bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Entstigmatisierung psychischer Erkrankungen
Authors: Jäger Sarah
Published: July 2024

Psychiatrisch erkrankte Menschen werden häufig stigmatisiert und diskriminiert – auch im Umfeld der Psychiatrie. Konkrete Handlungsempfehlungen können zu einer Entstigmatisierung beitragen, indem psychiatrisch Pflegende stigmatisierende Situationen in ihrem Arbeitsalltag wahrnehmen, reflektieren und reduzieren.
What Have We Learned in the Wrist Joint of Distal Radius Fracture through Wrist Arthroscopy?
Authors: Abe Yukio , Takahashi Yohei , Sugita Yoshinori
Published: July 2024

Background Wrist arthroscopy is an efficient tool for the surgical treatment of distal radius fracture (DRF). It could show us the various conditions of the radiocarpal joint, its effectiveness seems to overwhelm that of fluoroscopy.

Methods Since July 2005, we have performed wrist arthroscopy and plate presetting arthroscopic reduction technique (PART) for 141 extra-articular and 559 intra-articular DRFs and investigated various kinds of intra-articular conditions and advantages of wrist arthroscopy.

Results The pathological conditions clarified and the advantages of PART in the surgical treatment of DRF are: (1) accurate reduction of intra-articular fragments is possible compared with fluoroscopic reduction, (2) intra-articular fragments (free body) undetected with radiograph and CT can be recognized, (3) screw protrusion into joint surface can be monitored, (4) intra-articular soft tissue injury associated with fracture can be evaluated and treated, and (5) debridement of joint hematoma can be performed. Severe complications such as tendon rupture, major neurovascular injury or compartment syndrome from arthroscopy were never encountered.

Conclusions The volar locking plate fixation and simultaneous arthroscopic intervention is problematic because vertical traction must be applied and released during surgery. PART can overcome these difficulties and achieved good clinical results.
Combined Organ Transplantation in Patients with Advanced Liver Disease
Authors: Zhang Ingrid Wei , Lurje Isabella , Lurje Georg , Knosalla Christoph , Schoenrath Felix , Tacke Frank , Engelmann Cornelius
Published: July 2024

Transplantation of the liver in combination with other organs is an increasingly performed procedure. Over the years, continuous improvement in survival could be realized through careful patient selection and refined organ preservation techniques, in spite of the challenges posed by aging recipients and donors, as well as the increased use of steatotic liver grafts. Herein, we revisit the epidemiology, allocation policies in different transplant zones, indications, and outcomes with regard to simultaneous organ transplants involving the liver, that is combined heart–liver, liver–lung, liver–kidney, and multivisceral transplantation. We address challenges surrounding combined organ transplantation such as equity, utility, and logistics of dual organ implantation, but also advantages that come along with combined transplantation, thereby focusing on molecular mechanisms underlying immunoprotection provided by the liver to the other allografts. In addition, the current standing and knowledge of machine perfusion in combined organ transplantation, mostly based on center experience, will be reviewed. Notwithstanding all the technical advances, shortage of organs, and the lack of universal eligibility criteria for certain multi-organ combinations are hurdles that need to be tackled in the future.
Exploration and examination of the structural, optical, thermal, and functional attributes of a hydroxyapatite and cobalt ferrite nanocomposite for biomedical utilization
Authors: Hossain Md. Arif , Tanisa Nilufer Yesmin , Awal Rabiul , Ifat-Al-Karim Md. , Islam Md. Mominul , Haque Md. Mahbubul , Rahman Md. Mahmudur
Published: July 2024

Hydroxyapatite (Hap) is a cornerstone material in biomedical fields, crucial for bone tissue repair and replacement in the human body. However, its mechanical strength falls short compared to that of natural bone, necessitating enhancements. Addressing this challenge, cobalt ferrite emerges as a promising reinforcing agent for Hap, boasting excellent biocompatibility. Diffraction was employed to assess the crystallinity and phase purity of hydroxyapatite, cobalt ferrite, and the composite. The results indicated a crystallite size of 13.51 nm for hydroxyapatite, 9.62 nm for cobalt ferrite, and 76.4 nm for the hydroxyapatite/cobalt ferrite composite. Further characterization through Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Raman spectroscopy confirmed the presence of functional groups in the synthesized materials. FTIR analysis validated the successful synthesis of hydroxyapatite, cobalt ferrite, and their composite. Specifically, FTIR spectra exhibited oxygen functional groups such as –OH, –CO, C=O, and C–OH in hydroxyapatite, while cobalt ferrite exhibited CO2, Fe–O, and Co–O groups. Ultraviolet analysis was conducted to determine the bandgap energies, revealing values of 3.51 eV for cobalt ferrite and 5.47 eV for hydroxyapatite. This comprehensive characterization underscores the potential of the Hap/CoFe2O4 nanocomposite in bone tissue engineering.
Enrichment of Chemical Element 7Li in the Rotating Red Clump Star
Authors: Wu 吴 Fang-Wen 方文 , Song 宋 Han-Feng 汉峰 , Li 李 Qing-Li 清莉 , He 何 Yun 云 , Qu 曲 Xin-Yue 新玥 , Han 韩 Zhuo 卓
Published: July 2024

