bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mussel‐Inspired Conductive Hydrogel with Enhanced Adhesion and Toughness in All‐Hydrogel Supercapacitors
Authors: Chen Xiaoling , Wang Guanhua , Wang Tian , Shi Caixin
Published: August 2023

Hydrogels that combine electrical conductivity, mechanical and self‐adhesion properties have attracted considerable interest because of their promising applications in wearable devices and flexible supercapacitors, among others. However, the weak interfacial adhesion between adjacent layers of flexible supercapacitors limits their practical applications. In this work, mussel‐inspired nanocomposite hydrogels composed of tannic acid (TA)‐modified doped polyaniline (PANI) and functional monomer acrylamide (AAm) were prepared, the hydrogel exhibited good mechanical properties (903 % strain at break) and adhesion properties. In a three‐electrode system the hydrogel exhibited a specific capacitance of 851.1 mF cm−2 (at 1 mA cm−2) and good stability. All‐hydrogel supercapacitors with robust interfacial capabilities were assembled on this basis without additional immobilization. The flexible supercapacitors show favorable electrochemical performance (570 mF cm−3 at 1 mA cm−2) and provide a volume energy density 55.9 μWh cm−3 and a capacitance retention of 85.6 % after 2000 cycles. Compared with previous conductive hydrogels, this work will provide a new approach to fabricate nanocomposite hydrogels with self‐adhesive, robust mechanical properties and conductive performance, effectively improving the interfacial adhesion of integrated supercapacitors and expanding the application scope of flexible supercapacitors.
Nanoporous Coral Cluster‐Like Copper Metal‐Organic Framework as an Efficient Anode for Lithium‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Chen Shiang , Wu Yan , Han Xubin , Peng Tianlang , Qi Qi , Sun Hao , Hu Xiaoshi , Wang Yanling , Lin Bao , Xiong Qinqin , Yuan Yongjun , Qin Haiying
Published: August 2023

Owing to the rich redox functionalities and numerous pore structure, metal‐organic frameworks (MOFs) are directly emerging as prospective electrode materials with special properties. In the present study, exotic and unique nanomaterials of copper‐based metal‐organic framework (Cu‐MOF‐74) were successfully prepared by coordination assembly of Cu (II) and 2,5‐dihydroxyterephthalic acid (DHTA) through the solvothermal route and served as anode materials for lithium‐ion batteries for the first time. The Cu MOF has a coral cluster‐like nanoporous morphology composed of hexagonal columns with a length of 3.0 μm and a radius of 132 nm. When tested as anode, it achieved a high reversible capability of 870.3 mA h g−1 at 100 mA g−1, remarkable rate performance (up to 1000 mA h g−1) and a long service life (300 cycles) in the dis‐/charge process. Such outstanding properties of the MOF anode may be mainly ascribed to the conjugated ligand moiety and the particular microstructural features. The results of this study provided insights for the rational design of primitive MOFs for advanced lithium storage.
Carbon Nanoparticles Entrappedtriclinic Iron Vanadate: A Promising Material for the Synthesis of Diformylfuran.
Authors: Jaiswal Rama , Pandey Manisha , Kumar Atyam Kiran , Ranganath Kalluri V. S.
Published: August 2023

Developing sustainable, inexpensive material has been proposed as a promising catalyst. Herein, we report the synthesis of new hybrid material composed of carbon nanoparticles entrapped in iron vanadate. Thus obtained new material was characterized using SEM, PXRD, Raman and XPS.The catalytic potentiality of CNP/FeVO4has been tested in the oxidation of biomass derived hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) in an aqueous medium. An enhanced conversion of 5‐HMF to diformylfuran (DFF) is observed in the presence of CNP/FeVO4than FeVO4alone. The absence of expensive metals and using only water as a solvent, along with recyclability of catalyst make our catalytic method green and attractive.
First Experimental Evidence of Amorphous Tin Oxide Formation in Lead‐Free Perovskites by Spectroscopic Ellipsometry
Authors: Mannino Giovanni , Sanchez-Diaz Jesús , Smecca Emanuele , Valastro Salvatore , Deretzis Ioannis , Sánchez Rafael S. , Martinez-Pastor Juan P. , Mora-Seró Iván , Alberti Alessandra
Published: August 2023

The most promising lead‐free options for producing perovskite solar cells are tin halide perovskite materials. Herein, while in situ monitoring the optical evolution of the material in humid air, spectroscopic ellipsometry is used to investigate the dielectric function of FASnI3 layers (with and without additives) within the range of 1–5 eV. According to calculations based on the density functional theory that shows oxygen diffusion on FASnI3 surfaces, the steady decrease in absorption coefficient in the band gap region (1.47 eV) and simultaneous increase in absorption in the 3–4.5 eV region suggest the production of amorphous tin oxide. Concurrently, X‐ray diffraction reveals a clear degradation of FASnI3. With the addition of sodium borohydride and dipropylammonium iodide, the optically active area of about 1.47 eV is preserved for a longer period while SnO2 production is prevented. Last but not least, FASnI3's stability is investigated in dry N2 environment and shown that it is optically durable for thermal operations up to 100 °C, particularly when additives are used.
Apatinib induces zebrafish hepatotoxicity by inhibiting Wnt signaling and accumulation of oxidative stress
Authors: Huang Ling , Wang Zhipeng , Liu Jieping , Wan Mengqi , Liu Jiejun , Liu Fasheng , Tu Xiaofei , Xiao Juhua , Liao Xinjun , Lu Huiqiang , Zhang Shouhua , Cao Zigang
Published: August 2023

