bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mouthrinses against SARS-CoV-2: anti-inflammatory effectivity and a clinical pilot study
Authors: Schürmann Matthias , Aljubeh Mohamed , Tiemann Carsten , Sudhoff Holger
Published: May 2021

Purpose

The scope of this research endeavor was the determination of the applicability of over the counter mouthwash solutions in reducing the viral load in the saliva of COVID-19 patients and hence decreasing their infectivity. Beyond that, new experimental mouthwashes were investigated in terms of a possible positive immune modulation, which might offer an additional opportunity for a positive pharmaceutical effect.

Methods

The effectivity of the mouth washing solution was determined on 34 hospitalized COVID-19 patients by measuring the viral load by RT-qPCR in pharyngeal swabs, which were taken before and after rinsing. The inflammatory modulation thru the experimental solutions was assayed in an in vitro model of virus infected nasopharyngeal epithelium cells.

Results

The clinical pilot study demonstrated that the mouth rinsing solution was able to reduce the viral load by about 90% in the saliva of most patients. This reduction was determined to persist for about 6 h. In the experimental solutions, the ingredients dexpanthenol and zinc were able to reduce the expression of proinflammatory cytokines in the cell culture model, while the antiviral response was not altered significantly.

Conclusion

We recommend the application of mouth wash solutions to COVID-19 patients, since our results indicate a reduction in infectivity and might govern the protection of health care professionals. Further improvement to the over the counter formulation can be made by utilizing zinc and dexpanthenol, as they which might be beneficial for the patients’ health.
Temporary threshold shift after noise exposure in hypobaric hypoxia at high altitude: results of the ADEMED expedition 2011
Authors: Fehrenbacher K. , Apel C. , Bertsch D. , van der Giet M. S. , van der Giet S. , Grass M. , Gschwandtl C. , Heussen N. , Hundt N. , Kühn C. , Morrison A. , Müller-Ost M. , Müller-Tarpet M. , Porath S. , Risse J. , Schmitz S. , Schöffl V. , Timmermann L. , Wernitz K. , Küpper T.
Published: May 2021

Objectives

To evaluate whether there is an increased risk for noise-induced hearing loss at high altitude rsp. in hypobaric hypoxia.

Methods

Thirteen volunteers got standard audiometry at 125, 250, 500, 750, 1000, 1500, 2000, 3000, 4000, 6000, and 8000 Hz before and after 10 min of white noise at 90 dB. The system was calibrated for the respective altitude. Measurements were performed at Kathmandu (1400 m) and at Gorak Shep (5300 m) (Solo Khumbu/Nepal) after 10 days of acclimatization while on trek. Temporary threshold shift (TTS) was analyzed by descriptive statistics and by factor analysis.

Results

TTS is significantly more pronounced at high altitudes. Acclimatization does not provide any protection of the inner ear, although it increases arterial oxygen saturation.

Conclusion

The thresholds beyond which noise protection is recommended (> 80 dB) or necessary (> 85 dB) are not sufficient at high altitudes. We suggest providing protective devices above an altitude of 1500 m (“ear threshold altitude”) when noise level is higher than 75 dB and using them definitively above 80 dB. This takes the individual reaction on hypobaric hypoxia at high altitude into account.
Contribution of the basal forebrain to corticocortical network interactions
Authors: Gombkoto Peter , Gielow Matthew , Varsanyi Peter , Chavez Candice , Zaborszky Laszlo
Published: May 2021

Basal forebrain (BF) cholinergic neurons provide the cerebral cortex with acetylcholine. Despite the long-established involvement of these cells in sensory processing, attention, and memory, the mechanisms by which cholinergic signaling regulates cognitive processes remain elusive. In this study, we recorded spiking and local field potential data simultaneously from several locations in the BF, and sites in the orbitofrontal and visual cortex in transgenic ChAT-Cre rats performing a visual discrimination task. We observed distinct differences in the fine spatial distributions of gamma coherence values between specific basalo-cortical and cortico-cortical sites that shifted across task phases. Additionally, cholinergic firing induced spatial changes in cortical gamma power, and optogenetic activation of BF increased coherence between specific cortico-cortical sites, suggesting that the cholinergic system contributes to selective modulation of cortico-cortical circuits. Furthermore, the results suggest that cells in specific BF locations are dynamically recruited across behavioral epochs to coordinate interregional cortical processes underlying cognition.
Mobile-bearing versus fixed-bearing total knee arthroplasty: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
Authors: Hantouly Ashraf T. , Ahmed Abdulaziz F. , Alzobi Osama , Toubasi Ammar , Salameh Motasem , Elmhiregh Aissam , Hameed Shamsi , Ahmed Ghalib O. , Alvand Abtin , Al Dosari Mohammed Al Ateeq
Published: May 2021

Objective

The purpose of this study was to perform a meta-analysis comparing mobile-bearing with fixed-bearing total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in terms of all-cause revision rates, aspetic loosening, knee functional scores, range of motion and radiographic lucent lines and osteolysis.

Methods

PubMed, Cochrane Library, Google Scholar and Web of Science were searched up to January 2020. Randomized controlled trials that compared primary mobile-bearing with fixed-bearing TKA, reporting at least one of the outcomes of interest, at a minimum follow-up of 12 months were included. All outcomes of interest were pooled at short-term (< 5 years), mid-term (5 to 9 years) and long-term (> = 10 years) follow-up intervals.

