bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Histopathological results of radical prostatectomy specimen of men younger than 50 years of age at the time of surgery: possible implications for prostate cancer screening programs?
Authors: Mehring Gisa , Tilki Derya , Heinzer Hans , Steuber Thomas , Pose Randi M. , Thederan Imke , Budäus Lars , Salomon Georg , Haese Alexander , Michl Uwe , Maurer Tobias , Huland Hartwig , Graefen Markus , Isbarn Hendrik
Published: January 2023

Introduction

Prostate cancer (PCa) detection is usually achieved by PSA measurement and, if indicated, further diagnostics. The recent EAU guidelines recommend a first PSA test at the age of 50 years, if no family history of PCa or BRCA2 mutation exists. However, some men might harbor significant PCa at younger age; thus we evaluated the histopathological results of men treated with radical prostatectomy (RP) in their 40 s at our institution.

Materials and methods

We relied on the data of all patients who underwent RP in our institution between 1992 and 2020 and were younger than 50 years at the time of surgery. The histopathological results are descriptively presented. Moreover, we tested the effect of a positive family history on the descriptive results.

Results

Overall, 1225 patients younger than 50 years underwent RP at our institution. Median age was 47 years. Most patients showed favorable histopathological characteristics. However, 20% of patients had extraprostatic disease (≥ pT3a), 15% had ISUP Gleason grade group ≥ 3, and 7% had positive lymph nodes (pN1). Patients with a known positive family history did not have a higher rate of adverse disease as their counterparts with a negative family history.

Discussion

Our data show that the majority of patients who were diagnosed with PCa at a very young age had favorable histopathological RP characteristics. However, a non-negligible proportion of patients already showed locally advanced disease and would have probably benefited from earlier PCa detection. This should be kept in mind when PCa screening recommendations are proposed.
Mid-term symptomatic relief after platelet-rich plasma infiltration in vulvar lichen sclerosus
Authors: Medina Garrido Carola , Cano García Alejandra , de la Cruz Cea Lidia , Oreja Cuesta Ana B.
Published: January 2023

Purpose

Vulvar lichen sclerosus (LS) is a chronic, progressive, autoimmune dermatologic condition that causes cutaneous changes accompanied by pruritus and pain. There remains a small population with vulvar LS refractory to topical corticosteroids. Injection of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has been reported to have positive effects on tissue repair. The aim of this pilot study was to evaluate changes in symptom scores during and after PRP vulvar infiltration.

Methods

Three PRP infiltrations were administered to 28 female postmenopausal patients with biopsy-proved LS with unsatisfactory response to steroid therapy. Change in score according to the Clinical Scoring System for Vulvar Lichen Sclerosus (CSS) was measured on six occasions over the course of a year. We used growth curve modeling to measure change over the period of the study.

Results

Women in our study experienced a statistically significant improvement in auto-assessed symptoms of vulvar lichen sclerosus, and this improvement appears to be maintained throughout the monitoring year.

Conclusion

Platelet-rich plasma may have a role in symptom relief in certain cases of patients with LS that do not respond to first-line therapy.
Efficacy and safety of oral gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonists in moderate-to-severe endometriosis-associated pain: a systematic review and network meta-analysis
Authors: Xin Lingli , Ma Yinghao , Ye Mei , Chen Ling , Liu Fuzhou , Hou Qingxiang
Published: January 2023

Purpose

The aim of this NMA is to comprehensively analyze evidence of oral GnRH antagonist in the treatment of moderate-to-severe endometriosis-associated pain.

Methods

Literature searching was performed to select eligible studies published prior to April 2022 in PubMed, Cochrane, Embase and Web of Science. Randomized controlled trials involving patients who suffered from moderate-to-severe endometriosis-associated pain and treated with oral nonpeptide GnRH antagonists or placebo were included.

Results

Elagolix 400 mg and ASP1707 15 mg were most efficient in reducing pelvic pain, dysmenorrhea and dyspareunia. Relugolix 40 mg was best in reducing the analgesics use. The rates of any TEAEs and TEAEs-related discontinuation were highest in relugolix 40 mg and elagolix 250 mg, respectively, while rates of hot flush and headache were highest in relugolix 40 mg and elagolix 150 mg. Significantly decreased spinal BMD was observed in elagolix 250 mg.

Conclusion

Oral GnRH antagonists were effective in endometriosis-associated pain in 12w, and most of the efficiency and safety outcomes were expressed in a dose-dependent manner, but linzagolix 75 mg was an exception.
Validation of combined carcinoembryonic antigen and glucose testing in pancreatic cyst fluid to differentiate mucinous from non-mucinous cysts
Authors: Gorris Myrte , Dijk Frederike , Farina Arantza , Halfwerk Johannes B. , Hooijer Gerrit K. , Lekkerkerker Selma J. , Voermans Rogier P. , Wielenga Mattheus C. , Besselink Marc G. , van Hooft Jeanin E.
Published: January 2023

Background

More accurate diagnosis of mucinous cysts will reduce the risk of unnecessary pancreatic surgery. Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and glucose in pancreatic cyst fluid (PCF) can differentiate mucinous from non-mucinous pancreatic cystic neoplasms (PCN). The current study assessed the value of combined CEA and glucose testing in PCF.