Apatinib, a small‐molecule VEGFR2‐tyrosine kinase inhibitor, has shown potent anticancer activity in various clinical cancer treatments, but also different adverse reactions. Therefore, it is necessary to study its potential toxicity and working mechanism. We used zebrafish to investigate the effects of apatinib on the development of embryos. Zebrafish exposed to 2.5, 5, and 10 μM apatinib showed adverse effects such as decreased liver area, pericardial oedema, slow yolk absorption, bladder atrophy, and body length shortening. At the same time, it leads to abnormal liver tissue structure, liver function and related gene expression. Furthermore, after exposure to apatinib, oxidative stress levels were significantly elevated but liver developmental toxicity was effectively ameliorated with oxidative stress inhibitor treatment. Apatinib induces down‐regulation of key target genes of Wnt signaling pathway in zebrafish, and it is found that Wnt activator can significantly rescue liver developmental defects. These results suggest that apatinib may induce zebrafish hepatotoxicity by inhibiting the Wnt signaling pathway and up‐regulating oxidative stress, helping to strengthen our understanding of rational clinical application of apatinib.
Cyclizine‐induced proinflammatory responses through Akt‐NFκB pathway in macrophages
Authors: Wu Hao‐Min , Chiang Chen‐Yu , Chen Wen‐Ying , Chen Chun‐Jung , Tseng Ching‐Chi , Chang Yu‐Chi , Cheng Wen‐Min , Kuan Yu‐Hsiang
Published: August 2023

Cyclizine exhibits sedation and treatment of nausea, vomiting, and motion sickness due to antihistaminic and antimuscarinic effects. Cyclizine has the potential for abuse due to the hallucinogenic and euphoric effect. The response of overdose and illegal abuse of cyclizine includes confusion, tremors, chest pain, ataxia, seizures, and lead to suicide. Macrophage plays the important role in the innate immunity. However, over activation of macrophages results in pro‐inflammatory responses in peripheral tissues. In the present study, cyclizine was found to enhanced the generation of pro‐inflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐α, interleukin (IL)‐1β, and IL‐6. We further found that secretion of nitrogen oxide (NO) induced by cyclizine via expression of inducible nitric oxide synthases (iNOS). Cyclizine exhibited parallel stimulation of phosphorylation of nuclear factor‐κB (NFκB) p65, and its up‐stream factor Akt. These results indicated that the expression of pro‐inflammatory cytokines, pro‐inflammatory mediators, and adhesion molecules would be induced by cyclizine via activation of Akt‐NFκB pathway in macrophages.
Thermo‐mechanical property enhancement of rigid polyurethane foam composite using low cost, environment friendly fly ash over silica particles
Authors: Polimera Srihith , Gali A. , Rahaman Ariful , Chandan Mohammed Rehaan , Balakumaran S. J. , Nath Susanta Kumar
Published: August 2023

Low cost and environment friendly fly ash particles and silica particles were used as additives in the rigid polyurethane foam composite. The usage of fly ash will decrease the need for its handling and exposure to environment. FTIR spectra show the absence of hydrogen bonded urea which indicates no aggregation of hard urea domains in the soft polyurethane matrix after the addition of silica/fly ash. The composite loaded with 20 weight percentage fly ash had the highest glass transition temperature. At 10 weight percentage of the additive, the gross calorific value in the fly ash loaded composite decreased by 12% when compared with the composite loaded with silica. Introduction of fly ash into the foam composite up to a certain weight percentage (10 wt%) enhanced the compressive strength of the rigid polyurethane foam composite. The percolate particle concentration was at 10 weight percentage of the additive. The addition of fly ash increased the compressive strength up to 21% compared to the foam composite loaded with silica. Addition of fly ash in the foam composite resulted in a decrease of water absorption up to 23% in comparison to the composite loaded with silica. Hence, low cost and environment friendly fly ash is suitable additive which can be loaded into rigid polyurethane foams for superior enhancement in mechanical and thermal properties.

Highlights

The addition of fly ash to the foam decreased the gross calorific value up to 12% compared to that of the silica loaded foam composite.

The composite loaded with fly ash had highest normalized compressive strength and highest glass transition temperature than that of the unloaded foam. This can potentially replace conventional rigid polyurethane foam in timber constructions because of its higher compressive strength.

We propose the addition of fly ash as a low cost, environment friendly additive as it improved the various properties of the polyurethane foam composite to a greater extent than silica particles.

The greater usage of fly ash will help in the formation of a closed loop supply chain and alleviate the need for disposal of fly ash.
Rewilding and the water cycle
Authors: Harvey Gemma L. , Henshaw Alexander J.
Published: August 2023

Rewilding is a radical approach to landscape conservation that has the potential to help mitigate flood risk and low flow stresses, but this remains largely unexplored. Here, we illustrate the nature of hydrological changes that rewilding can be expected to deliver through reducing or ceasing land management, natural vegetation regeneration, species (re)introductions, and changes to river networks. This includes major changes to above‐ and below‐ground vegetation structure (and hence interception, evapotranspiration, infiltration, and hydraulic roughness), soil hydrological properties, and the biophysical structure of river channels. The novel, complex, uncertain, and longer‐term nature of rewilding‐driven change generates some key challenges, and rewilding is currently relatively constrained in geographical extent. Significant changes to the water cycle that benefit people and nature are possible but there is an urgent need for improved understanding and prediction of rewilding trajectories and their hydrological effects, generation of the knowledge and tools to facilitate stakeholder engagement, and an extension of the geography of rewilding opportunities.