About 2 percent of red clump stars are found to be the lithium-rich and thus the surface lithium increases obviously in some red clump stars. The physical mechanism of the lithium enrichment in these stars has not yet been explained satisfactorily by the evolutionary models of single stars. The flash induced internal gravity wave mixing (i.e., IGW) could play a primary role in explaining the red clump star with lithium enrichment and it has a very significant impact on the internal structure and surface compositions of a star. Rotation can significantly increase the mixing efficiency of the internal gravity wave because the timescale for the enrichment event has been enlarged. Thermohaline mixing can explain the observed behavior of lithium on red giant stars that are more luminosity than the RGB bump. However, it has a very small effect on the diffusion of elements because its diffusion coefficient is much smaller than the one of IGW induced mixing after the core helium flash.
Simulating a Chern Insulator with C = ±2 on Synthetic Floquet Lattice
Authors: Lei 雷 Ling-Xiao 凌霄 , Wang 王 Wei-Chen 伟臣 , Huang 黄 Guang-Yao 光耀 , Hu 胡 Shun 顺 , Cao 曹 Xi 希 , Zhang 张 Xin-Fang 鑫方 , Deng 邓 Ming-Tang 明堂 , Chen 陈 Ping-Xing 平形
Published: July 2024

The synthetic Floquet lattice, generated by multiple strong drives with mutually incommensurate frequencies, provides a powerful platform for quantum simulation of topological phenomena. In this study, we propose a 4-band tight-binding model of the Chern insulator with a Chern number C = ±2 by coupling two layers of the half Bernevig–Hughes–Zhang lattice and subsequently mapping it onto the Floquet lattice to simulate its topological properties. To determine the Chern number of our Floquet-version model, we extend the energy pumping method proposed by Martin et al. [2017 Phys. Rev. X
7 041008] and the topological oscillation method introduced by Boyers et al. [2020 Phys. Rev. Lett.
125 160505], followed by numerical simulations for both methodologies. The simulation results demonstrate the successful extraction of the Chern number using either of these methods, providing an excellent prediction of the phase diagram that closely aligns with the theoretical one derived from the original bilayer half Bernevig–Hughes–Zhang model. Finally, we briefly discuss a potential experimental implementation for our model. Our work demonstrates significant potential for simulating complex topological matter using quantum computing platforms, thereby paving the way for constructing a more universal simulator for non-interacting topological quantum states and advancing our understanding of these intriguing phenomena.
Excitonic Instability in Ta2Pd3Te5 Monolayer
Authors: Yao Jingyu , Sheng Haohao , Zhang Ruihan , Pang Rongtian , Zhou Jin-Jian , Wu Quansheng , Weng Hongming , Dai Xi , Fang Zhong , Wang Zhijun
Published: July 2024

By systematic theoretical calculations, we reveal an excitonic insulator (EI) in the Ta2Pd3Te5 monolayer. The bulk Ta2Pd3Te5 is a van der Waals (vdW) layered compound, whereas the vdW layer can be obtained through exfoliation or molecular-beam epitaxy. First-principles calculations show that the monolayer is a nearly zero-gap semiconductor with the modified Becke–Johnson functional. Due to the same symmetry of the band-edge states, the two-dimensional polarization α
2D would be finite as the band gap goes to zero, allowing for an EI state in the compound. Using the first-principles many-body perturbation theory, the GW plus Bethe–Salpeter equation calculation reveals that the exciton binding energy is larger than the single-particle band gap, indicating the excitonic instability. The computed phonon spectrum suggests that the monolayer is dynamically stable without lattice distortion. Our findings suggest that the Ta2Pd3Te5 monolayer is an excitonic insulator without structural distortion.
Does E = mc
2 require relativity?
Authors: Rothman Tony
Published: July 2024

It is universally believed that with his 1905 paper ‘Does the inertia of a body depend on its energy content?’ Einstein first demonstrated the equivalence of mass and energy by making use of his special theory of relativity. In the final step of that paper, however, Einstein equates the kinetic energy of a body to its Newtonian value, indicating that his result is at best a low-velocity approximation. Today, several characters debate whether a mid-nineteenth century physicist, employing only physics available at the time, could plausibly arrive at the celebrated result. In other words, is Einsteinian relativity necessary to derive

E
=

mc

2

?
Autonomous snap oscillator with only one steady state: dynamical probing, controls, pseudo-random number generation and difference synchronization
Authors: Alexander Prasina , Metsebo Jules , Chamgoué André Chéagé , Pone Justin Roger Mboupda
Published: July 2024

The theoretical probing, microcontroller implementation, amplitude controls, chaos control, -pseudo-random number generation (PRNG), and difference synchronization of autonomous snap oscillator with only one steady state (ASOOSS) are studied in this paper. The ASOOSS exhibits self-excited complex attractors, periodic oscillations, coexistence of chaotic hidden attractors with a stable steady state, and hidden chaotic attractors. The simulated attractors are endorsed by the microcontroller execution of ASOOSS. Then, the total and partial controls of the amplitude of ASOOSS are demonstrated by using newly inserted parameters. Moreover, the efficacy of the configured single controller in suppressing chaos within ASOOSS is demonstrated through both analytical and numerical analyses. Furthermore, the binary data generated by the ASOOSS-based PRNG successfully passes the NIST 800–22 statistical tests, providing proof of the random nature of the ASOOSS-based PRNG and making it suitable for digital applications based on chaos. Additionally, controllers are devised to enable differential synchronization of three identical coupled chaotic ASOOSS systems. The effectiveness of the differential synchronization approach is validated through numerical simulations of the coupled chaotic ASOOSS systems.
Numerical analysis of electrohydrodynamic printing under electric field focusing mode
Authors: Bai Dongqiao , Huang Jin , Wang Jianjun , Gong Hongxiao , Liang Chaoyu , Zhang Jinquan
Published: July 2024

