bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Clinical outcomes of thyroid tumours with concurrent epithelial and mesenchymal components in 14 dogs (2006–2020)
Authors: Cook Matthew R. , Gasparini Molly , Cianciolo Rachel E. , Brown Megan E. , Moore Antony S. , Curran Kaitlin M. , Maxwell Elizabeth A. , Gasson Shelby , Wustefeld‐Janssenss Brandan G. , Veluvolu Sridhar M. , Keepman Samuel , Wouda Raelene , Griffin Lynn R. , Selmic Laura E.
Published: February 2022

Background

While rare, multiple individual case reports have described mixed thyroid tumours in dogs containing both epithelial and mesenchymal neoplastic components.

Objectives

In this retrospective case series, we describe the clinical presentation, treatment and outcome of 14 dogs of canine thyroid tumours with concurrent mesenchymal and epithelial neoplastic populations.

Methods

Fourteen cases were retrospectively abstracted from nine institutions. Histopathologic samples and reports were collected from 10/14 dogs and reviewed by a single board‐certified anatomic pathologist.

Results

All 14 dogs had curative‐intent surgery to remove the thyroid neoplasm. The most common surgery performed was a unilateral thyroidectomy (10/14 dogs). Postoperatively, systemic therapy was administered in eight dogs. Six dogs developed local recurrence with a median time to loco‐regional recurrence of 53 days. Ten dogs developed metastatic disease with the most common metastatic site being the lungs (6/10 dogs), with a median time to metastasis of 93 days. Ten dogs were euthanised due to locoregional or distant progression of their mixed thyroid neoplasm. The overall median survival time was 156 days (95%CI: 49–244). The median survival time for dogs treated with adjuvant therapy was 189 days (95%CI: 24–244), whereas dogs without adjuvant therapy had a median survival time of 156 days (95%CI: 35‐upper limit could not be calculated; p = 0.62).

Conclusion

The thyroid tumours with both mesenchymal and epithelial components in this small sample set were associated with a poor prognosis after surgical excision with or without adjunctive therapy.
A novel coal gangue thermal stabilizer and its effect on thermal stability and mechanical properties of poly(vinyl chloride)
Authors: Xu Fuqin , He Xiaofang , Hou Zhaoyang , Yang Xiaoyong , Cao Xinxin
Published: February 2022

Nontoxic and efficient coal gangue thermal stabilizer (Y‐CG) was prepared by cheap and readily available calcium oxide, coal gangue (CG) and stearic acid(SA). The proposed mechanism of Y‐CG thermal stability was studied by XRD, FT‐IR, BET and thermal stability test. The results show that when the mass ratio of CG to water was 1:7, the loading of Ca(OH)2 between CG sheets reached the maximum value of 3.01 mmol/g. The hydrophobic property of the Y‐CG surface was better when modified at 75°C for 2 h with 5% SA. With 10% Y‐CG, the Congo red test showed thermal stabilization time of PVC improved up to 55.9 min and the torque rheological test showed dynamic thermal stabilization time of PVC improved up to 62.10 min. The TG curves show that Y‐CG had little effect on the onset degradation temperature of PVC. Still, Y‐CG can absorb HCl and initiate the carbonization of PVC to inhibit degradation. Compared with the commonly used thermal stabilizers, the thermal stability of Y‐CG was only slightly worse than that of hydrotalcite thermal stabilizers. The early reaction was that the strong base Ca(OH)2 in Y‐CG adsorbs HCl, and the CaCl2 was stably loaded in the CG layered structure, which avoided the adverse effects caused by strongly alkaline. The late reaction was that SA and Ca(OH)2 form weakly alkaline calcium stearate to absorb HCl. At the same time, calcium stearate can also be used as a compatibilizer to improve the compatibility between Y‐CG and PVC.
Leptomeningeal anastomoses: Mechanisms of pial collateral remodeling in ischemic stroke
Authors: Kaloss Alexandra M. , Theus Michelle H.
Published: February 2022

Arterial collateralization, as determined by leptomeningeal anastomoses or pial collateral vessels, is a well‐established vital player in cerebral blood flow restoration and neurological recovery from ischemic stroke. A secondary network of cerebral collateral circulation apart from the Circle of Willis, exist as remnants of arteriole development that connect the distal arteries in the pia mater. Recent interest lies in understanding the cellular and molecular adaptations that control the growth and remodeling, or arteriogenesis, of these pre‐existing collateral vessels. New findings from both animal models and human studies of ischemic stroke suggest a multi‐factorial and complex, temporospatial interplay of endothelium, immune and vessel‐associated cell interactions may work in concert to facilitate or thwart arteriogenesis. These valuable reports may provide critical insight into potential predictors of the pial collateral response in patients with large vessel occlusion and may aid in therapeutics to enhance collateral function and improve recovery from stroke.

