bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
FAP imaging in rare cancer entities—first clinical experience in a broad spectrum of malignancies
Authors: Dendl K. , Finck R. , Giesel F. L. , Kratochwil C. , Lindner T. , Mier W. , Cardinale J. , Kesch C. , Röhrich M. , Rathke H. , Gampp H. , Ristau J. , Adeberg S. , Jäger D. , Debus J. , Haberkorn U. , Koerber S. A. 
Published: August 2021

Abstract
Purpose
68 Ga-FAPI (fibroblast activation protein inhibitor) is a rapidly evolving and highly promising radiotracer for PET/CT imaging, presenting excellent results in a variety of tumor entities, particularly in epithelial carcinomas. This retrospective analysis sought to evaluate the potential and impact of FAPI-PET/CT in rare cancer diseases with respect to improvement in staging and therapy, based on tracer uptake in normal organs and tumors.

Material and methods
Fifty-five patients with rare tumor entities, defined by a prevalence of 1 person out of 2000 or less, received a 68 Ga-FAPI-PET/CT scan. Fourteen women and 41 men (median age 60) were included within the following subgroups: cancer of unknown primary (n = 10), head and neck cancer (n = 13), gastrointestinal and biliary-pancreatic cancer (n = 17), urinary tract cancer (n = 4), neuroendocrine cancer (n = 4), and others (n = 7). Tracer uptake was quantified by standardized uptake values SUVmax and SUVmean and the tumor-to-background ratio (TBR) was determined (SUVmax tumor/SUVmean organ).

Results
In 20 out of 55 patients, the primary tumor was identified and 31 patients presented metastases (n = 88), characterized by a high mean SUVmax in primary (10.1) and metastatic lesions (7.6). The highest uptake was observed in liver metastases (n = 6) with a mean SUVmax of 9.8 and a high TBR of 8.7, closely followed by peritoneal carcinomatosis (n = 16) presenting a mean SUVmax of 9.8 and an excellent TBR of 29.6. In terms of the included subgroups, the highest uptake regarding mean SUVmax was determined in gastrointestinal and biliary-pancreatic cancer with 9.8 followed closely by urinary tract cancer with 9.5 and head and neck cancer (9.1).

Conclusion
Due to excellent tumor visualization and, thereby, sharp contrasts in terms of high TBRs in primary and metastatic lesions in different rare malignancies, 68 Ga-FAPI-PET/CT crystallizes as a powerful and valuable imaging tool, particularly with respect to epithelial carcinomas, and therefore an enhancement to standard diagnostics imaging methodologies. The realization of further and prospective studies is of large importance to confirm the potential of FAP imaging in oncology.
Central nervous system vasculopathy and Seckel syndrome: case illustration and systematic review
Authors: Khojah Osama , Alamoudi Saeed , Aldawsari Nouf , Babgi Mohammed , Lary Ahmed 
Published: August 2021

AbstractPurposeTo systematically review reported cases of Seckel syndrome (SS) and point out cases associated with central nervous system (CNS) vasculopathy and provide a summary of their clinical presentation, management, and outcomes including our illustrative case.MethodsWe conducted a search on the MEDLINE, PubMed, Google Scholar, and Cochrane databases using the keywords “Seckel + syndrome.” We identified 127 related articles reporting 252 cases of SS apart from our case. Moreover, we searched for SS cases with CNS vasculopathies from the same databases. We identified 7 related articles reporting 7 cases of CNS vasculopathies in SS patients.ResultsThe overall rate of CNS vasculopathy in SS patients is 3.16% (n = 8/253), where moyamoya disease (MMD) accounted for 1.97%. The mean age is 13.5 years (6–19 years), with equal gender distribution (M:F, 1:1). The most common presenting symptoms were headache and seizure followed by weakness or coma. Aneurysms were mostly located in the basilar artery, middle cerebral artery, and internal carotid artery, respectively. Regardless of the management approach, 50% of the cases sustained mild-moderate neurological deficit, 37.5% have died, and 12.5% sustained no deficit.ConclusionA high index of suspicion should be maintained in (SS) patients, and MMD should be part of the differential diagnosis. Prevalence of CNS vasculopathy in SS is 3.16% with a much higher prevalence of MMD compared to the general population. Screening for cerebral vasculopathy in SS is justifiable especially in centers that have good resources. Further data are still needed to identify the most appropriate management plan in these cases.
Variability and changes to the mean meridional circulation in isentropic coordinates
Authors: Lucas Christopher , Rudeva Irina , Nguyen Hanh , Boschat Ghyslaine , Hope Pandora 
Published: August 2021

