bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Loss of core-fucosylation of SPARC impairs collagen binding and contributes to COPD
Authors: Wu Tsai-Jung , Wang Sheng-Hung , Chen Eric Sheng-Wen , Tsai Hsiu-Hui , Chang Yi-Chieh , Tseng Yi-Hsin , Yu John
Published: June 2022

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive lung disease with high morbidity and mortality worldwide. Although several mechanisms to account for deleterious immune effects were proposed, molecular description for the underlying alveolar structural alterations for COPD is lacking. Here, silencing of α1,6-fucosyltransferase (Fut8), the enzyme for core-fucosylation and highly expressed in lung stem cells, resulted in alveolar structural changes in lung organoids, recapitulating COPD. Site-specific mass spectrometry analysis demonstrated that the secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC), which binds collagen, contains a core-fucosylation site in its VCSNDNcfK glycopeptide. Biacore assay showed markedly reduced collagen binding of SPARC lacking core fucosylation. Molecular dynamics analysis revealed that core fucosylation of SPARC-induced dynamic conformational changes in its N-glycan, allowing terminal galactose and N-acetylglucosamine to interact with K150, P261 and H264 residues, thereby promoting collagen binding. Site-specific mutagenesis of these residues also resulted in low affinity for collagen binding. Moreover, loss of collagen and decline of core fucosylation were observed in COPD lung tissues. These findings provide a new mechanistic insight into the role of core fucosylation of SPARC in cell–matrix communication and contribution to the abnormal alveolar structures in COPD.
Asymptotics for Some q-Hypergeometric Polynomials
Authors: Mañas–Mañas Juan F. , Moreno–Balcázar Juan J.
Published: June 2022

We tackle the study of a type of local asymptotics, known as Mehler–Heine asymptotics, for some q–hypergeometric polynomials. Some consequences about the asymptotic behavior of the zeros of these polynomials are discussed. We illustrate the results with numerical examples.
The Maximization of the First Eigenvalue for a Two-Phase Material
Authors: Casado-díaz Juan
Published: June 2022

We study the optimal arrangement of two conductive materials in order to maximize the first eigenvalue of the corresponding diffusion operator with Dirichlet conditions. The amount of the highest conductive composite is assumed to be limited. Since this type of problems has no solution in general, we work with a relaxed formulation. We show that the problem has some good concavity properties which allow us to get some uniqueness results. By proving that it is related to the minimization of the energy for a two-phase material studied in [4] we also obtain some smoothness results. As a consequence, we show that the unrelaxed problem has never solution. The paper is completed with some numerical results corresponding to the convergence of the gradient algorithm.
A multi-criteria h-adaptive finite-element framework for industrial part-scale thermal analysis in additive manufacturing processes
Authors: Moreira Carlos A. , Caicedo Manuel A. , Cervera Miguel , Chiumenti Michele , Baiges Joan
Published: June 2022

This work presents an h-adaptive finite-element (FE) strategy to address the numerical simulation of additive manufacturing (AM) of large-scale parts. The wire-arc additive manufacturing is chosen as the demonstrative technology for its manufacturing capabilities suitable for industrial purposes. The scanning path and processing parameters of the simulation are provided via a RS-274 (GCode) file, being the same as the one delivered to the AM machine. The approach is suitable for industrial applications and can be applied to other AM processes. To identify the location in the FE mesh of the heat affected zone (HAZ), a collision detection algorithm based on the separating axis theorem is used. The mesh is continuously adapted to guarantee the necessary mesh resolution to capture the phenomena inside and outside the HAZ. To do so, a multi-criteria adaptive mesh refinement and coarsening (AMR) strategy is used. The AMR includes a geometrical criterion to guarantee the FE size within the HAZ, and a Zienkiewicz–Zhu-based a-posteriori error estimator to guarantee the solution accuracy elsewhere. Thus, the number of active FEs is controlled and mesh manipulation by the end-user is avoided. Numerical simulations comparing the h-adaptive strategy with the (reference) fixed fine meshes are performed to prove the computational cost efficiency and the solution accuracy.
The impact of the histological classification of ampullary carcinomas on long-term outcomes after pancreaticoduodenectomy: a single tertiary referral center evaluation
Authors: Quero Giuseppe , Laterza Vito , Fiorillo Claudio , Menghi Roberta , De Sio Davide , Schena Carlo Alberto , Rosa Fausto , Tortorelli Antonio Pio , Di Cesare Ludovica , Cina Caterina , Bensi Maria , Salvatore Lisa , Alfieri Sergio
Published: June 2022

Purpose

Ampullary carcinomas (ACs) are classified as pancreatobiliary (Pb-AC), intestinal (Int-AC), or mixed (Mixed-AC). The influencing role of AC subtypes on long-term outcomes is still matter of debate. Aim of this study is to evaluate the prognostic role of the three histological variants on the overall (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) after pancreaticoduodenectomy(PD).

Methods

All PDs for AC between 2004 and 2020 were included. Patients were classified according to the histological feature in Pb-AC, Int-AC, and Mixed-AC. Five-year OS and DFS were compared among the subtypes. Additionally, the prognostic role of the histological classification on OS and DFS was evaluated.

