bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
How does money phrasing influence intention to donate: The role of construal level and fit
Authors: Gu Yu , Chen Rong
Published: July 2021

Charitable causes and monetary donation requests are two indispensable components of fundraising messages. A wealth of research focused on the effect of charitable cause phrasing on donation. However, few researchers explored the phrasing of monetary donation requests associated. Since past research suggested that different money phrasing could activate different construal levels, we propose that if the construal levels activated by charitable cause and money phrasing are aligned (misaligned), charitable giving intentions and amount may increase (decrease). In a series of six studies, we adopt various manipulations of charitable cause phrasing and monetary donation request phrasing, examine different donation targets, and measure donation intentions and amount. We verified the proposed fit effect that if participants encountered low construal level charitable causes, they would engage in higher donation intentions when the monetary donation request phrasing triggers a concrete mindset (i.e., a specific amount of money with specific usage) rather than an abstract mindset (i.e., a specific amount of money), while if they encountered high construal level charitable causes, this impact reversed.
Human versus chatbot: Understanding the role of emotion in health marketing communication for vaccines
Authors: Tsai Wan‐Hsiu Sunny , Lun Di , Carcioppolo Nicholas , Chuan Ching‐Hua
Published: July 2021

Based on the theoretical framework of agency effect, this study examined the role of affect in influencing the effects of chatbot versus human brand representatives in the context of health marketing communication about HPV vaccines. We conducted a 2 (perceived agency: chatbot vs. human) × 3 (affect elicitation: embarrassment, anger, neutral) between‐subject lab experiment with 142 participants, who were randomly assigned to interact with either a perceived chatbot or a human representative. Key findings from self‐reported and behavioral data highlight the complexity of consumer–chatbot communication. Specifically, participants reported lower interaction satisfaction with the chatbot than with the human representative when anger was evoked. However, participants were more likely to disclose concerns of HPV risks and provide more elaborate answers to the perceived human representative when embarrassment was elicited. Overall, the chatbot performed comparably to the human representative in terms of perceived usefulness and influence over participants' compliance intention in all emotional contexts. The findings complement the Computers as Social Actors paradigm and offer strategic guidelines to capitalize on the relative advantages of chatbot versus human representatives.
Asymptotic profiles for a wave equation with parameter‐dependent logarithmic damping
Authors: Coimbra Charão Ruy , D'Abbicco Marcello , Ikehata Ryo
Published: July 2021

We study a nonlocal wave equation with logarithmic damping, which is rather weak in the low‐frequency zone as compared with frequently studied strong damping case. We consider the Cauchy problem for this model in Rn, and we study the asymptotic profile and optimal estimates of the solutions and the total energy as t → ∞ in L2 sense. In that case, some results on hypergeometric functions are useful.
A high gain solar cell aperture‐coupled patch antenna based on substrate‐integrated suspended line platform for 5G application
Authors: Yan Ningning , Ji Chuansheng , Luo Yu , Ma Kaixue
Published: July 2021

The aperture‐coupled patch antenna integrated with the amorphous silicon solar cell based on the substrate‐integrated suspended line platform is presented in this letter. The antenna patch on G1 layer is used as the cathode of amorphous silicon cell and the 1 × 2 array antenna is proposed based on the unit. The solar cell antenna operating from 4.67 to 5.17 GHz has the characteristic of high gain, which is achieved by air coupling to reduce loss. The gain of the unit and array is 9.21 and 11.92 dBi, respectively. In addition, the results of the antennas with and without solar cells are little different.
Dosimetry on first clinical dark‐field chest radiography
Authors: Frank Manuela , Urban Theresa , Willer Konstantin , Noichl Wolfgang , De Marco Fabio , Schick Rafael , Gleich Bernhard , Schegerer Alexander , Lechel Ursula , Meyer Pascal , Mohr Juergen , Koehler Thomas , Yaroshenko Andre , Maack Ingo , Pralow Thomas , Proksa Roland , Renger Bernhard , Noël Peter , Fingerle Alexander , Pfeiffer Daniela , Rummeny Ernst , Herzen Julia , Pfeiffer Franz
Published: July 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the dose characteristic for patient examinations at the first clinical X‐ray dark‐field chest radiography system and to determine whether the effective patient dose is within a clinically acceptable dose range.

Methods

A clinical setup for grating‐based dark‐field chest radiography was constructed and commissioned, operating at a tube voltage of 70 kVp. Thermoluminescent dosimeter (TLD) measurements were conducted using an anthropomorphic phantom modeling the reference person to obtain a conversion coefficient relating dose area product (DAP) to effective patient dose at the dark‐field system. For 92 patients, the DAP values for posterior–anterior measurements were collected at the dark‐field system. Using the previously determined conversion coefficient, the effective dose was calculated.

Results

A reference person, modeled by an anthropomorphic phantom, receives an effective dose of 35 µSv. For the examined patients, a mean effective dose of 39 µSv was found.