Methods

Cross-sectional validation study including prospectively collected PCF from patients undergoing endoscopic ultrasonography-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) and pancreatic surgery. We performed laboratory measurements for CEA and glucose and measured glucose levels by a hand glucometer. Primary outcome was diagnostic accuracy evaluated by receiver operator curves (ROC), sensitivity, specificity, positive, and negative predictive value (PPV, NPV).

Results

Overall, PCF was collected from 63 patients, including 33 (52%) with mucinous and 30 (48%) with non-mucinous PCN. Histopathology (n = 36; 57%), cytopathology (n = 2; 3%), or clinical and/or radiological diagnosis (n = 25; 40%) was used as reference standard. Combined CEA (cut-off ≥ 192 ng/ml) and laboratory glucose testing (cut-off ≤ 50 mg/dL) reached 92% specificity and 48% sensitivity, whereas either positive CEA (cut-off ≥ 20 ng/ml) or glucose testing (cut-off ≤ 50 mg/dL) showed 97% sensitivity and 50% specificity. Sensitivity and specificity were 80% and 68% for CEA ≥ 20 ng/mL versus 50% and 93% for CEA ≥ 192 ng/mL (the conventional cut-off level). Laboratory and glucometer glucose both reached 100% sensitivity and 60% and 45% specificity, respectively. None of the biomarkers and cut-offs reached a PPV exceeding 90%, whereas both glucose measurements had a NPV of 100% (i.e., high glucose excludes a mucinous cyst).

Conclusion

Combined CEA and glucose testing in PCF reached high specificity and sensitivity for differentiating mucinous from non-mucinous PCN. Glucose testing, whether alone or combined with the new CEA cut-off (≥ 20 ng/mL), reached > 95% sensitivity for mucinous cysts, whereas only glucose reached a NPV > 95%.

Graphical abstract
Patient perspective on the use of carbon fibre plates for extremity fracture fixation
Authors: Giannoudis Vasileios P. , Rodham Paul , Antypas Antony , Mofori Niki , Chloros George , Giannoudis Peter V.
Published: January 2023

Introduction

Carbon fibre-reinforced polyetheretherketone (CFR-PEEK) plates represent an exciting development within trauma and orthopaedic surgery, offering advantages including radiolucency, material properties similar to bone, and lack of localised tissue reaction. As more call for trials examining their use, there is no data available as to the acceptability of these implants to patients. This study aimed to therefore examine the acceptability of CFR-PEEK plates to patients undergoing fracture surgery.

Methods

This was a prospective cross-sectional survey of patients undergoing surgery for a fracture of the ankle, distal femur, distal radius, or proximal humerus. Once a decision had been made to pursue operative fixation with a plate, patients were provided with descriptions of both CFR-PEEK and stainless steel and titanium metal implants alongside the current clinical evidence. All patients undertook a questionnaire examining their views as to the advantages and disadvantages of CFR-PEEK plates, and whether they would be happy to participate in a trial comparing both.

Results

Ninety-nine patients were happy to participate (64 females, mean age 50). Eighty-seven patients reported that they would want a CFR-PEEK implant for their fracture, and 76 reported that they would be willing to participate in an RCT comparing their use. Commonly reported advantages included radiolucency, low weight and biocompatibility. Disadvantages reported included cost and concerns regarding durability.

Conclusions

This study demonstrates that CFR-PEEK implants would be acceptable to patients undergoing fracture surgery, with high numbers of patients stating that they would be willing to participate in a randomised study examining their use.
Zoning strategies for managing outbreaks of alien plant pests in the European Union: a review
Authors: Sun Hongyu , Douma Jacob C. , Schenk Martijn F. , Potting Roel P. J. , Boscia Donato , Vicent Antonio , MacLeod Alan , van der Werf Wopke
Published: January 2023

Managing outbreaks of alien plant pests is key to preserving biodiversity and safeguarding crop production. Zoning strategies are applied by plant health authorities to tailor measures to the risk of spread in relation to distance from the outbreak epicentre and the biology of the pest. Here we synthesize information on outbreak management to evaluate the diversity and consistency of such approaches. We collected information on the zoning strategies of 121 outbreaks of 25 plant pests in the European Union (EU). According to the organism’s presence and the measures applied, five zones were distinguished: an infested zone (83% of cases), a buffer zone (76%), a clear-cutting zone (28%), an eradication zone (1%) and a containment zone (1%). Infested zones and buffer zones were adjacent non-overlapping zones, while the clear-cutting zone, eradication zone or containment zone was within either the infested zone or buffer zone. A combination of infested and buffer zones was used in 51% of recorded cases. Measures differed within different zones. Destruction of infested plants in the infested zone was done in 78% of the cases, while surveillance was always applied in the buffer zone. Regulation of an organism at EU level led to a convergence of zoning strategies applied by different member states. Regulations often prescribed the greatest widths used before regulations were issued. Further analyses are needed to explore the efficacy of different strategies including the costs of each strategy. Such analyses should combine insight from practice with bio-economic modelling.
What affected UK adults’ adherence to medicines during the COVID-19 pandemic? Cross-sectional survey in a representative sample of people with long-term conditions
Authors: Penner L. S. , Armitage C. J. , Thornley T. , Whelan P. , Chuter A. , Allen T. , Elliott R. A.
Published: January 2023

Aim

Medicines non-adherence is associated with poorer outcomes and higher costs. COVID-19 affected access to healthcare, with increased reliance on remote methods, including medicines supply. This study aimed to identify what affected people’s adherence to medicines for long-term conditions (LTCs) during the pandemic.

