments to this basin.
CONGRUENCES OF SAITO–KUROKAWA LIFTS AND DENOMINATORS OF CENTRAL SPINORL-VALUES
Authors: DUMMIGAN NEIL
Published: October 2021

Following Ryan and Tornaría, we prove that moduli of congruences of Hecke eigenvalues, between Saito–Kurokawa lifts and non-lifts (certain Siegel modular forms of genus 2), occur (squared) in denominators of central spinorL-values (divided by twists) for the non-lifts. This is conditional on Böcherer’s conjecture and its analogues and is viewed in the context of recent work of Furusawa, Morimoto and others. It requires a congruence of Fourier coefficients, which follows from a uniqueness assumption or can be proved in examples. We explain these factors in denominators via a close examination of the Bloch–Kato conjecture.
Brexit Dilemmas: Shaping Postwithdrawal Relations with a Leaving State
Authors: Jurado Ignacio , León Sandra , Walter Stefanie
Published: October 2021

How do voters want their governments to respond when another country unilaterally withdraws from an international institution? We distinguish between negotiation approaches that vary in the degree to which they accommodate the withdrawing state's demands and argue that negotiation preferences are shaped by two issues. The first is voters’ exposure to the costs and benefits of accommodation. This exposure varies across issues, and we argue that citizens will generally prefer non-accommodation on zero-sum issues, but support more accommodation on cooperation issues, where non-accommodation puts existing cooperation gains at risk. Second, withdrawal negotiations create precedents, and citizens should therefore be less willing to accommodate the more they are concerned about the ripple effects of accommodation on the institution's stability. These concerns also confront citizens with two types of dilemmas depending on how favorably they view the institution themselves. To test our argument, we use survey evidence and a conjoint experiment conducted in Germany and Spain during the Brexit negotiations. We find that respondents overall are more willing to accommodate the UK on cooperation issues than on zero-sum issues, but also find evidence that Euroskeptics and Europhiles confront different issue-specific dilemmas. Our paper contributes to a better understanding of the dynamics surrounding the challenges to multilateralism that have proliferated in recent years.
EXPEDITIONS FROM ROME: THOMAS ASHBY, HIS BSR COMPANIONS AND THE ROMAN ROADS OF ITALY
Authors: Wade Janet
Published: October 2021

In the early twentieth century, Thomas Ashby published extensively on the Roman roads of Italy. The BSR Director was determined to create a lasting record of the ancient Roman road network before it was lost forever. Yet Ashby's research vision was grand and it was too ambitious a task for one man to accomplish on his own. This paper investigates the crucial role of BSR scholars in Ashby's research. It discusses his relationship with the community of residents and scholars at the BSR in the pre- and post-World War I years, especially those with whom he collaborated in order to survey, map and record the Roman roads and their surrounding countryside. Focus is given to Ashby's research on roads like the Via Flaminia and Via Appia as this work highlights his methodology, the collegial environment at the BSR during his directorship, and his successful collaboration with award-holders. To date, the role of these BSR scholars has largely been underrated. Yet there were BSR award-holders — historians, archaeologists and architects — who helped to keep Ashby's research vision alive. Without them, he could not have produced such a comprehensive and impressive body of work on Italy's Roman roads.