bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The chiral ring of gauge theories in eight dimensions
Authors: Fucito F. , Morales J. F. , Poghossian R.
Published: April 2021

Abstract

We study the non-perturbative corrections generated by exotic instantons in U(N) gauge theories in eight and four dimensions. As it was shown previously, the eight-dimensional prepotential can be resummed using a plethystic formula showing only a dependence from the center of mass and from a U(1) gauge factor. On the contrary, chiral correlators in eight and four dimensions display a non-trivial dependence from the full gauge group. Furthermore the resolvent, the generating function for the eight and four dimensional correlators, can be written in a compact form both in the eight and four dimensional cases.
Kaluza-Klein spectroscopy for the Leigh-Strassler SCFT
Authors: Bobev Nikolay , Malek Emanuel , Robinson Brandon , Samtleben Henning , van Muiden Jesse
Published: April 2021

Abstract

We apply recently developed tools from exceptional field theory to calculate the full Kaluza-Klein spectrum of the AdS5 Pilch-Warner solution of type IIB supergravity. Through the AdS/CFT correspondence this yields detailed information about the spectrum of protected and unprotected operators of the four-dimensional$$ \mathcal{N} $$N= 1 Leigh-Strassler SCFT, in the planar limit. We also calculate explicitly the superconformal index of the SCFT in this limit and show that it agrees precisely with the spectrum of protected operators in the supergravity calculation.
Mapping the expression of transient receptor potential channels across murine placental development
Authors: De Clercq Katrien , Pérez-García Vicente , Van Bree Rieta , Pollastro Federica , Peeraer Karen , Voets Thomas , Vriens Joris
Published: April 2021

Transient receptor potential (TRP) channels play prominent roles in ion homeostasis by their ability to control cation influx. Mouse placentation is governed by the processes of trophoblast proliferation, invasion, differentiation, and fusion, all of which require calcium signaling. Although certain TRP channels have been shown to contribute to maternal–fetal transport of magnesium and calcium, a role for TRP channels in specific trophoblast functions has been disregarded. Using qRT-PCR and in situ hybridisation, the spatio-temporal expression pattern of TRP channels in the mouse placenta across gestation (E10.5–E18.5) was assessed. Prominent expression was observed for Trpv2, Trpm6, and Trpm7. Calcium microfluorimetry in primary trophoblast cells isolated at E14.5 of gestation further revealed the functional activity of TRPV2 and TRPM7. Finally, comparing TRP channels expression in mouse trophoblast stem cells (mTSCs) and mouse embryonic stem cells (mESC) confirmed the specific expression of TRPV2 during placental development. Moreover, TRP channel expression was similar in mTSCs compared to primary trophoblasts and validate mTSC as a model to study TRP channels in placental development. Collectivity, our results identify a specific spatio-temporal TRP channel expression pattern in trophoblasts, suggesting a possible involvement in regulating the process of placentation.
Changes in the facial soft tissue profile after maxillary orthognathic surgery
Authors: Rupperti S. , Winterhalder P. , Krennmair S. , Holberg S. , Holberg C. , Mast G. , Rudzki I.
Published: April 2021

Objectives

To compare the changes of the soft tissue profile in relation to the displacement of the underlying hard structures in maxillary orthognathic surgery and to contribute to the esthetic prediction of the facial profile after surgical procedures.

Materials and methods

We analyzed the sagittal changes in the facial soft tissue profile related to surgical changes in skeletal structures after maxillary osteotomy in a retrospective study. The study sample comprised 115 adult patients between the ages of 18–50 years who had undergone maxillary orthognathic surgery and interdisciplinary orthodontic treatment at the Department of Orthodontics, Ludwig-Maximilians University of Munich, Germany. LeFort I osteotomy cases in both maxillary monognathic and bignathic osteotomy procedures were included. All subjects had received rigid fixation. A cephalometric analysis of presurgical and postsurgical cephalograms was performed and the correlations between hard tissue and soft tissue change ratios were evaluated using a bivariate linear regression analysis. A vertical line through the landmark sella (S) perpendicular to the nasion-sella line (NSL) served as the reference plane.

Results

The subnasale (Sn) followed the A point (A) by 57%, the soft tissue A point (A′) followed the A point (A) by 73% and the upper lip, represented by the landmark labrale superius (Ls) followed the upper incisor (Is) by 73%; all three in a linear correlation with a mean prediction error of nearly 2 mm.

Conclusion

The scatterplots show a linear correlation with a wide spread for all three pairs of reference points. The wide spread and the high prediction error of almost 2 mm indicate low predictability of the expected lip position and Sn.
Kutane Pseudolymphome nach Hirudotherapie
Authors: Hanner Susanne , Stroh Hannah , Enk Alexander , Hoffmann Jochen
Published: April 2021