Conclusions

The effective dose at the clinical dark‐field radiography system, generating both attenuation and dark‐field images, is within the range of reported standard dose values for chest radiography.
Understanding peer mentorship in supporting self‐management of hip and knee osteoarthritis: A qualitative study of mentees' perspectives
Authors: Lavender Elizabeth C. , Anderson Anna M. , Dusabe‐Richards Esther , Antcliff Deborah , Kingsbury Sarah R. , Conaghan Philip G. , McHugh Gretl A.
Published: July 2021

Background

Hip and knee osteoarthritis (OA) are common musculoskeletal conditions. Treatment is usually conservative, making self‐management a priority. We developed and trialled an OA peer mentorship intervention to support self‐management in older people. Our objectives were to gain understanding of the perceived challenges of living with OA and explore how a peer mentorship intervention can support tackling these challenges; and to explore mentees' experiences of receiving the intervention to understand how this affected their OA self‐management.

Methods

Qualitative semi‐structured interviews focussing on acceptability and feasibility of being in the study were conducted with mentees. Transcribed interviews were double coded and subject to framework analysis. To address the objectives of this paper, three main themes were subject to focused analysis: mentees' experiences of OA, experience of peer mentorship support and factors influencing self‐management.

Results

Seventeen mentees participated in an interview following completion of the peer support intervention. Themes emerging from focused analysis were the following: tackling the challenges of living with OA pre‐ and post‐intervention; and the interplay of the peer mentorship intervention and self‐management. Key elements of the latter theme are enabling factors provided by peer mentorship, and mentees' readiness to self‐manage.

Conclusion

To effectively support OA self‐management, peer mentorship interventions should include core educational components and focus on strategies that enhance key enablers of self‐management. Paying attention to the mentor–mentee relationship and timing of intervention engagement can maximise opportunities for older people to adjust and transition from supported to independent self‐management.
The denatured state of HIV‐1 protease under native conditions
Authors: Rösner Heike I. , Caldarini Martina , Potel Gregory , Malmodin Daniel , Vanoni Maria A. , Aliverti Alessandro , Broglia Ricardo A. , Kragelund Birthe B. , Tiana Guido
Published: July 2021

The denatured state of several proteins has been shown to display transient structures that are relevant for folding, stability, and aggregation. To detect them by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, the denatured state must be stabilized by chemical agents or changes in temperature. This makes the environment different from that experienced in biologically relevant processes. Using high‐resolution heteronuclear NMR spectroscopy, we have characterized several denatured states of a monomeric variant of HIV‐1 protease, which is natively structured in water, induced by different concentrations of urea, guanidinium chloride, and acetic acid. We have extrapolated the chemical shifts and the relaxation parameters to the denaturant‐free denatured state at native conditions, showing that they converge to the same values. Subsequently, we characterized the conformational properties of this biologically relevant denatured state under native conditions by advanced molecular dynamics simulations and validated the results by comparison to experimental data. We show that the denatured state of HIV‐1 protease under native conditions displays rich patterns of transient native and non‐native structures, which could be of relevance to its guidance through a complex folding process.
Multistate model for pharmacometric analyses of overall survival in HER2‐negative breast cancer patients treated with docetaxel
Authors: Krishnan Sreenath M. , Friberg Lena E. , Bruno René , Beyer Ulrich , Jin Jin Y. , Karlsson Mats O.
Published: July 2021

The aim of this study was to develop a multistate model for overall survival (OS) analysis, based on parametric hazard functions and combined with an investigation of predictors derived from a longitudinal tumor size model on the transition hazards. Different states – stable disease, tumor response, progression, second‐line treatment, and death following docetaxel treatment initiation (stable state) in patients with HER2‐negative breast cancer (n = 183) were used in model building. Past changes in tumor size prospectively predicts the probability of state changes. The hazard of death after progression was lower for subjects who had longer treatment response (i.e., longer time‐to‐progression). Young age increased the probability of receiving second‐line treatment. The developed multistate model adequately described the transitions between different states and jointly the overall event and survival data. The multistate model allows for simultaneous estimation of transition rates along with their tumor model derived metrics. The metrics were evaluated in a prospective manner so not to cause immortal time bias. Investigation of predictors and characterization of the time to develop response, the duration of response, the progression‐free survival, and the OS can be performed in a single multistate modeling exercise. This modeling approach can be applied to other cancer types and therapies to provide a better understanding of efficacy of drug and characterizing different states, thereby facilitating early clinical interventions to improve anticancer therapy.
Relativistic corrections of the electric field gradient in dihalogen molecules XY (X, Y = F, Cl, Br, I, At) within the linear response elimination of the small component formalism
Authors: Aucar Juan J. , Maldonado Alejandro F. , Melo Juan I.
Published: July 2021

We analyze the performance of the linear response elimination of the small component (LRESC) scheme to describe the electric field gradient (EFG), in dihalogen molecular systems, and also to give insight of the relativistic corrections. LRESC shows a good performance, providing results close to four‐component (4c) ones for molecules containing atoms belonging up to the fifth row of the Periodic Table. When heavier nuclei are involved the difference among LRESC and 4c values reaches up to 5%. The main relativistic correction represents 80% of the nonrelativistic part for the heaviest molecule. LRESC can be applied at Hartree–Fock as well as Density Functional Theory levels, therefore we also analyze correlation effects on EFG showing that relativity enhances correlation effects and both effects are not additive. As an application of LRESC method, nuclear quadrupole moment calculations of some halogen nuclei are also carried out and compared with the most recent data.
Argon cluster‐ion sputter yield: Molecular dynamics simulations on silicon and equation for estimating total sputter yield
Authors: Cumpson Peter J. , Jaskiewicz Mieszko , Kim Woo Kyun
Published: July 2021