This article is categorized under:

Science of Water > Hydrological Processes

Science of Water > Water Extremes

Water and Life > Conservation, Management, and Awareness
Convolutional neural network framework for wind turbine electromechanical fault detection
Authors: Stone Emilie , Giani Stefano , Zappalá Donatella , Crabtree Christopher
Published: August 2023

Effective and timely health monitoring of wind turbine gearboxes and generators is essential to reduce the costs of operations and maintenance activities, especially offshore. This paper presents a scalable and lightweight convolutional neural network (CNN) framework using high‐dimensional raw condition monitoring data for the automatic detection of multiple wind turbine electromechanical faults. The proposed approach leverages the potential of combining information from a variety of signals to learn features and to discriminate the types of fault and their severity. As a result of the CNN layers used to extract features from the signals, this architecture works in the time domain and can digest high‐resolution multi‐sensor data streams in real‐time. To overcome the inherent black‐box nature of AI models, this research proposes two interpretability techniques, multidimensional scaling and layer‐wise relevance propagation, to analyse the proposed model's inner‐working and identify the signal features relevant for fault classification. Experimental results show high performance and classification accuracies above 99.9% for all fault cases tested, demonstrating the efficacy of the proposed fault‐detection system.
European Fashion Companies and Chinese Social Media Influencers
Authors: Liu Joanna , Cantoni Lorenzo
Published: August 2023

European fashion companies – especially luxury ones – have been struggling to enter the Chinese market because of this market’s financial dimensions. However, in order to do so in an effective way, they need to localize their practices and messages, so to address such a different market in an adequate way. When it comes to digital media, different channels, players, and practices are to be considered, due to the Chinese policy of banning most of external social media players. Also, when it comes to the choice of Chinese social media influencers, European brands need to find the right characters, able to embody them in front of Chinese consumers. The case of online live stream sales and of Huang Wei – also known as Viya – has recently demonstrated both how powerful such influencers can be, as well as how their status can change in a few days – she moved from being a “Queen Midas” into becoming a tax evader – with possible negative impacts onto the companies she is working with. The paper presents in-depth interviews with managers of European companies from the luxury sector, responsible to run their online communication in the Chinese market, presenting and discussing their choices of Chinese social media influencers and the reasons for those.
What Would Kachru Wear? A Discourse Analysis of Global Englishes in Fashion Weblogs from Expanding Circle Countries
Authors: Lenoir Lisa D.
Published: August 2023

The fashion weblog (blog) emerged as a space on the Internet to disseminate colorful visuals and complementary stories to chronicle individual musings and promote brands. Fashion and beauty trends, retail news, on-the-street candid shots of personal style, and shopping hauls appeared on homepages and hamburger menus. Content creators connect viewers to matters of taste and socio-cultural implications of style and dress as a way of expression. Scholars look to understand its connection to gender; its cultural production practices; and its legitimacy in the print and digital journalism and media field. I aim to expand the discourse of fashion communication knowledge production of these cultural products and examine English as a lingua franca connecting bloggers from countries such as France, Brazil, and Japan across the digital landscape. This discourse analysis employs Braj Kachru’s model of Global Englishes to identify content and relies on theoretical frameworks of Gramsci’s hegemony and Bourdieu’s cultural capital to interpret rhetorical choices made. I argue English enables bloggers to make definitive statements about identity and culture and contribute to the international discourse about matters of taste.
Communication of Fashion Sustainability in the USSR and Modern Russia: What Does the Young Generation Know About Ecological and Social Agendas in Fashion?
Authors: Karamalak Olga , Sokolova Tatiana
Published: August 2023

Fashion sustainability is promoted and is slowly developing in modern Russia; however, this concept used to be popular back in the USSR under the notion of “saving”. The research objectives are: 1) to give an overview of social and ecological practices in the USSR and modern Russia; 2) to determine the current awareness of youth about fashion sustainability, and (3) to define what actions young Russians take to follow this trend. For these purposes an online survey was conducted between October and December, 2022 among Russian students. It showed that the respondents do know some of the practices of fashion sustainability, even without following fashion trends in general, and they practise them; however, their priorities, while buying clothing, are price, quality and comfort. To conclude, the communication of social and eco-agendas in fashion should be enhanced in Russia, brands should prioritise Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). Conscious consumption and ethical attitudes to fashion should be encouraged and maintained at all levels, including businesses (brands, mass markets, etc.), Non Profit Organisations (NPOs), bloggers or influencers on social media, educational initiatives, and cultural and historical events (fashion shows, museums, etc.). The broader the coverage of the issue from different perspectives, the more engaged consumers will become.
Extended Reality (XR) in the Digital Fashion Landscape
Authors: Faria Ana Paula , Cunha Joana
Published: August 2023