Results

Fifty-six (48.7%) Pb-ACs, 53 (46.1%) Int-ACs, and 6 (5.2%) Mixed-ACs were evaluated. A poorer 5-year OS was evidenced for the Pb-AC group (54.1%) as compared to the Int-AC cohort (80.7%) (p = 0.03), but similar to the Mixed-AC population (33%) (p = 0.45). Pb-AC presented a worse 5-year DFS (42.3%) in comparison to the Int-AC (74.8%) (p = 0.002), while no difference was evidenced in comparison to the Mixed-AC (16.7%) (p = 0.51). At the multivariate analysis, the Pb-/Mixed-AC histotype was recognized as negative prognostic factor for both OS (OR: 2.29, CI: 1.05–4.98;p = 0.04) and DFS (OR: 2.17, CI: 1–4.33;p = 0.02).

Conclusion

Histological subtypes of AC play a relevant role in long-term outcomes after PD. Pb-ACs and Mixed-ACs show a more aggressive tumor biology and a consequent worse survival as compared to the Int-AC subtype.
Spatio-temporal brain dynamics of self-identity: an EEG source analysis of the current and past self
Authors: Muñoz Francisco , Rubianes Miguel , Jiménez-Ortega Laura , Fondevila Sabela , Hernández-Gutiérrez David , Sánchez-García José , Martínez-de-Quel Óscar , Casado Pilar , Martín-Loeches Manuel
Published: June 2022

Current research on self-identity suggests that the self is settled in a unique mental representation updated across the lifespan in autobiographical memory. Spatio-temporal brain dynamics of these cognitive processes are poorly understood. ERP studies revealed early (N170-N250) and late (P3-LPC) waveforms modulations tracking the temporal processing of global face configuration, familiarity processes, and access to autobiographical contents. Neuroimaging studies revealed that such processes encompass face-specific regions of the occipitotemporal cortex, and medial cortical regions tracing the self-identity into autobiographical memory across the life span. The present study combined both approaches, analyzing brain source power using a data-driven, beamforming approach. Face recognition was used in two separate tasks: identity (self, close friend and unknown) and life stages (childhood, adolescence, adulthood) recognition. The main areas observed were specific-face areas (fusiform area), autobiographical memory areas (medial prefrontal cortex, parahippocampus, posterior cingulate cortex/precuneus), along with executive areas (dorsolateral prefrontal and anterior temporal cortices). The cluster-permutation test yielded no significant early effects (150–200 ms). However, during the 250–300 ms time window, the precuneus and the fusiform cortices exhibited larger activation to familiar compared to unknown faces, regardless of life stages. Subsequently (300–600 ms), the medial prefrontal cortex discriminates between self-identity vs. close-familiar and unknown. Moreover, significant effects were found in the cluster-permutation test specifically on self-identity discriminating between adulthood from adolescence and childhood. These findings suggest that recognizing self-identity from other facial identities (diachronic self) comprises the temporal coordination of anterior and posterior areas. While mPFC maintained an updated representation of self-identity (diachronic self) based on actual rewarding value, the dlPFC, FG, MTG, paraHC, PCC was sensitive to different life stages of self-identity (synchronic self) during the access to autobiographical memory.
On Weighted Sums of Numbers of Convex Polygons in Point Sets
Authors: Huemer Clemens , Oliveros Deborah , Pérez-Lantero Pablo , Torra Ferran , Vogtenhuber Birgit
Published: June 2022

Let S be a set of n points in general position in the plane, and let $$X_{k,\ell }(S)$$

X

k
,
ℓ

(
S
)

be the number of convex k-gons with vertices in S that have exactly $$\ell $$
ℓ
points of S in their interior. We prove several equalities for the numbers $$X_{k,\ell }(S)$$

X

k
,
ℓ

(
S
)

. This problem is related to the Erdős–Szekeres theorem. Some of the obtained equations also extend known equations for the numbers of empty convex polygons to polygons with interior points. Analogous results for higher dimension are shown as well.
High-Resolution 3D FEM Stability Analysis of the Sabereebi Cave Monastery, Georgia
Authors: Domej Gisela , Previtali Marco , Castellanza Riccardo , Spizzichino Daniele , Crosta Giovanni B. , Villa Alberto , Fusi Nicoletta , Elashvili Mikheil , Margottini Claudio
Published: June 2022

This study assesses the static stability of the artificial Sabereebi Cave Monastery southeast of Georgia's capital, Tbilisi. The cliff into which these Georgian-Orthodox caverns, chapels, and churches were carved consists of a five-layered sequence of weak sedimentary rock—all of which bear a considerable failure potential and, consequently, pose the challenge of preservation to geologists, engineers, and archaeologists. In the first part of this study, we present a strategy to process point cloud data from drone photogrammetry as well as from laser scanners acquired in- and outside the caves into high-resolution CAD objects that can be used for numerical modeling ranging from macro- to micro-scale. In the second part, we explore four distinct series of static elasto-plastic finite element stability models featuring different levels of detail, each of which focuses on specific geomechanical scenarios such as classic landsliding due to overburden, deformation of architectural features as a result of stress concentration, material response to weathering, and pillar failure due to vertical load. With this bipartite approach, the study serves as a comprehensive 3D stability assessment of the Sabereebi Cave Monastery on the one hand; on the other hand, the established procedure should serve as a pilot scheme, which could be adapted to different sites in the future combining non-invasive and relatively cost-efficient assessment methods, data processing and hazard estimation.
Essential tremor plus rest tremor: current concepts and controversies
Authors: Erro Roberto , Sorrentino Cristiano , Russo Maria , Barone Paolo
Published: June 2022

