bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Between‐study differences in grip strength: a comparison of Norwegian and Russian adults aged 40–69 years
Authors: Cooper Rachel , Shkolnikov Vladimir M. , Kudryavtsev Alexander V. , Malyutina Sofia , Ryabikov Andrew , Arnesdatter Hopstock Laila , Johansson Jonas , Cook Sarah , Leon David A. , Strand Bjørn Heine
Published: October 2021

Background

Identifying individuals with low grip strength is an initial step in many operational definitions of sarcopenia. As evidence indicates that contemporaneous Russian populations may have lower mean levels of grip strength than other populations in northern Europe, we aimed to: compare grip strength in Russian and Norwegian populations by age and sex; investigate whether height, body mass index, education, smoking status, alcohol use and health status explain observed differences and; examine implications for case‐finding low muscle strength.

Methods

We used harmonized cross‐sectional data on grip strength and covariates for participants aged 40–69 years from the Russian Know Your Heart study (KYH) (n = 3833) and the seventh survey of the Norwegian Tromsø Study (n = 5598). Maximum grip strength (kg) was assessed using the same protocol and device in both studies. Grip strength by age, sex and study was modelled using linear regression and between‐study differences were predicted from these models. Sex‐specific age‐standardized differences in grip strength and in prevalence of low muscle strength were estimated using the European population standard of 2013.

Results

Normal ranges of maximum grip strength in both studies combined were 33.8 to 67.0 kg in men and 18.7 to 40.1 kg in women. Mean grip strength was higher among Tromsø than KYH study participants and this difference did not vary markedly by age or sex. Adjustment for covariates, most notably height, attenuated between‐study differences but these differences were still evident at younger ages. For example, estimated between‐study differences in mean grip strength in fully adjusted models were 2.2 kg [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.4, 3.1] at 40 years and 1.0 kg (95% CI 0.5, 1.5) at 65 years in men (age × study interaction P = 0.09) and 1.1 kg (95% CI 0.4, 1.9) at age 40 years and −0.2 kg (95% CI −0.7, 0.3) at 65 years in women (age × study interaction P < 0.01).

Conclusions

We found between‐study differences in mean grip strength that are likely to translate into greater future risk of sarcopenia and poorer prospects of healthy ageing for Russian than Norwegian study participants. For example, the average Russian participant had a similar level of grip strength to a Norwegian participant 7 years older. Our findings suggest these differences may have their origins in childhood highlighting the need to consider interventions in early life to prevent sarcopenia.
Analyzing the scaffold diversity of cyclin‐dependent kinase inhibitors and revisiting the clinical and preclinical pipeline
Authors: Bhurta Deendyal , Bharate Sandip B.
Published: October 2021

Kinases have gained an important place in the list of vital therapeutic targets because of their overwhelming clinical success in the last two decades. Among various clinically validated kinases, the cyclin‐dependent kinases (CDK) are one of the extensively studied drug targets for clinical development. Food and Drug Administration has approved three CDK inhibitors for therapeutic use, and at least 27 inhibitors are under active clinical development. In the last decade, research and development in this area took a rapid pace, and thus the analysis of scaffold diversity is essential for future drug design. Available reviews lack the systematic study and discussion on the scaffold diversity of CDK inhibitors. Herein we have reviewed and critically analyzed the chemical diversity present in the preclinical and clinical pipeline of CDK inhibitors. Our analysis has shown that although several scaffolds represent CDK inhibitors, only the amino‐pyrimidine is a well‐represented scaffold. The three‐nitrogen framework of amino‐pyrimidine is a fundamental hinge‐binding unit. Further, we have discussed the selectivity aspects among CDKs, the clinical trial dose‐limiting toxicities, and highlighted the most advanced clinical candidates. We also discuss the changing paradigm towards selective inhibitors and an overview of ATP‐binding pockets of all druggable CDKs. We carefully analyzed the clinical pipeline to unravel the candidates that are currently under active clinical development. In addition to the plenty of dual CDK4/6 inhibitors, there are many selective CDK7, CDK9, and CDK8/19 inhibitors in the clinical pipeline.
Global structure and one‐sign solutions for second‐order Sturm–Liouville difference equation with sign‐changing weight
Authors: Ye Fumei
Published: October 2021

This paper is devoted to study the discrete Sturm–Liouville problem

where
is a parameter,
is not differentiable at the origin and infinity. Under some suitable assumptions on nonlinear terms, we prove the existence of unbounded continua of positive and negative solutions of this problem which bifurcate from intervals of the line of trivial solutions or from infinity, respectively.
Odd Chain Fatty Acids Are Not Robust Biomarkers for Dietary Intake of Fiber
Authors: Wu Yiwei , Posma Joram M. , Holmes Elaine , Frost Gary , Chambers Edward S. , Garcia‐Perez Isabel
Published: October 2021

Scope

Prior investigation has suggested a positive association between increased colonic propionate production and circulating odd‐chain fatty acids (OCFAs; pentadecanoic acid [C15:0], heptadecanoic acid [C17:0]). As the major source of propionate in humans is the microbial fermentation of dietary fiber, OCFAs have been proposed as candidate biomarkers of dietary fiber. The objective of this study is to critically assess the plausibility, robustness, reliability, dose‐response, time‐response aspects of OCFAs as potential biomarkers of fermentable fibers in two independent studies using a validated analytical method.