The fashion industry is progressively investing in technology, and the benefits of Extended Reality (XR) are not going unnoticed. Despite widespread interest in the topic, the literature is limited and the topic is poorly understood. This study brings XR in fashion to the forefront. Based on a review of several sources (latest news, reports, and literature), it describes the current landscape, presents the advantages and downsides of immersive technologies, and provides useful advice for practitioners. The results suggest that brands can leverage XR to establish close connections with consumers through personalised experiences and compelling stories. Moreover, some of the intricacies of XR are discussed, namely, costs and unresolved technical issues. Crafting meaningful XR experiences requires expertise in multiple domains, adding value to consumers through enhanced features and striving for quality.
Tri-hypercharge: a separate gauged weak hypercharge for each fermion family as the origin of flavour
Authors: Navarro Mario Fernández , King Stephen F.
Published: August 2023

Abstract

We propose a tri-hypercharge (TH) extension of the Standard Model (SM) in which a separate gauged weak hypercharge is associated with each fermion family. In this way, every quark and lepton multiplet carries unique gauge quantum numbers under the extended gauge group, providing the starting point for a theory of flavour. If the Higgs doublets only carry third family hypercharge, then only third family renormalisable Yukawa couplings are allowed. However, non-renormalisable Yukawa couplings may be induced by the high scale Higgs fields (hyperons) which break the three hypercharges down to the SM hypercharge, providing an explanation for fermion mass hierarchies and the smallness of CKM quark mixing. Following a similar methodology, we study the origin of neutrino masses and mixing in this model. Due to the TH gauge symmetry, the implementation of a seesaw mechanism naturally leads to a low scale seesaw, where the right-handed neutrinos in the model may be as light as the TeV scale. We present simple examples of hyperon fields which can reproduce all quark and lepton (including neutrino) masses and mixing. After a preliminary phenomenological study, we conclude that one of the massive Z′ bosons can be as light as a few TeV, with implications for flavour-violating observables, LHC physics and electroweak precision observables.
M-theory moduli from exceptional complex structures
Authors: Smith George Robert , Waldram Daniel
Published: August 2023

Abstract

We continue the analysis of the geometry of generic Minkowski $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= 1, D = 4 flux compactifications in M-theory using exceptional generalised geometry, including the calculation of the infinitesimal moduli spaces. The backgrounds can be classified into two classes: type-0 and type-3. For type-0, we review how the moduli arise from standard de Rham cohomology classes. We also argue that, under reasonable assumptions, there are no appropriate sources to support compact flux backgrounds for this class and so the only solutions are in fact G2 geometries. For type-3 backgrounds, given a suitable $$ {\partial}^{\prime }{\overline{\partial}}^{\prime } $$

∂
′

∂
¯

′

-lemma, we show that the moduli can be calculated from a cohomology based on an involutive sub-bundle of the complexified tangent space. Using a simple spectral sequence we prove quite generally that the presence of flux can only reduce the number of moduli compared with the fluxless case. We then use the formalism to calculate the moduli of heterotic M-theory and show they match those of the dual Hull-Strominger system as expected.
Dynamic modelling of consumption patterns using LA-AIDS: a comparative study of developed versus developing countries
Authors: Selvanathan Saroja , Jayasinghe Maneka , Selvanathan Eliyathamby A. , Rathnayaka Shashika D.
Published: August 2023

The traditional applied demand system estimation assumes that when consumer income and commodity prices change, the consumers instantaneously fully adjust to a new consumption equilibrium level and use a static demand system such as Static Linear Almost Ideal Demand System (Static LA-AIDS) for estimation. However, in real-life situations, such an assumption does not hold as consumers take time to settle to a new consumption equilibrium level. Hence, dynamic demand system estimations generate more nuanced insights into the short-run dynamics of consumer demand. This paper estimates two forms of dynamic versions of AIDS, Dynamic LA-AIDS and the error-corrected LA-AIDS, and compares the results with the Static LA-AIDS. The paper also models the consumption patterns of consumers in developed and developing countries and provides a comparative analysis of implied elasticities using recent data. The results show that the dynamic models support demand theory hypotheses—demand homogeneity and Slutsky symmetry—more than the static model. The estimated mean own-price elasticities reveal that the demand in the short-run and long-run is price inelastic across all countries. Long-run and short-run income elasticities demonstrated notable variation across various commodity groups and country groups. For example, the restaurant meal is a luxury in the short-run for all countries. In the long-run, it is a necessity in developed countries and a luxury in developing countries. Food and housing are necessities; durables, transport and recreation are luxuries in developed and developing countries in the long-run and short-run.
Antibacterial efficiency over time and barrier properties of wood coatings with colloidal silver
Authors: Calovi Massimo , Coroneo Valentina , Rossi Stefano
Published: August 2023

This work aims to represent a standard application for understanding the extent of the antibacterial efficacy of coatings with different amounts of colloidal silver on wooden surfaces over time. The key variable that was intended to be evaluated in this study was the “time efficiency,” with concerns about the possible efficacy in the durability of the surfaces. By highlighting the “expiry date” of the agents, as in the case with other products, the study aimed to confirm the validity of the simulation tests conducted in the laboratory with degradation tests. Furthermore, the role of the silver amount on the barrier performance of the coatings was assessed by liquid resistance, water uptake, and perspiration tests, evaluating the aesthetic durability of the coatings by means of colorimetric analyses. Ultimately, this work demonstrates that these coatings may represent alternatives in terms of prolonged antimicrobial activity when compared with the biocide agents currently in use, capable to offer good resistance to detergent solutions and to water. Nevertheless, due to silver’s susceptibility to extended exposure to acidic solutions, the findings of the research discourage the utilization of colloidal silver in wood paints intended for use in public settings.