Since the initial description of Essential Tremor (ET), the entity of ET with rest tremor has proven to be a controversial concept. Some authors argued it could be a late manifestation of ET, others suggested it could be a variant of ET, yet others suggested it could represent a transitional state between ET and Parkinson's disease. The novel tremor classification has proposed the construct of ET-plus to differentiate patients with rest tremor from pure ET. However, there is no clarity of what ET-plus rest tremor represents. With the aim of shedding light on this controversial entity, we have, therefore, systematically reviewed all clinical, electrophysiological, imaging and anatomopathological studies indexed in the Medline database published both before and after the new tremor classification and involving patients with ET-plus rest tremor. Forty-four studies involving 4028 patients were included in this review and analyzed in detail by means of descriptive statistics. The results of the current review suggest that ET-plus rest tremor is a heterogenous group of conditions: thus, rest tremor might represent a late feature of ET, might reflect a different disorder with higher age at onset and lower dependance on genetic susceptibility than ET, might suggest the development of Parkinson's disease or might indicate a misdiagnosis of ET. The reviewed lines of evidence refuse recent claims arguing against the construct of ET-plus, which should be viewed as a syndrome with different possible underpinnings, and highlights methodological issues to be solved in future research.
The Asymmetric Impact of War: Resilience, Vulnerability and Implications for EU Policy
Authors: Celi Giuseppe , Guarascio Dario , Reljic Jelena , Simonazzi Annamaria , Zezza Francesco
Published: June 2022

In 2019, over 96% of EU27 oil needs, nearly 90% of natural gas and over 43% of solid fuels were met by net imports, with the largest share coming from Russia (35% of oil, 40% of natural gas and 20% of solid fuels consumed in EU27). The decline in the share of oil since 2016 was more than off-set by the increase in gas and solid fuels.
FDI, liquidity, and political uncertainty: A global analysis
Authors: Jahn Marvin , Stricker Paul
Published: June 2022

Uncertainty incentivizes investors to wait-and-see and to hold back their investments. This paper investigates whether more liquid types of foreign direct investment (FDI) are affected more by political uncertainty than less liquid ones. Drawing from the real options theory, we develop hypotheses on the sensitivity of different types of FDI. We utilize descriptive statistics and a simple estimation approach to gauge the liquidity of quarterly equity investments, reinvested earnings, and intra-company debt. Then, we deploy election data and the World Uncertainty Index to examine how the three FDI subtypes respond to high political uncertainty. In line with the real options theory, reinvested earnings significantly drop in an election quarter. However, this only holds for high-income countries. In lower-middle- and low-income countries, electoral uncertainty negatively affects equity investments, with higher institutional quality moderating the effect. In particular, the number of veto players and the government’s credibility decrease the effect of uncertainty on FDI.
A Scoping Review of Peer Navigation Programs for People Living with HIV: Form, Function and Effects
Authors: Krulic Timothy , Brown Graham , Bourne Adam
Published: June 2022

This scoping review maps recent research into peer navigation programs for people living with HIV. Four databases were systematically searched in June 2020. Results were screened according to defined criteria and were not restricted to any design, outcome or country. Six papers drew from randomised control trials, five from quasi-experimental or pragmatic trials, and four panel, eight qualitative, three mixed method and one cross-sectional designs were included for review. Programs incorporated health systems navigation and social support. Authors provided strong theoretical bases for peers to enhance program effects. Studies primarily reported program effects on continuum of care outcomes. Further research is required to capture the role HIV peer navigators play in preventing disease and promoting quality of life, mental health, and disease self-management in diverse settings and populations. Peer programs are complex, social interventions. Future work should evaluate detailed information about peer navigators, their activities, the quality of peer engagement as well as employee and community support structures to improve quality and impact.
Changing Levels of Social Engagement with Gay Men Is Associated with HIV Related Outcomes and Behaviors: Trends in Australian Behavioral Surveillance 1998–2020
Authors: Chan Curtis , Bavinton Benjamin R. , Prestage Garrett E. , Broady Timothy R. , Mao Limin , Rule John , Wilcock Ben , Holt Martin
Published: June 2022

Changes to how gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBM) connect with each other and with their communities have implications for HIV prevention. Social engagement with gay men (defined as having friends who are gay men and spending time with them) has been associated with HIV related outcomes over time among Australian GBM. Using data collected in national, repeated, cross-sectional surveys of GBM between 1998 and 2020 (N = 161,117), analyses of trends in the prevalence of gay social engagement (GSE) in Australia were conducted using linear regression. To assess changing associations with GSE at different time points in the HIV epidemic, three cross-sectional analyses were conducted on factors associated with high and low GSE in 1999/2000, 2009/2010, and 2019/2020 using bivariate and multivariable logistic regression. GSE (scored from 0 to 7) declined among all participants from 4.76 in 1998 to 4.04 in 2020 (p < 0.001) with a steeper decline among GBM aged under 25 years from 4.63 in 1998 to 3.40 in 2020 (p < 0.001). In all timepoints, high GSE was associated with older age, being university educated, full time employment, identifying as gay, recent HIV testing, and PrEP uptake. While mostly associated with protective behaviors, high GSE was also associated with some practices that may put GBM at risk of HIV infection such as drug-enhanced sex and group sex in the most recent timepoint. Changing levels of GSE have implications for health promotion among GBM, particularly how to engage GBM less connected to gay social networks.
Side-of-Implantation Effect on Functional Asymmetry in the Auditory Cortex of Single-Sided Deaf Cochlear-Implant Users
Authors: Weglage Anna , Müller Verena , Layer Natalie , Abdel-Latif Khaled H. A. , Lang-Roth Ruth , Walger Martin , Sandmann Pascale
Published: June 2022