As an emerging micro/nanoscale 3D printing technology, Electrohydrodynamic (EHD) printing has undergone rapid development in recent years. However, in most EHD printing processes, voltage is directly applied to both the nozzle and the substrate, resulting in the electric field being influenced by the printing height. This poses challenges for printing three-dimensional curved surface structures. This study presents a comprehensive investigation into the EHD jetting process, utilizing a novel voltage loading method that separates electrodes from both the nozzle and the substrate. Through experimental setups and numerical simulations, this research was conducted to examine the effects of printing height, voltage, and electrode diameter on jetting behavior. The results show that compared to the traditional electrode form, the new voltage loading method will increase the electric field intensity of the liquid surface before ejection by 37.1% and is more conducive to the formation of Taylor cones. It can ensure that the printing fluctuation is less than 2.4% when the printing height varies between 1.5–2.5 times the nozzle diameter, which is more favorable for printing multi-layer structures. The threshold voltage for ejection is provided in this model. When the electrode is reduced, the efficiency of electric field utilization will be further improved, but the acceleration of the jet velocity will cause an increase in droplet size. The findings highlight the method’s capability to maintain consistent droplet sizes and electric field intensities across varying conditions, thereby enhancing printing stability and efficiency. The study’s innovations provide valuable insights for advancing micro/nano 3D printing technologies, emphasizing the potential for improved EHD printing processes in practical engineering applications.
Real-time particle concentration measurement from a hologram by deep learning
Authors: Ou Hongjie , Lin Wendi , Li Wei-Na , Xie Xiangsheng
Published: July 2024

Although the existing digital holographic technologies are effective in measuring particle concentration, the processes are cumbersome and time-consuming. The purpose of this study is to quickly and accurately measure the particle number from a single hologram through deep learning. The simulation and experimental results show that the prediction number are close to the ground truth without the complicated reconstructions and denoising processes, and the average relative error remains less than 10%. The prediction time of a hologram is at the millisecond level, which offers a new possibility for real-time processing.
The iteration formula of (n, 2, d) full-correlated multi-component Bell function and its applications
Authors: Meng Hui-Xian , Zhang Yu , Fan Xing-Yan , Zhou Jie , Shang Wei-Min , Chen Jing-Ling
Published: July 2024

No matter for a scientific or technological reason, constructing Bell inequalities for multi-partite and high-dimensional systems is a significant task. The Mermin-Ardehali-Belinskiĭ-Klyshko (MABK) inequality is expressed in the form of iteration formula and correlation functions, and is the generalization of the Clauser-Horne-Shimony-Holt (CHSH) inequality to multi-partite cases. In the sense of detecting the nonlocality of the noisy maximally entangled states with the most white noises for the corresponding quantum system, the Collins-Gisin-Linden-Massar-Popescu (CGLMP) inequality, expressed in the joint probabilities form, is the high-dimensional analogue of the Clauser-Horne (CH) inequalities on joint probabilities. In the sense of detecting the nonlocality of the noisy Greenberger-Horne-Zeilinger(GHZ) states with the most white noises for the n-qudit system, it is a challenging task to construct the multi-partite analogue of the CGLMP inequality with iteration formula and correlation functions. In this paper, we generalize the multi-component correlation functions [Phys. Rev. A 71, 032 107 (2005)] for bipartite d-dimensional systems to n-partite d-dimensional ones, introduce the general full-correlated multi-component Bell function

I

n
,
d

, and construct the corresponding Bell inequality. By this way, we can reproduce both the CGLMP inequality and the Bell inequality in [Phys. Rev. A 71, 032 107 (2005)] for the case n = 2, and the MABK inequality for the case d = 2. Inspired by the iteration formula form of the MABK inequality, we prove that for prime d the general Bell function

I

n
,
d

can be reformulated by iterating two Bell functions

I

n
−
1
,
d

. As applications, for prime d, confined to the unbiased symmetric (d × 2)-port beam splitters and the noisy n-qudit GHZ states, we recover the most robust Bell inequalities for small n and d, such as for the (3, 2, 3), (4, 2, 3), (5, 2, 3), and (3, 2, 5) Bell scenarios, with the iteration formula and the most robust Bell inequalities for the (2, 2, d) scenario. This implies that the iteration formula is an efficient way of constructing the multi-partite analogues of the CGLMP inequality with correlation functions. In addition, we also give some new Bell inequalities with the same robustness but inequivalent to the known ones.
Possible signatures of higher dimension in thin accretion disk around brane world black hole
Authors: Liu Ailin , He Tong-Yu , Liu Ming , Han Zhan-Wen , Yang Rong-Jia
Published: July 2024

