bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Exercise therapy reporting in clinical trials for chronic neck pain: A systematic review
Authors: Grandeo Jason , Favaro Laura , Rhon Daniel I. , Young Jodi L.
Published: May 2022

Objective

The aim of this systematic review was to assess the reproducibility of exercise therapy used in clinical trials for chronic neck pain (CNP) based on reported items from the Template for Intervention Description and Replication (TIDieR) and the Consensus on Exercise Reporting Template (CERT) checklists.

Methods

Two researchers systematically searched, screened, and selected trials that assessed exercise therapy for CNP between 2000 and 2021 from PubMed, CINAHL, and Ovid Medline. Included studies were published in English, and study participants experienced neck pain for longer than 3 months. Thoroughness of reporting of exercise therapy was assessed using the TIDierR and CERT checklists. Methodological quality of each study was screened with the Revised Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool. Data analysis was performed for descriptive and correlational statistics.

Results

Sixty‐three clinical trials using exercise therapy for treatment of CNP met the inclusion criteria. No study reported all TIDieR or CERT items. The mean number of items reported was 5.44 (SD 2.40, range of 1–11) on the TIDieR, and 8.27 (SD 4.14, range of 0‐17) for the CERT. Risk of bias was high for 30 studies (47.6%), somewhat concerning for 20 studies (31.7%), and low for 13 studies (21.7%). Higher risk of bias was associated with a lower number of TIDieR and CERT items reported.

Discussion & Conclusion

The majority of exercise therapy trials for CNP lack proper reporting, limiting reproducibility of the interventions in real world clinical practice and follow‐on research. After checklists were published, reporting did not improve.
Electrophysiology to identify disease mechanisms in CIDP: Reliability and value
Authors: Rajabally Yusuf A.
Published: May 2022

See article on pages 131‐135 in this issue
Patient preference for virtual versus in‐person visits in neuromuscular clinical practice
Authors: Hafeez Komal , Kushlaf Hani , Al‐Sultani Husam , Joseph Anny‐Claude , Zaeem Zoya , Siddiqi Zaeem , Laboy Shannon , Pulley Michael , Habib Ali A. , Robbins Nathaniel M. , Zadeh Sean , Hafeez Muhammad Ubaid , Hussain Yessar , Melendez‐Zaidi Alexandria , Kassardjian Charles , Johnson Kristin , Leonhard Holly , Biliciler Suur , Patino Murillas Jorge E. , Shaibani Aziz I.
Published: May 2022

Introduction/Aims

It is unknown if patients with neuromuscular diseases prefer in‐person or virtual telemedicine visits. We studied patient opinions and preference on virtual versus in‐person visits, and the factors influencing such preferences.

Methods

Telephone surveys, consisting of 11 questions, of patients from 10 neuromuscular centers were completed.

Results

Five hundred and twenty surveys were completed. Twenty‐six percent of respondents preferred virtual visits, while 50% preferred in‐person visits. Sixty‐four percent reported physical interaction as “very important.” For receiving a new diagnosis, 55% preferred in‐person vs 35% reporting no preference. Forty percent were concerned about a lack of physical examination vs 20% who were concerned about evaluating vital signs. Eighty four percent reported virtual visits were sufficiently private. Sixty eight percent did not consider expenses a factor in their preference. Although 92% were comfortable with virtual communication technology, 55% preferred video communications, and 19% preferred phone calls. Visit preference was not significantly associated with gender, diagnosis, disease severity, or symptom management. Patients who were concerned about a lack of physical exam or assessment of vitals had significantly higher odds of selecting in‐person visits than no preference.

Discussion

Although neither technology, privacy, nor finance burdened patients in our study, more patients preferred in‐person visits than virtual visits and 40% were concerned about a lack of physical examination. Interactions that occur with in‐person encounters had high importance for patients, reflecting differences in the perception of the patient‐physician relationship between virtual and in‐person visits.
Impact of halogens on electronic and photovoltaic properties of organic semiconductors: A multiscale computational modeling
Authors: Alwadai Norah , Elqahtani Zainab Mufarreh , Khan Salah Ud‐Din , Pembere Anthony M. S. , Badshah Amir , Mehboob Muhammad Yasir , Nazar Muhammad Faizan
Published: May 2022

Indeed, structural and electronic behavior of organic semiconductors control their performance for organic solar cells. To attain the higher performance a deeper understanding of materials is required. Here, multi‐scale computational modeling is used to study the effect of structural variation on the halogen substitution. Quantum chemical calculations, molecular dynamics simulations and machine learning are used. Halogens are introduced at the terminal position of electron‐acceptors and their electronic properties are further examined. Quantum chemical analysis has shown that fluorinated and chlorinated acceptors have lower exciton binding energy, higher transfer integral, and lower reorganization energy; suggesting that these acceptors are better than others. Moreover, the power conversion efficiency of newly designed acceptor materials is also predicted through already trained machine learning models. Fluorinated and chlorinated acceptors showed higher PCE, but the difference is not very large as compared with other acceptors. Further, the mixing behavior of the designed acceptors with the polymer donor PBDB‐T is investigated using the Florgy–Huggins parameter. The molecular packing of donor and acceptor molecules is studied using radial distribution function. Fluorinated and chlorinated acceptors showed lower Florgy–Huggins parameter and free energy of mixing. We believe that multiscale modeling has the potential to explore various electronic and photovoltaic aspects of organic semiconductors even before synthesis.
Structure‐based alteration of tryptophan residues of the multidrug transporter CmABCB1 to assess substrate binding using fluorescence spectroscopy
Authors: Inoue Yoshiki , Yamaguchi Tomohiro , Otsuka Tetsuo , Utsunomiya Yuto , Pan Dongqing , Ogawa Haruo , Kato Hiroaki
Published: May 2022