Unter dem Begriff Pseudolymphom (PSL) versteht man eine benigne, reaktive Lymphoproliferation der Haut, die klinisch und/oder histologisch ein malignes Lymphom simulieren kann. Die genaue Ätiopathogenese ist bis heute nicht gänzlich geklärt. Man unterscheidet die primären, idiopathischen PSL ohne erkennbare Ursache von den sekundären PSL mit bekanntem Stimulus. Wir berichten über das Auftreten von Pseudolymphomen nach einer Behandlung mit medizinischen Blutegeln (Hirudotherapie). Bisher wurden nach bestem Wissen und Gewissen insgesamt nur 9 Fälle von kutanen PSL nach Hirudotherapie in der Literatur beschrieben.
Treatment of post-meniscectomy knee symptoms with medial meniscus replacement results in greater pain reduction and functional improvement than non-surgical care
Authors: Zaslav Kenneth R. , Farr Jack , Alfred Richard , Alley R. Maxwell , Dyle Michael , Gomoll Andreas H. , Lattermann Christian , McKeon Brian P. , Kaeding Christopher C. , Giel Thomas , Hershman Elliott B.
Published: April 2021

Purpose

Partial meniscectomy is a common orthopedic procedure intended to improve knee pain and function in patients with irreparable meniscal tears. However, 6–25% of partial meniscectomy patients experience persistent knee pain after surgery. In this randomized controlled trial (RCT) involving subjects with knee pain following partial meniscectomy, it was hypothesized that treatment with a synthetic medial meniscus replacement (MMR) implant provides significantly greater improvements in knee pain and function compared to non-surgical care alone.

Methods

In this prospective, multicenter RCT, subjects with persistent knee pain following one or more previous partial meniscectomies were randomized to receive either MMR or non-surgical care. This analysis evaluated the 1-year outcomes of this 2-year clinical trial. Patient-reported knee pain, function, and quality of life were measured using nine separate patient-reported outcomes. The primary outcomes were the pain subscale of the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) and the average of all five KOOS subscales (KOOS Overall). Treatment cessation was defined as permanent device removal in the MMR group and any surgical procedure to the index knee in the non-surgical care group.

Results

Treated subjects had a median age of 52 years old (range 30–69 years) and one or more previous partial meniscectomies at a median of 34 months (range 5–430 months) before trial entry. Among 127 subjects treated with either MMR (n = 61) or non-surgical care (n = 66), 11 withdrew from the trial or were lost to follow-up (MMR, n = 0; non-surgical care, n = 11). The magnitude of improvement from baseline to 1 year was significantly greater in subjects who received MMR in both primary outcomes of KOOS Pain (P = 0.013) and KOOS Overall (P = 0.027). Treatment cessation was reported in 14.5% of non-surgical care subjects and only 4.9% of MMR subjects (n.s.).

Conclusion

Treatment with the synthetic MMR implant resulted in significantly greater improvements in knee pain, function, and quality of life at 1 year of follow-up compared to treatment with non-surgical care alone.

Level of evidence

I.
A numerical approach for the modelling of forming limits in hot incremental forming of AZ31 magnesium alloy
Authors: Campanella Davide , Buffa Gianluca , Lo Valvo Ernesto , Fratini Livan
Published: April 2021

Magnesium alloys, because of their good specific material strength, can be considered attractive by different industry fields, as the aerospace and the automotive one. However, their use is limited by the poor formability at room temperature. In this research, a numerical approach is proposed in order to determine an analytical expression of material formability in hot incremental forming processes. The numerical model was developed using the commercial software ABAQUS/Explicit. The Johnson-Cook material model was used, and the model was validated through experimental measurements carried out using the ARAMIS system. Different geometries were considered with temperature varying in a range of 25–400 °C and wall angle in a range of 35–60°. An analytical expression of the fracture forming limit, as a function of temperature, was established and finally tested with a different geometry in order to assess the validity.
Scheitern in der Psychotherapie – der aktuelle Wissensstand
Authors: Strauß Bernhard
Published: April 2021

Das Scheitern von Psychotherapien taucht als Thema in der Psychotherapieforschung zwar immer wieder auf, wird aber erst in jüngster Zeit intensiver beforscht, u. a. im Hinblick auf die Frage, wie Scheitern zu definieren ist, wie häufig es vorkommt und welche Variablen Scheitern vorhersagen können. In dieser Übersicht folgt auf eine historische Übersicht mit starkem Bezug auf die Untersuchungen von Hans H. Strupp eine Zusammenfassung systematischer und fallorientierter Betrachtungen von Scheitern in der Psychotherapie. Es werden Studien berichtet, zu den Determinanten und Risikofaktoren von Scheitern sowie zu der Frage, wie der aktuelle Wissensstand zum Scheitern in der psychotherapeutischen Praxis sowohl im klinischen Alltag wie auch in der Aus- und Weiterbildung von psychotherapeutisch Tätigen nutzbar gemacht werden kann.
Joint segmentation and classification of hepatic lesions in ultrasound images using deep learning
Authors: Ryu Hwaseong , Shin Seung Yeon , Lee Jae Young , Lee Kyoung Mu , Kang Hyo-jin , Yi Jonghyon
Published: April 2021

Objectives

To develop a convolutional neural network system to jointly segment and classify a hepatic lesion selected by user clicks in ultrasound images.

Methods

In total, 4309 anonymized ultrasound images of 3873 patients with hepatic cyst (n = 1214), hemangioma (n = 1220), metastasis (n = 1001), or hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) (n = 874) were collected and annotated. The images were divided into 3909 training and 400 test images. Our network is composed of one shared encoder and two inference branches used for segmentation and classification and takes the concatenation of an input image and two Euclidean distance maps of foreground and background clicks provided by a user as input. The performance of hepatic lesion segmentation was evaluated based on the Jaccard index (JI), and the performance of classification was based on accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC).