Subject and methods

Cross-sectional online survey of UK adults prescribed medicines for LTCs assessing self-reported medicines adherence, reasons for non-adherence (using the capability, opportunity and motivation model of behaviour [COM-B]), medicines access and COVID-19-related behaviours.

Results

The 1746 respondents reported a mean (SD) of 2.5 (1.9) LTCs, for which they were taking 2.4 (1.9) prescribed medicines, 525 (30.1%) reported using digital tools to support ordering or taking medicines and 22.6% reported medicines non-adherence. No access to at least one medicine was reported by 182 (10.4%) respondents; 1048 (60.0%) reported taking at least one non-prescription medicine as a substitute; 409 (23.4%) requested emergency supply from pharmacy for at least one medicine. Problems accessing medicines, being younger, male, in the highest socioeconomic group and working were linked to poorer adherence. Access problems were mostly directly or indirectly related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Respondents were generally lacking in capabilities and opportunities, but disruptions to habits (automatic motivation) was the major reason for non-adherence.

Conclusion

Navigating changes in how medicines were accessed, and disruption of habits during the COVID-19 pandemic, was associated with suboptimal adherence. People were resourceful in overcoming barriers to access. Solutions to support medicines-taking need to take account of the multiple ways that medicines are prescribed and supplied remotely.
Temperature Dependence of Thermal Properties of Ex Vivo Porcine Heart and Lung in Hyperthermia and Ablative Temperature Ranges
Authors: Bianchi Leonardo , Bontempi Martina , De Simone Sabrina , Franceschet Martina , Saccomandi Paola
Published: January 2023

This work proposes the characterization of the temperature dependence of the thermal properties of heart and lung tissues from room temperature up to > 90 °C. The thermal diffusivity (α), thermal conductivity (k), and volumetric heat capacity (Cv) of ex vivo porcine hearts and deflated lungs were measured with a dual-needle sensor technique. α and k associated with heart tissue remained almost constant until ~ 70 and ~ 80 °C, accordingly. Above ~ 80 °C, a more substantial variation in these thermal properties was registered: at 94 °C, α and k respectively experienced a 2.3- and 1.5- fold increase compared to their nominal values, showing average values of 0.346 mm2/s and 0.828 W/(m·K), accordingly. Conversely, Cv was almost constant until 55 °C and decreased afterward (e.g., Cv = 2.42 MJ/(m3·K) at 94 °C). Concerning the lung tissue, both its α and k were characterized by an exponential increase with temperature, showing a marked increment at supraphysiological and ablative temperatures (at 91 °C, α and k were equal to 2.120 mm2/s and 2.721 W/(m·K), respectively, i.e., 13.7- and 13.1-fold higher compared to their baseline values). Regression analysis was performed to attain the best-fit curves interpolating the measured data, thus providing models of the temperature dependence of the investigated properties. These models can be useful for increasing the accuracy of simulation-based preplanning frameworks of interventional thermal procedures, and the realization of tissue-mimicking materials.
On the effectiveness of sequential linear programming for the pooling problem
Authors: Grothey Andreas , McKinnon Ken
Published: January 2023

The aim of this paper is to compare the performance of a local solution technique—namely Sequential Linear Programming (SLP) employing random starting points—with state-of-the-art global solvers such as Baron and more sophisticated local solvers such as Sequential Quadratic Programming and Interior Point for the pooling problem. These problems can have many local optima, and we present a small example that illustrates how this can occur.

We demonstrate that SLP—usually deemed obsolete since the arrival of fast reliable SQP solvers, Interior Point Methods and sophisticated global solvers—is still the method of choice for an important class of pooling problems when the criterion is the quality of the solution found within a given acceptable time budget. On this measure SLP significantly ourperforms all other tested algorithms.

In addition we introduce a new formulation, the qq-formulation, for the case of fixed demands, that exclusively uses proportional variables. We compare the performance of SLP and the global solver Baron on the qq-formulation and other common formulations. While Baron with the qq-formulation generates weaker bounds than with the other formulations tested, for both SLP and Baron the qq-formulation finds the best solutions within a given time budget. The qq-formulation can be strengthened by pq-like cuts in which case the same bounds as for the pq-formulation are obtained. However the associated time penalty due to the additional constraints results in poorer solution quality within the time budget.
On Korn’s First Inequality in a Hardy-Sobolev Space
Authors: Spector Daniel E. , Spector Scott J.
Published: January 2023

Korn’s first inequality states that there exists a constant such that the ${\mathcal {L}}^{2}$

L
2

-norm of the infinitesimal displacement gradient is bounded above by this constant times the ${\mathcal {L}}^{2}$

