bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Tumor Antigen Loaded Nanovaccine Induced NIR‐Activated Inflammation for Enhanced Antigen Presentation During Immunotherapy of Tumors
Authors: Li Wen , Fan Jin‐Xuan , Zheng Di‐Wei , Zhang Xian‐Zheng
Published: October 2022

Although anticancer vaccines have achieved certain effects in early clinical practice, T cell immunity as the most common responsive pattern of anticancer vaccines is still limited by unsatisfied tumor recognition and inhibition efficiency. As the critical step of T cell immunity, uptake and presentation of specific antigen by antigen‐presenting cells (APC) can be activated by inflammation for enhancing the response of T cells to the antigen source. Here, a hybrid nanovaccine named PTh/MnO2@M activated with a near‐infrared ray (NIR) is prepared by coating an autologous tumor cell membrane on the surface of a polythiophene/MnO2 composite core. The photoelectrical material polythiophene can produce local microinflammation under NIR radiation and activate specific T cell antitumor immunity by promoting APC maturation and autologous tumor antigens presentation. Moreover, the synthesized nanovaccine PTh/MnO2@M is shown to induce a significant antitumor immune response, effectively inhibit the progression of melanoma in mice, and significantly prolong the survival time of mice in vivo. This strategy aims to enhance T‐cell immune responses by promoting antigen presentation, leading to effective and specific cancer therapy.
Lithographic Multicolor Patterning on Hybrid Perovskites for Nano‐Optoelectronic Applications
Authors: Zhou Dawei , Zhao Peiyi , Zhang Junran , Jiang Xiaohong , Qin Sichen , Zhang Xu , Jiang Ran , Deng Yifan , Jiang Hanjun , Zhan Guixiang , Luo Yan , Ma Huifang , Wang Lin
Published: October 2022

Ultrathin hybrid perovskites, with exotic properties and two‐dimensional geometry, exhibit great potential in nanoscale optical and optoelectronic devices. However, it is still challenging for them to be compatible with high‐resolution patterning technology toward miniaturization and integration applications, as they can be readily damaged by the organic solvents used in standard lithography processes. Here, a flexible three‐step method is developed to make high‐resolution multicolor patterning on hybrid perovskite, particularly achieved on a single nanosheet. The process includes first synthesis of precursor PbI2, then e‐beam lithography and final conversion to target perovskite. The patterns with linewidth around 150 nm can be achieved, which can be applied in miniature optoelectronic devices and high‐resolution displays. As an example, the channel length of perovskite photodetectors can be down to 126 nm. Through deterministic vapor‐phase anion exchange, a perovskite nanosheet can not only gradually alter the color of the same pattern in a wide wavelength range, but also display different colors simultaneously. The authors are optimistic that the method can be applied for unlimited perovskite types and device configurations for their high‐integrated miniature applications.
Synergistic siRNA Loading of Extracellular Vesicles Enables Functional Delivery into Cells
Authors: Roerig Josepha , Mitrach Franziska , Schmid Maximilian , Hause Gerd , Hacker Michael C. , Wölk Christian , Schulz‐Siegmund Michaela
Published: October 2022

RNA interference opened new approaches for disease treatment but safe and efficient cell delivery remains a bottleneck. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are known to naturally shuttle RNA. Due to their potent cell internalization and low‐cost scalability, milk‐derived EVs in particular are considered promising RNA delivery systems. However, low drug loading currently impedes their use. Here, innovative exogenous loading strategies for small interfering RNA (siRNA) are explored and systematically compared regarding encapsulation efficiency, loading capacity, and loading concentration. Firstly, siRNA is pre‐accumulated in liposomes or stabilized calcium phosphate nanoparticles (CaP‐NP). The selected systems, which exhibited neutral or negative zeta potentials, are then applied for EV loading. Secondly, EVs are concentrated and applied to protocols known for liposome loading: dehydration‐rehydration of vesicles, based on freeze‐drying, and mixing by dual asymmetric centrifugation (DAC) after ultracentrifugation. Additionally, DAC after EV ultracentrifugation is combined with CaP‐NP leading to a synergistic loading performance. The balance between energy input for siRNA loading and EV integrity is evaluated by monitoring the EV size, marker proteins, and morphology. For the EV‐based siRNA formulation via DAC plus CaP‐NP, EV properties are sufficiently maintained to protect the siRNA from degradation and deliver cell‐death siRNA dose‐dependently in Caco‐2 cells.
Highly Efficient Deposition of Centimeter‐Scale MoS2 Monolayer Film on Dragontrail Glass with Large Single‐Crystalline Domains
Authors: Yang Xu , Li Shisheng , Sakuma Yoshiki
Published: October 2022