We probe deeply into the characteristics of thin accretion disk surrounding black hole within the brane world paradigm. We investigate how model parameters affect the physical properties of the disk. Our findings indicate that as the tidal charge parameter inherited from the higher dimension increases, the energy flux, the radiation temperature, the spectral cutoff frequency, the spectral luminosity, and the conversion efficiency of the disk all increase, but the radius of the innermost stable circular orbit decreases. Compared to cases of the Kerr and Schwarzschild black holes, the disk is hotter and more luminous for positive tidal charge parameter, while it is cooler and less luminous for negative tidal charge parameter, which suggests the potential for probing possible signatures of higher dimension.
Spherical bispectrum expansion and quadratic estimators
Authors: Carron Julien , Lewis Antony
Published: July 2024

We describe a general expansion of spherical (full-sky) bispectra into a set of orthogonal modes. For squeezed shapes, the basis separates physically-distinct signals and is dominated by the lowest moments. In terms of reduced bispectra, we identify a set of discrete polynomials that are pairwise orthogonal with respect to the relevant Wigner 3j symbol, and reduce to Chebyshev polynomials in the flat-sky (high-momentum) limit for both parity-even and parity-odd cases. For squeezed shapes, the flat-sky limit is equivalent to previous moment expansions used for CMB bispectra and quadratic estimators, but in general reduces to a distinct expansion in the angular dependence of triangles at fixed total side length (momentum).
We use the full-sky expansion to construct a tower of orthogonal CMB lensing quadratic estimators and construct estimators that are immune to foregrounds like point sources or noise inhomogeneities. In parity-even combinations (such as the lensing gradient mode from TT, or the lensing curl mode from EB) the leading two modes can be identified with information from the magnification and shear respectively, whereas the parity-odd combinations are shear-only. Although not directly separable, we show that these estimators can nonetheless be evaluated numerically sufficiently easily.
Terahertz polarization sensing for influenza A virus based on plasmonic metasurface
Authors: Liu Hai , Wang Xiaolin , Chen Cong , Cui Hongzhong , Cui Futao , Dai Yaowei , Gao Peng , Duan Senhao , Gao Zongyang , Zhou Tong
Published: July 2024

Terahertz metasurface sensors attract extensive attention for excellent characterisics. However, most existing sensing schemes overlooked the polarization state of electromagnetic waves. Here, we propose a plasmonic metasurface sensor based on the elliptical polarization state of reflected EM wave, which can be used for the sensing of influenza A virus. The sensor achieves the conversion from linear polarization to circular polarization within 1–3 THz. By analysing the electromagnetic field distributions of the resonances at 1.43 THz and 2.16 THz, it can be concluded that the polarization conversion originates from the magnetic dipole. Besides, the sensor can characterize the changes in the complex refractive index of the test sample based on the elliptical polarization state of the reflected wave. The electromagnetic response of the metasurface sensor shows an excellent linear relationship between the rotating direction angle of polarization ellipse and the extinction coefficient (k) of the complex RI of the analyte. Furthermore, we also demonstrate the feasibility of detecting three subtypes of Influenza A viruses (H1N1, H5N2, and H9N2) at 1.39 THz though the elliptical polarization state. This sensing approach does not rely on high-precision broadband scanning, providing an alternative perspective for THz biosensing.
Gender History: A Very Short Introduction
Authors: Burton Antoinette
Published: July 2024

This volume is designed to introduce readers to the scholarly field of gender history: its origins, development, reception, recalibrations, and frictions. It offers a set of working definitions of gender as a descriptive category and as a category of historical analysis, tracing the emergence, usage, and applicability of these entwined subjects across a range of times and places in the scholarship of the last five decades. Inevitably political, gender history has taken aim at the broader field of historical narrative by asking who counts as a historical subject and what difference gender difference makes. The book explores how gender history as a practice subverts reigning assumptions of what power, culture, economics, and identity have been in the past—with ramifications, of course, for what they are today.
Some origins of gender history as a field
Authors: Burton Antoinette
Published: July 2024

This chapter tracks the role of the foundational journal in the field, Gender and History, as an archive of how historians have understood the categories of both “gender” and “history” in the two decades following the journal’s establishment in 1989. The journal was founded to address the work of gender as a site of historical experience, meaning, and significance. The chapter also addresses the significance of Joan Scott’s work, as well as how structures of class and race, and voices from beyond the United States and the West, have impacted gender history. The chapter emphasizes a variety of challenges to the study of gender history, as well as the primacy of gender as a category of historical analysis.
Impact of intravenous antibiotics for unconfirmed pulmonary infections in patients with acute decompensated heart failure at a community health system
Authors: Schojan Katherine , Chandler Elisabeth , Quarterman Kristin , Patel Rakhi , McCarty Stela
Published: July 2024

Purpose

Patients with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) present similarly to those with respiratory infections, which may lead to administration of unnecessary intravenous (IV) antibiotics. This study was conducted to assess outcomes in patients admitted for ADHF who received IV antibiotics vs those who did not.

Methods

This retrospective cohort study evaluated adults admitted with ADHF who received IV antibiotics for at least 48 hours or did not receive IV antibiotics. Patients with an active infection were excluded. The primary outcome was hospital length of stay in the unmatched cohort; secondary outcomes included 30-day readmission, all-cause mortality, amount of loop diuretic administered, total sodium and fluids received, Clostridioides difficile infection, IV antibiotic agents administered, and duration of therapy.