Methods and Results

OCFAs are first assessed in a fiber supplementation study, where 21 participants received 10 g dietary fiber supplementation for 7 days. OCFAs are then assessed in a highly controlled inpatient setting, which 19 participants consumed a high fiber (45.1 g per day) and a low fiber diet (13.6 g per day) for 4 days. Collectively in both studies, dietary intakes of fiber as fiber supplementations or having consumed a high fiber diet do not increase circulating levels of OCFAs. The dose and temporal relations are not observed.

Conclusion

Current study has generated new insight on the utility of OCFAs as fiber biomarkers and highlighted the importance of critical assessment of candidate biomarkers before application.
High‐resolution passive imaging by electromagnetic vortex beams
Authors: Guo Shaoqing , He Zi , Fan Zhenhong , Chen Rushan
Published: October 2021

A new scheme to achieve high resolution in passive millimeter wave imaging (PMMWI) using electromagnetic (EM) vortex beams is proposed in this article. The spatial resolution of the traditional PMMWI system based on the mechanically or electronically controlled scanning scheme is mainly limited by the beam width of the receiver. However, it is not practical to fabricate an antenna that is too large, another possible way to improve the resolution is to increase the sampling points but will increase the imaging time. In this article, the multimode EM vortex beam is applied to achieve high resolution with less sampling points. The imaging scene is first discretized into small grid cells, and then multimode measurements are conducted during the scanning process to construct equations to solve the unknown brightness distribution. The compress sensing method is applied to reduce the number of orbital angular momentum mode. Simulation results demonstrate that high resolution can be achieved by the proposed method.
Formation control for unmanned aerial vehicle swarm with disturbances: A mission‐driven control scheme
Authors: Dong Qi , Liu Zhibin
Published: October 2021

Different formation controllers are to deal with different missions for unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) swarm. The mission‐driven control scheme of the UAV swarm is necessary and worth exploring, leading to the main work of this article. Aiming at different requirements of UAV swarm, we proposed a mission‐driven control scheme, including a consensus‐based near‐optimal formation controller and a finite‐time precise formation controller. This control scheme can enable the swarm to reach its target position while maintaining consensus formation on the way. When the UAV swarm flies to the mission area, a consensus‐based near‐optimal formation controller based on adaptive neural networks is investigated to regulate the UAV states online. The controller drives the swarm from an arbitrary initial position and velocity to the desired target in an optimal manner while maintaining an expected formation with finite‐time consensus at the same time. When the UAV swarm approaches the mission area, a consensus‐based precise formation controller based on a fixed‐time disturbance observer (FDO) is designed to achieve an accurate and consensus formation within a limited time. The mission‐driven control scheme can better adapt to tasks and promote control optimization, formation precision, and system robustness. Finally, the efficiency of the proposed methodology is illustrated by numerical simulation.
Moving towards a multidimensional dynamic approach to nature and health: A bioavailability perspective
Authors: Sumner Rachel C. , Cassarino Marica , Dockray Samantha , Setti Annalisa , Crone Diane M.
Published: October 2021

The benefits of exposure to nature for health and well‐being have been demonstrated across multiple disciplines. Recent work has sought to establish one ‘dose’ or type of nature exposure that is universally beneficial, which has proven difficult.

We use the principles of psychopharmacology to look beyond the use of dose as a concept for prescribing nature. Instead, we posit a multidimensional model of bioavailability of nature to shift the focus beyond universal effects, and instead consider the relationship between health and nature as dynamic, changeable and heavily contextual.

We propose that the bioavailability of nature interactions is constructed through understanding route of administration, dose and concentration.

By delineating the mechanisms of health benefit derived from the type of behavioural interaction (through being, doing and living), the route of administration of nature interactions may be highly variable not just between, but also within, individuals.

We propose concentration as being a meeting between the subjective aspects of the individual and the subjective qualities of the nature at that specific time and place. We use a ‘green equation’, for mapping the processes and pathways that belie the interaction between the person and their environment. Here, the nature/health association as a dynamic interaction, and we operationalise this within a multidimensional construct of bioavailability.

We provide an overview of this testable model and summarise with preliminary evidence as well as a research agenda for the future.

A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article.
The versatile, functional polyether, polyepichlorohydrin: History, synthesis, and applications
Authors: Shukla Geetanjali , Ferrier Robert C.
Published: October 2021

Polyepichlorohydrin (PECH) is a functional polyether first synthesized in the 1950's by the catalytic ring opening polymerization of epichlorohydrin (ECH), its inexpensive epoxide pre‐cursor. PECH elastomers are used in diverse commercial applications due to their unique combination of properties including low temperature flexibility and heat and oil resistance. PECH holds an interesting place in polymer history as its synthesis led to the discovery of highly effective aluminum‐based catalysts for epoxide polymerizations and a new class of high molecular weight polyether elastomers by an exceptional polymer chemist, Edwin J. Vandenberg. ECH is an ideal feedstock for polymer materials as it is functional, inexpensive, and produced through environmentally friendly means. However, due to the alkyl chloride pendant, polymerizations involving ECH are difficult and limited synthetic advancement has occurred until very recently. This focused review will discuss modern polymerization methods involving ECH while giving a historical perspective on the evolution of these techniques. We will also review applications of ECH‐based polymers and discuss the future development of these materials. We hope to convince the reader to explore ECH‐based materials in their own work.
Insight from data analytics in a facilities management company
Authors: Walker Daniel , Ruane Martin , Bacardit Jaume , Coleman Shirley
Published: October 2021