Argon Gas Cluster‐Ion Beam sources have become widely‐used on X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) instruments in recent years, but there is little reference data on sputter yields in the literature as yet. Total sputter yield reference data is needed in order to calibrate the depth scale, of XPS or SIMS depth profiles. We previously published a semi‐empirical ‘Threshold’ equation for estimating cluster total sputter yield from the energy‐per‐atom of the cluster and the effective monatomic sputter threshold of the material. This has been shown to agree extremely well with sputter yield measurements on a range or organic and inorganic materials for clusters of around a thousand atoms. Here we use the molecular dynamics (MD) approach to explore a wider range of energy and cluster size than is easy to do experimentally to high precision. We performed MD simulations using the ‘Large‐scale Atomic/Molecular Massively Parallel Simulator’ (LAMMPS) parallel MD code on high‐performance computer (HPC) systems. We performed 1150 simulations of individual collisions with a silicon (100) surface as an archetypal inorganic substrate, for cluster sizes between 30 and 3000 argon atoms and energies in the range 5 to 40 eV per atom. This corresponds to the most important regime for experimental cluster depth‐profiling in SIMS and XPS. Our MD results show a dependence on cluster size as well as energy‐per‐atom. Using the exponent previously suggested by Paruch et al., we modified the Threshold model equation published previously to take this into account. The modified Threshold equation fits all our MD results extremely well, building on its success in fitting experimental sputter yield measurements.

This work is submitted to the volume dedicated to Dr. Martin P Seah, MBE, who was a great influence on the early career of one of the authors (PJC) and who himself made many valuable contributions to the literature on sputtering as it relates to surface and interface analysis.
More Se Vacancies in Sb2Se3 under Se‐Rich Conditions: An Abnormal Behavior Induced by Defect‐Correlation in Compensated Compound Semiconductors
Authors: Huang Menglin , Cai Zenghua , Wang Shanshan , Gong Xin‐Gao , Wei Su‐Huai , Chen Shiyou
Published: July 2021

It was believed that the Se‐rich synthesis condition can suppress the formation of deep‐level donor defect VSe (selenium vacancy) in Sb2Se3 and is thus critical for fabricating high‐efficiency Sb2Se3 solar cells. However, here it is shown that by first‐principles calculations the density of VSe increases unexpectedly to 1016 cm−3 when the Se chemical potential increases, so Se‐rich condition promotes rather than suppresses the formation of VSe. Therefore, high density of VSe is thermodynamically inevitable, no matter under Se‐poor or Se‐rich conditions. This abnormal behavior can be explained by a physical concept “defect‐correlation”, i.e., when donor and acceptor defects compensate each other, all defects become correlated with each other due to the formation energy dependence on Fermi level which is determined by densities of all ionized defects. In quasi‐1D Sb2Se3, there are many defects and the complicated defect‐correlation can give rise to abnormal behaviors, e.g., lowering Fermi level and thus decreasing the formation energy of ionized donor VSe2+ in Se‐rich Sb2Se3. Such behavior exists also in Sb2S3. It explains the recent experiments that the extremely Se‐rich condition causes the efficiency drop of Sb2Se3 solar cells, and demonstrates that the common chemical intuition and defect engineering strategies may be invalid in compensated semiconductors.
Design of a Reinforcement Learning PID Controller
Authors: Guan Zhe , Yamamoto Toru
Published: July 2021

This paper addresses a design scheme of a proportional‐integral‐derivative (PID) controller with a new adaptive updating rule based on reinforcement learning (RL) approach for nonlinear systems. A new design scheme that RL can be used to complement the conventional PID control technology is presented. In the proposed scheme, a single radial basis function (RBF) network is considered to calculate the control policy function of Actor and the value function of Critic simultaneously. Regarding the PID controller structure, the inputs of RBF network are system errors, the difference of output as well as the second‐order difference of output, and they are composed of system states. The temporal difference (TD) error in the proposed scheme involves the reinforcement signal, the current and the previous stored value of the value function. The gradient descent method is adopted based on the TD error performance index, then, the updating rules can be yielded. Therefore, the network weights and the kernel function can be calculated in an adaptive way. Finally, the numerical simulations are conducted in nonlinear systems to illustrate the efficiency and robustness of the proposed scheme. © 2021 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.
An allowed window for heavy neutral leptons below the kaon mass
Authors: Bondarenko Kyrylo , Boyarsky Alexey , Klaric Juraj , Mikulenko Oleksii , Ruchayskiy Oleg , Syvolap Vsevolod , Timiryasov Inar
Published: July 2021