Results

The unmatched cohort included 38 patients who received IV antibiotics and 123 patients who did not receive IV antibiotics, while the matched cohort included 33 patients in each arm. In the unmatched and matched cohorts, patients receiving IV antibiotics had a longer median hospital length of stay (5 vs 3 days; P < 0.01 and 5 vs 4 days; P < 0.01) and received a greater median amount of total sodium (9.22 vs 0.28 g; P < 0.01 and 10.24 vs 0 g; P < 0.01) and median total volume from IV antibiotics and fluids (1,788 vs 50 mL; P < 0.01 and 1,825 vs 0 mL; P < 0.01). No significant differences were found for the other secondary outcomes. Ceftriaxone and azithromycin were the most frequently administered IV antibiotics, with a median duration of therapy of 4 days.

Conclusion

Use of IV antibiotics in patients with ADHF was associated with longer hospital length of stay and should be avoided in patients without evidence of infection.
Crowdsourced Comparative Judgement for Evaluating Learner Texts: How Reliable are Judges Recruited from an Online Crowdsourcing Platform?
Authors: Thwaites Peter , Vandeweerd Nathan , Paquot Magali
Published: July 2024

Recent studies of proficiency measurement and reporting practices in applied linguists have revealed widespread use of unsatisfactory practices such as the use of proxy measures of proficiency in place of explicit tests. Learner corpus research is one specific area affected by this problem: few learner corpora contain reliable, valid evaluations of text proficiency. This has led to calls for the development of new L2 writing proficiency measures for use in research contexts. Answering this call, a recent study by Paquot et al. (2022) generated assessments of learner corpus texts using a community-driven approach in which judges, recruited from the linguistic community, conducted assessments using comparative judgement. Although the approach generated reliable assessments, its practical use is limited because linguists are not always available to contribute to data collections. This paper, therefore, explores an alternative approach, in which judges are recruited through a crowdsourcing platform. We find that assessments generated in this way can reach near identical levels of reliability and concurrent validity to those produced by members of the linguistic community.
CSF1R inhibition depletes brain macrophages and reduces brain virus burden in SIV-infected macaques
Authors: Bohannon Diana G , Zablocki-Thomas Laurent D , Leung Evan S , Dupont Jinbum K , Hattler Julian B , Kowalewska Jolanta , Zhao Miaoyun , Luo Jiangtao , Salemi Marco , Amedee Angela M , Li Qingsheng , Kuroda Marcelo J , Kim Woong-Ki
Published: July 2024

Perivascular macrophages (PVMs) and, to a lesser degree, microglia are targets and reservoirs of HIV and simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) in the brain. Previously, we demonstrated that colony-stimulating factor 1 receptor (CSF1R) in PVMs was upregulated and activated in chronically SIV-infected rhesus macaques with encephalitis, correlating with SIV infection of PVMs. Herein, we investigated the role of CSF1R in the brain during acute SIV infection using BLZ945, a brain-penetrant CSF1R kinase inhibitor.

Apart from three uninfected historic controls, nine Indian rhesus macaques were infected acutely with SIVmac251 and divided into three groups (n = 3 each): an untreated control and two groups treated for 20–30 days with low- (10 mg/kg/day) or high- (30 mg/kg/day) dose BLZ945. With the high-dose BLZ945 treatment, there was a significant reduction in cells expressing CD163 and CD206 across all four brain areas examined, compared with the low-dose treatment and control groups.

In 9 of 11 tested regions, tissue viral DNA (vDNA) loads were reduced by 95%–99% following at least one of the two doses, and even to undetectable levels in some instances. Decreased numbers of CD163+ and CD206+ cells correlated significantly with lower levels of vDNA in all four corresponding brain areas. In contrast, BLZ945 treatment did not significantly affect the number of microglia. Our results indicate that doses as low as 10 mg/kg/day of BLZ945 are sufficient to reduce the tissue vDNA loads in the brain with no apparent adverse effect. This study provides evidence that infected PVMs are highly sensitive to CSF1R inhibition, opening new possibilities to achieve viral clearance.
Differential reorganization of episodic and semantic memory systems in epilepsy-related mesiotemporal pathology
Authors: Cabalo Donna Gift , DeKraker Jordan , Royer Jessica , Xie Ke , Tavakol Shahin , Rodríguez-Cruces Raúl , Bernasconi Andrea , Bernasconi Neda , Weil Alexander , Pana Raluca , Frauscher Birgit , Caciagli Lorenzo , Jefferies Elizabeth , Smallwood Jonathan , Bernhardt Boris C
Published: July 2024

Declarative memory encompasses episodic and semantic divisions. Episodic memory captures singular events with specific spatiotemporal relationships, whereas semantic memory houses context-independent knowledge. Behavioural and functional neuroimaging studies have revealed common and distinct neural substrates of both memory systems, implicating mesiotemporal lobe (MTL) regions such as the hippocampus and distributed neocortices. Here, we explored declarative memory system reorganization in patients with unilateral temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) as a human disease model to test the impact of variable degrees of MTL pathology on memory function.

Our cohort included 31 patients with TLE and 60 age- and sex-matched healthy controls, and all participants underwent episodic and semantic retrieval tasks during a multimodal MRI session. The functional MRI tasks were closely matched in terms of stimuli and trial design. Capitalizing on non-linear connectome gradient-mapping techniques, we derived task-based functional topographies during episodic and semantic memory states, in both the MTL and neocortical networks.