L
2

-norm of the infinitesimal strain, i.e., the symmetric part of the gradient, for all infinitesimal displacements that are equal to zero on the boundary of a body ℬ. This inequality is known to hold when the ${\mathcal {L}}^{2}$

L
2

-norm is replaced by the ${\mathcal {L}}^{p}$

L
p

-norm for any $p\in (1,\infty )$
p
∈
(
1
,
∞
)
. However, if $p=1$
p
=
1
or $p=\infty $
p
=
∞
the resulting inequality is false. It was previously shown that if one replaces the ${\mathcal {L}}^{\infty}$

L
∞

-norm by the $\operatorname{BMO}$
BMO
-seminorm (Bounded Mean Oscillation) then one maintains Korn’s inequality. (Recall that ${\mathcal {L}}^{\infty}({\mathcal {B}})\subset \operatorname{BMO}({\mathcal {B}}) \subset {\mathcal {L}}^{p}({\mathcal {B}})\subset {\mathcal {L}}^{1}({ \mathcal {B}})$

L
∞

(
B
)
⊂
BMO
(
B
)
⊂

L
p

(
B
)
⊂

L
1

(
B
)
, $1< p<\infty $
1
<
p
<
∞
.) In this manuscript it is shown that Korn’s inequality is also maintained if one replaces the ${\mathcal {L}}^{1}$

L
1

-norm by the norm in the Hardy space ${\mathcal {H}}^{1}$

H
1

, the predual of $\operatorname{BMO}$
BMO
. One caveat: the results herein are only applicable to the pure-displacement problem with the displacement equal to zero on the entire boundary of ℬ.
Analysis of the First Treatise on Machine Elements: Codex Madrid I
Authors: Rubio H. , Bustos A. , Castejon C. , Meneses J.
Published: January 2023

In this article, the manuscript of Codex Madrid I, Leonardo da Vinci's workshop drawings collection, is reviewed and the main mechanisms that appear in the aforesaid codex are analysed. It begins with a short reference to Leonardo da Vinci works and, subsequently, Leonardo's manuscripts and Codex Madrid I, in particular, are placed in their historical context. After analysing the historical scope of Codex Madrid I, a compilation of the 100 main drawings of the manuscript is made, composing nine Mechanisms Drawings Boxes. Each Mechanisms Drawings Box is a collage made up of 10 to 14 drawings of mechanical elements that appear in Codex Madrid I, with a brief description of each drawing. This compilation illustrates the wide range of mechanical elements and simple mechanisms of Codex Madrid I, forming, as a whole, a complete treatise on mechanisms, understanding mechanisms as basic elements of machines.
An analysis of the UK’s Turing Scheme as a response to socio-economic and geo-political challenges
Authors: Brooks Rachel , Waters Johanna
Published: January 2023

Following its departure from the European Union in 2020, the UK left the Erasmus + student mobility scheme, replacing it with the ‘Turing Scheme’. The scheme is underpinned by four key objectives that address what the government sees as particular socio-economic and geo-political challenges: to promote ‘Global Britain’, through ‘forging new relationships across the world’; to ‘support social mobility and widen participation across the UK’; to develop ‘key skills’, bridging ‘the gap between education and work’; and to ensure ‘value for UK taxpayers’ in international student mobility. In this paper, we draw on an analysis of the websites of 100 UK higher education institutions to explore the messages given to students about the Turing Scheme. In particular, we focus on geopolitical positioning through ‘Global Britain’, the perceived importance of socio-economic diversification through ‘widening participation’, and the underexplored role played by third parties in the provision and administration of the Turing Scheme (and study abroad more broadly).
The Motivational Power of Ideas in Institutions and Collective Action
Authors: Kestler Thomas
Published: January 2023

The cognitive revolution has left its mark on institutional theory in sociology and political science. Cognitive structures – schemas, typifications, frames and ideas – are recognized as a crucial variable of social behavior, institutional development and collective action. However, while the assertion that “ideas matter” is widely shared, institutional theorists are still struggling with the question ofhowideas matter, especially in motivational terms. The role of ideas not just as switchmen, in Weber’s terms, but as genuine drivers of collective action still lacks theoretical underpinning. This article aims at closing this gap. It elaborates a theoretical model to explain how ideas shift the structure of motivation from the individual to the collective level. Borrowing from motivational psychology and social philosophy, especially from the work of John Searle, two crucial mechanisms are explicated. The first one is imagination, a specific mental state that allows collectivizing the intentional structure of beliefs and affords a sense of self-efficacy in collective contexts. The second one is plural self-awareness, a mechanism that shifts intentions-in-action to the collective level.
A Complete Design-for-Test Scheme for Reconfigurable Scan Networks
Authors: Lylina Natalia , Wang Chih-Hao , Wunderlich Hans-Joachim
Published: January 2023