Abstract

The extension of the Standard Model with two gauge-singlet Majorana fermions can simultaneously explain two beyond-the-Standard-model phenomena: neutrino masses and oscillations, as well as the origin of the matter-antimatter asymmetry in the Universe. The parameters of such a model are constrained by the neutrino oscillation data, direct accelerator searches, big bang nucleosynthesis, and requirement of successful baryogenesis. We show that their combination still leaves an allowed region in the parameter space below the kaon mass. This region can be probed by the further searches of NA62, DUNE, or SHiP experiments.
Process characterization and analysis of ceramic powder bed fusion
Authors: Florio Kevin , Puccio Dario , Viganò Giorgio , Pfeiffer Stefan , Verga Fabrizio , Grasso Marco , Colosimo Bianca Maria , Graule Thomas , Wegener Konrad
Published: July 2021

Powder bed fusion (PBF) of ceramics is often limited because of the low absorptance of ceramic powders and lack of process understanding. These challenges have been addressed through a co-development of customized ceramic powders and laser process capabilities. The starting powder is made of a mix of pure alumina powder and alumina granules, to which a metal oxide dopant is added to increase absorptance. The performance of different granules and process parameters depends on a large number of influencing factors. In this study, two methods for characterizing and analyzing the PBF process are presented and used to assess which dopant is the most suitable for the process. The first method allows one to analyze the absorptance of the laser during the melting of a single track using an integrating sphere. The second one relies on in-situ video imaging using a high-speed camera and an external laser illumination. The absorption behavior of the laser power during the melting of both single tracks and full layers is proven to be a non-linear and extremely dynamic process. While for a single track, the manganese oxide doped powder delivers higher and more stable absorptance. When a full layer is analyzed, iron oxide-doped powder is leading to higher absorptance and a larger melt pool. Both dopants allow the generation of a stable melt-pool, which would be impossible with granules made of pure alumina. In addition, the present study sheds light on several phenomena related to powder and melt-pool dynamics, such as the change of melt-pool shape and dimension over time and powder denudation effects.
Minimizing spectral risk measures applied to Markov decision processes
Authors: Bäuerle Nicole , Glauner Alexander
Published: July 2021

We study the minimization of a spectral risk measure of the total discounted cost generated by a Markov Decision Process (MDP) over a finite or infinite planning horizon. The MDP is assumed to have Borel state and action spaces and the cost function may be unbounded above. The optimization problem is split into two minimization problems using an infimum representation for spectral risk measures. We show that the inner minimization problem can be solved as an ordinary MDP on an extended state space and give sufficient conditions under which an optimal policy exists. Regarding the infinite dimensional outer minimization problem, we prove the existence of a solution and derive an algorithm for its numerical approximation. Our results include the findings in Bäuerle and Ott (Math Methods Oper Res 74(3):361–379, 2011) in the special case that the risk measure is Expected Shortfall. As an application, we present a dynamic extension of the classical static optimal reinsurance problem, where an insurance company minimizes its cost of capital.
Myocardial Deformation in Fontan Patients Assessed by Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Feature Tracking: Correlation with Function, Clinical Course, and Biomarkers
Authors: Callegari Alessia , Marcora Simona , Burkhardt Barbara , Voutat Michael , Kellenberger Christian Johannes , Geiger Julia , Valsangiacomo Buechel Emanuela Regina
Published: July 2021

Cardiac MR (CMR) is a standard modality for assessing ventricular function of single ventricles. CMR feature-tracking (CMR-FT) is a novel application enabling strain measurement on cine MR images and is used in patients with congenital heart diseases. We sought to assess the feasibility of CMR-FT in Fontan patients and analyze the correlation between CMR-FT strain values and conventional CMR volumetric parameters, clinical findings, and biomarkers. Global circumferential (GCS) and longitudinal (GLS) strain were retrospectively measured by CMR-FT on Steady-State Free Precession cine images. Data regarding post-operative course at Fontan operation, and medication, exercise capacity, invasive hemodynamics, and blood biomarkers at a time interval ± 6 months from CMR were collected. Forty-seven patients underwent CMR 11 ± 6 years after the Fontan operation; age at CMR was 15 ± 7 years. End-diastolic volume (EDV) of the SV was 93 ± 37 ml/m2, end-systolic volume (ESV) was 46 ± 23 ml/m2, and ejection fraction (EF) was 51 ± 11%. Twenty (42%) patients had a single right ventricle (SRV). In single left ventricle (SLV), GCS was higher (p < 0.001), but GLS was lower (p = 0.04) than in SRV. GCS correlated positively with EDV (p = 0.005), ESV (p < 0.001), and EF (p ≤ 0.0001). GLS correlated positively with EF (p = 0.002), but not with ventricular volumes. Impaired GCS correlated with decreased ventricular function (p = 0.03) and atrioventricular valve regurgitation (p = 0.04) at echocardiography, direct atriopulmonary connection (p = 0.02), post-operative complications (p = 0.05), and presence of a rudimentary ventricle (p = 0.01). A reduced GCS was associated with increased NT-pro-BNP (p = 0.05). Myocardial deformation can be measured by CMR-FT in Fontan patients. SLVs have higher GCS, but lower GLS than SRVs. GCS correlates with ventricular volumes and EF, whereas GLS correlates with EF only. Myocardial deformation shows a relationship with several clinical parameters and NT-pro-BNP.
Team Strategy Optimization in Combined Resections for Synchronous Colorectal Liver Metastases. A Comparative Study with Bootstrapping Analysis
Authors: Ratti Francesca , Serenari Matteo , Zanello Matteo , Fuks David , Rottoli Matteo , Masetti Michele , Tribillon Ecoline , Ravaioli Matteo , Elmore Ugo , Rosati Riccardo , Gayet Brice , Cescon Matteo , Jovine Elio , Aldrighetti Luca
Published: July 2021

Background

The aim of the study was to evaluate perioperative outcomes and to evaluate factors influencing rative morbidity and adoption of minimally invasive technique in 1‐team (1‐T) versus two teams (2‐T) management of synchronous colorectal liver metastases.