This article is categorized under:

Neurological Diseases > Molecular and Cellular Physiology
On the generalized Clausen problem
Authors: Atanackovic Teodor M. , Kacapor Enes , Dolicanin Cemal
Published: February 2022

We analyze the classical problem of finding the shape of the column that optimizes certain criteria. The new formulation proposed here may be stated as: given the critical buckling load F of the column and the length L, find cross‐sectional area A, such that the volume W of the column attains minimal value. This is a classical Clausen problem. However, in this work we shall use the generalized constitutive equations of the column that allows for shear deformation and axis compressibility. This, as well as the novel use of the first integral, are the main novelties of our work. We will formulate a nonlinear boundary value problem for post critical deformation of optimally shaped rod. Finally we show that optimally shaped rod exhibits pitchfork supercritical bifurcation at critical buckling load.
Electroweak bubble wall expansion: gravitational waves and baryogenesis in Standard Model-like thermal plasma
Authors: Lewicki Marek , Merchand Marco , Zych Mateusz
Published: February 2022

Abstract

Computing the properties of the bubble wall of a cosmological first order phase transition at electroweak scale is of paramount importance for the correct prediction of the baryon asymmetry of the universe and the spectrum of gravitational waves. By means of the semiclassical formalism we calculate the velocity and thickness of the wall using as theoretical framework the scalar singlet extension of the SM with a parity symmetry and the SM effective field theory supplemented by a dimension six operator. We use these solutions to carefully predict the baryon asymmetry and the gravitational wave signals. The singlet scenario can easily accommodate the observed asymmetry but these solutions do not lead to observable effects at future gravity wave experiments. In contrast the effective field theory fails at explaining the baryon abundance due to the strict constraints from electric dipole moment experiments, however, the strongest solutions we found fall within the sensitivity of the LISA experiment. We provide a simple analytical approximation for the wall velocity which only requires calculation of the strength and temperature of the transition and works reasonably well in all models tested. We find that generically the weak transitions where the fluid approximation can be used to calculate the wall velocity and verify baryogenesis produce signals too weak to be observed in future gravitational wave experiments. Thus, we infer that GW signals produced by simple SM extensions visible in future experiments are likely to only result from strong transitions described by detonations with highly relativistic wall velocities.
Relativistic hydrodynamics with the parity anomaly
Authors: Poovuttikul Napat
Published: February 2022

Abstract

We consider the hydrodynamic regime of a 2+1 dimensions QFT with the parity anomaly. Beyond the known constraints from positivity of entropy production, we show that the anomaly inflow mechanism, from a corresponding bulk SPT phase, together with thermodynamic consistency of equilibrium partition functions, restricts the form of non-dissipative transport coefficients. This included the known form of quantised Hall conductivity, which is fixed to beσxy=e2/2h, along with new constraints on other three non-dissipative parity-odd transport coefficients.
Prätherapeutische Dysphagie bei Kopf-Hals-Tumor-Patienten
Authors: Lehner Uta , Zaretsky Eugen , Goeze Almut , Wermter Laura , Stuck Boris A. , Birk Richard , Neff Andreas , Fischer Ingo , Ghanaati Shahram , Sader Robert , Hey Christiane
Published: February 2022

Hintergrund

Sowohl der Schluck- als auch der Ernährungsstatus bei Kopf-Hals-Tumor(KHT)-Patienten nach einer onkologischen Therapie sind gut untersucht. Prätherapeutisch werden sie aber selten thematisiert, obwohl diese den Erfolg einer onkologischen Therapie nachhaltig beeinflussen können.

Ziel der Arbeit

Ziel dieser Arbeit ist die systematische Erfassung des Schluck- und Nutritionsstatus von KHT-Patienten vor Beginn einer onkologischen Therapie.

Material und Methoden

Bei 102 Patienten wurden zur objektiven Erfassung des Schluckvermögens endoskopisch die Penetration/Aspiration via PA-Skala (PAS), die Oralisierungseinschränkung (Functional Oral Intake Scale, FOIS) und die Versorgungsrelevanz (VRS) erhoben. Die subjektive Einschätzung des Schluckvermögens erfolgte via Fragebogen gEAT-10 („German EAT-10“), die orientierende Erfassung des Nutritionsstatus via Body-Mass-Index (BMI). Schluckvermögen und BMI wurden uni- und multivariat auf mögliche Einflussfaktoren geprüft.

Ergebnisse

Auffällige PAS-, FOIS- und VRS-Werte wurden bei ≤ 15 % der Patienten festgestellt. Der BMI war häufiger zu hoch als zu niedrig. Das objektiv erfasste Schluckvermögen war v. a. vom Tumorstadium abhängig und korrelierte mittelstark mit gEAT-10. Der gEAT-10-Gesamtscore war auffällig. Der Nutritionsstatus war von Patientengeschlecht und VRS abhängig.

Schlussfolgerung

Prätherapeutisch zeigte sich bei der Mehrzahl der Patienten keine Dysphagie oder Malnutrition. Ein auffälliges Schluckvermögen war mit höheren Tumorstadien assoziiert, eine Malnutrition mit weiblichem Geschlecht und Versorgungsrelevanz. Nichtsdestotrotz sollte hinsichtlich moderner onkologischer Therapie der Schluck- und Nutritionsstatus bei KHT-Patienten bereits prätherapeutisch systematisch erfasst werden, um ein optimales Patienten-Outcome zu erzielen.
Novel diagnostic model for bone metastases in renal cell carcinoma patients based on bone scintigraphy analyzed by computer-aided diagnosis software and bone turnover markers
Authors: Ujike Takeshi , Uemura Motohide , Kato Taigo , Hatano Koji , Kawashima Atsunari , Nagahara Akira , Fujita Kazutoshi , Imamura Ryoichi , Nonomura Norio
Published: February 2022

Background

Computer-assisted diagnosis (CAD) systems for bone scans have been introduced as clinical quality assurance tools, but few studies have reported on its utility for renal cell carcinoma (RCC) patients. The aim of this study was to assess the diagnostic validity of the CAD system for bone scans and to construct a novel diagnostic system for bone metastases in RCC patients.

