bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A point mutation in the β‐adrenergic‐like octopamine receptor: possible association with amitraz resistance
Authors: Takata Mizuki , Misato Seishi , Ozoe Fumiyo , Ozoe Yoshihisa
Published: May 2020

Background

Amitraz is a unique formamidine‐class acaricide/insecticide that effectively controls ticks, mites, and insect pests. However, the recent emergence of amitraz‐resistant cattle ticks is a serious problem that requires an urgent solution. A nonsynonymous single nucleotide polymorphism (A181T) leading to an amino acid substitution (I61F) in the β‐adrenergic‐like (β‐AL) octopamine receptor (OAR) of amitraz‐resistant southern cattle ticks (Rhipicephalus microplus) (RmβAOR) was proposed to be a cause of the amitraz resistance. However, it remains unclear whether this substitution exerts any functional effect on the action of amitraz. To make this clear, the functional role of this mutation was examined using an orthologous OAR (BmOAR2) from the silkworm (Bombyx mori).

Results

Both amitraz and its metabolite N2‐(2,4‐dimethylphenyl)‐N1‐methyformamidine (DPMF) elevated intracellular cyclic AMP levels as orthosteric OAR agonists in HEK‐293 cells stably expressing BmOAR2. The I45F mutant of BmOAR2 (equivalent to I61F in RmβAOR) was generated and tested for its sensitivity to amitraz and DPMF. The assay result showed that the I45F mutation reduces the potency of DPMF to a level similar to that of the endogenous agonist (R)‐OA in wild‐type BmOAR2.

Conclusion

The amino acid substitution found in the first transmembrane segment of RmβAOR most likely causes target‐site insensitivity to DPMF, which might contribute to the resistance of R. microplus to amitraz. This needs to be further confirmed using RmβAOR. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry
Saccharomyces cerevisiae and S. pastorianus species and strain differentiation by direct analysis in real time time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry
Authors: Cody Robert B.
Published: May 2020

Rationale

Seventeen different dried yeast strains, including twelve strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and five strains of S. pastorianus, were analyzed using direct analysis in real time (DART) time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry. The resulting mass spectra were used for rapid species and strain differentiation based upon small‐molecule metabolomic profiles.

Methods

Yeast strains purchased from local shops were suspended in a 1:1 water–methanol solution. Solutions were sampled by dipping the sealed end of a melting point capillary into each vial. Six replicates were measured in positive‐ion and negative‐ion mode for each strain using an automated linear rail with the DART source operated with helium gas and a gas heater temperature of 350°C. Averaged and centroided mass spectra were exported for analysis with chemometric software.

Results

Negative‐ion DART mass spectra exhibited less chemical background and more distinctive components than positive‐ion DART mass spectra. An on‐line search of the Yeast Metabolome Database provided candidate metabolites for selection as features for chemometric analysis. Negative‐ion DART mass spectra could distinguish both species and all strains. The DART analysis was also able to identify potential metabolomic differences between top‐fermenting and bottom‐fermenting yeast, between beer and baking yeast, and between red wine and champagne yeast.

Conclusions

All strains could be distinguished by their negative‐ion DART mass spectra with 97.7% validation accuracy. Clear differences were observed between dry and liquid forms and Saccharomyces strains with different applications to baking or beverage fermentation. Possible differences in metabolite profiles were suggested, but not confirmed, by accurate mass data.
Introduction of Bi‐Functional Cu/SiO2 for Modulating the Chemical States of MoO3‐Bi2SiO5/SiO2
Authors: Gao Along , Li Xiaohan , Wan Zhehong , Huang Qingming , Chen Xiaohui
Published: May 2020

We have successfully constructed electron‐rich Bi and Mo species with a highly degree of dispersion and hierarchical pore texture by introducing Cu/SiO2 as a bi‐functional modifier for MoO3‐Bi2SiO5/SiO2. Characterization techniques suggest the Bi species was modified by Cu with a Bi‐O−Cu coordination structure, and copper species became a capture site for Mo species that improved the dispersity and interface bonding strength of Mo and regulated electron structure of Bi and Mo species, synchronously. Additionally, the hierarchical pore was constructed by compositing Cu/SiO2 with Bi2SiO5/SiO2 support.
Synthesis, Biological Evaluation and Molecular Docking of Novel Thiophene‐Based Indole Derivatives as Potential Antibacterial, GST Inhibitor and Apoptotic Anticancer Agents
Authors: Konus Metin , Çetin Doğan , Yılmaz Can , Arslan Sevki , Mutlu Dogukan , Kurt‐Kızıldoğan Aslıhan , Otur Çiğdem , Ozok Omruye , AS Algso Muheb , Kivrak Arif
Published: May 2020