Methods

Within four referral centers, a group of 234 patients treated in 1‐T centers was identified and compared with a group of 253 patients treated in 2‐T. A nonparametric bootstrap process was applied to the original cohorts of 1‐T group and 2‐T group as a resampling method to obtain bootstrapped cohorts (155 patients per group).

Results

33.5% of patients in 1‐T boot group and 38.1% in the 2‐T boot group were operated by laparoscopic approach. Multivariate analysis revealed that approach to primary tumor (laparoscopic or open) and intraoperative blood loss were independent prognostic factors for morbidity. Team approach did not show any significant correlation with incidence of postoperative complications nor with choice for laparoscopic approach.

Conclusion

The optimization of team strategy for patients with SCRLM is not solely based on the adoption of a 1‐T or 2‐T approach, but should instead be based on the implementation of a standard protocol for management of these patients.
Responsibility utility and the difference between preference and desirance: implications for welfare evaluation
Authors: Comerford David A. , Lades Leonhard K.
Published: July 2021

Actions can provide “responsibility utility” when they signal the actors’ identities or values to others or to themselves. This paper considers a novel implication of this responsibility utility for welfare analysis: fully informed incentive-compatible choice data can give a biased measure of the utility delivered by exogenously determined outcomes. A person’s choice of a policy outcome may be informed by responsibility utility that would be strictly absent if that same person were a passive recipient of that same policy outcome. We introduce the term “desirance” to describe a rank ordering over exogenously determined outcomes and present evidence that desirance captures the welfare consequences of exogenously determined outcomes more accurately than preference. We review literatures showing that preference is sensitive to contextual variations that influence responsibility utility and show experimentally that responsibility utility can explain discrepancies between welfare estimates derived from choice data and subjective well-being data. We close by discussing subjective well-being as a potential measure of desirance.
Comparison of ABR and ASSR using narrow-band-chirp-stimuli in children with cochlear malformation and/or cochlear nerve hypoplasia suffering from severe/profound hearing loss
Authors: Eder Katharina , Polterauer Daniel , Semmelbauer Sebastian , Schuster Maria , Rader Tobias , Hoster Eva , Flatz Wilhelm
Published: July 2021

Objectives

In pediatric audiology, objective techniques for hearing threshold estimation in infants and children with profound or severe hearing loss play a key role. Auditory brainstem responses (ABR) and auditory steady-state responses (ASSR) are available for frequency-dependent hearing threshold estimations and both techniques show strong correlations but sometimes with considerable differences. The aim of the study was to compare hearing threshold estimations in children with and without cochlear and cochlear nerve malformations.

Methods

Two groups with profound or severe hearing loss were retrospectively compared. In 20 ears (15 children) with malformation of the inner ear and/or cochlear nerve hypoplasia and a control group of 20 ears (11 children) without malformation, ABR were measured with the Interacoustics Eclipse EP25 ABR system® (Denmark) with narrow-band CE-chirps® at 500, 1000, 2000 and 4000 Hz and compared to ASSR at the same center frequencies under similar conditions.

Results

ABR and ASSR correlated significantly in both groups (r = 0.413 in malformation group, r = 0.82 in control group). The malformation group showed a significantly lower percentage of “equal” hearing threshold estimations than the control group. In detail, patients with isolated cochlear malformation did not differ significantly from the control group, whereas patients with cochlear nerve hypoplasia showed significantly greater differences.

Conclusion

ABR and ASSR should be used jointly in the diagnostic approach in children with suspected profound or severe hearing loss. A great difference in hearing threshold estimation between these techniques could hint at the involvement of cochlear nerve or cochlear nerve hypoplasia itself.
Use of neural networks to predict vault values after implantable collamer lens surgery
Authors: Xu Ke , Liu Xiaoxiao , Lei Yiming , Qi Hong , Zhang Chun
Published: July 2021

Background

Appropriate sizing of the implantable collamer lens (ICL) and accurate prediction of the vault are crucial prior to surgery. However, sometimes, the vault value is higher or lower than predicted, necessitating reoperation. The present study aimed to develop neural networks for improving predictions of vault values following ICL implantation based on preoperative biometric data.

Methods

This retrospective study included 137 eyes of 74 patients with ICLs. Linear regression and neural network analyses were used to examine the relationship between vault values at the 6-month follow-up and preoperative parameters (e.g., ICL characteristics and biometrics).