Key points

•Colloidal silver does not alter the deposition process and does not introduce defects in the wood paint.

•Coatings containing silver show high antimicrobial activity over time, against both E.coli and S.aureus.

•The silver-based filler resists contact with detergents and aqueous solutions but suffers oxidation processes in acidic environments.
Two novel prehabilitation apps to help patients stop smoking and risky drinking prior to hip and knee arthroplasty
Authors: Tønnesen Hanne , Raffing Rie , Lauridsen Susanne Vahr , Lauritzen Jes Bruun , Elholm Anne Marie Halmø , Jensen Helle Sæderup , Espinosa Peter , Jansson Karl Åke , Berman Anne H. , Fernández-Valencia Jenaro , Muñoz-Mahamud Ernesto , Santiñà Manuel , Combalia Andrés
Published: August 2023

Purpose

Daily smoking or risky drinking increases the risk of complications after surgery by ~50%. Intensive prehabilitation aimed at complete cessation reduces the complication rate but is time-consuming. The purpose of this study was to carry out preoperative pilot tests (randomized design) of the feasibility (1A) and validation (1B) of two novel prehabilitation apps, habeat® (Ha-app) or rehaviour® (Re-app).

Methods

Patients scheduled for hip or knee arthroplasty with daily smoking, risky drinking, or both were randomised to one of the two apps. In part 1A, eight patients and their staff measured feasibility on a visual analog scale (VAS) and were interviewed about what worked well and the challenges requiring improvement. In part 1B, seven patients and their staff tested the improved apps for up to two weeks before validating the understanding, usability, coverage, and empowerment on a VAS and being interviewed.

Results

In 1A, all patients and staff returned scores of ≥5 for understanding the apps and mostly suggested technical improvements. In 1B, the scores varied widely for both apps, with no consensus achieved. Two of four patients (Ha-app) and one-third of the patients (Re-app) found the apps helpful for reducing smoking, but without successful quitting. The staff experienced low app competencies among patients and high time consumption. Specifically, patients most often needed help for the Ha-app, and the staff most often for Re-app; however, the staff reported the Re-app dashboard was more user-friendly. Support and follow-up from an addiction specialist staff member were suggested to complement the apps, thereby increasing the time consumption for staff.

Conclusions

This pilot study to test prototype apps generated helpful feedback for the app developers. Based on the patient and staff comments, multiple improvements in functionality seem required before scaling up the evaluation for effect on prehabilitation and postoperative complications.
Deep learning–based scan range optimization can reduce radiation exposure in coronary CT angiography
Authors: Demircioğlu Aydin , Bos Denise , Demircioğlu Ender , Qaadan Sahar , Glasmachers Tobias , Bruder Oliver , Umutlu Lale , Nassenstein Kai
Published: August 2023

Objectives

Cardiac computed tomography (CT) is essential in diagnosing coronary heart disease. However, a disadvantage is the associated radiation exposure to the patient which depends in part on the scan range. This study aimed to develop a deep neural network to optimize the delimitation of scan ranges in CT localizers to reduce the radiation dose.

Methods

On a retrospective training cohort of 1507 CT localizers randomly selected from calcium scoring and angiography scans and acquired between 2010 and 2017, optimized scan ranges were delimited by two radiologists in consensus. A neural network was trained to reproduce the scan ranges and was tested on two randomly selected and independent validation cohorts: an internal cohort of 233 CT localizers (January 2018–June 2020) and an external cohort from a nearby hospital of 298 CT localizers (July 2020–December 2020). Localizers where a bypass surgery was visible were excluded. The effective radiation dose to the patient was simulated using a Monte Carlo simulation. Scan ranges of radiographers, radiologists, and the network were compared using an equivalence test; likewise, the reduction in effective dose was tested using a superior test.

Results

The network replicated the radiologists’ scan ranges with a Dice score of 96.5 ± 0.02 (p < 0.001, indicating equivalence). The generated scan ranges resulted in an effective dose reduction of 10.0% (p = 0.002) in the internal cohort and 12.6% (p < 0.001) in the external cohort compared to the scan ranges delimited by radiographers in clinical routine.

Conclusions

Automatic delimitation of the scan range can result in a radiation dose reduction to the patient.

Clinical relevance statement

Fully automated delimitation of the scan range using a deep neural network enables a significant reduction in radiation exposure during CT coronary angiography compared to manual examination planning. It can also reduce the workload of the radiographers.

Key Points

• Scan range delimitation for coronary computed tomography angiography could be performed with high accuracy by a deep neural network.

• Automated scan ranges showed a high agreement of 96.5% with the scan ranges of radiologists.

• Using a Monte Carlo simulation, automated scan ranges reduced the effective dose to the patient by up to 12.6% (0.9 mSv) compared to the scan ranges of radiographers in clinical routine.