Results

A total of 70 eligible articles were included in the qualitative and statistical analyses. There was no difference between mobile-bearing or fixed-bearing TKA at short-term, mid-term and long-term follow-ups in all outcome measures including all-cause revision rate, aseptic loosening, oxford knee score, knee society score, Hospital for Special Surgery score, maximum knee flexion, radiographic lucent lines and radiographic osteolysis.

Conclusion

The current level of evidence demonstrated that both mobile-bearing and fixed-bearing designs achieved excellent outcomes, yet it does not prove the theoretical advantages of the mobile-bearing insert over its fixed-bearing counterpart. The use of either design could therefore be supported based on the outcomes assessed in this study.

Level of Evidence: Level II, Therapeutic
Bidirectional relationship of problematic Internet use with hyperactivity/inattention and depressive symptoms in adolescents: a population-based cohort study
Authors: Morita Masaya , Ando Shuntaro , Kiyono Tomoki , Morishima Ryo , Yagi Tomoko , Kanata Sho , Fujikawa Shinya , Yamasaki Syudo , Nishida Atsushi , Kasai Kiyoto
Published: May 2021

Problematic Internet use (PIU), hyperactivity/inattention, and depressive symptoms are comorbid problems in adolescence, but the causal relationships among these issues are unclear. To assess the relationships among PIU, hyperactivity/inattention, and depressive symptoms in adolescents in the general population. This longitudinal cohort study used data from the Tokyo Teen Cohort study in Tokyo, Japan, for two years between October 2012 and January 2015. Of the 3171 pairs of children and parents, 3007 pairs continued to participate in the second wave of the Tokyo Teen Cohort study. A total of 3007 children were included in the analysis (mean [standard deviation] age, 9.7 [0.4] years; 1418 women [47.2%]. Cross-lagged panel analysis revealed that PIU at timepoint 1 was significantly associated with hyperactivity/inattention at timepoint 2 (β = 0.03; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.01–0.06), and hyperactivity/inattention at timepoint 1 was also significantly associated with PIU at timepoint 2 (β = 0.07; 95% CI 0.04–0.10), even after adjustments were made for depressive symptoms. Furthermore, PIU at timepoint 1 was significantly associated with depressive symptoms at timepoint 2 (β = 0.05; 95% CI 0.01–0.12), and depressive symptoms at timepoint 1 were also significantly associated with PIU at timepoint 2 (β = 0.05; 95% CI 0.02–0.07), even after adjustments were made for hyperactivity/inattention. These results support the bidirectional relationships among PIU, hyperactivity/inattention, and depressive symptoms. PIU may be a target to improve hyperactivity/inattention and depressive symptoms in adolescents.
Do households prefer to move up or down the urban hierarchy during an economic crisis?
Authors: van Leeuwen Eveline S. , Venhorst Viktor A.
Published: May 2021

In this paper, we investigate the relationship between adverse economic circumstances and the desire of Dutch households to move up or down the urban hierarchy. We apply three consecutive waves of the Dutch Housing Demand Survey (WoON) in a repeated cross-section setting, with data collected at the time of the Global Financial Crisis (GFC) and its aftermath. We find that households desire to move down the urban hierarchy during the volatile and uncertain periods following the GFC. This is a surprising result, given that urban areas are generally considered more opportunity rich. In order to uncover the mechanisms driving this result, we considered the impact of the economic circumstances on the general willingness to move and on the underlying motives. We find that willingness to move increased when the adverse economic consequences of the GFC hit Dutch households. Further, it appears that this willingness to move is only partially related to work. Besides work, desires to move for health, education, vicinity to family and friends, and reasons related to the dwelling, also become more prevalent during the aftermath of the GFC as well. This heterogeneity in impacts and consequences for household desired mobility serves to explain some of the mixed results in the literature, and generates lessons for current and future crises such as the Covid-19 pandemic.
Design of a high-stability heterogeneous clock system for small satellites in LEO
Authors: Van Buren Damon , Axelrad Penina , Palo Scott
Published: May 2021

We describe our investigation into the performance of low-power heterogeneous timing systems for small satellites, using real GPS observables from the GRACE Follow-On mission. Small satellites have become capable platforms for a wide range of commercial, scientific and defense missions, but they are still unable to meet the needs of missions that require precise timing, on the order of a few nanoseconds. Improved low-power onboard clocks would make small satellites a viable option for even more missions, enabling radio aperture interferometry, improved radio occultation measurements, high altitude GPS navigation, and GPS augmentation missions, among others. One approach for providing improved small satellite timekeeping is to combine a heterogeneous group of oscillators, each of which provides the best stability over a different time frame. A hardware architecture that uses a single-crystal oscillator, one or more Chip Scale Atomic Clocks (CSACs) and the reference time from a GPS receiver is presented. The clocks each contribute stability over a subset of timeframes, resulting in excellent overall system stability for timeframes ranging from less than a second to several days. A Kalman filter is used to estimate the long-term errors of the CSACs based on the CSAC-GPS time difference, and the improved CSAC time is used to discipline the crystal oscillator, which provides the high-stability reference clock for the small satellite. Simulations using GRACE-FO observations show time error standard deviations for the system range from 2.3 ns down to 1.3 ns for the clock system, depending on how many CSACs are used. The results provide insight into the timing performance which could be achieved on small LEO spacecraft by a low power timing system.
The impact of the Beirut blast on the COVID-19 situation in Lebanon
Authors: Fares Mohamad Y. , Musharrafieh Umayya , Bizri Abdul Rahman
Published: May 2021

Aim

On August 4, 2020, a massive explosion hit Lebanon’s capital city, Beirut. The aim of this study was to explore the effect of the Beirut blast on the COVID-19 situation in the country.