Facilities management (FM) of large public services is commonly outsourced to a specialist provider. Extensive data is collected on a wide range of operational tasks. Often, limited use is made of this data beyond operational considerations. Increasing availability of sophisticated data integration systems makes it possible to develop bespoke data science solutions to improve the efficiency, speed and accuracy of commonly encountered tasks. A Knowledge Transfer Partnership (a funding scheme of Innovate UK) was set‐up between Newcastle University and a large FM provider. Within this project, data science has been effectively applied to improve service delivery in three different case studies: (1) designing routing algorithms for scheduling of staff allocation to jobs, (2) using natural language processing for automatically raising work orders from help desk emails, (3) development of algorithms to optimise the placement of charging points for the transition of fleets of commercial vehicles from diesel to electric powered. For each case study, we show how the data science work has contributed to improvement of FM by: (1) maximising the productivity of engineers, (2) reducing the time taken to process help desk emails, (3) creating a data‐driven method to provide objective decision support for charger placement, respectively. The research in this paper is based on a contract with a local authority where the FM company provides planned and reactive maintenance for a range of assets in corporate buildings, hospitals and schools. In addition to describing the data science solutions, we will also discuss issues around knowledge transfer from data scientist to operational staff and how change management processes were employed in this project to embed the new working practices.
Strong Two‐Phonon Correlations and Bound States in the Continuum in Phononic Waveguides with Embedded SiV Centers
Authors: Shen Cai‐Peng , Dong Xing‐Liang , Chen Jia‐Qiang , Qiao Yi‐Fan , Li Peng‐Bo
Published: October 2021

Quantum phononic systems have attracted great attention in quantum science and technology. However, it is quite difficult to realize strong phonon–phonon interactions at the few phonon level in phononic systems, since direct interactions between phonons are generally very weak. Here, the phonon transport properties and the phonon–phonon interactions in a 1D phononic waveguide with embedded silicon‐vacancy (SiV) centers are studied. The authors show that, mediated by the SiV centers, strong phonon–phonon interactions can be realized due to coherent interferences of the emitting phonon waves with the incident waves. In particular, the embedded color centers can induce an effective attractive or repulsive interaction in space for phonons, corresponding to phonon bunching or antibunching. Besides, it is found that a single SiV center can capture two resonant phonons simultaneously, forming a phononic bound state in the continuum. Comparing with photon–photon interactions in photonic systems, the phonon–phonon interactions are stronger for relatively slower phonon velocity and the strongly correlated phonon properties are promising for constructing various all‐phonon quantum devices in quantum information processing.
Subclinical synovitis detected by magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasonography following clinical remission in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: A retrospective study
Authors: Nawata Masao , Someya Kazuki , Aritomi Takafumi , Funada Masashi , Nakamura Katsumi , Saito Kazuyoshi , Tanaka Yoshiya
Published: October 2021

Background

Subjective residual symptoms persist after clinical remission of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in Japanese patients. Few studies have examined the relationship between these symptoms and subclinical inflammation using high‐sensitivity imaging (musculoskeletal ultrasound [MSUS] and magnetic resonance imaging [MRI]). We examined the relationship between subjective residual symptoms and imaging findings in patients with RA who achieved clinical remission.

Methods

We enrolled 30 patients with RA. The primary endpoint was the patients' subjective residual symptoms. The secondary endpoint was the relationship between the aforementioned symptoms and imaging findings.

Results

Despite a mean Simplified Disease Activity Index of 1.3, imaging evaluation revealed inflammatory findings. In the multivariate analysis, the Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index (HAQ‐DI) and pain visual analog scale (VAS) scores were extracted as independent related factors of subjective residual symptoms. The stratified analysis according to HAQ‐DI showed a significant difference in synovitis on MRI between patients with and without residual disability (12.0 ± 8.7 vs. 5.3 ± 5.3, respectively; p = 0.0192). However, MSUS scores showed no significant difference in these two groups. In addition, no significant differences were found in MSUS and MRI scores between patients with and without residual pain VAS.

Conclusions

Our findings demonstrated residual synovitis related to patient‐reported outcomes in patients with RA who achieved clinical remission. In particular, patients with an HAQ‐DI score of >0.25 even after achieving clinical remission should be further examined by MRI and/or MSUS for the evaluation of residual synovitis.
Luminescent Covalent Organic Frameworks for Biosensing and Bioimaging Applications
Authors: Ma Jianxin , Shu Tong , Sun Yanping , Zhou Xiang , Ren Chenyu , Su Lei , Zhang Xueji
Published: October 2021

Luminescent covalent organic frameworks (LCOFs) have attracted significant attention due to their tunability of structures and photophysical properties at molecular level. LCOFs are built to highly ordered and periodic 2D or 3D framework structures through covalently assembling with various luminophore building blocks. Recently, the advantages of LCOFs including predesigned properties of structure, unique photoluminescence, hypotoxicity and good biocompatibility and tumor penetration, broaden their applications in biorelated fields, such as biosensing, bioimaging, and drug delivery. A specific review that analyses the advances of LCOFs in the field of biosensing and bioimaging is thus urged to emerge. Here the construction of LCOFs is reviewed first. The synthetic chemistry of LCOFs highlights the key role of chemical linkages, which not only concrete the building blocks but also affect the optical properties and even can act as the responsive sites for potential sensing applications. How to brighten LCOFs are clarified through description of structure managements. The ability to utilize the luminescence of LCOFs for applications in biosensing and bioimaging is discussed using state‐of‐the‐art examples of varied practical goals. A prospect finally addresses opportunities and challenges the development of LCOFs facing from chemistry, physics to the applications, according to their current progress.
Effective Screening Route for Highly Active and Selective Metal−Nitrogen‐Doped Carbon Catalysts in CO2 Electrochemical Reduction
Authors: Park Byoung Joon , Wang Ying , Lee Yechan , Noh Kyung‐Jong , Cho Ara , Jang Myeong Gon , Huang Rui , Lee Kug‐Seung , Han Jeong Woo
Published: October 2021