ABCB1, also known as P‐glycoprotein, is an essential component of many physiological barriers and extrudes a variety of hydrophobic chemicals out of the cell. Structures of ABCB1 provided insights into the structural changes that occur upon ATP binding and the characteristic architecture of the substrate binding site. Yet, the structure–function relationship between substrate binding and transporting still remains largely obscured because there is no robust method for accurately measuring substrate binding constants. The methods currently used cannot identify whether the bound substrates are located in the inner chamber of the molecule in the transmembrane region or not because of the low spatial resolution. Here, we report a system for measuring the affinity of substrate binding to the Cyanidioschyzon merolae ABCB1 (CmABCB1) using site‐specific tryptophan (Trp) fluorescence quenching. We designed a CmABCB1 mutant with an extrinsic Trp residue introduced into the inner chamber. Trp fluorescence was quenched by three substrates and one inhibitor, including rhodamine 6G, in a saturable fashion, allowing for accurate estimation of the dissociation constant (KD) for each molecule. The KD for rhodamine 6G is similar to that determined using a reciprocal fluorescence quenching assay using rhodamine 6G fluorescence, suggesting that Trp fluorescence of the mutant was quenched by the interaction between the extrinsic Trp and substrates bound in the inner chamber. Structural comparison of the ABCB1 structures suggests that the system presented in this study could be ideal method of choice to determine the substrate binding affinities of compounds bound to the chamber of mammalian ABCB1.
Complementing machine learning‐based structure predictions with native mass spectrometry
Authors: Allison Timothy M. , Degiacomi Matteo T. , Marklund Erik G. , Jovine Luca , Elofsson Arne , Benesch Justin L. P. , Landreh Michael
Published: May 2022

The advent of machine learning‐based structure prediction algorithms such as AlphaFold2 (AF2) and RoseTTa Fold have moved the generation of accurate structural models for the entire cellular protein machinery into the reach of the scientific community. However, structure predictions of protein complexes are based on user‐provided input and may require experimental validation. Mass spectrometry (MS) is a versatile, time‐effective tool that provides information on post‐translational modifications, ligand interactions, conformational changes, and higher‐order oligomerization. Using three protein systems, we show that native MS experiments can uncover structural features of ligand interactions, homology models, and point mutations that are undetectable by AF2 alone. We conclude that machine learning can be complemented with MS to yield more accurate structural models on a small and large scale.
Programmable protein topology via SpyCatcher‐SpyTag chemistry in one‐pot cell‐free expression system
Authors: Ye Qingning , Lin Xiaomei , Wang Ting , Cui Yuntao , Jiang Hao , Lu Yuan
Published: May 2022

Protein‐based biomaterials play a significant role in biomedicine and biocatalysis due to their intrinsic biocompatibility and biodegradability. Topological biomaterials show certain advantages without changing the wild‐type sequence of the protein, such as unique biofunctions and exceptional stabilities. However, the tuning for the synthesis and assembly of topological protein materials was limited. In this study, we combined the SpyCatcher/SpyTag (SC/ST) chemistry and proposed a cell‐free one‐pot transcription‐translation‐assembly system for flexibly regulating the production of topological protein materials. Dimers, trimers, and multimers of proteins with topological structures were designed. Next, the cell‐free system was optimized by adjusting the magnesium ion concentration and the molar ratio of different plasmids to obtain the greatest degree of polymerization. The optimal Mg ion concentration was finally determined to be 15 mM, and their most appropriate plasmid molar ratios (SC:ST) were 7:3 for dimers, trimers, and multimers. Finally, based on the topological structure of the polymer, the function was verified with the fusion of xylanase, and it was found that the xylanase activity of the polymer was three times that of the xylanase monomer. Universally, the cell‐free system in this study can be used to synthesize protein materials with different topologies based on various covalent or non‐covalent methods, and it is likely to have potential in topological structure exploration and bioapplications.
In silico folding of hydrophobic peptides that form β‐hairpin structures in solution
Authors: Moharana Tushar Ranjan , Nagaraj Ramakrishnan
Published: May 2022

Peptides designed with residues that have a high propensity to occur in β‐turns form β‐hairpin structures in apolar as well as in polar organic solvents such as dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). Due to limited solubility, their conformations have not been investigated experimentally in water. We have examined the conformations of four of such designed peptides that fold into well‐defined β‐hairpin structures facilitated by β‐turns, in the crystalline state and in solution, by molecular dynamics simulations (MDS). The peptides folded into β‐hairpin structures in water, starting from the fully extended conformation. However, in DMSO, neither folding nor unfolding was observed during MDS, when the starting structures were unfolded and folded, respectively. The lack of folding in DMSO was investigated by constructing folding free energy landscapes by umbrella sampling. The folding free energy landscape is smooth in water, whereas in DMSO, folded and unfolded structures are separated by high‐energy barriers. The folding free energy is less in DMSO compared with water due to a more stable unfolded structure in DMSO compared with water, which in turn is due to stabilisation of the unfolded state by hydrophobic interactions in DMSO. This finding will be helpful to researchers to accurately model and/or design small peptide structures in water and organic solvents.
Triggered Single‐Photon Emission of Resonantly Excited Quantum Dots Grown on (111)B GaAs Substrate
Authors: von Helversen Martin , Haisler Alexey Vladimirovich , Daurtsev Marat Petrovich , Dmitriev Dmitry Vladimirovich , Toropov Alexander Ivanovich , Rodt Sven , Haisler Vladimir Anatolievich , Derebezov Ilya Alexandrovich , Reitzenstein Stephan
Published: May 2022