Methods

We evaluated bone scan images of 300 RCC patients. Artificial neural network (ANN) values, which represent the probability of abnormality, were calculated by BONENAVI, the CAD software for bone scans. By analyzing ANN values, we assessed the diagnostic validity of BONENAVI. Next, we selected 108 patients who underwent measurements of bone turnover markers and assessed the combined diagnostic validity of BONENAVI and bone turnover markers.

Results

Forty-three out of 300 RCC patients had bone metastases. The AUC of ANN values was 0.764 and the optimum sensitivity and specificity were 83.7 and 62.7%. By logistic analysis of 108 cases, we found that ICTP, a bone resorption marker, could be a diagnostic marker. The AUC of ICTP was 0.776 and the optimum sensitivity and specificity were 57.1 and 86.8%. Subsequently, we developed a novel diagnostic model based on ANN values and ICTP. Using this model, the AUC was 0.849 and the optimum sensitivity and specificity were 76.2 and 80.7%.

Conclusion

By combining the high sensitivity provided by BONENAVI and the high specificity provided by ICTP, we constructed a novel, high-accuracy diagnostic model for bone metastases in RCC patients.
Patterns of symbolic numerical magnitude processing and working memory as predictors of early mathematics performance
Authors: Mononen Riikka , Niemivirta Markku
Published: February 2022

Although the roles of symbolic numerical magnitude processing (SNMP) and working memory (WM) in mathematics performance are well acknowledged, studies examining their joint effects are few. Here, we investigated the profiles of SNMP (1- and 2-digit comparison) and WM (verbal, visual and central executive) among Norwegian first graders (N = 256), and how these predict performance in counting, arithmetic facts and word problem–solving. Using latent class cluster analysis, four groups were identified: (1) weak SNMP (33.6%), (2) strong SNMP (25.8%), (3) weak SNMP and WM (23.4%) and (4) strong WM (17.2%). Group differences in mathematics performance were significant with explained variance ranging from 7 to 16%, even after controlling for relevant demographics and domain-general cognitive skills. Our findings suggest that children may display relative strengths in SNMP and WM, and that they both have a unique, even compensatory role in mathematics performance.
Peer Navigation to Support Transgender Women’s Engagement in HIV Care: Findings from the Trans Amigas Pilot Trial in São Paulo, Brazil
Authors: Lippman Sheri A. , Sevelius Jae M. , Saggese Gustavo Santa Roza , Gilmore Hailey , Bassichetto Katia Cristina , de Barros Daniel Dutra , de Oliveira Renata Batisteli , Maschião Luca Fasciolo , Chen Dorothy , de Sousa Mascena Veras Maria Amelia
Published: February 2022

Trans women living with HIV (TWH) have suboptimal HIV care engagement. We pilot tested Trans Amigas, a theory-based, trans-specific peer navigation (PN) intervention to address barriers to care in São Paulo, Brazil. TWH were randomized to the PN intervention (n = 75) or control (n = 38) condition. Control participants were referred to trans-friendly HIV care. Intervention participants were assigned a navigator who conducted nine in-person one-on-one sessions and bi-weekly phone or text check-ins to help participants overcome barriers to care and work towards gender affirmation and healthcare goals. We followed participants for 9 months to determine intervention feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy in improving retention in care. Analyses were intention to treat (ITT). Intervention acceptability was high: at end line, 85.2% of PN participants said they would continue receiving services and 94.4% would recommend peer navigation to a friend. A priori feasibility criteria were met: 92% of eligible participants enrolled and 70% were retained at 9 months; however, only 47% achieved moderate or better adherence to both in-person and phone/text program components. Though the pilot was not powered for efficacy, ITT findings trended toward significance, with intervention participants 40% more likely to be retained in care at the end of the study. Population-specific peer programming to support care engagement is acceptable, feasible, and can improve HIV outcomes for Trans women living with HIV.
Internal Deliberation Defending Climate-Harmful Behavior
Authors: Wolrath Söderberg Maria , Wormbs Nina
Published: February 2022

Most people in countries with the highest climate impact per capita are well aware of the climate crisis and do not deny the science. They worry about climate and have climate engaged attitudes. Still, their greenhouse-gas emissions are often high. How can we understand acting contrary to our knowledge? A simple answer is that we do not want to give up on benefits or compromise our quality of life. However, it is painful to live with discrepancies between knowledge and action. To be able to avoid taking the consequences of our knowledge, we deal with the gap by motivating to ourselves that the action is still acceptable. In this article, we use topical analysis to examine such processes of motivation by looking at the internal deliberation of 399 climate engaged people’s accounts of their reasoning when acting against their own knowledge. We found that these topical processes can be described in at least four different ways which we call rationalization, legitimization, justification and imploration. By focusing on topoi we can make visible how individual forms of reasoning interact with culturally developed values, habits and assumptions in creating enthymemes. We believe that these insights can contribute to understanding the conditions for climate transition communication.
The combination of Neosartorya (Aspergillus) fischeri antifungal proteins with rationally designed γ-core peptide derivatives is effective for plant and crop protection
Authors: Tóth Liliána , Poór Péter , Ördög Attila , Váradi Györgyi , Farkas Attila , Papp Csaba , Bende Gábor , Tóth Gábor K. , Rákhely Gábor , Marx Florentine , Galgóczy László
Published: February 2022