Subject and Methods

Data on COVID-19 were retrieved from the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health (LMOPH), where all the COVID-19 positive cases were reported. The study was divided into two periods, considering the incubation period of the COVID-19 virus: (July 27–August 9, 2020) and (August 10–23, 2020). Information obtained included daily number of cases, tests, deaths, hospitalized patients, intensive care unit (ICU) patients, and mode of acquisition (local vs. expat). Daily positivity rates were reported per 100 tests. An independent sample t-test and a Joinpoint regression analysis were used to determine significance. A p value less than 0.05 was considered significant.

Results

A total of 201,010 tests were conducted during our studied period, with 8993 positive cases, constituting a total positivity rate of 4.5 per 100 tests. Case fatality rate over the studied period was 0.8%. The positivity rate of the period prior to August 10, 2020, was 2.7 per 100 tests, significantly less than that of the period following the explosion, which was 6.4 per 100 tests (p < 0.001). During our studied period, daily positivity rates were significantly increasing at a slope of 0.29 (p < 0.001). A significant increase in slope was noted on August 13, 2020 (p < 0.001). The number of hospitalized patients increased from 139 patients on July 27 to 266 on August 23, 2020, and that of ICU patients increased from 36 to 75.

Conclusion

The port of Beirut explosion resulted in a significant increase in the daily number of positive COVID-19 cases. The aftermath of the explosion, the damage to healthcare facilities, and the overcrowding due to emergency efforts were contributing factors to that increase.
Seismic hazard for the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP). Part 2: broadband scenarios at the Fier Compressor Station (Albania)
Authors: Moratto L. , Vuan A. , Saraò A. , Slejko D. , Papazachos C. , Caputo R. , Civile D. , Volpi V. , Ceramicola S. , Chatzipetros A. , Daja S. , Fabris P. , Garcia-Pelaez J. , Geletti R. , Karvelis P. , Pavlides S. , Rapti D. , Rebez A. , Rossi G. , Sandron D. , Santulin M. , Sboras S. , Tamaro A. , Zecchin M. , Zgur F. , Zuliani D.
Published: May 2021

To ensure environmental and public safety, critical facilities require rigorous seismic hazard analysis to define seismic input for their design. We consider the case of the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP), which is a pipeline that transports natural gas from the Caspian Sea to southern Italy, crossing active faults and areas characterized by high seismicity levels. For this pipeline, we develop a Probabilistic Seismic Hazard Assessment (PSHA) for the broader area, and, for the selected critical sites, we perform deterministic seismic hazard assessment (DSHA), by calculating shaking scenarios that account for the physics of the source, propagation, and site effects. This paper presents a DSHA for a compressor station located at Fier, along the Albanian coastal region. Considering the location of the most hazardous faults in the study site, revealed by the PSHA disaggregation, we model the ground motion for two different scenarios to simulate the worst-case scenario for this compressor station. We compute broadband waveforms for receivers on soft soils by applying specific transfer functions estimated from the available geotechnical data for the Fier area. The simulations reproduce the variability observed in the ground motion recorded in the near-earthquake source. The vertical ground motion is strong for receivers placed above the rupture areas and should not be ignored in seismic designs; furthermore, our vertical simulations reproduce the displacement and the static offset of the ground motion highlighted in recent studies. This observation confirms the importance of the DSHA analysis in defining the expected pipeline damage functions and permanent soil deformations.
The circular economy potential of urban organic waste streams in low- and middle-income countries
Authors: Ddiba Daniel , Andersson Kim , Rosemarin Arno , Schulte-Herbrüggen Helfrid , Dickin Sarah
Published: May 2021

There is growing recognition of the potential environmental and socio-economic benefits of applying a circular approach to urban organic waste management through resource recovery. Decisions around planning and implementing circular urban waste systems require estimates of the quantity of resources available in waste streams and their potential market value. However, studies assessing circular economy potential have so-far been conducted mostly in high-income countries, yet cities in low- and middle-income countries have different challenges when developing a circular economy. This paper addresses this gap by estimating the resource recovery potential of organic waste streams in the context of low- and middle-income countries, illustrated with the case of Kampala, Uganda. A simplified material flow analysis approach is used to track the transformation of waste streams, namely faecal sludge, sewage sludge and organic solid waste into the resource recovery products biogas, solid fuel, black soldier fly larvae and compost. Findings indicate that even at current rates of waste collection, the three waste streams combined could annually yield 135,000 tonnes of solid fuel or 39.6 million Nm3 of biogas or 15,000 tonnes of black soldier fly larvae or 108,000 tonnes of compost and revenues from the products could range from 5.1 million USD from compost to 47 million USD from biogas. The results demonstrate how complex information describing urban waste can be presented to facilitate decision making and planning by stakeholders. By highlighting different resource recovery opportunities, application of this approach could provide an incentive for more sustainable urban sanitation and waste management systems.
Shell morphology, growth and longevity of Unio tumidus (Bivalvia: Unionidae) from an archaeological site and contemporary population inhabiting the Oder estuary
Authors: Czerniejewski Przemysław , Dąbrowski Jarosław , Wawrzyniak Wawrzyniec , Brysiewicz Adam , Surma Orina
Published: May 2021