Heteroaromatic indoles play a leading role in the development of pharmaceutical, medical, chemical and agricultural fields due to their structural properties. In this study, it was first time that biological properties of (antioxidant, antimicrobial, cytotoxic and apoptotis‐induced anticancer) 3‐(5‐bromothiophen‐2‐yl)‐1‐ethyl‐2‐phenyl‐1H‐indole 4 and 3‐([2,2′‐bithiophen]‐5‐yl)‐1‐ethyl‐2‐phenyl‐1H‐indole 5 were described. According to the overall results, while 4 did not show any significant cytotoxic, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities, 5 showed high reducing activity and very strong antibacterial activity against Enterococcus faecalis. Furthermore, 5 showed dose‐dependent cytotoxic effect in all tested cell lines. The EC50 values of the 5 were found to be 16 μM for CaCo‐2, 29 μM for LnCaP, 14 μM for MDA‐MB231, 21 μM for HepG2 and 87 μM for HEK293 cells, respectively. 5 also caused induction of apoptosis and promising glutathione S‐transferase (GST) enzyme inhibition in HepG2 cells. Consequently, 5 could be also considered as a promising medical agent in cancer treatment.
Die neue Saanequerung: modernes Stahlfachwerk für historischen Eisenbahnviadukt
Authors: Somaini Diego , Fürst Armand
Published: May 2020

Der knapp 120 Jahre alte Saaneviadukt der Eisenbahnstrecke Bern–Neuenburg, ein schweizerisches Baudenkmal von nationaler Bedeutung, wird erneuert und auf Doppelspur ausgebaut. Mit dem Ausbau auf Doppelspur werden, nebst der Instandsetzung der Natursteinviadukte, die Schottertröge auf den Viadukten erneuert und das historische und filigrane Eisenfachwerk der 64 m langen Hauptöffnung über die Saane ersetzt. Wie das historische Vorbild überbrückt die neue Saanequerung die Hauptöffnung zwischen den Flusspfeilern der Natursteinviadukte mit einem Stahlfachwerk, welches neu interpretiert und in Stahl‐Betonverbundbauweise erstellt wird. Für den Ersatz der Saanequerung sowie die Erneuerung und den Ausbau auf Doppelspur des gesamten Viadukts darf der Bahnbetrieb während einer fünfwöchigen Totalsperre unterbrochen werden. Deshalb wird die neue Saanequerung vor der Totalsperre in provisorischer Lage auf einem Lehrgerüst erstellt und während der Totalsperre quer eingeschoben.
30 Years of space–time covariance functions
Authors: Porcu Emilio , Furrer Reinhard , Nychka Douglas
Published: May 2020

In this article, we provide a comprehensive review of space–time covariance functions. As for the spatial domain, we focus on either the d‐dimensional Euclidean space or on the unit d‐dimensional sphere. We start by providing background information about (spatial) covariance functions and their properties along with different types of covariance functions. While we focus primarily on Gaussian processes, many of the results are independent of the underlying distribution, as the covariance only depends on second‐moment relationships. We discuss properties of space–time covariance functions along with the relevant results associated with spectral representations. Special attention is given to the Gneiting class of covariance functions, which has been especially popular in space–time geostatistical modeling. We then discuss some techniques that are useful for constructing new classes of space–time covariance functions. Separate treatment is reserved for spectral models, as well as to what are termed models with special features. We also discuss the problem of estimation of parametric classes of space–time covariance functions. An outlook concludes the paper.

This article is categorized under:

Statistical and Graphical Methods of Data Analysis > Analysis of High Dimensional Data

Statistical Learning and Exploratory Methods of the Data Sciences > Modeling Methods

Statistical and Graphical Methods of Data Analysis > Multivariate Analysis
Going even smaller: Engineering sub‐5 nm nanoparticles for improved delivery, biocompatibility, and functionality
Authors: Xie Manman , Xu Yaolin , Huang Jing , Li Yuancheng , Wang Liya , Yang Lily , Mao Hui
Published: May 2020

The rapid development and advances in nanomaterials and nanotechnology in the past two decades have made profound impact in our approaches to individualized disease diagnosis and treatment. Nanomaterials, mostly in the range of 10–200 nm, developed for biomedical applications provide a wide range of platforms for building and engineering functionalized structures, devices, or systems to fulfill the specific diagnostic and therapeutic needs. Driven by achieving the ultimate goal of clinical translation, sub‐5 nm nano‐constructs, in particular inorganic nanoparticles such as gold, silver, silica, and iron oxide nanoparticles, have been developed in recent years to improve the biocompatibility, delivery and pharmacokinetics of imaging probes and drug delivery systems, as well as in vivo theranostic applications. The emerging studies have provided new findings that demonstrated the unique size‐dependent physical properties, physiological behaviors and biological functions of the nanomaterials in the range of the sub‐5 nm scale, including renal clearance, novel imaging contrast, and tissue distribution. This advanced review attempts to introduce the new strategies of rational design for engineering nanoparticles with the core sizes under 5 nm in consideration of the clinical and translational requirements. We will provide readers the update on recent discoveries of chemical, physical, and biological properties of some biocompatible sub‐5 nm nanomaterials as well as their demonstrated imaging and theranostic applications, followed by sharing our perspectives on the future development of this class of nanomaterials.