Results

We achieved performance improvements by jointly conducting segmentation and classification. In the segmentation only system, the mean JI was 68.5%. In the classification only system, the accuracy of classifying four types of hepatic lesions was 79.8%. The mean JI and classification accuracy were 68.5% and 82.2%, respectively, for the proposed joint system. The optimal sensitivity and specificity and the AUROC of classifying benign and malignant hepatic lesions of the joint system were 95.0%, 86.0%, and 0.970, respectively. The respective sensitivity, specificity, and the AUROC for classifying four hepatic lesions of the joint system were 86.7%, 89.7%, and 0.947.

Conclusions

The proposed joint system exhibited fair performance compared to segmentation only and classification only systems.

Key Points

• The joint segmentation and classification system using deep learning accurately segmented and classified hepatic lesions selected by user clicks in US examination.

• The joint segmentation and classification system for hepatic lesions in US images exhibited higher performance than segmentation only and classification only systems.

• The joint segmentation and classification system could assist radiologists with minimal experience in US imaging by characterizing hepatic lesions.
Age and time trends of dairy intake among children and adolescents of the DONALD study
Authors: Hohoff Eva , Perrar Ines , Jancovic Nicole , Alexy Ute
Published: April 2021

Purpose

To describe age and time trends in dietary intake of Total Dairy (TD) (g/1000 kcal Total Energy Intake) and types of dairy (weight percent of total dairy intake, w%TD) represented as Low Fat Dairy (LFD), High Sugar Dairy (HSD), Fermented Dairy (FD) and Liquid Dairy (LD) among children and adolescents in Germany.

Methods

Overall, 10,333 3-day dietary records kept between 1985 and 2019 by 1275 DONALD participants (3.5–18.5 years; boys: 50.8%) were analyzed using polynomial mixed-effects regression models.

Results

TD intake decreased with age (♂: linear trend p < 0.0001; ♀: linear and quadratic trend p < 0.0001), whereas FD (♀: linear, quadratic, cubic trend p ≤ 0.02) increased slightly in girls. HSD (♂: linear, quadratic, cubic trend p ≤ 0.004; ♀: linear, quadratic, cubic trend p ≤ 0.005) and LD (linear, quadratic trend p ≤ 0.0002) decreased with age. In terms of time trends, TD intake decreased in the last three decades, especially since 1995 (quadratic trend for ♂ 0.0007 and ♀ p = 0.004). LFD intake increased until 2010 and decreased thereafter (linear, quadratic, cubic trend p < 0.0001). HSD decreased until 1995, then increased until 2010 and decreased again afterwards (♂: linear, quadratic, cubic trend p ≤ 0.001; ♀: linear, quadratic, cubic trend p ≤ 0.003). While FD intake increased linear (in both ♂ and ♀: p < 0.0001), LD intake decreased (linear, quadratic trend p ≤ 0.03).

Conclusion

Our results showed changes in dairy consumption patterns among children and adolescents over the past three decades, demonstrating a decrease in TD intake with age and time, and a shift from liquid to solid dairy products with a simultaneous increase in fermented dairy products, while LFD and HSD fluctuated over time. Further evaluations will examine the health significance of these consumption patterns.
Association between neurosarcoidosis with autonomic dysfunction and anti-ganglionic acetylcholine receptor antibodies
Authors: Oishi Makoto , Mukaino Akihiro , Kunii Misako , Saito Asami , Arita Yukimasa , Koike Haruki , Higuchi Osamu , Maeda Yasuhiro , Abiru Norio , Yamaguchi Naohiro , Kawano Hiroaki , Tsuiki Eiko , Tanaka Tomonori , Matsuo Hidenori , Katsuno Masahisa , Tanaka Fumiaki , Tsujino Akira , Nakane Shunya
Published: April 2021

Objective

To determine whether autonomic dysfunction in neurosarcoidosis is associated with anti-ganglionic acetylcholine receptor (gAChR) antibodies, which are detected in autoimmune autonomic ganglionopathy.

Methods

We retrospectively extracted cases of sarcoidosis from 1787 serum samples of 1,381 patients between 2012 and 2018. Anti-gAChR antibodies against the α3 and β4 subunit were measured by luciferase immunoprecipitation to confirm the clinical features of each case. We summarized literature reviews of neurosarcoidosis with severe dysautonomia to identify relevant clinical features and outcomes.

Results

We extracted three new cases of neurosarcoidosis with severe dysautonomia, among which two were positive for anti-gAChR antibodies: Case 1 was positive for antibodies against the β4 subunit, and Case 2 was positive for antibodies against both the α3 and β4 subunits. We reviewed the cases of 15 patients with neurosarcoidosis and severe dysautonomia, including the three cases presented herein. Orthostatic hypotension and orthostatic intolerance were the most common symptoms. Among the various types of neuropathy, small fiber neuropathy (SFN) was the most prevalent, with seven of nine cases exhibiting definite SFN. Six of eight cases had impaired postganglionic fibers, of which the present three cases revealed abnormality of 123I-MIBG myocardial scintigraphy. Of the 11 cases, 10 were responsive to immunotherapy, except one seropositive case (Case 2).