Cochlear implants (CIs) allow to restore the hearing function in profoundly deaf individuals. Due to the degradation of the stimulus by CI signal processing, implanted individuals with single-sided deafness (SSD) have the specific challenge that the input highly differs between their ears. The present study compared normal-hearing (NH) listeners (N = 10) and left- and right-ear implanted SSD CI users (N = 10 left, N = 9 right), to evaluate cortical speech processing between CI- and NH-ears and to explore for side-of-implantation effects. The participants performed a two-deviant oddball task, separately with the left and the right ear. Auditory event-related potentials (ERPs) in response to syllables were compared between proficient and non-proficient CI users, as well as between CI and NH ears. The effect of the side of implantation was analysed on the sensor and the source level. CI proficiency could be distinguished based on the ERP amplitudes of the N1 and the P3b. Moreover, syllable processing via the CI ear, when compared to the NH ear, resulted in attenuated and delayed ERPs. In addition, the left-ear implanted SSD CI users revealed an enhanced functional asymmetry in the auditory cortex than right-ear implanted SSD CI users, regardless of whether the syllables were perceived via the CI or the NH ear. Our findings reveal that speech-discrimination proficiency in SSD CI users can be assessed by N1 and P3b ERPs. The results contribute to a better understanding of the rehabilitation success in SSD CI users by showing that cortical speech processing in SSD CI users is affected by CI-related stimulus degradation and experience-related functional changes in the auditory cortex.
Relational Quantum Mechanics is About Facts, Not States: A Reply to Pienaar and Brukner
Authors: Di Biagio Andrea , Rovelli Carlo
Published: June 2022

In recent works, Časlav Brukner and Jacques Pienaar have raised interesting objections to the relational interpretation of quantum mechanics. We answer these objections in detail and show that, far from questioning the viability of the interpretation, they sharpen and clarify it.
Estradiol to progesterone ratio is not a predictor of oocyte maturity at time of ovulation trigger
Authors: Berger Marisa , Patel Hency , Buyalos Richard , Hubert Gary , Wang Chumin , Shamonki Mousa , Quinn Molly
Published: June 2022

Purpose

To evaluate the relationship between progesterone and oocyte maturity rate via estradiol to progesterone ratio (E/P) at the time of ovulatory trigger.

Methods

This is a retrospective cohort study of first autologous IVF cycles from January to December 2018 from a private practice fertility center. Serum estradiol and progesterone levels were measured on the day of ovulatory trigger. E/P was calculated to control for degree of response. Embryos were cultured to the blastocyst stage for trophectoderm biopsy. Preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A) was performed using next-generation sequencing (NGS). Oocyte retrieval rate (oocytes retrieved/follicles ≥ 13 mm), maturity rate (MII/oocytes retrieved), and euploid rate (euploid/total biopsied embryos) were calculated. Clinical pregnancy, ongoing pregnancy (> 10 weeks), and live births following frozen embryo transfer (FET) were examined in relation to E/P. Regression analyses were performed to analyze E/P as a categorical value (defined by quartile) on oocyte maturity.

Results

Two hundred eleven women underwent controlled ovarian hyperstimulation and had steroid levels at trigger available. Mean E at trigger was 3449 ± 2040 pg/mL while mean P was 1.13 ± 0.58 ng/mL, with mean E/P of 3.36 + 2.04. There were no differences between quartiles of E/P with respect to retrieval, maturity rate, or euploid rate. Two hundred eleven IVF cycles resulted in 138 euploid frozen embryo transfers. There were no differences between quartiles of E/P with respect to clinical pregnancy, ongoing pregnancy, or live birth rate.

Conclusion

E/P ratio at the time of trigger does not impact oocyte retrieval rate, maturity rate, or euploid rate. Pregnancy and live birth outcomes were also not impacted.
A Comprehensive Framework for Saturation Theorem Proving
Authors: Waldmann Uwe , Tourret Sophie , Robillard Simon , Blanchette Jasmin
Published: June 2022

A crucial operation of saturation theorem provers is deletion of subsumed formulas. Designers of proof calculi, however, usually discuss this only informally, and the rare formal expositions tend to be clumsy. This is because the equivalence of dynamic and static refutational completeness holds only for derivations where all deleted formulas are redundant, but the standard notion of redundancy is too weak: A clause C does not make an instance $$C\sigma $$