This article is categorized under:

Diagnostic Tools > in vivo Nanodiagnostics and Imaging

Implantable Materials and Surgical Technologies > Nanomaterials and Implants
Migrants with Irregular Status in Europe: A Multi-faceted and Dynamic Reality
Authors: Triandafyllidou Anna , Spencer Sarah
Published: May 2020

This book explores the conceptual challenges posed by the presence of migrants with irregular immigration status in Europe and the evolving policy responses at the European, national, and municipal levels. Set in the context of recent patterns of migration and residence of migrants with differing forms of irregular status, this edited collection addresses the conceptual and policy issues raised,post-entry, by this particular section of the migrant population. This volume seeks thus to go beyond a vision of irregular migration as a crisis or a temporary emergency. By contrast, we look at the continuity of the phenomenon, its different facets and how they evolve as we seek to offer new conceptual tools for better understanding a complex reality.
Cities Breaking the Mould? Municipal Inclusion of Irregular Migrants in Europe
Authors: Spencer Sarah
Published: May 2020

This chapter considers municipal responses to irregular migrants living in their area and in particular the significance of inclusive responses to restrictive national welfare provisions. It questions whether, as tensions in the multi-level governance on this issue suggest, inclusive responses run counter to national immigration control objectives or whether these apparently divergent approaches are in fact more coherent than the tensions between them suggest. Setting municipal service provision in its structural, demographic, governance and policy context, the chapter shows that some municipal measures facilitate the regularisation of immigration status, voluntary return and compliance with national return procedures, while others contribute to shared social and economic objectives. The chapter asks why in that case national governments regularly challenge inclusive municipal measures and posits four potential reasons for further empirical investigation. In conclusion it argues that the impact of municipal measures on national policy objectives will be fundamental to resolving what the extent of irregular migrants’ access to services should be.
Crackdown or Symbolism? An Analysis of Post-2015 Policy Responses Towards Rejected Asylum Seekers in Austria
Authors: Ataç Ilker , Schütze Theresa
Published: May 2020

This chapter explores the policy responses of the federal government in Austria regarding non-removed rejected asylum seekers after the country served as both a transit and a host country in 2015 to an increasing number of asylum seekers. Shortly after the summer of 2015, non-removed rejected asylum seekers moved to the centre of political debates. The federal government introduced a series of restrictive policy responses that sought to deter these individuals from staying, while simultaneously trying to gain control over them through various punitive measures, including confinement. These substantive measures were accompanied by several symbolic policies that aimed to demonstrate the government’s tough approach to rejected asylum seekers to the electorate. Based on a qualitative content analysis of parliamentary documents and media coverage of policy responses addressing this group of irregular migrants, we show how this mix of symbolic and substantive policy responses emerged and discuss factors that stimulated this policy strategy.
Chaos at the rim of black hole and fuzzball shadows
Authors: Bianchi M. , Grillo A. , Morales J.F.
Published: May 2020

Abstract

We study the scattering of massless probes in the vicinity of the photon-sphere of asymptotically AdS black holes and horizon-free microstate geometries (fuzzballs). We find that these exhibit a chaotic behaviour characterised by exponentially large deviations of nearby trajectories. We compute the Lyapunov exponent λ governing the exponential growth in d dimensions and show that it is bounded from above by

$$ {\uplambda}_b=\sqrt{d-3}/2{b}_{\mathrm{min}} $$

λ
b

=

d
−
3

/
2

b
min

where b
min is the minimal impact parameter under which a massless particle is swallowed by the black hole or gets trapped in the fuzzball for a very long time. Moreover we observe that λ is typically below the advocated bound on chaos λ
H
= 2πκ

B

T ∕ ħ, that in turn characterises the radial fall into the horizon, but the bound is violated in a narrow window near extremality, where the photon-sphere coalesces with the horizon. Finally, we find that fuzzballs are characterised by Lyapunov exponents smaller than those of the corresponding BH’s suggesting the possibility of discriminating the existence of micro-structures at horizon scales via the detection of ring-down modes with time scales λ
−1 longer than those expected for a BH of the given mass and spin.
Characteristics of Earthquakes Recorded Around the High Dam Lake with Comparison to Natural Earthquakes Using Waveform Inversion and Source Spectra
Authors: Saadalla Hamada , Abdel–aal Abdel-Aziz Khairy , Mohamed Abdelnasser , El-Faragawy K.
Published: May 2020

To determine whether recent seismicity around the High Dam Lake (Lake Nasser) in the Aswan region is induced or triggered by the lake reservoir or is of natural origin, we analyzed moment tensor solutions and source spectra of recent recorded earthquakes in the area. The earthquakes' focal mechanisms, including source mechanism parameters and source spectra, can give important information to assist in discriminating between triggered and natural seismic events. In the current work, we computed moment tensors and stress drop values for six recently triggered earthquakes recorded by the Egyptian National Seismic Network (ENSN) around Lake Nasser, Aswan area, with local magnitudes between 3.0 and 4.6, as well as 40 nearby earthquakes in and around Egypt with local magnitudes ranging from 4.0 to 5.5, that are known as natural events. We performed full waveform inversion for the studied seismic events, including the dominant double-couple (DC) signature, and also completed moment tensor solutions. Our results show that most triggered events demonstrated significant non-double-couple components. The focal depths of most Aswan seismic events calculated in the current study are significantly shallower than the estimated focal depths for inter-plate and intraplate earthquakes in and around the area under investigation. The focal depths of 80% of the triggered events are shallower than 10 km, while 80% of the tectonic earthquakes are deeper than 15 km. On the other hand, stress and source spectra of the studied events are used as another key to deeply study the source mechanics and physics of natural and triggered events in this area.
A new potential mode of cardiorenal protection of KLOTHO gene variability in type 1 diabetic adolescents
Authors: Słomiński Bartosz , Ryba-Stanisławowska Monika , Skrzypkowska Maria , Gabig-Cimińska Magdalena , Myśliwiec Małgorzata
Published: May 2020