Conclusions

The presence of gAChR antibodies may constitute one of the mechanisms by which dysautonomia arises in neurosarcoidosis.
In your eyes: vision of the body alters touch perception in women with eating disorder symptoms
Authors: Sacchetti Sofia , Cazzato Valentina , McGlone Francis , Mirams Laura
Published: April 2021

We investigated the effects of non-informative vision of the body on exteroceptive multisensory integration and touch perception in participants presenting with different levels of eating disorder (ED) symptoms. The study employed a sample of women reporting low (low ED; n = 31) vs high (high ED; n = 34) levels of subclinical ED symptoms who undertook the Somatic Signal Detection task (SSDT). During the SSDT, participants are required to detect near-threshold tactile stimulation at their fingertip with and without a simultaneous light flash next to the stimulated fingertip. Previous research has found that participants have a tendency to erroneously report touch sensations in the absence of the stimulation, and especially when the light flash is presented. In this study, participants completed the SSDT under two conditions: while their hand was visible (non-informative vision), and while their hand was hidden from sight (no vision). Non-informative vision of the hand was found to have a different effect on SSDT performances according to participants’ levels of ED symptoms. High ED participants were better able to correctly detect the touch during the SSDT when their hand was visible. Conversely, for low ED participants, vision of the body was linked to a greater effect of the light in inducing false reports of touch. We suggest that in those with high ED symptoms, vision of the body may exacerbate a predisposition to focusing on external rather than internal bodily information.
The role of working memory for task-order coordination in dual-task situations
Authors: Kübler Sebastian , Strobach Tilo , Schubert Torsten
Published: April 2021

Dual-task (DT) situations require task-order coordination processes that schedule the processing of two temporally overlapping tasks. Theories on task-order coordination suggest that these processes rely on order representations that are actively maintained and processed in working memory (WM). Preliminary evidence for this assumption stems from DT situations with variable task order, where repeating task order relative to the preceding trials results in improved performance compared to changing task order, indicating the processing of task-order information in WM between two succeeding trials. We directly tested this assumption by varying WM load during a DT with variable task order. In Experiment 1, WM load was manipulated by varying the number of stimulus–response mappings of the component tasks. In Experiment 2A, WM load was increased by embedding an additional WM updating task in the applied DT. In both experiments, the performance benefit for trials with repeated relative to trials with changed task order was reduced under high compared to low WM load. These results confirm our assumption that the processing of the task-order information relies on WM resources. In Experiment 2B, we tested whether the results of Experiment 2A can be attributed to introducing an additional task per se rather than to increased WM load by introducing an additional task with a low WM load. Importantly, in this experiment, the processing of order information was not affected. In sum, the results of the three experiments indicate that task-order coordination relies on order information which is maintained in an accessible state in WM during DT processing.
Effects of losartan and enalapril on serum uric acid and GFR in children with proteinuria
Authors: Bryant Charlotte E. , Rajai Azita , Webb Nicholas J. A. , Hogg Ronald J.
Published: April 2021

Background

Studies have shown that losartan reduces serum uric acid in adults, unlike angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors. A previous study demonstrated that losartan and enalapril had comparable effects on proteinuria in children.

Methods

We conducted a post hoc analysis of results from a prospective trial in which the proteinuria-reducing effects of losartan and enalapril were compared. We have now evaluated (a) the effects of these medications on SUA in 248 children with proteinuria and (b) the correlation between changes in SUA and eGFR.

Results

SUA levels after 36 months were found to be increased when compared to baseline in both losartan and enalapril groups. The mean change in SUA from baseline was significantly different at 12 months between 23 hypertensive patients randomised to losartan (3.69% decrease [95% CI 11.31%, 3.93%]) and 24 randomised to enalapril (12.57% increase [95% CI 3.72%, 21.41%]), p = 0.007. This significant difference remained after 24, 30 and 36 months but was observed in the entire group of 248 patients only at 12 months. There was a statistically significant negative correlation between changes in SUA and changes in eGFR at each time point over 36 months.

Conclusions

Losartan may have long-term beneficial effects on SUA and eGFR in children with proteinuria.
State space functional principal component analysis to identify spatiotemporal patterns in remote sensing lake water quality
Authors: Gong Mengyi , Miller Claire , Scott Marian , O’Donnell Ruth , Simis Stefan , Groom Steve , Tyler Andrew , Hunter Peter , Spyrakos Evangelos
Published: April 2021

Satellite remote sensing can provide indicative measures of environmental variables that are crucial to understanding the environment. The spatial and temporal coverage of satellite images allows scientists to investigate the changes in environmental variables in an unprecedented scale. However, identifying spatiotemporal patterns from such images is challenging due to the complexity of the data, which can be large in volume yet sparse within individual images. This paper proposes a new approach, state space functional principal components analysis (SS-FPCA), to identify the spatiotemporal patterns in processed satellite retrievals and simultaneously reduce the dimensionality of the data, through the use of functional principal components. Furthermore our approach can be used to produce interpolations over the sparse areas. An algorithm based on the alternating expectation–conditional maximisation framework is proposed to estimate the model. The uncertainty of the estimated parameters is investigated through a parametric bootstrap procedure. Lake chlorophyll-adata hold key information on water quality status. Such information is usually only available from limited in situ sampling locations or not at all for remote inaccessible lakes. In this paper, the SS-FPCA is used to investigate the spatiotemporal patterns in chlorophyll-adata of Taruo Lake on the Tibetan Plateau, observed by the European Space Agency MEdium Resolution Imaging Spectrometer.
On the constancy theorem for anisotropic energies through differential inclusions
Authors: Hirsch Jonas , Tione Riccardo
Published: April 2021