AbstractWe examine the climatology, variability and change in the global mean meridional circulation (MMC) as measured in a dry isentropic coordinate system from 1979–2017 using the ERA-Interim reanalysis. The methodology presents a zonal-mean view of the MMC as a single thermally direct circulation cell in each hemisphere. The circulation is decomposed into 'steady' and 'transient' components which allows us to identify and quantify several MMC features, including the Intertropical Convergence Zone, the descending branches of the Hadley circulation and a 'transient updraft' associated with the extratropical storm track. Large changes were identified in the Southern Hemisphere (SH) in both the Hadley Cell and the extratropical storm track in the late-1990s. These changes intertwine with the Interdecadal Pacific Oscillation that changed from a warm to a cold phase around 2000. Less significant changes were observed in the Northern Hemisphere, although high rates of tropical expansion during boreal summer may have been exacerbated by volcanic eruptions in the 1980s and 1990s. Further to those changes, tropical expansion was observed in autumn, with little change in the extratropical storm track. While potential inhomogeneities in the reanalysis limit the certainty about the magnitude of the identified changes, multiple non-reanalysis-based datasets suggest that large changes did occur in the 1990s in the SH, supporting the presented analysis.
Deafness-in-a-dish: modeling hereditary deafness with inner ear organoids
Authors: Romano Daniel R. , Hashino Eri , Nelson Rick F. 
Published: August 2021

AbstractSensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) is a major cause of functional disability in both the developed and developing world. While hearing aids and cochlear implants provide significant benefit to many with SNHL, neither targets the cellular and molecular dysfunction that ultimately underlies SNHL. The successful development of more targeted approaches, such as growth factor, stem cell, and gene therapies, will require a yet deeper understanding of the underlying molecular mechanisms of human hearing and deafness. Unfortunately, the human inner ear cannot be biopsied without causing significant, irreversible damage to the hearing or balance organ. Thus, much of our current understanding of the cellular and molecular biology of human deafness, and of the human auditory system more broadly, has been inferred from observational and experimental studies in animal models, each of which has its own advantages and limitations. In 2013, researchers described a protocol for the generation of inner ear organoids from pluripotent stem cells (PSCs), which could serve as scalable, high-fidelity alternatives to animal models. Here, we discuss the advantages and limitations of conventional models of the human auditory system, describe the generation and characteristics of PSC-derived inner ear organoids, and discuss several strategies and recent attempts to model hereditary deafness in vitro. Finally, we suggest and discuss several focus areas for the further, intensive characterization of inner ear organoids and discuss the translational applications of these novel models of the human inner ear.
Constrained neural network training and its application to hyperelastic material modeling
Authors: Weber Patrick , Geiger Jeremy , Wagner Werner 
Published: August 2021

AbstractNeural networks (NN) have been studied and used widely in the field of computational mechanics, especially to approximate material behavior. One of their disadvantages is the large amount of data needed for the training process. In this paper, a new approach to enhance NN training with physical knowledge using constraint optimization techniques is presented. Specific constraints for hyperelastic materials are introduced, which include energy conservation, normalization and material symmetries. We show, that the introduced enhancements lead to better learning behavior with respect to well known issues like a small number of training samples or noisy data. The NN is used as a material law within a finite element analysis and its convergence behavior is discussed with regard to the newly introduced training enhancements. The feasibility of NNs trained with physical constraints is shown for data based on real world experiments. We show, that the enhanced training outperforms state-of-the-art techniques with respect to stability and convergence behavior within FE simulations.
Influence of stress on physiological synchrony in a stressful versus non-stressful group setting
Authors: Denk Bernadette , Dimitroff Stephanie J. , Meier Maria , Benz Annika B. E. , Bentele Ulrike U. , Unternaehrer Eva , Popovic Nathalie F. , Gaissmaier Wolfgang , Pruessner Jens C. 
Published: August 2021