Mussel shells are often found in archaeological excavations and can provide information useful for ecological reconstruction and assessment of anthropogenic impact on waters. In this study, two sample groups of swollen river mussel (Unio tumidus) which occurred during the Early Middle Ages (EMS) and currently (MS) in the Oder river estuary (Baltic basin) were compared. Allometric shell growth, morphological characteristics of the shell (length, width, height and thickness), age structure and growth of mussels were analysed using the von Bertalanffy equation. All three types of allometric growth (isometry and both positive and negative allometry) were observed in the studied mussels. In both groups, typical values of shell length, width, height and thickness were recorded. However, higher values of these morphological characteristics were recorded in the EMS group. Moreover, the EMS group, compared with the MS group ofU. tumidus, was characterised by a higher longevity (12 and 10 years, respectively) and asymmetric length (L∞) (93.09 and 83.23 mm, respectively). Both groups of mussels had a similar growth rate (k). Larger shell sizes in the EMS group were probably caused by differential preservation and/or differential archaeological recovery, and resulted from differences in the age structure, especially higher mortality rate amongst individuals older than 6 years in the MS group.
Tissue reaction to novel customized calcium silicate cement based dental implants. A pilot study in the dog
Authors: Fakhrzadeh Amir , Saghiri Mohammad Ali , Morgano Steven M. , Sullivan Andrew
Published: May 2021

Objectives

The purpose of this study was to determine the level of periodontal tissue regeneration in a canine model following post-extraction placement of an implant molded from a composite material made from extracted tooth dentin and a calcium silicate cement (CSC) material. The investigation used autologous dentin in conjunction with a CSC material to form a composite implant designed for immediate tooth replacement.

Methods

Two (2) beagles had a periodontal and radiographic examination performed to rule out any pre-treatment inflammation, significant periodontal disease, or mobility. Then, ination eleven (11) teeth were extracted and polyvinyl siloxane molds were made to fabricate three different types of implants: Particulate Implant (Test Group 1, n = 4), Shell Implant Alone (Test Group 2, n = 2), Shell Implant with Emdogain® (Test Group 3, n = 3). Teeth in the control group were extracted, scaled (n = 2), and then re-implanted into their respective fresh extraction sockets. At 4 weeks, a clinical, radiographic, and histologic assessment was performed.

Results

Clinical evaluation revealed no mobility in any of the test or control implants and no radiographic evidence of significant bone loss or active disease. Based on the MicroCT analysis, direct bone to implant contact was observed in some areas with an apparent periodontal ligament space. Implant-related inflammation, on average, was similar among all groups, with low numbers of infiltrates. Implant-related inflammatory reaction was generally minimal and not interpreted to be adverse.

Conclusion

The proposed novel composite materials revealed that not only do these materials demonstrate high biocompatibility, but also their successful integration in the alveolus is likely secondary to a partial ligamentous attachment. The current investigation may lead to the use of calcium silicate-based materials as custom dental implants. Further research on this novel composite’s biomechanical properties is necessary to develop the optimal material composition for use as a load-bearing dental implant.
A higher-order parametric nonlinear reduced-order model for imperfect structures using Neumann expansion
Authors: Marconi J. , Tiso P. , Quadrelli D. E. , Braghin F.
Published: May 2021

We present an enhanced version of the parametric nonlinear reduced-order model for shape imperfections in structural dynamics we studied in a previous work. In this model, the total displacement is split between the one due to the presence of a shape defect and the one due to the motion of the structure. This allows to expand the two fields independently using different bases. The defected geometry is described by some user-defined displacement fields which can be embedded in the strain formulation. This way, a polynomial function of both the defect field and actual displacement field provides the nonlinear internal elastic forces. The latter can be thus expressed using tensors, and owning the reduction in size of the model given by a Galerkin projection, high simulation speedups can be achieved. We show that the adopted deformation framework, exploiting Neumann expansion in the definition of the strains, leads to better accuracy as compared to the previous work. Two numerical examples of a clamped beam and a MEMS gyroscope finally demonstrate the benefits of the method in terms of speed and increased accuracy.
Dynamics of HDI Index: Temporal Dependence Based on D-vine Copulas Model for Three-Way Data
Authors: Nai Ruscone Marta , Fernández Daniel
Published: May 2021