Plant pathogenic fungi are responsible for enormous crop losses worldwide. Overcoming this problem is challenging as these fungi can be highly resistant to approved chemical fungicides. There is thus a need to develop and introduce fundamentally new plant and crop protection strategies for sustainable agricultural production. Highly stable extracellular antifungal proteins (AFPs) and their rationally designed peptide derivatives (PDs) constitute feasible options to meet this challenge. In the present study, their potential for topical application to protect plants and crops as combinatorial biofungicides is supported by the investigation of two Neosartorya (Aspergillus) fischeri AFPs (NFAP and NFAP2) and their γ-core PDs. Previously, the biofungicidal potential of NFAP, its rationally designed γ-core PD (γNFAP-opt), and NFAP2 was reported. Susceptibility tests in the present study extended the in vitro antifungal spectrum of NFAP2 and its γ-core PD (γNFAP2-opt) to Botrytis, Cladosporium, and Fusarium spp. Besides, in vitro additive or indifferent interactions, and synergism were observed when NFAP or NFAP2 was applied in combination with γNFAP-opt. Except for γNFAP2-opt, the investigated proteins and peptides did not show any toxicity to tomato plant leaves. The application of NFAP in combination with γNFAP-opt effectively inhibited conidial germination, biofilm formation, and hyphal extension of the necrotrophic mold Botrytis cinerea on tomato plant leaves. However, the same combination only partially impeded the B. cinerea-mediated decay of tomato fruits, but mitigated the symptoms. Our results highlight the feasibility of using the combination of AFP and PD as biofungicide for the fungal infection control in plants and crops.
Surprisingly high economic costs of biological invasions in protected areas
Authors: Moodley Desika , Angulo Elena , Cuthbert Ross N. , Leung Brian , Turbelin Anna , Novoa Ana , Kourantidou Melina , Heringer Gustavo , Haubrock Phillip J. , Renault David , Robuchon Marine , Fantle-Lepczyk Jean , Courchamp Franck , Diagne Christophe
Published: February 2022

Biological invasions are one of the main threats to biodiversity within protected areas (PAs) worldwide. Meanwhile, the resilience of PAs to invasions remains largely unknown. Consequently, providing a better understanding of how they are impacted by invasions is critical for informing policy responses and optimally allocating resources to prevention and control strategies. Here we use the InvaCost database to address this gap from three perspectives: (i) characterizing the total reported costs of invasive alien species (IAS) in PAs; (ii) comparing mean observed costs of IAS in PAs and non-PAs; and (iii) evaluating factors affecting mean observed costs of IAS in PAs. Our results first show that, overall, the reported economic costs of IAS in PAs amounted to US$ 22.24 billion between 1975 and 2020, of which US$ 930.61 million were observed costs (already incurred) and US$ 21.31 billion were potential costs (extrapolated or predicted). Expectedly, most of the observed costs were reported for management (73%) but damages were still much higher than expected for PAs (24%); in addition, the vast majority of management costs were reported for reactive, post-invasion actions (84% of management costs, focused on eradication and control). Second, differences between costs in PAs and non-PAs varied among continents and environments. We found significantly higher IAS costs in terrestrial PA environments compared to non-PAs, while regionally, Europe incurred higher costs in PAs and Africa and Temperate Asia incurred higher costs in non-PAs. Third, characterization of drivers of IAS costs within PAs showed an effect of environments (higher costs in terrestrial environments), continents (higher in Africa and South America), taxa (higher in invertebrates and vertebrates than plants) and Human Development Index (higher in more developed countries). Globally, our findings indicate that, counterintuitively, PAs are subject to very high costs from biological invasions. This highlights the need for more resources to be invested in the management of IAS to achieve the role of PAs in ensuring the long term conservation of nature. Accordingly, more spatially-balanced and integrative studies involving both scientists and stakeholders are required.
Mechanistic investigation of the effect of endoglucanases related to pulp refining
Authors: Nagl Martin , Haske-Cornelius Oskar , Skopek Lukas , Bausch Florian , Pellis Alessandro , Bauer Wolfgang , Nyanhongo Gibson S. , Guebitz Georg M.
Published: February 2022

Endoglucanases are increasingly being touted as the ultimate solution for reducing energy consumption during the refining process in the pulp and paper industry. However, due to the high variety of endoglucanases in different enzyme formulations, these perform heterogeneously when applied to different pulps. In this study, the effect of four endoglucanases on softwood and hardwood pulp was studied using confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) after addition of fluorescently labelled carbohydrate binding modules (CBMs). Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analysis and high-performance liquid chromatography quantification of released oligo- and monosaccharides was performed for in-depth mechanistical investigation. Changes in the crystallinity levels caused by enzymatic degradation of amorphous regions were monitored by incubation with two different CBMs from Caldicellulosiruptor bescii and from Thermobifida fusca with high preference to either amorphous or crystalline regions of cellulose, respectively. When dosed at identical activity on the endoglucanase specific CellG5 substrate, CLSM analysis indicated the highest decrease of amorphous regions for those endoglucanases which were also most active in laboratory refining trials and which released highest amounts of cellooligomers from pulp. Using 13C-NMR analysis, an increase in para-crystalline cellulose caused by enzyme application was observed. Release of reducing sugars was determined at identical CellG5 dosage, indicating a high variance between the enzymes, especially when complex enzyme formulations were used. Scanning electron microscopy images were obtained for visualization of the endoglucanase activity. The results of mechanistical studies indicate that reduction of amorphous moieties of pulp by endoglucanases is especially beneficial for the refining process.
A federated approach to Android malware classification through Perm-Maps
Authors: D’Angelo Gianni , Palmieri Francesco , Robustelli Antonio
Published: February 2022