Reconfigurable Scan Networks (RSNs) are widely used for accessing instruments offline during debug, test and validation, as well as for performing system-level-test and online system health monitoring. The correct operation of RSNs is essential, and RSNs have to be thoroughly tested. However, due to their inherently sequential structure and complex control dependencies, large parts of RSNs have limited observability and controllability. As a result, certain faults at the interfaces to the instruments, control primitives and scan segments remain undetected by existing test methods. In the paper at hand, Design-for-test (DfT) schemes are developed to overcome the testability problems e.g. by resynthesizing the initial design. A DfT scheme for RSNs is presented, which allows detecting all single stuck-at-faults in RSNs by using existing test generation techniques. The developed scheme analyzes and ensures the testability of all parts of RSNs, which include scan segments, control primitives, and interfaces to the instruments. Therefore, the developed scheme is referred to as acomplete DfT scheme. It allows for a test integration to cover multiple fault locations can with a single efficient test sequence and to reduce overall test cost.
A Review of Interventions for Drowning Prevention Among Adults
Authors: Leavy Justine E , Gray Corie , Della Bona Malena , D’Orazio Nicola , Crawford Gemma
Published: January 2023

Adult drowning is a complex and multifactorial public health challenge requiring community, national and global efforts to mitigate impacts. This study updates the evidence base for public health interventions that address adult fatal and non-fatal drowning. A systematic review was undertaken of the peer-reviewed literature for English-language primary studies published between 2011 and 2021describing a drowning intervention with adults. Twenty-two studies were included. Most studies (n = 16) were conducted in high-income countries. Yearly trends in drowning prevention intervention publications were analysed with 2015 (n = 6) the peak publishing year. Over half of the study designs were pre-post (n = 15). Intervention duration ranged from 4 hours to 11 years. Ten studies described either behaviour change theory or formative evaluation to inform design. Thirteen studies targeted interventions at a population level, seven at a group level and two at individual level. Studies identified a range of prevention strategies, categorised as behavioural (n = 9) (e.g., swimming lessons), socio-ecological (n = 8) (e.g., mandatory personal flotation devices) and mixed (n = 5) (e.g., awareness campaign and barriers to prevent access to water). A range of outcomes were described including changes in awareness, water safety knowledge, attitudes, water safety behaviours and skills, environmental, policy and regulation changes and drowning rates. Findings indicate a small but important increase in the evaluation and publication of effective interventions to prevent adult drowning. The complexity of the issues surrounding drowning requires multi-strategy and context -specific adult focused prevention interventions. Contemporary evidence that identifies effective interventions that contribute to prevention efforts is an essential first step in addressing the challenge.
A Quantitative Evaluation of Thin Slice Sampling for Parent–Infant Interactions
Authors: Burgess Romana , Costantini Ilaria , Bornstein Marc H. , Campbell Amy , Cordero Vega Miguel A. , Culpin Iryna , Dingsdale Hayley , John Rosalind M. , Kennedy Mari-Rose , Tyson Hannah R. , Pearson Rebecca M. , Nabney Ian
Published: January 2023

Behavioural coding is time-intensive and laborious. Thin slice sampling provides an alternative approach, aiming to alleviate the coding burden. However, little is understood about whether different behaviours coded over thin slices are comparable to those same behaviours over entire interactions. To provide quantitative evidence for the value of thin slice sampling for a variety of behaviours. We used data from three populations of parent-infant interactions: mother-infant dyads from the Grown in Wales (GiW) cohort (n = 31), mother-infant dyads from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) cohort (n = 14), and father-infant dyads from the ALSPAC cohort (n = 11). Mean infant ages were 13.8, 6.8, and 7.1 months, respectively. Interactions were coded using a comprehensive coding scheme comprised of 11–14 behavioural groups, with each group comprised of 3–13 mutually exclusive behaviours. We calculated frequencies of verbal and non-verbal behaviours, transition matrices (probability of transitioning between behaviours, e.g., from looking at the infant to looking at a distraction) and stationary distributions (long-term proportion of time spent within behavioural states) for 15 thin slices of full, 5-min interactions. Measures drawn from the full sessions were compared to those from 1-, 2-, 3- and 4-min slices. We identified many instances where thin slice sampling (i.e., < 5 min) was an appropriate coding method, although we observed significant variation across different behaviours. We thereby used this information to provide detailed guidance to researchers regarding how long to code for each behaviour depending on their objectives.
Liability for Emissions without Laws or Political Institutions
Authors: Duus-Otterström Göran
Published: January 2023

Many climate ethicists maintain that climate policy costs should be borne by those who historically emitted the most greenhouse gases. Some theorists have recently argued, however, that actors only became liable for emitting once the emissions breached legitimate legal regulation governing emissions. This paper challenges this view. Focusing on the climate responsibility of states, it argues that even if we assume that legitimate legal regulation is needed to remove excusable ignorance of entitlements to emit or is constitutive of such entitlements, it does not follow that states should be exonerated from responsibility for all pre-legal emitting. This is because the pre-legal emissions may have violated moral duties not to behave recklessly and to promote the emergence of the relevant regulation. The paper closes by noting how grounding liability for emitting in such duties complicates the link between past emissions and liability.
Unitarily inequivalent local and global Fourier transforms in multipartite quantum systems
Authors: Lei C. , Vourdas A.
Published: January 2023

A multipartite system comprised of n subsystems, each of which is described with ‘local variables’ in $${{\mathbb {Z}}}(d)$$