As the KL-VS haplotype alters secretion and activity of KLOTHO and uric acid (UA) is associated with endothelial dysfunction and inflammation, their mutual links may contribute to microalbuminuria (MA) in patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D). Therefore, we hypothesize that KL-VS polymorphism could be associated with the prevalence of MA in T1D patients, and KL-VS polymorphism could modify physiological functions and pathogenic potential of UA. We have examined 350 patients with T1D. The analysis concerned KL-VS polymorphism along with the concentrations of serum inflammatory markers, indicators of renal function, blood pressure, and lipid profile. The incidence of KL-VS genotype was lower in a group with MA in comparison to patients without this condition. Moreover, KL-VS carriers had improved indicators of renal function, lower concentrations of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and higher levels of anti-inflammatory markers. Simultaneously, among KL-VS carriers serum UA was negatively correlated with HbA1c, albumin excretion rate, ACR, CRP, TNF-α, total cholesterol, LDL-C and triglycerides, and positively correlated with HDL-C. Moreover, among wild-type KLOTHO carriers serum, UA was in positive correlation with creatinine, blood pressure, IL-12 and MCP-1, and in negative correlation with IL-10 and eGFR. Findings of our study suggest that the functional KL-VS polymorphism is independently associated with MA and the KL-VS genotype protects from the development of MA, and KL-VS polymorphism may modify physiological functions and pathogenic potential of UA by altering the levels of HbA1c, inflammatory biomarkers, indicators of renal function, blood pressure, and lipid profile.

Key messages

• We analyzed the KL-VS polymorphism and the UA serum level in patients with T1D.

• The KL-VS polymorphism is independently associated with microalbuminuria.

• The KL-VS alleles protect from the development of microalbuminuria.

• KL-VS polymorphism may modify physiological functions and pathogenic potential of uric acid.
Standardized Method of the Thiersch Operation for the Treatment of Fecal Incontinence
Authors: Lim Cheong Ho , Kang Wook Ho , Lee Young Chan , Ko Yong Taek , Yoo Byung Eun , Yang Hyung Kyu
Published: May 2020

Background

Conventionally, the Thiersch operation has typically involved blind positioning of the sling, and sling tension is subjectively based on a rule‐of‐thumb estimate. The aim of this study was to describe standardized methods for performing the Thiersch operation.

Methods

Seventeen patients with fecal incontinence underwent the calibrated method of the Thiersch procedure. As an encircling sling, a 6‐mm‐wide silastic tube was used. Through 4 minimal perianal skin incisions, the sling was placed proximal to the anal skin 3 cm from the anal verge and 4 cm in depth. The circumference of the sling was 10 cm in length. Results were assessed by clinical responses and by comparing pre‐ and postoperative Wexner scores. The data were collected retrospectively.

Results

The median follow‐up period was 9 months (range 6–19). In 16 out of 17 fecal incontinence patients (94.1%), the median Wexner incontinence score was 0 (range 0–3) postoperatively. Localized sepsis developed in three cases (17.7%, 3/17), which were controlled with drainage and antibiotics. Fecal impaction occurred in one case (5.9%, 1/17). There was no removal or breakage of the inserted sling.

Conclusions

The elasticity of the silastic tube reduced the incidence of sling breakage. According to the standardized method, the sling was placed external to the external anal sphincter muscle and at the junction of the external anal sphincter muscle and puborectalis muscle. Fecal incontinence was controlled effectively, and the incidence of fecal impaction was negligible. High reproducibility was observed with this method.
Post‐operative Glycaemic Control Using an Insulin Infusion is Associated with Reduced Surgical Site Infections in Colorectal Surgery
Authors: Shakeshaft Anthony J. , Scanlon Katherine , Eslick Guy D. , Azmir Alisha , Cox Michael R.
Published: May 2020

Background

The incidence of surgical site infection (SSI) in colorectal surgery (CRS) is higher than other forms of general surgery. Post‐operative hyperglycaemia causes increased SSI in CRS. Post‐operative hyperglycaemia control in cardiac surgery reduces SSI. The aim was to evaluate using a cohort comparison the effect of post‐operative glycaemic control using an insulin infusion on SSI in CRS.

Methods

Collection of data for the ACS‐NSQIP was commenced in 2015. The CRS unit added post‐operative glycaemic control to the SSI bundle in late 2016. The intervention was an insulin infusion to titrate blood glucose between 135 and 180 mg/Dl (7.5 and 10 mmol/l). The effect of glycaemic control on SSI was assessed comparing ACS‐NSQIP raw data prior and after the intervention was commenced.

Results

The NSQIP data from July 2015 to June 2016 revealed the incidence of SSI were 25%. From January 2017 to December 2017, there was a significant reduction in SSI to 6.1% (OR = 517 Cl = 1.92–16.08, p < 0.001). The incidence of organ/space SSI fell significantly from 13% to 1.0% (OR = 11.35, Cl = 1.62–488.7, p < 0.001). There was non‐significant reduction in superficial SSI from 11 to 4.0% (OR = 2.93, Cl = 0.68–13.03, p = 0.06). There was no significant difference in other factors associated with SSI in CRS.