In the last decades, mobile-based apps have been increasingly used in several application fields for many purposes involving a high number of human activities. Unfortunately, in addition to this, the number of cyber-attacks related to mobile platforms is increasing day-by-day. However, although advances in Artificial Intelligence science have allowed addressing many aspects of the problem, malware classification tasks are still challenging. For this reason, the following paper aims to propose new special features, called permission maps (Perm-Maps), which combine information related to the Android permissions and their corresponding severity levels. Such features have proven to be very effective in classifying different malware families through the usage of a convolutional neural network. Also, the advantages introduced by the Perm-Maps have been enhanced by a training process based on a federated logic. Experimental results show that the proposed approach achieves up to a 3% improvement in average accuracy with respect to J48 trees and Naive Bayes classifier, and up to 16% compared to multi-layer perceptron classifier. Furthermore, the combined use of Perm-Maps and federated logic allows dealing with unbalanced training datasets with low computational efforts.
Adiposity, diabetes, lifestyle factors and risk of gastroesophageal reflux disease: a Mendelian randomization study
Authors: Yuan Shuai , Larsson Susanna C.
Published: February 2022

Adiposity, diabetes, and lifestyle factors are linked to gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in observational studies. We conducted a two-sample Mendelian randomization analysis to determine whether those associations are causal. Independent genetic variants associated with body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (with and without adjustment for BMI), type 2 diabetes, smoking, and alcohol, coffee and caffeine consumption at the genome-wide significance level were selected as instrumental variables. Summary-level data for GERD were available from a genome-wide association meta-analysis of 71,522 GERD cases and 261,079 controls of European descent from the UK Biobank and QSkin Sun and Health studies. The odds ratio (OR) of GERD was 1.49 (95% confidence interval (CI), 1.40–1.60) for one standard deviation (SD) increase in BMI, 1.07 (95% CI, 1.04–1.10) for one-unit increase in log-transformed OR of type 2 diabetes, and 1.41 (95% CI, 1.31–1.52) for one SD increase in prevalence of smoking initiation. There were suggestive associations with GERD for higher genetically predicted waist circumference (OR per one SD increase, 1.14, 95% CI, 1.02–1.26) and caffeine consumption (OR per 80 mg increase, 1.08, 95% CI, 1.02–1.15). Genetically predicted waist circumference adjusted for BMI, alcohol or coffee consumption was not associated GERD. This study suggests causal roles of adiposity, diabetes, and smoking, and a possible role of high caffeine consumption in the development of GERD.
Mastering humanitarianism? A survey of postgraduate humanitarian courses
Authors: Stibral Adriana A. , Zadeh-Cummings Nazanin , Clarke Matthew
Published: February 2022

Humanitarian events are increasing globally, both in number and intensity. In response, the international community spends approximately US$30 billion annually to alleviate both the immediate consequences of these climatic, geographic, and human-induced events but also to support mitigation and recovery. Over the past two decades, the humanitarian sector has increasingly professionalised. One under-studied aspect of this professionalisation is an increase in postgraduate studies in humanitarian action over the last 20 years. Despite this increase, there is no agreement on core curriculum or pedagogy across humanitarian studies courses. How do current Masters of Humanitarian Assistance (MHA) offerings converge and differ, and how can such courses further their contribution to the humanitarian endeavour? This paper surveys 26 anglophone courses offered in the United States, Europe, the United Kingdom, Australia, India, and Nigeria, exploring key characteristics of course entry requirements, flexibility, research, practical components, and academic foci. It does not recommend what a core curriculum for humanitarian courses should be, but does argue that core curriculum for humanitarian courses should be identified by relevant and diverse stakeholders such as affected communities, humanitarian agencies, disaster management bodies, and governments, to ensure that courses in this field provide appropriate learning outcomes. The paper suggests how such a ‘charter’ may be developed.
The importance of being petioled: leaf traits and resource-use strategies in Nuphar lutea
Authors: Dalla Vecchia Alice , Bolpagni Rossano
Published: February 2022

Intraspecific trait variability (ITV) can be considerably high and reveal plant local adaptation. The aim of this study is to investigate ITV of leaf traits (including petioles) in a rooted floating-leaved macrophyte (Nuphar lutea) at the local scale. We expected to see changes in resource-use strategies in relation to water and sediment properties. 96 leaves were sampled in a hyper-eutrophic shallow lake in central Italy, together with environmental parameters. Results highlight the influence of water depth and sediments in modulating environmental conditions and thus leaf traits. Leaf area and fresh and dry weight increased with water depth, a relation that catches the construction costs of petioles. The negative relation found between specific petiole area and conductivity suggests a stress imposed by high nutrient availability which triggers unfavorable conditions for N. lutea. We demonstrated the relevance of petiole traits for a rooted macrophyte. Petiole aerenchyma or photosynthetic extra surfaces fundamentally contribute to fit the environment, opening new questions for the functional investigation of macrophytes. Excluding petioles in the assessment of leaf traits reduces the possibility to understand the ecological/adaptive processes of nympheids. New data are urgently needed to increase the number of data and species to be analyzed.
Dynamic Changes of NCR− Type 3 Innate Lymphoid Cells and Their Role in Mice with Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia
Authors: Cai Jiayu , Lu Hongyan , Su Zhaoliang , Mi Lanlan , Xu Suqing , Xue Zhengyang
Published: February 2022