C
σ

redundant. We present a framework for formal refutational completeness proofs of abstract provers that implement saturation calculi, such as ordered resolution and superposition. The framework modularly extends redundancy criteria derived via a familiar ground-to-nonground lifting. It allows us to extend redundancy criteria so that they cover subsumption, and also to model entire prover architectures so that the static refutational completeness of a calculus immediately implies the dynamic refutational completeness of a prover implementing the calculus within, for instance, an Otter or DISCOUNT loop. Our framework is mechanized in Isabelle/HOL.
Time interval between the diagnosis of breast cancer and brain metastases impacts prognosis after metastasis surgery
Authors: Michel Anna , Dinger Thiemo Florin , Santos Alejandro N. , Pierscianek Daniela , Darkwah Oppong Marvin , Ahmadipour Yahya , Dammann Philipp , Wrede Karsten H. , Hense Jörg , Pöttgen Christoph , Iannaccone Antonella , Kimmig Rainer , Sure Ulrich , Jabbarli Ramazan
Published: June 2022

Purpose

Breast cancer (BC) is the most frequently diagnosed tumor entity in women. Occurring at different time intervals (TI) after BC diagnosis, brain metastases (BM) are associated with poor prognosis. We aimed to identify the risk factors related to and the clinical impact of timing on overall survival (OS) after BM surgery.

Methods

We included 93 female patients who underwent BC BM surgery in our institution (2008–2019). Various clinical, radiographic, and histopathologic markers were analyzed with respect to TI and OS.

Results

The median TI was 45.0 months (range: 9–334.0 months). Fifteen individuals (16.1%) showed late occurrence of BM (TI ≥ 10 years), which was independently related to invasive lobular BC [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 9.49, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.47–61.39, p = 0.018] and adjuvant breast radiation (aOR 0.12, 95% CI 0.02–0.67, p = 0.016). Shorter TI (< 5 years, aOR 4.28, 95% CI 1.46–12.53, p = 0.008) was independently associated with postoperative survival and independently associated with the Union for International Cancer Control stage (UICC) III–IV of BC (aOR 4.82, 95% CI 1.10–21.17, p = 0.037), midline brain shift in preoperative imaging (aOR10.35, 95% CI 1.09–98.33, p = 0.042) and identic estrogen receptor status in BM (aOR 4.56, 95% CI 1.35–15.40, p = 0.015).

Conclusions

Several factors seem to influence the period between BC and BM. Occurrence of BM within five years is independently associated with poorer prognosis after BM surgery. Patients with invasive lobular BC and without adjuvant breast radiation are more likely to develop BM after a long progression-free survival necessitating more prolonged cancer aftercare of these individuals.
Between panic and motivation: did the first wave of COVID-19 affect scientific publishing in Mediterranean countries?
Authors: Ali Mona Farouk
Published: June 2022

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic that began in the winter of 2020, all communities and activities globally have been positively or negatively affected. This scientometric study raises an interesting question concerning whether the volume and characteristics of scientific publishing in all disciplines in 23 Mediterranean countries have been impacted by the pandemic and whether variations in the cumulative totals of COVID-19 cases have resulted in significant changes in this context. The Scopus database and SciVal tool supplied the necessary data for the years targeted for comparison (2019 and 2020), and the annual growth rates and differences were computed. The study used the Mann–Whitney test to examine the significance of the differences between the two years and the Spearman and Kendall correlation tests to evaluate the effect of the number of infections on these differences for all aspects of scientific performance. The findings demonstrated that the COVID-19 pandemic served as a powerful incentive, and the Mediterranean region experienced considerable differences in the volume and features of publications during this crisis. The most substantial implications were the significant growth from 3.1 to 9.4% in productivity and the increases in the annual growth rates of international collaboration, by 12% for the collaboration among Mediterranean countries and 10% for collaboration with the top ten epidemic countries. It was also proven that some characteristics of the publications were positively correlated with the total number of infections. This investigation can help university leaders and decision-makers in higher education and research institutions in these countries make decisions and implement measures to bridge the gaps and motivate researchers in all fields to conduct more research during this ongoing pandemic.
Well-being in Thailand: A Culturally Driven Grounded Inquiry Exploration of a Complex Construct
Authors: Suavansri Panita , Pichayayothin Nipat , Espinosa Patricia Rodriguez , Areekit Poonsub , Nilchantuk Chureerat , Jones Torin S. , French Joanna J. , Mam Emily , Moore Jessie B. , Heaney Catherine A.
Published: June 2022

Background

Well-being has long been recognized as a key construct in human history. Quantitative studies have been limited in their ability to uncover contextual and cultural nuances that can be leveraged to inform the promotion of well-being. The present study employed a qualitative approach informed by narrative inquiry to understand how individuals in a rapidly developing Asian country experience what it means to be well and what contributes to or detracts from their well-being.

Methods

A purposeful sample of 50 Thai adults living in Bangkok shared their personal stories of times when they experienced high and low levels of well-being. Data were inductively coded and analysed to identify key domains of participants’ well-being and their inter-connections.