Conclusion

Post‐operative glycaemic control in CRS reduces the rate of SSI. Post‐operative glycaemic control should be included in SSI bundles for CRS and may be of benefit in other surgical specialties.
Risk Factors for In-hospital Mortality After Transarterial Intervention After Postpancreatectomy Hemorrhage
Authors: Wolk Steffen , Radosa Christoph Georg , Distler Marius , Held Hanns-Christoph , Kühn Jens-Peter , Weitz Jürgen , Welsch Thilo , Hoffmann Ralf-Thorsten
Published: May 2020

Purpose

Postpancreatectomy hemorrhage (PPH) is one of the leading causes of mortality after pancreatic resection. Late onset PPH is most often treated using a transarterial approach. The aim of this study was to analyze risk factors for in-hospital mortality after endovascular treatment.

Methods

Between 2012 and 2017, patients who were treated endovascular due to PPH were identified from a retrospective analysis of a database. Risk factors for mortality were identified by univariate analysis.

Results

In total, 52 of the 622 patients (8.4%) underwent endovascular treatment due to PPH. The primary technical success achieved was 90.4%. In 59.6% of patients, bleeding control was achieved by placing a stent graft and in 40.4% by coil embolization. The primary 30-day and 1-year patency of the placed covered stents was 89.3% and 71.4%, respectively. The 60-day mortality was 34.6%. The reintervention rate was higher after stent graft placement compared to coiling (39.3% vs. 21.1%, P = 0.012). In the univariate analysis the need for reintervention was associated with a higher in-hospital mortality (21.2% vs. 7.7%, P = 0.049). The use of an antiplatelet agent was associated with a decreased in-hospital mortality in the univariate (11.5% vs. 25%, P = 0.024) and multivariate analysis (HR 3.1, 95% CI 1.1-9, P = 0.034), but did not increase the risk of rebleeding.

Conclusion

Endovascular management of delayed PPH has a high technical success rate. Stent graft placement showed a higher reintervention rate. The need for reintervention was associated with a higher in-hospital mortality but did not differ between coiling and stent graft placement.
Evaluation of an organ-based tube current modulation tool in pediatric CT examinations
Authors: Papadakis Antonios E. , Damilakis John
Published: May 2020

Objectives

To investigate the effect of an organ-based tube current modulation (OTCM) technique on organ absorbed dose and assess image quality in pediatric CT examinations.

Methods

Four physical anthropomorphic phantoms that represent the average individual as neonate, 1-year-old, 5-year-old, and 10-year-old were used. Standard head and thorax acquisitions were performed with automatic tube current modulation (ATCM) and ATCM+OTCM. Dose calculations were performed by means of Monte Carlo simulations. Radiation dose was measured for superficial and centrally located radiosensitive organs. The angular range of the OTCM exposure window was determined for different tube rotation times (t) by means of a solid-state detector. Image noise was measured as the standard deviation of the Hounsfield unit value in regions of interest drawn at selected anatomical sites.

Results

ATCM+OTCM resulted in a reduction of radiation dose to all radiosensitive organs. In head, eye lens dose was reduced by up to 13% in ATCM+OTCM compared with ATCM. In thorax, the corresponding reduction for breast dose was up to 10%. The angular range of the OTCM exposure window decreased with t. For t = 0.4 s, the angular range was limited to 74° in head and 135° for thorax. Image noise was significantly increased in ATCM+OTCM acquisitions across most examined phantoms (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

OTCM reduces radiation dose to exposed radiosensitive organs with the eye lens and breast buds exhibiting the highest dose reduction. The OTCM exposure window is narrowed at short t. An increase in noise is inevitable in images located within the OTCM-activated imaged volume.

Key Points

• In pediatric CT, organ-based tube current modulation reduces radiation dose to all major primarily exposed radiosensitive organs.

• Image noise increases within the organ-based tube current modulation enabled imaged volume.

• The angular range of the organ-based tube current modulation low exposure window is reduced with tube rotation time.
Effectiveness of the clinical decision support tool ESR eGUIDE for teaching medical students the appropriate selection of imaging tests: randomized cross-over evaluation
Authors: Diekhoff Torsten , Kainberger Franz , Oleaga Laura , Dewey Marc , Zimmermann Elke
Published: May 2020

Objectives

To evaluate ESR eGUIDE—the European Society of Radiology (ESR) e-Learning tool for appropriate use of diagnostic imaging modalities—for learning purposes in different clinical scenarios.

Methods

This anonymized evaluation was performed after approval of ESR Education on Demand leadership. Forty clinical scenarios were developed in which at least one imaging modality was clinically most appropriate, and the scenarios were divided into sets 1 and 2. These sets were provided to medical students randomly assigned to group A or B to select the most appropriate imaging test for each scenario. Statistical comparisons were made within and across groups.

Results

Overall, 40 medical students participated, and 31 medical students (78%) answered both sets. The number of correctly chosen imaging methods per set in these 31 paired samples was significantly higher when answered with versus without use of ESR eGUIDE (13.7 ± 2.6 questions vs. 12.1 ± 3.2, p = 0.012). Among the students in group A, who first answered set 1 without ESR eGUIDE (11.1 ± 3.2), there was significant improvement when set 2 was answered with ESR eGUIDE (14.3 ± 2.5, p = 0.013). The number of correct answers in group B did not drop when set 2 was answered without ESR eGUIDE (12.4 ± 2.6) after having answered set 1 first with ESR eGUIDE (13.0 ± 2.7, p = 0.66).