Comparing neocortical and hippocampal functional gradients between TLE patients and healthy controls, we observed a marked topographic reorganization of both neocortical and MTL systems during episodic memory states. Neocortical alterations were characterized by reduced functional differentiation in TLE across lateral temporal and midline parietal cortices in both hemispheres. In the MTL, in contrast, patients presented with a more marked functional differentiation of posterior and anterior hippocampal segments ipsilateral to the seizure focus and pathological core, indicating perturbed intrahippocampal connectivity. Semantic memory reorganization was also found in bilateral lateral temporal and ipsilateral angular regions, whereas hippocampal functional topographies were unaffected. Furthermore, leveraging MRI proxies of MTL pathology, we observed alterations in hippocampal microstructure and morphology that were associated with TLE-related functional reorganization during episodic memory. Moreover, correlation analysis and statistical mediation models revealed that these functional alterations contributed to behavioural deficits in episodic memory, but again not in semantic memory in patients.

Altogether, our findings suggest that semantic processes rely on distributed neocortical networks, whereas episodic processes are supported by a network involving both the hippocampus and the neocortex. Alterations of such networks can provide a compact signature of state-dependent reorganization in conditions associated with MTL damage, such as TLE.
State-dependent effects of responsive neurostimulation depend on seizure localization
Authors: Chiang Sharon , Khambhati Ankit N , Tcheng Thomas K , Loftman Audra Plenys , Hasulak Nicholas R , Mirro Emily A , Morrell Martha J , Rao Vikram R
Published: July 2024

Brain-responsive neurostimulation (RNS) is firmly ensconced among treatment options for drug-resistant focal epilepsy, but over a quarter of patients treated with the RNS® System do not experience meaningful seizure reduction. Initial titration of RNS therapy is typically similar for all patients, raising the possibility that treatment response might be enhanced by consideration of patient-specific variables. Indeed, small, single-centre studies have yielded preliminary evidence that RNS System effectiveness depends on the brain state during which stimulation is applied. The generalizability of these findings remains unclear, however, and it is unknown whether state-dependent effects of responsive neurostimulation are also stratified by location of the seizure onset zone where stimulation is delivered. We aimed to determine whether state-dependent effects of the RNS System are evident in the large, diverse, multi-centre cohort of RNS System clinical trial participants and to test whether these effects differ between mesiotemporal and neocortical epilepsies.

Eighty-one of 256 patients treated with the RNS System across 31 centres during clinical trials met the criteria for inclusion in this retrospective study. Risk states were defined in relation to phases of daily and multi-day cycles of interictal epileptiform activity that are thought to determine seizure likelihood. We found that the probabilities of risk state transitions depended on the stimulation parameter being changed, the starting seizure risk state and the stimulated brain region. Changes in two commonly adjusted stimulation parameters, charge density and stimulation frequency, produced opposite effects on risk state transitions depending on seizure localization. Greater variance in acute risk state transitions was explained by state-dependent responsive neurostimulation for bipolar stimulation in neocortical epilepsies and for monopolar stimulation in mesiotemporal epilepsies.

Variability in the effectiveness of RNS System therapy across individuals may relate, at least partly, to the fact that current treatment paradigms do not account fully for fluctuations in brain states or locations of simulation sites. State-dependence of electrical brain stimulation may inform the development of next-generation closed-loop devices that can detect changes in brain state and deliver adaptive, localization-specific patterns of stimulation to maximize therapeutic effects.
Nanoparticle Assisted Fabric Phase Sorptive Extraction for Azo Dye Determination in the Industrial Sewage
Authors: Rahimian Nayereh , Feizy Javad , Es’haghi Zarrin
Published: July 2024

Currently, one of the significant environmental problems is the presence of azo dye materials in water sources. In this study, for the first time, a fast and sensitive sample preparation approach using nanoparticle-assisted fabric phase sorptive extraction (NFPSE) followed by high-performance liquid chromatography was examined to remove some azo dyes such as methyl red and sunset yellow from aqueous solutions. Primarily, the significance of several parameters affecting NFPSE, such as fabric type, the kind of sorbent, the number of contacts with sol–gel and the time of contact, was investigated. In addition, experiments were performed to determine the effect of different adsorption parameters, such as sample volume, adsorption time, adsorbent value, desorption time, ionic strength and pH. It was found that the calibration curve was linear within two ranges of concentrations (0.05–0.1 and 0.5–15 ng/L for methyl red; 0.05–0.5 and 0.5–15 ng/L for sunset yellow) with correlation coefficients better than 0.9683. The limit of detection was 0.014 ng/L for methyl red and 0.015 ng/L for sunset yellow. Repeatability Relative Standard Deviation (RSD) with three replicated experiments was 1.5–10% for methyl red and 2.5–5.8% for sunset yellow. Relative recovery percentages of 88–96% for methyl red and 62–92% for sunset yellow were obtained in the samples. Moreover, the results have shown that acceptable accuracy, precision and linearity make the “fabric phase sorptive extraction” a proper method for the determination of dyes from industrial sewage samples.
Firms’ recruitment practices: the powers of segmentation and of valuation
Authors: de Larquier Guillemette , Rieucau Géraldine
Published: July 2024