Abstract—

Inflammation is one of the important pathogenesis of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). Type 3 innate lymphoid cells (ILC3) play a role in a variety of inflammatory lung diseases. In this study, we established the BPD model by injecting lipopolysaccharide into the amniotic cavity of pregnant mice. Here, we investigated the dynamic changes of ILC3 and NKP46− ILC3 population in lung tissues of mice from BPD and the control groups. Results showed that the proportion of ILC3 and NKP46−ILC3 in the BPD group was higher than those of the control group. In addition, the cytokines interleukin-17 (IL-17) and interleukin-22 (IL-22) secreted by ILC3 in this model had also changed that their expression was significantly increased compared with that of the control group. Flow cytometry demonstrated that ILC3 were a rapid source of IL-17. In the anti-CD90 knockdown experiment, we confirmed the alleviation of BPD inflammation in the absence of ILC3. In addition, we injected mice with anti-IL-17 neutralizing antibody, and the results showed that IL-17 could aggravate BPD inflammation. Taken together, ILC3 may play a pro-inflammatory role in BPD by secreting IL-17.
The AIDA and the extra laser systems for excimer laser trabeculotomy proved comparable IOP lowering efficacy—12-month results
Authors: Hommayda Sufian , Hamann Timothy , Töteberg-Harms Marc
Published: February 2022

Purpose

Cataract surgery combined with excimer laser trabeculotomy (phaco-ELT) leads to a significant reduction in intraocular pressure by enhancing trabecular outflow. The aim of this study is to compare two laser systems for ELT (AIDA vs. ExTra).

Methods

In this retrospective chart review, inclusion criteria were a diagnosis of glaucoma and phaco-ELT between 07/17/2010 and 07/17/2018. Data were collected preoperatively and postoperatively up to 1 year. Success was defined as IOP reduction of ≥ 20% compared to baseline plus an IOP of < 21 mmHg with no hypotony, no loss of light perception vision, and no subsequent glaucoma surgery.

Results

Three hundred and fourteen eyes (mean age 75.9 ± 8.6 years) were included. Baseline intraocular pressure (IOP) for the ExTra group (94 eyes) was 20.3 ± 5.9 mmHg on 2.0 ± 1.3 anti-glaucoma drugs (AGD) and a best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA, logMar) of 0.5 ± 0.4. For The AIDA group (220 eyes), baseline IOP was 18.7 ± 6.3 mmHg on 2.0 ± 1.3 AGD and a BCVA of 0.3 ± 0.3. In the ExTra group, IOP was reduced to 12.8 ± 2.5 mmHg (−37%) and in the AIDA group to 14.7 ± 3.9 (−21%, p = 0.14) at 1 year. AGD reduction in the ExTra group was 1.3 ± 1.5 and 1.8 ± 1.4 in the AIDA group (p = 0.14). Success rates were 80% (ExTra) and 70% (AIDA), respectively (p = 0.552). Thirty-one eyes (10.0%) required a subsequent glaucoma surgery during the follow-up.

Conclusion

Both laser platforms, the ExTra and the AIDA laser, used for Phaco-ELT lead to a significant reduction in intraocular pressure and anti-glaucoma drugs with no statistically significant difference in success rates during the follow-up of 12 months.

Trial Registration Swissethics: 2018–01,791.
Cryoballoon ablation for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation in Japan: 2-year safety and efficacy results from the Cryo AF Global Registry
Authors: Kimura Masaomi , Kobori Atsushi , Nitta Junichi , Hirao Kenzo , Shizuta Satoshi , Kurita Takashi , Okishige Kaoru , Kumagai Koichiro , Koyama Junjiro , Hiroshima Kenichi , Inaba Osamu , Goya Masahiko , Yamauchi Yasuteru , Kueffer Fred J. , Becker Daniel , Okumura Ken
Published: February 2022

Purpose

Catheter ablation is a recommended rhythm control therapy after failed or intolerant antiarrhythmic drug (AAD) treatment for patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). This study evaluates clinical performance and safety of pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) using the cryoballoon (Arctic Front Advance) in Japan.

Methods

Cryo AF Global Registry is a prospective, multi-center registry. Patients with paroxysmal AF (PAF) were treated at 10 Japanese hospitals. Efficacy was evaluated by freedom from a ≥ 30-s recurrence of AF/atrial flutter (AFL)/atrial tachycardia (AT), AF-related symptoms, and quality of life using the EQ-5D-3L questionnaire. The safety endpoint was serious device- and procedure-related adverse events.