Results

The results reflect three layers of well-being. Social relationships (i.e., family, friends and acquaintances, and relationships at work or education) are at the center of well-being in Thailand, connecting and supporting a second layer of eight constituent domains of well-being (experience of emotions, sense of self, finances, self-care, demands and responsibilities, thoughts and feelings about the future, personal health, spirituality). The third layer is composed of the societal and physical contexts that are formative for well-being.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest both universal and culturally unique components of well-being among Thai adults. Implications for the promotion of well-being in Thailand are discussed.
Real-time denoising of ultrasound images based on deep learning
Authors: Cammarasana Simone , Nicolardi Paolo , Patanè Giuseppe
Published: June 2022

Ultrasound images are widespread in medical diagnosis for muscle-skeletal, cardiac, and obstetrical diseases, due to the efficiency and non-invasiveness of the acquisition methodology. However, ultrasound acquisition introduces noise in the signal, which corrupts the resulting image and affects further processing steps, e.g. segmentation and quantitative analysis. We define a novel deep learning framework for the real-time denoising of ultrasound images. Firstly, we compare state-of-the-art methods for denoising (e.g. spectral, low-rank methods) and select WNNM (Weighted Nuclear Norm Minimisation) as the best denoising in terms of accuracy, preservation of anatomical features, and edge enhancement. Then, we propose a tuned version of WNNM (tuned-WNNM) that improves the quality of the denoised images and extends its applicability to ultrasound images. Through a deep learning framework, the tuned-WNNM qualitatively and quantitatively replicates WNNM results in real-time. Finally, our approach is general in terms of its building blocks and parameters of the deep learning and high-performance computing framework; in fact, we can select different denoising algorithms and deep learning architectures.
Resilience of Neural Electronics to High Magnetic Fields
Authors: Graham-Harper-Cater Jonathan , Nogaret Alain , Blakes Hugh , Metcalfe Ben , Taylor John
Published: June 2022

With the advent of neuronal oscillators in bioelectronic medicine, it has become increasingly important to understand the effect of magnetic fields on the biological rhythms they produce. In particular, cardiac pacemakers must be resilient to the magnetic fields applied during magnetic resonance imaging, but it is not known whether the nonlinearity of the neuron response would amplify some the known effects of magnetic fields in semiconductor devices. Here, we have performed a series of experiments probing the oscillations of a silicon neuron in a static magnetic field of 3T applied in the plane of the substrate and perpendicular to it. The neuron was fabricated from complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor integrated circuits, which integrated currents in the nA range to compute the output of the Hodgkin-Huxley model. The experiment reveals a small magnetic field-induced dephasing of neuron oscillations which is slightly larger when the magnetic field is in the plane rather than perpendicular to the plane. This is interpreted in terms of the differences in diffusion coefficients of cyclotron and magnetoelectric skipping orbits at room temperature.
Quantum cohomology as a deformation of symplectic cohomology
Authors: Borman Matthew Strom , Sheridan Nick , Varolgunes Umut
Published: June 2022

We prove that under certain conditions, the quantum cohomology of a positively monotone compact symplectic manifold is a deformation of the symplectic cohomology of the complement of a simple crossings symplectic divisor. We also prove rigidity results for the skeleton of the divisor complement.
An avenue to miscarriage: a case report
Authors: Grey S. , Lartey J. , Millington J. , Vardon R. , Crane J. , Preuß-Wössner J. , Buschmann C.
Published: June 2022

Two men were wrongfully convicted of murder in 2017 and sentenced to life imprisonment. After a physical altercation inside a flat, the victim (A) was found dead approximately 60 m away outside a residential address. He had sustained a number of injuries including a stab wound to the left side of his neck which was found to have divided the right carotid artery. The location where A was found was not regarded as a crime scene and not subjected to a specialist forensic examination by scientists as it was assumed that the fatal injury was sustained in the flat. The pathologist, who subsequently carried out the autopsy on A, was not asked to attend the scene. A review of the blood distribution at the scene in conjunction with the pathology findings indicated however that the fatal neck wound had been inflicted outside the flat, near to where the victim was found. An appeal against the convictions for murder was upheld in 2021 and a re-trial ordered. Following this second trial, both accused were acquitted of murder and released from custody. The new pathology and blood pattern evidence introduced at the second trial was a major part of the defense strategy which led to the acquittal of the accused. The case illustrates that a more inclusive and detailed crime scene strategy had been undertaken, including an assessment of the bloodstains present, in conjunction with discussion with the pathologist, then the likelihood is that the two men subsequently charged with murder would have been eliminated as suspects and a miscarriage of justice would have been avoided.
Trivializable and Quaternionic Subriemannian Structures on $${\mathbb {S}}^7$$ and Subelliptic Heat Kernel
Authors: Bauer Wolfram , Laaroussi Abdellah
Published: June 2022