This article proposes an original framework to show the plurality of matching dynamics, the processes by which firms and applicants meet and match in the labour market. It combines segmentation theory and economics of convention to characterise the powers of segmentation and valuation of firms when they recruit. Drawing on a national survey of French employers, the article identifies four matching dynamics. Thirty-five percent of the matches correspond to proximity-based matching dynamics, wherein firms do not control the candidates’ profiles. Thirty-four percent of matches result from standard dynamics and 17% from professional-based dynamics. In both cases, firms know the outline of the offer, evaluated through personalised criteria. Partnership-based matching dynamics (14% of the matches) are relatively open for candidates placed by intermediaries, whose evaluation is standardised. The article argues that no matching dynamic is more effective than others, and that employment policies must adapt to the plurality of labour market functioning.
Impact of peripheral thyroid hormone balance on liver fat: insights from the NutriAct trial
Authors: Sommer-Ballarini Miriam , Nguyen Thu-Huong , Pletsch-Borba Laura , Wernicke Charlotte , Tacke Frank , Schwerdtle Tanja , Pellowski Denny , Machann Jürgen , Spranger Joachim , Wirth Eva Katrin , Mai Knut
Published: July 2024

Objective

Hypothyroidism has been proposed as a potential contributor to steatotic liver disease (SLD), but existing data shows conflicting results in euthyroid subjects. Therefore, we investigated the association between thyroid function and intrahepatic lipids (IHLs) during a 36-month randomized controlled trial evaluating a diet known to reduce liver fat.

Design

502 eligible subjects (aged 50–80 years, ≥1 risk factor for unhealthy aging) were randomly assigned to either follow a diet rich in unsaturated fatty acids, plant protein, and fiber (intervention group, IG), or dietary recommendations of the German Nutrition Society (control group, CG).

Methods

Serum levels of thyroid hormones (THs) as well as IHLs, defined via magnetic resonance spectroscopy, were measured within an euthyroid subgroup without significant alcohol consumption at baseline (n = 332) and after 12 months (n = 243). A ratio of T3/T4 was used to assess whole-body deiodinase activity. Estimates of glucose and lipid metabolism were analyzed.

Results

Only fT3 and T3/T4 ratios showed a significant positive correlation with IHL at baseline. We observed a significant decline in fT3, T3, fT3/fT4 ratio, and T3/T4 ratio in CG and IG after 12 months without significant differences between groups. TSH, fT4, and T4 remained stable. A larger improvement of IHL during dietary intervention was seen in those subjects with a lower decline in T3 concentrations.

Conclusions

Altered TH balance indicates a possible compensatory upregulation of whole-body TH activity in subjects with increased liver fat. This might be also relevant during the improvement of hepatic steatosis.
The role of glucagon-like peptide 1 in the postprandial effects of metformin in type 2 diabetes: a randomized crossover trial
Authors: Hansen Laura S , Gasbjerg Lærke S , Brønden Andreas , Dalsgaard Niels B , Bahne Emilie , Stensen Signe , Hellmann Pernille H , Rehfeld Jens F , Hartmann Bolette , Wewer Albrechtsen Nicolai J , Holst Jens J , Vilsbøll Tina , Knop Filip K
Published: July 2024

Aims

Although metformin is widely used for treatment of type 2 diabetes (T2D), its glucose-lowering mechanism remains unclear. Using the glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor (GLP-1R) antagonist exendin(9-39)NH2, we tested the hypothesis that postprandial GLP-1-mediated effects contribute to the glucose-lowering potential of metformin in T2D.

Methods

In a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, crossover study, 15 individuals with T2D (median HbA1c 50 mmol/mol [6.7%], body mass index 30.1 kg/m2, age 71 years) underwent, in randomized order, 14 days of metformin and placebo treatment, respectively. Each treatment period was preceded by 14 days without any glucose-lowering medicine and concluded by two 4 h mixed meal tests performed in randomized order and separated by >24 h with either continuous intravenous exendin(9-39)NH2 or saline infusion.

Results

Compared to placebo, metformin treatment lowered fasting plasma glucose (mean of differences [MD] 1.4 mmol/L × min [95% CI 0.8-2.0]) as well as postprandial plasma glucose excursions during both saline infusion (MD 186 mmol/L × min [95% CI 64-307]) and exendin(9-39)NH2 infusion (MD 268 mmol/L × min [95% CI 108-427]). The metformin-induced improvement in postprandial glucose tolerance was unaffected by GLP-1R antagonization (MD 82 mmol/L × min [95% CI −6564-170]). Metformin treatment increased fasting plasma GLP-1 (MD 1.7 pmol/L × min [95% CI 0.39-2.9]) but did not affect postprandial GLP-1 responses (MD 820 pmol/L × min [95% CI −1750-111]).

Conclusions

Using GLP-1R antagonization, we could not detect GLP-1-mediated postprandial glucose-lowering effect of metformin in individuals with T2D. We show that 2 weeks of metformin treatment increases fasting plasma GLP-1, which may contribute to metformin's beneficial effect on fasting plasma glucose in T2D.

Trial registration:  Clinicaltrials.gov NCT03246451
Uterine changes in transgender men receiving testosterone therapy
Authors: da Silva Eliane Dias , Riveri Raquel Camara , Spritzer Poli Mara , Fighera Tayane Muniz
Published: July 2024

Objectives

Despite regular gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT), the presence of uterine bleeding can occur occasionally and cause profound discomfort. This study aimed to evaluate the histologic features and immunohistochemical expression of estrogen (ER), progesterone (PR), and androgen receptors (AR) in the endometrium and myometrium of transgender men receiving testosterone therapy and relate them to clinical and hormonal characteristics.