Results

Linear regression analysis revealed that vault values were correlated with five variables: ICL size, anterior chamber depth (ACD), angle-to-angle (ATA), white-to-white (WTW), and lens thickness (LT) (adjusted R2 = 0.411). Inclusion of more input variables was associated with better performance in the neural network analysis. The degree of fit when all 11 variables were included in the neural network model was close to 1 (R2 = 0.98). R2 values for the quaternary neural network model enrolling four input variables (ICL size, ATA, ACD, and LT) reached 0.90.

Conclusions

A neural network equation including the ICL size and biometric parameters of the anterior segment (ATA, ACD, and LT) can be used to predict the postoperative vault, aiding in the selection of an appropriate ICL size and reducing the need for reoperation after surgery.
A rapid and robust method for the cryopreservation of human granulosa cells
Authors: Beschta Sarah , Eubler Katja , Bohne Nancy , Forne Ignasi , Berg Dieter , Berg Ulrike , Mayerhofer Artur
Published: July 2021

Human primary granulosa cells (GCs) derived from women undergoing oocyte retrieval can be cultured and used as a cellular model for the study of human ovarian function. In vitro, they change rapidly, initially resembling cells of the preovulatory follicle and then cells of the corpus luteum. They are derived from individual patients, whose different medical history, lifestyle and age lead to heterogeneity. Thus, cells can rarely be ideally matched for cellular experiments or, if available, only in small quantities. We reasoned that cryopreservation of human GCs may be helpful to improve this situation. Previous studies indicated the feasibility of such an approach, but low survival of human GCs was reported, and effects on human GC functionality were only partially evaluated. We tested a slow freezing protocol (employing FCS and DMSO) for human GCs upon isolation from follicular fluid. We compared cryopreserved and subsequently thawed cells with fresh, non-cryopreserved cells from the same patients. About 80% of human GCs survived freezing/thawing. No differences were found in cell morphology, survival rate in culture, or transcript levels of mitochondrial (COX4, OPA1, TOMM20), steroidogenic (CYP11A1, CYP19A1) or cell–cell contact genes (GJA1) between the two groups in cells cultured for 1–5 days. A proteomic analysis revealed no statistically significant change in the abundance of a total of 5962 proteins. The two groups produced comparable basal levels of progesterone and responded similarly to hCG with elevation of progesterone. Taken together, our results show this to be a rapid and readily available method for the cryopreservation of human GCs. We anticipate that it will allow future large-scale experiments and may thereby improve cellular studies with human ovarian cells.
The epigenetic origin of life history transitions in plants and algae
Authors: Vigneau Jérômine , Borg Michael
Published: July 2021

Plants and algae have a complex life history that transitions between distinct life forms called the sporophyte and the gametophyte. This phenomenon—called the alternation of generations—has fascinated botanists and phycologists for over 170 years. Despite the mesmerizing array of life histories described in plants and algae, we are only now beginning to learn about the molecular mechanisms controlling them and how they evolved. Epigenetic silencing plays an essential role in regulating gene expression during multicellular development in eukaryotes, raising questions about its impact on the life history strategy of plants and algae. Here, we trace the origin and function of epigenetic mechanisms across the plant kingdom, from unicellular green algae through to angiosperms, and attempt to reconstruct the evolutionary steps that influenced life history transitions during plant evolution. Central to this evolutionary scenario is the adaption of epigenetic silencing from a mechanism of genome defense to the repression and control of alternating generations. We extend our discussion beyond the green lineage and highlight the peculiar case of the brown algae. Unlike their unicellular diatom relatives, brown algae lack epigenetic silencing pathways common to animals and plants yet display complex life histories, hinting at the emergence of novel life history controls during stramenopile evolution.
European clinical guidelines for Tourette syndrome and other tic disorders—version 2.0. Part II: psychological interventions
Authors: Andrén Per , Jakubovski Ewgeni , Murphy Tara L. , Woitecki Katrin , Tarnok Zsanett , Zimmerman-Brenner Sharon , van de Griendt Jolande , Debes Nanette Mol , Viefhaus Paula , Robinson Sally , Roessner Veit , Ganos Christos , Szejko Natalia , Müller-Vahl Kirsten R. , Cath Danielle , Hartmann Andreas , Verdellen Cara
Published: July 2021

Part II of the European clinical guidelines for Tourette syndrome and other tic disorders (ECAP journal, 2011) provides updated information and recommendations for psychological interventions for individuals with tic disorders, created by a working group of the European Society for the Study of Tourette Syndrome (ESSTS). A systematic literature search was conducted to obtain original studies of psychological interventions for tic disorders, published since the initial European clinical guidelines were issued. Relevant studies were identified using computerized searches of the MEDLINE and PsycINFO databases for the years 2011–2019 and a manual search for the years 2019–2021. Based on clinical consensus, psychoeducation is recommended as an initial intervention regardless of symptom severity. According to a systematic literature search, most evidence was found for Habit Reversal Training (HRT), primarily the expanded package Comprehensive Behavioral Intervention for Tics (CBIT). Evidence was also found for Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), but to a lesser degree of certainty than HRT/CBIT due to fewer studies. Currently, cognitive interventions and third-wave interventions are not recommended as stand-alone treatments for tic disorders. Several novel treatment delivery formats are currently being evaluated, of which videoconference delivery of HRT/CBIT has the most evidence to date. To summarize, when psychoeducation alone is insufficient, both HRT/CBIT and ERP are recommended as first-line interventions for tic disorders. As part of the development of the clinical guidelines, a survey is reported from ESSTS members and other tic disorder experts on preference, use and availability of psychological interventions for tic disorders.
Buddy biking: a user study on social collaboration in a virtual reality exergame for rehabilitation
Authors: Høeg Emil Rosenlund , Bruun-Pedersen Jon Ram , Cheary Shannon , Andersen Lars Koreska , Paisa Razvan , Serafin Stefania , Lange Belinda
Published: July 2021