Z
(
d
)

and with a d-dimensional Hilbert space H(d), is considered. Local Fourier transforms in each subsystem are defined and related phase space methods are discussed (displacement operators, Wigner and Weyl functions, etc). A holistic view of the same system might be more appropriate in the case of strong interactions, which uses ‘global variables’ in $${{\mathbb {Z}}}(d^n)$$

Z
(

d
n

)

and a $$d^n$$

d
n

-dimensional Hilbert space $$H(d^n)$$

H
(

d
n

)

. A global Fourier transform is then defined and related phase space methods are discussed. The local formalism is compared and contrasted with the global formalism. Depending on the values of d, n the local Fourier transform is unitarily inequivalent or unitarily equivalent to the global Fourier transform. Time evolution of the system in terms of both local and global variables, is discussed. The formalism can be useful in the general area of Fast Fourier transforms.
UVaFTLE: Lagrangian finite time Lyapunov exponent extraction for fluid dynamic applications
Authors: Carratalá-Sáez Rocío , Torres Yuri , Sierra-Pallares José , López-Huguet Sergio , Llanos Diego R.
Published: January 2023

The determination of Lagrangian Coherent Structures (LCS) is becoming very important in several disciplines, including cardiovascular engineering, aerodynamics, and geophysical fluid dynamics. From the computational point of view, the extraction of LCS consists of two main steps: The flowmap computation and the resolution of Finite Time Lyapunov Exponents (FTLE). In this work, we focus on the design, implementation, and parallelization of the FTLE resolution. We offer an in-depth analysis of this procedure, as well as an open source C implementation (UVaFTLE) parallelized using OpenMP directives to attain a fair parallel efficiency in shared-memory environments. We have also implemented CUDA kernels that allow UVaFTLE to leverage as many NVIDIA GPU devices as desired in order to reach the best parallel efficiency. For the sake of reproducibility and in order to contribute to open science, our code is publicly available through GitHub. Moreover, we also provide Docker containers to ease its usage.
Professional or student identity and commitment? Comparing the experiences of nursing students with literature on student success
Authors: Thomas Liz , Hovdhaugen Elisabeth , Sweetman Rachel
Published: January 2023

Improving the rates of continuation and completion of nursing students is a priority to ensure there are sufficient qualified staff to deliver national healthcare services. In the literature, which is predominantly informed by research undertaken in traditional HE institutions with students studying conventional academic programmes, the development of a student identity and course commitment are identified as key components of persistence and success. This linear model assumes that student identity formation takes place during the transition into HE - and professional identities develop as graduates progress into the workplace. Qualitative research in the UK and Norway with nursing and midwifery students found that a strong desire to become a healthcare professional is often the starting point for enrolling in HE, rather than the culmination of the course. A strong future-facing professional identity and commitment sustain many students through the process of accessing and ‘enduring’ their nursing degree programmes that qualify them for practice. But these programmes do little to nurture professional commitment and identity, which could be harnessed to help these students to successfully complete their nursing studies. Recognising the differences between these professionally-oriented, future-facing students, and those studying traditional degree programmes, should inform approaches to improve the continuation and success of nurses. Their learning experience needs to be affirming and nurturing of this emerging professional identity to allow students to overcome academic and professional challenges they experience as they strive to become nurses, and allow them to fully embrace their professional identity.﻿
Preventive herd management practices and their effect on lamb mortality in Ethiopia
Authors: Genfors E. , Magnusson U. , Moliso M. M. , Wieland B. , König U. , Hallenberg G. S. , Båge R.
Published: January 2023

According to previous studies, lamb mortality is high in the Ethiopian highlands. The present study aims to evaluate the execution of preventive sheep herd health management practices with respect to if, and how, such practices are linked to occurrence of lamb mortality. Interviews were performed with 74 sheep-owning households participating in a capacity development program on livestock and 69 households not participating in such program. To evaluate the impact of combinations of performed practices, a scoring system was developed—the households retrieved a higher score the more desired routines were accomplished. To identify which practices had the highest impact on lamb mortality, a similar score was calculated for each phase of the sheep reproductive year, creating sub-scores for each phase. The results showed a significant (p < 0.05) negative correlation between the total number of performed practices and occurrence of lamb mortality, indicating a lower occurrence of lamb mortality the more desired practices implemented. Further analysis of sub-scores showed significant (p < 0.05) negative correlations between a higher number of performed desired practices during gestation period and during lambing. Conclusively, the study indicates that preventive herd management routines are beneficial for lamb survival, foremost when enforced during the gestation period and around lambing—hence, this is where to focus future interventions.
Fungi associated with woody tissues of Acer pseudoplatanus in forest stands with different health status concerning sooty bark disease (Cryptostroma corticale)
Authors: Schlößer Rebekka , Bien Steffen , Langer Gitta Jutta , Langer Ewald Johannes
Published: January 2023