The HDI (Human Development Index) is a widely used index based on the average of measures of health, education, and income. It assesses the progress of countries worldwide. The publicly available data set associated with the HDI can be seen as a table with 3 dimensions (three-way table): countries, indexes regarding progress, and years (from 2010 to 2018). Thus, modeling the serial dependence structure of this type of intricate three-way tables is a challenge. D-vine copulas are a special class of multivariate copulas that are particularly suited for modeling serial dependence. This work aims to assess the evolution of the dependence relationship between the indexes of the HDI data set over time through D-vine copulas, which has not been fully used before in the area, as far as we are concerned. We tested our approach to European and African countries and compare their results.
The Salience of Perceived Societal Conflict in Europe: A 27 Country Study on the Development of a Measure for Generalized Conflict Thinking
Authors: van Drunen Yaël , Spruyt Bram , Van Droogenbroeck Filip
Published: May 2021

Over the last two decades, European countries have struggled with several crises (e.g., the Great Recession, the refugee crisis) which had a tremendous impact on (some) societies. Typically, these crises were accompanied by divisive public discourses that rely heavily on a sharp and moralistic us-them distinction. Especially extreme right- and left-wing parties have adopted such conflict discourses and have gained much electoral support. Against this background, this paper has two objectives. First, data from the European Quality of Life Survey from 2003 to 2016 in 27 countries are used to provide a comprehensive overview of the salience of perceived societal conflicts between seven pairs of groups between countries and across time. We find substantial differences between countries and longitudinal trend variation in the salience of perceived societal conflict. For example, in Eastern European countries more economic conflict is perceived, while in Western European countries people perceive more cultural conflict between different ethnic and religious groups. Second, multigroup confirmatory factor analyses reveal that specific perceptions of conflict are structured by an underlying general orientation, generalized conflict thinking: people’s tendency to perceive society through the lens of conflict regardless of the specificity of these groups. The measure for generalized conflict thinking is metric equivalent across a large sample of countries. This demonstrates that generalized conflict thinking can be used as a social indicator for comparative research. In the conclusion we elaborate on the implications of our findings and develop a research agenda regarding generalized conflict thinking.
Two fatal and four surviving cases after accidental infusion of ropivacaine
Authors: Winkler Michaela , Alt Andreas , Dietzsch Susann , Kunz Sebastian N.
Published: May 2021

Purpose

In this paper, we describe six cases, where patients were falsely treated with pre-filled ropivacaine solution instead of medical saline solution for postoperative settings. Two of the patients died because of fatal concentrations of ropivacaine in blood, four survived with no further physical injury, and two of them showed typical intoxication symptoms. The collected blood and urine samples of the deceased, as well as the surviving patients, were analyzed in laboratory routine screening.

Methods

Ropivacaine and its main metabolite 3-OH-ropivacaine were analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry.

Results

All of the six cases showed positive blood results of ropivacaine. Due to the poorly secured sample material of the survived patients at hospital, the quantitative examination of 3-OH-ropivacaine could not be carried out. In one fatal case, there were ropivacaine and 3-OH-ropivacaine traceable in urine. In all cases, metamizole was found in blood and traces of piritramide in urine. The amount of metamizole was within the upper limits of therapeutical treatment values. Patients with lower blood concentrations of ropivacaine showed more physical symptoms as compared to those with higher concentrations of active substances.

Conclusions

In the context of symptom development and intoxication, the speed of injection was a very important factor to cause fatal ropivacaine cases. To our knowledge, these are the first reported cases of fatal intoxication with ropivacaine.
Individual 3D-printed fixation masks for radiotherapy: first clinical experiences
Authors: Mattke M. , Rath D. , Häfner M. F. , Unterhinninghofen R. , Sterzing F. , Debus J. , Giesel F. L.
Published: May 2021

Purpose

To show the feasibility of 3D-printed fixation masks for whole brain radiation therapy in a clinical setting and perform a first comparison to an established thermoplastic mask system.

Methods

Six patients were irradiated with whole brain radiotherapy using individually 3D-printed masks. Daily image guidance and position correction were performed prior to each irradiation fraction. The vectors of the daily position correction were compared to two collectives of patients, who were irradiated using the standard thermoplastic mask system (one cohort with head masks; one cohort with head and neck masks).

Results

The mean systematic errors in the experimental cohort ranged between 0.59 and 2.10 mm which is in a comparable range to the control groups (0.18 mm–0.68 mm and 0.34 mm–2.96 mm, respectively). The 3D-printed masks seem to be an alternative to the established thermoplastic mask systems. Nevertheless, further investigation will need to be performed.

Conclusion

The prevailing study showed a reliable and reproducible interfractional positioning accuracy using individually 3D-printed masks for whole brain irradiation in a clinical routine. Further investigations, especially concerning smaller target volumes or other areas of the body, need to be performed before using the system on a larger basis.
Real-time implementation of fast discriminative scale space tracking algorithm
Authors: Walid Walid , Awais Muhammad , Ahmed Ashfaq , Masera Guido , Martina Maurizio
Published: May 2021