Conclusion

The clinical decision support tool ESR eGUIDE is suitable for training medical students in choosing the best radiological imaging modality in typical scenarios, and its use in teaching radiology can thus be recommended.

Key Points

• ESR eGUIDE improved the number of appropriately selected imaging modalities among medical students.

• This improvement was also seen in the group of students which first selected imaging tests without ESR eGUIDE.

• In the student group which used ESR eGUIDE first, appropriate selection remained stable even without the teaching tool.
Euro-Atlantic weather Regimes in the PRIMAVERA coupled climate simulations: impact of resolution and mean state biases on model performance
Authors: Fabiano F. , Christensen H. M. , Strommen K. , Athanasiadis P. , Baker A. , Schiemann R. , Corti S.
Published: May 2020

Recently, much attention has been devoted to better understand the internal modes of variability of the climate system. This is particularly important in mid-latitude regions like the North-Atlantic, which is characterized by a large natural variability and is intrinsically difficult to predict. A suitable framework for studying the modes of variability of the atmospheric circulation is to look for recurrent patterns, commonly referred to as Weather Regimes. Each regime is characterized by a specific large-scale atmospheric circulation pattern, thus influencing regional weather and extremes over Europe. The focus of the present paper is the study of the Euro-Atlantic wintertime Weather Regimes in the climate models participating to the PRIMAVERA project. We analyse here the set of coupled historical simulations (hist-1950), which have been performed both at standard and increased resolution, following the HighresMIP protocol. The models’ performance in reproducing the observed Weather Regimes is assessed in terms of different metrics, focussing on systematic biases and on the impact of resolution. We also analyse the connection of the Weather Regimes with the Jet Stream latitude and blocking frequency over the North-Atlantic sector. We find that—for most models—the regime patterns are better represented in the higher resolution version, for all regimes but the NAO-. On the other side, no clear impact of resolution is seen on the regime frequency of occurrence and persistence. Also, for most models, the regimes tend to be more tightly clustered in the increased resolution simulations, more closely resembling the observed ones. However, the horizontal resolution is not the only factor determining the model performance, and we find some evidence that biases in the SSTs and mean geopotential field might also play a role.
High PD-1 expression level is associated with an unfavorable prognosis in patients with cervical adenocarcinoma
Authors: Ishikawa Masako , Nakayama Kentaro , Nakamura Kohei , Yamashita Hitomi , Ishibashi Tomoka , Minamoto Toshiko , Iida Kouji , Razia Sultana , Ishikawa Noriyoshi , Nakayama Satoru , Otsuki Yoshiro , Kyo Satoru
Published: May 2020

Purpose

The effectiveness of immunotherapy for cervical adenocarcinoma (CA) has not been demonstrated yet. Programmed cell death 1 (PD-1), programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-L1), and CD8 may be used as biomarkers of response to immune therapy in CA patients. In the present study, we aimed to investigate whether the expression levels of PD-1, PD-L1, and CD8 can predict the prognosis of patients with CA and their response to immune checkpoint inhibition therapy.

Methods

In the present study, the clinical stage for all 82 patients with cervical adenocarcinoma was classified according to the guidelines of the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO); there were 5, 48, 5, 14, 8, and 2 patients with stage IA, IB, IIA, IIB, IIIB, and IVB disease, respectively. The levels of PD-1, PD-L1, and CD8 were analyzed by the immunohistochemical analysis of the formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tumor samples. The correlation between the expression levels and patient prognosis was analyzed using the Kaplan–Meier method and univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression models.

Results

We observed a significant inverse correlation between the expression of PD-1 and CD8 (p = 0.001, chi-square test). We also found a significant inverse correlation between the expression of PD-L1 and CD8 (p = 0.027). The overall survival and progression-free survival rates were significantly worse in patients with positive PD-1 expression (p = 0.031;p = 0.087, respectively).

Conclusion

Our results suggest that a high PD-1 expression is associated with a poor prognosis in patients with CA. Further research is necessary to identify the molecular mechanisms that mediate this association.
Low-tropospheric humidity inversions over Europe: spatiotemporal variability and relations to temperature inversions’ occurrence
Authors: Palarz Angelika , Celiński-Mysław Daniel
Published: May 2020

Tropospheric humidity inversions are an important component of the Earth’s climate system as well as a significant factor affecting the global radiation budget and cloud formation. Their occurrence enlarges the amount of downward longwave radiation trapped near the Earth’s surface and provides moisture to maintain the top of clouds from evaporation. The aim of this paper is to examine the spatiotemporal variability of the humidity inversions over Europe. For the first time, we provide also a comprehensive analysis of relations between the humidity inversions and temperature inversions over the domain considered. The study is based on data derived from the ERA-Interim reanalysis for the period 1981–2015. We have confirmed that the temporal and spatial variability of the humidity inversions is strongly related to inversion type. The mean seasonal frequency of surface-based humidity inversions (SBHI) usually does not exceed 20%, while the mean seasonal frequency of elevated humidity inversions (EHI) ranges from 5 to 60% depending on the region and season. On average, EHI are substantially deeper and stronger than SBHI. We found also that the low-tropospheric humidity inversions often occur simultaneously with the temperature inversions. Moderate positive correlations exist, however, only among the parameters (depth and strength) of the same inversion type, but not between the humidity inversions and the temperature inversions. Considering the links between EHI and ETI (elevated temperature inversions) parameters, slightly higher values of the Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient (ρs > 0.50) are found between EHI base height and ETI base height. Nonetheless, the simultaneous occurrence of EHI and ETI usually fosters the intensity of both inversion types.
Auswirkungen der Corona-Krise auf die europäische Klimaschutzpolitik
Authors: Treptow Thomas M.
Published: May 2020