Results

The study included 352 patients with PAF (65 ± 10 years of age, 36% female, 36% without prior failure of AAD). Mean duration since first diagnosis of AF was 3.0 ± 5.5 years. Serious device- and procedure-related adverse event rate was 2.6% (95% CI: 1.2–4.8%). Freedom from AF/AFL/AT was 88.5% (95% CI: 84.7–91.4%) at 12 months and 86.7% (95% CI: 81.1–90.8%) at 24 months. The number of patients with ≥ 1 AF symptom was significantly decreased from 88% at enrollment to 22% (p < 0.01) at 12-month follow-up. General quality of life using EQ-5D did not improve significantly after 12 months in the summary score. However, in the visual analog scale score, there was improvement (5.8 ± 18.4; p < 0.01).

Conclusions

This study demonstrates that cryoablation used for PVI is a safe and effective treatment in real-world use for patients with PAF in Japan.
Major land use and vegetation influences on potential pollinator communities in the High Plains of Texas
Authors: Begosh Angela , Smith Loren M. , McMurry Scott T.
Published: February 2022

In 2016, the annual value of all global crops dependent upon pollination was valued at $ 235–$ 577 billion (US$). Pollination service is threatened by habitat loss, pesticides, and climate change. We collected potential pollinators with blue vane traps in native grasslands, Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) lands, and cropland (land use), and their embedded playa wetlands (land type) in the Southern High Plains of Texas (SHP). We collected vegetation data that included floral cover, floral diversity, native grass cover, introduced grass cover, canopy gap, and duff cover. Our objective was to determine if individual vegetation characteristics influenced potential pollinator abundance and richness in addition to land use or land type as a whole. The top model explaining abundance was land use, land type, and floral cover. Floral cover had a positive influence on all land uses. The top model that explained insect richness was land use x floral cover, land type, canopy gap, and duff cover. Floral cover positively influenced insect richness in native grasslands but negatively influenced cropland and CRP richness. Percent of canopy gap had a slight negative influence on insect richness, and duff cover positively influenced richness. Our recommendations to land managers are to protect playas to preserve undisturbed areas and native floral resources and seed all future CRP contracts with floral rich plantings to provide for pollinators over the entire growing season.

Implications for insect conservation

Our results show that vegetation characteristics shared by all land uses such as floral cover, canopy gap and duff cover influence pollinator abundance and richness. Therefore, conserving playa wetlands and programs such as the CRP have the potential for enhancing pollinator habitat in working landscapes of the SHP of Texas.
The presence of moral hazard regarding flood insurance and German private businesses
Authors: Hudson Paul , Thieken Annegret H.
Published: February 2022

There is a movement towards the concepts of integrated flood risk management and governance. In these concepts, each stakeholder prone to flooding is tasked with actively limiting flood impacts. Currently, relatively more research has focused upon the adaptation of private households and not on private businesses operating in flood-prone areas. This paper offers an extension of this literature on business-level flood adaptation by exploring the potential presence of moral hazard. The analyses are based on survey data collected in the aftermath of six floods across Germany between 2002 and 2013 to provide a first indication of the presence of moral hazard in private businesses. Moral hazard is where increased insurance coverage results in policyholders preparing less, increasing the risk they face, a counterproductive outcome. We present an initial study of moral hazard occurring through three channels: the performance of emergency measures during a flood, changes in precautionary behavior employed before a given flood occurred, and changes in the intention to employ additional precautionary measures after a flood. We find, much like for private households, no strong indication that moral hazard is present regarding past adaptation. However, there is a potential avenue after 2005 for insurance coverage to lower businesses’ intentions to employ more adaptation measures after a flood. This has significant policy relevance such as opportunities for strengthening the link between insurance and risk reduction measures and boosting insurance coverage against flooding in general.
Revisiting the averaged problem in the case of mean-motion resonances in the restricted three-body problem
Authors: Pousse Alexandre , Alessi Elisa Maria
Published: February 2022

A classical approach to the restricted three-body problem is to analyze the dynamics of the massless body in the synodic reference frame. A different approach is represented by the perturbative treatment: in particular the averaged problem of a mean-motion resonance allows to investigate the long-term behavior of the solutions through a suitable approximation that focuses on a particular region of the phase space. In this paper, we intend to bridge a gap between the two approaches in the specific case of mean-motion resonant dynamics, establish the limit of validity of the averaged problem and take advantage of its results in order to compute trajectories in the synodic reference frame. After the description of each approach, we develop a rigorous treatment of the averaging process, estimate the size of the transformation and prove that the averaged problem is a suitable approximation of the restricted three-body problem as long as the solutions are located outside the Hill’s sphere of the secondary. In such a case, a rigorous theorem of stability over finite but large timescales can be proven. We establish that a solution of the averaged problem provides an accurate approximation of the trajectories on the synodic reference frame within a finite time that depend on the minimal distance to the Hill’s sphere of the secondary. The last part of this work is devoted to the co-orbital motion (i.e., the dynamics in 1:1 mean-motion resonance) in the circular-planar case. In this case, an interpretation of the solutions of the averaged problem in the synodic reference frame is detailed and a method that allows to compute co-orbital trajectories is displayed.
Sexual Assistance for People with Intellectual Disabilities: Proposal for a Service Delivery Model
Authors: Gutiérrez-Bermejo Belén , Jenaro Cristina
Published: February 2022