To identify high‐efficiency metal—nitrogen‐doped (M—N—C) electrocatalysts for the electrochemical CO2‐to‐CO reduction reaction (CO2RR), a method that uses density functional theory calculation is presented to evaluate their selectivity, activity, and structural stability. Twenty‐three M—N4—C catalysts are evaluated, and three of them (M = Fe, Co, or Ni) are identified as promising candidates. They are synthesized and tested as proof‐of‐concept catalysts for CO2‐to‐CO conversion. Different key descriptors, including the maximum reaction energy, differences of the *H and *CO binding energy (ΔG*H−ΔG*CO), and *CO desorption energy (ΔG*CO→CO(g)), are used to clarify the reaction mechanism. These computational descriptors effectively predict the experimental observations in the entire range of electrochemical potential. The findings provide a guideline for rational design of heterogeneous CO2RR electrocatalysts.
P-wave quarkonium wavefunctions at the origin in the $$ \overline{\mathrm{MS}} $$ scheme
Authors: Chung Hee Sok
Published: October 2021

Abstract

We compute P-wave quarkonium wavefunctions at the origin in the $$ \overline{\mathrm{MS}} $$

MS
¯

scheme based on nonrelativistic effective field theories. We include nonperturbative effects from the long-distance behaviors of the potential, while the short-distance behaviors are determined from perturbative QCD. We obtain $$ \overline{\mathrm{MS}} $$

MS
¯

-renormalized P-wave quarkonium wavefunctions at the origin that have the correct scale dependences that are expected from factorization formalisms, so that the dependences on the scheme and scale cancel in physical quantities. This greatly reduces the theoretical uncertainties associated with scheme and scale dependences in predictions of decay and production rates. Based on the calculation of the P-wave wavefunctions at the origin in this work, we make first-principles predictions of electromagnetic decay rates and exclusive electromagnetic production rates of P-wave charmonia and bottomonia, and compare them with measurements.
Hilbert series for leptonic flavor invariants in the minimal seesaw model
Authors: Yu Bingrong , Zhou Shun
Published: October 2021

Abstract

In this paper, we examine the leptonic flavor invariants in the minimal see-saw model (MSM), in which only two right-handed neutrino singlets are added into the Standard Model in order to accommodate tiny neutrino masses and explain cosmological matter-antimatter asymmetry via leptogenesis mechanism. For the first time, we calculate the Hilbert series (HS) for the leptonic flavor invariants in the MSM. With the HS we demonstrate that there are totally 38 basic flavor invariants, among which 18 invariants are CP-odd and the others are CP-even. Moreover, we explicitly construct these basic invariants, and any other flavor invariants in the MSM can be decomposed into the polynomials of them. Interestingly, we find that any flavor invariants in the effective theory at the low-energy scale can be expressed as rational functions of those in the full MSM at the high-energy scale. Practical applications to the phenomenological studies of the MSM, such as the sufficient and necessary conditions for CP conservation and CP asymmetries in leptogenesis, are also briefly discussed.
Higgs branches of 5d rank-zero theories from geometry
Authors: Collinucci Andrés , De Marco Mario , Sangiovanni Andrea , Valandro Roberto
Published: October 2021

Abstract

We study the Higgs branches of five-dimensional $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= 1 rank-zero theories obtained from M-theory on two classes non-toric non-compact Calabi-Yau threefolds: Reid’s pagodas, and Laufer’s examples. Our approach consists in reducing to IIA with D6-branes and O6-planes, and computing the open-string spectra giving rise to hypermultiplets. Starting with the seven-dimensional worldvolume theories, we switch on T-brane backgrounds to give rise to bound states with angles. We observe that the resulting partially Higgsed 5d theories have discrete gauge groups, from which we readily deduce the geometry of the Higgs branches as orbifolds of quaternionic varieties.
Flavor SU(3) in Cabibbo-favored D-meson decays
Authors: Bhattacharya Bhubanjyoti , Datta Alakabha , Petrov Alexey A. , Waite John
Published: October 2021

Abstract

Model-independent description of nonleptonic decays of charmed mesons is a challenging task due to large nonperturbative effects of strong interactions on the transition amplitudes. We discuss the equivalence of two different flavor-SU(3)-based descriptions of Cabibbo-favored non-leptonic decays of charmed mesons to two-pseudoscalars final states including the η and η′ mesons.
Gauge independent quantum gravitational corrections to Maxwell’s equation
Authors: Katuwal S. , Woodard R. P.
Published: October 2021

Abstract

We consider quantum gravitational corrections to Maxwell’s equations on flat space background. Although the vacuum polarization is highly gauge dependent, we explicitly show that this gauge dependence is canceled by contributions from the source which disturbs the effective field and the observer who measures it. Our final result is a gauge independent, real and causal effective field equation that can be used in the same way as the classical Maxwell equation.
Sexualisierte Gewalt in der Erfahrung Jugendlicher: Ergebnisse einer repräsentativen Befragung
Authors: Erkens Christiane , Scharmanski Sara , Heßling Angelika
Published: October 2021

Hintergrund

Seit 1998 erhebt die Bundeszentrale für gesundheitliche Aufklärung (BZgA) im Rahmen ihrer Repräsentativbefragung „Jugendsexualität“ Daten zur Verbreitung von sexualisierter Gewalt im Jugendalter. Seither wurde das Messinstrument stetig weiterentwickelt und kann somit auch einen Beitrag zur Bearbeitung der Forschungslücken im Bereich der Prävalenzforschung leisten.