AbstractPhysiological synchrony (PS) is defined as the co-occurrence and interdependence of physiological activity between interaction partners. Previous research has uncovered numerous influences on the extent of PS, such as relationship type or individual characteristics. Here, we investigate the influence of acute stress on PS. We do so in a setting in which PS was not promoted, but contact between group members was explicitly minimized. We reanalyzed cortisol, alpha-amylase, and subjective stress data from 138 participants (mean age =$$23.48 \pm 3.99$$23.48±3.99, 47.1% female) who previously underwent the Trier Social Stress Test for groups (TSST-G) or a non-stressful control task together, collected as part of a larger project by Popovic et al. (Sci Rep 10: 7845, 2020). Using a stability and influence model, an established method to test for synchrony, we tested whether individuals’ cortisol and alpha-amylase concentrations could be predicted by group members’ levels. We found cortisol PS in participants who were in the same group, the extent of which was stronger in the non-stressful control condition. For alpha-amylase, participants were synchronized as well; furthermore, there was an interaction between previous stress levels and PS. This suggests that while synchrony of both stress markers can occur in group settings even with spurious interaction, stressor exposure might attenuate its extent. We argue that if PS occurs in a sample where interaction was minimal, the phenomenon might be more widespread than previously thought. Furthermore, stressor exposure might influence whether a situation allows for PS. We conclude that PS should be investigated within group settings with various degrees of social interaction to further expose mechanisms of and influence on PS.
Kompressionssyndrome der supraaortalen Gefäße
Authors: Bürger Th. , Bürger M. , Gebauer Th. , Stegemann E. 
Published: August 2021

ZusammenfassungVaskuläre Kompressionssyndrome betreffen meist die obere Thoraxapertur, häufig begleitet von einer nervalen Symptomatik, und werden zusammengefasst als Thoracic-outlet- (TOS) und, falls eine isolierte venöse Kompression im Vordergrund steht, als Thoracic-inlet-Syndrom (TIS) bezeichnet. Diagnostik und Therapie sind oft schwierig. Fehlende vaskuläre und neurogene Veränderungen indizieren als erstes meist eine konservative Therapie. Der embolische Verschluss der Armarterien bei jüngeren Patienten sowie eine erfolglose oder von Komplikationen gefolgte Embolektomie ohne offensichtliche andere Risikofaktoren sollten unbedingt an ein TOS denken lassen. TOS-Operationen sind technisch nicht einfach und sollten erfahrenen Fachabteilungen vorbehalten bleiben. Die richtige Patientenselektion ist mitentscheidend für ein erfolgreiches Ergebnis. Implantationen von Stents im Bereich des Schultergürtels sollten bei Kompressionssyndromen vermieden werden. Eine weitere Möglichkeit der supraaortalen Kompression ist durch eine A. lusoria möglich.
Perfusion imaging of neuroblastoma and nephroblastoma in a paediatric population using pseudo-continuous arterial spin-labelling magnetic resonance imaging
Authors: Harteveld Anita Adriaantje , Littooij Annemieke Simone , van Noesel Max Maria , van Stralen Marijn , Bos Clemens 
Published: August 2021

Abstract
Objectives
To examine the feasibility of performing ASL-MRI in paediatric patients with solid abdominal tumours.

Methods
Multi-delay ASL data sets were acquired in ten paediatric patients diagnosed with either a neuroblastoma (n = 4) or nephroblastoma (n = 6) during a diagnostic MRI examination at a single visit (n = 4 at initial staging, n = 2 neuroblastoma and n = 2 nephroblastoma patients; n = 6 during follow-up, n = 2 neuroblastoma and n = 4 nephroblastoma patients). Visual evaluation and region-of-interest (ROI) analyses were performed on the processed perfusion-weighted images to assess ASL perfusion signal dynamics in the whole tumour, contralateral kidney, and tumour sub-regions with/without contrast enhancement.

Results
The majority of the included abdominal tumours presented with relatively low perfusion-weighted signal (PWS), especially compared with the highly perfused kidneys. Within the tumours, regions with high PWS were observed which, at short PLD, are possibly related to labelled blood inside vessels and at long PLD, reflect labelled blood accumulating inside tumour tissue over time. Conversely, comparison of ASL perfusion-weighted image findings with T1w enhancement after contrast administration showed that regions lacking contrast enhancement also were void of PWS.