Highly efficient growth of a centimeter‐scale MoS2 monolayer film by oxide scale sublimation chemical vapor deposition (OSSCVD) in a time as short as 60 s is reported. Benefiting from the superior catalytic ability of Dragontrail glass (DT‐glass) substrate and the controlled large vapor supersaturation of the molybdenum source, the ultrafast deposition of MoS2 is realized with maintaining large‐sized single‐crystalline domains over 20 µm at maximum in the film. It is comparable to those reported for MoS2 grown in tens of minutes and even hours. Similar to the face‐to‐face precursor feed route, the gas‐controlled OSSCVD with a showerhead configuration facilitates a homogeneous and controllable source supply. It enables high‐quality monolayer MoS2 film deposition on 2 × 2 cm2 DT‐glass with centimeter‐scale uniformity confirmed by microscopic, spectroscopic, and electrical characterizations. Back‐gate MoS2 field‐effect transistors fabricated on polycrystalline continuous film exhibit the maximum field‐effect mobility of 5.1 cm2 V−1s−1 and a peak Ion/Ioff ratio of 5 × 108. They reach 40 cm2 V−1 s−1 and 1.2 × 109, respectively, on single‐crystalline domains. These results are even greater than those for MoS2 grown using 1–2 orders of magnitude longer deposition time and higher temperatures. This study highlights the opportunities for low‐cost high‐throughput production of large‐area high‐quality monolayer MoS2.
Superhydrophobic Biological Fluid‐Repellent Surfaces: Mechanisms and Applications
Authors: Luo Jing , Yu Huali , Lu Binyang , Wang Dehui , Deng Xu
Published: October 2022

Superhydrophobic biological fluid‐repellent surfaces (SBFRSs) have attracted great attention in the treatment of blood and urine‐related diseases because of their unique wettability and compatibility, which creates a new path for the development of medical apparatus and instruments, and are expected to create advances in various fields. Here, this review provides an up‐to‐date summary of research progress on the repellent mechanism and application of SBFRSs. The underlying physical and chemical principles for designing superhydrophobic surfaces are first introduced. Then, the dialectical influences of solid‐liquid interactions between superhydrophobic surfaces and biological fluids on the wettability and compatibility are emphatically expounded. Subsequently, attention is drawn to the recent applications of SBFRSs in biomedical fields, such as surgical medical apparatus, implant materials, extracorporeal circulation devices, and biological fluid detection. Finally, the outlook and challenges in terms of employing SBFRSs are also discussed. This review is expected to provide a comprehensive guidance for the preparation of SBFRSs with compatibility and long‐term superhydrophobic stability that is closely related to clinical applications.
Controlled Synthesis of 2D Prussian Blue Analog Nanosheets with Low Coordinated Water Content for High‐Performance Lithium Storage
Authors: Yin Jinwen , Zhou Jingwen , Wang Yunhao , Ma Yangbo , Zhou Xichen , Wang Gang , Yang Yajie , Lu Pengyi , Yu Jinli , Chen Ye , Yuan Ye , Ye Chenliang , Xi Shibo , Fan Zhanxi
Published: October 2022

Prussian blue analogs (PBAs) with open and porous frameworks have attracted wide attention in alkali metal ion batteries due to their high theoretical specific capacities and fast ion insertion/extraction kinetics. However, abundant coordinated water usually exists in traditional PBAs synthesized in aqueous systems. Consequently, the competition between coordinated water and alkali ions easily causes the rapid structural collapse of PBAs during the repeated discharge/charge cycles, lowering the cycling stability, and rate performance of batteries. Besides, most reported PBAs adopt the cubic/particle‐like morphologies with large sizes, which usually suffer from insufficient ion diffusion especially at high rates. Herein, a facile and general strategy for the synthesis of 2D CoCo, CuFe, CuCeFe, and CuCeCo‐based PBA nanosheets is reported. As a proof‐of‐concept application, Co3[Co(CN)6]2 nanosheets are evaluated as anode materials for lithium‐ion batteries. Thanks to the lower coordinated water content, smaller impedance and higher lithium‐ion diffusion coefficient, Co3[Co(CN)6]2 nanosheets deliver a superior reversible capacity of 810.4 mAh g−1 at 100 mA g−1, better rate performance, and higher cycling stability compared to common Co3[Co(CN)6]2 cubes. Further studies indicate that the capacitance‐controlled electrochemical behaviors dominate in the Co3[Co(CN)6]2 nanosheets, giving rise to their excellent structural stability and superior lithium storage performance even at high rates.
Developing a support vector regression model via optimization algorithms to appraise the hardness properties of high‐performance concrete
Authors: Yan Xiaoyan , Lu Shasha
Published: October 2022

High‐performance concrete (HPC) as a highly sophisticated aggregate in constructional projects has made modeling given mechanical properties a very complex problem. Declaring by many studies, mechanical features of HPC are not only characterized by the maximum size of coarse aggregate and water amount since influencing by the other components. Using fly‐ash and silica fume as the key constituents can simultaneously increase the hardness aspects and the environmental effects. Considering the compressive strength and slump flow of concrete should be investigated before performing any practical practices. Artificial intelligence approaches with precise and low‐cost methods can replace the costly experimental ways. Therefore, the present paper has aimed to link a prediction model with optimization algorithms to accurately appraise the hardness properties of HPC samples rarely found in literature like this way. In this regard, a machine learning approach of Support Vector Regression using two kernels of Gaussian and radial basis function is coupled with matheuristic algorithms to optimize the modeling process of compressive strength and slump flow of HPC samples. The internal settings of SVR would be tuned at optimal rate by optimizers to function efficiently. To investigate the performance of hybrid frameworks developed in this research, several indicators evaluated the results of hybrid models. Therefore, the R2 of the models was calculated averagely at 0.91 with a maximum difference rate of 11% for the testing phase. While the RMSE index assessed the models with higher values of 16.56 mm for slump and 12.86 MPa for compressive strength. Generally, using smart approaches with high‐accuracy performance has been proposed to be used instead of physical procedures increasing the productivity of concrete compressive strength in terms of time, energy, and cost criteria.
Impact of Saussurea lappa root extract against copper oxide nanoparticles induced oxidative stress and toxicity in rat cardiac tissues
Authors: Tousson Ehab , El‐Gharbawy Doaa M.
Published: October 2022

Copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) have developed as a significant class of nanomaterial with potential dangers to organisms and the environment in a variety of applications. This study aimed to investigate the impact of costus root extract against CuO NPs induced oxidative stress, alterations in heart structure and functions. 40 adult male rats were assigned randomly to four groups: first; control, second; costus (300 mg/kg body weight/day) orally for 2 weeks, third; CuO NPs (100 mg/kg body weight/day) intraperitoneally for 4 weeks and fourth; CuO NPs + costus. Current results revealed, significant increases in serum levels of creatine kinase‐MB, creatine kinase enzyme, lactate dehydrogenase, myoglobin, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, cardiac TBIRS, total thiol, nitric oxide, and cardiac proliferating cell nuclear antigen after CuO NPs administration when compared with control group. Conversely, statistical significant decreases were detected in cardiac reduced glutathione, catalase, and superoxide dismutase in CuO NPs group as compared with control group. Interestingly, treatment of CuO NPs with costus root extract was associated with significant improvements of the studied parameters, heart structure and functions. CuO NPs‐induced toxicity, injury and oxidative stress in rat heart and treatment with Costus root extract could scavenge free radicals producing beneficial effects against CuO NPs.
Long noncoding RNA transcriptome analysis reveals novel lncRNAs in Morus alba ‘Yu‐711’ response to drought stress
Authors: Ackah Michael , Jin Xin , Zhang Qiaonan , Amoako Frank Kwarteng , Wang Lei , Attaribo Thomas , Zhao Mengdi , Yuan Feng , Herman Richard Ansah , Qiu Changyu , Lin Qiang , Yin Zhi , Zhao Weiguo
Published: October 2022

Drought stress has been a key environmental factor affecting plant growth and development. The plant genome is capable of producing long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs). To better understand white mulberry (Morus alba L.) drought response mechanism, we conducted a comparative transcriptome study comparing two treatments: drought‐stressed (EG) and well‐watered (CK) plants. A total of 674 differentially expressed lncRNAs (DElncRNAs) were identified. In addition, 782 differentially expressed messenger RNAs (DEmRNAs) were identified. We conducted Gene Ontology (GO) and KEGG enrichment analyses focusing on the differential lncRNAs cis‐target genes. The target genes of the DElncRNAs were most significantly involved in the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites. Gene regulatory networks of the target genes involving DElncRNAs–mRNAs–DEmRNAs and DElncRNA–miRNA–DEmRNA were constructed. In the DElncRNAs–DEmRNAs network, 30 DEmRNAs involved in the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites are collocated with 46 DElncRNAs. The interaction between DElncRNAs and candidate genes was identified using LncTar. In summary, quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR) validated nine candidate genes and seven target lncRNAs including those identified by LncTar. We predicted that the DElncRNAs–DEmRNAs might recruit microRNAs (miRNAs) to interact with gene regulatory networks under the drought stress response in mulberry. The findings will contribute to our understanding of the regulatory functions of lncRNAs under drought stress and will shed new light on the mulberry–drought stress interactions.
From Farm to FAIR: The Trials of Linking and Sharing Wheat Research Data
Authors: Rawlings Christopher John , Davey Robert P.
Published: October 2022

This paper describes progress towards an integrated data framework that supports the sharing of data from the Designing Future Wheat (DFW) strategic research programme funded by the UK BBSRC. DFW is a 5 year project (https://designingfuturewheat.org.uk/) that spans eight research institutes and universities, and aims to deliver pre-breeding germplasm to breeders to improve and increase the genetic diversity of their breeding programs. DFW is committed to making its data open to the wider research community by adopting FAIR data sharing approaches. It is also a good example of a data-intensive strategic research programme which follows a cyclical Field-to-Lab-to-Field approach that is representative of much contemporary and multidisciplinary crop science research. However, even with dedicated funding to develop crop data research infrastructures within DFW, we found that there are many challenges that require pragmatic and flexible ways to enable them to interoperate. We present key DFW data resources as a case study to assess progress and discuss these challenges with a view to developing infrastructure that exposes metadata-rich datasets and that meets FAIR principles.
Plant Science Data Integration, from Building Community Standards to Defining a Consistent Data Lifecycle
Authors: Pommier Cyril , Coppens Frederik , Ćwiek-Kupczyńska Hanna , Faria Daniel , Beier Sebastian , Miguel Célia , Michotey Célia , D’Anna Flora , Owen Stuart , Gruden Kristina
Published: October 2022

FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) data principles for plant research build upon experience from other life science domains such as genomics. But plant specificities, e.g. plant-environment interactions or phenotypes, require tailored solutions. Major global players have joined forces to answer that challenge with the Minimal Information About a Plant Phenotyping Experiment (MIAPPE,
www.miappe.org) that handles general metadata organization and its companion web service API, the Breeding API (www.brapi.org). Both rely on two established data standards, the MultiCrop Passport Descriptors (MCPD) for identification of plant genetic resources and the Crop Ontology (
www.cropontology.org) for trait documentation. Researcher communities’ coordination and collaborative approaches have enabled the success and adoption of MIAPPE and led to a general data lifecycle description by ELIXIR Plant Sciences Community to identify gaps and needed developments. A priority has been placed on addressing the “first mile” of data publishing, i.e. the gathering and documentation of data by the researcher, which enables relevant data findability and reusability. Here we describe the existing ecosystem of tools and standards for plant scientists as well as their history, including their convergence through the use of MIAPPE for describing genotyping datasets.
Data, Duplication, and Decentralisation: Gene Bank Management in the 1980s and 1990s
Authors: Curry Helen Anne
Published: October 2022