In this paper we study stationary graphs for functionals of geometric nature defined on currents or varifolds. The point of view we adopt is the one of differential inclusions, introduced in this context in the recent papers (De Lellis et al. in Geometric measure theory and differential inclusions, 2019.arXiv:1910.00335; Tione in Minimal graphs and differential inclusions. Commun Part Differ Equ 7:1–33, 2021). In particular, given a polyconvex integrandf, we define a set of matrices$$C_f$$Cfthat allows us to rewrite the stationarity condition for a graph with multiplicity as a differential inclusion. Then we prove that iffis assumed to be non-negative, then in$$C_f$$Cfthere is no$$T'_N$$TN′configuration, thus recovering the main result of De Lellis et al. (Geometric measure theory and differential inclusions, 2019.arXiv:1910.00335) as a corollary. Finally, we show that if the hypothesis of non-negativity is dropped, one can not only find$$T'_N$$TN′configurations in$$C_f$$Cf, but it is also possible to construct via convex integration a very degenerate stationary point with multiplicity.
Carbon for nutrient exchange between Lycopodiella inundata and Mucoromycotina fine root endophytes is unresponsive to high atmospheric CO2
Authors: Hoysted Grace A. , Kowal Jill , Pressel Silvia , Duckett Jeffrey G. , Bidartondo Martin I. , Field Katie J.
Published: April 2021

Non-vascular plants associating with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AMF) and Mucoromycotina ‘fine root endophyte’ (MFRE) fungi derive greater benefits from their fungal associates under higher atmospheric [CO2] (a[CO2]) than ambient; however, nothing is known about how changes in a[CO2] affect MFRE function in vascular plants. We measured movement of phosphorus (P), nitrogen (N) and carbon (C) between the lycophyte Lycopodiella inundata and Mucoromycotina fine root endophyte fungi using 33P-orthophosphate, 15 N-ammonium chloride and 14CO2 isotope tracers under ambient and elevated a[CO2] concentrations of 440 and 800 ppm, respectively. Transfers of 33P and 15 N from MFRE to plants were unaffected by changes in a[CO2]. There was a slight increase in C transfer from plants to MFRE under elevated a[CO2]. Our results demonstrate that the exchange of C-for-nutrients between a vascular plant and Mucoromycotina FRE is largely unaffected by changes in a[CO2]. Unravelling the role of MFRE in host plant nutrition and potential C-for-N trade changes between symbionts under different abiotic conditions is imperative to further our understanding of the past, present and future roles of plant-fungal symbioses in ecosystems.
Migraine associated with early onset postpartum depression in women with major depressive disorder
Authors: Gordon-Smith Katherine , Ridley Paul , Perry Amy , Craddock Nicholas , Jones Ian , Jones Lisa
Published: April 2021

Major depressive disorder (MDD) and migraine are both more common among women than men. Women’s reproductive years are associated with increased susceptibility to recurrence of both conditions, suggesting a potential role of sex hormones in aetiology. We examined associations between comorbid migraine and clinical features of MDD in women, including relationships with lifetime reproductive events such as childbirth. Lifetime clinical characteristics and reproductive events in a well-characterised sample of 222 UK women with recurrent MDD, with (n = 98) and without (n = 124) migraine were compared. Women had all been recruited as part of a UK-based ongoing programme of research into the genetic and non-genetic determinants of mood disorders. Multivariate analysis showed a specific association between the lifetime presence of migraine and postpartum depression (PPD) within 6 weeks of delivery (OR = 2.555; 95% CI: 1.037–6.295, p = 0.041). This association did not extend to a broader definition of PPD with onset up to 6 months postpartum. All other factors included in the analysis were not significantly associated with the presence of migraine: family history of depression, younger age at depression onset, history of suicide attempt and severe premenstrual syndrome symptoms. The finding that women with MDD and comorbid migraine may be particularly sensitive to hormonal changes early in the postpartum period leads to aetiological hypotheses and suggests this group may be useful for future studies attempting to characterise PPD and MDD phenotypes. The refinement of such phenotypes has implications for individualising risk and treatment and for future biological and genetic studies.
Effects of land-cover and watershed protection futures on sustainable groundwater management in a heavily utilized aquifer in Hawai‘i (USA)
Authors: Bremer Leah L. , Elshall Ahmed S. , Wada Christopher A. , Brewington Laura , Delevaux Jade M.S. , El-Kadi Aly I. , Voss Clifford I. , Burnett Kimberly M.
Published: April 2021