On the seven dimensional Euclidean sphere$${\mathbb {S}}^7$$S7we compare two subriemannian structures with regards to various geometric and analytical properties. The first structure is called trivializable and the underlying distribution$${\mathcal {H}}_T$$HTis induced by a Clifford module structure of$${\mathbb {R}}^8$$R8. More precisely,$${\mathcal {H}}_T$$HTis rank 4, bracket generating of step two and generated by globally defined vector fields. The distribution$${\mathcal {H}}_{Q}$$HQof the second structure is of rank 4 and step two as well and obtained as the horizontal distribution in the quaternionic Hopf fibration$${\mathbb {S}}^3\hookrightarrow {\mathbb {S}}^7\rightarrow {\mathbb {S}}^4$$S3↪S7→S4. Answering a question in: Markina and Godoy Molina (Rev Mat Iberoam 27(3), 997–1022, 2011) we first show that$${\mathcal {H}}_{Q}$$HQdoes not admit a global nowhere vanishing smooth section. In both cases we determine the Popp measures [20], the intrinsic sublaplacians$$\Delta _{\text {sub}}^T$$ΔsubTand$$\Delta _{\text {sub}}^{Q}$$ΔsubQand the nilpotent approximations. We conclude that both subriemannian structures are not locally isometric and we discuss properties of the isometry group. By determining the first heat invariant of the sublaplacians it is shown that both structures are also not isospectral in the subriemannian sense.
Neumann Eigenvalues of the Biharmonic Operator on Domains: Geometric Bounds and Related Results
Authors: Colbois Bruno , Provenzano Luigi
Published: June 2022

We study an eigenvalue problem for the biharmonic operator with Neumann boundary conditions on domains of Riemannian manifolds. We discuss the weak formulation and the classical boundary conditions, and we describe a few properties of the eigenvalues. Moreover, we establish upper bounds compatible with the Weyl’s law under a given lower bound on the Ricci curvature.
Major adverse cardiovascular events in older emergency department patients presenting with non-cardiac medical complaints
Authors: Zelis N. , Roumans-van Oijen A. M. M. , Buijs J. , van Kraaij D. J. W. , van Kuijk S. M. J. , de Leeuw P. W. , Stassen P. M.
Published: June 2022

Objective

The risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) for older emergency department (ED) patients presenting with non-cardiac medical complaints is unknown. To apply preventive measures timely, early identification of high-risk patients is incredibly important. We aimed at investigating the incidence of MACE within one year after their ED visit and the predictive value of high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT) and N‑terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) for subsequent MACE.

Methods

This is a substudy of a Dutch prospective cohort study (RISE UP study) in older (≥ 65 years) medical ED patients who presented with non-cardiac complaints. Biomarkers were measured upon ED arrival. Cox-regression analysis was used to determine the predictive value of the biomarkers, when corrected for other possible predictors of MACE, and area under the curves (AUCs) were calculated.

Results

Of 431 patients with a median age of 79 years, 86 (20.0%) developed MACE within 1 year. Both hs-cTnT and NT-proBNP were predictive of MACE with an AUC of 0.74 (95% CI 0.68–0.80) for both, and a hazard ratio (HR) of 2.00 (95% CI 1.68–2.39) and 1.82 (95% CI 1.57–2.11) respectively. Multivariate analysis correcting for other possible predictors of MACE revealed NT-proBNP as an independent predictor of MACE.

Conclusion

Older medical ED patients are at high risk of subsequent MACE within 1 year after their ED visit. While both hs-cTnT and NT-proBNP are predictive, only NT-proBNP is an independent predictor of MACE. It is likely that early identification of those at risk offers a window of opportunity for prevention.
Binnensporten tijdens de COVID-19-pandemie: analyse met behulp van data uit de COVID RADAR app
Authors: van Dijk Willian J. , Saadah Nicholas H. , Numans Mattijs E. , Kiefte-de Jong Jessica C.
Published: June 2022

Samenvatting

Binnensportaccommodaties werden langer gesloten gehouden dan buitensportaccommodaties gedurende de lockdowns tijdens de COVID-19-pandemie. Dit onderzoek beantwoordt de vraag of binnen sporten het risico op besmetting met SARS-CoV‑2 vergroot. Hiervoor werden gegevens gebruikt van de COVID RADAR-app. Er werd gecorrigeerd voor leeftijd, vaccinatiestatus, geslacht, ander risicogedrag, prevalentie van SARS-CoV‑2 en kwaliteit van de leefomgeving. Uit analyses van 1.353 gebruikers, van wie 13,0% een positieve testuitslag rapporteerde, blijkt dat binnensporters significant vaker een positieve test hadden (oddsratio 1,8; 95%-betrouwbaarheidsinterval 1,2–2,6; p = 0,003) ten opzichte van gebruikers die buiten sporten. Dit bevestigt de rationale achter het eerdere beleid ten aanzien van het langer gesloten houden van binnensportaccommodaties om het aantal besmettingen te reduceren.
Multi-criteria material selection for casing pipe in shale gas wells application
Authors: Mohammed Auwalu I. , Bartlett Mark , Oyeneyin Babs , Kayvantash Kambiz , Njuguna James
Published: June 2022

The conventional method of casing selection is based on availability and/or order placement to manufacturers based on certain design specifications to meet the anticipated downhole conditions. This traditional approach is very much dependent on experience as well as constructing oil and gas wells at minimum budget. However, this material selection approach is very limited in meeting the requirement of shale gas wells. This study utilises the material performance indices and ANSYS Granta database to examine three different casing pipe buckling scenarios including the buckling with corrosion potentials and buckling with impact and long-term service temperature conditions. Consequently, numerical evaluations of the response of the selected casing materials established the stress, deformations, and safety factor for the first scenario (shale gas well with buckling tendencies). The significance of this new method is added advantage in terms of integrating materials’ physicochemical, thermal and mechanical properties and the casing functional performance to establish ideal selection within the design space or requirements. Results obtained in this study show that there are optional materials that outperform the most common casing grades (P110 and Q125) utilised in shale gas development in terms of both safety and cost. This study established a procedure for evaluating optimum performance between cost, safety, performance indices and materials’ physical and mechanical properties for a typical well design scenario. This procedure will assist the design engineer to justify the selection of a particular material(s) safely and technically for a given shale well casing application in future. In all the 10 materials investigated, even though the P110 (API casing grade) meets the buckling design scenario and widely used in shale gas well development, there are many alternative viable material candidate options that outperform P110 Grade with the best material candidate studied in this work being BS 145.
Integrated workflow to investigate the fracture interference effect on shale well performance
Authors: Ibrahim Ahmed Farid
Published: June 2022