In the recent decades, semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) have proven to be valuable candidates as sources for various photonic applications. Of particular interest are, due to their wide‐ranging applicability in quantum communication and computation, indistinguishable photons as well as entangled photon pairs, which can be emitted on demand. The latter require highly symmetric QDs with a small to vanishing excitonic fine‐structure splitting. Herein, quantum optical properties of QDs grown via molecular‐beam epitaxy (MBE) on (111)B‐GaAs substrate are reported to study their emission in terms of triggered single‐photon emission under quasi‐resonant p‐shell excitation, and under strict resonant s‐shell excitation. The investigations reveal very good emission properties of these types of QDs, especially under s‐shell resonant excitation. In fact, the results yield almost background‐free triggered single photons with excellent multiphoton suppression associated with g(2)(0) = (0.033 ± 0.027) and a degree of indistinguishability of (41 ± 10)%. The achieved results underline the high optical quality of (111)‐QDs and show their high potential for applications in photonic quantum technologies.
Comparative evaluation of flavonoids reveals the superiority and promising inhibition activity of silibinin against SARS‐CoV‐2
Authors: Hamdy Rania , Mostafa Ahmed , Abo Shama Noura M. , Soliman Sameh S. M. , Fayed Bahgat
Published: May 2022

Flavonoids are phenolic compounds naturally found in plants and commonly consumed in diets. Herein, flavonoids were sequentially evaluated by a comparative in silico study associated with systematic literature search. This was followed by an in vitro study and enzyme inhibition assays against vital SARS‐CoV‐2 proteins including spike (S) protein, main protease (Mpro), RNA‐dependent RNA‐polymerase (RdRp), and human transmembrane serine protease (TMPRSS2). The results obtained revealed 10 flavonoids with potential antiviral activity. Out of them, silibinin showed promising selectivity index against SARS‐CoV‐2 in vitro. Screening against S protein discloses the highest inhibition activity of silibinin. Mapping the activity of silibinin indicated its excellent binding inhibition activity against SARS‐CoV‐2 S protein, Mpro and RdRP at IC50 0.029, 0.021, and 0.042 μM, respectively, while it showed no inhibition activity against TMPRSS2 at its IC50(SARS‐CoV‐2). Silibinin was tested safe on human mammalian cells at >7‐fold its IC50(SARS‐CoV‐2). Additionally, silibinin exhibited >90% virucidal activity at 0.031 μM. Comparative molecular docking (MD) showed that silibinin possesses the highest binding affinity to S protein and RdRP at −7.78 and −7.15 kcal/mol, respectively. MDs showed that silibinin exhibited stable interaction with key amino acids of SARS‐CoV‐2 targets. Collectively, silibinin, an FDA‐approved drug, can significantly interfere with SARS‐CoV‐2 entry and replication through multi‐targeting activity.
Case‐matched analysis of robotic versus open surgical enucleation for pancreatic tumours: A comparative cost‐effectiveness study
Authors: Caruso Riccardo , Vicente Emilio , Quijano Yolanda , Duran Hipolito , Diaz Eduardo , Fabra Isabel , Alfonsel Javier Nuñez , Malave Luis , Agresott Ruben , Ferri Valentina
Published: May 2022

Background

Enucleation has widely spread as an alternative strategy in the treatment of small pancreatic tumours and cystic lesions. To date there are limited data on perioperative outcomes after pancreatic enucleation performed using a minimally invasive robotic technique, particularly regarding the risk factors associated with postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF). We perform a comparative study of robotic pancreatic enucleation (RPE) and open enucleation (OPE) with the aim of evaluating clinical and cost‐effective outcomes.

Methods

This is a case‐matched analysis of patients who underwent robotic and open pancreatic enucleation performed at Sanchinarro University Hospital, Madrid, from October 2014 to December 2021. Patient data were obtained retrospectively. Clinicopathologic characteristics and perioperative and postoperative outcomes were recorded and analysed. Two groups of demographically similar patients were analysed: the robotic group (n = 20) and the open group (n = 20). The patient characteristics of the two groups have been compared. From February 2015, quality‐adjusted life years (QALYs) are also included and prospectively recorded in the database and used to measure the effectiveness of the treatment.

Result

A total of 20 RPE and 20 OPE have been included. The incremental cost of the robotic approach versus open was €2617.85(CI 95% 1601.48; 3634.24) and the incremental utility was 0.0879 QALYs (CI 95% 0.0834; 0.0925). The estimated ICER for patients was €29,782.13 (CI 95% 17,313.29; 43,576.01) per QALY gained. Robotic resection resulted a shorter postoperative hospital stay, less wound infections, faster recovery diet and a similar operating time. The two groups had similar complication rates. Pathological data were similar for both procedures.