Ziel

Anhand der Ergebnisse der 9. Trendwelle sollen die Prävalenzen erlebter körperlicher und nichtkörperlicher sexualisierter Gewalt in der Erfahrung junger Menschen sowie Daten zu Täterkreisen und zum Disclosure-Verhalten Betroffener dargestellt werden.

Methode

An der kombiniert mündlich-schriftlichen CAPI-Befragung (Computer-assisted Personal Interviewing) nahmen Jugendliche (14–17 Jahre) und junge Erwachsene (18–25 Jahre) teil (N = 6032). Der Fragenkatalog wurde im Rahmen der 2019 durchgeführten 9. Welle u. a. um die Frage nach Lebenszeitprävalenzen zu nichtkörperlicher Gewalt erweitert. Erste Ergebnisse werden hier deskriptiv dargestellt.

Ergebnisse

Sexualisierte Gewalt im Jugendalter wird mehrheitlich innerhalb der eigenen Peergruppe (unter gleichaltrigen Bekannten) erfahren. Auch hinsichtlich des Disclosure-Verhaltens betroffener Jugendlichen und jungen Erwachsenen spielen Gleichaltrige eine übergeordnete Rolle.

Diskussion

Die Daten bestärken Ergebnisse anderer Dunkelfeldstudien zu den Unterschieden des Erlebens sexualisierter Gewalt in Kindheit und Jugendalter. Die vorliegende Studie trägt zu einem kontinuierlichen Monitoring bei und kann auch zukünftig sexualisierte Gewalt in der aktuellen Generation junger Menschen erfassen. Es gilt, den Studienergebnissen gezielte, evidenzbasierte und zielgruppenspezifische Präventionsmaßnahmen anzuschließen.
Epidemiologie der Skabies in Deutschland: Multi-Source-Analyse von Primär- und Sekundärdaten
Authors: Augustin Matthias , Garbe Claudia , Girbig Gefion , Strömer Klaus , Kirsten Natalia
Published: October 2021

Hintergrund

Skabies stellt weltweit eine der häufigsten und hinsichtlich der Krankheitslast bedeutendsten Hautkrankheiten dar. In Deutschland wird derzeit eine Zunahme von Fällen diskutiert, wofür bisher belastbare Zahlen fehlten.

Fragestellung

Häufigkeit und Versorgungsmerkmale der Skabies in Deutschland.

Material und Methode

Multi-Source-Analysen aus Versorgungsdaten einer bundesweiten gesetzlichen Krankenversicherung, des Statistischen Bundesamtes und von betrieblichen Hautscreenings.

Ergebnisse

In Deutschland weist Skabies seit 2009 und insbesondere seit 2014 eine steigende Versorgungsprävalenz auf. Im ambulanten Bereich findet sich ein Anstieg zwischen 2010 und 2015 von 52,8 % auf etwa 128.000 Behandlungsfälle. Stationär werden in Deutschland derzeit jährlich über 11.000 Fälle mit Skabies als Hauptdiagnose (ICD-10 B86) dokumentiert. Der Anstieg zwischen 2010 und 2016 betrug etwa 306 %. Hauptversorgende ambulante Fachgruppen sind Dermatologen und Hausärzte, im stationären Bereich Fachabteilungen für Dermatologie, Pädiatrie und Innere Medizin.

Schlussfolgerung

Der Versorgungsbedarf wird zukünftig aufgrund der vorgenannten Entwicklung von Prävalenz und Inzidenz weiter auf einem hohen Niveau bleiben, was einen erhöhten Aufklärungs- und Früherkennungsbedarf nahelegt.
Epitheloides Angiomyolipom der Niere nach stattgehabtem malignem Melanom
Authors: Rothe H. , Gaber A. , Dittrich B. , Nagel M. , Tuffaha M. , Hoschke B.
Published: October 2021

Hintergrund

Die Therapie der epitheloiden Angiomyolipome (eAML) kann eine Herausforderung darstellen, da bei dieser sehr seltenen Unterform der gutartigen mesenchymalen Angiomyolipome anders als bei den klassischen Angiomyolipomen bei bis zu 30 % der Fälle Lymphknotenmetastasen, lokale Rezidive und Fernmetastasen auftreten.

Ziel der Arbeit

Wir berichten hier nach unserer Recherche erstmals in Deutschland von einem Fall von eAML nach stattgehabtem malignem Melanom.

Material und Methoden

Neben der Klinik und Histologie wird die genetische Untersuchung des Tumorgewebes dargestellt.

Ergebnisse

Es fand sich eine somatische, trunkierende Mutation des TSC2-Gens („tuberous sclerosis complex“) im Angiomyolipom.