Groundwater sustainability initiatives, including sustainable yield and watershed policy protection policies, are growing globally in response to increasing demand for groundwater, coupled with concerns about the effects of climate and land-cover change on groundwater supply. Improved understanding of the impacts of watershed management on groundwater yields and management costs—particularly in the broader context of climate and land-cover change—is critical to inform these initiatives and facilitate integrated land and water management. This study develops a novel, spatially explicit groundwater hydrologic ecosystem services framework, which combines stakeholder-defined land-cover scenarios, sustainable yield estimation using a groundwater simulation optimization approach, and economic valuation, and applies it in the most heavily utilized aquifer Hawai‘i (USA). Sustainable yield estimates and resulting differences in replacement costs are estimated for six land-cover scenarios (with varying levels of urban development and watershed management) crossed with two water demand scenarios in a context of a dry future climate (Representative Concentration Pathway [RCP] 8.5 mid-century). Land-cover change is found to be an important, though less significant drive of changes in groundwater recharge than climate change. The degree of watershed protection, through preventing the spread of high-water-use, invasive plant species, is projected to be a much stronger land-cover signal than urban development. Specifically, full forest protection increases sustainable yield by 7–11% (30–45 million liters per day) and substantially decreases treatment costs compared with no forest protection. Collectively, this study demonstrates the hydrologic and economic value of watershed protection in a context of a dry future climate, providing insights for integrated land and water policy and management in Hawai‘i and other regions, particularly where species invasions threaten source watersheds.
k-Point semidefinite programming bounds for equiangular lines
Authors: de Laat David , Machado Fabrício Caluza , Filho Fernando Mário de Oliveira , Vallentin Frank
Published: April 2021

We propose a hierarchy of k-point bounds extending the Delsarte–Goethals–Seidel linear programming 2-point bound and the Bachoc–Vallentin semidefinite programming 3-point bound for spherical codes. An optimized implementation of this hierarchy allows us to compute 4, 5, and 6-point bounds for the maximum number of equiangular lines in Euclidean space with a fixed common angle.
Open-source approaches for location cover models: capabilities and efficiency
Authors: Chen Huanfa , Murray Alan T. , Jiang Rui
Published: April 2021

Location cover models are aimed at siting facilities so as to provide service to demand efficiently. These models are crucial in the management, planning and decision-making of service systems in public and private sectors. As a result, location cover models have been incorporated in a range of GIS tools, either closed or open source. Among them, open-source tools are advantageous due to transparency and reproducibility. Nonetheless, the capabilities and limitations of location cover tools remain largely unknown, necessitating further investigation and assessment. To this end, this paper provides an overview of the open-source tools that are capable of structuring and solving location cover models. Case studies are provided to demonstrate access of location models through different open-source tools as well as exploring solution quality, scalability, computing performance and reproducibility. Directions for improving location cover models accessible through open-source tools are summarized based on this review.
Classification and evaluation of anastomotic leaks after esophageal surgery—a tertiary university experience
Authors: El-Sourani Nader , Kechagia Chousein , Alfarawan Fadl , Troja Achim , Bockhorn Maximilian
Published: April 2021

Background

Anastomotic insufficiency of the esophagus is the most feared complication of surgeons, leading to high postoperative morbidity and mortality. However, there is no internationally accepted guideline for its classification and treatment algorithm. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyze the detection of anastomotic leaks as well as to discuss and validate the classification proposed by the Surgical Working Group on Endoscopy and Ultrasound in late 2018.

Methods

All patients undergoing surgery for malignancy of the esophagogastric junction between 2013 and 2020 were analyzed. Out of these patients, those diagnosed with an anastomotic insufficiency were extracted and classified according to the classification proposed by the Surgical Working Group on Endoscopy and Ultrasound. Continuous variables were expressed as medians, categorical variables were compared using Fisher’s exact test or chi-square test.

Results

From 2013 to 2020, all 23 patients (10.84%) who developed an anastomotic leak after esophageal surgery were included in this study. The study revealed a significant increase in median hospital stay, median intensive care unit stay, and overall mortality rate (p = 0.028) with increased classification type.

Conclusion

The results of this study showed that the classification proposed by the Surgical Working Group on Endoscopy and Ultrasound can be validated and that there is a clear differentiation between the subtypes. Standardized diagnosis and management improve the overall outcome of patients.

Main novel aspects

This article gives an introduction to classifying anastomotic insufficiencies according to the classification proposed by the Surgical Working Group on Endoscopy and Ultrasound.

Results of the classification can be validated, with a clear differentiation of postoperative outcome between subtypes.
Wind-Tunnel Simulation of Approximately Horizontally Homogeneous Stable Atmospheric Boundary Layers
Authors: Hancock Philip E. , Hayden Paul
Published: April 2021

Two cases of an overlying inversion imposed on a stable boundary layer are investigated, extending the work of Hancock and Hayden (Boundary-Layer Meteorol 168:29–57, 2018; 175:93–112, 2020). Vertical profiles of Reynolds stresses and heat flux show closely horizontally homogeneous behaviour over a streamwise fetch of more than eight boundary-layer heights. However, profiles of mean temperature and velocity show closely horizontally homogeneous behaviour only in the top two-thirds of the boundary layer. In the lower one-third the temperature decreases with fetch, directly as a consequence of heat transfer to the surface. A weaker effect is seen in the mean velocity profiles, curiously, such that the gradient Richardson number is invariant with fetch, while various other quantities are not. Stability leads to a ‘blocking’ of vertical influence. Inferred aerodynamic and thermal roughness lengths increase with fetch, while the former is constant in the neutral case, as expected. Favourable validation comparisons are made against two sets of local-scaling systems over the full depth of the boundary layer. Close concurrence is seen for all stable cases for z/L < 0.2, where z and L are the vertical height and local Obukhov length, respectively, and over most of the layer for some quantities.
Potential impact of diphacinone application strategies on secondary exposure risk in a common rodent pest: implications for management of California ground squirrels
Authors: Baldwin Roger A. , Becchetti Theresa A. , Meinerz Ryan , Quinn Niamh
Published: April 2021