Conclusion

RPE resulted in a shorter hospital stay and less blood loss and morbidity, comparable with the outcomes of open enucleation. RPE may also be acceptable in terms of cost‐effectiveness.
Environmental quality assessment in central Andean Rivers: Using the ecological thresholds concept, environmental quality standards, and biotic indexes
Authors: Pimentel Helen Francisca , Oyague Eduardo , Sánchez Edgar
Published: May 2022

As in many other countries, Peru has the Water Quality Standard (WQS) as the primary tool for managing and diagnosing water resources. An analysis of variable by variable was applied to define water quality as poor or good by setting concentration limits. A second group of tools commonly used are Biotic Indexes based on tolerance of benthic macroinvertebrates to pollution, that reflect the impacts caused by a group of variables, even though they cannot identify which variables determine the viability of the ecosystem. This research proposes to include the Stable States approach to evaluate the ecological integrity in central‐Andes rivers to explore an alternative approach with the capacity to represent a broader number of factors through multivariate analyses. A ten‐year database of biological, physical, and chemical variables measured in five Andean Rivers was evaluated. Our results suggest these rivers fluctuate into two seasonal stable states (wet and dry season), accounting for approximately 41% of the system variability. The wet season stable state was defined by high levels of suspended solids and turbidity, coliform, phosphorus, and some metals. During the dry season, the key variables were dissolved solids, barium, pH, and dissolved oxygen. Likewise, there seems to be a third alternative state influenced by human pressures driven by organic pollution variables that exceed the WQS. Regarding water quality, the concentrations of coliforms, phosphorus, and lead usually exceeded the limits in two stations, but not every year. Between bioindicator indexes, the ABI represented the ecological condition more accurately than EPT.
Synthesis of Nickel Nitride‐Based 1D/0D Heterostructure via a Morphology‐Inherited Nitridation Strategy for Efficient Electrocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution
Authors: Wang Bin , Guo Lingju , Zhang Jiangwei , Qiao Yuyan , He Meng , Jiang Qike , Zhao Yang , Shi Xinghua , Zhang Fuxiang
Published: May 2022

The fabrication of heterostructures has inspired extensive interest in promoting the performance of solar cells or solar fuel production, but it is still challenging for nitrides to prepare structurally ordered heterostructures. Herein, one nickel nitride‐based heterostructure composed of 1D Ni0.2Mo0.8N nanorods and 0D Ni3N nanoparticles (denoted as NiMoN/NiN) is reported to exhibit significantly promoted hydrogen evolution reaction performance in both alkaline and neutral media. In particular, the optimal overpotential of the NiMoN/NiN sample at 10 mA cm−2 in 1 m KOH is 49 mV. The successful fabrication of 1D/0D heterostructures is mainly ascribed to morphology‐inherited nitridation of 1D oxide precursor (denoted as NiMoO‐NRs) in situ grown on Ni foam surface, and attributed to strong Lewis acid–base interaction that renders the Ni2+ ions emitted from the oxide precursor to well coordinate with NH3 for the formation of Ni3N nanoparticles during the nitridation process. It is theoretically and experimentally demonstrated that the special 1D/0D heterostructure provides tandem active phases Ni0.2Mo0.8N and Ni3N for synergistic promotion in lowering the activation energy of H2O dissociation and optimizing the adsorption energy of H, respectively. This work may open a new avenue for developing highly active tandem electrocatalysts for promising renewable energy conversion.
The Discovery of Novel Circulating Cancer‐Related Cells in Circulation Poses New Challenges to Microfluidic Devices for Enrichment and Detection
Authors: Wu Man , Huang Yuhang , Zhou Yang , Zhao Hui , Lan Yuwei , Yu Zhibin , Jia Chunping , Cong Hui , Zhao Jianlong
Published: May 2022

Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) enumeration has been widely used as a surrogate predictive marker for early diagnoses, the evaluation of chemotherapy efficacy, and cancer prognosis. Microfluidic technologies for CTCs enrichment and detection have been developed and commercialized as automation platforms. Currently, in addition to CTCs, some new types of circulating cancer‐related cells (e.g., CCSCs, CTECs, CAMLs, and heterotypic CTC clusters) in circulation are also reported to be correlated to cancer diagnosis, metastasis, or prognosis. And they widely differ from the conventional CTCs in positive markers, cellular morphology, or size, which presents a new technological challenge to microfluidic devices that use affinity‐based capture methods or size‐based filtration methods for CTCs detection. This review focuses on the biological and physical properties as well as clinical significance of the novel circulating cancer‐related cells, and discusses the challenges of their discovery to microfluidic chip for enrichment. Finally, the current challenges of CTCs detection in clinical application and future opportunities are also discussed.
Impedance‐Enabled Camera‐Free Intrinsic Mechanical Cytometry
Authors: Feng Yongxiang , Chai Huichao , He Weihua , Liang Fei , Cheng Zhen , Wang Wenhui
Published: May 2022