Real-time object tracking is an important step of many modern image processing applications. The efficient hardware design of real-time object tracker must achieve the desired accuracy while satisfying the frame rate requirements for a variety of image sizes. The existing methods of visual tracking employ sophisticated algorithms and challenge the capabilities of most embedded architectures. Discriminative scale space tracking is one algorithm that is capable of demonstrating good performance with affordable complexity. It has a high degree of parallelism which can be exploited for efficient implementation of reconfigurable hardware architectures. This paper proposes a real-time implementation of the discriminative scale-space tracker on FPGA for the major blocks. A careful design exploration of core mathematical operations of the tracking algorithm is performed to improve their hardware utilization and timing performance. Among the core functional units optimized in this work, the discrete Fourier transform achieves a computational time improvement of 92% relative to existing works, QR factorization achieves a 2.3$$\times$$
×
reduction in resource utilization, and singular value decomposition yields a 3.8$$\times$$
×
improvement in processing time. The proposed data path architecture is designed using Vivado HLS tool set and implemented for Zync Zed Board (xc7z020clg484-1). For an input image size of 320 $$\times$$
×
240, the proposed architecture achieves a mean 25.38 fps.
Imaging findings of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor-producing tumors: a case series and review of the literature
Authors: Kohno Shigeshi , Furuta Akihiro , Arizono Shigeki , Tokunaga Koji , Nakao Sei , Tanabe Masahiro , Kataoka Tatsuki R. , Isoda Hiroyoshi , Togashi Kaori
Published: May 2021

Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF)-producing tumors have an aggressive clinical course. Here, we report five cases of G-CSF-producing tumors and review the literature, focusing on imaging findings related to tumor-produced G-CSF. In addition to our cases, we identified 30 previous reports of G-CSF-producing tumors on which 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET)/CT, bone scintigraphy, or evaluation of bone marrow MR findings was performed. White blood cell count, serum C-reactive protein, and serum interleukin-6 were elevated in all cases for which these parameters were measured. G-CSF-producing tumors presented large necrotic masses (mean diameter 83.2 mm, range 17–195 mm) with marked FDG uptake (mean maximum standardized uptake value: 20.09). Diffuse FDG uptake into the bone marrow was shown in 28 of the 31 cases in which FDG-PET/CT was performed. The signal intensity of bone marrow suggested marrow reconversion in all seven MRI-assessable cases. Bone scintigraphy demonstrated no significant uptake, except in two cases with bone metastases. Splenic FDG uptake was increased in 8 of 10 cases in which it was evaluated. These imaging findings may reflect the effects of tumor-produced G-CSF. The presence of G-CSF-producing tumors should be considered in patients with cancer who show these imaging findings and marked inflammatory features of unknown origin.
Fifteen Years After Sleeve Gastrectomy: Weight Loss, Remission of Associated Medical Problems, Quality of Life, and Conversions to Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass—Long-Term Follow-Up in a Multicenter Study
Authors: Felsenreich Daniel M. , Artemiou Evi , Steinlechner Katharina , Vock Natalie , Jedamzik Julia , Eichelter Jakob , Gensthaler Lisa , Bichler Christoph , Sperker Christoph , Beckerhinn Philipp , Kristo Ivan , Langer Felix B. , Prager Gerhard
Published: May 2021

Purpose

Since 2014, sleeve gastrectomy (SG) has been the most frequently performed bariatric-metabolic operation worldwide (2018: 386,096). There are only a few studies reporting a long-term follow-up (up to 11 years) available today. The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term outcome of SG with a follow-up of at least 15 years regarding weight loss, remission of associated medical problems (AMP), conversions, and quality of life (QOL).

Setting

Multicenter cross-sectional study; university hospital.

Methods

This study includes all patients who had SG before 2005 at the participating bariatric centers. History of weight, AMP, conversions, and QOL were evaluated by interview at our bariatric center.

Results

Fifty-three patients met the inclusion criteria of a minimal follow-up of 15 years. Weight and body mass index at the time of the SG were 136.8kg and 48.7kg/m2. Twenty-six patients (49.1%) were converted to Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) for weight regain and gastroesophageal reflux within the follow-up period. Total weight loss after 15 years was 31.5% in the non-converted group and 32.9% in the converted group. Remission rates of AMP and QOL were stable over the follow-up period.

Conclusion

Fifteen years after SG, a stable postoperative weight was observed at the cost of a high conversion rate. Patients converted to RYGB were able to achieve further weight loss and preserve good remission rates of AMP. SG in patients without the need of a conversion to another bariatric-metabolic procedure may be considered effective. Careful preoperative patient selection is mandatory when performing SG.

Graphical abstract
Significance of Mast Cell Formed Extracellular Traps in Microbial Defense
Authors: Elieh Ali Komi Daniel , Kuebler Wolfgang M.
Published: May 2021

Mast cells (MCs) are critically involved in microbial defense by releasing antimicrobial peptides (such as cathelicidin LL-37 and defensins) and phagocytosis of microbes. In past years, it has become evident that in addition MCs may eliminate invading pathogens by ejection of web-like structures of DNA strands embedded with proteins known together as extracellular traps (ETs). Upon stimulation of resting MCs with various microorganisms, their products (including superantigens and toxins), or synthetic chemicals, MCs become activated and enter into a multistage process that includes disintegration of the nuclear membrane, release of chromatin into the cytoplasm, adhesion of cytoplasmic granules on the emerging DNA web, and ejection of the complex into the extracellular space. This so-called ETosis is often associated with cell death of the producing MC, and the type of stimulus potentially determines the ratio of surviving vs. killed MCs. Comparison of different microorganisms with specific elimination characteristics such as S pyogenes (eliminated by MCs only through extracellular mechanisms), S aureus (removed by phagocytosis), fungi, and parasites has revealed important aspects of MC extracellular trap (MCET) biology. Molecular studies identified that the formation of MCET depends on NADPH oxidase-generated reactive oxygen species (ROS). In this review, we summarize the present state-of-the-art on the biological relevance of MCETosis, and its underlying molecular and cellular mechanisms. We also provide an overview over the techniques used to study the structure and function of MCETs, including electron microscopy and fluorescence microscopy using specific monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) to detect MCET-associated proteins such as tryptase and histones, and cell-impermeant DNA dyes for labeling of extracellular DNA. Comparing the type and biofunction of further MCET decorating proteins with ETs produced by other immune cells may help provide a better insight into MCET biology in the pathogenesis of autoimmune and inflammatory disorders as well as microbial defense.
The relationship between social media use, anxiety and burden caused by coronavirus (COVID-19) in Spain
Authors: Brailovskaia Julia , Miragall Marta , Margraf Jürgen , Herrero Rocío , Baños Rosa M.
Published: May 2021