Graphical abstract
On-treatment risk model for predicting treatment response in advanced renal cell carcinoma
Authors: Guer Melis , Janitzky Andreas , Schostak Martin
Published: August 2023

Purpose

The field of immunotherapy combinations for advanced renal cell carcinoma (aRCC) has been expanded in recent years. However, the treatment response varies widely among individual patients. It is still a challenge to predict oncological outcome in clinical practice. We assessed the impact of an activated immune system reflected by changes in C-reactive protein (CRP) levels and the early onset of treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) on the treatment response.

Methods

In this retrospective analysis of 57 aRCC patients, CRP kinetics based on previous descriptions of CRP flare-response, CRP response or CRP non-response, and the TRAEs, which occurred within a month after therapy initiation, were obtained for this study. According to logistic regression analysis of both factors, we stratified the patients into risk groups: the presence of CRP flare-response/response and early onset of TRAE (low-risk group); the presence of a single factor (intermediate-risk group); and without both factors (high-risk group).

Results

Ten patients (17%) experienced primary disease progression. No progressive disease was observed in the low-risk group, while 60% (n = 6/10) of the high-risk group showed a primary disease progression. Significantly, an increased risk of disease progression was observed by patients without CRP response and TRAEs (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

The present analysis displays the predictive value of the on-treatment risk model based on CRP kinetics and the early onset of TRAEs, which can be easy to implement in clinical practice to optimize the treatment monitoring.
Prediction of Coral Sea tropical cyclone power and latitude of maximum intensity using climate indices
Authors: Miller John G. , da Silva Guilherme Vieira , Strauss Darrell
Published: August 2023

Tropical cyclone (TC) wind power, often highly destructive, can be quantified using the power dissipation index (PDI) and in this study, the PDIs for Coral Sea TC tracks, as well as the latitude of maximum intensity (LMI) were investigated for correlation with climatological indices. Multiple linear regression with collinearity removed and an overall Pearson correlation of 0.7 or above was used for this. The results for all tracks showed that three indices dominated for PDI: Niño 4 Sea Surface Temperature (SST), the Dipole Mode Index (DMI) and the Madden Julian Oscillation (MJO). Coral Sea TC tracks clustered by maximum windspeed-weighted locations were then examined: For cluster 1 (located more south-east), the additional influence of the Southern Annular Mode (SAM) was apparent, whilst for cluster 2 (located more north-west), the same indices dominated as for the all-tracks model. For LMI, four indices were identified: the Indian Ocean East SST Anomaly (DMI E), the MJO, the Southern Oscillation Index (SOI) and the SAM. Only TCs clustered in the northeast of Australia had a valid model for LMI, with correlation 0.8, using three indices: DMI E, DMI and the SOI. Overall, raised Niño 4 SST combined with a negative DMI and low MJO amplitude were shown to predict large increases in TC power, whilst a combination of increasing DMI E temperature anomaly with a positive SOI moves LMI equator-wards. The models compiled in this study identified the most significant climatic indices and successfully predicted TC power dissipation and LMI.
Better early outcome with enhanced recovery total hip arthroplasty (ERAS-THA) versus conventional setup in randomized clinical trial (RCT)
Authors: Götz Julia , Maderbacher Günther , Leiss Franziska , Zeman Florian , Meyer Matthias , Reinhard Jan , Grifka Joachim , Greimel Felix
Published: August 2023

Introduction

Numbers of total hip arthroplasty (THA) are steadily rising and patients expect faster mobility without pain postoperatively. The aim of enhanced recovery after Surgery (ERAS) programs in a multidisciplinary setup was to keep pace with the needs of quality and quantity of surgical THA-interventions and patients’ expectations.

Methods

194 patients undergoing THA procedures were investigated after single-blinded randomization to ERAS (98) or conventional setup group (96). Primary outcome variable was mobilization measured with the Timed Up and Go Test (TUG) in seconds. Secondary outcome variables were floor count and walking distance in meters as well as rest, mobilization and night pain on a numerous rating scale (NRS). All variables were recorded preoperatively and daily until the sixth postoperative day. To assess and compare clinical outcome and patient satisfaction, the PPP33-Score and PROMs were used.

Results

No complications such as thromboembolic complications, fractures or revisions were recorded within the first week postoperatively in either study group. Compared to the conventional group, the ERAS group showed significantly better TUG (p < 0.050) and walking distance results after surgery up to the sixth, and floor count up to the third postoperative day. On the first and second postoperative day, ERAS patients showed superior results (p < 0.001) in all independent activity subitems. Regarding the evaluation of pain (NRS), PPP33 and PROMS, no significant difference was shown (p > 0.050).

Conclusion

This prospective single-blinded randomized controlled clinical trial was able to demonstrate excellent outcome with comparable pain after ERAS THA versus a conventional setup. Therefore, ERAS could be used in daily clinical practice.
Anxiety and physical impairment in patients with central vestibular disorders
Authors: Padovan Lena , Becker-Bense Sandra , Flanagin Virginia L. , Strobl Ralf , Limburg Karina , Lahmann Claas , Decker Julian , Dieterich Marianne
Published: August 2023

Background

There is increasing evidence for close interrelations between vestibular and emotional brain networks. A study in patients with bilateral peripheral vestibulopathy (BVP) showed relatively low vertigo-related anxiety (VRA), despite high physical impairment. The current working hypothesis proposes the integrity of the peripheral vestibular system as a prerequisite for development of VRA. Here we contribute by evaluating VRA and vestibular-related handicap in central vestibular disorders.