Mechanical properties of single cells are important label‐free biomarkers normally measured by expensive and complex imaging systems. To unlock this limit and allow mechanical properties comparable across different measurement platforms, camera‐free intrinsic mechanical cytometry (CFIMC) is proposed for on‐the‐fly measurement of two major intrinsic mechanical parameters, that is, Young's modulus E and fluidity β, of single cells. CFIMC adopts a framework that couples the impedance electrodes with the constriction channel spatially, so that the impedance signals contain the dynamic deformability information of the cell squeezing through the constriction channel. Deformation of the cell is thus extracted from the impedance signals and used to derive the intrinsic mechanical parameters. With reasonably high throughput (>500 cells min−1), CFIMC can successfully reveal the mechanical difference in cancer and normal cells (i.e., human breast cell lines MCF‐10A, MCF‐7, and MDA‐MB‐231), living and fixed cells, and pharmacological perturbations of the cytoskeleton. It is further found that 1 µM level concentration of Cytochalasin B may be the threshold for the treated cells to induce a significant cytoskeleton effect reflected by the mechanical parameters. It is envisioned that CFIMC provides an alternative avenue for high‐throughput and real‐time single‐cell intrinsic mechanical analysis.
Direct Visualization and Identification of Membrane Voltage‐Gated Sodium Channels from Human iPSC‐Derived Neurons by Multiple Imaging and Light Enhanced Spectroscopy
Authors: Moretti Manola , Limongi Tania , Testi Claudia , Milanetti Edoardo , De Angelis Maria Teresa , Parrotta Elvira I. , Scalise Stefania , Santamaria Gianluca , Allione Marco , Lopatin Sergei , Torre Bruno , Zhang Peng , Marini Monica , Perozziello Gerardo , Candeloro Patrizio , Pirri Candido Fabrizio , Ruocco Giancarlo , Cuda Giovanni , Di Fabrizio Enzo
Published: May 2022

In this study, transmission electron microscopy atomic force microscopy, and surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy are combined through a direct imaging approach, to gather structural and chemical information of complex molecular systems such as ion channels in their original plasma membrane. Customized microfabricated sample holder allows to characterize Nav channels embedded in the original plasma membrane extracted from neuronal cells that are derived from healthy human induced pluripotent stem cells. The identification of the channels is accomplished by using two different approaches, one of them widely used in cryo‐EM (the particle analysis method) and the other based on a novel Zernike Polynomial expansion of the images bitmap. This approach allows to carry out a whole series of investigations, one complementary to the other, on the same sample, preserving its state as close as possible to the original membrane configuration.
Predicting compressive strength of green concrete using hybrid artificial neural network with genetic algorithm
Authors: Pan Lei , Wang Yuanfeng , Li Kai , Guo Xiaohui
Published: May 2022

With the growing usage of supplementary cementitious materials (silica fume, fly ash, and ground blast furnace slag, etc.) in concrete, accurate prediction of green concrete compressive strength (CS) has become an issue worth investigating. In this paper, a green concrete CS prediction model was developed using hybrid artificial neural network with genetic algorithm (GA‐ANN) based on 2479 green concrete CS experiment results. Also two prediction models based on support vector regression (SVR) and ANN algorithm were developed for comparison. Five new parameters were constructed based on the original nine influencing parameters of CS, taking all 14 parameters as input variables, the influence of the constructed parameters on the model performance was studied. Feature selection was then performed based on the maximum information correlation (MIC) and sensitivity analysis results, which could improve the model by deleting several parameters. The results showed that the prediction performance of the SVR, ANN, and GA‐ANN models were improved after adding new parameters, the GA‐ANN model has the best prediction performance. The accuracy and robustness of the GA‐ANN model were effectively improved by deleting the input variables with lower MIC and sensitivity values.
A Study on Peak Determinations by Analyzing Spectral Intensity Trends for Brillouin Optical Time Domain Reflectometry
Authors: Furukawa Osamu
Published: May 2022

Brillouin optical time domain reflectometry sensor utilizes a peak frequency in a Brillouin gain spectrum to measure distributed strain and/or temperature. When the strain and/or temperature changes significantly within a spatial resolution at the measuring position, the measured Brillouin gain spectrum has multi‐peaks with competing intensities and the noise overlapping may cause a big jump to a falsely determined frequency. Such a rare spot has been overlooked but are found by recent sensors with a higher sampling resolution. The signal‐to‐noise ratio improvement or multi‐peak fitting methods is effective, but it cannot eliminate this problem in essence. In this study, an analytical method is developed to correct the erroneous peak determinations based on the nature of the spectral‐intensity trends along with the distance axis. When a peak frequency transits from one peak to the other, the intensity of the former peak decreases and that of the later increases, and those levels intersect. Simulations are conducted with a spatial resolution of 1 m for frequency transitions with a frequency difference of 3–300 MHz. For differences larger than an intrinsic Brillouin bandwidth, this method is effective in avoiding a large jump to a false peak. © 2022 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.
Complete surgical excision of a high‐grade extraskeletal mesenchymal chondrosarcoma, resulting in a longer survival than previously reported
Authors: Reeves Hannah , Smalle Tesh
Published: May 2022

Mesenchymal chondrosarcomas are rare malignant tumours composed of bone and soft tissue. Extraskeletal mesenchymal chondrosarcomas (EMCS) that form in the absence of bone are still rare, accounting for only 1% of chondrosarcomas in dogs. The handful of cases reported have varied survival rates, making it difficult to predict survival accurately. We report on a case of an 11‐year‐old Schnauzer cross with a high‐grade (III) EMCS on the right flank. No metastases were detected at presentation, and complete surgical resection was performed with no adjunct therapy. Despite previous reports implying a poor prognosis, this patient showed no signs of either local recurrence or metastases, 17 months post‐surgical resection, suggesting that despite features of high histologic grade, complete surgical excision may lead to a longer disease‐free interval.
Brain‐targeting drug delivery systems
Authors: Liu Peixin , Jiang Chen
Published: May 2022