Virtual reality (VR)-based rehabilitation is a growing technological field, which gradually becomes integrated into existing programs. However, technology has to support human behavior and -needs, including social relatedness, to achieve health-related outcomes. Elderly people have high risk of loneliness, and VR has technological affinity for natural social interaction. Previous studies have relied on competitiveness rather than collaborative elements, but research shows that competitiveness can lead to (feelings of) stress and aggressive behavior in some individuals. This article presents a mixed methods study to gather end-user feedback on a social VR scenario that encourages inter-player collaboration on a virtual tandem bike. Outpatients ($$n=11$$

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±
11

years) were invited to participate with a co-player (friend or family). Participants biked on average 10.7 (± 3) minutes with a mean speed of 14.8 kmph (± 5.8). The results indicate potential and feasibility for the collaborative social biking application. Participants reported excellent usability-scores (85 ± 5), high intrinsic motivation in all categories: enjoyment (6.5 ± 0.5), effort/importance (6.4 ± 0.3), relatedness (6.3 ± 0.7) and minimal increase in symptoms of nausea, oculomotor and disorientation. Furthermore, participants found the social aspect enjoyable, agreed that collaboration eased tasks and that they lost track of exercise duration. Interpersonal interaction between participants varied, but was mostly positively rated valence, even if the sense of copresence was limited by physical constraints and avatar representation. Most participants expressed that they would use the program again, but future studies should explore how to improve location and appearance of the virtual coactor, as well as implement additional tasks.
Abatacept in rheumatoid arthritis-associated interstitial lung disease: short-term outcomes and predictors of progression
Authors: Tardella Marika , Di Carlo Marco , Carotti Marina , Giovagnoni Andrea , Salaffi Fausto
Published: July 2021

Introduction

Interstitial lung disease in rheumatoid arthritis (RA-ILD) is an extra-articular involvement that impairs the prognosis and for which there is still no well-coded treatment. The aim of this study was to evaluate abatacept (ABA) effectiveness and safety in patients with RA-ILD.

Methods

RA-ILD patients who started ABA treatment were consecutively enrolled. Chest high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT), clinical, laboratory and respiratory function variables were collected at baseline and after 18 months of ABA treatment. HRCT abnormalities were evaluated using a computer-aided method (CaM). ABA response was established based on the change in the percentage of fibrosis evaluated at HRCT-CaM, dividing patients into “worsened” (progression ≥ 15%), “improved” (reduction ≥ 15%), and “stable” (changes within the 15% range). The multivariate regression model was used to assess the associations between RA characteristics and ABA response.

Results

Forty-four patients (81% women, mean age 59.1 ± 8.0, mean disease duration of 7.5 ± 3.1 years) were studied. Five patients (11.4%) showed RA-ILD progression, 32 patients (72.6%) were considered stable, and 7 patients (16.0%) showed an RA-ILD improvement. The proportion of current smokers was significantly different between “worsened” patients, respect to those defined as "improved/stable” (p = 0.01). Current smoking habit (p = 0.005) and concomitant methotrexate treatment (p = 0.0078) were the two variables related to RA-ILD progression in multivariate regression analysis.

Conclusion

Treatment with ABA is associated with a RA-ILD stability or improvement in the 88.6% of patients. Current smoking habit and concomitant treatment with methotrexate are the modifiable factors associated with RA-ILD worsening.

Key Points• Abatacept plays a favourable role in the control of RA-ILD, with a significant worsening in only 11.4% of patients during a 18-month follow-up period.• The predictive variables related to RA-ILD progression during abatacept therapy are the concomitant treatment with methotrexate and current smoking habit.
Study on potential differentially expressed genes in stroke by bioinformatics analysis
Authors: Yang Xitong , Wang Pengyu , Yan Shanquan , Wang Guangming
Published: July 2021