In the 1970s, the number of accessions held in national and international seed and gene banks increased steadily. This growth, initially a source of pride, was recognised as a liability by the 1980s. Too many accessions lacked the basic information necessary for researchers to access and use samples knowledgably. Many gene banks came under scrutiny for poor management practices and several found themselves accused of mishandling a ‘global patrimony’ entrusted to their care. In this paper, I explore one response to these concerns that attracted attention from many in the germplasm conservation community: creating linked, standardised databases of collections. Calls for more and better data about accessions often emphasised that these data would make collections easier to use and therefore more valued. Here I take a close look at the early history of data collation and standardisation as a means of ‘rationalising’ collections, a motivation that was not advertised as prominently. This historical example shows the infrastructures developed to facilitate data exchange in the context of seed and gene banking to have been tied up with both mundane imperatives to cut costs and lofty goals of building political bridges—in addition to the often-repeated ambition of making plant breeding more efficient.
Introduction: Figure, Figuring and Configuration
Authors: Lury Celia , Viney William , Wark Scott
Published: October 2022

This introduction will outline the concept and practice of “figure” and “figuration.” The word “figure” can refer to numbers, characters in text or representations of persons or other entities in images or to a movement or series of movements, a diagram or a short succession of notes. In uses such as prefiguring, configuring, and disfiguring, it can refer to a process, opening questions of ordering, causality, premonition, (retrospective) fulfilment, prophecy, anticipation, redemption and pre-emption. As a noun, configuration can refer to an assemblage or the ways in which technologies materialise cultural imaginaries. Figures sit between the representational and the abstract; they can be inhabited and, in being inhabited, can be turned. We conclude by inviting readers to “go figure!”
Figures of Speech: Stuck in the Middle with ‘People Like You’
Authors: Lury Celia
Published: October 2022

This chapter discusses three figures of speech: the organization Not In Our Name (NION), #JeSuisCharlie and #MeToo and describes the ways in which, as figures of speech, they constitute persons through a consideration of the use of names, pronouns and numbers. Concerns include whether the person so constituted is singular or plural, how participation in the figure of speech is configured, whether the persons are recognized to be ‘proper’, and whether and how the persons can speak the truth. The conclusion brings these concerns together in the proposal that what distinguishes the persons of #JeSuisCharlie and #MeToo is that they are ‘stuck in the middle’ with ‘People Like You’.
Distinctive aspects of the placental epigenome and theories as to how they arise
Authors: Pastor William A. , Kwon Sin Young
Published: October 2022

The placenta has a methylome dramatically unlike that of any somatic cell type. Among other distinctions, it features low global DNA methylation, extensive “partially methylated domains” packed in dense heterochromatin and methylation of hundreds of CpG islands important in somatic development. These features attract interest in part because a substantial fraction of human cancers feature the exact same phenomena, suggesting parallels between epigenome formation in placentation and cancer. Placenta also features an expanded set of imprinted genes, some of which come about by distinctive developmental pathways. Recent discoveries, some from far outside the placental field, shed new light on how the unusual placental epigenetic state may arise. Nonetheless, key questions remain unresolved.
Optimal Convergence Rate in the Quantum Zeno Effect for Open Quantum Systems in Infinite Dimensions
Authors: Möbus Tim , Rouzé Cambyse
Published: October 2022

In open quantum systems, the quantum Zeno effect consists in frequent applications of a given quantum operation, e.g., a measurement, used to restrict the time evolution (due, for example, to decoherence) to states that are invariant under the quantum operation. In an abstract setting, the Zeno sequence is an alternating concatenation of a contraction operator (quantum operation) and a $$C_0$$

C
0

-contraction semigroup (time evolution) on a Banach space. In this paper, we prove the optimal convergence rate $$\mathcal {O}(\tfrac{1}{n})$$

O
(

1
n

)

of the Zeno sequence by proving explicit error bounds. For that, we derive a new Chernoff-type $$\sqrt{n}$$

n

-Lemma, which we believe to be of independent interest. Moreover, we generalize the convergence result for the Zeno effect in two directions: We weaken the assumptions on the generator, inducing the Zeno dynamics generated by an unbounded generator, and we improve the convergence to the uniform topology. Finally, we provide a large class of examples arising from our assumptions.
Redox conditions and a moderate anthropogenic impairment of groundwater quality reflected on the microbial functional traits in a volcanic aquifer
Authors: Melita Marco , Amalfitano Stefano , Preziosi Elisabetta , Ghergo Stefano , Frollini Eleonora , Parrone Daniele , Zoppini Annamaria
Published: October 2022