Brain diseases, including neurodegenerative diseases, acute ischemic stroke and brain tumors, have become a major health problem and a huge burden on society with high morbidity and mortality. However, most of the current therapeutic drugs can only relieve the symptoms of brain diseases, and it is difficult to achieve satisfactory therapeutic effects fundamentally. Extensive studies have shown that the therapeutic effects of brain diseases are mainly affected by two factors: the conservation of the blood–brain barrier (BBB) and the complexity of the brain micro‐environment. Brain‐targeting drug delivery systems provide new possibilities for overcoming these barriers with versatility. In this review, it provides an overview of BBB alteration and discusses targeting delivery strategies for brain diseases therapy. Furthermore, delivery systems which are designed to modulate the brain micro‐environment with synergistic effects were also highlighted.

This article is categorized under:

Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Emerging Technologies
Electroweak renormalization based on gauge-invariant vacuum expectation values of non-linear Higgs representations. Part I. Standard Model
Authors: Dittmaier Stefan , Rzehak Heidi
Published: May 2022

Abstract

The renormalization of vacuum expectation value parameters, such as v in the Standard Model (SM), is an important ingredient in electroweak renormalization, where this issue is connected to the treatment of tadpoles. Tadpole counterterms can be generated in two different ways in the Lagrangian: in the course of parameter renormalization, or alternatively via Higgs field redefinitions. The former typically leads to small corrections originating from tadpoles, but in general suffers from gauge dependences if $$ \overline{\mathrm{MS}} $$

MS
¯

renormalization conditions are used for mass parameters. The latter is free from gauge dependences, but is prone to very large corrections in $$ \overline{\mathrm{MS}} $$

MS
¯

schemes, jeopardizing perturbative stability in predictions. In this paper we propose a new scheme for tadpole renormalization, dubbed Gauge-Invariant Vacuum expectation value Scheme (GIVS), which is a hybrid scheme of the two mentioned types, with the benefits of being gauge independent and perturbatively stable. The GIVS is based on the gauge-invariance property of Higgs fields, and the corresponding parameters like v, in non-linear representations of Higgs multiplets. We demonstrate the perturbative stability of the GIVS in the SM by discussing the conversion between on-shell and $$ \overline{\mathrm{MS}} $$

MS
¯

renormalized masses.
Kinetics of Hawking-Page phase transition with the non-Markovian effects
Authors: Li Ran , Wang Jin
Published: May 2022

Abstract

Based on the free energy landscape description of Hawking-Page phase transition, the transition process from the Schwarzschild-anti-de Sitter black hole to the thermal anti-de Sitter space are considered to be stochastic under the thermal fluctuations. If the correlation time of the effective thermal bath is comparable or even longer than the oscillating time of the spacetime state in the potential well on the free energy landscape, the non-Markovian model of the black hole phase transition is required to study the kinetics of the transition processes. The non-Markovian or memory effect is represented by the time dependent friction kernel and the kinetics is then governed by the generalized Langevin equation complemented by the free energy potential. As the concrete examples, we study the effects of the exponentially decay friction kernel and the oscillatory friction kernel on the kinetics of Hawking-Page phase transition. For the exponentially decayed friction, the non-Markovian effects promote the transition process, and for the oscillatory friction, increasing the oscillating frequency also speeds up the transition process.
CFT duals of three-dimensional de Sitter gravity
Authors: Hikida Yasuaki , Nishioka Tatsuma , Takayanagi Tadashi , Taki Yusuke
Published: May 2022

Abstract

We present a class of dS/CFT correspondence between two-dimensional CFTs and three-dimensional de Sitter spaces. We argue that such a CFT includes an SU(2) WZW model in the critical level limit k → −2, which corresponds to the classical gravity limit. We can generalize this dS/CFT by considering the SU(N) WZW model in the critical level limit k → −N, dual to the higher-spin gravity on a three-dimensional de Sitter space. We confirm that under this proposed duality the classical partition function in the gravity side can be reproduced from CFT calculations. We also point out a duality relation known in higher-spin holography provides further evidence. Moreover, we analyze two-point functions and entanglement entropy in our dS/CFT correspondence. Possible spectrum and quantum corrections in the gravity theory are discussed.
Toward the nonequilibrium thermodynamic analog of complexity and the Jarzynski identity
Authors: Bai Chen , Li Wen-Hao , Ge Xian-Hui
Published: May 2022

Abstract

The Jarzynski identity can describe small-scale nonequilibrium systems through stochastic thermodynamics. The identity considers fluctuating trajectories in a phase space. The complexity geometry frames the discussions on quantum computational complexity using the method of Riemannian geometry, which builds a bridge between optimal quantum circuits and classical geodesics in the space of unitary operators. Complexity geometry enables the application of the methods of classical physics to deal with pure quantum problems. By combining the two frameworks, i.e., the Jarzynski identity and complexity geometry, we derived a complexity analog of the Jarzynski identity using the complexity geometry. We considered a set of geodesics in the space of unitary operators instead of the trajectories in a phase space. The obtained complexity version of the Jarzynski identity strengthened the evidence for the existence of a well-defined resource theory of uncomplexity and presented an extensive discussion on the second law of complexity. Furthermore, analogous to the thermodynamic fluctuation-dissipation theorem, we proposed a version of the fluctuation-dissipation theorem for the complexity. Although this study does not focus on holographic fluctuations, we found that the results are surprisingly suitable for capturing their information. The results obtained using nonequilibrium methods may contribute to understand the nature of the complexity and study the features of the holographic fluctuations.
Nonrelativistic CFTs at large charge: Casimir energy and logarithmic enhancements
Authors: Hellerman Simeon , Orlando Domenico , Pellizzani Vito , Reffert Susanne , Swanson Ian
Published: May 2022