From 2018 to 2020, Germany experienced periods of exceptional weather conditions. Extremely high summer temperatures and precipitation deficits induced stress and mortality in forest trees. Acer pseudoplatanus (sycamore) was one of the affected tree species. Symptoms of sooty bark disease (SBD) and severe damage of entire stands, both caused by the fungal species Cryptostroma corticale, were reported more frequently. To explore the non-symptomatic distribution of C. corticale, wood cores from visibly healthy sycamore stems were sampled and all outgrowing fungi were identified and recorded. In total, 50 trees, aged 30–65 years, were sampled at five different forest stands, from which 91 endophytic filamentous morphotypes could be isolated. The fungal endophytic community in the woody tissue of the sycamore trees varied greatly at the different sites and between the trees. The number of isolated morphotypes at the different sites ranged from 13 to 44 and no morphotype was found at all sites. At 1.20-m stem height, 3.3 fungi could be isolated from woody tissue per tree on average. The most abundant species isolated from visibly healthy sycamore in regard to both occurrence at the studied sites and continuity was C. corticale. It was recorded at four of the studied forest stands, from 26% of all studied sycamore trees, and had a frequency of 7.85% relative to the 293 isolated filamentous strains that were isolated. The second most abundant species was Xylaria longipes followed by Lopadostoma turgidum. In this study clear evidence for the endophytic lifestyle of C. corticale is presented which thus appears to be spread further than expected based on visible SBD symptoms.
Liver cirrhosis: relationship between fibrosis-associated hepatic morphological changes and portal hemodynamics using four-dimensional flow magnetic resonance imaging
Authors: Higaki Atsushi , Kanki Akihiko , Yamamoto Akira , Ueda Yu , Moriya Kazunori , Sanai Hiroyasu , Sotozono Hidemitsu , Tamada Tsutomu
Published: January 2023

Purpose

The mechanisms underlying the morphological changes in liver cirrhosis remain unknown. This study aimed to clarify the relationship between fibrotic hepatic morphology and portal hemodynamic changes using four-dimensional flow magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Materials and methods

Overall, 100 patients with suspected liver disease who underwent 3-T MRI were evaluated in this retrospective study. Liver fibrosis was assessed using a combination of visual assessment of the hepatic morphology and quantitative measures, including the fibrosis-4 index and aspartate transaminase-to-platelet ratio. It was classified into three groups according to the severity of fibrosis as follows: A (normal), B (mild-to-moderate), and C (severe). Quantitative indices, including area (mm2), net flow (mL/s), and average velocity (cm/s), were measured in the right portal vein (RPV) and left portal vein (LPV), and were compared across the groups using the Kruskal–Wallis and Mann–Whitney U tests.

Results

Among the 100 patients (69.1 ± 12.1 years; 59 men), 45, 35, and 20 were categorized into groups A, B, and C, respectively. The RPV area significantly differed among the groups (from p < 0.001 to p = 0.001), showing a gradual decrease with fibrosis progression. Moreover, the net flow significantly differed between groups A and B and between groups A and C (p < 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively), showing a decrease during the early stage of fibrosis. In the LPV, the net flow significantly differed among the groups (from p = 0.001 to p = 0.030), revealing a gradual increase with fibrosis progression.

Conclusion

The atrophy–hypertrophy complex, which is a characteristic imaging finding in advanced cirrhosis, was closely associated with decreased RPV flow in the early stage of fibrosis and a gradual increase in LPV flow across all stages of fibrosis progression.
Effect of Aluminizing on the Fatigue and High-Temperature Corrosion Resistance of Inconel 740 Nickel Alloy
Authors: Barwinska Izabela , Kopec Mateusz , Kukla Dominik , Łazińska Magdalena , Sitek Ryszard , Kowalewski Zbigniew L.
Published: January 2023

The fatigue response and high-temperature corrosion resistance of Inconel 740 nickel alloy in its as-received state, and the same material with aluminized surface layer, were investigated. The aluminized layer was applied by using the chemical vapor deposition process with the participation of AlCl3 vapors under a hydrogen protective atmosphere at a temperature of 1040°C for 8 h and internal pressure of 150 hPa. The microstructure of the aluminized layer was characterized through scanning electron microscopy and x-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy analysis. It was found that Inconel 740 with an aluminized surface exhibited an improved hardness and fatigue response of 100 MPa in the whole range of stress amplitudes from 350 MPa to 650 MPa. Additionally, the application of the aluminization process enhanced service life as well as the corrosion resistance of the alloy in question and effectively protected it against high-temperature corrosion.
MicroRNA-650 Regulates the Pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s Disease Through Targeting Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 5
Authors: Lin Li , Liu Xiaodong , Cheng Xuejun , Li Yujing , Gearing Marla , Levey Allan , Huang Xiaoli , Li Ying , Jin Peng , Li Xuekun
Published: January 2023

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathogenesis feature progressive neurodegeneration, amyloid-β plaque formation, and neurofibrillary tangles. Ample evidence has indicated the involvement of epigenetic pathways in AD pathogenesis. Here, we show that the expression of microRNA 650 (miR-650) is altered in brains from AD patients. Furthermore, we found that the processing of primary miR-650 to mature miR-650 is misregulated. Bioinformatic analysis predicted that miR-650 targets the expression of three AD-associated components: Apolipoprotein E (APOE), Presenilin 1 (PSEN1), and Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 5 (CDK5), and we have experimentally confirmed that miR-650 is able to significantly reduce the expression of APOE, PSEN1, and CDK5 in vitro. Importantly, the overexpression of miR-650 was further shown to significantly alter the CDK5 level and ameliorate AD pathologies in APP-PSEN1 transgenic mice. Overall, our results indicate that miR-650 influences AD pathogenesis through regulation of CDK5.
Second harmonic generation microscopy: a powerful tool for bio-imaging
Authors: Aghigh Arash , Bancelin Stéphane , Rivard Maxime , Pinsard Maxime , Ibrahim Heide , Légaré François
Published: January 2023