Neben vielen anderen negativen Folgen hat die Corona-Krise auch direkte Auswirkungen auf den EU-weiten Handel mit Emissionszertifikaten für Treibhausgasemissionen. Dieser stellt einen Eckpfeiler der europäischen Klimaschutzpolitik dar. Den kurzfristig geringer zu erwartenden Treibhausgasemissionen stehen aufgrund der erwarteten Rezession mittel- und langfristig niedrigere Preise für Emissionsrechte gegenüber. Diese machen die gegenwärtigen Produktionstechnologien tendenziell attraktiver. Dadurch wird eine wesentliche Zielsetzung europäischer Klimaschutzpolitik, der ökonomisch-rationale Wechsel der Unternehmen auf klimafreundlichere Produktionstechnologien, erschwert.
Towards sustainable community conservation in tropical savanna ecosystems: a management framework for ecotourism ventures in a changing environment
Authors: Mudzengi Boycen Kumira , Gandiwa Edson , Muboko Never , Mutanga Chiedza Ngonidzashe
Published: May 2020

The sustainability of ecotourism ventures under the Community Based Natural Resources Management in Zimbabwe is under stress due to environmental changes emanating from effects associated with socioeconomic factors, climate change and epidemic diseases. Using an in-depth analysis of the Mahenye ecotourism venture from the year 1982 to 2020 as a case study, this study sought to propose a management framework for ecotourism ventures in a changing environment by examining the sustainability of community conservation initiatives in Zimbabwe. Research methods included expert opinion from two natural resources governance academics, desktop research and authors’ experiences about Mahenye ecotourism venture. Results indicated that the Mahenye ecotourism venture has faced significant challenges but has been resilient to withstand the shocks such as population increase, exclusion of youths and women, climate change, hyperinflation, donor fatigue, reduced international ecotourist visitation and international hunting bans emanating from socioeconomic and political environmental changes. These shocks have a negative effect on the main elements of an ecotourism venture such as the wildlife resources, amenities, attraction, accessibility, management system, marketing, beneficiaries and linkages. The management framework highlights the interventions that can be made to enable ecotourism ventures in changing environments to remain sustainable. The interventions are promoting strong community cohesion, developing sustainable self-funding mechanisms, promoting multiple sources of income, carrying targeted environmental education programs, capacity building in managing ecotourism in periods of hyperinflation, improved marketing and offering a unique experience, promoting climate smart ecotourism, promoting domestic ecotourism visits, implementing effective feedback systems among stakeholders to decrease uncertainties and lobbying to have hunting bans removed.
A Negotiation Protocol for Fine-Grained Accountable Resource Provisioning and Sharing in e-Science
Authors: Meng Zeqian , Brooke John , Han Junyi , Sakellariou Rizos
Published: May 2020

With the increasing demand for dynamic and customised resource provisioning for computational experiments in e-Science, solutions are required to mediate different participants’ varied demands for such resource provision. This paper presents a novel negotiation protocol based on a new collaboration model. The protocol allows e-Scientists, the manager of an e-Scientist’s collaboration, and resource providers to reach resource provisioning agreements. By considering the manager of an e-Scientist collaboration for negotiation decisions, the protocol enables fine-grained accountable resource provision on a per job basis for e-Scientist collaborations, without binding the e-Scientist collaboration to resource providers. A testbed built with the protocol is also presented, making use of a production e-Science gateway, use cases, and infrastructures. The testbed is experimentally evaluated, via designed scenarios and comparison with existing production tools. It demonstrates that the proposed negotiation protocol can facilitate accountable resource provision per job, based on resource sharing rules defined and managed by e-Scientist collaborations.
Using emojis in mobile web surveys for Millennials? A study in Spain and Mexico
Authors: Bosch Oriol J. , Revilla Melanie
Published: May 2020

To involve Millennials in survey participation, and obtain high-quality answers from them, survey designers may require new tools that better catch Millennials' interest and attention. One key new tool that could improve the communication and make the survey participation more attractive to young respondents are the emojis. We used data from a survey conducted among Millennials by the online fieldwork company Netquest in Spain and Mexico (n = 1614) to determine how emojis can be used in mobile web surveys, in particular in open-ended questions, and how their use can affect data quality, completion time, and survey evaluation. Overall, results show a high willingness of Millennials to use emojis in surveys (both stated and actual use) and a positive impact of encouraging Millennials to use emojis in open-ended questions on the amount of information conveyed, the completion time and the survey enjoyment.
Transformation and ecotoxicological effects of iodinated X-ray contrast media
Authors: Nowak Agnieszka , Pacek Gabriela , Mrozik Agnieszka
Published: May 2020