Design

Retrospective cross-sectional study.

Methods

Thirty-four transgender men undergoing gender-affirming surgery were included. Clinical, sociodemographic, and laboratory data as well as anatomopathological and immunohistochemical findings were evaluated.

Results

The participants’ mean age was 42.35 (SD, 10.00) years, and body mass index was 28.16 (SD, 5.52) kg/m2. The mean GAHT duration before surgery was 5.36 (SD, 3.24) years. The mean testosterone levels were 814.98 (SD, 407.13) ng/dL, and estradiol levels were 55.22 (SD, 25.27) pg/mL. The endometrium was atrophic in 61.8%, proliferative in 17.6%, and secretory in 20.6%. Immunohistochemical receptor analysis revealed that endometrial epithelial cells expressed ER (90%) and PR (80%), with a lower expression of AR (30%). In stromal tissue, the median ER, PR, and AR expression was lower than that in the epithelium (60%, 70%, and 25%, respectively). The myometrium showed high expression of PR (90%) and ER (70%), with the highest expression of AR (65%) being localized to this region.

Conclusions

In the present study, GAHT induced an atrophic condition of the endometrium in two-thirds of the transgender men, with a limited AR expression in the endometrial region. The present results suggest that testosterone-based GAHT for a mean of 5 years is safe in transgender men achieving amenorrhea.
May Measurement Month 2021: an analysis of blood pressure screening results from Thailand
Authors: Chotruangnapa Chavalit , Kunanon Sirisawat , Sukonthasarn Apichard , Srinonprasert Varalak , Beaney Thomas , Clarke Jonathan , Poulter Neil R , Roubsanthisuk Weranuj
Published: July 2024

Blood pressure (BP) measurement is the mainstay for diagnosing and treating hypertension. Blood pressure screening in the May Measurement Month (MMM) project is helpful for the early detection of hypertension, which is usually asymptomatic. This study aimed to investigate the epidemiology of hypertension from data in the MMM21 project in Thailand. A cross-sectional study was conducted according to the MMM clinical study protocol for MMM21 in all regions of Thailand from August to November 2021. We included adults aged ≥18 years. Baseline characteristics, history of hypertension diagnosis, and treatment were collected through the questionnaires followed by three standardized BP measurements, 1 min apart. We included 10 940 participants with a mean age of 41.3 (SD ± 13.5) years. Only 6% never had their BP measured before. Of all participants, 30.2% had hypertension, and among this hypertensive population, 50.3% were aware, and 46.2% were taking antihypertensive medications. Of participants with hypertension, 31.6% had controlled BP (<140/90 mmHg), and BP control was 68.5% among those taking antihypertensive medication. The proportion of participants who had diabetes, were on aspirin, and were on statin were 6, 7.2, and 11.4%, respectively. Almost all participants (93.7%) had received at least one COVID-19 vaccination, and 8.0% reported a previous COVID-19 positive test. Most of the participants (97.4%) received hypertension care at no cost. Hypertension awareness and overall BP control rate were relatively low, while most subjects had previously had their BP checked. The widespread use of BP measurement may improve the diagnosis and treatment of hypertension to improve the care of those with hypertension in Thailand.
May Measurement Month 2021: an analysis of blood pressure screening results from Republic of the Congo, in the context of COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Kouala Landa Christian-Michel , Bakekolo Paterne Rog , Makani-Bassakouahou Jospin , Ngolo Letomo Kivié Mou-Moué , Abena Exaucé , Macaire Batchi Dieuveil , Chocolat Raoul , Kwealeu Jean Pierre , Ngouloubi Offouma Gildas , Beaney Thomas , Telders Carolina Janssen , Poulter Neil R , Gombet Thierry Raoul , Ellenga Mbolla Bertrand
Published: July 2024

To determine the proportion of hypertension among opportunistic screenees in the Republic of the Congo, and the relationships between, blood pressure (BP), alcohol intake, and history of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Screening was carried out in July and August 2021 in Brazzaville, Pointe-Noire, and Pokola, after ethical clearance had been obtained. The campaign followed the guidelines outlined in the MMM21 protocol, collecting ideally three BP readings for each participant. The screening was carried out during the partial confinement of the population, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Social distancing measures and protection against the transmission of COVID-19 were adhered to. A total of 2135 subjects were screened of which 1138 (53.3%) were male. The mean age was 29.9 ± 9.9 years (range: 18–69 years), and 2110 participants (98.8%) were of black ethnic origin. A previous COVID-19 positive test was reported in 217 (10.2%) and vaccination in 93 (4.4%). Diabetes was reported in 113 (5.3%), 16 (0.7%) were current smokers, 171 (8.0%) reported using alcohol intake at least once per month, and 539 (25.3%) reported meeting the WHO guidelines on physical activity. The proportion of participants with hypertension (≥140/90 mmHg or taking BP-lowering medication) was 34.1%, of whom 24.5% were aware, 11.9% were on medication, and only 4.0% were controlled (<140/90 mmHg). Rates of hypertension are high in the Republic of Congo, with low rates of awareness and treatment, and national authorities should address the contributing factors highlighted in this report to improve health care for the population.