The outbreak of COVID-19 and national restrictions to slow down its spread have significantly changed people’s everyday lives. Many people engage in intensive social media use (SMU) to stay up-to-date about the pandemic. The present study investigated the extent of SMU as source of COVID-19 information, and its relationship with anxiety and the experienced burden caused by the pandemic in Spain. Of the 221 participants, 52.5% reported to frequently use SM as information source. The use of other information sources such as print and online newspaper reports, television reports, and official governmental online sites was not associated with anxiety and burden caused by the current COVID-19 situation. However, SMU was significantly positively linked to both variables. Moreover, anxiety significantly mediated the relationship between SMU and the experienced burden. The findings show the potential negative effect of SMU on individual emotional state and behavior during the pandemic. They emphasize the significance of an accurate and conscious use of SM specifically during extraordinary circumstances such as the COVID-19 outbreak.
Exploring the Functional Strategies Adopted by Coastal Plants Along an Ecological Gradient Using Morpho-functional Traits
Authors: Ciccarelli Daniela , Bona Cleusa
Published: May 2021

Coastal dunes are characterised by strong interactions between biotic and abiotic factors along a short gradient from the shoreline to the inland region. We carried out an ecological analysis of the vegetation in a protected area of the Italian coast to evaluate the relationships among species abundance, the occurrence of morphoanatomical traits related to leaves, stems, and roots, and soil variables. Three transects were established perpendicular to the shoreline, with 27 plots distributed in the frontal dunes, backdunes, and temporarily wet dune slacks. An analysis based on community-weighted mean values showed that the pioneer communities of the frontal dunes were dominated by ruderals that are well adapted to the harsh ecological conditions of these environments, showing succulent leaves, high limb thickness values, and low values for leaf dry matter content (LDMC). The backdune vegetation was a mosaic of annual herbaceous and perennial shrub communities showing both ruderal and stress-tolerant strategies (clonality, sclerified leaves, high LDMC values, root phenolics) consistent with less extreme ecological conditions. The dune slack areas were dominated by plants showing adaptations to both arid and flooded environments, such as C4 photosynthesis, amphistomatic leaves, and abundant aerenchyma in the roots. The invasive status, C4 photosynthesis, leaf trichomes, and aerenchyma in the roots were significantly correlated with soil humidity, organic matter content, and pH. These results demonstrate the usefulness of anatomical traits (including root system traits) in understanding the functional strategies adopted by plants. Invasive species tended to occupy plots with high levels of soil moisture, suggesting an avoidance strategy for the harsh environmental conditions of coastal sand dunes. Finally, we suggest including information regarding root systems into coastal monitoring programs because they are directly linked to soil parameters useful in coastal dune management and protection.
Dynamic testing to determine and predict trampoline function
Authors: Brown Olivia H. , Mullineaux David R. , Mulloy Francis
Published: May 2021

Safety standards for domestic trampolines are based on static-load testing using a factor of five times the maximum intended user mass. This paper presents a dynamic test method for trampolines, and provides measures of the users’ performance (e.g., peak acceleration, Accmax) and injury risk (e.g., mean rate of change of acceleration, Jerkmean). Uniform masses (41–116 kg) were dropped from 0.66 m onto the bed centre of nineteen different trampolines. Trampoline bed and spring stretches, mass flight time (FlightT) and accelerations were recorded using motion capture and accelerometers. Thirty-seven percent of trampolines exceeded the static safety standard bed deformation limits (80% of frame height) by 11 ± 6% with dynamic testing (mean ± standard deviation). Across all trampolines and masses dropped, the Accmaxranged from 5.1 to 7.6 g, suggesting the factor of five used in static-loading safety standards needs reviewing. Statistically significant negative correlations (p < 0.05) were found between trampoline bed diameter and Accmax(r =  – 0.88), Jerkmean(r =  – 0.77) and FlightT(r =  – 0.82). Furthermore, significant correlations (p < 0.05) were also found between the mass dropped and Accmax(r =  – 0.27), Jerkmean(r =  – 0.59) and FlightT(r = 0.25). The combined effects of the spring constants, number of springs, bed diameters and masses dropped were described in predictive multivariate equations for Accmax(explained variance,R2 = 95%) and maximum vertical bed deformation (R2 = 85%). These findings from dynamic testing may assist manufacturers in designing trampolines that meet safety standards while maximising user performance and reducing injury risk.
Perceptual Evaluation of Blended Sonification of Mechanical Robot Sounds Produced by Emotionally Expressive Gestures: Augmenting Consequential Sounds to Improve Non-verbal Robot Communication
Authors: Frid Emma , Bresin Roberto
Published: May 2021