Schlussfolgerung

Die Beziehung zu verwandten Tumorentitäten in der histologischen Diagnostik wird dargestellt und eine mögliche Rolle der genetischen Diagnostik für die Therapieplanung diskutiert.
Robot and ukiyo-e: implications to cultural varieties in human–robot relationships
Authors: Sakura Osamu
Published: October 2021

The social and cultural causes behind the widespread use and acceptance of robots in Japan are not yet completely understood. This study compares humans and robots in images gathered through Google searches in Japanese and in English. Numerous pictures obtained by the search in Japanese were found to have a human and a robot looking together at something else (“third item”), whereas many of the images acquired by search in English show a human and a robot facing each other. This is similar to the composition of mother and child in paintings: in ukiyo-e that was painted mainly in the Edo period of Japan, the mother and child are often depicted together viewing something other than themselves, whereas this is not the case in Western paintings of mother and child. It has also been pointed out that, in modern Western paintings, the world inside the picture is separated from the outside world, forming an independent microcosmos, whereas the inside and outside are continuous in Japanese paintings. These may indicate that, in Japanese society, robots are to a certain extent regarded as fellow human beings who can share the third item. In Western society, on the other hand, no code is embedded that can fix robots’ superiority or inferiority to humans, which would easily trigger an antagonistic view toward artificial intelligence (AI)/robots as threatening entities, as shown in most of Western literature and movies. We suggest that such cultural characteristics of Japanese society can contribute to enhance coexistence with AI/robots.
Cell survival after DNA damage in the comet assay
Authors: Bankoglu Ezgi Eyluel , Schuele Carolin , Stopper Helga
Published: October 2021

The comet assay is widely used in basic research, genotoxicity testing, and human biomonitoring. However, interpretation of the comet assay data might benefit from a better understanding of the future fate of a cell with DNA damage. DNA damage is in principle repairable, or if extensive, can lead to cell death. Here, we have correlated the maximally induced DNA damage with three test substances in TK6 cells with the survival of the cells. For this, we selected hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) as an oxidizing agent, methyl methanesulfonate (MMS) as an alkylating agent and etoposide as a topoisomerase II inhibitor. We measured cell viability, cell proliferation, apoptosis, and micronucleus frequency on the following day, in the same cell culture, which had been analyzed in the comet assay. After treatment, a concentration dependent increase in DNA damage and in the percentage of non-vital and apoptotic cells was found for each substance. Values greater than 20–30% DNA in tail caused the death of more than 50% of the cells, with etoposide causing slightly more cell death than H2O2 or MMS. Despite that, cells seemed to repair of at least some DNA damage within few hours after substance removal. Overall, the reduction of DNA damage over time is due to both DNA repair and death of heavily damaged cells. We recommend that in experiments with induction of DNA damage of more than 20% DNA in tail, survival data for the cells are provided.
Funktioneller Status und Lebensqualität von geriatrischen Patienten mit Wunden im Akutkrankenhaus
Authors: Lamotte Sylvie , Rappl Anja , Freiberger Ellen , Sieber Cornel Christian , Gehr Thomas Johann
Published: October 2021

Hintergrund

Geriatrische Patienten sind alters- und krankheitsbedingt für das Auftreten einer Wunde, die den funktionellen Status und die Lebensqualität beeinträchtigt, prädisponiert. Dieser Aspekt wurde bisher in dieser Population wenig untersucht.

Ziel

Das Ziel dieser Studie war es, den Einfluss von chronischer (cW) und akuter Wunde (aW) auf den objektiven funktionalen Status sowie auf die wundbezogene subjektive Lebensqualität bei hospitalisierten geriatrischen Patienten zu untersuchen.

Methode

In dieser explorativen Querschnittsanalyse wurden die Daten von 41 Patienten mit Wunden untersucht, die in der Studie „Transsektorales Interventionsprogramm zur Verbesserung der Geriatrischen Versorgung in Regensburg“ (TIGER) (n = 244) rekrutiert wurden. Je nach Art der Wunde wurden die Patienten der Gruppe der aW (n = 19) oder cW (n = 22) zugeteilt. Die beiden Gruppen wurden hinsichtlich Mobilität, Handkraft, Alltagsaktivitäten, Emotion, Kognition und Ernährung sowie der wundbezogenen Lebensqualität (Wound-QoL) und soziodemografischen Daten miteinander verglichen.

Ergebnisse

Zwischen der aW- und der cW-Gruppe ergab sich ein signifikanter Unterschied hinsichtlich des Geschlechtes (p = 0,045) und der Wohnsituation (p = 0,047). Die Art der Wunde war mit dem Barthel-Index (p = 0,010) und dem Wound-QoL (p = 0,022) assoziiert.

Diskussion

Im Vergleich zu den aW-Patienten sind die cW-Patienten in den physischen und sozialen Dimensionen eingeschränkter und berichten von geringerer Lebensqualität. Die Wohnsituation von Alleinlebenden scheint dabei eine relevante Rolle zu spielen. Bei den Patienten der TIGER-Studie waren besonders alleinlebende Männer von cW betroffen. Die Betreuung dieser spezifischen Patientenpopulation sollte einen ganzheitlichen Ansatz verfolgen.
Latency duration of preterm premature rupture of membranes and neonatal outcome: a retrospective single-center experience
Authors: Müller Hanna , Stähling Ann-Christin , Bruns Nora , Weiss Christel , Ai Maria , Köninger Angela , Felderhoff-Müser Ursula
Published: October 2021

In preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM), a decision between early delivery with prematurity complications and pregnancy prolongation bearing the risk of chorioamnionitis has to be made. To define disadvantages of delayed prolongation, latency duration of PPROM in expectantly managed pregnancies was investigated. We included those PPROMs > 48 h leading to preterm birth prior 37 weeks’ gestation and retrospectively analyzed 84 preterm infants fulfilling these criteria. The association between latency duration/appearance of PPROM and respiratory outcome (primary outcomes) and neurological outcome (secondary outcomes) was investigated. The study showed that latency duration of PPROM is not associated with clinical or histological chorioamnionitis (p = 0.275; p = 0.332). As the numerous clinical parameters show multicollinearity between each other, we performed a multiple regression analysis to consider this fact. Respiratory distress syndrome is significantly associated with gestational age at PPROM (p < 0.001), and surfactant application is significantly associated with PPROM duration (p = 0.014). The other respiratory parameters including steroids and diuretics therapy, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, and the neurological parameters (intraventricular hemorrhage, Bayley II testing at a corrected age of 24 months) were not significantly associated with PPROM duration or gestational age at PPROM diagnosis.