Anticoagulant rodenticides are a common tool used to manage rodents in agricultural systems, but they have received increased scrutiny given concerns about secondary exposure in non-target wildlife. Rodenticide application strategy is one factor that influences exposure risk. To understand the impact of application strategy, we tested residues of a first-generation anticoagulant (diphacinone) in liver tissue of radiotransmittered California ground squirrels (Otospermophilus beecheyi) following spot treatments, broadcast applications, and bait station applications in rangelands in central California during summer and autumn 2018–2019. We also documented the amount of bait applied, the mean time from bait application until death, and the proportion of ground squirrels that died belowground. We documented the greatest amount of bait applied via bait stations and the least by broadcast applications. We did not document a difference in diphacinone residues across any application strategy, although survivors had an order of magnitude lower concentration of diphacinone than mortalities, potentially lowering secondary exposure risk. We did not observe any difference among bait delivery methods in time from bait application to death, nor did we identify any impact of seasonality on any of the factors we tested. The vast majority of mortalities occurred belowground (82–91%), likely reducing secondary exposure. Secondary exposure could be further reduced by daily carcass searches. Results from this study better define risk associated with first-generation anticoagulant rodenticide applications, ultimately assisting in development of management programs that minimize non-target exposure.
Towards markerless surgical tool and hand pose estimation
Authors: Hein Jonas , Seibold Matthias , Bogo Federica , Farshad Mazda , Pollefeys Marc , Fürnstahl Philipp , Navab Nassir
Published: April 2021

Purpose: 

Tracking of tools and surgical activity is becoming more and more important in the context of computer assisted surgery. In this work, we present a data generation framework, dataset and baseline methods to facilitate further research in the direction of markerless hand and instrument pose estimation in realistic surgical scenarios.

Methods: 

We developed a rendering pipeline to create inexpensive and realistic synthetic data for model pretraining. Subsequently, we propose a pipeline to capture and label real data with hand and object pose ground truth in an experimental setup to gather high-quality real data. We furthermore present three state-of-the-art RGB-based pose estimation baselines.

Results: 

We evaluate three baseline models on the proposed datasets. The best performing baseline achieves an average tool 3D vertex error of 16.7 mm on synthetic data as well as 13.8 mm on real data which is comparable to the state-of-the art in RGB-based hand/object pose estimation.

Conclusion: 

To the best of our knowledge, we propose the first synthetic and real data generation pipelines to generate hand and object pose labels for open surgery. We present three baseline models for RGB based object and object/hand pose estimation based on RGB frames. Our realistic synthetic data generation pipeline may contribute to overcome the data bottleneck in the surgical domain and can easily be transferred to other medical applications.
Psychische Gesundheit von Studierenden
Authors: Koinzer Caroline , Hirsch Kathleen , Richter Ernst Peter , Berth Hendrik
Published: April 2021

Hintergrund

Die Studienzeit ist eine Phase, in der die jungen Erwachsenen mit spezifischen Anforderungen konfrontiert werden. Studierende der Medizin gelten als besonders psychisch belastet. Untersuchungen, in denen sie diesbezüglich mit Studienfächern der gleichen Branche verglichen werden, sind jedoch rar.

Fragestellung

Ziel der Untersuchung war es, die psychische Gesundheit von Medizinstudierenden sowie von Gesundheits- und Pflegemanagementstudierenden zu untersuchen und zu vergleichen.

Material und Methoden

Untersucht wurden Studierende der Studiengänge Gesundheits- sowie Pflegemanagement (WHZ) und Medizinstudierende der (TU Dresden). Verschiedene Aspekte psychischer Gesundheit wurden mithilfe eines Online-Fragebogens erhoben. Dieser beinhaltete die Instrumente zur Erfassung der Prüfungsängstlichkeit (TAI-G-Kurzskala) und psychischen Belastung (BSI-18), sowie ein Item zur Ermittlung der subjektiv wahrgenommenen Studienbelastung. 258 Studierende nahmen an der Befragung teil.

Ergebnisse

Es konnten keine signifikanten Unterschiede hinsichtlich des Gesamtscores der Prüfungsängstlichkeit und der psychischen Belastung zwischen den Studierenden beider Studienfächer festgestellt werden. Dahingegen gaben Medizinstudierende an, dass sie im Vergleich zu Studierenden der anderen beiden Studienfächer eine signifikant höhere Studienbelastung wahrnehmen.