Discussion
This pilot study demonstrates the feasibility of utilizing ASL-MRI in paediatric patients with solid abdominal tumours and provides a basis for further research on non-invasive perfusion measurements in this study population.
Health insurance literacy assessment tools: a systematic literature review
Authors: Quiroga Gutiérrez Ana Cecilia 
Published: August 2021

Abstract
Aim
This systematic literature review aimed to find and summarize the content and conceptual dimensions assessed by quantitative tools measuring Health Insurance Literacy (HIL) and related constructs.

Methods
Using a Peer Review of Electronic Search Strategy (PRESS) and the PRISMA guideline, a systematic literature review of studies found in ERIC, Econlit, PubMed, PsycInfo, CINAHL, and Google Scholar was performed in April 2019. Measures for which psychometric properties were evaluated were classified based on the Paez et al. conceptual model for HIL and further assessed using COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement Instruments (COSMIN) Risk of Bias checklist and criteria for good measurement properties.

Results
Out of 123 original tools, only 19 were tested for psychometric and measurement properties; 18 of these 19 measures were developed and used in the context of Medicare. Four of the found measures tested for psychometric properties evaluated all four domains of HIL according to Paez et al.’s conceptual model; the rest of the measures assessed three (3), two (8), or one domain (4) of HIL.

Conclusion
Most measurement tools for HIL and related constructs have been developed and used in the context of the USA health insurance system, primarily in Medicare, while there is a paucity of measurement tools for private health insurances and from other countries. Furthermore, there is a lack of conceptual consistency in the way HIL is measured. Standardization of HIL measurement is crucial to further understand the role and interactions of HIL in other insurance contexts.
AL-TUNE: A Family of Methods to Effectively Tune UAV Controllers in In-flight Conditions
Authors: Horla Dariusz , Giernacki Wojciech , Báča Tomas , Spurny Vojtech , Saska Martin 
Published: August 2021

AbstractIn the paper, a family of novel real-time tuning methods for an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) altitude controller in in-flight conditions. The methods allow the controller’s gains to be adapted only on the basis of measurements from a basic sensory equipment and by constructing the optimization cost function in an on-line fashion with virtually no impeding computational complexity; in the case of the altitude controller as in this paper for a hexacopter, altitude measurements were used only. The methods are not dependent on the measurement level, and present the approach in a generally applicable form to tuning arbitrary controllers with low number of parameters. Real-world experimental flights, preceded by simulation tests, have shown which method should behave best in a noisy environment when e.g. wind disturbances act on a UAV while it is in autonomous flight. As the methods can potentially be extended to other control loops or controller types, making this a versatile, rapid-tuning tool. It has been shown that a well-tuned controller using the proposed AL-TUNE scheme outperforms controllers that are tuned just to stabilize the system. AL-TUNE provides a new way of using UAVs in terms of adaptivity to changing their dynamic properties and can be deployed rapidly. This enables new applications and extends the usability of fully autonomous UAVs, unlike other tuning methods, which basically require the availability of a UAV model. The core difference with respect to other research from the field is that other authors either use a model of a UAV to optimize the gains analytically or use machine learning techniques, what increases time consumption, whereas the presented methods offer a rapid way to tune controllers, in a reliable way, with deterministic time requirements.
Ex-situ biological CO2 methanation using trickle bed reactor: review and recent advances
Authors: Sposob Michal , Wahid Radziah , Fischer Keno 
Published: August 2021

AbstractPower-to-methane technology is a promising solution to facilitate the use of excess variable renewable energy for biomethane production. In this approach, hydrogen produced via electrolysis is used to upgrade raw biogas, which can be subsequently used as fuel or stored in the gas grid. Ex-situ biomethanation is an emerging technology that could potentially replace conventional energy-intensive biogas upgrading methods and allow CO2 utilization for biomethane production. This work provides a comprehensive overview on the current status of ex-situ biomethanation with particular attention to trickle bed reactor. The review includes description of ex-situ biomethanation and summarizes previous works on this topic. The key elements related to operational conditions, efficiency, and microbiology of ex-situ biomethanation using trickle bed reactor are described here. Additionally, the review highlights the technical and economic issues that have to be addressed for future development and large-scale implementation of ex-situ biomethanation.
Das schwarze Loch der „Nicht-Nachhaltigkeit“. Eine kritische Auseinandersetzung mit Ingolfur Blühdorns Forschungsansatz
Authors: Brand Karl-Werner 
Published: August 2021