Conclusion: Latency duration of PPROM was not associated with adverse neonatal outcome in expectantly and carefully managed pregnancies, but respiratory distress syndrome was pronounced. The observed effect of pronounced respiratory distress syndrome can be treated with surfactant preparations and was not followed by increased rate of bronchopulmonary dysplasia.

What is Known:• In case of preterm premature rupture of membranes, a decision between pregnancy prolongation with the risk of chorioamnionitis and early delivery with prematurity complications has to be made.• Chorioamnionitis is a dangerous situation for the pregnant woman and the fetus.• Impaired neurodevelopmental outcome is strongly correlated with pronounced prematurity due to the increased rate of serious complications.

What is New:• Respiratory distress syndrome is significantly associated with gestational age at PPROM, and surfactant application is significantly associated with PPROM duration.• Latency duration of PPROM is not associated with adverse respiratory neonatal outcome (therapy with continuous positive airway pressure, therapy with diuretics and/or steroids, bronchopulmonary dysplasia) in expectantly and carefully managed pregnancies.• Intraventricular hemorrhage and Bayley II testing at a corrected age of 24 months are not associated with latency duration of PPROM when pregnancies are carefully observed.
Lung development and immune status under chronic LPS exposure in rat pups with and without CD26/DPP4 deficiency
Authors: Schmiedl Andreas , Wagener Inga , Jungen Meike , von Hörsten Stephan , Stephan Michael
Published: October 2021

Dipeptidyl-peptidase IV (CD26), a multifactorial integral type II protein, is expressed in the lungs during development and is involved in inflammation processes. We tested whether daily LPS administration influences the CD26-dependent retardation in morphological lung development and induces alterations in the immune status. Newborn Fischer rats with and without CD26 deficiency were nebulized with 1 µg LPS/2 ml NaCl for 10 min from days postpartum (dpp) 3 to 9. We used stereological methods and fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS) to determine morphological lung maturation and alterations in the pulmonary leukocyte content on dpp 7, 10, and 14. Daily LPS application did not change the lung volume but resulted in a significant retardation of alveolarization in both substrains proved by significantly lower values of septal surface and volume as well as higher mean free distances in airspaces. Looking at the immune status after LPS exposure compared to controls, a significantly higher percentage of B lymphocytes and decrease of CD4+CD25+ T cells were found in both subtypes, on dpp7 a significantly higher percentage of CD4 T+ cells in CD26+ pups, and a significantly higher percentage of monocytes in CD26− pups. The percentage of T cells was significantly higher in the CD26-deficient group on each dpp. Thus, daily postnatal exposition to low doses of LPS for 1 week resulted in a delay in formation of secondary septa, which remained up to dpp 14 in CD26− pups. The retardation was accompanied by moderate parenchymal inflammation and CD26-dependent changes in the pulmonary immune cell composition.
Solid tumor size for prediction of recurrence in large and giant non-functioning pituitary adenomas
Authors: Ko Ching-Chung , Chang Chin-Hong , Chen Tai-Yuan , Lim Sher-Wei , Wu Te-Chang , Chen Jeon-Hor , Kuo Yu‐Ting
Published: October 2021

A subset of large non-functioning pituitary adenomas (lNFPA) and giant non-functioning pituitary adenomas (gNFPA) undergoes early progression/recurrence (P/R) after surgery. This study revealed the clinical and image predictors of P/R in lNFPA and gNFPA, with emphasis on solid tumor size. This retrospective study investigated the preoperative MR imaging features for the prediction of P/R in lNFPA (> 3 cm) and gNFPA (> 4 cm). Only the patients with a complete preoperative brain MRI and undergone postoperative MRI follow-ups for more than 1 year were included. From November 2010 to December 2020, a total of 34 patients diagnosed with lNFPA and gNFPA were included (median follow-up time 47.6 months) in this study. A total of twenty-three (23/34, 67.6%) patients had P/R, and the median time to P/R is 25.2 months. Solid tumor diameter (STD), solid tumor volume (STV), and extent of resection are associated with P/R (p < 0.05). Multivariate analysis showed large STV is a risk factor for P/R (p < 0.05) with a hazard ratio of 30.79. The cutoff points of STD and STV for prediction of P/R are 26 mm and 7.6 cm3, with AUCs of 0.78 and 0.79 respectively. Kaplan–Meier analysis of tumor P/R trends showed that patients with larger STD and STV exhibited shorter progression-free survival (p < 0.05). For lNFPA and gNFPA, preoperative STD and STV are significant predictors of P/R. The results offer objective and valuable information for treatment planning in this subgroup.
Efficacy and safety of autologous adipose-derived stromal vascular fraction enriched with platelet-rich plasma in flap repair of transsphincteric cryptoglandular fistulas
Authors: Schouten W. R. , Arkenbosch J. H. C. , van der Woude C. J. , de Vries A. C. , Stevens H. P. , Fuhler G. M. , Dwarkasing R. S. , van Ruler O. , de Graaf E. J. R.
Published: October 2021

Background

Transanal advancement flap repair of transsphincteric fistulas is a sphincter-preserving procedure, which frequently fails, probably due to ongoing inflammation in the remaining fistula tract. Adipose-derived stromal vascular fraction (SVF) has immunomodulatory properties promoting wound healing and suppressing inflammation. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) reinforces this biological effect. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of autologous adipose-derived SVF enriched with PRP in flap repair of transsphincteric cryptoglandular fistulas.