Horizontal drilling and multistage hydraulic fracturing applied in shale formations over the past decade. The operators are trying even closer cluster spacing to increase the initial rate, but it is at the expense of higher operation costs and complexity. This study presents an integrated workflow to investigate the effect of cluster interference on well performance. Analytical rate transient analysis (RTA) was combined with reservoir numerical simulation to calculate the effective fracture surface area (ACe) for hydrocarbon production. A proxy model was built to estimate the effective to actual stimulated fracture area ratio as a function of completion and reservoir parameters. The integrated workflow was applied to actual field data for two shale gas wells. An economic study was conducted to investigate the optimum spacing based on the well profitability. The well with a higher stage number and tighter cluster spacing had high cluster interference with a low ACe/ACa ratio. The well will drain the production area near the wellbore faster with a high initial production rate but with high production declining rate. Increasing the cluster spacing, with the same injected proppant volume, showed an increase in the ACe/ACa ratio, and a decrease in cluster interference. A lower initial rate was observed with a low production declining rate. Economic study showed optimum spacing of 60 ft based on the formation properties, capital cost, and gas price. As the interest rate, gas prices, and increases or low capital costs, the optimum completion tends to be with the tighter spacing to accelerate the production.
Exploring chitosan-shelled nanobubbles to improve HER2 + immunotherapy via dendritic cell targeting
Authors: Argenziano Monica , Occhipinti Sergio , Scomparin Anna , Angelini Costanza , Novelli Francesco , Soster Marco , Giovarelli Mirella , Cavalli Roberta
Published: June 2022

Immunotherapy is a valuable approach to cancer treatment as it is able to activate the immune system. However, the curative methods currently in clinical practice, including immune checkpoint inhibitors, present some limitations. Dendritic cell vaccination has been investigated as an immunotherapeutic strategy, and nanotechnology-based delivery systems have emerged as powerful tools for improving immunotherapy and vaccine development. A number of nanodelivery systems have therefore been proposed to promote cancer immunotherapy. This work aims to design a novel immunotherapy nanoplatform for the treatment of HER2 + breast cancer, and specially tailored chitosan-shelled nanobubbles (NBs) have been developed for the delivery of a DNA vaccine. The NBs have been functionalized with anti-CD1a antibodies to target dendritic cells (DCs). The NB formulations possess dimensions of approximately 300 nm and positive surface charge, and also show good physical stability up to 6 months under storage at 4 °C. In vitro characterization has confirmed that these NBs are capable of loading DNA with good encapsulation efficiency (82%). The antiCD1a-functionalized NBs are designed to target DCs, and demonstrated the ability to induce DC activation in both human and mouse cell models, and also elicited a specific immune response that was capable of slowing tumor growth in mice in vivo. These findings are the proof of concept that loading a tumor vaccine into DC-targeted chitosan nanobubbles may become an attractive nanotechnology approach for the future immunotherapeutic treatment of cancer.

Graphical abstract
Prenatal Maternal Smoke, DNA Methylation, and Multi-omics of Tissues and Child Health
Authors: Cosin-Tomas Marta , Cilleros-Portet Ariadna , Aguilar-Lacasaña Sofía , Fernandez-Jimenez Nora , Bustamante Mariona
Published: June 2022

Purpose of Review

Maternal tobacco smoking during pregnancy is of public health concern, and understanding the biological mechanisms can help to promote smoking cessation campaigns. This non-systematic review focuses on the effects of maternal smoking during pregnancy on offspring’s epigenome, consistent in chemical modifications of the genome that regulate gene expression.

Recent Findings

Recent meta-analyses of epigenome-wide association studies have shown that maternal smoking during pregnancy is consistently associated with offspring’s DNA methylation changes, both in the placenta and blood. These studies indicate that effects on blood DNA methylation can persist for years, and that the longer the duration of the exposure and the higher the dose, the larger the effects. Hence, DNA methylation scores have been developed to estimate past exposure to maternal smoking during pregnancy as biomarkers.

There is robust evidence for DNA methylation alterations associated with maternal smoking during pregnancy; however, the role of sex, ethnicity, and genetic background needs further exploration. Moreover, there are no conclusive studies about exposure to low doses or during the preconception period. Similarly, studies on tissues other than the placenta and blood are scarce, and cell-type specificity within tissues needs further investigation. In addition, biological interpretation of DNA methylation findings requires multi-omics data, poorly available in epidemiological settings. Finally, although several mediation analyses link DNA methylation changes with health outcomes, they do not allow causal inference. For this, a combination of data from multiple study designs will be essential in the future to better address this topic.