ZusammenfassungIngolfur Blühdorn hat in den vergangenen Jahren in vielen kritischen Beiträgen die These vertreten, dass wir uns entgegen den „naiven Hoffnungserzählungen“ der transformativen Nachhaltigkeitsforschung in einem strukturell geschlossenen System der „nachhaltigen Nicht-Nachhaltigkeit“ bewegen. Sein Forschungsinteresse zielt auf die Klärung der Frage, warum sich dieses System der „Nicht-Nachhaltigkeit“ trotz des gestiegenen Umweltbewusstseins und aller Nachhaltigkeitsaktivitäten über Jahrzehnte hinweg so stabil halten konnte und welche politischen Konsequenzen sich daraus ergeben. Der für ihn zentrale Erklärungsfaktor ist dabei – als Nebenfolge sozio-kultureller Modernisierungsdynamiken – die Radikalisierung von Selbstverwirklichungsansprüchen, die konsumtive, nicht-nachhaltige Identitäten und Lebensstile zu unverhandelbaren Voraussetzungen demokratischer Politik werden lassen. Das führe zwangsläufig zur Transformation der Demokratie in ein „postdemokratisches“ Instrument der Verschärfung von Ungleichheit und Exklusion, was aber durch „simulative Nachhaltigkeitspraktiken“ und „Praktiken der Selbstillusionierung“ überdeckt werde. Der Beitrag rekonstruiert die zentralen Argumentationsschritte dieses Ansatzes und diskutiert seine zentralen Annahmen, insbesondere die der „Emanzipation zweiter Ordnung“ und der „postdemokratischen Wende“. Diese Annahmen erweisen sich, so das Ergebnis dieser Diskussion, sowohl historisch wie theoretisch als unhaltbar. Damit führt auch Blühdorns Versuch, die Widersprüchlichkeiten und Blockaden von Nachhaltigkeitstransformationen zu begreifen, ins Leere. Die Frage ist, was sich aus dem Scheitern dieses Ansatzes lernen lässt und welche Desiderate der sozialwissenschaftlichen Nachhaltigkeits- und Transformationsforschung sich daraus ergeben.
Mixed Neuroendocrine/Non-neuroendocrine Neoplasm (MiNEN) of the Ovary Arising from Endometriosis: Molecular Pathology Analysis in Support of a Pathogenetic Paradigm
Authors: Maragliano Roberta , Libera Laura , Carnevali Ileana , Pensotti Valeria , De Vecchi Giovanna , Testa Margherita , Amaglio Cristina , Leoni Eleonora , Formenti Giorgio , Sessa Fausto , Furlan Daniela , Uccella Silvia 
Published: August 2021

AbstractPrimary ovarian neuroendocrine neoplasms (Ov-NENs) are infrequent and mainly represented by well-differentiated forms (neuroendocrine tumors — NETs — or carcinoids). Poorly differentiated neuroendocrine carcinomas (Ov-NECs) are exceedingly rare and only few cases have been reported in the literature. A subset of Ov-NECs are admixed with non-neuroendocrine carcinomas, as it occurs in other female genital organs, as well (mostly endometrium and uterine cervix), and may be assimilated to mixed neuroendocrine/non-neuroendocrine neoplasms (MiNENs) described in digestive and extra-digestive sites. Here, we present a case of large cell Ov-NEC admixed with an endometrioid carcinoma of the ovary, arising in the context of ovarian endometriosis, associated with a uterine endometrial atypical hyperplasia (EAH). We performed targeted next-generation sequencing analysis, along with a comprehensive immunohistochemical study and FISH analysis for TP53 locus, separately on the four morphologically distinct lesions (Ov-NEC, endometrioid carcinoma, endometriosis, and EAH). The results of our study identified molecular alterations of cancer-related genes (PIK3CA, CTNNB1, TP53, RB1, ARID1A, and p16), which were present with an increasing gradient from preneoplastic lesions to malignant proliferations, both neuroendocrine and non-neuroendocrine components. In conclusion, our findings underscored that the two neoplastic components of this Ov-MiNEN share a substantially identical molecular profile and they progress from a preexisting ovarian endometriotic lesion, in a patient with a coexisting preneoplastic proliferation of the endometrium, genotypically and phenotypically related to the ovarian neoplasm. Moreover, this study supports the inclusion of MiNEN in the spectrum ovarian and, possibly, of all gynecological NENs, among which they are currently not classified.