This paper presents two experiments focusing on perception of mechanical sounds produced by expressive robot movement and blended sonifications thereof. In the first experiment, 31 participants evaluated emotions conveyed by robot sounds through free-form text descriptions. The sounds were inherently produced by the movements of a NAO robot and were not specifically designed for communicative purposes. Results suggested no strong coupling between the emotional expression of gestures and how sounds inherent to these movements were perceived by listeners; joyful gestures did not necessarily result in joyful sounds. A word that reoccurred in text descriptions of all sounds, regardless of the nature of the expressive gesture, was “stress”. In the second experiment, blended sonification was used to enhance and further clarify the emotional expression of the robot sounds evaluated in the first experiment. Analysis of quantitative ratings of 30 participants revealed that the blended sonification successfully contributed to enhancement of the emotional message for sound models designed to convey frustration and joy. Our findings suggest that blended sonification guided by perceptual research on emotion in speech and music can successfully improve communication of emotions through robot sounds in auditory-only conditions.
Neutron-based techniques for archaeometry: characterization of a Sardinian boat model
Authors: Depalmas A. , Cataldo M. , Grazzi F. , Scherillo A. , Fedrigo A. , Kockelmann W. , di Gennaro F. , Canu A. , Brunetti A.
Published: May 2021

Sardinian metallurgy produced samples of high artistic and historical value. In particular, ship models are rare and unmatched examples of the mastery reached by Sardinian metallurgists and their production process deserves an in-depth analysis of all the phases involved in the making. In this work, we examined a Sardinian boat model to obtain information about its composition, microstructure and manufacturing technique. The object is a small bronze ship model that was found near the Nuraghe Colovros, located in north-east Sardinia (Italy). It was analysed by means of neutron imaging and neutron diffraction experiments at the ISIS Pulsed Neutron and Muon Source laboratory (Harwell, UK). Neutron techniques are relatively new in the field of archaeometry, but they are a very effective tool for the study of archaeological objects: they permit to survey complete artefacts, determine compositions and structures, assess the conservation status and address questions of effective use and casting techniques. This type of data can add new and different insights to existing archaeological information, especially where sampling is not permitted. The outcome of the study reveals a peculiar approach to the manufacturing of the boat model.
Development of osmotic vacuolization of proximal tubular epithelial cells following treatment with sodium-glucose transport protein 2 inhibitors in type II diabetes mellitus patients-3 case reports
Authors: Watanabe Shun , Sawa Naoki , Mizuno Hiroki , Yamanouchi Masayuki , Suwabe Tatsuya , Hoshino Junichi , Kinowaki Keiichi , Ohashi Kenichi , Fujii Takeshi , Yamaguchi Yutaka , Ubara Yoshifumi
Published: May 2021

We encountered 3 cases of acute kidney injury that occurred after treatment with a SGLT2 inhibitor. In case 1, serum creatinine increased from 1.65 to 3.0 mg/dL, in case 2, serum creatinine increased from 1.03 to 1.21 mg/dL, and in case 3, serum creatinine increased from 0.8 to 1.1 mg/dL. Renal biopsy showed isometric vacuolization on tubules, that was completely negative for Periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) stain in case 1, and was partially negative for PAS stain in case 2 and 3, consistent with osmotic vacuolization. Immunohistochemical analysis showed positive staining for CD138 and CD10 indicating the proximal tubules in the vacuolar lesions. 3 patients were obese with body mass index of more than 30, and showed an increase in serum renin. In conclusion, in type II diabetes mellitus (T2DM), individuals that remain within their standard weight range, SGLT2 inhibitor treatment does not result in osmotic vacuolization of proximal tubular epithelial cells and AKI. However, treatment with a SGLT2 inhibitor may cause damage of the proximal tubules resulting in AKI in T2DM individuals who do not remain within their standard weight range, due to an overdose lavage of sugar in the urine and dehydration.
Cell Therapy and Bioengineering in Experimental Liver Regenerative Medicine: In Vivo Injury Models and Grafting Strategies
Authors: Amato G. , Saleh T. , Carpino G. , Gaudio E. , Alvaro D. , Cardinale V.
Published: May 2021

Purpose of Review

To describe experimental liver injury models used in regenerative medicine, cell therapy strategies to repopulate damaged livers and the efficacy of liver bioengineering.

Recent Findings

Several animal models have been developed to study different liver conditions. Multiple strategies and modified protocols of cell delivery have been also reported. Furthermore, using bioengineered liver scaffolds has shown promising results that could help in generating a highly functional cell delivery system and/or a whole transplantable liver.

To optimize the most effective strategies for liver cell therapy, further studies are required to compare among the performed strategies in the literature and/or innovate a novel modifying technique to overcome the potential limitations. Coating of cells with polymers, decellularized scaffolds, or microbeads could be the most appropriate solution to improve cellular efficacy. Besides, overcoming the problems of liver bioengineering may offer a radical treatment for end-stage liver diseases.