Second harmonic generation (SHG) microscopy is an important optical imaging technique in a variety of applications. This article describes the history and physical principles of SHG microscopy and its more advanced variants, as well as their strengths and weaknesses in biomedical applications. It also provides an overview of SHG and advanced SHG imaging in neuroscience and microtubule imaging and how these methods can aid in understanding microtubule formation, structuration, and involvement in neuronal function. Finally, we offer a perspective on the future of these methods and how technological advancements can help make SHG microscopy a more widely adopted imaging technique.
Cohesion and segregation in the value migration network: Evidence from network partitioning based on sector classification and clustering
Authors: Siudak Dariusz
Published: January 2023

Cluster structure detection of the network is a basic problem of complex network analysis. This study investigates the structure of the value migration network using data from 499 stocks listed in the S&P500 as of the end of 2021. An examination is carried out whether the process of value migration creates a cluster structure in the network of companies according to economic activity. Specifically, the cohesion and segregation of the extracted modules in the network division according to (i) sector classification, (ii) community division, and (iii) network clustering decomposition are assessed. The results of this study show that the sector classification of the value migration network has a non-cohesive structure, which means that the flow of value in the financial market occurs between companies from various industries. Moreover, the divisions of the value migration network based on community detection and clustering algorithm are characterized by intra-cluster similarity between the vertices and have a strong community structure. The structure of the network division into modules corresponding to the classification of economic sectors differs significantly from the partition based on the algorithms applied.
On symplectic Banach spaces
Authors: Castillo Jesús M. F. , Cuellar Wilson , González Manuel , Pino Raúl
Published: January 2023

We extend and generalize the result of Kalton and Swanson ($$Z_2$$

Z
2

is a symplectic Banach space with no Lagrangian subspace) by showing that all higher order Rochgberg spaces $${\mathfrak {R}}^{(n)}$$

R

(
n
)

are symplectic Banach spaces with no Lagrangian subspaces. The nontrivial symplectic structure on Rochberg spaces of even order is the one induced by the natural duality; while the nontrivial symplectic structure on Rochberg spaces of odd order requires perturbation with a complex structure. We will also study symplectic structures on general Banach spaces and, motivated by the unexpected appearance of complex structures, we introduce and study almost symplectic structures.
Editorial introduction: Biomedicine and life sciences as a challenge to human temporality
Authors: Rimon-Zarfaty Nitzan , Schweda Mark
Published: January 2023

Bringing together scholars from philosophy, bioethics, law, sociology, and anthropology, this topical collection explores how innovations in the field of biomedicine and the life sciences are challenging and transforming traditional understandings of human temporality and of the temporal duration, extension and structure of human life. The contributions aim to expand the theoretical debate by highlighting the significance of time and human temporality in different discourses and practical contexts, and developing concrete, empirically informed, and culturally sensitive perspectives. The collection is structured around three main foci: the beginning of life, the middle of life, and later life. This structure facilitates an in-depth examination of specific technological and biographical contexts and at the same time allows an overarching comparison of relevant similarities and differences between life phases and fields of application.
Are higher antidepressant plasma concentrations associated with fall risk in older antidepressant users?
Authors: Pronk A. C. , van Poelgeest E. P. , Seppala L. J. , Ploegmakers K. J. , Stricker B. H. , Swart K. M. A. , van Dijk S. C. , Oliai Araghi S. , de Groot L. C. P. G. M. , van Schoor N. M. , Mathôt R. A. A. , van der Velde N.
Published: January 2023

Purpose

Antidepressants are well-established fall-risk increasing drugs (FRIDs) and therefore falls should be considered an important adverse drug event (ADE) of antidepressants. However, not all antidepressant users experience fall incidents and factors associated with increased fall risk among antidepressant users are incompletely understood. Our objective was to explore whether antidepressant plasma concentrations are associated with falls in older antidepressant users.

Methods

For this study, we included antidepressant users of the multicenter B-PROOF study. Fall incidents were recorded prospectively using fall calendars. Antidepressant plasma concentrations were analyzed by Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC–MS) at baseline and at 2 years follow-up. The associations between the observed antidepressant concentration and fall risk were assessed using Cox proportional hazard and logistic regression models and adjusted for potential confounders.

Results

In total 93 selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) and 41 antidepressant (TCA) users were identified. There was a significant association between baseline TCA plasma concentration and fall risk within users (HR 2.50, 95% CI 1.07–5.87, crude model). In the adjusted model, there were no significant associations between concentrations of SSRIs and fall risk.

Conclusion

There might be an association between plasma concentrations of TCAs and the risk of falling in older users. However, these results needs to be interpreted with caution considering the small sample size and accompanying limitation of confinement to crude analyses. Therefore, these novel findings need to replicated in a larger cohort, preferably including adjustment for potential confounders and more frequent measures of plasma concentrations is needed.