Abstract

The unitary Fermi gas, by virtue of its description as a nonrelativistic conformal field theory, has proven an interesting system by which the quantum properties of CFTs can be held to experimental verification. Here, we examine the structure of conformal dimensions of charge-Q operators in nonrelativistic CFTs, in the large-Q regime, from the non-linear sigma model perspective. We discuss in detail the renormalization of edge divergences using dimensional regularization, elucidating the presence of log(Q) terms in the large-charge expansion. Finally, we use dimensional regularization to compute the universal one-loop Q0 log Q contribution to the ground-state energy in d = 3 spatial dimensions, with the result $$ \Delta {(Q)}_{Q^0}=\frac{1}{3\sqrt{3}}\log (Q)+ $$
Δ

Q

Q
0

=

1

3

3

log

Q

+
const.
A Green’s basis for the bosonic SMEFT to dimension 8
Authors: Chala Mikael , Díaz-Carmona Álvaro , Guedes Guilherme
Published: May 2022

Abstract

We present a basis of dimension-eight Green’s functions involving Standard Model (SM) bosonic fields, consisting of 86 new operators. Rather than using algebraic identities and integration by parts, we prove the independence of these interactions in momentum space, including discussion on evanescent bosonic operators. Our results pave the way for renormalising the SM effective field theory (SMEFT), as well as for performing matching of ultraviolet models onto the SMEFT, to higher order. To demonstrate the potential of our construction, we have implemented our basis in matchmakereft and used it to integrate out a heavy singlet scalar and a heavy quadruplet scalar up to one loop. We provide the corresponding dimension-eight Wilson coefficients. Likewise, we show how our results can be easily used to simplify cumbersome redundant Lagrangians arising, for example, from integrating out heavy fields using the path-integral approach to matching.
Schwarzschild quasi-normal modes of non-minimally coupled vector fields
Authors: Garcia-Saenz Sebastian , Held Aaron , Zhang Jun
Published: May 2022

Abstract

We study perturbations of massive and massless vector fields on a Schwarzschild black-hole background, including a non-minimal coupling between the vector field and the curvature. The coupling is given by the Horndeski vector-tensor operator, which we show to be unique, also when the field is massive, provided that the vector has a vanishing background value.

We determine the quasi-normal mode spectrum of the vector field, focusing on the fundamental mode of monopolar and dipolar perturbations of both even and odd parity, as a function of the mass of the field and the coupling constant controlling the non-minimal interaction. In the massless case, we also provide results for the first two overtones, showing in particular that the isospectrality between even and odd modes is broken by the non-minimal gravitational coupling.

We also consider solutions to the mode equations corresponding to quasi-bound states and static configurations. Our results for quasi-bound states provide strong evidence for the stability of the spectrum, indicating the impossibility of a vectorization mechanism within our set-up. For static solutions, we analytically and numerically derive results for the electromagnetic susceptibilities (the spin-1 analogs of the tidal Love numbers), which we show to be non-zero in the presence of the non-minimal coupling.
Gegenbauer’s Twin
Authors: Durieux Gauthier , McCullough Matthew , Salvioni Ennio
Published: May 2022

Abstract

In Twin Higgs models the dominant source of fine-tuning is the cancellation of order v2/f2 required to obtain a Standard Model-like Higgs, where v and f are the electroweak and new physics scales, respectively. Recently proposed Gegenbauer Goldstone models naturally realise v2/f2 « 1 and hence remove this source of fine-tuning. By combining the two into ‘Gegenbauer’s Twin’, we obtain a symmetry-based model for Higgs-sector naturalness consistent with current collider measurements without fine-tuning of parameters. Single-Higgs coupling deviations of a few percent and trilinear self-coupling deviations of order one are irreducible in the natural parameter space. Thus, notably, the fingerprints of Gegenbauer’s Twin could emerge first through di-Higgs measurements at the High-Luminosity LHC.
Reevaluation of a classification system: stable and unstable odontoid fractures in geriatric patients—a radiological outcome measurement
Authors: Deluca Amelie , Wichlas Florian , Deininger Christian , Traweger Andreas , Mueller Ernst J.
Published: May 2022

Objectives

We carried out a retrospective cohort study to differentiate geriatric odontoid fractures into stable and unstable and correlated it with fracture fusion rates. Results are based on the literature and on our own experience. The authors propose that the simple Anderson and D’Alonzo classification may not be sufficient for geriatric patients.

Methods

There were 89 patients ≥ 65 years who presented at our institution with type II and III odontoid fractures from 2003 until 2017 and were included in this study. Each patient was categorized with CT scans to evaluate the type of fracture, fracture gap (mm), fracture angulation (°), fracture displacement (mm) and direction (ventral, dorsal). Fractures were categorized as stable [SF] or unstable [UF] distinguished by the parameters of its angulation (< / > 11°) and displacement (< / > 5 mm) with a follow-up time of 6 months.

SFs were treated with a semi-rigid immobilization for 6 weeks, UFs surgically—preferably with a C1–C2 posterior fusion.