Groundwater is an important freshwater resource and hosts specialized microbial assemblages providing fundamental ecosystem services. The current knowledge on the role of aquatic microorganisms in subsurface ecosystems is still limited. This work aimed to explore the links between groundwater hydrogeochemical properties and microbial community traits in a volcanic unconfined aquifer, moderately impacted by anthropic activities. The main physical and chemical parameters of groundwater samples were analyzed, along with microbial biomass (total cell counts, ATP-active biomass concentration), potential metabolic activity, and physiological profiles at the microbial community level (Biolog ™ EcoPlates). The results showed the coexistence of oxidizing and reducing groundwater conditions across the study area. We discriminated two groups of oxidizing/reducing groundwater samples (Ox and Red), each including two subgroups with different chemical conditions attributed to contrasting levels of anthropogenic impact for non-intensive agricultural practices and waste disposal activities (Ox − and Ox + ; Red − and Red +). Although the microbial biomass was likely not affected by changing redox, the microbial metabolic potential and functional diversity changed significantly. In the Ox samples, the community-level physiological profiles were different, mainly owing to the utilization of carboxylic acids (Ox −  > Ox +) and carbohydrates (Ox +  > Ox −). In the Red samples, a wider set of organic substrates were consumed by the microbial communities, including those less bioavailable (e.g., phenols). Significant differences were also found between Red − and Red + , mainly owing to the relative increase in the utilization of amino acids in Red − , polymers and amines in Red + , along with the active biomass. By reflecting the local redox conditions and moderate levels of anthropogenic impact, the applied approach highlighted changes of microbial metabolic potential and physiological profiles that imply direct repercussions on biogeochemical cycling and the ecosystem services provided by groundwater microorganisms.
Lokale Therapie von venösen Ulzera mit niedrig dosiertem rekombinantem, humanem „granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor“ (rhu GM-CSF), 10 Jahre Nachbeobachtung
Authors: Jaschke Erna , Umlauft Julian , Palmer-Reichel Karin , Oberaigner Wilhelm , Schmuth Matthias
Published: October 2022

Hintergrund

Venöse Ulcera cruris treten in 1 % der Bevölkerung in industrialisierten Ländern auf. Ihre Behandlung ist schwierig und kostspielig. Eine komplette Abheilung zu erzielen ist langwierig, und die Rezidivrate ist hoch, bis zu 69 % im ersten Jahr nach der Abheilung.

Fragestellung

In dieser Studie untersuchten wir, ob durch die lokale Therapie der venösen Ulzera mit niedrig dosiertem GM-CSF die Abheilraten verbessert und Rezidive verringert werden können.

Methoden

Wir behandelten alle konsekutiven Patienten mit einem chronisch venösen Ulkus lokal mit einer niedrig dosierten GM-CSF-Lösung (10 µg/ml 0,9 %ige Kochsalzlösung, entsprechend einer Dosis von1,0–2,3 µg/cm2 Wundoberfläche). Alle Patienten waren über mehrere Wochen (median 8 Wochen) erfolglos mit anderen Lokaltherapien vorbehandelt. Bei allen Patienten erfolgte begleitend eine adäquate Therapie der venösen Insuffizienz.

Ergebnisse

Von 130 Patienten sind bei 119 (91,5 %) Patienten die Ulzera komplett abgeheilt. Lokale oder systemische Nebenwirkungen wurden nicht beobachtet. Die mittlere Abheilzeit war 24 Wochen (median 14 Wochen). Wir konnten alle 119 abgeheilten Patienten nachverfolgen. Die mediane Nachbeobachtungszeit betrug 84 Monate. Die Rezidivrate betrug nach 1 Jahr 5,2 %, nach 4 Jahren 18,9 %, nach 10 Jahren 32,0 %

Schlussfolgerung

Die Behandlung venöser Ulzera mit lokal appliziertem, niedrig dosiertem GM-CSF erwies sich als sichere, hochwirksame und kostengünstige Therapie. Die Abheilrate ist ebenso hoch wie in der ESCHAR Studie (Effects of Surgery and Compression on Healing And Recurrence in venous ulceration), und die Rezidivrate ist niedriger als in der Literatur angegeben. Die GM-CSF-Therapie erfolgte ausschließlich ambulant. Es waren keine Spitalaufenthalte notwendig.
Bachmann–Howard derivatives
Authors: Freund Anton
Published: October 2022

It is generally accepted that H. Friedman’s gap condition is closely related to iterated collapsing functions from ordinal analysis. But what precisely is the connection? We offer the following answer: In a previous paper we have shown that the gap condition arises from an iterative construction on transformations of partial orders. Here we show that the parallel construction for linear orders yields familiar collapsing functions. The iteration step in the linear case is an instance of a general construction that we call ‘Bachmann–Howard derivative’. In the present paper, we focus on the unary case, i.e., on the gap condition for sequences rather than trees and, correspondingly, on addition-free ordinal notation systems. This is partly for convenience, but it also allows us to clarify a phenomenon that is specific to the unary setting: As shown by van der Meeren, Rathjen and Weiermann, the gap condition on sequences admits two linearizations with rather different properties. We will see that these correspond to different recursive constructions of sequences.
Motor cortex excitability in chronic low back pain
Authors: Corti E. J. , Marinovic W. , Nguyen A. T. , Gasson N. , Loftus A. M.
Published: October 2022