Stroke is a sudden cerebrovascular circulatory disorder with high morbidity, disability, mortality, and recurrence rate, but its pathogenesis and key genes are still unclear. In this study, bioinformatics was used to deeply analyze the pathogenesis of stroke and related key genes, so as to study the potential pathogenesis of stroke and provide guidance for clinical treatment. Gene Expression profiles of GSE58294 and GSE16561 were obtained from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified between IS and normal control group. The different expression genes (DEGs) between IS and normal control group were screened with the GEO2R online tool. The Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses of the DEGs were performed. Using the Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery (DAVID) and gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA), the function and pathway enrichment analysis of DEGS were performed. Then, a protein–protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed via the Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes (STRING) database. Cytoscape with CytoHubba were used to identify the hub genes. Finally, NetworkAnalyst was used to construct the targeted microRNAs (miRNAs) of the hub genes. A total of 85 DEGs were screened out in this study, including 65 upward genes and 20 downward genes. In addition, 3 KEGG pathways, cytokine − cytokine receptor interaction, hematopoietic cell lineage, B cell receptor signaling pathway, were significantly enriched using a database for labeling, visualization, and synthetic discovery. In combination with the results of the PPI network and CytoHubba, 10 hub genes including CEACAM8, CD19, MMP9, ARG1, CKAP4, CCR7, MGAM, CD79A, CD79B, and CLEC4D were selected. Combined with DEG-miRNAs visualization, 5 miRNAs, including hsa-mir-146a-5p, hsa-mir-7-5p, hsa-mir-335-5p, and hsa-mir-27a- 3p, were predicted as possibly the key miRNAs. Our findings will contribute to identification of potential biomarkers and novel strategies for the treatment of ischemic stroke, and provide a new strategy for clinical therapy.
A cross-sectional survey of sociodemographic characteristics, primary care health needs and living conditions of asylum-seekers living in a Greek reception centre
Authors: Gordon Anna , O-Brien Conor , Balen Julie , Duncombe Stephanie L. , Girma Albane , Mitchell Caroline
Published: July 2021

Background

In 2019, a migrant camp on the Greek island of Samos designed for 650 people was home to a growing population of over 5500. We aimed to quantitatively describe living conditions and health needs in the camp.

Methods

A questionnaire was designed with reference to international humanitarian standards, following a consultative process with the asylum-seeker population. Domains assessed included demographics, living conditions, safety/vulnerability, and health. The questionnaire was piloted and then conducted in June 2019 on a sample of asylum seekers.

Results

Five hundred participants, predominantly from Afghanistan and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Of these, 79.4% lived in tents. Respondents cared for a total of 570 children; 20.6% of women were pregnant, 35.4% had experienced violence, 83% psychological distress, 71% skin disease, 66% diarrhoea and vomiting, and 64% respiratory disease. Accommodation, sanitation, and nutrition fell below internationally recognised standards, and poor access to water was significantly associated (p < 0.001) with respiratory disease, diarrhoea and vomiting, skin disease ,and psychological distress.

Conclusions

Living conditions in the Samos camp fall below basic humanitarian standards and are associated with poor health status. Further research is imperative to analyse and monitor the diverse, varying needs of asylum-seekers and inform policies to improve conditions.
Structured argumentation dynamics
Authors: Pandžić Stipe
Published: July 2021

This paper develops a logical theory that unifies all three standard types of argumentative attack in AI, namely rebutting, undercutting and undermining attacks. We build on default justification logic that already represents undercutting and rebutting attacks, and we add undermining attacks. Intuitively, undermining does not target default inference, as undercutting, or default conclusion, as rebutting, but rather attacks an argument’s premise as a starting point for default reasoning. In default justification logic, reasoning starts from a set of premises, which is then extended by conclusions that hold by default. We argue that modeling undermining defeaters in the view of default theories requires changing the set of premises upon receiving new information. To model changes to premises, we give a dynamic aspect to default justification logic by using the techniques from the logic of belief revision. More specifically, undermining is modeled with belief revision operations that include contracting a set of premises, that is, removing some information from it. The novel combination of default reasoning and belief revision in justification logic enriches both approaches to reasoning under uncertainty. By the end of the paper, we show some important aspects of defeasible argumentation in which our logic compares favorably to structured argumentation frameworks.
Predicting presenteeism using measures of health status
Authors: Jones Cheryl , Payne Katherine , Thompson Alexander , Verstappen Suzanne M. M.
Published: July 2021

Objectives

To identify whether it is feasible to develop a mapping algorithm to predict presenteeism using multiattribute measures of health status.

Methods

Data were collected using a bespoke online survey in a purposive sample (n = 472) of working individuals with a self-reported diagnosis of Rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Survey respondents were recruited using an online panel company (ResearchNow). This study used data captured using two multiattribute measures of health status (EQ5D-5 level; SF6D) and a measure of presenteeism (WPAI, Work Productivity Activity Index). Statistical correlation between the WPAI and the two measures of health status (EQ5D-5 level; SF6D) was assessed using Spearman’s rank correlation. Five regression models were estimated to quantify the relationship between WPAI and predict presenteeism using health status. The models were specified based in index and domain scores and included covariates (age; gender). Estimated and observed presenteeism were compared using tenfold cross-validation and evaluated using Root mean square error (RMSE).

Results

A strong and negative correlation was found between WPAI and: EQ5D-5 level and WPAI (r = − 0.64); SF6D (r =− 0.60). Two models, using ordinary least squares regression were identified as the best performing models specifying health status using: SF6D domains with age interacted with gender (RMSE = 1.7858); EQ5D-5 Level domains and age interacted with gender (RMSE = 1.7859).

Conclusions

This study provides indicative evidence that two existing measures of health status (SF6D and EQ5D-5L) have a quantifiable relationship with a measure of presenteeism (WPAI) for an exemplar application of working individuals with RA. A future study should assess the external validity of the proposed mapping algorithms.