Results

The classification into SFs and UFs was significant for its angulation (P = 0.0006) and displacement (P < 0.0001). SF group (n = 57): A primary stable union was observed in 35, a stable non-union in 10, and an unstable non-union in 8 patients of which 4 were treated with a C1/2 fixation. The overall consolidation rate was 79%. UF group (n = 32): A posterior C1–C2 fusion was carried out in 23 patients, a C0 onto C4 stabilization in 7 and an anterior odontoid screw fixation in 2. The union rate was 100%. Twenty-one type II SFs (91%) consolidated with a nonoperative management (P < 0.001). A primary non-union occurred more often in type II than in type III fractures (P = 0.0023). There was no significant difference in the 30-day overall case fatality (P = 0.3786).

Conclusion

To separate dens fractures into SFs and UFs is feasible. For SFs, semi-rigid immobilization provides a high consolidation rate. Stable non-unions are acceptable, and the authors suggest a posterior transarticular C1–C2 fixation as the preferred surgical treatment for UFs.

Level of evidence

Level III.
Beyond bias and discrimination: redefining the AI ethics principle of fairness in healthcare machine-learning algorithms
Authors: Giovanola Benedetta , Tiribelli Simona
Published: May 2022

The increasing implementation of and reliance on machine-learning (ML) algorithms to perform tasks, deliver services and make decisions in health and healthcare have made the need for fairness in ML, and more specifically in healthcare ML algorithms (HMLA), a very important and urgent task. However, while the debate on fairness in the ethics of artificial intelligence (AI) and in HMLA has grown significantly over the last decade, the very concept of fairness as an ethical value has not yet been sufficiently explored. Our paper aims to fill this gap and address the AI ethics principle of fairness from a conceptual standpoint, drawing insights from accounts of fairness elaborated in moral philosophy and using them to conceptualise fairness as an ethical value and to redefine fairness in HMLA accordingly. To achieve our goal, following a first section aimed at clarifying the background, methodology and structure of the paper, in the second section, we provide an overview of the discussion of the AI ethics principle of fairness in HMLA and show that the concept of fairness underlying this debate is framed in purely distributive terms and overlaps with non-discrimination, which is defined in turn as the absence of biases. After showing that this framing is inadequate, in the third section, we pursue an ethical inquiry into the concept of fairness and argue that fairness ought to be conceived of as an ethical value. Following a clarification of the relationship between fairness and non-discrimination, we show that the two do not overlap and that fairness requires much more than just non-discrimination. Moreover, we highlight that fairness not only has a distributive but also a socio-relational dimension. Finally, we pinpoint the constitutive components of fairness. In doing so, we base our arguments on a renewed reflection on the concept of respect, which goes beyond the idea of equal respect to include respect for individual persons. In the fourth section, we analyse the implications of our conceptual redefinition of fairness as an ethical value in the discussion of fairness in HMLA. Here, we claim that fairness requires more than non-discrimination and the absence of biases as well as more than just distribution; it needs to ensure that HMLA respects persons both as persons and as particular individuals. Finally, in the fifth section, we sketch some broader implications and show how our inquiry can contribute to making HMLA and, more generally, AI promote the social good and a fairer society.
Monoamine oxidase binding not expected to significantly affect [18F]flortaucipir PET interpretation
Authors: Wright Justin P. , Goodman Jason R. , Lin Yin-Guo , Lieberman Brian P. , Clemens Jennifer , Gomez Luis F. , Liang Qianwa , Hoye Adam T. , Pontecorvo Michael J. , Conway Kelly A.
Published: May 2022

Purpose

[18F]-labeled positron emission tomography (PET) radioligands permit in vivo assessment of Alzheimer’s disease biomarkers, including aggregated neurofibrillary tau (NFT) with [18F]flortaucipir. Due to structural similarities of flortaucipir with some monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A) inhibitors, this study aimed to evaluate flortaucipir binding to MAO-A and MAO-B and any potential impact on PET interpretation.

Methods

[18F]Flortaucipir autoradiography was performed on frozen human brain tissue slices, and PET imaging was conducted in rats. Dissociation constants were determined by saturation binding, association and dissociation rates were measured by kinetic binding experiments, and IC50 values were determined by competition binding.

Results

Under stringent wash conditions, specific [18F]flortaucipir binding was observed on tau NFT-rich Alzheimer’s disease tissue and not control tissue. In vivo PET experiments in rats revealed no evidence of [18F]flortaucipir binding to MAO-A; pre-treatment with MAO inhibitor pargyline did not impact uptake or wash-out of [18F]flortaucipir. [18F]Flortaucipir bound with low nanomolar affinity to human MAO-A in a microsomal preparation in vitro but with a fast dissociation rate relative to MAO-A ligand fluoroethyl-harmol, consistent with no observed in vivo binding in rats of [18F]flortaucipir to MAO-A. Direct binding of flortaucipir to human MAO-B was not detected in a microsomal preparation. A high concentration of flortaucipir (IC50 of 1.3 μM) was found to block binding of the MAO-B ligand safinamide to MAO-B on microsomes suggesting that, at micromolar concentrations, flortaucipir weakly binds to MAO-B in vitro.

Conclusion

These data suggest neither MAO-A nor MAO-B binding will contribute significantly to the PET signal in cortical target areas relevant to the interpretation of [18F]flortaucipir.