The figure of the sexual assistant is increasingly demanded as a right in the disabilities field. This figure requires debate, adaptation to the characteristics of countries and cultures, as well as to the characteristics of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. This study presents the work carried out with representatives of Spanish organizations of people with intellectual disabilities to develop a proposal for the figure of support staff for sexual behavior. Together with a rights perspective, this proposal is aligned with the Supports paradigm to better meet the health and behavior needs of users. The figure is framed within the auto-erotic and therapeutic model of sexual assistance. This figure excludes characteristics of the erotic model that involves interaction or sexual exchange between the sexual assistant and the individual with a disability. Several advantages and disadvantages need to be carefully considered before implementing this support in a delivery service model. We argue that the proposed figure requires specific accreditation, training, and monitoring.
Endemism in recently diverged angiosperms is associated with polyploidy
Authors: Villa Sara , Montagna Matteo , Pierce Simon
Published: February 2022

Endemic (range restricted or precinctive) plant species are frequently observed to exhibit polyploidy (chromosome set duplication), which can drive shifts in ecology for angiosperms, but whether endemism is generally associated with polyploidy throughout the flowering plants has not been determined. We tested the hypothesis that polyploidy is more frequent and more pronounced (higher evident ploidy levels) for recently evolved endemic angiosperms. Chromosome count data, molecular dating and distribution for 4210 species (representing all major clades of angiosperms and including the largest families) were mined from literature-based databases. Upper boundary regression was used to investigate the relationship between the maximum number of chromosomes and time since taxon divergence, across clades and separately for families, comparing endemic with non-endemic species. A significant negative exponential relationship between maximum number of chromosomes and taxon age was evident across angiosperms (R2adj = 0.48 for all species, R2adj = 0.49 for endemics; R2adj = 0.44 for non-endemics; p always < 0.0001), recent endemics demonstrating greater maximum chromosome numbers (y intercept = 164 cf. 111) declining more rapidly with taxon age (decay constant = 0.12, cf. 0.04) with respect to non-endemics. The majority of families exhibited this relationship, with a steeper regression slope for endemic Campanulaceae, Asteraceae, Fabaceae, Poaceae, Caryophyllaceae and Rosaceae, cf. non-endemics. Chromosome set duplication is more frequent and extensive in recent angiosperms, particularly young endemics, supporting the hypothesis of recent polyploidy as a key explanation of range restriction. However, as young endemics may also be diploid, polyploidy is not an exclusive driver of endemism.
Das Selbst entsteht in der Selbsterfahrung
Authors: Frick Eckhard
Published: February 2022

In diesem Beitrag der Zeitschrift für Psychodrama und Soziometrie setzt sich der Autor mit den Grundlagen der Selbsterfahrung auseinander. „Selbsterfahrung“ ist ein reflexives Nominalkompositum, das aus dem Intensifikator „selbst-“ und dem nominalisierten Verbum „erfahren“ zusammengesetzt ist. Das semantische Feld des Kompositums besteht folglich nicht nur in der Reflexivität (Erfahrung der eigenen Existenz), sondern auch in Intensivierung und emphatischer Bekräftigung von Seele und Identität: Das reflexive Kompositum „Selbsterfahrung“ ist die verdichtete Version der reflexiven Proposition „sich erfahren“. Der Prozess sprachlicher Reanalyse, Abstraktion und Verdichtung kann das abstrakte, mit dem bestimmten Artikel als individuelles Konzept gebrauchte Nomen „Selbst“ entstehen lassen. Dieser sprachliche Prozess vom Handlungsverb zum reflexiven Nominalkompositum und zum abstrakten Nomen drückt aus, was auf der Bühne geschieht: „Role playing is prior to the emergence of the self. Roles do not emerge from the self, but the self may emerge from roles“ (Moreno). Um das Entstehen des Selbst zu verstehen, sollten Psychodramatiker(innen) die Ich-Selbst-Achse im Auge behalten.
Materials-oriented integrated design and construction of structures in civil engineering—A review
Authors: Ming Xing , Huang John C. , Li Zongjin
Published: February 2022

Design is a goal-oriented planning activity for creating products, processes, and systems with desired functions through specifications. It is a decision-making exploration: the design outcome may vary greatly depending on the designer’s knowledge and philosophy. Integrated design is one type of design philosophy that takes an interdisciplinary and holistic approach. In civil engineering, structural design is such an activity for creating buildings and infrastructures. Recently, structural design in many countries has emphasized a performance-based philosophy that simultaneously considers a structure’s safety, durability, serviceability, and sustainability. Consequently, integrated design in civil engineering has become more popular, useful, and important. Material-oriented integrated design and construction of structures (MIDCS) combine materials engineering and structural engineering in the design stage: it fully utilizes the strengths of materials by selecting the most suitable structural forms and construction methodologies. This paper will explore real-world examples of MIDCS, including the realization of MIDCS in timber seismic-resistant structures, masonry arch structures, long-span steel bridges, prefabricated/on-site extruded light-weight steel structures, fiber-reinforced cementitious composites structures, and fiber-reinforced polymer bridge decks. Additionally, advanced material design methods such as bioinspired design and structure construction technology of additive manufacturing are briefly reviewed and discussed to demonstrate how MIDCS can combine materials and structures. A unified strength-durability design theory is also introduced, which is a human-centric, interdisciplinary, and holistic approach to the description and development of any civil infrastructure and includes all processes directly involved in the life cycle of the infrastructure. Finally, this paper lays out future research directions for further development in the field.