Iodinated X-ray contrast media (ICM) such as diatrizoate, iohexol, iomeprol, iopamidol, and iopromide are commonly used in medical imaging for radiological visualization of a variety of anatomic structures. Because of their highly persistent nature and poor removal by conventional wastewater treatment, ICM can often remain unchanged after entering the environment or they are transformed into many different by-products in complex physical, chemical, and biological processes. Large amounts of ICM and their by-products are found in natural waters, groundwater, drinking water (up to 100 µg/L), and even in soil, where they can be a potential threat to the inhabitants of these environments. Because knowledge about the fate of ICM in various environments is dispersed and it concerns specific areas, the main purpose of this review is to summarize the available information about their occurrence, chemical and biological transformation/degradation, and toxicity to living organisms. The topics discussed particularly focus on mechanisms of ICM degradation/transformation in water using advanced oxidation processes and the biotransformation/biodegradation of ICM by microorganisms under different conditions, as well as the toxicity of ICM and their transformation by-products to humans and other organisms. Although environmental risk is not expected from the parent compounds of ICM, their continuous input to the water and the formation of toxic by-products may constitute a long-term potential risk for living organisms. Therefore, monitoring the transport and fate of ICM in various environments seems necessary.
Gustav Shpet’s Transcendental Turn
Authors: Bourgeot Liisa
Published: May 2020

Shpet’s interpretation of Husserl’s phenomenology has caused puzzlement because of the lack of clarity with which he treats the transcendental turn in Appearance and Sense (1914). I suggest that we find a more comprehensive discussion on the topic in Shpet’s 1917 article, “Wisdom or Reason?” There, Shpet reacts to Husserl’s treatment of a cluster of problems related to the latter’s transition to transcendental idealism. I read “Wisdom or Reason?” not only in relation to Husserl’s Logos article of 1911, but also to his 1907 lecture series “The Idea of Phenomenology.” My analysis of Shpet’s phenomenology reveals that he followed through with the transcendental turn, although his philosophy developed in a direction different from Husserl’s transcendental idealism. Shpet postulates a collective consciousness, in which meaning-constitution takes place, and discovers the “word” as the foundation for any cognition. Shpet’s phenomenology remains ontological, as he considers language or culture as the “form of being” in which human beings live. In “Wisdom or Reason?,” Shpet argues that we can have direct knowledge of this meaningful reality: being is not “represented” but “presented” in a word. A certain compatibility thus exists between Shpet’s phenomenology of cultural reality and Husserl’s search for the absolute validity of knowledge.
Collective Complicity in War Crimes. Some Remarks on the Principle of Moral Equality of Soldiers
Authors: Cebula Adam
Published: May 2020

The article critically analyzes one of the central assumptions of Michael Walzer’s version of just war theory, as presented in his main work devoted to war ethics. As requested by the author of Just and Unjust Wars, the controversial nature of the principle of the moral equality of soldiers is revealed by discussing the actual course of events of a historical military conflict – namely, the outbreak of World War II, one of the main issues dealt with in Walzer’s book. The exclusion of individual responsibility of people involved in a military operation which finds no moral justification seems to entail a number of consequences that put a heavy burden on Walzer’s overall model of military ethics. In order to ensure the necessary level of coherence of just war theory one may need to modify Walzer’s principle of the moral equality of soldiers – at least in relation to the participants of total war.
Evaluating the Control of Money Laundering and Its Underlying Offences: the Search for Meaningful Data
Authors: Levi Michael
Published: May 2020

This article examines the political and criminological history of anti-money controls, including the involvement of Asian countries and the varied motivations and interests engaged. It goes on to review where empirical evidence has been used and can be used in fighting the financial components of underlying crimes, examining the denotation of the problem(s) we are supposed to be fighting—money laundering as an evil in itself and/or the underlying crimes which give rise to it; estimates of the size and harmfulness of the problems and identifies any improvements/emerging problems in the assessment of money laundering. It concludes with some reflections on assessing policy effectiveness and the need for greater engagement by criminologists and other social scientists in this process.
Mystical Death in the Spirituality of Saint Teresa of Ávila
Authors: Gálik Slavomír , Gáliková Tolnaiová Sabína , Modrzejewski Arkadiusz
Published: May 2020

In this article, the authors study the phenomenon of mystical death in the spirituality of Saint Teresa of Ávila. They first explain the phenomenon of mystical death in the history of Christian spirituality. The authors note that the history of this phenomenon goes as far back as the New Testament, where it can be found in the texts by St. Paul and St. John, but it was first formulated explicitly by an unknown author much later—in the seventeenth century. Mystical death is a concept used to explain mystics’ experience of transformation from self-centeredness to other-centeredness. The authors want to use this concept to open up a further interpretation of Teresa of Ávila’s work, it provides a key for unlocking a major theme of her work. In the mysticism of Saint Teresa of Ávila, the authors investigate this phenomenon in two of her books: The Interior Castle or The Mansions and The Life of Teresa of Jesus. Firstly, this phenomenon is in her description of the fifth mansion of The Interior Castle or The Mansions in the symbolism of the transformation of a caterpillar into a butterfly, conditioned by ascending of internal energies. Secondly, they can trace the phenomenon of mystical death in her work The Life of Teresa of Jesus, especially in her explanation of her near-death experience. According to the authors, the phenomenon of mystical death in the mysticism of Teresa of Ávila constitutes a condition for higher spiritual states, especially the state of mystical unity (lat. unio). Finally, the authors outline that the phenomenon of mystical death in the spirituality of Teresa of Ávila is similar to mysticism in Eastern spiritual traditions. They discuss the importance of revealing these similarities for a better understanding of the human being and hir further spiritual development.