Chronic pain is associated with dysfunctional cortical excitability. Research has identified altered intracortical motor cortex excitability in Chronic Lower Back Pain (CLBP). However, research identifying the specific intracortical changes underlying CLBP has been met with inconsistent findings. In the present case–control study, we examined intracortical excitability of the primary motor cortex using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) in individuals with CLBP. Twenty participants with CLBP (Mage = 54.45 years, SDage = 15.89 years) and 18 age- and gender-matched, pain-free controls (M = 53.83, SD = 16.72) were included in this study. TMS was applied to the hand motor area of the right hemisphere and motor evoked potentials (MEPs) were recorded from the first dorsal interosseous muscle of the contralateral hand. Resting motor threshold (rMT) and MEP amplitude were measured using single-pulse stimulation. Short interval intracortical inhibition (SICI) and intracortical facilitation (ICF) were assessed using paired-pulse stimulation. Individuals with CLBP had significantly higher rMT (decreased corticospinal excitability) and lower ICF compared to controls. No significant differences were found in MEP amplitude and SICI. These findings add to the growing body of evidence that CLBP is associated with deficits in intracortical modulation involving glutamatergic mechanisms.
The effect of nasal Staphylococcus aureus colonization and antibiotic treatment on disease activity in ANCA-associated vasculitis: a retrospective cohort study in the Netherlands
Authors: Schaap Caroline M. , Krol Roline M. , Remmelts Hilde H. F. , Klaasen Ruth , Hagen E. Christiaan , Spierings Julia , Heijstek Marloes W.
Published: October 2022

The aim of this study was to identify the role of nasal Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) colonization and the effect of systemic or local antibiotic treatment on disease activity in patients with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) associated vasculitis and ear nose and throat (ENT) involvement. Clinical, laboratory and histological data from all patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis and ENT involvement, who were diagnosed in two medical centres in The Netherlands between 1981 and 2020, were retrospectively collected. Nasal S. aureus colonization was defined as at least one positive nasal swab during follow-up. Data on systemic (cotrimoxazole and azithromycin) and local (mupirocin) antibiotic use were collected. Disease activity was divided into systemic and local disease activity. Univariate analyses and regression analyses (negative binomial Poisson and binary regression) were used. Two-hundred and thirteen patients were available for analysis. Median follow-up time was 8 (IQR 3–17) years. S. aureus colonization was tested in 100 (46.9%) cases of whom 44 patients (44%) tested positive. In these 100 patients, systemic and local disease activity at baseline and at last visit were comparable between patients with and without S. aureus colonization. Twenty-eight of the 44 S. aureus positive patients received antibiotics aimed at eradication of S. aureus. No statistically significant difference was found between the treated versus non-treated group with regard to systemic and local disease activity. Nasal S. aureus colonization does not influence systemic or local disease activity. Antibiotic treatment aimed at eradication did not modify disease activity.
Low rate of function-limiting side effects with high-dose adjuvant radiotherapy in high-grade soft tissue extremity sarcomas: a retrospective single-center analysis over 10 years
Authors: Koeksal Muemtaz , van der Hoek Maike , Scafa Davide , Koch David , Leitzen Christina , Schmeel Leonard C. , Feldmann Georg , Strauss Andreas , Koob Sebastian , Giordano Frank A.
Published: October 2022

Background

Over the years, radiotherapy has been established as a tool to improve local control for high-grade sarcomas. Although the European Society for Medical Oncology guidelines has taken notice of a shift toward a neoadjuvant radiotherapy approach, the American Society for Radiation Oncology guidelines clearly favor a neoadjuvant approach, citing debilitating long-term adverse effects when radiotherapy is applied postoperatively. In this study, we examined these irradiation-associated adverse events for adjuvant radiotherapy and focused on the prognostic factors for disease outcome, including local control.

Methods

In this retrospective study, data for 106 patients with extremity soft-tissue sarcomas diagnosed between 1997 and 2021, of which 40 received adjuvant radiotherapy, were collected from the clinical and radiological information systems of a high-volume sarcoma treatment center. These data were then analyzed for radiation-associated side effects as well as predictive factors for overall survival, disease-free survival, local control, and surgical complications.

Results

Radiotherapy was beneficial to patients improving local control, especially for high-grade sarcomas, even when those were resected with negative margins. Side effects due to radiotherapy occurred in 87.5% of the patients, and these effects primarily included radiation dermatitis in 67.5%; however, only 40.0% had any adverse event of ≥ grade 2 according to Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events. Long-term function-limiting side effects occurred in 45.0% of the patients; 10% exhibited ≥ grade 2 function-limiting adverse events. Greater time between surgery and adjuvant radiotherapy was beneficial for the patients, whereas joint infiltrating sarcomas were associated with more severe long term, function-limiting adverse events. 28.3% of the patients experienced a recurrence at any location (median time 18.35 months) and in 16% the recurrence was local (median time 16.11 months), resulting in 1, 3, and 5 year disease-free survival rates of 74.1, 58.9, and 38.5% and local control rates of 78.7, 61.6, and 42.8% were observed, respectively.

Conclusion

Recurrences may be avoided with high-dose radiation, especially for high-grade G2 and G3 sarcomas, even after complete R0 resection. This resulted in a low rate of severe long-term function-limiting adverse events. Thus, adjuvant radiotherapy should be seriously considered when planning patient treatment, especially when treating patients that present with high-grade sarcomas.
Serious gaming and virtual reality in the multimodal training of laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair: a randomized crossover study
Authors: Lang Franziska , Willuth E. , Haney C. M. , Felinska E. A. , Wennberg E. , Kowalewski K. F. , Schmidt M. W. , Wagner M. , Müller-Stich B. P. , Nickel F.
Published: October 2022

Background

The aim of this study was to assess the transferability of surgical skills for the laparoscopic hernia module between the serious game Touch Surgery™ (TS) and the virtual reality (VR) trainer Lap Mentor™. Furthermore, this study aimed to collect validity evidence and to discuss “sources of validity evidence” for the findings using the laparoscopic inguinal hernia module on TS.