Methods

A prospective cohort study was conducted including consecutive patients with transsphincteric cryptoglandular fistula in a tertiary referral center. During flap repair, SVF was obtained by lipoharvesting and mechanical fractionation of adipose tissue and combined with PRP was injected around the internal opening and into the fistulous wall. Endpoints were fistula healing at clinical examination and fistula closure on postoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Adverse events were documented.

Results

Forty-five patients with transsphincteric cryptoglandular fistula were included (29 males, median age 44 years [range 36–53 years]). In the total study population, primary fistula healing was observed in 38 patients (84%). Among the 42 patients with intestinal continuity at time of surgery, primary fistula healing was observed in 35 patients (84%). In one patient, the fistula recurred, resulting in a long-term healing rate of 82%. MRI, performed in 37 patients, revealed complete closure of the fistula tract in 33 (89.2%). In the other patients, the tract was almost completely obliterated by scar tissue. During follow-up, none of these patients showed clinical signs of recurrence. The postoperative course was uneventful, except for three cases; venous thromboembolism in one patient and bleeding under the flap, necessitating intervention in two patients.

Conclusions

Addition of autologous SVF enriched with PRP during flap repair is feasible, safe and might improve outcomes in patients with a transsphincteric cryptoglandular fistula.

Trial registration

Dutch Trial Register, Trial Number: NL8416, https://www.trialregister.nl/
National and subnational outcomes of waste management policies for 1718 municipalities in Japan: development of a bottom-up waste flow model and its application to a declining population through 2030
Authors: Inaba Rokuta , Tasaki Tomohiro , Kawai Kosuke , Nakanishi Shotaro , Yokoo Yusuke , Takagi Shigesada
Published: October 2021

Japan has been promoting 3R (reduce, reuse, and recycle) policies for several decades, but the recycling rate of the whole country has leveled off, and more effective policies are needed. At the same time, municipalities have been implementing measures for municipal waste management considering their specific regional conditions, but the relationship between the municipalities’ policy inputs and national policy output is unclear, which causes difficulties in setting national targets and identifying effective policies. We, therefore, developed the Municipal Input and National Output Waste (MINOWA) model, which represents the municipal waste flows of all 1718 municipalities in Japan. The model enables users to establish various 3R measures at the municipal level and estimate their effects at the national level. Using the model, we estimated the flows under business-as-usual (BaU) and additional-measure scenarios that extended the use of conventional policies to 2030. The results revealed differences in the policy effects between areas with different populations. In addition, the results showed that the extension of conventional measures will be insufficient to achieve national goals. The developed model links municipal policies, regional characteristics, and national policy and goal-setting in an integrated framework, and supports ways to find more effective policies.
Teleworking: A Curse or a Blessing for Gender Equality and Work-Life Balance?
Authors: Tomei Manuela
Published: October 2021

Affordable, reliable and high-quality child and elderly care services are essential for employees to do teleworking in an efficient manner.
Gender Equality and the COVID-19 Pandemic: Labour Market, Family Relationships and Public Policy
Authors: Profeta Paola
Published: October 2021

During the recovery, investing in gender equality is essential: it will lead directly to higher GDP and indirectly to increase human capital and promote a sustainable society.

Or Women as economic agents may themselves have an impact on policies: the changing role of women in families and societies and their greater representation in decision making positions contribute to focusing and redirecting the policy agenda toward items that ultimately reduce gender gaps.
Effect of pectin extraction method on properties of cellulose nanofibers isolated from sugar beet pulp
Authors: Hassan Mohammad L. , Berglund Linn , Abou Elseoud Wafaa S. , Hassan Enas A. , Oksman Kristiina
Published: October 2021

In this study, the effect of pectin extraction method on the properties of cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) isolated from sugar beet pulp (SBP) was studied. Pectin was extracted by the industrially practiced method by sulfuric acid hydrolysis or by enzymatic hydrolysis using a cellulase/xylanase enzymes mixture. The CNFs were then isolated by high-pressure homogenization and investigated in terms of their chemical composition, crystallinity, size, degree of polymerization, and re-dispersion in water after freeze-drying. The mechanical properties and surface characteristics of CNF films were also studied. The results showed that fibrillation of the de-pectinated SBP was more efficient for the acid hydrolyzed SBP. CNFs from the acid-hydrolyzed SBP had a slightly wider diameter, higher crystallinity, viscosity, and α-cellulose content but a lower degree of polymerization than CNFs from the enzyme-hydrolyzed SBP. Owing to the presence of more residual hemicelluloses in the CNFs from the enzyme-hydrolyzed SBP, the CNFs had higher re-dispersion ability in water. CNF films from enzyme-hydrolyzed SBP displayed slightly better mechanical properties and higher water contact angle than acid-hydrolyzed CNF films.

Graphic abstract