Methods

Of 6396 patients presenting in a tertiary vertigo centre, 306 were identified with four clear central vestibular disorders: pure cerebellar ocular motor disorder (COD; 61), cerebellar ataxia (CA; 63), atypical parkinsonian syndromes (APS; 28), vestibular migraine (VM; 154). Their results of the Vertigo Handicap Questionnaire (VHQ), with its subscales for anxiety and handicapped activity, were compared to those of 65 BVP patients. Postural instability was measured on a force-plate. Multivariate linear regression was used to adjust for patient demographics.

Results

Patients with chronic central vestibular disorders (COD, CA, APS) had relatively low VRA levels comparable to those in BVP, independent of increased handicapped activity or postural instability. Only VM patients showed significantly higher VRA, although their activity impairment and postural instability were lowest. No significant differences within chronic central vestibular disorders were found for VRA and subjective activity impairment.

Conclusions

Subjective and objective vestibular-related impairment are not necessarily correlated with vestibular-related anxiety in central vestibular disorders. Our findings rather support the hypothesis that, in addition to an intact peripheral, an intact central vestibular system could also serve as a prerequisite to develop specific VRA.
Combined measure of salivary alpha-synuclein species as diagnostic biomarker for Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Angius Fabrizio , Mocci Ignazia , Ercoli Tommaso , Loy Francesco , Fadda Laura , Palmas Maria Francesca , Cannas Giada , Manzin Aldo , Defazio Giovanni , Carta Anna R.
Published: August 2023

Parkinson’s disease (PD) diagnosis is still vulnerable to bias, and a definitive diagnosis often relies on post-mortem neuropathological diagnosis. In this regard, alpha-synuclein (αsyn)-specific in vivo biomarkers remain a critical unmet need, based on its relevance in the neuropathology. Specifically, content changes in αsyn species such as total (tot-αsyn), oligomeric (o-αsyn), and phosphorylated (p-αsyn) within the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and peripheral fluids (i.e., blood and saliva) have been proposed as PD biomarkers possibly reflecting the neuropathological outcome. Here, we measured the p-αsyn levels in the saliva from 15 PD patients along with tot-αsyn, o-αsyn and their ratios, and compared the results with those from 23 healthy subjects (HS), matched per age and sex. We also calculated the optimal cutoff values for different αsyn species to provide information about their capability to discriminate PD from HS. We found that p-αsyn was the most abundant alpha-synuclein species in the saliva. While p-αsyn concentration did not differ between PD and HS when adjusted for total salivary proteins, the ratio p-αsyn/tot-αsyn was largely lower in PD patients than in HS. Moreover, the concentration of o-αsyn was increased in the saliva of PD patients, and tot-αsyn did not differ between PD and HS. The ROC curves indicated that no single αsyn form or ratio could provide an accurate diagnosis of PD. On the other hand, the ratio of different items, namely p-αsyn/tot-αsyn and o-αsyn, yielded more satisfactory diagnostic accuracy, suggesting that the combined measure of different species in the saliva may show more promises as a diagnostic means for PD.
Laparoscopic vs open repair for primary midline ventral hernia: a prospective cohort study
Authors: Schjøth-Iversen Line , Sahakyan Mushegh A. , Lai Xiaoran , Refsum Arne
Published: August 2023

Background

The optimal operative treatment for umbilical and epigastric hernia, i.e., primary midline ventral hernia (PMVH), is debatable. The most common techniques are the primary suture and open repair with mesh, while laparoscopic approach using intraperitoneally placed onlay mesh (IPOM) is less frequent. The aim of this study was to examine the outcomes of IPOM in PMVH. Perioperative results, recurrence, pain, and functional status were studied.

Methods

This single-center prospective cohort study included consecutive patients with PMVH operated between September 2006 and December 2015. Systematic follow-up was conducted 6 months and 2 and 5 years postoperatively.

Results

Seven hundred fifty-four patients underwent PMVH repair. Open repair without mesh, open repair with mesh, and IPOM were performed in 251 (34.9%), 273 (38%), and 195 (27.1%) patients, respectively. In the unmatched cohort, the incidence of postoperative complications was similar except postoperative seroma, which was more frequent after IPOM. The latter was also associated with longer length of stay. Open repair with mesh was associated with significantly lower recurrence compared with open repair without mesh and IPOM (5.2 vs 18.2 vs 13.8%, p=0.001, respectively). No differences were seen between the groups in terms of visual analog scale used for registering postoperative pain. These observations persisted after applying propensity score matching. In the multivariable analysis, open repair without mesh and IPOM significantly correlated with recurrence.