Methods

In a randomized crossover study, medical students (n = 40) in their clinical years performed laparoscopic inguinal hernia modules on TS and the VR trainer. TS group started with “Laparoscopic Inguinal Hernia Module” on TS (phase 1: Preparation, phase 2: Port Placement and Hernia Repair), performed the module first in training, then in test mode until proficiency was reached. VR group started with “Inguinal Hernia Module” on the VR trainer (task 1: Anatomy Identification, task 2: Incision and Dissection) and also performed the module until proficiency. Once proficiency reached in the first modality, the groups performed the other training modality until reaching proficiency. Primary endpoint was the number of attempts needed to achieve proficiency for each group for each task/phase.

Results

Students starting with TS needed significantly less attempts to reach proficiency for task 1 on the VR trainer than students who started with the VR trainer (TS = 2.7 ± 0.6 vs. VR = 3.2 ± 0.7; p = 0.028). No significant differences for task 2 were observed between groups (TS = 2.3 ± 1.1 vs. VR = 2.1 ± 0.8; p = 0.524). For both phases on TS, no significant skill transfer from the VR trainer to TS was observed. Aspects of validity evidence for the module on TS were collected.

Conclusion

The results show that TS brought additional benefit to improve performances on the VR trainer for task 1 but not for task 2. Skill transfer from the VR trainer to TS could not be shown. VR and TS should thus be used in combination with TS first in multimodal training to ensure optimal training conditions.
Konsensusstatement der Migräne- und Kopfschmerzgesellschaften (DMKG, ÖKSG & SKG) zur Therapiedauer der medikamentösen Migräneprophylaxe
Authors: Goßrau Gudrun , Förderreuther Stefanie , Ruscheweyh Ruth , Ruschil Victoria , Sprenger Till , Lewis David , Kamm Katharina , Freilinger Tobias , Neeb Lars , Malzacher Volker , Meier Uwe , Gehring Klaus , Kraya Torsten , Dresler Thomas , Schankin Christoph J. , Gantenbein Andreas R. , Brössner Gregor , Zebenholzer Karin , Diener Hans-Christoph , Gaul Charly , Jürgens Tim P.
Published: October 2022

Migräne ist die häufigste neurologische Erkrankung und kann mit einem hohen Grad der Beeinträchtigung einhergehen. Neben nichtmedikamentösen Ansätzen zur Reduktion der Migränefrequenz stehen medikamentöse Migräneprophylaxen zur Verfügung. Zur Indikation und Anwendung liegen evidenzbasierte Leitlinien der Deutschen Migräne- und Kopfschmerzgesellschaft (DMKG) und Deutschen Gesellschaft für Neurologie (DGN), Österreichischen Kopfschmerzgesellschaft (ÖKSG) sowie Schweizer Kopfwehgesellschaft (SKG) vor. Für therapierelevante Fragen wie z. B. der notwendigen und sinnvollen Dauer einer medikamentösen Migräneprophylaxe können aus bisherigen Studiendaten keine Rückschlüsse gezogen werden. Ziel dieser Übersicht ist die Formulierung von Empfehlungen zur Therapiedauer bei wirksamer medikamentöser Migräneprophylaxe, die die aktuelle Datenlage und – bei fehlenden Daten – die Expertenmeinungen berücksichtigen.
Shrink–swell index prediction through deep learning
Authors: Teodosio B. , Wasantha P. L. P. , Yaghoubi E. , Guerrieri M. , C. van Staden R. , Fragomeni S.
Published: October 2022

Growing application of artificial intelligence in geotechnical engineering has been observed; however, its ability to predict the properties and nonlinear behaviour of reactive soil is currently not well considered. Although previous studies provided linear correlations between shrink–swell index and Atterberg limits, obtained model accuracy values were found unsatisfactory results. Artificial intelligence, specifically deep learning, has the potential to give improved accuracy. This research employed deep learning to predict more accurate values of shrink–swell indices, which explored two scenarios; Scenario 1 used the features liquid limit, plastic limit, plasticity index, and linear shrinkage, whilst Scenario 2 added the input feature, fines percentage passing through a 0.075-mm sieve (%fines). Findings indicated that the implementation of deep learning neural networks resulted in increased model measurement accuracy in Scenarios 1 and 2. The values of accuracy measured in this study were suggestively higher and have wider variance than most previous studies. Global sensitivity analyses were also conducted to investigate the influence of each input feature. These sensitivity analyses resulted in a range of predicted values within the variance of data in Scenario 2, with the %fines having the highest contribution to the variance of the shrink–swell index and a relevant interaction between linear shrinkage and %fines. The proposed model Scenario 2 was around 10–65% more accurate than the preceding models considered in this study, which can then be used to expeditiously estimate more accurate values of shrink–swell indices.
Reviving autoencoder pretraining
Authors: Xie You , Thuerey Nils
Published: October 2022