Schlussfolgerung

Die ermittelten Gesamtscores lagen teilweise über den Werten in vergleichbaren Studien. Die Studierenden sollten bereits präventiv unterstützt werden, um eigene Bewältigungsstrategien zu entwickeln. Nicht nur die Bereitstellung von Hilfen ist notwendig, sondern vielmehr das aktive Eingreifen mithilfe von gesundheitsfördernden Maßnahmen durch die Institution Hochschule, in die die Studierenden frühzeitig integriert werden sollten.
‘Making Hijra’: mobility, religion and the everyday in the lives of women converts to Islam in the Netherlands
Authors: Vroon-Najem Vanessa , Moors Annelies
Published: April 2021

Drawing on long term research – including topical life stories, interviews and participant observation – we analyze how women converts to Islam in the Netherlands signify and experience making hijra. Our interlocutors, all observant Muslims, had left the Netherlands between the late 1990s and the mid 2010s. In the course of the last 5 years many have again returned to the Netherlands. Their life courses indicate that physical and existential mobility are interconnected in their everyday lives as well as in their migration trajectories. Whereas they considered conversion to Islam as moving forward, the majority society did not share this perspective. They were sharply aware of how they were no longer seen as self-evidently part of the Dutch nation. This produced feelings of stuckedness - in an existential and a material sense - for themselves and their children, and hence a desire to move to a Muslim majority country. They differed amongst themselves as to whether and how they signified leaving Europe as making hijra in an Islamic sense. To some, making hijra was a highly desirable religious act. Others did not foreground such religious signification, but nonetheless expected positive effects of living in an environment where Islam would be an integral part of daily life. Their attempts to settle in various Muslim majority countries were, however, often not successful. Material conditions made it difficult to enact their ethical aspirations, that included the moral and material wellbeing of others, especially their children. Moreover, their appreciation of the self-evident presence of Islam in the countries of settlement was tempered, first, by the tension between their quest for a reflexive, deculturalized Islam and the culturalized practices they encountered in their new environment, and second, by their growing awareness of how their sense of self was much more shaped by habitual ‘Dutch’ conventions than most of them had envisioned beforehand. As a result they were often unable to develop meaningful social relationships in their new environment. Eventually, almost all of them returned to the Netherlands.
Forest plant and macrofungal differences in the Greater and Lesser Khingan Mountains in Northeast China: A regional-historical comparison and its implications
Authors: Wang Yuanyuan , Wen Hui , Wang Kai , Sun Jingxue , Yu Jinghua , Wang Qinggui , Wang Wenjie
Published: April 2021

Forests in Northeast China in the Greater and Lesser Khingan Mountains (GKM and LKM) account for nearly 1/3 of the total state-owned forests in the country. Regional and historical comparisons of forest plants and macrofungi will favor biological conservation, forest management and economic development. A total of 1067 sampling plots were surveyed on forest composition and structure, with a macrofungi survey at Liangshui and Huzhong Nature Reserves in the center of two regions. Regional and historical differences of these parameters were analyzed with a redundancy ordination of their complex associations. There were 61–76 families, 189–196 genera, and 369–384 species, which was only 1/3 of the historical records. The same dominant species were larch and birch with Korean pine (a climax species) less as expected from past surveys in the LKM. Shrub and herb species were different in the two regions, as expected from historical records. There was 10–50% lower species diversity (except for herb evenness), but 1.8- to 4-time higher macrofungi diversity in the GKM. Compared with the LKM, both tree heights and macrofungi density were higher. Nevertheless, current heights averaging 10 m are half of historical records (> 20 m in the 1960s). Edible macrofungi were the highest proportion in both regions, about twice that of other fungal groups, having important roles in the local economy. A major factor explaining plant diversity variations in both regions was herb cover, followed by shrubs in the GKM and herb-dominant species in the LKM. Factors responsible for macrofungi variations were tree density and shrub height. Vaccinium vitis-idaea and Larix gmelinii in the GKM but tree size and diversity were important factors in the LKM. Our findings highlighted large spatial and historical differences between the GKM and LKM in plant-macrofungal composition, forest structure, and their complex associations, which will favor precise conservation and management of forest resources in two region in the future.
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, Affective Symptoms, and Neuroactive Steroids: a Focus on Allopregnanolone
Authors: Standeven Lindsay R. , Olson Elizabeth , Leistikow Nicole , Payne Jennifer L. , Osborne Lauren M. , Hantsoo Liisa
Published: April 2021

Purpose of Review

To provide an overview of existing studies on alterations in gonadal and neuroactive steroids (NASs) and mood symptoms among women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Recent Findings

Recent studies have demonstrated a previously underappreciated association between PCOS and comorbid depression and anxiety. However, most studies on affective symptoms among women with PCOS have been cross-sectional, limiting our knowledge about fluctuations in symptoms over the menstrual cycle and reproductive lifespan for women with PCOS, as well as the potential interplay between NAS alterations and mood symptoms. Changes in the NAS allopregnanolone (ALLO) have been implicated in several reproductive-related psychiatric disorders (e.g., premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) and postpartum depression (PPD)) as well as in normal reproductive functioning, warranting further investigation for its potential role in the psychiatric symptoms observed in women with PCOS.

Prospective studies evaluating associations between psychiatric symptoms and NAS are needed to elucidate the biological causes of the increased rates of psychiatric symptoms among women with PCOS and inform clinical treatment. ALLO, with its role in normal reproductive function, menstrual dysregulation among women with PCOS, and reproductive-related psychiatric conditions, makes it a particularly intriguing candidate for future investigation.