Conclusions

In PMVH, open repair with mesh is associated with lower recurrence compared with open repair without mesh and IPOM. Pain, postoperative complications (except for seroma), and functional status are similar.
Quantization to speedup approximate nearest neighbor search
Authors: Peng Hao
Published: August 2023

The quantization-based approaches not only are the effective methods for solving the problems of approximate nearest neighbor search, but also effectively reduce storage space. However, many quantization-based approaches usually employ fixed nprobes to the search process for each query. This will lead to extra query consumption. Additionally, we observed that as the number of points in each cluster center of product quantization increases, the query cost also increases. To address this issue, we propose an acceleration strategy based on the IVF-HNSW framework to further speed up the query process. This strategy involves introducing an adaptive termination condition for queries and reducing the number of data points accessed by building HNSW results. Through extensive experiments, we have shown that our proposed method significantly accelerates the nearest neighbor search process.
Failure mechanism of boulder-embedded slope under excavation disturbance and rainfall
Authors: Yu Xiang , Zhao Tao , Gong Bin , Tang Chun’an
Published: August 2023

Due to the uneven weathering of rocks, boulders can exist inside a slope, making the deformation and failure mechanism of the slope very complex. By analyzing the failure characteristics of a boulder-embedded slope under alternating excavation and rainfall, two classical instability modes are proposed, i.e., boulder instability and soil instability. For the soil instability, three failure processes may occur, including the sliding surface above the boulder, the sliding surface below the boulder, and the sliding surface intersecting the boulder. Meanwhile, the interaction between soil and boulder can also vary during different failure phases. Furthermore, the slope sliding deformation, failure mechanism, and soil-boulder interaction are investigated by on-site monitoring and numerical simulation. The results show that the boulders play an anti-sliding role and block the formation of deep sliding surface, resulting in the shallow soil instability and local large deformation of the studied slope. Besides, during the slope sliding deformation, three failure processes of the soils appear one after another, and the soils may slide along the bottom or top of the boulders because of the hindering effect of the boulders.
Effects of intensive rehabilitation on functioning in patients with mild and moderate Charcot–Marie-Tooth disease: a real-practice retrospective study
Authors: Ferraro Francesco , Calafiore Dario , Curci Claudio , Fortunato Francesco , Carantini Irene , Genovese Filippo , Lucchini Giuseppe , Merlo Andrea , Ammendolia Antonio , de Sire Alessandro
Published: August 2023

Charcot–Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease is one of the most common inherited neuropathies and can lead to progressive muscular weakness, pes cavus, loss of deep tendon reflexes, distal sensory loss, and gait impairment. There are still no effective drugs or surgical therapies for CMT, and supportive treatment is limited to rehabilitative therapy and surgical treatment of skeletal deformities. Many rehabilitative therapeutic approaches have been proposed, but timing and cadence of rehabilitative intervention are not clearly defined, and long-term follow-up is lacking in literature. The aim of this real-practice retrospective study was to assess the effectiveness of an intensive neurorehabilitation protocol on muscle strength and functioning in CMT patients. We analyzed data of patients with diagnosis of mild to moderate CMT. The rehabilitation program lasted 2–4 h a day, 5 days a week, for 3 weeks and consisted of manual treatments, strengthening exercises, stretching, core stability, balance and resistance training, aerobic exercises, and tailored self-care training. Data were collected at baseline (T0), after treatment (T1), and at the 12-month mark (T2) in terms of the following outcome measures: muscle strength, pain, fatigue, cramps, balance, walking speed, and ability. We included 37 CMT patients with a median age of 50.72 ± 13.31 years, with different forms: demyelinating (n = 28), axonal (n = 8), and mixed (n = 1). After intensive rehabilitation treatment, all outcomes significantly improved. This improvement was lost at the 1-year mark. Taken together, these findings suggest that an intensive rehabilitation program improves short-term symptoms and functional outcomes in a cohort of inpatients affected by mild to moderate CMT.
The effect of corticosteroids, antibiotics, and anticoagulants on the development of post-COVID-19 syndrome in COVID-19 hospitalized patients 6 months after discharge: a retrospective follow up study
Authors: Davelaar John , Jessurun Naomi , Schaap Gerko , Bode Christina , Vonkeman Harald
Published: August 2023

To assess the effect of pharmacotherapeutic interventions commonly employed in the management of COVID-19 hospitalized patients on the development of post-COVID-19 syndrome. This study employed two distinct databases, the Medisch Spectrum Twente (MST) clinical database comprising electronic health records of COVID-19 patients hospitalized at MST, and the Post-COVID cohort database which contains follow-up information on the same patients. These databases were integrated to establish the potential relationship between the administration of corticosteroids, antibiotics, or anticoagulants during hospitalization and the occurrence of post-COVID-19 syndrome after a 6-month interval following discharge. A total of 123 patients who were hospitalized due to COVID-19 infection were included in this study. Among these patients, 33 (26.8%) developed post-COVID-19 syndrome which persisted even 6 months after hospital discharge. Multivariate analysis revealed that patients who received treatment with corticosteroids had a significantly lower likelihood (OR 0.32, 95% CI 0.11–0.90) of developing post-COVID-19 syndrome, while no significant association was observed for treatment with antibiotics (OR 1.26, 95% CI 0.47–3.39) or anticoagulants (OR 0.55, 95% CI 0.18–1.71). The findings of this study indicate that corticosteroids exert a significant protective effect against the development of post-COVID-19 syndrome in patients who were hospitalized due to COVID-19 infection. Although a trend towards a protective effect of anticoagulants was observed, it did not reach statistical significance. On the contrary, patients treated with antibiotics were shown to have increased chances of developing post-COVID-19 syndrome, although this effect was also not statistically significant.