The pressing need for pretraining algorithms has been diminished by numerous advances in terms of regularization, architectures, and optimizers. Despite this trend, we re-visit the classic idea of unsupervised autoencoder pretraining and propose a modified variant that relies on a full reverse pass trained in conjunction with a given training task. This yields networks that areas-invertible-as-possibleand share mutual information across all constrained layers. We additionally establish links between singular value decomposition and pretraining and show how it can be leveraged for gaining insights about the learned structures. Most importantly, we demonstrate that our approach yields an improved performance for a wide variety of relevant learning and transfer tasks ranging from fully connected networks over residual neural networks to generative adversarial networks. Our results demonstrate that unsupervised pretraining has not lost its practical relevance in today’s deep learning environment.
Constructing adversarial examples to investigate the plausibility of explanations in deep audio and image classifiers
Authors: Hoedt Katharina , Praher Verena , Flexer Arthur , Widmer Gerhard
Published: October 2022

Given the rise of deep learning and its inherent black-box nature, the desire to interpret these systems and explain their behaviour became increasingly more prominent. The main idea of so-called explainers is to identify which features of particular samples have the most influence on a classifier’s prediction, and present them as explanations. Evaluating explainers, however, is difficult, due to reasons such as a lack of ground truth. In this work, we construct adversarial examples to check the plausibility of explanations, perturbing input deliberately to change a classifier’s prediction. This allows us to investigate whether explainers are able to detect these perturbed regions as the parts of an input that strongly influence a particular classification. Our results from the audio and image domain suggest that the investigated explainers often fail to identify the input regions most relevant for a prediction; hence, it remains questionable whether explanations are useful or potentially misleading.
Current status and future perspective of linked color imaging for gastric cancer screening: a literature review
Authors: Yashima Kazuo , Onoyama Takumi , Kurumi Hiroki , Takeda Yohei , Yoshida Akira , Kawaguchi Koichiro , Yamaguchi Naoyuki , Isomoto Hajime
Published: October 2022

Screening endoscopy has advanced to facilitate improvements in the detection and prognosis of gastric cancer. However, most early gastric cancers (EGCs) have subtle morphological or color features that are difficult to detect by white-light imaging (WLI); thus, even well-trained endoscopists can miss EGC when using this conventional endoscopic approach. This review summarizes the current and future status of linked color imaging (LCI), a new image-enhancing endoscopy (IEE) method, for gastric screening. LCI has been shown to produce bright images even at a distant view and provide excellent visibility of gastric cancer due to high color contrast relative to the surrounding tissue. LCI delineates EGC as orange-red and intestinal metaplasia as purple, regardless of a history of Helicobacter pylori (Hp) eradication, and contributes to the detection of superficial EGC. Moreover, LCI assists in the determination of Hp infection status, which is closely related to the risk of developing gastric cancer. Transnasal endoscopy (ultra-thin) using LCI is also useful for identifying gastric neoplastic lesions. Recently, several prospective studies have demonstrated that LCI has a higher detection ratio for gastric cancer than WLI. We believe that LCI should be used in routine upper gastrointestinal endoscopies.
Point-of-care ultrasound in the head and neck region
Authors: Furukawa Madoka , Hashimoto Kaori , Kitani Yuka , Yoshida Manatsu
Published: October 2022

Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) in the head and neck region plays a particularly significant role in the diagnosis and treatment of upper airway stenosis, swelling, and painful diseases in the neck, and in the evaluation of swallowing function. Therefore, it should be performed in various medical settings beyond the boundaries of the clinical department such as general medicine, emergency medicine, anesthesiology, orthopedics, and pediatrics. The target diseases are salivary gland disease, lymph node disease, pharyngeal disease, laryngeal disease, esophageal disease, thyroid disease, and dysphagia and dyspnea due to various causes. Head and neck POCUS is an extremely useful diagnostic method for both patients and doctors, and its use is expected to become more widespread in the future.
Scaling-up Child and Youth Mental Health Services: Assessing Coverage of a County-Wide Prevention and Early Intervention Initiative During One Fiscal Year
Authors: Hooley Cole , Salvo Deborah , Brown Derek S. , Brookman-Frazee Lauren , Lau Anna S. , Brownson Ross C. , Fowler Patrick J. , Innes-Gomberg Debbie , Proctor Enola K.
Published: October 2022

Purpose

In the U.S., the percentage of youth in need of evidence-based mental health practices (EBPs) who receive them (i.e., coverage rate) is low. We know little about what influences coverage rates. In 2010, the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health (LACDMH) launched a reimbursement-driven implementation of multiple EBPs in youth mental health care. This study examines two questions: (1) What was the coverage rate of EBPs delivered three years following initial implementation? (2) What factors are associated with the coverage rates?

Methods

To assess coverage rates of publicly insured youth, we used LACDMH administrative claims data from July 1, 2013 to June 30, 2014 and estimates of the size of the targeted eligible youth population from the 2014 American Community Survey (ACS). The unit of analysis was clinic service areas (n = 254). We used Geographic Information Systems and an OLS regression to assess community and clinic characteristics related to coverage.

Results

The county coverage rate was estimated at 17%, much higher than national estimates. The proportion of ethnic minorities, individuals who are foreign-born, adults with a college degree within a geographic area were negatively associated with clinic service area coverage rates. Having more therapists who speak a language other than English, providing care outside of clinics, and higher proportion of households without a car were associated with higher coverage rates.

Conclusion

Heterogeneity in municipal mental health record type and availability makes it difficult to compare the LACDMH coverage rate with other efforts. However, the LACDMH initiative has higher coverage than published national rates. Having bilingual therapists and providing services outside the clinic was associated with higher coverage. Even with higher coverage, inequities persisted.